#and if you try to prove me wrong then you are just proving my point if you have nothing good to say then simply keep scrolling

[scarynewboyfriend]

just ignore those kinds of people, or if they are your friend tell them not to say stuff like that. it’s not good for anyone.

people try to justify or prove their pain, while attempting to convince themselves that what they are experiencing is normal/correct by saying that a source of joy is also a symptom - typically one that many people share.

it’s easy to build a community of people who are hurting and want an easy answer or justification for that pain, because it doesn’t involve anything more than saying “oh yes, x thing happened to me and that’s why i spend all day reading.”

it’s a pity contest mixed with denial - that a seemingly harmless interest is all you get for whatever psychologically ails you. the belief that YOU couldn’t be your own roadblock to wellness and recovery, because everyone else is doing it too so that’s just fine.

yeah, maybe you did read a lot as a kid because it was all you had between screaming parents and unpaid electric bills. hobbies are a task of pleasure, regardless how they are discovered.

if it’s a problem (ex. any time your are stressed you turn to a book instead of addressing the problem, or if your reading causes you to ignore other parts of life) then you need to seek professional help.

not all people who read. YOU.

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

My point is, chronic pathologizing is an emotionally immature response that is only going to become a barrier to helping people accept that they as an individual have a problem.

We have GOT to stop pathologizing the joy out of life.

Saw someone claim that if you read a lot as a child, you were disassociating. No, you were reading. Because reading is fun.

"I have a problem with maladaptive daydreaming." It's only maladaptive if it negatively impacts your ability to function in the real world. Laughing at a joke you made in your head isn't doing that.

"You seem to do a lot if creative projects. What are you escaping?" I'm escaping this conversation.

Like what is the end goal? Because so far, all this has done has made it harder to enjoy my hobbies because you're turning a mindless process into something I gotta think about.

[p0orbaby]

Leah and reader argue then make up 😘

-

The door slams harder than you intend, the sound reverberating through the flat like a gunshot. Leah’s standing in the kitchen, her hands braced against the counter, staring down at the cutting board like it’s the source of all her problems.

You don’t even bother taking off your coat. “So, what, you’re just not going to talk to me now?”

Her jaw tightens, but she doesn’t look at you. “What’s the point? You’ve clearly already decided I’m in the wrong”

“Oh, don’t do that,” you snap, stepping closer. “Don’t make this about me when you’re the one acting like an arse”

That gets her. She straightens up, turning to face you, her eyes blazing. “An arse? Because I told you what I thought?”

“No, because you told me what you thought in front of everyone, Leah. You undermined me”

Her laugh is sharp, bitter. “Undermined you? I disagreed with you. Sorry if I didn’t bow down and kiss your feet in front of the whole squad”

“You didn’t just disagree,” you counter, your voice rising. “You made me look stupid. Do you have any idea how that felt?”

For a moment, she just stares at you, her chest rising and falling as she takes in your words. Then she shakes her head, running a hand through her hair. “I didn’t mean to make you feel stupid,” she says, her tone quieter now. “But you were being reckless, and I wasn’t just going to stand there and let you—”

“Reckless?” you interrupt, your anger flaring again. “I made a judgement call. If you didn’t agree, you could’ve pulled me aside. But no, you had to make a scene”

“I was trying to protect you,” she snaps, stepping closer. “You were too close to that tackle. One wrong move and—”

“And what?” you cut in, your voice trembling. “I’d get hurt? That’s football, Leah. It’s my decision to make, not yours”

The silence that follows is thick and heavy, the kind that makes your skin prickle. Leah’s staring at you, her eyes hard but glossy, like she’s fighting some internal battle. You can see her hands clenching at her sides, her forearms tense, and for a moment, you think she’s going to say something else.

Instead, she just mutters, “I can’t do this,” and turns away.

That’s when something in you snaps. “Fine,” you say coldly. “Walk away. That’s what you’re good at, isn’t it?”

She freezes mid-step, her back to you, and for a second, you think she might actually leave. But then she turns around, her expression unreadable, and takes two long strides toward you.

“You think I’m walking away?” she says, her voice low and dangerous. “You think I don’t care?”

“Seems like it,” you fire back, even as your heart pounds against your ribs.

Before you can say anything else, she closes the distance between you, her hands gripping your waist and pulling you flush against her. The kiss is hard, desperate, like she’s trying to prove a point.

You try to hold onto your anger, but it dissolves the moment her lips move against yours, her fingers digging into your sides as if she’s afraid you’ll pull away.

“Still think I don’t care?” she murmurs against your mouth, her voice rough and breathless.

You don’t answer. Instead, you tug her closer, your fingers tangling in her hair as you kiss her back just as fiercely.

The fight isn’t resolved—not really—but as she lifts you onto the counter, her hands sliding under your shirt, you think maybe it doesn’t need to be. At least not right now.

Some arguments, it seems, are better settled in silence. Or, in your case, in the half-lit kitchen with the sound of her breathless apologies against your skin.

[swappermanent]

Gym Crush (Part 2)

Read Part 1 by @exploratorytfs.

It’s been a year and a half since the swap, and not a day goes by that I don’t think about how crazy it all was. You might be wondering—why would I trade the life I had? I mean, I had it pretty damn good.

Before all this, I was hot. Not just passable, but the kind of hot that turned heads. I had worked my ass off to look the way I did—hours at the gym, eating clean, all of it. And then there was Edgar. God, Edgar. This dude was a walking Greek statue: broad shoulders, a thick chest, veins for days. I mean, it wasn’t just the muscles; it was the way he carried himself. Confidence, swagger, like he knew he could get whatever he wanted. And yeah, I guess at the time, he was my boyfriend.

But even with all of that—being hot, dating a hunk like Edgar—I just couldn’t do it anymore.

You’re probably thinking I’m nuts. I mean, guys like Edgar don’t come around often, especially not for guys like me. Let’s be real, most dudes who look like him wouldn’t even give a trans guy like me the time of day. So, yeah, I was lucky. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. I should’ve been happy, but the truth is... I wasn’t.

