#children of parents with ptsd are more likely to develop it

[dannybobany]

Just completed a timeline for Basil’s family to work out some extra details with dates and whatnots and I’d like to share the interesting detail that Basia (Basil’s grandma) was a teenager during world war 2 and this will definitely come up with her character in Marzenie.

[nightcolorz]

I would love to hear your thoughts on autistic Armand, if you haven’t already spoke about this! Imo he’s very autsitic coded, and it’s very precious to me as an autistic iwtv fan :]

OMG!!! RUNS AROUND. Yes lmao I talk about this a lot actually it is one of my favorite Armand things to meta about bcus I’m also autistic and he is my special interest🙏I was trying to find some of the stuff I’ve written about autistic Armand but tumblrs search engine makes it near impossible to find anything so I gave up 😭, but believe me they r out there. Even tho I talk about this a lot I would love love love to talk about it some more for u anon because I can never get enough of armandtism.

I first figured Armand was autistic when I was reading the vampire Lestat because when he is first introduced he is completely non verbal and only communicates through the mind gift. through further explanation it’s very much implied that he does this because he finds putting his thoughts into words hard and he considers just projecting them into peoples brains much easier. Armand speaks out loud for the first time like more than halfway through the book, and lestat is surprised to hear him lol. This is super autistic I feel like that’s obvious 🙏 it’s basically the vampire power equivalent of using a non verbal communication device. Armand having trouble with connecting with people, understanding how to “fit in”, and talking r prevailing parts of his character throughout the whole series (not just tvl) which solidified my headcanon into basically a canon fact in my mind lol.

When Armand is first introduced in iwtv his strangeness is chalked up to his vampirism, but it’s soon revealed throughout tvl and qotd that Armand is considered a strange outcast by other vampires. The things he struggles with r unique to him and r not representative of vampires in general. His otherness/strangeness can also not be chalked up to his trauma or his age turned because Armand was also an outcast as a young child. It’s described in the vampire Armand that Armand was not understood by his parents or his community because he was obsessed with and freakishly good at painting. His community interprets his unusualness as a sign of some divine intervention, the priests believe he is a saint or a prophet sent to earth, even at times saying things implying that he is “not human”. Unusually high quickly developing skill in childhood is an autistic trait, as is hyper fixation on an activity/topic that becomes a core identity factor and prevailing obsession. The affects of Armand’s trauma only worsen the severity of his autistic traits. C-ptsd and autism often overlap and coexist in autistic people who were traumatized in childhood, which seems to be Armand’s case.

in queen of the damned Armand is at his peak autistic lol, I feel like this is when most book readers gain that head canon. The Devils minion chapter revolves around Armand using Daniel as a guide to help him learn how to be “normal” and to blend in to the modern age. Armand can’t seem to figure out how to blend in on his own because he is unable to understand social norms of any time period enough to integrate himself into society. Armand is in love with technology and what most would consider monotonous sensory experiences. He stares at his own reflection for hours, he loves kitchen appliances and watching ingredients whir in blenders, cameras, he watches the same movie over and over again and never gets bored of it. The way Armand fixates on technology really reminds me of how a lot of autistic people played as children. He enjoys repetitive, sensory behaviors over “fun”. For Armand this means watching the same things repeatedly, which is a form of visual stimming. There r moments where Armand is trying to understand his world, but is so blind to what he is trying to understand that he goes about his discoveries wrong. Such as in qotd when he tries to interrogate strangers to gain information on societal norms but he only gets uncomfortable glances. Armand is desperate to understand and to connect but he is consistently inherently alienated, whether it be from humanity or from other vampires or from himself.

Armand also can not process his memories comprehendingly. This is part trauma part autism, but autism is def a factor. Because of his repressed trauma induced memory loss Armand finds it difficult to talk about himself to people. This is worsened by Armand being unable to comprehend the aspects of story telling that he needs to be able to tell people about his life. Armand explains to Daniel that he vividly remembers small details, such as dates and weather, but he could not tell Daniel what “things were like” because he “doesn’t know what that means”. Literal thinking, the inability to grasp vague, fiction based concepts like narratives and metaphor, and strict fixation on minor details like numbers, are all autistic traits!

Armand also struggles heavily with emotional regulation. He is described as often having intense and extreme meltdowns where he cries and screams and breaks things. Armand is easily bothered, in tva he mentions that he covers his ears when he is overwhelmed. The vampire Armand begins actually with Armand becoming overwhelmed in public and trying to escape to an attic so that he can be alone in silence. Armand copes with his intense emotions by putting on a mask of neutrality. He is often described as expressionless and blank, uncanny. But this is a mask, and when Armand can no longer mask and his disguise lapses his facial expressions r described by lestat as being so over the top and emotional that they are disturbing and weird. Over the top unnatural facial expressions as well as blank unreadable ones are both autistic traits. For Armand he is naturally overly emotive to the point of being considered horrifying, and he hides this by taking the opposite extreme. Either way, either expression Armand puts on causes him to be socially outcast.

Armand often describes feeling like there is something wrong with him that causes him to be isolated from others and he’s not sure what it is. In prince lestat he tells Gregory that he doesn’t know why it’s so hard for him to have relationships when other vampires are fully capable of doing that. In the vampire Armand he explains to David that he’s crazy because his mind isn’t built right and his senses are tripled so he shouldn’t bother trying to understand him. I rlly relate to this as someone who felt like I was from another dimension as a child bcus i didn’t know the unspoken life rules everyone else did.

Armand is often treated like a child by the other vampires and assumed to be emotionally immature and too fragile and insane to be helpful. Armand says in the vampire Armand that he doesn’t consider himself an adult because he can’t function like one. This could be due to the age he was turned, but it’s shown to us that characters like Benji and even to an extent Claudia r able to self regulate and function appropriately despite being turned even younger then Armand was.

in conclusion, book Armand is an autistic person who was never given proper support or understanding because the environment and the time period he was born in decided to alienate him further rather then work to help him socialize and learn appropriate skills, and because of the necessities he has been deprived of and the horrible trauma he endured Armand is never able to learn to function in the way he was likely capable of. this recessive quality in pair with his autism caused Armand it be unable to cope or self regulate or learn ways to understand himself since he wasn’t given a chance to in his formative years. He’s a great representative of what many autistic people who experienced intense child abuse experience.

Im rlly happy with the shows portrayal with Armand so far partly because he is omg, so autistic. Show Armand shares so many of book Armand’s autistic traits. inability to understand himself or others, fixation on small details but inability to understand the big picture, etc. even his iPad is autistic asf! My ipad is my comfort item that I carry around with me to self sooth, and this is def the vibe Armand’s iPad gives me in the show. Even assads performance is autistic! He is able to play Armand masking and Armand unmasking, the stilted expressions he gives and the blank stares, the uncomprehending earnestness. AGHHHH!! Assad stims with his fingers when Armand is nervous too which is just an amazing touch. I hope the show explores Armand’s autism, because that would literally be a dream come true. Even still, for now I’m satisfied.

thank u so so much anon for the ask this made me so happy 🙏❤️ autistic Armand means so much to me and has gotten me though some tough times. Understanding and analyzing Armand helps me understand myself better and feel more comfortable with how I am. Earlier this year I gave myself a concussion because I was harmfully stimming during a meltdown, and while I was in the emergency room I was holding the vampire Armand and imaging that he would relate to what I was going through. So yeah he is very special to me too! And once again it makes me so so happy that u got me to talk some about it. I hope this was coherent or interesting lol I felt like I was all over the place

[hollowed-theory-hall]

Harry Potter and PTSD

I think no one would argue Harry Potter isn't traumatized, but I actually wanted to go through PTSD symptoms and find evidence of them in book quotes. It's mostly as a fun, little exercise (the word fun is debatable here, it made me quite sad, actually) as I'm not a licensed therapist, and I have no qualifications to diagnose anyone with anything. But I wanted to take a look at some of how Harry's trauma manifests especially in the final 3 books as the signs of PTSD are most obvious and glaring after Voldemort's resurrection and get worse after Sirius' death.

(As the title and first paragraphs suggest, this post isn't a happy one, so beware. I will be discussing symptoms of trauma as shown in the HP books)

I will be using adult PTSD symptoms since:

Older children and teens usually show symptoms more like those seen in adults. They also may develop disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive behaviors. Older children and teens may feel guilt over not preventing injury or death, or have thoughts of revenge.

(Source)

All further quotes regarding PTSD and its symptoms and how they might show were taken from the same website linked above.

To be diagnosed with PTSD, an adult must have all of the following for at least 1 month: * At least one re-experiencing symptom * At least one avoidance symptom * At least two arousal and reactivity symptoms * At least two cognition and mood symptoms

So, let's get straight into it and go into the diagnosis categories:

Re-experiencing symptoms

* Flashbacks—reliving the traumatic event, including physical symptoms, such as a racing heart or sweating * Recurring memories or dreams related to the event * Distressing thoughts * Physical signs of stress Thoughts and feelings can trigger these symptoms, as can words, objects, or situations that are reminders of the event.

Harry definitely suffers from nightmares post-Voldemort's-resurrection, and memories coming back about it:

Had they all forgotten what he had done? Hadn’t it been he who had entered that graveyard and watched Cedric being murdered and been tied to that tombstone and nearly killed ... ? Don’t think about that, Harry told himself sternly for the hundredth time that summer. It was bad enough that he kept revisiting the graveyard in his nightmares, without dwelling on it in his waking moments too.

(OotP)

In the meantime, he had nothing to look forward to but another restless, disturbed night, because even when he escaped nightmares about Cedric he had unsettling dreams about long dark corridors, all finishing in dead ends and locked doors, which he supposed had something to do with the trapped feeling he had when he was awake.

(OotP)

And it continues even months later, he's still dreaming about the graveyard:

He was not going to share his dreams with anyone. He knew perfectly well what his regular nightmare about a graveyard meant, he did not need Ron or Professor Trelawney or the stupid Dream Oracle to tell him that...

(OotP)

Distressing thoughts are par for the course for Harry, but I'll bring up some examples:

And Harry saw very clearly as he sat there under the hot sun how people who cared about him had stood in front of him one by one, his mother, his father, his godfather, and finally Dumbledore, all determined to protect him; but now that was over. He could not let anybody else stand between him and Voldemort; he must abandon forever the illusion he ought to have lost at the age of one, that the shelter of a parent’s arms meant that nothing could hurt him.

(HBP)

He feels responsible for all of their deaths even though they are all adults who chose to be there and protect him. Harry still feels guilt and responsibility over them, even when it isn't his fault, and he shouldn't feel responsible for those who stood between him and Voldemort.

While Harry shows physical signs of stress (such as a racing heart or sweating), They are shown in actual moments of stress where any human would be stressed, so I don't count them here since they are not an immediate result of trauma.

