#child soldiering is bad

[moonytoast-x]

no cuz why was there a child army in new rome....... they had adults....... like camp halfblood gets a pass bc there werent adults everyone died before age 20 but in new Rome?? what the freak were all those grown ups doing in the city while their TEENAGE KIDS were dying in war?? like they have no excuse actually

[ari-orangebox-collection]

When the test subject they told you was aggressive is actually just angsty and autistic

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I figured if Wheatley were a human he would probably be part of a team that cares for test subjects. Which involves basic medical checkups and general wellness checks. Maybe in Chells case, since she’s so anti-social, he was tasked to be a sort of companion so they could get more information out of her for testing purposes. :3 he’s classified as a nurse and has basic training in it. But he’s not making sense because he’s kinda scared of Chell at first. She just thinks he’s weird and kinda smells bad.

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I have a hc on why Chell is a test subject I’m just gonna try to write it here

Basically her mother was too young and poor to raise a child so she felt it better to put Chell up for adoption. The orphanage she was raised in was being used by aperture to scout out children with certain “exceptional skills”. They noticed that Chell was highly intelligent and a great problem solver, but had no interest in spending time with others. She had no friends. And none of the other children noticed or cared when she left. She was probably adopted by a high ranking scientist and raised for the specific purpose of testing. She has little concept of social norms or things outside of aperture because she was taken from a “normal” environment so young. [like. Before she was 10 maybe? Idk.] but it doesn’t mean she’s dumb or anything, she just doesn’t really get it yk. Sorry if this is actually so stupid and embarrassing ignore me

[dukeofthomas]

Can't believe Bruce canonically picked up a random 12yo homeless child who had no intent to become a vigilante and suddenly thrust Robin onto him without asking if that's what he wanted because he missed Dick (whom he fired because being Robin was too dangerous) and people still act like any take that's not "all the Batkids became vigilantes on their own completely independent of Bruce (who tried so hard to stop them but sadly just couldn't do it)" is a complete idiotic bad-faith take and that you're crazy if you disagree with people saying that Bruce has never ever absolutely NEVER picked up a kid for the purpose of making them into a vigilante.

[unpretty]

My kink taxonomy hell adjacent gripe is that I *am* into mean stuff (humiliation, force fem, degradation, ect) but as soon as the story starts trying to convince me that actually, this is cosmically right I have to backpedal entirely. Like "ooooh well he was an asshole so he deserves to be forcefemmed" "oooh she was rude so she deserves to be humiliated" "actually this predicament bondage is a force for justice" NO! I want bad things happening to people who don't deserve it.

you're so right for this

[jedi-enthusiasm-blog]

Jedi: *start training when they're fourteen at the earliest, don't have solo missions until they have several years of training in their shoulders and are Knighted/become socially adults in their early twenties*

SW Fandom: They indoctrinate babies and use them as child soldiers 🤬!

Mandalorians: *they actually indoctrinate babies into their culture after killing their parents, and finish training them at thirteen*

SW Fandom: They adopt and protect children 😍

JA series has the aging out at thirteen thing, but considering Ahsoka was asigned to Anakin at fourteen and he thought she was too young, that shows have canonity priority over everything but the movies, aging out at thirteen is not canon. Ahsoka in TCW is the same age Padmé is in TPM. The Jedi are unironically the ones who take child protection the most seriously in the GFFA.

Mandalorians take their children into warzones to train them at eight years old, and are considered adults at thirteen. This is in the Karen Traviss worldbuilding, which I'm sure most of us despise, but it has yet to be contradicted by new movies, shows or even books, so unfortunately it's still canon.

[lurker2773]

Characterization for the Hex if the Operator were sent back instead of the Drifter

I like to think about what 1999 could have been if the Lotus sent the Operator back to follow Entrati and not the Drifter. I know it makes the most sense from a character development standpoint to send Drifter, but the Operator is a much more experienced and capable (lorewise) warframe combatant with countless years of practice under their belt - it'd have been equally pragmatic to send the Starchild to 1999 to make sure whatever needs to get done in there happens and have the drifter get trained up and acclimated to the Origin system where there are other tenno to rely on to make up for inexperience and general rookie-ness.

