#but i think they understand that pain on a personal level

[secriden]

Oh!! I think-- I think I just had a revelation:

So this moment?? I think it shows us that Fadel thinks that the core of why he's so hurt and angry is that Style was "work[ing] for the police" and "fooling me and my brother". I'm drawing attention to the wording specifically, because it suggests that (to Fadel) the betrayal was about Style getting to know him to find proof of his crimes. That the issues between them are grounded and tied up in the whole hitman/killer secret. Specifically, this focus distances Fadel's pain from being a personal betrayal between just Style and himself.

And yet even when Style confesses that he worked for the police and was tasked by Kant to distract him, Fadel remains relatively calm and collected in his anger.

The thing that does get an almost out of control emotional response, though? It's Style's declaration that his love for Fadel was genuine. This, Fadel could not handle; this, was agony so deep and so profound that it caused a reaction that is the only time we see Style genuinely afraid of Fadel.

But I think this is why Style hasn't bothered to clarify that (a) that he only found out about Fadel's secret after they became boyfriends, (b) that he didn't technically work (directly) for the police and (c) that their initial meeting truly was a coincidence. I've seen a few people wonder why Style continues to allow Fadel to misunderstand these aspects of the circumstances -- and while I'm sure part of it is just the writing/pacing choices of the show, on a character level I wonder if Style isn't defending himself because the distinction does not matter.

Style understands that Fadel's hurt stems not from whether Style approached Fadel because of a genuine attraction at first OR whether Style was working for the police -- but at the centre of Fadel's agony is the simple fact that he thinks Style faked who he was, and that this false display was so utterly perfect that Fadel's tumble into love nearly shattered him to pieces.

(God, the way Fadel has this almost involuntary reaction of confused agony every time Style refers to him as faen. ;A;)

It's why Fadel is constantly trying to see beyond what he thinks is another mask, and why Style devotes himself to being exactly who he is to an almost obnoxious degree. I would argue that more than any other episode -- more even than Episode 1 or 2 (because he did, actually, have ulterior motivations then) -- we are seeing Style as he truly is: not just unfiltered or unedited, but with a purposeful lack of pretension.

This is also why all his focus this episode was to show Fadel that Style truly does know Fadel and is choosing Fadel with his eyes wide open to all that he is.

But this isn't new; Style has been doing this ever since he could, ever since Kant told him the truth and Style had to decide if he was going to keep pursuing Fadel. Because by the end of episode 5, we get this:

[Style] pours the secrets of his knowing and choosing Fadel anyway into the way he presses his lips onto Fadel's skin. [...] Style's kisses contain a purpose that Fadel's kisses couldn't in Episode 3 because in all honesty they were relative strangers back then. -- quoted from this post comparing the storeroom scene with the one in Style's bedroom.

Style knows that everything Fadel fell in love with is still here, still untainted and genuine; because Style fell in love with the truth of Fadel, not the lies, and so all Style really needs to convince Fadel of is the sincerity of his own love. The timing of it doesn't matter, nor does the technicalities of whether or not Style was working for the police through Kant. None of it matters more than Fadel understanding that neither of them fell for each other's masks.

So Style chooses not to defend himself, chooses wordless surrender and instead takes the moments offered to him to press tender kisses to Fadel's hurts -- an intentional callback to the last time Style met all of Fadel's vulnerability with nothing but love and adoration -- and hopes that in so doing, Fadel will see that Style's heart was true and that he has already chosen to give it, unreservedly, to Fadel.

[meinkatzchen]

ur oc It just cute, really caught my attention and I'm curious now

How is kitty and strade friendship?

Friendship? Seriously, anon?- friends are not tied or kidnepped! Okay, these are all jokes, I understand that you mean their relationship :)

And in her story, In short: for her (and for Ren, actually) he became the one who took away a piece of humanity, giving something in return.

Mist is quite mediocre in many skills, if you take creative and household chores, she's just a law student who always wanted to be a lawyer for a good cause - to defend the innocent who were convicted without evidence. I think if she had said something like that in front of Strade, he would have burst out laughing and would have teased her for a long time for this thought, gradually convincing her that there is no justice in the world at all and that even he could be released from custody if he hid the evidence and paid a lot of money. It's cruel, but at least he knocked the rose-colored glasses out of her head.

