#doesn't always get you ahead either. idk. it's not like if you say the exact right thing all the time you're destined for greatness

[gideonisms]

It's like we all say or do things we know other people will like on purpose sometimes that's a part of living in society. it's one thing to write for a specific group of people or tell a joke for one friend bc you know they'll think it's funny. But you simply can't apply that to every aspect of your presence. Not even in a work setting! you can trust me on this one, if you succeed at becoming widely likeable and uncontroversial enough to get all the people who were on the fence about you to like the person you're pretending to be that is its own kind of failure

a lot of the marketing research I'm doing for this class that's supposed to be about like "building your own brand" reveals the practice of tailoring your presence on this earth to what other people want to be a vaguely manipulative process that's only successful like half the time but see if I acknowledge that I'm failing to adequately market myself. It's a beautiful system. Disgusting, but so well constructed. and THAT is what I want to study

[bluesey-182]

this review for the ballad of songbirds and snakes is going to be critical so if you loved this book and don't want to see that critique then you are welcome to skip this post. im willing to have civil conversation and im also very willing to hear other points of views bc i love discussing books (and who knows! maybe someone could change my mind) BUT if you're at all going to be nasty and/or take it personally, then you will likely be blocked.

im gonna be so honest... the ballad of songbirds and snakes was a decent book. but. i don't think it actually added anything to the overall story. it added some perspective, maybe, to how snow became snow but it also felt... pointless? i think if I'm going to get a villain origin story, i want it to make me feel conflicted, or at least somewhat understanding to how the villain turned out that way. i want it to show me the gray area. but this book just... didn't do it for me. none of it was surprising. and also, from the beginning, i didn't overall care that much to know what made him this way, because the end result was still the same, and nothing happened to change that feeling for me. bc the only way snow was interesting was how he was as the villain. there was nothing beyond that to interest me, and i think that's what this book was trying to use as the draw. and moreover, to expand on my opinion that it didn't add to the series: i think it relied solely on easter eggs from the original trilogy to make you think it was adding anything. like "see, look at this reference i made! doesn't it remind you of the original books?" idk. like i said, it's a DECENT book on it's own. the writing is good, the story itself isn't bad--it just also gives you no reason to invest in the main character, and i think to some degree that's something that's supposed to draw you into a book. and like i mentioned, nothing surprised me. i saw all of it coming. i predicted every twist before it happened. which isn't always a bad thing! but i was also mostly underwhelmed when the twists DID happen. i was hesitant to read this book in the first place, hence why im only reading it now after the movie release bc my partner wants to see it, and honestly? im not feeling like i gained anything from the experience. i had fun reading it bc, again, it's written fairly well, but at the end of it, im just feeling.... meh.

(spoilers ahead in this paragraph only) i at first thought the only thing it added was why snow dislikes the mockingjays but the more i consider it, it didn't really even add that much either. he was just creeped out by them??? hmm.... (unless, and this might be reaching, he hated the mockingjays bc they showed him his true feelings about lucy??? there's a line about how he was getting tired of her music and maybe the fact that the mockingjays repeated music instead of voice, like the jabberjays (which he had no problem with) was like... his true feelings coming through? I'll have to sit with that and see what i think)

i will say, the parallels between characters in this book and the original trilogy are interesting and i will enjoy seeing those analyses but, again, i don't really feel like it added anything. i still think snow would have done the exact same things without them. because he never ACTUALLY cared about anyone at all, except for how he could use them. how they made him look.

if anyone is interested in a star rating, i gave it 3/5 bc the reading experience was relatively enjoyable, and the writing itself was good imo, and as a stand alone story it was not bad but also not excellent. it was all "just okay". and im trying to rate this as it's own story, not as part of of the whole. however, it being part of that whole is what makes me feel so let down

[jungshookz]

hii cee, I kinda just wanna vent if it's okay, I feel like you always make people feel better with your words.

