#encouraged to act on his own desires and help other people at the same time

[imsosleepyofyourbull]

I firmly believe that Kabru is autistic but masks so hard that he’s convinced himself and (almost) everyone around him that he’s neurotypical.

That man’s special interest is people and how they work, but he just thinks it’s him Being So Good At Socializing — like he doesn’t spend 95% of his time people watching and adjusting his personality in response to the traits he witnesses and obsessing over the intricacies of human interaction while mapping an ever growing relationship chart in his head. For fun. He even admits it in the manga!

Like, look at him!!!

It’s such a shame that — because he’s the narrative foil to Laios and his interest is generally considered more “socially acceptable” in both their world and our own — more people don’t realize this about him. He’s constantly misinterpreted as a horribly manipulative person who only acts the way he does to use the people around him, when that’s explicitly shown to not be the case at all. Kabru is naturally empathetic and is almost always thinking about other people, regardless of whether or not they’re right there with him or a thousand miles away.

I mean, his most defining motivation is his desire to do everything he can to avoid another tragedy like the one at Utaya. Someone who doesn’t care wouldn’t have a goal like that, and they most certainly wouldn’t go about it the way he does. He’s constantly working to help people who can help everyone else and tries so hard to make sure that anyone who seems like a threat is actually someone he needs to worry about before doing anything about it. His supposed aversion to Laios is only because of the ridiculous trolley problem he’s set up in his own head.

Outside of that, he (rather justifiably) hates monsters but is desperate to understand Laios’ love for them and his apparently most selfish goal in getting close to the guy was literally just to become friends with him.

When he’s interacting with the canaries and they imply that they’re going to take him and all of his friends to the West, his first thought is of Rin and how much she’d hate to be stuck in the place that gave her so many bad memories.

He helps Kuro learn Common when Mickbell is asleep and firmly looks forward to the day that the half-foot and Kuro can communicate properly so that their relationship can get properly started without any miscommunication.

And he understands Mithrun with only a handful of weeks AT BEST interacting with him, getting enraged when the elf seems to give up and immediately trying to help him find a new motivation for life.

I’m excited just thinking about the day that Kabru starts unmasking more and more around his friends — both new and old — because if being with my current friend group has taught me anything, it’s that hanging out with anyone so unabashedly themselves is bound to make you more comfortable with yourself too. It’s part of the reason why I like Labru so much! There’s something nice about imagining them hanging out in the throne room or laying in the grass outside and talking for hours on end about their special interests. They might not strictly understand what the other finds so fascinating about monsters or people, but they can grasp that shared feeling of love.

They probably influence each other in really good ways too, with Kabru helping Laios figure out what people are thinking even when it doesn’t make sense or Laios helping Kabru understand that not everyone and everything needs to be analyzed a thousand times over. They both get to learn that there are people like them and people who will love them without them ever having to change a thing about themselves. They deserve to know that they’re fine the way they are.

[junosmindpalace]

Hi, loved your last dcst headcanons, so here's another idea.

We all know that they the team travelled by ship the most. Well, how about a modern AU, characters (Ryusui, Senku, Tsukasa, Ukyo, any others you like) taking their s/o /friend on a trip?

Like, method of transport, why would they decide to do it, what will they do at the destination. If that's not too specific, of course.

hi there! thank you for your request! i love imagining the dcst characters pre petrification in modern era  !!

SENKU:

When Senku suggests trips, they can be mostly last minute and pretty unexpected.

He’s mostly hush hush about all the details as he plans it, which is evident when Taiju found out last minute about his plans to go to Africa. 

It’s almost the same for you, but with a little bit more of a heads up so he knows how to prepare. 

Nevertheless you’re still caught off guard when he randomly suggests or asks if you’d want to come on a trip somewhere with him, usually motivated by an experiment or scientific curiosity. 

As for the destination, I think it depends. We know he’s not below just keeping his locations to some place locally. Dude is traveling all over the world on impulse.

So you’re really trying your best to predict whether or not you’ll be flying over to the next continent or taking a train ride when Senku suggests a trip. 

Method of transportation also depends on the destination. Again, if it’s somewhere faaaar far, plane is the way to go. If it’s within the country, however, you’ll mostly likely be taking some trains. 

The destination itself, no matter what it is, is also something that will always leave you surprised. Whether it’s some remote place or a museum or whatever it is that is the source of Senku’s curiosity, most of the time Senku is going with a clear idea of what information he wants to get. So he’s primarily focused on that.

But he encourages you to find amusement for yourself, too, and would absolutely love it if you helped him with his research. 

RYUSUI: 

Hou boy, where even to begin with Ryusui and travel. 

Method of transportation is obviously the first thing I have to talk about; you’ll be traveling first class, absolutely luxuriously, no matter where it is you’re going. Could be a ten minute trip into some place locally and you’ll still be getting the best accommodations money can buy.

Whether it be on a plane, train, or bus, or one of the Nanamis’ personal jets and helicopters and what not, you’ll be smooth sailing (literally and figuratively) the entire way. Ryusui might also be pretty eager to take you on his ship once it finishes, so be prepared for some eager talking and insistence to come along with him, and even more eager captaining. 

The destination itself, similarly to Senku, can be pretty spontaneous, or at least it seems that way to a lot of people. He’s quite used to suddenly springing up trips he wants to take; he probably has the means to up and leave whenever he wants. 

But no matter what it is, he always encourages you to tag along with him with a boisterous laugh or a solemn expression, depending on the goal of his visit. No matter what, he loves commanding his ship and showing you all the fascinating things he’s learned about them in the time he dedicated himself to its art. 

Again, similarly to Senku, the trips are often motivated by a sudden desire to do, see, or obtain something that he isn’t able to with his own two eyes or hands within the country. And as Ryusui wants to act on his desires as soon as possible, most of the time he gives staff a day to prepare pilots and vehicles. It’s also time he gives you to consider his offer of tagging along. 

Seems a bit unfair, but Ryusui always brings you back in one piece! And you may also find some fun in his eagerness to include you in his activities.

TSUKASA: 

Probably the most normal when it comes to traveling. As in there aren’t any insane locations or high end accommodations. 

The most frequent kind of travel Tsukasa generally does (or suggests for you to tag along on) is to the hospital where Mirai resides, or to MMA fights and related interviews. He probably trusts you enough to see those vulnerable parts of him, and it may also contribute to some sort of comfort he feels when he gets lost in his head and heart full of hard feelings and thoughts. Having someone he cares about just standing by the corner and giving him a small smile helps ground him and offer a small smile back. 

That doesn’t mean trips are limited to these occasions, however. Most other trips would be dates; nothing too high end, but still fun and heartfelt events that pop up locally. And of course, if there’s a specific place you’d like to visit, Tsukasa is more than happy to come along no matter what it is. 

Unless you receive accommodations for interviews and scheduled fights, most of the time the two of you will either be taking the train, driving, or walking, depending on where it is you’re going. Tsukasa loves walking through parks and beaches with you the most. 

UKYO:

Don’t know how much time he’d have for traveling, generally speaking in terms of his work, so they might be sparse/few and far in between. 

But just like Tsukasa, trips would probably be more casual and planned out a little more compared to Senku and Ryusui’s seemingly impulsive and loosely structured trips to wherever for whatever. 

