#creating our fate

[mayasaura]

sorry this is a very silly ask but. asking as a fellow fan of both TLT and TMA: what entities do you think the lyctors would serve?? personally I’m a big fan of Extinction!John, Flesh!Mercy, and Stranger!Cytherea (the not-Sasha parallels are too strong to ignore lol)

Oh boy oh boy!!!

John - I am a huge fan of John as an avatar of the Extinction. There isn't any need to fudge a damn thing. He went through an ascension almost beat for beat identical to an Avatar's, and checks every box we ever saw for the Extinction's domain.

Augustine - Belongs to the Eye. He could never stop looking for the truth, examining every variable he knew and carving away at that niggling doubt, that inconsistency, until he had ferreted out the key to John's most closely kept secret. He trades in secrets with Mercymorn, using them as leverage. If he has secrets all his own we never discover them, but I'm still comfortable aligning Augustine with the Ceaseless Watcher.

Mercymorn - I agree that Mercymorn is the Flesh. Her anatomist's specialization and the power it gives her over bodies would be qualifier enough, but the Flesh also manifests as dysmorphia, the fear of being physically changed, reshaped, and shaped from viscera. I firmly believe that if tma had ever addressed reproductive horror, it would have fallen within the domain of the Flesh. When Mercy delivered the "sample" to Wake, that was in service of the Flesh. The dripping viscera mixed with invitro paraphernalia that creep through the Canaan bubble under Wake's influence are a consequence of Mercy's plan made manifest, and could have been plucked straight from that Fear's domain.

Gideon - We know less about Gideon the First, which makes it harder. Most of the applicable Fears—the Lonely, the Stranger, the Spiral—he is decidedly more a victim than an avatar, but we saw him vividly put the fear of prey in Harrow. Gideon the First serves the Hunt.

Cytherea - She's the Stranger, you're so right! She's not-Dulcinea, of course. A stranger replacing a beloved friend, and no one can tell the difference. The Stranger also covers taxidermy, or, in Cytherea's case, the Beguiling Corpse. And for a hat trick, the Stranger also encompasses performance as the art of lying, a deception that breaks down one's sense of self. Cytherea worked that art on Gideon, apparently just for fun, chipping away at her with pretty stories and sharp compliments until Gideon was ready to die as the perfect cavalier.

I don't know if you meant just God's Duplicious Sluts, the Horribly Old People, but since I'm warmed up:

Ianthe - She's a servant of the Web, The Spinner of Schemes, The Hidden Machination. Power and control, baby. We still don't know what her game is, or how much of what she's done was intentional vs. improvisational, but one thing we do know is that she covets having control over others. She's even described once as a spider (tucked inside a shoe).

Harrow - Deeply embedded in the Buried. When Harrowhark is not crushed by responsibility while literally living in a hole in the ground, she's drowning in salt water and debt.

Thank you for asking, this was a lot of fun!

[h-doodles]

Connection // Consumption // Possession is my way of Love & you are mine as i am yours, various - a web weave for it's quicker & easier (to eat your young) by @pinkcannibal 💖

[change-of-fates]

*comet appeared suddenly in front of 1x with a shit eating grin on their face*

“name all the sfoth swords i bet you can’t”

-comet anon

He sighed

``Why-? Not like you'll back down though-``

He let out a heavy sigh. Now standing up and cracking his knuckles.

``Mkaayyy... Well, there's of course the-``

Default or Original Sword

Daemonshank

Ghost walker

DarkHeart

Firebrand

Icedagger

He sighed again, thinking for a moment

``Those are the ones I remember off the top of my head- Right- also the-``

Windforce

and Illumina

``That's all of 'em I think?``

He shrugged

[iniziare]

Tag drop: Solas

[muslim1ummah]

If Everything is Predestined, What is our Fault?

Many Muslims are often confused about predestination. In fact, they have little knowledge about fate, Allah has made it obligatory to believe in fate, if one does not believe, he will no longer be a Muslim. Atheists target these ignorant Muslims and confuse them with questions. We will InshAllah answer some of their confused questions.

What is Predestined (Taqdeer)? hhh

Belief in destiny is an integral part of information. By general fate we are ourselves destiny, bad luck, luck, forehead, fate etc. As the saying goes, who can destroy fortune? Belief in destiny is an integral part of information. By general fate we are ourselves destiny, bad luck, fate, luck, forehead, fate, destiny etc. As the saying goes, who can destroy fortune? Qadr is the root word of Taqdeer. Qadr or Qadrun means – understanding, measure, measure, assessment, fixed limit, valuation, blind, destiny, fate etc.

Is everything predestined by God? 

Yes, everything is predestined, Allah Ta’ala has written everything about Him 50,000 thousand years before His creation. For example, if a person is written before creation, he will be good or bad, he will be rich or poor, he will be short or tall, how much food and water he will take, how many times he will take breath, how many years, how many days, It is written about how many minutes and seconds he will live, he will not go to heaven, he will go to hell, etc. But here is one thing, Allah has written that you will not do bad or good deeds. Rather, Allah Ta’ala is the most knowledgeable, He is the creator of the past and the future, He knows everything, so He knows what you will do and wrote it, it is His power. A good side for us in this is to face him through good and bad and be grateful to him. And always fearing and hoping and asking for forgiveness. I am giving an example, suppose the class teacher told some boys of his class that you will fail and another boy said that you will get good results, now you answer whether this teacher will pass or fail on purpose?

Some Atheist’s Misguided Questions About Fate and Their Answers

     1. Nothing will happen outside of what God has written in fate. So what do I need to try?

Let us understand the answer to this question through a story. Think of a class. There is a teacher and many students in that class. At the end of the semester, the time for the final exam was approaching. As the teacher knew all his students very well, he challenged and said – I know exactly which student will get which grade. Not just verbally – he even wrote it down on a piece of paper – so-and-so will get an A+, so-and-so will get an A, so-and-so will fail, etc. The students have no idea what the teacher has written on the paper. Each of them gave their own test. Examination booklets are checked as per marking scheme. Then it turned out – one! The grade that the teacher wrote about the student on the paper, he got exactly that grade! The teacher’s knowledge of the student was so perfect that he did not make a single point of error in estimating the grades. Think about it, in this situation no student can come and say – I got that grade because the teacher had already written the grade. Because, the grade that the teacher had written earlier – it did not affect the exam result at all. Students no longer knew who would get what grade. So, the one who got A+ got A+ by studying on his own, and the one who failed failed because he didn’t study on his own.

Since Allah is “Al-Aleem” or All-Knowing, He is fully aware of everything past, present, and future. Allah knows when what will happen, who will be born, who will marry, how much money will be, where will any accident happen, what illness will happen, who will die, who will go to heaven, who will go to hell – all this is known to Allah. There is nothing unknown to Allah. Allah knows what will happen in the future, what will not happen, what will not happen or what will happen – everything. And he has written this information in a book called “Laohe Mahfuz”. Who wrote for? for us To make us understand that, O mankind, try, make du’a, but don’t strain. No matter how chaotic and uncontrollable you think the world around you is – nothing is happening outside of God’s sight, everything good and bad is happening because God is allowing it to happen.

Document : Sura yeah sin ayat 12

     2. Wait, do you mean to say that so much lawlessness and torture is happening in the world because of God’s will? I do all the sins that I do for the will of Allah? Then why will people be punished for sin in the afterlife? People are not doing everything according to God’s will?

Everything that happens in this universe – be it a natural phenomenon, wrongdoing, evil or good – is all by Allah’s permission. Not even a leaf falls from a tree without Allah’s permission . Whatever we want to do, Allah allows it to happen. But just because Allah has given us the freedom to do something, we should not do it. It is our duty to do those things which Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) have made Fard/Wajib, and to refrain from those which they have made Haraam.

Let’s take the exam hall example again. Suppose – the teacher is taking the MCQ type exam. There are 50 questions in the exam, each question has 4 possible answers, out of which only one answer is correct. Now, if the teacher wanted, instead of giving these 50 questions in the exam, he could have asked completely different 50 questions. Or, he could have changed the possible answers given in the current question paper and given different answers. That is, the teacher has complete control over what will be given in the exam paper. When a student writes an answer he has to choose one of the possible answers given by the teacher, he cannot go beyond these possible answers even if he wants to – that is the rule of the exam. So, what the student can answer depends on the teacher’s question. Similarly, Allah gives each person different choices in life. We cannot go beyond those choices even if we want to.

