#but tays trauma needs to be focused on more

[crayfee]

May I add she also had to watch her brother abandon everything he loved to make time to help out at home? He started to only use baseball as a way to get into college, probably lost his social life and so much more

... AND she probably had to do the same herself? 😭

one of my least favourite things about some of the SBG fandom is that when talking about the Hernandez family they'll talk about Tyler but not Taylor? As if she also didn't have a father who passed away at a young age and had a mother who became unable to take care of them? When talking about characters who put on a façade It's all about Aiden, again, what about Taylor? In all flashbacks she looks so empty but now she's bubbly and the nice, of course I do think she is genuinely nice but I also think she puts a front for her family so that things looks fine at home.

Personally I think that whilst Tyler was balancing taking care of the house and baseball, Taylor was the one taking care of her mom and in turn saw a lot of what losing Ethan did to her. You can see her try to change the topic at Lily's birthday when Mariana brought up Ethan into the conversation. Dealing with a mentally unwell parent and trying to care for them can do immense damage to a young child already grieving. She probably thought she wasn't doing enough for her family when in fact Taylor nor Tyler should've dealt with the responsibility of taking care of the family

Her trauma is probably the MOST overlooked out of all of the main six and it's honestly sad.

[sugarandspite05]

im sure this theory is frequent but i got my friends to start yellowjackets (yippie!) and one of my friends said that adult taissa looks "robotic” in the scene where they’re taking family photos. and i don't know why it took me this long to realize, but when she mentioned that i was like….

okay, so the lines between other tai and normal tai just have to be blurred. it’s clear that adult tai doesn’t have control over other tai and it’s ruining her life…. or is it?

but anyway other tai doesn't just come out when shes asleep, its when shes awake too. and i get that, but i guess my friends comment just woke me up to the fact that when adult tai is on screen it could rlly be other tai or normal tai at any given moment, you have to really focus to see a switch. that’s if the switch is even noticeable?? i think it will get to the point of no one being able to tell. and tawny cypress is sooo good at showing the subtle changes in her face when needed, so honestly im feeling like ive been very dense this entire time😭 and now that im looking over these old scenes it rlly just shows me that other tai and normal tai are just coequal.

and then that also makes me believe that at some point tai is gonna fully release herself and embrace other tai. i mean, that’s what these recent s3 episodes are showing me.

(taivan appreciation coming out here now) i 1000% believe van is the catalyst for tai FULLY accepting and embracing herself… good tai and evil tai alike.

now thinking back to shauna telling tai about her affair, tai says what she had with simone was good, stable, but it’s clear that the “spark” she felt was referring to van, the relationship that’s messy and the inherent bad choice based on their shared trauma. but tai has always wanted van. and i think taissa’s demeanor change in season 2 really exemplifies the exploration of other tai, and that correlation to van. it always has. i mean, she goes to find van because of it.

but focusing on tai’s character, it’s also noticeable how her appearance even changes too, how her dress becomes more laid back and more masculine as she strays away from being a politician and keeping up her self image (she literally hires jessica robert’s for this very reason). jesus, i adore taissa’s character so much… but that’s more yapping for another day.

but overall there’s this freedom now that current tai is experiencing that she was heavily lacking before, and i believe the last time she felt it was the wilderness. so, i do think tai will eventually kill someone for van and other tai will take complete control. but then again, who knows with this show anymore… my faith in the writing is very very slowly weaning but i still have hope in this show!!

[nataliescatorccioapologist]

Thinking about what each Yellowjackets survivor did with the settlement money from the crash (bc we all know they most likely got lawsuit money) and how it relates to how each character copes with trauma.

Shauna- Uses the money to buy Jeff his furniture store. Shauna is coping through denial. She thinks that if she fills her life with stable things (a working husband, a child, a house, a business) that she will become stable too. She’s trying to live a boring apple pie life in an attempt to deny her desire for the adrenaline and danger that living in the Wilderness gave her. You can see this in her demeanor, too. Shauna acts very sweet, innocent, and harmless, but in a actuality she’s hiding a darker, more unhinged side of herself.

Tai- Uses the money to fund her college education/political pursuits. Tai copes through drive and determination. She works and works and works so that she doesn’t have time to think. Taissa is acting out the life that she wanted before the crash. She keeps striving for success and accomplishment hoping that these things will make her happy, but as she says to Shauna, “none of those things felt real” to her.

Lottie - Uses the money to start her wellness center (cult). Lottie is coping through her spirituality, as she did in the Wilderness. She leans on the idea of forces outside of herself having a plan for her and those around her so that she can relinquish control. This allows Lottie to have faith that things will get better and that everything is happening for a reason even as she is going through intense trauma. Lottie feels at peace when she is using this faith to help others, which is why she starts her wellness center. And even though she at first attempted to focus her spirituality on holistic means rather than the supernatural, the Wilderness eventually creeped back in.

Van - Van uses the money to open up her VHS store. This shows that Van copes through living in the past. She shells out her own little corner where she can surround herself with things that made her happy before the crash and hide from the rest of the world. Similar to Tai, she’s trying to be who she was before the crash. Van surrounds herself with 90s memorabilia and all of the movies and music that she used to love so she doesn’t have to acknowledge that she’s not that person anymore.

Nat - Nat uses the money for drugs, traveling, and material possessions like cars and clothing. Nat is trying to fill a void within herself. She’s focused on what will make her feel okay in the present moment. Getting high or buying a fancy car or designer handbag that she could never afford in her childhood numbs the guilt and trauma for a moment, and when this numbness wears off, she seeks it out again and again because she doesn’t have a long-term solution. She lives as a transient using the money to move from motel to motel trying to escape herself and avoid creating any attachments because she feels that she destroys everyone she comes into contact with. Basically, Nat is focused solely on on what will get her through each day, as she had to do in the Wilderness and even before the crash living in an abusive home.

Travis - Similar to Natalie, Travis uses the money on drugs and isolation. Not much is known about adult Travis unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you feel about him), but we do know that he had a drug problem like Nat and fled to New Hampshire to try to hide away from everything. He isolated himself completely in an attempt to block out the world and reminders of what he did in the Wilderness.

Misty - Uses the money to fund her education and career in the nursing field. Misty is coping by making people need her, as she did with Ben and all of the Yellowjackets in the Wilderness. She craves being depended and relied on because this is the only way she has ever received acceptance from others. She becomes a nurse for the elderly because she knows this demographic will depend on her more than any other. Using her medical knowledge to help those in need made her feel loved in the Wilderness, and she is still chasing that feeling.

Anyways can you tell I think about these characters way too much?

[tumblingxelian]

The Fraught Family Ties of the Rose-Xiao Long Household:

Sorry for the ramble, I wanted to share something born of a discussion I had with someone regarding the canonical relationship on the Rose-Xiao Long sisters & their father figures.

So, I often find Tai (& Qrow) propped up as good father figures who maybe just had some moments of weakness but either got better long before canon or during the show and who are super close with Ruby & Yang with very healthy relationships.

Given possibly my most popular post, (Yang & Ruby's childhood) I don't think this is a universal stance, certainly not these days, and I don't think its well supported in canon either.

This doesn't mean that love isn't there, but love and resentment can live in the same house and the Rose-Xiao Long household is far more complex than I think people give it credit for.

Now, some will probably highlight positive tones and references in the early volumes, but here's the thing. A child growing up around something can get used to a lot. Ruby & Yang are clearly very used to Qrow stumbling home utterly wasted, even carried by strangers and needing to take care of him. This is normal to them and neither show any resentment towards it until on their last nerve.

That is to say, Ruby and Yang are fine with Qrow's drinking and smile through it, riiiight up until they themselves are on the edge of snapping real hard over things such as in V6.

Neither of them express their trauma like say, Jaune does, who tends to be quite open with his resentment and prone to lashing out. The sisters smile through it, they may express frustration or anger at other things, but not their loved one's, which makes it easy to pretend everything is cool and normal.

Hell, keeping things light with humor is explicitly noted to be how Yang copes and Ruby is shown consistently beginning to show sadness before quickly bottling it up up. This is just how they handle negative emotions they cant comfortably express.

Thus, while Ruby expressing frustration at Yang giving Tai like advice in V1 doesn't indicate hostility, nor does her being all smiles around his presence in V3's opening indicate everything is super awesome.

After all, things are good at that moment, but let's take a look at the end of V3.

Tai is clearly worrying and trying to fuss over Ruby. But she is very neutral on the whole thing, mostly just trying to get intel on what the fuck happened from him and not being remotely upset when Qrow makes him leave. She show's a bit more vulnerability around Qrow, but is still very focused on the practical questions of what happened.

Its only when she's alone with Yang, that Ruby really becomes expressive with her emotions and more to the point, shows outright uncertainty in what to do. This leads her to being shocked when Yang is in no fit state t provide her with the guidance and support she clearly craves and expected.

Ruby also specifically addresses her letters to Yang and broadly speaking doesn't really seem to think about Tai all that much. Again I don't think she dislikes him, but given she openly acknowledges Yang as the one who raised her & Yang herself noted she had to keep the family together...

Well, I think that Ruby doesn't really perceive Tai as a parent, strictly speaking. In the sense that I don't believe she views Tai as someone to go to for comfort or advice or guidance.

He's her dad and she loves him, but he's less of an adult to her than Yang was. In that same vein Qrow is a Huntsmen, her mentor and uncle yes, but the former I think inform her behavior with him more than the latter.

Now, let's also compare Tai and Yang's relationship a little.