Ukyo probably intentionally plans bigger trips like day outs or overnight trips around the available time he has off from work. He looks forward to getting to spend some time with you doing something fun and interesting. 

He would probably want to plan the destinations alongside you, too. The itinerary is carefully compiled together, but not too rigid as to cause stress. They’re usually anywhere and everywhere; cafes and restaurants never before visited, parks and scenic routes, and perhaps some stores in between. He’s more than happy to tag along to anywhere you want to go. 

Mode of transportation also depends on where you’re going, but like Tsukasa, the most frequent modes of transport are driving, by train, or by walking. Though he hates getting stuck in traffic jams, so public transport and walking are usually his go-to’s.

No matter where it is, though, Ukyo is just happy to spend some time with you, especially if your separate responsibilities have been keeping you apart.

[blakeswritingimagines]

Aemond Being With An Inexperienced Partner

With an inexperienced partner, like most things in life, it is a question of patience and a desire to please. It should be a mutual experience, where you are allowed to learn how best to please, while he provides guidance and reassurance. Patience is key, and understanding that everyone can take their time to find their way in the situation.

An inexperienced partner is one with no knowledge or experience in the act of lovemaking. Many people may think to take advantage of such a partner by demanding certain acts or positions. However, the best approach is to be patient and loving, allowing you to explore and discover what you like without pressuring you. It's important to be open and talkative so he can ensure that you are comfortable and enjoying the experience. He is also sure to ask you if there is anything specific you would like to try and to be open to different positions and techniques.

He would likely try to be patient and understanding. He would guide them with gentle guidance and positive reinforcement. He would also listen to any certain desires and needs and adapt to them as necessary. He would focus on creating a safe and comfortable environment for you to gain experience. Ultimately, he would want you to be comfortable and have a positive first time.

Granted, he's not the most patient with those who are inexperienced. He enjoys watching people grow and develop their skills, but sometimes, his own expectations or knowledge can get in the way of that. He's a quick learner himself, so he can get frustrated when you don't match his pace. As for being open and honest about what he wants, even if it's a bit awkward at times, it can lead to a much more comfortable and satisfying experience. He enjoys trying new things, but sometimes the most important thing is to feel comfortable and confident in each other.

He does appreciate it when you take some initiative and don't leave all decision making to him. He also likes being able to try what he likes without feeling like he's being judged or criticized. At the same time, he wants to make sure you are comfortable and confident in what you are doing. Communication is key, but being able to read your body language is key, too.

It's important to prioritize communication and understanding. Taking things slowly is a good practice as well. Letting you explore in your own way, without judgment, can be a great way to build trust. It's also helpful to be supportive and encouraging rather than critical or demanding. Lastly, it's important to remember that everyone has their own style when it comes to sex, and there's no right or wrong way to approach it. Instead, it's about finding what works for him and you and having fun exploring together.

He tries to take things slow with a new partner, learning about your body and what you might enjoy. It's a good idea to start with some basic foreplay like kissing, cuddling, and touching to ease into things and letting you get comfortable with him. He enjoys giving and receiving oral pleasure, and he finds that it's a great way to connect with you on a deeper level. He also enjoys trying out different positions, including on top, in missionary, from behind, and with you on top.

If you ever felt bad for not having experience or felt abnormal because of it, he would remind you that everyone has to start somewhere. No one is born knowing everything about sex and sexuality, so there's nothing wrong with not having prior experience. It's important to remember that sex and sexuality are not something to be ashamed of and to approach it with a positive attitude. He would also provide you with resources and reassurance that you can explore and experience things together.

[fantasygerard2000]

After addressing numerous times that Magnifico has always been a shady ruler at best and straight up power hungry narcissist at worst, to which few refused to acknowledge, it's best to focus on the other person in the room and the "supposed" scapegoat to Magnifico's actions into villainy, Asha.

Like with Magnifico, Asha's character gets a lot of misreadings and unlike with Magnifico, she gets most of this mischaracterization which is flat out unfair to borderline accusatory. A blatant example of this is from post I saw on Twitter about her "pushing away the wishes during At All Costs to get her grandfather's" which apparently shows that she's selfish. However, like in my previous post about Amaya, I wanted to discuss more about the Asha we have and less about comparing the version detractors made up.

Asha grew up in a loving community, having being taught by her father, Tomas about how the stars are there to remind her to always have hope and are there guide her when she struggles. As stated in a previous post, Asha knew what grief felt. She dreamed for her father to get better but when he died, that dream was crushed. However, she held what her father taught her, to always have hope in the darkest times and support those who been in her position.

She applied for the position to be Magnifico's apprentice, as she has heard from her community that he built her home to be a place where wishes and dreams can come true through kindness and generosity. I like to think that her father's death, despite her grief and loss her experience has encouraged her to pursue in helping others who are going through the same. So, what better help she can do than be the apprentice of the man he built this kingdom on, so she can encourage him to pursue in helping his subjects.

When Magnifico interviewed her, she felt like a failure after embarrassing herself before him til she reminds him about her father, to which Magnifico knew and was familiar at some point, so it's likely he has heard that one of his known subjects, a philosopher has passed and that Asha is his daughter. They connected by expressing their desire to make their kingdom and community a place for those who experience loss and hardship to support each other. This discussion is what lead to Magnifico letting her in his private chamber where he kept the wishes.

Upon seeing her saba's wish, she kindly asks for Magnifico to consider granting it as it was his 100 birthday, to which Magnifico started to act oddly as if she offended him. She even apologizes when he reminds her that apprentices get their and their families wishes granted after months to a year after servicing him. When Magnifico tells her that her saba's wish to inspire others as "dangerous", she opposes this as having leaving with Sabino for all her life, she knows that he would never encourage to insight a rebellion that will destroy his own community.

Asha learns from Magnifico that he does not intend on granting most if not majority of the wishes for he considers it his duty to protect his kingdom. Asha considers that he could just return them and encourage his people to pursue to achieve their dreams, but he tells her that he believes achieving dreams are a struggle not worth chasing and so he makes his people forget what their dreams are so they have no aspirations to pursue them. To her, she sees this as something what Rosas is against. People forgetting their dreams and taking away their ability to pursue them.

At the ceremony, she now sees Magnifico differently and how the ceremony, an event that used to be a hopeful occasion now as a ritual where the people in her community have their dreams taken and locked away forever. Just when she has little hope of her saba's wish being granted on his birthday, Magnifico grants someone else's, much to her and her friends and family's dismay. After being told that he declines her application to be his apprentice and that he'll "protect her family's wishes forever", she felt hopeless about the future of her family and community. The future of her as an apprentice of a man she thought understands her and working with him to help their community is crushed.

Despite this, she has the courage to tell her saba about how unfair it is for his wish can be deemed dangerous to grant. However, upon hearing him dismiss her for telling so and asking her if she wants to break his heart, she apologizes and leaves. Presumably realizing that she unwillingly made him to feel the trauma of loss and hopelessness she experienced.

Remembering what her father taught her, the spark of hope reignited as she seeks to the stars and makes another wish, but for her family and her people to achieve their dreams. This "selfless" wish causes Star to come down from the heavens to the earth. Their light shines throughout the island as its inhabits that are illuminated in it felt a loving wondrous hope.

