#but i always end up feeling like people see the conflict as an obstacle? a thing to get past so we can get them back together

[lgbtlunaverse]

I don't think we talk about xiyao exes to lovers enough. I understand that in canon the "breakup" ended with death and imo it was never going to end any other way (I have a lot of feelings about how jgy is doomed from the start) but even in aus where survival is an option I barely ever see their full potential realized. The fact that there is this heartbreaking gap that is between them now, and yet that, despite it all, they can't stop loving each other. When you have drama this good, why is the conflict relegated to outside threats and we end up with little to no exploration of internal strife, of the fact that these guys have been living a domestic lie for a decade (I cannot stress this enough, the amount of parralels between xiyao and jgy's marriage to qin su are staggering.)

And let me be clear I will NEVER begrudge anyone their hurt/comfort and wanting their faves who are denied happiness and peace at every turn to find it. god knows I need that sometimes. Or even the less healthy but so emotionally devastating fics where the caring isn't good, and it doesn't fix anything- might only make things worse, actually- and xichen ends up recreating his father's fate. I love all of those things. But. Man. This divorce was over 11 years in the making it should take AT LEAST that long to resolve. What do you do when the person you trusted the most lied to you for years? What do you do when the only person who's ever believed in you loses that faith so completely they'd hurt you over a lie without hesitation? I need me some xiyao who try to get over each other for 20 years and fail. I need them to meet after not seeing each other for years and have it hurt like no time has passed at all. I need arguments where no one raises their voice but that feel like a screaming match anyway. Do you see my vision?? Do you see what we could have?

(if fics that do exacly this are out there, recs are of course welcome)

[year2000electronics]

i think obsessive/selfish/misguided love or “harmful” love in general as an antithetical theme to gravity falls’ theme of love and family makes so much sense. if you think about it, a lot of the conflict in the show is born out of selfishness and obsessiveness and loving people as objects or means to an end. obviously, you have the big examples like gideon for mabel and giffany for soos, but every time both sets of the pines twins have butted heads, it’s usually been because of that too. just in like, a different way.

stan and mabel are both relying on dipper and ford to stay anchored to them forever to secure their happiness, and even though it’s a totally okay thought to have and dipper and ford weren’t in too much of a rush to consider their feelings, it’s a bandaid solution at best! dipper ends up NOT leaving because that’s the right thing for them but it’s not totally because the pines twins are a “set of two” who can’t be separated. it’s a decision they make mutually! mabel even says that she would be okay with dipper taking the apprenticeship, she just needed a minute to be frustrated!

and then of course you have stan and ford where stan leaving ford meant stan would lose his only friend, but even in their adult years, they clearly still love each other (ford and stan both apologizing profusely every time they land a devastating enough hit) but their selfish desire to have the other admit they’re the “villain”, to have a scapegoat to blame a whole series of factors on, overtakes them and buries that love. even as old men they’re still trying to get something out of the other before anything else (ford’s house and name, stan’s “thank you”). stan and ford want to love each other deep down so badly but this giant means to an end is in the way

you even see that sort of motif with characters like dipper and pacifica, where dipper’s crush on wendy almost always has negative results because, not only can it never be due to the age gap, but every time he tries to court her, it’s usually in the way a prize is to be won. he makes an itemized list of a process that is “guaranteed” to impress wendy, he literally brakes the laws of space time just so robbie won’t date her (as if one single snow cone is keeping him from his success), gets a job at the pool just so he can hang out with her, and jumps at the opportunity to prove robbie is evil. etc etc. and with pacifica it’s clear that her parents’ love is very transactional and conditional. if EVEN that.

so the fact that book of bill is setting up bill to be like a clingy ex to ford- more than that, it’s setting up ford to be the only human bill cares about THIS much! it feels like the ultimate way to tie bill to that theme of how love can harm as much as it can heal. like, he’s always been an obstacle to the pines’ happy ending, but this way, we see his reaction to love in his psyche play out, and you understand why he’s the opposite and obstacle to the pines. the stan twins hurt each other and it takes an entire show’s worth of growth for them to fix it. gideon hurt mabel but him letting dipper and the group into her bubble proves he’s willing to change. bill hurt ford and he throws a temper tantrum and denies everything, trying to use force to get things back to the way they were because in his own twisted way he really does love and care for ford. i’m sure even a traumatized millenia old dream demon could change but for now bill doesn’t! and that kinda makes him and ford’s relationship the perfect tie in to the themes in the show

[astrodice]

PAC: you and your imposter syndrome

this reading can tell you about your imposter syndrome and why you're not an imposter

🗣️ take what resonates and leave what doesn't. excuse my grammar/spelling mistakes if there's any.

Pile 1

Your imposter syndrome comes from fear of losing, fear of being not good enough. You might overwork yourself to the point of exhaustion. It's like you're always preparing for worse.

It seems like recently there was a situation where you've planned something ahead, actually put your hopes high for the first time but something went wrong/got cancelled. For some of you it was a rushed decision that you regret now. Basically, something went not according to your plan and that really made you feel more like imposter.

You're not an imposter because no matter the circumstances you always act wisely, you're an excellent communicator. You need to remind yourself that a few mistakes don't make you less of an intelligent person.

key words: exhaustion, fatigue, obstacles, delays, lack of growth, impulsiveness

Pile 2

Your imposter syndrome comes from focusing on negative past experiences. There is an extreme amount of mental angst. I see that there was a connection with someone that have ended on bad terms, or there was someone who made you feel inadequate.

Right now you have an opportunity to move on, to start something new but your past haunts you, causes you anxiety and make you feel unsure about you choices.

You're not an imposter because you're enough. People might judge you, misunderstand you but it doesn't make you inadequate. You bring something new, unique and that makes you stand out of the crowd.

I see luck coming your way after you done healing yourself. Soon you will feel more relaxed, calm and secure.

key words: failure, regret, fear, anxiety, empath, intuitive, endings, depression, healing, independence, success

Pile 3

For this pile I'm seeing a very specific scenario, so it might not resonate with many people here.

Recently some you were promoted, got a raise or become like a team leader. Which made you feel like you need to meet some sort of standard, that is required for your position. You also might feel like there's a pressure from you team members, like you have to do you work perfectly, so other people won't judge you or think of you as an unqualified worker. To sum up, there's a feeling that you don't deserve what you have.

You're not an imposter because you're very disciplined, reliable and practical. You're perfect for your job and your team is very lucky to have you. If you're facing conflict within your team, you have to step up and set rules/methodologies that can help your team work better.

key words: collaboration, authority, mentor, new position/project, public reward, success, burden, partnership

[st4rtar0t]

Tarot reading: What vibes do you give off to strangers?

Picture one

Cards : knight of wands, The emperor and two of swords

When strangers encounter you, they might feel your infectious zest for life. You give off this vibe of being adventurous and always ready for something new. People might see you as someone who's not afraid to take risks and explore uncharted territories, and that can be pretty exciting to be around! I see that they might sense a strong sense of confidence and self-assuredness. You give off a vibe of being in control and having a clear plan. People may perceive you as someone who's organized and can handle whatever comes your way. Your presence might make them feel like you've got your life together, which can be quite reassuring.They might also sense that you're someone who takes their time to weigh options and doesn't rush into things. You give off a vibe of being thoughtful and considerate. People might feel like you're a good listener, someone who's open to different perspectives and doesn't jump to conclusions. you give off a unique blend of vibes. On one hand, there's that adventurous, energetic side that makes you seem like a fun and dynamic person to be around. On the other hand, your confidence and sense of control can give off an aura of reliability and leadership. And then, there's that thoughtful, considerate side that suggests you're not one to make snap judgments. These vibes combined make you an intriguing and well-rounded individual in the eyes of strangers. You're likely someone who can make people feel both excited and at ease when they meet you.

