#because they literally have nothing in common

[sokkastyles]

I’m so amazed how people can’t see the emotional burden that gets put on Katara throughout the show. I just re-watched “The Deserter” (Book 1, Ep 16) and oml. First, Aang straight up ignores all the wisdom and advice given to him, and pushes too far with fire bending even though he has no control, and burns Katara. And like yes, I get it he is young and naive and impatient. But what really struck me is he burns Katara, she runs off, and learns she can heal herself. (Also really wish they had have her keep the scars, would have been an interesting lesson and more lasting imo) Anywho, then Zhang shows up and she goes to get Aang, and Katara has to end up comforting him because he’s being mopey and self-deprecating saying he’ll never firebend again. My man BURNED this girl and then throws himself a pity party that SHE has to pull him out of and comfort HIM into feeling better. Being healed aside, this makes me so uncomfortable because for a lot of people in unbalanced relationships, this exact scenario plays out all too often. Someone gets hurt, and then it’s their job to make their partner feel better when they get all upset because they’re guilty. Then, after they escape, Katara heals AANG from his battle, and her burns are never mentioned again. I was expecting him to apologize again now that things had slowed down, and nope, nothing! Other than his frantic apologies while she was writhing around in pain, he never says another word about it.

Since she’s healed, it’s all good I guess, right? I’m watching a reaction series of ATLA, and even this guy who’s brand new to the series is calling zutara all the way from halfway into book one. So much about Kataang just feels so icky, and unbalanced, and so much physical and emotional labor on Katara’s part. Forever grateful that there are good fanfics and fandom circles out there to do Zutara justice.

Sorry for the rant, but it just gets to me that some fans seem to have not a lot of media literacy, like how does this inspire thoughts of a happy healthy relationship? Lol but I love your blog sm! Thanks 💛💛

It's actually not that people who ship KA are media illiterate. On the contrary, they are interpreting the show in exactly the way it was meant to be read. It's just that the trope of the Nice Guy stuck in the friend zone who has to prove he's grown up enough for the girl is such a common trope, and appeals to the misogyny that is ingrained in our society. Many people do not recognize the unfair burden put on Katara because it's expected for her to be the one to bear that burden.

And you're right about the situation in the Deserter being manipulative. Aang doesn't do it on purpose, but you're right that in real life, it's a red flag and a hallmark of abusive relationships. It's not framed that way because there is literal magic used to make Katara's pain go away, but it's all part of the narrative of the show choosing to address Aang's feelings about Katara over Katara's actual feelings.

What happens between Katara and Aang is actually very similar to what we see between Azula and Ty Lee in the Beach episode, when Azula makes Ty Lee cry by slut-shaming her, then Azula tells Ty Lee to stop crying and is juuust vulnerable enough to give Ty Lee an excuse for her behavior, and also a reason for Ty Lee to now focus on her: Azula only did that because she was jealous, so now Ty Lee can help by teaching Azula how to pick up boys.

The difference in the way these two scenes are portrayed is that Azula is clearly a villain and Ty Lee has been shown time and time again to put up with things we know she shouldn't. Whereas with Katara and Aang, we're supposed to think Katara bearing the brunt of the emotional labor is fine and normal and not Aang's fault, because the narrative twists to make it not Aang's fault.

I also find the way people mock zutara shippers for imagining Zuko doing the emotional labor to lessen the burden off Katara highly misogynistic. Like, this is so obviously the Nice Guy myth rearing its ugly head again. Women who think they know better about what they need than the Nice Guy does will wind up in an abusive relationship, because no man can actually be better than the Nice Guy. The Nice Guy actually NEEDS to think that no man can be nicer than him, not only because he needs it for his Nice Guy identity, but because it means that he doesn't have to be responsible for any of the labor foisted onto his object of affection.

In contrast, Zutara is threatening precisely because it validates Katara. Zuko's pain is not addressed until he addresses Katara's first, in the caves. His wish for forgiveness is not granted until he helps Katara get closure for her pain. Zuko is forced to do the emotional labor that the show always forces Katara to do. Not just with Aang, but with her brother. That scene where Katara eavesdrops on Sokka talking about how Katara is like a mother to him, with the guiltiest look on her face, is meant to reinforce that Katara should just quietly accept her rile.