Everything is just so ugh. I'll be turning 18 soon and idk, my problem is so weird compared to everything else. It's just, I've never had any romantic interaction. And all my friends either get hit on, have boyfriends or idk have random people compliment them. But all off that never happens to me, not even holding hands (romantically 💀). And all off that, just makes me feel so bad about myself. I already don't feel like the prettiest girl, but then again, is my personality so atrocious that nobody ever sees me in a romantic light? And I feel so bad, because I'm happy for my friends, they're all so so pretty and deserv all the best, but why can't something like that happen to me? Just once. Ever since I was little I dreamt of the romance that's always shown in these cheesy romcoms. Everything makes me just feel so helpless. I probably sound so whiny. But I just wanna experience real love with someone 😔😔.

I'm just so insecure about myself and all the experience I've never had. I just keep thinking about, what if I never get the chance to have anything like that.

Sorry for the long paragraph 🩷

everything i'm about to say comes from a place of love and genuine care and also i have BEEN this person and i have felt the exact same way you feel but i think we need another tough love moment because i have gotten a few messages like this and i am truly scratching my head

first of all you are turning eighteen TURNING eighteen TURNING EIGHTEEN you literally have your entire life ahead of you and you are not falling behind or losing some race because everyone has their own timeline when it comes to these sorts of situations and there is no winner!!! i understand completely how it feels to see your friends getting hit on and being the only one who doesn't have a boyfriend or doesn't have someone who has a crush on them!! it sucks!!! it really does!! but it doesn't mean that you aren't beautiful or smart or worthy of romantic experiences!! i remember being 18 thinking that i was literally going to die alone because i hadn't had my first kiss yet or had someone who had a crush on me and then i turned 20 and had all of my romantic experiences like all at once (even though the man was an actual monster and the relationship was incredibly unhealthy and made me pull away from my friends and family and the blog) but PLEASE you are still so young you are not falling behind it will happen for you but it's just a different timeline

also i am not a fan of this pity party at all!!! atrocious personality???? what the heck!!!!! the way you're speaking about yourself sounds like how i used to speak about myself when i was your age and you gotta cut it out!! you can be happy for your friends who are pretty and in relationships and deserve the best but you also need to be happy for YOURSELF and cherish yourself and your beauty and your skills and focus on your worth instead of focusing on all the people around you. it's so true when they say that beauty comes from within because if you're just spending your days moping around and wondering why no one loves you it'll just become a self-fulfilling prophecy and i'm sure you don't want that for yourself.

CEEMEN please stand up you need to work on loving yourselves the way that I LOVE U!!!!!!

[ink-and-dagger]

Of course this is totally optional (feel free to ignore this) but I’m pretty curious as to why you don’t like Vander. Personally I feel similarly to you i think? He’s not a fave but I don’t think he’s a bad guy, but I’m unable to articulate why exactly I don’t like him if that makes sense. Was hoping your views may resonate a bit? Idk

I'll give it a go!

Let me disclaimer this though because I really can't be bothered to fight with anyone. This is just my personal opinion and analysis. More than happy to be proved wrong when season 2 comes out if they end up expanding more on Vander's history, but at the moment I'm pretty set in my opinion of him.

I don't hate Vander. Nor do I think he's a bad character. I enjoy reading him in fics, and I'm certain I'll write him in future ones. He just isn't my favourite, and he irritates me at times.

I think the easiest way of explaining why I'm not a huge fan lies in one question

"Are you a good man?"

Vander and Silco share a lot of similarities. Both shown to be violent. Not above using threats or force to get their way. Both with long and complicated histories full of questionable deeds.

However.

If you asked Silco whether he considers himself to be a good man, I believe he'd say "No."

And yet, if you put the same question to Vander, it's my belief that he'd say "Yes."

And therein lies my issue with him.

I tend to find people and characters with hero complexes very tedious. Just my personal taste. And I sort of feel like Vander has one.

He whole-heartedly believes he's the good guy. And that bugs me. I kinda just wanna tell him to get over himself.

Vander always thinks that Vander is right.

And therefore, anyone who doesn't share his exact way of thinking is the enemy. He has blinkered vision, and an inability to think beyond tomorrow, or his immediate vicinity. As long as everything is okay in Vander's world [i.e the Lanes and his friends & family], he's content to forget the rest.

