#but it is so much more extensive than it should be-

[miyamiwu]

Previously, I talked about Shang Chao’s and Xia Qing’s contrasting ideologies on what kind of hero Yang Cheng should be. Gist of that post is that to Xia Qing, Yang Cheng and E-Soul are different people. But to Shang Chao, there is no difference between them; Yang Cheng is E-Soul and vice versa.

So isn’t it just interesting that on the night Yang Cheng became a hero, Xia Qing—despite actually already knowing that it was Yang Cheng under the mask, as revealed in Episode 6—she called out the name E-Soul instead. Meanwhile, Shang Chao, who has only just learned the truth, called Yang Cheng by his real name with no hesitation.

It’s small moments like these that really convince me that Shang Chao is the right person for Yang Cheng. He’s just so naturally in sync with what Yang Cheng needs, and at that moment, Yang Cheng needed acknowledgement of himself as a person. Sure, he just did some superhero stuff, but the name Xiao Youzi called out back then was still E-Soul. That Trust point may have given him the boost to defeat his enemies, but it didn’t really do much to raise his self-esteem.

It’s just like that time he got asked out by Xia Qing while in his E-Soul costume. He also didn’t feel good about that:

So Shang Chao’s presence at the end of Episode 6 was very timely.

On the night Yang Cheng became a hero, the first person to call him by his real name and acknowledge that it was him, Yang Cheng the person, who did all those stuff, was Shang Chao.

Not the kid he saved. Not the girl he’s always had a crush on. But Shang Chao.

And what’s more affirming than being personally acknowledged by someone whom you think is superior than you in every way?

Xia Qing is nice, but she pays too much attention to Yang Cheng’s weaknesses instead of his strengths, and that doesn’t really help our Yang Cheng, who already has low self-esteem. Pity is the last thing he wants from her.

Shang Chao is different. At this point, he doesn’t know much about Yang Cheng. He only sees the diamond in the rough, while the people closer to Yang Cheng are being too careful with the dirt around it. But Yang Cheng doesn’t need to be reminded of the dirt; he knows that himself all too well. What he needs is to be made aware of the diamond within him. Shang Chao’s verbal encouragement and proactive support help with that.

This becomes clearer as Yang Cheng starts cooperating with Shang Chao:

Xia Qing is a realist who will point out the cons, while Shang Chao charges ahead optimistically in spite of the difficulties. His wealth and privilege allows him to do so, and by extension, it also gives Yang Cheng the resources he needs to give things a try. But more importantly, it also gives him the courage to dream:

Before he started working with Shang Chao, Yang Cheng didn’t even have any plans for the future:

But Shang Chao took him by the hand and opened his eyes to what he is capable of:

He gives him concrete steps on how he can act like a hero.

And also outlines a clear future for Yang Cheng.

At surface level, it may seem like Shang Chao is just imposing what he wants on Yang Cheng, but I don’t think that’s the case.

Yang Cheng had zero trust points his whole life. Nobody really expected anything from him. So Shang Chao clearly stating what he wants from him and fully believing that he can do it, although new and confusing, should be not unpleasant.

Because at last there’s someone who believes in him. Someone who isn’t just a random number on his wrist. Someone who actually sees him and supports him every step of the way with concrete actions.

Shang Chao is exactly the person Yang Cheng needs.

[itsgrimeytime]

I don't know if y'all know how extensive my GIF searches are for my fanfics.

I will comb through different phrases for hours-

(I've found 'rick grimes beard' and 'rick grimes grin' have some QUALITY works. For my fellow rick girlies.)

[dykedvonte]

@gecko-in-a-can THIS ABSOLUTELY

Resentment is such a big part of Benny’s motives towards House, feeling he’s underserving to rule and shouldn’t have the right to keep the title of Vegas just because he claimed it first long ago. Say what you will, Benny puts the effort in, through honest and dishonest work albeit, but he puts in the effort. Not saying House didn’t but House had the luxury of having a lot of that effort done before the war and subordinates to do so after. House is untouchable, something everyone wants in the Mojave, if not for the power, but because of the security. House takes that for granted seeing how easy he thinks it is to buy people. Benny, a Mojave native, has to be irate about that seeing how he has seen the heights and slums of both lives.

Also with the AIs it’s so telling because in a lot of ways, Yes Man has more autonomy than House’s major personality securitrons. Yeah, Yes Man has to be helpful but he’s aware and able to be snarky and coy. Benny has an issue with not being listened to but that’s the only perimeter Yes Man needs to act on. He can’t condescend but lord you can tell when he wants to. House’s AIs serves specific and highly detailed functions but are confined to act in accordance. They are subservient to a T and are extensions of House while Yes Man really is a creation that adapts further, hence his desire for the assertive upgrade. Benny made something, or at least was okay with a helper, that can progress for itself. House made things that replicate or facilitate an era of the past and don’t hold the power to contest it.