Upon meeting Star, she asks if they can grant wishes to which she quickly apologizes upon realizing that she came of as selfish. Upon explaining to Star about her family's wishes, Star agrees to help. When they retrieve Sabino's wish, he sees what he dreamed of. And upon putting in back what was his, Asha sees the saba she grew up with as whole and complete.

When Magnifico arrives to her home, he accuses her of stealing what was "his". With courage, she speaks up to him that he should not take people wishes and they deserve to have them back. However, he refuses to listen and punishes her by crushing her mother, Sakina's wish before them. In this bit, I interpret Asha reliving her trauma of loss as Sakina's reaction to her wish getting crush is similar to how a wife was informed of her husband's sudden passing.

On the boat, she breaks down, feeling responsible for her mother reliving that feeling of loss again as she knows that Magnifico will do the same to the rest of her community. When she looks at Star, she is encourage to return and save the wishes and stop Magnifico for good.

After managing to get her friends to help, as well as the Amaya the queen, she conducts a plan use herself as bait to lure Magnifico away from the wishes. Seeing how Asha puts herself into dangerous situations before and how they won't be with her this time, Star gives Asha a piece of them, their magic as they care about her safety.

When Magnifico successfully manages to capture Star and absorbs the remaining wishes, she succumbs to hopelessness again as Magnifico tosses her around as she is nothing to him, and knowing him, knows what his people are to him now. Finally remembering her father's advice and what Star taught her, she wished. Soon, her people also wished as together, their hope brought Star back and stopped Magnifico.

After freeing the wishes and returning them to their rightful owners, they start to do what they should've done when Rosas was built, encouraging each other to pursue and achieve their dreams. Seeing Asha selflessness and the struggles she faced to help her people, Star rewards her with a magic wand. She refuses, because she was terrible with magic but more so thinks she is unworthy. But after encouragement from her friends and family, she accepts the wand and the role of fairy godmother, to help others at their time of need and give them the tools to pursue their dreams.

Asha'a and Wish's moral resonates with people who dream of pursuing a career they dreamed of having but the struggles are too hard to overcome. With encouragement from their own fairy godfamily and support from each other, they are able to achieve their dreams.

My hypothesis about Asha having trauma of losing her father is something noteworthy as her losing her father is painful, but it's her hope that drives her to go through that pain and makes it so other won't go through what she had. And when they do, she's their to help them go through it.

Say what you will about the execution, but Asha's story will always be universal to those who want to pursue their dreams and inspiring others to do so.

[kutputli]

It's been two days since I finished watching Interview with the Vampire, and the show has been consuming all my brain space. I didn't have the energy to live blog each episode of season 2, but I want to get my reactions down, before I go in search of reading other people's. This will be a haphazard collection of thoughts, so I think what I will do is start talking character by character and see if that helps me organise things any.

Louis

This one is the beating heart of the show, and I don't see how it would have worked if they had not made him a Black man. Everything stems from what he learned during his life of how to survive and thrive and yet remain kind and compassionate, and watching him be fragile and loving and grieving is soul stirring. Perhaps other people might still have found the show engaging with the role played by a white character (given fandom's embrace of the slave owning pirates in Our Flag Means Death, I am sure a slave owning Louis would not have been an insurmountable problem).

But this story belongs to the Black Louis, and to what Jacob Anderson made of him. Just impeccable acting choices, all down the line. I am mesmerised by him.

Praise for the character aside, he is the moral heart of the show. (I know there is a case to be made for Claudia, but I will get to her after this.) I don't actually much enjoy villains presented as anti-heroes, and Louis engenders so much empathy in a show filled with rather awful people.

Of course, he loves Claudia. And I do see him putting her first to the best of his ability. Claudia may be entitled to her resentment, but that doesn't make it rational fact. Louis encouraging her to leave the first time, knowing that Lestat would follow him if he left, that's a valid choice. And then choosing not to burn Lestat... I am reminded of how few victims of domestic abuse actually murder their abusers. The main desire is always to get away. I don't condemn Louis for choosing to not kill his lover.

Claudia had no roots laid down in New Orleans, but Louis did, and he gave all of that up to support her really rather nonsensical search for mystical vampires who were not as awful as Lestat. He helped her join the coven even if he could see it was a cult. And when she introduced him to Madeline, he listened to her. He turned her for Claudia. I don't ever see a moment where he stopped actively caring for her and doing the labour to prove it. I took the line about her being a burden as fully just transparent bait for Armand.

And when Lestat shows up at the trial, its Claudia that Louis is focussed on. He Always. Puts. Her. First.

The way that Louis finds his way into a relationship with Armand is so heartbreakingly soft. We never see them in their intimate moments as dom and sub, but I get the sense that he would be a tender lover -what he wants is to be respected, to have control.

And then we come to the post-trial choices.

I can somewhat buy him sparing Armand's life during his vengeance murder spree, because it wasn't just that Armand said he had saved him during the trial - if you remember, Armand was only encouraging him to leave Paris. Louis was the one who asked. But also, Armand was the one who let him out of the coffin. He did save Louis, and Louis would have tasted the blood of the person who saved him and known it was him.

I think maybe Louis was able to get over Armand facilitating Claudia's murder, because he saw him as a victim paralysed in the same way that he himself had been. Louis knows about having to keep his head down and be complicit with an oppressive system, and I think he offered the benefit of the doubt to Armand because of that. Perhaps also - Louis forgave Claudia for attempting to murder Lestat because he could see her desparation and why she needed to do it. Maybe Louis created a story for himself where Armand was similarly trapped. I don't know. To me, his choice of staying with Armand is the one I am the most questioning of.

(All of this is presupposing that what we saw was what actually happened. There are indications that there is yet another layer to the trial that we don't know about, and because Louis wasn't there as primary witness for the end, maybe some new facts will emerge to make Armand either more sympathetic, or more manipulative.)

Louis's relationship with Daniel is endearing and charming and all things adorable. I hope they whatsapp each other often and have some uncomplicated relaxing stress-relieving sex.

As for Louis and Lestat... see, I was ok with what I saw on the screen. I saw an abuse survivor leave his second marriage the instant he found out he had been lied to, and I saw him visit the parent of his child for closure. Taking on the burden of Claudia's death is nonsense, of course, but it was believeable nonsense. In that I accept that Louis, after having learned that Lestat did lift a finger to partially save his life, spilled out from all his generosity and love, what he thought might help the wretched ex he saw eating on rats and playing on a plank.

But what I am not ok with, what repulses me to the core, is the apparent conviction of the show producers that Louis and Lestat are destined to return to each other, as the great love of each other's lives. It is true that some domestic abuse survivors never manage to completely free themselves from their abuser, and some spouses continue to stay with the abuser of their child (Alice Munro, looking at you). But that storyline is a horror story. Nothing in the framing of the show indicates that horror. And I do not wish for a season 3 that walks down that road.

[animeyanderelover]

Hi! Can I request Peter and Snake (Black Butler) falling for the same darling?

I hope this is fine. Also, do you write for a hypermobile darling? I might send that in next.

I would write for a hypermobile darling if someone were to request it. As long as I'm comfortable and confident enough to write for something I won't reject it.