Now imagine: During the exam, the teacher himself visits the hall and observes the condition of the students. While walking around, the teacher noticed that a student was choosing the wrong answer. Now if the teacher wants to stop the student immediately and say – “This throw! You are giving the wrong answer!”, can even take away the notebook. But he did nothing like that and let the student choose the wrong answer. Why? Because, if you tell the answer during the exam, it does not mean to take the exam. After the exam, the student submitted the report card. Now what should happen is: The teacher will check the book according to the marking scheme. Give points for correct answers, no points for wrong answers. But, if the teacher decides to check the notebook very liberally, giving marks for almost correct answers, then no one will have anything to say. In the same way, Allah allows people to commit injustice in the world. If all injustice is stopped by Allah, then who is good or bad among people – how will this test be? The world is not a place to get results, the world is a place of testing, and the results of this testing will be available in the hereafter.

So from the exam hall example we can understand – a student’s exam paper is completely under the teacher’s control, while he is writing the answer whether he can finish writing it at all depends on the teacher’s will. After submitting the exam book, the result is also under the control of the teacher. That is, the teacher is in full control over the entire process of taking the test. A student’s freedom is only to fulfill the goals of the MCQ – and he will be marked according to the goals he fulfills. Now if the student fails then who is responsible? The answer will be – the student is responsible. He was given the opportunity by the teacher to choose the wrong answer for the test – but the teacher didn’t want him to fail at all.

Similarly, Almighty Allah gives us some choices at every stage of life, Allah is completely in control of what these choices will be. We don’t choose what we like from those choices. God is controlling the outcome of that choice. It is natural that people will be burnt to death if they jump into the fire, but Allah willed it so Ibrahim (A) did not burn in the fire. It is natural that a person will die if a knife is stabbed in the throat, but Allah did not want it, so Ibrahim (A) did not die even after stabbing the throat of his son. Choices and their consequences are not ours to answer for in the afterlife, they are beyond our control. We have to answer for which choice we choose.

Document: Sura Al- Anaam 59

    3. Well brother, I understand everything, everything is under the control of Allah. But, if he is so powerful over everything, then why is he not stopping the injustice and oppression in the world? Couldn’t he have created a world where there would be no injustice?

For your information, the world that you are talking about without injustice and oppression has been created by God long ago – that is the world of angels. Angels do not disobey Allah, do not commit sins, and therefore do not fall into any wrongdoing. Almighty God has created man in such a way that man will commit sin, do injustice and torture – this is the perfect model of man’s creation. That people do bad things is a by-product of a special human trait. That special feature is – “power to choose”. Since no existence other than Allah is above error, if Allah gives any existence the power to choose, it will err. That is why when Allah Almighty said to the angels that I will send my khalifa (man) on earth they said – “Will you send someone who will commit corruption and murder?” Why did the angels say that? Because one of the meanings of the word “Khalifa” is one who does not listen to the words of others, who is free-willed, who has the power to make his own choices. And if the existence with the “power to choose” is not above mistakes, it will make mistakes, in terms of which it will prevent chaos.

There is another great benefit in allowing people to sin. Angels cannot sin, so they cannot ask Allah for forgiveness. But, people commit sins and seek forgiveness from Allah because they commit sins. And Allah the Exalted is Gafur, Gaffar – Most Forgiving. He can forgive more sins than man can commit. He not only forgives, He loves to forgive. And so the selfishness of human creation is hidden in man’s sinning and asking for forgiveness. It is through sin and forgiveness that people get God’s love, come to God.

Document: Al Baqarah

    4. No matter what you say brother, there is so much injustice and oppression in the world and Allah is not doing anything, it cannot be accepted. Right?

We Muslims believe that there is something good in the end of every injustice, every tyranny that happens in the world. Maybe we can see that good thing in this world, or we can’t. But, on the Day of Judgment, God will make clear to us the events behind every event in this world, the next event. Allah will settle the account of everything in the Hereafter. On that day there will be no dissatisfaction in anyone’s heart – the one who will go to Paradise will not have any dissatisfaction in his heart, even the one who will go to Hell will surely understand that Hell is his abode. Just as a book of 100 pages cannot be judged by reading 10 pages, in the same way one cannot judge the whole course of life by looking at some of the injustices and atrocities that happen in life. When we take our baby for vaccination, he looks shocked and asks – How is this cruel doctor causing me so much pain in front of my parents? But at that moment we parents feel a reverse gratitude towards the doctor. Because we know this temporary pain will lead our child to long-term wellness. Similarly, a Muslim has full faith in Allah Almighty in all times, good and bad. He knows that through this temporary suffering, Allah may be removing a greater danger, forgiving our sins, testing our patience, preparing us for a good reward, or separating the Muslims from the hypocrites (http://quran.com/3/154). . The way people are blinded by their greed for worldly possessions despite the fear of despair-pain, sudden accidents, sudden attacks of deadly diseases, death at any moment, if it were not for all these suffering-causing things in the world, then human greed would easily have reached any level. presumably

  5.  Last question, if Allah knows everything, why is there a need to take so many tests in the world? Is it possible to send people directly to heaven and hell?

If a teacher says to a student in the exam hall – “I know you are a bad student, so I will not give you the exam questions, you got an “F”, now you go home”. Even if the student is the worst student in the class, will he accept it? No, he would like to take a chance by taking the test. Allah knows who will go to heaven and who will go to hell but we don’t know anymore. So Allah sent us to test in this world. Two angels are writing down everything we do. On the day of judgment, when the exam book will be brought before us and the marking will be held along the lines – then pass and fail, no one will have anything to complain about.

One name of Allah is “Al-Khaliq” or the Creator. So he loves to make beautiful things. That is why he created man, created the universe, created angels, created heaven and hell. Almighty Allah does His works step by step, He likes thoughtfulness, not haste. So He created the universe in six days instead of in one moment. In the same way, He does not catch people immediately for their sins, but gives them time until death so that they cannot go to the Hereafter and say – “Allah, you have not given me enough opportunities”.

Narrated by Anas Ibn Malik (RA). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that on the Day of Resurrection a person will be brought who lived a life of comfort and abundance on earth but will now be an inhabitant of Hell. This man will be plunged into the fire of hell only once and will be asked: O son of Adam! Did you get any peace or any wealth (in the world)? He will answer: By Allah! No, he is my Lord!

And then a person will be brought who is a dweller in Paradise but who lived the most miserable life on earth. This man will be immersed in Paradise only once and will be asked: O Son of Adam! Were you in any trouble (in the world)? He will say: By Allah! No, he is my Lord! I have never faced any hardships in the world or fallen into any misery. – (Sahih Muslim)

Read More: The proof of one God and the refutation of the Christian lie of trinitarianism.

[hyliagenesiia]

Finally giving Zelda her own verse tags, I have been so lazy about it. She does not have as many verses as my other blogs, but I am all about creating verses as I may need, so this post is subject to change.

* denotes an exclusive verse. currently none.

EVADE DESTINY — v ; we can't evade our destiny [ pre-calamity ]

For all the AoC/pre-botw threads with muses of that timeline. Zelda has not awakened her power unless otherwise stated.

HOW TO SHINE — v ; learning how to shine again [ post botw ]

For threads set after the Calamity is sealed and prior to TotK. Zelda's magic does not come as easily to her after the Sealing, with no threat against Hyrule to be used against, but she can still access it. She is still trying to adjust to having been in the castle for a hundred years and struggling to figure out what she wants for her kingdom from this point on.

FATE — v ; fate is a terrible thing to know [ totk ] tag subject to change

Main TotK verse if I feel like specifying. Zelda is constantly in and out of the the main timeline, using her Time magic to travel between the Eras to do what she can to help Link grow stronger and defeat Ganondorf.

FOR THE FUTURE — v ; for the future i create [ time travels ]

General tag for threads in which Zelda is in a different Era, by accident or design. Her Time magic is not always accurate and she cannot control it as well as she would like - she could end up in another timeline for weeks before she can travel again.

