#but i still love them as a complex character

[citrusinicake]

ppl who dont understand loving a character while also hating them fascinate me, clearly youve never stanned a complete and absolute dickhead before

[chuunyu]

I've been thinking a lot lately about how Mizuki is kinda too perfect as a trans character. Their family is accepting and they can pass effortlessly. The only issue they have is really the only one that could be left after that point: society's view of trans people.

But while this is great and I really appreciate how Mizuki is written, handled, whatever, it just makes everything about being a regular transfem hurt even more...

I've been working on a 4 hour video essay about Mizuki for almost a month now and every time I replay parts of the story involving Mizuki's sister Yuuki, I just can't help but begin to break down. The way she has never left Mizuki alone when they were vulnerable, the way she's supported Mizuki with everything she possibly could. Her words, her gifts, her clear love for Mizuki is something I wish I ever had. I've always been alone I feel like. I never had anyone who I was able to comfortably share my femininity with. Even now, I feel like that same femininity isn't something I can share with most trans women I meet.

When I see the things Yuuki says to Mizuki, it's just too much. It's this amazing warmth that I never had and I wonder if I will ever get to have. Even outside the story... I just read an alternate timeline fic where Ena's the one who gets Mizuki out of the closet and not Yuuki. Even that like, it really hurts you know?

Beyond Yuuki, the way that Mizuki presumably doesn't have to put effort into passing is difficult as well. Truly their only obstacle is finding acceptance. And well, for them, there is still the existential obstacle of being trans - being born in the wrong body - but it doesn't stop them from presenting comfortably in a way that they're happy with. Meanwhile, I feel like most trans women don't get to pass. I think I've only known one trans woman who passes.

So now there is not only acceptance (which is more complex and difficult if you don't pass), but also this whole aspect of maintaining constant courage against the negativity of society, which is a tremendously heavy thing. And sure, Mizuki deals with this too, but in a different way. The door for them to blend into society is open, but for those who don't pass, the door might be so hard to find that it might as well not be there.

When I compare myself to Mizuki, I just feel... inadequate. I never meant to do it intentionally but the moment it happened it sent me into a spiral.

"I'll never have what they have."

And I know they're a fictional character and are probably an unattainable standard but idk it just, it's hard not to compare myself? Maybe I'm just stupid.

They're just too perfect, despite how "rough" their story is. I think it's really their downfall in terms of becoming the best possible representation and I mean, I was never expecting that from them. It's just an issue with their character I think, though one that couldn't really be avoided with how the writers wanted to execute their character.

Idk, I love Mizuki but sometimes it hurts when I think about them.

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

Let’s talk Fandom

It is my belief there is a major gap between the Haladriel and Saurondriel fandoms. Yes, we all know that Sauron and Halbrand are the same, however, many in the Haladriel fandom clearly don’t share the views/theories of the Saurondriel fandom, which makes me wonder if these fandoms shouldn’t be their own separate thing, to begin with. Mostly to avoid confusion and unnecessary drama between the two, like what’s been happening lately.

Many Haladriel shippers hated the reveal that Halbrand is Sauron, in 1x08 (as it’s their prerogative) and still believe Sauron was deceiving Galadriel, Halbrand wasn’t real, and so on. This is the opposite for the Saurondriel fandom, where shippers felt even more drawn to Halbrand precisely because he turned out to be Sauron, and love a good “Enemies to lovers” ship.

Haladriel shippers usually refer to themselves with this label alone, and never use “Saurondriel” or “Sauron x Galadriel” on their content. We, on the other hand, often use both, and, from my perspective, we should stop doing so. We are Saurondriels, not Haladriels. It’s clear these are two different ships, and shippers.

Haladriel views/theories:

Sauron is a one-dimensional villain and pure evil; and he’s incapable of love;

Sauron was deceiving Galadriel all along, and their connection in Season 1 was one of his illusions;

Sauron was evil from the start, and used Galadriel for his own ends, in Season 1;

Halbrand wasn’t real; he was one of Sauron’s masks;

Galadriel is a pure character who can do no wrong;

Sauron tried to kill Galadriel, twice;

The chemistry between the characters often has another explanation other than being real;

Celeborn is very present in the ship discourse.