Picture two

Cards : Page of cups, 9 of wands and 10 of swords

First up, that youthful, dreamy vibe - it's like you're this open book of emotions and experiences. People can sense your readiness to dive headfirst into new things, to embrace emotions as they come, and to explore the world with fresh eyes. You're like a cup waiting to be filled with all these exciting feelings and ideas. And that's probably why folks find you super approachable; they see you as someone who's up for some real, heart-to-heart conversations. It's like you've got this welcoming aura that says, "Hey, let's chat about life and all the good stuff. It's like you've got this invisible armor, a cloak of resilience. People can pick up on your determination and grit, like you've been through some real battles and come out even stronger. There's a protective aura around you, a vibe that suggests you've faced your fair share of obstacles and setbacks, but you didn't back down. Instead, you stood your ground, and that makes strangers see you as someone who's not to be messed with. You're cautious, in a smart way, and that's something they respect. It's like you've experienced some major closures and endings in your life. Strangers might sense that you've put certain things to rest, that you're not dwelling on the past. There's this air of closure around you, like you've accepted the finality of some situations. And it's not just about endings; it's about transformation too. People might feel that you've undergone significant changes and personal growth. It's like you've faced your own dragons and emerged as a stronger, more evolved version of yourself.

Picture three

Cards : 5 of wands, knight of pentacles and 4 of cups

When strangers first meet you, they might sense a bit of inner conflict or restlessness in your energy. It's like you're constantly juggling ideas or ambitions, which can sometimes create a sense of tension around you. But don't worry; this isn't necessarily a bad thing! This inner struggle often stems from your desire to make things better, to improve yourself and your situation. People might notice that you're not one to settle for the status quo. Now, let's talk about your approach to work and responsibilities. You give off vibes of someone who's incredibly diligent and dependable. People might pick up on the fact that you're the kind of person who takes their commitments seriously. You're like the knight of pentacles, always focused on the task at hand and willing to put in the effort required to get things done. Your dedication and reliability are qualities that strangers can appreciate and respect. On the other hand, there might be moments when strangers perceive a certain level of indifference or introspection in you. It's like you have your own world of thoughts and emotions, which can sometimes make you seem distant or disinterested in what's happening around you. The four of cups suggests that you might occasionally miss out on opportunities because you're so wrapped up in your inner contemplations. But this introspection is also a part of your charm, as it hints at depth and complexity in your personality.

_________________________________________________________________

This is my very first post here. Please let me know if this resonated with you 🤗

[vibingandsimping]

Another drabble as I work on more long headcanons and oneshots/fics… they’re in the works y’all.

Forewarnings: Age difference mentioned.

A friend and I were talking about Zevlor and I have come to realize I love older men. (Who said that? Not me.)

Longer blurb… got a little carried away.

You knew that since you saw him atop the Grove, Zevlor was a sight. A fiery red tiefling with sharp horns that curled upwards. In all honesty, from the distance, all you could make out was his general being was sharp if his chiseled features were anything to go by. Blade slashed and spells whizzed across the outside as you and your companions fought off the invading goblins. Everyone managed to hold their ground and survive while the foe was temporarily vanquished. The gates raised and you entered with heavy pockets. Your first stop, initially, was to trade with the local shopkeep. Those plans were soiled when you saw him arguing with one of the humans who led the goblin pack. With eavesdropping ears and peering eyes, you concluded he was about to explode on him.

Ever the savior you were, you interrupted and defused the situation. Yes, the human male’s mistake to lead them back here was idiotic… it did not warrant any further violence. One life was lost and that was a win itself. Things could’ve went worse, you reassured him, as he inhaled deeply from his nostrils with a look of growing shame. He seemed conflicted still and apologized but all you could really focus on the character he was. His face and voice showed his age- Zevlor clearly lived a healthy portion of his life. Yet, he seemed to be marking all the right boxes. He was humble and mature enough to admit his wrongdoings even in a noble cause. He wanted nothing more than to protect his tiefling family. Tiefling or not yourself, that was admirable.

After chatting, you ended up agreeing to clearing out the camp of goblins. Part of it was your nature and a more selfish part was to earn the favor of the fine aged man you’d met. Plus, it seemed to also benefit the druids. Two birds with one stone kind of deal. That in itself was a feat and there were quite the… obstacles along the way. You made sure to visit the grove and make conversation with him when you could. He was often found in the seclusion of his chamber, rather stressed actually, but always spared you the time to chat. Quick conversations evolved into learning more about him. Harmless gazes and smiles (which, you’d say his smile was about the most devilishly charming) turned into fleeting glances and sheepish. It was like he was fighting his nature.

The last time you visited him in the Grove was to announce the news of the liberation. His eyes widened and he stammered in shock that you even managed to do it. As emotion overwhelmed him, he drew you into a tight squeeze and thanked you in such a tone you knew that you saw him more than a newfound friend at this point. His touch was warm and tight, it made you feel safe. It was much too short for your liking and he cleared his throat with an apology for the outburst. You simply excused him politely with a blush and prepared for the celebration they’d throw at your camp that night. Your mind wouldn’t wipe of the man as you adventured, painfully distracted.

When you arrived at camp, everyone seemed settled in and already pouring their drinks. Voices sung, people danced and others staggered. They were the lightweights and got drunk off a goblet or two of wine. None of it seemed to interest you, though. Eyes darting along until you spotted him standing off by himself. Your heart pang at the sight- he should be enjoying himself. He was your first stop that night (and you sure did notice a certain vampire brooding as you strode right past). A soft expression enveloped his features as your stomach churned. He was too attractive for his own good. The two of you talked and he reminisced on the fact that seeing his refugee’s enjoy themselves was enough for him. He quietly thanked you once more as his gaze devolved into something more… intimate. There was a hesitance- a vulnerability. It seemed as if he was heartbroken before… possibly secluded? If you weren’t reading into things, he surely held some sort of affection for you. He regarded you whilst you two spoke as if you were unobtainable. Whether that was the challenge of your companions or believing he was too old for love.

You sought out to prove him utterly wrong. Even if he was an older tiefling, he deserved to live out his years with someone by his side.

(If you made it this far… I was tempted to write MUCH more. If you guys want a continuation or such let me know. More than happy to supply.)

[young-royals-confessions]

Just pitching in since I see so much discourse about will they or won’t they that I think we kind of lost the essence of the story: I mean yes, Netflix is promoting the whole are they going to be endgame or not, tune in to find out but I think that’s just a generic marketing tactic.I’ve honestly been ignoring it.

Also, Lisa doesn’t strike me as the type of writer that would push only her own personal agenda or politics to a tv show, especially one that has critical acclaim as yr. That’s not what true storytelling is about. Please bear with me (apologies in advance for the long response !) but here’s my v long winded reasoning:

The theme has always been love v. duty & the monarchy is the enemy. Wille is on a Hero’s Journey - he is ultimately the Main Character; the Young Royal. What’s great about The Hero’s Journey is that it’s easy to follow and makes for great storytelling despite its predictability. I think some people here may have touched upon this so I am simply expanding:

As a viewer, we follow Wille and get to know him. He’s a likable character and we easily root for him and feel for him when we learn about the power dynamics in play; specifically how he feels caged as a prince. Then we enter into a Call for Adventure: him falling for Simon and the high stakes he enters when his brother passes and he is now Crown Prince.