Often, enemies to lovers ships are popular because the enemy is the only one that a female character is allowed to express her pain and hurt towards. And boy, does Katara express it towards Zuko. And he takes it in, and listens, and tries to make amends. Zuko actually needs Katara to forgive him in order for the gaang to function. He has to be Aang's firebending teacher. Katara could have just kept on being angry at him, and eventually her anger would have faded the way it does with all the men in her life, and she probably would have quietly internalized it as another part of herself that she needs to repress.

But it's Zuko who chooses not to accept this. Which he also could have done, because lord knows Zuko is used to living with people who hate him. At least Katara won't be actively malicious towards him.

But Zuko actually does what nobody else in the show does. The show makes a point of telling us that nobody else does it, too.

And you know what? Katara still heals her own pain. Zuko makes it possible, but he's pretty passive at the important moments. He watches, and that becomes something really powerful for a character like Katara who is always made to hide her own needs, her pain.

Zuko could have not gone with her on this journey. He could have sat back and waited for Katara to heal herself and reassure him that all was forgiven. But he doesn't. He witnesses. He validates. He lets her rage at him, then accepts her forgiveness when it's time for him to. He knows enough to know that he can't make the decision about what Katara needs, only she can do that.

That's why people write fic where Zuko is sensitive and a good listener and does the cooking and the cleaning and is otherwise the perfect partner. And I think they're so valid for that.

What I said about Azula and Ty Lee is also why Azula x Katara doesn't work as enemies to lovers, because Azula would not be able to do the work that Zuko does to acknowledge Katara's pain. She can't even do it for her friends.

[thedreadvampy]

I keep seeing posts about how Alison Bechdel is a TERF and I'm not here to mitigate the question of whether she is or isn't

(as far as I can gauge: less so than bell hooks but not entirely out of the woods)

but mostly I just find the tone of these posts fascinating because they seem to frame it as though they've Uncovered Alison Bechdel's Secret when they talk about her going to Michfest and having fond memories of Michfest. as if. she didn't write Several Comic Book Plots both about doing that and about feeling conflicted and having tensions in her pro-trans friendship groups about it.

and similarly these posts always seem to act generally as if We'll Never Know What Alison Bechdel Thinks and have to judge from what she said in interviews. and it's like ok. So Alison Bechdel is a memoirist? She's written like 7 books and a long-running comic strip, all of which are pretty much entirely about her navel-gazing about her own beliefs and thought processes?

it's not even as if we have to divine her thoughts now from things she wrote in the 2000s. She's still working, you know? I literally just read her new book that she put out this year about being an aging dyke in the second Trump term. It's on my lap right now. Of all the writers to treat as an inscrutable mystery, Alison Bechdel simply is not it.

(fwiw: based on her work I continue to think she's trying to be accepting but also has that very common 'oh I just don't know what all the kids these days are doing with the genders' thing that a lot of people her age are stuck on. obviously her fictionalised autobio work is not inherent fact but it's clear that, as far as she's concerned, most of her close friends are more actively trans-positive than her and that this is often part and parcel of her feeling like she's failing at being politically radical. Literally every Alison Bechdel work I've read is at least 50% about her feelings that she's politically inactive, not doing enough, and not as right-on and praxis-led as she'd like to be, and pretty much all the times she brings up a direct discussion about transness (rather than just Having Trans Characters be in her social circles) she's poking fun at herself for being square or not putting her money where her mouth is or being mired in ambivalence. Open to the idea that she's also making fun of Those Darn Kids And Their Genders and that she has never entirely sorted through those 90s separatist ideas about trans dykes not being inherently part of dykery, and I think that's reasonable to be frustrated or upset by, but like nothing in her work suggests she's committed to trans exclusion. I think she often sends to be transphobic in the same way a lot of people, especially older women, often are - not in a committed hatred way but in an awkward and othering way - but I also think we can draw a distinction between people for whom transphobia is a major guiding principle of their politics (which is what I understand TERFism to be) and people who are transphobic the way your loving and accepting Catholic nan is homophobic - uncomfortable with the idea but aware that they're in the wrong for being so. Like neither is great but there's a massive gulf in terms of impact imo.)

