#and their individual romantic relationships

[ilovereadingandstuff]

Never said that last thing you said.

I DO support the idea that bnha was not written correctly. I do see it flaws, of how Hori messed up in the story-telling throughout nearing the final arc.

I did focused on Izuku 'cuz 1. that was the thing that was disputed above before my intervention 2. Katsuki's character depends on him.

Here I say that I DO recognized that Katsuki ended up in a weird way 'cuz his character was reduced to his conection with Izuku. He is not an independent character in relation to the MC of the story, as his whole ordeal was rotated and centered towards Izuku and how their relationship affected him. Yes! he 100% had potential, he's an incredible complex character with an interesting background and innovating setting in the way he was gonna grow to be an adult and incredible hero, and I do believe we could see quite a lot of it, but yeah, he was ruined in that way on his relationship with Izuku, 'cuz, as much Izuku is such and important part for his growth, he ended up being the only cause of it.

I did read all what you wrote, so don't bother on it.

Also, doesn't it the whole 'i chase after you and now you chase after me' thingy was a way to express that Katsuki needed to mature in the way he view other people?? He has always been incredible in terms of heroism and power, but his quest thorught the manga was exactly the opposite: to learn to relay on people, to be kind, to be a good person and accept help, have compannion as he needed to learn to 'save' not only 'win'.

Everyone deserved recognition, 'cuz literally the whole students of UA were even more helpfull in the war than the adults. But Izuku carried the burden of way too many, as he also dealt with the most dangerous ones, that's why he also deserves that recognition.

Don't all class A and more achieved their dreams of being a hero? Ochako with his project, Katsuki started being in 4 place, Shoto 2nd, many of the characters with their own agencies, in romantic relationships, time to spare AND their solo/interns careers as heroes? that's why Izuku also deserved it, 'cuz he served just as the others did but without a quirk he couldn't become a hero on his own (with that, again, I am not that much of a supporter of this idea, but it is what we were given).

Your point is "Making Bakugo number 1 in the rankings was the least and the easiest thing Hori could do. And it could at least be a little bit satisfying for us who actually care about his character as an individual character."

and here i can say that Katsuki IS achieving in his own head and mind that number 1 spot: as he is rising from 15 to 4, the ranking system is a joke and competing with Izuku is a motivation for him to keep on aiming higher.

Katsuki was a manhandled character during the finalization of mha, and just as the whole manga, it ended poorly written, but with the best Hori could offer this final chapters, I think it's just enough what we were given.

We don't know the reasons of why the writting decrease quality so much, could it be Hori being sick, the inside pressure of the editorial, own personal reasons, his lack on interest, and so on, but with what we were given, Katsuki stands quite good of what he could have ended up.

At least we are not with him looking depressed and in the 15th spot, as chapter 431 left us with.

And for your information, I am both an Izuku and a Katsuki fan. And even thought I love bnha and will always be a fan, I do see through the errors that Hori have made and the way the story is not perfect, and totally treated many characters and story arcs quite bad towards the ending.

At this point, I'm almost agreeing with your point, 'cuz bnha pretty much can be said to have ended up in garbage, but Katsuki getting 1 place kinda loses the whole point of his character development: that he didn't need that external recognition, as he needed to value more his own (needed to see more highly to himself in terms of his previous insecurities [externalized in arrogance and angryness]) and his interaction with others.

I legitimately don't know who else to talk to so... I'm so tired of being a Bakugo fan who doesn't like Deku. It's like Horikoshi himself doesn't gaf about Bakugo and only wants Bakugo as a tool for hos precious little MC. Bakugo is so dehumanized in the series that no one cares about him outside of connecting him to Deku. He is not even allowed to be higher than Deku in a ranking where Deku is technically quirkless! Ngl, I feel like I want all the money I spent on MHA back but I don't know who to rant to or talk to. This ain't fair result for Bakugo at all

I understand you don't know who to talk to about this, but I'm honestly flabbergasted you came to me, one of the most openly critical people of the inclusion of those rankings in the first place. They mean nothing. They're honestly a joke. I can't imagine taking the fact that Katsuki is one rank below Izuku as anything serious and offensive because it's so meaningless. The *only* meaning you can ascribe to this situation is that Katsuki's heart truly wasn't in the competition at all until Izuku got back in the game. Now he's getting to do the exact thing he wanted to do so badly he cried openly about it to Izuku in the hospital--he's getting to chase after Izuku again. I can only assume that these rankings would just fluctuate all the time after this point. One of them will always be chasing the other, no matter who is "out in the lead."