We know Tai taught her how to fight, but he doesn't show any real understanding of how her Semblance works or her fighting style given she has utilized plenty of blocks, dodges and clever strategies in the first three volumes. What's more him critiquing her for fighting that way and making it her fault when he taught her feels suspect to me.

(I would note it was Yang who realized Ruby needed CQC help before anyone else, so she clearly thought deeply on this stuff.)

But beyond that, we see Yang is heavily isolated, both from how the camera work frames her. But also because she us housed in a guest room and that Tai, while obviously unhappy about what happened overall seems far more focused on Ruby in terms of trying to provide some care. What's more, when she's clearly distressed he walks away and leaves her to stew.

Yang's shown still doing lots of work around the house, despite everything and his efforts to 'help' her are all about getting her back into the fight over worrying for her safety like he did Ruby.

This is a big thing for me, Tai was clearly deeply upset when Qrow wanted to speak to Ruby alone and terrified when she left.

Meanwhile when it comes to 'helping' Yang its all about getting back into the action and going after Ruby. He doesn't seem to mind the idea of sending her into danger.

Then there' show he hypocritically dismisses her trauma and depression while at the same time diminishing her maturity despite him having left her to raise Ruby and keep the family together.

He also makes his help for her conditional on her no longer "Moping" while its her teachers who barely know Yang that provide actually useful guidance on healing.

When alone he also frames 'caring for her' IE letting her live in the house and take care of herself, like its this heavy burden that is keeping him from Ruby.

This is despite the fact he ultimately does not go after Ruby.

You can claim its a budget thing the show we have is the show we have. Thus, he sends her off to parent Ruby instead of himself. Also Tai outright compares Yang to Raven despite them being radically different and honestly Ruby being a lot closer to even the positive traits he ascribed to Raven.

Thus I think there's an element of projection that leads to Ruby being preferences between the two but also Tai having come in too late to really be seen as the parent he wants to be perceived as.

Now, let's look at Qrow.

Both sisters are clearly used to him staggering or being carried home drunk and needing to take care of him, meaning they have been doing this since childhood.

This would have a hugely negative impact on their mental wellbeing and impact how they perceive him.

Beyond that, I am unsure how close he even is to Yang outside the superficial. Some of that may indeed be down to time, but there have been periods where they could have shown a deep bond and its not manifested.

When Yang is framed, her team, two of whom have only know her for a few months and have plenty of trauma that would make them rightly suspicious choose to believe her and sympathize with her.

Qrow meanwhile says she is either lying or crazy and does not express much in the way of real empathy or trust.

Rather than showing an interest in maybe trying to resolve the issue or help her through decides that maybe directing her to Raven might help. He obviously cares, but generally never shows much of the same concern or affection for Yang that he does for Ruby.

Granted even then Qrow requires caretaking from both his nieces.

What's more he often tethers Ruby to Summer. So while his mentorship of her does let her be a little more vulnerable with him than Tai its still an unbalanced relationship.

However outside of that, Qrow's generally fairly good with Ruby and her influence on him seemed to be the primary thing that stopped him drinking. He also shows a great deal of faith in her in general, though how much of that is projection likely varies.

But he mentored Ruby so its natural they are maybe a little closer.

Still, I think Ruby & Yang held Qrow in higher regard, at least as a Huntsmen than their father, there's a lot of baggage to the relationship at a minimum.

I also think Ruby & Yang's lack of communication seen in later volumes is sort of reflective of the families unhealthy dynamics evolving between them.

Yang being forced to raise a sister two years younger than her is already a heavy burden on both of them. Yang from having to step up and fill the roll of an adult as a child & Ruby because no matter how hard Yang tried it as never gonna be perfect but she couldn't exactly complain about it either.

So both just sort of smiled through the pain as they grew and came out fairly functional and happy if carrying a lot of baggage beneath the surface. This is why both respond to grief and trauma in a similar manner, pushing the issues down until they explode or collapse. It was how they got by.

They were also extremely close, for all that Yang talked of Ruby maybe trying to branch out onto other teams, she instantly tried to seek her out in the Emerald Forest, saved her a spot in the auditorium and generally tried to assist and advice her along with expressing great pride in her.

Ruby bore with with a mixed degree of playfulness and teen like annoyance, while still wanting to cling to Yang. She was also very comfortable early on with expressing her concerns around Yang, such as with Blake being so stressed and not knowing what to do about it & seemingly had total faith in Yang's ability to resolve things.

As previously outlined, when Ruby was seeking comfort and guidance after the Fall of Beacon she went to Yang and was shocked when Yang couldn't provide her what she needed and quickly began separating herself, clearly deeply impacted.

Yang remained the center of her homeward focus after that fact and when Yang returned she was able to express vulnerability with her.

Briefly.

However, Yang soon showed that her recovery was not as complete as she wanted to project and again Ruby was at a loss for what to do with a Yang who is upset.

Keep in mind she's entirely capable of comforting a drunk, hung over or otherwise very upset Qrow, but the prospect of comforting Yang leaves her shuffling nervously outside the door while Weiss helps her.

Ruby's perception of Yang seemed to have put her on something of a pedestal in the way a lot of children do their parents where its hard to start seeing them as a person.

& When Ruby did start seeing Yang as a person, her complexes regarding leadership caused her to see Yang as someone who needed protection.

This caused her to freeze Yang out of her issues, we see this with her rejecting Yang's efforts to comfort her in V8, responding instead with sullen silences or sharp emotional jabs to try and make Yang go away.

Yet at the same time, she didn't entirely try to keep the façade up, perhaps in part because she couldn't.

I also think there's a part of her that sort... Expected Yang to know what to do and to say for her even though Ruby has changed as a person and is no longer communicating clearly like she used to.

Which then causes her to resent Yang for not being able to say the right things and provide the right assistance like she did when they were kids. Even though Yang doesn't know how Ruby feels their relationship has changed and can't know with Ruby actively avoiding acting in a manner that would elicit her concern.

Basically, this is an extremely messy family.

It has four actual adults, the most competent of whom martyred herself. One of whom left because she couldn't handle it and two of whom failed when put to the test.

This left the role of grown up in the room to Yang who had to keep the family together and raise her sister. While Ruby had to basically become the least troubled child possible to make this easier on them all.

Raven cutting herself out of their lives and her ties to Yang, while Summer being a beloved martyr seems to have also rippled down to their kids.

With Yang almost being like the black sheep of the family. She's the one they expect to do something immoral or "crazy' and generally expected to take care of herself and Ruby without any kind of acknowledgement or significant assistance.

Meanwhile Ruby is regarded as a sort of proto Summer, this beacon of purity, which leaves Tai over protective but ultimately inactive leaving the task of helping her to Yang. With Qrow expecting the world from her which just applies more pressure.

I do think everyone of them love each other, but I also think there's also a lot of resentment, frustration and projection going on here, with many utter failures of parenting. These ultimately caused the families relationships to never developed into what they should be and are instead leaving them in an odd sort of limbo; with a lot left unsaid and unhealthy.

[awesomex7]

May contain slight spoilers for KFP 4:

Okay, saw Kung Fu Panda 4 and... I liked it.

Will say it's the weakest entry in the franchise, but at the same time, I am happy we get another adventure with Po.

I actually like the concept of Po training someone to carry his title, there is a lot of story potential there. The problem is that it isn't done well or focused on enough for the movie. It makes me wonder if they are saving the passing of the torch plotline for the last 2 possible movies that Jeffrey Katzenburg talked about.

The Chameleon though, wasted potential. She could have been the biggest villain in the franchise, but felt like a "Legends of Awesomeness" villain of the week.

Her motives, I am not saying they couldn't work, but they could have if MANTIS was there. Like make it so that her problem wasn't her size, but her dedication. Mantis facing the same problem she did, but worked hard to over come people judging his fighting prowess based on size. There would have been a nice talk too.

I don't mind the Furious Five not being involved this time, Po needs his own adventure to show how far he has come and prove he can stand on his own. I understand the frusteration. I mean I would be too if The Bad Guys 2 only has Wolf and Diane with the rest of the gang MIA. I just hope the Furious Five makes a return in a future project, even under different voice actors as long as the protrayals feel true to the characters.

Also, they hyped up the return of the villains of the previous movies and... Only Tai Lung appears to matter, like Shen and Kai don't talk or interact with Po, they are just there. Why even bother bringing back? Just to have people point and say "OH MY GOSH! IT'S THE VILLAINS FROM THE TRILOGY! THEY ARE ALL HERE!". They didn't do anything with them to help make this entry feel epic or climatic.

Li was there too. I really, really wanted Li to meet Shen so he could go through a character arc about the trauma he faced when his village was attacked and he lost his family. Ping could have comforted him and helped him find the strength to be a hero and help save the day alongside the others.

Lastly, Zhen. She is essentially Diane, but more mischevious with a hint of clumsiness and isn't OP. A complete breath of fresh air and Iiked her, but... I really hope they aren't gonna do what I think they're planning for the char, even if I do think the passing of the torch is being handled far better than with Rey in Star Wars or Indiana Jones The Dial of Destiny. Gradual, not instantaneous, and doesn't corrupt or downplay the original male hero.

But I would like to see Zhen try to find her own identity and be a better version of herself. Like maybe the next film could dive into Zhen feeling incapable of handling the burden of being the Dragon Warrior, or heck, Po having to deal with what Shifu did with Tai Lung and have Zhen go rogue. Zhen trying to do what she thinks is best for China. This could be used to dive more into Zhen's backstory and motivations (Destroy kung fu and wipe it from history or take away everybody's chi so they won't abuse it).