[adore-gregor]

Ooof

Looking at old posts, sometimes you just ask yourself what was I thinking 😅

[thingsmethinks]

Talking to [leftist/socialist/progressive/whatever] white people as a brown girl is always an experience

[roobylavender]

(Really long ask ahead i’m sorry!) I think your thoughts on dick and his similarities vs differences to bruce are so interesting! Personally i’m wondering how much of NTT played an influence on this kind of characterization bc i’ve never fully finished ntt but i read like nearly all the pre-80s batman 1940 issues lol and dick very much was portrayed as more idealistic than bruce in some ways while more no-nonsense (? For lack of better word) in other ways, like when it comes to batman easing up a little on selina for romance reasons LOL. Though ofc dick totally turns into - well, a dick - in team books, as i grow older i find myself far more compelled by a potential story of an 18 yr old who seemed to have the whole weight of the world on his shoulders (by his own perception) and breaking under his own impractically strong sense of duty and sky-high expectations for others, then realizing as he grows older that it doesn’t have to be that way esp after seeing the perspectives of characters like kory, wally, joey, roy, etc. Like personally as someone who never really had a huge interest in NTT anyway, i’m surprised at how desperately people want to hold on to the characterization of dick when he was 18-19 and never letting him grow past that, like it’s so difficult for me to believe that at age 25 he would be the same uptight controlling kid that he was at 19. Maybe i’m biased though bc i was like one of those insufferable INTJ internet stereotypes as a teenager, and while that worldview did bring me achievements i’m proud of like the fact that i’m in med school rn studying what i love, i still know that at age 22 i have changed SO much from when i was 18 and i can’t imagine any reasonably mature or normally-functioning person (let alone someone high-functioning like dick) not doing the same lol. Especially since dick is the kind of person who would literally die if he’s not constantly growing and evolving past his faults bc of his insufferable perfectionism, idk how he’d be willfully blind to the negative effects of his worldview in early NTT and refuse to grow from there. He even has a quote that’s like “i’ve spent years as a student of my own behavior” which i always found highly encouraging bc i know he really does want to improve himself even at his worst. It reminds me of that Marcus Aurelius quote: “if someone can prove me wrong and show me my mistake in any thought or action, i shall gladly change. I seek the truth, which never harmed anyone; the harm is to persist in one’s own self-deception and ignorance.” But what are your thoughts? (Thank you for reading all this 🥹)

oh i absolutely agree! i cannot tell you how many times i think about the person i was a couple years ago and who i am now like i cringe so much omg.. maturity is an ever persistent process even if we don't recognize its effects immediately and it absolutely is crazy to think that anyone would remain in such a static state of mind for several years on end. esp when like you said dick is someone who wants to be better! so despite his several hypocrisies it is nonetheless in his best interests to look internally and analyze and evolve. and i feel like that very much could have happened had there been any actual segue between dick's breakup with kory and his re-entry into the batfam. i don't think there was much of a connection between these two sets of writers at all and so what you got is what felt like two very distinct parts of dick's life that didn't necessarily reveal a bridge point. so it's not entirely unrealistic that dick may grow to be the person (at least to some extent) that bat canon portrayed him to be in the years that followed but i certainly think as it stands it felt unearned and like all of his issues explored in ntt were conveniently swept to the side without any semblance of closure (albeit i do think some of these issues are addressed in outsiders '03 but in that dickheaded way that winick explores things generally. so i'm not sure it's the kind of closure people actually want). it's very sad and ig that's what people cling to more than anything. it's not that they're opposed to him growing to be a better person but that they're opposed to a version of dick who feels like he sprung out of nothing

[coyoxxtl]

“THE ZODIAC HAS CHANGEd” babygirl no it didn’t i beg u to look up the difference between tropical and vedic astrology

[tardis--dreams]

I was crying out of gratitude because i thought this gave me one (1) additional day so i could get some sleep today and finish it by tonight before i realized there was no 31st September- he gave me an Entire additional Month???!!?

[teenagefeeling]

my paper is done! now i just need to write another by friday!