Tw: Yandere themes, toxic relationship, possessive behavior, obsession, delusional behavior, clinginess, stalking, guilt-tripping, manipulation, isolation, slapping

Tags: @lovley-valentine7 @leveyani @chxxz

In love with the same darling

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​It is very likely that you are also part of the circus, though not part of the artists that regularly perform as you take on more of a background role. Snake and Peter are both first-string members of the circus, meaning that they have their own tents and do not have to help with constructions or with preparing the meals. Neither of those two is exceptionally fond of interacting with every newcomer either though there are different reasons for that. Snake is a quiet and reserved individual who appears very intimidating due to his distant appearance as well as the constant presence of his venomous snakes, meaning that most people tend to avoid him. Whilst he is certainly not all innocence and sunshine Snake is a sensitive, awkward and shy person who is self-conscious of his own appearance that was the reason for him having been made an anomaly and outcast before he was rescued by the other first-string members. Peter on the other hand is much more outwardly aggressive as well as brash and outspoken yet he only trusts really the few members of the circus he has known since his hardest days.

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​If we're talking about who is more likely to fall in love first though it is still most likely going to be Snake who is the more mellow individual even if his appearance may not hint at it. It might even be that he has been silently admiring you for a while from a distance without you even being aware of it before you two happen to bump into each other by accident. A few things you should know and get used to is that you're going to do the majority of the talking as Snake will either keep quiet or speak in the words of his reptile friends. Considering that all of them know of Snake's feelings though and try consistently to encourage him to confess to you and claim you, especially when the two of you spend time together, he remains silent throughout most of your interactions. He knows that this is not a good approach as he doesn't want you to believe that he is not interested in you but Snake is not used to speaking up for himself as he normally lets his snakes choose what he is going to say. He's shy and awkward, his palms sweaty and his heart drumming against his chest whenever the two of you are together.

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​His body language gives away what words don't though. He's nervous and doesn't know what to do and if one simply reads the signs of his body it is obvious that he likes you. He doesn't know what to do with his hands when he's around you and constantly changes their position, his eyes are trained on you until your eyes meet his which causes him to quickly glance away as he can feel the heat sprouting on his face and he always leans in subtly when you're talking, loving the sound of your voice. A majority of his time he still spends admiring you from a few feet away, far too self-conscious of his appearance to dare to approach you constantly. Especially if you are someone who is scared of snakes would he be very insecure, especially since he is a snake hybrid himself and shares some characteristics such as the forked tongue and the scales littering his skin. It has to be said but a major bad influence for Snake are his scaled friends who constantly urge him to act on his desires, who spy on you and steal clothes and trinkets of yours and deliver it to Snake who shamefully keeps all of them inside his tent even if he scolds his friends for their inappropriate behavior.

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​Peter takes a lot longer to develop feelings for you even if it is more likely that he is the one who you met first between the two of you, even if only briefly, and who you interact with overall more in comparison to Snake. He truly is the complete opposite to the white-haired man. He's loud, confident, outspoken and not afraid at all to speak out what he is thinking even if his brash words may hurt your feelings. Sometimes he is supervising the second-string members training and Peter is probably the one most likely to criticise everyone and everything about the performers, incredibly insensitive to how hurtful his sentences may be as well as not caring that he embarrasses the other artists by scolding and insulting them in front of everyone else. His own growing interest in you flies over his head for a good few weeks where you genuinely believe that he just as a personal vendetta against you for mysterious reasons. From all performers you get scolded, belittled and criticised the most whenever he is around to the point where the people around you just pity you at this point. All of this because he has started paying much more attention to you, observant of your every movement.

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​Snake has his snakes who clarify his feelings to him and in Peter's case it's Wendy who suggests to him that he might be in love with you. It is a thought that curiously enough hasn't crossed his mind so far. Yet he is constantly talking about you, most likely by retelling everything that you did wrong again and that you don't seem to learn from your mistakes at all. It's quite suspicious just how often he feels the need to bring you up in a conversation and even if he is talking mostly negatively about you there is still an undeniable passion he seems to harbor for you. Peter's initial reaction upon hearing Wendy's suspicion is to deny her claims yet her words are the kick that is needed to get everything into motion at last. Her words stick with him, especially when his eyes lock on to your form. Peter doesn't trust easily nor is he the gentle and charming type. He knows all of that but he doesn't even consider changing himself for you either. He's determined and confident, traits that Snake lacks, and decides to go for you by using his own methods. You may not like him nor would you consent to his ways of courting someone but he has done much worse.

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​Suddenly you have much less time for Snake as Peter demands most of it for himself. He has taken it upon himself to train you and his lessons are arduous and straining as he doesn't spare you any mercy. Your whole body is aching by the end of each day and you barely have any energy left as you almost crawl your way back to your tent and fall asleep right away. Additionally Peter has quickly grown to be quite possessive and jealous now that he finally understands how he feels for you and he hasn't missed that you have some secretive friendship going on with Snake nor has he missed how the white-haired performer always seems to lurk around and observe you silently. He does not like it at all and so he quickly tells you that he doesn't want you to hang out with Snake anymore. There is nothing that guy could teach you and he thinks that your lack of talent should be prioritised over wasting your time by hanging around with a first-string member. You're a second-string, don't get cocky with him just because you happen to know one of the first-strings. Peter threatens you, warns you that if you don't improve he might have to kick someone as talentless as you out of the circus.

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​Dealing with the flying trapez artist is exhausting and draining as his temper is easily ignited, his small body containing more rage and aggression than you could have ever fathomed. You can't even talk back to him whenever he lashes out on you because you did something wrong again or because he got jealous because you socialised because if you do he only gets angrier with you. Sometimes his anger has blown up which resulted in him harshly slapping you and all of those moments solidify your growing fear of him even if he might be smaller than you. He's constantly threatening you with throwing you out of the circus if you don't put in more work yet as soon as you blurt out that you might consider doing so when you are tired and exhausted he laughs at you and mocks you, questions you where you would even consider to go as you have zero talent not only in the circus but also outside of it. Other first-string members become increasingly aware of Peter's unjustified behavior towards you yet he won't let them reason with him. Sometimes he even goes as far as threatening him, telling them to stay out of his business.

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​His position as a first-string member doesn't mean that Snake is as involved in the group as the rest yet he still finds out about Peter's violent behavior towards you through his snakes who spied on you and the training you have to endure every night. He's seen how tired you have started to look, notices how you are constantly missing as Peter claims all of your time for himself and all of this serves as fuel to the silent rage he builds towards the boy. Peter may have been part of the group who rescued him and gave him a home but that doesn't excuse how he treats you. His rage is only second though to his growing protective urges and his longing to have you for himself again. He knew you first. He may be not as extroverted or loud as Peter but the fact remains that he had his eyes on you long before Peter and that you clearly prefer his company over the one of the smaller boy. His snakes only agree with those thoughts. Snake chose you first. You belong to him. Initially Snake sees if the other first-string members can stop Peter but when he realises that he doesn't listen to them and that they don't do anything more besides lightly slapping his wrist he decides that he has to act by himself.