But see the thing is, the Undercity is bigger than just the Lanes. The Lanes is just a small section of the city. And more people live down there than just Vander's mates. So what about them? You have to be besties with Vander to qualify for protection?

Silco fights for Zaun.

Vander fights for Vander.

Which isn't my issue. I love villains. I love morally-grey and imperfect characters. I don't mind if a character has selfish motives or questionable drives. My issue isn't with Vander's actions or his goals, but rather his attitude and general opinion of himself.

If Vander wants to fight for Vander then go ahead my guy. But don't act so damn noble about it.

He likes to think of himself as this big, upstanding hero type. When he's actually no better than Silco. You could even argue he's no better than Piltover. He looks out for his own, and is content to ignore the rest.

I've seen some people comparing the two versions of Zaun between Act 1 and 2 under the different leadership.

It's true, under Vander the Lanes had a safer, more community-type feel to it. However, as I said before, the Undercity is bigger than just the Lanes. And a ✨#cosy-vibe UwU💕is pretty useless when the majority of people are starving and oppressed. Barely surviving and in no way thriving. Vander doesn't really concern himself with the well-being of Zaun as a whole.

I'm not saying Silco's reign is perfect either. The Undercity certainly doesn't feel as safe under his watch, and I'm not ignoring the drug problem [though this a whole other topic]. But aren't these issues that naturally occur alongside industrial progress? London has a lot more crime etc going on than a smaller, less advanced city for example. But despite this, Silco's leadership undoubtedly benefits the greatest amount of people. There are huge advances in technology, health, trade, business, and infrastructure. He literally makes the air safer to breathe. Silco advocates for Zaun as a whole.

But I digress. This isn't about who is a better leader. This is about Vander thinking he's this big, brave, gallant knight in shining armour because he rescued the princess, even though he left the village to be burned by the dragon.

So yeah, I guess those are my thoughts.

My issues with characters don't tend to stem from their actions, but rather their opinions of themselves.

It's kinda like when someone thinks they're a really nice person because they're kind to their friends and family even though they're a complete prick to the waiter at a restaurant. Yeah that really annoys me.

[yourturntosimp]

hey hey! can i have yan shin x reader general hcs?

A/N: it's rlly crazy how all my motivation to post and write comes to me in the middle of chem ANYWAYS here's your hacker boy, again, a long post as apology for taking so long to get around to formatting and posting it, actually had more fun than i was expecting writing this one <33 TWs: local hacker man refuses to acknowledge that he’s down bad, e-stalking, kidnapping, toxic behaviours, communication issues, mention of bad self-care, mentions of strangulation

💻 ok so i'm not trying to say he's an unstable yandere

💻 but if he got fed up to a certain extent, he would in fact choke you out and then apologize when you wake up-

💻 this man

💻 touch starved, i tell you

💻 i preach the truth, and this is such

💻 dude if you just give him like

💻 one good hug, i think he would start crying-

💻 like i'm not saying his childhood was like bad or anything, bc in-canon his parents seem great

💻 but like?????? yk?????

💻 what i'm trying to say is that this boy is way too out of touch with genuine emotions and the concepts surrounding them

💻 so you just know this is gonna go well-

💻 at first he's like

💻 "no. ew. get away. shoo, go" bc

💻 you're making him feel all warm and fuzzy and he doesn't like that-

💻 like i think he would. actively try to get you killed????? if this was during the death game????

💻 i mean. easiest way to get rid of your problems is to get them killed in an awful deathtrap, amiright?

💻 [insert cricket sound effect, accompanied by ill-timed bad 80s laughtrack]

💻 so he acts like he absolutely loathes your presence

💻 like he goes to the point of leaving the fucking room if you're in it-

💻 and tbf, he actually does think he hates you for a while-

💻 until one day he's just. ranting to kanna about this exact topic

💻 and she just.

💻 "do you...like them?"

💻 and shin damn near combusts

💻 he just immediately starts rebuking her, to the point where she just starts giving him the "yep, sure, whatever you say man" treatment-

💻 and after that he just

💻 has to completely reframe his psyche

💻 ",,,,,do i like them???"