And please be wary of using terms like "dehumanized" in reference to fictional characters. These aren't people. They literally are intangible objects. Katsuki literally is a literary tool to be used in a narrative. You're treating this mini-chapter as though it's depicting a static situation that will never change for the rest of their lives. But it's your job as a reader to infer the dynamism into the little details. Plenty of other characters care about Katsuki, and we've been shown that throughout the series. Plenty of fans care about Katsuki, and they have demonstrated that in their fan creations. Horikoshi himself even said in this fanbook that his favorite part of the story to write was the story between Izuku and Katsuki. It's not shocking in that case that he'd focus more of his attention on fleshing out the relationship between them than between Katsuki and anyone else. Nothing about that implies to me that Horikoshi doesn't care about Katsuki.

So if you want to vent to someone about your frustrations, maybe write a blog post or find someone who is upset about the same things as you. But if you want someone to counter your feelings and give you a reason to change your mind, this is about all I'm willing to provide. Good luck out there.

[reminiscentreader]

*internal sigh* rant post on lyra hate (again) i guess

first of all i have NO idea what shes done to accumulate all this hate except for ruin a bunch of random peoples parasocial relationships with grayson, these guys are seriously getting worse that the Aaron Warner stans, AND WE DO NOT EXCEPT THAT KIND OF HATE HERE 🙅‍♀️🙅‍♀️🙅‍♀️ i think the only way im going to be able to do this is address all the arguments for hating lyra individually. (also i want to say i have no problem with people having there own opinions but when it gets THIS far i feel like i have a duty to say something as a lyra stan)

first i want to talk about her being self absorbed/whiny brat, THIS THING MAKES NO SENSE TO ME, the only people in the series she wwas rude to were people who were rude first. if anything we should have taken that she was kind away from her character, Literally like the first person she meets is odette, WHO SHE TREATS WITH KINDNESS, and then she has a run in with gigi, WHO SHE TREATS WITH KIDNESS, and then she has the avery situation WHERE SHE LITERALLY BECOMES THE #1 AVERY GRAMBS GLAZER, THIS GIRL WAS IN AWE OF HER 😭🙏🙏 and then she dances with xander WHO SHE TREATS WITH KINDNESS, this whole “lyras such a bitch” makes no sense at ALL, especially those people who say “grayson deserved someone like gigi, 🥺🥺.” A- I DONT KNOW IF YOU NOTICED BUT GRAYSON DOES HAVE GIGI, HIS SISTER WHO HE LOVES VERY MUCH. ITS ALMOST AS IF THERE WAS A WHOLE BOOK ABOUT GRAYSON AND GIGI AND B- LYRA WAS GIGI what these people dont understand is that lyra was a COMPLETELY different person back then, she says something about her being the happiest teenage girl. (also people who sooo desperately want grayson to end up with someone “just like gigi” are weirdddd)

next (AND THIS ONE PISSES ME OFF SOOOO MUCH 😓😓😓) “lyra is just an avery copy” GENUINELY STFU, the only thing similar about them is that they were introduced taking a test 😐😐😐, THE GIRLS DONT EVEN LOOK ALIKE?? the way they make desicions and just function in general is so different avery is a very logical person but lyra tends to be more emotional, if you want to compare jlb mfc compare cassie and avery and them sawyer and lyra. Averys main trait is her smartness and intelligence, whereas lyras is her braveness and caringness?? (i have no idea what the plural for caring is) im also gonna branch “grayson could never love anyone as much as avery blah blah 😒.” into this one and let me make this sooo clear. GRAYSON IS NOT ROMANTICALLY IN LOVE WITH AVERY ANYMORE. in fact in the brothers hawthorne, there is a whole chapter where he comes to this realisation. In case any of you missed it heres a direct quote “suddenly since the first time he’d met avery grambs, there was nothing tense or painful about standing this close to her, shed told him once they were family, maybe a part of him had been running from that to.”

anway sorry for the rant guys 🙏🙏

[appleyass123]

In response to the previous person. I agree that Lumity is bad.