Why? Well, Edgar. He wanted me to be this perfect, submissive, fem bottom. And look, I’ve got nothing against that. There are guys out there who rock that vibe, who own it, and good for them. That’s just not who I am.

I know, I know—saying this out loud would probably get me canceled in half the gay bars across the country. But I really am masc for masc. Always have been. I’m not saying it to be some sort of gatekeeper or anything; it’s just... that’s what I’ve always wanted for myself.

And it’s not just about who I’m attracted to—it’s about me, too. My whole life, I’ve been trying to prove I’m man enough. To the world. To other guys. Hell, even to myself.

Transitioning was the first step, obviously. But it wasn’t enough. I wanted to look the part, you know? That’s why I inked myself up. And the gym was my second home, but even after countless hours of sweat and dedication, I could never quite bulk up. No matter how much protein I shoved down or how hard I lifted, my frame stayed twinky.

Don’t get me wrong—there were plenty of guys who loved me for it. I mean, twinks are kind of a whole thing, right? A lot of guys would’ve killed to look like I did, but that wasn’t the point. It didn’t feel like me. I didn’t just want to be a guy; I wanted to be a man. The kind of man Edgar was.

And Edgar... he didn’t see me that way. Sure, he’d call me hot, touch me like he couldn’t get enough, but then he’d taunt me. He’d weaponize my body. Every time he called me “pussy boy” or made some comment about how he was more of a man than I was, it chipped away at me. He might’ve thought it was playful, but to me it was cruel. And I couldn’t take it anymore.

Initially, I thought if I just stuck it out, maybe things would change. Maybe he’d see me differently, respect me more. He didn’t. My self-esteem tanked. I started dreading the time we spent together, and eventually, I just... stopped putting out.

And of course, that’s when things really fell apart. Edgar doesn’t do well with rejection—big shocker, right? So yeah, I wasn’t exactly surprised when Edgar came sliding back into my DMs after. But honestly, I wasn’t planning on responding. I’d already been down that road, and I’d told myself after the last time—no more.

Still, when I saw what he was pitching, I couldn’t help but be curious. Swapping bodies with a cis guy? At first, I rolled my eyes. Like, thats even possible. But the more I thought about it, the more curious I got.

The guy Edgar had in mind? Not exactly a stunner. When Edgar sent me his photo, I remember staring at it for way longer than I should’ve, trying to pick out anything redeeming. The dude was... average. A little too soft in the face, a little too plain. But, to be fair, there was some potential there. Barely.

His eyes were nice, though—kind of soulful, in a way that made you think he might be a good guy deep down. And the kicker? He was taller than me by a good 6  inches. That alone had my interest. But let’s not kid ourselves; the real selling point was the fact that he had a cock.

That was the dream, wasn’t it? My own cock. I’d spent years dealing with the disappointment of not being able to fully live out the life I wanted. Transitioning had given me so much, but this? This was the missing piece. In this kid’s body, I could finally live out the fantasy that had been sitting in the back of my mind for years.

I could be the top I’d always wanted to be. I could take guys home, pin them down, and breed them with my own cock and fill them with my own cum. No more strap-ons, no more awkward positioning—just me, fully in charge, giving them EVERY. SINGLE. INCH.

Maybe with a little muscle here, a little polish there, I could make it something great.

So I said yes.

I’m not gonna lie—the first year in this body wasn’t easy. Adjusting to a new frame, new habits, new... everything? Yeah, it was a grind. But if there’s one thing I’ve always had, it’s work ethic. Between that and this body’s naturally high testosterone—and okay, yeah, I might’ve dipped into some steroids here and there—I’d say I built myself up pretty damn good.

Look at me now. I run my own training service. I mean, it’s not like I’m the most skilled coach out there or anything. But honestly? That doesn’t seem to matter much. Guys line up for my programs, and we all know why. They don’t just want my advice—they want to look like me. I’m walking inspiration. Living proof that the dream is achievable, or at least that’s how they see it.

And man, the way people treat me now? Everyone’s calling me “bro” or “dude” every other sentence. Not that they didn’t before—I’ve always leaned into that vibe—but there’s something about hearing it now that hits different. Maybe it’s the weight of my cock swinging in my shorts as they say it. It’s like the final piece of the puzzle clicked into place. Everything just feels... right.

And the best part? This manhood of mine? Oh, it’s gotten around.

I mean, come on. Looking like this, how could it not? Guys want me. They crave me. They crave my fleshy, thick, no kidding, natural, beer can of a cock throbbing inside of them.They’ll do whatever it takes to get a night with me, and honestly, who could blame them?

[xaverie]

So. I love Evan Kelmp. And - imagine that I'm trying to choose my words carefully here.

I've been getting annoyed with him over the last three episodes. Because. I don't like how he tends to impose his beliefs. About what is correct and should happen. On the other characters. And our Black characters, specifically. Which. Was really put on clear display by his interaction with The Qohlye.

Evan seeks to be understood. But I don't think he has.. put in the required effort to reach that same level of understanding with his friends, or in general. Perhaps because they haven't said things in the exact way that he needs to hear them. But he behaves as though he does understand, even though I personally think. That there are things he's missing.

The treehouse conversation. Lots of people seem to get and relate to Evan's side of the convo, which is fantastic! But not as deep an understanding of Jammer's side. Evan decides that the correct thing is for Jammer to come out not hide his magical experiences. He jumps to a few conclusions about the reason - first that maybe Jammer was ashamed, then that he wasn't confident it would go well.

Instead of asking for clarification about what "They need me to be Whitney, you guys need me to be Jammer" means, he had made up his mind. Evan likes that Jammer is magic because that is the way in which Evan feels most connected to Jammer, thus everyone should admire Jammer for his magical abilities the way Evan does. And if Jammer hasn't allowed for that it's some kind of rebuke of Evan, of magic, and of Jammer's own self. Therefore the only correct thing is to merge these identities, but really just be the Jammer that Evan knows.