But he may be curious about her, seeing that she is learning quickly, but especially trying to do everything to reduce the pain that she is having a hard time enduring, and to avoid torture: to resort to trickery; to offer to torture someone else with her own hands; if Ren decides to stand up for her someday, she will not stop him and etc - for Strade, all this may even be funny. Actually, he became the person who will gradually put the seed of a charismatic manipulator in her and allow it to develop, which will sprout in the future.

It always seemed to me that the first few months, Mist watched Strade very carefully and closely to understand his behavior pattern, to understand what makes him happy, what angers him, what leads to punishment, and what leads to gifts. In the future, such a pattern will be fixed in her everyday life, thanks to which she will gradually-gradually reach her heights and surround herself with devoted people.

If, as Gato wrote, Ren subconsciously competes with Strade in cruelty, which would really be typical for a male, then Mist does not compete, but draws on the skills of manipulation, charismatic speeches, in general knowledge from the category of "what to do to get this and that".

…But if we throw away all seriousness and return to moments of calm in the house, then he would definitely like to tease her. For example, he would take her favorite cute plush animals, which she kept at night to calm down, and do various inappropriate things with them, or knowing how much she monitors hygiene and the level of hair on her body, he would hide her razor and various soaps and shower gels. What a hog!

[linddzz]

Hello, I wanted to ask you a question since I love the way you answer. The other day I saw a discussion that was generated by the scene in the council of Jayce and Mel in chapter 8 and many of them did not understand Jayce's reaction (they basically destroyed him). I particularly understand, and other people do, that Jayce is acting according to the consequences of the trauma he lived in the other dimension (obviously it does not justify the mistreatment). I think that he is carrying a lot of guilt and pain for his past actions, and he needs to unload that. In addition to that in the case with Mel, their intimate bond is broken by the manipulation he suffered from her (although he also had his things). But people say that he is an exaggerator, an impulsive fool, Mel also went through horrible situations (I do not deny it) and yet she did not treat him badly at that time. Well, I would like to know your opinion regarding this scene that generates debate.

It is always wild to me when I hear of or see glimpses of Arcane discourse that can be summed up with "we missed the point of the show that's heavily themed on how trauma and emotional upheaval can cause people to act in ways we may not agree with, but can understand" :)))

Also wild that people expect Jayce to be perfectly rational and emotionally competent here after we just saw him staggering around Viktor's commune with terrifying hallucinations, screaming as he blasts a hole in Viktor's chest. Not to mention that we just saw the actual hell he went through that left him in that state?? Is Jayce, who has shown that he reacts with brash anger when he's frightened and in over his head, maybe going to not be the most level headed??

One thing that I really like about the scene is that he DOES apologize to Mel afterwards. He recognizes that he acted out, apologizes for being an asshole, and recognizes that Mel is hurting as well. Yeah his actions weren't great (tho to me seeing him acting physically aggressive was another sign of just how fucked up Jayce was) but damn in the context of how everyone else in this show responds to emotional trauma, he's pretty mild.

I'll also argue that neither of them are wrong in this scene, and you can pretty clearly see why he escalated so quick. Even without an in depth analysis that looks further back, his reactions are pretty understandable (for said analysis, @avelera has some great posts on this as a breakup scene for Jayce and Mel, pointing out that his auditory flashbacks in the pit focused a lot on realizing that Mel was using them) Let's break it down:

Scene opens with Jayce already reminiscing on the traumatic event that started all this. He's standing in the place where Viktor died, where Jayce made the decisions that created whatever Viktor is now. When you rewatch it, you have the added context that he's likely grappling with what Mage Viktor has told him. It's important to note that at this point, he doesn't know that Mel has arcane powers until his hammer and arcane corrupted mind spidey-sense her arrival.