While Lumity was the marketed relationship of The Owl House, from a narrative and thematic perspective, Lunter (Luz x Hunter) would’ve been a far more compelling and cohesive choice. Not just romantically, but symbolically and emotionally, it would have tied together major threads the show introduced and then dropped. Not only that Lumity is frankly really annoying now. It’s literally the only thing fans wanna talk about.

Now let’s talk about why Lunter is perfect.

To start with the obvious: Caleb and Evelyn. Luz, a human girl who embraces magic, and Hunter, a Grimwalker created by Belos to replace his brother Caleb — who also fell in love with a witch — are essentially modern mirrors of that original story. Having Hunter fall for a human would’ve directly challenged Belos’ warped view of witches and exposed how deeply flawed his ideology was. Luz and Hunter ending up together would have delivered a poetic rebuke of Belos’ narrative — a “history doesn’t repeat, it heals” moment that The Owl House never truly capitalized on.

More importantly, Luz and Hunter stay true to themselves around each other. Their dynamic is filled with honesty, awkwardness, shared trauma, and mutual respect. Luz is one of the first people who shows Hunter genuine kindness without expectation. She sparks his arc, not by fixing him, but by reminding him that he’s allowed to be someone outside of Belos’ shadow. And Hunter, unlike Amity, never projects onto Luz or sees her as an ideal. He sees her as Luz — flawed, brave, impulsive, caring.

Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Lumity. While groundbreaking for queer rep in kids’ media, it’s also narratively shallow. Their relationship is built more on aesthetic and symbolism than emotional development. Amity’s arc ends as soon as they start dating, and Luz, instead of growing as an individual, often becomes smaller inside the relationship. Their scenes frequently take up runtime that could’ve gone to developing the rebellion, the coven system, or even Luz’s own identity struggles. It’s cute, yes — but it adds very little to the story outside of representation points, and often feels like it’s there to be seen rather than say something.

Meanwhile, Lunter could’ve enhanced the show’s core themes: identity, found family, breaking cycles of violence, and writing your own story. It’s a quieter pairing, but far more powerful in its implications. It wouldn’t have been about surface-level sweetness — it would’ve been about healing, forgiveness, and the messy but rewarding work of choosing love after trauma.

In short: Lunter made sense. Lumity made noise and was an awful ship to put the characters in.

You say that Lumity hardly has any development so what makes you think that Lunter would make sense? They hardly showed any romantic interest in canon. They lack in depth and devlopment unlike Lumity where we see the two share the same interests and their interactions are very sweet and genuine. Lumity's relationship showcases themes of love, friend-ship, and self-discovery. Their relationship is meant to highlight character growth and accepting their identity as we see Amity having trouble trying to realize her true self because of her abusive mother. Then Luz came along and Amity began to change and even apologized to Willow for her bullying and attempts to change into a different person.

Hunter and Luz on the other hand seem more like siblings rather than a romantic couple. They may care for one another but the way they act in the show and their interactions seem more like a sibling dynamic than romance.

[selenepsyche]

Using Your VPC as a Relocation Chart: North Node in the Houses

VPC = Vertex Persona Chart. In a birth chart, the vertex is a point in the chart that represents fated situations and encounters. Persona charts offer deeper looks into the placements in our birth charts, to get a better understanding of other placements besides the sun. You can use your vertex persona chart as a relocation chart to see what you are meant to experience in certain locations!