💻 spoiler: the answer is yes-

💻 so not only does he now have to deal with liking you, he has to deal with knowing that he likes you

💻 yall are rlly a slowburn enemies to lovers 250k word ao3 fic idk what to tell you-

💻 he would rather literally fucking die than outright be like "hey. i like you, go out with me" for

💻 many reasons-

💻 not only does he not understand any of this as well as he’d like to, it's also a matter of pride

💻 and if he admits it first, he loses

💻 and he is not about to lose-

💻 so the logical solution?

💻 well, he starts out with just cyber-stalking you

💻 it's just small things at first, like occasional checks

💻 and then that evolves into him having a constant tab on your social media and interpersonal relationships, full background searches,,,,

💻 but eventually, that's not enough either

💻 so what's the next step?

💻 kidnapping of course!

💻 of course it's kidnapping, it's always kidnapping--

💻 he's not particularly concerned about being careful about it

💻 all he needs are no witnesses, right?

💻 and he'd rather not deal with the hassle of getting and properly dosing chloroform, so...

💻 yeah, crazy how you can just be on a walk in the afternoon and then it turns out there’s some dude waiting around the corner a few feet ahead of you with a heavy rock-

💻 the next time you wake up you're in an unfamiliar apartment

💻 your day's going great so far, right--

💻 so you're trying to look around while you're completely restrained and shin's just-

💻 sitting in the gd corner watching the entire time HBGFDFGH

💻 he'll eventually explain to you that he's kidnapped you to make you go out with him

💻 but also he does not know how feelings work so could you also be his therapist for him ok thanks <3

💻 please do not look forward to the living conditions too much--

💻 he'll give you the couch, he is keeping his bed until both of you are comfy enough to be within 2 feet of eachother without running away or attempted murder-

💻 the food variety,,,,,ehhh,,,

💻 he's described as frail so

💻 i'd imagine his diet isn't the best--

💻 it's a cycle between cup noodles and fast food

💻 and if you count the total number of times he forgoes eating for something more productive,,,

💻 he is willing to cook more often if you bring it up!

💻 his eating habits aren't changing, i'm sorry but if he deems himself as too busy then he's not taking a single bite--

💻 has no clue how a healthy romantic relationship works

💻 so chances are, he's either barely communicating with you, or he's just infodumping all of his problems on the table, sliding them over to you in a neat little pile, and saying "ok fix it pls"-

💻 you can explain it over and over and over again, it's one or the other, no gray area

💻 if you tell him to be more communicative? play therapist for him

💻 if you tell him "uh no bestie ths not communication"? so he's bothering you when you interact and he should limit talking with you, right?

💻 uh,,,,,,,yeah--

💻 it would be best for your own safety if you just

💻 say you love him

💻 it's very possible and definitely 100% likely that if you go "uh,,,,dude idk what you're on, im not interested pls js let me go" at any point in time he'll take this as you outright refusing him as a person

💻 so he'll like

💻 idk, maybe the next day, come back, let you go

💻 come up with some bs excuse of "i'm rlly sorry, alot's happened in my life recently, idk where my head is, i'll try to talk to someone about this professionally" etc etc

💻 so you think you're fine for a while

💻 until everyone you start getting close with mysteriously starts disappearing

💻 and you're back in his apartment a few months later

💻 by all means, confront him about this literally happening a couple months ago

💻 the difference here is that this time, you have nobody else to run back to :DDD

💻 but it's fine, right?

💻 you have free housing, free food, he can even take you out to shop if you want

💻 you don't have to work, don't have to clean

💻 you don't even have to love him

💻 all you have to do is pretend, and he's just fine with that

💻 all you need to do is tell him that you love him too, and nobody has to get hurt <3

[annaizscribbling]

can i just ask for some general info about logans library? how does it affect the sides? does it affect them in any way? is it like, safe for logan to spend a lot of time there?

I'm starting w this ask because I'm in the car for a few more hours and I don't wanna type the other ones out on mobile haha

I had a ton of ideas for Logan's library as I was getting further into Low Battery, but definitely not at the beginning, so the fun world building couldn't be incorporated because it wasn't exactly foreshadowed super great. In my defense, it was my very first time writing a multi chaptered anything. I'm honestly very extremely surprised that Low Battery turned out as good as it did lmao. How on earth did that fix turn out at all cohesive idk.

