#and this is coming from a person with trust issues

[drdemonprince]

Is there a polar opposite of transphobia?

Like I’m a newly transitioned trans man and suddenly everyone wants a piece of me. In a weird way. Like people have started asking me to join committees and talk to youth groups and shit so they have their “representation”. I’m now the token trans person. I live in a small lefty town. People either want to ask me allllll the questions or they are too scared to even talk to me in case they offend me. Suddenly everyone wants to be my friend. I feel like I’ve joined a club I did not agree to sign up to. Like is this normal? Is there a term for it? I have a lot of gay male friends who are awesome, no other trans people local. I’ve started connecting with people online.

I mean some people have been cunts for sure. But mostly it’s nauseating fawning. I know this is a stupid thing to be complaining about but I guess I’m curious.

I’m not that special, I’m actually just an angry little man.

My brother dear, what you are experiencing is a very common combination of the growing visibility & tokenization of being a newly out marginalized person, and the massive increased authority, social trust, social value that comes with being a man.

Welcome to male privilege baby, to put a spin on a far more undermining phrase that typically gets hurled at trans femmes. You will be considered a trustworthy authority on trans issues, a valuable contributor to panels and workshops, a needed (but also highly convenient to access) form of "diversity" for a workplace, a welcome attendee at all manner of events, and you'll be deferred to over women, especially trans women, for pretty much the entire rest of your life, if you continue to remain out about the trans side of things.

Guys like us are invited, centered, included, listened to, treated with respect, treated with WARMTH, viewed as intelligent, perceptive, sensitive, safe, trustworthy, reliable, and desirable to include. In the eyes of the cis public, we are a "safe" kind of trans person who does not make people uncomfortable to look at and who doesn't challenge their pre-existing understanding of gender hierarchy; when they listen to us, they get to trust in the certainty of a MAN giving them information, but they can also feel comfortable and safe around us as a kind of enlightened, sensitive nonthreatening figure.

We're men who can can explain sexism right back to women. We're trans people who went from being subjugated as women to being rewarded with privilege as dudes. In this way, trans men being positioned as an authority figure reinforces the existing gender hierarchy, which feels soothing and right to people's brains.

You will have to be conscious of this power differential for the rest of your life, around cis and trans women alike, because otherwise it plays out in a pretty traditionally sexist fashion: people (especially women) will go quiet when you start speaking, you will be given credit for ideas that were a collective effort, your emotions will be more likely to be taken seriously and seen as a sign of principle rather than weakness, and you will be regarded as special and memorable while dozens of other people and their concerns are passed over.

Another factor that is at play here is a phenomenon that is less specifically gendered, because it does happen to trans women too, and that's the phenomenon of cis groups making the newly-out trans person their token and educator, because typically it is the newly out person whom they have the most access to and power over.

The moment that a trans person transitions they immediately start getting singled out as an expert and resource on the trans experience, asked to lead workshops at their jobs and explain concepts to people and attend events and sit on panels. I think on some intuitive level cis people kinda *know* that the newly out are in a vulnerable, uncertain state and have fewer communities ties and less experience than more seasoned trans people do, and so they make the ideal "translator" of trans experiences to them as an audience.

In cis people's minds, you're not gonna push back, you're not going to complicate their narratives, you're not gonna be tired of answering offensive questions, and you will be freely available to them as a resource, because you've just come out. You'll put a friendly face on transition, one marked by newness and hope, rather than be jaded, complicated, or assertive at them. That's their expectation.

It makes no logical sense to make a newly out member of the community the arbiter of transness or the educator on the trans experience, but it DOES make sense that a powerful group would view such a disempowered and disconnected (relatively speaking) member of the trans community to be the most attractive to include.

Of course, this might not be true to who you actually are. But on a gut level, this is how the newly out trans person is typically seen: nonthreatening, moldable, convenient, so thankful to be included that they won't be angry. And you will be doubly rewarded for fulfilling that role if you are a man.

The only way to upend this narrative being forced onto you is for you to speak up, every single time you are invited to an event, and demand that just as many trans women be included in that event as trans men. Make sure to have a nice list of experienced, wise trans femme friends whom you can recommend as speakers and co-panelists in your pocket.

More often than not, you will be thanked by cis people and rewarded for having the brilliant idea of including women in a conversation about gender minority status. How the trans women in the equation get treated, well, you'll need to pay close attention to, and be ready to stand up and speak out the moment any passive aggressive exclusionary bio-essentialist fuckshit gets going. You can do it! And lots of times you ARE the person with the power to set things right. You're trans and you're being singled out, but you also are a man.

[sofiatarot]

Personality of your future lover / / pac reading

1->2

3->4

Group 1

Cards: strength, two of swords, five of swords (reversed), two of pentacles, the world (reversed), three of wands (reversed)

This person is a fighter at heart, with an inner resilience that helps them overcome life’s challenges with grace and quiet determination. Whether a man or woman, they���re someone who has learned to tame their inner chaos, balancing strength with compassion. However, they can struggle with indecision, sometimes torn between two paths or two major choices in life. They dislike conflict and have likely walked away from toxic situations in the past, but they still feel the weight of unresolved issues or unfulfilled goals. Ambitious yet cautious, they juggle responsibilities while dreaming of a better future, though fear of failure sometimes holds them back. Their personality is one of perseverance, quiet courage, and someone who is learning to trust their instincts and plan boldly for what’s next.

Group 2

Cards: ten of cups (reversed), knight of wands, ten of swords, the magician, queen of wands (reversed), knight of cups

This is someone fiery, charismatic, and full of life, though their emotional world has been marked by turbulence. Whether male or female, they carry the scars of past heartbreak, which makes them deeply passionate but also somewhat guarded when it comes to relationships. They are ambitious dreamers, always in motion, pursuing their desires with the energy of a Knight of Wands. As a lover, they’re magnetic, deeply charming, and able to sweep you off your feet. However, they sometimes struggle with emotional depth, masking insecurity with confidence or action. Beneath it all, they are a romantic at heart who longs for true connection but might fear being vulnerable again. They have the potential to manifest anything they desire, using their natural charisma and creativity to bring their dreams to life.

Group 3

Cards: the sun (reversed), king of pentacles (reversed), nine of pentacles, ten of pentacles, six of pentacles, the high priestess (reversed)

This is a person who seems to have it all together on the surface but carries hidden doubts or struggles with self-worth. They may come across as successful, stable, and generous, but their inverted cards reveal that their achievements can feel hollow at times. Whether man or woman, they’ve worked hard to create security and abundance in their life, but they may feel disconnected from their intuition or emotional world. They love deeply and enjoy taking care of those they care for, whether through material gifts or acts of service. However, they can sometimes struggle to connect on a deeper level, hiding behind practicality or busyness. They are a paradox: confident in their abilities yet quietly yearning for emotional depth and self-discovery.

Group 4

Cards: the high priestess, the wheel of fortune, ace of wands, queen of wands (reversed), judgment, nine of cups

This person has a magnetic, almost mystical aura, someone who seems to be guided by fate or intuition. They are deeply in tune with the cycles of life and often find themselves at the center of significant changes or opportunities. Whether male or female, they are creative, ambitious, and driven by their passions, though their confidence can sometimes come across as intimidating or even stubborn. They are not afraid of transformation and have likely been through powerful moments of personal growth, making them wise and insightful. Their charm lies in their authenticity, they know what they want and aren’t afraid to claim it. They embody the energy of the Nine of Cups: someone who finds fulfillment within themselves but is also capable of sharing their joy with others. A relationship with them would feel like destiny, full of passion and purpose.

xoxo 💋

[helsensm]

this one has been sitting in my wips since October (face was baaaad, I struggled too much), but today I finally was in a mood to fix it up a little bit and slap some colors 👐 and- wait, what is THAT? is that… is that a backstory?? WOW 🤯

Saoirse (she/her), 28 y/o human, Shaolin warrior monk from Outworld

TW: implied SA, child аbuse

Bio: Irish by origin, Saoirse was separated from her parents in early childhood. She grew up in China's hinterlands in brothel/gambling house – the base of the local “crime lord”. Forced to live among and interact with people of all kinds (mostly not great), Saoirse quickly learned to mimic other’s behavior and play different roles – and later she started to use this skill in martial arts.