[spookytragedyshark]

Another fanfic idea I'm not sure I can fully write myself. (ends up writing way too much.) Feel free to rewrite this or anything, take it, and run. I want to read someone else's take on this.

Soap finally convinces Ghost to come home for the holidays. Ghost is on edge. Ya know basic normal ghoap.

Only soap told his family he couldn't make it missions and all that. It's fine, they will be excited to see him with the change of plans.

Then, as soon as they enter the house, it goes dead silent. Ghost thinks it's his fault until soap pushes out a shaky "(y/n)" on the verge of tears, looking at a woman holding a small child no older than four.

Ghost spirals quick. He knows that name. It's soap's first love, the one that got away. The one that literally disappeared. And that child looks like Soap, a Mohawk, and all. Surely Soap didn't know. Then he's going to pick her, he thinks. Surely not him, not broken as he is. Pain, sorrow, longing, it's all processing rapid like a pinball machine.

Then it's cut off, confusion breaks through because the little one just tugged on your shirt and pointed not at soap but at him, "Who?" You smile at the little one as everyone else seems more on edge, you, without missing a beat "That's your Godfather, darling".

"SKULLY!" The child screams excitedly. "Yes, ghost. From the pictures." The child looks at Ghost like he hung the moon, then at Soap and claps his hands. "My darling little soldier, could you play with Mimi for a few" the child falters before pointing at them "later?"

"If they're not busy with work." It's not missed on Simon, you are giving them a way out. You hand the child off to Soap's mom, and all at once, Soap's brain kicks in, and he's hugging you, sobbing. Simon remembers that Soap thought you might have died after you disappeared because he couldn't find you at all. No social media, nothing. (He's still not able to process the Godfather thing or what that implies)

"let's go to the kitchen yeah? " You're looking at him. He's confused again but nods following as you lead soap to the kitchen getting him in a chair. Before turning around and rummaging through a cabinet. Soap's watching just watching.

"I was planning on talking to you privately but your mom said you weren't coming for the holidays and I couldn't stand the thought of him missing another holiday with relatives. You know how I feel about relatives" you're still going through the cabinet but guilt is laced through your voice. Soap KNOWS exactly what you're referring to. He remember all the times you said you wished for your kid to have a big extended family. How you cried scared yours would pass before you had a kid.

"It was too difficult to contact you, so I contacted your mom. Bless her, she helped me run the test against her, so I did not have to worry or bother you if I was wrong. " You hand Soap a folder. It's the DNA test. "Of course, she helped with the paperwork, so it's set up. If anything happens to me, you'll get him. If you can't, it's between my mom and Ghost." You nod to Ghost, and he thinks his heart stopped for a second because what the hell. "Depending on the situation," and you're talking like this is common sense.

"When you've regained the ability to talk, could you please tell me when we slept together, though?" Soap, as flabbergasted as he is, blurts out, "That's not why you disappeared?" He looks overwhelmed and confused almost guilty. You take a step forward and gently push back his Mohawk, having him look you in the eyes. "No, I left because I had to. My sister had an incident. Based on your reaction, I'd say it was when I broke up with Jonathan and got messed up?" Soap looks ready to cry guilt clear now. Ghost has no clue who Jonathan is or what transpired, but the pieces are there. This, whatever this is, Soap clearly never wanted to even think about it again.

"You were beyond wasted that night, too. I don't blame you. We're adults, we knew better." You're still looking in soap's eyes. "I'd have come as soon as I knew. But I thought he was Jonathan's, and Jonathan never wanted kids. So it took until he started to resemble you."

Ghost thinks undoubtedly Soap will pick you because he's looking at you like an angel. Ghost wonder's maybe you are, because who would be this kind and calm? Then you derail his thoughts again because what the hell...

"When you two become officially public, I'll have him start calling you bonus dad, seems more fitting and all." You're addressing Ghost, and you are looking at Ghost. You're looking like this is normal but Ghost is terrified and he can't place why. His brain slows. You know. You know him and soap... Is his existence ruining this for soap? How does he fix it?