Using Your Vertex Persona Chart as a Relocation Chart

Sun Moon Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Neptune Uranus Pluto

North Node in the 1st House

In this location, you'll be pushed into being a more independent and authentic version of yourself. Don't rely on others to define who you are. This is a place where you're meant to assert your identity boldly, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. You could have past life patterns of losing yourself in relationships, but here is where you reclaim your power. It's a location where developing self confidence, owning your owning your appearance and physical presence, and becoming a leader rather than a follower brings success.

North Node in the 2nd House

In this location, you're meant to build security internally and materially. You could have past patterns of relying on others for emotional or financial support. In this location, you're encouraged to earn your own money, clarify your values, and build long-term stability. You may be called to develop your self worth through tangible work, possessions, or slowly cultivated skill sets. There's also a strong push towards embodying self reliance and detaching from unfair power dynamics or inherited trauma around survival.

North Node in the 3rd House

In this location, communication, learning, and connections are the key to growth. While you may come from a background of abstract thinking or philosophical detachment, this location will ground you in your immediate environment. You're meant to learn how to speak your truth, write, or teach in simple yet powerful ways, and connect meaningfully with your community. Becoming more curious, observant, and adaptable will align you with fated opportunities, especially in media or storytelling.

North Node in the 4th House

In this location, your soul growth is meant to happen through emotional rooting. Whether it's building a family, healing generational wounds, or finding a literal or metaphorical home, this is a location where you're called inward. You might arrive here to chase status, recognition, or better your career (if your south node is in the 10th). But here, you evolve by cultivating inner peace and tending to your emotional body. You could feel pulled towards healing, domestic life, or spiritual seclusion. Creating emotional safety is your destiny here.

North Node in the 5th House

In this location, the universe wants you to express yourself more boldly and authentically. If you've spent time blending in with groups of putting the collective needs first, here you're called to shine as an individual. You might be pulled to start working on a project you're passionate about, fall in love, and step into the spotlight. You're meant to courageously share what makes you feel alive, even if it feels vulnerable or indulgent.

North Node in the 6th House

In this location, you're destined to serve in practical and grounded ways. This area calls you to bring your dreams into the physical world as well. This could be a place where you develop healthy routines, get serious about your mental and physical well-being, or work in service-related roles. Learning humility, attention to detail, and how to serve without sacrificing yourself becomes a major theme. Your fate unfolds when you bring sacred intention to everyday tasks.

North Node in the 7th House

In this location, you're fated to grow through partnerships, both business and romantic. If your south node is in the 1st, you may be used to doing things alone and focusing on yourself. But here, you're being asked to learn the art of compromise, diplomacy, and emotional mirroring. This is a place where fated people may enter your life to guide you, challenge you, or awaken you to your purpose through connection. You may become known in this area for your ability to work one-on-one or influence others through collaboration.

North Node in the 8th House

In this location, growth comes from learning how to navigate through power, loss, and depth. While you may crave or be used to security and simplicity, here you'll be challenged to face your shadows, open up to intimacy, and change through shared resources or emotional intensity. This may be a place where you're drawn to learn new and lesser known topics and heal trauma. It's not an "easy" placement, but it's one where rebirth is inevitable and empowering.

North Node in the 9th House

In this location, you're called to grow by studying, teaching, or exploring new belief systems. You could have a pattern of staying in familiar or shallow territory. But here, you're pushed to look beyond what you know. This might be a location where travel, publishing, or advanced education become apart of your path. You're fated to grow when you take risks in pursuit of truth or meaning.

North Node in the 10th House

In this location, you're meant to take on responsibility, leadership, and celebrate great achievements. You could have past patterns of playing it safe or being more private. But here, you're being called to step into your power publicly, whether it's through career, activism, or authority. You may become known for your expertise, reputation, or maturity. It's a place where you're meant to build something that lasts and possibly gain recognition for transforming not just yourself, but others.

North Node in the 11th House

In this location, you may feel pulled to organize, lead movements, create new communities, or meet like-minded souls who are shaping the future. If you're usually focused on self expression, this location asks you to align with a greater cause. You could thrive here as a humanitarian, social disrupter, or even a social media star. Online platforms and social networks may become important channels for your impact.