CALAMITOUS EMBRACE — v ; nothing will save you from calamitous embrace

This blog started as a Triforce Swap Power!Zelda AU and this tag is for any threads that play into the AU. Zelda, as the Bearer of Power, unleashed the Calamity in a fit of rage. She hears the voice of Demise and fears what he might do with the powers she inherited through the blood of the Goddess.

[13thpythagoras]

free my boy, the atchafalaya river

[save-the-child-qais]

DON'T SCROLLING, PLEASE I BEG YOU.

The children of Gaza have 48 hours or they will lose their lives.

My little son Qais is suffering deeply. He is hungry, cold, and scared. I am doing everything I can as a parent, but I cannot provide him with food or warmth. We are asking you, from the bottom of our hearts, to please donate and support us. Every little bit helps us survive one more day. Your kindness can feed Qais and give him hope.

The Causes and Dangers of Famine in Gaza

The famine in Gaza is caused by several critical factors:

first, the ongoing blockade severely limits access to food, medicine, and basic supplies;

second, continuous destruction from conflict has left families without homes, jobs, or resources;

third, humanitarian aid is often blocked or delayed.

These conditions have created a deadly crisis for children like Qais. Malnutrition is weakening their bodies and putting their lives at risk. Without urgent help, many may not survive.

Please, I Beg You

I am exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically. I watch my son cry from hunger, and I feel helpless. Qais is only a baby — the famine could take his life if we don’t get support soon. I beg you with all my heart, please don’t ignore this. Don’t scroll past. Share what you can, even a small donation could save Qais. You are our only hope.

Every hour without help is another hour closer to death for babies like Qais.

PLEASE DONATE HERE

If Qais was your only child, would you leave him to face his fate alone?

DONATE HERE PLEASE

DON'T SCROLLING ✋🚨 you're the only hope to save a child😔😭

[dcxdpdabbles]

Tim: Mistakes have been made.

Kon: Oh boy, what is it this time?

Tim: I may or may not have sold my soul to the Prince of the Dead.

Bart: Well....even I didn't see that coming.

Cassie: You did WHAT!?

Tim: It was an accident! I was minding my own business-

Kon: You LIE!

Tim: Okay, so I was minding someone else's business after noticing how suspicious his amount of contact with Gotham ghosts was.

Gerta: Um, hello? I'm floating right here.

Tim: Yes, I mean no offense, but you're the reason I can see ghosts. The more exposure someone has to the paranormal, the more they are likely to perceive it. That's why it's unusual for a regular civilian to be so involved with them.

Gerta: Alright, I'll let it slide, but you're on thin ice.

Tim: Anyway, I followed him for a few weeks to see if he was up to something or was just really spiritual. All the guy did was go to work, the gym, and on walks to do errands. He purposely greeted every ghost he came across, even ones too weak for me to see. I was just about to stop my recon on him when a portal suddenly opened and a ghost yeti abducted him!

Bart: A ghost yeti? Why does that sound so familiar?

Tim: I, of course, followed them with the intent to rescue the guy when he turned into a ghost himself! Two bright rings of light and then bam! Ghost Prince, flouting over a shining gold circle of runes.

Cassie: Oh gods. You followed Daniel Fenton, didn't you?

Tim nodding sadly: Yeah.

Cassie: And you fell inside the Circle of Marriage, didn't you?

Tim nodding even sadder: Yeah....

Cassie: Why are you like this?

Kon: Circle of Marriage? What is that?

Gerta: Well, not all ghosts are created from a living soul. It's actually really rare for that to happen. Most are born in a neutral zone called the Infinite Realms, and various customs and cultures bloom from there. The Circle of Marriage is one of them, where basically when a ghost comes of age, they stand in that circle and it calls their fated soul mate. It doesn't always work, but when it does, the ghosts are considered married for all eternity because their souls are given to the other party as part of the ritual. All they have to do is be able to pass the runes, and it's a sealed deal.

Tim: Yeah, that sums it up. Anyway, you're all invited to my bachelor party.

Kon/Bart: Alright! Party at Tim's!

Cassie: What!? No!? We do not celebrate losing our souls!

[ahmed-family-1]

💥Clarification to all donors:💥

I created this donation campaign on November 22, 2024. At that time, I was in the midst of a war, or rather a genocide (holocaust), that is still ongoing. I did not create this campaign to save money. I have been displaced more than 30 times from one place to another and from one region to another. I purchased several tents that were burned as a result of the continuous bombing that was taking place next to us, and I have everything documented in my accounts.

Also, the donations from this campaign went towards the treatment of my children, food, and medicine that I was bringing for my father. Until God blessed me and I left for Egypt with my father, but I left my children and wife behind. At that time, there was a ceasefire, and the occupier, thirsty for our blood, renewed its holocaust. What I want to clarify is that I receive this money as it comes so that my family can survive. Today I swear to you that we are in dire need. The situation is very bad, with exorbitant prices and commissions to obtain cash money. Treatment that used to be free, now we buy it at astronomical prices.

My family needs you, and my children are waiting for anything and everything from you. Do not leave us to face our fate alone. Anyone who wants an explanation, clarification, or proof about this money can contact me on my WhatsApp number (+972 59‑246‑6746).

Thank you💔

rain-rome@

@donothing-nothingworks @fantasticfilmfanatic-123 @katamariwar @woohoo2001 @yesitsanusha @a-shade-of-blue @noble-kale @collageadjacent @aleciosun @khizuo @sayruq @palestinegenocide @sar-soor @akajustmerry @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @tortiefrancis @divortion @visenyasdragon @kordeliiius @northgazaupdates2 @troythecatfish @theropoda @tamamita @baby-girl-aaron-dessner-deactiv @junglejim4322 @jonesthebonelord @mahafamily1 @writerqueenofjewels @choccybug @variantsofblue-deactivated20250 @zigcarnivorous @skricrich-yellowtooth @lonniemachin @thatsonehellofabird @ashwantsafreepalestine @heritageposts @mitzle @rubitheracoon @timetravellingkitty @deathlonging @mahoushojoe @tamamita @idontmindifuforgetme @seasonofprophecy @vague-humanoid @evillesbianvillainarchive @ot3 @slicedblackolives @paper-mario-wiki

[ma7moudgaza2]

I'm from Gaza... and I only dream of a life without hunger or fear

In Gaza, we do not live as other people do, but try to survive every day. The siege is getting harsher, the crossings are closed, and the aid is not up. But the worst thing now is that we are facing the specter of famine, where bakeries are closed and there is no longer bread for the majority of the population.

Imagine waking up every day not knowing if you would find food for you and your family. Imagine seeing children crying from hunger, and you can't do anything. This is not a scene from a tragic movie, but our daily reality.

It is no longer just bombing and destruction, but a slow war that suffocates us with hunger and disease. Electricity is cut off most of the time, water is not drinkable, and hospitals are without equipment or medicines. Our lives have become an endless series of struggle for the most basic rights: food, water, and medicine.

I am a young man from Gaza, looking for an opportunity to live away from this hell. I don't want to be just another number in the hunger and death statistics. I want a chance to work, to study, for the decent life that every human being deserves.

That's why I created this campaign, to gather support and be able to build a future outside this suffering. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a big difference. It can give me hope, it can be a reason for my survival.

Please don't leave us to face this fate alone. Help me get a chance for a life.

[bog-horse]

learning history from my history professor (masters in history and theology) means we hear a lot about the importance of religion in american history and all it’s done so far is reinforce my belief that all religion is made up

[vinnyvamppp]

You know that to be Desired fic you wrote? Would you be willing to write one Where Mainstream Mark finds out about his other versions wanting his childhood, he gets jealous and decides he has to have them in every way possible, and his other versions can go fuck themselves.

To Be Wanted

Note: Great minds think alike, I actually created this the day after the first one blew up and scrapped it. I'm going on a whim and making this as literal as possible before delving into everything.

Synopsis: He was wrong, he was foolish, and he's here to make up for his mistakes. Of course, you were always the better option, and no one else needs you the way he does. (To Be Desired ABRIDGED)

Warnings: Smut, Sub/Dom Dynamics, Multiple Sex Positions, Pussy Eating, Jealousy/Possessive, Porn w a Plot, Mentions of Anal, Slight Foot Fetish, Mentions of Other Variants, Switch!Mark Grayson, Switch!Reader (both are pretty subby), He needs that cookie real bad, etc.