You move away, doing a little pace through the kitchen. "I'm not staying anywhere near by, actually, I'm moving again, so we'll have to figure something out about visiting." Soaps eyes are wide, and he's still practically muted in shock. "I steamboated again, huh?" Soap mutely nods. Ghost is confused by the fraze.

"oh, one more thing, ghost the kid is interested in anything creepy so be prepared, he's probably going to fan girl about your mask. And try to climb you." Ghost nearly chokes on his own saliva.

Finally soap speaks "same taste as his mom then?"

"He saw one picture of you and demanded a Mohawk." You laugh, and Soap chuckles; full of emotion, none of you can quiet Desesifer. Then you are moving back into the living room. They think you are trying to give them space, but both follow Soap, too scared you will disappear the moment you are out of sight. Ghost is determined to spend as much time with Johnny with Soap as he can before...

The moment they reenter the family room, the kid beelines for the two men and does in fact try to climb Simon to get a better look at his mask. You effortlessly pick the kid up, asking Simon if he will hold him. He obliges, and the kid rambles about scary stories and how cool Ghost and Soaps uniforms are and how the pictures Mimi gave him of them are on his bedroom wall. The men just melt. Ghost swears to himself he will protect this kid. He is too innocent too perfect. He may not be Soaps lover much longer, but he will be here.

Meanwhile, Soap brain has taken a pause to adore how Ghost, his Simon, is so perfect with his mini me. Sure, his chest aches for you, but this is his L.T. The kid practically jumps from Ghost to Soap. For a few moments, Ghost adores the interaction. How perfectly Soap takes to the boy. Then he tears his eyes away. No, this is not his place. He mutters something about a smoke and steps outside. Soap is enamored with his kid, doesn't notice at first, but you do.

Silently, you follow, giving him time to mostly finish his cigarette before approaching him. It is just you two on the porch.

"Hey I am sorry about everything. I know it was shocking, and I have a tendency to kinda take over or uh not rant but steamboat is what we call it. It is a result of my overactive mind." You are rubbing your neck, looking nervous, and Ghost cannot for the life of him understand why you are apologizing to him. "I really want everyone to get along. Soap and His mom have a high opinion of you so-"

"He will be with you." It is out of his mouth before he realizes he even opened it. You are looking up at him and blinking in shock. Ghost thinks he has messed up bad because you are slowly starting to look angry. "He loves you." It's firm as if stating a fact. "You are not pulling back from him because of me." And Ghost hears his own insecurity in your voice, but he can't help it. He pushes more, "he has loved you longer."

Your entire body language changes as if having an epiphany. Then a muffled, barely audible "really?" Again, he can not help it, he looks away, a strained "yes" . Then he feels your hands on his shoulders. "Then he will have both of us. No reason for you to go away. " his eyes snapping back to you because again what the hell.

"He clearly loves you. His family loves you. Our kid loves you. I am not letting you walk away because of some fear or insecurities that I am certain I or Soap also feel. Besides that, this is my fault. I was so blinded by my own insecurities that I did not think anyone could truly love me." In that moment, Ghost thinks, hearing his own thoughts echoed back at him, that he might also be falling for this angel in front of him.

Soap chooses that exact moment to burst out the front door, franticly looking for you two. You think he is worried about Ghost and him potentially leaving. Ghost thinks Soap is just looking for you to make sure you do not disappear again, only he does not relax fully at seeing you. Soap scans your serious expression and your hand on Ghost's shoulder and rushes over, "Oh Si" and hugs Ghost like his life depends on it.

"Johnny, when exactly did we start having the same taste in men?" Ghost brain decides that's the moment to stop functioning.

A few days later, after being back to work, the boys learn why exactly you are moving again when Price introduces you to the team as the new civilian specialized gear mechanic.

[leggerefiore]

(Walks in) You literally posted about Ananas at such a golden time because I too just restarted my kick with then like crazy do you have Any general headcanons you have on hand about them to see if we can branch anything off of it? If not there's always my go to curiosity and I love all your possessive, obsessive, jealous and yandere works I'd love to see if anything of that works with Ananas for you

mmm general romance? i can do that... request again if u meant something else lol

🍍Ananas Dragon Cookie General Romance HCs🏖

🟡 Ananas would not claim they were above love… Certainly, most dragons desire a mate, and they were not so different. Rather, there simply were not enough dragons around any longer to hold their attention, and they prided themselves above needing the company of mortals. But, were they? Despite their haughty attitude about pride, they still aided the cookies of the isles depending on what mood they were in. They quite enjoyed offerings and praise, after all. It was all quite odd when a mere mortal caught their attention. Ruined and tattered clothing and dirtied and injured flesh on their beautiful island.