North Node in the 12th House

In this location, your soul is called into deep spiritual or subconscious learning. You may feel pulled towards artistic outlets, mysticism, or solitude. You may be used to being more focused on productivity, work, and control. But here, you're being asked to trust your intuition, go with the flow, and trust divine timing. You may feel like you're dissolving an old identity. This is a place for sacred work and finding peace beyond the material world.

If you have the north node and vertex in the same house or aspecting each other in this type of chart, just know you're gonna be in for an unavoidable growth lesson in that particular location.

Thank you all for reading! This was requested by one of my followers! If you want to see more placements in this type of chart, please let me know like they did. As stated before, I will pause this series for now since I've done all the planets, unless y'all make requests.

dividers: @bernardsbendystraws gifs: @xtraordinarygrls

© selenepsyche - All Rights Reserved

[kaayyyys]

How being in a relationship with Daryl Dixon and Rick Grimes would be:

(prison era)

The Protector: Rick Grimes

Rick, even after everything, retains a core of decency and a need to protect. Being with him is like having a constant, warm shield. He carries the weight of leadership, but with you, he lets that burden ease, revealing the gentle, loving man beneath. He isn’t afraid to be vulnerable with you, sharing his fears and doubts in hushed whispers under the cold, unforgiving stars.

Rick's love is a flame that burns bright and true. He may not be outwardly romantic in a flowery way, but his devotion is unwavering. Expect strong, comforting hugs, a hand always reaching for yours in a crowd, and a fierce protectiveness that makes you feel utterly safe, even when walkers are clawing at the fences. He sees you, truly sees you – your strengths, your weaknesses, and the beautiful spirit within.

Rick will always include you in his decision-making, valuing your input and trusting your judgment. He sees you as an equal, a partner in this crazy world, not someone to be sheltered. He needs your strength as much as you need his. Together, you face the impossible, and somehow, you find the will to keep going.

Don’t expect grand gestures, but cherish the small moments. A shared smile across the yard, a gentle hand brushing hair from your face, a quiet evening spent mending clothes together while listening to the soft snores of the others. These are the moments that weave the fabric of your love with Rick. He might leave you little notes, maybe a flower picked from the small garden Hershel tends, or a drawing done by Carl.

The Silent Guardian: Daryl Dixon

Daryl, initially, may seem like the least likely candidate for romance. He’s gruff, closed off, and haunted by his past. But underneath that rough exterior lies a heart of gold, fiercely loyal and deeply caring. Earning his love is a slow burn, a gradual process of trust and understanding.

Daryl isn't one for words. His love is expressed through actions. He'll bring you a rabbit he hunted, silently ensuring you get the best portion of the meager rations. He’ll stand guard while you sleep, his crossbow always at the ready. He’ll teach you how to track, how to survive, how to be strong. His affection is a quiet presence, a constant reassurance that you are valued and protected.

Once you break through his walls, you’ll discover a vulnerability he shows to very few. He’ll share stories of his difficult childhood, his dreams for a better future, and his fears of losing the people he cares about. Seeing this side of Daryl is a precious gift, a testament to the depth of your connection. He may ask for cuddles, or to just sit beside you in silence, but he will never tell you what he wants, you just have to understand what he needs at that moment.

With Daryl, silence isn’t awkward; it’s comforting. You can sit beside him for hours without saying a word, simply enjoying his presence and the sense of peace that comes from being near him. He understands the unspoken language of the heart, the subtle cues that reveal your emotions. He knows when you need a hug, when you need space, and when you just need someone to listen.

The key to a successful relationship with Rick and Daryl is understanding and acceptance. They are two very different men with distinct needs and ways of expressing love. There will be times when jealousy flares, when insecurities surface, and when communication feels impossible. But with patience, honesty, and a deep commitment to each other, these challenges can be overcome.

It's important to nurture individual connections with both Rick and Daryl. Spend time alone with each of them, engaging in activities that strengthen your bond. Go on a supply run with Daryl, learning his survival skills and sharing quiet moments in the woods. Have long talks with Rick, discussing your hopes for the future and offering him the support he needs.

