#both of these interpretations are as valid

[hildabun]

"she smiled happily" is fine when it's to contrast something else, or if you're trying to intentionally convey the simplicity of a situation and that it should be taken literally, or if you want to project another character's interpretation onto the page.

She had a stupid mockery of enthusiasm on her face.

and

She smiled happily.

are both descriptions of the same smile, the same event, from two different perspectives. I think that in context, both are better than and convey something different from:

She was smiling.

or

She smiled.

Because the smile is an action which is visible from outside while the adjective can be a judgement about why or the internal state. That judgement is always for the reader to make, sure, but that doesn't make it wrong to give some other judgements at the same time to contrast with what the reader might initially judge. That's the same goal as "she smiled sadly" - set up / give the reader some judgement, then tear it down - it just doesn't always need to be that direct and immediate.

The lesson isn't "never use an adjective that does the same thing as the verb", the lesson is "never use a word without purpose"

And you know what else? "I want this sentence to have more syllables in order to make the moment stretch a tiny little bit longer so that the reader stays in their smile more, giving them more time to feel it," is also a completely valid purpose.

every writing tip article and their mother: dont ever use adverbs ever!

me, shoveling more adverbs onto the page because i do what i want: just you fucking try and stop me

[naturecalls111]

NARUGAA/GAANARU SHIP WEEK!

October 3rd - October 10th (Naruto's birthday!)

Hi everyone! I'm hosting a small, informal ship week on my account to celebrate Narugaa/Gaanaru in October, and I would love for anyone to join me in making art and fics and all other sort of media for them! More info below!

This is an informal event! The tag will act as an archive for those interested in exploring the creations for this ship so I can only ask that you please tag/censor accordingly if you're making any NSFW content. Tumblr nukes accounts pretty easily anyway for NSFW so this pertains more to anyone posting on Twitter.

No AI content. Please.

Narugaa and Gaanaru dynamics are both completely okay for this event! The graphic says narugaa because I use it more often, and it was shorter than narugaanaru lol

Art, fics, playlists, cosplays, everything is allowed! Feel free to go crazy with anything that you're inspired to make for this event.

TAG with #narugaaweek2025 when posting!

Mix and match the prompts to your heart's content! Interpret the prompts however you want! Post something for one prompt on the day of another! The graphic is there to help encourage the process, but the purpose of the event is simply for more work to be out there for narugaanaru!

In the coming weeks, I will create a collection on ao3 for all the fics (and art, if that's where you choose to post it) to be found under — if you finish a fic early and just can't wait to get done with the posting stage (very mega super valid, I get antsy myself), you can post it early under the collection. I will reblog this post with the relevant link. Your work will remain unrevealed until the week, in which case you can edit the posting date to match the day of the reveal so it doesn't get lost deep in the ship tag's archive!

More details will come closer to the event week, but for now, this is all! I'm so uber duper goober excited to see what everyone makes... If you have any questions, my DMs and inbox are always open! ❤️

[batfambyval]

I know that the mental and spiritual effects of using the Lazarus pits are… disagreed upon. There’s no true canon for it. But I would like to posit a theory based purely on canon, particularly the Red Hood and Red Robin comics. (I never did a deep dive on Damian, so while I do know he has also been affected by the pit my own lack of knowledge or time to actually read those comics keeps me from including anything from his story.)

The two big non-comic canon sources that have in universe explanations and data on Lazarus pit effects are the Arrowverse and the Gotham Knights video game. Both have unique takes on the subject and, in my opinion, over complicate it. Ra’s al Ghul has been using the pits for centuries. When he met Bruce, my understanding of his character is that the pit had yet to have any visible impact on his sanity or personality. Ra’s’ anger is always controlled, he shows superior mental acuity and honesty most of his madness could conceivably, and in fact more feasibility, be from his existing mental illnesses and his inability to accept his own death. Ra’s’ madness always seemed to be his own, stemming from his antisocial tendencies, narcissism, and need for absolute control. When his own death was approaching it became much more apparent and he became more desperate and unhinged, but I don’t really attribute that to the pit’s direct influence.

All this is not to say that the Lazarus Pit doesn’t affect its users minds, only that those effects are not always so obvious as people believe.