Mark Grayson x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2,700 (Had to make it equal to the prequel)

Mark's knuckles ached from the last punch he threw— his breathing ragged as he hovered above the city, eyes locked onto him. Another him. He could charge headfirst immediately, but as his eyes landed upon the destruction and chaos wailing around him— he could only think one thing. I want to see her. You were independent and creative on the battlefield, but even he was angered and fearful. What if these versions of him convoluted your impression of him? He never had the chance to fully confess, and right now? he hated this with every fiber of his being.

The city was unrecognizable, reduced to a graveyard of twisted steel and crumbling concrete. While the screams of the dying were drowned beneath the thunderous collapse of once-proud skyscrapers. Ichor slicked the pavement—bodies crushed beneath rubble or torn apart mid-air—and through it all, the Variants rained destruction without hesitation like a merciless plague of living extinction.

He shot forward, propelling through clouds of smoke tickling him. Smoke settled in his mouth, tasting charred wood and something almost metallic, like blood burned to dust. It was acrid and suffocating, but now was a moment of clarity. He was bruised, costume tethered as blood seeped from cuts among his skin, knuckles bruised with his eye threatening to swell shut.

This needed to be the end of their tyranny, and soon.

As Mark’s body cut through the wind with an unparalleled determination, fist meeting bone with a nauseating crunch, the force of the strike vibrating across the man's face. The variant groaned, wiping a smear of blood from his mouth, before turning towards him with that smug, knowing grin. "You don't get it, do you?" he taunted. "I don’t blame you. You weren’t there when she finally realized she didn’t have to wait for you."

Mark’s heart slammed against his ribs. He knew what the man meant, of the power you possessed. The familial ability to pierce a tear in the universe and peak into what the future beheld. This was an opportune time for you to be dissuaded—he didn’t seem to be the only candidate pursuing you—not with them here.

"Shut up."

The Variant only chuckled, tilting his head. "They say the multiverse is infinite, but you know what every version of us wants? Her. And we don’t hesitate. We don’t string her along. We don’t let her slip through our fingers a second—"

A second time. He didn’t wish to acknowledge that he never chose you, even when fate had bound you two together. He was lovesickV that was his biggest fault. Mark grabbed him by the throat and drove him through a building before he could finish. Glass and concrete exploded around them as they crashed through another two stories. "You think I don’t hesitate because I don’t care?" Mark growled, pressing his forearm against his Variant’s windpipe. "You think I don’t want her?!"

The variant only smirked, even with his air supply cut off. "Then why am I the one she's been warming up to?" His eyes widened in pure panic and rage flashed white-hot in Mark’s vision. He reared back, ready to hit him again when—

"Mark?"

The sound of your voice cut through the chaos like a blade. His breath hitched, movements halting as if to show the hold you had on him. Your costume was worn—the usual well-manicured appearance now frazzled from wages of war, and dried blood flaked against your skin. That look on your face… was different from the ones he recalled in his childhood. The difference was that the fuzzy warmth you once had, was slowly fading into something neutral, common, amongst the glances you shared with everyone.

Mark turned, his heart lurching as he saw another variant landing just a few feet from you. This one wasn’t fighting. He was standing too close, looking at you like he already owned you. His lips are pursing to deceive you. 

The Variant beside you reached for your hand. You were actually listening to him, just how many had found you by now? How many professed their love? "Come on. You don’t belong with him. Not when we—"

Mark didn't let him finish. In a blink, he was there— yanking the variant away from you and slamming him into the pavement so hard the ground cratered beneath them. "She’s mine," Mark snarled, gripping the Variant by the collar and lifting him up just to punch him back down. The variant spat blood— barely conscious, but Mark wasn’t done. "I don’t care how many of you there are," Mark seethed, throwing the variant across the street. "She’s mine. You want her? Go fuck yourself." His voice cracked with the sheer intensity.

After a long moment of silence, he turned to face you. Even after that display, you were left silenced. Truthfully, you had begun to consider their words— was it bitterness from his previous relationship with Eve? Or perhaps the feelings you forced yourself to bury? Being a hero made it easy to turn a blind eye, once you became resentful enough.

Mark’s breathing is shaky as he approaches you, his hands still trembling from the fight—from watching them try to take you, try to twist your mind into thinking they were better for you. It makes his stomach churn and his blood boil all over again. Because what if you had believed them? What if he’d been too late? When truthfully, they never stood a chance. 

“I mean it,” he said, his voice lower now— steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through him. “I don’t care what the others told you. I don’t care what they promised. They’re not me.” He awaited a response. Your lips parted, hesitation flickering in your expression. Not because you didn't feel something for him—he could see it. It was the uncertainty. Maybe even a little of the possessiveness still lingering in his tone.

So he softened. Mark reached out, his fingers barely brushing over yours as a silent question before running his thumb over your knuckles. The warmth nearly caused him to shiver. "I should have told you," he murmurs. "A long time ago. But I kept holding back because I thought—I don’t know, maybe I’d ruin things, maybe you didn’t see me the same way. But I can’t do that anymore. Not after seeing them try to take you away from me." You understood what he meant. This was his apology for abandoning you. Leaving when you received your powers—when he got his first girlfriend— when you needed a friend.

You stare at him, searching his face, your breathing uneven from adrenaline. He leans in, close enough that you can feel the way his breath trembles against your lips. "Tell me you want this," he demands with desperation. Your fingers trace along his jaw— voice a hushed whisper. “You threw a guy into the pavement for me, Mark. What do you think I want?”

Your voice is low but firm as you yanked him against you. “You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted.”

Mark knows he should be careful, knows he shouldn’t let his emotions swallow him, but then you’re pulling him closer, your fingers threading into his hair—body molding against his like you’re giving him the permission he so desperately craves.

And just like that—his restraint snaps.

Your back is against the nearest wall before you can process it, his lips crashing into yours with a fervor that nearly steals your breath. It’s messy, desperate—his hands gripping your waist like he needs proof that you’re his. He makes a noise in the back of his throat—something between a gasp and a holy shit again—before his grip tightens.

He groans into the kiss, his fingers sliding under the torn edges of your costume, skimming over bruised skin. "God, you’re so—" He exhales sharply— lips trailing from your mouth down to the curve of your jaw, then lower— ghosting over the pulse at your throat. He couldn’t stop touching you. He wouldn't stop.

You shudder as his teeth scrape lightly against your skin. "Mark—"

"No, seriously," he mumbles between kisses, words muffled against your collarbone. He found you to be perfect. The light in the muddled mess of his life. He could barely let you speak— just wanting to prove to you that he would always be the better option. 

His voice is wrecked now— breathless with want, and when you roll your hips against his just to tease, his breath hitches.

"Oh, my God," he chokes, pressing his forehead against your shoulder for a second. "Okay. Okay,—we should probably go home now because if we keep this up, I won't be stopping.” He was right; it was probably best if the news didn’t catch wind of the actual Invincible getting frisky in public during such a time. You bite your tongue, teasing, "You sure?"

Mark groans, lifting you effortlessly, his hands firm against your thighs as he takes off, propelling you both through the sky in a blur. "I have literally never been more sure of anything in my life," he says, his voice tight as he tries not to focus on the way your body is pressed against his—or how obvious his erection is right now.

But you do notice.

And when you grind down against his lap mid-flight, he lets out a noise so strangled and needy that he nearly forgets to keep flying. "Oh—shit, that’s—okay, wow, you’re evil. You’re actually evil. Holy shit, I’m gonna crash us into a building."

Once you two clumsily entered the sliding door of his home, your clothes were quickly strewn across the kitchen floor. He didn’t waste any time—his lips were on yours like a magnet—the taste of you intoxicating like he’d imagined. At this moment, he realized he would’ve never reacted the same for another woman. Excitement swelled his veins as you two collapsed against the couch. The renewed energy powering his body through its injuries.

Every part of you was his. From your knuckles to your shoulders, to your neck and collarbones, breasts— down to your toes. He’d make sure of it as every part of you was riddled with his saliva-ridden kisses. "I should’ve done this sooner—I should’ve made sure you knew you were mine before they even had the chance to try." He heaved— muscled body appearing from the crevices of your flesh. “No one else gets to touch you like this." His voice had a slight rasp, nearly distracting you from the harsh yank against your panties. At the sight alone he groaned— hands moving at inhuman speeds as he stripped himself of his boxers and the tight confines of your bra.

