#and that’s what makes them so compelling

[billiethetween]

Ableism is directly addressed in the text, so it's fine to talk about it! People have written papers about it for a reason. I was just sleepy too and I get tired of people saying a piece of art is "about" a real world problem just because it addresses it because it gets really reductive and makes trying to talk about anything but 21st century politics when discussing speculative fiction much harder.

And there are stories where people are the creators of vampires/demons, but at least in the west this is a modern phenomenon meant to deconstruct vampire tropes. My point was that in robot stories we are always the creator because that's what a robot is. While Aphrodite, the Blue Fairy, and G-D directly or indirectly give Galatea, Pinocchio, and the many Golems out there life, it's human who carve or sculpt them and who seek to borrow/be blessed by the power of the divine in order to give their beloved statue wife/puppet son/protector life. Frankenstein is the start of modern scifi because that middle man is cut out entirely.

And it can be interesting, although obviously any analogies need to be handled delicately because it can 1) easily just become wildly offensive and 2) can break the world building and ruin the whole story. I actually think the premise of True Blood (in which the modern era provides a viable alternative to eating people and it's available in stores) has legs and the issues are in the execution. The idea of a sentient species that can relate to us but can never be in community with us because they are driven by survival instinct to eat and kill us is inherently compelling, and the problems with stories trying to think up solutions to this problem is entirely in the execution.

As to OP... from the 30 seconds I have spent skimming his blog, he is 23 and deep in the trenches of AI discourse and seems irritated with people who think he should try something on an adult reading level. Which like... yeah, maybe if you tried some scifi that isn't children's cartoons you'd find a lot less hamfisted racism metaphors designed to teach a lesson for reasons that should be obvious. Not a crime, just a young person unable to admit they actually don't know what they're talking about.

the reason "robot racism" is often a really stupid metaphor is the same reason that like. discrimination against demons or vampires or whatever doesn't work, is because there's often a pretty justified reasons humans are scared of vampires or robots or whatever, in a way that doesn't apply to real life minorities, like a fantasy author will be like "the reason vampires are discriminated against is because most of them and kill and eat people for fun and pleasure, and so humans respond by trying to kill them, isn't that so sad" and like no that's a perfectly fine reason to not trust vampires i think.

[applereid]

— MYSTERY GIRLFRIEND, AARON HOTCHNER.

sorry if this is bad i needed to churn something out today, the next one will be better i promise!!

No one truly knew much about Aaron Hotchner’s personal life following his divorce from Haley. He was notoriously private, reserved even among close colleagues.

Unlike Morgan, who wore charm like cologne, Hotch never flirted, never hinted at a workplace crush, never so much as entertained office gossip.

The general consensus was that he simply went home— to an empty apartment and a quiet, solitary routine. But that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

Each evening, Aaron returned home to you— his radiant, warm-hearted girlfriend. You met him at the door with that bright, effortless smile, wrapping your arms around his neck, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, grounding him in a peace he rarely found elsewhere.

It wasn’t something he broadcasted. His relationship with you was his own— private, meaningful, and not something he felt compelled to share with coworkers. Especially not Morgan.

That privacy, however, came crashing down on a rare paperwork-heavy day. The team was still at their desks, buried in reports, when the elevator doors opened and you walked confidently into the bullpen. All heads turned as you made your way over to the first familiar-looking face— Emily Prentiss.

“Hi,” you greeted with a kind smile, a paper bag in hand. “I was looking for Aaron? I’m dropping off his lunch.”

Emily blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Hotch?” she repeated, brows raised. “His office is just over—”

But before she could finish, Hotch was already descending the steps from his office, eyes only for you.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he murmured, his hand settling instinctively on the small of your back as he gently ushered you away from the now very curious stares of his team.

“Not so fast, Hotch!” Morgan called out behind him, followed closely by Emily, JJ, and Reid. “You’re not going to introduce us?” Emily added, a playful glint in her eye.

“No,” Hotch replied without missing a beat, smoothly guiding you into his office and closing the door behind you, shutting out the murmurs from the bullpen.

You laughed softly, leaning against his desk, still holding the lunch bag. “Work got you all grumpy?”

“Not work,” he said, stepping closer with a faint smile. “Just them.” He took the bag from your hand, setting it aside before pressing a lingering kiss to your lips.

You giggled against his mouth, looping your arms around his neck as he steadied himself with a hand on the desk behind you.

“Thank you for lunch,” he whispered.

“Of course.” You reached up to wipe a smudge of your lip gloss from his mouth, making him chuckle as he playfully nipped at your finger.

“There’s pasta, some greens, and I slipped in a snack cake. Just in case,” you added with a grin.

“A snack cake?” he teased, raising an eyebrow. “What am I, ten?” Still smiling, he moved around to his chair and sat down. “Why don’t you stay with me while I eat?”

You followed, walking around the desk and settling onto his lap. His arm wrapped securely around your waist, hand resting warmly against your stomach as he tilted his head to press a kiss just beneath your ear.

You smiled at first— until the kiss lingered, deepened, his mouth moving deliberately against your skin. You squirmed slightly, breath catching.

“Aaron?” you murmured.

He didn’t answer with words— just a hum of affirmation as his other hand pulled you closer.

“Turn around,” he murmured, voice low and coaxing.

You obeyed, as you always did, shifting to straddle his lap. His hands found their place on your hips, then lower, as his lips sought yours once more with increasing urgency.

Outside the office, Spencer's voice broke the stunned silence. "Guys... maybe we should get back to work."

The rest of the team stood frozen, eyes wide and cheeks red, as they quickly realized that Hotch had, for once, forgotten to close the blinds.

All of them staring just long enough to see Aaron’s hand slip somewhere it definitely shouldn’t have in a federal building.

"I didn't see anything," JJ said quickly, turning around.

"Yep, back to work, back to work," Morgan muttered, practically jogging away.

Emily just blinked, then slowly followed, shaking her head. "Well. That explains the mystery girlfriend."

[yuikomorii]

// I keep seeing antis say stuff like “the Diaboys only changed because sadistic content doesn’t sell well and Rejet had to tone them down and make them nicer to appeal to the audience”, which makes me wonder… who the heck lied to you?? Because if you actually look at the broader otome game market, especially in Japan, it becomes obvious that twisted, morally gray, or outright sadistic characters have big fanbases.

Take Yang from Piofiore as a perfect example. He’s objectively abusive for the entirety of his route, but at the same time, his personality makes him incredibly compelling to a lot of players. As a result, he’s constantly being talked about and is known for selling very well while also being very expensive. What’s even more telling is that he already had a huge amount of fans from the very first game, back when he was even more extreme. Another example is the cat twins from Black Wolves Saga. When Rejet announced the Switch port of the game, there was an overwhelming flood of fanart, screenshots, pics, and posts focused entirely on them. A bunch of people can’t even name the rest of the cast.

So when others say that sadistic or dark characters don’t appeal as ‘softer’ ones, it honestly just sounds like projection or wishful thinking. The reality is that these characters do have a large and loyal audience and if they didn’t, companies like Rejet wouldn’t have continued the franchise.

Now, when it comes to DL in particular, the Diaboys didn’t suddenly soften up out of nowhere because being sadistic was “no longer viable”. What we’re seeing is character development, something that’s natural and necessary in any long-running story. No one wants to follow a franchise where the characters remain static in every game. Yes, it’s true that sometimes that development can feel rushed, but even when it does, there are still signs that the boys are starting to show growing potential and recognize their mistakes.

Last but not least, we’re talking about otome games here… they’re meant to be engaging, not completely realistic. They’re not supposed to reflect real-life relationships or situations, because everything is intentionally exaggerated for drama, plot, and so on.

[dxrlingluv]

What if like, Telemachus x reader

Where the reader is a poet or an artist, always complimenting Telemachus for his looks (or just anything about him in general)

Telemachus thought it was normal considering their job, but he overheard a conversation of reader and someone, and that "someone" suddenly blurted out

"wait...do you have a crush on prince Telemachus?" Which reader suddenly lost their "cool guy vibes" and started stuttering while face flush red

The Muse and The Prince

A/N : Thank you so much to my 200 followers ^_^ I didn’t expect to go this far at all. I am happy and I appreciate every single one of you! Telemachus art is from Gigi.