Moving away from verified canon, and into my own interpretations and theories, I propose that the mental effects of Lazarus exposure doesn’t add or amplify anything, emotions or otherwise, but that it hinders or blocks certain logical pathways and connections. Jason is, of course, our best case to study as he was exposed to Lazarus water on only one occasion and the immediate aftermath is well documented. One major issue in attempting to understand the Lazarus effects is that Jason’s case is obviously not a controlled experiment, and it is difficult to differentiate between Jason’s own trauma and instability and the effects of the pit. Which is where Tim comes in. While it’s not verified that he was actually exposed to any Lazarus water I still firmly believe that he was. I’ve talked about this in another post, but for those who aren’t aware, during the Red Robin comic run Tim was severely injured while Ra’s was trying to recruit him. He needed an emergency splenectomy and when he awoke from that he was in a Lazarus chamber, a non-sterile underground cave. Tim’s injury was severe and he aggravated it with a lot of activity before getting medical attention. Tim never died and he was never put directly in the pit, but I’m reasonably certain that part of his treatment involved Lazarus water, considering his ease of recovery, lack of death, and the presence of a Lazarus pit.

So between Tim and Jason we have two cases for comparison. This is of course in no way a valid data set to draw conclusions from in real life, but since we’re talking about fiction and making up logic and explanations for things that originally had none, I think it’s enough. There are others who have history with the pits, but since, as far as I’m aware, they don’t have comics of their own giving deep insight into their thoughts and plans and actions, it’s very difficult to analyze them properly (with the possible exception of Damian, who I would include if I had actually read the comics he was revived with a Lazarus pit in).

In the time directly following exposure to the Lazarus water both Tim and Jason did show signs of elevated adrenaline, which could lead people to assume that the pit is the cause, however as both of them we actually in immediate danger it’s difficult to say for certain. Tim was in an unfamiliar place, alone with an enemy, in the same room as a substance he knew to be dangerous. Jason was being chased by hoards of assassins, being led by someone he couldn’t quite recognize and then (if memory serves) pushed off a cliff into the ocean near a boat that he had to use to escape from an island, all while very confused because the last thing he remembered is dying and maybe vaguely clawing his way out of his own grave. So. Adrenaline seems like a natural response.

To me, the biggest immediate symptom looks like susceptibility to suggestions, with Jason’s quick trust in Talia and Tim’s acceptance of the White Ghost’s explanation of events and his subsequent alliance with the League of Assassins. While neither of them fully trusted the people I mentioned, they did go along with them easier than would be expected, as well as for longer than I think they normally would have. Their paranoia kept them from fully trusting anyone but there was a disconnect between that conscious paranoia and their reactions that makes me think the pit is responsible. There’s also the fact that in the Gotham Knights game this susceptibility to suggestion is an important part of the Pit’s side effects, though it’s less noticeable the less a person has used the pits. While the game definitely played up all the effects of the pit, it is an official DC game which leads me to lend some credence to its fundamental lore.

The other major mental side effect I believe the pit imposes on its users has to do with logical thinking about cause and effect. This is a bit more nuanced and difficult to explain but I’ll do my best.

We know that as the Red Hood Jason had strict rules about hurting kids. We also know that he brutally beat Tim when he was still a kid and had no problem with it. I don’t think it’s because he didn’t see Tim as a kid or because he was able to justify it by saying that Tim signed up for it. I think it simply didn’t occur to him. All he could see was how his actions would affect Batman. His understanding of cause and effect was so narrow that he couldn’t even imagine that his actions would affect anything other than what he intended them too. The attack was a message to Batman and Robin, it didn’t cross his mind that it could have any other consequences or that Robin was an actual person and not an extension of Batman or a symbol of Bruce’s perceived betrayal.

We see this same goal oriented logical disconnect again when Tim betrays the League of Assassins. He spent his time with the League doing everything he could to avoid killing or ordering anyone else to kill. He is adamant about not killing anyone and returning to his black and white morality as soon as he could. When he sabotaged the League computers and caused every single connected system to detonate his only thoughts were about the message he was sending Ra’s, that he would never be his ally and that he would always be loyal to Batman. He couldn’t even imagine that in doing this he probably caused countless deaths of people all over the globe, some of whom were probably innocent servants or prisoners. His awareness of the potential lethality of his actions began and ended with the survival of the Council of Spiders, who he thought probably escaped in time. I don’t think he ever realized that he’d probably killed people, and since his exposure to the pits was minimal I think it may have worn off before he ever encountered a situation where it was relevant again.

