#and i hardly ever make a post of my own in general i mostly just reblog stuff

[maruxee]

Rambling abt a very specific moment in ep.10:

the heartbroken soldier looking at Vash through his scope, seeing through it only the monster that took his family

Vash lowering his hands means nothing to him, nor the expression on his face, mirroring his own grief

to Vash, I bet the bullet just punctuated the devastating mess of emotions he already got from the soldier's words alone and the heat of his glare :')

the sight of his parents' supposed killer through his scope, just taking in all his hate without a word or retaliation or self-defence

so easy to pull the trigger

Vash's hand on his fresh wound like he's cradling the bullet close and keeping it in, as he then turns his back to them all and calmly walks away....

did he see the empty look in Vash's eyes through his scope after that??? did the soldier manage to notice it, past the veneer of hatred he held onto so tightly?

the mirrored emptiness left within the soldier as he lowered his gun, after he exacted revenge, left with an outcome he'd probably thought about before ever since Jeneora Rock, and had likely been so sure would feel better than this

[britneyshakespeare]

I wonder if Shakespeare had a dog

[tortor-sauce]

18+ POST LOOK AWAY 👹🔞 if you’re not 18+ PLEASE DNI with this post!! 👹🔞

(sketch and drabble and headcanons)

(jel/reth/oc stuff)

GO AWAY LOOK AWAY!!!!! IM WARNING YOU 🔪

SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP I CANT EVEN TAG THIS I DONT EVEN WANT PEOPLE TO SEE BUT I HAVE TO SHOW SOMEONE AND TALK ABOUT IT OR I’LL EXPLODE!!!!

i’m too shy to share the whole picture IM SORRY—i just wanted to capture a few headcanons into a single shamelessly horny drawing of the three of them together. also, my thoughts are completely unorganized and this post is mostly just me rambling!

small disclaimer, if you don’t agree with or like my headcanons, that’s totally valid but please don’t tell me so 🙇 i kindly ask you just move on from this post. thank you!

okay. so i feel like both reth and jel are service tops HEAR ME OUT—like, they’re both just a couple of pathetic lover boys who are so head over heels in love with you. the fact they practically always gift you something when you flirt with them in-game (jel gifting silk and reth gifting soup) i feel is their attempts at spoiling you and taking care of you in their own way. they just want to see you happy and make you cum your brains out a thousand times until you can’t think straight anymore 🥺

and in general, i feel jel would love to shower you in compliments and words of praise and practically worship your body. while i feel reth is the type to show you how he feels and relish in watching you come undone with him. but personally 👉👈 i feel jel and reth align more closely as switches because they’re both so.. so soft and need to be spoiled and loved so deeply (no innuendo intended)

with that said, i think jel is a more intimate and passionate lover while reth is a bit more unhinged and rough. that’s not to say jel doesn’t have his sadistic bouts. i feel it stems directly from his obsessive nature and grows into a desire to watch you submit to him and his whims, sort of in a controlling way. but it makes him so happy when you do. the need to know you belong to him, both your heart and body, is honestly really important to him. i actually feel he has control issues due to a number of reasons but that’s a different discussion—💀 and he rewards you so thoroughly for showing him how much you love him. god, the aftercare? he’s so gentle and attentive and treats you like the most precious thing he’s ever held.

more on reth, while not as sadistic, i feel he’s still plenty controlling when he wants to be. the poor man has hardly any control in his day-to-day life and the fact you allow him an ounce of control? over your body of all things? yeah, that shit drives him mad (positive). gets a bit carried away and leaves marks on your body, hickeys, scratches, bruises, the like. but hey, at least it’s a pretty reminder of how much fun you had together. plus, if anyone sees they’ll know you belong to him. but he definitely teases you about it the following days by making sly comments and even running his fingers over the more sensitive marks.

so, in my polycule i envision moments where two will actively spoil the other. so for instance like when maddox and reth want to spoil jel and shower him in the love and affection he deserves, he gets all shy and blushy but relishes in the moment. he pays them back tenfold once they’re finished, but not that same night. maddox and reth make sure he’s completely worn out so he’ll finally get some damn sleep for once. reth is the same in that regard; he gets all shy and blushy but he enjoys being spoiled for once. not having to care about anything or anyone else and focus fully on himself and his pleasure. and the two know this and want to show him how loved he is. lowkey i imagine jel bringing him to tears, crying tears of pleasure and from overstimulation but that may be a personal thing of mine. 💀 and as for maddox? they both know exactly which buttons to push. i imagine them sort of egging each other along. i mentioned earlier i think jel has a sadistic side to him, well i think the same of reth albeit not nearly as prominent. like, the fact he teases and flirts so much could be for a number of reasons, but how lovely it would be if it were only to watch their reactions each time. with that said, maddox happens to be very reactive and discovering that fact in bed, like, awakens something inside of him to tease more, to push as much as maddox will allow him. and yes, he notices the way jel reacts to it too. it only makes him want to tease him for the fact as well 🥴 WHICH is why i drew him with that expression LMAO normally i would’ve imagined him with a much softer and kinder expression but i think he’s quick to lose himself in the throes of pleasure which causes him to act a bit selfish at times. but like i said, i see him as a service top so really his ‘selfish’ moments are him just spoiling maddie and jel and showering their bodies with so much love and attention.

i have so many more thoughts but this post is getting long and i’m getting embarrassed so i’ll stop there for now.

IF YOU READ THIS IM SORRY LOL BUT THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME///////

[dol-dee]

So... you imagine DoL set in the early 2000s? ME TOO. Tell me more about that!

aaaaaaa yes I do!!!! (Sorry for the late reply haha. I kept forgetting to come back to this ask) I think I started to feel that way pretty early on, since there's hardly any electronics around in game.

You don't have access to a phone yourself (which, admittedly makes sense as an orphan) but electronics get barely mentioned in general. (I'm guessing the true reason for it, is that it would be too much of a hassle to implement electronics as a mechanic in game. bc arguably you should easily be able to buy a phone or w/e later on, if dol actually took place in our time) Named npcs often have phones to record you with (which I kinda forgot about tbh lmao) but unless in that context, phones don't get brought up at all iirc. None of the named npcs ever ask you for your phone number and Social media isn't really a topic of conversation either.

The only Computers that I remember mentioned in game are Leightons, Mickey's, Kylars and the one you can check in the police station. (I don't remember if Bailey even has one or not.) They are far and few between. They also all read as desktop computers to me and not laptops. Hell, the only gaming Console to ever be a topic of interest, is Robins. I don't think we hear of/see any handheld conosles at all. Even TV's rarely get mentioned.

Pop Culture, like manga, anime and games doesn't seem to be a big thing yet either.

All of that gives me the impression that most electronic is still pretty sparse and hard to come around and kinda reminds me of my childhood when those interests where still conisdered niche/nerdy and weird. The few characters that have desktop pc's seem to be ones that had/have enough money (like Kylar, maybe Bailey?) to foot the bill, are either in a high enough position of power to own one (like leighton) or they're involved enough in shady business that they might have the resources to have their own equipment (Mickey).

tbf a lot of my reasoning can be argued against or easily explained away, but I think dol is infinitely more interesting as a game/story when it's set during the early/mid 2000s, where most electronics were still hard to come by.

Oh and last but not least: it simply makes for easier story telling haha. I think there would be way more ""plot holes"" you'd have trouble explaining away if it was set during modern times. considering how much digital surveilance we have nowadays.

Aside from all the examples I just brought up, dol just has that 2000s grime to me. It's so grungy and dank in it's vibes that it always reminds me of that timeframe. Just has that kinda clunky/kitschy charm to it. (a more eclectic personal explanation is that the seasons in game still feel the way I remember them for my childhood. nowadays everything feels really out of wack thanks to global warming. Although I'm sure that people who are older than me would say the same haha)

to keep this already long post short(er lmao) I'm gonna go into some headcanons under the cut; Basically which Characters have electronics and why:

Avery: has an expensive af and extremely clunky looking (by todays standards) work laptop, that she sometimes lugs around. Also owned one of the first mobile phones. Those really big and blocky ones. Maybe even had one of those phones that were built into cars. However, I think shed be kinda annoyed by mobile phones*, even if she's extremely diligent in answering her calls. (the grind never stops) *based on this comic from 1919 about pocketphones: Mostly because she strikes me as someone who doesn't care to be overly accessible and also hates it when whatever shes doing at the moment gets disrupted by something else.

Alex: Canonically has a phone in game. To me it's a landline phone. They don't own much electronics beside it. They have no desktop pc and no mobile phone. (canonically the own a tv and I feel like they'd have a radio, maybe even an old record player) Bailey: It would make sense for them to have a desktop computer but I can't remember if they canonically (and with that I mean in game) do have one or not. I could see it either way tbh. As they strike me as a stubborn hard ass whos paranoid about electronics and quickly gets annoyed by it) They only own burner phones aside from the official landline phone thats designated for "over the counter" orphanage business. Eden: Has an old ass radio and an extremely dusty burner phone that bailey gave them once. They don't own anything else

Harper: has a mobile phone they got from Remy, it's purely for business. I don't think they have one for personal business. They own a pager though bc of the hospital. They probably have a desktop pc too if only for hospital stuff.

Kylar: Has a Desktop pc, their parents footed the bill for that many screened monstrosity (tbf i dont know enough to remember if old pcs are even able to have several monitors connected to them or not). Probably had a mobile phone once. Whitney stole it. They own a few consoles but they prefer pc gaming (pc master race /j) Some 2000s era games (with no consideration for an exact timeframe) that I think Kylar would be into are : Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines American McGee's Alice Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 / Persona 3 Portable The Urbz: Sims in the City The Sims 2 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

Robin: No mobile phone, the only electronics they keep around (until they inevitably need to sell them for emergency money) are an old tv and a gaming console. I have no concrete headcanons regarding the exact console and games unfortunately. (They seem to like superhero related stuff and I don't remember enough games that I associate with that direction of the top of my head)

Sydney: Has access to a landline phone but thats it. they don't have a mobile phone. Maybe they got to look at/ try out a pc at Kylars house once upon a time, but I don't think Sirris has one themself. I might be off with this but I could see Sirris being the one who bought a few early nintendo consoles like the SNES and Game Cube. Maybe even a gameboy.