This, then, propels the story forward, given the stakes are stacked up and it’s not looking good for Wille, especially after he/we find out August was the offender for sex tape leak.

After that, we enter into The Refuse to Call for Adventure; i.e, the hero (Wille) realizes he must face the challenge. We also step into the Meeting the Mentor, which is Boris, who helps Wille learn how to stand up and ultimately fight for himself (and Simon). While I see others thinking that W might push everyone away, including skipping his appts with Boris, I do not think that’s the case. Boris was set up to be the Mentor that W needs to realize the challenge he’s been facing and we may continue seeing him open up to Boris.

This will then allow W to “Cross the Threshold” and reinforce the central theme and conflict of the story - if W continues to stay with the monarchy and his obligations as Crown Prince, he cannot choose Simon. Love or Duty? Which will prevail?

S3 crosses that threshold and produces tests and obstacles that would make the fight for his relationship w S so much more complicated (basically everything we saw in the trailer). This stage in the Hero’s Journey is meant for the audience to doubt the Hero - Wille. It’s already a testament as we are debating if W is going to denounce his title or not just from the 2 mins of what we saw from the trailer. It’s intentional. We need to doubt in order for the central theme to drive home and also portrays the monarchy to be the overarching enemy of this story, without Lisa forfeiting her own political statement.

We enter the next stage of the Journey - which is the Cave - meaning the Hero and protagonists need to regroup and prepare for a counter attack (generally speaking) because the tension is continuing to rise and there are outside forces that wish to disturb the Journey (in this case, public opinion? paparazzi? Hillerska shutting down?).

Next, we enter the Ordeal - which makes the Hero break down bc he enters a mental barrier and is pushed to a corner. However, the Hero, typically comes out stronger after this stage in storytelling.

Ultimately, we reach the end: The Reward. The Hero makes the “attack” or choice and defeats the enemy/antagonist.

Imo, with how everything is set up, I do think it’s set up for W and S to be together in the end at least the end of the show (everything else after is obviously left for the audience member to interpret).

I have no doubt that W & S are going to come up on top and still be together in the end bc like some people mentioned - what would be the point? It was never a question whether they would end up together. The question is if Wille, our Hero in this story, would make the final choice and choose between love or duty. I think Wille would choose love. What better way of making history, especially with everything that’s been happening in real events, then choosing love? That would make for a strong ending.

[imaginepirates]

I love your take on potc characters and your headcanons for them. It’s just amazing. If it’s not a bother, I was wondering how do you think those characters would be as a parent? I mean we haven’t seen much parenting even for those that had kids in canon.

Ok so I actually have a few posts about this for James (hc)(hc)(hc) and Barbossa (fic) but! I can always expand. I also have one for Beckett (hc) since I'm obsessed with the idea.

Jack – Oh god. This is such an interesting question, because I firmly believe that Jack is actively against having children. He really and truly cannot fathom the idea of having kids of his own and being torn between caring for them on land where they can lead good lives and being at sea where he himself is happy. It’s a moral conflict he just can’t bring himself to face. His idea of what a child’s life should be like is shaped by his relationship with Teague and the ways in which he recognizes his own childhood lacked structure and support. He knows he can’t be the parent he needed when he was younger, and is thus against having children at all. If he were to have kids of his own, he would have to make the painstaking decision to leave them on land. A pirate ship is no place to raise a child; it’s dangerous and unpredictable. In his eyes, the best place for a kid to grow up is in a place of more stability, where they might have a better chance at finding a legitimate profession and keep themselves out of the trouble Jack has lived in his whole life. Rather than having biological kids, I can more see him acting as a sort of father-figure to a lot of young boys who end up working on the Pearl, teaching them the ropes and watching as they grow in their abilities and confidence.

Elizabeth – Elizabeth would be an interesting parent to have, for sure. I think her relationship with motherhood would be something very complex. For one, she has nothing to go off of, having had no mother of her own for most of her life. With her father gone, she can’t ask his advice, either. She’s such a fiercely independent and active person, too, that mothering may feel like an obstacle for her sometimes. That being said, I think she loves her children dearly and wants to do her absolute best for them. She teaches them all she knows—from proper behavior at formal functions to sword-fighting multiple enemies at once. She’s going to have the most well-rounded kids of all time, tbh. I’ve always kept this image in my mind of her showing up to a meeting of the Brethren Court with a kid just strapped to her front in a sling across her chest, and nobody says a damn thing. This also works as a method of volume control because nobody dares raise their voice and make the baby cry. I have an intrinsic need to see this happen, actually. I love the idea of her kids having pirate baby-sitters half the time when she needs to do something dangerous; Pintel and Ragetti act as honorary uncles, Barbossa as a granddad. Jack is the wine aunt. In all, her kids probably lead a kind of busy, chaotic life with people coming and going throughout their childhoods, but they have ties to an abundance of people who simply adore them. 

James – The most devoted, doting father ever. James is terrified to mess things up as a parent, and is always worrying that he won’t be any good at it. He adores his children and has unparalleled dedication to them. He wants them to have a good scholarly education, something he never had, but if they choose the military over school, he’ll personally oversee as much of their training as he can. He’s a deeply caring father, too. Though not good at expressing his own feelings, he’ll do anything for his children when they need him. He wants them to feel safe when coming to him, something he could never do with his own father. He makes sure to spend quality time with his kids doing things that aren’t school or work, instead playing games or taking them out riding or reading to them. When the kids are young, he’ll take naps with them on his chest, holding them close. He recognizes that he may have to be absent for long periods of time due to the nature of his job, and it tears at him. His greatest fear is going to sea for months while his children are still relatively little and coming home to find that they don’t remember him. Thus, he works hard to be as present as possible while he’s home, wanting desperately to make a positive impact on their lives. 

Will – Honestly, I feel like Will would make the most sane parent. After resolving things with his own father, he’s one of the people with the fewest daddy issues, and actually has a dad to ask questions of when he needs advice. Will feels like a very relaxed parent, not putting a lot of pressure on his kids. He was poor for most of his life, and though he wants better for his children than he had for himself, he also knows that happiness can be found working simple jobs. He’s very open to his children’s wishes and interests, and he’ll support them in pretty much damn anything. He definitely advises not becoming a pirate, though. Assuming the curse has lifted for him by the time he has children, he spends a lot of time with them. If it hasn’t, then he exploits loopholes and just has his kids come aboard the Dutchman as often as possible. He wants to be a presence in the lives of his children, and takes active steps to ensure it. I think he’s a little in awe as he watches them grow up, so impressed by all the things they accomplish, doing things he’d never even dreamed of when he was their age. He’s their number one hype man, too. 

Beckett – I have…feelings about Beckett as a father. He’s not a particularly present one, given that he has zero knowledge on how to take care of kids. There’s a nanny, no question. He doesn’t really know how to properly bond with his children, but does ensure that they get the best education possible and that they have access to a wealth of resources. Especially as the children start to get older and enter society properly, he has a good time with them making snarky commentary about the social scene. Sass is the name of the game. Speaking of games, I do see him as the type to enjoy chess, and he feels a wave of pride whenever his kids beat him. He’s overprotective and possessive—he refuses to let his children suffer in fear as he did when he was their age. He has Mercer with them as a bodyguard whenever they leave the house. If anything happens to his kids, Beckett is not above having the person responsible killed. I think he has a certain terror of being alone, and though he’s not the best at socializing with his children, he never truly wants them to leave.  