Regardless, I'd say he does have relieving symptoms. Recurring dreams, thoughts, and a sense of guilt are all present.

Avoidance symptoms

* Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the experience * Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the traumatic event Avoidance symptoms may cause people to change their routines. For example, some people may avoid driving or riding in a car after a serious car accident.

Harry doesn't actually have the luxury to really avoid anything (poor boy) but he does avoid talking about his dreams of the graveyard, as mentioned in the quote in the Re-experiencing section. He doesn't tell anyone, not even Ron or Hermione about his nightmares. Neither does he want to talk about Cedric. He doesn't even want to think about the graveyard and Cedric as mentioned in one of the above quotes:

Had they all forgotten what he had done? Hadn’t it been he who had entered that graveyard and watched Cedric being murdered and been tied to that tombstone and nearly killed ... ? Don’t think about that, Harry told himself sternly for the hundredth time that summer.

(OotP)

Even though Cho keeps bringing Cedric up to process her own experience, Harry does not want to talk or think about him and what happened at the graveyard.

She shook her head and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. “I’m — sorry,” she said thickly. “I suppose ... it’s just ... learning all this stuff... It just makes me ... wonder whether ... if he’d known it all ... he’d still be alive...” Harry’s heart sank right back past its usual spot and settled somewhere around his navel. He ought to have known. She wanted to talk about Cedric.

(OotP)

“I came in here with Cedric last year,” said Cho. In the second or so it took for him to take in what she had said, Harry’s insides had become glacial. He could not believe she wanted to talk about Cedric now, while kissing couples surrounded them and a cherub floated over their heads.

(OotP)

Zacharias said dismissively, “All Dumbledore told us last year was that Cedric Diggory got killed by You- Know-Who and that you brought Diggory’s body back to Hogwarts. He didn’t give us details, he didn’t tell us exactly how Diggory got murdered, I think we’d all like to know — ” “If you’ve come to hear exactly what it looks like when Voldemort murders someone I can’t help you,” Harry said. His temper, always so close to the surface these days, was rising again. He did not take his eyes from Zacharias Smith’s aggressive face, determined not to look at Cho. “I don’t want to talk about Cedric Diggory, all right? So if that’s what you’re here for, you might as well clear out.”

(OotP)

And when he mentions some of it, he's emotionally overwhelmed and stumbling over his words. He didn't really process everything that happened in the graveyard and he doesn't know how to talk about it:

Ron and Hermione were still smirking and Harry felt his temper rise; he wasn’t even sure why he was feeling so angry. “Don’t sit there grinning like you know better than I do, I was there, wasn’t I?” he said heatedly. “I know what went on, all right? And I didn’t get through any of that because I was brilliant at Defense Against the Dark Arts, I got through it all because — because help came at the right time, or because I guessed right — but I just blundered through it all, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing — STOP LAUGHING!” The bowl of murtlap essence fell to the floor and smashed. He became aware that he was on his feet, though he couldn’t remember standing up. Crookshanks streaked away under a sofa; Ron and Hermione’s smiles had vanished. “You don’t know what it’s like You — neither of you — you’ve never had to face him, have you? You think it’s just memorizing a bunch of spells and throwing them at him, like you’re in class or something? The whole time you know there’s nothing between you and dying except your own — your own brain or guts or whatever — like you can think straight when you know you’re about a second from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends die — they’ve never taught us that in their classes, what it’s like to deal with things like that — and you two sit there acting like I’m a clever little boy to be standing here, alive, like Diggory was stupid, like he messed up — you just don’t get it, that could just as easily have been me, it would have been if Voldemort hadn’t needed me — ”

(OotP)

He mentions how it isn't easy for him to talk about it when he does his interview for the Quibbler:

Harry had not found it an easy experience to talk about the night when Voldemort had returned. Rita had pressed him for every little detail, and he had given her everything he could remember, knowing that this was his one big opportunity to tell the world the truth. He wondered how people would react to the story. He guessed that it would confirm a lot of people in the view that he was completely insane, not least because his story would be appearing alongside utter rubbish about Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. But the breakout of Bellatrix Lestrange and her fellow Death Eaters had given Harry a burning desire to do something, whether it worked or not...

(OotP)

So, I'd say Harry shows avoidance symptoms in abundance as well.

Arousal and reactivity symptoms

* Being easily startled * Feeling tense, on guard, or on edge * Having difficulty concentrating * Having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep * Feeling irritable and having angry or aggressive outbursts * Engaging in risky, reckless, or destructive behavior Arousal symptoms are often constant. They can lead to feelings of stress and anger and may interfere with parts of daily life, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating.

"CONSTANT VIGILENCE!" anyone?

But more seriously, Harry is extra vigilant and alert in the final 3 books especially. As mentioned in the above quote with Smith, Harry is more angry in the final 3 books:

“If you’ve come to hear exactly what it looks like when Voldemort murders someone I can’t help you,” Harry said. His temper, always so close to the surface these days, was rising again.

(OotP)

His temper, which was always present, got worse after the graveyard. In book 4, Harry holds Ron back from hitting Draco when Draco throws his usual insults:

“You know your mother, Malfoy?” said Harry — both he and Hermione had grabbed the back of Ron’s robes to stop him from launching himself at Malfoy

(GoF)

In book 5, Harry punches Draco himself over similar insults because he's angrier and has less of a handle on his emotions and reactions. He is barely aware of what he's doing:

Harry was not aware of releasing George, all he knew was that a second later both of them were sprinting at Malfoy. He had completely forgotten the fact that all the teachers were watching: All he wanted to do was cause Malfoy as much pain as possible. With no time to draw out his wand, he merely drew back the fist clutching the Snitch and sank it as hard as he could into Malfoy’s stomach —

(OotP)

And in general, Harry is much more on guard:

He raised the cup to his lips and then, just as suddenly, lowered it. One of the horrible painted kittens behind Umbridge had great round blue eyes just like Mad-Eye Moody’s magical one, and it had just occurred to Harry what Mad-Eye would say if he ever heard that Harry had drunk anything offered by a known enemy.

(OotP)

He startles easily and is ready for an attack at all moments:

Dudley lay curled up on the ground, whimpering and shaking. Harry bent down to see whether he was in a fit state to stand up, but then heard loud, running footsteps behind him; instinctively raising his wand again, he spun on his heel to face the newcomer.

(OotP - after the dementor attack)

Malfoy wheeled around, drawing his wand. Instinctively, Harry pulled out his own. Malfoy’s hex missed Harry by inches, shattering the lamp on the wall beside him; Harry threw himself sideways, thought Levicorpus, and flicked his wand, but Malfoy blocked the jinx and raised his wand for another — 

(HBP)

“Pathetic, Weasley,” said Snape, after a while. “Here — let me show you — ” He turned his wand on Harry so fast that Harry reacted instinctively; all thought of nonverbal spells forgotten, he yelled, “Protego!” His Shield Charm was so strong Snape was knocked off-balance and hit a desk. The whole class had looked around and now watched as Snape righted himself, scowling.

(HBP)

By HBP and OotP, Harry is always ready for an attack and he defends himself on instinct. It doesn't matter where he is or what he's doing, fight or flight instincts take over and he's acting. It's always there, under the surface, ready to spring.

After Sirius dies, we also see a change in what Harry keeps to himself and what he says out loud. All his sassiest quotes towards Snape come from after Sirius dies. Harry becomes more reckless with his words (and actions in general). The pain makes him care less about his own life and future:

“What are you doing, Potter?” said Snape coldly as ever, as he strode over to the four of them. “I’m trying to decide what curse to use on Malfoy, sir,” said Harry fiercely. Snape stared at him.

(OotP - after Sirius' death)

“Yes, sir.” “There’s no need to call me ‘sir,’ Professor.” The words had escaped him before he knew what he was saying. Several people gasped, including Hermione. Behind Snape, however, Ron, Dean, and Seamus grinned appreciatively.

(HBP - yes, this famous scene is because Harry is depressed)

This is Harry just speaking his mind with complete and utter disregard for the consequences of what comes out of his mouth. This is something we see with him only after Sirius died, as before that, he made an attempt to not anger his professors, even Snape. In the earlier books, Harry is all for de-escalating situations with Snape:

“What on earth were you thinking of?” said Professor McGonagall, with cold fury in her voice. Harry looked at Ron, who was still standing with his wand in the air. “You’re lucky you weren’t killed. Why aren’t you in your dormitory?” Snape gave Harry a swift, piercing look. Harry looked at the floor. He wished Ron would put his wand down.

(PS)

“Let’s see,” he said, in his silkiest voice. “Fifty points from Gryffindor and a detention each for Potter and Weasley. Now get inside, or it’ll be a week’s worth of detentions.” Harry’s ears were ringing. The injustice of it made him want to curse Snape into a thousand slimy pieces. He passed Snape, walked with Ron to the back of the dungeon, and slammed his bag down onto the table. Ron was shaking with anger too — for a moment, it felt as though everything was back to normal between them, but then Ron turned and sat down with Dean and Seamus instead, leaving Harry alone at his table. On the other side of the dungeon, Malfoy turned his back on Snape and pressed his badge, smirking. POTTER STINKS flashed once more across the room.

(GoF)

Harry may be thinking of wanting to say/do something, but he doesn't, because he has some self-preservation. This self-preservation disappears as the books go along. Harry in the early books is much more concerned for his own well-being than in the later books, and I don't think it's due to bravery or childhood trauma, at least, that isn't all there is. I think it's a reaction to some of his more recent trauma as well. A combination of feeling responsible for everything and thinking it's fine he goes through pain and danger because that's what he should do. In HBP and DH, he repeatedly says how willing he is to endanger himself, but not others. It's why he breaks up with Ginny, it's why he initially doesn't want Ron and Hermione to come with him on the Horcrux hunt. He thinks his own life is worth less. That it isn't so bad if he dies.

So he shows 3 arousal and reactivity symptoms at least.

Cognition and mood symptoms

* Trouble remembering key features of the traumatic event * Negative thoughts about oneself or the world * Exaggerated feelings of blame directed toward oneself or others * Ongoing negative emotions, such as fear, anger, guilt, or shame * Loss of interest in previous activities * Feelings of social isolation * Difficulty feeling positive emotions, such as happiness or satisfaction Cognition and mood symptoms can begin or worsen after the traumatic event. They can lead people to feel detached from friends or family members.

I already mentioned Harry's guilt regarding people "who stood between him and Voldemort". And it's true for this section as well. And I mentioned above how Harry considers his own life as worth less than others, which leads him to be incredibly reckless.

Besides the above two points, Harry also shows clear signs of depressive states:

On the fourth night after Hedwig’s departure Harry was lying in one of his apathetic phases, staring at the ceiling, his exhausted mind quite blank, when his uncle entered his bedroom. Harry looked slowly around at him. Uncle Vernon was wearing his best suit and an expression of enormous smugness.