He moves lower, his lips tracing over your stomach— tongue dipping into your navel. You feel a rush of anticipation as he moves lower, his lips claiming your thighs. He parts your legs, his tongue tracing over your skin, his fingers moving to touch you. That’s when it happens— His tongue, almost hesitant, licks your cunt. Oh. You’re sweet like sugar all over. The realization dawned on him as his pupils dilated— lips messily smushed against your labia, and the rough texture of his dry tongue raked against your clit. The arousal that pooled from you was like water— his tongue seeking hydration. Your hips slowly rolled against his face; the soft mewls vibrating against your throat spurred him further.

It was almost sensual, slow as a reminder of who was between your legs right now. His muscular arms locked your hips into place as his tongue grew brutal. Its rapid— pleasurable lashes had you seeing stars. Just as you approached a quick orgasm, his tongue delved inside you, tongue-fucking you as far as his tongue could possibly reach. His nose nudged rhythmically against the bundle of nerves as his fingers glided up your abdomen— mapping out every curve to his memory. His hips rutting desperately against the now-damp couch cushion.

The quiet sound of the kitchen faucet dripping made your moans sound eerily loud. Your fingers roughly travel across his muscled forearm as your back arches into his mouth. With harsh gasps, your fingers roughly tapped him as he finally ripped the climax he so desired from you, his mouth covered in your scent. Divine.

Bringing himself up, his lips captured yours once more— your groans responding to one another. “You’re mine too, you know. But I like watching you get all worked up about it,” you mused breathlessly. He chortled quietly to himself— reddened and pulsing cock waiting readily in his grasp. Stroking it a few times between gasps, he spoke almost darkly amused. "They thought they could steal you from me, but they don’t know you like I do. They don’t know what you like. But I do." Before you could question him further on his remark, his hips snugly snapped against yours. His dick parted through you with ease as you both whined. The rhythm started slow, purposeful—punctuating with each thrust until he grew consumed with lust. Driving himself forward, the couch rocked from the unnatural movement. He had you completely beneath him, knees tucked against your chest and spread wide as his body pressed flush against yours. The wind was knocked out of you with every pummel, leaving you nearly salivating at the sensation. The raw sensation of your nipples rubbing against his chest adds a pleasurable sting to the mix, your hands now clawing at his shoulders.

"Mine. Mine. Mine," he muttered against the shell of your ear, his jaw unnaturally tight as he fought the urge to cum here and now. You were his—not theirs—just his alone in his suburban neighborhood when he should be putting an end to this. This was his moment to be selfish; to him, his need to defend was over until he devoured every inch of you. "God, I—fuck, I can't stop touching you. I don’t want to stop. You feel too good; you’re—oh my God, you’re everything." He rambled, abruptly pulling out, and a schlick sound echoed from between your legs. Suddenly, you were in his lap—pressed firmly against his torso, his hands wrapping around the width of your shoulders as he resheathed himself once more, his hips pistoning deeper into you. All you could manage was to bounce dumbly against him, the meat of his neck being your sanctuary as the skin absorbed the pornographic sound of your moans. He was breathless, barely able to contain himself as his skin became crowded in a red flush.

Then again—another position change, your bodies tangled together effortlessly, one of his legs hooked over your hip while the other remained stretched out beneath him. The angle was deep, intimate—allowing him to press closer, his body half-wrapped around yours as if he couldn’t bear to let go. Every movement sent a slow, rolling wave of pleasure through you, his hands gripping your waist to pull you even closer. His breath was warm against your skin—lips brushing against your shoulder as he murmured your name between each heated thrust. He slowly came up, hands spreading your ass cheeks as he watched himself be sucked into you willingly. The sight of your puckering hole clenching with each rock made his dick weep for its release. One hand melded against the fat of your ass, the other running up your sculpted calves until his lips mark your ankles and feet, his tongue swirling around your toe. "S... Say it again. Say you’re mine. Please—just say it." He pleaded, more so demanding as his movements became rougher— the couch shifting forward a few inches. “They don’t matter… I’m yours, Mark.” Your words were cut between burying your head in the couch pillows. “T-They don’t matter…” He echoed, a pleased groan vibrating against your foot.

Again. You were suddenly flipped as he stood, his feet backing into a wall as his knees nearly gave out from the sensations. You were hoisted into his arms as he bullied himself inside of you, both of your combined voices growing weak and raw. His neck craned lower as his tongue delved a nipple into his mouth—your skin was cold from a combination of sweat and his saliva. Creamy fluid leaked down his shaft as he unknowingly came from overstimulating himself. His hands gripped you hard enough to bruise, as you scratched up the length of his back, causing him to yelp. His canines finally blossoming their first hickey against your chest. Soon, his lips found yours, the rugged ends of your teeth nipping his lips hard enough to draw blood.

Not that it mattered—every scratch, bite, and pull only cemented one undeniable truth: you were his. And he wasn’t done. Not after feeling the slick warmth of your tongue against him, not after the way his thumb teased your rim while he moved inside you. Not even when he leaned you against the couch— having your legs straddle his as his tip prodded the entrance of your ass.

He seemed truly hellbent on caressing every inch. For further context, the previous two parts are listed in the MasterList ོ༘₊⁺☀︎₊⁺⋆.˚

[naga16]

Prompt 2: Fate

Just another idea for the Batkid/Danny. Like imagine if Danny dated any of the batkids without knowing that they're rich rich. Not noticing /minding the simple signs that says they have huge bucks like branded clothes, cars, fancy date, gifts and all that stuff while his s/o firmly believe that Danny knows. Like who doesn't know the Wayne's! They have their faces on billboards, magazines, news and gossips, no one knows nothing about the Wayne's and that's just simple fact. Sadly Sam, Tucker and Jazz are of somewhere and so Danny loss his source of basic knowledge to social media and social cues.

So fast forward to the part where let's say Tim, introduce Danny to the family and they introduce themselves but due to nerves, Danny doesn't process their names well. They have dinner, little talks, small interviews, tiny interrogation and all that and then mid bite Danny's spoon dropped.

Danny: Fuck, you're all Wayne's...

Batkids: Ah, yeah, we told you in our introductions?

And he just create a mumble storm cause how did he not realize it? Then he goes.

Danny: This has been a wonderful experience and Tim, I'm breaking up with you.

And the Batpham was so shocked by that news that their brain screech to halt while Tim jumped up immediately and starts his 'why's' and 'what's'.

Just Danny running away from money when it's his fate. Like, Sam's family is a millionaire, Tuck's a Pharoah and has received his inheritance from his previous reincarnation, his parents are scientists with multiple patented invention, Vlad is a billionaire and has already signed him as his successor against his will, and now you tell him that his boyfriend is also rich rich?

Can't you see he's over about that? Like sure, it's a weird problem to have, worrying about having to much connections with people who shits money but he's done. He's tired. He's already rich enough and he doesn't want more. Get your dollar paw off him

[bixels]

End-of-Splatoon thoughts.

Thinking about how since the very start, Splatoon has had a feature where players can draw and post artwork and spot them as graffiti on walls or billboards. Or how the weapons have always been paint brushes and rollers and ballpoint pens. Since its inception, Splatoon has been dedicated to engaging its players with the act of creation and creative expression, showing them how their art can build communities and (literally) change the world.

Thinking about finding golden human-made music discs buried underground for thousands of years, and a grand finale music festival. About the Voyager Golden Records. About those human handprints etched into concrete in Alterna. Did those human artists know it would end like this? First a fiery death and then, eventually, a worldwide celebration of music to represent our shared past, present, and future. Did they know that their songs, insignificant in the face of extinction, would one day become the solution that will save the next dominant life-form from the same fate?

Thinking about how eerily similar the Octarian domes are to Alterna. About how close Inklings and Octolings were to repeating the same mistakes as humans. But their doomed fates were undone not by some miracle technology or military power or a rocket, but by music.

Thinking about how humans wiped themselves out with war, and our parting gifts were liquid crystals that somehow paired with the DNA of primeval inklings and somehow infused them with our memories and culture and a Song. And 12,000 years in the future, that same Song will end a war.