The library was thrown in as filler in the second chapter until I randomly remembered it while outlining like 6 chapters later and decided to make it the focal point of the fic. It resulted in a scene I am genuinely so proud of, and it opened the fic up to so many good scenes and topics. All because I threw it in willy nilly.

Anyway

Patton's room in canon is an extension of himself, his nostalgic and familial orientations, but it kinda works against him a bit. It's a powerful part of him, but also a foe. He mentions how it's hard to leave sometimes, and it takes the others waiting outside to motivate him enough to leave.

Logan's library is a bit like that. It's an extension of him, but not strictly a tool at his disposal, much like Patton's is in canon.

The library I call a memory library because I did not know what else I was gonna call it, even when it felt slightly off, because it's not a completely accurate name. The library houses the facts, rules, and understandings that Thomas has ammased over the years. The books are the exact memories when Thomas understand/discovered how a piece of the world works, but not just memories in general. Patton and Logan kinda share that stuff.

(but if I say that, then I can divide memory retention across all the sides, which I didn't consider until now. Virgil could house survival instinct, embarrassing moments, the things that keep you up at night, and the little fears and horrors from even childhood. Roman and Remus would have creative inspiration. Janus could keep scores and potential information for getting ahead. But then the whole concept becomes very abstract and bleeds into each other, which I don't hate. It would just have to be a looser concept that's spread and shared around the entire mind, which could be really cool either visually or even just internally and ... What was I talking about? I'm getting extremely distracted. Sorry. These always turn out so long whoops. Sorry Shadow, you can't ask me one question without receiving entire essays apparently)

The shelves house the books that hold every fact or rule that Thomas has aquired. Logan is kind of infused with all of that information. He doesn't necessarily need to enter the library to access the information, it's inside of him, he just has to sorta reach around for it or try and recall. He's probably got it linked to a computer or something I don't know haha

In the same way that Patton's occasionally dangerous use of nostalgia as a coping mechanism, Logan's library preys on curiosity, escapism, and the need for control.

The library temps with answers and understanding that will make the world make sense, offering a false sense of control and familiar facts. Or, simple curiosity. Logan suffers on both fronts within the library, and it frightens him.

The actual books are pretty simple. The book isn't always labeled, but you'll know. It contains the moment Tommy learned something. In Low Battery, Logan opens the book when Thomas begins to learn how paint, dyes, and flowers work. It would be the beginning of a series of books on the topic, so as Thomas learned more over the years, more books on the subject formed. Logan chose that one because he missed when Thomas was babey, so he chose the oldest one in the series.

It's not overly safe to stay in Logan's library for very long, as they discuss in the fic. Less because of the effect of Logan's library, much like the main canon rooms, but because it's hard to resist long enough to escape. The library desires for you to learn more and stay, so while certainly never quite impossible, it's very hard to get out. And even harder to ignore the call.

Logan had gotten stuck more than once, mostly when he was younger, trapped and unable to leave because the call of information was too strong no matter how badly he wanted to leave. The other sides have barely seen the inside. Save Roman and Janus, who both stepped inside once or twice. Logan refuses to talk about it.

The affect of the library doesn't grow stronger when you spend more time there, it's your own will that gets worn down from resisting.

Janus can't get in very well easily because of the way he manipulates the walls everywhere else, which the library doesn't love. Though he certainly struggle with the temptation of strategy and understanding the truth of old memories.

Roman was wary going in because he's easily swayed by enchanting memory, but he's more nostalgic and fantastical than purely curious.

Patton already struggles with nostalgia, and though different, the library is a counterpart that can loop him in.

Virgil I think struggles with escaping and is terrified of being so disoriented and lost in such a dangerous place.

Remus will chew the paper. So.

