#damsel’s tired

[technoacidraveasgore]

"we need more morally complex mentally ill characters" yall couldnt even handle basil

[rainedropsart]

The milf of all time

[grimxark]

I’ll always be so upset at how little Nyon is explored both in canon and outside of it. It is completely forgotten after it is brought up and destroyed despite - Metroplex being a part of it, - Orion only becoming Optimus because of it burning down. Like there is soooo much about Nyon that drives me crazy that should have been SEEN by people but just. Isn’t. I’ll partially blame this on the art direction and frankly the script of autocracy because it sucks, genuinely. It failed at doing what it tried to do and the art direction makes it an uninteresting mess that you just don’t want to spend time in and I respect that. But it pisses me off when Nyon is brought up as just this angst point for “boohoo hot rod blew up his home waaahh” like he did that and he suffers from it but that’s not WHY him blowing up Nyon is sad. It’s sad because he was desperately trying to save it. He was trying to get Orion to see that Nyon wasn’t some lost city that had to be policed and its citizens beaten down— he was trying to show the beauty of Nyon, how culturally rich it is, and how deeply the citizens were suffering because of his actions of compliance towards Zeta. How the main reason everyone hated the Autobot was because they were the ones actively helping Zeta kill them in the slowest and most painful way possible.

There’s soooo much I love about Autocracy, in a conceptual level. I wish I had the time to completely rewrite and redraw it. I wish I could go on forever and ever about how odd Hot Rod going from “I needed you to see the harm you were causing” to “haha yaayyy yipeee I want to be an autobot!!”. Like that shit was so badly done that I still can’t truly accept that hot rod would ever want to follow the Autobots and Optimus. The reason I try to tell myself is that Optimus was made from the ashes of Nyon and Hot Rod thought he had some duty to follow him as a Nyonian who had made the Acroplex as a sanctuary when it was obviously once a holy place. But I cannot for the life of me think of a reason he’d want to have the matrix other than plot “consistency”. But that’s a rant for some other time frankly

[sapphicslaylist]

[STP] Imperfect Shards of Glass

Tws: Spoilers for HEA; Codepdency.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/60942649

There was a roaring of torches in the otherwise dim corridors. The bedchamber was set up in hues of bright pink and red, illuminating beneath its recipient. This castle was a festive sight; gold trim and tapestries abound, it would’ve been paradise. But alas, curled around the Princess was the tired, aching love of her caretaker - a shadowy figure who could be felt, not seen. It seemed he only showed himself faintly in the gleam of fine silver or cracked mirror shards.

A shard. That was what they were.

And so the preparations went on to find the whole. Thick mascara and rosy cheeks hid the pain, feeling the weave of his absence and presence all at once. 

Smitten. That’s what they’d called him, wasn’t it?

“You seem cold.”

His voice echoed over her, shaking his head. A soft cloak of feathers appeared in invisible hands. It was lovely, really, being pampered like this - so why wasn’t she happy?

“These feathers; they’re yours. I really shouldn’t-“

“Nonsense,” echoed the voice behind her. “You deserve the world, and the world you shall get. Your every whim, every desire-“

His form had shriveled since they’d met. He was outpacing himself with his gifts. Was it worth asking the question again?

“I want to go outside. I want to dance with you under the stars, and feel the grass beneath my feet. I want to know somewhere outside of here.”

The voice was somber as he gave a saddened sigh. “My dear, I would love to. But not until the dangers have passed. You could be struck down at any moment by those foul monstrosities; it’s just you and me now, beloved.”

A trace of silken shadow across her face. A reassuring glance; a smile on her lips to hide the pain.

“I am sorry I cannot provide what you desire. But I will weave us something new; something better. Perhaps we could create an arbory somewhere within the palace grounds -“

“But that’s still a bubble. It isn’t free.” The Princess steps back, her words almost pleading. It’s only returned with a deep-cutting ache that settles on her shoulders.

