#but also ........all these characters are like a piece of me and the story has been evolving from toys i played with as a kid
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There's also this element that i see in MANY new fandoms that i'm tired of, that it reeks of superficiality and ableism.
here are two men in this story (or two women) (sometimes there's an element of a love triangle, it depends). the two of them are presented in a one dimensional manner at first, but as the story goes we see more their good parts and flaws. the narrative forces us to see them as complex characters. they both commit mistakes, but they also do good deeds
One of them was poor, grew up abused, or was disabled in some manner, the "outcast". The other one was wealthy, rich, handsome and overall had a happy, stable upbringing (the "status quo"). The narrative wants us to play with the preconcieved ideas we have of who is the villain and who is the hero. The narrative wants us to understand the "outcast" and not see them as one dimensional villains.
When these stories originally got the attention of the public, the "outcast" character initially got praise, liked for being deep, and many (arguably female, neurodivergent, or queer) fans found this character relatable and appealing to their tastes, due to facing similar struggles.
But in the last years, thanks to tumblr and X and TVTropes, a strange "purity culture" type of fandom emerged, that was obsessed in cataloging every single piece of media whether it was 'pure' and 'acceptable' or not. Only "nice" characters are acceptable to have. Grey characters are disgusting and abusive, "problematic" and are "bad role models", so teenagers /young women shouldn't like them (it's all about policing women's tastes, too since these fandoms have a larger female fanbase than male and i don't see these people barging into men's fandoms attacking them for their tastes)
(Hence why a lot of modern media (IMO) is so utterly bland with the character writing nowadays, but that's a rant for another day and why Bojack Horseman sucks)
So what happened with these previously deep, complicated characters, that acted the way they did due to years of abuse? That the narrative clearly pointed out? That they made A LOT of mistakes, but the narrative also pointed out they could do good? That minorities found them inspiring due to them, as well, also facing oppression in their lives? They're suddenly incels, murderers, assholes, or if they're women they're "pick mes"; "Not like other girls", or "internalized misogyny" for the crime of not liking pink. *rolls eyes* Anyone who is a fan of these characters has "issues" and one day "may end up in an abusive relationship" (wow, gross much?).
And the status quo characters? That the narrative clearly points out they're privileged and sheltered and act "accordingly", and that they need to learn to be more empathetic? Oh no, they're actually the "good guys" who will "save the day" and teach those "Monsters" a lesson. Any flaws they have are ignored by these fans by portraying them as "omg they're actually adorable cinnamon rolls and actually they're super smart by playing by society's rules instead of rebelling even when oppression is happening right in front of them".
So you see where's the fucked up thing? you're calling abuse victims monsters, while giving privileged spoiled brats a pass. you're calling women who might've been abused and seek comfort in fictional characters "enablers" and "future victims", just for their overall harmless tastes in fiction. you're calling women who might have been mistreated due to not wanting to follow gender roles "pathetic". You're judging people based on their looks, when you go on and on about how COINCIDENTALLY the one "ugly" / "deformed" character MUST BE EVIL and all their fans are "brainwashed".
And you claim to be the "woke" one? Please, you still dreamin'.
Saw The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway for my nineteenth birthday. FINALLY! It’s an absolutely fantastic show. About time I saw it! So here’s some IrenHorrors Phantom art. (Phantom is a freaking Nice Guy™. I GAVE YOU MUSIC, CHRISTINE! WHY WON’T YOU LOVE ME?!)
#not only in the phantom anti discourse#i see it in superhero fandom other books etc etc#in hp in game of thrones in wicked in les mis...#it's nauseating#meta#erik#i wanted this out of my system but i didn't want it tagged cause i know the purity nun antis would come for my throat
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(Not a troll ask please don't shoot :D - genuine question)
But I feel like it's really downplayed how much Gwynriels gaslight the fandom. I joined ACOTAR bc I saw Gwynriel fanart and thought they were cute. I Got all the way to ACOSF still hoping for Gwynriel and got a whole lot of NOTHING. And honestly I think Elain is as interesting as cardboard (sorry), but you'd have to be downright blind to ignore she had something going on with Azriel.
Then I saw on titktok about the bonus chapter, everyone going in saying omg thats where gwyn & az are mates! So I cracked it open, read it - and bruh - HE'S OUT HERE TRYING TO GO DOWN ON ELAIN??
How can you put THAT interaction & the conversation he had with Gwyn side by side and people are walking away from it saying Gwyn & Azriel are mates?
I'm so genuinely confused why someone would start that nonsense. The way I ate up Gwynriel art/fan theories it was like she was a major character there from the start and they'd already had 8 kids and a HEA.
Then I open the books and they barely even have a conversation??
It was honestly really annoying. felt like a scam, like one of those authors peddling their book on social media and then you realize its a wattpadd fic written by a 12 yr old not an actual book
If it helps - we're all confused. Nothing has been proven yet about any remaining couple so idk why the Elucien and Gwynriels are out here straight up inventing fiction and trying to pass it off as fact to anyone willing (and even unwilling) to listen.
This ship war could've just been - "Hey I like Elucien more!" Or "I love elriel!"
But instead of just accepting these are all opinions and not actually what is in the books - people decided to straight up gaslight and claim that Elucien are a couple and Gwynriel are mates.
If you cannot point to it on the page where such a thing it explicitly happened - then it is not canon.
Lucien & Elain? They're mates. That's canon.
What's also canon - is that not all mates are a good pairing and end up happy together.
Whats also canon - is that the cauldron was wrong.
It shouldn't be hard to reach accurate conclusions if people stopped treating their wants and headcanons as fact.
Like for gods sake - let's just look at fanart. I'm not saying that every piece of fanart is canon or even should be canon - but elriel has much more canon fanart. Thats literally a fact. They have multiple major moments together - on the page.
What is canon Elucien fanart? When she falls out the cauldron - naked and humiliated and he gives her his cloak? When they sit together over a tea service acting uncomfortable? When she avoids him every other time she sees him?
What is canon Gwynriel fanart? When he gives her boss a secondhand necklace to give to her or anyone else? When he - and cassian and everyone else - watch her cut a ribbon she sees as an enemy?
I've seen so many people open up these books expecting some grand romance between Elain & Lucien and end up disappointed because... she doesn't even want to be in the same room as him.
So many Gwynriels with similar stories to yours expecting some entertaining Gwynriel love story only to also end up disappointed because Gwyn doesn't even exist till the last book and she and Azriel barely interact.
They chose to believe in a nonexistent ship and are trying to compete with canon Elriel evidence. Like ok - tough shit? But you can't just start making shit up.
Until Elain accepts that bond - or even gives Lucien the time of day - they're not a couple. They are nowhere close to endgame if everything she has done and said has shown us she doesn't want him.
Until Azriel himself declares Gwyn is his mate or vice versa - they're not mates.
And yeah I'm gonna get a lot of backlash from the "foreshadowing and crumbs" crowd.
But let me ask you this:
There are some Elriels who think the mating bond between Lucien & Elain is fake. There is plenty of evidence and similar language used about their bond that resembles the fake Rowan & Lyria bond. Plenty of signs showing their bond isn't quite right.
do you think Elriels can then claim it's canon that the Elucien bond is fake?
"We have crumbs and foreshadowing and similar language used" too. But do you see us going around claiming it's canon?
No.
We are very clear about the distinction between canon and headcanons. About what's in the books, and what is just pure guesswork and theory.
"Sparky spark" and "elucien is endgame" are both theories until proven. They are NOT canon.
Wish they'd just learn the difference. They'd be a lot less unhappy fans.
#elriel#acotar#elain x azriel#elain archeron#azriel#pro elain#elain#antielucien#pro elriel#antigwynriel
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stepping in 2 say my piece from a queer perspective of this btw because im an itty bit unnormal BUT
i think trying 2 apply standard nuclear family dynamics/roles etc onto demon slayer characters (specifically the hashira) is counterproductive 2 the characters and story as a whole!! like Yes you have Some hashira who r more parental in behavior HOWEVER i think 2 view them as a parent figure rather than a guardian figure reduces a lot of them down to nuclear family traits! like it or not kny has queer elements to it even if it probably wasnt intended (emphasis on found family, a very queer trope, as well as the fact that the corps is legit a bunch of people w similar hardships and struggles coming together to defeat a mutual threat, which is also symbolic of the queer community)
anywaysanyways . there’s a difference between “guardian” and “parent”. guardian 2 me is essentially… taking on the protective role of a parent, yes, but u dont have, like… whatsit. i dont want to say “care” because guardian is also a very caring role that also involves looking after someone but it’s just Different in nature, if that makes any sense? so i think to place ESPECIALLY characters like shinobu, who’s as some have already pointed out, “maternal” nature is just her unhealthy coping mechanism and a projection of kanae, it washes out her character so so so much!!!!
if u WANT to place some kind of labels for family dynamics onto kny characters “guardian” works just fine because that is what they Are. “sibling” also works just fine too methinks.
idk if this is just a whole lot of Nothing but! kny mischaracterization gets on my nerves blegh
-loti
FINALLY SOMEONE MENTIONS THE NUCLEAR FAMILY STUFF ‼️‼️‼️🗣️ OH MY GOD YES
i completely agree anon loti… wiping a tear from my eyes… guardian…
i see people do this a lot where they take a found family and try to assign them roles like parents/siblings/etc— and it is okay to give them these bonds on their own, but to say like— “shinobu is the mom of the hashira” or “tengen is the cool uncle of the hashira” is pretty redundant and it ultimately goes back to stereotyping ): sometimes a found family is just a group of people. they dont need labels. they love each other and thats all that matters
i know i usually refer to gyomei as the dad of the hashira but i love guardian a lot more. im absolutely gonna use that from now on. its so much more fitting for his character
#askbites#not artbites#demon slayer#kny#i used to pray for times like this#the nuclear family stuff in fandoms has always driven me mad
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Heey! I hope you're doing well! I would like to request a story about gp Donna having a daughter with a maid who abandoned her when the child was born. Donna raises her daughter alone and homeschool her for most of the part until her daughter tells her that she wants music lessons so Donna asks the duke a piano. The duke being all noisy gets the tea about Donna's daughter wanting music lessons and suggests Donna to hire reader as her teacher, an excellent pianist with good reputation. Both Donna and her daughter (like mother, like daughter) fall in love with reader with Donna's daughter wanting reader to become her other mom (and unlike Donna, her daughter is not that shy and is always complementing reader and dropping hints to her that Donna is very much single).
One afternoon after a lesson Donna listens to reader sing while she plays the piano and is mesmerized by her beautiful voice. Perhaps reader is singing a classical piece like Ave Maria by Schubert and that sort of reminds her of her family before the black gods faith and all that (I suppose it would make sense not to sing about other gods except for the black ones? So that's why gets more enamored with reader, for bringing her back those memories). Anywaysss, Donna with a little help from her daughter confesses to reader, who of course has fallen in love with Donna and her offspring.
welll, I hope that wasn't too much of a request 😅
Have a good day!
Yesss!!! I have to say I loved that request, thank you :D! I hope you like it and sorry about the language mistakes!!!! :)))))
Rebuilding a broken life
Pairing: Donna Beneviento x Fem! Reader
Warnings: Fluff, a bit of angst, Donna being Donna and a single mother, that's curious :D, G!P Donna (implied), Donna's POV
Word count: 8,709
Summary: I only have my daughter...
N/A: Sorry about the language mistakes!!! Requests are open, I'm waiting yours!!! I love you all!!! :))
Sometimes I try to live in the past, to remember what those times were like, when life was much easier. I would have given anything to go back to that moment, to reject Mother Miranda's offer to make me her daughter, a Lord.
But being named Lord, obtaining the divine grace of the Black Gods didn’t illuminate my path, rather, it darkened it. I always lived isolated. I was never interested in people. They were evil, they laughed at me, at my appearance, at my scar. I could consider my transition from villager to Lord a success, since those mocking laughs turned into cries and screams of terror, but, apart from that, nothing else changed.
At least nothing that had to do with my condition as a lonely and isolated woman. The reason for the mockery and for my behavior mutated in an unpleasant way; turning me into something like a deformed monster, as much as Miranda denied it.
The Gods' whim was just a moment of fun, and with me... they went too far. Not only did my eye disappear, not only did they turn me into an unpleasant being. They also played with my body.
I didn't care too much, I got used to it soon, but I didn't know how to get used to loneliness. My solitary life only ended partially. Angie, my doll since I was a child, came to life thanks to my efforts, to my desperation to hear another voice other than those in my head.
It might seem like a positive change, in part it was, but it wasn't what I was looking for by giving myself over to the black claws of the village. Getting out of that spiral of madness and loneliness was my true goal, but things never turn out the way you expect. Neither the new parts of my body, nor my powers, nor my appearance made it change. Madness continued to eat away my brain, the madness that came from an illness that had stalked my family for years.