WARNING : GN!Reader, fluff

Word Count : 1.4k

The air in the palace halls often hummed with the murmur of courtly life, the clatter of servants, and sometimes, the resonant strumming of a lyre. For Telemachus, son of Odysseus, it was the familiar soundtrack to his days, a constant backdrop to the duties and uncertainties that shadowed his youth. Lately, however, a new melody had woven itself into this familiar tune, one composed of admiration and rendered in words or strokes of breathtaking artistry.

You, a poet or artist who had found a place within the Ithacan court, possessed a unique gift: the ability to capture the essence of things, to translate the mundane into the magnificent. And you seemed to find Telemachus a particularly compelling subject.

"Prince Telemachus," you might say, your voice alight with genuine appreciation as he stood framed by a sun-drenched window, "the way the light catches the bronze of your cuirass... it's like molten gold, a warrior forged in the heart of a star."

Or perhaps, if your art was the spoken word, you'd share a newly crafted verse:

*"Like the sturdy oak against the tempest's roar,*

*So stands Telemachus, strength to the very core.*

*His gaze, the distant sea on a cloudless day,*

*Holding depths untold in its steady sway."*

Telemachus, earnest and somewhat reserved, had initially been taken aback by these pronouncements. He was accustomed to respect, to deference due to his lineage, but this... this was different. It wasn't about his title or his future kingship; it was about him. His bearing, his gaze, the very way he stood.

He'd grown to expect it, though. It had become a pleasant, if slightly baffling, constant in his days. He reasoned that it was simply your way, the lens through which you viewed the world. Artists and poets, he mused, often saw things others missed, finding beauty and inspiration in the most unexpected places. Your compliments, though frequent and effusive, seemed to stem from a genuine appreciation, a professional admiration for a worthy subject. He accepted them with a polite nod and a quiet "Thank you," never quite knowing how else to respond.

One bustling afternoon, as you sat sketching in the outer courtyard, your charcoal dancing across the parchment with swift, sure strokes, you were engaged in conversation with one of the palace attendants, Elara. Telemachus happened to be passing by, his mind preoccupied with the latest rumors from the harbor, when a snippet of your exchange snagged his attention.

"...the way his brow furrows when he's deep in thought," you were saying, your voice softer now, almost wistful, "it speaks of such responsibility, such a weight carried with quiet dignity. And his smile, Elara, when it truly breaks through... it's like the sun after a long storm."

Elara chuckled, a knowing glint in her eye. "You certainly have a way with words, Y/N. You make the young prince sound like a god carved in marble."

You laughed, a light, airy sound. "Oh, he's no cold marble. There's a fire in him, a quiet strength that I try to capture in my work."

Then, Elara's tone shifted, becoming teasing. "Or perhaps it's not just his 'work' you're trying to capture, Y/N?" She paused, and then, with a sudden, mischievous grin, blurted out, "Wait... do you have a crush on Prince Telemachus?"

Time seemed to stutter. Telemachus, who had been about to continue on his way, froze behind a nearby pillar, his heart suddenly hammering against his ribs. He held his breath, every nerve ending on high alert.

He saw your reaction without being seen. Your easy laughter died in your throat. Your posture, usually so relaxed and confident, stiffened. A blush, starting faintly at your neck, crept up your cheeks, painting them a delightful shade of crimson. You stammered, your usual eloquence deserting you.

"I- I... well- he...- he is... a very... uh...- a very... respectable prince," you managed, your gaze fixed on the unfinished sketch in your lap. Your fingers fidgeted with the edge of the parchment. The "cool guy vibes" Telemachus had subconsciously associated with your artistic confidence had completely evaporated, replaced by a palpable fluster.

Elara, ever the observant one, raised a knowing eyebrow, a silent "aha!" hanging in the air between you.

Telemachus felt a strange mix of emotions churning within him. Surprise, certainly. A flicker of something akin to... pride? And beneath it all, a burgeoning curiosity. He had always seen your admiration as purely professional, a detached appreciation for a subject worthy of your artistic eye. The possibility that it might be something more... it was a revelation.

He retreated silently, his mind racing. He replayed your compliments in his head, the way your eyes lingered on him when you spoke, the subtle nuances he had previously overlooked. Had he been so caught up in his own concerns, the weight of his father's absence and the suitors' insolence, that he had completely missed this?

The next few days were... different. Telemachus found himself more aware of your presence in the palace. He noticed the way you would subtly shift your gaze when he entered a room, the slight hesitation in your voice when you addressed him. He also found himself paying closer attention to your work, seeing not just the skill in your craft, but the emotion, the feeling that seemed to infuse it when he was the subject.

One evening, he found you alone in the palace gardens, the setting sun casting long shadows across the manicured lawns. You were sketching in a small notebook, the soft glow illuminating your focused expression. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether to intrude, but a sudden impulse propelled him forward.

"The moon is beautiful tonight," he said, his voice a little rougher than usual.

You startled, your head snapping up. Your cheeks flushed again, though this time, the color seemed softer, tinged with surprise rather than embarrassment. "Oh, Prince Telemachus. I- I didn't see you there."

He stepped closer, his gaze drawn to the open page of your notebook. It was a sketch of the gardens at twilight, the familiar flora rendered with a delicate beauty.

"Your work is... remarkable," he said, the words feeling inadequate yet genuine.

You looked down at the notebook, a small, shy smile gracing your lips. "Thank you, my lord."

A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the chirping of crickets. Telemachus found himself wanting to say more, to understand the way you saw him, the way you translated him into art and poetry.

"You... you often speak of my appearance, my... bearing," he began, feeling a little awkward. "I confess, I had thought it was merely the eye of an artist finding a subject."

You finally met his gaze, your eyes holding a depth that surprised him. "It is that, my lord. But... it is also more. You possess a strength, a quiet determination, that I find... inspiring. You carry the weight of your responsibilities with such grace, even in the face of such adversity." Your voice was soft, earnest. "And yes," you added, your gaze flickered downwards for a fleeting moment before returning to his, a hint of that earlier blush returning, "you are also... aesthetically pleasing."

A small smile touched Telemachus's lips. He found himself strangely disarmed by your honesty. "I- I appreciate your candor, Y/N."

Another silence fell, this one charged with a different kind of energy. Telemachus felt a pull, an unfamiliar curiosity drawing him closer. He had always been focused on duty, on the practicalities of his situation. But in your gaze, in your art, he saw a reflection of himself he hadn't fully recognized, a depth and a strength that went beyond his title.

"Your art... it makes me see things differently," he admitted, his voice quiet. "The palace, the people... even myself."

You looked up at him, your eyes shining with a warmth that made his chest feel strangely tight. "That is the power of art, my lord. To reveal the beauty that is already there."

He took a step closer, the scent of the evening blossoms mingling with the faint fragrance of charcoal that clung to your clothes. "Perhaps... perhaps you could show me more."

The air crackled with unspoken possibilities. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, mirroring the blush that now bloomed freely on your cheeks. In the quiet of the twilight garden, a new kind of melody began to unfold, one woven with the threads of admiration, vulnerability, and the unexpected stirring of something more profound.

The muse and the prince, finally seeing each other in a new light.

[dancing-dawn]

atsushi for the ask game 🙏

Oh my darling boy, my sweetest joy, oh, how this ask has brought the brightest smile upon my face. Hihi this is gonna be a long one, I tried my best to restrain myself, I swear!

Favourite thing

Boldsushi! SASSUSHI! I love how unapologetically cocky and no-bullshit he gets when surrounded by utter madness and at some (many) points he feels like the only reasonable person in the room. He is also literally the most unique and lovable (once you get to really know him) protagonist I've ever read. My boy is so complex and to me, out of the whole cast, he feels the most like a real person.

Least favourite thing

Atp I adore canon Atsushi so much, the only thing I dislike is his fanon perception. In particular - people who just do not get why he's a compelling protagonist and not a "weak pathetic crybaby." I am pointing knives at everyone who still dares to STILL utter those lies this after recent chapters.

Favourite line

*clears throat*

"Away with you... you fool."

...but! Considering that is not an original thought but a shamelessly stolen flirty dramatic ass pick-up line from our second best boy xD I'll give you another, the silly and the serious:

"All this cause of Dazai, well, Dazai, my ass!"