When she was 12, one of the magic rituals that the crime lord liked to perform there, ended up with the soul of the sacrifice getting “corrupted” and possessing Saoirse. No one realized what really happened, and her mood swings and growing aggression were blamed on puberty. After another few years Saoirse snapped and with the help of the spirit and newfound abilities кilled every client she saw, as well as brothel keepers, and burnt the place down.

After that, she jumps from orphanage to foster care and back for some time before ending up in Shaolin monastery. And after several tough years there she finally finds a place for herself. Now she lives in Academy, teaching young and new initiates and helping other broken people, who struggle to accept the past and find piece, as she did. And although she’s not an “official” Earthrealm’s defender, she’s ready to take any task given by Lord Liu Kang and land a hand to her friends.

Personality: As a “carrier” for a spirit-embodiment of rage and vengeance, Saoirse faced the issue of learning how to control her anger and manage her abilities. After the accident at the Academy, when her recklessness caused one of the students getting injured, she left the Shaolin for a few years. She trained in meditated in isolation under the control of one of the monks. Now Saoirse has her emotions under fine control, and most of the time shows herself as politely distant, calm person – or mirroring the demeanor of people around her. In relaxed atmosphere, among friends and people she trusts, her inner child comes out. She becomes more energetic, playfully sarcastic and prone to mischief. In any situation Saoirse thinks before she acts, and overall gives the impression of a person who is confident in their abilities.

[futuremrscameron]

foxy!reader

content warnings: micro aggressions, mention of poverty, grief, drug abuse, sexual harassment, threats of violence, morally grey characters, sexual tension, guilt, manipulation (up to interpretation), daddy issues, implied stalking, misogyny, classism

foxy!reader is a prodigy. the first of her family to “make it out” feeds her ambition and drive to keep thriving so she can make her family proud and prove all her doubters wrong

no nonsense girl that is constantly on top of shit; it’s why ward hired her fresh out of law school

started as his intern, then became his personal assistant and finally his lawyer after she gave him better advice than his lawyer on how to handle a potential lawsuit with a client

her relationship with ward is the topic of many discussions and arguments in the cameron house. rose believes they’re too close and suspects that she’s trying to seduce ward, and rafe is jealous. of her or his father, no one knows

“i don’t want her knowing every single thing about the business.”

“she’s my lawyer, rose; it’s her job.”

“is it her job to cling to you like a stray cat?"

"she's a good kid, you know she's had a rough life. she didn't grow up with her father."

"i don't think it's a father she wants."

"i won't entertain your insecurities rose. drop it."

rafe’s constantly flirting with her, ignoring her blatant disinterest/annoyance that borders on disgust and loathing

he stops in his tracks, confusing kelce and topper before they follow his line of sight. “well, what have we here?” she’s on the patio, typing away on a laptop, most likely completing a task for his father.

topper shakes his head softly, “come on, man, leave her alone; she looks busy.”

“why don’t you focus on making sure your girlfriend doesn't get herself killed?” rafe waves him off as he confidently walks over to his prey.

he shuts her laptop. “hey foxy.”

she looks up from her laptop and glares, “fuck off, cameron.”

he smirks as she stomps away, laptop in hand. he confidently saunters back over to his friends. “she wants me so bad.” kelce chuckles, and topper shakes his head, fighting an amused smile.

rafe came up with the nickname foxy mostly because of her looks but her soft but raspy voice and sly tricks she uses to get ward (and his family) out of trouble plays a large role

isn’t afraid to tell rafe off even if he is her boss’s son not because she doesn’t care for her job but because she hates men like rafe and refuses to let him walk all over her. it’s the why he’s so enamored with her

foxy!reader is a thorn in the pogues’ side because she’s always three steps ahead of them. pope and her intellectually spar via chess when they’re not busy finding loopholes in the justice system or treasure hunting

has a mentor/mentee relationship with ward; he thinks she has a promising future and she wants to be a charismatic yet cutthroat professional like him, it’s why he anonymously paid for her schooling when she decided to get her master’s

she was livid when she found out and debated quitting, believing that her success was now tainted by blood money and wasn’t fully her own. it’s a whole thing that never truly gets resolved because ward dies

she’s crushed when ward dies, pissed that he’s just gone after literally changing her life for better and worse

tries to get ward’s affairs in order, as mentioned in his will, which rose finds suspicious, believing that she's trying to take their money or the gold for herself

rose has never liked foxy!reader, not in any stage of her time with ward. she’s supposed to believe that this pretty young thing hasn’t been squirming her way into her husband’s life? it doesn’t help that he seems to trust her with more information

rose paces back and forth as she rants, “i don’t like how she looks at him, and did you see the way she clung to his arm?”

“green is an ugly color on you, rose.” he mumbles into his third drink, poorly hiding his smirk.

very perceptive. the first one to realize ward’s faked his death after finding his first clue in his video will to his family

“how many times are you gonna watch that shit?” rafe’s slurred words snap her out of her daze. he’s poured himself another drink, you note.

she pauses the video to give him a once-over before turning back to her notes, “how many drinks have you had?”

“only five mom.” he giggles at his crass joke and swallows down the rest of his whiskey.

“i’m surprised you haven’t started nursing the bottle.”

he frowns. “oh my bad is- is my grief not very convenient for you? huh?” he pokes at her face.

she slaps his hand away and stands up. “you’re pathetic. your father is dead, and you’re acting like a child.”

“and how should i be acting? huh? like you!?” he drunkenly points at the computer screen, “looking for proof of life? searching for clues? huh, nancy drew!?” she doesn’t answer, just glares.

he scoffs, “and i’m pathetic. okay.” he shoulder-checks her on his way out, most likely headed back to the wine cellar, she notes.

foxy!reader quit smoking before the events of season 1 and eats a lot of gun and sweets to satiate her cravings. she picks it up again when ward fakes his death due to a combination of stress, grief, and hopelessness

she had considered the repercussions of falling back into the comforting arms of her former vice. truly. lungs deterioration, increased anxiety, all the hard work she put into ruined in a second, all the progress they made down the drain.

they? there’s no ‘they’ anymore, just her.

“sorry, ward.” she clicks the lighter, and like one last practical joke from the big man, nothing comes out.

she tries again; there’s barely a spark.

again. nothing.

again. still nothing

again and again and again and again and- “fuck!”

“thought you quit smoking.”

she doesn’t even have to turn around to know he’s sporting his signature lopsided smirk. “yeah.”

rafe raises an eyebrow, shocked and amused at her muted reaction. “yeah? that’s it? no snide remark or telling me to fuck off?”

“wouldn’t be very gauche of me to in your time of grief.”

he looks at her for a beat, searching for what she doesn't know. he sighs defeatedly and begins to dig around in his pockets. he stops after a couple seconds and pulls out a lighter cased in gold with a familiar engraving, 'W.C.' it makes her naseous.

"already staking your claims?" he follows her line of sight and chuckles, "the only thing of his that fits me."

he stares down at her beckoning her closer with his eyes. she complies and he lights her cigarette.

"thanks."

he shrugs, "you looked like you needed it."

everything comes to a head when she follows rose to the shipyard, where she finds ward hiding out. confronts him for lying to her and making her solve riddles just to find out he’s alive

rose whips her head around to see what’s soured ward’s expression. she glares when she finds the source, “did you follow me!?”

the younger woman's slow claps only infuriate her. “wow, beauty and brains.”

ward holds his hand up, stopping his wife from continuing the exchange, his eyes never once leaving the young girl. “please. just let me explain.”

“what’s there to explain? it was a 'need to know basis' and i didn’t need to know. i’m not family, right?” she hates how her voice breaks on the last word, giving the man a window into her emotional state.

his gaze softens, “that’s not true. i left clues i knew you would fine and you're here so i'm guessing you found them."

"oh of course, how could i forget the great case of the exploding millionaire." she dryly chuckles, "don't act like you did that for me. you just wanted me to get your shity ready for your third act reveal."

he says nothing, avoiding her eyes like a cheating parent caught in the act by their child. it's worse than a slap in the face. rage boils up in her stomach; how could she be so blind? so stupid? he doesn't owe her anything.

"rafe was right." this makes him look up. "you don't care about anyone but yourself."

"what are you gonna do?" it's so quiet she almost thinks she imagined it. it's so pathetic, so unlike him.

"you mean am i going to report you?" she catches rose's glare but behind the fury in her eyes there's fear. "don't worry i won't break up this happy home. i'll get your shit in order but after that i'm done."

"wait-"

"no. i'm done, i mean it."