“Is it not enough to be safe? To avoid the pain of lashing out, killing each other over and over again?” The sorrow echoes within him tenfold. It hurts.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you upset. I just…”

“Everyone craves freedom, love. That I understand. But when it’s of risk to you, that I cannot allow.” The silken fingers trace the blade dangling from her neck. “But worry not; I have made sure you can protect yourself as well. This is their implement; they cannot take it from you unless you allow it. And I would advise against it, if you know those heathens as well as I do.” 

There it is: that spark of teasing affection in his huff. You remember why you’re with him to begin with, opposed to left on your own. According to the others, they had come upstairs and debated taking the blade to her chest before; now it sat awkwardly between her bosom, inflicting minor wounds. A scabbard would’ve been nice.

Did safety really warrant this kind of empty adoration? What was special about her in particular? She didn’t know, and didn’t care as much.

“Why don’t we commence that dance in the study? A compromise, I know. But I will make this work; I have to make this work-“

The desperation bursting within him again. Any enthusiasm was met with joy, and grief shouldered all on his own. Did she even get to feel upset about someone who loved her so?

No. She wouldn’t. He’d done what he had for a reason; now was time to let that go for now and save face with a polite smile.

“That sounds… Lovely. We can have our own little soirée down by the cellar. Thank you.”

But at the end of the day, caged birds don’t sing. The gilded glory only provided so much for a Songbird in wait, praying that things would be over soon.

Neither of them deserved this mutualistic prison. But until the dangers passed, her tired, aching protector would remain staunchly by her side.

The hands wrapped around her. As she leaned into them, the rest of the world seemed to fade away; heaviness returned to drag her to the pits of ecstasy and grief.

[robbyykeene]

And you know what? Fuck Axel. I’m sorry his sensei is abusive, but his behavior towards Sam was disgusting. She’s nice to him and he tries to kiss her and fine, he got the wrong idea and it happens. He backed off and left and didn’t force it. But then he proceeded to antagonize Miguel at every turn out of some fucked up sense of ownership he felt over Sam. And why? Because she had a single conversation with him? Was nice to him? I get he’s probably pretty fucked up but that doesn’t excuse his behavior, and I find it really hard to feel any sympathy for him when this kind of predatory creepy shit is something that women have to deal with all the fucking time and is not cute or funny or sympathetic, it’s just fucking scary. And maybe if this wasn’t the season where a literal sexual assault occurred and was brushed off as cheating and a “mistake” and maybe if this wasn’t airing right after a literal rapist has been elected in then I’d be able to shut off my brain and not give a fuck and call it innocent jealousy and move on but. Here we are.

[andorerso]

additional thoughts re my last reblog: I think another reason I like "touch me and she'll kill you" better is that it defies the gender expectations a bit. for so long you only saw the man being the big strong protective one in media, and the woman was the damsel in distress who needed his rescuing, and now it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth, so I'm kinda wary of the "touch her and die" trope for that reason. it's not automatically bad, and can be executed well, but it can still often lean into the "she's just a fragile little woman she needs me to protect her" territory and I emphatically hate that. I find it works best when it's mutual.

[venom-ass-daily]

From The Amazing Spider-Man vol 1 issue #375

[sukibenders]

Me, when I see modern retellings of Greek myths that are actually worse than the original---- from woobifying some gods and making them innocent meow meows to demonizing and villainizing others (eg. Demeter and, yes, even Hera), ignoring how they are morally grey and can't just be lumped in with a modern viewpoint at all times, making the goddess and other female figures "girlboss" but also riddled with undertones of misogyny/internalized misogyny and victim blaming (you see this a lot with retellings for Medusa, especially regarding Andromeda because if they aren't making her a girlboss than they hate on her for being a damsel, which isn't even bad, or even make her the "other woman" 😭), or make characters like Perseus the bad guy, even though he was literally sent/went on a dangerous, life threatening quest to save his mother (and himself lowkey) from an abuser and then went to save Andromeda, who he loved even though these retellings try to say otherwise, from death:

[joneevarts]

Gay gay homosexual

[tackletofset]

some Anharion slander, from my server.

It's nearly Valentine, perfect for Anharion slander

[possibly-in-wonderland]

To anyone worried about the last post, they're not bad feelings. Just annoying ones.

Let's put it like this.