Whitney: I don't think Whitney or their family is particularly wealthy so all of the access to electronics that they got, is either through wealthier friends, bullying or stealing. They have a mobile phone and probably a few handheld consoles they nabbed off their victims (in secret).

[bunsreverie]

This is my first time posting nsfw on this blog, so I’m really nervous to post this. It was so fun to write though.. god I’m down so bad for him😞

NSFW BELOW, minors please dni !!

↓

. ࣪ ˖ Feng Xun general NSFW hcs:

• Feng Xun is basically a pillow princess, there’s no denying that. He’s quite lazy, so he mostly prefers lying back and letting you do whatever you please. That’s not to say he’s very submissive, I think he would still be the one in control in most situations despite his laziness. He feels more comfortable when you’re the one doing most of the work though, because you can take things at your own pace and go as you feel comfortable.

• He loves to praise you so much. Especially if he’s got you doing all the work, he’s gotta tell you how beautiful you look riding him and how well you take him, right? (He’s pretty big by the way.. so he wants you to take him at your own pace so that he doesn’t accidentally hurt you.) If he is close to finishing and getting impatient with your pace, he’ll grip your hips rather tightly and thrust himself up into you, which damn near throws you for a loop.

• He loves it when you are on top of him so much, you can go as fast or slow as you want, and he can just lie back and touch you. As you ride him, his hands are all over your body, stopping occasionally to squeeze your breasts gently. He’s got a perfect view of you- he’s pretty vocal with praise, he likes telling you how beautiful you look and he’ll call you his good girl/boy.

• Occasionally he will top you if you want him to, he definitely wouldn’t ever say no to that if you asked. Especially if you say you’re tired or don’t feel like moving, Feng Xun will happily do the work and fuck you. It’s the least he can do- even if he prefers when you ride him, he likes missionary as well because he loves to be able to see your face and be able to caress it. His thrusts are deep, slow, and even paced, but he can quickly become desperate and take on an erratic, fast pace if he is close- his desperation when he’s close is shameful. He likes to take it slow just because he wants you to be comfortable, but he also thinks it’s cute to see you whine and beg him for more.

• Just because he is lazy does not mean he’s inconsiderate. What makes up for his laziness is he LOVES giving oral. I feel like he would enjoy face-sitting so much. Like, you’re telling him he can just lay down and relax and please you at the same time, and he hardly has to move at all? Honestly, he could do this for hours if you’d let him, and he’s pretty good at it too. I don’t think he’s too experienced, but he is observant enough to learn very quickly what drives you crazy.

• Sometimes you have to tell him to stop or push his head away because if he’s eating you out/sucking you off he’s going to overstimulate you like crazy. It’s not like he really even means to either, he just can’t get enough of the cute noises you make, and the way your thighs tense up and jerk when he makes you come and still doesn’t stop his assault with his tongue. “Just a little more baby, you can handle it..” and he continues, just so he can listen to your desperate whines and pleas for him to have some mercy. He loves it when you are loud, and it riles him up so bad to see that he’s the one making you that way.

• Hear me out on this one.. Wake him up with a blow-job. (With previous consent of course) He’s going to act a bit agitated with you at first for ruining his sleep, but he’s only pretending. He secretly really loves when you do this. He already hates waking up, it’s his least favorite part of his day. But if you do that, I think it’ll probably become his favorite before long. Plus, his sleepy moans, half lidded eyes and messy hair sprawled out around him make him the most beautiful sight you’ve ever seen, and you just can’t help wanting more.

• 9 times out of 10, that blow-job will probably turn into lazy morning sex, with his arms wrapped around you while lazily thrusting himself into you from behind. This isn’t his favorite position because of the way you have to nearly break your neck for him to see your pretty messy face, but he does enjoy how close your bodies are. I hope you’re not too ticklish, because his hands are going to be all over every inch of your body.

I don’t typically write nsfw so I apologize if this isn’t very good, I’m just crazy and I have to get my thoughts out there

[varilien]

(character uses they/it) i keep wanting to start posting my ocs over here again and then Just Not Doing It so uhhhh !!! some stuff from february, had a dream about knives that made me think of a plant oc with a constant power output so extreme that it generates a deadly radiation field around them. because of that they've been living alone this whole time, avoiding contact with other living things, and over the years they've learned how to suppress that output for short spans of time or "safely" pour out the excess in order to be safe to be around, though they ultimately prefer their solitude due to a history of bad experiences with humans. they're very blunt, spiteful, and curious

@whatever-you-can-give-me suggested lr would make good friends for them since they are 🤝 about being extremely hard to hurt lol

also! wrote like 2k about they and razlo's first meeting below the cut if anyone's interested in some good ol violence + gore :3

that was a fr content warning btw read at ur own discretion:

Chance encounters with violent strangers out in the open desert are nothing new to LR, even when Livio purposefully had tried to find the quietest possible route to travel.  It’s not even necessarily surprising to run into someone a little to the left of human, someone a bit bigger or stronger or more durable than they really have any right to be.  The Eye aren’t the only ones designing freaks on this planet, that much is obvious, evidenced sufficiently by the odder fights LR have ever gotten in.  

And this one is shaping up to be one of their oddest fights yet.

Livio hadn’t seen the fucker coming, occupied as he was with the slow realization of why this stretch of road doesn’t see much use anymore: a creeping heat across his nerve endings unrelated to the overcast, evening suns, the taste of metal in his mouth, and a deep-rooted nausea twisting up his guts.  Radiation sickness.  He’s dealt with it before, and as unpleasant as it is, it’s hardly enough to slow him down too bad.  

It’s damn distracting, though.  A good enough excuse for not noticing them hiding up along the rockface above his head.  Not a good enough excuse to keep Razlo from tagging in, especially after something’s pierced straight through the back of his neck, nearly taking his head clean off.  

Razlo rolls for cover with a strangled sound, blood gushing from his forced-out throat and foaming at his lips.  Even with his senses jarred and his vision blurred, it'd take more than a near-decapitation for his instincts to be overridden.  He's slinging out a Punisher before he even knows what he's up against.  

There's a blur of motion to his right as soon as his sights are raised.  They're probably surprised Razlo's still standing, but so was everyone else who's gotten a lucky shot at him.

He can track their motion by sound alone.  They're sloppy.  Feet hitting the cracked earth in hard thumps, every one a warning that Razlo can aim a spray of bullets at.  And by now Razlo's healed enough to notice and wonder why the hell his head is still so fucked up.

At least now he can mostly see them when he turns, hanging back a ways, out of Razlo's reach.  Shorter than him by a head and a half, covered toe to tip in layers of sun-bleached rags, save for their face.  That's hidden behind a tall, curved mask, shaped in a way that looks an awful lot like a tomas' crest, with the false eye markings to match.  Even the glass for the lenses is opaque.  The only part of them that’s exposed is their left hand, extended delicately aside to keep Razlo’s blood dripping off it from getting on their clothes.

Razlo physically tries to shake out the buzzing in his skull that only gets worse by the second, only to notice the foul smell of burning meat and risk an instinctive glance down at his arm, where his flesh has started to bubble and steam seemingly on its own.  He looks between his arm and his opponent, the way their body tenses and head begins to tip, shaking hard, simultaneous with his skin boiling that much more fiercely.  

Something clicks in his brain.  There’s no way.

And no time to find out.  This time when they dart in he’s expecting it; he takes a swing at their head, and they dodge right into his follow-through, slamming his Punisher into their skull with a crunch and a wet sound from their throat.  They drop, like he’d expect them to, like anyone would.  And like no one does, they just roll out of the way and onto their back, braced to spring back up again.  Razlo puts his boot through their ribcage before they get the chance to.  That should be the end of it, too, but the fucker just keeps kicking, trying to get away, the only sound they make being the gurgle of their lungs filling with blood, and they keep kicking.

At this point Razlo doesn’t even have a plan anymore.  Needless to say, he doesn’t go up against an awful lot of guys who match him in the department of being a pain in the ass to take down.  Razlo's just starting to come up with a new idea when those long arms swing up, claws digging into and making ribbons of his right leg.

Razlo curses and tries to pull away, which only makes them hold on even tighter.  He's staring that four-eyed glare down when that burning feeling across his whole body raises in pitch again, and it's the sight of his flesh starting to disintegrate around their fingers that finally makes him back off.

Razlo rather gracelessly falls on his ass in trying to take a step back, not expecting his right leg to simply break off halfway down his thigh.  He scrambles back a ways, ready to keep going, missing limb or no, but— they aren't following him.  They're collapsed in the sand, limbs akimbo as they fight to draw a full breath.  Razlo watches with morbid curiosity as his severed leg dissolves into nothing more than an off-colored patch of sand beside them.

All that angry tension has gone out of their body, leaving them limp and motionless except for the stutter of their chest, and Razlo can hear the damp gasps muffled behind their mask.  By all rights, it should look like more of a struggle.  They should be dead, really, but from where Razlo is sitting, it looks a lot more like they’re just taking a rest.  He feels more sure of that when they roll their shoulders back a bit, arms braced in the dirt as they delicately arch their spine.  There’s some sharp popping sounds, and a little exhale from them; setting their ribs, Razlo figures.  He’s had to do the same thing before.  Once they can move their arms more effectively, they start to gather themself up into a seated position, bones and joints still crackling like popcorn here and there as they go, til they’re all the way up, with their hands resting in their lap, looking far too fucking comfortable for the fight they’d just had.

"You're not dead."

Their voice startles Razlo despite being as soft as it is, and his gaze flicks up to that mask, just slightly tilted to the side, orange lenses glinting in the harsh sunlight.  They don't move at all that Razlo can see.  Even their breathing has evened out enough to have become imperceptible under their heavy shroud; if they're in any pain still, Razlo sure can't tell.

"Nope," is all he says, or can manage to say.

He scrubs at his eyes with the back of his hand, blinking hard a couple times to scrunch up his face in the hopes his nerves might start feeling right again soon.

Another wave of nausea hits him, but his stomach was empty before the fight even started, so he leans forward to put his head between his knees and dry heave for a while.

The whole time, he's aware of his little opponent continuing to sit in silence, watching and eerily unmoving, even when Razlo manages to sit up again and wipe his mouth with his wrist.

"The fuck's yer deal, anyways?"  Razlo asks.

"'Deal'...?"  They echo.

