#and i feel you can interpret their actions in different ways

[sirfrogsworth]

I am at the peak of a very intense episode of post-exertional malaise after helping clean my house for 3 days. I am in pain and tired and my emotional defenses are nonexistent. I can't tell the difference between logical lucid thoughts and emotionally out-of-my-gourd thoughts.

And I decided to talk about AI and argue with people about it.

Just… bad timing.

I feel like I was within my logical framework. I hope I made sense.

But some of the things people were saying felt really hurtful and ableist and I don't know if that is just because I am so raw or if I am justified in feeling that way.

The eye tracking thing really bugged me. Like, "here's an expensive alternative but you have to wiggle your eyes for hours." That just sounds... exhausting. And painful. I literally tried using my eyes to draw and it was... unpleasant.

I think I am just traumatized by the millions of unhelpful or laborious suggestions I've received over the years. And maybe that technology can work at some point. But the funny thing is, when I researched it, some of the ideas were to take someone's eye squiggles and then use AI to interpret them into an image. So... same thing with extra steps.

It just felt like people were being so morally rigid they couldn't carve out a tiny empathetic exception for people like my friend. And beyond that, they had to let me know his creative output was meaningless and invalid.

To relate things back to guns, there is a tough pill to swallow here.

Guns are fun. They are fun to shoot. Fun to collect. Fun to modify. Fun to geek out over.

And the fact that they are fun and bring people so much joy and catharsis and sense of community is one of the reasons they are so hard to legislate. Gun people use 2A and self defense as their "legit" argument, but deep down they just like their shooty shoots. They choose this fun over societal safety and it is frustrating as hell sometimes.

Gen AI is fun. I had fun trying it. I made one of those action figure memes. It gave me a little creative high trying to get it right. It was easy to forget I just used 200 gallons of water to cool a computer at some server farm.

Fun things are fun. Fun is therapeutic. Fun can be scarce when you are disabled. And when you find something easy enough to let you have fun and it doesn't require some huge personal consequence, your mind will do all sorts of things to justify it.

If people don't want to admit that this can be in any way fun and helpful and creative, that's fine. If they want to say all of it is ugly and none of it looks cool. Fine. But that is the same frustrating denial that my friend is putting out there with his bogus justifications.

I wish my friend would just say he knows this hurts artists and the environment but it helps him and it keeps him in this world so it is the least bad option for his needs.

I feel the same way about Amazon Prime and Grubhub and streaming services. Video streams use a sizeable energy foot print that keeps growing just like AI. They also screw artists in all sorts of unique and terrible ways. And I still subscribe to a bunch of them because I need my shows to keep my sanity.

Eating meat. Oof. I love animals so much but cheap vegan diabetic diets aren't really a thing.

So I absorb that guilt to keep surviving.

And I hope that I can fight to make some of those things a little less terrible.

[mscaseys]

What are your opinions on Gemma?

okay so i loveee this question and have always wanted to do a deep dive on her. i know a lot of people think she's boring or has no other personality outside of being Mark's Wife but i beg to differ. also, i will be referencing things said in interviews and while i know they don't necessarily Mean anything (the great thing about severance is that it leaves room for interpretation), i still think some of jessica's/dichen's/dan's insights on things are valuable. also, gemma doesn't have the luxury of having speeches and a lot of her writing is really about the subtext of her actions, which is where the interviews come in handy. this is going to be a longgg post so please indulge me.

i guess i'll focus on her being a prisoner on the testing floor because many people overlook this part of her story even though i think it is one of if not the most essential to understanding who gemma is and her humanity. i've mentioned this before but we really only see about 2 days of her captivity, and the gemma we see has already been stuck down there for 2 years.

jessica explained it really beautifully in this interview about gemma's state of mind when we get to her, and she's also said her and dichen really talked through the cyclical nature of being imprisoned. she's also written with a lot of nuance because if you rewatch her scenes with nurse cecily or dr mauer, her responses are... really subtle but telling. she never directly answers their questions when they interrogate her, and you can tell they aren't really happy with her responses as well. in her own quiet way, she's rebelling too by not allowing them access to her feelings, and only telling them about the physical pain she feels when leaving the rooms (and not her mental/emotional trauma). also, when she tells dr mauer that she wants to go home, you can see her bracing herself to be rejected again, but she says it anyway.

i also like what dichen said about gemma's reaction to dr mauer's lie about mark remarrying, and how they chose the take where she isn't affected by it. you have to imagine that gemma has probably been lied to for years by this company and how strong-willed she has to be to not succumb to their manipulation. she's so much more than just someone who has come to terms with her circumstances, she's actively fighting to get out, so we as viewers are as invested in her escape.

she also mentioned in the same interview that gemma has been trying to get out the moment she's been imprisoned, and she hasn't stopped trying! that says so much about what kind of person she is, her strength, her resilience, and her hope amidst all of it. i think about what the innies went through in s1 for around a month and for gemma's it's that multiplied by 24 (if she was there for around 2 years). that really puts her suffering into perspective for me, because we see how just one week of being an innie affects helly, and while gemma isn't necessarily an 'innie', she very much is trapped in the building as well.

when she finally escapes, dan said that it was important that gemma be the one to guide mark out of the testing floor. the whole damsel in distress trope is not something i particularly like, but in this case it makes sense since gemma can't escape by herself, and also subverts it in a way because gemma is very much the one leading mark once she's out of the cold harbor room. i love this small but important attention to detail and how she is by nature the one who is protective of mark, even though she doesn't have any context for any of what's happening.

this echoes ms casey's protectiveness of helly in s1, where she is really worried about helly and was told to make sure helly is okay, and dan also talks about crafting gemma's personality from the traits present in s1. often times people relegate the positive traits that gemma has as 'bland' but i personally like that we have a character who is kind and compassionate and cares about others. i love that gemma is all these things and i love that it's always been consistent to who she is because i think these are traits that while not uncommon, are important to have in a character that i am rooting for. i think saying that she's a boring character because she isn't inherently 'evil' is... reductive and totally missing the point of what her character adds to the narrative.

this is kind of a tangent but when gemma finally does escape in the finale, she turns around to look at mark. besides the whole orpheus/eurydice parallel, i can't help but think... this is a woman who has been aching to escape for two years, but the moment she tastes freedom she doesn't run towards it. instead, she looks back to make sure mark is free too. this is why in s3 i think the most rational route her character would go down is saving/freeing mark from lumon, not just because ohh let's flip the script from s2 where mark is saving gemma, but because that is who she is as a person. she isn't going to just stand by and let the person she loves be held hostage by lumon, she's going to fight back, and i for one can't wait to see that.

finally, (because this post is getting too long i might have to make a part 2 if anyone Cares), this is probably a niche thing but i loveee the mystery surrounding her character. besides the themes and narrative, i like that there's so much ambiguity surrounding why gemma was chosen, what makes her so special, and also the ongoing mystery of her 25+ innies in her head. it makes thinking about her so much fun and potential storylines that much richer in my opinion. there's so many roads they can take gemma's character down, it's nearly impossible for gemma to not shine in upcoming seasons, and i'll be seated for all of it.

god i sound like mark scout don't i... mark scout voice i love all these things about gemma equally... anyway, sorry to this dear anon who probably did not expect this post when they sent that innocent ask in, but i hope this satisfies your question (sorry if this was all over the place) and feel free to ask away because i can talk about gemma forever <33

[girlacticrailroad]

friendly rivalry deep dive part 14

Episode 6 y’all let’s goooooo.

Jae-yi won’t reveal her secrets to Seul-gi yet this episode, but that’s okay because the first scene solves one mystery for us. We see Jae-yi sneak into her father’s office, unlock his desk, and take out a file with her sister’s name on it. In the file, she finds information about Seul-gi’s dad, stepmom, and Seul-gi herself.

So we now know that: (1) Jae-yi is looking for information about her sister, (2) Woo Do-hyeok is connected to Je-na in some way, and (3) Jae-yi started getting close to Seul-gi due to Do-hyeok’s connection with her sister. Seul-gi’s dad (rip) can no longer reveal anything, but maybe his daughter can.

Why does Jae-yi change Seul-gi’s name to “Princess” in her phone? In the interview I’ve referenced a few times already, Hye-ri mentions that viewers have tended to interpret all of Jae-yi’s actions “through the lens of love” even when that wasn’t the intention. Sadly...I don’t think Jae-yi has love on the brain here. She hasn’t even met Seul-gi yet!

A cynical interpretation makes more sense to me. If she gives Seul-gi a name, she’s a person. But if she’s just a word—just a picture on a flyer—it’s easier to forget her humanity. In this moment we can see Jae-yi’s plan to use Seul-gi as a tool start to take shape.

Then we flash foward and—oh no what’s this? Her tool has feelings? And she’s *really* cute when she’s angry? Abort mission!!

One thing I haven’t paid much attention to so far is Jae-yi’s ears and when they twitch. (Yes, this show will have you analyzing the way a character’s ears move. It’s a disease.) This user noted on X that her ears move when Seul-gi asks to sit next to her again (and that it’s very puppy-like awww), and I think they also twitch when Seul-gi takes her hand at the end of Epiosde 2. Her ears move again in this scene when Seul-gi says her full name and demands an answer from her.

(Seul-gi had been using the casual affectionate -ya suffix for Jae-yi until now. Does anyone know the first time Seul-gi addresses Jae-yi that way? My gut tells me it was in Episode 3 but I haven’t gone back to check.)

Based on the first two moments, you could say that her ears move when Jae-yi is pleased about something—both are moments when Everything Is Going According to Plan. But this moment feels a bit different. Is she pleased about being cornered and told off? (I mean, maybe because it’s Seul-gi she’s into it...)