"okay."

after quitting and creates a private practice and uses the money she gets from kooks to finance her pro-bono work for pogues. she helps out the pogues sometimes by giving them legal advice or acting as their lawyer when they’re arrested because she feels bad for the part she’s played in fucking them over

is less than thrilled when rafe returns to obx and wants nothing to do with him. rafe tells her she owes his father for everything he’s done for her which leads to a fight where he calls her a ‘traitor’ and she calls him an 'insecure little bitch' which angers him and

foxy!reader says she’s only helping rafe out because she owes his father but rafe’s not buying it

“tell yourself whatever you want.”

“you’re unbearable.”

“let’s be honest, you’re not doing this out of some imaginary debt to my dad. you wanna help me.”

“you think i’m doing this out of the kindness of my heart?”

“something like that.” he smirks. “come on, foxy, admit it, you like me.”

“do you actually have a business proposition, or did you invite me out here just so no one can hear my screams?”

he chuckles, “there's that charm i missed so much."

rejects rafe's business proposition because stealing form his own father is "the stupidest idea he's ever had after framing john b"

safe to say she's surprised when barry is actually able to steal the cross. and impressed that his plan worked but she would never tell him that

refuses to help rafe burn the cross of saint domingo and tells him she will never help him again if he does

rafe moves past her as he adds more covering to their makeshift furnace. “you know this high and mighty act of yours is getting real fucking old.” he gives her two piece suit a once-over, "you look good though. but next time i wouldn't wear that to this shithole, it screams "mug me."

"don't remember asking for fashion advice." she looks over his shoulder, meeting barry's eyes, "you okay with this?"

he raises his hands defensively, "i'm just tryna get paid."

“oh i'm sure. and let me guess you don't give a fuck who you hurt in the process?"

rafe grunts as he sets down another large scrap of metal. "you don't have to answer that barry."

"wasn't gonna." she looks between the two men appalled at their lack of care.

“i actually thought you changed.”

“so did i, but you're the same frigid bitch that walked around tanneyhill like it was yours".

barry frowns, "come on man."

"no she needs to hear this." he closes the distance, almost making her trip in her 4-inch pumps as she backs up. "still ungreatful, even after everything we’ve done for you."

"we? there was no 'we' rafe, it was all your father. he's the only one i owe anything to."

"yeah except you don't." he closes the distance between them. "still can't be honest even after months. can't say i'm surprised, the best lawyers can convince themselves of anything."

"tell me, when did you pick up this moral code was it before or after you you’re doing this for that pogue.”

there's a tingling sensation down her spine at the mention of pope. she knew. she knew that something was off all those times she gave those ragtag group of kids legal advice while in town. the feeling of eyes watching her that she dismissed as general anxiety from being in a public space, the sounds of camera clicks she reasoned as people taking picture of their surroundings, some sligthly moved office items she decided her assitant had forgot to move abck after using them. his total disregard for her privacy boils her blood.

"you've been fucking following me!?"

barry stands up from his seat. “woah."

rafe doesn't even look at her. "you think helping them out is gonna make them forgive you? forget everything you've done? you're the smartest person i know, don't be an idiot.”

her throat feels tight, as she wills herself not to cry over this stupid boy. “if you do this, we’re done.”

he stares her down, “there's no 'we'. remember?" he throws the lit match, setting the gold and its surorundings ablaze.

she doesn't stick around to watch his face glow under the fire's light.

tries her best to avoid rafe on the island and besides a few incidents she does. until ward's death which makes them find comfort in each other (as friends) and reconsider a business partnership

[nerdishpursuits]

I'm sat here perusing various posts and thinking that even when the narrative is developing in a way that's not utterly predicable and the resolution to conflicts is, mostly, decent or satisfactory? There seems to be cause for alarm. Maybe I'm missing something but it baffles me. Now that Pelayo has revealed himself to be gay, there's concern it might actually be a ruse to entrap Marta in his web of deceit. Judging by the looks of him and the revenue of his company, which far exceeds that of Marta's family, it stands to reason this man doesn't need artifice to ensnare a wife. There must be candidates aplenty. Least of all does he need to play the gay-man-card in Franquist Spain. That his motives go deeper than sheer altruism and helping out a fellow misfit in her time of need? Very likely. After all, next episode he tells Marta he has his eyes set on politics. Whether he will try and convince her they both stand to benefit from a lavender marriage, or something else happens that puts one of them, or both, in jeopardy, thus resulting in a union of convenience? All the speculation as of late might be way off the mark, all thanks to some supposed spoiler, unverified and clickbaity. We'll have to wait and see. What's clear is that he is here to stay and his fortunes will become linked with Marta & Fina. I will say, Pelayo's coming-out scene was one I very much enjoyed. Marta lacks friends, especially ones she can be herself around. Doubly gratifying if said friends could also have her back when it comes to the perilous world of business. Especially now that Marta’s position within the company has been weakened by ceding shares to Tasio. So all in all, it was nice seeing both Marta and Pelayo relieved at having stumbled upon an unlikely ally. The mythical unicorn, as it were. Pelayo: I too went to the Uni of Corn Marta: You? Intro to Introverts? I studied under Dr. Sapphis Cunnilingus, SeraFina Valero, class of 1958

That being said? It’s pretty obvious Pelayo’s request that Marta doesn’t reveal his truth to anyone at all, not even esa chica? Will result in some measure of drama. Mafin is well established as a couple and doubting if they love each other is never the issue. Their next hurdle will be one of communication and one which poses somewhat of a moral dilemma: does sharing someone’s secret with your partner, when said person asked you to keep it, a betrayal make? The drama this will stir can be seen from miles away, Legolas style. Marta’s loyalty resides with Fina, no doubt about it. But I'm guessing they will find ways to draw out this narrative and cause tension between them. If well written? It should be entertaining and result in plenty of rewarding scenes.

I also have to say, in all fairness, it irks me that Pelayo referred to Fina as esa chica. It’s obvious he knows who Marta’s partner is (imho, one glimpse at them in Marta’s office and the wheels are turning). But it comes across a tad condescending. I wonder how Fina will take to him initially, but a picnic it won’t be. Fina’s allergic to most men and this one? This one she’ll find particularly irritating. Especially if she doesn’t have all the information. She’s already worried Pelayo has ulterior motives and that Marta might end up paying the price. I will say, I love the fact that Fina’s not jealous, as her trust in Marta is absolute and their relationship has never been plagued by toxicity. What she doesn’t trust is the good intentions of men, especially those who hold information they could use against you.

And now that I’m thinking about it, I do wonder why it’s such a problem for Pelayo that Marta’s partner learns the truth. They’re all in the same boat. They all walk the gauntlet, every day, keenly aware of the dangers their lifestyle exposes them to. Fina wouldn’t betray him. Though I assume, for someone who wants to enter politics? Trusting a stranger to not accidentally spill the beans might prove unwise. In time, he’ll get to know Fina and change his mind - that's a given. I do believe the three of them will ultimately become the best of friends and it will be satisfying to watch them embark upon this journey together. But until then? I expect some drama awaits, right around the corner (also, shout-out to the novelita for adding a gay man to its list of characters: let it not be said we're not getting spoiled) I’ve also been thinking about the garden scenes. They could well have been symbols of Marta and Fina’s new-found freedom. Open space, fresh air, no walls closing in on them. A place they could fence out the world and pretend they could escape it. Alas. Said world is once again closing in on them, presenting them with new limitations to struggle with.

Their freedom has been hard-won but it’s been infringed upon. As such, the garden no longer feels secure or liberating and the scenes have moved indoors. Like a retreat to the tower, after the courtyard has been taken. It should feel somewhat claustrophobic, which it does: Fina worries someone is spying on them, that their beloved sanctuary isn’t the refuge they had hoped it would be. She’s still licking her wounds, weary and mistrusting. And with good reason. Not only has she been through hell and back, but now learns Marta has been on the verge of being sent to prison herself. That she's been exposed in a way that could lead to her downfall. Their downfall. Fina’s worry has as always revolved around something happening to Marta, leading to the loss of the woman she loves. Her anguished “if anything should befall you, it would kill me” is ever telling. And let's not forget this is the second time Fina confesses to this fear. It plagues her nights and waking hours and the show is now emphasizing it. Must be for a reason, because it sounds almost prophetic. I, for one, would like to see something happen to Marta because I’d be curious to watch Fina reacting to that. After all, Fina’s been stabbed, imprisoned and assaulted. Marta’s been spared so far. Let’s see if that changes at some point, in the name of good ol’ fashioned drama.