Have you ever thought of one of your friends and realize, one day, that when you think about them you're all of the sudden hit with butterflies? Beautiful Monarchs with their wings spread for the world to see?

Thinking about them gets you smiling and more giddy than usual and then you associate people that make you happy with sunlight? Because when you were at the height of your depression you never saw the sun, but now it's your favorite source of light. And now, whenever the sun's out, you start thinking about them? Even if you already associated them with sunlight (like you do with all your close friends), this is more early morning sunlight? While "Loved by The Sun" by Jon Anderson plays in the background? Or maybe sun hitting stained glass?

And whenever you see them upset you just want to hide them a way for a bit and do things with them that would make them feel better?

To be fair, we do that one regardless of romantic attraction.

And let's say you're a system, and everyone in the system loves them too. Even the one who doesn't feel romantic attraction at all wants to, at least, be in a QPR with them.

And maybe, even if you're single at the moment, you're polyamorous and it's even more perfect if they're fine with it, because there's a second person you feel that way about.

Anyway, you keep thinking to yourself how bad you want to tell them you love them and care for them, but you've only ever meant it platonically, not romantically.

But, all of the sudden, today or yesterday or just within the past week, it's different?

And then you stop yourself, because you know you'll absolutely ruin whatever friendship you have with them if you tell them.

So you stay quiet.

Because you don't want to lose them because your silly emotions got the best of you.

So you stay absolutely quiet.

As quiet as a mouse.

And you just pray that, if they end up with someone else and are uninterested in you, that they live a good life with who they're with.

Because just knowing they're happy is the best gift anyone could ever give you.

[queen-esther]

Society has progressed past the need for Snarky And Independent Female Protagonist.

[catfishofoldin99colours]

Watching a video essay on how arcane S1 writes women and in the first segment alone compares Mel to Arwen as being better and more interesting cos she has more agency than Arwen, saying Arwen is pulled around by the plot and at the whims of the decisions of the male characters WHEN ARWEN'S MAIN FUCKING PART IN THE FILMS IS THAT SHE CHOOSES A MORTAL LIFE WITH ARAGORN????? HELLO????? CAN YOU FUCKING READ???? WHAT ABOUT THAT IS NOT TO DO WITH AGENCY????

(Are there cricitisms to my made about her film writing and writing in general, yes! Is this a valid one? Not in the way it's used here!)

Anyway already removed my faith in anything this guy has to say cos holy shit you do Not understand lord of the rings. Shut up.

[persephoneandherhades]

I think I do want to be rescued actually. I have been rescuing myself for so fucking long, it would be really nice if someone saw that I was struggling and actually did something about it. I am hyper independent, I don't think I could ask for help if there was a gun to my head. I'm in therapy for that shit. But I am getting really tired of everyone around me blatantly ignoring that I need help in the first place. If help were offered I think I could take it, which is the type of progress therapy has achieved so far but no one is even offering. I'm exhausted, I need a break, I need rest, I need to have the world taken off my shoulders for a time. So yeah being rescued would be great. It would mean someone saw me as human. I don't think people see me as human anymore. I am either on such a high pedestal that they can't conceive of offering me help or I am so far beneath them that they don't even see me. I am no longer human in their eyes and I'm not sure which version is worse.

Bring on prince charming. Bring on the noble knight. At this point I don't care. I would just love if someone even tried.

[not-your-damsel]

I’m terribly sorry, especially to my lovely @tired-teacher-blog. We talked over a month ago about my spring rut Hawks fic and I swear on my life it’s almost done, I’ve been quite indisposed with doctors appointments and tests and life. I wanna put it uo already but I’m also trying to get done this spring cleaning I finally have the time to do now that doctors aren’t a constant right now and once this place is cleaned up, I’ll be more settled in my mind and more at peace.

But it IS coming because I never thought I did angst very well, especially long term relationship angst, and I’m feeling pretty proud if myself with this one. I truly hope you and anyone else who reads it likes it 😌.

And I absolutely am ass over tits for him in this one, too. I can’t help myself, goddamn it 😣

[ureithral]

AU where kaoru is a vampire and rei is a human damsel in distress who’s in love with a certain vampire

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