We already know he was dealing with a ton of survivors guilt for being untouched by the blast while everyone else was grievously injured, and while Viktor specifically mortally wounded. This is probably the worst place and the worst time for him to learn that Mel has arcane powers and that she's the reason they were unharmed. And that sucks. Because he's closing Mel off even harder than he already would have, while he's the one Mel learned to be more emotionally vulnerable with.

Something happened to her too, and she reaches out for that connection. She doesn't need to be a strong Noxian with Jayce, so she tries to connect on the fact that they both obviously went through something, but unfortunately it's just when he thinks his worst suspicions about her are confirmed. 

Because hey let's ALSO talk about Jayce realizing Mel has been using him and why he's gonna take that hard! Jayce is pretty obviously a romantic person in season 1. It's almost a comedy beat when he snuggles up in her lap and she looks startled with the realization that her boytoy is a puppy. That is so obviously a lad who does not see sex as something casual, and he's very emotionally vulnerable with Mel very quickly.

Now, we, the viewers, have been able to see Mel allowing herself more vulnerability with Jayce in return. We've seen that she views her political manipulation as a way to benefit everyone. We've seen that she really came to care about Jayce, that sleeping with him became more than another way to influence him. But Jayce has only now realized he WAS being used. Who WOULD respond nicely to that? 

So you have that, on top of suddenly learning there is a reason he was fine while Viktor wasn't. Yes it's unfair to immediately blame her for it, but as soon as he says "because you used me!" I had a moment of "OH...yeah actually he's right tho. he's not out of pocket there"

(Also we can see him shutting that emotional vulnerability down. He tells Mel "it doesn't matter" because he's seen how his openness with her made him easy to manipulate. Again, she has opened herself up in return, but he has no way of knowing how much was sincere or not and is in no state to be rational about any of it.)

It doesn't help that she pretty much confirms that she used him. To Mel, it's not an insult to be seen as an investment by her, so she justifies herself for it, and I'm gonna read her a bit for this; when someone is feeling some sort of way about being used as an investment, explaining why they were a great investment isn't the best move!

And then. Yaknow. His brain is all jacked up from Arcane corruption and he's got Mel already setting that off with her powers, then Viktor's making them go extra wild by creeping around with his freaky little cuntbot. I didn't like him getting physically intimidating but it's also pretty obvious that he was seeing her as an active threat until Viktor showed up.

And again. He pretty quickly apologized and gave her an opening to talk about what happened to her. It's not perfect, but no one on this show IS. That's the point of the show! The fact that he quickly apologizes both times we see him lash out at people he cares about shows a pretty substantial amount of emotional intelligence in comparison to everyone else in this "Hurt People Hurt People" show.

So. yeah. I also had the emotional journey of "hey Jayce that's not fair, she pretty obviously said she couldn't control it, what the hell are you stalking at her with that hammer for- OH. I mean. YEAH she did use you that....hey that part's fair...also Mel back up girl, he's super obviously Not Okay." But I think acting like Jayce is some sort of unique asshole in THIS SHOW is quite a stretch.

[highly-flammable]

I am truly a woman of multitudes, because I feel blood-boiling rage over the fact that The Originals fridged Cami narratively to raise the stakes for Klaus and show that he got his comeuppance on some level, but at the same time it absolutely destroys me to watch him grieve her.

Joseph Morgan (regardless of how I view him) made us feel every bit of Klaus’ pain. Klaus felt aged, wearied, like he was living in his personal hell, and in season 4, even after 5 years from her death, every time Cami was mentioned, you could just see that Klaus felt like someone just stabbed him in the heart.

I enjoy watching Klaus a lot, and understand some of his feelings, but I think we could all see what a bloody awful person he was, and I didn’t expect to empathize with him so viscerally before he lost Cami.

[ingravinoveritas]

"We've all got to be fighting that fight every day."

Happy Pride, everyone...