"Couldn't exactly kill you, either."

He wasn't expecting them to spill their life story or something, but he was thinking he'd get something more of a response than their head tilting back the opposite way.  There's not a lot to work with here in trying to get a read on them, but Razlo feels it's safe to hazard they're probably just pretty damn confused, the same as him.

"You kinda smell like a Plant.  M'not an expert, but I've met two others."

Now that gets something out of them.  A tiny wiggle of their head that makes the pieces in their mask rattle.

"I wouldn't know.  I've only met me."

“Huh.”  

Whether it’s a confirmation or rebuttal hardly matters at this point.  He’s feeling sure enough that his assumption was correct, now, anyways.

"You, uh…"  Razlo has to pause for breath.  Unlike the thing across from him, he's having a hell of a time getting his back.  "You're the one making this radiation field?"

"Yes."

"Any way you could turn it down?"

They say nothing, though Razlo feels suddenly that he's being studied very intently.  And shortly after, slowly, slowly the fire in his cells begins to go out, and he can spit the worst of the sourness off his tongue.  Eventually he can't feel any radiation left at all, though his body's had a rough enough time from the dose he got, he'll be getting the sickness out of his system for a while yet.

Regardless, Razlo’s fingers twitch against the triggers when he hears that mask rattle again, and his eyes are on it in an instant.

"You didn't answer my first question," Razlo reminds, cautiously.

More silence, for a while.

"You wanted to hurt me."

There's no malice in the statement, at least that Razlo can tell.  Just the simple facts.  Still, he narrows his eyes.

"You started it.  Figured it was mutual."

"That's true."

Razlo grins.

"So, what now?  Regrow my leg, and get back to not killing each other?"

"If you'd like to."

That gets a laugh out of him.

"Nah, I think I’ll pass, if it’s all the same to you.”

“It is.”

That much is obvious.  They stay put, seeming transfixed on watching Razlo’s leg grow back, only a little more slowly than any of his other injuries, now that he doesn’t have the radiation to slow him down.  It leaves him feeling itchy and achy all over, and he’s got a bad hunch that right ankle doesn’t have the best chances of coming back right.  Once there’s enough of it to fuss about, he gets his foot in his hands and starts experimentally rolling it on its hinge, checking that the range of motion is right.

And still, those orange lenses glint at him curiously.  They don’t flinch or look away when Razlo considers them in return; he guesses they don’t know it’s not polite to stare.

“What's yer name?"  Razlo asks.

"My name?"

"Don't tell me you ain't got one."

The silence that follows is pretty self-explanatory.

“I’m Razlo.”

He can just make out the sound of them mumbling his name under their breath, like they’re not sure how it’s going to come out.  Almost warmly, almost shyly, they manage to say: “hello, Razlo.”

[intergalactic-garbage]

dakota campjupiter headcanons

hi! in my 13 years of age, i was a proud cabin 12 kid, so you know what that means! i was sad we never got a properly developed child of dionysus character

uses they/them. obviously. dionysus is the patron of transmascs and enbies (at least according to percy jackson's greek gods), and dakota is a neutral name

just. properly fat. doesn't feel bad about it. they got it after their father, and they love their belly and chubby cheeks!

a really laid back half-blood. there isn't a lot that can rock them, they're mostly just happy to be here, and you'll find yourself also catching their relaxed attitude when spending time near them

knows a lot, if not all of the other campers by name - they're very sociable, and often the life of the party. they love a good prank, but often chose to deliver their humour to the faces of the one or more recipients by words. theatre is in bacchus' domain, after all. though this is usually exacerbated by the kool-aid sugar rush, when they do sometimes get really silly ideas

their outlook on life is the one you'd find when having a conversation at the campfire with someone. there's a beauty to living, and it's worth it to enjoy the birdsong and the sun, and swim in the ocean and love your friends. just a stark contrast to all the ambition often seen in roman campers

relatedly, they aren't that much of a sportsman. they do enjoy the occasional game of frisbee (which has become very popular at camp jupiter in the recent years), or a good dance at a party, but they aren't too keen on physical exercise in the hot californian sun (tbh, who would be?) they do like a good swim though, especially in the sea

despite this, they do know how to wield a sword quite well. they have been through the standard training, after all - they know how important these things are, it's just that they'd rather do other things

not only do they know the campers by name, they also know most of the fauns and spirits that exist around cj, and often stop and strike up conversation with them - don the faun is one of their good friends

they're the centurion of the fifth cohort, and they're happy that way - they don't usually talk much at meetings, but do make sure to stick up for their cohort and anyone who needs it

the near-constant stain of red kool-aid around their mouth seems even redder because they have quite red lips, naturally. i'd say quite plump, too - they have this face that kinda has almost cherub-y features, with the dark curly hair and everything

sugar helps them gain energy (i do the same trick with sugary drinks and my adhd), but caffeine makes them sleepy. they got offered a coffee by jason once when they had to wake up early for patrol, and poor dude had to patrol all by himself, next to a sleeping child of bacchus

they come from a family that has their own vineyard and have been making their own wine for generations. they'd always helped with the winemaking process and the grape harvest since they were little. they do, of course, know that they have the power to help vines grow, it's just that they hardly ever use it - the terrain of their vineyards has been used for them for a long time, and things work just fine without magical intervention

they do host many gatherings and parties for the campers of camp jupiter (post boo, they do have parties that invite the camp half-blood campers as well once in a while, which is usually coupled with a senate meeting for greek demigods to sit in on if they're interested, and discussion of exchanges between the camps. there's tours of new rome for those interested in potentially moving there after their tenure at chb, and there's an obligatory war games evening. there's usually a handful of greek campers who are interested in a tour of the camp itself, to take some inspiration from it.)

one thing they're pretty cool and good at is the connections they make. adhd helps a person connect pretty much everything that's going on in their head, and sometimes, there's even a point to it! in this case, i mean with how many campers and new rome residents they know, they'll often help someone solve a problem by listening to them vent and then interrupting them with "oh, i know who can help you!" and dragging them across half of new rome to meet some guy with a bakery in need of an apprentice

and it's not like that's an uncommon thing! people do genuinely find themselves gravitating towards dakota's easygoing nature, and conversation just flows and they often find themselves talking about what bothers or tires them

please ask me about dakota and camp jupiter i'm rotating them in my mind always

[llondonfog]

Briar Valley's Education System

"I learned all of this in middle school. Briar Valley is superior even in its educational curriculum."

I haven't been able to get this line from Sebek's Lab SR out of my head for the past day, and now you all get to hear about it.

I. The Students

Sometimes I wonder if the following is a plot hole, a 'lost in translation' effect, or if we're deliberately being fed unreliable information and Ch.7 will finally reveal the missing pieces— but how on earth is there a middle school in Briar Valley if Silver and Sebek were the only two children of their generation?

Perhaps I'm taking the terms 'middle school' and 'generation' too literally, but it doesn't make sense to me when we know that Sebek has siblings, wouldn't they have been considered the same generation as him? (The only other possible explanation I can think of is if his siblings are fae, thus potentially much older, and he was the only child from his mother/human father, but I'm not sure if that's already been disproven— someone correct me if so!)

I guess it's possible that Sebek could have been privately tutored or still attended a 'school'-like setting with a private instructor, but the real point I'm striving towards is that there was a supposed public institution for education, and Lilia deliberately did not send Silver off to attend as we know that Silver was homeschooled— why? Wouldn't he have wanted Silver to engage with children his own age, even if that was only Sebek? Which of course, raises more questions to me in particular about what is the real state of how humans are treated in Briar Valley?

II. 'Superior' Curriculum

This phrasing got a chuckle out of me especially with the current Scalding Sands event. I understand that at every opportunity, Sebek will find a way to extol the virtues of his culture and kingdom, but Briar Valley is actually so far behind in its understanding of the world around them. We know from Malleus' lines in the event and in his card that what he believes to be true about the Scalding Sands is information that is practically decades, if not centuries, old. I'll reiterate from a previous post, but it is astounding to me that Malleus is allowed to represent his country with misinformation that could make him look foolish to other nation representatives— however, that's not his fault, but a byproduct of the fact that Briar Valley is so insular despite having such tensions with their neighboring human nations. One would think that they'd be keeping tabs on what the humans are up to, but it's rather strange that they're not after such bloody history.

So, is their curriculum actually superior if it doesn't even teach the most up to date information about the current events in Twisted Wonderland? I'd hardly say yes, especially when being aware of what's going on around you, particularly for those in leadership positions, is of utmost importance. Again, I just wonder if these views of 'superiority' are ones held mostly by Sebek as he tries to navigate his identity, or are still widely held by the fae population of Briar Valley? Is that why Lilia isolated himself with Silver to educate and train him away from judgmental fae eyes?

There's just a lot of underlying tension I think that can be seen in many of the Diasomnia voice lines that make me wonder what life is truly like in Briar Valley, and if we'll ever get to see it through a human perspective.

[im-a-king-baby]

Hiii!

I loved ELYN so much! And one scene I would love you to comment on is in chapter 14 when they're out by the lake, and they talk about their futures and their public personas, and I guess they both help each other get to thinking about their options in new ways:

“The first thing you ever said to me was that you weren’t allowed to talk about politics.” Simon bends down to pick a rock up from the grass, turning it over between his fingers. “I guess I’m just saying if this debate is live and there’s no script then this is your chance to tell people your story. To show them what kind of king you’re going to be.” He tosses the stone once in his palm, then throws it into the lake."

I really loved how this got Wilhelm thinking about what he wanted, and how he could go about to get it.

Thanks a lot 💜

No, thank YOU a lot <3 <3.

(This meme is bonus content for ELYN/Everybody Loves You Now which you can read on AO3 here. This post below the cut will contain spoilers.)

So the VERY FIRST line of YR fanfiction I ever wrote was: ‘The first thing Wilhelm ever said to Simon was, "I’m not allowed to talk about politics." It was a wake-up call, a reminder, that Wilhelm will always belong to Sweden first.’ It was originally for a different fic, then I stole it for a Simon POV ELYN-scene which I might post someday (snippet below), but that sense of responsibility is definitely one of the core parts of this kind of contemporary royalty story that is interesting to me. So the beginning of that quote is definitely something that was in my mind from the very beginning.