[imarealtragedy]

Summary: You have been given the best news of your life, receiving a scholarship in a prestigious school was everything somebody could ever ask for, expecting to adapt to you new life in Fukurodani Academy, you take the risk and move to Japan. But what you never expected was to be in this position, underneath the arms of everyone's favorite ace, Bokuto Koutaro.

Pairing: Bokuto Koutaro x Fem! Reader

Warnings: none? Fluff? Idk

Y/n: your name

Y/f/s: means your favorite sport.

Word count: 1,211

A/N: this is my first fic ever, so sorry if the story lines all over the place so I would appreciate any type of feedback you guys have to give for me to improve. English is not my first language so if there is any grammar mistakes let me know too! It doesn't have that much plot if I'm being honest because I'm still learning to arrange my writing ideas lol. Anyways let me know what you guys think! :)

If you guys want to me write about someone else and of another category like angst or smut, let me know too.  <3

You met Bokuto when you were 17, you decided to spent your last year of high school in Fukurodani, truth is you didn't even know what you were doing there, one day you suddenly got an opportunity for a scholarship in Toyko, the next you were on a plane on the move to one of Japans most prestigious schools. To say you were excited was an understatement, you were ready for a fresh start, a new country, a new school, new friends, and overall new opportunities  that would totally open paths to make something with your life.

Your first week on the premises was a little bit hectic, of course you were the new girl and everyone wanted to know who you were, and where you'd come from, during the end of that week, you had your first interaction with Bokuto, he began by letting you know how he was the captain of the boys volleyball club, and if you ever needed help around school being new and all didn't hesitate to look for him or Akaashi.

Akaashi was a quite guy, someone who liked to keep his thoughts inside his head, he was calm, compossed and he radiated confidence. One of the reason both of you became acquaintances very fast, was because the to of you shared the some amount of classes together, even tho you were a third year, you still needed to catch on assignments you had not taken before. Bonding over either games, food or classes you two started hanging out often whether it was at lunch or after school, and that sometimes included seeing Bokuto every once in a while.

You didn't know how to describe your relationship with the ace, it wasn't weird to be precise but you weren't best of friends either, he had a bright personality making him shine everytime he entered the room you on the other hand were a little bit more reserved, don't get me wrong that didn't mean you couldn't get wild everyonce in a while and make yourself noticed when you needed to, but that wasn't very often. That was your biggest difference with Bokuto, you sometimes found him annoying and he sometimes thought you were a stuck up bitch, but despite those issues you still found yourself attracted to the ace and oh boy you were doomed, not only did Akaashi knew about your little crush but he always tried to make you pursue it.

You never really wanted to that though, between him not having time for anything but volleyball, you didnt have that much time to spare either. Ever since your first month in the prefacture you have proposed yourself to become the best female (y/f/s) player in Japan, that's why you were given the scholarship for Fukurodani in the first place to make the team win nationals and make a name out of yourself.

That day soon came, your team had finally made it to (y/f/s) National Finals, days prior to your final match the boys had let you know that they've already won volleyball nationals and they were counting on your team to make the Academy the best in Tokyo. You were in the dressing room getting your shoes on remembering the words of your friends "we are counting on your team", thinking of that didn't ease your nerves at all, you were already on edge because your future depended on this win, not only yours to be exact but all of your teammates as well. The boys came in to show their support at the match, the pressure was on you, you wanted to make everyone proud, your teammates, your friends, your parents who were even watching the stream of your match, today was the day you were going to make yourself and the team known to the whole country.

Five minutes before your game, you spotted a spiked gray haired boy approaching you, seeing one of the persons you loved the most before your match made you feel safe and ready for taking on this challenge

"Hi y/n, how are you feeling?" He said as he took a sit next to you on the bleachers

"Im fine Kou, just a little bit nervous that's all" you chucked as you play with the end of your jersey, feeling anxious about the game ahead of you.

"Your games starting soon so I need to move to the other side, but I just wanted to tell you, that I'm so proud of you, I know we haven't been that close at all these year, but believe me it's been amazing to see your overcome yourself and become an outstanding player, you've always have been" the ace said with a little bit of shyness in his voice, he had always admired  y/n from afar as they didn't hang out as often as they did when they met, but he knew he would always had a soft spot for her in his heart.