(OotP)

Harry mentions that after the graveyard in the summer between 4th and 5th year, he starts having what he calls "apathetic phases", in which he just feels too tired to even think, just staring blankly at the ceiling. Him calling it "phases" as in, plural, suggests this is a common occurrence at the Dursleys.

Even later in Deathly Hallows, we see this is something Harry still does. After Ron leaves Harry and Hermione are at their most depressed:

She [Hermione] threw herself into a chair, curled up, and started to cry. Harry felt dazed. He stooped, picked up the Horcrux, and placed it around his own neck. He dragged blankets off Ron’s bunk and threw them over Hermione. Then he climbed onto his own bed and stared up at the dark canvas roof, listening to the pounding of the rain.

(DH)

Hermione reacts to her emotions by crying and letting them out, she's processing her emotions in some capacity, as hard as it is. Harry, on the other hand, just gets tired. His mind goes blank and he just stares blankly at the ceiling. Another one of these "apathetic phases". Instead of feeling, he goes numb.

We also see in book 6 how he loses some of his interest in Quidditch. The one pastime that reliably brought him joy, wasn't as important to Harry post Sirius' death. Sure, he was still playing, still interested, but there was none of the joy described previously. He doesn't have the same passion and interest even though he's the captain:

Harry smiled back vaguely, but as he pulled on his scarlet robes his mind was far from Quidditch. 

(HBP)

“Don’t be stupid,” said Ron sharply. “You couldn’t have missed a Quidditch match just to follow Malfoy, you’re the Captain!”

(HBP)

Some of it is to follow Draco who Harry thinks is a Death Eater, sure, but Harry in 4th year would not have acted the same. He wouldn't have let it make him miss a game, he wouldn't have even considered it.

In Deathly Hallows we also see Harry struggling with happiness in many ways. Yes, the situation is bad, but he is so incredibly affected by it, and I do want to mention that:

But they were not living, thought Harry: They were gone. The empty words could not disguise the fact that his parents’ moldering remains lay beneath snow and stone, indifferent, unknowing. And tears came before he could stop them, boiling hot then instantly freezing on his face, and what was the point in wiping them off or pretending? He let them fall, his lips pressed hard together, looking down at the thick snow hiding from his eyes the place where the last of Lily and James lay, bones now, surely, or dust, not knowing or caring that their living son stood so near, his heart still beating, alive because of their sacrifice and close to wishing, at this moment, that he was sleeping under the snow with them.

(DH)

This above quote makes me so sad whenever I read it, and I do want to mention it here. Like, Harry isn't actively suicidal, but he's in a lot of pain that he wants to stop. These negative thoughts are practically a constant in DH even when he isn't wearing the Horcrux.

A hundred dementors were advancing, gliding toward them, sucking their way closer to Harry’s despair, which was like a promise of a feast. ... He saw Ron’s silver terrier burst into the air, flicker feebly, and expire; he saw Hermione’s otter twist in midair and fade; and his own wand trembled in his hand, and he almost welcomed the oncoming oblivion, the promise of nothing, of no feeling. . . .

(DH)

Harry is the character with the most reliable Patronus, but even for him at some point, it's too much and he struggles with it. Struggles to bring up the happiness he needs for a Patronus. The happiness part is what he always struggled with most when it came to this spell, after all:

“No!” said Harry. He got up again. “I’ll have one more go! I’m not thinking of happy enough things, that’s what it is. ... Hang on. ...” He racked his brains. A really, really happy memory . . . one that he could turn into a good, strong Patronus ...

(PoA)

So, I'd say he shows at least 4 cognitive and mood symptoms.

Conclusions

Someone get this boy a hug and therapy, I really don't have much more to say.

I started writing this post to see if I could find evidence of PTSD symptoms in the books, and I searched and found so many that it just made me sad. So, yes, Harry obviously deals with untreated PTSD he has no idea how to regulate in the final 3 books and I think his readiness to walk towards his own demise is influenced by it.

[dragonsdendoodles]

are any general angsty hcs u would like to share?

Y’all are not gonna like me

I could make an entire post on Jacob and Enoch’s scars, but I’ll leave it at the fact that they’ve both seen people including the other kids flinch at seeing them.

Horace has seen people’s deaths in his dreams. He refuses to divulge whose.

Hugh’s face and neck scars came from Fiona’s vines in Conference.

The canon part of this one is that Victor’s body isn’t in the September 2 loop. The headcanon is the reaction you’re imagining when Bronwyn realizes this.

All the children know where their parents’ grave sites are. If or not they visit depends on their relationship with them before they left.

Hugh at his highest point is the group’s older brother figure. Hugh at his lowest point is a near-suicidal alcoholic. He is far closer to his lowest point at the end of Desolations than he is his highest.

Jacob visits Abaton when he needs to get out of the house but doesn’t want to be bothered about his fame or his face. He has learned the complete layout and the organization of the Library of Souls. He has narrowed down his friends’ spots to anywhere between a certain wall and a select few empty spaces. He has little trinkets from each of them in those spots in case he hears a soul jar slot into place while he’s there. He can tell the difference between a jar being set on the stone and something being crushed.

He also refuses to go anywhere near the section for his fellow librarians.

On that note, he found Victor’s soul jar. It is somewhere in Miss Peregrine’s house. He will not tell anyone where it is out of paranoia. This sparked the biggest argument he’s ever had with Bronwyn and Enoch.

They all have different degrees of PTSD from the events of the series. Fiona, Hugh, and Enoch have it the worst.

Several of them also developed severe depression from it all. Miss Peregrine has had to intervene more than once.

Hugh and Fiona have almost left the loop on multiple occasions. All of them were primarily Millard’s fault.

Noor and Horace did not take the sheer amount of death very well. They didn’t learn for years how deep of a depressive spiral the other was in, and they bond over that history and the scars neither knew the other got from it.

Olive and Claire started having night terrors after the war. They don’t complain about Horace’s anymore.

Noor can’t watch Enoch use his peculiarity for multiple months after V. Not even for the homunculi.

[gunsandspaceships]

Tony’s Childhood. Part 2.2. Effects: Inner Child

Before this part, be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2.1.

Let’s go back to his sometimes childish behavior: for example, he plays nanoball with Pepper in several scenes in IM2, buys her plush toys, throws things off the countertop and climbs onto it to be higher, and so on…

Some may have noticed that this happens more often in the presence of Pepper, who in some ways acts as his mother figure. And, even more important for understanding this phenomenon, he does this when he is in serious condition: in IM2 he is dying from palladium poisoning, in IM3 he has PTSD.

Note: using the phrase “childish behavior” I do not mean infantilism as a disorder – that’s different, and something that Tony does not have.

So why is he like this?

The answer is simple: he was not allowed to be a child when he was one, and was emotionally neglected, so his normal psychological development was disrupted from an early age, leading to the development of this coping mechanism, and ultimately part of his personality remained in "child mode".

As Howard rushed to prepare Tony to become "the messiah", he discouraged him from normal childhood activities and behavior, even when Tony was 4 years old. His parents were not present in his life emotionally from the beginning, and later they were also not present physically. From the age of 7, Tony lived in conditions that children much older than him usually live in, with those older children, not with peers. His activities there consisted mainly of studying science and technology. He couldn't act like the child he actually was. And in college, when he was still a kid, he was thrown into the community of college students. Not the proper environment for a child.

From his perspective when he recruited Peter in CW he was recruiting a 15-year-old himself, who, in many ways, was already an adult.

However, these misfortunes in the future allowed him to easily find a common language with children like Harley, Peter, and Morgan. His inner child understands them, knows what they want and need, how they think. He does not talk down to them and treats them as equals. He also knows what to get Harley for his help and how to be a great father - because he can see from both perspectives.

Conclusion: Tony was deprived of the opportunity to be a child, which affected his psychological development, leaving him a bit of a child in his adult life. This had its pros and cons, including some difficulty communicating with other adults, but at the same time, it made it easier to communicate with children.

It also gave him a somewhat distorted view of childhood (thinking that other children were just like him - practically little adults), which gradually faded with the experience of caring for a "regular" teenager.

All these features also allowed him to become a wonderful father in contrast to his own.

[newtsoda]

When school is torture...

A comic about autism and “school avoidance”.

------------------

Commence Alt Text:

[PAGE 1]

Title: 'It's Not School Avoidance – Trauma, Burnout and PTSD in the Education System'. The first panel shows a woman, her face veiled in shadow and surrounded by a thicket of thorns. She looks alien, with pointed ears and cat-like eyes. The second panel shows her drowning, her hand grasping at the air. The next panel shows ghost-like arms twisting around her. The speech bubbles read: When I was a kid, school was the stuff of nightmares. An intense and overwhelming environment, overstimulating and demanding, and entirely unforgiving. It's where I learned to mask and how to lie about all manner of things. I faked so many illnesses just so I could have the break I couldn't ask for. All so that I could somehow stay afloat in a system that did not recognise my needs. Neurotypicals don't understand just how much school is not designed for people who are not like them. Nor do they understand what it's like when you have to return to the place that is hurting you, day after day after day.

[Page 2]

The woman lies with her head on a pillow, staring wide-eyed at the reader. Thorns creep around the edges of the frame. The text reads: It's nearly twenty years later, and I still have the nightmares. Not the same vague dreams about not doing my homework everyone gets, but vivid night terrors that revolve around school and the things it made me feel. I've been told it's a symptom of CPTSD. The second panel shows a dagger with thorns wrapped around it as it is slowly dragged into their midst. The text reads: Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder develops over a series of prolonged traumatic events. A disturbingly high number of autistic adults go on to develop it and can trace the root of their trauma back to the torturous experiences of their school years. So, I guess it's safe to say I'm not alone. But what's worse: It's still happening today.

[Page 3]

A girl is at the centre of the page, tears streaming down her face as scissors cut through her wings. Blood drips down the page. Thorns creep towards her. Another panel shows the woman's back with the shredded remnants of her own cut wings. The text reads:  Autistic children are being dragged through a grim education system that does not get their needs, quietly suffering. Parents are denied support if their child makes good grades or is quiet in class, because all is well. But the school doesn't see the tears and fights getting to the gates in the morning. Or the meltdowns/shutdowns as soon as the child gets home. It doesn't matter what's happening to their mental health. That a bubbly, happy child who loved to learn has turned into a despondent, empty shell of their former self. Above all else, school emphasises attendance rates. As long as that child is still showing up every day, it's seen as a success, no matter the cost—and the cost, sadly, is often steep for people like us.