After all said, this feels more like a stepping stone for a follow up with fan service than anything else. 😅

[bumblesimagines]

are you a shauna hater after that last episode causeeeeeee

Tbh, not really!

The emotion I feel when I see Shauna doing something fucked up is more like faint annoyance lmao but I mostly find her interesting. She's a complex female character and we don't get them often without them being watered down (COUGH COUGH Alicent and Rhaenyra COUGH COUGH).

I do think they focused too much on her anger and not enough on the other stages of grief. We needed glimmers of s1 pre-winter Shauna. She was always short-tempered (she snaps at Jackie in the pilot which is the first time we see her quick to anger attitude) and she was always selfish and impulsive but she still had a caring heart.

We should've had Shauna showing more than malice and anger, but maybe in her moments alone or her trying to show compassion but her pride not allowing it in the last moments. She could've showed a glimpse of kindness to those who actively helped her most while she gave birth (Akilah and Misty who were ready to deliver the baby, Tai who held her hand throughout, etc). Maybe she wouldn't show kindness in the traditional way of compliments and such, but through actions like giving them a plate of food, a passing 'good job' at something, a little brief smile, etc.

Not only just showing her human side, but also the range of emotions that come with grief. I think we should've especially gotten a scene of her crying after that hallucination she had at the lake of her son. Her visiting his gravesite and just bawling, maybe being overhead by the others but they give her the space she needs. Maybe her being close to tears when Melissa doesn't sleep at her side in the hut maybe not because of what she did but because she's alone again and it's once again the consequences of her actions but she doesn't know how to fix it or her pride won't let her, just as it didn't let her go outside and talk with Jackie.

Shauna is always at her most emotional when she's alone and forced to be with herself only. Showing her interactions with the group with enough decency to warrant them wanting her to be rescued too but just enough malice for them to go against her ways would've helped explain why adult!Tai and ESPECIALLY adult!Natalie helped her with the Adam problem instead of just simply saying 'nah' and leaving her to deal with it.

I understand Shauna haters and I understand Shauna lovers. I don't Shauna nor do I love her so much I justify all her actions. Shauna's trauma is an explanation for her actions, not an excuse. The same goes for all the other Yellowjackets.

[syrena-del-mar]

Balancing Self-Absorption and Love in La Pluie

This week there's not much left for me theorize as the pieces of the puzzle that La Pluie has set up since the very first episode are finally coming together. There's something so good about a show that takes you exactly where you expect it, but still delivers in a way that is beyond expectation. La Pluie has hit every romance trope but has able to subvert it in ways that are unexpected.

I think it's been long established that Tai spends his time with his nose in Nora Roberts novels for far too long. So often the characters in her book get swept up by the idea of love and falling in love. As a reader you forget about the family and friends of the characters (sometimes even the romantic partner), because the characters, themselves, forget about them as they're so focused on their dizzying romance and are focused in on their own emotions. So it's not surprising that Tai only focuses on his own romantic problems and his own feelings, to the detriment of his family and even Patts.

[Disclaimer: I had been working on this before I read @slayerkitty's important post delineating that he likely acts how he does due to his trauma with how his parents divorced. I do think this is a point of view that is important to keep in mind.]

Wow, never have I felt so vindicated than with this episode of La Pluie. It really hit the last nail in the coffin for me about the way Tai and Tien's sibling relationship works. Last week, when talking about the differences between the four and when it came to Tien I couldn't help but say, "He'll go back to being the doting and hard-headed brother of Tai, not even seeking an apology for leaving him behind, for not checking up on him, because he'll never expect that out of his brother. He's Tai's emotional caretaker, not the other way around." And when I first delved into the birth order theory of the Saeng brothers, I posed the question of who would be the first to notice that Tien is fragile and hurting. I got my answer now. It's definitely not Tai and it'll never be Tai if he never learns to look outside of his own emotional needs and wants.

The thing about Tai is that he's nice, but he's not necessarily kind. Self-absorbed and self-centered both have a very negative connotation, typically because they're terms that tend to be connected with characters that are portrayed as vapid, so when I utilize these terms to describe Tai I don't intend for any of that extremely negative undertone. The reality is that Tai is self-absorbed and self-centered, in the plainest sense of those words. He's so preoccupied with his own emotions and his affairs that he forgets about those that he cares about. And if he does remember them, more often than not, he'll lash out or throw a jab at them. Tai makes choices that he believes will protect him, not necessarily the most rational ones and it's aggravating. @sunshinechay put it succinctly, Tai's making the most ugly choices and La Pluie is letting him be unlikeable without making him out to be the villain.

La Pluie has repeatedly been showing us that this is Tai's major character flaw. We saw this with how he treats his mother, blaming her for the divorce without knowing how hard both parents tried to make the marriage work. We saw this with Patts, from ignoring him for two years to expecting Patts to read his mind with no verbal confirmation of Tai's feelings. We heard from Bow how he closed himself off and didn't interact with co-workers. Hell, today's conversation with her, she tries to help Tai see it from Patts point of view, but he cuts her off because he doesn't want to be hurt by love again. And Tien... Tien who reaches out to him first, who looks out for Tai, who goes to Tai in search of a safe space but won't every fully get it.

I whole-heartedly believe it's intentional that they showed Tien and Tai getting together only after a whole week has passed by. Tien and Tai are close siblings, but a lot of it is has been depicted to show that Tien is the one that does most of the legwork with Tai, even with Nuea and Jan. Tien is the liaison between the four brothers, communicating and delivering messages between them when they're not all under the same roof. [I would dare say Tien is the liaison for the whole family and it continues to be proven by the fact that he's the one that invites Uncle Nu into the family hug.] Out of the four, Tien and Tai are likely the closest, but that's because Tien is the one that goes looking for Tai, he's the one that invites him out, he's the one that looks out for Tai's emotional wellbeing. Tai was clueless as to why Tien was so out of it, because Tai likely closed himself off for that whole week caring only for his own emotional, likely never asking if he had made it back home safely. He might have not even registered that Tien was even there. Tien truly was alone in the remnants of that fallout.

Tien had divulged to Tai before that he was developing romantic feelings, but it's not like Tai ever shared any interest in finding out who Tien liked, because it wasn't knowledge that affected him personally. He never bothered to inquire and it's not surprising that he never clocked it, because even when he was with Lomfon and Tien, his attention was never given to Tien. He takes Tien at face value, not exactly bothering to dive deeper. And it's apparent in how Tai deals with Tien's confession of love and how he little he really asks him about how he's coping, but turns the conversation to his relationship. There's a noticeable difference in how Tien inquires after hearing the news and how Tai does.

Yes, Tai apologized. Tien doesn't expect an apology, because that's his big brother that he cares for, so he doesn't necessarily want an apology. Even so, it's important that he feels like he needed to apologize, but all the same, it's still disappointing that he doesn't necessarily recognize why he's apologizing. It's frustratingly slow growth that we're getting from him and it's a side-effect of being so self-involved. Now I don't think this takes away from the brotherhood or the love that they have for one another, because they obviously do love each other. But I think that Tai's self-absorption and Tien's self-sacrifice will always cause their relationship to be unbalanced. But an apology and recognition is still growth and Tai has to be the one to choose to continue to grow.

Any relationship takes work, whether it be romantic, friendship or familial. It's a choice everyday to put in the energy and the work that it takes to make a relationship work. No amount of paranormal idea of fate and destiny is going to allow for a relationship to fully work and thrive. Tai has had people that love him walk the tightrope, fully cognizant of his emotional state, so it's not surprised that he's become coddled and has an expectation of people to know his feelings. Yes, actions speak louder than words, especially in a world where you may lose your hearing the moment rainfalls, but when you're making actions that are contradictory to your words, those original actions are drowned out.

It's likely a trauma response, as @slayerkitty said, and it helps provide context as to why Tai ticks the way he does. It provides reasoning behind his actions, but it doesn't mitigate the fact that he was hurting people, particularly Patts and his family. Now it's Tai's turn to make the choice of working hard for the love that he wants, to saying and putting the effort of making his love known. He's started with his family, he's worked it out with Lomfon, now he needs to put that same energy in salvaging his relationship with Patts.

(tagging @lurkingshan for their weekly round up)

[seventeenlovesthree]

you say that Matt and Sora are not right for each other so who would you say is the best fit for Sora? since her and Tai arent very compatible in your post either.

Weeeeell, the thing with Sora is that she is one of the few characters who has interactions with the majority of the cast AND also chemistry with most of them. So my personal impression is that, whether or not she is compatible with someone, really depends on the time frame we are talking about! In other cases, it's very, VERY situational... I'll try to give everyone a ranking here if possible...

Taichi: He's probably my favourite example here, because yes, you are only half correct: As I've outlined in my analysis post before, I feel like the bond they share is meaningful, familiar and mutually protective enough for them to actually be compatible - but NOT as teenagers/young adults, but as adults who have yet to find themselves and their goals and after going through therapy. There simply has to be the right time and place for them and they were absolutely not ready to cross the line of friendship for a romantic bond for a long time thanks to ongoing miscommunication. They are on each other's minds and that has never truly vanished, so... Give them a few more years. 8/10.

Yamato: As already pointed out in the previous analysis post, I support the idea of them figuring each other out as teenagers, dating each other for a while at least! But due to us not even knowing what they mean to each other at this point (particularly what Sora means to Yamato), I can't see them working through their tendencies to self-isolate, breaking through generational trauma and giving each other the validation they need. They have so much potential and yet they're both just... Too focused on Taichi to really notice each other. 5/10.