🟡 Pitiful, you were in their eyes. Which is why they gave some of the clothing offerings to you and a few various fruits. They washed up on shore beside you, giving you an opportunity to change and wash up a bit. Ananas could tell you were not of the isles, but they were unsure just where your origins lied. So, they watched over you. A raft you made was aided by earth to go towards and an inhabited island. You established yourself there, completely unaware of the dragon keeping an eye on you. The behaviour was a bit unbecoming and rather reminded Ananas of another dragon, but you simply were fascinating. When the locals taught you how to bring an offering to the Golden Dragon, it was then they decided to appear before you. Naturally, Ananas recognised one singular thing. A desire to call you their mate. So, they proclaimed you that with little care for your opinion and took you away into their nest.

🟡 PDA? They are unashamed. You are their mate, and it is only natural for a dragon to display this. Whoever is in their presence will be witness to you sitting on their lap while they listen on their throne. Their face will find your nape as they bury into the soft, fragile flesh. Your scent is intoxicating to them, and they wish to leave their own all over you. If they decide to venture out for whatever reason, they will keep an arm around your waist. It is an oddly grounding thing to remind them that you are there. You are free to do whatever to them as well, so long as it is not too distracting. The dragon adores your attention and affection.

🟡 In private…? Somehow, they are worse. You are clung to constantly. Your place is at their side as their mate and most precious treasure. Now, by side, they mean their lap. You feel more like a stuffed toy some days than their partner. A dragon's size, even in mortal form, is still far bigger than any regular mortal. They are also more prone to surprise kisses to cheek and temple and quiet praises for what a lovely mate you are for them. Really, they do like to wax poetic about how lovely you are. They have good tastes, after all. Expect a few bites here and there as well – that is just common dragon mating behaviour. You will also be held to them closely in bed. Their larger form curling around your smaller one… Such a small peace of mind for them to know you are safe within their arms in their nest. Their tail also curls around you. Nothing can take you from them.

🟡 You are, once again, allowed to take whatever you desire from them. Ananas is especially happy at your sweet little pecks to their lips. The soft kisses remind them much of a draconic affection of snouts nuzzled, but this is far sweeter. And occasionally, it bleeds into something more intimate. Your warm embraces are quite enjoyed, too. The feeling of your arms around them… Ah, they are obsessed with it. Much like the offerings from the islanders, they quite enjoy such tender displays from you. To know your love and affection is genuine and pure… They are endlessly happy that you were castaway on their island.

🟡 The Golden Dragon huffs at the idea of dates. You are allowed to endlessly bask within their presence. Is that not enough? Your pouting made them reconsider. Perhaps… It would not hurt to go out and do things with you. Most dates will be to various places on their island. You quite literally are in a tropical paradise, so the beach is often enjoyed. The sight of the dragon huffing after you splash them is quite a favourite one. You may also convince them to visit some of the villages in disguise. It annoys them, but seeing your excitement in the markets or enjoying whatever festivities are offered silences them. They would do anything for your happiness… Even if they do not particularly enjoy being surrounded by mortals whilst pretending to be one.

🟡 Ananas is jealous. All the dragons are, but they score the third highest. They truly and admittedly need you near them constantly. Unfortunately, they are just wired that way. Even if they allow you to go out on your own, they are watching over you from a distance. While they do not necessarily view the islanders as threats, they just worry that any possible outsiders may misunderstand. No islanders would dare make any move towards you – not the Golden Dragon's mate, but all it takes is one outsider showing up and getting too friendly for Ananas to make an earthquake and hoard you away in their nest for a while. The pros and cons of dating a dragon.