If you put it all together, a deformed face, a different body, terrifying powers, madness and absolute loneliness, you get a legend, a character from a scary story, you get me: the last Lord, the doll maker, Donna Beneviento.
I stopped aging. I stopped being a baseless legend to become a woman to be feared, respected or even revered. My new siblings seemed to enjoy that change, to exercise power over the rest of the villagers, to inflict terror on them.
I was never interested in that kind of power, the power to get what I wanted when I wanted and the power to never be questioned. I had become so accustomed to my solitude that it became my refuge, a refuge for all eternity.
One day, after my sister Alcina convinced me, I decided to try out what it would be like to live with someone, to hear other different voices in the mansion, and I accepted one of her maids. She was a beautiful girl. Her name was Helga.
It could have been because of the lack of habit, because of my heart's longing to not feel alone, the reasons really didn't matter. It didn't take long for me to fall in love with her. I had never believed in love, I never had the chance to experience what my books talked about. I was eager to do it, to love, to be loved.
Looking back on the past, I now think that maybe I should have thought things better, understand that love is something that happens between two people, and not just for one of them.
Helga accepted my feelings and let herself be loved by a monster like me. In her eyes I could see the lie, the deception. I could see a false smile when she heard me say: I love you. I didn't give it any importance, she had to love me.
Of course I let myself be carried away by my clumsy feelings, by my erratic heart. I took that girl. I made her mine when I wanted, when I needed. I thought everything would change from that moment on, and I was right.
I wasn’t careful when I claimed her body as mine, and there were consequences. After a few months with the illusion of living a romance, it happened, I got her pregnant. I never thought about having a family, about starting one.
I had to get used to the idea of having a baby with someone who, deep down, I knew didn’t love me, but seeing my child grow in her womb mesmerized me too much. After a few months, that child came into the world, a beautiful girl, Maria Beneviento.
I came to think that I couldn’t be happier. I had a beautiful girl, a young maid at my side, everything was perfect, but, again, it was just an illusion. I remember the blizzard of that night, that terrible night.
“Shh, ti prego non piangere, tesoro…” I whispered while cradling the newborn, who wouldn't stop crying. “Oh, hai fame, vero?” I said, getting up to look for Helga, who, she told me, needed to rest.
I couldn't blame her. It had only been a week since the girl was born and she was exhausted.
I walked through the house with the girl in my arms. Poor thing, she was crying inconsolably. I looked for Helga in her room, the one she never wanted to leave. I will never be able to get over what I found.
The room was empty, there was no one there. I looked for her, but she was gone. In the baby's crib there was a note, a damn note that I burned in the fire, and whose words still burn in my heart.
I can't stand it anymore.
Everything I did, I did because I was afraid, because you scared me.
I can't stand having given my life to a monster like you, having a baby who will soon become a monster too.
I can't stay with you. I can't look my daughter in the face, a daughter I never wanted.
I never loved you, and I never will.
I'm leaving, Donna, I'm leaving forever. I wish I could have taken that innocent baby with me, but you terrify me, I know what you'll do to me.
I screamed, I cried, I hit everything within my reach. I couldn't believe those words and at the same time it seemed like I had read them somewhere else, perhaps in her sad and complacent gaze.
Without thinking twice, furious, with my daughter in my arms, I went out to look for her. It was a dark night and the snow didn't stop falling. I called out to her, I threatened her, but it was too late.
On the snowy ground there were footprints, her footprints. Desperate, I followed them, followed them until... they disappeared, they disappeared at the edge of a cliff.
Surely that stupid girl didn't know how dangerous my land was, how dangerous it was to go out at night in the middle of a blizzard.
She would never come back, she abandoned me forever, she abandoned us.
I might have thought that I had the consolation of still having my daughter, that my baby hadn't fallen into the void with her mother, but I didn't see it that way. My soul was broken in two, my heart was crushed mercilessly. That girl left me alone with my daughter, that girl never loved me.
I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have my daughter in my arms, I don't know what the consequences would have been. I spent days complaining, even though I barely had time. I was left alone, my daughter too. Helga abandoned me, but Maria was still with me. She was a newborn baby, she needed me.
Pain, suffering... at first that was what I felt when I had to take care of my daughter alone. I never knew how to do it well. I was overwhelmed several times, desperate. Then I realized what I had to do, my responsibility. I had to take care of my little girl; it didn't matter if I had to do it by myself. I had no other option.
Luckily, I managed to get used to the situation, and move on.
The years went by and my little Maria grew up, perhaps faster than I would have liked. She was a girl... well, a bit strange girl. Physically she was exactly like me, but... her personality was not similar at all.
Maria was intelligent, extremely intelligent. She was a happy, funny, outgoing and obedient child. I like to think that I was a good mother to her, although that wasn't the case.
From a very young age she had to put up with my madness. Dealing with a sick mother like me, without having anyone else (apart from Angie, of course), must have been hard for her, but she never showed it.
Eight years after that fateful night, my daughter and I lived peacefully. She knew me and understood me, and I loved her madly.
I knocked on the girl's bedroom door slowly, as it was a reasonable hour to sleep.
“Come in,” my daughter said, in a sweet voice, as always.
“Maria, it's time to sleep,” I said softly.
The girl, lying in bed, looked at me over the book she was reading with Angie, and made a gesture of silence. I couldn't help but smile and obeyed her request, slowly approaching and sitting on the mattress.
“Cinque minuti,” she whispered in an intriguing voice, turning a page. “Mamma, they've killed Dumbledore…”
“Oh,” I sighed with a tender smile, watching Maria devour the book.
“I told you Snape was a traitor from the start! I told you!” Angie shrieked, pointing at the book with her wooden hand.
“Angie, don't shout,” I told the doll, who relaxed her attitude.
“It's true, you were right, Angie,” Maria said, nodding to the doll, who laughed in satisfaction.
The little girl closed the book with a sigh of suspense and left it on the table, passing a hand over her forehead.
“Wow... it was interesting,” she said, letting me get a little closer and cover her with the sheets. “I can't wait to see what happens,” she said rubbing her hands.
“Mm,” I murmured with my eyebrow raised, arranging my daughter's hair, a gesture she liked less and less.
“Mamma…” she protested amused. “I'm not a child anymore.”
“Aren’t you? So, what are you?” I asked with the same mocking tone.
“Mm…” she murmured thoughtfully, looking at the ceiling. “An impending pre-teenager.”
I laughed, shaking my head at my daughter's bold responses. I definitely don't know where she got that audacity from. It couldn't be from me… maybe from Angie?
“Excuse me, my impending teenager,” I joked, making sure the girl was well protected from the cold.
“Um, mamma…” Maria murmured nervously, attracting my attention, when I was about to leave. “Can I talk to you?”
“Va bene,” I answered frowning and sitting back down. “What's wrong, tesoro?”
“I was just wondering…” she said, without looking at me directly, thoughtful. “Mamma… Who was my mother?”
The smile immediately faded from my face and memories appeared to haunt my wounded mind. I had to make a great effort to control my nerves. I didn't want to lose my mind in front of my daughter, not again.
“Maria, what's that question about?” I said nervously, with a cold tone.
“Well…” Maria said, sitting on the bed while scratching the back of her neck. “I have a good memory. I remember I asked you when I was… I think I was 4 years old. You told me I was too young to know.”
“Mm, certo,” I said blinking erratically.
“But I'm not so young anymore,” my daughter said, with an expectant look. “Per favore, mamma, tell me what she was like,”
I sighed, undecided, but motivated by her bright eyes, identical to mine.
“W-Well… y-you…” I stammered, trying hard not to let my voice get stuck, something complicated. “Your mother was… her name was Helga and… she was my maid.”
The girl nodded curiously, barely blinking.
“She was very beautiful,” I whispered, remembering that treacherous look.
“What happened to her?” she asked impatiently.
“Um… she left, she abandoned us shortly after you were born,” I said, knowing there was no point in lying to her. That girl was devilishly smart, she would find out sooner or later.
“She left you alone with a baby? Wow, she wasn't a good person then,” the girl whispered. “Do you think I'll ever get to meet her?”
“No, I'm afraid… she's gone,” I murmured, shaking my head and holding back a tear.
“Oh, well… thanks for telling me,” Maria said with an indifferent voice, opening the drawer of her nightstand and taking out a paper and a pen. “Yes, it’s progressing…”
“Mm?” I murmured curiously, trying to see what was on that sheet of paper, on which Maria seemed to cross something out. “Cos’è questo, Maria?” I asked, tilting my head to try to make out something.
“Questo?” she said, showing me the paper. I nodded slowly, studying those phrases that were written on it. “Oh, it’s nothing… just a wish list.”
“A wish list?” I asked curious and amused, trying to bury the memory of her mother, so her words wouldn’t penetrate my mind, and destroy it again.
“Well, I'm already 8,” she explained with that knowing tone I adored. “Soon I'll reach adolescence and lose my mind, you know, hormones…” she said with a passive voice and an amused gesture. “Before that happens and my head starts to think about stupid boys, I would like to do some things.”
“Mm, you're cautious,” I commented, surprised, as always, by her intelligence. “Can I take a look?” I asked, extending a hand towards the paper, paper that Maria handed me, nodding and shrugging.
Yes, it was a list, the wish list of an eight-year-old girl. Some things were crossed out, the most recent was:
Meet my mother
I sighed somewhat sadly knowing that she would never do it, but I continued reading, hoping to distract myself enough with the girl thoughts and ambitions.
“Maria…” I whispered, looking at the girl with a frown and pointing at one of the phrases. “To have a sibling?” I asked with a trembling voice.
“Yes,” my girl nodded, with an innocent smile. “I think it would be really cool to have one,” she said without caring about the impossibility that it entailed. “Don't be offended, Angie.”
“More minions? I like how it sounds,” the doll said, with an amused gesture.
“I'm afraid that wish is impossible, tesoro,” I said with a low voice, with a sad look.
I could never, ever fall in love again, not after what happened the first time I did.
“No, it's not impossible,” Maria protested, leaning towards me and reading her phrases. “Look, mamma, if this one here comes true, it would be possible.”
I looked at where her finger was pointing, and I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry in despair.
Mamma stops being alone
I read it several times, glancing at the girl and hiding the trembling in my hands.
“Maria…” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Y-You should think of another wish.”
“No, they are my wishes, you can't influence them,” the girl said, crossing her arms. “You just have to read them, not judge them.”
“Va bene, you're right,” I said, briefly pinching her cheek, something that made her laugh embarrassedly. “Mm, learn to play the piano?” I asked, reading more of her wishes. “Do you want to learn to play the piano?”
“Oh, yes, do you remember the day we went to see Aunt Alcina at the castle?” she asked, coming closer, she seemed excited.
“Yes, of course I remember,” I answered, looking at my daughter curiously. “You mean the maid who played you a birthday song, right?”
“Well…” the girl sighed, rolling her eyes. “The song was childish and squeaky, but the sound of that piano… it was beautiful, so I decided to learn… but… we don't have a piano,” she said in a much lower voice, looking away, as she always did when she wanted to ask me for something.
“Actually we have one in the basement,” I said. “You could learn on it.”
“Mamma, that's not exactly a piano,” my daughter said in an innocent tone, biting her lip. “I want a real one, a piano as cool as the one in the castle.”
“You want a piano,” I murmured, arching my eyebrow. “Do you want me to buy a piano, Maria? Is that what you're trying to ask me?”
“Well… I wouldn't say no if you do,” she said amused, with her eyes wide open. “I know my birthday has passed and…”
“Cut the crap,” I said amused, shaking my head. “Well… I guess it’s something much more feasible than some of your wishes.”
“Does that mean you’ll do it? Will you buy me a piano?” the girl asked, standing up on the bed, excited again.
I looked at her tenderly and thought for a moment. I could never deny my little girl anything, I never would.
“If you behave,” I said amused, pointing at her with my finger before she jumped into my arms.
“Great! Grazie di cuore, mamma, you’re the best, the best!” Maria yelled enthusiastically, wrapping her arms around me and giving me a tender hug that I always appreciated, that told me I would never be alone, I would always have my daughter.
“Okay, okay, tesoro,” I said, overwhelmed by her affectionate kisses, gently patting her back. “But you’ll have to be consistent and learn to play wonderfully, mm?”
“Certo, I have to read more books,” my daughter said, moving away and letting herself fall on the bed, with a hand on her chin, thoughtful. “Now go, I have to think,” she said with a concentrated expression. “Where could we put it, Angie?”