And it’s interesting to talk about this scene (and chapters 13/14 in general) and that progression to Wilhelm’s decision because it was hardly in draft 1, which jumped from Candace to the debate with very little in between. And then I kept expanding it, and rewriting it a million times (and then my beta was like ‘this isn’t working’ about some parts and I rewrote them several more times.) and these chapters more than a lot of the others I had to step back and really be like ‘what am I trying to achieve here, what are my character arcs, how do I balance that?’

The most important part of ELYN (to me) was that losing the vote had to be a Choice that Wilhelm made. I’ve seen some debates about whether people want an ending where Wilhelm abdicates or where the monarchy is abolished and I always think it misses the nuance that if monarchy is abolished it should be because Wilhelm abolishes it. To me, that’s what makes it an empowered narrative, rather than a story about society rejecting a queer king. And in ELYN, the other key plotline is this reconnection between Wilhelm and Simon and how that pushes them both to break out of these boxes they’re stuck in. On Simon’s side, Wilhelm is a reminder of his past and a wake-up call to how not-okay Simon is now. Pre the writing of 13/14 Wilhelm did had some influence from Simon, breaking the rules and pushing back on his mother and Minou, but I wanted there to be a clear character beat that tied Simon's return to Wilhelm’s making the decision to call for a 'no' vote.

Then it was a case of reflecting on the parallels of their lives, which was mostly this theme of being voiceless. Simon not being able to sing his own songs, vs. Wilhelm being handed speeches to read out and having to stick to the Official Story. And this is where Simon is kind of ahead of Wilhelm, in that he’s already had his ‘fuck it, they can’t stop me’ moment singing at the concert, so he gets to take the advice-giving role, which is nice to balance out their interactions a bit more so it’s not Wilhelm helping Simon all the time.

(In case you’re interested, this is one of the notes I sent my beta with the final rewrite (which kind of shows how I was approaching this transition from a character development perspective): ‘I’ve tried to make the split more clear so that in 13 his action is avoiding the debate (passive) and in 14 he switches to actively using the debate to change the vote.’)

Bonus snippet, here is the line from paragraph one in the Simon hotel scene:

The wind is bitingly cold. “Thanks, tack, love you all,” he calls down. “Have a good night!” He shuts the window, draws the curtains like maybe they’ll leave if they can’t see him. They won’t leave. They were there this morning when he went to an interview, then a doctor about the scratch in his throat, then an outfit fitting for the charity show. The numbers fluctuate but they’re never gone. He wonders how Wilhelm got past them. There must be another entrance, one that someone has decided Simme isn’t allowed to use, because they want to reward the loyalty of the fans freezing their fucking toes off to get a glimpse of him. Wilhelm wouldn’t risk being seen by them. Wilhelm knows how important is is to maintain his image. The first thing Wilhelm ever said to Simon was, ‘I’m not supposed to talk about politics.’ A wake up call. A reminder. That Wilhelm will always belong to Sweden first. And now Simon knows a little of how that feels, to have the expectations of thousands of strangers resting on his shoulders. Fortunately Simme’s image is much easier to maintain. A bit of smoky eye, a smile that promises sex, a never ending stream of photoshoots where the clothes are more or less optional. It all comes naturally: start at the neck of the bottle and work down.

[alexandraisyes]

A List of Common Traits Sociopaths Have

Note: These are a mix of personality traits (cannot be changed) and behavioral traits (can be changed) For the sake of simplicity, personality traits are the things that are considered the defining factor of a sociopath. Don't freak out if you have one or two of these, everyone has at least one symptom of every disorder ever, and that doesn't mean you are a sociopath. Also, please keep in mind this isn't a pretty topic that's sunshine and rainbows. It's a mental disorder and I do not intend on sugarcoating it.

Personality Traits

Lack of Empathy: Empathy is the ability to sense other people's emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. We literally cannot do that. We will not understand on an emotional level why you are upset, why you are crying, why you're laughing at something we said. We can understand on a logical level, not an emotional one. Sociopaths have to learn something called cognitive empathy, which is using critical thinking to understand another person's emotions and thoughts. We're logical, we can't understand your emotional issues without using cold logic, this can make people perceive us as cruel and inhumane when we simply aren't capable of empathizing.

Not Giving a Fuckery: Put bluntly, we don't care. You can't make us care. You can't persuade us to care. If we want to care about something, we will, and you will have no influence on whether that happens or not. And generally, we don't want to care either. We are capable of caring, but we are highly selective about what and who we choose to care about, and it tends to be someone we've known for long-term who has managed to wriggle past our walls. Even then we'll have periods where we just cannot give a fuck about them, even if they matter to us. It's a rocky road y'all, and the guilt afterwards is fucking hell (partly because we care about them and feel bad about not caring for a bit, but mostly because we aren't used to guilt and so it makes us feel feelings that we have no idea how to process.)

Lack of Guilt: Don't feel the need to go too deep into this cause I've already covered it. Look at the two above posts. Why would someone who has no emotional empathy and suffers from not giving a fuckery feel guilt about... hardly anything? We can feel guilt, I know this first hand. (That was a rough moment of my life there.) But it's also really easy for us to rationalize our actions and push it under the rug to never look at again. Which means it's really hard for us to find a reason to change our behavior when we hurt others, especially if they aren't people we care about. When it's someone we care about, it tends to go either "I can live without them (fucking lies)" or "I'm gonna lose them if I don't knock it off". I'll go into greater detail about the fucking lies statement there later on in the behavior section.

Guarded Trust: As stated briefly in point two, we have walls. We have a lot of walls. And a firing squad behind those walls if you managed to get past them. We don't want to trust you, and we might never fully trust you (just depends on the sociopath). Generally when people have their walls up that high there's some kind of vulnerability they don't want exploited, not so much the case with sociopaths. Most of us just are jaded and cold and uncaring, and we aren't hiding anything "for our own protection" (unless it's something like a case of consistent abuse to and past full maturation [adulthood] that will obviously have negative effects that make us doubly untrusting of others). So, if you manage to earn our trust, congratulations on sticking around long enough to do that. Now don't fuck it up.

Self Preservation: Some people claim that sociopaths are narcissistic (to be a narcissist is an entirely different personality disorder, but anyone can act narcissistic). I argue that a sociopath has no more inclination to act narcissistic than your average human being. What is actually perceived is our sense of self preservation, which is like yours... on steroids. We will always come first in our minds because why would you put something before you that you don't care about? If there is one oxygen mask, and there are two of us, and we both need oxygen to live, I would not hesitate in letting you die. Harsh, but honest. We tend to be called narcissistic because we share some traits with narcissists, like high charisma, intelligence, and we're highly tuned into other people's reactions and behaviors (a lack of empathy and caring makes it easier to completely dismantle someone in our minds). It's important to note that if we are going out of our way to do something for someone we don't particularly know or care about, it's generally because we want something from them, or we want to be able to get something from them in the future. We tend to play nice with others because they have something we want, whether this is a material thing, or in more self-aware sociopaths like myself, companionship. Also to note, we don't give a shit what you think about us unless it's going to cause us issues with getting what we want from you, our ego isn't at stake like a narcissist's is. We don't brag about ourselves or try to impress you, and we tend to keep the conversation off of ourselves. You can talk with me for hours on end, and walk away knowing nothing about me and I will know everything about you unless you ask the right questions that get me to talk about myself. If I humor you with the all about Alex, it's because I find amusement in your reaction to what is honestly quite a horrifying story. This is pretty common behavior for a sociopath I found out, haha.

Lack of Intrusive Thoughts: Don't ask us what we're thinking and expect an honest answer, you don't want to know what is actually happening in our head. We don't care, remember? We aren't bothered by thoughts that are about immoral topics and actions, and we just brush them off like we do with any other thought. The only times I have ever considered a thought intrusive is when it involved hurting someone I care deeply about (my mom and generally my cats) or involved breaking my personal moral code. Past that, we will literally think about anything and not bat an eye. We also generally aren't going to be affected by viewing traumatic content unless it ties directly into our own traumatic experiences (or, again, involves someone we care about), and this tends to be the case with most sociopaths. A thought about brutally murdering our family has the same tone as needing to make sure we remember to pick up more coffee next time we go to the store, and it won't bug us like it will a normal person.

No Uno Reverse: Sorry, but if you want to pull a fast one on a sociopath, it's not going to work. You can't manipulate us. You can't threaten us. You can't persuade us. You can bribe us, but that's not manipulation at that point, that's you offering up goods to earn our favor. Honestly... if you were to bribe us for our favor, at that point technically the tables just got turned bozo. You also can't offend us easily. You can piss us off, you can get us riled up, but you're not going to be able to easily find something that's going to get us real upsetti spaghetti for longer than that moment. And if we are upsetti spaghetti, it's not really because we're offended, we're just pissed off at your insolence and audacity and generally mocking you in our heads for being a dumbass. Not saying that you can't manage to offend us, just that it's a hard game and are you even sure the outcome is worth it? You can't make us jealous either, we don't give a shit.

Aromantic: If you are a sociopath you are automatically aromantic. The brain? Yeah that's fucking broken when it comes to chemical love. We can't love you the way you want us to, and we will never be able to. We can love but it's not the same as what the normal person thinks of when they think of loving someone. We will never fall in love with you, and it's not fair to us to expect us to. The best you'll get from us is the effort we will put into the relationship, not because there's some deep emotional connection, but because we care and that's the most you're going to get. If we stick around, put in effort, are willing to compromise and go out of our way to make you happy, that's how we show we "love" you. A relationship with a sociopath will never be romantic on their part, and it will feel a lot like having a best friend instead of a romantic partner. We give out limited affection on a good day, so it's wise to know what you're getting into. (Note: We can learn to be more affectionate if it ends up benefiting us by doing so, but we won't actively seek out things like touch, and you need to both ask if you want it from us, as well as ask before touching us as a general rule of thumb because we aren't touchy people to start with. If we dole out touch like it's candy, it's generally for your benefit and not because we crave it. Always get an okay just in general really before you touch someone else unless they have specified you don't need to ask.)

Blunt: Almost painfully so. We aren't going to beat around the bush unless we are trying to manipulate a situation (this isn't always malicious by the way, a good chunk of the manipulation we do isn't because we're trying to be bad, it's either self-preservation or trying to navigate a situation. It's just that it's also really easy for us to be manipulative for other reasons since we won't feel bad about it that makes this an issue). We don't see a reason to run circles around things, and we are very straight forward, even if we may not act like it at times. We really don't care if you don't like what we have to say.