Actually this effect is observable in Ra’s as well and probably has been since his introduction. People seem to have forgotten that Ra’s is an ecoterrorist who’s goal is protecting the planet and keeping human civilization in check. The League’s original purpose was precision elimination of politicians and businessmen and scientists who could threaten the natural balance of the world. Sometimes they had to eliminate entire civilizations or cities to keep humanities progress in check. Obviously they didn’t succeed and their goal changed to mass genocide, which is how Bruce came to know of their existence in some continuities, but once Ra’s health started declining the focus of the organization turned to self preservation and maintaining power. All this is to say that Ra’s strayed very far from his original goal of preserving the natural balance of the world, and somewhere along the way he ended up so focused on keeping humanity in check that he forgot about actually preserving the world and all its other inhabitants and ecosystems, some of his actions and plans actively endangering what he wanted to protect in the first place.

So, to summarize, the Lazarus Pit doesn’t affect mood or impulsivity or identity, it blocks certain neural pathways and impedes logic and one’s ability to see the bigger picture beyond their goals. Those affected by Lazarus water retain their identity, sense of self, and emotional control, but lose logical comprehension of cause and effect and become more susceptible to suggestion.

[sunny-knight]

MASSIVE DELTARUNE SPOILERS

I need to talk about that ending.

Correction- WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT ENDING-

This is…such a genius scene that seems so simple, but HAS SO MUCH BAGGAGE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT. When I first saw it I felt the weirdest combination of emotions ive ever felt in my entire life and now I can’t stop thinking about this moment, so heres an attempt at putting those thoughts into words!

What makes it so interesting is that… yes, it is VERY FUNNY, AND an epic win for Soriel shippers…but…it feels so WRONG,

Kris and Susie were presumed MISSING well into the night, and Toriel seems to not even notice because of her drunkenness. Its incredibly irresponsible on her half, as she’s so distracted by “just having a little fun” (Queen Mom theorists be winning, Toriel has a drinking problem confirmed/hj)

The entire time I was laughing while going “oooooo….” Toriel thats not it girl. And when Susie left, the way Sans completely dismissed her and went “party back on yippee” also felt very off. Kris’ reaction to everyhing makes me so sad and put on edge by the whole thing, IT IS A GREAT SET UP TO THEIR OPINION ON THEIR HOME LIFE, THATS FOR SURE. At some point when Susie looks at Kris, they look away too, and when Toriel falls down they just walk away and refuse to go anywhere but their bedroom. which is just UGHHH I feel so bad for them, they’re tired of this shit

Tenna saying “We’re a happy family RIGHT KRIS???” and the whole Dark World in their house being centered around ACTING and being an ACTOR… hm.

AND DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON PAPYRUS- This bits more my own biases, but it makes me sad imagining him being all alone in a messy house all night like this poor bastard 😭

theres just SO MUCH TENSION from Kris’ end, its so…ugh. The entire thing screams irresponsibility. It is insane tonal whiplash, but not for the funny reasons some may think on first viewing i think. From my perspective it went from somber pain, to more like…oh god. this sucks. so hard.

My opinion on Soriel has never been strong in either direction, but now I am just FASCINATED cause from this scene it feels like- toxic??? they’re enabling each others bad habits, like on the surface it seems innocent but in hindsight its incredibly irresponsible on Toriels half, and only maybe on Sans’, we still dont know his and Papyrus’ whole situation or anything.

But yeah I love when relationships are complicated and not always healthy! gives ME MORE TO ANALYZE

[agir1ukn0w]

some people about yelena and bob: she’s adopting him🥹

me: na she’s fucking him🥤😎

[nexttrickanvils]

I came out of No Straight Roads shipping May and Zuke a little but this is absolutely their ship dynamic to me.

[kabukeo]

colored this thing for fun

[moonydee]

[jon-sedai]

The way we discuss prophecy in fandom is genuinely fascinating. GRRM spends so much time showing how different characters have different interpretations of the same thing based on their own cultural contexts. He says that prophecy is tricky to navigate through multiple characters, showing that even the most careful practitioner can get almost everything wrong and fall victim to their own fallacies (see Mel). So tell me why the main takeaway for large parts of this fandom is “prophecy stupid, it doesn’t matter”. My brothers and sisters in R’hllor, GRRM didn’t invent multiple characters (three of whom are main POVs!!) who can see the future for this to be the conclusion. This is a FANTASY series. Please I’m begging, let us be serious 🥲

[evelynpr]

The evolution of the kaebedo dynamic

They really switched who's the confident flirt and the fake idgaf-er. I love it.