When dogs pull their ears back, it can be a sign of submission, and this is the first time that Jae-yi essentially admits defeat. For once, she doesn’t have a clever response. She dismisses Seul-gi’s question and tries to escape.

But Seul-gi isn’t about to let her run away. In another first for Friendly Rivalry, *she* is the one who grabs Jae-yi’s hand. The dynamic we’ve come to expect, with Jae-yi in the active dominant role, has been turned upside-down.

Well, almost—but not quite. Jae-yi doesn’t let it happen. She slips out of Seul-gi’s grasp and smiles.

I *love* this little interaction! It’s so perfect. Apparently the smile was improvised by Hye-ri on the spot, and once again I’m floored by how in touch she is with this character. Because this cocky little smirk to mask her surprise is sooo Jae-yi. 

First-time viewers at this point might be asking, Is Jae-yi really into Seul-gi, or is she just playing with her?

For second-time viewers, there’s no doubt our girl is ten toes down. There was lots of subtle evidence sprinkled throughout Episode 5 that Jae-yi is attached. Her emotions are slipping through the cracks in her facade more and more. She’s upset that Seul-gi is giving her the cold shoulder. When Seul-gi sneakily leads her to the teacher’s room to confront her about Na-ri, she takes the bait. 

On a second watch, the question of her loyalty is replaced by a more interesting one, imo. It’s not just Does Jae-yi really love Seul-gi?—yes, times infinity—but Is Jae-yi’s love strong enough to overcome her desire for control?

Can her love transcend her father’s curse?

As of now—not yet. When Seul-gi tries to take her hand, she recoils, the same way she did with Je-na as kids. It’s not that she doesn’t want to touch Seul-gi—she can hardly keep her hands off the poor girl. It’s being touched that triggers her reflex to pull away. Because being touched means she isn’t calling the shots. It means there’s a chance someone might find a way under her armor and touch skin.

Her heart is in the game—but she’s still treating her relationship with Seul-gi as a game, and she’s losing. In this episode we’ll see her rely on some of her old bad habits in her desperation to win Seul-gi back.

As for Seul-gi, she’s still trying to figure out if Jae-yi is someone she can, literally and figuratively, hold onto—and for now that’s also a no. She’s been suspicious of Jae-yi’s kindness from the beginning. She let her guard down for a moment and got burned for it. Now she can’t even get a straight answer out of the woman. Jae-yi’s slipperiness is opening up her old wounds and reawakening her trust issues.

Like Jae-yi, we’ll see Seul-gi fall back into old patterns of behavior in this episode. Both girls are struggling against the ways they’ve learned how to survive.

Meanwhile Gyeong, the most antagonistic toward Seul-gi of the main cast members, starts warming up to her. (I love how the day after she has her gay awakening, Seul-gi just asks Gyeong point-blank if she has a crush on her—like, hey, might be worth finding out who else is for the ladies around these parts.) At a student assembly, Gyeong reveals her discovery about Seul-gi’s father. When Seul-gi follows her home, Gyeong explains her theory: Jae-yi’s dad doesn’t want the malpractice lawsuit to tarnish his hospital’s reputation. He needs to find a way to settle. If Seul-gi’s stepmom is too stubborn, then maybe Seul-gi is the key.

According to Gyeong, Jae-yi has only been cozying up to Seul-gi for her father’s sake. The goal is to befriend her so she’ll be more willing to sign the settlement papers.

Gyeong surprised me in this episode. I thought I had her figured out. But her oddly self-aware confession to Seul-gi (she’s not being nice out of the goodness of her heart, but doing it to get back at Jae-yi, because of her inferiority complex) made me consider her from a new angle.

After all, we know why Jae-yi has a grudge against Gyeong, and vice versa—but why does Gyeong immediately dislike Seul-gi so much? All she’s said is that she doesn’t want an unknown “bumpkin” hanging out with their clique.

I think there might be more to it than that. (When is there ever *not* more to it than that with this series...) Gyeong knows her relationship with Jae-yi is far from friendship at this stage: it’s grown cold and transactional, with bitterness on both sides. She uses her connection with Jae-yi for her own personal gain, and at the same time hates that she relies on Jae-yi for anything.

Then Seul-gi comes along and Jae-yi showers her with attention and affection...the same way she used to treat Gyeong. That has to sting. Seul-gi is a reminder of the friendship that Gyeong lost. Maybe even a reminder of the something more that she and Jae-yi could have had?

That’s why Gyeong needs to believe that Jae-yi’s kindness toward Seul-gi is just a dirty trick—because if it’s real, that would mean all of Jae-yi’s affection toward her had been real once, too. It would mean Jae-yi hadn’t been her nemesis from the beginning, but someone who genuinely loved her, platonically or otherwise.

Gyeong can’t accept that. It’s not pure logic that leads her to suspect Jae-yi of duplicity—there’s an emotional undercurrent pulling her in that direction, too.

The end of this conversation is...mysterious. Or is it? Gyeong asks Seul-gi if she has any painkillers for period cramps, and Seul-gi replies, no, you dork, I’m poor. We know Gyeong also suffers from hernia pain, so I thought she might be lying to get pain meds for her back...but then later she goes to a doctor and asks for an IUD. It sure is a classic rich kid move to try to bum drugs off your poor orphan friend. Is the implication that she doesn’t want to ask her mom for help? That she’s too busy studying to take care of herself? That she suspects Seul-gi of being a drug user...or dealer? I feel like there might be some subtext that I’m missing.

Speaking of drug dealers, how’s Jae-yi doing? Not well apparently :( In one of her lowest moments, she bombs Seul-gi with a series of desperate messages trying to convince her she’ll need help to study for midterms. It’s...pretty sad. Jae-yi has always been clingy and manipulative, but she’s never been so open about it. As someone who isn’t used to losing, or rejection, being beaten and rejected by the person she cares about most seems to have sent her into a downward spiral.

Then comes one of my favorite scenes from this episode. Showing no sign of the desperation we just saw in her messages, a lethargic and dead-eyed Jae-yi speaks to a nurse drawing her blood. The nurse is freaked out by the way Jae-yi stares at the needle as it pierces her skin. Jae-yi says she wants to know exactly when the needle goes in to prepare herself. The nurse responds, but doesn’t it hurt the same either way?

Oh, Jae-yi, you sad little weirdo. How I love you.

This is another one of those scenes that’s so rich, I could dedicate a whole post to it. On one level it’s about control, and how Jae-yi tries to maintain a sense of control in situations where she has none. She can’t stop the needle, or the pain. But she masters them (or imagines that she does) by refusing to look away—by watching, and bracing herself.

This is a theme that will come up with Jae-yi again and again: her need to exert “control” over the future by anticipating it.

But the nurse casts doubt on this habit. Is it really a form of control? Or is Jae-yi only letting her fear control *her*? The needle will still hurt one way or the other.

(Any theories out there, by the way, about why she might be having her blood drawn in this scene?)

Of course this scene isn’t really about needles. This conversation makes it clearer than ever that Jae-yi is depressed. The nurse says that Jae-yi has trouble sleeping, a common symptom of depression. (Another symptom is intrusive thoughts of death, and we’ll later learn that Jae-yi thinks about death—a lot.) Jae-yi then asks the nurse to take more blood, despite looking exhausted. Risky self-destructive behavior? Depression baybeeee.

I think this scene is also, in a sneaky way, about Seul-gi. You can tell Jae-yi is thinking about Seul-gi because (1) when is she ever not, and (2) she mentions that she slept really well last night—the night that Seul-gi slept over. With a smile, she says she’s running on “stored-up sleep.” Her night with Seul-gi is, I think maybe literally, the only thing keeping her going right now.

Jae-yi is facing a pain worse than a needle prick—her girl is ghosting her, and it’s exacerbating her depressive symptoms, and she doesn’t have any way of getting her back. She has no control over Seul-gi anymore.

Other people might look away and try to forget. But not Jae-yi. She’s going to handle the situation like she always does: by watching, and preparing. She’s decided to wait for an opening.

Jae-yi isn’t the only one going through a rough patch. From the state of her apartment, Seul-gi’s stepmom also seems to be going through it. Seul-gi cleans up the cans, dishes, and clothes scattered around when she comes home—but then she gets suspicious. Her stepmom never mentioned the malpractice lawsuit to her. Why is she keeping it a secret?

Seul-gi searches her stepmother’s room for clues: she finds unused pregnancy tests, her dad’s life insurance policy, and...several more green envelopes like the one she found in the mail in Episode 4. Now we finally learn what they contain: sinister messages, outlined in black crayon on a colored background (no handwriting that way), hinting that Woo Do-hyeok’s death was not an accident. Are these messages what prompted the lawsuit?

Instead of trusting the evidence all around that her stepmother is a grieving woman barely keeping it together, Seul-gi’s defenses detect a threat. If Jae-yi never really cared about her, what if her stepmom doesn’t care about her, either? What if she’s only trying to cash out and run?

At the dinner table, Seul-gi vents her fears and suspicions while her stepmom listens silently. She doesn’t confirm or deny what Seul-gi says, so we’re left to wonder if there’s any truth to the accusations.

Personally, I think her stepmom probably just didn’t want to burden Seul-gi with everything she knows. She suspects that Do-hyeok’s death had something to do with Je-na, and the spooky anonymous messages are a lot to explain to a kid whose father just died. She’s trying to protect Seul-gi, but Seul-gi is struggling to see good intentions in anyone right now.

The next scene illustrates how Jae-yi’s betrayal hasn’t just eroded Seul-gi’s trust in others, but in herself too. All her insecurities have come flooding back: She really is alone. Maybe she was never that special. Maybe without her grades she’s nothing. Maybe without her pills she’s nothing.