Koushirou: Look, when it comes to him, I am biased, since I am endlessly frustrated with how well they were paralleled throughout the entirety of the series, portrayed as Taichi's (and Yamato's) knights and aerial fighting duo (that may or may not be able to break through gender stereotypes...). And even though there is a foundation of friendship there, it isn't a focus for either of them. Thus I know a relationship between them would only be possible under very specific circumstances and with a lot of people out of the picture for them to notice each other romantically, so... They complement each other in several areas, but not necessarily in a romantic sense (as much as I'd personally love that). 5.5/10

Mimi: I'll be honest with you, technically, we could end the post right here, because I think, among all Chosen Children, Mimi is the most compatible with Sora, as I have already pointed out here; due to Sora's protective and supportive attitude towards Mimi throughout the first season, Mimi grew into a person who can give Sora the love and validation she needs and deserves - she just needs to be willing to take and accept it! They just complement each other so beautifully and I just believe that Mimi understands Sora on a very, very deep level and ever since Tri onwards, I could definitely see them discovering each other's romantic potential. 9/10.

Jyou: You know, it's actually a shame that we basically only got one episode (+ the dark cave moment) of them - and then the majority of their interactions is mostly comic relief with Mimi or the most blatant "mom is texting dad to let him know the children are alright" scene you could think of. There's a reason why the fandom likes to refer to them as mom and dad, they are mutually supportive whenever they get the chance, it just... Doesn't happen a lot. They also both have a high sense of responsibility and once they can combine that with getting a little more chill as they get older (Kizuna onwards for sure), I believe they could give each other a lot of stability and support, so the potential is there. 7/10.

Takeru: I'll try not to get into too much detail here, but I personally really believe that Takeru's and Sora's mutual wish to get validated would really get fulfilled if they were in a relationship. As outlined here, Takeru is incredibly vocal towards Sora and once they're both consenting adults, I don't see why they couldn't give it a try. 7/10.

Hikari: Both of them are incredibly caring and nurturing and in a universe in which Sora's fully capable of embracing her sapphic side while simultaneously realizing that she just has a thing for Yagamis, it may work out romantically! Any other time, I would insist their bond is purely sisterly, seeing how protective Sora is towards Hikari. 4/10.

Daisuke: Even if these two share VERY little screentime with each other, I would say there is at least the potential for a similar situation as in Takeru's case. Once again, it is all very theoretical, but as soon as they've matured enough to know their boundaries and preferences (definitely after The Beginning), Daisuke's vocal attitude could be very good for Sora - even if we have no idea how they perceive each other at this point. 4/10.

Ken: As far as I can remember, they haven't actually interacted on screen with each other, so while I am sure there is no hostility between them, I can't give them a genuine rating. 1/10.

Miyako: Similarly if not even more elaborated than with Hikari, it is pretty clear to me that Miyako is looking up to Sora, but that there is a strictly sisterly bond going on between them. 2/10.

Iori: A very similar case as Miyako's, combined with the fact that, just like with Daisuke, Sora rarely got the chance to interact with him and it'd feel more like a sibling relationship than anything else at this point. 2/10.

Honorable mention: Meiko: Now, hear me out, I personally maintain that, around Tri, Sora's basically embracing that a part of her may or may not be attracted to the same gender as well - and Meiko gave her a reason to let out her most caring attitude on a regular basis, she could basically pamper and spoil her to her heart's content... The question here is if they'd be able to develop their bond beyond that, enabling Meiko to give it back to Sora - in the same way Mimi could, as mentioned above. 6/10.

[strangersteddierthings]

Some random numbers: 3, 10 & 29 (for the fanfic writer ask lol)

Ahh! Thanks for sending an ask! :D

3. What's your favorite fic that you've written? My personal favorite is The One Where Steve Plays D&D. I love the Stobin banter in it and I want Steve to love D&D because I love D&D.

10. Is there a fic that got a different response than you were expecting? My first fic, Bad News First, Eddie. It was just something I wrote on my lunch break at work in less than an hour. And then the Steddie tag just took it and RAN. I cried about it to my bestie it was so overwhelming.

29. Share a bit from a fic you'll never post OR from a scene that was cut from an already posted fic. Here's everything I wrote for the original draft I had for the Steve has good parents and goes to therapy fic before scrapping it and redoing it from Steve's POV:

Robin worries about Steve. She's not sure there is anything Steve could tell her to make her not worry other than 'I don't need to talk about anything because I already do that weekly with my therapist' and that's not going to happen.

Hell, they all need therapy, but Max was, like, actively going to see the school's councilor and she still ended up cursed and almost dead because of her trauma (Robin tries not to think about the others who were also seeing Ms Kelley and got cursed). And sure, you could argue that Max was not actually forthcoming with her issues and therefore couldn't work on resolving them, but that's a po-tay-to, po-tah-to kinda problem, really.

So yes, Robin's sure they all need therapy, but she's mostly focused on Steve right now because he's become their therapist. He's the one everyone talks to about what they're feeling or not feeling, the one who always picks up the phone, answers the walkie talkie when someone doesn't want to be alone. He's fixed up the other rooms in his big empty house with guest beds so they can all have their nightmares loudly away from their parents.

And it's not that they've all left Steve to fend for himself in this. Robin asks him all the time if he's okay, how he's doing, does he want to talk? But Steve doesn't. He's always ok. He's always doin' 'just fine' or 'as well as he can be, all things considered'. He- well, he does talk. But not nearly as much as he should be. Just a confirmation that he understands what they're dealing with because he is, too.

Except, as far as Robin can tell, he's not dealing with any of it, at all.

She says as much to Nancy one night. It's mid-summer, and the Pool Party Slash BBQ Turned Slumber Party is winding down. Nancy and Robin are in the house, sitting on a couch that looks out the back windows, watching as Steve tries to hurl Dustin into the pool, but he's an octopus clinging to Steve's arm, and Steve reaches out to latch onto Eddie for support, and all three end of splashing into the pool.

"Steve's real good at just... being okay after Upside Down bullshit happens, isn't he?" Robin asks, going to conversational.

"Yeah," Nancy says, shifting on her cushion to pull one leg underneath her as she turns her body more towards Robin, "I was honestly surprised how quickly he's bounced back after the second time. We were all a little fucked up from it -we'd never imagine a world where it could happen once, much less twice- but Steve seemed to recover quicker. Didn't even seem changed from what happened. Just... back to school as usual."

"What was it like the first time?"

"Surreal. I think we were all able to fake it enough at school because it still didn't seem real. Monsters? Real monsters in Hawkins? We had no choice but to fake it until it seemed less real. Who would have believed us? Plus, Steve and I were still together then. We had each other to break apart with."

Robin nods, looking from Nancy to back out the window, "Steve was so normal after Starcourt that I thought I was just weak."

Nancy let's out a surprised 'Oh' at that confession, but stays silent as Robin continues.

"He was ready to start job hunting together again. Wanted us to get a job together. I had a breakdown about it, in the upstairs bathroom. Steve sat on the floor and hugged me through it as I cried about how weak I must seem to him. He told me I wasn't weak, that what I was feeling was completely normal. Rational," she laughs at the memory, "he sounded like an actual therapist. Wanted me to talk through what I was feeling. Also asked me what I wanted to be feeling, and things I thought would help me feel that way."

Nancy doesn't look as surprised as Robin thought she might. But also, Nancy's probably had the same kind of talk with Steve. Where he listens, and will share in the emotions, but won't open up about his own deep feelings, thoughts, or fears. "Steve's always been tough."

"Sure, but he doesn't have to be with us," Robin argues, "it's not going to be good for him in the long run to never talk about it. How's it's effecting him, you know?"

"We can't make him talk about it," Nancy says.

"Well, we can try," Robin says, "we could... could bully him gently into talking! If we just get everyone to ask him, repeatedly, maybe he'll finally break and talk!"

[delhimindclinic]

5 Powerful Ways to Improve Your Somatic Health Naturally

by Aman Khan

Introduction

Somatic health refers to the well-being of the body, especially as it relates to how physical health interacts with emotional and mental states. Unlike a purely medical perspective, somatic health considers the body as a vital communicator of stress, trauma, and emotional balance. In today’s fast-paced world, understanding and enhancing your somatic health can lead to more resilient physical and psychological well-being.

This article explores five powerful, natural ways to improve your somatic health and develop a deeper connection between your mind and body.

If you need professional support, consulting the best psychiatrist in Delhi can provide valuable insights and personalized strategies for Phobias. Consider Visiting:

Delhi Mind Clinic

Dr. Sugandha Gupta

Dr. Paramjeet Singh

https://www.bestpsychiatristsindelhi.com/

What Is Somatic Health?

Somatic health focuses on the awareness of bodily sensations and how they relate to mental and emotional states. The term “somatic” comes from the Greek word soma, meaning body. Rather than treating the body and mind as separate entities, somatic practices encourage a holistic approach, fostering balance and self-awareness.

Somatic health is not only about the absence of illness but about thriving—physically, emotionally, and mentally.

1. Practice Mindful Body Awareness

One of the core principles of somatic health is being present in your body. Mindful body awareness involves paying attention to physical sensations—such as breathing, tension, or posture—without judgment. This helps you tune into signs of stress or emotional discomfort before they escalate.

Try this: Set aside 5–10 minutes a day to sit quietly, scan your body from head to toe, and notice any sensations.

For more info you can also visit: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH)

2. Engage in Somatic Movement Practices

Physical movement is a key factor in maintaining somatic health. Gentle practices like yoga, tai chi, and walking help release muscular tension and promote physical alignment. These activities improve circulation, flexibility, and body-mind coordination.