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​The violent ideas his snakes present him with to get rid of the problem permanently are dismissed though as the snake whisperer would like to avoid a scenario where he would have to poison Peter. For now he starts by sheltering you in his own tent as he knows that it's the only safe place for you in the circus. He quickly puts all the things his snakes haves stolen from you in a chest and hides it somewhere in his tent where his snakes can guard it before bringing you there. He doesn't explain much when he abruptly approaches you, surprising you as it almost looks like he has been lurking around and just waited for his chance to catch you alone. Instead he just grabs your wrist and quickly drags you with him, the only thing answering your confused questions are his silence as well as his snakes looking at you eerily. It's the first time that you have seen his tent from inside and you are shocked when you are met with all of the snakes freely slithering around. You're gently guided to sit on his bed as you look confused and frightened around, your eyes darting up to his face, silently questioning what is going on. It's then that he answers, his voice soft and silent as he tells you that he'll protect you.

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​Your disappearance is immediately noted by Peter when you don't appear the next day to the training. Initially he storms to your tent. ready to let his short temper vent out again only for the other people in the tent to admit that you haven't returned since yesterday evening after his last training session with you. It's suspicious to say the least and as he spends the next few hours asking all around the circus if anyone has seen you only to receive the same answer he starts feeling slightly unnerved though he hides that under his angry facade. Did you run away? Where would you even go? It would be very inconvenient if you would have really left the circus as they're constantly moving around. His nerves are on edge even more than noticable and every other first-string member is very careful around him in order to not set him off. Only one of them doesn't seem too concerned with your absence and the toll it takes on Peter's temper and it just so happens to be the one first-string member Peter happens to not like either. Snake. He's no fool, he knows that Snake has an interest in you as well and in hindsight perhaps he should have considered this possibility sooner. Snake might know where you are.

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​Obviously Snake doesn't budge when Peter approaches him, his face cold as he converses through what his snakes whisper to him. Not even threats seem to face him as his snakes instead only warningly his at him, ready to bite if needed. If it wouldn't have been for Joker and Wendy interfering perhaps there would have really been a fight. Nevertheless though, Peter voices his suspicion out loud that Snake might keep you in his tent and further observations only strengthen that suspicion. Whenever meals are served Snake takes an extra plate and takes it to his tent, he's started collecting clothes that are definitely not what he usually wears and he reacts somewhat defensive, especially his snakes, when someone speaks about you with him. Even the first-string members are hesitant to approach his tent though due to the multiple snakes that live in there with more than two handful of them venomous enough for one bite to mean certain death. The situation is made even more complicated by the fact that Snake spends so much time in his tent when there are no shows. Peter, even if he just itches to storm into Snake's tent and get you back, is wise enough to deduce that he has to wait for a chance.

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​He uses the first opportunity that he gets during a show, leaving the moment Snake starts performing to approach his tent. The moment he gazes inside he is met with the sight of you laying on the bed, a large snake wrapped around your legs with multiple others surrounding you. Instantly all heads turn around to look at him and he is met with a symphony of hisses, a few of the venomous ones revealing their fangs warningly. Your feelings transition from mild horror to panic when you see Peter though. He considers for a moment his chances to drag you out of there without being bitten only for other first-string members to appear who have also finished their shows and have noticed his absence only for him to point at you and claim that he was right all along and that Snake has abducted you. The rest of the members share an unsure look, uncertain what to do know as they are hesitant to step inside. That is until Snake himself arrives, having gotten suspicious the moment he noticed that some of the members were missing behind stage.

⚕️​🤸‍♂️​He steps inside and shields you from Peter's gaze, golden eyes staring at the smaller artist eerily. When Dagger asks him carefully what is going on his snakes are the ones forming the words whilst he is merely speaking them. They tell how much Peter mistreated you and how much he demanded from you without any consideration for your own feelings and bodily capabilities and they also blame the other string-members for not having done anything to stop him and that Snake merely decided to protect you when no one else had the willpower to do so. The truth is that you feel safer with him than with Peter and that he is actually looking out for you. You're put in a sticky information when you are asked if all of that is true and whilst Snake certainly hasn't told the entire truth either the fact remains that you would rather not spend another minute with Peter, a confession that infuriates the said artist which ends in Jumbo having to hold him back. Amidst the tension of the moment no one seems to notice another figure dressed in dark secretly listening in. Interesting. This information may prove to be useful for the young master in time.

[iwritenarrativesandstuff]

Just started Medjed arc of P5R; here are my current thoughts on the characters I know so far:

Joker: Look, I know people say he's a "self-insert" but I really, really see a few very distinct personality traits in him. He's lost in thought a lot. He zones out. He's really goal-driven. He's clever. He's a risk-taker. He's wary of consequences. He takes a little while to trust people, especially adults. He's suspicious and easily annoyed. He's on your side. He wants to help. He's a snarky little shit. His compassion is as much his defiance as his bitter disdain. He's hesitant. He's confident. He's bluffing. His respect is earned. His assistance isn't. He's free. He's chained. He's larger than life. He's a dumbass dork of a teenager. Incredibly fun character to play as, 10/10. I love that you can actually see him becoming more confident as time goes on. His dialogue options also become sillier/snarkier/more teasing as he becomes closer with people. It's just fun. I have a lot more thoughts on him but I'm going to stop here. I'd love to do a bit of an analysis on him once I finish the game - I'd like to go back through his main story dialogue options and his idle and specific scene animations. Plus, they seriously popped off with his character design. There's so much I could say about that alone.

Ryuji: Ryuji, my beloved. I wish you were less horny in uncomfortable ways in some scenes - I think, as well as Atlus not knowing what teenage girls are like, they also have not... spoken to people raised by single mothers, or mothers who got out of an abusive relationship... but anyways, asides from that, I love Ryuji. I think his desire for popularity makes a lot of sense - he's only ever stood out in a bad way. He just wants to be liked, you know? And he doesn't think he's enough the way he is. He's trying his best. I need him to shut up so bad but also I hope he never shuts up, you know. He's genuinely so funny, and he's the most ride or die of anyone. Ryuji gets angry on everyone's behalf when they can't muster up their own anger yet. Everyone say thank you, Ryuji.

Morgana: I do not get the hate for this not-cat; he's so funny to me. He's becoming a little more aligned to the thieves' morality, which is probably for the best since at the beginning he was definitely down with accidental murder and totally open about his pragmatism. He actually encourages this in Joker. It's just funny. I love my emotional support not-cat bestie who sits in my desk at school then tells me to go strike shady deals with random people in back alleys. You can definitely see a change in Morgana though; he's becoming more excited about helping people for the sake of it (like Joker, he too has gained purpose), but he's also becoming more insecure.

Ann: She remains my favourite of the Thieves. If Ryuji is the original drive and Morgana the original method, then she is the original conviction. The strength to stand with victims. The desire to force those who hurt others to understand the feelings of said victims. She has the rawest fucking lines at the end of the Kamoshida arc. She loves Shiho so much, and I really feel like her and Joker are on the same page when it comes to things deeper than their surface level interests. Get you a friend like Ann fr. It's a shame that later scenes have her mostly just getting mad at the guys when they uhhh... act like horny guys towards her. Feels bad man, especially because I love the aspect of her character that wants to be more comfortable with her sexuality and have that be on her terms. <- That's really cool, actually! Why couldn't we do more with that...? As a note though, I seriously love her admiration towards female cartoon villains and that one mean girl model. I think that's so funny and also such a mood. I do not believe for one second that Ann is straight. I hope she becomes the sexy and confidant morally-ambiguous thief of her dreams, and also that she gets a girlfriend. It's what she deserves.