[flippedorbit]

you know, i think my mom should sometimes watch what she says to and around me

[gifti3]

i need to make an angel that absolutely despises A

[charmonys]

i  think  sunday  greatly  overestimates  his  own  alcohol  tolerance  because  he's  very  accustomed  to  attending  parties  and  other  various  social  outings  where  he's  obligated  to  have  a  glass  in  his  hand  out  of  politeness  —  but  he  doesn't  actually  drink  the  alcohol  beyond  a  sip  for  a  toast  or  to  taste  how  it  pairs  with  a  specially  selected  dish.  he  might  have  a  glass  at  most  and  relegate  it  to  a  prop  otherwise.  he  doesn't  have  any  desire  to  indulge  in  alcohol  simply  for  the  sake  of  it;  actually  getting  drunk  would  mean  surrendering  a  substantial  degree  of  control  over  himself  and  (  unsurprisingly  )  that  just  isn't  something  he  would  ever  feel  comfortable  with  —  particularly  when  he  has  an  audience.  as  a  result,  he  doesn't  actually  know  what  his  limits  are  because  he's  never  truly  tested  them.

though  for  the  record,  tipsy  sunday  is  the  ultimate  yapper.  if  you  think  he's  bad  normally,  he's  ten  times  worse  when  he  has  enough  alcohol  in  his  system  —  and  he  loses  his  very  carefully  maintained  verbal  filter.  (  alternatively,  a  little  pinch  of  the  wonweek™️  comes  out.  for  flavor.  )  he  isn't  a  mean  drunk.  on  the  contrary,  he's  actually  markedly  more  sociable  than  usual  —  and  much  more  genuine  about  it  as  well.  he  loosens  up  a  bit.  for  once.  he  maintains  a  similar  vocabulary  and  speech  patterns,  it  just  doesn't  come  with  an  off  switch.  you  are  getting  twenty  minutes  of  nonstop  philosophical  ramblings  followed  by  another  twenty  minutes  praising  robin's  discography.  he  is  now  going  to  make  a  joke  and  he  is  going  to  tell  you  why  you  will  find  this  joke  funny.  you  found  the  joke  funny,  didn't  you?  hm.  allow  him  to  explain  again.

[cornerihaunt]

i should nottttttttttt go on twitter. hockey men’s opinions……. brother in christ shut the fuck up

[cephaloph0re]

we're going back to the first thanksgiving

everyone lets do this ok? play touys

[deoidesign]

A general cane guide for writers and artists (from a cane user, writer, and artist!)

Disclaimer: Though I have been using a cane for 6 years, I am not a doctor, nor am I by any means an expert. This guide is true to my experience, but there are as many ways to use a cane as there are cane users!

This guide will not include: White canes for blindness, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs as I have no personal experience with these.

This is meant to be a general guide to get you started and avoid some common mishaps/misconceptions in your writing, but you absolutely should continue to do your own research outside of this guide!

This is NOT a medical resource!!! And never tell a real person you think they're using a cane wrong!

The biggest recurring problem I've seen is using the cane on the wrong side. The cane goes on the opposite side of the pain! If your character has even-sided pain or needs it for balance/weakness, then use the cane in the non-dominant hand to keep the dominant hand free. Some cane users also switch sides to give their arm a rest!

A cane takes about 20% of your weight off the opposite leg. It should fit within your natural gait and become something of an extension of your body. If you need more weight off than 20%, then crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair is needed.

Putting more pressure on the cane, using it on the wrong side, or having it at the wrong height can make it less effective, and can cause long term damage to your body from improper pressure and posture. (Hugh Laurie genuinely hurt his body from years of using a cane wrong on House!)

(some people elect to use a cane wrong for their personal situation despite this, everyone is different!)

(an animated GIF of a cane matching the natural walking gait. It turns red when pressure is placed on it.)

When going up and down stairs, there is an ideal standard: You want to use the handrail and the cane at the same time, or prioritize the handrail if it's only on one side. When going up stairs you lead with your good leg and follow with the cane and hurt leg together. When going down stairs you lead with the cane and the bad leg and follow with the good leg!

Realistically though, many people don't move out of the way for cane users to access the railing, many stairs don't have railings, and many are wet, rusty, or generally not ideal to grip.

In these cases, if you have a friend nearby, holding on to them is a good idea. Or, take it one step at a time carefully if you're alone.

Now we come to a very common mistake I see... Using fashion canes for medical use!

(These are 4 broad shapes, but there is INCREDIBLE variation in cane handles. Research heavily what will be best for your character's specific needs!)

The handle is the contact point for all the weight you're putting on your cane, and that pressure is being put onto your hand, wrist, and shoulder. So the shape is very important for long term use!

Knob handles (and very decorative handles) are not used for medical use for this reason. It adds extra stress to the body and can damage your hand to put constant pressure onto these painful shapes.

The weight of a cane is also incredibly important, as a heavier cane will cause wear on your body much faster. When you're using it all day, it gets heavy fast! If your character struggles with weakness, then they won't want a heavy cane if they can help it!

This is also part of why sword canes aren't usually very viable for medical use (along with them usually being knob handles) is that swords are extra weight!

However, a small knife or perhaps a retractable blade hidden within the base might be viable even for weak characters.