🟡 Domestic moments are quite odd. For one, they do not have the best understanding of mortal culture, and especially not the culture of wherever you originated from. But, they are very intrigued by whatever you want to do. Making a meal for them is truly the best offering they have ever received. Ananas feels so prideful that their mate took such an initiative! They will return this favour. (You will have so many fruits. You already had a lot. Now you have more.) They are quite fond of simply letting their guard fall around you. You are so precious to them that their usual prideful demeanour can become something far softer. You have been sitting on their throne, gently combing their hair many times.

🟡 Something they quite enjoy when they can is allowing you to see their true form. The dragon quite enjoys your adoration of what they truly are. Your hands cupping their face or admiring the strength of their scales… You resting against their side while they watch over is oddly peaceful. You are even smaller than them in this form… How cute. You will also be allowed as many rides as you would like on their back around the island. They only wish your form was more compatible with it, but they are the one who took a mortal as their mate.

🟡 Overall, despite the relationship starting a bit one-sided, it will eventually become something quite genuine and full of love. Ananas will look past whatever perceived pride they have and truly love you as their mate. They will shower you in gifts and affection and have their islanders sing your praises. You are kept in the luxury and comfort of their nest and never have to worry about anything again. Probably the best fruit dragon to end up with, all things considered.

[a-griffin-in-the-sky]

Me:Yeah I think 30 Seconds to Mars is definitely a cult. It has a lot of similarities to coercive groups especially ones that extort money under the guise of "community." Jared Leto literally called it a cult, and the man also has a long history of abusive behavior. Honestly, him being a sexual predator doesn’t surprise me at all.

Some person in My Replies:Uhhh actually 30 Seconds to Mars isn’t a cult 🙄

Me: Okay? That’s your opinion. But the fact they called themselves a cult, sell expensive “spiritual” retreats with Jared dressed like Jesus, and have rabid followers defending him despite the abuse allegations... that all seems very cult-like. Maybe we should examine that dynamic a little closer. It’s not exactly rare for these “artistic communities” to tip into cult territory. Especially when there's a charismatic dude in charge.

Them Again:Uhhh NOT A CULT. Learn to read for once Lol you’re stupid.

Me: Alright. I’m not here to fight. It seems like a cult to me, and I’m allowed to say that. We can agree to disagree. Jared Leto has also assaulted women, and these types of power structures often enable that. It’s a very common pattern. But hey good luck, and try not to end up in a desert retreat handing him your wallet.

Them: LOL says the TERF.

Me: Also, just saying people only call something a cult after a tragedy happens. Aum was a cult before the gas attack. Jonestown was a cult before the mass death. Just because nothing headline-grabbing has happened yet doesn’t mean the behavior isn’t cult-like. Jared Leto used his status to assault people that’s a huge red flag in this kind of dynamic.

Them: Learn how to read 🙄

Me: Blocks them and proceeds to slam head on the desk.

If they say its a cult, works like a cult and looks like a cult...its a cult.

You can't argue, second they fling out the terf word is the second you know that they know they are wrong.

[sp-ud]

hi i wrote up my thoughts and perspective on the whole "toriel getting drunk and dancing with sans at her house" thing.

it was originally a twitter thread in reply to someone who didn't get why ppl r acting like toriel is a bad mom just for having a good time. im mostly just gonna copy paste it with some edits. also its kinda long and ramble-y so ill put the tldr at the top here.

TLDR: Toriel isn't a horrible mother for this but also it's weird to act like this isn't anything to criticize her for. a scene can both be funny and have deeper implications at the same time.

i think its a nuanced situation but a lot of ppl on both sides of this discussion are treating it like its black or white.

i think the truth is somewhere in the middle of the two arguments here. no, i dont think this scene means toriel is a horrible mother and a raging alcholic but also, no, i dont think this scene is just a funny joke and two adults having fun and theres nothing wrong with it

to me this scene is showing that toriel ISN'T a perfect mom, but not necessarily that shes a BAD mom. like, she clearly cares for kris... but its also shown that at no point did she do anything between deciding to cancel choir practice to kris showing up to check in with kris

and some ppl's defense is that "oh maybe she just assumed kris was staying at noelles" and like, yeah maybe, but we have nothing indicating that and even if thats the case... toriel still should have contacted kris to check? i get the holiday's are close family friends but literally the night before toriel's tires were slashed and she was concerned enough to call the police.