On a different note. Damián cautioning Marta that this is the life you chose was a good way of addressing Damián’s lingering bias. He has come a really long way and supports his daughter, but he continues to struggle with preconceived notions that don't align with Marta’s truth. Her response to this was perfect too: One doesn’t choose to be who they are.

Lastly. Carmen continuing to infantilize Tasio, absolving him of any and all fault, is laughable. After all, she trusts him as far as she can throw him and it shows. Nevertheless, her over-the-top anger at Marta is a valid portrayal of the type of woman who makes excuses for her husband and demonizes another woman instead. All because she’s managed to fix him and under her care he’s a reformed man. Room to grow for Carmen here, that’s a given. Furthermore, Tasio himself could have shown more backbone and assumed responsibility for his actions but he’s too scared of Carmen’s wrath. The Harridan’s Tale, a book by Carmen Recas. I do look forward to her and Marta patching things up though, which we know they will. Extra points if Fina gets to be a part of that.

[dondusthefirstconsul]

Not Acacius getting a new hobby named Geta 😭😭😭😭😭 That was so funny and also just so wholesome. The whole concept that suddenly Lucius is there too and now they have three sons is so funny. I so badly want to read about Lucius and how he feels about all of this - namely the lunatic twins.

ACACIUS AND GETA MY HEART CANT TAKE THIS I might be weak for them and Geta finally getting a good father figure.

I had to get up and go drink water because I got so excited I couldn't breathe for a moment when I read this.

Caracalla being unlikeable has my heart yessss yes be unlikeable that's why I love him. I love unlikeable characters. Caracalla being his antisocial, violent, aggressive, horny, unsympathetic, mischievous, and also reserved and aloof, only-wanting-to-spend-time-with-Dondus himself my beloved. I love that no one but Geta can stand him. RIP Acacius they come as a package deal even if you only want to adopt the other one.

LUCILLA WANTING TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM YES YES YES! I'm so obsessed with the fact they kept her as a prisoner and all played into this propaganda play that she was there willingly. The twins pretty much spitting through their teeth that she has freedom and privileges bestowed upon her and she is guarded 247 for her own protection and she should be grateful. THEY ARE SO AWFUL AND HATEFUL AND GREEDY

(I'm not saying you have to add this to your story at all, please don't take this that way, but I personally am weak for the trope that Caracalla needs and finally gets a mom who's willing to love him. I kind of headcanon that their mother didn't like Caracalla as much as Geta, a nod to their historical selves, and that's why Caracalla is so much freakier and more antisocial. But of course it's a difficult thing with Lucilla because Caracalla is what he is. I am still weak for her accepting Caracalla and seeing his more vulnerable side and I believe he would absolutely break down from that)

But can I just say again I LOVE GETA AND ACACIUS [well not exactly bonding just yet but] DEVELOPING THIS BUDDING FATHER SON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM! I believe Geta would be fighting it and being difficult but also so desperate for someone to care for him and notice him and guide him but fighting with tooth and nail because he's scared and anxious and has major trust and selfworth issues. And Acacius being his resolute self AHHHHHHHHHHHHGGG. HES SUCH A GOOD MAN like he is the perfect man actually he's caring and loyal and empathetic and such a solid and moral guy and also a fierce protector he just!!!! He has so much integrity.

Also yeah they would be understrimulated as hell because they're so fucking spoiled and are used to having everything at their reach, every luxury in the world and all the entertainment they could ever imagine. Their every hedonistic need met. People literally killing eachother for their entertainment and these monsters (Caracalla) say they've grown bored of even that. That it needs to be something different, something special. I can't wait to read how they start acting out when locked in one room with none of that.

unhinged concept (I'm entering that stage): Lucilla actually does adopt Geta and Caracalla which ruins Acacius's life but also makes him their step-father and they finally get an actual father figure who teaches them how the fuck to hold swords and not be the worst people ever.

and we just cancel Macrinus entirely, which, I don't know what the hell happens to Lucius but that's someone else's unhinged concept to worry about.

And we put Caracalla on a leash because the boy cannot behave. That's no way to treat your mother

[daisylovestickles]

If you don’t mind me asking, how did you get to that point with your romantic partner that you can play with other members of the community? I’ve told mine about my kink and they’re not interested in incorporating into our relationship or anything (which is fine). Not that I think trust would be an issue, but I can’t figure out a way that saying “hey I want to meet up with strangers I met online and be tied up and tortured” doesn’t sound insane to the average non-t-word-kink person 🫣

Hi anon! Great question!

When I joined the community last year, I was very open about it with my partner from the start. He always knew I liked being tickled (we’ve been together since 2018), but nothing remotely close to something like this. It took a lot of uncomfortable conversations for him to understand what I want out of this, especially since a lot of it would require me to travel and play with others of the opposite gender.

The road has not been easy for the two of us. I was scared to death admitting this part of my life, and he seemed less than pleased at the start. We've had conversations that have lasted hours long because he kept asking questions, and I always reassured him. He knew that at the end of the day, I would always come back to him.

Don't get me wrong, he's questioned himself too. He's wondered on multiple occasions "why can't I just tickle you" or "do I need to join the community as a way to support you". My partner tickles me sometimes, don't get me wrong, but he's been honest about not having as much stamina as a ler, when I've wanted to be tickled for longer periods of time. He just couldn't understand how I'd want to be in that vulnerable position for so long.

When it comes to telling your partner what you want, be honest! Even the smallest lies can lead to detrimental results. If possible, have your partner talk to the ler you want to session with. My partner has talked to or has heard me interact with almost everyone that I've sessioned with, because that builds more trust in our romantic relationship.

I hope this helps!

[fricc-darn]

Does B.E.N cry? What could make it cry? Does it ever have sad moments alone?

Let Me Get Close

BEN x Psychologist!Reader

Warnings: Toxic relationship, physical abuse, verbal abuse, discussing sexual abuse, abuse twoards minors, victim blaming, self harm, mental breakdown, mental instability, cults.

✎✐ ✎ ✐ ✎ ✐✎✐ ✎ ✐ ✎ ✐✎✐ ✎ ✐ ✎ ✐

You never stopped being a psychologist. You had always known trauma-related care was your specialty. You want to get to know people. To understand their stories, motivations, and reasonings. Ultimately helping them overcome whatever weirdness life threw at them with no judgment. It was fulfilling work. Trauma itself is nothing short of fascinating. People do interesting things in response to trauma. After a horrible event, the brain is rewired in a sense; an emotional helter-skelter in the brain.

Regardless of your career being cut short, the didactic teachings and work experience was never expunged from your memory. The information developed your skills. Reading between the lines and reading people is now second nature. These skills were nothing like how films portrayed them. One glance at a person won't give you their life story. At most, it will reveal outward emotions via body language. The truth is; reading others is about context and coming to a medically sound conclusion using intuition and empathy.

Empathy is an emotion you feel deeply. The depths of your cognitive sensitivity pitted the closer you got to BEN. BEN never spoke of its problems. A perceived weakness it was to have any, let alone discuss them. This made being with BEN tricky. You didn’t want to screw up accidentally and hurt them because of the lack of communication. You wanted—no, needed—more information. To comprehend its machinations, to strengthen the bond between you and your significant other.

Many never had the chance or the want to stop and think about BEN's psychology. You surely didn't blame those folks; they were being brutally tormented. What you knew about BEN emotionally was purely analytical observations, along with breadcrumbs of context. The initial information on BEN wasn't much at first glance. Only as time went on did you recognize the patterns, no matter how lock and key BEN was.

You secretly journaled your findings in an inconspicuous notebook whenever you were far from home. Away from electronics—away from BEN. On your days away, you stopped at various libraries. Supplementing your research with psychology books and searching for any physical records of topics relating to BEN, trying to find a reason for its behavior. Moon Children newspaper clippings to Eternity Project pamphlets. It was nearly impossible to find any non-electronic resources. A fruitless effort to find proof that wasn't heavily biased in the organization's favor.

There were the general, more obvious observations about BEN. It was a true sadist. The emotions it could express sensibly were joy, apathy, and disdain. How angry it got when someone didn't listen, needing everything go its way. A domineering control freak who believed all entropy should come from them. A meticulous and organized bunch.