[thequeenofsastiel]

The thing is, after this ep I think Style is actually a little switchy. He's shown that he likes being somewhat dominant on occasion. But I don't think Fadel is switchy. I've never gotten even the tiniest bit of a sub vibe from him. I think Fadel is a Dom who comes off as stern(and definitely sometimes is) but secretly likes spoiling his sub. So even though being dominated by itself does nothing for Fadel, he likes making Style happy, so he'll let Style be a little dominating. It's not really a case of switching so much as a case of a Dom spoiling his sub. It's a subtle difference, but if you know what to look for, it's there.

[shroomerr]

shipping discourse is so funny to me because ill see people flip over their otps and notps and im over here going "haha stendy. woohoo stanchole. oho stolkien. yayy twenny. ohh bunny. wohohh creek. ooo cryle" etc. etc.

[langernameohnebedeutung]

one of my core principles as a person is that female!Durge has as much right to be a fucked up messy murder gremlin as male!Durge

[rocketbirdie]

Cloud is the definition of Malewife and strict parent AU. While Zack is a fun dad. This how I imagine their dynamic with their child will be like. Do you agree?

Quite the opposite in my mind! Zack is the one that's secretly a little bit stringent about hard work and safety. He's sweet about it, though. It's Cloud who straps the kid into the ol' sidecar and does flying backflips through rings of fire, stonefaced.

[balteus]

"utena can't be bi bc if she is that means you're excusing akio/touga's actions" no it doesn't you're just biphobic, also look up queer IPV statistics

"utena can't be bi bc she's obviously experiencing comphet" interpretation of her interactions with male characters aside, every woman experiences comphet regardless of sexuality under patriarchy - you should *really* read the original text explaining the term (and also do further reading on why it's contentious). also utena could never canonically be attracted to a man in the show, live happily ever after with anthy, and still be bi. this would not take away from her story nor be inconsistent with her character in the slightest. bisexuality is a wide spectrum and you cannot define a hard line between bisexual and gay experiences in many, many cases

"utena can't be bi because her attraction to men takes away from the story of her love for anthy" once again no it doesn't you're just biphobic

"utena isn't bi bc her possible attraction to men makes me uncomfortable" once again biphobic

"i don't interpret utena as bi bc it's my personal reading and/or matters a lot to me as i relate to her heavily. her abuse and treatment is something all sapphic women can experience and we all feel pressured into heterosexual relationships whether we want them or not" completely valid! you can pass and take 200$ i love all lesbian utenas out there

[inkblackorchid]

We know how akiza gets jealous of sherry talking about Yusei but does Yusei ever get jealous of akiza talking to a guy ?

Good question tbh! The thing is, canon does actually give us something a tiny bit like an inverse scenario of the Sherry scene with Yusei—that being when Aki ties Lyndon's (the son of the boys' landlady Zora, who only shows up in one episode) tie for him before he goes to talk to his mum. And in that scene, when Lyndon gets a bit too forward/familiar with Aki, we see Yusei grab him by his shoulder and pull him backwards a bit.

(Why yes, I do have a screenshot for every damned thing under the sun in this show, why do you ask?)

And like, just going off of canon here, Yusei doesn't look too pleased for someone to be all touchy with Aki here. Mind you though, neither does she, so you can read this as jealous, but you don't have to. Personally, I read it as protective—he's trying to get Lyndon out of Aki's personal space because he's making her uncomfortable. Yusei doesn't seem the jealous type to me, and even if he were, I don't think he'd express it in your typical rom-com "do you like him more than me" or sabotaging-someone-else kind of way. (Might be worth noting that we also never see an instance of anything like this from him in canon.) But also, that's me talking. The scene above certainly allows for a jealous interpretation if you're into it. I'm just not. I prefer to view Yusei as protective, in that he would certainly try to get some distance between Aki and a guy who's bothering her, but wouldn't feel ignored or threatened by her talking to someone else.