Somatic movement helps integrate emotional experiences and physical health, enabling you to respond better to daily stressors.

3. Prioritize Sleep and Restorative Activities

Rest plays a critical role in somatic health. Lack of sleep or constant physical exhaustion can disrupt the body’s natural healing and regulatory processes. Quality rest allows the nervous system to reset and recharge, which is essential for physical and mental well-being.

Establish a regular sleep schedule and engage in calming pre-sleep routines like deep breathing or light stretching to improve rest.

4. Regulate Stress Through Breathwork and Relaxation

Breath is a bridge between the body and mind. Deep, conscious breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress and promoting calm. Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing, box breathing, or simple breath counting are excellent tools for enhancing somatic health.

Daily breathwork can improve focus, reduce physical tension, and foster emotional balance.

5. Build Healthy Body-Mind Communication Through Journaling

Writing about physical sensations and emotional experiences can deepen your understanding of your body’s signals. Somatic journaling helps you connect specific thoughts or feelings to physical reactions, offering insights into stress triggers and body awareness.

Include prompts such as:

“What physical sensations am I feeling right now?”

“What might my body be trying to tell me?”

This practice builds a bridge between the cognitive and physical self, nurturing overall somatic wellness.

Final Thoughts: Empower Your Somatic Health Journey

Improving somatic health isn’t about rigid routines or drastic changes—it’s about cultivating awareness, movement, and care for your body in simple, consistent ways. By tuning in to your body’s wisdom and nurturing it through gentle practices, you create a strong foundation for holistic health.

Whether it’s mindful movement, restful sleep, or breath awareness, each step you take builds resilience and harmony within your body and mind.

Remember: Real change comes through small, consistent efforts. Start with one practice today and feel the difference in your somatic well-being.

[kritimathurlifecoach]

Embrace Inner Peace: The Comprehensive Guide to Mindfulness and Wellness Retreats

In our fast-paced world, where stress and distractions are part of daily life, taking time for self-care and mental well-being is becoming increasingly important. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through mindfulness and wellness retreats. These retreats offer a structured opportunity to disconnect from the chaos of everyday life and immerse yourself in practices that promote mental, physical, and emotional healing. This article explores the benefits, key practices, and how to choose the right mindfulness and wellness retreat for your needs. 

What is a Mindfulness and Wellness Retreat?

A mindfulness and wellness retreat is a dedicated time and space where individuals can focus on their personal growth, self-awareness, and healing. These retreats are designed to help participants cultivate mindfulness through meditation, yoga, and other wellness practices. They typically take place in serene environments that encourage relaxation and reflection. Whether you’re looking for stress relief, emotional balance, or a deeper spiritual connection, these retreats allow you to rejuvenate and reconnect with yourself.

Unlike typical vacations that focus on leisure and entertainment, wellness retreats are centered on holistic health. Retreats may vary in length, ranging from a weekend to several weeks, and often involve a combination of individual and group activities. These activities may include guided meditations, yoga sessions, spa treatments, mindful eating, nature walks, and workshops focusing on mental well-being.

Why Choose a Mindfulness and Wellness Retreat?

The decision to attend a mindfulness and wellness retreat often comes from a desire for personal growth or the need to disconnect from a busy, overstimulated life. Below are some of the key benefits of attending these retreats:

1. Stress Relief and Relaxation

Mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga are proven methods for reducing stress. By learning to stay present and engaged at the moment, individuals can experience significant reductions in stress levels. At a mindfulness retreat, you can fully immerse yourself in these practices without the usual distractions of daily life.

2. Improved Mental Clarity and Focus

Engaging in mindfulness helps to clear the mind, improve focus, and increase mental clarity. These retreats often offer a break from the noise of everyday life, giving you the space to recalibrate and set new intentions. When you’re able to focus better, decision-making becomes easier, and productivity improves.

3. Physical Well-being

Mindfulness and wellness retreats often integrate physical practices like yoga, tai chi, or hiking, which benefit both the mind and the body. These activities help promote relaxation, flexibility, and overall physical health. Many retreats also offer detox programs, organic meals, and other elements that contribute to a healthy body and mind.

4. Emotional Healing

A mindfulness retreat provides a safe environment for emotional healing. It allows participants to explore and process their emotions with the guidance of trained facilitators or meditation coaches. Many people attend these retreats to address past trauma, grief, or stress and emerge feeling lighter, more centered, and more connected to their inner selves.

5. Spiritual Growth

For those interested in deepening their spiritual practices, mindfulness and wellness retreats offer a space to explore spirituality without external distractions. Whether it’s through meditation, yoga, or spiritual discussions, these retreats allow you to reconnect with your higher self and foster a sense of inner peace.

What to Expect at a Mindfulness and Wellness Retreat?

Mindfulness and wellness retreats vary in their approach, but they generally include a mix of structured and unstructured activities. Below are some common elements you may experience during a retreat:

1. Guided Meditation and Mindfulness Practices

Meditation is the cornerstone of most mindfulness retreats. Sessions are often led by experienced meditation coach who help participants explore various meditation techniques, such as breath awareness, loving-kindness, body scan, or mindfulness of thoughts. The primary goal is to cultivate awareness and presence, which can lead to lasting calm and mental clarity.

2. Yoga and Physical Wellness Practices

Yoga is a vital component of many mindfulness retreats, offering a physical practice that complements meditation. Yoga helps reduce physical tension, improve flexibility, and bring mindfulness to the body. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced yogi, there are classes and styles to accommodate all levels. Retreats may also offer other physical activities such as tai chi, Pilates, or nature walks to enhance physical well-being.

3. Workshops and Educational Talks

Mindfulness retreats often feature workshops, lectures, or group discussions on a variety of topics related to mindfulness, mental health, and wellness. These sessions help participants deepen their understanding of mindfulness practices and learn tools that they can incorporate into their daily lives. Topics can range from stress management and emotional intelligence to holistic nutrition and sustainable living.

4. Mindful Eating

Many mindfulness retreats emphasize the practice of mindful eating, where participants learn to engage all their senses while eating and develop a more conscious relationship with food. This practice encourages eating slowly, savoring each bite, and paying attention to how food nourishes the body. Retreats often provide wholesome, organic meals that support the body’s natural detoxification process.

5. Time for Reflection

One of the most important aspects of a wellness retreat is the time for personal reflection. This may involve journaling, spending time alone in nature, or simply sitting quietly and observing your thoughts. These moments of solitude allow you to connect with your inner self and explore your intentions for personal growth and healing.

6. Spa and Healing Therapies

Many wellness retreats offer additional treatments such as massage therapy, aromatherapy, Ayurvedic treatments, and detox programs. These services aim to complement the physical and mental wellness practices, further promoting relaxation and rejuvenation. These treatments are often based on natural healing techniques and focus on balancing the body’s energies.

How to Choose the Right Mindfulness and Wellness Retreat

With so many retreats available worldwide, it can be challenging to find the right one for your needs. Here are some important factors to consider when selecting a mindfulness and wellness retreat:

1. Location

The location of the retreat can significantly influence your experience. If you prefer coastal retreats, look for ones near the beach. If you’re drawn to mountains or forests, consider retreats set in those natural environments. The location sets the tone for your retreat experience, so choose one that resonates with you.

2. Length of the Retreat

Wellness retreats can last anywhere from a weekend to several weeks. If you’re new to mindfulness and meditation, a shorter retreat may be ideal. For those who want a deeper experience, a longer retreat may provide more opportunity for introspection and personal growth.

3. Retreat Style and Focus

Consider the type of retreat you want to attend. Some are focused on silent meditation, while others incorporate more interactive workshops or activities. If you're looking for physical activities like yoga or hiking in addition to meditation, make sure the retreat offers a balance of practices that meet your preferences.

4. Instructor Expertise

The instructors at a retreat are crucial to the experience. Look for retreats led by experienced mindfulness teachers or meditation coaches who have a solid background in the practices they are offering. A good meditation coach can guide you through various techniques, providing valuable insights and support during your retreat.

5. Cost and Inclusivity

Retreat prices can vary widely depending on the location, duration, and services offered. When considering the cost, check whether the retreat includes accommodation, meals, and wellness treatments. Be mindful of your budget and choose a retreat that offers a comprehensive experience within your financial means.

6. Reviews and Testimonials

Reading reviews and testimonials from past attendees can give you a sense of what to expect from a retreat. Look for feedback on the quality of instruction, the environment, and the overall experience. Positive reviews can provide assurance that you’re choosing a retreat that will meet your needs.

Popular Destinations for Mindfulness and Wellness Retreats

Mindfulness and wellness retreats can be found worldwide, offering diverse environments that enhance your healing journey. Some popular destinations include:

Udaipur, India: Known for its serene lakes and tranquil surroundings, Udaipur is an excellent destination for mindfulness retreats, offering beautiful settings and Ayurvedic healing practices.

Rishikesh, India: As the "Yoga Capital of the World," Rishikesh offers countless yoga and meditation retreats along the Ganges River, where you can connect deeply with spirituality.

Bali, Indonesia: Famous for its lush landscapes, Bali is home to many wellness retreats offering yoga, meditation, and holistic therapies in an idyllic tropical setting.

Sedona, Arizona, USA: Known for its energy vortexes, Sedona is an ideal location for meditation and mindfulness retreats focused on spiritual growth and healing.