[Page 4]

The girl and the woman are wrapped in a towering mass of thorns. Swords jut from the wounded woman's chest while she looks down at the girl who reaches for a hand trying to rescue her from her plight. The text reads: “Your child just needs to develop more resilience.” An infamous line that keeps rearing its ugly head. It comes from a place of ignorance, from people who have no idea how resilient these young people already are from living in a world not designed for their neurotype. But what can parents do? They're witnessing the damage forced classroom time is doing to their children, seeing it destroy them, but feel powerless to help. Keeping them home for recovery results in fines, warnings, and intimidation tactics. Seeing no other way out, some parents are forced to take their child out of school for good, opting for home schooling instead. They report needing years to repair the damage done to their child's mental health.

[Page 5]

The woman is seen healing the girl's back. Tiny wings sprout where hers were cut. The text reads: Homeschooling can allow parents to slowly build their children back up, coaxing them back to their former selves. But not everybody has the means to homeschool, and while it should always be a choice, it should never be one forced by desperation. The next panel shows the woman's own shredded wings. The final one shows her defending her child. Text: This whole thing is excruciating for autistic parents who experienced it all themselves while growing up and know exactly the damage that is being done, yet find themselves unable to protect their child from suffering the same fate. I want to be a parent one day, but the thought of school already fills me with dread. I want my child to benefit from a well-rounded education without paying the steep mental health price I had to pay. It shouldn't be too much to ask! And yet, I've fully prepared myself for the battles I'll have to fight.

[Page 6]

The page shows the woman twirling the girl around while she holds her hands and the girl flies with her new, full-grown wings. The woman's wings are still shredded, but she smiles knowing that she was able to help her daughter. The text reads: I want to raise the next generation of autistic people unburdened by school trauma or CPTSD. We need more autistic-friendly options, and lockdown and the pandemic showed that it's possible!  We need flexible schooling, less classroom time, more opportunities to do schoolwork from home, and low intensity classrooms for children who don't have parents who can support learning from home. Allow for recovery time and stop penalising low attendance rates! We want the education system to recognise the damage it's doing to young people and believe parents when they plead for support. There is more than one way to achieve learning outcomes, and we deserve a system that works for us.

[youwouldntdownloadapizza]

The Gates of Jackson | Joel Miller x F!Reader | Chapter 8 - Locked Out

masterlist | ao3 | follow @youwouldntdownloadapizza and turn on notifications for updates

You showed up at the gates of Jackson with hands covered in blood and no memory of how you got there. That was two years ago. Since then, you've become Maria's right-hand woman and the person in charge of Jackson's logistical backend. Patrol schedules, inventory—all your purview. When a patrol gone wrong forces you to get to know Joel, memories of your past begin resurfacing—along with their consequences.

previous | next

pairing: joel miller x f!reader

rating: 18+, minors DNI

word count: 1.5k

tags: no use of y/n, eventual smut, no beta we die like sarah, jackson era, other additional tags to be added, slow burn, ellie needs a hug, joel lives, good parent joel, reader-insert, reader insert, forced proximity, only one bed trope, nightmares, childbirth, hurt/comfort, emotional hurt/comfort, angst with a happy ending, soft joel, cuddling & snuggling, fluff, masturbation, pining, joel falls first, possibly demisexual reader (tbd), ptsd, ptsd flashbacks, panic attacks, amnesia, sexual braiding

Chapter 8 - Locked Out

Few things about post-outbreak life had come easy to Joel, but one thing he never struggled with was silence. He was a man of few words, he relished in solitude, and his years as a father made him excellent at moving quietly. While he’d developed that skill to avoid waking Sarah as an infant, it also proved useful for avoiding Infected. He never thought he’d get another chance to use his light tread for anything other than survival, but here he was. Carefully climbing the creaky wooden steps to his brother’s front door, stepping over the squeakiest one he’d been meaning to fix for ages now.

Knock! Knock!

Joel rapped softly on the warm oak door, just loud enough to announce his presence without risking a screaming baby.

Tommy answered a moment later.

“You look like shit,” Joel cracked an amused smile. Tommy had said something similar the first time he’d greeted Joel after Sarah was born.

“Gee, thanks,” Tommy rolled his eyes. He stepped backward, holding the door to usher Joel inside. He hung his filthy patrol jacket on a peg and turned to take it all in.

It was as if a tornado had swept through. Dirty dishes were scattered across every horizontal surface but the floor, and the burp cloth situation wasn’t much better. By the looks of it, Maria was currently making do with a bath mat.

A smile crept across his lips as the baby finally spit up and then descended into soft, easy snores. It was peaceful in the way only small children could be.

“Congratulations,” he said softly, patting his brother on the back far more gently than Tommy had when he’d been freshly uncled.

“Thanks, Joel,” Tommy smiled. There was exhaustion in his eyes, but also a familiar, joyful satisfaction Joel recognized. It was the look of a father.

“Fatherhood suits you, you know.”

“You think?” Tommy asked.

Joel nodded. “I know.”

Maria chimed in from across the room. “You wanna meet her?”

Joel beamed. “Can I?”

Maria nodded, and he crossed to where she stood beside the fireplace. She jutted her chin toward the couch, and he took a seat in his usual spot.

“She’s beautiful,” he whispered as Maria placed the sleeping babe in his outstretched arms.

It didn’t look right, all his wrinkles and scars and gray hair against such pure, unbridled innocence. He didn’t expect the tears that slipped down his cheeks as he beheld her.

Tommy came to stand behind him, watching with newfound respect for his brother as he met his niece for the first time.

“What’s her name?” Joel asked.

Tommy looked at Maria. She nodded, giving him silent permission to proceed.

“Margaret Sarah Miller. Maggie for short.”

Tommy wasn’t sure what he saw in Joel’s eyes as his head snapped to look at him. All he knew was there were tears and something undeniably raw in there. It moved him.

“Maggie, like our mom Maggie?” He asked.

Tommy nodded.

“Yeah,” he said. “And Sarah, like your daughter.”

Joel rolled his eyes through the tears. “Well, yeah, I got that part.”

Maria barked a laugh, and Tommy couldn’t help but follow suit. Joel of all people giggled, and then before they knew it little Maggie was opening her eyes. Her skin was dark like her mother’s, but her eyes—those were Miller eyes. It wasn’t the color that confirmed it, but the tenacity within them. The spark. The wildness that would forever refuse to be tamed.

“She’s gonna be trouble, this one,” Joel mused. “No doubt about it.”

Tommy chuckled. “Well, she’s got Ellie as a big cousin. I’d expect nothing less.”

Joel smiled wistfully. “I’ll have to get her over here tomorrow or the next day. We’ll help clean up so the two of you can get some rest. Would’ve been by sooner, but patrol ran long.”

“Speaking of which,” Maria chimed in, retrieving the baby from Joel to bounce on her hip. “Where’s Doe? I figured she’d be with you.”

Joel’s smile fell then. He still couldn’t make heads or tails of the way you’d stormed off earlier. He sure as shit didn’t know how to explain it to Tommy and Maria.

So he gave them a total non-answer.

“I’m not sure,” he shrugged. “Probably went to bed. It was a long patrol, I’m sure she’s tired.”

Maria cocked an eyebrow at the lame excuse. “Too tired to meet her niece?

* * *

Bang! Bang! Bang!

You awoke to the sound of thuds on your front door.

What now? You thought to yourself as you sat upright, rubbing the sleep from your eyes.

“Doe, open up. I know you’re in there,” a gruff male voice called out to you.

Joel. What the fuck does he want?

You rose from your nest of blankets on the futon and padded towards the door in your slippers, stepping over the piles of dirty laundry that littered your floor.

It got like this, sometimes. You tried to keep things under control, but life had a way of thwarting that endeavor at every available opportunity. You shoved the clutter out of view as best you could and opened the door a crack.

“What?” You eyed him through the opening.

He was dressed casually, a light brown t-shirt giving way to denim down below. He was sweaty, and his hair was mussed. And the look he was giving you, when paired with crossed arms, was downright murderous.

“Office doesn’t open ‘till eight.”

“It’s ten-thirty,” he said, his voice rife with exasperation.

Shit, you winced. I can’t believe I overslept by that much.

You sighed, then opened the door a bit more. Your outfit was messy, but nothing out of the ordinary for pajamas.

“How can I help you, Joel?”

“Wanna tell me why Tommy says you still haven’t been by to see Maria? You’ve been back three days, Doe. She had the baby damn near a week ago. What gives?”

You didn’t know what to say. You’d never been one for excuses, but they were particularly elusive now. You broke eye contact, instead opting to try your hand at staring a hole through the corrugated metal outside your door. It didn’t work. 

Joel reached forward and grabbed the door handle, yanking it open to expose you to the fresh morning air and bright sunlight that hurt your unprepared eyes. You stepped forward quickly, shutting the door behind you before Joel could get a good look at the depression pit formerly known as your office.

“I’m not leaving until you give me an answer,” Joel drawled.

You leaned back against the door and looked up at him with a frown. “You weren’t this mean back at the fire tower.”

“That was different. You needed coddlin’.”

“Who’s to say I don’t need coddling now? You don’t know me. You don’t know my life.”

“That’s the problem.” Joel dropped his hands to his sides. “I don’t know. Because you won’t tell me.”

“You assume there’s something to tell. There’s not.”

“What, cause you got amnesia or somethin’? I saw how you signed your name in the logbook. Either you’ve got real shit taste in aliases or there’s something more going on here.”

You pressed your lips into a thin line. “That’s private.”

“Clearly,” he spat. “Just tell me, are you planning on ignoring her forever, or are you gonna get your ass over there and go meet your niece?”

“That’s not my niece.”

“Maria begs to differ.”

Your eyebrows shot upward, and Joel seized the opportunity to continue.

“You’re her best friend. Her right-hand woman around here. She thinks of you as a sister, Doe.”

Something seized in your gut. “I don’t have a sister. Not anymore.”

You reached for the door handle and pulled, but–

“Fuck.”

It wouldn’t budge. Your heart rate picked up. You resisted the urge to vomit.

You pushed past Joel and scanned the flat expanse between the base of the building and the large wooden gates that enclosed the community you’d dedicated yourself to protecting. It was busy this time of day, but there was one person in particular you were looking for. You spotted her by the stables.

“Casey! Hey!” You waved your arms over your head to catch her attention.

“Doe? What’s wrong?”

You jutted a thumb over your shoulder. “Got locked out again.”

She sighed. “That’s the third time this month, dude. You gotta get a doorstop or something.”

“I know. Sorry,” you called down as she stopped beneath the wraparound balcony that surrounded your small office perch.

She tossed the spare up, but before you could catch it, a hand reached out and snatched it from the air.

“Thanks!” Joel called down to Casey. “I’ll help her get inside.”

“I could’ve caught that, you know.” You scowled, striding back towards the door.

Joel walked right past it and set off down the stairs that led to ground level.

“The fuck—Joel, where are you going?”

“To Tommy and Maria’s. And if you want to get back into that office of yours, you’re coming with me.”