And I'm not saying Evan is wrong here. But in the same way he's missing the fact that Jammer did try to expose his magic in S2E1, but he couldn't prove it because magic is fucking broken. He's also missing how naturally we, as Black people, fall into code switching. Not just historically as a method of survival, but for practical reasons, privacy reasons, or just to keep our peace. To treat that unilaterally as the same thing as a kind of toxic compartmentalization, or hiding the true self (all of them are true selves), was. Kinda. Sad to me.

Not to take away from Jammer's triumphant success on Galamanis or the freedom represented by growing wings, because this is what he chose and I love that he made those choices. But it also represents potentially giving up fitting into his mundane life and dream career, something he had fought so so hard to keep thus far, and destroying 'Whitney'. This, more than anything before it, might be a fundamental shift in identity.

The same way it made me a little bit sad that Evan had assumed Jammer didn't mean "family" literally, when I immediately recognized that of course he did. There has never been a point in American history where part of being Black and being family hasn't meant - we may have to be apart, but as soon I'm ready (as soon as we're safe), I'm coming back for you, no matter what. It is THE very first promise, the foundational truth, or the only thread of hope that tied so many Black families together through all these generations.

So while everyone recognizes what a sweet moment it was, I also hope people feel the gravity and the history behind "I dream of making that space for you." And the weight of how many people must have said that before him. And what a profound act of love it's always been because sometimes that's all we have.

When Evan tells Sam, "I think you are the most powerful wizard," she instantly replies, "I hope not." Evan's response to this was essentially - who were are is true whether we want it to be or not. Which, to be fair, is both consistent with what he expressed to Jammer and with his own experience. What it leaves out is that our hopes are also who we are. And that maybe the same way he mistook her love toward him for general gregariousness, he is still misunderstanding her a little.

While he deferred to Sam on the matter of whether they should pursue the Qohlye or not, I think it was still Evan's (or Brennan's) idea that not only must all four of them be chosen, but that The Qohlye must be the best choice for Sam.

When the Qohlye says 'I think you're only here because you're convinced you need to be the same as your friends,' is he wrong? When he asks why she needs to be chosen by his magic specifically, she can't answer on her own. When Sam was given the choice between Power and Understanding she immediately chose understanding because of COURSE she did. (She instantly replies, "I hope not." I hope not. My heart breaks.)

And yet. Evan insists that she's given the power anyway. Because that's what fits neatly into what he already believes is correct and should happen. He believes in winning and rewards. He believes she deserves that power and that they need it. So even though I know he does this out of love, he doesn't even consider for a moment that he might be wrong.

Because Sam does get the power, she does thank him, and again not to diminish Sam's accomplishment - once again Evan gets what he wants and is proven right.

Except.

When The Qohlye doesn't give him the answers he wants in the exact form that he demands them. Evan decides that this is a crime for which The Qohlye deserves to die. The Qohlye, who helped return him to life. Who has a strong connection to his friends. (Who chose to be Black, which meant so much to Jammer that he cried.) Who asked each of his friends, in turn, if they thought The Qohlye meant what Evan thought he meant. Who demonstrated that he is not (and cannot be) obfuscating something that is apparently obvious to everyone else.

Evan refuses to accept that yes, The Qohlye can give him information, but cannot understand it for him. And Evan is not ready to Understand because Evan keeps choosing Power. Understanding takes work, even (or especially) when it doesn't come naturally to you. And answers will not always come in a clear and concise way. And this makes him so angry that he wants The Qohlye dead.

While Evan always presents his beliefs and demands as logical and rational, his reaction to The Qohlye's refusal to engage on his terms was simply entitled and immature.

[prettyboysdontlookatexplosions]

so in general i really need people on this website to start understanding that life will be more pleasant for them and everyone in their vicinity if they cultivate the default assumption that a snarky shitpost about post-civil war historiography & cultural memory and the fundamental loser nature of the confederacy itself in all likelihood does not represent the sum total of the original poster’s knowledge and understanding of the civil war, emancipation, reconstruction, lost cause mythology, and associated topics, and to really really really think about whether a person making historiography-of-the-confederacy jokes in their free time on tumblr strikes you as a person in need of reminding about the role of white supremacy in the back half of the nineteenth century, but i REALLY need you personally to avoid lecturing me about this topic when you yourself are either wrong or grossly oversimplifying the basic facts: the union did not go to to war to end slavery but to preserve the union, which is no doubt why some slave states never seceded and why slavery remained in practice in the border states until the passage of the reconstruction amendments; emancipation shifted into place as a desired outcome of union victory after the emancipation proclamation, passed in preliminary form in fall of 1862 and in its full extent in january 1863, more than a year and a half after the onset of military conflict at fort sumter. if you’re thinking to yourself, “well i knew that, when i typed up a bunch of tumblr tags on a random reblog i was just thinking of the latter half of the war and didn’t think anyone would be so pedantic as to point out that i phrased my thoughts in such a way that the less generous reading might suggest i myself have an incomplete understanding of the topic at hand,” congratulations: we’re learning here!

to anyone genuinely interested in the actual answer to “how did we get here” rather than trying and failing to prove how much smarter they are than other people on supernatural dot edu slash tumblr dot html, allow me to take a moment to recommend david blight’s race and reunion: the civil war in american memory.

we lost the culture war so bad after 1865... we should live in an america where every single citizen looks back with patriotic fervor at how bad the union kicked the confederacy's ass. that should be universally regarded as a triumph of the capital U capital S capital A U-S-A. everyone regardless of geography should feel themselves living in the legacy of the union. the fact that confederate generals went down in anyone's history as anything but a bunch of delusional war-losing loser traitor weenies who dragged their states into a bloodbath and couldn't even keep their own men from deserting in droves is perhaps our greatest historiographical sin and one i truly with all my heart believe we are paying for as americans to this day.