So instead of the Hex getting a grown-ass person with magic void powers from the future, they'd get to have a war veteran trauma child - bonus points if that child is nonverbal or refuses to speak directly to them, and the Hex have to interact with them through the KIM.

And also, consider that most players from a gameplay standpoint habitually keep their Operators cloaked to prevent them from getting shot once they leave their 'frames to do whatever - canonically, the Operator and Drifter don't have a time limit on cloak, I don't think. The Hex are basically never even going to see the kid, and that could be more terrifying. Imagine seeing a puppet version of what you could be, dangling from the strings of some invisible, intangible thing with superpowers and magic lasers coming out of their hands.

Imagine mid mission Arthur turns to look at the weird and mysterious time-travelling entity and just sees a collapsed Baruuk on it's knees or frozen completely still in a weird position before it suddenly zooms about thirty meters away midair and starts straightening itself back out again in ways that joints shouldn't move in before slamming into the ground and rushing headlong into a crowd of Scaldra to 'build melee combo,' whatever the hell the demon child means by that.

Here's the meat of the post, though - the Hex (and newcomers like Flare and Kaya) can play the Context(TM) game like they do with Drifter through KIM and slowly piece together that this is a magical child soldier with a bodycount larger than all the people they've ever collectively laid eyes on, and then react in interesting ways that would lend interesting characterization.

Eleanor and Arthur would be horrified, probably, and Arthur might start talking down to the Operator because it's 'just some kid' who's clearly in over their head. Most of it's concern, but I think some small amount would be bruised pride - how could some kid be better at killing than a trained soldier?

Aoi would be heartbroken at the revelation that their new ally is a child soldier - how could anyone let that happen to them? How sick do you have to be to make children kill whoever the government pointed at with techno-organic corpses?

And Quincy would definitely be fucked up in the head for a few days after he figures it out - that could open up some opportunities for more characterization given his soft spot for kids. Would he try to keep up his aloof act, like he does with the Drifter, or immediately discard it to try and comfort a child that has already made peace with their ridiculous capacity for murder?

Amir might do something similar to Arthur, but more patronizing than hostile - he means well, but this is a kid. If Amir himself feels out of his depth in the current situation and he's an adult, then surely a child would feel even worse than he does about killing a person.

I think Lettie would be the most chill of the original Hex, though. She's jaded enough that she'd be concerned, but would probably decide that it's not really any of her business - especially considering just how talented the Operator is at mass homicide.

Velimir and Minerva could also be really interesting. On the one hand, they could see little bits of Rusalka in the Operator, but that could also lead to coddling or 'replacement goldfish'-like behavior not unlike how I imagine Amir's reaction would have been.

Flare would have been the first to know. One wayward comment from Lizzie calling the Operator demon-child or something of the like, and they'd have put it together pretty quickly after that.

Kaya would just be glad there's someone else who understands being underestimated by older people just because they're younger.

[lilislegacy]

New here so idk if you've discussed this before but what do you think about the judo flip scene.. because I've seen some who consider to be a bit toxic some who adore it so what's you pov on it?

Love ya

I’ve always loved that scene; it’s actually one of my favorites. And here’s the thing: I agree that Annabeth’s reaction was overly aggressive. It was not a normal or healthy way to react. But I do not, in any way, believe it indicates that she is abusive.