Y/n stood up and gave a kiss to the ace forehead and said, "Thank you Kou, hearing that from the best ace in Japan, makes me feel special, I'm so proud of you too Koutaro, you inspire me the most every day"

The ace stood up of from his seat with a frown on his face before leaving and said "But I'm not the best ace in Japan y/n"

"In my heart you are and always be Bokuto Koutarou" you said as you ran off to the court, before the match started.

Your statement left Bokuto perplexed but at the same time eased his mind and his worries about whether you felt the same way about him as he felt for you.

Only 5 minutes left on the clock and neither team has scored a decisive point, the pressure was on, the moment you got the ball you knew this was your moment to help the team win this game. Making your way through your opponent's defense, you started thinking how you were going to score, if you were going to make, if you were going to get blocked, if you had enough time to even make a play, but the moment Bokuto yelled "you can make it y/n, I believe in you" you knew this was your shot and you were going to make it, 10 seconds left on the clock, you shoot the ball and all you hear before the timer gets to zero is "Let's go Fukurodani!"

The screams of your teammates and the audience make your senses go wild, making you turn to see the score, you've won, you made your team win, your team had won nationals!! You were utterly shocked, sitting on the floor smiling to yourself, when you saw the ace running towards you, before you could've even noticed he tackled you to the ground murmuring on your neck over and over how proud he was of you and how good you were, the moment he looked up to meet your gaze, you smiled to him and hugged him back, laying on the gym floor, hugging over your victory, that's how you found yourself trapped and strangely comfortable underneath the arms of everyones favorite ace Bokuto Koutaro.

[lucymont]

really liked that last analysis about the narrative issues with the Port Mafia and the ADA. I also completely agree! I think part of it's how characters like Dazai can do anything and never have consequences for it. For instance with what you mentioned earlier about the way he treated Aku. patting him once on the shoulder doesn't make up for years of severe abuse :/ idk i use to love Dazai but i now i really want to see him lose for once.

Thank you first of all

Dazai sofar is presented as this mastermind character together with Mori. But unlikeMori Dazai plans much farther ahead during the guild arc at least (reminder,this is just how the narrative has presented it so far only in the manga). It’sjust Dazai playing a much bigger role in comparison. Everything plays out as hewants. Everything goes according to keikaku. That’s the impression we get from him.

Thisincludes an emotionally distant and unapproachable character. He never showshis weak side and it was never shown to us as readers either. And while we seethe cruel side of him, it was always for the sake of “the greater good”. Theplot and narrative justifies his action.He is basically never entirely in the wrong, evenwith Akutagawa.

What Atsushi tells Akutagawa here is so ironic considering Akutagawa understands this feeling better than anyone else. It’s him being in the exact same position as Kyouka in this case. Akutagawa is the one longing for appreciation and acknowledgement from Dazai. And since Dazai puts the mindset “You are only worth living if you are strong” on Akutagawa, Dazai’s acknowledgement would consequently mean the same as “You are worth living” (I honestly loved this fight)

This scene happens during the fight with Fitzgerald, in which Atsushi finally understands why Akutagawa holds such a huge grudge against him. Because Atsushi is the one getting acknowledged/”getting the worth of living” by Dazai and not him, even tho he is working so hard on improving his skills. And what does the narrative do? The story tells us through Atsushi’s eys, that Akutagawa feeling this way is absurd and in a way foolish, since “it’s clear” that Dazai has already acknowledged him long time ago. It’s Akutagawa’s fault in a way for not being able to understand. This moment takes most of the blame from Dazai and put it on Akutagawa and it gets reinforced when Dazai pats his shoulders and praises him. “Isn’t Dazai such a nice one

And while i would love it for Dazai to acknowledge what he has done, his character is simply not “ready” yet. What I mean with that is, that he is developing, but very slowly and realistically.So what I’m saying is that I don’t ask for Dazai to admit his wrong-doings right now or anytime soon. What I ask for is that the narrative itself admits his wrong-doings or him showing weakness for once.Ofc this could be completely intentional on Asagiri’s side but we gotta wait and see, I guess ^^