“Well, you better go to sleep,” I said, laughing tenderly, giving her a kiss on the forehead and looking at the doll coldly, telling Angie with my eyes not to bother Maria and let her rest, something almost impossible.
“Mamma,” Maria called me, before I went out the door. “Ti voglio bene”
“Anch’io, tesoro… Anch’io…” I whispered, closing the door slowly.
Maria was not a capricious child, even though I always did whatever she wants to see her happy. I will always be surprised by her ability to educate practically by herself, taking advantage of my absences, my crises, to fill her mind with knowledge.
Sometimes I regretted having had a maid, but I changed my mind when I saw my little girl. She was the most important thing to me, and that would always be the case.
If Maria wanted a piano, she would have a piano, without a doubt.
The next day I took advantage of the Duke's weekly visit to make the request. I still find it hard to believe how different Maria is, how little she resembles my withdrawn and shy personality…
“Hello, Duke,” Maria said, waving her hand politely with a mocking smile.
I was standing next to her, with my face covered with the veil and the Angie doll in my arms. No matter how well that horrible man treated my little girl, I never trusted him.
“Miss Beneviento, you look well,” the merchant murmured, handing me the things I needed for the week. “Lady Beneviento…”
“Hi, fatty,” Angie said, moving in my arms. “How are you?”
“Great,” he replied, counting the coins I threw at him in an unpleasant manner. “What do you say, Miss? Did you manage to solve last week's riddle?” he asked, looking at my daughter with a sinister smile.
“Of course,” the girl answered, with a smug smile. “The answer is the Sun,” she said, lifting her chin. “Although… there was something wrong with the riddle. Yes, normally the sun rises and sets, but… did you know that there are certain areas of the world where it doesn't rise or set for several months?”
“Oh, I guess I forgot that detail,” the man said, laughing amused at the girl's words. “You got it right again…”
“As always,” Maria said, making a gesture to play it down.
“Come on, we want to see that chocolate bar,” Angie demanded, climbing into Maria's arms while I watched in silence.
“Here you go, Miss…” the Duke sighed amusedly tossing a sweet to the girl, one that she caught gracefully. “I hope I don't make it so easy for you next time.”
“Grazie,” the kid said, kindly. “Mamma, tell him, tell him,” she said, tugging at my dress, somewhat impatiently.
I looked at her and gestured for Angie to come closer.
“That's it, Duke, we want a piano,” I said, speaking through the doll.
“A piano?” the man asked, taking out a small notebook.
“Yes, yes, a piano,” Maria said, jumping on the ground. “I'm going to learn to play it.”
“Oh, that's wonderful, Miss, music is the voice of the soul,” the Duke said, writing something down. “Is an upright piano okay?”
I looked at my daughter, who did the same, nodding.
“Yes, okay,” she said, smiling with satisfaction.
“For your sake, fatso, fatso, I hope you don't fool us,” Angie said, climbing up the carriage and looking at the merchant in a menacing manner. “A nice piano for Maria, is that clear?”
“Like water, Miss Angie,” he said, amused, gesturing for the doll to move away. “Tell me, how do you plan to learn?”
“Well... By myself, I guess, Donna doesn’t know to play it,” my daughter said, making me look at her embarrassed. “Don't be offended, mamma.”
“I see,” the Duke said, looking at me with a mocking smile. “It turns out that I know someone. There is a girl in the village who is an excellent pianist, perhaps, Lady Beneviento, it would be good for your daughter if she gave the little Miss some lessons.”
“A piano teacher?” Maria asked, while I pondered the offer. “That would be great, mamma, say yes, say yes…”
“I don't know, tesoro… I don't like people coming to the house,” I murmured, putting myself at the height of the girl, who made a sad gesture.
“Please…” my daughter begged, putting her hands together.
“Please, please…” Angie said, imitating her gesture.
“Ugh,” I sighed, looking at the Duke, who was impatiently waiting for my answer.
“Well? I promise you won't regret it, my lady,” the merchant said, studying my movements. “I'm convinced that she will get along very well with your offspring.”
“Oh, I…” I muttered, gesturing to Angie, giving up. “Okay,” the doll said, speaking in my voice.
After a few days, the piano arrived at the mansion and, with the unpleasant help of some lycans, I managed to find a suitable place for it. Maria was very excited, but I, not so much. The idea of a gossipy villager entering my house… talking to my little girl… I didn't like it, but just seeing Maria's shining eyes, I got used to it.
“Here she is!” the girl shrieked, running towards the door, which someone had knocked on. It was that disgusting teacher, no doubt. “Vai, mamma!”
“I'm coming,” I said in a whisper, putting on my veil and approaching the door, opening it slowly.
I was expecting to find an old woman, a petulant old woman who was no longer in her prime, but I was petrified. Behind the door, there was a rather young woman, smiling and… beautiful, terribly beautiful.
“H-Hello,” the young woman said, waking me from a reverie. I wasn’t expecting someone like that. “It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Beneviento.”
“Are you the teacher?” Angie asked, speaking for me, uncomfortably studying the girl, who seemed scared by her presence. I don’t blame her.
“Yes, my name is (Y/N),” she said, extending her hand towards me, a hand that I briefly looked at, but didn’t shake, making her withdraw it awkwardly. “Um… well… so you want to learn to play the piano, right?”
“No,” I said with my hoarse voice, while my daughter came out from behind me, looking with the same surprise as me at that girl. “Not me.”
“Hello,” Maria said, with an elegant gesture. “I'm Maria Beneviento, and I'm your new student,” she said with an amused smile, shaking her hand, something I couldn't do.
“Oh, wow, I didn't know that... that it was you,” the young woman said, looking at me and then at the girl, making a small, friendly bow “I thought I was going to teach you, Lady Beneviento.”
“No, my mother doesn't have a clue about music, she only knows how to make dolls,” the girl said, amused, causing me to give her a gentle slap on the shoulder as a reprimand. “Oh, but she makes them very well, I promise.”
“Your mother? You mean...? Are you her daughter?” the pianist asked, looking at me with a frown and a bewildered expression.
“Yes, of course,” the little girl said, guiding the visitor through the house. “Don't you see how much we look alike?” she asked, pointing to the portrait on the stairs.
“Oh, um… is that you?” (Y/N) asked, looking at me and pointing at the portrait. I didn't move, nor did I say a single word, obviously. “W-Wow, your really look alike, you're like two peas in a pod.”
“Isn't that right?” Maria laughed, taking the stranger's hand and leading her into the living room. “This way, (Y/N)”
“I-It's funny. I didn’t know you had a daughter, my lady,” the young woman said, walking towards the piano next to my little girl, looking at me out of the corner of her eye, distrustful.
“Mm,” I murmured, not giving importance to her comment, approaching Maria. “Tesoro, I'm going to the workshop, Angie will stay with you, if something happens…”
“Mamma… non preocuparti,” Maria said, sitting on the stool in front of the piano, next to that unknown girl.
“Va bene,” I whispered, giving one last look to the young woman, who did the same quickly. I could see the fear in her eyes.
Reluctant, but with no other choice, I left them alone.
It must have been an entertaining afternoon, since Angie didn't warn me of any danger, but she did when that girl was about to leave.
“Grazie, (Y/N), see you tomorrow,” Maria said, waving her hand goodbye, while I, suspicious, walked with the young woman to the door.
“Your daughter is very talented, my lady,” (Y/N) commented, before leaving through the door.
“Mm,” I murmured in an impatient tone, wishing she would leave at once.
“Well, she has to practice, but I think she can be a great pianist if she puts her mind to it,” the young woman said, with no intention of leaving. “It's unbelievable that she's just eight years old, she's very intelligent.”
“I know that already,” I whispered impatiently, handing her a bag of coins.
“Oh, um, thanks,” she said, putting them in her purse. “I was surprised that you had a daughter… well, in the village we never…”
“I know,” I cut her words off abruptly, with a tired sigh. “No one has to know about my life.”
“Yes, well, I understand,” she said, scratching the back of her neck. “Forgive my indiscretion, I know it's none of my business but… What about her father?”
The Angie doll, who was listening next to me, began to laugh outrageously, drawing our attention.
“Stupid,” Angie said, pointing at the girl with her finger and pretending to laugh loudly. “You're so stupid… Donna is Maria's mother, get it? She's her mother, she impregnated a maid and…”
“Angie…” I hissed nervously.
“What?” the pianist asked, looking at me and speaking in a small voice when she realized her mistake.
I, nervous and embarrassed, clenched my fists tightly on both sides of my hips.
“Oh, shit, I mean… I understand, oh, I… w-well, I had heard rumors but they seemed… I mean, it's okay, well, there's a huge woman, a fish man… it's not that I find it strange or anything like that, I mean…” she said nervously, not knowing where to run.
I crossed my arms furiously, wanting to make her live the worst of her nightmares, but then I thought of Maria and I restrained myself.
“Shut up,” I demanded with a firm tone. “I advise you to stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong,” I threatened walking a step towards her, making the girl back off.
“I'm sorry. It's just that…” she said, visibly nervous, refusing to look at my face.
“Does my Donna's penis disgust you, silly?” Angie said, making me burn with rage.
“Angie! Taci, taci, taci!” I screamed furiously, kicking the floor. The piano played in the background, Maria was oblivious to the conversation, fortunately.
“What? Oh, no, no, not at all… I have no problem with that,” the pianist said, putting her hands in a position of surrender. “B-besides, I'm just your daughter's piano teacher, I have no intention of snooping in your… business. I was just… I was just curious.”
“Curiosity…” I began in a dark tone, making it clear to that stupid village girl what her place was.
“Killed the cat, I know,” she finished, with a nervous smile. “I just want to say that, well, that… your daughter is great.”
“Mm,” I growled, looking away and closing the door in her face. “Cazzo, Angie…”
The doll, realizing that she had given too much information, ran off towards Maria, who was playing the keys, surely putting into practice what she had learned.
“Look, mamma, I know the scale,” the girl said, gesturing for me to come closer as she softly played the piano.
“Meraviglioso, Maria,” I sighed, relaxing with the soft sound of the instrument.
“So… what do you think?” my daughter murmured, looking at the floor. “About (Y/N).”
“(Y/N)?” I asked annoyed, sighing as I took off my veil. “She's just some ordinary village girl.”
“No, not at all. She's great, she's super smart, and she plays really well, and she's also really beautiful, don't you think, mamma?” Maria said, following me through the mansion.
“Mm, maybe she is,” I commented distractedly. She was right, that girl was very beautiful… but a nuisance too. “Your lessons, Maria, don't forget them,” I said in a motherly tone, pointing to her study books.
The visits from that unpleasant girl continued. Maria learned a lot from (Y/N), although I didn't like to admit it. Little by little I got used to the presence of that nosy villager, maybe too much, since, from time to time, I came up from the workshop to see how she taught my daughter.
They seemed to get along really well, and every day her beauty was much more evident to me, but I didn't give it any importance, she was still an idiot.
“That's it, you learn very quickly Maria,” (Y/N) said as I approached slowly. “It's noticeable that you practice a lot.”
“Of course I do, so I don't forget,” the little girl said, swinging her legs on the stool.
“Um, Maria… I'd like to ask you something,” the teacher whispered, looking around, probably afraid that I would appear.
That made me back off and hide in the shadows. I wanted to hear what that stupid girl was saying about me, I was sure she would say something about me.
“Va bene,” my daughter said, distracted, touching the keys.
“Hey, your mother…” the young woman murmured, attracting my attention even more. “Your mother is a bit scary, isn't she?”
“Mamma Donna?” Maria asked and shook her head. “Not at all, are you scared of my mamma?”
“Um, well,” the girl said, with a nervous smile. “She's a Lord and… well, in the village everyone fears her.”
“Bah, nonsense,” my daughter said, gesturing with her hand. “That's because they don't know her. Donna is nice.”
“Really? Does she take good care of you?” she asked in a more confident tone, something that made me burn with rage.
How could that stupid woman question my way of taking care of my daughter?
“Oh, yes, she is very intelligent, she teaches me many things,” Maria said, making me sigh with relief.
“Um… what about your other mother? Don't you miss her?” (Y/N) asked, making me want to end her existence.
“Not really,” the girl said, lowering her head. “I never got to know her. Mamma Donna told me that she was her maid and that she… abandoned us.”
“Chiudi il becco…” I muttered in a whisper. “Maledizione…”
“Gods, that’s… horrible,” the young woman said, changing her expression.
“Well, it's the past. Donna took care of me and raised me by herself, and I assure you that it must not be easy to do that, and even more so with a daughter like me,” Maria said amused. “I don't usually give her any trouble, but… she has to put up with me.”
“Mm, I see,” (Y/N) said, tenderly stroking Maria's hair. “I see that I was wrong about her, I'm sorry for doubting your mother.”