Conclusion

A mindfulness and wellness retreat offers more than just a temporary escape – it’s an opportunity to reconnect with yourself and prioritize your well-being. By immersing yourself in meditation, yoga, and other healing practices, you can achieve mental clarity, emotional balance, and physical health. Whether you're seeking stress relief, personal growth, or spiritual exploration, these retreats provide a transformative experience that can benefit your overall health and happiness.

[mikuni14]

La Pluie and Step by Step are shows that send me a lot of conflicting signals. 

I see these shows trying to present themselves as something new and unique and mature (I think?), and at the same time ruin even the best scenes and moments with the silliest / oldest romance tropes. Without the classic BL tropes these shows would be real adult productions for adult viewers but I can't take them seriously because these shows just couldn't resist some old and boring shit like love triangles, "handsome and rich v cute and dorky", "there was only one bed", literal interpretation of soul mate concept, misunderstanding, lack of communication, etc. Step by Step tries to be a show for adults, but for me, because of a lot of stupid and comedic scenes, it's actually pretty silly, it’s a classic Thai BL drama, and tbh the characters are mentally at the level I would expect from a high school romance. La Pluie is a series that I thought would like to take a modern approach to the soul mate idea, but after 7 episodes, for me, this is a production that takes this concept literally. Phat and Tai are absolutely in love with each other as they’re supposed to be following the very core of the soul mate idea, and I feel that Lomfon, as well as Saengtai's trauma conveniently appearing and disappearing when the plot needs it, are just a temporary distraction from "the beautiful and glorious idea of destined lovers". 🙄

I can't take Step by Step seriously because neither Jeng nor Pat have ever been shown having dilemmas about their rapidly growing infatuation and their huge  power inbalance. Jeng, in particular, focuses on pampering and spoiling Pat, with absolutely no thought about actually having the romantic and sexual relationship with his subordinate at their work place. And since they slept together in the same bed, which is something unimaginable to me in the real world and possible only in a very silly romance productions, there's no way I'm taking this show seriously :) The "maturity" of this show should be about two people in unequal positions, who are in love with each other and HOW THEY DEAL WITH IT. There should be numerous problems and issues to handle, like money, career, gossip, family, co-workers, HR reactions... because that's how life actually is. Jeng doesn’t think about it, Pat still treats Jeng as one of his options. Like...????? 

And I can't take La Pluie seriously either, because the show lost me when Saengtai, hating and not trusting the idea of soul mates, becomes pretty cool with it the moment he discovers that his soul mate is handsome. Notice how since then Saengtai proudly introduces Phat to everyone around as his soul mate. Not as a new friend, maybe an object of interest, a potential boyfriend, not even as Phat - ALWAYS AS HIS SOUL MATE.�� To all the old and worn-out tropes like destined lovers, lack of proper communication, hiding inconvenient facts (for the greater good of course) the show now added "one of the MLs is being kissed by someone else and of course second ML enters this scene, then runs away when he sees it" and the overdramatic and long way of shooting those kind of scenes. UNLESS Phat really let his ex kiss him for so long, and it's not just prolonging the kiss scene for more drama 🤔 Because Phat didn't push his ex away right away, he didn't stop the kiss immediately. This kiss takes a while... And now there will be another drama and of course it will turn out to be another big misunderstanding and it will be about Tai being over emotional in his reaction to someting insignificant and easy to explain and I’m just tired 😴 *deep sigh* *remembering fondly how Jiu resisted Mat and immediately run after Tian to clear up the misunderstanding right away and that was just a soap opera*

Also, the funniest thing is, that in any other show, the way Saengtai stares at, talks to and how he acts towards Phat's ex girlfriend would be considered love at the first sight 😃 I know it’s not intentional and the series was just trying to mess with Saengtai, make it more painful when he will finally see That Kiss, but it only means to me, that they haven’t really thought this series through, because it honestly looked like he was into her :D

Anyway, to me, both of these shows pretend to be something they're not, they're just classic BL shows using old and often irritating tropes when they don't really have to. And yet, from time to time, they manage to sneak in very good ideas, interesting and truly innovative scenes and themes. And these are the mixed signals that these shows send me: silliness, comedy, old tropes, the inability to leave behind the roots of BL series mixed with the still untapped potential of being something new, interesting, innovative, which unexpectedly breaks through from time to time.

[itsclydebitches]

re: that ask you posted a couple days ago about the male and female representation in RWBY, part of what makes RWBY's whole 'girl power' thing ring exceptionally hollow to me is the fact that there are like... no women in positions of real power in remnant. like at all. except the big bad.

winter is second in command to james. glynda is second in command to ozpin. all of the headmasters are men (for no discernible reason, imo; why theodore and not dorothea?). the leader of the ace ops was a white man (and then winter seemed to take over clover's position instead of either of the women of color on the team, and she was still second to james). RWBY is an all girl team, but JNPR was led by a boy despite a girl arguably being far more qualified (pyrrha). the happy huntresses are all women, and robyn had no real power to speak of--she didn't even manage to win the election, because jacques rigged it, and then the council ceased to matter. there was one (1) woman on the council, but she was so inconsequential that i can't even remember her name. (i suppose we're lucky it was the guy and not her who james shot lol) jacques controls the SDC instead of willow, even though he's not even a schnee by blood and actually married into the family for power. (and we don't even know how he got it over his wife.)

and then there's the white fang, which ghira led and not kali--and it's ghira who leads menagerie itself, while kali seems to be a housewife. sienna had five minutes of screentime before being brutally killed and her position assumed by adam, a man. cordovin is basically a one off lackey we haven't even thought about before or since. neo was second to roman. you have cinder, sure, who is a second but to salem, a woman, and raven as the leader of the branwen tribe--but what does it really say about your 'girl power' narrative when the only women with genuine systemic power in your world are villains or antagonists with massive bodycounts??

atla has the same sort of problem--a couple great female characters, but all the leadership positions are men (except the kyoshi warriors, an all girls group, and even then the leader of their island is an old man) and the one female mentor figure also turns out to be evil--but it at least has some great writing to help overlook that fact, and it came out in the mid-00's and so has some sort of excuse of being a product of its time. but rwby didn't even start until 2013 and it's still going and still making these kinds of decisions well into 2021.

where is this supposed girl power, exactly? am i really supposed to overlook the very patriarchal worldbuilding just because the title characters are girls?

That's an excellent summary of the situation, anon, and as with so much in RWBY, it comes down to the full context. Any one of these examples isn't necessarily going to mean much on its own. It's when you look at the pattern that you can start making a case for those conclusions: Why is the show marketed on "girl power" set in a world where men hold the vast majority of that power? And, more importantly, why is that setup not the point? We could easily have a story where that lopsided gender dynamic is the problem that the girls are looking to fix, but... that story doesn't exist. Like the problems discussed with Jaune, the supposed point here exists only on the surface. Dig just the tinniest bit — the above — and you hit on a lot of structural problems with this "girl power" world.

To add just a few details to what you've already said:

Salem indeed has power, but she's never allowed to fully use it. Each volume the frustration with this grows as Salem accumulates more abilities and then just sits on them. From literally hiding out for a thousand years to worries that she won't use the Staff in Volumes 9-10, Salem really isn't allowed to be the threat she's presented as on the surface. And yes, this is absolutely due in part to the "She's too OP and the writers don't know how to let her be that powerful while still having the heroes win" issue, but again, context. That problem doesn't exclude others occurring simultaneously.

Same double explanation with Summer. Yes, dead moms are an incredibly common trauma to dump on a protagonist, but it still left Yang and Ruby with Tai as their primary influence. And Qrow. The uncle becomes the extended family influence while Raven is the absent one/eventual antagonist. It's personal power as opposed to political power, but Tai, Qrow, Ozpin, formerly James... most of the mentors are men. Maria, a key exception, has been ignored in that regard. The story announced that she was Qrow's inspiration, setup her being Ruby's new mentor, and then... nothing. Nothing has come of that. She disappeared for a volume and then went off to Amity and was literally forgotten by the story when evacuating everyone was the finale's whole point.

Like that Endgame moment I mentioned, the Happy Huntresses feel a little too forced to me. Yes, it's the same basic idea as in ATLA, but ATLA, as you say, has a lot more going for it. The Happy Huntresses feel... on the nose? Idk exactly how to explain it. Like, "Here they are! Another team of all women! Isn't this how progressive storytelling works? Just ignore how this is a one-off team of minor characters compared to the world building issues discussed above." And if you're not paying attention, you miss just how insignificant they are, with a side of Robyn being, well, Robyn. The Kyoshi Warriors, at least, are based off of Kyoshi. A woman avatar who is a significant part of their history. That is, presumably, why they're an all women warrior group (but who notably still teach Sokka). The Happy Huntresses are all huntresses because...? There's no reason except that meta "We want to look progressive" explanation. Just like having all the women superheroes team up for a hot second so people get excited and ignore the representation problems across, what? 21 films? Don't get me wrong, I love that May is among the Happy Huntresses. I think including her in the explicitly all-women group was one of the better things RWBY has done in a long time, but the rest is still a mess.