The teacher hands out a book of mock tests from previous years and tells the kids to start memorizing. (I love how there are zero scenes of actual teaching in this series.) Seul-gi is about to do as the teacher says, when she looks around the room and sees every other student putting the book away and carrying on as usual. It’s a moment that puts us directly in Seul-gi’s shoes. Are these mock test questions actually useful or not? If they don’t use the book, how is everyone else studying? It’s like the whole class is in on some big secret.

(I would also like to know their secret. Why *does* no one else use the book? Is it too inefficient, when they have access to targeted study materials? Is no one else underprivileged enough to need it?)

Seul-gi has another underwater vision, but this time, her whole class is down there with her, each hunched over their desk inside their own little bubble. Back in Episode 1, I said I didn’t like the bubble imagery, but I really like it here. Seul-gi isn’t the only one isolated in this class—rivalry isolates everyone from each other. They’re under the same pressure, but there’s no support or solidarity to be found.

With her confidence shaken, Seul-gi needs more than ever to prove herself. And she’s convinced there’s only one way to ace midterms: drugs.

Unfortunately her stolen stash is nearly used up. She hits the streets to solve the problem herself, as she did with the school uniform, but again her insistence on self-reliance backfires. She doesn’t have the time or the money to get her fix by legal means.

Her last resort is an acquaintance from the orphanage, Su-jin, who we haven’t met before—but the fact that Seul-gi doesn’t call right away, and the “??” after Su-jin’s name on her list, suggest she’s dreading the interaction.

Instead it’s Su-jin who calls, begging for money, clearly not doing well. Seul-gi hangs up and blocks the number. Her survival mindset has dulled any compassion she might feel. Su-jin is just further proof that she can’t rely on anyone.

Then by luck Seul-gi figures out how the local Chaehwa drug ring works. Thankfully they advertise on social media. Remember A-ra and her paper cranes, and the sanitary pads? We witnessed our first drug deal earlier this episode, when Beom-su came running into the classroom pretending to need a pad in a hurry, and A-ra passed her a box. (Kind of a genius way to do the handoff in broad daylight tbh.) Now we learn how A-ra recruits her customers: her paper cranes all have verification codes written on them.

Seul-gi orders thirty pills and A-ra arranges a pick-up at the skate park later that night. But A-ra isn’t the brains behind the operation. She’s chatting with someone else: the supplier.

Now we finally get our confirmation that, yes, Jae-yi somehow finds time in her busy schedule to deal drugs.

Question: Why? I don’t think her motive is ever clearly explained. She certainly doesn’t need the money. It’s a loose thread that invites lots of speculation. I’ve heard the theory that she’s plotting to fake her death from the very first episode, and starts selling drugs to raise money for her new life.

Personally, I don’t think so. There’s way more evidence that Jae-yi is suicidally depressed than there is evidence pointing toward that kind of scheme.

But that leaves the question open: What does Jae-yi gain from this side hustle?

I think the simplest answer is that it’s another one of the “sins” she starts committing in her prologue. Like those other sins, it’s more reckless behavior. (What else are you supposed to do when you’re a clinically depressed gifted kid with access to way too many pills?) Also like those sins, it’s a kind of rebellion against her father.

This is maybe the most direct way that she rebels. She’s stealing the drugs from his hospital and selling them to students at the school he sponsors—and she’s his daughter. If she got caught, his reputation would take a massive hit. If she doesn’t get caught, she still gets the satisfaction of breaking every imaginable rule right under his nose.

A-ra tells Jae-yi that their new buyer is probably “the new kid” and that’s all it takes. Her opening has arrived. How long do you think it takes her to throw on her drug dealer outfit and leave the house? I’m guessing about...seven seconds? Six and a half?

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Huge spoiler warning if for some reason you haven’t watched the show?? (Seriously go watch it if you haven’t.) Before Jae-yi leaves to meet up with Seul-gi for the exchange, we see her in the pharmacy holding a bottle of pills clearly marked Consotine—the pill that Seul-gi has ordered. Later Jae-yi tells her that they are all out of Consotine at the pharmacy, so she brought some of the Real Good Designer Shit instead. 

Even on the first time around, we know this is a lie, but on a second watch, we know the truth: Instead of Consotine, Jae-yi gives Seul-gi harmless multivitamins.

I think this helps us see where Jae-yi is in her character arc. All this time she’s been selling drugs to her fellow students without remorse. But now, because it’s Seul-gi, she swaps out the drugs for a placebo. That’s not the kind of decision you can make without any reflection or self-awareness.

She has to know. She has to know she’s going to absurd lengths just for the chance to talk to Seul-gi again. Seul-gi is much more than a tool or a face on a poster to her now—she’s a person Jae-yi wants to protect.

And that’s what makes the tension in this scene so electric, no matter how many times you watch it. This is Jae-yi at her most paradoxical. At Peak Antihero. Even with her heart firmly in the right place, she’s indulging in—reveling in—all her most toxic traits.

Because it’s fun.

Look at her! She is having the time of her life. This is clearly the first time that Jae-yi has felt the will to live in ages. Seul-gi needs her again! She has leverage!

This scene isn’t about one addict—it’s about two. Seul-gi needs the reassurance that Consotine provides, and Jae-yi needs the thrill of the game.

If you set aside the knowledge that Jae-yi isn’t actually obliterating Seul-gi’s mind with some unknown substance, her behavior is still not cool. I mean, it’s very cool, but bad. Bad Jae-yi. The first thing she does is deliberately undermine Seul-gi’s confidence: So your great study secret is doing drugs, huh? Then she lies about the Consotine to intimidate her. Then she undermines her confidence again, saying that she’ll never be able to succeed without drugs because everyone else at Chaehwa is doing them. (Then she does some skateboard tricks because she’s a huge dork.) Then she pulls out some classic Jae-yi manipulation, baiting Seul-gi with the promise of revealing how she obtained her personal info, but only if she can score higher on the midterm test. And finally she tops it off by giving her the cram school study materials which she just so happens to have to make Seul-gi even more dependent on and indebted to her.

She anticipated, and she came prepared.

Jae-yi is playing a role here again—the mysterious bad girl—and she’s even dressed for the part. Being in love with Seul-gi hasn’t changed the fact that she’s in love with the game itself. And in this game she’s willing to do almost anything to win. Even if that means ruthlessly exploiting every one of Seul-gi’s insecurities.

Centrum is a hell of a drug.

Wait. Did I do it? Did I finish a whole episode in one post??

Well, I cheated a little. I skipped the Ye-ri scenes in this episode because we’re going to learn a lot more about her in Episode 7. I’ll cover those scenes in the next entry, when I analyze her prologue. Until then!

[pamayapaya]

I do agree with you but I personally feel that by not including the concept of gaps in memory between Mickey 17 and 18, they are able to raise a new point which is:

Even if you have the same memories, what if you interpret or look back at them in totally different ways?

In most marginalized communities, there are so many different ways that two people of the same race/gender/sexuality/disability etc can develop to cope with the prejudice they face

I found it interesting how Mickey 17 seemed to internalize all this guilt and shame to convince himself he deserves all of his pain and torture. He deliberately makes himself small and timid with everyone, never bothers to stand up for himself and tries to be so accommodating to others even at his own expense

But 18 is so angry, so full of visceral rage at how everyone (barring Nasha) treats him and even has the drive to go and do something about it. He cannot stand having to stay under Marshall’s rule or allowing Timo to keep going his whole life never having to deal with consequences for his shitty actions or being an awful friend. And even though a lot of his rage is shown directed at Mickey 17, it slowly changes from feeling like “I hate you for being so weak and not fighting back” into “I can’t stand seeing everyone mistreat you and break you down to the point that you’ve started to think it’s okay”

Personally, I find these differences in the mindset between Mickey 17 and 18 to be more compelling but I’ll also concede that the difference between Mickey 7 and 8 in the book is a more multi-faceted issue that requires a closer analysis and is also interesting in its own right

the movie didn’t explore the memory issues involved in the expendable process which is a shame. I think

[tisajest]

You are newly orphaned and given to the nearest Wise Old Man to raise. He will be your guardian til adulthood and may or may not come to care for you, who would you rather that man be?

[a-stars-art-blog]

Barok the physically affectionate my beloved

[sukibenders]

I feel like Percy ultimately falls into the trap that many main characters in shows and books do where they get blamed for every little thing, even though they literally have/had no control over the situation or reacted in a way that, to fans, who sometimes have more knowledge than them, didn't like even though in the moment it makes sense. Don't even get me started on when you start adding side characters, because then that really gets the fandom going on trying to find ways to hate the main character for no reason, it's wild (eg. Alina Starkov, Harry Potter, I could go on!).