“It doesn't matter,” Maria said, putting on a strange expression. “People say horrible things about her, but I know they're lies. My mamma is mentally ill, but that doesn't mean she's not a good person, she really is.”
“Yes, I see,” the pianist said, looking back, without seeing me. “If you say so, I believe you…”
“Forgive her if she was abrupt with you,” my daughter said, apologizing for my aggressive attitude. “She's just very lonely. I'm convinced that her character will improve when she meets someone.”
“Mm, maybe, but being alone isn't that bad, you know? I am too,” the young woman said.
“Oh, really?” the little girl asked. “That's interesting…” she murmured, with a tone that forced me to intervene. “Wouldn't you like to meet someone?”
“Well, I…”
“Ahem,” I cleared my throat, walking nervously towards them. (Y/N) looked at me briefly, immediately lowering her head. “It's time, isn't it?”
“Mm, sì, mamma,” Maria said, getting off the stool.
The young pianist stood up with a friendly gesture.
“Your daughter has been great, as always, my lady,” the young woman said, not daring to look at me. “It's a pleasure to teach her.”
“You don't have to be that formal. You can call her Donna, vero, mamma? Maria said, with a slightly strange voice.
“I guess,” I said reluctantly, making the girl laugh nervously.
“W-Well, Donna then,” (Y/N) whispered, with a shy laugh.
“Mamma, do you know that (Y/N) is also alone? What a coincidence, huh?” the girl asked, comically tugging at my dress, putting the stupid villager in a tight spot.
“Maria,” I said in a dark voice. I didn't know why, but that comment made me blush.
“Don't worry, Donna, your daughter is adorable, she just says what she thinks,” the young woman said, picking up the scores.
“Ma, mamma, are you going to let her go?” Maria insisted, making me very nervous. “You should be nice and invite her to tea. She’s been coming here for almost a month.”
“Maria…” I hissed nervously, while (Y/N) laughed again, shaking her head. “Stop annoying her, I’m sure she’ll have better things to do.”
“T-Truth be told,” the pianist said, arching her eyebrows. “I could use some tea, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Ugh, okay,” I muttered, threatening with my daughter my gaze making her fled with Angie.
That was the beginning of a strange routine. After piano lessons, (Y/N) started to stay with us for a while, having tea, helping Maria with her homework…
Over time, I couldn't say that that stupid girl started to catch my attention, but I did stop thinking that she was... well, stupid. She was a kind, funny girl, who made Maria and Angie laugh, and she was kind to me, kinder than anyone ever was, no one, not even Helga.
I couldn't help but notice a certain conspiracy in my little girl's words and actions, hinting several times at how lonely her poor mother was when I wasn't around, or telling me directly that (Y/N) was single too.
I couldn't blame her for wanting to have what she never had, for wanting another mother, but... it was simply impossible, it would never be possible, although deep down, that pianist girl caught my attention more than I would like to admit.
“Well, I better go, thank you very much for the tea, Donna,” (Y/N) said, after an afternoon of games with Angie and the girl, something of which I was only a spectator. “See you tomorrow, huh, girls?” she said amused, high-fiving Maria and Angie.
“Hey, but it's really late,” my daughter commented, looking out the window. “Hey, (Y/N), why don't you stay for dinner?”
“Oh, for dinner?” the young woman asked blinking and looking for an answer in me. “W-well, I…”
“Don't listen to her,” I said quickly, putting a warning hand on Maria's shoulder.
“Mamma,” the little girl protested, breaking away from my grip while (Y/N) smiled, picking up her coat. “I'm trying to help you.”
“Who asked you for help, brat? Basta,” I hissed sternly but nervously.
“Well… it's true that it's late,” (Y/N) said, oblivious to my reprimands, looking at me shyly. “Maybe it's not a bad idea.”
“Of course it’s not,” Maria said, freeing from my reprimand and taking the young pianist by the hand. “Come, sit down, did you know that la mia mamma cooks like an angel? You'll see.”
“Maria!” I growled, clenching my fists. “What are you...?”
“Show her that what I say is true, vai, Donna,” my daughter said, pushing me by the legs.
I had no choice but to obey, going down to the kitchen to prepare that improvised dinner.
“Mm, where's Maria?” I asked dryly, leaving the food on the table, a table that was only occupied by (Y/N), who looked at me amused, shrugging.
“She told me that she wasn’t hungry and she wanted to leave us alone, you know, so that we could talk about adult stuff.”
“Oh, questa bambina…” I lamented, understanding her intentions.
“I think she's set us up, hasn't she?” the young woman joked, while I, exhausted, served her some wine.
“I'm sorry, I don't know what she was thinking,” I said, apologizing for Maria's behavior. Oh, yes, that girl would get a deserved scolding.
“It doesn't matter, it might be good to get to know each other a bit better,” (Y/N) commented. “Um…” she said, frowning as she saw how, clumsily, I handled my black veil to eat. “Um… Donna, that's not necessary. You don't need it, you can trust me.”
“You'll get scared,” I said nervously, paralyzed.
“No, I won't,” she said, with a lower voice, somewhat trembling.
It was absurd to continue with that nonsense, the best thing would be to scare that stupid girl away so she never came back and stopped… constantly sneaking into my thoughts. With a slow gesture I took off my veil, refusing to see her expression.
“Mm, wow…” the young woman sighed, with a smile that I couldn't interpret. “It's true, you two are exactly the same.”
“Don't pretend. You know I'm horrible,” I said, gripping the fork tightly.
“No, you're not… Let's see… what have you prepared for me?” the girl said, ignoring my hisses and taking a look at the dinner. “Everything looks great.”
“Pici all'amatriciana,” I murmured distrustfully.
“Oh, well, let's check if it's as good as it looks,” she said, rubbing her hands and starting to eat, without erasing that smile from her face.
At first it was a tense, silent dinner, only interrupted by (Y/N)'s praises. Everything seemed wonderful and perfect to her, even… even my face. Little by little, I suppose thanks to the wine, the conversation began to flow naturally. It seemed unlikely, but that girl and I had a lot in common and we even… we even laughed, laughed a lot.
I realized why Maria was so obsessed with her. She was a wonderful girl, kind, funny… and terribly beautiful too.
“I had a great time,” the young woman said with a tender smile as I walked with her to the door. “Really.”
“Yes, um… me too, (Y/N),” I said in a low voice, with a strange blush on my cheeks.
“You know what? I think I now understand your daughter’s insistence on me getting to know you,” she commented distractedly, looking at the floor, turning her ankle on it. “You are a very special woman, Donna.”
“Yes, special is the word,” I said suspiciously, crossing my arms.
The girl laughed, shaking her head and putting a hand on my arm.
“No, what I mean is that… well, I don't regret having gotten to know you,” she whispered in a low voice, leaving behind her words, an awkward moment of silence.
“M-Me neither,” I stammered unintentionally, smiling genuinely.
“See you,” the girl said, removing her hand from my arm with a tender smile, suddenly stepping back. “Oh, bye girls,” she said, waving her hand and looking upstairs, where Angie and Maria were discreetly spying.
“Ciao!” they said in unison when I closed the door, sighing and glancing sideways at my daughter and the doll.
“Cazzo…” I hissed, quickly climbing the stairs while those two mischievous girls fled to their room. “Hey, you two!”
“Oh, mamma, I was going to sleep,” Maria said, putting on her pajamas in a hurry.
“No, young lady, what were you thinking?” I asked, annoyed by the trick, with my hands on my hips. “Who taught you to conspire like that?”
“Um…” the girl murmured, looking unintentionally at Angie, who hid under the sheets. “I only did it for you, mamma, so that you are not alone anymore.”
“Oh, cavolo…” I lamented, with a hand on my forehead. “Maria, tesoro, you don't have to decide those things for me, do you hear me? They are adults’ matters.”
“I know but… I think you two get along wonderfully,” the girl said with an almost pleading voice. “And you two are alone…”
“Maria…”
“Besides, dinner was a complete success, you even took off your veil,” she said with an amused smile, climbing into bed while I reluctantly tucked her in. “Although you have to improve your conversation, you're very clumsy, mamma.”
“That I’m…?” I asked, feigning offense. “Well, it doesn't matter.”
“Don't you like (Y/N)? Not even a little?” Maria asked in a sleepy voice, rubbing her eyes.
“Um, I… W-Well I… yes, I like her,” I admitted embarrassed, with a sob. “But tesoro, that's not…”
“She likes you, she speaks very well of you,” she sighed, exhausted, closing her eyes. “Mamma.”
“Mm?”
“If I could go back in time and choose… I would like (Y/N) to be my other mother…” she said in a sleepy whisper, without really being aware she had said it.
I sighed, moved by her words and approached to kiss her on the forehead, thoughtful.
“Mm, I'm not surprised that you want it, tesoro... (Y/N) is... wonderful.”
Admitting that I had feelings for (Y/N) took me longer than I thought, but I couldn't help it. Without wanting to, knowing that there would never be another chance to feel love, to believe in it, I did it, I fell in love with her, madly.
Dinners were common, laughter, too. Sometimes we were alone and sometimes Angie and Maria accompanied us, making the laughter increase more and more. I began to wish for those visits, to get sad when that girl left. There was tension between us, I could notice it, I could notice her bright gaze in mine, silent pauses in which neither of us knew what to say.
Too much pressure and I was too much of a coward.
“You have to do it, mamma,” my little girl told me, while I waited for (Y/N) to arrive, walking around the living room and shaking my head.
“I can't do it…” I sighed, rejecting her proposition again.
“If you don't tell (Y/N) how you feel about her, she'll never know, imagine if she meets someone,” the girl said walking exactly like me.
“It's not that easy, Maria, you'll realize when you're older,” I said in a dark, nervous voice.
“I don't want to lose the opportunity to have another mom just because you're a coward!” the girl protested, nervous, impatient.
I turned around abruptly, gritting my teeth and crouching down next to my daughter, grabbing her by the collar of her dress.
“You think I don't know!? Huh?” I screamed furiously while my daughter, scared, covered herself with her hands.
“Mamma,” she said trembling, making me react.
“Gods… tesoro, I'm sorry,” I said, placing her dress and caressing her cheek.
Maria nodded slowly, comforting my nerves with a tender hug.
“I don't know how to do it, I don't know how to tell her that… that I love her,” I murmured, with the girl's warm hands in mine, controlling my madness.
“Calm down, mamma, I'll think of something,” she said, giving me a kiss on the cheek and going to the door, since (Y/N) had already arrived.
The smiles danced between us again. I had long since gotten used to staying in the living room while (Y/N) taught Maria, to watch her fingers caress the keys, to see her beautiful and tender face, the incredibly sweet way she treated my baby…
“Well, very well, mate,” (Y/N )said when Maria showed her what she had learned. “I think we can move on to something more complicated.”
“Yeah, hey, (Y/N),” Maria said, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye. “I thought… I've never heard you play… you know, a whole song. I'm sure my mamma would really like to hear you.”
“Would her?” the young woman asked, looking at me with blushing cheeks.
I looked at her and nodded slowly, tilting my head.
“Mm, okay, well… let me see…” the girl said, searching through her folder of music. “Let's see… Oh, what do you think of this one? It has your name on it,” (Y/N) said, handing a sheet to my daughter, who looked at it carefully.
“Oh, yeah, this one is perfect,” Maria said with wide eyes, looking at me over the paper with a knowing smile.
“Ahem, well…” (Y/N) coughed as Maria stood up to sit next to me.
“Di niente,” my daughter whispered with a discreet clearing of the throat, making me frown.
“Cosa?” I asked, silenced by a nudge.
“Shh… ascolta, mamma.”
The music started to play, and I recognized it immediately.
“Ave Maria…” (Y/N) began to sing, letting me discover her beautiful voice, the most beautiful I had ever heard. “Gratia plena… Ave, ave Dominus…”
My mind immediately transported itself to several decades ago, before Mother Miranda, before the Black Gods, when I was just a girl, a tormented girl. Yes, I remembered those times when villagers were allowed to profess the faith they chose as long as they lived with the dark deities.
They were difficult times, but nothing compared to my current life.
I remember my family singing that song at Christmas, on special occasions. My mother, my father, my little sister, my grandparents… all of us together, like a vision of what once was and never came back.
I couldn't help but let a tear run down my face as I remembered, as I imagined what would have become of me if Miranda had never been so ambitious, if my life hadn't changed, if my body hadn't changed and Maria had never been born.
No, Maria wasn't a mistake, she was the best thing that ever happened to me, my little laughing baby who wondered where her mother was, what had happened to her.
I regret many things, my little Maria, but not having you as a daughter.