Barbossa – Hector is another doting father. He’s led a rough life, and though he doesn’t want that for his children, he’s not above taking them to sea when they grow old enough to sail. Before that, though, he leaves them on land with someone else, coming to visit every so often bearing gifts from all the places he’s been in the meantime. He can afford some degree of comfort for his children, too, and he certainly doesn’t spare that expense—if he can’t be there for his children, they’ll want for nothing else, dammit. Barbossa can’t give up his pirating ways to raise his kids on land himself, which is unfortunate, but the truth. If they do choose to go to sea, he takes them on as cabin-boys (or girls, he doesn’t give a fuck), and lets them learn and progress just like everyone else. I think he’d be happy to have them around, though a little concerned for their welfare. He knows better than anyone how dangerous a life at sea can be. Still, he isn’t too worried; he’s a realist if nothing else, and knows that there are chances for both good and bad. He puts effort into teaching his children and making sure they’re safe and cared for, but he’s a bit more hands-off than some of the others so his kids don’t feel like they’re suffocating. He lets them learn things for themselves, but makes sure they know they always have a (sort of) stable place to return to should they need it. 

(also, if there’s anyone else you’d like to see for this, I think I could probably expand on the list)

[eliotquillon]

Your Cameron timeloop fic sounds so cool! I don’t write timeloop usually bc it stresses me out to write but I love it as a reader and a concept. What kind of gave you the itch to write it - like what are you finding super fun about it?

OKAY SO time loop stories are kind of my white whale; always wanted to write one, have about 6 different drafts for different fandoms dating back as far as 2017/18, and never really managed to pull it off (apart from a one-shot i wrote 3 years ago, and that was less ‘time loop’ and more ‘reincarnation’—the loop wasn’t an enclosed time period). time loops are so interesting to me because they’re a physical manifestation of what is (usually) an internal conflict of some kind; the loop is a metaphor and a way for characters to work their shit out, but it’s also real, and brings its own set of problems. in groundhog day, phil’s loop forces him to confront his own cynicism and become a better person; in russian doll, nadia and alan’s loop forces them to process their own trauma (with the addition of them dying at the end of every loop); in undertale (i would argue that its save/reload ‘memory’ and the fact that you have to play it at least twice for the true pacifist ending qualifies it partly as a time loop story), the loop forces the underground to reckon with its desire for freedom and what they’re actually willing to do to get it. it’s an external obstacle that forces internal processing, and that is FUN but also scary as hell to write. my gut instinct whenever i consume a new character-driven piece of media is always to daydream ‘well what if there was a time loop?’, because for me it is THE ultimate blender to stick people in and see what comes out.

why i chose cameron (and the events of hunting specifically) is a bit more complicated. first things first: i love cameron. i love WRITING cameron, because time and time again in the show there’s a clash between what she believes abstractly and what she actually finds herself capable of following through on, and that’s a fun internal/external conflict. can you see where i’m going with this. and cameron is having…a TIME in early s2. the premiere of s2 literally has her going through the stages of grief in order, and that foreshadows the next few episodes pretty well for her. she’s not happy, and stuck in a rut, and everyone can see it—the other fellows, house, wilson, even the TB doctor. and it’s not like she’s going to just pack up and leave—she’s worked hard to get where she is! she’s fought so hard to be taken seriously! it’s got to mean something! and i think she’s been feeling that way a while (for example, why does a person like cameron apply for a job under house in the first place? he’s the best there is, but they have very different beliefs and attitudes towards patients, and when she finally leaves the fellowship she turns around and ends up doing something completely unrelated—i think it’s because she’s looking for meaning even back then). hunting is such a great episode because it brings to a head what’s been bubbling under the surface for a while now: secretly, a part of cameron does want to change. she suddenly has the perfect excuse to throw caution to the wind and do something different. and it’s tragic because of course it turns out that the patient is lying to her, that he’s just as unhappy as she is even with all the partying and casual sex, and ultimately cameron comes away from that episode with a better understanding of herself but…she’s still unhappy, you know? she’s determined to act like it didn’t happen and move forward. and the great thing about a time loop is that it forces you to confront things. the only way out is through. that’s why the loop is set the day after she does the meth, and not the day before: if cameron were stuck in a loop of that day, the first thing she’d realistically do is. Not do the meth. and not call chase. and since the main point of this fic is to force her to confront the aftermath of that, it has to be the day after. she can’t change the past, but she can (and will!) change how she deals with it.

i’m also interested in hunting because of cameron and chase’s conversation in lockdown, when she tells him that she slept with him on meth because she was starting to already have feelings for him and it scared her and she pushed it away. because like. this is entirely characteristic of cameron. i 100% believe this is what happened. there is also zero fucking evidence from the writing that this is what happened. there are occasional callbacks to cameron’s HIV scare later in s2, and the fact that she’s slept with chase before gets brought up in s3 during the fwb era, but between hunting and insensitive cameron and chase basically act like none of it ever happened and most of the s2 drama is between cameron and foreman instead. so this is kind of a fix-it, as well: i’m bringing those feelings to the surface and making chameron happen earlier because this time there is no running away. the fallout of this is gonna vary—@all-pacas wrote up a very good meta recently about how chase’s provoking of the patient’s brother into suing him in the mistake very likely happened a day or two after he slept with cameron, and therefore that might not happen if him and cameron actually TALK ABOUT THINGS and he doesn’t hoard up more guilt and frustration—but there will be a happy-ish ending. i say ish because ultimately this isn’t really a ‘shipfic’ and therefore things will be a bit messier than they are in, say, groundhog day, but the fic will end with them together and things will be better than they were at the beginning.

anyway this fic is so crazy fun to write for a lot of reasons, but what has really taken me by surprise is how much i’m enjoying writing FOREMAN into this fic. cameron is spiralling (time loop) and chase is concerned and house is intrigued and meanwhile foreman is just stood in the corner going ‘guys 🤨 anyone gonna fill me in 🤨’. one of my fave parts of the first chapter is the section where cameron starts drawing a clock to see if she has encephalitis and then is like ‘wait the clock will look normal to me anyway. What if i email it to foreman. Nevermind he’s going to think i’m insane’ lmaoo. foreman and cameron were actually decent friends in s1 (never forget him shovel talking house and saying he considers her a friend) until articlegate, and in s3 it’s revealed he knows she has a brother (and chase didn’t!), so i’m putting foreman/cameron friendship BACK ON THE MENU. he will probably still steal her article anyway but she wouldnt be as mad about it. not that this fic is going to cover articlegate but yknow

anyway thank you for letting me be very self indulgent and yell about this fic LOL

[firsttarotreader]

can u please do a little reading on how the man is feeling rn (after finally winning some nice award)? 🙂

Hiya! Let’s see what the cards say about how he might be feeling right now, shall we? The first pull was the 8 of Coins, Ace of Coins and Queen of Cups.

8 of Coins means he could feel like he needs to keep working. He understands it’s about working every day, diligently, and learning the skills he needs to learn to do his job in the best way. He’s a hard worker and he feels like he just needs to maintain his routine and work. Ace of Coins points to him feeling so lucky and prosperous and wealthy, and he sees so much potential in his career. It’s that raw potential of being able to do anything. Queen of Cups shows him being caring, compassionate and sensitive. He worries about other people’s feelings, and he considers them.