Bases have a lot of variability as well, and the modern standard is generally adjustable bases. Adjustable canes are very handy if your character regularly changes shoe height, for instance (gotta keep the height at your hip!)

Canes help on most terrain with their standard base and structure. But for some terrain, you might want a different base, or to forego the cane entirely! This article covers it pretty well.

Many cane users decorate their canes! Stickers are incredibly common, and painting canes is relatively common as well! You'll also see people replacing the standard wrist strap with a personalized one, or even adding a small charm to the ring the strap connects to. (nothing too large, or it gets annoying as the cane is swinging around everywhere)

(my canes, for reference)

If your character uses a cane full time, then they might also have multiple canes that look different aesthetically to match their outfits!

When it comes to practical things outside of the cane, you reasonably only have one hand available while it's being used. Many people will hook their cane onto their arm or let it dangle on the strap (if they have one) while using their cane arm, but it's often significantly less convenient than 2 hands. But, if you need 2 hands, then it's either setting the cane down or letting it hang!

For this reason, optimizing one handed use is ideal! Keeping bags/items on the side of your free hand helps keep your items accessible.

When sitting, the cane either leans against a wall or table, goes under the chair, or hooks onto the back of the chair. (It often falls when hanging off of a chair, in my experience)

When getting up, the user will either use their cane to help them balance/support as they stand, or get up and then grab their cane. This depends on what it's being used for (balance vs pain when walking, for instance!)

That's everything I can think of for now. Thank you for reading my long-but-absolutely-not-comprehensive list of things to keep in mind when writing or drawing a cane user!

Happy disability pride month! Go forth and make more characters use canes!!!

[sageshouldknowbetter]

Some may be apprehensive that Severance won’t portray Mark’s interaction with Helena in the tent as the sexual assault it was. But not only will they — they already are.

Mark’s behavior toward Helly has completely changed. He doesn’t sit next to her at Irving’s funeral. He shuts down attempts at conversation with offhand, vague snarky comments and a defiantly blank facial expression. When Helly knocks on the door to the bathroom, his eyes dart around like an animal cornered. Where he once would have slowed down for her in the hallway so they could talk, he walks much faster ahead. He’s trying as hard as possible to avoid her. To ignore her. To run away.

Now contrast this with his treatment of “Helly” when she first walked out of the elevator in season two. He waited for her to arrive! He was so relieved she’d come back! And when they were walking down that hallway and he was explaining the situation with Ms. Casey, he stopped mid-stride, turned to her with a smile on his face, and said “Look, Helly—“

He never got to finish that sentence. But some say he was going to confess that though his outie had a wife, his affections lay with her. And I think they’re right.

So why is he acting so differently now? The answer is obvious: “Because they are smarter than us, okay? They know everything.”

After the assault, Mark likely feels like a complete idiot. He spent so much of season one deconstructing his beliefs and breaking free from Lumon’s propaganda. And the minute he believes he’s immune to their lies and no longer a corporate slave, he is taken advantage of and hoodwinked by the very figurehead of said company, masking as someone he loves.

A symbol of Lumon convinced him he was safe. Tricked him. Invaded him in the most intimate way possible, with him completely oblivious, “like an idiot.” Right when he thought everything might be okay.

So maybe Lumon’s right. Maybe there’s no point in fighting. Because if he was stupid enough to not realize his own friend was being possessed by her billionaire doppelgänger, then maybe Lumon is correct about innies being nothing more than pawns. Maybe they are people, and he really is… not. (That’s how Helena treated him, anyway.)

And if that’s the case, of course he wants to give up looking for Ms. Casey and lose himself in work! For a moment he thought he was a human being, deserving of autonomy over his own body and capable of something more than sitting behind a desk — but his assault sends that all crashing down. He is an extension of his outie, made for work and nothing more. Going beyond that gets dangerous. That’s what got Irving killed… and him in Helena’s tent. And Helly? He cannot trust Helly. As far as he knows, his only confirmed moment with Helly since the OTC was when he was holding her in his arms, his jacket wrapped around her shoulders. Why should it be Helly coming back to the severed floor? If Helena could trick him before, who says she can’t learn from her past mistakes and trick him again over and over? Mark refuses to be humiliated and hurt after last time, so he avoids her (and Dylan!) and puts up a barrier of cool, snarky indifference — just like how he deals with grief.

But we know that indifference is a mask. When Milchick walked out of the elevator after revealing he knew about him and Helena Eagan, Mark had no one to pretend for — and he went completely stiff, blankly wide-eyed in an expression extremely reminiscent of his usual innie self. Whatever the reasons for this, one thing’s for sure: Mark does deeply care about what happened in the tent. And at least for now, he will lose himself in Cold Harbor to cope with it.

Lumon certainly got their productive worker back. But good Lord… at what cost?