I remembered those sleepless nights with inconsolable cries, I remember losing my nerves, my mind, and I remembered… I remembered how I rocked my little Maria, how I sang to her to make her fall asleep in my arms, how I sang that song to her, that Ave Maria, by Schubert…
Damn clever girl, she knew it, she knew that the melody, those words in Latin would touch my soul. I'm proud of you, tesoro.
Slowly, unable to move voluntarily, I got up from the couch while (Y/N) played and sang, approaching her, sitting next to her on the stool. She looked at me, still singing, but smiling.
I looked at the keys, bringing my hand closer to them and looking for a sign to continue. The young woman nodded, with a tender smile.
“Nunc et in hora mortis…” we sang at the same time while playing the keys. It had been a long time since I had done it. “Et in hora mortis nostrae… Ave… Maria…”
“Great!” Maria said, clapping enthusiastically along with Angie.
I paid no attention to her, my eye were fixed on (Y/N)'s and hers on mine.
“Wow, Maria told me you didn't know how to play it,” she whispered after a tense moment, without moving from my uncomfortable proximity.
“W-Well, I don't know as much as you… I'm quite rusty,” I said with a honeyed, but nervous voice.
“Angie, let's go,” Maria said, looking at me and winking, taking the doll's hand that was protesting in a childish way.
“I-I used to sing this to Maria as a lullaby,” I said, daring to break that silence. “It brings back memories to me.”
“It must have been very difficult to raise a girl on your own, right?” (Y/N) commented, playing nervously with her hands.
“Yes, it was but… it was worth it,” I said with a smile, looking at the corner where Maria ran off to.
“Yes, of course, she's an amazing girl, Donna,” the young woman said, looking away.
“Yes, I… (Y/N) I…” I stammered, with a cold sweat running down my forehead, hitting the keys unintentionally. “I'm sorry, I… I want to tell you that… when you're here I… I feel, I feel like smiling again, and seeing you leave… It makes me sad.”
The girl laughed embarrassed, lowering her gaze but letting me continue and gain enough courage to extend my trembling hand to hers, which she let me do, interlacing our fingers.
“I would understand if you said no but… I don't know, (Y/N), maybe… maybe you'd like… not to leave again.”
“Mamma! Don't tell her that! It's creepy!” Maria, who was, of course, spying, shrieked.
“Oddio… go to your room!” I shrieked nervously without taking my hand off (Y/N)'s.
“Donna,” the pianist said, putting a hand on my cheek, turning my face towards hers. “Do you want me to stay? With you?”
“I… yes…” I said looking down, something I couldn't really do, since her hand prevented me from doing so. “I want you to stay… with me, with us and…”
I couldn't continue speaking, since her lips collided with mine without warning, kissing me deeply, slowly, in a sweet and addictive way.
Without wanting to do so, I pulled away, blinking confused, looking at her sweet smile, her eyes shining as she looked at me.
“I'm in love with you, (Y/N),” I finally confessed, throwing myself back into her slow, wet kisses, into her laughter that bounced off my lips, tickling them.
“You're a wonderful woman, Donna Beneviento,” (Y/N) whispered. “I'm crazy about you… And… well, I wouldn't mind staying with you. Well, I would like that you and Maria… were my family…”
“Really?”
“Really”
“Great!” Maria shrieked, running into (Y/N)'s arms, catching her off guard. “See, mamma? It wasn't that hard.”
“Oh, taci,” I said amused, shaking my head.
“It's the happiest day of my life,” my daughter said, hugging us both. “I love you!”
“Hey, come on, stop bothering,” I said, lowering her to the floor lovingly.
“Certo... I have to talk to Angie... my little sibling is getting closer...”
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In case you guys couldn't tell, Dick Grayson, AKA Nightwing, is my favorite DC character. Specifically because I can just write/imagine him however way I want, within the realm of (fanon) reason, and someone will agree with me/there's already a fic about it.
Want to read about a murderous character? Nightwing has once killed the Joker and (as far as I know) didn't regret it. Not to mention Renegade also exists (along with former Talon AU, secret/resolved "killer" AU, where he kills but doesn't tell anyone, and more minor ones as well) and there are several fics where he takes on that alias in order to deal with some "unfinished business" regarding his family.
Want to read about an undercover character using their looks and flirting to their benefits (and having the attention of everyone at the bar by simply existing and being hot)? I have read so many undercover Dick Grayson that wore the sluttiest outfits just to get info. Even read a few where he did it to make his siblings (mainly Jason) more comfortable since they weren't comfortable with it yet that was his forte (regardless of whether or not he liked doing that as well).
Looking for a rich (kinda spoiled, an act, but still lovable and amazing) Nepo baby that everyone thirsts over in the gala? Richie Wayne is right there and is the eldest Wayne/heir, that's bound to cause some drama at parties/Galas (esp with protective Batfam) and I love that (please give me more fics like that, I can barely find any).
Want a badass vigilante that can beat the absolute life out of criminals and defeat Batman with relative ease? Nightwing is one of the strongest members of the Batfam, if I remember correctly he even defeated Cassandra/an opponent equal to Cassandra before.
Want to read an angst filled story about a character that feels like they're being objectified all the time and just wants a break? Do I even have to say it?
Want a character study about how the annoyed/stubborn/exhausted guy from the comics turned into an "attention whore" on fics? I remember reading (and even writing) character studies where Dick is suffering from stuff such as hypersexuality and anxiety issues where he needs people to see/notice/pay attention to him as a result of his sexual trauma (the assault & other stuff he went through).
And so much more. The duality of that man, when a character has such a variety of interpretations and ways to write about them it just fills that writer/storyteller/reader in me with joy. That complex potential that I seek in characters, like being able to kill someone while also being a hero loved by the hero community, a celebrity loved by the world and a few beyond it, a spoiled rich kid when he likes to indulge himself and a victim that has suffered through so much, it's natural to give them different ways (separation anxiety, exhibitionism, aversion to touch, etc) to cope and deal with the horrible hand that was given to them. It's just something that is very rare to come across in a character, especially one so well known and loved for all of those different things rather than only one or two of them taking over the entire character and its interpretation, and I really love Nightwing for being that character for both writers and readers looking for somethings and finding all they could ask for and more in just a singular tag (ofc I know the other characters have a variety as well, Dick just has such a big variety and his "spectrum" is so big, vast and versatile, he has a piece of the fandom for everything, like a bunch of different characters smacked into one, all sharing the same name, it's why I chose him specifically and why I love reading about him the most specifically).
#dick grayson#Richie Wayne#richard grayson#nightwing#renegade#talon dick grayson#talon! dick#talon#dick grayson my beloved#Dick Grayson kills the joker#unhinged Dick Grayson#feral dick grayson#BAMF Dick Grayson#batfam#batfamily#bat family#cryptid batfam#batkids#bat kids#batman#dcu#dc#batfam fanfic#batfam fic#batfamily fanfiction#batfamily fic#dick grayson fanfiction#dick grayson fic#dick grayson whump#character study
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Comprehensive Veilguard Review (FULL SPOILERS)
What They Got Right:
-The environments. My God, seeing some of these locations that we’ve only read about for a decade had me getting legitimately choked up just looking at them. I cried entering the Grand Necropolis. I cried at Weisshaupt. I cried at Kal Sharok. The Ossuary. The Crossroads 2 Electric Boogaloo. Just all absolutely stunning, and so lovingly crafted.
-The art direction, on top of that. They kind of go hand in hand, but genuinely, it’s great. I think the art director deserves a raise for the candlehops alone.
-The music. I love it. I know it’s not what it has been, but I think it’s fucking great. The Blight theme is far and away the best, but so many of the other tracks really fully commit to the fantasy-futurism aesthetic that has been crafted by the art direction and I think it’s so fucking cool that the music has evolved as we travel to new locations and the world of Thedas really opens up.
-Companions. I’ve spoken a little about this already. But yes, the companions are incredible. The pacing of getting to know each of them is so well executed. (It feels unfortunate that the same cannot be said about the story as a whole, really). They are each truly so memorable and I think BioWare knocking it out of the park with its companions is nothing new.
-Vocal Performances. Gareth David Lloyd should be lauded for his work as Solas. You can hear how that performance has evolved and matured over the years like a fine wine. His vicelike grasp on the nuance of that character transcends even the game’s often questionable writing. Truly incredible stuff. I also have to mention Jee Young Han for Bellara, and Bryony Corrigan and Alex Jordan for two versions of Rook. The rest of the cast is fantastic as well, those four are just so incredibly standout to me.
-This feels very specific but The Siege of Weisshaupt. That quest. Is. *chefs kiss emoji*. It’s giving game of thrones season 8 episode 4 the long night where i cant see anything but also i have existential dread!!!! Love that
-Codex entries are as well written as they ever have been, so no dip in quality of the writing there. Particularly a huge fan of the passive aggressive emails sent between Solas and the Evanuris like they were all shitty coworkers. Elgar’nan screaming “i’m the ELDEST BOY!!!” at the top of his lungs à la Kendall Roy while he and solas bicker about who was conceived of by the Fade first. Very good stuff
-Ghilan’nain is an eldritch horror lesbian witch and that is so so cool. Thank you bioware
-Maevaris Tilani
-Combat and performance. Because neither of these are story stuff, I’ll throw these together. The game performs like a fucking dream and is incredibly optimized. The combat feels amazing and I genuinely look forward to combat encounters rather than dreading them. No notes.
….The Rest, in No Particular Order:
- Morrigan forgiving her mother and the game erasing Flemeth’s nastiness was truly vomit-inducing so thanks for that one bioware
- Is Mythal good or bad bioware please answer the question and you CAN’T look at your notes
- They do get Solas mostly spot-on but Mythal is so inconceivably bad and it’s hard to divorce the two. Ironic, considering that they should be the most divorced couple that ever lived
-"Flemeth's piece of Mythal was the good version actually and was completely uncorrupted" bitch HOW?!!??!??!!?! FUCKING HOW?!?!? Literally A GAME AGO she screams at Morrigan and Lavellan about "a reckoning that will shake the heavens" promising vengeance for her betrayal because she's done nothing but stew ALONE in her anger for 2,000 years, ALSO piling on the rage and betrayals of Flemeth and (I think it's safe to presume at this point) Andraste and EVERY OTHER host she's had. If we have learned ANYTHING about spirits and "abominations" through four games it is that the spirit becomes corrupted "against its original purpose" when fused with the negative emotions of its host. What was the point of Anders, if not to foreshadow what Flemeth truly was? A spirit of justice corrupted against her purpose by living inside righteously angry women for millennia? If anything the Dagger-version of Mythal would be the uncorrupted one. Sure, she'd be lonely and pissed too but that would be the truest version to who Mythal ACTUALLY was from before. A mixed bag of grief and anger and hurt and pride. But the rage inside Flemeth's Mythal would be wild and unfettered. She would be almost unrecognizable.
-I'm moving on from Mythal now because ranting any more about her in this game is actually going to give me an aneurysm.
- Yeah this game suffers from lack of roleplay and choice carryover. It’s impossible to avoid. It was okay to suspend roleplay in a game like, say, Dragon Age 2, because Hawke as the game wrote her was such a strong personality and memorable protagonist. Rook is…. not that. Which is okay for a blank slate protagonist, but they’re also not that either. And i think they didnt commit, fully, to the idea of less roleplay. Because they *tried* to give you origin stories, but they don’t end up feeling like they truly inform the character in the way that they do in Origins, or even in Inquisition. Say what you will about Inquisition’s roleplay options, but Lavellan being Dalish DEFINES her character.
- And what do you know. Yeah. It was bad that they only let us carry over three choices. Who could have seen that one coming. It’s almost like everyone ever was like “wow. That sucks. Please reconsider.” And then they didn’t.
- And it also gets extra confusing when you realize that the three choices they said were going to matter a LOT literally don’t. At all. So that was a lie. I guess. Even Solas romancers who were being PANDERED to apparently get…like two mentions of something that feels like it should be so pervasive throughout the whole story. And one ending.
- Solavellan writing failure gets its own bullet point actually. There was so much ample opportunity for Lavellan’s presence in this story to be amplified. For the Lighthouse to contain more traces of her. In codex entries, in murals. I get that Solas probably wouldn’t talk about her to Rook much. But the fact of his yearning is downplayed when it should be overplayed. He yearns for this woman who made him think he was worth something for the first time since he took a physical body, while clouded by regret for his feelings for a long-dead woman who made him hate himself. That’s the saddest fucking story ever. Why does this game not lean into it more? I don’t know. You don’t know. None of us know.
- BioWare kind of forgot that fifty percent of the Tevinter population is slaves. What do the shadow dragons even do? There are apparently no slaves left to free!!