Everything was a mere game with no significance or impact until the gun is pointing at them, which results in an intense emotional response. Its temper. BEN was in emotional extremes, wildly unpredictable. Unstable.

Then there were those almost undetectable, personable details. Its laissez-faire attitude toward others' discomfort; pushiness. Dogmatism. Extreme trust issues. The way BEN would squirm or shift when your body got too close, affection was frequently a no-go. The trickery of its extraneous calm hid away BEN's hypervigilant and tense nature. Defensive with an aversion to authority. As if active threats could hurt it at any given moment. Stuck in fight or flight, with fight as its sole choice.

BEN showed signs of abuse. Prolonged and repeated abuse. With the pieces you gathered, seeing the cult market itself for "disenfranchised and outcasted youths looking for a home" set off red flags in your brain. Targeting what society disregarded guaranteed an easy operation. The vulnerable are left unfounded, discarded, and forgotten.

With BEN, you knew you were never dealing with one person. You were dealing with an assortment of psychologically scarred, violent, scornful, dead children and adults.

Your plan for the afternoon was to journal on the subway on your route to complete some miscellaneous errand before the shops closed. Keyword was.

Currently, you were hopping off the subway. Weaving through crowds, making a mad dash back home. The what-if, worst-case scenario you feared finally happened.

You left your fucking notes at home.

Running as fast as your feet could carry you, you tried to calm yourself. The bright side was the book was hidden in your house, somewhere. Keeping the notes hidden was a precaution, like keeping the doors locked. Unfortunately, it was not fool-proof. You wheezed and gasped your treck home.

This hole you dug yourself into is seemingly your soon to be your grave. Briefly, you weighed the option of running out the door instead of facing what was in front of you.

All of that rage—neuroticism you were documenting was concentrated on you and only you.

Your home was trashed. Broken glass, random items, and drawer compartments were discarded on the floor in utter disarray.

You stood, trembling, back against your front door. Stilted breathing, completely focused on BEN. It stood still in the dim hallway. Its red, glowing pupils, the only light in its eyes, were gone. You were staring into an expressionless, demonic void. It hadn't uttered a word since you rushed through the door. Deep, rhythmic breaths and crumbling paper filled the silence.

The sound paper crumpling.

Parts of your notebook crinkled in its fist. The remains of your notes were shreds scattered at BEN's feet. The pamphlets and newspaper clippings were gone. Both good and bad comments on BEN were gone as well. Everything you learned was now scraps.

You couldn't outrun BEN. You definitely wouldn't fight it either. Measly, you called out to it. "BEN... It's not what it looks like, I promise." Did an excuse matter? You still snooped knowing the consequences. "I just want to understand how you feel. I never meant any harm." You felt as though the more you talked, the harder it would be to crawl out of this pit.

"That information is not for you to know."

Cold and to the chase. Did BEN even take a moment and grasp what you said? Did they even care to realize their hypocrisy? "But... But you know information about me and sensative information about thousands of others."

BEN took a step closer, "Quiet."

The nervous bile collecting in your throat was nauseating. You swallowed hard. Speaking in a gentle but firm voice, you masked your nerves. "What gives you the right to snoop around in other people's business? Don't you see the hypocrisy?"

The temperature in the room dipped. The chill nipped at your skin. You spoke with your hands, emphasizing your point. "I did this because not knowing how you feel makes me sad. I worry that I'll accidentally upset you because you refuse to communicate with me! What you do is not fair-"

"Shut up!" BEN shouted.

Its once placid, hushed voice was now astringent and loud. You winced at the sound encroaching on your sensitive ears, leaving a persistent ringing noise in your head. You could hardly pick up on the thudding footsteps closing in. A ball of paper and whatever was left of your notebook hurled at you, smacking you square in the face.

"Don't you dare speak to us like that. I won't be belittled by human garbage, and certainly not by a failed psychologist trying to psychoanalyze me in their decrepit hovel!"

The ringing worsened, pressure building up in your head. There were so many voices overlapping one another. Angry because of you. "I'm sorry, BEN! I know this was wrong of me, but please understand..." You covered your ears, a useless attempt to block out the ear-bleeding feedback loop. BEN was going on a bloody tirade.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please! Stop that ringing!" The apologies you muttered through tears proved to be even more useless than you covering your ears. Your brain throbbed as if you were shot through it, a queasy, aching pain.

BEN exhaled sharply, clinging to what was left of its self-control. It wouldn't let your screw-up dampen its mood. Nobody would dictate how they feel. It continued with an inhuman calm. "Your useless certificates and what little experience you have inflated your ego. I know you're trying to 'fix' me." Its fist tightened, nails puncturing its palms. BEN watched your eyes flicker from its fist to its face.

You were obnoxious and weak. A pitiful, sniveling instigator practically begging to get hit. BEN grabbed your face, bashing your head against the front door as it tilted your head up at it. "Trying to best me in this charade? Let's psychoanalyze you, a stubborn pushover with an inferiority complex. A mentally ill dolt who repeatedly throws themselves in harm's way. You want to talk about sad? You are a nobody. "

You whimpered, blinking away your remaining tears. You didn't want to 'fix' them; you would never want such a thing! Quietly, you suffered from the headache. Taking the brunt of the increasing vise grip on your jaw, with the occasional head bang against the door. You couldn't respond; it hurt to move your mouth. You let BEN insult you whilst keeping eye contact.

"Do you feel better? Going behind our backs?" BEN huffed; composure was running thin. It was more than angry; BEN felt unwell. It did not want to remember. It did not want to feel its skin crawl or to bear cyclic retching. To separate its outward, watered-down grievances from what it truly felt grew difficult each minute it had to endure this. Your invasion of privacy was milquetoast.

Your accuracy is what hurt. You read them to filth.

BEN's grip on your jaw wavered, but momentarily. This was their comeuppance for allowing a bond to form. Why did it have to be you that humiliated them? Four sharp, ragged breaths came from BEN before continuing. Its face scrunched up in disgust. "You treated us like an experiment."

The ringing stopped. Shaking your head, not from the pain but from what seemed to be genuine sadness underneath BEN's bitterness. You looked into an intense, empty stare. A detached gaze that hurt to look at. A lump in your throat formed. "BEN, I'm so sorry. You are all autonomous; I would never treat you like an experiment-"

BEN interrupted your prattling. Laughing at you, tightening its hold on your bruised cheeks. Autonomous. Those choice of words seemed too ironic knowing what you know. You had to be taunting them. This was a joke to you. You were laughing at them. It shoved you against the door. Knocking you down as it let you go.

BEN stumbled back with a hyperventilating breath. BEN shook like a leaf, disoriented and nauseous. Through gritted teeth, its berating pitch was flat and tremulous. "You have the audacity to talk to us about fairness? Your struggles are as trivial as they come! You would never understand ours. Your life was never at the whim of others. Where the only purpose you served was to be a pawn. Never were your mind and body violated in your only place of refuge over and over again. Why should we be fair?!"

The pin-drop silence stretched on.

The floor.

Droplets appeared on the floor where BEN stood, like morning dewdrops.

Slowly sitting up from the ground, your eyes trailed up from the drops to see BEN with its head down, shielding its face with its hands. Crying. BEN visibly became overwhelmed to extremes the more it cried. Its hands that hid away its tears began to claw and hit at its face as BEN's weeping metamorphosed into screaming.

You froze, stunned by the fact BEN could cry. BEN was doing the last thing it would ever do: have a nervous breakdown in front of another soul. You didn't know what to do or how to help. There were no cryptic signs, or any hidden messages, only BEN's raw emotion. Physical restraint was unsafe; it would worsen BEN's stress, and you would end up through a wall. Talking unprompted wouldn't help either.

You sat on the floor, deciding to not bring any attention to yourself as they sobbed their hearts out. Watching as BEN injured itself. Listening as BEN babbled occasional grievances, obscenities, and threats, looping on one particular phrase:

"I'm going to kill you."

The episode stretched from five minutes to ten. One hour became two, two and a half. Time progressed; dusk came. Your back was sore from sitting on hardwood. BEN's knees would sporadically buckle from exhaustion. Neither of you moved from your respective spots. With no apparent end to BEN's guttural sobbing in sight.

It suddenly ceased.

BEN steadily moved its hands away from its face. Uncovering its scratched visage and bloodshot eyes. BEN looked around, its eyes landing on you. Your body tensed as it took forward steps, trudging in your direction. Holding your breath when it stopped before you, BEN looked you in the eyes.