[musashi]

i want more nuance to be entered into the discussion of the green girl sorority and how differently cynthia plays elphaba in comparison to those who came before her because while a lot of people are rightfully like "why was elphaba not black from the beginning" and celebrating that she is now being played by a black woman, i think we need to be careful in just writing off all the elphabas of the past as Random White Girls when the role was championed (and often followed/succeeded) by a jewish woman

the pop culture archetype of the Wicked Witch has deep roots in antisemitism stretching faaaar far back. there is a level of reclamation happening in casting idina menzel, a jewish woman, to play the Misunderstood and Maligned young girl who is branded as exactly that. and stage!Elphaba is also written and acted with jewish stereotypes in mind--she is loud, aggressive, no-nonsense, blunt. she is quick to advocate for herself and shut down the discrimination she faces. all of this is very intentional! her personality is abrasive from years of abuse, and that makes propagandizing her easy. this is literally the thesis statement of the musical--it's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed.

cynthia's performance of elphaba is fucking INSPIRED despite going in a completely different direction. she's much more reserved, analytical, one of her key character traits is how well she can read people (see her calling out Galinda as insecure/putting on airs in their first scene together, clocking that Fiyero is using his party guy persona as a shield for his own depression) elphaba's attempts to blend in and make herself smaller all fail simply because of her existence, if not that then because she feels empathy so strongly she often struggles to hold back from acting, protecting.

personality wise, though, cynthia's elphaba is very quiet and closed-off, not at all the bullet-to-the-face that she is in the stage show, and... she still gets propagandized and maligned. though this seems to contradict the other interpretation, it tells of the other end of the spectrum of propaganda, one that black women watching (and many, MANY other marginalized folks) are sure to identify with--it does not matter how "nice," how reserved, how small a black woman makes herself. a racist society will still scrutinize her every action for a way to parse ill intent from it, brand her as an angry black woman who is dangerous and wicked, and write off any humanity she has in the process.

these two very different interpretations tell of the lie of assimilation. the fact of the matter is, when you are marginalized, there is no way to sand down your edges enough to make the people oppressing you "accept" you. that is why wicked is a tragedy at its core. whether loud and aggressive or quiet and unimposing, there is nothing elphaba could have done to make the people of Oz see her as anything other than a scapegoat to blame all their problems on.

so while i definitely appreciate that people are excited for black girl era elphaba, i would encourage us all to still show appreciation for what came before--that was not white girl era elphaba. that was jewish girl era elphaba. two houses, both alike in dignity, two stories both worth being told.

[ridingtorohan]

hey!! i saw ur recent post about the tulpar crew walking in on reader touching themselves, could u do the same but vice versa?

Ask and ye shall receive!

𓇻 ft. tulpar crew x gn reader

𓇻 content. 18+ content, minors dni. possible second hand embarrassment. masturbation, sexual propositions, the whole shebang. this is a sequel to this post. this one can definitely be read on its own though. lightly implied that reader didn't accept swansea or daisuke's offers in the prequel but that can be left up to interpretation. jimmy's definitely happened though.

𓇻 enjoy! feel free to like, reblog, or send in asks!

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎Masterlist - Want to Join my Taglist?

Curly is just so damn tired. Tired of the reports, faxes, checking the straps in the cargo bay. One of the few downtimes he gets is when he can sit and watch the constellations pass on the common room monitor. The Augira, Constantine and Mitena were all ones that he recognized from this sect of the system, all penned from the eyes of Saturn and further.

Movies are a scarce commodity on the screen, given Jimmy's track record of not wanting to hook the systems up, but it helps him nod off most times.

Working out, though? Working out he can do. Pony Express has given him permission to bring his weights on board, alongside a slew of magazines and audiobooks to listen to.

While Curly doesn't think of himself as a gym rat, those moments to himself are some of the best. Nothing but the burn of iron, the strain of his muscles with each rep. It's methodical work, one that sets his mind at ease and off of reports for once.

Some days, he can get Jimmy in on the action, but most of the time his co-pilot bemoans it. Each time they worked out, the stretches between the next session grew longer.

He's pleased when you agree to attend a few sessions with him. By then, it's almost amicable between you two, as if him walking in you didn't even happen. He's very much acted the part of a dutiful captain, though, he can't help his own eyes from wandering when he sees you stretch. Can't help himself from putting his hands firmly on you when he goes to correct your stance. It doesn't linger, doesn't wander, but goddamn, does he wish he could throw propriety out the window.

It's after one of his solo workout sessions when he chooses another way to unwind. Really, that's the only explanation for it. One that he tells himself anyway, because the strain of propriety is heavy. If he still thinks of you from time to time, if your face crops up in his thoughts while he touches himself, that's his business.

The only places you'd catch him in the act is either in the bathroom or his room.

Curly has always been imaginative, thoughts trailing to roads not travelled, paths that burn out of sight. Of you, sprawled out on the bed, and how he wished he had stayed. How he'd have given anything to hike your legs over his waist and kiss you senseless when he slid against you.

As it always is, every fantasy comes to an abrupt end. Every night that he had dreamed of walking in to find you waiting, you found him. Wifebeater drenched in sweat, towel draped over his shoulders, every line of his well built body on display, hand fisted around his cock.

There's a difference between wishing you'd walk in on him and actually receiving it.

A painful, terse moment lingers between you two, tension so thick he swears he can cut it. His hand completes the motion, wiping from his base to the tip, each breath deep. Despite how uncomfortable he felt (for more than one reason), he also felt more prepared. "Hold on a minute." He'll cover himself, boxers and uniform hiding himself from view.

If you believe you could flee from the room without Curly following you, you're dead wrong. He'll track you down, put this to bed once and for all. He'll catch you, half-dressed in his uniform, blue workwear draped around his waist, hand against the wall. "We have to talk about this."

Regardless if you stay or leave, not talking about it is no longer an option. You've both seen more of each other than was warranted, then what you both signed up for, but dammit he wants this. And he's so tired of shying away from things that he wants. From the person that he wants. All because of some higher-ups sitting cozy back home saying that it's wrong to do. He can't do it anymore, not when he feels like he's on the cusp of something great for once in his life.

"I know that what happened isn't what either of us expected," he'll start, voice low and perhaps far too sensual to be appropriate considered his half-dressed state. "And frankly, we can keep it to ourselves, pretend we never saw it." Biting the bullet is one of the fewest things he's done in life, but this is something that he wants to do. By fractions, Curly leans in closer, his voice entering a low murmur. "But... it doesn't have to be. We could give each other a.. hand, so to speak."

Routine. That's one thing that the Tulpar is good at. Routine. Each meal time, the rigid necessity of clocking in and out on time, even bathing. Pony Express may be a shit machine but it's well oiled, worked raw by the people under it. Delivering the payload is a smooth easy task because they all work on it together.

Part of that routine is shift work. Jimmy, ever the night-owl, works evening and night shift. This makes it so incredibly easy to avoid him if you wanted, especially since he walked in on you tending to yourself.

But he doesn't let you forget it. Since that moment, there's a smoldering heat in his gaze, eyes hooded as he watches you go about the room. Watched as you did your tasks, always standing too close - enough that you can get a whiff of his woodsy cologne, or feel his arm against yours.

He's almost helpful, even when your tasks really don't necessitate the need for another. His hands linger, hot against your uniform, his hips against the back of yours whenever he steadied you, or reached above you. Each word a rumble in his throat.

Except there's never really any change to talk to him about what happened. Not when every moment is tense, fraught with unresolved desires and need. Not when Daisuke or Curly walk into the room, silencing the burning questions and words that haunt your lips. Jimmy seems especially disgruntled about the interruptions, getting almost snappy towards the other crewmembers.

All in all, you rarely have a moment to speak with him. It's the furthest thing from your mind when you step out of the shower, more than eager to collapse face first into bed and sleep the weariness away.

If you're the sort to bring clothes into the washroom to change into, the absence of them is noted fast. No amount of scrounging around turns them up either. At a loss, it's to your sleeping quarters to wrangle up something else to wear.

Except you're very much not alone the second you step into your door. The door swishes behind you but you're effectively grounded, eyes drawn to the man lounging on your bed.

His head is tilted, messy hair falling across his hooded eyes, a dark and smoldering look to them. A slow stretch of a smirk crawls across his face, a pleased look darting into his eyes.

Jimmy is just as bare as the day he was born, an arm languidly thrown over your pillow. A leg bent up, not at all coy about having himself on display. His other arm is resting against his thigh, one hand smoothing along his flushed cock in a slow, slick motion. His fingerstips are all but slathered in precum - or actual cum, as you might suspiciously think when you look at your clothes haphazardly thrown onto the floor, looking sticky.

"There you are. Took you long enough." He breathes out your name, chin tilted upward, something primal lurking deep in his eyes. Jimmy clicks his tongue, ever the disapproving copilot. "You should know better than to keep someone waiting." Despite the curt, wanting tone to his words, he doesn't move towards you. Letting you go to him. Like he knows you will.

"I've been thinking," each word is low and deep, husky in his mouth. Jimmy's hand very much doesn't stop moving, stroking himself as you're rooted to the spot. Whenever you glance down between his thighs, his smirk deepens. "That you owe me for what I did for you."

It's not like you could dance around the topic forever; each touch, every interrupted conversation, it all would have culminated to this. Jimmy waiting for you, eager to put his hands back on you, to feel you tremble and shudder beneath him as he pulls you apart.

The thing was, you realize, it'd be terribly easy to leave him here. To not respond to his advances. The door was to your back and even Jimmy had enough sense not to walk out nude in pursuit of you. It'd be easy to walk to another crewmate's quarters and pilfer clothes. It'd be laughed off, brushed under the rug just as another incident, excused as you being unable to enter your room because of 'technical difficulties'.

The thing is, though, you can clearly remember how his hands felt, the way he moved. How Jimmy watched you with the same intensity now, his eyes a dark promise of a repeat experience, if not more.

You don't really want to refuse such an offer, do you?

Try as Anya might, she can't get the image of you out of her head. The sounds you made, how your hands moved. She'd tried to be civil, though how quickly she averts her gaze and fidgety hands betray how much it affected her. Nerves, she'd try to excuse it. Nothing ever related to you, of course, because that sounds too much like blame. She blames herself for walking in on you masturbating, and blames herself for wishing that she hadn't left.

But by god, did it make her needy and so sexually frustrated. She's found every excuse under the sun to touch you then jerk back, at war with herself. She has to act professional. Doesn't she?

Something about you, seeing you like that, had coiled something burning inside of her. Something hot, that festered low in her gut.

For the most part, she can act professional. Mostly. But she can only get so far from letting her eyes trace your silhouette, from sitting on her leg whenever you talk to her. It's risky business, even riskier when she decides to keeps a few tokens of yours. Things that smell like you, even distantly - papers, a bracelet. Things that you've lent to her before.

It's been a while since she got laid, since she's even been attracted to anyone. But something about you just sets her on fire, burning with want and need. She needs you like she's never needed anyone before.