- BioWare kind of forgot that the Crows are very cool and yes very Italian!! 🤌🤌🤌 but also buy child slaves and turn them into soldiers by systematically weeding empathy out of them. So where was any of that.(*where is Zevran or someone who fills the role of that character. He is so desperately needed to portray the Crows with any nuance.*)
- The depiction of the Qunari/kossith, outside of Taash’s storyline (which I actually think was a very thoughtful examination of the intersection of gender and Qunari ideology), is actually the craziest most stereotypical one-note racist bullshit i’ve ever seen and i am shocked any writer allowed that to be the final product.
- You know what yes i also noticed that you couldn’t ever be mean in this game and also Rook smiles so much. She smiles when saying things she should not smile about. Idk why but that bothers me. And why are her hands always on her hips? What is she hiding
- The exposition-heavy dialogue is terrible at the start, gets way better around the first act break, then turns dangerously close back around to Avengers-style “Well, that just happened!” and it’s a mixed bag that I don’t know what to do with. I can’t blame bioware for the exposition, I’m sure that’s an EA directive of “pander to the people that want to come into the fourth installment of a series knowing nothing and not be completely lost”. But the rest…..let’s just say I can feel how many people had their hands in writing this. And I can feel it because the quality swings back and forth so wildly it gives me whiplash.
- Because of no choice carryover cameos feel like cardboard cutouts of characters. Dorian worked for me because he was doing things he would be doing anyway and it is passively mentioned that he and the Inquisitor are in close contact. Isabela is skinny like a twig now i guess (??? Hate that) and i’m happy for her whole lords of fortune thing but she is made lesser by being completely divorced from Hawke. Same for Varric, although at least he has more to do. Morrigan…………………………………………………………………anyway moving on.
- The Dalish.
- BioWare kind of forgot that Solas doesn’t hate blood magic. Doesn’t use it personally. But doesn’t hate it. Also what he does to gain a connection to Rook is LITERALLY blood magic. I don’t fucking know WHY he/the game insists that it’s not. I’m beside myself with that one.
- BioWare kind of forgot about the brewing elven uprising led by Solas that they set up at the end of Trespasser and instead now he’s a lone actor and everyone hates him. Like no. No actually some elves would have found what he was doing very cool and a great alternative to the terrible hand the world has dealt them. Perhaps all those elven Tevinter slaves you forgot to put in the game.
- BioWare kind of forgot about Briala in their rush to say “but nothing in southern thedas matters!!!”
- Cole should be in this game and the fact that he is not is actually fucking baffling.
- VERY BIG SPOILER Varric dying is fine actually and the one thing i’m literally perfectly okay with so idk why i put it down here other than it feels wrong putting this spoiler at the top lmao. But yeah that’s fine. We knew it was coming and Peepaw needed rest anyway. Good reveal, no issue there.
- Lucanis’ bugged romance ruined my life
- I made a separate post about this but Veilguard has single handedly eradicated mystery in the Dragon Age series without creating any new mystery and it’s what I’m legitimately the most sad about.
All in all, a mixed bag. I enjoyed my time with it, but it left me sad at times and not in the good way. The idea I have of Dragon Age in my head will always be more true to Dragon Age to me than this was, and I can live with that, I was just hoping for better on a lot of writing fronts.
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You know what, after all the talk about Caitlyn tyrant arc I cannot unsee all the parallels between her and Silco.
It always left me a little baffled how Cait was one of the few character who didn't have a clear parallel with another one, yes, there's Grayson, there's Jinx and even Marcus if you will, but at least to me they never quite clicked right. But when you overlap Silco and Cait, the amount of shit they do the same is insane, especially with all the new stuff from s2.
It's not about her simply becoming a villain, it's like a circle with Caitlyn moving forward to reach the point of no return and Silco going backward after reaching the point of no return, meeting just for a moment - at the mad tea party - having different directions.
But let's start from the beginning.
We have a bunch of scenes where we see Silco tell Jinx about how he used to be different, how he had to cut out the part of him that made him soft in order to become the leader of the undercity and at the same time we get to see Caitlyn's entitled ass dissolve as her heart of gold starts making appearances, like when she refused to kill Sevika or when she gave her rifle away for Vi without batting an eye as she starts trusting Vi more and more considering how she just exchanged her only weapon for shimmer to cure Vi. Then in the other episodes they both come clean about the real reasons they are in the undercity and they start really trusting each other, two peas in a pod, just like Vander and Silco back in the day.
But then in oil and water during the rain scene when Vi leaves Cait, I think we can see the first the first seed of betrayal being planted, it's the you don't believe in me anymore, which I think can be connected to when we see Vander strangle Silco, I think that scene is supposed to go after the bridge scene in ep3 it's the aftermath of the battle with enforcers and I can totally see Silco refusing to give up on the dream of Zaun and Vander seeing no other option but to kill him in order to protect his people. I know it's a long stretch but as for Vi and Cait the rain scene is the first rift, for Silco and Vander the scene at the river is the last straw, it also ties very well with Silco being handed Zaun on a silver plate in exchange for the last piece of his heart and refusing (Cait is still not there but I think there will be something like this in s2 at the very end) just as Cait is taking the first steps into not trusting Vi.
(I'm trying to talk about how I see Caitlyn's point of view and not trying to blame Vi, I really do think that Vi had every right to make that decisions in that moment)
And then there's the mad tea party, that in no way can even be compared to the scene on the bridge in ep3 but I would still say that I think Caitlyn has processed the tea party in a similar way Silco has processed the bridge scene and what came after, the betrayal of the people they trusted the most as they watched their respective loved ones die one by the hands of the enforcers and the other by the hands of Jinx.
And as Silco's rage grew he wanted another fight with Piltover and Vander stopped him, Vi stopped Cait from taking the shot on Jinx, making that little seed of betrayal bloom and grow a little.
So by the end of s1 we see Cait is almost in Silco's starting point as he has completed his lap of the circle.
And now I dive into the more speculative section of this long-ass rant, where I'd like to put to comparison Silco's deal with Singed with Cait's alliance with Noxus. And for as much as it pains to admit it, I don't think Cait will fall for Ambessa manipulation, she's too smart, I think that she'll sacrife her morality to achieve what she's set herself up to, same way as Silco did with shimmer. The base violence for change.
I really do think that the similarities will get way stronger in s2 with the seeds of betrayal blooming by the end of s1 especially considering how both Silco and Cait's story revolve around taking control and in a certain way becoming the leaders no one asked for.
They both never wanted to be leaders as Silco was more than happy to let Vander be the face of revolution and Cait couldn't give less of a fuck about politics and spent most of the time in s1 trying to not start a war between Piltover and Zaun and wooing Zaunites women.
But at the same time both of them never shied away from the power, they both kept their heads held high in the face of people who hated them, and both were always arrogant enough to believe they could change the world single-handedly.
With that I conclude this long-ass post both wanting s2 to come faster and dreading the moment it finally comes and honestly hoping that Cait's story doesn't end the same way as Silco did. With some form of redemption arrived a little too late.
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What are your thoughts on how to support Melissa going forward?
The Book of Carol has been an absolute disaster for Carol and Melissa fans, and season 3 filming is already underway. Melissa wants to play Carol and she wants to work with Norman, so I want to support her. But I actively don't want to support everything else about what this show is doing to her.
It feels like most fans who are left vocalising their views are the ones who still feel positive about the spin-off. I really want to know more about the thoughts of those of us who are more critical of it, because I just don't know what the best thing is to do here.
Mental health wise, it's probably easier to withdraw from the future of TWDU entirely - to not watch season 3 and to not be invested in it anymore. But again, Melissa is still there, and she needs allies, and she needs people who genuinely respect her to see her for her work. It makes me so sad to think how hard she works and nobody is watching - all because her colleagues have pushed us away.
I just want to hear from more people who care about Melissa about how we're responding, and how we can support her.
Hello, dear Anon. I'm sorry this is affecting your mental health. You're right that Melissa deserves our support. I answered this question in the latest podcast episode.
The condensed version of what I said is that your voice matters. It's easy to feel discouraged sometimes, especially when you're speaking up about something important to you. But if you have the capacity to speak up, now is the time.
The teaser + David Zabel's latest comments continue to show us that he has no intention of giving Daryl and Carol a compelling story. Worse, his writing for Daryl and (especially) Carol is downright disrespectful to the characters.
When you're sharing feedback online, remember to be very specific about what changes need to happen for you to stick around. Center your posts around Melissa and Carol. Talk about why her character is important to you. Here are some pointers to keep in mind.
Please remember to take care of yourself too.
For us, it's important that the leadership changes. It's also important that Melissa McBride gets equal billing, an inclusive title, and a showrunner who respects her character and doesn't write her to be a piece in the male protagonist's story or, worse, doesn't make her pick up the pieces of the male protagonist's story.
Carol Peletier broke stereotypes and gender norms. She was the central focus of some of the highest-rated episodes of TWD. She can draw in audiences from different demographics. She's consistently proven to be one of the most resourceful female characters of the flagship show and beyond. And all of this is because Melissa McBride is an intuitive actress with a rare talent and ability to effortlessly tap into the depths of Carol's psyche. She's also a PR person's dream because she's an eloquent and charming speaker. She has a spotless reputation and the ability to garner audience loyalty that builds the audience base for the creative projects she is a part of.
She deserves respect on her own fucking show.
A showrunner who elevates her and writes compelling stories for Daryl and Carol is the only way to ensure the show's ROI and audience retention. We have no interest in investing in S3 otherwise.
— Shalaka
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I actually wish we were more comfortable putting criticism in the main tags. I know that Tumblr's tagging system is kind of annoying, so filtering out critical tags when people are probably using like 50 different versions would be difficult. But sometimes tbh, I did not enjoy a piece of media I consumed. Sometimes, I didn't like a BL, and I don't like having to hunt through blogs like a crazy person to find someone who agrees with me.
I used to do that, anon.
And then I didn't like a popular show.
And got attacked. By anons and comments.
So now I don't put it in the main tag unless it is very specifically about a show I love that I need to criticize as well.
Alas, anon, the search continues.
And it happens! People dislike shows and watch them and critique them and sometimes you can enjoy a show and see the critique and sometimes it feels like they're watching a totally different show then you and that has to be okay.
But, sadly, many fandoms are not ready for that dichotomy and that's okay, it has to be okay, it's never going to change.
But also honestly my MAME and Jittirain criticism really doesn't belong in the show's tags because no one enjoying the show would agree with me. And they don't want to hear it and that's okay.
I don't understand why it's so different for We Are or for other goofy shows but that's also okay. Some people are more comfortable with critiquing openly or tagged and some people aren't. I am not. I had a very bad experience in that popular fandom and never again.
I know that I watch MAME shows and groan about consent and other issues where so many people just see romance. I know that Jittirain stories about lying semes and the ukes they manipulate always make my eye twitch. I don't need to subject their fans to that. They know.. Or at least I think they know? I don't know anymore, people were putting MAME characters into green flag contests and I've got nothing.
I do understand how frustrating it has to be to try to find criticism only to realize that it's all hidden. But sometimes that just how humans work. In order to share an experience we have to set aside space for criticism that isn't in the same place as the love and praise. Not always... but sometimes.
And that's why I watch all the shows I watch and I make sure to talk about them, tagged or not, if I have anything to say.
(I mean, y'all, I got multiple annoyed anons for how I talk about Joke and Jack and I like them both.)
#asked and answered#criticism#sometimes you just gotta keep it in the corner#and invite people to join you instead of joining them#no matter how much their stance baffles you#because it is not your place to correct their enjoyment#it never is#anyway i dunno#i criticize openly in my little corner but I do not tag#and now I got this compared to the hater anon#love y'all and the dichotomy of the internet
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something about Stanley (from the parable) being human but also non-human is so haunting to me
he looks explicitly human, he’s meant to be seen as a human, he enacts a human’s inputs. he’s a person.
but he also isn’t. he’s a dumb looking model in a game, his entire story is fabricated, he’s only meant to enact the inputs of actual people.
how detached from humanity can you be and still be considered a person? what is a person? and would you consider Stanley a person? if he is sentient, does that mean he’s just as much of a person as you and me?
does he consider himself a person? i think he would desperately want to be one, all he really wants is to be normal and lead a nuclear life, but there’s things about him that are explicitly inhuman.
his status as a fictional character is the main one. he was created from words and numbers rather than from flesh and bones. his existence is dictated by code and algorithms instead of DNA and physics. he’s meant to copy a human, not necessarily be one.