Yusuke: He's so dramatic. Do you expect me not to love him? I really loved his conflict during Madarame's arc - those revelations were absolutely brutal, and Yusuke really handled things well, all things considered. Again, like Ann, there were some raw lines in there. But then, of course, the slump on the other end, when the adrenaline wears off. That Yusuke's painting only showed the dark side of desire tells me that he is still grappling with the effects of all these reveals. He has a lot to process.

Makoto: I just think she's so cute. Her design is adorable. She's such a sweetheart. On the flip side though, while I don't find her as intimidating as the game seems to, I definitely would not want her mad at me. While, as I mentioned before, I found the lead up to her joining the thieves to be a little janky, the actual moment was great. I love that she has a support system now. She really needed that. I hope there are more scenes with her in group settings tbh. While I'm enjoying her one-on-one dynamics with Ryuji and Ann, I do feel like she doesn't really... gel with the group as well as, say, Yusuke did. I think they need to drag her out to more activities lol.

Sojiro: I still don't know yet? He seems like the tough love sort. I do enjoy getting to learn random coffee trivia from him, and it seems like he cares in a kind of gruff way. He also gets a lot of suspicious people coming by. Guess I'll find out more later.

Maruki: Again, I don't know much still. He's endearing and dorky. That salt bae thing still lives rent-free in my head. I feel his frustration with not being able to help more. I get it man. I will say though, the fact that we get to see scenes with the thieves and Maruki, with no Joker present, is... odd.

Kasumi: I... I don't know how to feel. She's too nice. She's too polite. All of her scenes are so weirdly convenient. I like her just fine, but there's something seriously off. I almost feel like she's an outlier on purpose, like she doesn't blend into the world. Unlike Maruki, who is new to Royal but blends into the story quite nicely, Kasumi really stands out, to the point it kind of feels like that was the intention. She is adorable, though, I won't deny that, and I do want her to succeed and all, I just... hm. I don't know how to feel about her.

Akechi: I could fix him (smack him upside the head). <- okay but seriously, he is so obviously suspicious, he so obviously knows about Joker, he's such a smarmy little shit. I would despise him irl, but he's absolutely the funniest character in the game right now. Everything he says has me either cackling or my jaw dropping at the fucking audacity. He's also really interesting to me. Love a character whose every line means three things rolled into one. He feels dangerous and weirdly endearing at the same time. What the hell is his problem (affectionate + derogatory).

Yoshida: YOSHIDA MY ABSOLUTE BELOVED. I love him so far. He's my favourite confidant right now. He just makes me so happy man I love him so much. Yoshida takes the hard road and he's got the conviction, but you need support from people to really turn your life around. Hey, that's kind of what the game is about, yeah?

Takemi: Oh I love her confidant so far. I don't know that she's one of my favourites, character-wise, but I was especially taken with her dedication to that medicine, and Joker's response to her saying that she doesn't suit everyone coming to her for medical help by countering her with an "it suits you". Very sweet. I'm getting close to finishing her confidant; I just need to level up charm.

Mishima: I'm almost done his confidant too! I actually enjoy Mishima's character. I feel like his downward spiral made a lot of sense, and I like that he's both helpful and made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I especially like that he's pulling himself out of that fame mentality by himself, without his heart being changed. We just gave his shadow something to think on.

Kawakami: Idk how I feel about this, but the perks are good. I'm curious about her though.

Sae: She seems dedicated to her job. Forming a confidant with her during the interrogation was something I did not expect and had me going "ohohoho". But man, some of the stuff she says to Makoto is way out of line... I'm glad she's at least aware as soon as it leaves her mouth, and I cannot imagine the constant stress and scrutiny she's under but... still. Girl. :/

Iwai: I'm going to properly start his confidant soon. He's cool. I feel like he's not nearly as scary as he makes himself out to be.

Ohya: Don't know much about her so far, but she's a disaster, and I will always enjoy a good disaster woman.

Lala: SHE'S PERFECT. I wish there was a mechanic where you could get advice from Lala-chan. She's looking out for everybody. She's good. :)

Chihaya: She told me I'm gonna die... :(

[team7-headquarter]

A funny detail of Teams 7 in the Classic is that people always forget that Sakura did praise Naruto from day 1, she just thought she shouldn't verbalize it because then she'll be perceived as a loser/dumb kid like him.

She did like the prank on Kakashi and she got excited when he attacked Kakashi with his clones. The appeal of her character is not that she didn't like Naruto before because he was different, it's that Sakura was too similar to Naruto and she repressed who she was in fear of getting isolated and bullied because she knew it'd happen.

It happened to her before.

Her parents probably pointed at Naruto and told her not to be like that.

Sakura is literally the version of Naruto that backed down and lowered her head so as not to be erased. That's what "inner" represents, the desire to not be socially punished, to be accepted and liked and regarded with praise, to be approved by others. It is also why Ino and Naruto bring out "inner" / the real Sakura the most. Ino is the one who's encourage her the most to be herself, she's that one friend who defended Sakura from her bullies and told her not to hide and be proud of herself and bloom. Their rivalry is founded on Sakura wanting to be Ino's equal and not just the kid she protects, she wants the envy of the girl she admires the most, like she wants the love of the boy she admires the most. Naruto is different because with him, Sakura learns to be bold. Whatever traits she hides, Naruto displays them like a weapon and it works! He forces people to look at him whenever they look away, he forces people to acknowledge his existence even if they want to ignore him.

Sakura is ruled by fear. She has everything to lose yet, unlike Sasuke or Naruto. She cannot afford to make the same mistakes, she can't give her all without thinking about how she can mess it up in a second. She hasn't really experience death or pain, the weight of her own ambitious weights her down, holds her back, paralyzes her.

She pretends she's wiser than the boys and loves to patronize them. She asks superior 'cause she is that insecure. She hides behind theoric knowledge and the safety of childish desires. And yet, she knows her limits: she tells Sasuke and Naruto they are only kids, she recognizes danger for what it is and she knows when something surpasses their own reach/skills.

So when Naruto jumps to action, when he acts freely and without fear, she admires him as much as she's jealous of it. That's what her little "he doesn't have parents, he knows no boundaries" speech means. She reflects her own self-doubt on him, talks him down to feel a bit more in control, but in the end, she knows it. She knows what she's doing wrong and she knows it's not fair and she knows that Naruto deserves better.

That's why, during the Chuning Exams, she screams at Sasuke that Naruto can be very flawed, but at least he's not a coward. He's her inspiration. She knows she's always at the back, getting saved, she's too emotional and scared to dive in the shinobi world and she's too naive. She spent years running from the consequence of her decisions, so when the time came she was weak, of no help. She could only bite her opponents to distract them from hurting her friends. Could only shakily hold a kunai against Gaara. Had to threat Sasuke with screaming because she wouldn't possibly stop him. Had to rely on Naruto to go bring him back. Doomed herself to the sidelines, played childish games, won childish prizes.

Her three big moments of the Classic explain it better: cuts her hair and promises that she will make up for the wasted time and the lost opportunities; fights Ino and shows that now she's a kunoichi, having found her courage to the point that the rest recognizes the change in her; and finally realizes she again put all the weight on Naruto and apologizes for it, promising that next time she'll go with him.