Realistically, Anya knows it's because of the forbidden nature; because of the close proximity day in and day out, but there's something so tantalizingly beautiful about it too. She's a sucker for it.

One of her favourite places to get off is in the medbay; she can lock herself in it - but she doesn't. Because it's so much more tantalizing when she thinks about you walking in. When she thinks about pressing you against the desk and using her medical expertise on you. She wants to hear you - taste you - feel you. Is that too much to ask for?

That's exactly where you catch her. Her breath coming out in hot breaths, eyes shut tightly, uniform pulled open. It'd be so easy to mistake it for something else, such as the room being hot - if it weren't for where her hands were.

One has all but ridden up her shirt, rolling the peak of her breast between her fingers. The zipper has gone all the way down to her waist, one hand curled tightly in her underwear, motions jerky as she fingers herself.

Every inch of her wishes that it was you, your fingers working her over, touching her clit and prodding at her walls. She feels so close, having edged herself for a bit until you came in.

It was just to ask her her input on supper, or for a nonsensical question that very well could have waited for another moment.

The door swishes shut behind you and her eyes flutter, dark as she looks up at you, flush all but crawling up her neck.

Seeing how you look at her - how you came to look for her- needing her for something, a question halfway on your lips - and it's her undoing. She moans your name, guttural and hoarse, hips jerking, dripping over her knuckles. "Wait-" Singlehandedly one of the better orgasms she's had, better than when she pined endlessly.

When her senses come back, Anya is breathless and shaken - and you're long gone.

She's not letting you go this time. Not when a new, burning question lodges inside her. Did you like what you see? Did you wish you weren't there?

Anya approaches your door at night, knocking crisply and when you grant entrance, she stands there, the atmosphere almost palpably awkward. She takes a few steps closer, feeling flighty and desperate, eyes searching your face, whispering your name.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," she whispers, voice low in the room, nerves biting at her throat. She can't not know anymore. "But I'm... glad that you did."

"Is this.. tension between us all in my head, or, do you want me too?"

It's one thing after the next. Couplings came loose, Daisuke's homework is not up to par, the lightbulbs need to be changed but no one seems capable of doing it. It all amounts to a sort of frustration winding up in him. Swansea has enough grace not to lash out at anyone, but it's there, palpable in his tone.

By some saving grace, you're willing to help him out with his work. Passing over screwdrivers and wrenches, new copper wire as he needs it. Swansea has noticed that you're attentive and eager like that; willing to help. Sometimes, he really wished you were his intern instead of Daisuke, not that he blames the kid.

He really needs a damn beer.

Wanking out his frustrations as a teenager and young adult had really suited him just fine, and with each passing day, it becomes a far more likely possibility.

It surely does not help when every little moment with you feels charged. Knuckles brushing when you supply him with mechanic tools, or when his arm brushed against your thigh as he steadied the ladder for you.

Swansea finds his gaze lingering.. on how your uniform bunches, the sway of your walk, the excited chatter to your tone when you've launched into some spiel or other. Each look he gives you is in quiet contemplation, though perhaps not as obvious as to why.

He's long since brushed off your curious questions.

It's when Anya outright slipped and fell over an oil spill that Swansea called it quits. There's only so many small annoyances that he could take before it became a hazardous snowstorm.

After it's suitably cleaned, he tried to find a place to tuck himself away. Keyword: tried. Something else always needed to be fixed, and he had enough years under his belt to know the ins and out of everything. Leaky faucet? Hold his glass. Vaccuum given up? He's got it. Curly, goddammit, he has it.

It's so grueling to find a moment of peace, so he takes what he can. That just so happened to be in the utility room, frustrations to a boiling point.

He knows his body, knows just the right way to stroke himself, the perfect amount of pressure. Learned it long since his youthful days, since his amicable divorce from his wife. Sure, it might feel mechanic at a certain point, but to him, it was a small reprieve. A getaway that only booze came close to.

Foreskin pulled back, his head is tucked low, eyes heavily lidded, fingertips pressing under the tip of the head just like he likes.

Swansea has himself sticky with precum when the utility door rattles and open. "Swansea, I found your keys-"

His eyes track up, eyebrows raised. Whatever hasty attempt you may have made, it's blocked by the aging mechanics of the utility door. It's from an older rig, one that still uses keys instead of the security bars that the medbay and cockpit use. Which means it's faulty as shit.

He sighs, head tipped back, eyes still on you. "That's on me for not leaving a sock out there," he grumbles, voice gruff and husky. A reference to how he told you to ward off people when he caught you masturbating earlier.

Moving his hand from his cock, his gaze is surprisingly steady, arm draped against the back of the chair. "Listen, kid, I won't say shit about this if you don't. Keep it jammed tight better than a olive jar when making margaritas. But." He rolls his neck, feeling a satisfying crack run through him. "I can show ya a few things that the ole cap' or other men won't, if yer interested."

Daisuke has been, for lack of a better word, edgy around you. Hovering, then trying to create distance. He can't seem to decide how to act around you. Not when he's seen you that way, pleasuring yourself. When he wishes you'd involve him.

He's seen plenty of naked people before, got hard over them, but wow, did you take it to the next level. Even how you tilt your head or roll up your sleeves has him in an outright tizzy, straining hard in his pants.

Daisuke often has to excuse himself from your presence. Ignoring Swansea's rolling eyes and knowing scoffs is easy; ignoring you is harder.

It's during one of those mundane tasks, where you're prattling about your work to the others, his eyes glued to your form, absorbing every word that he can't take it anymore. Excusing himself, he pops right out of the room, awkwardly striking towards his bunk.

But of course that is the exact moment you decide you need to return his gameboy - or comic, or whatever he had lent you a few weeks prior.

Daisuke is completely in the groove, pants folded down, back propped to the wall, knees folded and lips parted with each heavy breath. He's always been loud, noisy and boisterous. But his saving (and falling) grace is that he's also often playing movies in his room, and what muffled sounds you may hear from the other side of the door is easily chalked up to that. (Or perhaps, you knew.)

You catch him like that, hand fisted around his lean cock, shirt ridden up over his stomach, his movements sharp and jerky. It's bad enough that you walk in on him like this - but another to hear Daisuke rattle out your name, the sound breathy and full of want coming from his lips.

He's a poor, flushed mess, eyes wide when he looks up at you - and it's so plainly obvious to the both of you that he didn't call out because he heard you come in.

"I- I can totally explain." Except he really can't, can he, when he has his dick in his hand, just moaning your name literally seconds ago.

Any attempt to backtrack out of the room will be greeted with a hasty, "Oh my god, no, pleasewait!" As he all but tries to leap from his bed, tripping over his pants in his haste to get to you. Daisuke is nothing but determined and will try to talk to you about this, even if you manage to successfully flee.

Choosing to stay has him utterly red-faced, almost ashamed as he rambles through a tirade of, "Okay, so," punctuated by repeated, stumbled phrases before he manages to get out, "So, me calling out your name just now - total accident. Unlessyoudon'twantittobe? But, like, I definitely understand if you want to leave but I'dreallyratheryoustaybecause I really can't stop thinking about you and, - oh hey, is that my gameboy? You can just set it-- that's not important! I just. Really don't want you to leave. Please."

[chamerionwrites]

Honestly this gets at my chiefest complaint/frustration/discomfort with fandom as a whole. Which is: in their rush to defend the artistic merit of fanworks I think a ton of people have really valorized transformation and remixing and reinterpretation in and of themselves, when imo those are all quite neutral actions. When done well, they can expand and build upon and subvert meaning in really powerful and thought-provoking (and fun!) ways. When done poorly, they are just as likely to flatten and oversimplify and decontextualize and completely erase meaning. The simple act of changing something does not imbue the choice to do so with creative validity. It is entirely possible for a cover song to be bad (or just boring!). To exactly the same degree that it is possible to transform a pretty shallow and straightforward work into something deeper and more nuanced and subversive, is possible to transform a work into a vastly shallower and less interesting shadow of itself. As with nearly everything in art, it's all about the execution!

But the second you voice this position (which should honestly be a pretty uncontroversial one imo), you get people shrieking at you about being gatekeep-y and pretentious and betraying the sacred fandom etiquette of Don't-Like-Don't-Read.

And like...listen. I was not raised in a barn. I am 150% capable of quietly back-buttoning out of a fanfic I think is bad or boring - which is exactly what I do when I encounter them - and I am obviously not advocating for stupid ships wars or any kind of harassment or leaving hatemail in people's AO3 inboxes. (Which some people will also accuse you of the second you say anything less than lavishly positive about fandom, in true piss-on-the-poor fashion.) Literally all I am saying is that you can't have your cake and eat it too - that if fandom and fanworks (in the broadest sense) have artistic merit then fandom and fanworks (in the broadest sense) are fair game for artistic critique. Which means, in practice, that I can go on my own blog and make a post exactly like this one - critiquing broad trends, or stating that some interpretations are bad actually, or pointing out that subverting or talking back to or reading against the grain of canon is very different from simply ignoring it, or saying "fandom's culture of collage/remix/fuck-canon-I-do-what-I-want can lend itself to to really creative and interesting art but also to a lot of really bland homogenized cut-n-paste art, not to mention some pretty troubling decontextualization." And that if you feel this rains on your personal parade, you are then free to DLDR by back-buttoning out of my blog and/or blocking me so you never have to see my hot takes again, rather than clamoring in my notes about how I should let people enjoy things.

[northopalshore]

🦪 Neptune in the

Union persona chart

Neptune in the Union persona chart describes your love story with your future spouse or long-term partner during the early years of your relationship. It also shows you what your partner may fancy you (find attractive about you) from the moment you've met. Works for every sexual orientation. This interpretation was made from my personal observation. Based on the charts of celebrities I've seen & people I've met in real life.