Stanley is meant to mimic people. is he “people”?
if i paint Starry Night by Van Gogh, is it still art? a few things look off, maybe the stars are too big and the mountain has too much pink, but would my piece be considered art in the same way as the original?
like all things in The Stanley Parable, there is no answer.
i think if Stanley were to bring it up, the Narrator would scoff and say something like “Obvious not, Stanley. But why does it matter? Neither am I, and I’m perfectly happy that way.”
he’s not perfectly happy about that but let him be in denial. put that man in a room alone and watch him unravel at the seams lol
Stanley being a fictional character really touches my dissociated, autistic heart. mwah
#i’ve been listening to Toes by Glass Animals on repeat can you tell#it’s very stanley and narrator coded#tsp#stanley parable#the stanley parable#moth rambles
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Greenridge ABO Series
Greenridge Aesthetic/Pics of Inspo
I'm a very visual person in case you couldn't tell...🙈 so I thought I would add some pictures to help you see what I envisioned for the Greenridge pack house! I've started showing more of the house so now you can get an idea of how it looks. Hope you like!
Obviously the pics aren't exact but I found as best I could. Thanks to Pinterest and the AI feature on Canvas!!
Series Masterlist Masterlist
As you've seen before, the back of the house. 3 Stories, walk out basement leads to the backyard and full property. Basement level includes med room, living space with a bar, a guest bedroom and bath, and an exercise room. Main level has a Chan's room, kitchen, dining, living room, Chan's office. Upstairs is the rest of the bedrooms. Massive house lol
Basement living area and bar space. Doors lead out to backyard. Behind the camera view is the stair case and other rooms.
Med Room and Exercise room in the basement.
Living Room. Fireplace like so - framed by windows. Just add a flatscreen above the mantle. Couch like this facing the fireplace, back to the kitchen.
Kitchen. Let's mix the two pics. The kitchen is white with the wood ceiling, bright with a bing window and has a large island. But like the right pic, the barstools are on the outer side of the island, and it faces the living room like so. And the dining table is on the side of windows, facing the view.
BEDROOMS! This was really fun!
*These are all my opinions on what fits each character. Pls don't attack me lol*
Chan's Bedroom and Closet. First floor and immaculate. Large and spacious, his bed is huge. Has a fireplace and sitting area on the side. Lovely view of the property with private balcony. Vaulted ceiling. Closet is fancy and organized!!
Chan's Bathroom. Custom work for his master ensuite. Spacious and usually pretty clean. Double sinks, private toilet room, and this lovely stone shower and standing tub. (The depth seems off so it's probably AI but use ur imagination)
Minho's Bedroom and closet. I feel he's very clean. And he gives rich vibes so I know his closet is pristine. Usually yelling at Jisung for his messy room.
Minho's Bathroom. Like a master en suite, he's got the full tub and a shower. Also kept very clean.
Changbin's Room and closet. I feel like his closet would be organized and low-key fancy. IDK why this pic just seemed to fit him lol
Changbin and Jeongin's Shared bathroom. They share since Changbin is Head Beta and Jeongin is a new alpha.
Jeongin's Room and closet. I feel like he would keep his surroundings slightly messy but not as bad as Jisung. He's got enough on his plate to balance to worry about his room okay. As for his closet, he's gotten more into fashion so he takes care of his clothes.
Hyunjin's Room and Closet. I feel like he would have a clean room and organized closet. Doubt he would have a tv in there tho, so replace it with your fav piece of his art ;)
Hyunjin and Jisung's Shared bathroom. Jisung usually leaves a mess when he's done and Hyunjin yells at him.
Jisung's Bedroom and closet. Just make his room also messy since he's confirmed that's usually how it is LOL.
Felix's Room. I feel like he would have a pretty color and not too messy of a closet. The ray of sunshine also needs a big window to enjoy the sunshine.
Felix's and Seungmin's Shared Bath. No tub. They do a good job of keeping it clean.
Seungmin's Room and Closet. He gives me modern vibes so his room is decorated more modern than the others. His closet would def be organized as well.
Y/N's Room and closet. Rustic feel but still super cozy. Was a guest bedroom and will be more personalized as you nest. Light colors to make you feel safe and free.
Y/N's Bath. Small and simple. No tub just a shower. Maybe one of the boys will let you use their tub ;)
TAGLIST:
@estella-novella @lxvxchxrlxttxbxrsx22-blog @butterflydemons @readr1221 @gaby105-skz @notevenheretbh1 @bah2004 @sinfulfic
Shout out to my beta for inspiring, motivating, and pushing me! @its-the-solar-system
#stray kids x reader#stray kids x y/n#stray kids abo#han jisung#lee felix#hwang hyunjin#bang chan#lee minho#lee yongbok#lee know#kim seungmin#yang jeongin#seo changbin
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Me: hm, I want something to put on the TV as background noise... Huh. Looks like YouTube is recommending something called The Last Unicorn. That's perfect, it's probably some old shitty animation that has aged poorly! I can watch it ironically!
Me, 2 hours later as the credits roll: *crying, cheering, buying the book, composing the songs*
Me, 2 weeks later: So I have compiled all of the quotes from the book that I think could make good tattoos, and also, HOW HAVE I NEVER LEARNED ABOUT HOW THE LAST UNICORN FUCKING SLAPS??? This gay-ass little fairytale fed my soul! Watered my crops! Transed my gender! Can't believe I heard of this story from youtube recommendations, of all places!!
#original#the last unicorn#tlu#peter s beagle#molly gru#schmendrick#schmendrick the magician#two of my favorite characters in anything right there in the center of the story! and I'm glad I saw the film first!#my reading ability has diminished due to trauma disability etc. but it seems like having a visual reference actually really helped!#no wonder i only ever want to read fan fic! turns out reading is not actually Superior to other types of Storytelling. it's just different.#to say otherwise is snobbishness I have been eminently guilty of in my life!#but like it is easier for me to consume tv and movies and that is fine actually. also that's why I'm doing a graphic novel lol#because i wanted to make something i would actually be able to read if i found it at a library. altho the audio book IS gonna be bomb#the audiobook is for visually impaired readers and anyone who wants or needs it! accessible stories for everyone! yeah!!#my gender was already transed but now I've gained an ADDITIONAL gender! which one? I'll never tell 😘#i am so powerful i have so much fuckin gender. my wife has no gender. and she is equally as powerful.#and also she has STUDIED THE BLADE#mostly zoro's blades from One Piece#normally YouTube recommends me shit movies like idiocracy or smth this is like if every day ur cat brought you a piece of rotten food and#then one day it brings you a BEAUTIFULLY ANIMATED TALE FEATURING MY BELOVED TWINK FUCK-UP WIZARD FRIEND AND MY ALL-TIME HOMEGIRL MOLLY GRU#and also it's soft and beautiful and funny and fucking weird!! i wrote melodies to the songs in the books on my ukulele
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Honestly despite my feelings about how the last arc of MHA went down I really love Deku and his story.
I just feel like a lot of the time we get these protagonists whose whole philosophy is it doesn’t matter what you were born as everyone can achieve greatness. But then the series goes on and it turns out that actually it DOES matter because the protagonist has this really great lineage and these really great powers you can only have through birth they were actually born born, predestined if you will, to do this.
But MHA actually sticks to its guns. Midoriya wasn’t revealed to have some great connection to all might that the universe had put in place. He wasn’t defended from some great lineage that makes him uniquely suited to this. Hell All for one didn’t even turn out to be his father, there was no hidden powerful quirk he was always meant to have. He was just Midoriya Izuku a boy who was in the right place at the right time and simply decided to act while the world did nothing. And that’s what really made him a hero.
I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but I believe him a bit more when he goes anybody can be a hero if you just decide to act
#also never stop crying baby I love taht about you#like I do understand that being given one for all an extremely powerful quirk is kind of a cop out#but still the quirk was passed down to him because of his own merits not becayse it was pre destined or because he was born to weird it#and honestly that’s more than we’ve got in a long time.#yes this is a little bit of a naruto call out cause I will never get over that complete 180 😭#and it does randomly drop that little tidbit of how it was good luck Midoriya was quirkless or the quirk would have killed him young#but honestly I don’t even know what to make of that besides……yay?#also yeah that’s pretty realistic sometimes disabilities make your more suited for somethings so yeah#this isn’t me implying that other protagonists didn’t work hard by the way I know they did two things can be true at once#bakugo proves that. like he is was born with an extremely powerful quirk but nobody can say he doesn’t work hard#it’s just a little tiring to see this underdog character suddenly get a backstory that’s like sike you actually needed to be born to do thi#one piece does this a little bit to be fair to them the story doesn’t really emphasize anyone can do it that way it has different themes#about what family means and it’s all about inherited will so I can give it a pass#but yeah I really appreciate mha for sticking to that gun even though it dropped the ball on a lot of things#like never fully addressing the quirkless people can be heroes too thing but that’s a topic for next time#throwing thoughts to the void#deku#mha#my hero academia#mha meta#mha analysis#midoriya izuku#izuku midoriya#one for all#mha deku#bhna#boku no hero acedamia
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OH MY GOD, this scene! 😱 I can feel the anxiety, the tension, and the absolutely forbidden thrill coursing through this character as they try to navigate this… "interview" with Valentino. I MEAN ITS VALENTINO! HOLY SMOKES! LET ME TAKE A DEEP BREATH BECAUSE I NEED TO GET READY FOR THIS!!!!!
Valentino's commanding presence is so well done here—like he just owns the room, and the way he effortlessly reduces the reader to a bundle of nerves? I mean, YES. The way he keeps it so clinical, like he's asking about a grocery list, while the MC is just trying to keep it together is honestly… kinda terrifying but also intensely hot? He’s radiating this intense energy that’s impossible to ignore. The back-and-forth between commands and the reader’s hesitant obedience builds such a powerfully charged dynamic!
And that final reveal of the table with the mechanical contraption—I can feel the suspense dripping from the page! That line, “Don’t worry,” Valentino says with his casual confidence, had me holding my breath. It’s like he’s got so much more planned, and this is only the beginning. 😳
You just have to keep reading because it’s clear that Valentino is not playing around, and the reader is in for a very memorable "training" session. This scene just screams tension, submission, and the thrill of the UNKNOWN👌✨
Let's talk about the build-up with the machine. The gradual way Valentino straps her in, making sure every piece is perfectly aligned, shows exactly how meticulous he is—and let's be real, it's as terrifying as it is exciting. The reader’s every reaction is so vividly captured, you can feel the mix of pleasure and shame. Her body betrays her, and it just makes the whole experience feel almost… inevitable? Like she’s on this uncontrollable ride, all thanks to Valentino’s unrelenting guidance.
And then that final moment—Valentino lifting her head, looking her dead in the eyes as she loses herself? Literal chills! The way he has this almost clinical appreciation for the whole scene, never losing that business-like tone, is both unnerving and thrilling. He’s like, “Congrats, you’re hired,” and she’s just there, practically wrecked on that sawhorse, barely processing what just happened! 😂💀
Honestly, this story is dripping with dark, forbidden tension, and Valentino is written with just the right amount of detached dominance. You know he's in charge, and the reader’s reactions only feed into that power dynamic in the most compelling way. This is hands-down an unforgettable "interview" that delivers on the shock factor and intensity—there's not enough Val content, so thank you for feeding the community! *salutes*
Casting Call (Valentino x Reader)
CW: Sex machine, sex work, casting call for adult films Rating: Adult Summary: Having grown tired of scraping by, you attend a casting call for the leading pornography studio in hell. You're surprised to find the casting call takes place with the head director himself, Valentino.
You fidgeted with the hem of your skirt. The plastic chair you sat in was far from comfortable, creaking with every move you made. When you decided to show up to one of Valentino’s open casting calls, you didn’t know what to expect.
You didn’t expect the near surgical bright lights and pristine floors. The coldness of the room surprised you. It felt the same as if you were walking into a doctor’s office back up top, not potentially trying out for a job in porn.
Oh, how far you had fallen. You’d been too good to do it in life, but in death- the ultimate cosmic joke was that there were just as many bills in hell as you had up top. Fuck, if you were honest- you were pretty sure there were more.
The leathery bat wings, too small to actually be any use twitched as your name was called. It was your last chance to turn back. For a moment, hesitation stilled your feet. A deep breath later and you crossed the room, following behind the demon as you were led into a room.
“Valentino will be with you shortly,” the woman said, not looking up from her clipboard before closing the door behind her.
The thick rug muffled your footfalls as you made your way to the overstuffed couches, taking a seat as you waited. There wasn’t a lot in the cold room. Cold white walls and bright lights made everything feel so clinical.
Nerves clawed at your stomach as you waited, again fidgeting with the soft pink hem of your short shirt. You hadn’t expected to be meeting with the head of the studio today, if at all.
Yet, the door clicked open, and the towering man stepped inside. You stood and waited, unsure what to do or say, as he crossed the room.