The second pull was the 3 of Cups, 5 of Swords reversed and 4 of Coins. 3 of Cups means PARTY! He’s super happy, celebrating the hell out of it, with friends and family. 5 of Swords reversed points to him feeling like it’s time to leave the losses and defeat behind. The conflict and obstacles and pain are still very much alive in him, but it’s like he can understand now it’s not worth it to cling to his wounds. This card also reminded me of the way Sag-Aftra helped him when he was feeling defeated and gave him the resources to keep going. 4 of Coins shows him, again, feeling like he got everything he’s always wanted and worked so hard for. He could even be afraid to lose it now. He’s holding that success and win very close to his chest (maybe in bed with him, like be said his award would be lol).

I then asked for one card to sum it up and it was The World. He’s feeling on top of the world right now. He went through all the trials and tribulations along the way and he now feels like he reached the successful “ending” of a journey. He got what he wanted.

So as you can see, the man is enjoying every second of it. Now we can put this reading in the #confirmed readings tag because we have a lot of confirmed bits. First, this video about going to work every day, the “no’s” he got not being important anymore and how his union was important to help him deal with the worst times:

Then we have him saying it’s all for his girlfriends and guy friends on the internet, like the Queen of Cups:

Pedro celebrating with his friends:

Saying he’s gonna keep his award in his bed with him:

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A post shared by Pedro Pascal Fan Account (@pascalispunkmania)

[noveratus]

Ok, I have just finished listening to the new WTNV episode and based on reactions here, a lot of people are having issues and while I agree it wasn't perfect, it's not for the reasons most people are, so let me give my two cents. Spoilers below

Alright, so let's start with the elephant in the room: People are upset that apparently nightvale is affirming that all abuse is cyclical and you cannot escape from it. That's literally not true, if anything, it's quite the opposite. What the Palmer lore has told us is that, yes, abuse cycles can be broken, you can always become a better person than your parents *however* it does require someone to make an attempt, to realize their own flaws and start working on them. You can only be better if you want to be better, which is the key difference in Kevin and Cecil in their respective arcs. Cecil wants to be there for his children, to his family, he wants to love them unconditionally and give them a better life than his father and mother ever gave him, and his relationship with his sister and in law and how much it has grown, even if he doesn't have the memories of their talks, is the best example of that. He is growing.

Meanwhile, we have Kevin who is someone who refuses to see his issues, who refuses to admit his flaws and uses religion and the idea of a perfect city as an excuse to hide the trauma he has endured. I know want him to be ok, to realize his wrong doings and be ok because people like Kevin but that just isn't how his character works. He is a tragic character. There is no way to put it. He is his own father, his own creator and his own greatest enemy as the boy wanted Kevin to be killed, possibly so he wouldn't end up like him, but ultimately he failed to realize what and how he would break the cycle. Its not through violence, its not through power and he didn't want to see that. He is a tragic character. I know people wanted a happy ending, but it's just not the character's point. He wasn't poorly written either or our of character. In fact, Kevin remains one of the most well written characters in the show.

No. My issue with this episode comes in the form of Tamika and Mother Lauren because I think that Mother Lauren was a genuinely interesting antagonist, however, she was done dirty by being so tied to Kevin. Despite the fact her actions affected all of Nightvale, all of her story was essentially solved by just Kevin and I don't know why the writers didn't just focus on that? Like, instead of having she fuck with the whole city, imagine if she just took young Kevin offering him the power to become stronger than his double while Cecil and Tamika tried their best to get him back, but he didn't want to. It ultimately ends with him trying to escape, getting absorbed and only being capable of being rescued by adult Kevin who takes him to be raised. Hell, maybe you can have Lauren's power to start reaching the other citizens, but she ends up feeling so powerful that it just falls flat. She is so powerful that she doesn't even have a goal anymore she just exists and a character without a goal isn't a character, it is just an obstacle. Compared that with the last arc with the university of everything that was genuinely terrifying, not because they held absolute power, but because the power they did hold affected the characters in a way that truly threatened them and changed their way of life.

Worst of all though, is Tamika. I don't know what the show is trying to do with her character anymore. Time and time again, she is shown that just diplomacy and talking without any actions doesn't solve any conflict. I thought that they were trying get her to be somewhere in the middle, someone who while doesn't enjoy violence, isn't passive as she has been lately. Someone who takes actions, pacifist actions, sure, but actions nonetheless but time and time again they just keep using her as this passive moral ground that is technically in the right, but never actually does anything about it and seeing what what she used to be, it just sucks, but hey, I still have hope. Maybe this is the point, maybe they are building her up and we will finally get to see Tamika grow to be, not extremes of violence and pacifism, but somewhere in the middle.

Mother Lauren though, I have no hopes for. After this ending, even if she does come back, she will be relocated as just a joke, a punchline for the arcs related to Kevin and the DOW that we might get in the future. That being said, I think it would be interested to see more residents of the other world as antagonis, like Charles for example using the intellect Carlos often uses against nightvale instead of in favor of it.

Also, I've seen some people complaining about this as well, so I will briefly tounch on it, no, Carlos didn't do much this arc, but I'm fine with that as the previous arc was essentially his arc and in character I can see his actions as being due to pressure and trying to get used to his new job as he has a much important role than before so he can't just fix all of Nightvale's problems anymore. I would like to hear more about his research and such, c'mon Cecil, you are lacking there, brag more about your husband pleaaaaaase.

All and all, I liked this arc, but I do agree that the ending fell flat in the sense that they misunderstood what should be focused on. You don't need to have an eldritch horror take over the city to have a worthy finale. You can have just a boy and a beloved character being taken away and get so close to a good ending only to end up being doomed by his own actions. Nightvale is not great because of the eldritch horrors, the aliens, and the magic. It is great because of the characters that were able to grow thanks to this environment and sometimes just focusing on these characters is enough.

[nicolesainz]

Fake it, till you make it (CL16)

Charles Leclerc x reader

Warnings: angst, mostly kissing, enemies to lovers. Everything on this shot is purely fictional. (I mention the break up of Charles, but the reason mentioned here aren’t true)

“Eh come on, you’re not enjoying yourself! I thought this would be fun” Carlos whined as he saw my smile leaving my lips.

“I am having fun. Truly” I wasn’t even looking at Carlos. With the corner of my eye I had noticed Charles sitting in the middle of the bar with a few empty glasses surrounding him.

“I know that Charles bothers you but tonight he won’t. He’s not in the mood to tease you”

“How do you know that? Maybe he’s faking it”

“Charlotte broke up with him”

My body froze for a moment. Charlotte had been with Charles for a handful amount of time. Followed him at almost every race and even when not attending, posting about it on her insta. She was very supportive of his career. This was unexpected.

“What? When? Why? How?”

“Slow down there! Well, they broke up a few days ago and the why, is kinda complicated”

“What do you mean complicated?”

“With the pressure of wanting to win the championship and constantly being away, even during holidays and staying close to the factory, can seem like you neglect your partner”

“But..but that’s his job! What else is he supposed to do? He’s got no choice. Sacrifices need to be made”

“Don’t tell me, I know it firsthand. Maybe Charlotte didn’t want to be an obstacle on this dream and also wanted to focus on herself too.”

I’ve never felt bad about Charles before. Ever. I always ignore and mock him, because he constantly finds a way to insult me somehow but now, I felt sympathy for him.