Annabeth wasn’t trying to hurt Percy, and she didn’t hurt him. Demigods are much more durable than regular humans and have a much higher pain tolerance. And she knows exactly what that limit is for him, since they’ve fought and sparred together for so many years. Additionally, Annabeth thought that Percy was still invulnerable at the time and couldn’t physically get hurt. And if you’re still skeptical, look at Percy’s response. He didn’t show any signs of pain, fear, or upset. He wasn’t angry or confused either. He laughed. With affection. In no way did he feel actually threatened by her. Percy understood that her actions came from her being overwhelmed by her emotions. After all, Annabeth hadn’t seen her boyfriend for eight months. Percy is the only constant in her life, the one person who makes her feel safe and loved. Annabeth had spent months worrying and not sleeping, only to find Percy completely fine, even better than fine. Although she logically knew it wasn’t his fault, her emotions took over. Initially she reacted as a girlfriend by kissing him. But then, as her adrenaline surged, she instinctively responded like his sparring partner, a role she slips into when she’s pit against him for practice. Her feelings made her flip out a little, but this emotional reaction was a one-time thing, not a pattern of behavior. Percy was perfectly fine, and the scene reflects a moment of emotional release, not abuse.

So let me restate this so I can be very clear. No, judo flipping percy was not a normal way to react. It was overly aggressive. However, it doesn’t indicate that Annabeth is abusive. She was overwhelmed by her emotions and her fight-or-flight response kicked in, which really shouldn’t surprise people. She’s a demigod with PTSD who’s been raised as a child solider. (An extremely traumatized 16 year old child who’s been heartbroken and under emotional distress for 8 months straight didn’t handle her emotions well??Wow! What a shocker! Let’s all go call her toxic and abusive!)

Percy didn’t get hurt or have any negative emotions towards the event. He was fine, she was fine, and it never happened again. They consistently make each other feel very safe and loved.

Can people go try and pick apart a different relationship? Maybe one that actually is toxic?

[persephozee]

attack on titan fans suddenly lose all ability to understand the show when they are presented with a child soldier using a coping mechanism

[sciderman]

Yk, I hate that adaptations keep making Peter a high schooler, and not just because it means he never evolves, but because the adaptations now also include wider Marvel, whitch usually (thanks to the MCU) is at the modern day stage with legacy characters and new age teen heroes, meaning that Peter is taking up Miles' spot and you can really tell when they put him next to someone like Kamala Khan or Sam Alexander who are Miles' pals. Tho Peter taking Miles' stuff is just a modern issue overall, just look at MCU whitch just stole and re-skinned Miles' personality, characters, story-beats, even the costume to an extent and then made it worse.

agree 👏

[name-is-tired]

Optimus is like a cool and amazing uncle in Armada.

I feel like he's formed that parental figure to his team even though they are almost all the same age they still look up to him.

And then you have Starscream with his abusive dad being the only thing he's ever known. He may have stared a bit to long whenever Optimus would show affection or simple respect and care to his team cause those concepts are out of reach for him. So when he finally goes to the autobots.

He can't fit in. But Optimus isn't beating him up to the brink of death or blaming him for something out of his control or that he isn't doing things right.

And at this point Starscream realises he was taken in by the wrong brother.

And I feel like this is a good point on why Starscream cared so much about Optimus when he joined the decepticons again. Cause he finally got a taste of a true father and he does cherish it.

And on Optimus' side he saw how his brother treated Starscream but not all of it or the fact that Starscream had never had anyone else or how young he is or was. So when he joined he started to realise these things but instead of pressuring it all out of him to talk he simply became what Starscream lacked his whole life knowing that the former wouldn't work on Starscream. He thinks action speak louder than words yet words are still needed. Starscream also has that ideology but instead in the way of longing for it. Along the way he does see Starscream as a son.

But things don't last forever, it didn't even last long enough to start.

[fishareglorious]

i do wonder what lilya feels about having a hand in the breakout incident. does it keep her up that children got reversed only moments after she tried to keep them from going out? was she aware that constantine intended her to be drunk to put her common sense and combat ability down?

if so probably the reason why she spites her for it, honestly wish she did storm her office with an entire flock of olitiaus in chapter 7 lmao

[oh-no-its-bird]

Today's flavor of crackship is Kakashi (Naruto) x Hawks (bnha)

[wlwanakin]

star wars fandom is awesome because you can say something like “a militarized religious institution having child soldiers is bad” and you’ll actually have people try to be like “UM ACTUALLY”

[jq37]

no but seriously the whole david thing was so fucked up, and it's especially wild how it comes right after book 19 and cassie's deal with aftran, where we are shown the "humanity" of the evil brain slugs, and then right afterward we get three books showing just how evil these kids have become just by virtue of the way they've been forced to fight (do you think they'd turned fourteen yet, when they exiled a kid their age, because they'd forcibly recruited him just as they'd been recruited, and he didn't handle it like they did?)