-> oh the amount of times I have rewided to hear this over and over, laughing hysterically every single time, oh dear

Ok now for the serious one:

"Akutagawaaaaaa!"

"People need to be told they're worthy of being alive by someone else or they can't go on."

-> I love this one because of how blatantly wrong he is. And by wrong, I mean having an unhealthy mindset plagued by deep-rooted trauma, and this being the only way he's learned to cope. That's why he's a fascinating character. He's not saying this as a "lesson" or "moral" to the audience, nor as an objective truth - he's simply stating what he believes in and what drives him to keep going. Obviously this is an incredibly dangerous life policy to have because if you surround yourself by people who don't have your best interest in mind, and you rely on them to tell you what your worth is and why you're allowed to live - then you're just doomed, you're playing with the hazard of life and walking the thinnest line between hope and despair.

I can get into how this also connects to Akutagawa’s influence on Atsushi as he, subconsciously or not, helps him grow in the direction of living seperately from his past and abiding by his own ideals (something that is mirrored by Aku's own struggles), seeing his self-worth and taking action EVEN if faced with his biggest fear of being alone, even when the world is against him and there's no one there to pat him on the back and tell him he did a good job, even when everything and everyone has fought for is gone and he's left to pick up the pieces and he needs to believe his strength goes beyond the tiger's prowess, that he exists for a reason and he is enough, he is allowed to believe himself worthy of going on...

...but this wall of text is gonna have no end, so maybe another time!

brOTP

Kyouka & Atsushi. There is just no stronger familial relationship than those two and their influence on each other's lives is very sweet and very important. For me this hits especially hard in Beast and makes me tear up, just a bit (totally). I also regularly think about the crepe scene and it fills my heart with warmth and joy. Big brother Atsushi, my love, I will die for you (im almost starting to sound like yk who, jesus).

OTP

Ahem, *clears throat again*

*picks up the microphone* *leans down and whispers*

"Skin Soukoku."

*the crowd claps and cheers, showering me with bouquets of daisies and black roses* *i bow and take my leave, the faintest trace of a smile on my face*

nOTP

mmmm I actually don't have one, I think?? Even tho I will die on my sskk hill, I respect all ships with Atsushi because they're just wholesome and fun if you imagine then in an alternate universe (where Aku somehow doesn't exist *cough*) I guess if you're fooorcing me to choose, I will have to say Dazatsu because it just doesn't make sense to me, I cannot even see it making sense in any universe or scenario - for me they are simply mentor and mentee, barely even friends at max. The hierarchy gap here is just too large, I feel. But I enjoy some cute fanarts here and there for fun nonetheless <3

Random headcanon

He is absolutely ogling every single cutesy tiger-themed article of clothing and furniture he sees but needs to restrain himself due to the imaginary flies coming out of his wallet. Kyouka notices this someday and buys him a baby tiger plushie or some cartoony tiger bedsheets (*cough* which I may or may not have already written into my wip *cough*).

Unpopular opinion

Considering my only habitat is sskk circles with very insighful people who understand his character mmmm it's a bit hard for me to know what is unpopular. But I'm gonna say that his flashbacks to the orphanage are not reduntant at all, no matter how repetitive they get, because it honestly feels like how a real person would experience trauma. It's not sugar-coated or glorified for the interest of the story, it just feels genuine yk?

Song I associate with them

Lacy - Olivia Rodrigo, because of this gorgeous animatic by @piedpip3rrr

For the love of everything, please just drop everything for a minute and watch this, if you haven't already.

Everything about it is sheer perfection - the storytelling, the relation of the characters to the lyrics, the incredibly expressive and gorgeous drawings, the coloring (that has a storytelling of its own even!!), the subtle motions that just pull on your heartstrings with every single beat. I love this thing <3

Favourite picture

*pushes my sunglasses slightly over the bridge of my nose and slides this across our imaginary table*

*disappears into the shadows*

...

*feral shouting resonates through the aforementioned shadows*

Ok OK LIsteN. I think, and I am correct, that we as a fandom have failed spectacularly by getting over this panel WAY so soon. Yes, I have the "you fool" one printed out at my desk and I stare at it lovingly every half hour or so, but THIS ONE! Oh, this belongs in a museum. I would pay money if I had to, just to rest my gaze upon it for a mere second. I believe I need not express myself on why it's so magnificent... but I'm gonna do it anyway, becuz who's stopping me, my blog my rules woooo! :D

1. Peak of Harukawa's new art style. Hands down. The softness of his features. The tender look in his eyes. The composition is strikingly dynamic and just heartbreaking to take it all in. There is a dream-like quality to it that makes it feel ethereal, yet it depicts a living nightmare.

2. Oh, the hand reaching out for Aku. The way he turned his whole body to face him mid fall. As if he's seeking comfort because he's scared to die alone and he's scared of leaving his partner, no matter if he knows his strength and believes in him with his whole being. The way there is not an inkling of regret in his eyes, because he's finally done the right thing. It's his closure, his retribution, his response to a sacrifice in his own name that he didn't believe himself worthy of. But now he understands. Need I say more?

P.S. Link to the Aku sequel because they shall always come as a pair <3

[fatalism-and-villainy]

I was trying to pinpoint the main appeal or most compelling angle of Garashir for me personally today, especially when it comes to Bashir’s perspective on it. And I honestly think it’s the idea of lost youth and innocence (and this is particularly pertinent to how a post-canon relationship between them might unfold, which is useful for me as I’m trying to find the right approach to them in this fic I’m working on).

It’s that Bashir initially saw Garak as a symbol of intrigue and excitement, of the sort of adventure that he fantasized about and went to seek out on the “frontier.” The way their initial dynamic and its charming banter was a fanciful escape for him. And then that fantasy gets steadily chipped away, starting with The Wire, where Garak lays bare for him the reality of what kind of person he was and what the life of a spy entails, and where Bashir stays resolute and doesn’t turn on him but nonetheless receives a dose of reality regarding Garak’s past. The events of Our Man Bashir unfold, in which they remain on breezy terms by the end, but which nonetheless serves as a reminder that Garak’s time as a spy was marked by ruthless pragmatism rather than altruism, driven by political agendas rather than heroic impulses.

And then Bashir gets caught up in his own spy arc, and it’s wrenching and traumatizing and disillusioning. He’s kidnapped and tortured and made an unwilling party in the plot to throw Cretak under the bus - the amoral political maneuvering that espionage actually entails in order to uphold nation states. And then, when pushed to desperation, he deploys the exact same interrogation tactics that he learned from Sloan himself. All of which makes him intimately familiar, through firsthand experience, with the kind of things Garak was getting up to before the beginning of the show.

And so when they’re reunited on Cardassia… I honestly think he has trouble looking at Garak or knowing how to behave around him. Because his associations with Garak have shifted drastically, and now everything seems so much more real and consequential. Garak isn’t a charming distraction anymore - rather, their interactions with each other are both bound up in local politics (as I see it), but also with the trauma that Bashir is carrying within him, and with the crumbling of the ideals he used to hold dear. And there’s what Bashir himself has been culpable for with the kidnapping and interrogation of Sloan, as well as the way the war has generally hardened him. Which leads to the fear that he’s no longer attractive to Garak because he’s lost the innocence that once drew Garak to him, and that he reflects the worst of Garak’s past in the way that Garak now reflects the worst of his.

On top of the fact that the fantasies of Bashir’s youth have become horrifyingly real, there’s also the matter of him contending with aging in general, and with the question of what his life has been dedicated to and where it’s going. The fact that he’s still serving an institution in which his faith has been shaken, but that he still believes, or wants to believe, enables him to do some amount of good; the fact that he’s approaching forty and still isn’t entirely sure of his life choices, or if he’s doing the right thing. He’s at an uncertain point in his life, and Garak complicates things further, because there’s the question of possibly entering a long-term relationship with Garak, and the commitment and sacrifice that entails, and the panic surrounding building his life around someone else.

Anyway, that’s what I’m aiming for with the Garashir portions of this fic. The melancholia, and the hope against hope that a new spark might be possible.