You took a shaky breath. This was so not what you needed right now. You peered through the door's small wire-infused utility window and gazed longingly at your office. Or was it your apartment? You guessed it was technically both, since you slept on the futon. You locked eyes with the crusty rat plushie perched tall atop your mountain of cozy blankets, and whispered a solemn vow.

“I’ll be back for you soon, Ratty. I promise.”

previous | next

taglist: @aspecialgreenie, @guelyury, @amyispxnk, @picketniffler, @hiroikegawa

[samble-moved]

reminder that homura is a middle schooler. she is 13 or 14 years old, depending on source. she is not old enough to drive or have a permit. she is not old enough to live on her own (it's implied her parents are out of the picture in some way — in the US she'd need to be in adoptive or foster care, or at least have a guardian or social worker, but this appears to be handwaved in the series and none are ever shown). she cannot vote. she is not old enough to get a job (earliest i've seen is 14 in the US, and that's usually in not great environments, in summer, and for low pay and short hours). she is only "independent" in the sense that it's forced upon her by lack of any adult support — nobody helps her fill out school transfer forms, she lives alone, she has no shown family or even mentions of relatives, nobody visits her in the hospital, etc.

i say this because a lot of "anti homura" arguments act as if this information doesn't exist, and that homura is "actually an adult" or at the same level as one due to looping. she canonically is not. her brain and physical body are not developing, she is only learning walpurgis tactics and memorizing test answers. her brain is not developing so she's not "mentally 26", like is often claimed by "homura is a predator" truthers. i'm not even going to touch on how weird and borderline creepy it is to say "she's a child but so mature for her age (from extreme, repeated, potentially pre-series trauma), so she must be an adult and can be treated like one".

there is a reason that children are typically tried differently in the US. unless "tried as an adult" for very serious crimes, it is widely accepted that children (and even young adults) are more impulsive, think less rationally, and are generally "less responsible" for their actions due to not having the experiences of a full grown adult. children are less mature, more prone to "overreaction" and panic, and are immature — because they are kids.

homura is a child. she also has extreme trauma, potentially from before the series even began (where are her parents? are they just neglectful? dead? why isn't there even a single adult helping her?) that is never helped or addressed. homura doesn't get help for any issues she has (obvious ptsd and depression, borderline delusions over the past being "just a dream" in wraith arc). she is not some spoiled, rich, mentally stable almost-adult who's never faced a consequence. she is a young and traumatized teenager, young enough to be a middle schooler, and has experienced:

neglectful, absent, missing, or dead family/parents

watching her friends die horrifically almost a hundred times

having zero adult support at all, no caseworker or help

bullying, half being because she's disabled

having her soul ripped from her body without consent and learning if she ever loses her soul gem (or god forbid accidentally drops it somewhere), her body will basically be "dead"

learning she and all her friends turn into eldritch horrors when they die, a process shown in rebellion to be something they are aware for (aka the horror that witches aren't "just" bodies being moved, they are actively and constantly suffering and aware to some degree the whole time)

learning that the witches they fight are girls around their age who fell into despair, and not purposeless monsters

learned of the prospect that witches can potentially "regrow" via familiars, thus if their consciousness transfers, this shows the possibility of literally eternal suffering as the witch is "reborn"

realization that, the more she tries to save madoka, the worse the situation gets

having a full on breakdown with delusions in wraith arc, thinking maybe madoka was all just a hallucination or a dream she had

finding out in rebellion it wasn't a dream, but then thinking she betrayed madoka by not stopping her from contracting

becoming a witch whose whole theme is based around suicide and wanting and waiting to die, but not being able to

being a witch whose familiars are malicious towards her and belittle her

trying to "fix" her believed betrayal of madoka by making a new world, ending up hated by sayaka and isolated from her friends

is still stuck as a witch while the last event happens!!! (her soul gem is never shown purified)

all of this while she is 13-14.

homura is not some cruel adult playing god because she is bored and likes the power trip and wants the world to burn. she is a deeply traumatized and mentally ill child who never got help. she is not a predator — and i honestly don't know if that is more of a "she's a predator because she's the most openly sapphic" or "she's a predator because she's traumatized and thus 'acts weird' due to trauma" belief nowadays in most anti-homura spaces, i've seen both. she is not a murderer or rapist or whatever else i've seen (yes, "homura is a sexual predator" claims exist, despite this never once even being implied). she is not an abuser — you can argue she's cold or rude, but she is not "an abuser".

if a child like homura existed irl (and they do exist), a professional's first thought would not be "this is an evil, irredeemable, abusive predator who can be treated like an adult", it'd likely be a reaction of horror and deep concern of "what happened to this child to make her act this way?". someone being "the perfect victim" — that is, being soft, demure, sweet, docile, flawless — in response to trauma is a harmful myth for a reason. some trauma victims will react with anger. some may be overly happy in an attempt to prevent further abuse. some, like homura, end up acting "cold" to try and avoid being further hurt. it doesn't mean homura doesn't experience emotion, hates her friends and wants them to suffer, is a predator, is "a bad person", etc.

think! when you write posts about how homura is actually an evil, awful, no good, very bad person with no positive traits, remember she is a middle schooler. of course, she's not a "real" child, and thus doesn't exist to have her feelings hurt over it, but consider this: would you say these things to/about a real child? are you aware that "real children" (often victims of trauma themselves) relate to homura due to this? i was one of them at 14ish, and while "homura is evil [for acting like a traumatized child often does]" discourse never left me particularly hurt, i know it does genuinely upset several people i know. and if you had, say, a real life child relative who acted "cold" after seeing their friends die horribly, would you call them an evil and irredeemable abuser as well?

[cityzenshark]

If S2 doesn't improve the story focus...

Decepticon fan speaking here. I love them, I want to see them getting the limelight, but Earthspark isn't their show. It's about the Terrans and their relationship with the Malto family. There are over a dozen other media where your favourite classics get their spotlight but this show might not be one of them. We have to accept that.

However, EarthSpark's big problem is its disregard of its own main characters to the point the audience care more about the side characters.

Long ramble ahead.

.

From Season 1, Earthspark has the tendency to disregard their own main characters for the sake of already existing ones. Thrash, Robby, Jawbreaker, and the parents are big victims here.

Thrash, despite being the other first Terran, gets little to no development. He only had one focus episode that shifted his positive view of Cybertronians yet it didn't affect his characteristic or the family dynamic whatsoever. He could've been involve in other episodes focusing on the triplets, specifically with Nightshade, like Twitch with Hashtag, but he doesn't. In the end, his canvas is just like his paint job -- empty white.

Robby could've get 4 episodes about him only for 3 of them to be shifted to Twitch & Wheeljack, Starscream, Mo. Never mind the Wheeljack episode and "Prime Time" but "What Dwells Within" is the worst of them all. Now it appears Season 2 is heavily focusing him after S1 dismisses him multiple times.

Starscream, I'm sorry what you've been through, but that episode should never be about you. Robby is sick, the Terrans got rocky with other due to the lost link which triggered Hashtag's trauma of getting possessed, and then they lost their LIFE SOURCE WATER. Earthspark wanted the audience to side with Starscream so bad they put him in the pity light instead of laying out hints of his past in previous episodes and allow the viewers to decide for themselves. The dude's a millennium old soldier, not another Terran.

EDIT: The same case goes for Grimlock. As bad as the dude has gone through in "Home", he's also a millennium-old soldier. He knows he's going through PTSD but Jawbreaker doesn't. JB is a newborn. Instead of celebrating JB when he finally got his alt mode, the moment made viewers hate him because it focuses on Grimlock's point of view.

[IMPORTANT NOTE FOR JB FANS: DO NOT GO TO TRANSFORMEMES SUBREDDIT!! RECENTLY, A USER THERE CAUSED TERRAN HATERS TO POP UP AND WISHING J.B TO DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH BECAUSE HE ACTED LIKE AN OVEREXCITED KID]

The parents... Oh dear their potentials are wasted soooo much. Ignoring Dot's relationship with Megs, they've become mere placements to remind the audience that Robby & Mo aren't poor orphans.

Dot being a veteran is to make her relationship with Megs sound plausible, that's all. Meanwhile Alex's profession in Cybertronian history is only relevant in the pilot episode and he only told the most basic one in lore. They never fuss about the cybersleeves, they seem available all the time but not really, they're ignorant of their children's activities, completely fine with them becoming child soldiers. Dot could've been the one to beat Mandroid to pulp in Prime Time like the Mama Bear she's described to be but no - let the nine year old beat him with alien powers. Alex could've played a bigger role for the Terrans to know about Cybertronians in general; for Nightshade especially by being the one who enables their intelligence and tinkering skills - not just leading them to finding their alt mode.

The show should've made Mo the same age as Robby. You can't ignore that they act like twins more than Twitch & Thrash despite the 5 year age gap. For a nine year old, she has high emotional intelligence yet so inconsiderate and naive at the same time in certain episodes. Pick one personality, please.

Finally, why oh why didn't they fix her face and head size? It looks a lot worse now.

TLDR; don't be surprised by the sudden change in character of the Cons. Earthspark doesn't respect their own main characters except Twitch. So let us heed Season 2 with low expectations.

[rthstewart]

So is John Pevensie still an antagonist in Stone Gryphon? (Am I asking this because I love Helen and Mrs. Godwin? Yes. I am also asking because I love a furiously protective person and John seemed like that in the snippets from his perspective)

@becauseforoncethisisme asked:

So is John Pevensie still an antagonist in Stone Gryphon? (Am I asking this because I love Helen and Mrs. Godwin? Yes. I am also asking because I love a furiously protective person and John seemed like that in the snippets from his perspective)

First, thanks so much for reading and reaching out about the first chapters of Heart and Crow Make The Peace.

Ware below for LONG meta/history/ruth stewart blather

For many years, the first and last look readers had of John Pevensie was a scene in the posted Apostolic Way.  It’s a disastrous dinner at the Rainbow Room in New York City, where Col. Walker-Smythe has brought Edmund to America to work as his aide and batman.  John is, as presented in the story, a writer and editor, recruited by the SOE, to work on the generation of pro-British propaganda.  He is a serial philanderer, is bitterly disappointed that it is Edmund, rather than Peter, who has come to America, and the dinner is excruciatingly painful as John’s memories of his children are several years old and certainly pre-Narnia, leaving Edmund to, once again, be far kinder than his father deserves and Walker-Smythe is furious.  It’s made worse by numerous women who have obviously enjoyed John’s attentions in the past stopping by the table to say hello.  

Meanwhile, Helen Pevensie is back in London, and true to what was more common in 1943 than it was in 2020, has been in a sexual relationship with Mrs. Beatrice Goodwin, the widow next door.  

I was probably too successful in the scene as John can come across as a craven and cruel person. Readers’ sympathies (and mine) have always tilted to Helen.