Thinking about how art and music and punk culture and rock & roll and friendly competition and petty arguments and water guns aren’t uniquely human concepts, but the fundamental qualities of intelligent life. An inheritable spirit that can cross evolutionary bounds.

Thinking about the theme of Splatoon, that art and music and fun will not die with the human race. That every piece of art we create is a seed we sow for future generations to reap. That our legacy is ingrained into the crust of the earth. That long after we’re gone, the oceans will remember, and they’ll pick up where we left off.

Thinking about how Splatoon says that the essence of humanity –– the thing that will outlive us –– isn't war or prejudice or destruction or greed, it's a song.

[cy-cyborg]

Disability Tropes: The Perfect Prosthetic

[ID: A screenshot from the movie Nimona, showing Nimona, a small white girl with red hair, grabbing the right prosthetic arm of Ballister, a knight in black armour with black hair and light brown skin. He is holding a broken bottle in his prosthetic hand while Nimona admires his arm. Overlaid on the screenshot is white text that reads "Disability Tropes: The Perfect Prosthetic" /End ID]

In a lot of media, prosthetic limbs are portrayed as these devices that act as a near-perfect replacement for a character who has lost, or was born without a limb. So much so that in a lot of cases, the use of a prosthetic has basically no impact on the character beyond a superficial level or their appearance, or it's portrayed as something that's even better than the old meat-limb it's replacing. This trope shows up most often in Sci-fi, but it shows up in all kinds of stories outside of that, even otherwise very grounded ones!

If a story isn't depicting the loss of a limb as the be-all-end-all worst thing that can happen to a person, they almost always default to a perfect prosthetic, functionally curing the amputation with it. But the reality is that prosthetics are FAR from perfect, and as someone who has used them for their entire life I don't think they ever will be. Limb difference is still and always will be a disability, regardless of the prosthetics available, and this really isn't a bad thing.

Why is this trope so common?

I meant it when I said this is a really, really a common trope, so much so that the majority of the media I've seen with amputees and characters with limb differences that released in the last decade or end up using it. Even stories where becoming an amputee is treated like a fate worse than death, ironically, aren't excluded from this. I have a few theories as to why this has happened: The pessimistic answer is that it's easy. You get to have a disabled character and claim you have disability representation, without really having to do much extra work or research because most of your audience won't notice if you aren't accurate - in fact they kind of expect it. You also, for the most part, dodge the backlash other kinds of disability representation (or really any minority representation) usually get. The more optimistic reason is that, for a long time, amputees and people with limb differences (as well as a lot of other disabled people) were predominantly shown in media as sad, depressed and unable to do anything, very much falling into the "sad disabled person" trope. As a kid, this was really the only way I saw people like me on screen or in books. And so, the limb difference community pushed back against that portrayal and were pretty successful in changing the narrative in the public's eye. A little too successful. A lot of creatives were genuinely trying to do right by our community, listen and do better, but many simply overcorrected and instead ended up creating stories where prosthetics were essentially cures instead of the mobility aids they are. I also think the public's general lack of understanding about disability plays a roll in all this. There are a lot of people who, in my experience, believe that the more visible a disability is, the worse it is. Limb differences and amputations are very visible, but prosthetics, even those that aren't trying to be discreet, make them less so. While using a prosthetic is very, very different to a biological limb, you won't necessarily see how in a casual interaction with, say a co-worker or neighbor, especially because there is a very real stigma applied to people with limb differences to keep those things hidden from the public. There are other reasons too, such as the fact that a lot of creatives don't even consider the connection to real amputees when creating characters with robotic limbs in genres like sci-fi and some fantasy, so they never stop to consider that these tropes could be impacting real people. Amputees are also very frequently used in "inspiration porn" content that uses the angle that disabilities can be "overcome" with a good attitude, downplaying the way those disabilities actually impact us. The prosthetics industry - specifically the component manufacturers, often also push the idea of prosthetics being the only way to return to a "normal" life, both to the wider public and to people with limb differences and amputations (which can add to that sense of shame I mentioned when it doesn't play out that way for them). On top of that, I also think the recent increase in popularity of concepts like trans-humanism contributes to it as well. these movements often talk about robotic or bionic body parts being enhancements and "the way of the future", and I think people get a bit too caught up on what may be potentially possible in the future with the real, current experiences of people with "robotic limbs" aka prosthetics, now. There are also inherently disabling things that come with removing and replacing parts of your body, things that will not just go away with some fancier tech.

So How do you actually avoid the trope?

So, we have some ideas about why it happens, but how do you actually avoid the "perfect prosthetic" trope from appearing in your work? The most important thing is to remember that this is still a disability. The loss of a limb, even with the best prosthetic technology or magical item in the world, will always have some inherently disabling aspects to it - and this is not a bad thing. The key is to not over-do it, lest you risk falling into the old "sad disabled person" trope. So let's go over some of the ways you can show how your character's disability impacts them. You don't have to use all of these recommendations, just choose the ones that would best fit your character, their circumstances and your setting.

The prosthetic itself is just different

Probably the most important thing to address and acknowledge for prosthetic-using characters, is the actual ways in which the prosthetic itself is different from a biological limb, and the drawbacks and changes that come with that. For the sake of simplicity, I'm mainly going to focus on modern prosthetics here, but it's worth considering how to apply this your own, more advanced/fantastical prosthetics too. One major thing that most people writing amputees fail to acknowledge is that prosthetic limbs are not fleshy-limbs with a different coat of paint. They do the same basic thing their meat-counterparts do, but how they do it is often drastically different, which changes how they are used. A really good example of this is in prosthetic feet. There are dozens of joints in a biological foot, but most prosthetic feet have no joints or moving parts at all. Instead of having dozens of artificial joints to mimic the real bone structure of a foot, which are more prone to failure, require power and make the prosthetic much, much heavier for very little gain, prosthetic feet are often constructed from flexible carbon fiber sheets inside a flexible rubber foot-shaped shell. This allows the bend and flex those bones provide, without all the drawbacks that come from trying to directly mimic it. Making the sheets into different shapes makes them more ideal for different activities. E.g. feet made for general use, like walking around the city, are simple and light, shaped to encourage the most energy-efficient steps, while still allowing their users to do things like wear normal shoes. Feet made for rough terrain often have a split down the middle of the foot to allow the carbon fiber sheets to bend better over rocks when there is no ankle, and some newer designs also include a kind of suspension using pressurized air pulled from the prosthetic socket to allow some additional padding. Running feet have large "blades" made of these carbon fiber sheets to absorb more pressure when the foot hits the ground, and redirect the force that creates to propel their user forward as quickly as possible.

[ID: A photo of 4 prosthetic feet. On the left, the foot is covered with a black shoe, the one to it's right consists of a small, carbon fiber blade, split down the middle, in roughly the same shape and size as the previous foot. Next to the right is an even simpler and smaller carbon fiber foot with no split, and finally is a very short foot that is vaguely rectangular in shape. /End ID]

These are some of my own prosthetic feet I've had over the years. The two on the right are designed to be used by someone who is less mobile, and the ones on the left are made for someone who is more active. As my needs changed over the years, I've used different designs and styles, and keep the old ones since my needs do tend to fluctuate.

There are also robotic feet available that are designed as a kind of "all-purpose" foot that use an electronic ankle which more closely mimics a biological foot, but they are not very popular as the mechanism adds a lot of extra weight and it requires a battery and power to work, with many amputees feeling the jointless carbon fiber feet do a better job at meeting their needs. The same goes for arms and hands. "Robotic" hands that mimic a meat hand exist, but they aren't really that popular, even in places like Australia where the prohibitively expensive price tag isn't as much of an issue due to government programs that pay for the device for you. Instead, most arm amputees who use prosthetics that I know prefer simpler devices that do specific tasks, and just swap between them as needed, rather than something that tries to do it all. A big part of this is because the all-purpose hands can be clunky. they often require manual adjustment using the other hand to do simple things like going from holding a deck of cards to putting them down and picking up a glass of water, for example. The few that don't require that, I've been told, are often temperamental and don't actually work for every person with a limb difference.