“Oh. Well, I hope he gets better soon. Breaks ups happen in life. People come and go”

“You should have told that to yourself when you broke up with—“

“Ah ah ah! That’s not the same. Definitely not the same case Carlos. I was cheated on. They had scheduling conflicts.”

“So, why was Charlotte at the podium today? Why did she come all the way to Abu Dhabi?”

“As a final goodbye to him. Before dating, they were friends too, so why hang up on him now? A friendship shouldn’t end because a relationship did”

“I guess you’re right”

“So at least you should enjoy tonight! I don’t want another grumpy person around. Go find Isa and the girls”

“I will. Thank you Carlos”

“And if you need me anything, I’m over there with Lando”

I simply nod and pave my way towards the bar. I know it was a really bad idea to even go there, but something tempted me to do so.

Charles’s head was facing the hard wood of the bar’s surface and his hand was holding a semi finished vodka shot. Suddenly I felt a pinch at my heart. No no no, this is not happening!

What do I do now? Do I say sorry? Do I console him? Do I drive him back to the hotel? I don’t know how to drive a Ferrari what am I even thinking?

“Hey Charles” was all that came out before I received a groan as an answer. Great!

“Do you need any help? Want me to take you back to the hotel?” Finally, he raised his head and looked towards me. His eyes were red and sore. He was in an awful state. No matter how much I disliked him, I didn’t enjoy seeing him like this.

“What do you want from me Y/N?” He said before drinking the last sip from the shot.

“To help you! You’re drunk and apparently in a horrible state”

“Wow, what a way to make a man feel happy. Thanks”

“Ugh! Just tell me if you need anything. I’m trynna show some sympathy here”

“I don’t need you to pity me Y/N. Go find someone else’s ass to annoy”

“Fuck you Charles! Keep acting like this and you’ll remain alone”

Before I could move away from the chair, Charles grabbed me angrily by the arm.

“What did you say?”

“Stop being cruel!”

“Or what? I’ll die alone? I don’t care anymore. As it seems no one cares about me either! So it’s a win win case”

“You’re not letting anyone help you that’s why!”

“And why should I? I don’t need anyone to pity me after a hard time”

“I am sorry”

“Are you mocking me right now Y/N? Why are you apologizing?”

“Because of what I said”

“I don’t need your apology. I wasn’t offended”

“Ok fine, you know what? I give up. Have a good night Charles”

I release my arm from his and go to where Carlos and Lando are sitting. It was wrong to try and comfort Charles. He’s heartless anyway.

“Hey, I saw you at the bar with Charles. What did you say to him?” Carlos asked the moment I sat down next to him.

“I asked him if he needed anything, but was a total dick to me, so I gave up”

“Give him some time Y/N. I get what he’s going through. I felt like shit when me and Luisa broke up too. It wasn’t easy. I know you’re just trying to help” Lando tries to relax me with his words

“I understand that feeling too, Lando, but he could have at least declined my offer in a nicer way”

“Oh uh” Carlos exclaims

“What?” I looked at him quizzed. Then I turn around and see an angry Charles coming towards our way.

“Can I talk to you Y/N for a moment?”

“No”

“Y/N!” Carlos and Lando both look at me with raised eyebrows!

“Please. Just for five minutes. Then I’ll let you to your peace”

I raise and follow him towards the bar once more.

“I acted like an asshole before. I am sorry Y/N. You simply came to help me and I just got all cranky with you for no reason. I’ve been in the shambles lately and my mood is not exactly the best it’s ever been. Please forgive me.”

“You did act like an asshole and you were pretty mean for no reason, but I forgive you. I get it”

“You get what?”

“Break ups are never easy. I am so sorry. Carlos told me the news”

“I was kinda expecting it to happen. At least now she’s free and won’t have me as her burden”

“You weren’t her burden. You were someone she loved and didn’t enjoy seeing so broken and pressured most of the time”

“The past few months had been shit and I wasn’t exactly nice towards Charlotte. She deserves better than this.”

“You’re a good man Charles. And you deserve to be happy too. This season had been mostly painful but you did the best you could. We are all proud”

“I’ve actually never heard you say a good thing about me, so could you please repeat that so I can voice record it” he cracks up a joke to lighten the mood

“Hey, I’m trying to be nice here. And that’s the truth though. You gave it everything” I flash him a kind smile and probably the only smile I have in the two years I’ve known him.

“Thank you Y/N. Carlos is a smart man for having you around. You’re very sweet and I don’t deserve this. I should be sorry for all the things I’ve said about you. You realize I don’t mean them, right?”

“Wait! You don’t? But I thought you disliked me?”

“For what? Being nice and supportive? Are you serious? I was only teasing you to make you a bit mad. Because I am mad about you! I remember you during the podium celebration at Monza. It was one of the toughest races I’ve had this season and even though Carlos wasn’t on the podium, you were there for me. To cheer and be happy.”

My cheeks blushed in milliseconds. How does he remember me being on the podium celebration? I wanted to congratulate him, because even after getting pole, he lost the first place, which was heartbreaking. And hold on, did he say he’s mad about me? In like, the good way?

“Y/N?”

“Yes” our eyes had never locked this way before. It felt like he was looking deep into my soul, trying to find a way to say that “it’s okay, we are good now”

“May I kiss you?”

I don’t reply to him but simply connect our lips. I could feel a smile growing against his lips, but he immediately hid it and put more of himself into the kiss. His hand caressed my cheek and held my face firmly. I couldn’t believe that I was actually kissing Charles. The kiss was becoming even more deep and hungry. Sadly, he pulled away to take a breath.

“Oh, I wanted to do this for such a long time” Charles confessed and my jaw immediately falls on the floor.

“I think I like you now, Mr. Vice Champion”

“I think I’ve always liked you”

[guessimabasicnerdgirlnow]

All of this being said, I do think the people who didn’t like it only because symbrock spent most of the run not bonded together are being foolish

Of course this probably doesn’t mean much since I am personally an enjoyer of their moments of mutual hatred too (which didn’t happen in this run, as we all know, their actual divorce makes whatever little moments of conflict they had now seem like children’s play), but

I feel a bit like I did in the beginning seeing non shippers of the non tumblr side of the fandom complaining too about them being separated. I think I had some of the same arguments I have now:

It can be nice to see them existing without each other! I actually love that they managed to do it without making them hate each other like in the actual divorce! They can get to have their own individual conflicts, and individual flaws, and individual relationships!

I’m particularly not a fan of Symby being written as just an extension of Eddie, which happens sometimes. I like it when they are a whole person

Besides, just them being bonded means nothing sometimes when for example in 2018 they seemed like they didn’t even like each other. Do you remember the anti-psychotics, I can’t forget the anti-psychotics. That was shocking for me to see after having only watched the movie

And it’s not the only example, they had their whole toxic era before the divorce in the 00’s, and there are all the canon AUs that go fully in the corruption route…

Did this run always portray their relationship well when compared to my personal view of it? No. There were moments in it that bothered me a lot. The Dylan author really fucked up in how they portrayed Symby before the paternity reveal, for example. The backstory recap in Venom War: Spider-Man was a little weird. While I personally was convinced by it, I can see why some may think Eddie eventually becoming Meridius makes no sense. And they did retcon Sleeper into having been born from a vacuum

But them being separated was not the issue. Did we all miss the whole thing that Eddie becoming distant from the ones he loved, losing his feelings and humanity, is what doomed him and almost the entire world?? Or that Symby learned to see that their feelings are not a poison?? They got Spider-Man’s blessing, of all people, to go back to Eddie, who loves and needs them??