Intimacy isn't just about physical affection; it's about emotional connection, shared vulnerability, and a deep sense of trust. Create a safe space where all three of you can express your feelings, share your fears, and offer each other comfort and support. Cuddle together, share kisses, and create a haven of love amidst the chaos.

Your relationship with Rick and Daryl will become the cornerstone of your chosen family. You’ll work together to protect the other survivors, offering them comfort, guidance, and a sense of belonging. You’ll create a home within the prison walls, a place where love and hope can flourish, even in the face of unimaginable horror. Carl will come to see you as another mother figure, confiding in you and seeking your advice. You'll become an integral part of their lives, a vital source of strength and stability.

Jealousy is inevitable in any relationship, but it can be especially challenging in a polygamous one. Open communication is key. Talk about your feelings, express your needs, and reassure each other of your love and commitment. Remember that love isn't a finite resource; it can expand to encompass multiple people.

[deus-sema]

The idea of two individuals whose special abilities set them apart from the rest of the world, who had been broken and isolated in their lives, who ended up finding hope and solace in each other and where one pulled the other out from a literal and figurative void through empathy and how they navigate their relationship while living in an unstable world can make for a devastatingly beautiful romance.

Romantic love is often associated with high voltage drama and tension of all kinds and, I am not going to lie, I enjoy the hell out of that. But, alongside that, there also exists a need for stories where the comforting aspects of love are explored. Stories where love heals in form of companionship and belonging. Stories where the only demons that need to be overcome by the lovers are the ghosts of the past that are haunting the present.

Boblena is a gold mine of potential right there.

[averagewriter-inthedark]

Young & Beautiful 🗽 | Johnny Storm Series

Link to my Marvel masterlist

Characters & Pairings: JosephQuinn!JohnnyStorm x super soldier!reader (romantic), the Fantastic Four (platonic), The Avengers (platonic), the Thunderbolts (platonic), the X-Men (platonic)

Content Warnings: fluff, angst, profanity, flirtatious banter, mentions of canon violence, death, canon divergence, mentions of mental health issues, mutual pining, yearning, slow burn, speculation for FF:FS & Avengers: DD, age-gap (older!reader--she's physically early 40s like Bucky but is technically 110 💀) Stark!reader (Tony's biological/adoptive aunt), eventual suggestive content, slight nsfw (MDNI) | female!reader (she/her), hero alias is Lady Liberty

Premise: Following the destruction of their world resulting in their arrival to Earth-616, the Fantastic Four face new obstacles as they navigate their new reality and deal with the consequences of their failure. As the threat of Doctor Doom emergers, they are forced to team up with the heroes of Earth-616, bringing forth the return of the Avengers. Old friends meet new ones, tensions collide. And for a Super Soldier lost in time still struggling to find hope in her otherwise dark life, a young man with powers rivaling a sun might just be the one to melt down the ice walls covering her heart.

Read here on A03

note: I'm gonna be posting this story--which is basically one-shots/blurbs of supersoldier!reader & Johnny Storm where they meet, fall in love, and navigate their relationship during the Doom era and working with the Avengers--on AO3 because it'll be easier updating the multiple chapters. Maybe in the future (or once I've posted several pieces) I'll make an individual masterlist on here!

[mikuchan]

Fandom theory:

Most fans do not like engaging with female characters because, deep down, they haven't worked on a bias they hold in favour of male characters and against female characters. Some even view them as competition. They view female characters as obstacles and people in the way of their ships instead of their actual characters, or even what they could have been. It is why they often disengage, hate, or flanderise female characters.

It is also why they are able to see the potential of male side characters who appear for few scenes and second, but treat canon, main female interests or deurogatonists as if they never existsed or like the worst female characters to ever exist. They build such a negative rapport of them and make it seem as if they were a big villain (news flash: they are traumatised individual).