[cloudcountry]

Ok it says requests closed but I was gonna ask: what about Ritsu is so compelling to you? I find him rather bland and want to hear what about him makes you feel safe and loved? Why is he your favorite? INFODUMP me write all your interest I am listening with excitement :3

oh youre so good, this doesnt count as a request at all!! i actually needed a few days to gather my thoughts and make this semi-coherent. i also consulted my six pages of notes about this guy. yes im normal about him. yes.

RITSU SHINJO. there are a lot of things to love methinks. he can definitely come across as someone who is rude or stuck up, and dont get me wrong i totally did NOT fuck w his ass when i first met him. but he changed my mind really quickly.

i really appreciate how he stands up for what he believes in. like his ambitious nature is what really endeared me to him at first. he stares down barrels of guns and is like "okay, but youre going to listen to what i have to say" and honestly??? i was in awe. hes such a brave person and even if it may seem a lil stupid or outrageous sometimes it always works out in the end somehow.

hes also really smart??? like OBVI but like hold on. there are 264 ARTICLES in the japanese penal code. TWO HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR. and he STILL knows more laws on TOP of that. has them MEMORIZED no less!! hes well versed in the arts and his vocabulary is extensive as well. he can speak MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, including german, french, and italian. literally WHAT THE FUCK. hes so impressive??? this is some rich people shit T0T

his lil quirks are super cute too, like how he only drinks black coffee and has six handkerchiefs so his opponents dont see him sweat, or how he spends time watching opera to unwind after the day's events. his handwriting isnt the neatest and he gets SO butthurt about it. hes so unflappable usually but when insulted? its like we get to see the actual ritsu. its silly bc if you compliment him on his SKILLS hes like "oh its natural, ofc i did xyz" but i want to see how he reacts to being told he looks good. or someone noticing if he did something different w his hair, or wore different accessories, or got a new pen. just . someone noticing the little things about HIM, too.

HE FUCKIN SUCKS AT GAMBLING I LOVE HIMMMM also memorized card game rules after learning he'd be sorted into sinostra. he has so much book smartness but when you put him in front of people he fumbles HARD. like its so cute but also i worry about that bc he needs friends and i want him to make friends but i fear he doesnt think he needs them. what he lacks socially he makes up for in random ass trivia that no one needs to know ever.

hes so PREPARED. this is one of the main things that makes me feel so safe around him actually because hes thought of everything. and yk he doesnt even think its that big of a deal. he exchanges the currency so sinostra can have an inn to stay in for the night, he records everything for jabberwock to make sure he understands exactly what he needs to do for the animals, he covers all of his bases and takes notes about everyones behavior just in case in comes in handy.

uses his stigma for fuckass shit like busting down doors and not getting hurt by a rickety bus ride. uses his book to whack people over the head. regularly goes to the mystery diner and ignores ren's complaints about how he sits his ass down foreverrrr. romeo calls him a greenhorn and he blabs about how he obviously isn't. taiga calls him a dumbass and he starts screeching like a baby bird. hes always trying to reign in taiga while also encouraging his bullshit. has obvious favoritism for mc. protects her whenever he can and worries over her safety when she almost fuckin DIES. acknowledges that shes weaker than him, because hes a ghoul and thats just how it is, and actively takes steps to NOT ONLY PROTECT HER HIMSELF, but build up her confidence TOO.

literally i am convinced the way ritsu sees love is making the people you love the absolute best version of themselves, because thats what his parents did for him. so he tries to teach you what he knows, he RELIES on you to keep tabs on romeo or taiga (that is HUGE actually, considering he berates ren for his attitude and doesnt really seem to be close enoough with the other ghouls to rely on them for anything.)

let me say that again, ritsu views mc as an equal because hes placing the captain/vice captain in her hands and telling her to keep an eye on them, he calls HER when he's trying to meet up with everyone, he's actively treating her like a business partner where they will BOTH BENEFIT in more ways than just the curse lifting and winning the laurel crown--

ARGHHHH I LVOE RITSU SHINJO SO MUCH. you are a trooper if u read all of this can i just say .

THANK YOU FOR ASKING I LOVEEEE TALKING ABOUT HIM <3333

[pompillar]

Okay okay I have some thoughts to share on stigmas and the way they tie into the wish they made. It's not a fun one as much as it is character study and hoping to figure out how the wish and stigma correlate.

Jin - Bianerus - we all know this one, spoken command that compels you to obey at least for a bit of time. Which to me means his wish was born from a place of helplessness. He was in a situation where he had no control at all, so he probably wished for the control he lacked, the ability to make things go his way for once. This is most likely something with his family, his father and sister have been stated to be assholes so... There's that.

Tohma - Argeas - basically the ability to amplify his voice using waves, or sending vibrations into the ground for earthquake force. A bit interesting how he can use it in very different ways. How this reads to me is someone who feels unseen and unwanted, in a position where they feel they don't matter. His wish was most likely to be able to be heard and seen, to leave an impression. Wonder if it was his family like Jin, that made him feel that way.

Lucas - Iggnaim - a literal shield that can be used to block and bounce things away. This one is very easy, his wish was straight up to protect. To save someone, to keep them from harm, most likely his twin brother. (Full metal alchemist vibes???) So it plays perfectly into his knight behavior.

Kaito - ??? - so he's confusing. His stigma could be the enhanced vision making him able to see farther, clearer, read lips and possibly see auras? Idk how even Hyde is confused about it like why do the teachers not even know??? Pushing that aside, it gives me the feeling that he wished for something along the lines of being able to see through lies. Like he was dealing with constant lying and gaslighting and just people hiding things from him. And this was the direction his demon took the urge to see past falsehoods. (of course this is all assuming he's a ghoul... which I don't think he is *gestures to older post about my headcanon for the house of ardici*)

Alan - Yagsal Olbalsa - some type of super strength, possibly trance inducing as well. Oh I love him, this is a sad one though. This type of power would come from a type of powerless feeling much like Jin. But also similar to Luca. Alan's wish was most likely to defend himself or someone else because he felt completely helpless. He needed power, strength, and it was probably around the time of his father's murder that he made his wish.

Sho - Spurno - jams stuff... Ugh this translation kinda blows. Because I've seen another post talking about the Japanese version of it and jamming is not it honey. It's more like a disorienter, making things go in a different direction than planned. And when it's been enhanced it pushes things away. This is a very interesting one. So his wish could be interpreted as wanting something or someone to leave him alone or go away. He wished for distance by force. This could mean his home life might have been physically or verbally abusive. Possibly from his brother...

Leo - Haxs - enhanced hearing that can be boosted to hear further distances and through soundproofing. This is a tricky one because it could be as simple as him being nosey but that doesn't make sense with a demonic pact, it's not dire enough. He might be similar to Kaito in this regard. Tired of lies and sugar coated words he wished to be able to discern what was true. And his demon said heard, literally.

Haru - Bahnti - lessened gravity on his body for super speed. This man... He's got similar motive to Sho but the opposite direction. Looking at it like this he most likely wished to get away from something or someone. To be able to get as far away as fast as possible. Something had this man scared as all hell when he made that wish.

Towa - ??? - weather control? Can summon lightning and rain and possibly earthquakes? Wait is his power just natural disasters? Okay his stigma is very loose and completely weird to me. Truth be told I personally don't think he's a ghoul I think he's a fae. But if we're going on ghoul terms and he made a wish... Possibly he felt no control in his life. That everything was working against him. Depending on what demon he made a pact with they could have had a sense of humor and granted his wish in a very unorthodox way. Giving him control over weather but it's not by choice it's ruled by his emotions.

Ren - Raothtas - (I absolutely spelled it like the monster hunter dragon the first time ngl) so far it's only been used to clean things. So his is hard to determine as of right now... if I had to guess going by his attitude and some of the things he's said offhandedly I think his dad was possibly abusive and controlling to the point it made Ren hate him and interacting with people in general. Maybe a situation where if he kept the house clean his dad was nicer? Idk I'm spinning my wheels on this one. With not much to go on I can only go so far.

Taiga - Malab - ??? uhhhhh so there's not really anything to go off here. Most likely future sight based or something like that. Until we have more details I can't say anything here.

Romeo - Tiris - makes items into bombs, the stronger his attachment to it the bigger the blast. He is so fascinating for this. I couldn't quite get my head around it at first but I think I have half a thought now. His wish could have been something to do with getting rid of something. Possibly he had a prized possession from someone and they hurt him immensely. Causing him to wish things like physical proof of the connection would just disappear. The demon he made this wish with could have been particularly destructive and decided that disappear meant detonate.