୨୧ Please do not repost without consent ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠`⁠ʔฅ🔉

Masterlist| Union persona chart masterlist| Briede persona chart

In retrograde! There is this longing for love. In some way, your partner might be aware of you long before you've met ( or just the thought of meeting someone like you in the past). You likely have seen things that correlate to them as well whether you notice or not. Though, this also means that a lot of waiting, back & forth unpredictable changes/troubles may occur when it comes to your love life.

°22 degrees! This degree is a bit special so I'll add a bit more to it here outside of its original attachment (Capricorn degree). Your relationship is very unpredictable there is great potential for deep healing but also a "lesson" for you to overcome. There is usually a risk you must take with this. Either to stay or to go, to shame or be shamed, or to "kill or be killed".

0° degrees! Enhances the qualities of the sign & house it's in.

FS/Future spouse & partner are used interchangeably throughout the post.

⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*

Aries (°1,°13,°25) | 1st House

Your FS is immediately struck by your beauty, or something about your charms. They love how bold and sassy you are! It can cause this sense of rushing feelings and innate sexual attraction between you & your partner (mostly your partner). Your love story is filled with passion, fast paced action, quick progress & even feature fighting, misunderstandings & hot tempers. Though the passion runs high, so does your patience. A lot of things could happen very quickly for you even from the moment you've met. It's on par with the "hot young love" troupe! It's not completely dramatic though, just expect some bickering to show up here & there.

Ex: I had an ex friend that met her boyfriend literally less than a month before dating. And like a week later, they're talking about marriage, commitment, merging families — it's a whole thing. She has Neptune in Aquarius retrograde (°13 Aries) in the 1st house. Is there trouble? Yes. But it's quite private so I won't air it out.

Taurus (°2,°14,°26) | 2nd House

Your partner is impressed by your humility, your beauty & your work or reputation (whatever that may be). I remember writing something similar in a different post, but the "household name" aspect shows up again with this Taurus placement. However that doesn't necessarily translate into being famous. Even in the most mundane world imaginable, people will still associate you with your partner. This relationship is one where you have the potential to have it all with your partner. Where both of you are very sweet to each other & attentive to your partners needs. Your relationship is very stable, and very romantic from the beginning.

Gemini (°3,°15,°27) | 3rd House

Your FS will be very impressed with your wit & knowledge. Perhaps they love the way that you talk and express yourself, the words that come out of your mouth or the things that you write really strike their interests. They also admire your intelligence and intuitive nature. Your relationship is very light-hearted & entertaining as well! You could act like best friends, or have a somewhat sibling-like relationship. You love sharing your thoughts together; and could spend a lot of time talking or going on trips. Non stop talking even.

Ex: A friend of mine has Aquarius Neptune retrograde (°15 Gemini) in the 6th house. Her fiance is from a different state & ethnicity than her, they're on the phone 24/7. They talk about everything together. Take it from me as her roommate lol. It's quite sweet actually. Since they're long distance, both of them make sure their partner is in their life one way or another. Also, they are always giving each other advice & constructive criticism (though at times, one of them feels attacked)

Cancer (°4,°16,°28) | 4th House

Your partner could be infatuated with your innocence and warm personality. Your love story is one that's very affectionate, warm and reassuring. It's the "you are my home" placement even from the beginning. You & your partner will be very easily reliant on each other for that comfort which can lead to you will also get quite attached to your partner. The progression is very natural from what I've seen & emotions run high whenever you're with your person. You could have a codependent relationship as well. Could be a "meeting young" indicator.

Ex: Michael Jackson has Neptune in Scorpio (°4 Cancer) in the 12th house. Both his ex wives were infatuated with him when they were younger. His relationship with both of them were quite codependent, though he had a special attachment to Lisa Marie Presley even long after their divorce. She was like his place of comfort especially since they met round the time when he was most shrouded in controversy. She also tried persuading him off the substance.

Leo (°5,°17,°29) | 5th House

Listen baby, your partner thinks that you are hot shit. Straight up. Your relationship is very romantic, fun and wild. From the beginning, it's as if your partner introduces you to an exciting new world. Expect a lot of flirting and eyeing each other down. Both of you are a force to be reckoned with i.e a power couple! People will adore you when you're together. It's usually an indicator of a famous couple regardless of whether you are famous or not, just because of how good you look together. The vibe you bring to the function is sexy , fun & flirty. What can I say? Your relationship is also quite sexual, there is a lot of physical intimacy & compatibility. (Or rather, day dreaming about it lol).

Ex: Both Beyoncé & Jay-Z have Neptune at °29. They both found each other very attractive and when they met, they were on a roll in their career. Both had pretty steady reputations and Beyoncé was just looking breaking into her solo career (she debuted solo with Jay-Z in 2003).

Virgo (°6,°18) | 6th House

Your partners love the potential that they see in you, like you become their motivation or blank project to work on. Your relationship grounds you & brings you safety & structure. They also admire you for your work & lifestyle (how you structure yourself & your routine). They motivate you to become a better version of yourself. Depending on your lifestyle that could be amazing or detrimental to your sanity lol. You can either feel extremely criticized or very supported.

Ex: Brigitte Bardot has Neptune in Virgo (°13 Aries) in the 3rd house but it's also conjuncting the IC (°17 Leo). She's had several husbands, the first one was passionate and most beneficial to her career (helped her rise to fame). The second was quite hard, rigid & controlling from what I've read (disagreed with her lifestyle). The third was romantic & avant-garde (he was a German billionaire playboy lol) but short lived. The last marriage is private but seemingly quite supportive & a steady man to settle down with. Truly, a perfect example for all her placements.

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Libra (°7,°19) | 7th House

Your FS will be very impressed by your grace & poise. Perhaps to them, you symbolize the ideal woman/man. They'll think of you as beautiful and elegant & classy (at least classier than them in a sense). Your partner will be very attracted to you and find everything about you lovely. As for your love story, it is incredibly romantic & dreamy! There is usually traditional courting involved with this placement.

Ex: Priscilla Presley has Neptune (°7 Libra) in Libra 4th house. Elvis found Priscilla to be beautiful and courteous despite her age (he was likely attracted to that child-like "purity" of hers as well since she was only 14 when they met. Their relationship was very romantic especially in the beginning. They did have a proper relationship despite the aforementioned age gap!

My mom has Neptune in Sagittarius (°7 Libra) in the 6th house. Both my parents act like high school sweethearts in a way (even though they aren't). You know the good girl & bad boy trope from Crybaby? It's one of my favorite movies but it reminds me of my parents ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠`⁠ʔ! Or maybe they're closer to Hank & Peggy Hill's relationship (Kind of the Hill). They act like best friends and still do till this day, but can be quite naggy at each other.

Scorpio (°8,°20) | 8th House

Your love story is the least straightforward love story ever & likely the toughest as well. There will be a lot of personal struggles, unforeseen trouble, push & pull and potential squabbling (which could come from a multitude lot of reasons). Your love requires sacrifice, and overcoming trauma, going through the fire to be born anew. It's as if you need to be born again just to be with each other or being together helps you realize a lot of your flaws & inhibitions. This love is revitalizing, hot, & scandalous. Trouble lies ahead but can be rewarding in the end after you've dealt with the trouble. There is always a hot sizzling attraction with this placement & the lovers are usually obsessed/possessive with each other (in both a good & bad way). Though it also means your relationship has the ability to withstand a lot of pressure.

Sagittarius (°9,°21) | 9th House

Your relationship is very fun and entertaining. You and your partner are a humorous and open-minded duo; there is nothing that you cannot share or express with your partner. Even when you become old farts you'll still crack jokes and treat each other as you did in your younger days. You are each other's biggest motivators and energizers. No day with your partner is wasted or left ignored as you have a tendency of sharing your interest, thoughts, and doing/exploring new things together. This is one of the healthiest placements that I've seen in any relationship (provided you are open to playfulness & fooling around at times). You may also travel together often (or to each other).

Ex: Ryan Reynolds has Neptune in Sagittarius (°14 Taurus ) in the 12th house & Blake Lively has Neptune in Capricorn °9 Sagittarius in her 9th house. They were always the fun couple, you can see from how they act, they love to poke fun at each other and entertain each other. Literally trolling one another too. Still, they are both very supportive and most times they seem to be on the same page.

Capricorn (°10,°22) | 10th House

Your FS is very attracted to your professionalism, and your work ethic. Literally being impressed by how "cool", calm & collected you are! There is usually a separation phase which is very prominent in your relationship. Like you can't get with each other at least not face to face often, or something causes a lot of "cold" feelings, detachment & frustrations. A delay for commitment & dating. Your relationship takes time and a lot of effort to maintain, but if you can handle the turbulence, it's smooth sailing from there. Your relationship has the potential to last a very, verrry long time given the right treatment. Most of the people who have this work with their partner but it's not exclusive to that scenario.

Ex: Zendaya has Neptune in Capricorn (°25 Aries) in the 4th house. Tom said in an interview that he found Zendaya's professionalism & down to earth nature very impressive. The dating rumors started very early (on the set on Spider Man when they first started working together in 2017) but their relationship did not develop or at least wasn't that consistent as Zendaya has dated others before they finally got together again in mid 2021. Ever since then, they have been going steady & are engaged.

Safiya Nygaard has Neptune in Capricorn (°20 Scorpio) in the 11th house (conjuncting Uranus). She & Tyler met at university & were friends for a long time before they started dating. Even when they started dating, they were quite preoccupied with their own goals & interests; with Safiya working with Buzzfeed & he had his own technology centered business as well. However, after Safiya started her own Channel & invested time there, he started working with her too (supporting her). They have worked closely together ever since!