Saurondriel views/theories:

Sauron is a nuanced and complex villain; he is capable of love, and is in love with Galadriel;

Sauron never deceived Galadriel in Season 1; their connection was real;

Halbrand was Repentant Mairon, and he, truly, was on a repentance era, until he blew it by choosing deception (King of the Southlands) instead of redemption;

Galadriel is a complex a nuanced character, too; she’s power hungry, proud and arrogant; the perfect foil/mirror to Sauron himself;

Sauron is drawn to Galadriel’s light/darkness;

Sauron never tried to kill Galadriel (+ blood binding theory);

Celeborn is usually absent from the ship discourse

Should Haladriel and Saurondriel truly be seen as the same? When they clearly aren’t, and these are two opposite fandoms with entirely different views of the same ship?

This is the reason I usually don’t use “Haladriel” on my content. I use the tag, but I’ll stop from now on. Because I’m not a Haladriel, my content is not Haladriel, nor do I share their theories or views of the ship. It doesn’t make sense to me, to be associated with them. I’m declaring independence. I’m no longer affiliated with anything Haladriel, from now on.

This is a Saurondriel blog. And a Sauron x Galadriel, too, because I see the ship outside of the “Rings of Power” fandom, and in connection with Tolkien legendarium (Tolkien fandom).

[thelesbianluthor]

I know how it is when it comes to complex female characters so I am not surprised to see how people reacted to Saccharina as a character but I am a women lover and defender so fuck the haters you simply do not understand the greatness of Emily's mind like I do.

Lou, Emily and Siobhan struck gold with the Rocks family dynamic and they managed to deliver a united family front forged by deep love and then a fragile adversarial bond that could not flourish because of Emily's first character tragic demise.

I love the Rocks and I love Saccharina. I do not blame Ruby and Amethar for struggling to accept a new daughter/sister after their loss but the way people talk about Saccharina is honestly insane to me? Yeah she wanted to be loved by them and felt hurt by their (especially Ruby's) instant rejection but she was still there for them and ready to help? People talk about her insecurities and wish for family like she was committing a crime. Like of course they had to stay together and were forced to be constantly in contact because of the way the game and the story works but I really do not see what caused such a negative reaction from people? (I have read about the way some acted towards Emily and it breaks my heart)

I am in awe of the work that was done by everyone in the cast to deliver both the sweet funny moments and the incredibly tense and tragic ones.

I am in the last 3rd of the season and I am just more and more appreciative of the talent and work that everyone has put and keeps putting in each campaign, no matter the stakes or the genre.

[baldurs-writers-3]

Gen Fic 1: A Baldur's Gate 3 Fanfiction Rec List

This week, we have our first iteration of another recurring theme, Gen Fic!

Gen fics are fics where the primary pairing and/or focus of the fic is not romantic or sexual. This recurring theme is to help highlight fics that might not get picked up as often due to searching behaviors.

Check under the cut for seven excellent fics that explore complex platonic friendships, found family goodness, and character deep dives! And as always, comment and kudos if you like them!

Seven Minutes in Avernus by cyranonic (3503, Teen) Content Notes: None Pairings: Astarion & Karlach

While exploring the monastery Astarion and Karlach get sealed into a trap! A box of stone... Astarion doesn't handle it well, but it's a bit too early in the trip for Karlach to really understand what is happening.

Reccer says: His freak out is v. well done, and I love her moment of realization.

Taters by OrangeChickenPillow (1,593, General) Content Notes: None Pairings: The Origin Gang

Karlach might have lost one family, but she gained another (and her new family tells her "taters" with varying degrees of enthusiasm)

Reccer says: I really love team as family and this fic does it wonderfully

Lost in Frozen Fire by SadinaSaphrite (10,333, Explicit) Content Notes: Explicit for torture not sexy Pairings: Astarion & Jaheira

Astarion has a bad time and cannot save himself, even though oh how he tries. Too bad he doesn't have anybody who cares enough for him to come look for him... oh wait!