Ritsu - Acimo - hardens his body and garments, nullifying damage. Okay this one seems very on the nose. Clearly he wished for either the power to defend himself or shield someone, or possibly that he couldn't be hurt again. We all know his dad is shit from what we heard so far. I wouldn't put it past him to beat his son. Or it could be other kids at school or anyone honestly. But it feels hard to change the idea that this power and wish came from a place of pain and wanting it to stop, either his own or someone elses.

Subaru - Talnandio - the power to see the past through touch, not really controllable either. Oh sweet multifaceted Subaru... you got traumatized for sure. This type of thing goes hand in hand with Leo's wish honestly. In my mind what Subaru wished for was to be able to see what actually happened or to see the truth. Possibly about the other idol he had an issue with. It could be that the wish was brought on because he felt the need to see what the man had done. Clearly him and Leo have some surprising similarities...

Haku - ??? - motherfucker says he doesn't like using it... I swear to god if his stigma is like fox fire or some shit I will lose it... Not a damn one of these bastards has a fire based power and I'm trying to piece the prologue into this!!!

Zenji - ??? - please give me a hint goddamn!!! I can't write anything for you if you don't sir...

Edward - ??? - *screeching and wailing* what are your stigmas????

Rui - ??? - a temporary pain reliever and healing magic. Rui... can you please get a less tragic backstory my guy? With that type of stigma the wish he made would have been similar to Luca I think. He needed to protect someone, or to save or fix them. Someone important to him might have been dying when he made his wish. But pacts aren't always perfect and you get what you get. If this is the case I doubt whoever he made this wish for survived...

Lyca - Ramsochisa - ability to track things by a smell from memory. Ugh stop it you're too tragic! This feels like it would have come from a wish along the lines of I need to find this person. Maybe Neros, maybe his birth parents. Somewhere down the line Lyca wanted to find them badly enough to wish on a demon for it.

Yuri - Agnihaet - increases brain activity, basically unlocking 100% of the brain for use. I love him because tbh I relate to what I think his wish was for. Someone in his life or a situation made him feel stupid. Or straight up called him stupid to his face. His pride can't handle that. That wish was most likely to be able to prove that he's smart no matter what. So his demon said okay, here's the rest of your human brain enjoy!

Jiro - ??? - involuntary ability to mirror damage onto the dealer, including poison and injections. Ughhhh, my baby... I don't wanna be right. But it's hard to avoid going there. Someone was hurting him, and badly. Enough to make him wish for the pain to stop, for his own safety. For the people or person doing it to him to feel what he's feeling. Almost just a true venegence type of thing. It was definitely from a dark, desperate place that he made this wish. And his demon was thorough about granting it, as it should be... (call that demon me the way it decided to protect him like that)

So in conclusion we have some different base desires in these wishes:

The need for power or control: Jin, Tohma, Alan, Yuri

The need to protect others or oneself: Lucas, Sho, Haru, Ritsu, Rui, Jiro

The need to seek the truth: Kaito, Leo, Subaru, Lyca(?)

TBA: Towa, Ren, Taiga, Romeo, Haku, Zenji, Edward

I'm defintely going to update this in the future when we learn more. I feel like this is a fun character analysis tbh... but zzg gimme the stigmas you bastards!!!

[linkons-most-wanted]

Hello! I just noticed that we never actually see any of the LIs get angry, displeasure may be, buy never truly angry. What do you think it would take for them to lose their temper?

On a similar note, what is each of the LIs' relationship with anger as an emotion, do they control it, supress it, let it reign freely, or does it control them? Whose do you think is the healthiest?

Thanks!

Thank you so much for this ask, and for your patience! My brain is functioning again 😂 (well, y'know, as much as it ever does)

I think this ends up being such a compelling line of questioning in relation to a dating game because a lot of us have complicated relationships with masculine anger.

I think it helps to frame up how I think about anger: a fight response due to a perceived threat. So we can think about: what threatens them? And how do they react?

Xavier represses his anger, which is a key reason I pegged him as a type 9. It's mostly expressed in his possessive moments when he becomes passive aggressive and gloomy, like we see in Misty Silhouette. Xavier's repressed enough that any outburst is very unlikely--we see how relatively passive he is when it comes to resisting his father in the Academy anecdote and Shooting Stars myth. The major weakness for Xavier here is that by repressing his anger, he can fail to actually change the circumstances hurting himself and the person he loves (MC). He also ends up overreacting to things that aren't real threats--like Charlie the baker. He needs to embrace this anger and coax it out as a useful signal--instead of sulking when he gets jealous, he can use it as a motivation to be more forward in his affection for MC, taking more risks in revealing his vulnerable feelings. (And I do think we've started to see him do more of this!)

As Xavier gets more comfortable with his anger (especially since MC's affirmed she likes this side of him) it still takes something major to make him lose his temper--such as a confrontation with Professor Lucius or another key Ever player. There we can expect quiet, focused, merciless combat followed by a bit of gloom as he has to finish processing that anger even after the confrontation is over.

Zayne's anger is largely self-directed (at least in the main timeline). He's furious at himself when he feels like he hasn't done enough to protect MC from himself. But his anger still functions in a mostly normal way--we see burst of it at appropriate times, such as in the Tomorrow's Catch 22 AU when he's dealing with the inmates. Here we see just how powerful his Evol can be, which speaks to how restrained he is the rest of the time. The threat is serious, so his reaction is proportionate. He doesn't over-react to things that aren't threats. The majority of the time, Zayne feels his anger internally and uses it as a signal that he needs to act. We especially see this in how he deals with Carter, someone he rightfully hates--Zayne makes it very clear that he has no interest in joining XHeart, he removes himself and MC from the situation when needed, etc. No inappropriate outbursts, but he's not placating Carter either. As far as the LIs go, Zayne probably has the healthiest relationship with anger--largely because passion and desire are the emotions Zayne struggles with much more.

For Zayne to lose his temper requires a pressing physical threat to the people he cares about most. His fury is explosive and decisive--the whole building is going to end up encased in ice. And since the emotion has run its course, he's swiftly back to checking on you, making sure you didn't get caught in the crossfire, etc.

Rafayel is a fiery character and, like Zayne, has a mostly adaptive and normal relationship with anger. (Notably, with Rafayel being 4w5 and Zayne being 5w6 there's a good bit of overlap in how they approach core emotions.) More of when we see his "anger" is when he's pouting or sulking that MC isn't giving him enough attention. Nightly Stroll is a great example. Rafayel's the character most likely to lose his temper in little moments and lash out--as we see with his little barbs about forgetting promises and rescuing small animals. He loses some maturity points for being passive aggressive instead of stating his feelings, but his moods generally run their course. Because his anger gets vented in smaller moments, bigger surges are less likely. (Possession by the God of Tides aside.) Sort of ironically, when he's really angry, the drama falls away, such as when he's dealing with Ever and their experiments on Lemurians.

The three things most likely to get under Rafayel's skin are insults to Lemuria, insults to his art, and (most of all) threats to MC. Paparazzi had better watch out if they pester him on a bad day and hit a nerve--a melted camera would be getting off easy.

Sylus is particularly interesting here because we do actually see a fair amount of his anger, but he deals with threats so swiftly and decisively that you almost miss it. For example, in Long Awaited Revelry, the Man in Black gets a "touch her and die" moment. Sherman is made to suffer before he dies. In Final Farewell, the Curse Box 1 incident shows Sylus destroying a copy of a prophecy about his curse with his mist. Sylus doesn't yell or berate, he just destroys anything in his way. He gets to cheat a little bit because he's so powerful that very few things can pose a real threat to him for very long. His same personality, given more realistic constraints, would definitely run into more scenarios where there are threats that can't just be dealt with. And, notably, I think that's a big part of his character growth with MC--he can be angry at how the Association is treating her, but he can't just go destroy the Association because that would hurt her. He's used to just being able to act on his anger. So, he has to learn to sit with those feelings--and he does so quite quickly, making him a contender with Zayne for healthiest LI around anger.