This has been sitting in my ask box for a bit because I wanted to fact check my memories but woof. I don't know that I would have handled David any better at 14 or now for that matter.

Especially after the Saddler incident. Like we saw some humanity from a Yeerk in book 19 and then some REAL Yeerk behavior in David choosing to steal this poor kid's identity and life--literally throwing him down an elevator shaft to finish him off. Not just any kid either--Jake and Rachel's cousin. Their obnoxious cousin who sucked but still. Their flesh and blood family.

The thing that really gets me about The Solution is, at the end of the day, it's Cassie's plan. Cassie, the kindest most empathetic member of the group, is forced to use that empathy with brutal efficiency to figure out how to play emotional chess with this fellow kid huge amoral liability and it works. It works exactly according to plan.

But she has to live with that. Cassie, the tree hugger, the vegetarian, the one who was willing to sacrifice her life for one stranger three books ago has to live with the knowledge that she did this (knowing full well what the lifespan is of a rat as opposed to a human boy) and she has to live with that knowledge for a long, long time.

Anyway I don't know about evil, but ruthless? Oh yeah.

[fisksaturday]

tss strikes such a good balance between having the adults in the story be responsible and competent while also letting zak be the hero and be able to be powerful and participate in the world

like the talk doc has with zak in "the kur stone pt 2" where he explains why he thinks zak might be the only person who could defeat argost, but he also acknowledges how much pressure that's putting on him. doc and drew are so dedicated to not just sheltering zak no matter how much they might want to, they're always trying to train him and help prepare him for everything and stuff

it's just. doc and drew (and doyle) are so refreshing to see. so many children's cartoons will make the adults incompetent or practically nonexistent so that kids can feel strong and powerful and i just feel like tss lets zak be strong while also letting him lean on his family

[yellowocaballero]

one thing I've seen you play with in your writing both in moon knight and in the star wars roleswap canon crossover is characters being brutally honest to/about different parts of themselves as a way of externalizing the kind of self-critical double standard that usually only exists inside a person's head. it's a really fun and juicy concept to chew on :) the coffee machine bit in twilight on owl creek bridge also scratches this itch, it's delicious to see characters forced to be vulnerable about their most deeply held beliefs when pushed to the breaking point and you write that kind of climax in a very satisfying way <3

I love this ask. No joke, the roleswap/canon crossover exists because I kept on reading fanfics where Obi-Wan meets his younger self and he's, like, nice to him. No. Obi-Wan has a devoted fan club of haters but nobody in the galaxy is a greater Obi-Wan hater than Obi-Wan. And I swear that the only person Obi-Wan would hate more than Obi-Wan is Obi-Wan aged 13. Who do YOU hate more? Yourself? Or yourself, from when you were thirteen?????

I agree that it's really satisfying when characters are completely peeled open, but it does have to be carefully done. You have to wait for as long as possible before you get there. Every time you think that it's time for the character to come clean and say what they mean, it is not. You have to escalate and push up the tension and continuously have this denial cause more and more problems. I love the identity porn trope, but you HAVE to keep the charade going for as long as you physically could. If something is fixed, it has to break something else. If a question is answered, it has to raise five more questions. This is what makes the final reveal satisfying.

The coffee pot moment is unsettling and eerie because it doesn't do that - the worst truths are being openly said with no prompting in the break room, the buried and unsaid is being said, and Fox is being forced to hear it. Fox has reached his cracking point, and everything that's gone unsaid is rushing out. Because Leia is there, and she's not the type to let anything go unsaid - except, of course, for the biggest thing at that moment that she couldn't admit. It was Leia who pushed Fox to his breaking point, and it was Fox who brought Leia towards acceptance. Thanks for reading!