They didn’t get to get together again in the end but it’s not because they don’t belong together. It never felt for a moment that they didn’t belong together. This is just the conflict, the obstacle in the way to keep the story going. They both sacrificed themselves to save their kid (and in Eddie’s case, to save Symby too). Their separation in the end was too an act of love

[sharingfandoms]

So like in your tags under the bb vs msp poll I saw you mentioning that msp was bad written and tingun aren't as healthy as people claim they are.....and I was like YEAH!! EXACTLY!! But I wasn't able to pinpoint it. Would you mind elaborating on those tags??

ohhh wowwwww my first ask!!!!! of course i will. i am also really happy that someone agrees since i kind of always found myself pretty alone in this lmaooo. thank you for your question!!! much appreciated! ♥

First claim: MSP is bad written

Yes, it is. For many reasons. I will elaborate on the main two.

It kind of presents itself as some sort of heir of Bad Buddy, but the comparison is pale to say the least. The main characters don't really have any reasons not to date. They could date in secret from the very start, as soon as they realize they both have feelings for each other, and then come out as an actual couple as soon as the whole music contest is over, or something like that (even waiting for another year until they graduate could be a valid choice tbh). No particular drama needed. They could still go to each other's houses and make out all day in bed while Gun's mom is working, or go out somewhere public without their classmates present and have a real date.

The actual conflict that makes them star-crossed lovers is ridiculous at best. The mere idea that a school club in high school (well, Mattayom actually, but whatever) would have a rule like that is genuinely stupid - like, it's not even 'club members can't date', but 'those who are in this club and going for Hot Wave can't have a faen'. Like, hello? What if I've had a faen before joining this damn club? I'm supposed to break up with them because some idiot thinks that'll make me more focused on singing and playing music? Are you fucking kidding me? I'm only accepting this as something not entirely crazy and fucked up if there's some cultural reference I'm missing behind it (if things really work like that anywhere in Thailand, then apologies, pretend you never read this last complain; but I did look it up on the internet and didn't find anything about it). It'd still sound stupid, but at least it'd make sense. It was something so out of the blue that just felt like the opposite of plot armor: something made entirely just to create an obstacle to the love story of the main guys once their path was clear and they were both sure about their feelings (if that's such an important rule, why didn't it come up sooner? It felt like watching a kids show, where threats gradually become scarier the more our protagonist becomes stronger). Regardless, like I said, it was not that bad for them.

Pat and Pran are star-crossed lovers because the parents they love and admire - and are economically dependent on - hate each other and actively tried to keep them apart, causing trauma and pain on both ends. They can't get rid of them. It's not highschool, it's not a damn music club you'll eventually get out of (soon enough!!!). It's their whole life. It's the people they love the most who are trying to oppose their relationship (not to mention their friends as well, while Tinn and Gun have full support on that regard). They feel guilty, they feel sad, they don't want to have to say goodbye to their fucking families in order to keep their relationship going. This is serious, and complicated - and practical, as money does buy happiness after all. This will last, probably forever, until their parents will finally come around and accept things are the way they are - we see a glint of it happening in the last episode, at least. Compared to this, Gun and Tinn are fine, really. Even a teenager should be able to see that. The writers didn't have to go out of their ways to make comparisons that martyr PatPran's symbols, like having them use the word 'friend' instead of 'boyfriend' as an 'inside joke', or their colors, or anything at all really, only for them to be related to a fucking school club rule.

The secondary couples are bad handled, which is a shame because I was genuinely interested in Sound and Win at first. I even dared to hope - fully aware I was fooling myself, but at least hoping it was going to be a fun road to something interesting and original! - that they would have actually written an aromantic/demiromantic character in this drama, based on what Win says to Sound in episode 10. But then everything that episode was supposed to be a build-up for in terms of their bond just suddenly disappears in the next, when they're somehow in an established relationship already. Great? Would have been nice to see that happening on screen, I guess. I suppose that's what happens when you WASTE so many episodes around only two characters (TinnGun), relegating focus on your secondary couple (I won't even mention the third couple, since there isn't much to say about them tbh) in the last ones, making it rushed and kind of pointless (this also happened with the feud between Tinn and Sound, which never got explained to the viewers for some reason; okay). And they even get an explicit PatPran reference at some point towards the end of the drama, which makes me cry and not in a good way - poor babies, don't worry, we'll all just collectively forget your outfits and cans were even brought up in MPS in the first place.

Second claim: TinnGun are not as healthy as people say they are

I want to be brief with this one, because people are going to hate on me anyway, and I don't feel like writing a whole ass essay on those two. All I have to say is: if this couple had been heterosexual, people would have probably hated it. With how much double standards affect the way people perceive female characters and straight relationships, all those traits that make them state Tinn is a green-flag and a lovable simp would instead have them assert that he's a succubus, that he's not indipendent enough, that he's only obsessed with the guy and doesn't actually love him, and that he doesn't do much in the show other than being the love interest. Usually, when people say these things related to female characters, they're wrong - and just being mysogynistic, hating on any girl who dares to have a cute crush on a guy. Ironically enough, in Tinn's case, they wouldn't even be all that wrong.

Like I said, I don't feel like elaborating much on this issue, unless anon really wants me to - then I'll dive into it in detail in another post. But, like, genuinely, Gun really pissed me off at times, he often takes Tinn for granted (I'm thinking about that one moment where Tinn tells him he's not going to make it to one of their rehearsals and he gets mad about it, as if Tinn hasn't been at his disposal the entire fucking time; that scene really made me feel uncomfortable, because if I were the one who had been so helpful to anyone at all, just for them to treat me like that as soon as I have a problem of my own and can't attend to theirs, I'd be genuinely disappointed; and yes, I know that Gun will later change his attitude, but I feel like there was no weight placed on this matter, as if him finally acknowledging Tinn's struggles and effort wasn't a turning point in their story but more like something optional that just kind of happened), and I feel like their relationship is often unbalanced on many aspects.

I won't elaborate on all the other claims - "he's obsessed with the guy", "he doesn't do much in the show other than being the love interest" -, but I do genuinely believe there should be more dialogue about them in the fandom. I never once read anyone complain about these issues, and I know for a fact they'd have come up immediately had it been a female character in Tinn's place.

[7serendipities]

Four Ways to Read Tarot Reversals

A couple of months back, I was doing an in person reading for someone who said they were somewhat new to their own tarot practice, and as I walked them through what I was seeing in the cards we’d laid out, I made a note to also explain some of the “Why”, and that turned into a short explanation of the four ways I usually read reversals, which I thought I’d share here!  And: major shout-out to Lynda Hardy, who gave a presentation on reversals about a decade ago, which really helped me organize my thoughts about them and understand them better, right as I was beginning to branch out and do readings for acquaintances!

I don’t always use reversals – some decks I never let the cards turn upside-down, sometimes I’ll turn the whole deck back upright before drawing, and sometimes I’ll just tell the deck not to bother because I’m going to read them all upright.  When I do use them, though, the first thing I do (as an intuitive reader) is try to feel what kind of reversal it is, by sorting them into one of three broad categories: Delay, Internalized, Shadowed, and Opposite. 

Delay

This kind of reversal means that the standard meaning of the card is still going to happen, but it’s going to take longer than it normally would to come about.  This delay can mean that some cards that are often understood to mean something happening soon or quickly can unfold over a longer period, like Death or the Tower.   In a “past” position in a spread, a delay reversal can either mean a lengthening of the past into the present, or a very long-term past pattern stretching into the more distant past.  This is probably the type of reversal that changes the meaning the least.