[httpsdana]

Hi!!! Can i request for Kenan Yildiz with playful 25. Where reader is 1 year older so she always call Kenan baby and treat him like a kid or something like that. Kenan is so annoyed by it (but in a good way).

Beyond Adorable~Kenan Yildiz

・❥・prompt list

・❥・masterlist -> part 2

・❥・who I write for

・❥・a/n: this has got to be one of my favs abt Kenan till now

“Kenan, you’re so cute when you’re annoyed,” y/n teased, leaning on the kitchen counter as she watched him stir the pot of pasta with a bit more force than necessary.

“I’m not cute,” he muttered, not bothering to look at her.

“See? Even the way you say that is cute” she giggled, moving closer to him.

He let out an exaggerated groan, putting the spoon down. “aşkım, you’ve been calling me cute all morning. I don’t know if I should be flattered or insulted.”

“Flattered, obviously.” she poked his arm playfully. “Why would anyone be insulted by the truth?”

Kenan turned to her then, crossing his arms, his lips twitching like he was trying to suppress a smile. “You think you’re funny, don’t you?”

“No,” she said, standing on her tiptoes to cup his cheeks, squishing them gently. “I think you’re cute.”

He grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands away from his face, stepping closer until she was pinned between him and the counter. His voice was soft, teasing, as he said, “If you keep calling me cute, I might have to prove you wrong.”

She raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the shift in his tone. “Oh yeah? And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”

He didn’t answer with words. Instead, he leaned down and kissed her—firm and deliberate, like he was trying to make a point. His hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer, and when he pulled back just enough to catch his breath, his smirk was infuriatingly smug.

“Still think I’m cute?” he asked, his lips brushing against hers.

“Definitely,” she replied without hesitation, grinning up at him.

Kenan groaned dramatically, dropping his head to her shoulder. “You’re annoying”

“And you're adorable,” she said, threading her fingers through his hair.

“shut up” he mumbled into her neck before planting a kiss there, his arms tightening around her.

“Are you pouting?” she teased, pulling back just enough to look at his face.

“No.” He kissed her again, this time slower as if to distract her from her question.

When he pulled away, she smiled. “Still pouting.”

Kenan rolled his eyes but didn’t let go of her. Instead, he hugged her tighter, gazing at her with his soft eyes. “You know, you call me cute so much I’m starting to think it’s just an excuse to annoy me.”

“Not an excuse. It’s a fact,” she quipped, poking his chest lightly.

He captured her hand before she could pull it back, intertwining her fingers with his. “If I’m so ‘cute,’ then why are you blushing right now?”

She gasped dramatically, her free hand flying to her cheeks. “I’m not!”

“You totally are,” Kenan laughed, pressing a quick kiss to her nose. “Maybe you’re the cute one here.”

“You’d better watch your words, baby,” she shot back, poking his chest again.

Kenan groaned dramatically, but this time there was a playful spark in his eyes. “Can you please stop calling me that? You’re only one year older!”

“Exactly,” she said, smirking. “One year older means I have all the wisdom and maturity here, baby.”

“Oh, canım” Kenan murmured leaning in closer. “You don’t even know what wisdom looks like.”

“And you wouldn’t know because you’re a baby,” she countered with a grin, poking the side of his face.

“You’re acting like you’re a decade older, not one year,” he muttered, but his hands on her waist tightened as if he couldn’t bear to let her go.

“Doesn’t matter,” she said with a shrug. “I’m older, so you’ll always be my baby.”

“Don’t make me prove you wrong again,” Kenan warned, his lips twitching with amusement.

“Go ahead,” she challenged, tilting her head up at him. “What are you gonna do, baby Kenan?”

He kissed her again, this time with more urgency, like he was trying to pour every ounce of affection into the gesture. His hands slid up her back and pulled her flush against him, leaving her breathless when he finally pulled away.

“Still think I’m a baby?” he asked, his voice low and teasing.

“Hmm.” she pretended to think, though her cheeks were burning from the intensity of his kiss. “Maybe. I mean, you do pout—”

Kenan cut her off by reaching down to tickle her sides making her shriek in laughter. “Say it! Admit I’m not a baby!”

“Never!” she gasped through her laughs, trying to push him away.

He stopped his tickles but didn’t let go, his arms locking around her like a vice. His lips found her temple, then her cheeks, then her lips, planting soft kisses everywhere he could reach.

“Say it,” he murmured against her lips.

“Okay, okay” she laughed, her hands resting on his chest. “You’re not a baby.”

“Good,” he said, pulling her into another tight hug. “Because I’m your man, aşkım. Not a baby.”

y/n rolled her eyes, though her smile betrayed her. “Fine, my man. But you’re still cute.”

Kenan let out an exaggerated groan, burying his face in her hair, but the way his lips pressed a kiss to the top of her head said he wasn’t really upset.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered, swaying slightly as he held her.

“And you love it,” she said, leaning back to plant another kiss on his lips.

“Yeah,” he admitted softly, his eyes crinkling with affection as he kissed her again. “I do.”