Reccer says: It's SO SAD how Astarion is hopeful and hopeful until he just has to give up and admit total defeat. Then his interactions with Jahiera are SO good.

Descent into Baldur’s Gate by Starlight_Rogue (19,331, Not Rated) Content Notes: None Pairings:

An Iseki fanfic where someone from this world wakes up as a tiefling barbarian in bg3 and lives through their favorite story

Reccer says: It is an amazing mix having humor with serious moments sprinkled throughout. It is still in progress

Fool Me Once by cyranonic (6994, Mature) Content Notes: None Pairings: Astarion & Karlach

In hindsight, Karlach wonders how she ever came to trust Enver Gortash. A requiem for loyalty in seven moments.

Reccer says: I really enjoy the exploration of Gortash's manipulation methods, and I absolutely ADORE the conversation Astarion and Karlach have afterwards! Friends don't let friends blame themselves for being abused!

Broken Little Puppets by BlackjackKent (1797, General) Content Notes: None Pairings: Astarion & Karlach

Astarion and Karlach talk a bit about how it feels after killing the people who ruined their lives.

Reccer says: The phrase 'And the hunger will never, ever, ever stop.' lives in my brain rent free. That just says it all about Astarion right there. He won, but it didn't undo anything that was done to him.

Apples by AlwaysMauria (2041, General) Content Notes: None Pairings: Astarion & OC (named Tav)

Approximately 20 years before the events of the Absolute, Astarion meets a child while on an errand for Cazador.

Reccer says: I read AlwaysMauria's fic 'Star Crossed', and this one-shot feels like such a sweet supplement to their backstory. It's a sweet interaction, and my new HC for Astarion's 'House of Nightstar' dialogue origin. Def recommend!

The above fanfic recommendations were pulled from our community for this weekly event. Have any questions about what this is? Check out the FAQ!

Next week, we’ll be exploring Worldbuilding Fics! 

[smaeemo]

On the topic of s8 buddie speculation, I think that it’s important to recognize that they are actual adults.

Like these are fully grown men, who are inherently recovering and still mentally growing, but they are not teens or even young adults at this point. With Tommy specifically, my guy Tommy is a fully grown 40 year old, comfortable stable person who is experienced and confident within his identity and relationship. And while Buck has always been a little more immature, he is growing and getting healither and healthier as the seasons progress.

So as of right now Bucktommy is ideal for the two of them, but when it comes to Eddie it is a completely different ordeal.

Eddie’s emotional and mental states are in crisis mode, with chris, SINCE shannon, PTSD, all of above. And with adding in Marisol, and specificlally his relationship with God, this is now a perfect avenue for his queer identity. HOWEVER, With the Chris timeline, there has to be closure on one before the other, most likely chris first.

Here’s what I think will happen BRIEF IDEA

Chris -> Eddie Queer -> Eddie realizes he loves Buck -> Bucktommy break up due to TOMMY realizing this -> Buddie fight -> Eddie & Tommy talk + Eddie and team talk (or carla)-> Buck realizes/eddie tells him(but not fully establishedor resolved) -> DRAMA UNRELATED -> Big emotional AGGHH (Possibly to do with Chris) -> resolve that issue -> Circle back to the topic of their love -> Buck talks to peeps -> DRAMA -> Buddie Canon

(Buck and Eddie can be interchanged in specific parts due to the general theme of the dramas or perhaps the “confession” of sorts)

However my point is…

- Tommy will not be a bad sport and is NOT a bad person or bad for Buck. Wrong person wrong time, but a lovely couple as of right now. Specifically for Buck’s development. (I really hope they strengthen and continue Tommy’s character because I love him, and because I don’t think he should be known exclusively as a catalyst for Buck’s identity, kind of like Taylor was :()

- For Buddie to go canon, the Chris issue has to be resolved first WHICH could come before or after Eddie’s queer realization. Specifically after, perhaps due to his repressed feelings and idenrity becoming a prominent figure in his self care, and willingness to change. AND let go of Shannon IN A HEALTHY WAY. (also parent stuff)

- This is not high school, they are adults. BUCK HAD HIS ARC!! Eddie needs to figure out his shit.