Bored: We are so so sooooo bored all the damn time. We like interacting with people because it's exciting. We like shiny buttons that give us reactions, and we really really like to press them for better and for worse because it's amusing. It's something to do. A lot of us don't have a healthy way to deal with boredom, which leads to drug and alcohol abuse, petty crimes, sex addiction, etc. Stuff that makes us feel something other than just... empty. The lucky ones (like me) figure out how to manage ourselves, impulses, and the way we interact with others. I fight off my boredom by drawing. For an idea of how bored I fucking am, I draw every day, up to twelve hours a day.

Pride: I'm not going to sugar coat it, we're very very prideful. You want to hurt a sociopath? Attack their pride. That's the only way you're going to do it.

Not Evil: No one is born inherently evil, and neither are sociopaths. A sociopath is formed, not born. Most of us are non-violent, and do the majority of our 'acting out' in highschool and young adulthood. A lot of us end up in juvenile detention at least once because of our ingrained lack of impulse control (I went to juvie three times and committed a handful of misdemeanors). We can be horrible people, but so can someone who is "normal", and considering the population of people who are criminals (5% estimate) compared to people who are sociopaths (less than one, and most of us are again, nonviolent)... yeah that says more about humanity than it does sociopathy. We may, however, appear heartless due to the lack of an instinctual moral compass.

Constant: Let's face the facts, a sociopath isn't going to change. Your personality is constant. Being a sociopath is a huge part of our personality. Your personality doesn't change, and neither will ours. However, we can change and improve by working on our behaviors and going through intensive cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as similar types of intensive therapies that appeal to logic rather than emotion.

Behavioral Traits

The Mask: This is huge, so it's the first. A sociopath's mask is an intricate and meticulously crafted façade designed to camouflage their true thoughts, emotions, and intentions. This carefully constructed persona serves as a social shield, concealing the underlying aspects of our personality that deviate from societal norms. This mask is characterized by a calculated presentation of charm, affability, and a keen ability to adapt to various social scenarios. It reflects a superficial normalcy that enables us to seamlessly integrate into social circles, concealing our inherent lack of empathy and emotional depth. It is not merely a tool for social interaction; it is a strategic move employed to help manipulate and navigate the complexities of human relationships that we literally don't understand. It allows us to mimic conventional emotional responses and create an illusion of connection, while beneath the surface... to put it poetically, an emotional void persists. This deceptive exterior often includes a convincing display of sincerity, engaging conversational skills, and an ability to mirror the emotions of others. The mask is not a fixed entity; rather, it is adaptive, evolving to suit the specific context and individuals involved. It is a versatile tool, enabling them to exploit social dynamics for personal gain without raising suspicion. Behind this facade, however, lies a stark contrast to conventional emotional experiences. The mask is a calculated projection, lacking the genuine emotional depth and connection that characterize authentic human interactions. It serves as a mechanism for self-preservation, allowing us to navigate social landscapes without revealing the true nature of our emotional deficit.

Trust Via The Mask: There are three reasons we'll take off our mask.

We're fucking tired. It's so exhausting pretending to understand shit, and pretending to care, so if our mask slips, don't hate on us for it, we're just exhausted. It takes a lot of mental and emotional energy to keep it up all the time, and the more physically worn out we are, the less energy we have to mask in social settings. It's important to remember that we are humans too, and our mask slipping and revealing glimpses of who we actually are underneath the layers we put on for those around us is okay. No one can be perfect all the time, and if we're so tired we can't keep up the act that says a lot about our mental state (that we aren't going to inform you of).

We trust you. In the context of sociopathic behavior, we may, under certain circumstances, allow our carefully maintained mask to momentarily slip, particularly when a sense of trust has been established in a relationship. This occurrence can indicate a level of confidence in the associated individual, granting them insight into the less guarded aspects of our personality. The decision to reveal our nature in the presence of trust is not a small thing, it reflects a deliberate choice to expose an unfiltered version of us to the individual. During these instances, there may be a temporary departure from the usual emotional detachment characteristic of sociopathy, offering a brief and somewhat paradoxical glimpse into more authentic expressions of thoughts and emotions. For those privy to such moments, a measured approach is advisable, recognizing the significance of the trust extended while maintaining awareness of the inherent boundaries in understanding our emotional terrain.

We want to fuck with you. The deliberate decision to drop the mask, not out of a necessity driven by trust or fatigue but rather as a calculated maneuver for personal amusement or manipulation isn't uncommon (I admitted earlier I too am guilty of this behavior). This can serve us as a tool for gauging and influencing the reactions of others, showing an inclination to navigate social dynamics for our own amusement or gain. In instances where we intentionally discard our mask, the primary motivation lies in observing the impact on those around us. The reactions of others tend to be a source of entertainment or a means of manipulation, providing a sense of control and satisfaction for us in the moment. This calculated move allows us to assess the vulnerabilities and responses of those in our social sphere, offering valuable insights that can be harnessed for future interactions. It is crucial to acknowledge that this intentional unmasking is not a manifestation of genuine emotion or a display of trust but rather a strategic decision grounded in our inherent ability to read and exploit social dynamics. For those on the receiving end of this intentional unmasking, good luck. If you aren't aware of what's going on, you're kind of doomed to get back on even ground with them. It's a bit of a power high to catch somebody so off guard, and then go back to normal, and it's a bad habit I'm personally trying to break. But a lot of us... don't really care about improving so most of us aren't trying to not do that.

Cruelty: Woah, this is a negative trait guys, just an FYI. So keep in mind that while this is a common behavior in sociopathy, not every sociopath is an asshole on purpose, and others can be working to improve. Anyone can be cruel. Cruelty, in this context, is not an incidental byproduct of emotional distress but rather a calculated choice driven by a lack of empathy and a heightened focus on personal objectives. We may engage in deliberate acts of cruelty, exploiting the vulnerabilities and emotions of others without experiencing the moral or emotional constraints that typically deter such behavior. This intentional cruelty can manifest in various forms, including verbal aggression, manipulation, or actions designed to inflict emotional or psychological harm (again, we don't tend to be violent). The absence of empathetic responses allows us to navigate social interactions without the emotional burdens that typically accompany acts of cruelty (like guilt). It is essential to understand that this deliberate cruelty is not generally driven by malice but rather by a self-serving motivation. We tend to view others primarily in terms of utility, with acts of cruelty serving as means to achieve personal goals, assert dominance, or maintain control within relationships. Recognizing the potential for cruelty in individuals with sociopathic traits is crucial for those interacting with them. Establishing healthy boundaries and maintaining a level of emotional detachment can help mitigate the impact of such behavior. Additionally, fostering an understanding of the distinct emotional landscape of sociopaths allows for a more informed approach to navigating relationships with these individuals. It's equally important to recognize when there is the potential for improvement, while also knowing your own limits. The average human being cannot help a sociopath, we need a trained professional’s assistance.

Quiet: The tendency for us to maintain a quiet demeanor is often rooted in a strategic awareness of societal norms and a recognition that openly expressing our thoughts can evoke fear or discomfort in others. This silence, or even distracting ourselves with meaningless chatter, serves as a self-protective measure, allowing us to navigate social interactions without triggering negative reactions based on the unconventional nature of our thoughts and perspectives. The fact that we don't often talk about ourselves does not necessarily translate to being a good listener. We don't tend to actively engage in empathetic listening or exhibit genuine interest in the concerns of others. In social scenarios, we may carefully observe and selectively respond to maintain a calculated distance from emotional entanglements. Understanding this dynamic is essential for managing expectations and fostering realistic communication in relationships with sociopaths. We don't care about your issues, and if we ask about them we're doing so out of morbid curiosity more often than not.

Threatening to Leave: Sociopaths approach relationships with a pragmatic and calculated mindset, often weighing the perceived benefits and losses associated with their connections. Threatening to end a relationship may not elicit the anticipated emotional response unless the sociopath perceives it as a significant loss or a threat to our personal interests. We tend to view relationships through the lens of utility, assessing the value and advantages they derive from the connection. If they perceive that ending the relationship would result in a notable loss or detriment to their goals, we might respond with a level of concern. In such cases, the threat of relationship termination becomes a strategic consideration rather than an emotional trigger. It is important to recognize that the sociopathic response to relationship threats is grounded in a rational evaluation of self-interest rather than emotional attachment. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for those navigating relationships with sociopaths. Effectively communicating concerns or influencing behavior may require appealing to our perceived self-interest rather than relying on emotional appeals.

Walking Away: For a sociopath, the prospect of someone we care about choosing to leave may not lead to the typical emotional experience of heartbreak, as we don't engage in the conventional experience of love. However the emotional impact of such an event, while not precisely analogous to heartbreak, can be remarkably close and centers around our sense of pride and ego. This is not just romantic relationships, but also platonic ones. We often derive a sense of identity and self-worth from our ability to navigate relationships with a certain level of control and influence. The act of someone choosing to leave, particularly if it is unexpected or challenges our sense of self and can result in a significant blow to our pride. The feelings of rejection or failure may prompt a strong emotional response, even if it doesn't align with the traditional concept of heartbreak. While we may not experience heartbreak in the conventional sense, the impact on our pride and ego can be a powerful and challenging emotional experience for them, and can leave us with feelings of helplessness (which makes us resentful) and self hatred if our disorder is blamed as the causation of the relationship failing.

Funny man: We do have a sense of humor, albeit it's one that often leans toward the darker and more unconventional side. This distinctive humor arises from our unfiltered thoughts and the keen ability to perceive and appreciate the absurdities or ironies of life that tend to elude others. We often find amusement in topics that others might perceive as morbid or taboo. Our unfiltered thoughts let us see the humor in situations that might be uncomfortable or unsettling for many. The unbridled nature of our thoughts allows us to view the world through a lens unencumbered by societal norms or emotional sensitivities. We lack the typical social filters that might restrain others from finding humor in certain topics. However, while we may appreciate dark humor, we do tend to recognize the need to share it selectively, and we're capable of shifting what we put out there enough to be acceptable and humorous to different groups of people.

Friendship Potential: While we are often characterized by a lack of emotional empathy and a pragmatic approach to relationships, it's good to recognize that our honestly unique qualities can contribute to the potential for us to be great friends in certain contexts.