this to me says she has a bit too much confidence in kris being able to take care of themself, a passive acceptance that could easily backfire

and then to get drunk and bring a relative stranger back to her house, the night after her tires were slashed and she isnt exactly sure where her child is even tho its way past sunset is just... very questionable.

i dont think its wrong for toriel to want to have fun and unwind, especially with how stressful the night before was, but theres a certain recklessness to it especially because even though toriel called the police they never showed up from her perspective.

and she also doesnt just have herself to consider she has her kid's safety to consider and at no point do we see her show any concern for where kris was.

but the reason i say this doesn't mean she's an inherently BAD mom is because we have no idea how frequent anything like this is. is this the first time shes gotten drunk and been passive about how kris is doing? has this happened before but maybe not in a while til now? is it relatively common and this is just the first time we've seen it?

its not really clear, but what we HAVE seen is plenty of other moments where she does care about kris, where she does show signs of being a good parent. she's just not perfect and probably really should be less passive about where her child is, especially after sunset.

and i think its important to acknowledge that shes a flawed parent because when it comes to the main and secondary casts in toby's games, they are never all that they seem on the surface so it's weird to act like toriel is an exception to that and that shes just a mother who can do no wrong.

christ ive yapped on a lot, but i fear i still have a bit more to say to anyone actually reading all this. cuz i do also want to touch on sans in all of this cuz i feel like the way ppl talk abt his inclusion in this is. weird.

while obviously from undertale we know that sans is a much more deeply observant guy than he seems on the surface... we also have no idea how much that carries over to deltarune.

while im sure he's not suddenly just a flat joking character i also feel its weird to assume things like "oh maybe he was staying up with toriel so kris wouldnt have to take care of her!!!" like... or maybe hes just an adult who wants to spend time having fun with this lady he's been getting to know recently

but i also don't think its horrible that he also didnt show any concern for kris? like he only just met toriel and kris. he doesn't know their home situation at all except for the fact that he knows asgore is toriel's ex-husband and kris is her kid.

like he definitely should have been more considerate after kris was clearly home, but i dont think hes a bad person for staying with toriel in general.

[demaparbat-hp]

Oh, Lala...

[loopyarts]

Young adult Robin Dick Grayson and his Umbreon partner.

[solariex]

tumblr dotcom i have the UPDATE to this thread of things oh BOYYY !!!

tldr: the "hangout" was basically a blind date UGHHHHH or well the guy treated it like a date !!!! which made me so uncomfortableee

but cliffnotes version of what happened so i dont blab too much here:

we literally have NOTHING in common !! the video games stuff ?? he likes way different games than i !! the art stuff ?? HE SAID HE HASNT BEEN INTO ART SINCE HEWAS A KID

and all the awkward convo stuff aside he didnt have his licence so at the LAST MINUTE he asked if i could give him a ride home & yknow i felt bad so i said SURE why not because he probably doesnt live far away !!!!

guys he lived 30 minutes away IDID NOT KNOW THAT and i didnt get home until an hour AFTER the dinner stuff was overr

& i KNOWW he didnt see this as a "ooh casual friendly hangout" because in the awkward silence of the car he's all "how old are you ?? your 18 ?? you know im 21 right ?? the age gap is okay with you ??" IF ITS "JUST FRIENDS" IT SHOULD BE FINE WHYWOULD THAT BE ASKED ??? guys im going to crash out please save me plea—💥💥💥 /j

so i spent the past night in a incredibly awkward dinner and then driving in pitch black darkness to SUCHH a shady area for an hour and now this guy thinks we have something WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FRIENDS THING ???? WHAAA HUHH WHAT ????

wish me luck im dealing with handling this mess tomarrow because i have a headache right now but thats the update if anyone wanted it I DIDNT MEAN TO TURN THIS INTO SOMETHING TO YAP ABOUT ON HERE but oh BOYY enjoy solar lore crumbs i guess !!! :'3

[radicaldreemurrs]

yeah it's like. this is a part of kris beating the other part's will down so they stop resisting and let them get this over with. the part of kris embodied in the SOUL is a deeply broken and hurt part of them that is of a core belief that they need to get stronger at all costs. strong enough that nothing can hurt them again. this is what kris and chara have in common, a broken part of themself that latches onto what the SOUL represents, a part that's fueled by that red glow. none of the meta shit really matters to me at all. this is all thematics, it's all metaphor. the things that can only happen because it's a video game are analogues for specific thematic touchstones, using the language of a game to communicate it. it's not supposed to be literal.

well. that didn't change anything about my reads at all. why did i even do this.