[tiredassmage]

veilguard thoughts!

rook + solas parallels edition

spoilery ofc because my head's not full of cotton balls today and i haven't stopped chewing on it all since i finished the game! so! this is a little endgame heavy; you've been warned for what's below the cut <3

the final first playthrough counter has come in just over 67 hours and i am all but physically holding myself back from launching right into another one with another rook because i had a blast. i'll concede it was a bit heavy on the exposition in the first several hours, but what followed has certainly won my heart, and i think the game is visually beautiful.

but i'm not even looking to do a full review here, but i think one of the most fascinating things this game did was set up rook and solas. so, two parts of preface then: one, i was a little determined to love this game and hoped it would at least perform decent. that's my spite about it, lol, but that's not the point, so we're not here about that. two, one of my admitted concerns when they had first announced this game having its own protagonist was... that i wasn't sure there was another person to finish solas's story other than the inquisitor, and this isn't a solavellan thing for me, though my beloved canon inquisitor is a lavellan. solas's friendship wasn't the biggest hitch in inquisition for me, but it was important to my inquisitor. he wanted to prove his friend wrong.

i don't believe hallaren had a plan at the time for how to achieve that. he wasn't sure it was actually possible to convince solas the dalish were not as lost a cause as he seemed to believe, but he had to try.

and when i started veilguard, i wouldn't say i'd have anticipated the parallels of solas and rook, nor how well they ended up working for me. i admit: they got me. i didn't see that twist coming. and the hindsight of losing varric from the beginning makes a lot hurt (i say that as a compliment). i think it's easy enough to explain why i didn't see it, why (my, at least) rook didn't puzzle it out, but i also readily admit i'm historically bad at seeing these kinds of things, so you're free to be amused on your own time, lol.

anyway. regret. not becoming what you hate, what you claim to fight against. not being beholden to what you were or what you've lost. the game hits these beats several times, and i think its a real beautiful repeating thing they've done if you hammer all the companion's stories with the main deal, and i did the memories of the dread wolf as well. rook and the inquisitor have a conversation about it that about touches on all of it way more eloquently than i could summarize.

and, of course, part of the reveal is solas did dabble with blood magic on the matter of varric's death, did set rook up for the level of regret and grief they must settle with to trap them in the fade - a prison fit for gods, a prison fit for a god's regrets.

and this is where i transition into blorbo-specific thoughts. because i think part of what fascinates and delights me so much about the rook and solas, potentially two sides of the same coin deal is how tyr's relationship with solas starts and then develops.

tyr does not trust solas from the outset. which i think is where a very interesting presentation of similar (at their roots) choices begins, as varric says: in a bar, as all good stories. one of the first story notifications we get is how rook chooses to handle the bar owner: charm your way out, or a more direct approach, and we're told varric takes note of this.

varric's own plan is an appeal to solas's nature. to talk his way out. as is varric's way.

normally, i'd call tyr the kind of character (having played with him as an oc in various medias for oh... going on 2 years, is it? maybe 3? time's fake, different post) to also prefer talking his way out. but he doesn't believe solas will listen. so he rebukes varric's plan of just waltzing up and charming him with his babygirl eyes.

then at d'meta's crossing, he spares the mayor. not because he doesn't hear the concern that the greedy bastard will fall to said greed again, and not out of an entirely conscious mandate for live with the consequences of your actions, but... in hindsight with other choices, i'd argue it's... from at least a little of that kind of place.

he tries and fails to reason with the first warden. several times. in the heat of weisshaupt, and with the recent conversation with solas about whatever it takes on his mind, he ends up decking the man. the stakes are too high for risking the first warden staying on his high horse again if another attempt at reason fails, is the driver of the decision.

i'd chewed for a while on how that would seem to make tyr's commitment to "talking things through" indicated by that first choice in the bar inconsistent. it all seems justifiable at the time, and he didn't get to the place with the first warden he was out of intentional malice, but he still wound up there.

much of that is natural by the circumstances he was presented. by making calls with the information and under the conditions that were present at the time, as anyone, not just rook, would have to do under such circumstances, if they traded places. sure, some of it is also by solas's engineering of his conversations with rook. by setting them up to be a leader asked to make those hard calls. maybe even for arguably goading them a bit into a situation where whatever it takes was their only feasible option. which neve has a great comment on:

this is, i think, most directly about varric's death, but also, personally, i have to say is applicable for solas's intervention during blood of arlathan.

so, back to blorbo for a moment. tyr begins from a place that mistrusts solas's motives. the I'm quoting you here, "lies, treachery, and rebellion" kind of mistrust. and then, as things progress, as the team unveils more about solas's past in the crossroads and through the murals, it circles back to what I think motivated much of his comment to varric that talking with solas wouldn't work: that even if solas has any regret for what's happened, he's too stubborn to concede, too trapped by the mistakes of that past to ever admit fault, to hear himself sound like the 'gods' he claims to despise. tyr continues to take solas's advice into consideration the whole time, true, because it's... hard to discount the only potentially close to the problem kind of advice and knowledge they don't... exactly otherwise have themselves. he's not sure what the other shoe dropping in that equation is going to look like, but he's more convinced it'll happen than he is entirely happy with the situation.

the murals create... a hunch. or develop it. that rather than just being too prideful about the harm he'll cause by tearing down the veil, that solas is trapped in this plan by his regrets and guilt for actions of the past. at that point, tyr... has a better understanding about how they got to this point, but it kind of only solidifies his reservations that solas might actually be reasoned with.

the one moment this is changed, then, is during blood of arlathan. because frankly i think that was one of the worst experiences tyr has in the entire game. elgar'nan's influence in their minds, and an incident where they're trapped with no conceivable way out and potentially facing down an archdemon again, not so long after weisshaupt that the losses have stopped aching.

whatever his reasons or motivations and whatever else happens, solas saves their lives. tyr can't find a way around that one, and he's not even certain he wants to. because it's one of the definitive moments where he didn't have a plan, and he was terrified the tables had finally turned against them, and they'd fail.

it's not... trust. but tyr's also spent all this time working with his team on this concept that change shouldn't exactly be beyond anyone if there's a little effort put in. and whatever his own feelings are, varric wanted to believe in his old friend, and so does the inquisitor - both people he respects greatly, and he's constantly calculating their desire for a better outcome into the rubix cube that is trying to figure out how to stop the gods.

the problem then, is that solas all but instantly takes advantage of this... lapse. this faint relaxation of tyr's guard against his manipulations. that whole little incident with the fade after ghilan'nain's fall is all but immediately after, and its a betrayal nearly thrice or so over in rapid succession: that varric's been dead this whole time, that solas has manipulated him and how he feels responsibility for the team and the regrets that arise out of having to make hard choices, especially in times like these, and then on the other side of the fade, that solas has gone to minrathous, solas is playing "hero" about it all in tyr's and the shadow dragons' backyard. and to add salt to the wound, in minrathous, it's been blood magic all along.