With the reposted story, I slightly tweaked the previous version of the Rainbow Room scene and have introduced in text that a part of John’s issue is untreated PTSD. So, is this signaling a change of heart for me in John's role? and what about Mrs. Goodwin and Helen?

John's untreated illness is an explanation, in part, but not a justification to be sure.

I’ve always intended for Helen and Beatrice to go their separate ways.  As broad-minded as the Four are, it's different when your parents are involved and I’m finding it hard to push myself to writing that as a resolution or where it’s all just one big happy polyamory.  From discussions with readers, I could see Beatrice moving to a small market town for economy, meeting another widow with young children and you know, there are only 2 bedrooms in the cottage, so of course….   Post-war England was filled with these kinds of relationships of economy and convenience and, presumably, potential romance amongst widows.

As a writer, I also want John and Helen to both put some work in and try to rebuild their relationship.  This is something millions of people had to do post-War and I’m interested in how and whether couples can overcome infidelity.  I’m not sure I could, personally (I’ve been married for over 30 years!) and I’m interested in developing it.  TSG itself presents numerous different takes on bonding and infidelity which, while true to the time period, is also intended as a contrast to Edmund and Lucy’s  own sense of loss for their partners.  Something I’ve not decided is whether Morgan and Aidan, respectively, went on to have their own relationships some period of time later.  

There’s another reason for introducing John’s PTSD.  TSG was originally supposed to be a two-fer, Peter-centric story.  I was going to do a time-skip after the conclusion of Ox 1942 and jump to post war, with Peter starting an affair with Mary, dropping out of uni, finally finding his path, and then everyone dying, with Susan left behind (I had this about half-written, even). I never, EVER wanted to touch the 1940s UK educational systems or Peter’s potential service in the military as I deemed bothway beyond my storytelling skill.

[TQSiT was never in the cards – that’s the fault of an early reader, Miniver on ff dot net long since gone, who asked, Well, given these adventures for Peter, and Lucy and Edmund off on the Dawn Treader, surely Susan is up to something exciting in America, which coincided with me reading a WaPo review Connant’s The Irregulars.  Oops.]

So to avoid having to write Peter in the service, from the very beginning, back in Ox 1942, I wrote that Peter’s parents are opposed to his service and he’s willing to go along with it because he thinks he’s an insubordination risk.  I never explained why they are opposed which is really not especially consistent with the patriotism of the time.  

So, in the story I’ve picked up again 12 years later, John’s trauma at Dunkirk as now part of the reason for that opposition.  He goes to War to protect his family and early on is deeply traumatized by the failures to evacuate soldiers on the beaches; he hears the screams of men and ships going down in his dreams.  In his own protective misguided way, he wants to protect his family from that horror. And when he finds out that Aslan plucked his children out of England and turned them into warriors, he is going to be PISSED.  

 Oops.

Thanks so much   @becauseforoncethisisme!!

[wowstrawberrycow]

Expanding!

I am really wanting to write drabbles for Elrond and Thranduil. But, before I dive in I've been trying to develop my own head canons for my au. This doesn't mean I will stop writing for Gimli and Legolas though. I adore them far too much! 😍

Here's my head canons! I personally think Elrond and Thranduil would balance each other very well.

Thranduil

Definitely a bi-guy and is 100% a disaster.

Is both Barbie and Ken at the same time, or separately depending on his mood. I say this because I canon him to have a perfect blend of fem and masculine styles that are glamorous. No pun intended (we all know he uses glamor). The way he carries himself is very much like a popular girl at the mall (Barbie) but is athletically masculine (Ken).

100% brat energy.

Can easily be a party 'girl' without that effecting his masculinity in anyway.

I imagine he probably does wear makeup from time to time.

I could see him being a very sexually charged individual.

Has heavy trust issues that cause him to keep people at a distance. I'm wanting to say because he is secretly sensitive he does this to avoid getting hurt.

Overly emotional and overly dramatic. He is the drama king!

He gives me the air of someone who is wildly insecure, with very low self-esteem, and poor body image; who hides behind a hyper confident mask.

After losing his wife (the main form of stability in his life) he turned to alcoholism and hides behind a false party persona.

Is absolutely terrified of anything happening to his son. Is extremely overbearing to the point where he has projected his own fears onto legolas and has accidentally been pushing them (I canon legolas to be a they/them) away.

Tries to be supportive but falls flat because he is a helicopter parent.

He for sure did not let Legolas out of his sight until they were in their equivalent of teen elf years. This made his son grow even more rebellious causing a rift in both their lives.

I think it absolutely destroyed him inside to let Legolas go out into the world in the movies. But, he did so because he had to let go eventually. Hanging on tightly would make him lose his son forever

Will argue with Legolas about leaving the palace to go fight the spiders and other creatures in forest very much the way Ariel's dad does when Ariel goes to the surface in the little mermaid movie.

Definitely needs guidance from a Dom.

He is a single mom. Again this doesn't effect his pronouns.

Trauma survivor with PTSD 😢

Elrond

Also a bi-guy but is not a disaster.

For sure has a responsible dad vibe and will go out of his way for his kids.

In fact, he gives off the air that he's the communal dad. #Dadfriend

family man through and through.

I imagine that he is the type of dad to casually tell embarrassing stories about the 'kids' in his life or anyone he considers his kiddo as well as his own kids that are blood related.

Absolutely is the type who is a teacher as an occupation (child hearder). Teachers heard children right?

Is extremely organized with OCD tendencies.

He always struck me as a paramedic type too, especially if assisting in battle. I mean he is a very skilled healer canonically.

Can appear tired and done with life, but also has a secret streak of dad humor/lame humor.

Extremely patient.

Is very lonely. Life has not been kind to him canonically. And his children drifted away from him, lost his twin and other loved ones too 😢 So I think that is the reason why in my canon he tries to be dad for others. It helps that he's older than most too.

Could be chronically depressed 😢

Is definitely a caregiver type in a BDSM lifestyle relationship.

Wholesome babe

Can be quite the suave Gentleman in private

[revangst4]

BASIC INFO:

⸝⸝ ★ Name : Katsuya Haruto

⸝⸝ ★ Hero or Villain : Hero Course

⸝⸝ ★ Hero/Villain name : PTSD (don't ask)

⸝⸝ ★ Gender : male

⸝⸝ ★ Pronouns : he/him

⸝⸝ ★ Age : 16-17

Quirk:

⸝⸝ Description: Phantom Forge is a quirk that allows the user to manipulate both the psychological and emotional states of others while simultaneously materializing their emotions into physical objects. When Katsuya touches someone, he can delve into that person's emotional and psychological state, much like their mother. However, instead of just creating an illusion, Katsuya can forge these emotions into tangible weapons or constructs, similar to his father's ability.

Ｍｅｃｈａｎｉｃ:

• Emotion Materialization:** Katsuya can convert the emotional energy (whether positive or negative) of those they touch into physical objects. Positive emotions might create healing tools or protective barriers, while negative emotions could form weapons or traps.

• Illusion Overlay: Katsuya can create an illusion that overlays the environment, much like his mother’s quirk, immersing the target in a scenario that reflects their deepest fears or strongest desires. This illusion can manipulate the target’s emotions, which Katsuya can then harness to create his constructs.

• Amplified Trauma:The quirk also allows the him to amplify the target’s traumas or fears, similar to his father’s ability to influence emotions, making the emotions more intense and the resulting constructs more powerful.

Ｓｉｄｅ Ａｆｆｅｃｔｓ:

• Emotional Detachment:Prolonged use causes Katsuya to become emotionally detached, similar to his mother’s quirk. They may struggle to connect with others and could become numb to their own emotions.

• Instability: Absorbing too much negativity can push him into a dangerously unstable state, forcing them into a fight mode where they might lose control over their own actions.

• Psychological Feedback: Katsuya experiences a fraction of the emotions they manipulate, which can take a toll on their mental health over time.

Ｗｅａｋｎｅｓｓ:

• Dependence on Emotions: Katsuya ability is limited by the emotions of those around them. In an emotionally neutral environment, the quirk’s effectiveness is greatly reduced.

• Physical Contact:Katsuya must touch someone to initiate the emotional manipulation and materialization process, making them vulnerable if they cannot close the distance.

• Overload:If he absorbs too many strong emotions at once, they risk a mental and emotional overload, leading to a temporary breakdown or loss of control.

**ㅤׂ︵︵ 𓈒 BACKSTORY 𓈒 ︵︵ㅤׂ**

⸝⸝ ★ From an adult perspective, Katsuya was seen as the “odd” one—quiet and timid, and not as troublesome as other children his age. This was due to his mother’s quirk, which caused her to feel numb and detached from her emotions while he was still in the womb, as explained by doctors. This affected Katsuya as a child, making it difficult for him to understand emotions. To compensate, he observed people and read books, particularly those on psychology, which his mother, a therapist, had in abundance.

Feeling guilty, his mother did her best to support him, while his father, who also had an emotion-based quirk, helped him develop a basic understanding of emotions. Katsuya grew up in a loving family, but his condition remained unchanged until he developed his own quirk at age five.

The development of his quirk was far from joyous. While playing at the playground, he was overwhelmed by intense feelings and sensory overload. His uncontrolled power put everyone around him into a comatose state, forcing them to relive their most traumatic memories repeatedly inside their head. Adults were scared to approach him, and Katsuya's parents struggled to help him without physical contact, witnessing their son, who had shown minimal emotion for years, in a state of distress.

Following the incident, Katsuya was treated with fear and caution by both children and adults, which only exacerbated his distress. Feeling their negative aura around him, he confided in his parents about his desire for a fresh start. Unable to refuse their son's rare request, his parents decided to move to a new location—Misutafu—to give him a chance at a new beginning.

[mehmetminded]

I’m gonna ramble about Beware of Chicken for a sec. Kay? Kay.

I’m gonna start putting these under a read more since they get kinda long.

In its first book Beware of Chicken asks a simple question. “What if there were no consequences? What if you could fight off the guards? Fight off the army? What if no one could stop you as you did whatever you wanted?”

It’s a question our main man Jin struggles with in that first book. Jin’s answer is more or less “just don’t be a giant dick”, but BoC itself gives a different answer.

The question is flawed. There are always consequences.

Most cultivators spend their whole lives wrapped up in their own petty struggles for immortality. They break and steal and kill, not because they’re necessarily evil, but because to them these actions don’t have consequences. Even Xioulan, ostensibly one of the goodest people in the setting, behaves like this at first. Before she recognizes his strength she briefly considers killing Jin as an “impudent mortal”. Sure she decides not to, but it’s not because killing mortals for being rude is wrong. It’s because this specific mortal has done her a great service and it would be shameful to kill him now.

We can’t put too much blame on her though. She’s a product of her environment. When she is recovering from her PTSD she’s basically told to “get over it” by her sect and even her father. It’s expected that she detach herself from these feelings as other cultivators have. They reiterate to her that “one faces the heavens alone.”