It would take quite a lot for Sylus to really, truly lose his temper. It would require a surprise--something he didn't calculate in advance and didn't have a plan for that simultaneously is a clear and present existential threat to MC. In that case, you'd best believe the horns and wings and tail and claws are coming out in an instant. An army? Vaporized. An unusually powerful Wanderer? Crushed into nothing. There would be casualties.

Caleb is alongside Xavier as having a more dysfunctional relationship with anger. He generally has a dysfunctional relationship with most emotions, to be fair. As Mr. Obsessive Protective, he's not exactly going to be emotionally stable, and of course we love it. Especially as a type seven, he's trying to keep himself busy enough to not have to deal with anger, grief, and other "negative" emotions. Crucially, when threats to MC trigger his "fight" response, he turns it on MC, acting angry with her for not listening to him when the source of his anger is really the threat he perceives. He does get that more under control after Homecoming Wings, but not in a healthy way--in Deceptive Solitude, we see him continue to lie to her and pretend everything is fine, even when he's furious to be followed. He overreacts (such as constantly disfiguring Viper) partly because of his own self-directed anger at not being able to protect MC in the past.

MC saying she doesn't need him really sets Caleb off. He's also got all the usual over-protective triggers--seeing her with other guys, perceiving threats to her safety, etc. Ironically, when real threats emerge, he's likely to downplay their significance--"Don't worry, Pipsqueak, I've got this."

~~~

Looking across the board, I think a large part of why I'm drawn most to Zayne and Sylus is that they have relatively healthy relationships with their anger. They act decisively and protectively when necessary, but don't over-react to things that aren't true threats. Their baseline is very calm, which can be quite healing for someone with trauma around others' anger.

Rafayel and Caleb are relatively more chaotic, with Rafayel being occasionally passive aggressive and petty, and Caleb being, y'know, deeply mentally unwell (💕).

Xavier ends up being really interesting because it can be tempting to say he has his anger under control, but as a type 9 myself, I feel comfortable criticizing his past passivity and his present slowness to accept and confront his emotions.

Anyway, thanks for giving me an excuse to ramble about this! ☺️

[ofeliaxoxo]

to play charlos with u… on the top of ur head what are some of ur favourite unhinged charlos moments?? or just some that make u feel particularly insane and/or u feel dont get enough attention im curious haha

Yay thank you for playing charlos with me it’s my favourite game

Ohh so hard to choose because they have one million moments that make me go Heurgh. I’m gonna list some that I particularly really like, not so much ones I don’t think get enough attention.

Ok so number one is the Abu Dhabi 24 podium. This is what broke my brain. Pre Abu Dhabi weekend I liked charlos well enough. But that hug……..like omfg. Omg!! It’s so sensual and erotic. Not to say they themselves would have experienced it as erotic but the actual shots themselves really are. Like the champagne everywhere, they’re wet, the embrace itself is not casual. Carlos big hairy hand gripping the side of Charles face. The final glance between them as Carlos pulls away. The way it starts because they have a genuinely casual hug which Charles then changes by pulling Carlos back in.

Like HELLO. It’s so intense! There are not a lot of teammate pairings on the grid I could imagine sharing this type of very charged podium hug. This is an impeccable scene from which to build rpf. For me this is the most sensual and cinematic moment and it’s always my number one. Especially since it’s the exact moment that converted me to charlos obsession. The entire weekend was completely insanity inducing in and of itself but this was the absolute cherry on top.

Another one that instantly comes to mind is one I’ve made posts about before but it’s the video where Charles is watching a match with Carlos et al. And Carlos is super into it while Charles blatantly isn’t. What gets me about that is not actually Charles just doing it to hang out (which does still get me. He wants to join….the scholars have pointed this out and I delight in the concept of Charles love language as quality time) BUT what really gets me is Charles PRETENDING to be on the same level. Not only does he not care as much but he wants them to think he cares a lot…he’s literally speaking Spanish in multiple clips (and being ignored😭) to try to engage with their conversation, he’s sitting next to Carlos and focusing on the screen while very obviously not really compelled by it. You know that thing where cats like to mirror because to them it’s hanging out and showing love. So if you go on your laptop they also want to Go on Laptop. Carlos is like hell yeah football time and Charles is like ok yay:) I know how to do Football Time:) let’s do Football Time together:D it’s his little performance that really sends me into orbit. He doesn’t just want to do football time together he wants Carlos to KNOW they’re doing it together and to look at him and acknowledge that.

I really like the video from vegas 24 when they have to sign young photos of themselves because they’re all up in each other’s space in this very casual way. They’re not really touching or anything but you still get a sense of intimacy and familiarity. Like the passing of the pen, the way Carlos’s coffee is in front of Charles so he reaches over for it at the end, all those little infringements of personal space. There’s a calm energy but it’s still fun to watch. I like their conversation too.

Honourable mention to a more recent and smaller one but the drivers parade from the China gp, particularly the moment when Charles and Lando are both walking towards Carlos and then each separately get their own personalised Carlos Tactile Greeting which they both visibly enjoy. And then they each settle in to look only at him and talk directly To him and NOT as a trio. And then Charles spends the rest of the parade forming part of Carlos’s harem. I love the little charlando moment so much. Carlos’s two most notable ex-teammate relationships making a beeline for him without showing really any interest in each other. They said Hello Carlos we have gravitated towards you like little moths to a lamp.

In conclusion: there are one million moments of them that make me crazy. Watching them interact is like being at the zoo for hot rich men

[ghostly-bat]

I came from the post about Duke and Damien's dynamic, and I wanted your input on a Duke and Jason dynamic

Sorry this took a minute. With these kinds of questions I like to write them down in my notes app, rewrite some stuff and add some stuff just to make sure I got everything!

I think Jason and Duke have a really underrated and compelling dynamic, especially when you look at how their experiences both parallel and diverge.

Jason grew up with a rough start, carrying the weight of his trauma, anger, and resurrection in a way that shaped his sense of justice into something sharp and personal. Duke, on the other hand, is newer to the vigilante world but no less hardened by loss—he’s lost his parents, too, and navigates grief with a quiet resilience that Jason probably recognizes more than he lets on.

What makes their potential relationship so interesting is that Duke is one of the few Batkids who didn’t immediately fall into the same power dynamic with Bruce. He carves his own space. That independence might earn Jason’s respect pretty quickly. Jason doesn’t want clones of Bruce; he wants people who can think for themselves and question the system—something Duke absolutely does.

I also think there’s a big brother/little brother vibe here, but not in a patronizing way. Jason might see a bit of his younger self in Duke—the trauma, the anger, the feeling of not fitting perfectly into the Batfamily mold. But where Jason went off on his own, Duke stays, and that contrast could lead to some really reflective conversations between them.

They’re both blunt, smart, and loyal in their own ways. If they teamed up more often, I could see them forming a bond based on mutual understanding, unspoken support, and the kind of sharp banter that only comes from people who’ve seen too much too young but refuse to let it define them.

[daisybell-on-a-carousel]

The original post was more so a response and complaint to how many people will brush off Jason's account of being forced to dye his hair for Bruce in Morrison's run! While I can't say it was the intended reading of precrisis, it was very much how I read it- and what the Morrison run is going for (or at least, going for Jason believing it- at bare minimum going for jason lying with some truth but that's boring) (to clarify also i do still hate the Morrison run its just this specific moment) people tend to just brush it off as oh bruce would never do that or say Jason is being dramatic and lying, and it's the brushing off I take issue like!! There's basis!! Please!! There's basis!!!! This is not some nothing that was pulled out for edgy points!!!

Stop dogging on the most compelling part!! That as well also exists as a clear in text statement of Bruce having some failing for this! stop defending Bruce!!! Awah!!! (yelling for fun)

I understand he made every decision of his own accord! I even gave the comic a check over just now. A surface simply out of boredom. But there really is something I love chewing on about him doing it for Bruce's attention. I do fully agree that Jason acts for Bruce's attention. (And he doesn't know yet how much he hates being mistaken for Dick as this is the first Robin appearance, unfortunately for Jason, being Robin is deeply successful in getting Bruce's attention, poor guy)

He tries to distance them at first, but I think he loses his own ground once Robin permission is granted. Though very admittedly view on Bruce is nebulous and different for everyone + plus I need to reread all of precrisis again soon. It's hard to say fully i think, as this point in Jason's story does get kinda brushed off once it wraps up, and it's seeds are more focused on Jason not liking comparison versus Bruce himself. Though there is something to be said with how (post crisis i believe?) Bruce admits to Dick that he adopted Jason because he missed Dick, that also fuels alot for me