and, y'know. solas says sorry, says he won't tear down the veil by his own hand, but hands rook the weapon to do it for him. sets them up again. so maybe that's more like... four or five times, depending on your count and categorization of it all.

and rook has a choice about all of this to make, a certain level of peace they have to make with it all to even get out of the fade. and how much to follow varric's advice about don't become what you hate - what you were fighting all along, or trapped by what you lost.

here's tyr's opinion that solas has more than likely been beyond reason because he's too far gone on his own path to even see that he's done exactly that: that he talks like elgar'nan's control, he's just dressing it up in a different way. that he's trapped by what he's lost and sacrificed and admitting that will be too much.

and here's tyr's inescapable bitterness of having been betrayed, of having spent so long trying to be careful with the god of trickery only to have danced right to his tune the whole time. a fiery emotional response for a threat to his home, to minrathous that he's tried very hard to protect and leave a smidgen better than he found it in this whole fight.

by circumstance... and by a little of solas's own design then, rook and solas confront the same trouble of what sacrifice being a leader demands. what cost is too high? how much is too much?

i had the pieces at that point for the ending with mythal, but now i had tyr bitter and a bit more resentful about solas - in a kind of pain about betrayal that was still asking why? about it rather than worried about if regret was present or meaningful. which is where this came from in my head akdfnas;dfnsadf

you're both thinking it. and the endings directly focus on whether or not solas succeeds in tearing down the veil, but the thematic part of it, to me, was... do rook and solas recognize where they might be held back? does tyr act on the pain and resentment of betrayal and swing blindly at solas as repayment? or is it bigger than both of them? is it about posing the question to solas about regret? how much is it like what drove solas to this point to act on that resentment? is it just retaliation? or did either of them learn anything from that prison in the fade?

and that's what makes the parallel, and it's what sets them apart.

and that's how, still, in the end, i have tyr who is willing to choose trying to reason one last time. for the sake of the advice of an old friend. for the people that brought them this far, the ones who chose to believe against the odds. and maybe, even, a little bit for himself. a choice against letting regret and resentment rule.

for the sake of it and because i couldn't get this game out of my head, i checked out the other endings, just to see, and i... think i like sticking with convincing him the best for both of them.

the trick with the dagger swap i think is the only other fitting course of action tyr might've taken from that point, and i think some of its elements reflect similar beats here about... learning from the past, if you will.

the accusation of likeness to the gods is still there. the banter about wits. i am a fool who finally met his match. one might argue that's for underestimating rook, which... fair enough, but i think... it also falls in line with solas's regrets, the appeal to be made to his nature, the... want, in the end, to be proven wrong. to find a 'better' way, as once he suggested to the inquisitor, and as mythal's release from debt and rook and the inquisitor's forgiveness, if you will, finally allows.

and that is... very satisfying to have said between them, when it's been on tyr's mind the whole time. and... they can both be proven wrong this way: for tyr, that solas wasn't beyond listening, and for solas, that there was another way.

for both of them that they could move on from what these trials have made of them, what they have done, and what they endured.

and man... man that was good. and so, so satisfying. it worked, veilguard. you sold me on these two as parallels to each other.

and that's just... one of many things in this game that gave me a lot of emotions, but this has already been. a helluva ramble, so if you've made it this far, congratulations and i salute you, lol.

i'm sure i'll do it all over again and have even more thoughts about even more rooks to throw around and chew on with this and what it'll reflect about each of them and that's. MMM. that's delicious. i loved this game. if my brain and time cooperates, i'm sure i'll have more thoughts and maybe even some writings for it in the future, we'll see where the blorbos take me. xD

[muirmarie]

ever since I wrote the thing where spock tells mccoy that the ozh'esta can be platonic, in the back of my head I keep thinking about a fic where the entire basis is that spock does know he's into mccoy, and he (don't do this) basically lulls him into vulcan dating without telling him? like finger kissing sure sure sure, but other things as well that, like, up the ante a LOT. and because i'm not a particularly kind person, I was trying to think how kirk could also be doing that, but of course he doesn't have the same leeway as spock, as mccoy obviously knows what human gestures of affection/romance are - so i think the best workaround would be for kirk to convince mccoy to try a chill/casual friends with benefits thing with him, except kirk keeps, like, doing super intense romantic things, and (i'm exaggerating for comedic affect) gaslighting him that they're really just what every friends with benefits situation is like, and because mccoy's never had a fwb, he's just like......"that sounds wrong but I don't know enough about them to prove you wrong" and goes along with it.

point being that he is routinely getting to idk vulcan third base with spock, but spock is just like "odd that you think this is romantic and/or sexual, this is just vulcan friendship, doctor," and meanwhile he's supposed to be having quickies with kirk to blow off steam, but kirk keeps doing the most romantic shit and being like, "yeah, giving you roses is my kink, why are you being so weird about it" and mccoy's just. listen. he's dated around okay, he's not some shy blushing virgin, but he has made the tragic mistake of trusting his two best friends, and by george are they gonna abuse that trust (don't do this) in their attempts to win him over lmao.

I mostly keep thinking about other vulcans coming on board and them subtly realizing and reacting to spock's ~claim~ on mccoy, and spock being disgustingly smug about it, and meanwhile someone hits on mccoy and kirk swoops in and, like, tenderly cups mccoy's cheek and kisses him and then leaves, and mccoy's like, yeah, no, we're just friends?, and everyone around him is???? babe??? no you aren't???

is it possible to write this without mccoy coming off TOO oblivious and/or spock and kirk coming off TOO lacking of boundaries, I just don't know, but it does make me giggle now and again when I think about it

also the fact that he is going to genuinely murder them when he realizes what they've been doing, and they can't even complain, because they both know they absolutely deserve it.