RWBY is arguably about these smaller groups as opposed to systematic power (despite the writers trying to work that in with things like the White Fang and the election. Not to mention the implication that everything in Atlas is fine now that evil Ironwood has died and taken the symbol of wealth (the city) with him. We saw a human holding hands with a faunus after all. Racism and corruption solved, I guess.) So yes, our group is dominated by women... but Whitley is the one saving Nora, helping to defeat the Hound (plus Willow), thinking of the airships, and providing the blueprints they need to escape. Salem is our Big Bad, except Ironwood is the one the volume focuses on. Ruby is our leader, but Jaune is the one leading the group into the whale and getting praised for how heroic he is. Ren does more to shake things up, even if he's painted as the one in the wrong. Oscar gets to confront Salem and destroys the whale threat. Ozpin provides the information they need to evacuate. Meanwhile, when the girls do things in Volume 8 it's almost always followed by a long-stint of passiveness. Nora opens the door so she can be unconscious for most of the volume. Penny keeps Amity up so she can also be unconscious for a good chunk of time. Ruby sends her message and then sits in a mansion. Blake fights so she can tearfully beg Ruby to save her. Weiss, as said, takes a backseat to Whitley (and Klein). They forward the plot, absolutely, but comparatively it doesn't feel like enough.

It's that pattern then, no one specific example. More and more the personal power, not just the systematic power already built into Remnant, seems to be coming from the men. Not all the time, but enough that scenes like the tea drinking moment feel like a part of a much larger problem. Pietro taking control, Watts hacking, and Ambrosius literally remaking her when Penny is supposed to already be in control of herself and her fate. Winter being presented as the active mentor to Weiss, only to turn around and claim that Ironwood was actually responsible for everything. Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and May straight up commenting on how awful things are out there while Yang, Jaune, Ren, and Oscar lead the charge against Salem — with the latter three doing the most to forward that mission (no fear, semblance, cane). As others have only half-joked, Yang's supposedly badass moment was bringing up a mother she's ignored for six volumes and briefly blowing up the immortal woman for a couple of seconds (with Ironwood's bombs). Even Marrow is arguably the most significant Ace Op after Clover. Vine isn't actually a character, Elm slightly less so, Harriet is there to go crazy and try to drop a bomb (notably before admitting to never-before-existed feelings for Clover), but Marrow? He's the one who breaks out. Who is meant to heroically stand up against Ironwood. Who comments on how awful it is that teenagers are fighting and, regardless of how messed up the moral messages are, is supposedly pushing for active change while all the women in his group, including Winter, insist on maintaining the status quo. Look at all these choices as a whole, it makes throwaway worldbuilding choices like "All the Maidens are women" feel pretty hollow. Why does it matter if Amber is a Maiden if she dies in a flashback so Ozpin can struggle to pass on the power? If Pyrrha dies before becoming one so Jaune can angst about it? If Raven is one and then disappears from the story entirely? If Winter has enough power to break Ironwood's aura, but supposedly had no power throughout every other choice she made getting here? If Penny is one, but is continually controlled by men and then asks another man to help her die? It's just really unconvincing, once you look past the surface excitement of a woman looking cool with magic powers.

When you do consider the whole of the story — both in terms of our world building and who is forwarding the plot in the latter volumes, getting the emotional focus, being proactive, etc. — there are a lot of problems that undermine the presumed message RT wants to write. They say, "girl power" by marketing RWBY with these four women, but too many of the storytelling decisions thoroughly undermine that, revealing what's likely a deeply ingrained, subconscious bias.

[manslaught]

it starts to bother her, the possibility that lottie only reached out to her, like she's the only one damaged enough for lottie to justify it to herself. it's bad enough that the rest of the world is convinced she's the most fucked up of the survivors, completely ignoring the trauma her father put her through for eighteen years in favor of focusing on what happened in the wilderness, like that was what was to blame for his death— but it's insulting coming from one of them. “ what the fuck was i supposed to do, tai? when was i supposed to mention that? you wanted me to just suggest taking some road trip to camp whatever the fuck it's called after we buried the body? ” the truth is, she forgot to mention lottie at all, because it didn't feel relevant. and like she said, she thought everyone knew about it. she frowns at tai's refusal to believe she's fucked up, because even though mikayla wants to believe she isn't, how the fuck would tai know? it's not like she ever checked on her, like she ever asked. “ maybe i am. ” she says it out of bitterness, but there's some truth in it, the closest she's ever gotten to admitting that she isn't okay. and it shouldn't be surprising that she's not, not when she spent five years in complete solitude, forced to sit with everything they did out in the wilderness, with little options to distract herself.

mikayla can feel tai's stare, but she doesn't acknowledge it, letting herself focus on the ring instead. maybe it's petty, putting it back on just because she feels rejected, reminded that she's not tai's first choice, that she lost that decades ago, but she doesn't know what else to do, because actually talking about what she's upset about doesn't feel like an option. it's her fault for letting herself be so delusional, so she's not going to bring it up.

she rolls her eyes, because she's almost entirely sure that whatever lottie's up to is exactly the same type of bullshit she did in the wilderness, something mikayla never let herself fully believe in, even if she did participate. it felt necessary back then, but now, she can go back to laughing at the idea, the way they used to— which is why she isn't entirely sure why taissa seems uncomfortable with it, until she remembers the times when she'd almost swear that she seemed into it, though mikayla never said anything about it back then, afraid to start an argument by calling her out on it. and if it helped tai, she felt no need to, because as much as she didn't want to give into anything they did out there, mikayla just wanted tai to feel okay, no matter what it took.

her smile is smug, because tai reacts just the way mikayla hoped she would. she deserves it, she thinks, after making her feel completely stupid just moments ago, so she keeps going, shrugging. “ well, yeah. calypso's gone, but i still have needs. you remember how high my sex drive is. ” she found out later that it was mostly a result of being with taissa, because being with other women felt like a nuisance sometimes, even if that's how she chose to cope in the years after her release. but that was different, only ever used as a distraction, like spending her nights with someone else would make up for the fact that taissa seemingly forgot about her.

she's not sure if tai is trying to hint that she actually wants to go, but reminding mikayla that misty is there definitely isn't giving her more motivation to go. but natalie being there is concerning, and more importantly, maybe lottie can help tai. again, she thinks back to their time in the wilderness, the brief moments where taissa seemed comfortable with the stupid rituals, thinks back to what tai told her earlier about what she found in the basement, how clearly, a part of her believes in that— so maybe it's not the worst idea, if it means getting tai help that mikayla no longer knows how to give, not when they aren't together. “ you want to go. ” she meant for it to be a question, but it comes out more like a statement, like she's already certain of it. mikayla glances back down at her ring, smirking again. “ she won't notice it if my hand's somewhere else. ” she just wants to remind tai that she lost her, that she technically isn't hers anymore, so mikayla's free to do whatever she wants— just ignoring the fact that the only thing she actually wants is her. “ it's only an hour away from here, i think. her stupid camp. if you're really that curious. ”

tai scoffs,  like it’s a ridiculous assumption,   mostly because she’s mad that she herself didn’t know —-  especially after hiring someone to do her digging for her.   where the fuck was jessica,  anyway?    and what is she actually accomplishing other than taking taissa’s money?       ❝  no.   she never reached out to me,  ❞    she says,   her eyes squinting as she starts to second guess.    did she?   had taissa just ignored it?   she can’t dwell on that possibility, though.    ❝  you just didn’t mention her at all when we were all together?   ❞    she asks,   slightly accusatory,   even if not entirely intentional.      ❝  i’m sure that’s not why.    because you’re not,  ❞    she insists,  choosing to ignore the resentment in her tone,   mostly for her own sake,   because she’s tired of fighting with her,   even though it’s not really her choice to let it go.   

 she does notice her move,  but she doesn’t let herself question it—- until she watches her grab her ring.   she scoffs,   shooting a glare back at her,  trying to ask her with her stare what the hell she’s doing.   it almost makes her fold,   almost brings her back into the moment,   almost encourages her to remind her what she just said moments ago:    you’re mine.   but then her eyes shoot down to the ring on her finger,   and she lets out a scoff.   she knows what she’s doing;   she knows her too well,  even after all this time,  to not know.    she’s trying to prove some point;   obviously,   since she just admitted to her she isn’t in love with her wife nor wants to make it work.   so tai rolls her eyes,   turning away and moving on—   but that doesn’t mean she’s going to forget it there,   that mikayla is still trying to taunt her. 

 her jaw clenches as she talks about whatever it is that lottie’s doing—   because back then,   tai hated it,  too.   she thought they were all wasting their time,   that they were trying to make something out of nothing.   it got under her skin because it didn’t make any sense,  which made tai feel trapped,  and yet—  there was also a time when she learned to find comfort in it,   even though she wasn’t willing to admit that to anyone directly.    even to herself,  because she kept telling herself she was just doing it out of self preservation,   that it was easier just to repeat the bullshit and pretend she’s part of something so that she was never found on the outside.    but she was in it,  in some way,   even though she didn’t realize it.   clearly,  the other part of herself knew—-    because that's what taissa found in her basement,   and mikayla’s words irk her,   because doesn’t she wonder now,  too,  what kind of offering taissa was really trying to leave?   

❝  we don’t know that’s what this is,  ❞   she mumbles,   shifting uncomfortably,   because even the thought of defending lottie makes her skin crawl  —-  but not out of malice towards lottie,   just the situation,   just the idea of being like her the way it always bothered her,  because it made things too real.   she’s stuck in her own head now,   wondering if she’s wrong —- if that is what lottie is doing there,   and if it is,   should she stay away?   or should she give in to it,  like she clearly did before?   she doesn’t know how to talk to mikayla about that,   even if that’s what she came here for,   but when she calls lottie hot,   it snaps her out of her daze,   her head shooting back to her with a look of disgust.   she doesn’t disagree,   she just doesn’t like to hear it from mikayla,   especially right now,  after all of this.     ❝  that’s what you’re thinking about?  ❞    she mutters with a scoff,   shaking her head,   trying to ignore the sting of likely unnecessary jealousy it hits her with.   ❝  —-   something’s going on,  if she’s got nat and misty and—-  whoever else there.  ❞   any more blasts from their pasts?   ❝  you're not curious now? ❞ she pauses, trying not to let the underlying anger get the better of her, but then she catches the ring on her finger again and lets out a sigh. ❝  not going to impress her with that thing back on your finger, ❞ she mumbles, though obviously, it's not about lottie, she just can't help but comment on it.  