Logical Perspectives: Sociopaths, with our cold, logical perspectives, can offer insights and advice that are unclouded by emotional biases. This rational approach can be valuable, especially in situations where objective analysis is required.

Reliability and Consistency: Sociopaths may exhibit a high level of consistency and reliability in our friendships. Our pragmatic nature often translates into clear communication and straightforward expectations, reducing the likelihood of unpredictable behaviors.

Solution-Oriented Approach: The problem-solving skills we hold can be an asset in a friendship. Our focus on achieving goals and navigating challenges efficiently can contribute to finding effective solutions in various situations.

Honesty as a Form of Care: Sociopaths, in our own way, may express care through brutal honesty. While this honesty may be unsettling, it can be interpreted as a sincere effort to provide transparent insights, devoid of the social niceties that often accompany communication.

Loyalty to a Select Few: Though generally characterized by a lack of empathy, we may form genuine bonds with a small circle of individuals. This selective loyalty can result in deep and lasting friendships, where we are able to demonstrate commitment and support.

[ben-the-hyena]

For the Hate Thing, 3 and 10?

3. Any fandoms that don’t appeal to you?

Whenever I look at HH, HB or Encanto content I become very angry even if obviously I don't bully people for what they like so I just move on, but I HATE these franchises so much seeing them getting love and seeing characters I find loathable be turned into cutie blorbos makes my blood boil. Also whenever I look from a distance at the TOH because it never interested me (andthemorepeoplepraiseittoberepresentativeasitssolequalitythelessIwanttowatchit) and SU and ML because I used to love them but they played with my feelings and went a way I really hated so I am bitter but torn with good memories. Also as much as I LOVE TDC and ATLA and do love fandom content from it I sadly am a bit cold towards their fandoms in general. TDC because is unfortunately became very toxic with the biggest number of bad personal meetings in a fandom I ever had with popular self victimizing whiners who preached to their cult followers how me and others were evil for disagreeing, and ATLA because I hate how most of its fans are super snobbish about their franchise they consider to be the best ever and are in denial about how ATLA is mostly good solely for its script writers whereas its 2 creators can't weite for shit and when they do like the comics and LoK it sucks ass but they still praise it because it has a pretty package and feel superior by comparing it with other franchise that have nothing to do with it except the title which is already an old pre-existing word

10. Any fandom you’re ashamed of being in?

HM/PM. OK SO I AM PLAYING WITH WORDS, IT IS NOT ABOUT HATE I JUST NEEDED TO VENT ONE THING ABOUT MYSELF. Ok so not ashamed per say, and not toward it, no no this fandom is very healthy for now, fun, funny, neither too popular nor too obscure, it has the uniqueness to have several lores/canons so you are allowed to make up your own picking elements from here and there, in short it's a haven for imagination to the point it was one of my first Tumblr fandoms and my very first followers was a HM related blog (thank you @asktheghosthost I never forgot you I just never fekt brave enough to start a conversation >.>). No, no I feel ashamed because of MYSELF in that fandom X'D As a post I reblogged yesterday rightfully pointed out, despite being about murders and suicide this fandom is very pure with hardly any swear, nsfw content and risky jokes. Yet EVERY SINCE I joined that fandom I have made steam headcanon posts, sex jokes and sus fanart with words that don't hold back (AND I CONSIDER DRAWING SHIPPY NSFW) as well as recently a very dark HC of the Phantom feeling incestuous lust for his own daughter. I act super differently from most of the fandom to the point I had been banned from the DA fanclub oncr for having posted a shitpost of Ezra pointing at a hole on my piece of paper saying "I made that hole with my dick" and got me back because I apologized and didn't know that would be forbidden XD No really I just have a risky sense of humor and am kind of a perv for almost every fandom I am in, and if ghosts even can still eat, drink, sleep and other stuff they absolutely don't need to do anymore just because they want to, why not fuck ? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND... As I had said, fans base themselves on different canons mixed in with their own ideas to make their fanons, so do I. But mine strays so far from several canon elements and other general ideas fans share that sometimes I feel like I am a fraud x') I HC stuff nobody HCs : Master Gracey is Emily's father, Constance is her aunt and never owned the Mansion, most of the characters died on the same night of 1877 after a curse from unknwon sources, I use names nobody uses... We are allowed to (like in all fandoms you can but here this one fandom IS made for that for how many lores it can hold) yet even if I have fun I sometimes feel ashamed when I see more "general lore friendly" fanons that essentially just changes a few thing from one canon and it makes me wonder if I truly love the Mansion for what it is then to their eyes then. Especially when I read remarks from the fanon wiki in the pages of my own comics that precise "once again Ben-the-hyena base herself on nothing". I know I may be reading too much into it, but it almost feels like other fans may think I "fanon it wrong" and I wonder if this is that side thoughr that had me contribute so little about this fandom these years

[funkymbtifiction]

Hello Charity,

I have something that always bothered me and as it came up again yesterday I decided to write to you because I'm curious as to whether this is just a human thing, or tied to typology. I frequently see bloggers or "typologists" on Youtube trying to define the functions in only a keyword and in my opinion it hardly ever works, as no function has monopoly over values, and at times they are clearly very biased: C.S. Joseph claims Ti is logic in itself, that Ti users are the only ones who care about the truth, because Te/Fi users only care about beliefs and make things up etc. obviously that's false, but he has managed to convince many people of this.

That's the beauty of the internet. Anyone can make stuff up and find people who will believe them. ;) He is over-simplifying. Fi only cares about staying true to their individual values, but Te cares about facts. The facts sometimes ARE the truth, whereas subjective logical take on the situation (Ti) may not be the truth. Remember when Sherlock had a meltdown because the facts (what he saw) did not align with his personal logic (Ti) about the Hound of the Baskervilles?

There's also this Eric guy who insists Ti is objective because is detached from feelings, while Te is subjective since it's tied to Fi.

Again, wrong. Te is facts. Ti is "pure" subjective logic. If it makes sense to me, it's the truth.

Again obviously false as both of their ideas contradict Jung's definition of the functions. So you can see why I'm skeptical when it comes to attributing certain traits to functions. But I've seen meritocracy being attributed to high Te many times, and I like your opinion on the rationale behind it.

I have a channel on pop culture so I check out what other popular uploaders have to say on issues pertaining my interests so I can give my own takes later. Last morning there was an award show and a popular group who had a huge hit walked away empty handed. I soon saw a couple popular Youtubers posting about how the show was clearly rigged and unfair to that group, and disrespected then. The thing is, it wasn't: the criteria for each award is made public months prior, so you can accurately predict most of the winners beforehand because it's mostly based on sales and streaming numbers. Everybody knew the two artist who would bag most of the categories because they had superior numbers. And they did win. The "robbed" group in question had a huge hit yes, but couldn't compete in terms of chart longevity and album sales. Hence, they didn't get any major award.

One could argue sales should not have such a big weight in the decision but I disagree, numbers don't lie and are objective, if the judges had the most say they would base their choices on personal taste, and that is by nature super subjective.

Facts do not lie, it is true. But numbers can be manipulated if you know how to play the system. Let's say that a book needs to be a best-seller on the NY Times best seller list to qualify for a certain award, and the baseline limit is 10,000 copies. The book is written by a rich celebrity or politician, who has their lawyer or friend purchase 10,000 copies. Boom, they are on the best-seller list. (Some publishers even do this to get a book ON the best-seller list, which generates more sales because everyone assumes that book must be good if "everyone else is reading it." Most people don't know that the baseline for best-sellers is so low.) <- here's some Te thinking for you. Cause and effect. How do I change the numbers to benefit me?

Just something to think about as you reflect on this awards program.

My favorite group also left almost empty handed even though they are successful, and I didn't get mad or upset, because I know they lost fair and square. This is where the meritocracy plays in: if Te is concerned with it then wouldn't all Te users accept results when legitimate? Or has it no connection to Te or typolgy at all?

It depends on whether the Te users are being objective, or if their feelings are involved. Someone objective (like me in this instance, because I know nothing about it and don't care who wins -- I don't have a horse in this race) can assess something objectively, but if feelings are involved (this is my band, I love them so much, so clearly this isn't fair!), the game changes. TJs are more objective than FPs. Confronted by the facts, TJs tend to accept them -- or even at times, be over-reliant on them (without considering that they can be manipulated to fit an agenda), but the facts don't change how an FP feels about the situation.

I don't wanna be one of those people who create and feed prejudices against certain types or functions, so I wanted to get an outside opinion on whether it's a coincidence that at least when it comes to Youtubers, the ones who share this opinion are all xNFPs. This makes me wonder if they weren't joking when they said they wouldn't take any arguments against a view they stated as fact, or that if people didn't like something they did then they were stupid.

"You are stupid!" is a common low Te response. If you can't understand me or my argument or agree with it, you're an idiot! As to whether or not they were joking, I cannot say. If they are truly "all about this band" that lost and devastated by it for some reason, they are not going to be rational or detached enough to listen to a facts-based argument. What they feel, in their mind, is a fact TO THEM, and it takes priority over everything else.

Perhaps just like Ti can be super arrogant by claiming their theories as objective truth (like the 2 typology guys I talked about who are ENTPs), Fi can see their feelings as legitimate truth too ("I feel like this is unfair so it is")?

Yep. That's exactly correct.

I should also say that "I don't like how this turned out, they must have cheated!" is a rather 6y way to respond to a situation. It's very much how a 6 brain would work -- something is off about this, so I will leap to a suspicious conclusion (a conspiracy theory) and park there!

[bellmo15-blog]

I Closed My Twitter Account and Don't Regret It

I should be sad over the closer of my Twitter account especially since I closed it in the same month it would of turned 10 years old, but to tell you the truth I'm not sad about it! At all! In fact, I'm happy to be done with that place! And I'm not the only one who's done this either! And there are good reasons why I and a lot of other people have finally caved and decided to close our Twitter accounts. Granted my reasons for closing my account personally go beyond just the main reason everyone else is but it is still a contributing reason.

And since I know some people will be wondering, yes I DO have an account on Twitter's replacement BlueSky here. I mean I'm probaply not going to browse that a whole lot with how much I've been trying to stay off social media as a whole for the sake of my own mental well being but it's still there for people who want to follow me there.