[l-in-the-light]

It might be just me, but this scene has a bit of Zosan energy:

Sanji stopping Zoro before he does something stupid, ready to react before Zoro even says the thing.

Shanks grabs Buggy *immediately*, like he expected him to say this stuff and butts-in to make sure he's not left out.

Reminds me of Uta and Luffy's competitiveness with each other as well, heh.

This might come off as shocking, but seems to me that Buggy and Shanks had some rivalry going on at this point in time :D one tried to outdo the other. Maybe they indeed did some stupid competitions all the time, like "I'm taller than you!" or "I can drink more than you!".

Let's also not forget their stupid North Pole/South Pole quarrel.

I think Shuggy shippers don't like to hear it, but this is such a sibling-like energy up there. Those two practically grew up together like siblings. It reminds me of the friends I had once: two sisters, one or two years apart in age. They fought all the time! And sometimes those quarrels became reeeeally violent, over stupidest things and kinda worried me lol (once they got jealous over a letter I wrote to both of them, which is why I started writing letters to them seperately!). This feels nostalgic.

"You two are always fighting", says Rayleigh. How many more stupid fights did those two have? :D (I wish we could see more of this side of Shanks. The stubborn mule Shanks! One that won't back away no matter what, because he is *so sure* he is right he actually is but that's not the point here)

I bet that's how they got into this trouble as well! They're younger here, but I feel like they probably competed about the lion: "I will be the one to defeat this lion!", "No! you're a weakling, I will do it!" (or something else involving the said lion lol), and turns out they both failed and escaped to the *same* tree out of all places and waited for Roger to help and rescue them lol. It's interesting how later on Buggy has a lion in his crew :D trying to prove the point perhaps, that he is already stronger than that time in the past? Now lions obey him instead! (well, technically not him, but his crewmate, but it still counts)

Also can I point it out? Shanks is crying here. He was a crybaby (just like Luffy!). I bet you *anything* Buggy made fun of him for that, more than once. It's just such a Buggy thing to do. Which is probably why Shanks tried to stop being a crybaby and prove him he is stronger. Kinda like Luffy did just because Ace told him he hates crybabies.

Buggy: Stop crying! Boys don't cry like that! *pretends not to be crying himself*

Shanks: But I'm so scared! What if the lion would have eaten you??

Buggy: What? I'm not a weakling like you! Worry about yourself instead, stupid!!

My little headcanon of that scene, in which Shanks is scared not for himself, but because Buggy would have been hurt, and Buggy of course takes it the wrong way, because it's Buggy, what else do you expect lol. I adore them. I really wish a dialogue like that happened between them actually, just to laugh at Buggy because he cries a lot himself as adult LOL. Now who's the crybaby when older?! He actually might have cried as a child as well, but pretended not to, lol.

Damn, I'm so tempted to write my scrutinizing analysis of Shuggy interactions, to form a coherent backstory of them :D it's all there, hidden in silly details! It just has to be put together, the right questions asked and voila, I swear! Or I'm delusional but it would be still a fun thing to do.

don't be an idiot! you'd only drag [oden] down!! Can you expand on the way it lingers in ur brain? Is it the same in og?

it's basically what i said in those tags—it feels uncharacteristically mean of shanks. (though no worse than the kind of insults buggy happily threw at shanks at that age.)

is it that mean in the original? let's see!

chapter 958, page 3. they’re so silly…

so, buggy says 「おれが手ェ貸してやってもいいぜおでんさん‼︎」 ore ga tee kashite yattemo iize oden-san!! i’d be happy to lend you a hand, oden!!

and shanks responds 「バーカ足手まといだお前なんか‼︎ ｜ なーおでんさんおれなら…」 baaka, ashidematoi da omae nanka!! naa, oden-san, ore nara… stupid, you’d just be a burden!! hey, oden, about me…

so, yeah, i’d say the translation’s pretty accurate. 🥲 i guess i just had an idealized vision of young shanks in my head that doesn’t match up with the reality…

[9mysterybook6]

TO @rhyliethelovelycaterfly You coward

Instead of saying these things behind my back. say it to my face

You just Block Me So that I don't see this as talk about me and stealing from me

YOU coward, don't hide Behind people

I know nicky-toony27 didn't say or do this. Stop putting words in their mouths

YOU coward, do you think This It will make me afraid of you I'm not afraid of your type You just prove my point more about you.

If you think you are scaring me with haras me and bullying me, you are wrong.

This is childish behavior.

I didn't do anything to you I just told the truth about you

This is just your attempt to make a big drama. I'm not giving you attention I'm just warning everyone about you

Either they are unaware of the real you

Stop bringing others in Your actions

Expose ME for what Just because I told others the truth about you

(You please Expose 9mysterybook6?, because 9mystery is making hate speech.)

You have nothing on me 😎

This is not a hate speech, it is a speech about the truth about your actions.

I feel so sorry for them Because there is no point in defending someone who is not innocent like YOU Rhylie

Instead of using your followers against me, direct yourself at me, you cowardly insect.

And you are a dirty thief too.

THAT IS MY OC

Seriously, what's the problem with this kind of people?

If they think they can steal ART or OC They are a bunch of idiots

Rhylie Either you are stupid to believe people don't notice you stealing from me OR You're just trying to piss me off.

This is recent history.

they will all see my published history It was there before your post.

You just prove what I'm saying about you more And show your true self more

Face it

You are a toxic, controlling and very sick person.

You just say hateful things about me and lie about the truth.

You just prove what I'm saying about you more And show your true self more

You didn't even say the whole truth, you just mentioned the bad parts that I said about you.

And you did not mention convincing reasons why i hate you

People are not a bunch of black sheep to follow your words

They will research a topic first And when they know the whole story

soon Your followers will unfollow you and block you When they realize the truth about you

If you are really tired of drama like you said before (We know this is a lie from you.)

Prove it by stopping talking about me and my friends

AND stop stealing other people's work.