I don't think its masterminding or Bruce does it intentionally I think he just sorta does things and doesn't think of or imagine consequences for it! He's not trying, per se, to make Dick 2.0, its like... dressing your kid up in handmedowns and basking in how cute they are and remind you of your favorite and comparing while like, giving that child so many complexes about themselves. I dont think that made much sense,the important part is the first sentence where I very very do not think Bruce does this intentionally. I don't feel it too great a leap in reading either

My point is that Bruce is comparing Jason's situation (not having his own hero identity and being seen as and compared to another) and Bruce and Dick's situation (having their own hero identites that they can't reveal their civilian identities for) they're rather blatantly separate things. I do enjoy what you're saying on its Bruce trying to parent and misunderstanding Jason, I think it even fits in

It's especially bad thinking about post and Jason's death- I love mixing pre and post in my interpretations- and how outside the hero community he wasn't known as a separate Robin. Jason had no identity of his own and he died without one- he died unknown- to the outside world in these comics the robin lineup goes from Dick to Tim. It's important to me that Jason has the same costume as Dick, AND all the others get to be different later as Batman learns from that particular mistake. It. Goes without saying that this wasn't in the cards when the ego gratification speech was written- but as we have the full deck these days it's fun to play with them

Yes! Jason does alot for Bruce's attention! There is a point where when he goes back to the circus and is bored- thinking of vigilantism. The mask beckons, it is too late for him now. But absolutely absolutely I do think being a sidekick/partner to Jason is highly connected to being with Bruce. No one can be close to Bruce unless theyre apart of the nightlife, of which the comics make clear

Initially dying his hair was on his own, I was imagining Bruce making Jason continue dying his hair. And not in a way Bruce will see as intentional either, Jason is Robin now he needs to look the part- or won't people notice that Robin and Jason are showing their roots at the same time? It's for safety to keep dying. Etc etc. Or simply never encouraging Jason to stop or acknowledging his natural hair color. A whole host of things that could be that we don't see because pre-crisis itself just sorta ignores Jason is constantly dying his hair too TwT

Jason is excited about the suit, because no matter what he does look up to Robin and Dick himself, it also shows Dick's approval for him. Dick also encourages him to try it on. I dont think he was fully focused on Bruce in the moment, and There's not really a moment to breathe and deny it. But I do see you

I feel you put too much stress on Jason choosing Robin, as one was to prove himself and other was a gift. But it's fair enough to say. I do think my reading here still exists on the surface as the combination of Jason seeking approval and Bruce outright comparing Jason to Dick n having such ease on the first official outing. I mean Jason saying he wants pants whenever he's out in the cold can easily just be a throwaway line and not mean Jason is under a belief he's not allowed to change the suit, but its so much juicer to make it deeper

I see you I understand on how my view may not really be an outright and textual thing, certainly not anything in panel. (But I made this post because people already throw out the very IDEA of Bruce forcing Jason like this at all 😔 I'm fighting for it to not be talked about as some baseless Morrison garbage)

I cannot stress enough that Bruce did make Jason dye his hair like that IS a thing it wasn't completely out of left field made up by Morrison. I love complaining about Morrison's Jason but that aspect is literally from precrisis as many details about that Jason are

No, there is not an explicit panel of Bruce going "well hey you have to have black hair to be my son, fuck you". But the whole thing is that Jason is not allowed to have his own hero identity and that the general public and villians arent supposed to know there's a new Robin, which, pretty heavily implies he's meant to look like Dick as Robin. If Jason isn't allowed to give the costume pants (or at least, made to feel like he can't change that aspect), then yeah, he's gonna have to keep up dying his hair too

[just-honey-dewd]

Lu Guang’s character intrigues me.

Not for the time traveller thing he’s got going on. But for the way he seems to generally carry himself. Outside of the overarching plot, or objective-focused interactions.

When he’s interacting with others purely for the act of interacting with them. He reads like a guy that’s trying to convince others, and himself most of all, that he’s human. He’s always thinking, always within this careful threshold of polite but calculated sincerity. He wants you to think he means well, but it’s not his first instinct to mean well— his first instinct is to ensure he’s not misunderstood by the recipient. And he seems aware of this, and prosecutes himself for it.

He can’t live in the moment and always prepares to account for any slip up. Sometimes he’ll find the words needed in a situation. Other times he seems to go dormant, or resides in a whole other world where no one can reach. Not because of inherited timeline trauma or ptsd— that wasn’t the causation. And not because he knew that silence was what the other person wanted. But because he couldn’t find the words within the established script provided to well socialised people. A script he’s had to manually curate for himself.

The guy seems to have always masked himself like it’s second nature, as though he’s never had the space to consider subjectivity within himself nor others. With what little can be surmised, his life before Cheng Xiaoshi seems isolated, devoid of passion or individuality. A blank and beautifully desolate canvas.

He doesn’t tell people things unless prompted or if it’s the socially appropriate thing to do. He doesn’t tell people things about himself unless prompted— and even when he does, he can’t fully separate the objective reasoning from any personally compelled inclination. What’s his favourite food? Food that aid in maintaining his chemical balance. What activities does he do? Activities like reading, sunbathing and basketball, which keeps both his mind and body maintained. Why does Cheng Xiaoshi sleep in the lower bunk bed? Because his constant movements would make the bed audibly creak, so it’s best that he slept on the lower bunk.

Lu Guang seems to be conditioned to constantly rationalising his actions and moralising his and others’ decisions. “It’s childish to do [x],” “this outfit looks weird,” “don’t impose yourself on others” are his typical branch of reactions to Cheng Xiaoshi’s actions. It communicates Cheng Xiaoshi’s emotionally-driven impulsivity but equally conveys Lu Guang’s aversion to subjective thinking and slight adherence to social propriety. Also conveys a cheeky, unspoken hypocrisy considering he also fails to adhere to social expectations— but this is where things get more intriguing.

After meeting Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling, you can observe how Lu Guang changes in relation to his proximity with them. Around Cheng Xiaoshi, he bears minute smiles that aren’t placating nor rehearsed. With Qiao Ling, he speaks with an understated vulnerability that comes from the heart— a subjective truth if nothing else. He doesn’t become socially trained per se, but his eccentricities are seen and accommodated to.

His comfort is wordlessly accounted for, his boundaries (while he doesn’t often communicate them) will be respected when realised, and he is regularly checked on by Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling should he seem too reticent or despondent for a long time. Even though Lu Guang still does mask himself instinctively, he carries himself more securely within his place in the studio and with his friends. He’s comfortable being childish, bratty, and emotional without reservation.

Around them, he’s not trying to convince anyone that he’s human. He’s dropped the proverbial script entirely, and lost the need to prove things. Because he’s been shown unconditional love, and even against the concept of fate, destiny, and any rational pretences— that love persists and keeps him going.

[bodegadulac]

This is the Bob post

I will talk about Bob. But Bob is a fucking walking spoiler. So yeah.

Spoilers under the cut. Also trigger warning for mentions of depression and suicide.

Man, Bob is such a good character. Easily top 5 superman analogues to me.

A bipolar self destructive methhead with the power of a god. Or to me, a more compeling Homelander. A cookie cutter corporate superhero gone rogue.

You can tell from the start that Bob isn't okay, and that Yelena's advice just makes it worse. Making him repress the void. The same thing that she is doing and that hurts her in the process.

I like that we see concept art of them trying to make Sentry and just how corporate and souless the whole thing is. They even bleached my boy's hair to make him more marketeable.

I do think that they rushed his normal guy > god complex > self destructive pipeline.

But i do think i prefer the void as Bob's worse tendencies, his depresion and suicidal toughts more than the void as this pure ontologically evil counterpart. Somehow feels more tactful.

Small aside before i go fully into analysing the void: the CGI was great, the void as this hole in the screen with two white dots is both chilling and very fucking cool, the voiding effect is iconic and seeing new york be plunged into darkness was cool as shit.

But well, the Void. Bob's self loathing, his depresion, his suicidal toughts (like him running to sacrifice himself and just proposing the idea 3 times in 5 minutes) and his emotional "darkness" made manifest.

I love that they couldn't punch it to win. Even before they go into the void the third act is them mostly trying to save as many civillians as possible because the thunderbolts* are outgunned.

When the Void voids people it sticks them in their worst memories over and over again. But Bob's also stuck like that.