Altered Proprioception

Loosing a limb is a big deal and this is always going to have an impact on the body in some way that won't be solved with a fancy piece of tech. One such example is how limb loss effects your sense of proprioception. This is your sense of where your body parts are in space. It's how you (mostly) know where your foot is going to land when you're walking, or how you're able to do things like lift up a glass of water without needing to actually watch your hand do it. Your brain does this by creating a mental map of your body, but this map doesn't get adjusted if you loose a limb. If that map doesn't accurately reflect your real body, you're not going to have an accurate sense of proprioception. This might look like a leg amputee being a bit less stable on their feet, or like an arm amputee needing to look at their arm or hand to be able to grab something with it. Those born without their limbs who take to using prosthetics often have a lot of trouble adapting, as their brains aren't used to having that limb in the first place, whereas an amputee's brain can sometimes be tricked into using their outdated body map to help them adjust to the prosthetic (though its impossible to line it up perfectly). Prosthetics that directly integrate with the nervous system, while rare, do exist, and even this direct connection doesn't completely erase this issue for reasons doctors aren't quite sure about. This is something that does become less of a problem with time. Eventually, someone proficient with their prosthetic will learn to compensate, but their sense of proprioception will never be 100% perfect. At the end of the day, no matter how it attaches, a prosthetic is still not a natural part of the body, and that will always cause some issues. It also means if they aren't practicing it all the time, they may have to relearn how to compensate for it.

Extra weight

You also have to remember that a prosthetic is not a natural part of the body, like we already talked about, and so no matter how good it is, your brain will most likely always interpret the weight of the prosthetic as something attached to you, not part of you. This means that, even though prosthetics are actually a lot lighter than biological limbs, they feel so much heavier. This is because, while a meat limb is heavier, a lot of that weight is from muscles which are actively contributing to the limb working, so it doesn't really feel like its that heavy. When you have less of your meat-limb though, you have even less muscle to work with to move this big thing strapped to it, so it feels heavier. The more of the limb you've lost, or just didn't have, the heavier the prosthetic has to be, and the less muscle you have left to move it. It's for this reason that a lot of amputees and people with limb differences get tired faster when using prosthetics. Some of us are fit enough where you almost wouldn't notice the extra effort they need to put in, but once again, just because you can't see it from the outside, doesn't mean it's not an issue.

Avoiding Water

Most prosthetics also aren't waterproof, and so prosthetic users have to be very careful about when and how they come into contact with it. For amputees with electric components, contact with water at all will likely damage the device. This can even include especially heavy rain, something I was told to avoid when I got my electronic knee prosthetic and something I assume would also apply to arm amputees with complex, electronic hands. For those with non-electronic prosthetics, water can be hazardous for different reasons. If the prosthetic has metal components, water may cause them to rust, especially if it's salty water. Other prosthetics have foam covers to give the illusion of a limb with the general shape of muscles and fat, but these covers do not come off, and if they get wet enough that water seeps all the way through, it is very hard to dry it and they may become moldy. Finally, cheaper modern prosthetics may also float. Many are made of very light-weight materials and some have pockets of air trapped inside them. For leg prosthetics in particular, this means a user might, at best, struggle to swim with them on, but at worst, may get flipped upside down and become trapped underwater - something that happened to me as a very young child. On the flip-side, older prosthetics were usually made of heavy materials like wood or steel, and so had the opposite problem, acting like a weight and pulling a person down if they were to wear them in the water. Water-safe prosthetics do exist, I had a pair of prosthetic legs as a teenager that were hollow, and designed especially for me to swim with fins on when swimming in the ocean, and Nadya Vessey, a double leg amputee in New Zealand even got a mermaid-tail prosthetic made especially for use in the water. Most amputees though just swim without any prosthetics at all, and in 99% of cases, this is the easiest and safest way to go.

Prosthetic-Related Pressure Sores and Pain

Many people with limb differences also experience pressure sores from their prosthetics. Modern prosthetics typically attach to the body using a socket made of carbon fiber or fiberglass, held on either by pressure, using a vacuum seal or through a mechanical locking system built into the socket. No matter the specifics though, the socket has to be very tight in order to stay on, and this means that extended periods of use can lead to rub-spots, blisters and pressure sores. Many socket prosthetics also use silicone liners to add extra padding, but this means wounds caused by the pressure can't breathe, and bacteria in sweat has nowhere to go, meaning if the person doesn't rest when one of these wounds occur, it can very easily and quickly turn into a serious infection. In a properly fitting prosthetic, used by someone who has fully adjusted to them, this doesn't happen often, but it is something most amputees and people with limb differences have to at least be mindful of. Some new prosthetics use a different method of attachment, called Osteointegration - where the prosthetic attaches to a clip, surgically implanted into the person's bones. While Osteointegration avoids many of the issues like pressure sores that come from a socket, they have their own issues: mainly that they are incredibly expensive, and as of right now, have a pretty high failure rate due to the implant getting infected. Because the implants are directly connected to the bone, these infections become very serious very quickly. Many people with Osteointegration limbs have to be on very strong medication to keep these infections at bay, and they are generally considered unsuitable for anyone who is going to regularly come into contact with "unclean" environments.

Maintenance

[ID: A screenshot of Winrey, from Full Metal alchemist Brotherhood, a white woman with blond hair hanging out the sides of a green hat. She is measuring a piece of metal from a prosthetic she is making while Ed, the prosthetic's owner, gives her a thumbs up in the background. /End ID]

Finally, prosthetics also require maintenance from a specialist called a prosthetist, and they don't last forever. Some parts, like a foot or hand, can be reused over an over, but the sockets of a prosthetic need to be completely remade any time your body changes shape, including if you gain/loose weight, you start experiencing swelling, or you're just a child who is growing. Children in particular need new prosthetics every few months because they grow so fast, and as such, their prosthetics have to be made with this growth in mind. If they go too long without adjustment or an entirely new prosthetic, it can seriously impact the child and their growth but even small adjustments can be costly, depending on where you live. While prosthetics are built to be sturdy and reliable, they need a lot of work to stay that way. The more complex the prosthetic, the more work is needed. Complicated electronic components may need to have regular maintenance done by your prosthetist or even the specific component's manufacturer, and depending on where you live, this might mean having to send your prosthetic limb away for this to be done. While my prosthetist technically has the skills and knowledge to do the maintenance on my electronic knee, for example, the manufacturer forbids anyone not from their company to provide this service, meaning my leg needs to be shipped off to Germany once every few years if I want to keep the warranty. This has the unfortunate side effect of sometimes your limbs getting lost in postage (shout-out to Australia Post, who lost mine twice), meaning it can be months before you get it back or get a replacement. Usually, you'll be given a replacement in the meantime if you need it, but walking on a leg that isn't yours, even when its correctly fitted, always feels a bit weird (maybe that's just me though).

Not every difference is Inherently Negative

We've talked about some of the negatives that come from having a prosthetic, but not every difference is negative or even really that big of a deal. In fact, often times, it's these little moments in the depiction of a disability that go the furthest and make it feel the most genuine. My amputations effect me from the moment I wake up, to the moment I go to bed, but that doesn't mean every single way it impacts me is always inherently bad or negative. For example, back when I was working a normal job and going to university, I would often come home, throw my legs off at the door with the shoes still attached and get into my wheelchair, the same way you might throw your shoes off after work and replace them with comfy socks and other comfy clothing. This is something I've only ever seen on screen once, with Eda from the Owl House (and she wasn't even an amputee yet, her limbs were just detachable)

[ID: an screenshot of Eda from the owl house, a very pale woman, laying on the couch in a bathrobe, her hair in a towel. She has taken her actual legs off, throwing them to the other side of the seat. /End ID]