Sakura whole arc is about fear and shame and how she overcomes it, blooming into her real potential. She always found Naruto that amazing, she thought his pranks were funny and that he could be pretty smart and cool, but only in the end she found the bravery to openly show it.

It's like-- to accept Naruto, she had to accept the parts of herself that she didn't like that much. He inspired her to say "fuck what the others think of me, my friends need me".

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

One thing that still gets my blood boiling is some people telling the traumatised students to just 'get over it', leave their abusers, or to hurt/kill their tormentors as if it's a walk in the park. Um, hello? That's not how trauma works.

Yeeeah, I find that kinda iffy as well 😬 I don’t feel that it’s quite “right” (for lack of a better term) to judge/compare people’s (/character’s) pain resulting from trauma, or to tell them how they should “fix” said trauma or whatever bad situation they may be in.

**Please note: the rest of this discussion will include mentions of victim blaming and gaslighting; please proceed with caution.***

The problem with doing any of that (even if it is done out of concern or a desire to help people) is that it comes off as like… belittling the victim or downplaying the problem at times?? Like, if you compare traumatic experiences, it can imply that one is “lesser than” or isn’t as serious as the other when the circumstances are just as serious to each victim. (I see this happen most commonly with Vil and Azul; they both experienced bullying in their youth, but for whatever reason people tend to think Vil somehow had it "easy" compared to Azul.) That’s so disheartening and invalidating for any victim to hear. It makes them feel isolated and alone, because the people around them are implying their circumstances aren’t that bad. In reality, it’s not up to onlookers to decide how distressing or disturbing an experience is to someone else.

Telling them what to do is just as unhelpful because it takes away the autonomy of the victim, and the advice given is often unrealistic and unable to actually be carried out. (As another example, the advice I see most often is "Jamil should have just told Kalim he was unhappy with his position and Kalim would have helped him; rarely do fans consider that the Viper family's livelihood would be in jeopardy and Jamil would live in perpetual shame and guilt if he dared to speak out.) How can Jamil and Leona just “get over” a whole life of being put down? How can Riddle just walk out on his mother when he doesn’t have any means to support himself and struggles to even talk back to her? How can it be said that Vil has it better than Azul when both of them were clearly hurt by the bullying they received as children? How can one rush Idia’s grieving process or Malleus’s struggle to accept change and mortality? And if any of them are encouraged to act out in violence, what are the repercussions of that?

We oftentimes forget that, despite Twisted Wonderland taking place in a world with nonsensical elements like magic, the way it chooses to address problems is actually very much grounded in reality. For example, the end of every main story episode isn't really "the end" or a "resolution". Those terms imply that the problem is over when the episode is when it's really not. We proceed in the story with an awareness that the characters we saw last time are still struggling with the trauma they had before. They aren't "fixed" just because they were given good advice or they were beaten in battle until they came to their senses. Their problems didn't magically poof away, the victims are still working on overcoming their horrific experiences and not letting it have power over them. This is a very realistic depiction of trauma and how victims live and have to cope with it in their everyday lives.

A lot of the things the OB boys experiences are things that people irl have as well. This is, in part, what makes them such memorable and relatable characters, and why people may look to them for comfort or to help cope with their own trauma--so they don't feel alone. At the same time, it is because of this closeness and relatability that it can be hurtful when others make comments that talk down to the OB boys and their trauma. It's not always discussed in a mindful manner. Sometimes it's spoken about in a way that sounds like victim-blaming or gaslighting. It's almost as if to imply, "look, it's actually SO easy to fix your problem, so the fact that it has gone on for as long as it has is actually your fault", or, “you're in a much better situation than Person B is, so be grateful!” Unfortunately, it's reflective of behavior demonstrated in real life, with people either doubting or not believing victims,or acting like they know better than the person who has actually gone through something traumatic.

Whether you find yourself relating to the OB boys or not... Whether you have experienced something you deem traumatic for yourself or not... I think it would be nice if we were just a bit more respectful when it comes to talking about these matters 🥲 It shouldn't be a competition where we're sitting around ranking whose trauma is "the worst" (I have literally been sent an ask like this before and it made me extremely uncomfortable💦) or giving unsolicited, unrealistic advice the characters couldn't actually take. We can realize how damaging their individual experiences have been for them and wish them all the best without putting down others' experiences or talking down to them in the process.

[dailyanarchistposts]

How can I be an effective leader (in a non-hierarchical, anti-authoritarian sense)?

As an additional question, does anybody know whether there’s been any writing done on the subject? If so, links? Obviously, we as anarchists oppose leadership in the form of authority and hierarchies. However, I’ve read some things remarking on the organic emergence of “leaders” in anarchist groups, in the form of people who are the most experienced, the most confident, and/or the most capable of taking action. I’ve also seen proposed something akin to “if you must take the role of a leader, do so only for as long as it takes to share your knowledge and experience with those around you”. A leader who encourages others to knock her off her pedestal, so to speak. Basically, what I’ve run into is that a large portion of my friends are either into anarchism or consider themselves anarchists (after being exposed to it, through hanging around me), but don’t have the knowledge/experience/initiative to be confident in working on projects. I really want to share what I’ve got, but honestly I don’t have a lot of experience with “leadership” and instilling confidence and inspiring action. Maybe this is something totally out of my hands and it’s just a matter of waiting for them to find their own initiative and desire to act, but I really feel like what I’ve done thus far is equivalent to saying, “Here’s what anarchism is—if you agree with it, cool. We should do something about it.” And that doesn’t seem like enough.

alc

Time for an epic response; thanks for giving me an incentive to write it out.

Concepts:

A. Guide: a leader who persuades by example and suggestion, based on experience or informed speculation (expressed as such). Practices voluntary relationships. Legitimate.

B. Master: a leader who manipulates through duress or deceit, based on experience or misinformed speculation (often concealed). Practices coercive relationships. Illegitimate.

In my opinion, legitimate leadership requires at least 13 conditions:

Active Choice followers actively and voluntarily decide their roles with informed consent, constantly re-evaluate

Anarchistic Skepticism the burden of justification rests on guides rather than followers

Contextual Merit guides proficient in a specific context

Egalitarian Integrity absence of force and fraud in interactions

Egalitarian Purpose no compensation requested beyond effort ex-pended or direct need; guides and followers live in the same material conditions

Empowering Trajectory concrete processes for empowering followers, sharing information or materials, rotating roles, decentralizing agency, and rendering further guidance unnecessary

Finite Duration guidance duration directly linked to mutually-agreed upon goal(s)

Immediate Recall the followers’ ability to immediately revoke status of guide(s)

Radical Accountability guides redress force, fraud, failure

Radical Transparency honest and empowering explanations of guides’ logic and aims

Responsible Teaching guides want responsibility to followers rather than power over them

Social Leveling the followers thwart guides’ senses of entitlement, arrogance, & contempt

Stakeholder Accessibility the inclusion of all parties deserving agency, based on expressed or implied need

Gently, she grasps her tender lover’s unpracticed cheek.

They brush faces, touch lips. She guides with her affection, encouraging learning in the most compassionate of ways. As their intimacy grows, they reach a balance together, her inexperienced partner becomes a competent lover. And even with all of her practice, she could not help but have her own learning stimulated. Now they walk their path hand-in-hand; neither guides, neither follows.