This got long, so I'm putting it beneath a read more.

disclaimer that this is all lay opinions

deep down, they haven't worked on a bias they hold in favour of male characters and against female characters.

yes, for sure. I mean, the other options are either that the majority of media does just have awful/boring/flat women characters, or that women are just innately awful/boring/flat, and neither of those are true. In some media franchises, maybe accurate. But as a large-scale pattern?? Come on.

Some even view them as competition.

Yes. Fandom is very ship-heavy, and there is a tendency to sideline any potentially romantic competition (whether to enable a m/m pairing or to ship an OC). Ye olde Supernatural fandom was a biiig example of this lol, BBC Sherlock too. This line of thought opens up a whole other can of worms, of course, because that alone shouldn't automatically favor men -- every source but one* that I could find showed that while fandom is predominantly women, it's not predominantly straight women. We should be shipping everybody with everybody, by all rights, but every fandom-popularity metric (AO3 stats, Tumblr year in review, literally just scrolling through tags) does not reflect that at all.

(And honestly, even if it was all straight women in fandom, the whole 'it's all straight women, of course they'll focus on hot guys' excuse still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Media and culture popular with straight men isn't often about women; not from the top and not from the audience. Men, on a societal level, are expected to read and think and play games and write about men; and they do. Consider stereotypical nerd culture -- a comic convention, a game store, an early D&D campaign -- and, yeah, female characters like Lara Croft and Catwoman were there, but by and large it was men interacting with men about men. So it feels gross when that's tossed out as an explanation, as if it's reasonable for women-heavy spaces to also revolve around men and only men.)

It's not a one note issue, though, and I don't think it's all shipping. Again, lay opinions, but I've seen a lot of rhetoric basically saying: male characters are more fun to interact and play with because they offer a sense of space, and with that, emotional safety. Bodies/body shape, emotions (and how others perceive yours), relationship dynamics, pregnancy and families...topics that can feel very loaded when applied to a woman can become more manageable when packaged in a (cis/conventional) male character.

I do think Astarion was a shoe-in for Tumblr Sexyman anyway, but his themes of being trapped and abused clearly resonate with people, too. It's not all shallow. And while Shadowheart (and Karlach, and Minthara, and others) offers very similar themes, and a similar sense of catharsis when she stands up to her abuser...she's also a woman. Maybe she hits too close to home. Maybe you can't stop comparing yourself to her (which, as a woman, you've been trained to do basically since birth. I struggle with this a lot tbh, it is hard). Maybe she presses on whatever biases and issues you have inside. Whatever the reason, it's easier for some people to work through issues via a masculine or male character and sidestep those other issues.

So like, in that sense, I don't blame people for saying if I pay attention to Orin as well then I might think about why I like her less than Gortash, and then I might realize it's because I am unhappy with myself, or because I dislike my status as a woman in society for x reason, and that hurts and it's hard. fuck this, I want to sympathize with Gortash only. I'm not here to hurt and do hard work, I want to reblog cool art and write drama. but like ! this still sucks. It's a reasonable reason, but not exactly a good one. It's just capping the lid and saying mm, not dealing with that.

And I want to make very clear that I'm not saying girls should only care about girl characters because we have super special girly issues that can only be solved by writing fanfics about Minthara not Halsin because Halsin is a yucky boy. I'm trying to say: many women hold other women, including themselves and fictional characters, to unfair standards, or hold internal prejudice against them for sexist reasons, and turn to male characters for safe catharsis instead. This is understandable, but not healthy.

(Or they see any/all women characters as a Threat to their Hawke's adoration of Anders. Similar bias but less understandable/sympathetic, super annoying.)

*and that study is from 2008 (older than some tumblr users now) with only 3400 participants; we can contrast this information with centrelumina's much larger and more recent survey.

[ahb-writes]

A simple cheat for writing a romantic interest that isn't known or perceived as romantic is to simply avoid calling it that. In short: write the dynamic as if it were any other relationship type, but now containing precise (personalized) notes that accent or intensify the point-of-view character's individual interest.