- They are flawed and complex characters, so while yes, this is 9-1-1 so it will be theatrical, it will not be immature.

- It will be MESSY and DRAMATIC and with REALISTIC (ish) themes

-> Think of Bathena, Henren, Madney

- Buddie is a longstanding want from the Fandom, ergo, if executed wrong, there will be an actual outrage (look at how they reacted to Tommy) so this was/will be a very complicated and complex writing!

- OR casually dropped in (I highly doubt this option)

- Most of all, Chris is the main priority within Eddie’s life, so the Chris Arc and EDDIES arc need to take place PRIOR to canonical Buddie.

- Buck has suspiiously not gone through anything this seaosn.. so keep an eye out for that…

- TOMMY IS NOT BAD. I REPEAT TOMMY IS NOT BAD.

-> Not the right longterm relationshup for either of them, but a HEALTHY one

- Buddie may not go canon this season, but it’s still possible THEY HAVE ALL THE BUILDING BLOCKS

- But on a more media related note, please take into account:

-> Actors comfort

-> ABC’s policies

-> And of course, plotline: due to the NATIONAL/GLOBAL want and demand for Buddie, this arc would over shadow most other arcs, so other character arcs need to take place, and really develop before canon buddie

-> Also, please be respectful of other people, actors, and of course writers. As viewers we don’t see so much, and of course all media can be intperetted in many various ways, and even if you don’t agree, please respect and have compassion for your fellow 9-1-1 enjoyers (specifically regarding all of the listed items).

Ok, Stay safe, stay respectful, stay on the watch for potential buddie themes, be patient and most of all, have compassion for all parties involved, fictional and production wise.

[antianakin]

I've found that incorporating Mando culture into the clones' culture just ends up with the clones being impressively boring as a result. Like somehow every single clone always loves spicy food because apparently that's a genetic thing, despite the fact that the clones were presumably always given really bland things to eat on Kamino and would have next to no context for "spicy" foods before they leave and likely very little to no tolerance for it if they ever get a chance to try it.

As for the jaig eyes, I am basically splitting hairs here in order to make them NOT Mandalorian (somewhat out of spite, I'll admit). The symbol apparently was first given a specific meaning in a couple of articles written in 2005 and 2006 (although the symbol itself had been around since the 1980s but without any real meaning attached to it), so it stands to reason that it was put on Rex's helmet in the 2008 film with that meaning in mind. It is INTENDED to be an Easter egg for fans who are deeper into the lore and there's nothing that ever contradicts it in canon. However, there's nothing that actually CONFIRMS it as a Mandalorian symbol in higher canon, either. At no point does anyone point at the symbol on Rex's helmet and say "hey look, Mandalorian jaig eyes!" No one ever asks Rex what it means so that he can explain that it's a Mandalorian symbol for bravery or whatever. It's JUST a random symbol that happens to be on Rex's helmet, unless you happen to be one of those fans that's deeper into the lore. So since it's never explicitly stated to be a Mandalorian symbol in high canon, it is in fact just as canon to say it ISN'T a Mandalorian symbol as it is to say that it IS a Mandalorian symbol.

For me, the relationship that is most meaningful to the clones is the one they have with the JEDI. And yet that relationship often gets sidelined in favor of associating the clones most with Mandalorians. If there IS a relationship emphasized between the Jedi and the clones, it's either supremely negative (like the idea that the Jedi are basically just slave owners or the idea that the clones have to somehow save the Jedi from their own repressive culture) or it's explicitly romantic (and likely sexual). But the Jedi are the ones who canonically help the CLONES discover who they are, who encouraged the clones to embrace their individuality, this is both shown to us and said out loud by other characters. So the clones SHOULD be getting more cultural associations with the Jedi, theoretically, because there's precious few other people they could emulate or learn from, but it's so difficult to find anyone that really wants to explore that complex dynamic when instead they could just make the clones into Mandos 2.0.