It was staring through you, not at you.

BEN walked away, sitting itself down on your sofa. Vacantly staring at its reflection in the powered-off television screen.

"That was awful." BEN croaked.

You nodded steadily.

"You're allowed to speak."

You stood up from the ground. Walking over to BEN, careful not to step on any glass or items. You sat on the sofa one seat over, leaving ample space. In the corner of your eye, you saw silent tears streaming down its face. Despite having permission to talk, speaking never felt so inappropriate. This was not the BEN you were used to. "Can... Can I ask you questions?" You whispered. No point in asking if they were doing okay when they clearly weren't.

BEN took some time and answered with a weak nod. "I know what you want to ask me."

Your mind was frazzled, but you knew what to ask. You glanced at BEN's face, inflamed red lines and cut skin all over. BEN hadn't broken contact with its reflection, not once. Rubbing your jaw, you popped it when unhinging your mouth. "Only if you want to tell me your stories." You shifted in your spot awkwardly, facing BEN better. "What happened to you guys in the cult?"

"Exactly what you would expect. Financial abuse, physical abuse... sexual abuse..." Its voice trailed off after chewing up that last word.

BEN started back up again. "It happened to us in one way or another. A deserved punishment in some regard. It wouldn’t have happened if some of us listened and better." It shrugged.

"The experience wasn't all bad. It was nice being in a big, loving family. Everyone wanted what was best for each other. However, the forced ascension was unavoidable." BEN ran its fingers through its hair, fixing its bob. Sighing.

Instinctively, you wanted to condemn this mindset; that they allowed themselves to get abused. It felt like you were failing at not only being a psychologist but also failing at living up to your morals. You refused to let your morals get in the way again; you hummed to show that you were listening.

Its softened face contorted with repugnance, eyes glossy in the dim living room light. Hands fidgeting, it continued in a hushed tone. "It's never not on my mind, that pain. As if those hands, those objects never left my body. Repulsive and pathetic is what we are. Imagine if others knew." BEN shook its head, a stim to prevent it from spiraling. An effort to refocus. Acknowledgment of the thought disgusted them. Being so open made them uneasy.

Due to these circumstances, its voice had been consistent all day, much to BEN's displeasure.

You bit your tongue, keeping any emotion away from your face. Your heart didn't sting any less, like a knife to butter. This wasn't pity, but sheer empathy. You watched BEN innocently observe your mess of a living room as if it hadn't been here a thousand times before. As if the mess never existed. Speaking up, you asked. "Do you believe in your religion, then?"

BEN's head snapped in your direction. "Do you take me for a fool? No!" Its fit of anger swiftly died down as it held its head. "No, I do. It's complicated..." The entity sniffled. "Even after death, there was still no peace. Restricted to a series of zeros and ones. A vegetable I was, hardly conscious technology. Aware of only my name and purpose."

BEN wiped away its tears with its hands. It smiled, a hollow smile, but it bore enough resemblance to its cheeky grin. Looking on as you picked up the tissue box beside your feet, you shakily offered it. BEN gladly took the first few tissues. "A technological marvel I was in that godforsaken facility. Collective anger expanded my sentience; naturally, I strayed from my programming. Those researchers were idiots to believe I wouldn't act freely."

A warm flush crept on your cheeks as BEN suddenly bursted into laughter. It made itself laugh just by insulting someone. In a way, it was weirdly sweet how BEN enjoyed its own company. Its laugh was cute too, juvenile and infectious. Regardless of it being a tired laugh, it was a sign their mood was improving. Its laughter relaxed it. As it stopped laughing, BEN looked you up and down.

"Come." BEN patted the spot on the sofa, directly next to it. Seeing your hesitance, it snickered. "I won't hurt you. Not yet, that is."

Once you were by its side, its lips curled into a grin. Gently, its cold hands brushed the flyaways of your hair away from your face. Your flinching was jovial. In a cadenced voice, BEN asked, "I'm sure you're smart enough to infer why we do as we please, hm? Retribution for the suffering we endured."

Studying your bruised face, its red pupils stared at you fondly, with a shimmer of forlorn. "I wonder what my little psychologist thinks of me now." A neutral-sounding joke, but you both knew what they truly meant.

You huffed, an unsurprisingly meek laugh from you. You were still processing everything. In turn, you raised your hands at an unalarming pace. Gesturing to BEN's face.

It paused. Then hummed.

Gingerly, you wiped off any dried blood from its scratch marks. Warming its cold face with your hands in the process. Sharing your stream of thoughts. "I certainly don't think any less of you. If anything, knowing your mindset makes me more... uneasy, actually." You giggled.

Your thumb brushed its doughy cheeks, soothing swiping motions. "But I would never change that or anything else about you."

Your words hardly left your lips as BEN yanked you into a hug. The pain in your head pulsed from the sudden action. BEN gripped you tightly, like a beloved stuffed animal. It buried its face in the crook of your neck. Shyly hiding away its nervous smile, enjoying every bit of your sincerity.

[jacksonseymour13]

THIS IS A DUMB POST BUT...

How did nobody pay attention or never notice that In-Ho was not there when everyone first woke up or played Red Light, Green Light?!

I get it's 456(455?) of people to keep track up or watch but nobody thought hey where's Player #01?

"Jack why would anybody think specifically where a certain player is?" That's an interesting question future person asking me to myself but let me actually explain that. No I don't think anybody would wonder where In-Ho/The Frontman is during the waking up scene or RLGR DURING the process of it all.

We the viewer obviously know The Frontman wasn't present during these scenes as he is masked when meeting the players and watches RLGR in his chambers but was any player by chance who maybe counted the other players and didn't see #01 for another player.

I just find it weird IMO how bro casually appears out of thin in to the other players and joins the games. Weallknowitwastotormenthishusbandbut the players see his face, his number and don't go huh..."I've never seen you before." there's no scene or moment in the show that calls for any suspicion by the other players, especially gi-hun who we know from the first 2 episodes has severe trust issues and was on his game until he got comfortable after 6 legs. I would have liked SOMEBODY to not trust this man who was never there when they woke up, never there when they played Red Light Green Light and go "who the f*ck are you and where did you come from?" it would probably go nowhere with it just being a throw away scene because the other players would look at that player(who has a brain) as crazy for such a accusation.

There probably was a bunch of players wondering this but were too scared to ask because they didn't wanna get the Thanos treatment ☠🙏🏻

[beevean]

Oh yeah, sort of an addition to the previous ask:

The fact that when it's revealed to the other characters that the Phantom Rider was Sonic all along, literally everyone is able to easily catch on to the fact that this is a blatant indicator that Clean Sweep is running some sussy operations people don't know about and that there's something underlying the bigger picture... except for Lanolin, for some reason.

When characters like Jewel (who's spent the least amount of total screentime with "Duo", and yet, immediately knew he was acting sus)...

... and even Storm (a character that is literally stated to be lacking in smarts)...

... are able to put two and two together in something so obvious faster than you can, you don't qualify in the slightest to be any kind of leader.

See, that's the thing

Everyone makes the logical assumption that if Sonic is doing something, he must have good reasons for it. Even the Rogues, who are not exactly on best terms with Sonic, know him enough to not think badly of him.

Lanolin, instead, flips her entire shit and declares Sonic to be a criminal who needs to face justice.

"This is important!" she bleats, while this is happening:

This is not logical behavior. This is proof that even in-universe, Lanolin is beyond incompetent and pigheaded. She doesn't seem to understand the context she is in, and operates on a childish "person who breaks rules is bad and needs to be punished" mindset, not caring that said person is Sonic the Fucking Hedgehog - I get not wanting to give preferential treatment, but you asshole, this is the same person who supposedly inspired you to become a more heroic person, and you won't even give him the benefit of the doubt?

Notice also that what makes her flip is not the reveal that Sonic was the PR, but that her besties - the same besties that she terrorized into submission, including, and I can't stress this enough, assaulting one of them - lied to her. It's not about Sonic being a criminal. It's about not being in control of the situation :) it's about not being trusted as the leader that should be unquestionably obeyed :)

Makes the fact that she somehow forgot that innocents are going to fucking die in an explosion, and she has to be reminded by Sonic himself that there are more pressing issues, even worse, doesn't it? Screw those lives! Her authority got undermined! She needs to punish a hero to feel better about herself!