After that, my day mostly looked the same as most other people working a 9 to 5, I'd make myself dinner, watch some TV or play some games, maybe do some extra work at my desk or chat with friends. The only difference is that it would all be from a wheelchair, mainly because my prosthetics were heavy and it was just easier to use the chair around the house. The fact my afternoon and evening routine was done from a wheelchair wasn't a bad thing, it was just different. Likewise, I also don't sleep or shower with my prosthetics on, for the same reasons most other people wouldn't take a shower or sleep in thigh-high, steel-capped boots. In your own stories, this might look like giving your characters similar alterations to how they go about their day. Let them take their arm or leg off when they're resting or relaxing, show them taking a few minutes longer to get ready because they have to put it back on, show them doing some things without it. Arm amputees in particular tend to get very good at going about their days without their arm prosthetics, and leg amputees often either learn to get around more relaxed spaces like their homes using a different mobility aids like wheelchairs or crutches, or just through hopping if that's something they're physically able to do. Even when everything is going well and working as intended, your limb-different character won't wear their prosthetic 24/7, no matter how much they love it. There doesn't have to be something wrong with it or painful about it to not want it glued to them at all times, just like you can love a pair of big heavy boots but not want them on when you're trying to sleep. For more action-focused stories, being an amputee, also changes things like how you fight. The specifics will vary from person to person, but for example, when I did Hap Ki Do, a Korean Martial art, my instructor heavily modified when I learned what techniques. Beginner-level kicks and most leg attacks were impractical for me, as the force from the kicking motion would usually cause one of my legs to fly off. I also couldn't jump very well, due to some complications with my original amputation that made my stumps too sensitive to withstand the force of landing again. So I ended up learning a lot more upper-body attacks much earlier than it is typically taught. By the time I got my green belt, I was practicing upper-body techniques usually saved for black belts - including weapons training that I could use my secondary mobility aids for, like crutches and my cane in a bad situation. Many holds that rely on creating tension in your target are also less effective on amputees, because either the anatomy that causes those holds to be painful just simply isn't there, or the body part in question can just be removed to escape. Whether we're talking about the negative things, or just neutral differences that come with using prosthetics, you don't want to go too far with any one example. The key is to strike a balance. Of course, the old writing advice of "show don't tell" also applies here. It's one thing to tell us all of this stuff, but unless we actually see it play out, it won't mean much.

How NOT to avoid the trope

Before we move on, let's focus for a moment on some common things I've seen that you SHOULDN'T do as a way to get away from the trope.

The Enhanced Prosthetic

A lot of sci-fi in particular will take prosthetic limbs, make them function exactly the same as a biological limb, but add something extra to it. This does change the way the prosthetic functions and is used, but it usually still ignores the actual disabling parts of having a prosthetic. A really good example of this can be seen in pretty much any futuristic setting, but personally, I think Fizzeroli, from Helluva Boss is the best one to demonstrate what I mean. Fizz is a quadrilateral, above knee/above elbow amputee with highly advanced prosthetics that function, more or less exactly like the limbs he lost, but with the added benefit of being super-stretchy. Fizz is an acrobat and a clown in service, at least initially, to Mammon, one of the Seven Deadly Sins. These prosthetics help him perform and we even do see how they change little things like how he walks and just goes about his day, but the show still treats them like natural arms and legs, but better. 

[ID: A screenshot of Fizzeroli from Helluva Boss, a white-skinned imp with 4 black, prosthetic limbs, dressed in teal a nightgown as he lays in bed, reading from a list /End ID]

We see that he never takes them off, even when sleeping, and when he needs to use them as regular arms and legs, they do everything he needs, perfectly fine - at least when they're working correctly. The only time he ever even takes them off or has any issues with them, is when they break in season 2. The word amputee is never used to describe him, as far as I remember, and the fact he is one never really comes up at all, except for when they break or when the story focuses on how he lost them. Which brings me to my next point.

The Glitchy/Broken Prosthetic

One way I see people try to avoid the perfect prosthetic trope, is to take the prosthetic and break it or otherwise make it unreliable by having it malfunction, but not really changing anything else. This approach is heading in the right direction but still kind of misses the point of the criticism a lot of limb different folks have with the depictions of prosthetics in the media. Yeah, prosthetics do break down and some do require extra maintenance, but if your character's prosthetic is still exactly the same as a biological limb (or even better, in the case of the "enhanced prosthetic") when it's not broken, and the only time their disability is treated like a disability, is when it breaks, you're not really addressing the issue. Real prosthetics, like we discussed, even when functioning at 100%, exactly as the manufacturer intended, don't function the same as a meat-limb. They are fundamentally different, and the glitchy/unreliable prosthetic completely ignores all of that. Once again, Fizz is a really good example of this - the only time his prosthetics are not perfect, is when they break or are malfunctioning (despite the criticism, I do genuinely love Fizz as a character, but he unfortunately does fall into a lot of disability tropes).

[ID: Another screenshot of Fizzeroli, this time in a torn up jester outfit, looking down, panicked, at his prosthetic arms which are fully extended and laying motionless on the ground, with his left arm visibly short-circuiting with electricity around it. /End ID]

Now this isn't to say you can't have your character's prosthetics break down or malfunction at all. just that this shouldn't be the only way you differentiate the prosthetic from a biological limb. You should also be mindful of how or why they're breaking. A typical prosthetic isn't going to break down randomly from normal use unless something is very, very wrong or your character just has a terrible prosthetist (which unfortunately, does happen). You might experience issues if you try to make the prosthetic do something it just wasn't designed to do, or expose it to something it wasn't designed to deal with though (e.g. submerging an electronic prosthetic in water and trying to use it to swim).

Just add Phantom Pain

Another common pitfall I see when people are trying to avoid the perfect prosthetic trope, is to just give the character in question phantom pain - which is a side-effect of amputation where your brain's mental map of the body doesn't acknowledged you lost a limb. Your brain tries to fill in the gaps, since there is no signals coming from that part of the body anymore, and assumes either something must be wrong and so you should be in pain, even when you actually aren't. Alternatively, it can also happen when your brain was so used to feeling pain from that area before, in the case of people who had chronic conditions before they lost their limb, that it just keeps remaking those old signals itself. Like the broken/glitchy prosthetic approach, this also doesn't really address the issue with the perfect prosthetic trope, because it has nothing to do with the prosthetic itself. Phantom pain doesn't come from the prosthetic, nor does it effect how they're used, and so including it doesn't really address the issue of the prosthetic being functionally the same as the original, biological limb. This isn't to say that you shouldn't include phantom limb sensation or pain as something your character experiences, but just keep in mind that, when used on it's own, it doesn't counter the trope. Also, just be sure to do your research, everyone's experience with phantom pain is different and it's not something everyone with a limb difference even experiences.

Why is this trope even a problem?

Alright, so we know what the trope is, we know why it became so prevalent, ways to avoid it and also how not to avoid it. All good information, but why is this trope even bad? Why should you try to avoid it? Outside of just wanting to portray a real disability that effects real people more accurately in your creations, the prevalence of this trope actually contributes to a lot of real-world issues, especially when it's as overused as it currently is. I've talked before about "the jaws effect" - where the depiction of something in the media, especially something that the public is widely uneducated on, influences how people see it in real life. The Jaws effect specifically referred to how the popularity of creature-feature movies featuring sharks, like Jaws, caused the belief that sharks were monstrous killing machines to become much more wide-spread, even going so far as to influence decisions about laws and policy surrounding real-life shark preservation and culling in some parts of the world. But sharks aren't the only thing this has happened to.

Disabled people are so thoroughly misunderstood by wider society, that when tropes like this one become popular, people can and often do start to believe the misinformation they spread - in this case, believing that our prosthetics are a perfect replacement for a biological limb, and that getting a prosthetic means you're not disabled any more. While this can be annoying and cause small scale issues for some of us, like people giving us a hard time for using disability accommodations we very much need, it can also impact us in systemic ways too. If the wrong people believe these tropes, it can and does have a very real impact on the lives of disabled people through things like changes to policies to make it harder for amputees and people with limb differences to access financial assistance for other things outside of our prosthetics we may need assistance with.

Conclusion

Despite the very real harm tropes like this can do when it's overused, I don't think it should go away entirely. Some of my favourite pieces of media even use the perfect prosthetic trope and there are even some kinds of media where I even think it's somewhat unavoidable. Characters with perfect prosthetics in kids media in particular, especially when talking about side characters, can help to correct some of the other stereotypes kids may have seen elsewhere - such as prosthetics being "creepy" or "scary" - in a way that is casual and easy for them to understand. The problem with the trope, in my eyes, is it's excessive overuse. It's the fact that it seems to be the only representation amputees and people with limb differences are getting now. Not every story with a limb-different character can or even should delve into the reality of what using prosthetics is actually like, but we need at least some stories that do, without it being this majorly depressing thing.