[ingravinoveritas]

I’m 96% sure that Michael is bisexual, so that explains a lot of things...

sometimes i think about straight actors like michael sheen and david tennant being so comfortable playing queer characters on screen, when in the past any hints of queerness in characters was shunned to the point of straight actors especially not wanting to be associated with it.

i think about how far we've come in terms of queer representation in main stream media, with two Major productions released within less than a week from each other, and how the majority of posts about Good Omens hasnt even been the kiss, when not even 5 years ago having an on screen gay kiss would be all people would talk about for months

I dont know how much I'm making sense right now im just very emotional and grateful for creators like neil gaiman for creating amazing work like good omens that work towards creating such safe spaces for younger queers

[shakingparadigm]

In a modern au I think the wagyein would be like one of those gaint ass crocodiles that Ivan gets away with keeping because its technically a service animal. As long as its on a leash its all good and not a threat to the public!!

Ivan being rewarded with a more expensive and unique kind pet like a whole fucking crocodile honestly seems pretty in line for him 😭 especially since it adds a new "chic" flair to his photoshoots and his general aesthetic. Imagine Ivan's new photoshoot drops and he's in a suit posing with a fucking crocodile. Insane.

I really like the imagery of this large, scaly and dangerous looking reptile being tamed as Ivan's pet, something that could help boost his image and push that luxurious, enigmatic vibe. You know, like how stereotypical evil lairs have sharks or other rare and dangerous animals guarding the entrance or simply acting as accessory. That kind of vibe. I also like the imagery of this sharp creature being forced into submission and captivity. Forced to become a good, obedient pet, holding in its urges and keeping its teeth hidden. A being taken from the ruthless, grimy darkness, cleaned and maintained to perfection, forced to perform for the cameras. Ivan can empathize, he knows what it's like.

"Technically a service animal" is fucking hysterical. Ivan going Hello, sir! Please excuse my emotional support 12ft crocodile. Don't worry, he's very well-behaved.

I actually think Ivan would get along very well with his hypothetical crocodile. Just like the wagyein, he'd feel connected to it in a very personal way. Also just like the wagyein I think Ivan would be the only person it would never harm. In my head I have the mental image of Ivan petting and cuddling it as if it were a puppy.

[dykedvonte]

If Ulysses has a million haters, then I'm one of them. If Ulysses has one hater, then I'm THAT ONE. If Ulysses has no haters, that means I'm dead. If the world is with Ulysses than I’m against the world.

[cuntstable]

caant stop thinking about that comic i reblogged earlier about canon genderbent laios being a miserable housewife. but what if she also went to the bar with her baby. hi

[topicaltropic]

oops! all wips

[ourladyoftheflytrap]

It's fucked up that the sober population straight up ignores how a huge portion of addicts have chronic illnesses

[coachbeards]

Every time I see anything now from Good Will Hunting... I think about Beard and Jamie. 

AS YOU SHOULD

[symphorine]

.

[tj-crochets]

Weirdly specific medical question for y’all! Do you have any advice for dealing with vasovagal syncope/a vasovagal response? I’m very familiar with low blood pressure in general*, but something about minor injuries to my hands drops my blood pressure like nothing else and today’s the first time I’ve put two and two together that it’s probably vasovagal syncope. I accidentally hit my hand against the fridge (but successfully caught the falling tube of dough!) and then had to lay down on the floor and put my feet up against the wall for a while because I got so dizzy. Walking into the kitchen and seeing me on the floor really alarmed my brother and my dad, so I’m wondering if there are any techniques I am unaware of that might help with vasovagal syncope other than laying down on the floor?  For the record, I am okay now. I was on the floor for a few minutes with my feet up, then gradually got up, went back to my desk, and had water and some salt pills. My dad and my brother both kept an eye on me until I was back at my desk, and I do have my phone with me at all times just for this kind of situation.  *I have several different weird medical issues that each separately can cause hypotension, and am on medication for it that mostly works.

[musical-chick-13]

Maybe I’ve just been Thinking Too Much About the Concept of Justice due to...currently watching....something (Idon’twannatalkaboutit)..........but GENUINELY the way most of y’all talk about the death penalty and about ANYONE who decides to go through law school for ANY reason is terrifying.

[bredforloyalty]

we had this um discussion today with the girls i'm doing the next social psych presentation with (i know right TWO presentations?? get off our asses) and well. i am not optimistic