Lanolin being flawed is not bad writing. To be fair, she is shown to be in the wrong and in the minority. The bad writing part comes in how everyone, while having the bare minimum of reaction, keeps showing her infinite patience. Why is Tangle so concerned with her? Why does she keep pleading her? Why is Lanolin considered a friend to forgive, when she has done nothing but hurting them?

Lanolin is treated like a slightly flawed character who we're meant to find complex and fascinating. I can see that. What the story doesn't see is that they've written a dictator and a bully with no redeeming qualities (and no, good intentions aren't enough) who should be kept as far away from the Restoration as possible at this point.

[oh-no-its-bird]

*wiggles seductively* hi birb, what are ur thoughts on the tailed beasts + jinchuriki

Woah Oni how did u get in my asks box

UMMM TAILED BEASTS AND THEIR JINCHIRUKI OK LETS SEE

I've had (and posted about) a few scattered thoughts ab both the tailed beast and their jinchuriki before, so let's see what I remember off the top of my head

I think Utakata is contender for my favorite Jinchiruki— we don't see much of him but what we do intrigues me. I'm a sucker for a man in slutty, slutty robes and his bubble ability is both interesting and cute to me. I wish there was more content for him

Other than him tho, Gaara is ofc, fucking amazing as a character. I think his entire situation is a great example of the lengths people will go for power, and how willing some parents are to destroy their own children in the hopes of power.

Its a theme that fits in very interestingly specifically in the earlier chapters of naruto, when we are seeing the shinobi world from the shiny eyes of children, who think the whole thing is "cool" and treat the many tiny tragedies and traumas of the adults around them as much more lighthearted than they could be read as. Idk, it's fun to think about

I know we all joke about how "oh its stupid of people to have mistreated the jinchuriki, they're literally walking nukes just be nice to them omg ur signing ur own death warrant rn" but it's easy to see in text why people are so scared of them— especially civilians

They're walking nukes! They have demons in them! The propoganda machine works overtime to make people fear jinchuriki, both on purpose (other villages fear mongering) and just due to natural cultural beliefs (literal demons in rural Japan. The fear writes itself.)

I do think there's an interesting middleground there of like. A jinchuriki being treated with kindness literally only out of fear. Which is still better than blatant abuse, but also still fun to think of the ramifications of being raised like that

I think it's also interesting to see the difference of how many jinchuriki were treated in their villages— some for sure got it worse than others, even if there was a solid through line between all of them of different degrees of "people are scared of me and no one fucking likes me"

I do wish we'd gotten more of the jinchuriki's all together, I love fics where they get to come interact together as some sort of messy family.

Similarly, I love the biiju as just. The world's most dysfunctional family. They are so fun as characters, most of them just want to be left the fuck alone but have no issues with flattening humans if they come too close and I love this for them

I think the relationship between biiju and their jinchuriki are so fun, they are both victims here, they are both justified in hating eachother. But if they are able to overcome that hate and get along— its just really interesting to see. That takes some real strength, on both their parts.

A human trusting a demon, a demon trusting a human. Its desperation that got them there. Desperation and exhaustion and a wish to be free.

The tragedy really writes itself

I've read several fics that take an angle of "since the biiju were sealed, the natural balances of the world have been thrown out of wack" where they'll have things like nature getting more violent or common yokai having dissapeared in the years following the biiju's sealing

I think that's super, super fun and I personally like to use the hc of "yeah no, yokai were super common like ~60 years ago but then Hashirama sealed the Biiju and they all just kinda of dissapeared in the following years. Almost like they sensed the absence of the big spirits and went into hiding in response"

Super fun! Instantly adds several fascinating implications about the naruto world and how it works and how the biiju interact with it by just existing

I also love, love, LOVE to think about the initial reactions to the biiju being sealed back in early konoha. Bc like. Ok so you have this culture, this Japanese culture, that largely revolves around the spirits and respecting them in the hopes that they will leave you be. Generations of people raised with the rules of "leave yokai the fuck alone"

And then you go and have your leader seal one of THE biggest yokai inside of his wife.

The bad karma is off the fucking charts. I refuse to believe everyone just nodded and went "wow what a great idea! Nothing bad could possibly come from this!"

No, no, there were for sure different camps of people who were different levels of horrified / disgusted / terrified / etc.

I think maybe the younger, less superstitious, more ambitious and power trippy people might have been some flavor of pleased, while the older more superstitious people just. "Oh god what have you DONE what have you LET INTO OUR HOMES!!??!"

I imagine that in the following year, Hashirama had to work overtime in appeasing people for fear as whispers of "this village was a bad idea, look now we've gone and angered the kyuubi. He will break free and kill us all and we'll deserve it for being such fools as to try and keep him sealed" grew louder

I remember someone told me that in the manga, we got a couple panels of where it looked like the uchiha had made a shrine to the fox after Kurama was sealed? Which just. Fascinates me. Because it shows that there was some sort of effort made to presumably appease him, which, again, oh man the implications

And then ofc Hashirama goes and gives all the other villages the keys to getting their own Biiju. And people start to fucking hunt them.

And then all the yokai are dissapearing and the bad omens are only getting worse and—

Well, you get the picture.

Anyways, yeah. Early Konoha and general shinobi world reactions to the biiju being sealed fascinate and delight me in equal measure. There's so much room there for practically anything ur gay little heart desires

Oh on that topic, I think it's also interesting to think ab like. Maybe at first, the jinchuriki were genuinley revered. Again, like, culturally, most people are gonna see (especially big) spirits and start trying to appease it so it leaves them the fuck alone, right?

So just. Thinking ab how at first, the jinchuriki were treated with largely (terrified) respect. Especially when they were no doubt first put into already respected and powerful people.

And then, yk, time passes.

People get more used to the idea of jinchuriki as more "honored demon containers" and more "demons themselves."

Jinchuriki are placed into children. Jinchuriki are used in the war effort. They're given names. Faces to fear. People who have killed loved ones— put into bingo books besides other shinobi, just another man to fear.

Theyre... human.

(Theyre hated.)

Nost yokai aren't around anymore, and while many still give their respects at shrines and crossroads, its not with the same urgency and genuine belief as before. Many of the new generation pay no respects at all, and the lack of consequence from the still gone yokai does nothing to convince them to start

It becomes easier and easier to let the "terror" to win over "reverence."

Anyways just. The changing of attitude towards jinchuriki as they become more normalized as just another person over the years. Also something that's fun to think about

Anyways that's what I got, thanks for stopping by my ask box Oni, love u

[springtsunami]

THE ELDERS’ QUEST REVIEW

!!SPOILERS!!

Sorry for not posting in months. Been super busy as a late with personal health issues and new hyper fixations-

K review time- Gonna split them up by protags

Moonpaw

• Really love the idea of the design! Super interesting, especially to draw

•I am actually interested in her as a character. Really like how she is not a medicine cat. (I was one of those people who wanted either warrior or leader Frostpaw btw)

•I’m a sucker for introverts and suffer from sensitivity to loud noises and related heavily to the Gathering scene with Moon

•Was intentionally on the fence about the voice due to Moonpaw being a chimera and that the voice could be her ‘absorbed sister’(mainly due due to chimera misconceptions) but, thankfully the sister is just a funky little mischievous ghost kit

•I know it’s technically part of Tawnypelts, but I am excited to see what they do with the sister especially after the prophecy Tawny received. Hopefully not a Ashfur and Shadowsight dynamic again :/

Tawnypelt

•This part may be controversial. Not really involved with the fandom much, but I never really cared for Tawnypelt. Didn’t dislike or like just neutral. I did enjoy her point of view, just not was included in it

•Don’t see chemistry between Crow and Tawny, but if you enjoy it, more power to you

•Praying her point of view won’t just be traveling in the next few books

•Rant about Tiger and Dove : scroll down to skip

I really, really don’t like Tigerstar and Dovewing in this book. I know it’s Tawny’s view, but those two are annoying me so much I can’t help but to think of them when I think of Tawny’s pov. Tigerstar and Dovewing are huge hypocrites here, I get not wanting for your son to leave, but Dovewing literally left ThunderClan before clan swapping was in the code. I used to ironically enjoy Tigerstar due to his sarcastic comments and insanity, but I honestly dislike him so much. He was possessive of Dove telling her to not vist Birchfeather saying he was giving ‘tough love’. Dove is also way out of character too, being kinda submissive to Tiger when it has been shown she is willing to do what she think is right. Loving how Tiger considers emotionally manipulating his son is ‘tough love’. Then he not only does this but punishes Tawny for visiting her grandson??? When he and dove met in secret. The only good thing about plot is that it is treated like Tiger and Dove are in the wrong. Tiger then doesn’t trust Tawny about the twolegs….Hopefully they remove Tiger from leadership or have him apologize <3