Aquarius (°11,°23) | 11th House

Your relationship will be very well known in one way or another. You could be quite popular online if you post couple content, either way, people want to see you & your partner together; people are naturally more attracted/curious about your relationship. Other than that, in a way, your relationship will defy the norm. You change something about how people, view love, commitment and connection. Nobody, literally nobody would ever think you'd be with your partner. On the most basic level, it's different. Can indicate a interracial relationship as well (since that where I've seen it show up the most).

Ex: Beyoncé & Lisa have Neptune in Aquarius. No ho none, nobody, expected either one of them to end up with who they are with now. It was very surprising to the public when both their relationships were revealed.

Guess, who has this placement too? Jungkook! (Neptune in Aquarius °0, 2nd house). For him, it will make sense just a little while longer. You can expect him to end up with someone opposite (much different) of what people thought he would/hoped/wanted to see him with. I'd love to explain, but it's not the time for it. Not yet.

Pisces (°12,°24) | 12th House

Your FS finds you completely enchanting & almost unreal. They could see you as "perfect" as well! The love you have is genuine, and built solely on love and adoration. Your relationship is very private, and you could even keep it hidden from those around you. There is usually some form of distance and delay involved with you & your partner but it's not completely restrictive (remaining mostly in contact). You progress very slowly with your relationship but the love & fascination only grows stronger as time goes by. This is an extremely romantic placement to have.

Ex: Beyoncé has Neptune in Sagittarius (°24 Pisces) in the 2nd house. (Updated birth time; no changes found). They met in 2000 but didn't really start dating until around 2002 (speculated due to their collaborations that year). When they started making music together, their brands sort of merged together. Even later in the relationship, a lot of Beyoncé's love songs were centered around Jay-Z & vice versa.

˚₊‧꒰ა paid readings available ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

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Thank you for reading ♡ support?

@northopalshore

@northopalshore union persona chart 2025 all rights reserved. Disclaimer.

[little-cereal-draws]

These three because I love this ship so much

*Penelope and Diomedes flirting with each other yet again* Odysseus: And you two are sure you're not dating? Penelope: 100%. Diomedes: Of course not! Why would you think that? Odysseus: I wonder why that possibility would even cross my mind, Diomedes. I fucking wonder.

-

Diomedes: Two years ago, I married my best friend. Diomedes: Penelope is still mad about it, but me and Odysseus were drunk and thought it was funny. -

Odysseus: Hey, babe, remember how I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up my ADHD meds? Penelope: Yes? Odysseus: Well, it turns out they're all out for the next five days. Penelope: Fuck. Odysseus: It's gonna be a fun week! Penelope: I'm going to Diomedes's house. Odysseus: Nuh-uh. Through sickness and health, motherfucker. -

Penelope: Having two partners is both amazing and complicated. But all our problems are solved with communication. Diomedes: It’s my turn to cuddle Odysseus. Penelope: FIVE MORE MINUTES DAMMIT! -

Diomedes: H-how do you ask someone out? Odysseus: Well, first- Penelope: Don't ask him, he asked me out in a McDonalds parking lot. Diomedes: ...And you said yes? -

*Odysseus is telling a story* Penelope: Wow, Odysseus, this story has everything! Action! Adventure! Romance! Diomedes: Romance? Penelope: I'm in love with him. -

Penelope, holding a rock: Diomedes just gave this to me and said "I feel like you deserve the moon but all I can give you is a rock". Odysseus: If you don't marry him, I will. -

Diomedes: It's pretty cold outside... wanna hold hands? We should stay close. Odysseus, blushing: Okay. Penelope: It's fucking summer. -

Odysseus: If I say I love you, will you say it back? Diomedes: Yes. Odysseus: I love you. Diomedes: It back. *Later* Penelope: Why is Odysseus crying face-down on the floor? -

Penelope: Ooh, somebody has a crush Odysseus: Pfft, I don’t have a crush on Diomedes. I just think he's cool, it’s not like I stay up at night thinking about him. *Later that night* Odysseus, very much awake: Uh oh. -

Penelope: Did Diomedes just tell me he loved me for the first time? Odysseus: Yeah, he did. Penelope: And did I just do finger guns back? Odysseus: Yeah, you did. -

Penelope: You don't need my blessing to go kiss Diomedes. In fact, I was pretty sure you were already kissing Diomedes! Odysseus: Nope. Penelope: In that case, as the archbishop of Odysseus's fully awakened gaydom, I give you my blessing to immediately leave and rectify that as soon as possible! Go now, my child, and kiss Diomedes right on the lips!!! -

Odysseus: Thank you all for coming. Penelope, wearing a hospital gown: When I heard you couldn't get laid, I dropped everything and came straight here. Odysseus: Well, I couldn't imagine anyone else being part of the "Fuck Odysseus Task Force". Diomedes: Yeah, I interpreted that in a different way. -

Odysseus: *looking through his closet* Has anyone seen my top? Diomedes: Penelope’s in the kitchen. -

Diomedes: *sucking on a popsicle* Penelope: Pfft, you practicing for when Odysseus gets here? Diomedes: *takes a huge ass bite out of the popsicle* Penelope: *Concern* -

Diomedes: *is wearing silk pants* How does this look? Odysseus: Like its slips on and off really easily. Diomedes: Odysseus: No, I didn't mean it like that- Penelope: We know what you meant. -

Penelope: Can you please just apologize to Diomedes? Odysseus: Fine, but I have to warn you that this may make me a nicer, better person and that is not who you feel in love with. -

Diomedes: Hi, sorry I’m late. I was doing a couple of things and got distracted. Odysseus: I’m “a couple of things”. Penelope: I’m “got distracted”. *Penelope and Odysseus high five* -

Penelope: That shirt looks great, Odysseus. Odysseus: Thanks. Penelope: But I bet it would look even better on Diomedes's floor. Diomedes: Are you hitting on Odysseus... for me? -

Diomedes: Hey, Odysseus? Can I get some dating advice? Odysseus: Just because I'm with Penelope doesn't mean I know how I did it.

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

I think a more charitable interpretation of the statue scene being when Adrien first fell in love with Marinette is that he’s lying.

I think contextually with the way his expression is animated the moment Adrien started to see Marinette differently was when he practiced her confession with her as Chat, but Adrien can’t tell her that. So they picked another scene from the show for him to lie about as a cover.

This isn’t to absolve the show of bad writing. It’s extremely telling that the romantic leads interact so infrequently out of the mask that the statue scene was their go to.

It also doesn’t help that we rarely get any insight into how Adrien thinks. Meaning we only have on screen actions to go on regarding his unreliability as a narrator and as a superhero.

(Post that spawned this ask or possible this one, not 100% sure since both reference that scene)

While this is obviously not what canon was going for, I utterly adore this as a simple fix to the problem. What a lovely idea that could have been perfectly in line with the show's humor. Just have Kagami ask Adrien when he started feeling like this for Marinette, leading him to flashback to:

The Glaciator balcony scene, but oops, can't talk about that one, he was Chat Noir

The Weredad confession and date, but oops, once again, can't discuss that because he was Chat Noir

The Glaciator 2 confession to "Buttercup", but oops, he's once again Chat Noir

Could even throw in an Evillustrator flashback, but once again, he can't talk about that because he was Chat Noir!

Between each flashback we see Kagami getting ever more impatient so Adrien finally just blurts out something about the wax museum based on a poster behind her head and the rest of the episode is him having to pretend that the awkward almost kiss was the moment while Marinette, Luka, and Kagami all look at him like he's nuts. It could have been amazing! You could also do a variation where the flashbacks happen throughout the episode as Adrien remembers his favorite moments with Marinette, but he can never talk about the real memory because it was with the wrong him.

Then again, that would probably eat up the whole 20 minutes, leaving no time for an akuma attack, so it wouldn't work for Miraculous as every episode has to have a fight in it, but that's not an argument against this idea. It's just another argument for why a romance is poorly suited to an episodic formula show that's incredibly strict about being both of those things!

[luffydotcom]

love languages

synopsis: what i think the love languages of different one piece characters are (platonic/romantic)

feat: luffy, zoro, usopp, nami, sanji, ace, law

notes: i feel like love languages can be interpreted in both platonic or romantic ways, so i tried to mix it up, but feel free to interpret it how you will!

warnings: slight spoilers for sanji's (full) backstory (?)

luffy

physical touch. LUFFY is big-hearted and compassionate, sending love to everyone he comes across on his journey often without even meaning to. he is very attached to the people he loves - and very much physically.

luffy is always seen hanging off the arms of zoro, wrapping himself around nami, sitting close to robin when she reads, it's his way of making those around him feel loved and protected.

although he isn't massively clingy to the point where he won't allow you to have your own space, expect a degree of clinginess! physical affection is how he expresses his love towards others as well as what brings him comfort. he is a huge hugger: hugging comforts him when he feels sad, but also helps him comfort those he cares about.

zoro

quality time + acts of service. due to ZORO being reserved, he doesn't often say much - these love languages don't often require words for showing and receiving love.

quality time matters a lot to zoro. even if it's just sitting in silence, a small conversation, training together, or walking outside, he enjoys having someone by his side in these moments as the time spent together shows a level of love and commitment in the friendship or relationship.

zoro strongly values loyalty. spending quality time with him shows that you care strongly about being together and genuinely enjoy being next to him even in the smallest of moments. he likes that he doesn't always have to say things to keep it interesting, sometimes just having someone there can feel very loving and he appreciates that.

zoro is big on actions - if he seriously loves you, he's always got your back and would go to the greatest lengths to show it. he would practically level an army for someone he loves and then act like it's nothing at all. he treats people he loves with a priority and wants to ensure that they are safe and protected.

nami

giving/receiving gifts. for NAMI, i feel like this is a given, but this doesn't mean she is ultra-materialistic and that gifts are the only way to her heart!