So why is everyone renacting the story of Exodus and leaving Twitter? Take a guess, another stunt from pharaoh Elon Musk, the pretentious self absorbed prick he is. Look, it's hardly a secret at this point that ever since Elon brought Twitter the site has become worse and worse. From the random name change calling it X when there was nothing wrong with Twitter to start with (and also literally no one calls it X anyway even after the name change) to making it impossible to see the likes of those you follow to banning the site in Brazil for some reason to the most recent shit he's pulled, changing how blocking works and being in support of having any pic you upload to the site be used for AI Generative Content! WITHOUT giving you the option to opt out!

First there's the whole blocking BS. Because now it's that people you have blocked for whatever reason, mostly that person being an asshole or harassing you, can now still see your posts. Yeah, they can't interact with your posts but this still defeats the entire point of blocking. And this change is coming only a few weeks after I had to block an artist I regret commissioning because because they got exposed a few days after I commed them that they were a terrible person so you can imagen how I feel about this!

Then there's the whole AI shit. For a while now Twitter has has this thing called Grok which was an AI trainer for generative AI and do I even need to explain why I don't like this!? Thing is, you could opt out of it in the past! You could have it so that your posts CAN'T get used for AI Content. I mean it sucks that this thing was even implemented and sucks that more and more corporations are trying to find some ways to implement AI in the first place but at least it gives you the option to opt out. Now? You don't have a choice! Your posts can potentially be used for AI weather you like it or not!

I'm sorry, but as someone who regularly commissions artists to draw stuff for me and posts my comms everywhere I can unless said otherwise by the artist I use to always post them onto Twitter. I don't want something I commissioned both for my own enjoyment and to support artists I like being used for this kind of crap! And considering most of the best friends I've made these past few years have been artists themselves I can't say I blame them for wanting to do the whole mass exodus to BlueSky.

So what's the other reason for me finally caving and closing my account there? Take a guess, it's just a hostile and toxic hellhole that was doing a number on me! Remember how I made that vent post about why I've grown to hate the internet, or I guess rather social media as a whole? Yeah, Twitter was the absolute worst of it and it's been like this for several years at this point honestly, even before Elon came along and made the site even worse! If it wasn't people making rage bait posts for attention because "negativity sells" it was people being massive bigots or scumbags who would get upset at anything that stared a woman or had pronouns or it was incredibly thinn skinned people making a fuss over the smallest and most pointless shit ever like what games get ported to what system or not, what fictional characters who most people probaply only remember because of a meme they are attached to die of screen or who animated a 10 second clip of a Wired Al music video! I mean this sort of bullshit wasn't exclusive to Twitter alone but if someone was afraid to admit they liked a certain game/movie/show/whatever because of how some people on Twitter were acting over it and towards the people who did like it, I can't say I blame them for being afraid to express themselves. I was for certain things because of Twitter discorse.

So yeah, the shit Elon's pulled recently was mostly the straw that broke the camels back. And I'm only really making this because some people who might still be on Twitter and followed me might be wondering where I've gone. And I'm sorry if anyone who did only ever follow me on Twitter got worried over my recent action of closing my account. But I at least want you all to understand why I did go though with it and why I'm not going back there anytime soon because I am about at my limit with that site and this shit I had to go though. My BlueSky's still up so follow me there if you want to.

[inwintersolitude]

- October 15th 2024 -

What happened last night? Hardly anything. It was my husband's first day back at work after 6 weeks off, so I'm home alone for a few days, and it's been a little boring. All I did was browse Reddit, watch a documentary, make pasta for dinner, and go outside for some stargazing (unfortunately I couldn't see the comet - hopefully I can see it tonight).

Who is the last boy you hugged? My husband.

What was the last thing you thought? I was wondering if the previous question was asking about any male in general, or if it was literal and specifically referring to "male child." And that made me think about how I hugged my nephews goodbye on Saturday when we were all at my parent's house.

What are you thinking about right now? My bird squawking at me lol. And I'm also thinking about how I need to start waking up earlier now that the days are getting shorter. Sleeping in late is a bad habit when the sun sets early.

Would you have sex with the last person you sent a message to? Yes, as that was my husband.

Would you consider yourself spoiled? Yeah maybe. I've definitely had a very good life. But I'm not unappreciative of that, nor do I feel entitled to things.

What was the last text you sent? "Someone needs to just fucking punch him in the face." Sent to my husband, talking about Trump. Lmao.

Do you break things when you are mad? No. Well I remember doing that only once, when I was a kid. A classmate was mean to me and I was so angry that I smashed a cassette player.

Whose hoodie did you last wear besides your own? My husband's.

Did something happen today that made you angry? Nope.

What did you do today? Slept in too late, read some news articles, had toast with pumpkin butter for breakfast, made a cup of tea, did some tidying up in the kitchen, cleaned Luna's cage. And I need to go get groceries in a little bit, and pick up my birth control from the pharmacy.

What did you do Friday night? I made a bunch of breakfast foods for dinner haha. Scrambled eggs with veggies from the farm market, chicken and maple sausage, toast with pumpkin butter (I've been obsessed with pumpkin butter lately). And my husband and I watched the most recent episode of Bake Off.

Are you afraid of losing the last person you talked to? Yes, it is my greatest fear.

Are you lying to yourself about something? No.

Is your bed comfortable? The daybed in my room is amazing. One of the most comfortable things I've ever slept on. The queen sized bed in the room that's mostly my husband's (but where I sometimes sleep too) is alright.

Does it take a lot to make you happy? No, I'm generally already a pretty happy person.

Your best friend says to you now, “let’s go to a party and get trashed!”? He wouldn't say that.

Who knows mainly all of your secrets? My husband.

Can you go a day without thinking about the person that’s on your mind now? Nope. That would be impossible since I talk to him every single day.

What were you doing at 1 in the morning? I think I was posting in the forums, and about to go to bed.

If someone looked ON your bed, what would they find? Pillows and blankets.

Were you single over last summer? No. 2009 was my last single summer.

Has anyone ever told you, you have pretty eyes? Yeah.

Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight? Just once.

How many different people of the opposite sex have you cried over? One, maybe two (I can't remember for sure, it was long ago).

When you think of the rainbow, what pops in your head? Leprechauns haha.

Is the person you last texted single? No.

Was last night terrible? No. I was in a weird mood, though. One of those moods where you're bored, but nothing seems interesting enough to quell that boredom.

[leyyvi]

You don’t have to answer this at all if you don’t want to but i just wanted to come in here and say that your posts about how you’re enjoying going to the gym is really heartwarming and reassuring!! I’m saying this bc recently I’ve been thinking about going but I’ve never been particularly athletic, I was always way out of my comfort zone in PE lessons and was lowkey made fun of for not being good at PE and it was always a miserable experience and never felt like a welcoming space. But I want to look after my own health better after beginning to notice some posture issues and back pain, and just being quite tired and ashamed of feeling physically weak and unfit in general. Though the gym and gym culture seems really intimidating I think there’s definitely a more wholesome and welcoming side and idk just seeing your posts about it makes me want to get a membership at my nearest gym, commit to it and look after myself better 💕 (not sure where to start in terms of workout routines though, so if you have any words of advice, please help 😭)

hi! sorry this is so late aaaaaa

all i can say is if you even have a small want of going to definitely GO!!! (affectionate) if you can!!! there's so many days where i'm like EHHH I DON'T WANNA but i force myself anyway and i'm really happy i did. even if it's a day where i'm like UGHHHHHHHHHHH the whole time.

but yes, especially since i've started working from home i'm so sedentary and i'm noticing it a lot more the older i get. i just want to be at a point where i feel strong and walking up a flight of stairs doesn't make me out of breath ;;;

as for routines i go with someone and kinda just copy what they do for now fkjghdfjkg they use the machines mostly! i'm still figuring out what exactly i want to do BUT doing 10 reps 5x times is what i've been aiming for. and i focus on arms one day, legs another, etc.

though eventually i want to go 4 days a week and start running a bit too ;; sorry this is super all over the place but a lot of people recc'd me looking up routines on youtube too that can help! my gym is 24 hours which is REALLY nice cause i can go late at night and hardly anyone is ever there (this was really good bc i hate being percieved esp working out bc im so weak LOL fjghkfjkdh)

i'm so happy you found it motivating though! if there's one advice i could give is take it slow and pace yourself. atm i'm only going 2-3 times a week for 1 hourish just to build up the habit of going :) and if there's some weeks where you go less than others that's also okay! you can always work back up to it again! I'M WISHING U LUCK IF YOU DECIDE TO GO YOU GOT THIS!

[vidavalor]

<<With this whole disgusting situation with gaiman, I’ve honestly come to realize that…he hardly does anything for the show.>>

Yes. Louder for the people in the back, my friend. Even before the accusations he was, by far, the least appealing part of all of this.

Don't feel guilty-- you did nothing wrong. There is nothing wrong with an author engaging with their fanbase online a bit and it's even business-savvy but not in the way that he did it. Good Omens is a pretty unique fanbase because of how it spans generations and has been around for a long time. Even though I'm comparatively newer to it than others here, I'm in the camp of being with some of the older (not old lol, just older) people here and I think maybe it's being a bit older that led me to look at how he chose to engage with a bit of a raised eyebrow.

For example, we need to talk at the fact that his stated rationale for why you aren't supposed to tag him with your theories and fics is complete bullshit...

At first, when I found out that he had a Tumblr account, I thought what most of you did-- that it was a fun, fairly unique thing, even in an era of 'we've seen every author's house on Zoom since the pandemic'-type of engagement. I checked it out and started reading through some of his Good Omens Asks replies. Between those and just being around here on Tumblr for a bit and seeing him popping up in people's threads and finding posts that aren't tagged to him and kind of creeping on them a bit, I found myself really put off from his attitude in these replies. You can tell that most of the people asking him questions are relatively young by how some of the questions are worded and I felt like he was a jerk in a lot of the responses. I'm pretty sarcastic myself but this went beyond that-- this was being a dick to kids. Many of the young people reading his work and his posts admired him and I believe that older adults have a responsibility to support younger ones so that left a bad taste in my mouth.