I don’t know about you, but to me that sounds like a great way to avoid thinking about how many people your actions have hurt and killed.

While he doesn’t use the word “consequences” Jin explains in no uncertain terms that every action we take effects other things. He tells Xioluan that everything is connected. The task a person must undertake isn’t deciding how to act when there are no consequences. Rather, it’s coming to the realization that every action has consequences.

Interestingly, this is similar to how children develop empathy. When they are young children have a hard time separating their own thoughts, needs, and experiences from those of others. As we grow we learn that other people are different from us and want or need different things.

The reason people keep assuming Jin is older than he is, is because he actually acts like an adult. Jin’s solution of “don’t be a giant dick” only works for him because he’s already an empathetic person. He considers the needs and feelings of others and works to help them. Not to get something out of them or to make himself feel good. He does it because he’s a grown ass man who knows actions have consequences.

Children throw tantrums and break things when they don’t get their way. They have strong emotions that they don’t know how to handle and don’t know where they come from. They need to be taught that their actions have consequences.

When he steps in at The Dueling Peaks at the end of the third book, Jin goes from Fa Ram’s dad to the dad of every young cultivator in the Azure Hills. He steps in where their actual parents didn’t and teaches them the lesson the rest of the world wasn’t strong enough to.

When your actions result in someone getting hurt it’s your responsibility to make things right again. There are other lessons to be learned and more growing to be done, but this lays the foundations for real empathy.

“If you break something, fix it.”

[everybody-loves-purdy]

I think I'd be more interesting if Root wasn't a great mate/father,

not in the asshole way like Crowfucker but like never moving on from Bristle.

While I like to theorize that Moonpaw's voice is actually Bristle (or Goosefeather, which is a whole other can of worm) and the new series is about saving her/her spirit, I think Rootspring never being able to move on is SO much more interesting.

Picture this:

Wren confesses to Root who decides to give it a chance as he's very close with his family, it's something he's always wanted to have. They court and become mates, but Root still feels empty (it's a mix of depression, PTSD, and derealization from his time in Dark Forest/Never being able to see his first love in Heaven because she's double dead + Bramble's Ghost/Civil War).

He confesses he "wants a family" to Wren who immediately says yes and is ready to have kits, she's head-over-heels for him after all. Wren and Root have a good relationship and Root does his best to be a good mate. Kits are born and the two are happy... but it's clear Root does not feel any romantics towards Wren.

As the kits grow, Root is present but not entirely and towards the kits being 6 moons. Root breaks it off with Wren who is hurt but not surprised. Root and Wren become an awkward divorced couple as both care deeply about one another, and neither really hates the other. The kits are purely plot drivers as Wren and Root don't talk to each other much but still love their kits. After a lot of pushing and the kits pointing out their bullshit, the two talk.

By the time Wren and Root have a conversation and closure, I want Root to think about what he's done to his kits (i.e. neglect) and try to change for them. He has known that he needed help but refused to get any for so long, I mean what's the point? It's in the past. But his kits are quick to point out that "Bitch, we thought you didn't love us because you barely talked to us," and Root goes "Oh fuck my trauma has traumatised my own children, I REALLY need help." Root gets better and strives to be a better father...and friend.

Wren has her own development post-divorce. Being the only survivor of her litter, having helicopter parent Bellaleaf, and the expectation of continuing Skyclan's bloodline, shape Wren to be the stereotypical she-cat her society wants her to be. Wren latches onto Root as he's cute and kind and clearly not looking for anyone to be his mate. Wren DID fall in love with him eventually, but her initial attraction to him was purely because he's mate material: the dude is A Light in the Mist. A hero. So he's the perfect guy to have a family with.

The divorce was something Wren saw coming but didn't expect it to happen. She expected that she and Root would raise a few kits and just live out their days as mates, even if it was just in title. But Root wasn't happy. Root wasn't happy with HER (not really but it's how it came across). Wren has an identity crisis as having a mate and kits has been her goal in life since she herself was a kit. After some soul searching, Wren realizes that her dream isn't her own. It's society's.

Wren starts to work on herself. She had been told that she didn't have to be a good fighter or hunter to be a good mate and mother, so her kits decided to do some training with her to gain more confidence. But she's bad. Like. Really bad. Even her kits are like "Mom? No offence you REALLY suck, are you okay??" Then to the fun reveal that Wren cheated on her warrior assessment so she could get closer to Root. She's been able to scrape by without anyone noticing her so far because CAN hunt and fight, she just needs a bit more training. The guilt of faking her assessment plagues her, so her kits take it upon themselves to be her mentor/s. For drama's sake, Hawkwing overhears a conversation about Wren faking her assessment and is pissed. He has a private conversation with Wren + the kits about keeping this from him, and Wren is a wreak about someone finding out her shameful secret. She and her kits apologise. Hawk, being the himbo he is, goes, "Why are you apologising??? You can just take the assessment again??" Thus, upping the stakes and giving Wren motivation.

I think Root and Wren would have a talk before Wren's private assessment as they've both worked on themselves enough to hold a conversation and not just awkwardly ignore each other (This is only because I want Root and the kits to cheer her on during her assessment heheh). Root talks about his mental health, Bristle, the DF, all of it. He apologises for leading her on as he did want to have a mate and she's a great she-cat, she didn't deserve to be hurt like that. He also talks about how his mental health affects the kits and swears to be better for them, her, and mostly importantly himself. Wren apologises as well for being pushy about wanting kits/being mates to which Root is like 'Stop don't apologise, I wanted to be mates and have kits too'.

Wren talks about how Root made her feel like she wasn't there. How no matter what she did, nothing seemed to make him happy. She loved him and all she wanted was for him to be happy, happy with her. Wren talks about the fragile personality she adapted to seem more appealing, and how in the hopes of needing a 'big strong man' to help her, Root would be happy. Wren talks about how life-changing getting divorced was for her lol and how their kits have been helping her this whole time re-take her warrior assessment. She's ready to live for herself too. She apologises to Root for not being what she desires but she's okay that she isn't, Wren wants to be what she wants now: a warrior.

Ofc Wren passes her assessment and everyone cheers : D I'd like to think Root and Wren stay separated but become besties. Root becomes a better cat mentally and Wren breaks her own (albeit forced) social norm to be what SHE wants, as she should.

anyway erins hire me

This is so good I really love this idea

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

I have a couple questions. First, I have a story in mind about four neurodivergent queer teenagers facing their struggles and other conflict (it's very anime inspired and also inspired by Deltarune). 2 kids are autistic and the other 2 have ADHD, although I'm thinking about one of the kids with ADHD is also autistic. One of the characters also has PTSD. I'm mainly wondering if you have any sources about writing neurodivergent characters and writing about PTSD.

Secondly, your blog really helped me learned about autism and ADHD and made more convinced that I'm most likely autistic and that my parents yelled at in past (and present) because of my autistic traits. Do you have any good sources for parents (as well as me) to learn more about autism so that they won't have a stereotypical idea of what autism is like anymore and to convince them to get me diagnosed (since I'm a minor)

Thirdly, I have a question if struggling learning grammar of your mother language can related to autism? Because I kinda suck at grammar and when I try to learn grammar rules I don't really actually learn. ( I guess that my teachers in elementary in school didn't know how to teach). I also really want to write my story and possibly get it published eventually.

Lastly, in your profile it says that you like rocks and fossils, so what's your favorite rock/mineral? Because I also like rocks and fossils.

Hi there,

Question 1:

I think the concept of your story is very interesting (even if I haven’t played Deltarune). And when it comes to PTSD, it can affect both autism and ADHD. Neurodivergent Insights has some great Venn diagrams showing the similarities and differences between the two:

If you want, you can add some of your own traits or your friend’s to the characters, which might help some.

Question 2:

This is difficult to answer, as I don’t know you personally and haven’t seen your home life. But I have found some sources that could possibly help:

I found this Reddit post from r/autism that has some tips that could help too:

Hopefully these can help.

Question 3:

Since people learn things at vastly different rates, some may be very good with grammar and English (it was my favorite subject and I got an associate degree in it). While others may struggle. In one study I read, it said:

The first studies on grammar and autism, published in the early 1980s, suggested that syntax isn’t a particularly big problem for children with the disorder. This work found that children with autism learn grammar in the same way that typical children do, but at a slower rate, in line with their overall developmental delay.

Since then, a couple of studies have suggested the linguistic picture is much more nuanced. For example, one study showed that children with autism don’t use correct verb tenses. Another found that they produce less complex sentences than do typical children or those with developmental delays

The full article will be below:

In one other article I found, it stated:

Linguistic and cognitive abilities manifest huge heterogeneity in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some children present with commensurate language and cognitive abilities, while others show more variable patterns of development. Using spontaneous language samples, we investigate the presence and extent of grammatical language impairment in a heterogeneous sample of children with ASD. Findings from our sample suggest that children with ASD can be categorized into three meaningful subgroups: those with normal language, those with marked difficulty in grammatical production but relatively intact vocabulary, and those with more globally low language abilities. These findings support the use of sensitive assessment measures to evaluate language in autism, as well as the utility of within-disorder comparisons, in order to comprehensively define the various cognitive and linguistic phenotypes in this heterogeneous disorder.

The full article will be below if you’d like to read it too:

Question 4:

I have lots of rocks that I think are pretty cool. One of my favorite minerals is bismuth due to its cool properties. My favorite rock type is igneous because it’s a rock from a volcano/molten rock and it has its own properties too.

Anyway, I hope those answer your questions. Thank you for the inbox. I hope you have a wonderful day/night. ♥️

[moonfairywritings]

@/welovemonstergirls asked: Can I see hcs for Whitney, Candice, Hilda, Sabrina, Elesa and Skyla with an adopted child that was previously abused? The child is quiet, shy and fearful and is prone to crying and nightmares.

Franchise: Pokémon

Genre: General headcanons; angst; hurt to comfort; familial

Trigger warnings: PTSD mention

A/n: Ah, my first angsty ask. Poor little thing, I'll make sure these girls take good care of them, don't you worry!

❀ Sabrina

Sabrina hasn't been around kids since she herself was one; the only time she interacts with them is if a gym challenger just happens to be a kid. So to say that she's inexperienced with children is an understatement. But she's a kind woman with a big heart, and has absolutely zero tolerance for child abuse (well, game Sabrina anyways). Seeing the awful state that the child was in, she took them under her wing immediately and vowed to give them a second chance at living a happy life.