[msnihilist]

Absolutely LOVE the inclusion of SpongeBob in the NU gang. He's the only non-human. He has no super powers to speak of. He's a line cook working for minimum wage. He's in his twenties. He has average intelligence on a good day. He lives underwater.

[nwarrior777]

okay internet, i know that you not ready for this but

it's strange being all omgyes #slay yay totaly okay for like, all kinks, but going #omg wtf cringe scull emoji about fat kink

like we as society know how kinks works (importance of consents, special rules for practices like using special candles for wax play, etc), we know how really infinite can human fantasy go and so on and so on but why is it still taboo to be openly horny about things like big tasty meal with your lover

can we be finally chill about it

p.s. i have post which gives good arguments on this topic but i couldn't find it by search, only in my blog archive, so here is the link.

The problem with fat kink is not in it existing, but in not-exsisting of range of image of fatness in media

[derrygirlstrash]

Not to start shit, if you know me you know I'm a "ship and let ship" kinda gal and saying this I truly have no problem with James/Orla as a ship it harms no one and plenty of people like it, I like people having fun... that said...

I have never understood the common argument that James/Erin as a ship makes no sense and James/Orla should have been the ship instead. Often one of the arguments is that James/Erin wasn't set up while James/Orla was and I'm sorry... what? James/Erin have at least one ship heavy episode each season as well as plenty of background moments and several significant moments in Erin's Diary.

Even if you ignore all the background moments of the two holding hands, being inside each others personal space, the times where they're clearly matching and whatnot. There is at LEAST the implication that Erin would ignore her supposed crush for James, that she cares what he thinks, that Erin is James's type, that they're aligned in creative values and match each others energies, that Erin thinks he's handsome, that James thinks she's beautiful, that she can't imagine her life without him, etc.

James/Orla have some touchy moments... that's kinda all they have as far as romantic coding and I don't see how those two hugging in the Season 2 finale is somehow more significant than what setup James/Erin have throughout all the seasons.

Honestly, while I can see Orla liking James - you could build a case for it and convince me even though I see Orla as ace/aro in my own personal headcanons... no one has ever been able to give me a convincing argument for James liking Orla back. It kinda feels like you have to ignore that he never has a reason to fancy Orla back and just project onto him that.

Which, again, go off if that's your bag I think their friendship is fun and I could see making a ship out of it, but the common argument is that the SHOW makes a better case for James/Orla and like, no? No it really doesn't? It's just not main girl/main boy and some people really don't like that trope or Erin as a main and I think that if you say the show didn't set up James/Erin well and you argue the show would have been better with James/Orla based on what's in the show, you just might not like Erin very much?

I've also never been able to make sense of the argument that James/Erin is somehow the trope that 'guys and girls can't just be friends' like, is that not also James/Orla? Y'know, besides that Orla isn't a girl. They do use she/her during the show time period though and some people who argue this think Orla is a girl, they just think they're not THE girl. So somehow it's better even though it's the same thing.

Basically what I'm saying is that shipping is fun and we all oughta do it. Every ship besides the obvious ones is potentially fun and I'm down for it, but there is one ship the show was setting up and we all know what that ship was and I think it would be better if we all were honest about it.

PS: "James was gay the whole time!" Truthers, if you made it through this post somehow I'd like to offer a compromise: James Maguire is the most bisexual coded male character in media history we can all win here.

[blackdress]

so anyway if you shit on your neurodivergent friends for infodumping and always talking about their interests when there isn't common ground to converse about! you are a shitty person! ESPECIALLY if you are also ND!

[flashhwing]

ai fic callout post but all the details they pull for "proof" that it's ai are things that you do in your own writing

[wonder-worker]

people really do not know what they're talking about when it comes to Elizabeth Woodville's social status, huh?