They can't save Bob from the outside, they have to help him from the inside. They have to confront their own worst moments to even reach Bob and then they have to help Bob through his worst trauma to reach the Void.

Bob punches the Void, and i tought "are they going to punch depression to death???" And even before the movie said it it hit me. Thats what the void wants. He is Bob's self destructive tendencies, pf course he wants Bob to kill him. Because killing the Void means killing Bob.

I heard people complain about a hug saving the day... but like, it's a movie about people helping each other to step out of their personal voids. They save the day by helping Bob out of his very literal Void.

To me Bob is both a great character and the embodiment of the Thunderbolts*' themes

I hope Bob gets better and the rest of the MCU writes him well. I heard a rumor thay Bob will be the molecule man analogue for doomsday so thats that.

[toomanybirdss]

An interesting scene in tkm to me is when Neil dismisses Kevin on the bus to Binghamton.

It's the middle of the bus ride, and he's trying to decide where to sit after their rest stop as Kevin talks to them all about the stats of the team they're on their way to play. As he's making that decision it says he "felt trapped, stuck between what he wanted and what he needed, what he'd never have or be and what he had but couldn't keep."

The former of both oscillations, in my opinion, is referring to Andrew and what he feels with and for him and the team in general, and the latter are referring to exy and what Kevin could bring him to in this season and in the future as a pro.

Ultimately, he chooses Andrew, but in doing so Kevin reacts by telling him to stay and listen and "Remember that you gave me your game." Neil responds to this by saying that Kevin has given up on the team and "I'm taking my game back. I don't owe you anything."

This is Neil ending his deal with Kevin to keep playing despite knowing what is coming for him, right before he goes to do the same with Andrew.

The differences between these cutting of deals is compelling to me.

With Kevin it is more implicit in the "I'm taking my game back." In Kevin's anger and exasperation at Neil's "spoiled child" act, I don't think he recognizes what Neil is doing and meaning by ending their deal. It's not just 'Kevin gave up, so I don't owe him anything', it's Neil letting go of his ties as he prepares for what the "0" on his phone will bring.

Andrew, I believe, does recognize this. Neil ending their deal, framing it as "Let me learn to fight for myself." It is him once again cutting ties, but also releasing any blame for what is about to happen to him, especially since Andrew is very serious about his promises and so needs to be explicitly released from them if ever. Andrew doesn't know that the countdown has ended, or that there was one to begin with, but he can see that something has shifted for Neil in him asking for this. Just as he sees after their game from "the strain in Neil's mask." and the "Thank you. You were amazing."

Neil knew something was coming that day, what and when he wasn't certain, but the "0" was demonstrative enough. I think the way he ended those two deals displays a lot of his emotions towards those two things he valued.

He needed exy, but had already released the idea of keeping it. So he dismissed Kevin and anything he owed him in relation to their gameplay, still ending their deal but in a way that speaks of having understood when he started that it wasn't something that would last. He wanted safety and comfort and love, but didn't believe he'd ever have that life or be that person. So he asks Andrew to let him go, showing that he understands how Andrew works with deals, that he values him enough to end it before it's ended for them, and that their 'this' isn't something he expected to happen or knows how to want or be. Both are endings of deals, both are releases of blame, and both display to the recipients that something has changed for Neil, whether or not they recognize it.

But he chose to go to the back of the bus and to ask, he chose Andrew, even if it was only for whatever time he had left before the result of that "0".

[jesterkoops]

I was re-reading this super long, 2-parter analysis of Chikhai Bardo and while I wouldn't go as far as OP in saying Mark and Gemma's was never true love (more on this later), or that it was all based on looks, I think it's a really good breakdown of the way I also perceived that episode and the reason why I'm so puzzled it seemed to have people suddenly romanticise their relationship and put it above everything and anything, forgetting 2 seasons of storytelling in its favour.

Putting this under a cut because it got way longer than I anticipated.

I think one reason why people are so touchy about any criticism or MarkGemma is that they embody the quintessential average heterosexual relationship and marriage. The relationship dynamic that more than any other is held as sacred in our society. To the point that I don't think people even pay attention to what is being shown because the moment you say "these two people are married and here is the montage of their story" they automatically project all those conditioned preconceived beliefs about what the relationship must be by virtue of being a marriage.

Never mind the statistics on divorce demonstrating that marriage doesn't automatically = some grand epic love. There is a reason half of relationships/marriages don't last and that is because they are often just build upon the motions of meet -> attraction -> date -> relationship -> marriage -> children (maybe), and don't withstand the impact with reality once it does hit. May the reality be life's hardships or discovering sides of the other person that the person smothered or downplayed in order to please and appeal to the partner during earlier stages in the relationship.

Which is exactly what we see in this episode. Like OP said, there's never any grand moment that makes you go "yes! these two are so made for each other!". It's all bland stuff that could be applied to any generic straight marriage out there. Granted, I don't think that you need one grand moment to cement a relationship as true love. I think this can be built upon small, every-day gestures, and by enduring difficulties and working through them together. I would go as far as to say that it isn't true that to tell a good story you necessarily need those epic romances; that there can be a good story in an everyday romance too. Everyday love, everyday pain, everyday struggles, can be compelling. To paraphrase what Dan said about what he likes about Markgemma, choosing to stick together when things get tough can make for a good story.

But that is kind of the point: sticking together is very different from growing together, or working things out together. Many people choose to 'stick together' and live unfulfilled marriages for the rest of their lives. And that is where their relationship was headed in this episode: Mark and Gemma weren't working through anything together. They were sticking together on paper while drifting apart on an emotional and human level.

One thing in particular that I find very off-putting about their dynamic is how as soon as things get difficult, Gemma is the one pining for attention and love from a distracted and uninterested Mark. Yes, she calls him out once about being an asshole, but for the most part she is just there waiting for his crumbs, and having to remind him to show her the affection she is showing him.

Having said that, and here is where I disagree with OP, I don't think Mark and Helly's is real love and Mark and Gemma's isn't. I think they both are real love, just different kinds of real love.

I think Mark and Helly's is the one that is build to last from the get go, simply because it is based on something that is just part of who they are as people that makes them not just compatible in terms of what they have in common (like their morbid sense of humour), but in terms of how their personality traits fit with the other like pieces of a puzzle and fill in the gaps the other is lacking: Mark is avoidant, but Helly is incredibly confrontational and doesn't let him get away with ignoring problems. She is IN HIS FACE like a dog with a bone whenever something is troubling them. And Helly is impulsive and destructive in that impulsiveness, but Mark is protective and knows how and when to throw water on that fire. He pays attention and is IN HER FACE whenever she tries to burn shit to the ground. What one needs to thrive is what the other is naturally inclined to provide.

Mark and Gemma's is the kind that isn't built to last from the get go, because its foundations are not based on nature, they're based on nurture - in this case the nurturing of society and the steps the average relationships goes through, with all the expectations that go with it. They are not innately made for each other, they have to work at it. It's the kind of love that can only last if both parties put an awful lot of work into it, because they don't complement each other in a way that comes natural to them. So, in a sense, this ordeal with Lumon might very well be the kick in the butt Mark and Gemma needed to sort their shit out. That it might make Mark realise what he had and took for granted, and truly make a change. It might make Gemma realise that she needs to hit him with a chair across the head when he acts like an asshole.

BUT.. and here comes the biggest but of all..

Mark created a version of himself that does not remember Gemma, never loved her, and now not only desperately loves someone else, not only is that someone the consciousness of the heir to the company that kept her in a basement for two years, but he has that "built do last" relationship with her. A relationship that is going through massive ordeals and is only growing stronger as a result. So now Mark might want to make all the changes in the world to be a better husband to Gemma, but not only he needs to put all the awful lot of work I mentioned above, but he needs to do it against the pull of THAT kind of relationship.

That is why I think the odds for their relationship aren't great. Not because they don't love each other, but because I don't know that it's a love that can withstand what's coming at them. Especially when it was already struggling to start with.