Rhylie You're just making things worse more for yourself If you keep doing this

But what's the use of talking to you? Talking to you is like talking to a stone wall.

[lygma-nygma]

Being a batfam fan is funny because people will make a post like “here’s my headcanon-“ and it’s just something that’s directly canon to the story then post about major canon events and get everything wrong.

[aishabellasbigblogofeverything]

I love it when women hate men. I love it when women are allowed to vent to each other about how horrible and creepy men are. I love it when women form friendships with and prioritize each other over relationships with men(whether they're attracted to them or not). I love it when women put men dni in their bios and on their nude photos and on posts on their blogs. I love it when women refuse to mollycoddle and accommodate entitled male feelings with "but this doesn't mean I hate all men, I know a few men who are great, I love my father/sons/brothers/uncles/male cousins/guy friends" I love it when women complain about men WITHOUT "not all men" being a disclaimer. I love it when women avoid socializing with/refuse to be around/befriend/get close to men because they know men can't be trusted. I love it when women make "kill all men" jokes. I love it when women offer absolutely no concern or care for men's feelings and if their misandry offends men whatsoever because why should we, men are the oppressor class who have raped and killed and abused us and kept us as subjugated as second-class citizens for millennia, they regularly mistreat us and the women in their own marginalized communities still every single day and make this world so much harder and more awful for us to be in, and if we choose to hate them and not spare them any sympathy then so be it, and I don't just mean "men as a class" either, you can be a woman who doesn't want to have anything to do with any man on an individual basis and completely cuts off men from her personal life too and ykw I will love and fucking support you in that because men deserve absolutely NOTHING from us. If they're so tough and strong then they can handle it just like they can handle being lonely. If you are a woman who hates men, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A LESBIAN AND/OR A TRANS WOMAN, then just know that I love you. I love you, I support you, and you are safe here.

[sufferu]

It’s also fucking ridiculous on a lot of individual levels. Like—

Subaru: I messed up. I messed up so bad. Emilia hates me now, I messed up, I messed up, I messed up—

Emilia, constantly on the verge of tears: I will not mess up again I will not mess up again I will not mess up again I will not—

_

Subaru: Rem’s mad at me, too? But we were — we were so close before! How did I mess up this horribly? Was what I did really this bad?

Rem, so horrified by everything that she’s practically numb at this point: I cannot do what I did last time, for the love of everything in the world I CANNOT tell Subaru to go and be a hero, for FUCK’S SAKE— WHY DOES HE STILL WANT ME AROUND AFTER I TORTURED HIM TO DEATH?!?!

_

Subaru: Why won’t Ram tease me anymore? Please come back, I’m sorry…

Ram, horribly awkward: Subaru I cannot joke about that sort of thing when I apparently ACTUALLY murdered you. I cannot encourage this behavior on your part. Why are you like this.

_

Subaru: I need to impress Wilhelm. I need to work hard and get better so that he’ll be proud of me. I want him to be proud of me, I want him to be proud, please—?

Wilhelm, achingly: My sweet, adorable, pathetic mess of a new grandchild who I fully plan to adopt as soon as I prove my worth by eviscerating the Witch Cult that is threatening your existence, please stop begging me to train you for lethal combat—

_

Subaru: I think Julius is planning to torture me.

Julius, wistfully: I really did miss this brattier version of Subaru :) I know he’ll need to grow up eventually but he’s just so cute right now, all I want to do is tease him all the time—

_

Subaru: Reinhard hates me now. He’s so strict with me all the time, and he never lets me leave his sight when he escorts me into the Capital, and he always forces me to follow these arbitrary rules, and if I ever fail to do what he says to the letter he drags me back to the Estate by the ear like some sort of—

Reinhard: l i t t l e b r o t h e r.

_

Subaru: The Captain of the Iron Fang really doesn’t like me. I don’t know why I’m on his bad side. Why does everyone hate me so much?

Ricardo, on the verge of an aneurysm: Subaru for the love of all that is holy sTOP SNEAKING INTO OUR CARRIAGES TRYING TO JOIN US ON DANGEROUS MERCENARY JOBS—

_

Subaru: Who is this scheming merchant and why am I the only one concerned by this

Otto, doing a horrible job at disguising his true intentions due to being completely wrong about being the only one who went back in time: I am so good at this. Nobody suspects a thing.

_

Subaru: Who is this monster that almost kidnapped me and when is he going home

Cecilus, beaming: I am never going home :D not without Boss!

_

Subaru: How did I make the Emperor of the neighboring country not like me?? I tried so hard to be polite this time…

Vincent, pouting: why won’t subaru pick fights with me anymore, this is bullshit

_

Subaru: Who are all of these escaped criminals and why are they still here?!

The Pleiades Battalion: s c h w a r t z - s a m a a a a a…

_

Subaru: WHY IS SHE HERE?!?!

Elsa: Why am I here????

Writing the BTZ fic(s) right now and it’s fucking hysterical, because the first one is solely from Subaru’s POV, which is really sad and angsty and him trying desperately to make everyone stop hating him because they all suddenly seem to absolutely despise him right down to his bones — and then you get everyone else’s POV of those exact same events and it’s just the Benny Hill Theme on full blast.

[fisheito]

my princess nonsense is being encouraged watch ouyt imabout to be eneaabled

OK WHATF ATHAT'S SO CUTE I HAD TO MAKE IT i know realistically there's little to no chance that rei DOESN'T know how to work heels 🤣 BUT IMAGINE.....ING.... YAKUMO GENTLY GUIDING REI IN HEELS, WEEKS BEFORE THE BIG GALA AND HAVING NONE OF HIS NORMAL FEAR OF PHYSICAL TOUCH BC HIS [TEACHER MODE] IS OVERRIDING HIS INSECURITY

[presidentofclaudeloving2024]

Just something I had to put on YouTube and now all of you will see it here too lmao.

[scribbles-2004]

is it really that hard to not ship a SA victim with the mf that SAd them