And that's why my focus on Rex gifting the symbol to Kanan when he's feeling low and doesn't really know who he is or who he CAN be after he loses his sight is more about the relationship between clone and Jedi than Mando and Jedi. If it WERE explicitly a Mando symbol being treated as a Mando symbol, it feels like it would be more significant to have Rex sharing it with SABINE, the canon Mandalorian, who also hits a low point in season 3 and has to face her fears in order to reconnect to her family and her home.

The reason Rex sharing his symbol with Kanan hits for me isn't because it's a Mando symbol, but because it's REX'S symbol, the thing that made him unique as a clone among millions, that he is sharing with the Jedi he CHOSE (because as much as he cared about Anakin and Ahsoka, he was ASSIGNED to them as far as we know and he didn't CHOOSE them). This is the man he chose to follow, and by sharing that symbol, he's telling Kanan that his lack of sight doesn't change anything for him. Kanan's still his Jedi, no matter what, because it wasn't his eyes or his fighting skills that mattered to Rex, it was Kanan's HEART. And given Kanan and Rex's rocky relationship up until that point, it's a signal of Kanan's acceptance of that dynamic between them, as Jedi and clone. Rex chose Kanan, and now Kanan is finally choosing Rex back.

Now, all of the sudden, you can take this gesture from just being "oh Rex shared a piece of Mando culture with Kanan to say that he's brave, how sweet" to something infinitely more nuanced that digs deep into who Rex is as a person, Rex's relationship to the Jedi in general, and Rex's relationship to Kanan specifically. You said you prefer to look at the clones' culture from the perspective of what it's like to BE A CLONE and that it's more interesting that way. You can do that here, too! Even if something is TECHNICALLY Mandalorian (ish) in canon, you can literally just pretend it's not to make it more interesting.

I'd love to hear some of your headcanons about clone culture that's separate from the usual Mando stuff! More people should have non-Mandoclone headcanons!

I've decided that Rex is the one who paints Kanan's eye mask with his bird of prey design.

Kanan's feeling pretty low still just after Malachor, he's still distancing himself from everybody, and Rex decides to go try to talk to him at one point and the first thing he comes up with to say is to point out that his new mask is pretty plain. It's awkward, he regrets it immediately, but then Kanan says that it gets the job done and Rex is abruptly reminded of himself so so long ago back at the beginning of the war.

He sits Kanan down and tells him a story about how, at the beginning of the war, only a few of the clones had paint on their armor, to designate things like rank and battalion in order to make it easier for officers to find them in the middle of a busy battlefield. The paint was practical and it was limited to a very select few. But the Jedi almost immediately started trying to encourage the clones to utilize the paint less sparingly, suggesting that maybe everybody could wear at least a LITTLE paint and use more individualized designs so that it was still easy to tell the commanders and captains apart from the others when needed.

Some of the clones had taken to it with gusto, but others had been more hesitant, and Rex remembers having been one of them. He remembers telling Obi-Wan that there was no real REASON to paint everyone's armor and especially not to come up with personal designs. The armor was practical and it served its purpose with or without the paint and special designs. But the Jedi had insisted on at least TRYING to come up with his own design and if he didn't like it, he could always take it off, so Rex had given in and chosen something to paint on the armor. And, somehow, it felt a little lighter the next time he put it on. It didn't erase the horrors of war or the pain of loss or anything like that, but it helped.

He tells Kanan that the mask right now is just a reminder of the pain of the injury and whatever other feelings he's still got all caught up in the Malachor mission (guilt over what happened with Ezra, grief over Ahsoka's loss). But if he puts his own design on it, it might turn the mask into something other than a constant reminder of something bad. Instead, it's a reminder of who he is, the combination of the person he once was and who he's become. He is more than just his injury or this mission and he can use the mask to declare that if he wants to.