[unlikelytai]

Rant warning, beloveds

I think one of the biggest flaws on the logic of saying "ha ha gotcha" to c!Dream apologists when they say "C!Dream didn't *want* to change all along!" Is. They know???

Some people clearly never actually read those post prison fics and yet??? The entire point of MOST was: c!Dream being in such a essentially vulnerable position utterly out of his control - trauma, physical and psychological - that he had no choice other than accepting help.

C!Dream's mindset is not something easily changed, clearly, he's focused on it, obviously it would take something extreme for him to reconsider.

What brings me to the point: on a particular point of view, I greatly despise the concept I can infere from some takes, that "you need to deserve help."

Help is not something you >need< to search for and earn, deserve. It can be offered to you for free, for kindness, and if you accept it or not is a whole other talk.

And another point that has been made before but it's fitting to this rant! Pandora's Vault could NEVER change c!Dream for the better. Punishment doesn't equal growth.

-

That's it, I'm done, "Tai takes the block game rp too serious" moment is over for now, friendly reminder that if you want, debate is fun, just don't be a rude asshole! I refuse to stress about this media I consume for fun for more than five minutes ♡

[karliesbuzzcut]

(100) Million Dollar Lawsuit

Intro | part1 | part2 | part3 | part4

We are on the last chapter (for now) and this the most chaotic one. Mainly because it doesn’t follow any kind of chronological order (or logical sense), it’s just Russ going in circles for literal years.

But I’ll try my best to condense it for you, so all you need to do is to keep your seat belt fastened until the aircraft stops completely.

Right after the failed Ari lawsuit, Russ goes back to his one and only love: Taylor Swift 💫 And he has learned a lesson — not a good lesson, mind you, but a lesson: small claims courts won’t take him anywhere. If he really wants to punish women for not complimenting his suit, he will have to file a multi-million dollar federal lawsuit.

But, since denying sex from The Russell isn’t illegal (yet), he had to come at it from a different angle. I’m going to give Russ a chance to explain himself first.

Before you ask: yes, the following was Russell’s response to a woman thanking Taylor for visiting an 8 year-old girl who was very badly burned in an accident.

As I’ve always said, it’s okay if you aren’t fluent in Bullshit. That’s what I’m here for.

You see, Russell views human interactions as a series of transactions: I make a tweet worth liking, you go on a date with me; I take you to Olive Garden, you give me a handie for free; I put on a suit, you hug me and smile; I write you a song and sue you, you produce said song. Whenever women don’t fulfil their side of the deal, he becomes enraged.

But the reason he has such a strong hate-boner for Tay, is because she seemed to also follow his same ‘moral code’. A kid makes a cute video, she visits them at the hospital. A fan writes her a letter inviting her to their wedding, she goes to the wedding. A couple of kids fold 1989 paper cranes for Andrea, Taylor invites them to one of her concerts.

Russ thought “this is a done deal”. He didn’t write that song for Taylor because he particular liked her; he just thought she’d be the most likely artist to produce it — or at least acknowledge his existence.

I mentioned before that Russ wrote a whole-ass book about this. And I think it’s as good a time as any to talk about it. For a short amount of time, Russell chilled out about the ✨100 million dollar lawsuit ✨ but my guess is that he thought his book would get him the same results as a lawsuit? To be fair, the book is fantastic. 5/5, would recommend. 

He details the harassment he went through after suing Taylor Swift (the first time). Apparently old ladies at coffee shops would scream at him because he dared to sue Our Queen. A Mexican even pointed a gun at him (it wasn’t me, guys! Just a fellow countryman ❤️) and ordered Russ to drop the lawsuit. Computers at his job caught on literal fire because he was sent very powerful viruses. His friend Ken — who definitely exists! — was hit with a Molotov cocktail. Yep. 2016 was definitely the year people were willing to murder for Taylor Swift.

There’s also this brilliant dream sequence that involves an owl with the voice of Morgan Freeman, and Taylor’s agents guarding a tower in which she’s being held captive. 

ALSO ALSO: an entire chapter is called “SHE CHOSE HIM OVER ME”. Taylor Swift chose Joe Alwyn — a man she actually knows — over a man she’s not even aware exists. Women, amiright?

I think Russell would enjoy the Kaylor community to a certain extent. Not the lesbian part, obviously: he doesn’t trust women who don’t want to touch his peen. I just mean the baseless hatred of Joe. Look, I made a little collage of his rants ❤️ tell me if any of this sounds familiar!

You know — I’ve been joking around a lot about Russell just wanting to do the nasty with Taylor. But you know me, I like joking around. In reality Russ only wants what is fair. He wants to put a stop to all these senseless acts of kindness perpetrated by Taylor ‘The Generous’ Swift.

This isn’t about him at all, actually. Shame on you for thinking there’s an ounce of greed in that selfless little body of his. HE’S DOING THIS TO PROTECT THE KIDS WITH CANCER!

There are no ulterior motives here! This isn’t about a date!

THIS IS NOT ABOUT A DATE AT ALL GUYS STOP SAYING THAT.

I think this is my favourite post of his, because– grammatically speaking –he doesn’t specify which of them is wearing the red dress. And that sends me every goddamn time.

Anyway. The book, as magnificent as it was, got him absolutely nowhere. I know, I can’t believe it either. So he went back to focus on his lawsuit. But apparently not enough, because he didn’t serve her properly..? Now, don’t expect me to understand this, because I am very stupid (so it’s quite a good thing that I haven’t sued anybody for millions of dollars) but something about him sending the lawsuit to her old legal team..? And then trying to force UPS to serve her? I think he even said he was going to serve her in the middle of one of her concerts... but I’m guessing that didn’t go as planned 🤷‍♀️ oops.

Of course, Russie wouldn’t allow such an anticlimactic ending. Can you guess what he did? Please tell me that you can guess what he did. HE MADE ANOTHER SONG 😭❤️

This one is called ‘I Don’t Get You, Taylor Swift’. Another masterpiece that we definitely didn’t deserve 🙌

This was around April, 2019. By then I was being lured away by Kaylors, so I broke it off with Russ. I know that he filed a 3rd lawsuit against Taylor last year, which is just like the second one but hopefully this time he’ll be able to serve. And listen— I know that sounds like an awful thing to wish on Taylor, but I’d rather have Russell occupied suing a rich woman (who isn’t even going to deal with him), than a poor sex worker in Nevada. I bet TayTay would prefer that too.

Well guys, I’ve mentioned this a few times already, but I really had to be selective with the amount of information I was going to throw at you. I’ve avoided some of the shittier stuff he said or did, because I wanted to keep these posts as lighthearted as possible. I also didn’t touch on many things because they would just derail us. Like for example: one of the few lawsuits he has filed against someone who isn’t a woman, was against the state of Utah. I know, right? He’s trying to singlehandedly legalise prostitution in Utah, and even wrote a book (more like a pamphlet) brilliantly titled ‘Why I'm Making It Legal for Your 18 Year Old Daughter to Get In Bed with a Complete Stranger for Only 500 Bucks: A Short Essay from a Pro Se Litigant who is Challenging the Utah Brothel Bans’.

I copy-pasted that title guys, I swear to god.

The book is very graphic. This one I certainly do not recommend as I still suffer nightmares because of it.

Soren is a character who also had to be cut out — which is a shame because he really tried to be a good christian and help Russell. Not as in “I support you, Russell” but as in “why don’t you take a nap, Russell”. Turns out, even cinnamon rolls have a limit. Russ, of course, blames Taylor Swift for the fact that he’s losing his friends. I’m not joking — it’s an article in his lawsuit:

Greer has lost family relationships, friend connections and business connections because of the trauma of Taylor Swift. His family tells him to "get over it," resulting in shouting matches and strained relationships. Greer's friends get annoyed by his focusing on the trauma of it, when nobody knows the pain of getting rejected by a public figure — twice — and the fallout that has resulted from it.

Russell embodies that comic/meme of the little guy who puts a stick in his bicycle’s wheels and then blames Taylor Swift when he inevitably falls.

Sooooo...

Maybe someday I’ll write a post about Russ’ latest antics. I know he still posts stupid stuff on Facebook, which he later deletes. He shined especially bright at the peak of the BLM movement. He also plead guilty to electronic communications harassment— did you see that conviction coming? Yes, yes you did 😌

Regarding Taylor, I read that Russ knew someone who knew Todrick Hall — and Russ sent him a song and video for Taylor. All he got back was a Cease and Desist letter. But I’d have to do a bit of digging to get the details. I was already so overwhelmed with organising the information I was previously aware of, that I decided to leave the newer stuff for another time. You know, once I’ve had some time to inform myself... as well as a really long shower.

Since I left so much shit out, I’ll be taking questions if you have any. And if you can muster the courage to ask them. I’m weirdly proud of being some kind of Russell encyclopaedia. I might not have much going for me...

There’s no ‘but’ — that was the complete statement.

Before I go, I wanted to add this screenshot. I absolutely love it because it summarises ✨The Russell Experience✨. Russ wants Taylor to know pain, poverty and punishment. But when asked “why?” his answer is just “oh, I was ignored lol”

*none of the screenshots are mine