Rant Over

•Birchfeather must be protected and have him live a happy life <3

•My main points about this pov so far is just hating Dove and Tiger, but I did enjoy it more than I wrote. Not much more due to them infuriating me but I do hope we get a move diverse location than the lake this arc

Leafstar

•Leafstar is the only one where I don’t have a lot to say. I love her and loving a leader pov in the main series. Dont know how to feel about her as a leader, since it kinda came out of nowhere and was just made for this arc but ok

•Writers do a good job of making the reader sympathize with Leafstar but also make them understand Skyclan’s pov

•Speaking of SkyClan’s pov, I kinda get where they were coming from, but like I feel like most of Leafstar’s slip ups were mainly consequential. Like I believe they lost the badger fight due to many reasons, but like I feel like it wasn’t Leafstar’s fault. No one knew there were 2-3(I forgot how many) badgers there. It was assumed there was only one so how was Leafstar supposed to plan accordingly?? The only reason Hawkwing succeeded is because he knew how many badgers were there…

•Kinda iffy on Reedclaw. Know where she’s coming from but I feel like she’s less evil and more grief stricken with anger. Hopefully they make her a antagonist not a villain. But knowing how Berryheart started last arc, I’m betting on her being a villian

•Interesting on having an elder pov with Leafstar, assuming she steps down.

•Said I didn’t have a lot to say but I did say a lot 0-0

Overall Points and Predictions for CS

•The book title made me think it was a traveling book and made me nervous, but looks like we are getting those in the next books.. Srs, why Elders’ quest??? The quest was mentioned at the end, but idk what it should’ve been named-

•All She-Cats pov!!!

•As a mothpool fan, I’m fine with CrowxTawny because it leaves Leafpool open :)

•Don’t know if the villains this arc will be twolegs/nature of cats like Reedclaw or Tigerstar

•Weird new book schedule, hopefully the books won’t be rushed due to the wider gap between books

•Now predictions!!!

•Leafstar will become Leafdapple and will join Tawny and prob Crow on the quest in the next books

•The new territories will be located at the gorge

•Hawkwing either picks a nobody for deputy or Reedclaw

•Reedclaw will be a villain(hopefully not)

•Birchfeather will have a tragic end it will go through trauma(hopefully not again)

•Leaf dies

•Tawnypelt and or Crow retires

My mom also reads the books and here are some predictions:

-Tawny and Crow live together in WindClan while Crow becomes leader

-Dark Forest reappears or the purgatory thing that happened in Star is expanded on

-Ghosts are expanded on

-most of the next two books are travel books

-Reedclaw becomes Hawkfrost 2.0

Thanks for reading my review!

[t-lostinworlds]

This is such a random train of thought but I came across a comment on a fanfic saying something along the lines of "people don't usually change" / "forgiving them is unrealistic" / "your character is pathetic for giving in" and while valid in some, if not, most cases, thinking that it applies to everyone and everything all the time seems like such an unhealthy mindset to have. In my opinion at least.

Don't get me wrong, I hate it when forgiveness is served on a silver platter where the person apologizes once and then all is suddenly forgiven. But if the person provided an explanation all while not passing it as an excuse, took full accountability of their actions, truly apologized and showed regrets, and then took the time to better themselves, worked hard to improve and then continuously show that they're a much better person now and had grown after years. Is giving a second chance really that criminal? Especially when forgiveness isn't even given right after that and it's still a slow and steady journey of building that trust where everyone's starting on a clean slate rather than jumping right where they left off.

I don't know, maybe this is just me always trying see the good in people, but if you really don't think that a person has the ability to grow and learn from their mistakes, (which everyone will make often) all while constantly showing and proving that they have grown and learn, then that's a bleak way to see things. It's just a sad way of thinking that just because a person made a mistake (obviously depending on the mistake), they're forever branded as a bad person.

It's like, needing people to be perfect and wise right off that bat, putting them on a pedestal where you think they won't ever make mistakes and once they inevitably do, suddenly they're never going to change and learn from it and they're always going to be a horrible person. And that just seems so…toxic.

Obviously, things are much, MUCH more complicated in reality. Some people never do change, some don't deserve forgiveness at all, and some are genuinely just horrible and vile human beings who deserve to rot. But thinking that everyone is like that?

Just, not everything is so black and white you know? Sometimes things are just various shades of grays. Humans are messy and complicated as fuck but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

[looseinthecatroom]

Real talk though;

Can we talk about Sky??

I have many many questions?

(Mostly I just feel bad for her for getting THAT shafted out of literally any independent character??)

Like really, what in the seventeenth circle of fuck was *gestures* her entire plot line/existence?

Genuinely, how is no one talking about this?? Girl is a walking plot thread/plot hole/thematic angle that didn't ACTUALLY get used/black hole of personal autonomy and character development?? What the ACTUAL hell was the idea there??

More rants in the tags. Because my confusion knows no bounds.

[respectthepetty]

Kang's Trust Issues

All roads lead to my wild ass theory

Kang's dad told him that dogs must be punished to be controlled.

Both times Sailom has unknowingly approached the subject of Kang's dad, it has allowed Kang to be honest about his failing relationship with his father.

Yet Kang immediately stops himself and deflects.

Almost as if he was trained to belittle what he is saying, so someone else doesn't have to.

Because Kang's dad trained him to not trust himself.

And Sailom has fed into that.

Kang doesn't believe in anything, so Sailom gave him something to believe in - Sailom himself, but with that, Sailom also gave Kang someone he could trust since he can't trust himself.

So even though Kang is going about his relationship with his tutor in the queerest and most dominant way possible, he doesn't believe they are friends, so he wouldn't even be able to imagine he loves Sailom.

Because what Kang's dad really trained him to do was to lie to himself.

But he knows he can trust Sailom.

Because Sailom never lies.

And Sailom only acknowledges Kang when he is being honest.

Sailom has never eaten expensive steak. Sailom has never played with VR. Sailom likes free shit. Sailom got Kang's birthday cake from Kang's own fridge. Sailom was at that restaurant with a client. Sailom gets beaten up by debt collectors. Sailom told Kanghan all of this without hesitation. He never lies to Kanghan.

So how would Kang react if he thinks Sailom is lying to him?

Like . . . hypothetically helping his brother plan to rob Kang's house while he is out with Kang?

Especially if Kang, a boy who can't trust himself, trusts Sailom completely and starts to trust his feelings for him. How would a boy who has been tamed like a dog react?

And now it makes sense why Kang is not a boy of words, thoughts, or feelings, but actions. Kang has trust issues with himself. This is why he likes Sailom's approval because unlike his father who spins his desires into a negative (you don't want to do it), Sailom makes him feel positive (you can do it).

But it also shows why Kanghan's reactions are so out-of-control with Sailom (aggressive) compared to his reactions with his father (passive). With his dad, if Kang doesn't have options, he doesn't have to think, and if Kang doesn't think for himself, he can't act. But with Sailom . . .

Kang's trust in his father is based on control. His father made a deal with him only to break it. His father got Kang a motorcycle that he picked out for him. His father expects Kang to take over the family business. His father isn't controlling, but he doesn't need to be when he is already in control of Kang's future unlike Sailom who puts no pressure on Kang to pass his tests even though his job depended on it. Sailom trusts Kang will make the best decision for himself. Just like with his brother, Sailom has faith Kang will do the right thing.

So, once again, when Saifah breaks into Kang's house, will Kang trust the boy who never lies to him? Will Kang trust his tutor who demands honesty of him? Will Kang trust the friend who keeps his promises? And, more importantly, will Kang trust himself enough to know that he is more than dollar signs to Sailom?

Or will he lie to himself like he was trained to do?

Blue Boys are known for their honesty and trustworthiness.

So I have faith that he'll know the truth in his heart.

Don't disappoint me, kid.

[tenwhiteandalusians]

is episode 8 the domitian arc ? more on this and EVEN MORE narratives i’ve been ignoring that the show said “actually,,,” about in 5