Kanan says he never realized Rex and the other clones had cared so deeply about their armor and Rex says that the armor itself was meaningless. It's better than what's being handed out to stormtroopers, but not but a LOT. It was the design on it that had meant something and, more than that, it was what the design REPRESENTED: having a choice about how you were perceived by others.

Kanan asks why Rex had chosen his particular designs, the bird of prey eyes on his helmet in particular. Rex explains that he chose it because he liked birds and thought it looked cool, but he's kept the helmet for as long as he has because it's come to mean something ELSE now. It's not just a cool-looking design, it's a reminder of a better time in his life. It's a reminder of when he'd been a part of something greater than himself, with the other clones and the Jedi. It's a reminder of a time when he'd had hope that he and his people could one day come out the other side of this war towards a brighter future.

Kanan looks at the mask he'd grabbed from storage somewhere or something just to keep light from hurting his eyes as they recovered and to cover up the injury from other people's stares (even if he couldn't see them staring), then hands it to Rex and asks if Rex minds sharing that symbol because he'd like a reminder of that, too. Rex remembers the 332nd and their helmets that they'd painted to look like their chosen Jedi, almost blindly giving away their individuality in favor of that loyalty that had been stripped from them anyway. And then he looks at Kanan, choosing to make himself look LIKE REX, someone who had shared his face with millions once, because he wants to honor both the connections he'd lost as well as this new connection the two of them have built together now. And Rex says he'd be happy to share.

[rosettastarlight]

I’ll be perfectly honest, give me a chance to talk about my gay dead sons with anger issues, and I will never shut up. I will take that inch you give me and run with it.

Like, yes, give me more of my rage-filled boys that respond to their trauma in a socially-unacceptable way and don’t know how to respond to genuine kindness and so lash out.

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

EPIC fans: what else was Odysseus supposed to do?! Scylla was the only way home!!

Me, an intellectual: there WAS a way for Odysseus and crew to get past Scylla without one crew member dying. They previously had a bunch of Sirens at their mercy, so if they so wished, they could have used six sirens to satisfy Scylla’s price.

After all…ruthlessness (to others) is mercy upon ourselves

[crazy-fangirl2524]

I know we say Neil Josten is constantly mischaracterised by the fandom or even himself but you know who is the most mischaracterised in the entire series?

Andrew minyard by all the characters except for Neil, Renee, Bee and Wymack

[miusato]

Honestly the main attraction for Shinjiham is how contrast their personality is and it is always funny for me to think about how people around them would react if they found out they're dating in this AU lol

[shannonsketches]

Why is the anime so weird, it's not even the same series dude?? It's like,

Anime:

GOKU: I have a great idea to bring peace to the universe, and my leadership and compassion alone will unite us all. I have No Flaws and am A True Relatable Everyman :)

VEGETA: NO! I AM THE BEST AND I WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS UNTIL I AM RECOGNIZED AS SUCH!!!!

Manga:

GOKU: Vegeta what's cornmeal made of? I know it's what the corn eats, but what's it made of? VEGETA: Hey Kakarot let's play the quiet game until one of us dies.

[sukibenders]

Aegon, Aemond, Helaena, and Daeron looking at Alicent after she washes her hands of a war, that she (and Otto) dragged them into, and the throne, that she (and Otto) forced them to grasp/fight over even though they obviously didn't want it, and goes off to live her best life while they are all still stuck in a cycle forced on to them without their input (obviously this is about the s2 final):

[sysig]

Pretty clothes for you! ✨ (Patreon)

[bookshelf-in-progress]

If I could write stories as quickly and vividly as I can envision them, I would have written at least three lovely novellas in the last week. Two of them this morning.

[luck-of-the-drawings]

OH ARTHUR BENNETT.. such a gorgeous and intriguing character. terribly burdened by a GRUESOME set of crimes, his light suffocated by a HEAVY century of GUILT. so tragic, so dark and broody, and yet PAINFULLY awkward in any social setting ever