Shadowed

Shadowed reversals change the meaning only a little bit more than the delayed type.  For the shadowed meaning, the basic meaning doesn’t really change, but any negatives are emphasized and put front and center, and any positives are downplayed.  Even overtly positive cards like The Sun can be dimmed by a shadowed reversal, becoming a sign of “probable success” instead of a sure thing!  A lot of tarot cards are pretty neutral, but have aspects that can become negative when taken to an extreme, and that’s when I most commonly see shadowed reversals in a reading.

Internalized

An internalized reversal most often means that the conflict in the card is something the querent is feeling internally.  For example, the Five of Wands is usually understood to be about conflict, disagreement, and competition – all external, normally.  If internalized, that card could instead mean that someone is in disagreement with themselves, or that they’re feeling stress from what they perceive as a competition, though the other person doesn’t have a clue what’s going on.  This same kind of internalization can also mean that the actions associated with the swords and the material things associated with the coins/pentacles can become more about the querent’s inner world, their mental states and emotions.

Opposite

Opposite meaning reversals are probably the best known, and they are the type most people are familiar with, and the type that you’ll most commonly find described in the booklet that comes with a deck.  Positives become negatives, endings become beginnings, victories become losses, solutions become obstacles.  In booklets that don’t have keywords for reversals, it can sometimes be a little challenging to come up with opposites, but its important to remember that sometimes the opposite of a neutral thing is just a very different neutral thing.  For example, The Heirophant represents spiritual tradition and religious authority when upright, and the opposites of those two things might be developing new spiritual practices, and a neophyte.  None of those things are inherently negative, but they’re opposites of each other. (And before anyone gets on my case about “religious authority” being negative, yeah a lot of people who claim that title are fairly problematic, but it’s not inherently negative as a concept.  People who actually know the lore and the language/culture well enough to explain it to others are religious authorities as well!  It’s the demand for unquestioning followers that is toxic, and that doesn’t have to be a feature of our pagan religions.)

Hopefully that helps some of you get deeper meaning out of your readings!

Reminder: All of my 12-card or 12-rune spreads, and all of the year-overview and life-overview spreads are on sale in my web shop for approx. 20% off, now through the end of January!  No coupon necessary – the sale price is just listed in the shop.  (And look for a flash sale on all divination at the end of December!)  Make sure you’re shopping on my website, though – I have an Etsy shop as well, but the sales won’t be active there.

[feralkwe]

top five worst tropes, in your opinion?

ooh! a tough one, because there are so many tropes, and so many categories of trope (character trope, relationship trope, plot trope) that i could make a list just in one of them. but just generalized off the top of my head, no specific category:

5. amnesia. oh my GOD i hate an amnesia plot, especially when it is the only thing preventing the conflict from being resolved, or used as the conflict keeping a ship apart. the closest thing to an amnesia plot i have ever liked, and i feel dirty giving terry goodkind anything related to a compliment, but the chainfire spell in the last two sword of truth books was actually compelling because *everyone* magically forgot the character in question existed, every touch of her was wiped away in an actually cool concept. it's too bad tg wrote the most insufferable male protagonist ever committed to the page. he seriously ruined the entire series by existing. i wish there was a chainfire spell to make me forget richard rahl.

4. the misunderstanding. if your whole story arc/plot/reason a ship can't sail is because of some misunderstanding that could have been resolved with a reasonable conversation, you've lost me. it's uninteresting to me. it's just so flimsy as a concept that it cannot carry the weight of a compelling story. it makes the characters feel shallow. come up with a better obstacle. i believe in you.

3. deus ex machina. i love a good twist or unexpected turn, but babygirl you gotta leave us crumbs that lead us there, even if we, the reader, might be too dumb to see them. idc if it's a random convenient power introduced at the exact moment it's needed or a literal deus ex lowered on a crane to solve the problem. if it's too convenient without any context clues, i'm gonna be annoyed because i feel cheated. leave that stuff to the theatre professionals. you're not an ancient greek.

2. the perfect protagonist everyone loves. no, i don't mean mary sues as they've been smeared across fiction everywhere. i love me a mary sue! more people should be so bold! i mean the characters who never seem to have conflict with anyone ever. everyone is their friend. no one ever argues with or challenges them. no one is ever annoyed with them. wronged parties forgive them right away, even when they are wrongity wrong wrong. even the pc of an rpg runs into personality clashes with their closest companions and have to rng their way out of it. give me a little grit or friction, please! bonus irritation points if the characters just bang and it's all forgiven.

1. the love triangle. just... heck off i am so tired of it. no one writes it in an interesting way anymore. it's always obvious who will pick who in the most boring way. more often than not the third person is just mistreated and left hurt and alone or as a lazy plot device to keep the main couple in conflict. let me balance the scales of my terry goodkind compliment from earlier by saying that he did this most egregiously to my poor girl nikki in confessor, building her up in a relationship with the horrible protagonist who did not deserve her until the last minute when she helped rescue his real love. then he just... discarded her. it's boring. give me (believable, well developed) polyamory or find a better conflict for your obviously destined to be endgame couple. heck, even give me a person who genuinely loves both people and *tries* while slapping on a bittersweet ending! if your third person is disposable then your character did not earn their hea*.

*i purposely left off the hea. that's a post of its own.

[em-writes-stuff-sometimes]

Hey,

Post Rooks rest or even after another member of Team black dies, I think that Rhaenyra’s small council might try and convince her to kill Daeron. I mean think about it: in the unlikely event that aegon, and his baby sons are killed off as well as aemond, that'll still leave bebe Daeron alive. Bebe Daeron would be King Vs last living son, and in the eyes of many, including possibly nobles pledged to Rhaenyra, would always pose a threat to her reign. For example, if Rhaenyras peacefully ruling the realm but some Lord feels slighted by her, all he would have to do is rise in daerons name even if bebe daeron himself is loyal. Some people may disagree with the king naming Rhaenyra heir, due to their own different legal opinions, e.g., council of 101, rhaena and aerea being usurped by jaehaerys first of his name, and may use bebe daeron to undermine her regardless of his own personal loyalties. Just by virtue of being Viserys's last living son, bebe Daeron would always pose a significant threat to his older half sisters reign: in the eyes of many, he'd be the rightful king even if Rhaenyra won the Dance. It would give Rhaenyras character a real moral grey moment if she considered doing it but eventually decided against it because she doesn't want to lose Daemon and Babey's support. Sorry for the unhinged ranting, thanks.

Heeeeeeeey, boo!

I have been debating where to go with this down the road, and honestly it would be a great way to further incite some conflict because personal infighting during war is FUN and also one of the big points of the whole Dance; they both suck, neither can operate cohesively, loyalties are wavering etc etc. I can see Rhaenyra unwisely choosing to act on advice to at the very least leverage Daeron as some sort of hostage to try and get the Greens to back down, eventually raising the stakes to outright considering executing him on some calculated charge to remove obstacles to the throne. Also a way to get the ball rolling on Rhae being a bit more unhinged - like Daenerys in GOT, she begins committing atrocities (or planning to) in the name of doing what she thinks is right and/or necessary to see her vision of the world brought to life. That’s what starts swaying people away from her after all - and as shitty and tragic as it is (I haven’t done all this damn build up for nothing), it’s a necessary sticking point to the ending I plan to see occur.

Thank you so much for this! Adding to my future plot points tag for later down the track.