“I hear you want to work for me, chica.” Valentino’s voice was smooth, even and unbothered as he looked down at you through pink lensed heart glasses.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Have you ever done sex work before?” he asked, though you could see the forms you had filled out in one of his hands.
“No, sir.”
“Well, let’s see what you’ve got.” He motioned to you as he sat on the couch, long leg crossed over his knee and upper arms reaching out along the back of the couch. His lower arms crossed over his abdomen.
“I don’t-”
“Strip,” he cut you off, “I don’t have all day.”
Trembling fingers reached up, pulling the dark plum sweater over your head in one smoothe motion. Valentino watched, critical eyes running over flesh. A dark flush ran up your chest, darkening your soft pink skin as you dropped the small skirt to the ground, kicking your shoes off in the process of kicking it aside.
You tried not to look at him as you worked your feet out of your socks. Then you stood in front of him, wearing nothing but your lacey purple bra and matching panties. You didn’t know if you should turn for him as the silence ticked on.
“Well?” Valentino asked after a moment longer. “Get on with it?”
“Oh,” you said, realizing he had meant to get naked naked.
Once your bra and panties joined the pile of clothes, he motioned for you to turn this way and that, taking in each curve of your body. The instructions had started simple: lean forward in front of him, stretch your arms above your head and spin. Shame forced itself into your mind as he demanded you kneel and then get on your hands and knees.
“Turn around,” Valentino said, eyes running over your body as you turned, presenting your ass to him. “Good,” he said. “Now bend your elbows.”
You did as he said, resting your head against the rug. His eyes roamed over your puffy cunt, looking at the way everything sat together. You could feel his eyes.
“Back on your hands.” You did as he said, silently following orders. “Spread your legs now, as far as you can.”
Cold air rushed over your freshly exposed folds.
“You’re wet,” Valentino remarked, eyeing the way you glistened as your folds spread. “Back down on the ground.”
“Being watched excites you,” Valentino continued, nudging your knees to spread more as he watched your opening twitch. “That’s good, chica. It’ll be easier for you if you enjoy it.”
“Okay,” you struggled to make your voice work. Valentino spoke as if this was a normal job interview and yet you were naked, head down, ass up and legs spread so wide your hips were straining as he spoke.
“How much experience do you have with anal?” Valentino could have been asking what weather you favored or how you took your coffee.
“Not much,” you answered honestly.
His hand touched you, finally. You flinched at the contact. Long, thin fingers gathering your slick from your folds only to spread it on the tight ring of muscle of your ass. He probed, slipping his finger in and out.
“We can work with that,” Valentino said finally, pulling his finger from the slight burning ring of your opening. “Turn around, stay on your knees.”
The plush carpet under your knees offered only a little comfort as you turned, kneeling in front of the imposing moth demon. His coat was gone now, wings hanging off his shoulders like a red cape. Your eyes trailed up the white pants until they settled on the bright blue dildo he held out to you.
It was of a moderate size at best, nothing that would be greatly challenging to handle.
“Suck it,” Valentino ordered.
You ran your tongue over the surface, trying to wet the soft silicone before you wrapped your lips around it. The show you put on was far from your best. The dildo did not slide easily between your lips, but that didn’t stop you from trying. You worked it in and out of your mouth, the action becoming easier as your saliva coated it.
“Good enough,” Valentino said. “We can work with that, too. Training is a kink.”
Valentino stood, walking over to the table. You stood, rubbing your thighs together as you followed. The room was so cold. Your nipples were painfully hard pebbles as what had looked like a table disassembled, revealing a mechanical contraption.
“What is that?” Fear spiked through you.
“Don’t worry,” Valentino held his hand out for you, guiding you to step over, straddling the sawhorse. “Lean back.”
He brought the mechanical contraption closer, the bar pointing between your legs. Large hands grabbed your legs, hooking them over two bars that protruded back.
He took the blue dildo from your hand and screwed it onto the bar. He watched as you trembled, taking in the evidence of your nerves.
“Sex machine porn is hot right now,” Valentino spoke casually as he lined the tip of the dildo up with your opening, pushing it just inside. “It’s also good for casting,”
“I didn’t-” You struggled to put words together as the motor of came to life with a smoothe pur. “I thought,”
“That I’d fuck you?” Valentino asked, laughing as the dildo began to thrust into you, slowly at first. “No, no, chica, that is for the highest earners. Only the highest earners get to get fucked by me. If you do good, maybe one day.”
The machine moved into you faster and faster, each mechanical thrust perfectly timed. You gasped, back arching as the dildo dragged against your walls. The head of the plastic cock nudged your cervix again and again as Valentino watched you.
Calculating eyes took in the way your breasts moved with every thrust. He moved around where you lay, spread out and moaning softly as the machine fucked you. He watched the way your body reacted to the trusts, changing the angle of the machine.
You moaned deeper, chest heaving as the cock hit your g spot again and again. The head of the cock kissed your cervix. The nature of the machine left you no way to put distance between you and the thrusts.
There was no denying how wet you were now. The squelching of your cunt filled the room, sounding with each thrust as a machine fucked you. Val again adjusted the angle, forcing the dildo up.
“Fuck,” you gasped out. Each thrust pushed out against your stomach. There was no humanity in the thrusts. No brain was behind the machine meant it didn’t hesitate to thrust up and into you, disregarding any resistance. “Oh, fuck.”
Val stopped the machine, earning you a shameless whine before you could remind yourself that you were there for what was essentially a job interview. You had been so close to finishing, shamelessly, on the machine.
“Very good.” Valentino pulled the machine back, unhooking your legs from over the bars.
He grabbed you, easily lifting your naked body in his arms. The wide opening of his mostly undone purple shirt treated you to the feeling of his lot lilac skin against your pale pink skin. The heat of his body burned into your painfully hard nipples, drawing a moan from you.
He ran hands between your bodies as he pulled you away with other hands. Fingers ran through your folds, feeling the way your body jumped and twitched. Your knees nearly gave out as the pads of his fingers ran over and around your clit. He pinched and pulled at your nipples.
Calculating eyes watched your every reaction, weighing how it would look on camera. He evaluated what he could market and sell, how he could best make a financial profit off your body.
You squeaked as he draped you chest down on the sawhorse again. Hands ran down your back, soothing you as he wrapped straps around your thighs, tieing them to the legs.
Looking behind you, you watched in horror as he added a second arm to the machine. The clattering of mechanics seemed deafening as he switched the dildo out for something fatter. On the upper arm, he added a short, thin dildo.
“Relax, chica,” Valentino soothed as you trembled in fear and anticipation. “You’re almost done with your casing call.”
“What are you-?” The sound of a bottle clicking open cut your words off. Cold, slick wetness ran down your center, running over the puckered muscle of your ass and down your folds.
There was no doubt what he intended to do as he brought the machine close again. The head of the bottom cock nestled easily into your opening. For a moment, he tinkered and adjusted things and then the second cock was pressing against the tight ring of your ass.
The machine came to life again, slowly pressing the cock into your weeping cunt. It fucked into you slowly, steadily. Every part of you tensed as the second cock came to life, pressing into the tight ring of your ass. There was no hesitation or mercy, just a blind mechanical push forward.
It breached the tight muscle of your ass, pushing deeper and deeper, slick lube covered surface ensuring its smoothe entrance even as you trembled and gasped. The feeling of being filled in this was foreign, but pleasure lingered just under the painful burn of your opening being forced wider and wider.
“Can you cum like this?” Valentino asked, voice still so uninterested and business focused. “Can you cum from penetration alone?”
“I-” you gasped as the pace increased, two plastic cocks fucking into you again and again. “I haven’t.”
“I’d like to see if you can.” Valentino walked around behind you, watching the machine fuck into you faster and faster for a moment before changing the angle of the arms.
Your moans picked up in earnest with the change. The cock within your cunt slamming into something soft inside you, sparking sharp pleasure on its way to kiss your cervix.
The cock in your ass rubbed against the other, each thrust a violent reminder that you were stuffed full. The machine creaked slightly as the cocks fucked into you faster and faster. Each thrust drove you closer to the edge.
“You moan well,” Valentino observed from behind you, admiring the way your body swallowed cock before walking around you again.
That you were interviewing for a job with his productions no longer mattered to you. Was it that you couldn’t remember or that you just didn’t care? Pleasure was all you cared about. The way the cocks fucked into you and the pressure of the sawhorse against your body was what you cared about.
You only cared about how close you were to cuming. Valentino knelt in front of you, lifting your head by a handful of your pink hair. Locking eyes with him, the man who put you in this position was all it took for the coil to snap.
“Fuck,” you moaned, long and loud as your body tremble, unable to do anything but take the cocks. Strong convulsions ran through your core, gripping dildos in a desperate attempt to still them, to milk them. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
Valentino watched you for a moment longer, taking in the way saliva dribbled from your lips as you cried out again and again, orgasm giving way to sharp overstimulation. He stood after a few moments longer, walking around behind you to check the state of your holes.
He found they were soaked. You had made quite a mess of things at the moment of your orgasm. Valentino hummed as he powered off the machine, pushing it back from you until the cocks left you with a squelching pop. For a moment, he just stood there, watching your twitching holes. That always looked good on camera, too.
“You’re hired.”
Join us at VoxTek for a Vox themed Hazbin Discord where we talk Vox, Hazbin, writing, reading, art and who knows what else. You may even catch some exclusive sneak peeks at upcoming fics from some of your favorite writers including the first page of the next chapter of MisD a day early!!
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top 3 fave bbys in the burrito show (bonus SUPER LONG tags on how i feel bout the characters)
#my art#boruto naruto next generations#sarada uchiha#shikadai nara#inojin yamanaka#in no particular order except sarada is my fav- i think she shouldve been main focus- girl brings all of og team 7 together at all times#just her family history alone is very interesting and i WISH we had seen a convo with sausage boi about her uncle and just everything#but shes a pretty solid character on her own- VERY good mix of both parents yet still being her own self#shikadai is funny i really like seeing him- hes a sight for sore eyes- bro got EVERYTHING from his dad minus his eyes and maybe hair#his dynamic with boruto being besties is really fun to watch- sarada too- with both shika and sara being geniuses and all#i love inojin's simplicity and how ordinary he is.... its... realistic?#hes artistically talented yes with his ninja art stuff but everything else hes kinda... mundane? at times even bad?#Considering every other prev gen child's got all these cool stuff goin on- i like that hes just... kinda normal... i like that about him#boruto i actually do like as well- he'd make a GREAT support character- i love how big bro he is and how he wants to stand up for others#hes a lot like naruto in that way- and might be a hot topic to say this but i also like how - in his very first arc- boruto hates the hokag#not his dad but internalized that the job took his dad away from him- regardless on criticism i think that concept is really neat#i am not well versed in what the story is now for boruto- ive just kinda picked my snacks on what i wanna watch lmao#but i do wish there was more showings of slice of life for all the kids- cuz they are all really interesting- especially for prev gen's kid#>>wished they did timetravel arc with sarada so we coulda seen young sasuke & sakura interact with boruto and sarada T_T#one last note: borusara is very interesting- but i actually prefer them just being friends- at most friends with crushes on eachother#i do think its cute but i like the dynamic of it being unrequited idk its new for me i just prefer them as friends with crushes lmao#prob cuz they work as characters independently Im not really interested in ANY of the new gen hookin up- borusara is the most interesting#i mean it IS the ONLY one being pushed canonically but i like it- that boruto looks out for sarada and sarada worries for boruto#but ya i wish boruto was like mitsuki in being a side character - i think a LOT more people will find him less annoying that way#though- i REALLY want more sarada and sasuke dynamics being shown- actually the uchiha fam a TON more than what we got#they are just SUPER interesting to me lmao#im a sucker for the emo boy turns soft and has family and bonds with their kids- its one of my favourite things in media#i feel like scraping the ocean floor when im trying to find quality sasuke and sarada art pieces and story stuff#cuz ive exhausted all the content in these past what 2-3 years of knowing both boruto- and now more recently - naruto#(yes im one of those people who knew boruto before naruto- smite me)
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just to make this clear, im not doing much better, but the messages i did get helped a little bit and i plan to answer them too, i just cant do it all at once q-q
#ganondoodles talks#personal#the little bit of it helping got me to talk again at least#though im not sure how much ill talk about oc stuff since its extremely dear to me and generally less intersting to people#which is both a good and a bad thing#bc it doesnt encourage me to do soemthign more active with it#but also i am horribly afraid of the possibility of it blowing up at some point and getting the fandom treatment#like .... i want people to like my original work#but also ........all these characters are like a piece of me and the story has been evolving from toys i played with as a kid#its the old contradiciton again#i want people to know and like them but also dont want it to turn into fandom tm with shipping fights or whatever#its highly unlikely to happen but you know .. anxiety never stops at logic lol
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