How does this character typically view friendship? How does this character typically fall into a hobby? How does this character typically compare two completely separate things (or people) they like equally? When the frame or perspective is available, the author can provide the nuance and the details that make that new romantic interest feel particular or unique to the character in question.

hii, I am trying to write a plot where a girl is experiencing queer feelings for the first time but she is oblivious to it. I want it to be clearer to the reader that that is what is going on but I'm a bit unsure of how to essentially say she is having queer feelings without saying it (because it is her point of view). any advice?

Illustrating Feelings the Character Doesn't Yet Understand

There are lots of ways you can illustrate feelings a character is having but doesn't yet understand.

For example, let's say your character is experiencing romantic for people of a different gender than their own. You might show them experiencing the Subtle Signs of Romantic Interest and Love toward characters of that gender or a particular character of that gender. You can have them act defensive in certain situations, like maybe another character comments on their sudden interest in a particular person, and your character gets defensive. Or, maybe they respond with soft denial, blushing, and making excuses. You could have your character go on a date with a character of the gender they're expected to be attracted to, and show that there's no romantic interest. Maybe your character is a huge fan of a pop-star of the same gender, and it's clear there's some attraction to them, but they dismiss it as just being a super fan.

Just be sure to steer clear of stereotypes and remember that every person is different. Do what makes sense for your character's personality, situation, etc., and be sure to use a qualified sensitivity reader to make sure you get it right.

Happy writing!

Subtle Signs of Romantic Interest and Love

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[arromantica-lucha]

the fact that my friend discovered she was demisexual and aromantic because she met me and i explained what those were is why its so important that aspec identities get talked about in the real world and not just online cause a lot of people just wont ever be in these spaces

[altschmerzes]

“but IIIIII don’t do x with my friends so my ‘friends don’t do that’ statement is totally fine and valid and not at all harmful or dismissive to other people’s relationships or arophobic in any way by implying that my standards for certain actions being inherently romantic is a universal truth about all relationships!!!” do people hear themselves when they speak

[ichabodcranemills]

also, the point of Severance is Hellyna

[brionysea]

when max is depressed we know something's wrong because lucas says with his words that he knows something's wrong but when mike is depressed we don't think anything of it because will's right next to him rolling his eyes about how stupid straight people are

[n1ghteeea]

I think we as a society need more polybusters in our lives. Art, fanfics, headcanons, posts. I think there’s a lack of love in the world and we need to restore it.

Personal contribution: my entire blog + the 23k word fanfiction I’m STILL working on and which WILL be done and posted before the end of the winter break, trust.

Also I almost don’t get any polybusters / individual dynamics questions and idk if you guys are just worried I’ll find it cringe - I WON’T!!! I’m Mr. Cringe, I associate sappy romantic songs with them and planned out their wedding and farm life in Oklahoma. They kiss and hold hands. So if you want to talk about anyyyy RGB ships PLEASE send em my way, I’ll freak out and infodump.

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

Asunder

slow-paced high fantasy

a woman who has a contract with an eldritch entity allowing her to see the dead & survives by taking various jobs

when a job searching for stranded smugglers in a cave goes wrong, she ends up with the soul of a dying stranger bound to her shadow

along with a scholar and her old childhood friend, they travel to his home country to find a way to unbind him and save them both

dark fantasy world with gods, demonic entities, arcane magic, and semi-sentient beasts used as transport

[justafriendofxanders]

it is a little bit wild that by virtue of ats s5 being the last canon tv installment of the buffyverse, spike and angel's arcs culminate in... each other. like spike isn't allowed to rest after his sacrifice because the network needs to pull more viewers his new hero status has to be put to the test against angel. angel can't comfortably rest on his laurels as the vampire with the soul because spike is there. their arcs with buffy shape them into the people they eventually become, but canon deliberately leaves the future of those relationships ambiguous! ats is where they go to figure out how to lead lives without buffy but with the other vampire-with-a-soul in them. and i don't even mean this in the way where spike/angel is somehow more meaningful or romantically endgame than their other relationships, i just mean like... those two old dudes are never gonna escape each other, for better or for worse. like there's literally a whole prophecy to that effect. wild stuff.