when nami was young, she never asked for or expected anything, and lived in a life of poverty. to receive gifts from someone she loves would make her whole world, as it's something she was never able to experience when she was younger. she loves receiving gifts especially when they are well thought-out and gifted with love and consideration.

however, she also expresses love through giving gifts. although nami always jokes about the crew owing her money and needing to pay her back at high interest, she seriously would never trade friendship or love for money. if it's for someone she loves, she would gladly use the money instead to help them or spoil them affectionately with gifts.

usopp

words of affirmation. USOPP feels loved by hearing words that make him feel grounded and secure.

usopp is insecure, unsure of his place in the crew as well as insecure of his lack of strength compared to those around him. he has an inferiority complex - hearing words of affirmation remind him that he is good enough and that there is no need to compare himself to others.

usopp is a liar, yes - but he just wants to be believed in. words of affirmation make him feel sure of himself and that there is no need to lie about who he is. he feels the most loved and validated when someone accepts him for his true self underneath the lies, as this allows him to become more confident in his own skin.

however, he also uses words of affirmation to show his support and care of others. usopp is full of stories (although most of them are fictional), and would use his words to cheer you up in your hardest moments.

sanji

words of affirmation + acts of service. SANJI expresses love by giving his all, but never expecting to receive any love in return - words of affirmation and acts of service give him the love he never knew he needed.

sanji's traumatic childhood of being told that he was a failure and that he shouldn't have been born by his biological family caused him to feel unworthy of love. words of affirmation make him feel deserving of love and care after feeling worthless all his life.

sanji is extremely selfless, going to great lengths to protect and give to the people he loves. he goes out of his way to do acts of service for his friends but feels selfish asking for anything in return. acts of service give him the love he has been missing - going out of your way to do things for him, big or small, makes him feel loved as he feels reassured that his existence is not a burden and that it's not selfish to want things for himself, like favours or help.

sanji will always offer words of affirmation and shower you with compliments to remind you of how much he loves and admires you. he is also very emotionally aware and highly sensitive to the needs of others - he expresses this through acts of service (especially with cooking!) to show his care to who he loves, especially if they need it.

ace

physical touch + words of affirmation. ACE resembles luffy in many ways, he is very physical displaying and receiving love. but besides affection, he needs assurance through words that he deserves love.

ace loves physical touch and is very playful when displaying affection. he loves a good hug, kiss, tickle fight, cuddle, hair ruffle, you name it - he finds it fun and feels like it's the easiest way to let someone know he cares about them or loves them. although he is well-mannered and not as rowdy as he was when he was little, he can be when he's affectionate.

however, ace is also similar to sanji in the sense that he is extremely self-sacrificing and would put his life on the line for those he loves. he needs words of affirmation to remind him that his life is valued and that he shouldn't throw it away selflessly because he deserves to live and be loved.

ace also cares deeply about others' happiness, he would definitely use words of affirmation to comfort you during hard times or to build up your confidence and remind you of how much he loves and cares about you.

law

acts of service + quality time. similar to zoro, LAW s very reserved and introverted. he isn't so sure how to show or receive love in the typical way, and has his own ways of doing so, mainly based on actions opposed to words.

law is very practical. he cares a lot about being efficient and doing things right because of his role as the captain (and doctor) of the crew. acts of service such as favours or giving him a helping hand mean a lot to him as someone who is always busy and working. he also expresses his love towards others through acts of service, such as protecting or aiding others when they are injured. he is not the most emotionally expressive, so his love language is deeply rooted in doing opposed to saying.

law also highly values quality time as he feels as though meaningful interactions with a friend/partner make the relationship strong and connected. having deep, meaningful conversations with him or supporting him in difficult moments let him know that he can trust you and that you care about him.

[cuntyji]

RED SEA DIVING CLUB ౨ৎ VARIOUS X FEMALE READER

synopsis: your period is here, but guess what? so are your men, and they all have very different approaches to the situation. it’s a mess, literally, but so are you. and they all love it here.

content warnings: suggestive content (no explicit description, it's mostly just crack headcanons because writing smut scares me), periods, period sex

author's note: chuckles nervously and prays this does not flop

sukuna does a little interpretative dance in his head when you ask him to go down on you during your period. it’s a whole theatrical performance up there—twirls, jazz hands, maybe even a dramatic bow at the end. whoopsie, he loves blood, has loved it for millennia, and hey, he loves you too! there’s sheer tension in the air, a moment so raw and intimate—except he looks like a kid in a candy store, eyes practically sparkling with excitement. he thinks he looks reaalll sexy, some smug, brooding beast of a man, but in reality? he just looks giddy, like a dog that just heard the word "walk." “ohhh, baby, y'spoiling me,” he drawls, cracking his knuckles like he’s about to feast. you blink, and suddenly his face is buried between your legs like he’s got a personal vendetta against your thighs. he's winning.

choso, on the other hand, is the one asking to do the deed. he’s curious, fascinated even. “so... s'still okay, right?” he asks, blinking at you with all the innocence of a man who has lived for over a century but still somehow lacks the finer understanding of menstruation. sure, he knows what it is, but the nuances? the societal taboos? the way some guys act like you’ve summoned an ancient curse when you bleed on the sheets? nah, all of that flies right over his head. “do you want to?” you ask, testing him. he nods. so earnestly, too. “yeah.” well, are you complaining? is he stopping? hell no. he’s already got his hair tied back like he’s about to solve an economic crisis, shoulders squared like this is a challenge he’s fully prepared to take on. a scholar in his field. dedication unmatched.

toji is not squeamish. period? what period? this is child’s play to him. unlike your loser exes who whined the second a speck of red touched the sheets, toji merely grunts, “eh, we’ll wash ‘em later,” before promptly ruining them further. he doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t even pause—just goes about it like usual, putting the dirty in down and dirty. he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand after, grins, and says, “tastes the same.” (bro?????) he doesn’t even make a thing of it. it’s just sex - just you, just the same old routine, except maybe a little messier. what a man.

gojo, meanwhile, is relieved periods are a once in a month thing. not because he minds the blood—please, (💅) he’s a sorcerer, he’s seen worse—but because, as much as he loves the post-period ovulation package deal that turns you into the horniest creature alive, he’s not exactly jumping with joy at the idea of cleaning up every time you two tear into each other. “babe, i love you,” he says, voice dripping with exaggerated affection, “but we might have to invest in some, like... plastic sheets.” yet, the moment you so much as blink your lashes at him, he’s already laying you out like a starfish. no thoughts. just action. he’s a loving partner, after all.

geto, bless his heart, frowns slightly when you mention it. this is your healing girl era, your resting girl era, and he believes in honoring that. “hmm, i think we should wait,” he says, ever the rational, reasonable man. strictly, at that. no debate. until you sigh dramatically grab your rose toy like thor's hammer, about to embark on a solo pilgrimage. and suddenly? he’s giving you a ride to poundtown. a whoooolllle first-class trip. “oh? you had the energy to go looking for that thing but not to come sit on my lap?” he muses, dark eyes narrowing as he slides a hand up your thigh. oh, joy!

nanami, on the other hand, feels like activities like these can wait. sex isn’t everything, and there are other ways to relieve your cramps. he massages your lower back, makes you warm tea, rubs slow circles into your stomach with his broad, calloused hand. but. if you beg reaaalllllly nicely, voice all soft and sweet, looking up at him with those desperate eyes... well. who is he to say no? “fine.” he exhales, already unbuttoning his shirt. “but you’re washing the sheets.”

a/n: hi

[proudfreakmetarusonikku]

Anyway, while people are discoursing about men and not sharing Shubble points, here’s the actual advice I got from watching the stream bc I think that probably needs to be spread more. Shubble elaborates it much better but if you can’t watch it’s better than nothing.

Physical abuse is not just hitting or kicking, anyone causing physical pain intentionally to you without consent is physically abusive, regardless of how that manifests or if it seems silly.

Pressuring someone into using a safeword on something that’s not, like, a mutually agreed thing and is just something one partner wants is controlling and creepy.

Partners who push at the edge of your boundaries and avoid safewords are abusive.

A partner insisting you’re remembering things wrong and making you seem crazy is abusive (specifically, it’s gaslighting)

Grand romantic gestures from the beginning can very easily be a sign of abuse, as abusers use it to endear themselves to their victims.

Controlling behaviour and refusing to break up while also refusing to make changes is possessive and unhealthy at best.

Abusers will manipulate things to make it seem normal to those outside of their victims- by being kind and helpful even as they neglect their victim, by pressuring their victim to treat their abusive behaviour as a joke, ect. It’s often very hard for an outside observer to know if something is abusive, and making assumptions off of what you know in front of closed doors isn’t helpful.

It’s very hard to tell that you’re being abused, and you'll often still retain affection for your abuser for a long time- this is normal, and this isn’t your fault if you wanted to stay friends.

Even if an abuser is struggling with their own problems, taking it out on you is not acceptable. People can be bottling up their emotions and struggle with depression and past trauma and that gives them no excuse to hurt you.

If your partner relies entirely on you to take care of them, and support them financially, that’s financial abuse one way or another.

Abusers tend to hurt more than one person, and their actions escalate without outside influence (be it intervention if possible or something that keeps them away from victims if not.)

Listen to your gut, if you think a relationship is bad. Even if you’ve been through this before, sometimes you can’t realise in it, but you’ll feel it subconciously.

Also, Shubble is being supported by friends who helped her cope and went through different but similar things. She's specifically mentioned right now keeping the stories anonymised, but she might change her mind, if I interpreted the last bit correctly. She's doing alright, she's healing, and it sounds like she's being believed by her friends, at least most of them. I wish nothing but growth and healing for them, and wish them the best moving forward.