He's not the first author to be an asshole by any stretch of the imagination lol but think about it for a moment here: here's a guy who has had success and who predominantly writes for young adults who is allowing young writers to directly engage with him online about his works and his attitude in many of the posts was too sarcastic and, at times, even a bit mean. These are mostly basically kids that he's replying to and after seeing that a bit, you start to realize that he's a grown ass man who honestly doesn't need to be having *this* level of engagement with his fanbase to still be seen as engaged and accessible... so, why is he?

The rampant, unchecked ego on display. He seemed to revel in the fact that people would jump on his every word. That's just the start of the stuff that shocked me, though... ever notice how he uses his platform on Tumblr to publicly feud with Amazon?

I'm not trying to say I love Amazon lol-- I'm pointing out how fucking unprofessional his comments have been. If a company is doing something so horrible that you'd be labeled a whistleblower for exposing it then no one with a conscious is going to blame you for blowing that whistle. That's doing the right thing. But that's not the stuff he's talking about with Amazon. He's publicly complaining about the budgets. He's publicly disparaging Amazon at every opportunity.

This is literally dissing your boss in public because, make no mistake, Amazon is his boss. Amazon doesn't actually need NG to make Good Omens. Good Omens is actually owned by its publishing houses, who have sold the rights to make it to Amazon. The publishing houses retain the right to do so and they could and can do so without author approval. NG can't actually stop his publishers or Amazon from the process, even if he wanted to, because the publishing houses own GO. The reason why he's on the project is because his name is on the book (and because he's built himself a shield of a little online fandom... see what I'm saying about his motivations for doing so a bit here?) ...but, with his reputation taking a hit, if all of the other parties involved decide it would be better for them if he wasn't involved, they are the ones that really have control over Good Omens. They can make the decision to fire him from Good Omens. (Same goes for those involved with The Sandman, etc..).

NG knows that. It looks to me like he was using his platform here to drum up anti-Amazon sentiment in the fanbase so that we'd see him as essential if they tried to fire him. He's trying to make it so that we'd see Amazon as screwing the fanbase and demand that he stay... which all smacks of the behavior of a guy who thinks Amazon might toss him if they had grounds enough to say his behavior violated his contract.

Which smacks of the behavior of a man who knows that his days are numbered because, one of these days, he's going to wake up to the first of the women coming forward and then everything will be over for him. His only and really pitiable line of defense is arguing that he can't be fired because "the people won't watch the show if it's not me at the helm of it" which lol ok dude✌️

But that's actually not even the only scummy behavior I saw on here... the 'don't show him your theories' thing? Yeah, that is just as bad... It's complete and utter bullshit, btw. Let me explain why...

Let's say I write a story. It's fiction and all my own work. I've made up the characters and the world and every part of it myself so it is my own intellectual property. Let's then say that I show this story to another writer before I publish all of it myself and the other writer decides to steal it. They change a character name and a couple of words or two but it's otherwise the same story. They put their name on it and publish it as their own. If I can prove that the story is mine through some sort of paper trail-- bits of it emailed to someone else, a doc history online, someone else I showed it to who can back me up and say it's mine... anything along these lines-- I can sue the person who stole my story for intellectual property theft, even if I had not yet filed to formally copyright the story as my own.

How can I do this? Because I own every bit of the work with no other complications. It's mine.

But let's say that, instead, I write a theory about Good Omens S3 or that I write a fanfic that is a version of what could happen in S3 and I post that theory or that fic here on Tumblr ahead of S3 being made. Let's say that, when I post this theory or fic here, I @'d NG or tagged him or tagged Amazon Studios-- or even did all three of those things.

Then, let's say that S3 airs and it turns out that I was really, really right about it-- something like 90% or more right. Finally, let's then say that I'm a crazy person lol who decides that because I guessed a tv show plot correctly and because I showed those ideas to NG online and then they showed up in the show, I am going to sue NG and Amazon for plagiarism. In doing so, I would be claiming that the ideas are mine and that they stole them from me.

Do you know how far I'd get with this?

Nowhere.

Do you know why?

Because I don't own Good Omens.

I don't own Crowley & Aziraphale. I don't own the show and I don't work for it. No one stole my idea because, legally, it's not my idea to be had.

This is why no one who writes fanfic is ever going to be able to sue the writer(s) of the IP for which they're writing fanfic over intellectual property theft. Good Omens could literally take a fanfic you wrote and film it, word-for-word, plot-point-by-plot-point, if they wanted to and call it theirs and you do not have any legal ground to stand on if you were to sue them because they own the story, not you. It's their playground and they're letting you come over and play in the sandbox.

Technically, fanfic and fanart is actually illegal. Back in the old days, some studios and publishing houses actually went after fanfic writers for violating copyright by making art using the studios and publishing houses' copyrighted material. Unless you're someone making tens of thousands of dollars a year right now selling, I don't know, t-shirts of your own design for a fandom in the MCU, the lawyers aren't going to knock on your door. They don't care anymore because, in the era of online engagement, they realize that it winds up alienating fanbases if they target those trying to just have some fun with it and the reward of allowing them to have that fun greatly outweighs the cost of going after them for it.

Mah point is that they own the IP in question. Theories and fanfic and fanart are creative works made using their intellectual property so you cannot actually sue them for stealing your idea because it's their ideas that you stole to write the idea in the first place. You don't own the ideas-- they do.

There's also the lunacy of NG saying that showing your theories and fanfic to him would mean he can't use those ideas in S3. Mathematically, there are only so many ways that even the most surprising story can go. There are some of us sitting here on Tumblr who have already written theories that are at least partially correct about where S3 is heading. It's just math at this point. Even with the "don't tag or ask Neil about this theory" stuff, he's inevitably already seen theories on here that are going to be proven correct come S3. I really doubt any lawyer working for Amazon is losing a wink of sleep over this.

To consider why, think of other fandoms for tv shows you have been a part of or are a part of currently... have you ever seen anything like NG's request in those fandoms?

You haven't, have you?

I'll give you an example of just how few fucks a major studio gives about people involved in production learning about fan theories or seeing fanfiction...

A friend of mine and I met in another fandom that recently celebrated 20 years. This fandom basically created online engagement in the pre-social media, pre-streaming eras when it first started. It's widely credited with being the original binge tv show. Producers, directors, writers and acting talent were and are all involved online with the fanbase. They hold podcasts and Zoom roundtables with fans where they have 1:1 direct conversations with members of their audience. They actively seek out what it is that you might like to see happen in the series and what you think might happen, based on the story already. The fanbase has brought back characters and changed some story as a result of this engagement. I've had two, different executive producers of the show like and comment on what I thought would-- and directly said I hoped would-- happen in a then-upcoming season of the show. Not because I requested them but because I happened to be correct about where the story was going, those things happened in the future. At no point did lawyers for those producers or the show itself reach out to me, thinking that I was going to sue. No one was worried about that in the least. It was just earlier this year, that some of the network executives were even in the Zoom as well-- and, again, this is for the fanbase of this show. No one from legal cares because the know that the fans don't own the IP so no plagiarism lawsuit could ever really be effectively mounted.

At no point were any of these veteran filmmakers, actors and writers all 'oh no don't tell me your theory because then we'll have to do something different!'... it is the complete opposite of that. They wanted to know. They still do. They're excited about our engagement. This has been the attitude I've seen in every other fandom, with any other person involved in production that is engaging with that show's audience. They aren't worried about opening themselves up to legal issues. They're just having fun engaging with the people who like their work.

Michael Sheen and David Tennant own Staged, right? It's their IP. Is there a request on Sheen's Xwitter telling you not to send him your ideas for a Staged S4 because then he'd never be able to use them if they were to make it? Nope. Is there a message saying that he's involved with Good Omens' production so he can't read your theories or fanfic so please don't send it to him? lololol girl...

I'm pretty sure that man has actually read your all fanfic and left you kudos under his secret username by this point and, even if he's only joking about it, he's at least fine with joking about it without it being a whole legal issue for him or the studios because it isn't one. None of you would get anywhere if you sued because you sent your theory to Michael Sheen online and then your theory came true because you don't own Staged or Good Omens or anything else with which he's involved. He knows that and so does everyone involved in other shows with online fandoms with whom they're engaging.

I don't know for a fact why NG has been telling you not to tag him your Good Omens theories and fanfic but I do know that it would seem very unlikely that it has fuck all to do with whether or not he can use those ideas in GO S3. I feel like the fact that, since virtually no one else is doing things like this, it might be safer to consider the idea that he has-- rightly or wrongly-- quietly been accused of plagiarism himself in the past and he's trying to cover his ass... and also, perhaps, the darker possibility as well...

Asking you not to leave a digital paper trail linking him to something you've written is asking you make it easier for him to continue to peruse the fandoms of his works and potentially take any idea he might like and use in his own original work outside of that fandom.

Because while you'd get nowhere suing him for stealing your idea about his own work, you could get somewhere if you, say, wrote a long, very plotty Crowley & Aziraphale fanfic or a wildly innovative theory about Good Omens that wasn't actually correct for what's happening in Good Omens but would make a pretty killer story in its own right... if you did that and tagged Gaiman and he used to write a brand new, non-Good Omens work... if you noticed that new work as being your own ideas, you might actually have something of a legal case against him.

Not a particularly strong one but maybe something of one and, if you were to sue and that were to get out, just the idea of it alone could be damaging to him.

If you never tagged him, though... you can't legally prove that he ever saw it.

It means that he's free to take what he likes.

It would not shock me if this all gets worse and now that these women have opened the floodgates against him, we also eventually hear from people in, idk, writing classes or something, who feel like he stole their work.

Again, to be very clear: I do not know this for a fact.

I just cannot express how rare and bizarre that request not to tag him is and where there's smoke? There's usually fire.

Okay I lied I do have something else to say about the neil gaiman allegations

Do NOT drag Terry Prachett into this. I haven’t seen anyone do so myself yet, but I’m sure someone probably will and it disgusts me.

And also, stop giving neil all the credit for everything. If there’s one thing I’ve noticed, it’s that the GO fandom gives neil WAY too much credit. I’m even guilty of this. But it isn’t right and it absolutely isn’t fair to Terry Prachett or anyone else who was worked so hard on the show. People only give neil so much credit because he is alive to answer questions about GO and talk about how it was written while Terry Prachett unfortunately no longer can.

Sorry that this isn’t very well articulated it just was something that came to mind and made me very upset. Hope this makes sense.