Despite her cold and aloof exterior, Sabrina is actually pretty laid back and chill. She won't be particularly strict or overprotective, but she won't just throw the child to the wolves either. As soon as the adjustment period is over, she'd gift them an Eevee and task them with evolving it into an Espeon, though that's not to say she'd be disappointed if it accidentally evolves into an Umbreon or Sylveon, she'd just be proud to see her child's growth as a trainer and person. Having a partner Pokémon that's a psychic type would not only serve as a protector, but if the child has a panic attack, the Pokémon's psychic abilities could help calm them down.

Speaking of which, panic attacks and nightmares become a non issue. With Sabrina and her Pokémon's psychic abilities, the child could be hypnotized into falling peacefully asleep or winding down from a PTSD episode. She'd be careful not to overuse them, as she knows that she can't always be there to help the child, so she would research and teach them some healthy coping mechanisms which range from the more normal tricks like taking 10 deep breaths or squeezing a stress ball, to more outlandish things like biting into a lemon. Not particularly elegant, but if it works, it works.

Sabrina would love doing activities with the child. Once she reached adulthood, she realized just how much she genuinely enjoys spending time with other people, and her favorite person to be with, of course, would be her own child. She'd like to read to them before bed, do puzzles with them, bake with them, or just sit together while they each did their own thing.

There's a chance that being around Sabrina and her Pokémon constantly would lead to the child developing their own psychic powers. In that case, Sabrina would be an excellent teacher. Whether it be teaching them to have a better grip on their telekinesis, clearer telepathic communication skills, or making sense of their visions, Sabrina would be there to guide them every step of the way.

*•.¸❀

❀ Whitney

Whitney is... Well, a bit of a mess. I can see her being a great babysitter or older sister figure, but being a child's primary caregiver? Let's just say not a lot of "parenting" will be happening. Whitney is spontaneous and energetic, and that's reflected in the way she takes care of her child. She takes the child with her everywhere, and I mean everywhere. To the gym, the baseball field, the mall, the beach, to run errands, to hang out with friends. Whitney loves them to the moon and back, but she'd end up treating them more like an accessory than a human at times.

Whitney would make absolute certain that the child will always look and feel their very best. Lots of cute clothes and accessories, the best skin and hair care products on the market, and a lifetime membership to whatever the Pokémon equivalent of the YMCA is. Of course, all of those burnt calories are nullified by the amount of sweets Whitney shoves down their throat. She likes to spoil and be spoiled. What can she say?

Whitney is prone to crying and, well, tantrums. She's a very emotional person in general, so if the child is upset and crying, she ends up crying too. Whitney tries to keep herself together for their sake, she really does, but seeing her little angel break down tears her heart to pieces. She'll panic, which sometimes makes things worse, but she'll do absolutely whatever she physically can to calm them (both) down and make them happy again. In the end, Whitney figures out a routine and is able to calm them down quicker whilst also keeping her cool. Maybe she's not so bad at this whole parent thing after all.

Very protective of them. They're her little baby, why wouldn't she be? If Whitney spots anyone being mean to her kid, cute little immature Whitney vanishes and she goes full mama bear. And if God forbid a person or Pokémon tries to physically threaten them? They get a taste of Miltank's most powerful Rollout. She can come across at times like a helicopter parent. It's not that she doesn't trust the child, it's that she's genuinely interested in their life and wants to be able to connect with them. Friends, hobbies, likes and dislikes, she wants to know it all. Helps with picking out birthday gifts, too!

*•.¸❀

❀ Candice

10/10 soccer mom. Probably the most experienced (and most normal) caregiver on this list, though Skyla would be a close second. Anyway, Candice takes her role as a parent very seriously. She'd buy several books on parenting and even take a few parenting classes. She wants her child to have the best life they possibly can.

Candice wants her child to live and grow from their experiences. She's not the type to throw them out of the nest and leave them to their own devices, of course, but she'd try to teach them independence to the best of her abilities. This is a little easier said than done at the start considering the child's background, but Candice is willing to put in the work to help them thrive.

Snow hikes, ice skating, sledding, Candice would make sure that the child stays active and healthy. She'd make sure they were the only ones around if the child was too anxious to be around other people. Afterwards, she'd treat them to a nice big mug of hot cocoa.

I can see her homeschooling the child for the first year or two after the adoption, to help them adjust before throwing them into another unfamiliar situation. You'd think that she'd be running short on time thanks to her juggling her job as a gym leader, her social life, hobbies and now a child, but somehow she manages. Candice is pretty intelligent, so educating the child wouldn't be too big of a challenge. Additionally, she'd enroll them in any extracurricular activity they show interest in so they'd get some social interaction, though she'd try to find groups that were a bit on the smaller side at first to avoid them becoming stressed out.

Walkie-talkies would be kept on Candice's and the child's nightstands in case they're woken up from nightmares or have an anxiety attack and need comfort. Candice can wake up in an instant, so it's no bother to her. She'll stay up as long as they need, talking to them, listening to them ramble, or telling them stories. She wants them to know that they can rely on her, and that she'd never find them annoying or a burden.

*•.¸❀

❀ Elesa

Elesa has virtually zero experience with children, but not because she dislikes them. She likes kids, thinks they're fun. I picture her as somewhat of a vodka aunt. Always showering her child with gifts and trying to prioritize being cool and fun so they don't find her annoying.

To expand on that last part, Elesa is rich, that goes without saying. She could afford practically anything the kid wanted. They want these specific snacks from Johto? Elesa will buy them a month's supply. They're too anxious to play outside with the other kids? Elesa hired the best architects in the region to build them an indoor jungle gym. Not to mention that she made sure to hire a great therapist to help the child through their trauma.

Unfortunately due to both of Elesa's jobs being extremely demanding and time consuming, she's rarely ever home. She hates this knowing how upset the child gets when she's not around. To at least attempt to remedy this, once she's on break she will immediately start a video call with them to check in. She would also make sure they were surrounded with stuff to keep them busy, whether it be toys, games, books, movies or Pokémon to keep them company.

Elesa doesn't mind being woken up in the middle of the night from nightmares, as she's used to functioning on little sleep anyway. She'll invite them into her bed with her and lay their head on her chest, ask them to tell her about their nightmare as she gently runs her fingers through their hair to calm them down. Being a model is a stressful job, with having to deal with everyone's expectations of her to be perfect, so she understands stress and anxiety. If the child is too nervous to sleep alone, Elesa will wrap them in the softest blanket she has and let them cling to her arm for the rest of the night.

Elesa is very gentle and patient with them, especially at first, but she isn't going to let the child continue to live in fear for the rest of their life. She won't push them beyond their limits, but in the rare moments when she has some time to spare, she'll take them out on walks or to visit the amusement park. The world is so beautiful and has so much to offer, and she wants her child to be able to experience all of the wonder and good the world has to offer. Like previously mentioned, Elesa hired a therapist for them, and is also willing to do everything she can to help them heal.

*•.¸❀

❀ Skyla

Second best parent on the list. Incredibly bright and optimistic, Skyla can rather effortlessly turn anyone's negative mood into a positive one. Though the child's case is a little more than a "bad mood," Skyla is patient enough to take any issue that arises head on and with the utmost care. She's always liked kids, always treated them with kindness and respect, never talking down to them or belittling them because of their age. Children are humans too, just because they're young and still learning does not mean that they are stupid or that their feelings don't matter, Skyla believes this wholeheartedly.

The child is on a set schedule that prioritizes both health and fun. Early mornings with breakfasts that contain lots of fruit, then afterwards a morning ride in Skyla's airplane. Most of their time during the day is spent either outside or in the gym. Fresh air is good for the mind and body, and so is being around Pokémon! That's what Skyla thinks at least. Of course, if it all gets too overwhelming, Skyla will take the child to the gym's break room for a little recuperation. In the evening, the child is free to do whatever they please - within reason, of course. Skyla always makes sure to be nearby in case she's needed, but learning some independence early on never hurts.

Skyla spends a lot of time with her friends. She's a social butterfly, and maintaining her friendships is very important to her. She wants the child to have that kind of experience as well, so she'd encourage them to join clubs or attend camps. Sometimes, she'd bring them along on shopping dates with Elesa and Caitlin, who were both completely on board with taking the child to as many clothing stores as possible to play dress up. Not only does the child have a caring mother, but two aunts who love to spoil them.

Also gets the child in therapy immediately. Skyla's smart, but she's no professional when it comes to children's mental health, and she knows this. She wants her baby to be healthy and happy, after all. Whenever they have a panic attack, Skyla makes sure to remain as calm as possible, and carefully walk them through it. Do they need water? Do they need to go somewhere quieter? Do they want a hug? No matter how they respond, Skyla stays gentle with them. It's not their fault that they feel this way, or that the adults around them failed them. Skyla's heart aches for the poor thing, and she'll do whatever she can to help them recover from their trauma.

*•.¸❀

❀ Hilda

I wouldn't exactly call Hilda "motherly," but I'd say that "sisterly" would be an apt description. She's... well, a bit of a meathead. Her fiery personality can leave people a little winded after meeting her, especially if they aren't as passionate about battling as she is. Despite how seemingly one track minded she is, I firmly believe that she would take on the role of a caretaker instantly if a child needed her help. She'd just be a little clumsy at first, but thankfully, she has friends like Hilbert, N (who would also be a bit clueless, but would try his best to help), Bianca and Cheren, ESPECIALLY Cheren.

As soon as they were old enough, Hilda would take them to Professor Juniper (or Bianca) to receive their partner Pokémon. As I said, Hilda is very passionate about battling, and would want to share her interests with the child. Even if they're not particularly interested in it, a Pokémon would still be able to protect them if the need arises.

Every weekend, Hilda would take them out to get Casteliacones. I mean, who doesn't like ice cream? It would be a good way to bond, while also gently reintroducing them to public spaces. If they were too shy and nervous to order themselves, Hilda would have no issue ordering for them. She hoped that her confidence would one day rub off on them, but until then, she didn't mind if they hid behind her. She promised to protect them no matter what, and she never goes back on her word.

I'm not gonna lie, I don't think Hilda would even notice the nightmares at first. Girl sleeps like a ROCK. She would one morning notice how groggy and sickly the child looked and would ask what was wrong. When they tell her that they had a nightmare and weren't able to wake her up, she'd feel terrible. After that, she'd ask every night if they wanted one of her Pokémon to snuggle with. Emboar was big, but very warm, Ursaring was also huge, but its fur was soft and you could also count on it to keep you safe, and Musharna would be able to keep the nightmares at bay.

Hilda wouldn't know how to respond to the anxiety attacks at first. Her knee-jerk reaction would be to hug them, but was later told by Cheren that that could make it worse by making them feel suffocated. Instead, she opted for sitting down next to them, letting them cry it out, and quietly telling them that everything was going to be okay, that she would always stay by their side. It's one of those rare moments where Hilda is softer and quieter. She loves this kid so much, and all she wants is to help them feel better. Normally she would rush into things without a second thought, but this isn't the sort of thing you can speedrun, and she knows that. This time, she'll be patient.