He remembers his early youth, when his elders taught him to walk in the forest and gather his nourishment. He remembers their confidence, his apprehension, as he first stepped into the bush, nervous, with them. But now he often walks under the pale light of the moon, fetching the acorns, with only his memories keeping him company.

Soon he will teach his little ones to become sons of the leadership oaks, the cycle starting afresh.

Leadership would emerge naturally among the members of a society, very much as it does among children, and confine itself to taking initiatives only when individual ones are impractical. The followers should be the ones to decide whom they will follow and should be free to change leaders as suits their convenience. In a continuum culture like that of the Yequana, the functioning of leaders is minimal and it is possible for any individual to decide not to act on the leader’s decision if he prefers...

Immunization to Authoritarianism

If we want to live without rulers, we need empowerment to immunize us from the threat of authoritarian relationships and defeat the potential pitfalls of leadership.. In order for that to happen, we need to understand the psychology of perception and prejudice, creativity, intelligence, learning, logic and fallacies, intuition, critical thinking, argumentation, problem-solving, planning, systems analysis, and risk management. Those of us who know these things (such as myself) would do well to act as guides and share our knowledge. So here goes:

psychology (self-actualization processes; cognitive biases; psychological heuristics)

prejudice (cognitive, affective, and behavioral prejudices)

creativity (imagination; inspiration; intuition)

increasing intelligence (“seek novelty; challenge yourself; think creatively; do things the hard way; network”)

increasing learning (working memory; attention)

logic (formal vs informal; inductive vs deductive)

reason (logic) vs intuition (instincts, associations)

logical fallacies (search: “Critical Thinking as an Anarchist Weapon”)

awareness of disinformation techniques

critical thinking as “the process of purposeful, self-regulatory judg-ment, which uses reasoned consideration to evidence, context, conceptualizations, methods, and criteria.”

critical thinking components (skepticism; logic; clarity; credibility; accuracy; precision; relevance; depth; breadth; significance; fair-ness)

critical thinking requirements “falsifiability, logic, comprehensiveness, honesty, replicability, sufficiency” “humility, integrity, courage, autonomy” “follow through, open-mindedness, foresight, attention, inquisitiveness, thoroughness, fair-mindedness”

willingness to criticize oneself “Critical thinking clarifies goals, examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, accomplishes actions, and assesses conclusions.”

argument mapping (contentions, premises, co-premises, objections, rebuttals, lemmas)

problem-solving (techniques & methodologies; brainstorming; collaboration; networking)

lateral thinking (idea-generating tools; altering focus; selection; application)

planning principles (PsyBlog goal hacks: stop fantasizing; start committing; start starting; visualize process not outcome; avoid the what-the-hell-effect; sidestep procrastination; shifting task-or-goal focus; reject robotic behavior; focus on the aim not the goal; know when to stop; if-then plans; verbal-ization & visualization of processes; contrast positive fantasy/indulging with negative reality/dwelling)

planning methodologies (STOP, OODA loops; SWOT analysis; PDCA cycles; flow charts)

working backwards (goal; strategy; tactics; time-frames; deadlines; review)

systems analysis (complexity; emergence; fragil-ity/resilience; systempunkts; schwerpunkts)

risk management (risks; threats; vulnerability; mitigation)

TL;DR–Skeptical of Guides, Hostile to Masters, Deliberate as Fuck, Destroy Power Through Collective Self-Empowerment, Tell Everyone.

dot

Two more things...

One text that was interesting to me (despite her reputation) was Starhawk’s book on group dynamics and structure (Truth or Dare). It encouraged me to think about the different roles that people play, how they can be played well, and how many (all?) of them have a place in a happy group.

Which leads to the point that being a leader (good or bad) requires participation from the group. To some extent we all are at the mercy of our friends and context (ie part of the problem with how we view leaders is the idea that “a good leader can overcome things on their own”). I have been in many a group that defused a power play, made a comment into a joke (or refused a joke and made it into a comment), etc without even noticing what was happening. When the topic of leaders arises, the context that the individual operates within is not given enough credit for leadership what happens.

The example given by the question seems to be one of commitment, that people are afraid or unwilling to act (which can be for a number of different reasons), and I think that sometimes leaders are merely the people who are willing to do something even if it means they might be wrong (or be seen as wrong).

[arisenreborn]

The Tramont Family

Time for me to scribble down my thought-thinks about Olivia's family that have been kicking around in my head!

Lord Matthias Tramont. A stodgy man rumored to have once-upon-a-time been quite charismatic, but Olivia can’t believe that. He is all about maintaining the families position and adhering to tradition - or whatever Queen Regent Disa tells him will help their position. The family ascended to nobility through a history of service in the military (along with a few clever marriage arrangements), but in the recent past they took a slip down the political power ladder, which seems to have influenced him. He is at regular odds with Captain Brant and Watchhead Gregor. He took great pains to arrange a potential marriage to Regentkin Sven for Olivia, only for her to spurn those efforts and, to his mind, make an utter fool of him. As such, their relationship is quite rocky at the moment. Her becoming Arisen has in some small way ‘mended’ that, but now everything he’s worked for and the connections he’s made are being tested as Disa would rather be rid of Olivia, having seen how her bullheadedness makes her unpredictable and troublesome. So, Matthias presents an air of the most detached support; giving her the most cursory and basic of protections from the Tramont family, but nothing further, while biding his time looking for the most rewarding opportunities.

Lady Claudia Tramont. A noblewoman whom Matthias was arranged to marry by his father, she is the perfect image of a true lady - carefully concealed warts and all. She is deep down a little more understanding of Olivia’s desires to break out on her own and do what she wants beyond her fathers wishes for her. Yet outwardly she goes along with Matthias in all things, and regards Olivia coldly for acting out - something that may stem from a root of jealousy. She dotes endlessly on Ephraim and (not-so-)secretly loathes her youngest son being marched off to battle. Similarly she takes great pride in young Abigail for being everything Olivia failed to be.  As for Oliver… Yes, a mother should be so proud to have such a successful and formidable son… And she will say as much to any who would broach the subject of him, but there is a marked way in which she otherwise avoids ever talking about him that would suggest some level of discomfort. Perhaps even fear.

Oliver “The Bull” Tramont. As a child, Olivia idolized him; he was a strong and powerful knight who protected the people and would slay dragons, to her mind, and she would one day do the same. Now, however, the naivete of childhood is long gone, and she knows him to be little more than an opportunistic mercenary who upholds everything she hates about the nobility.  While his father prefers to bow and scrape to the other nobles, Oliver prefers a more hands-on approach, proving their indistinguishable value through the wholesale slaughter of any enemies. He is equally feared and revered on the battlefield, a beast of a man who sends monsters fleeing before him. While he gets his men out alive (and mostly unscathed), he will also hire Pawns for particularly dangerous work and bears them only the least amount of respect afforded them in Vermund, often enough using them as fodder.  While he seems to care only for battle, however, he secretly has designs on the throne, throwing in his lot with the likes of Allard… He also holds great disdain for his elven heritage, going so far as to cut the pointed tips of his own ears off, and 'encouraging' Ephraim to do the same.

Ephraim Tramont. Though your classic sickly Victorian child in his youth, he is now training to follow in his fathers and older brothers footsteps as a soldier in the Vermundian military. Perhaps needless to say, Olivia couldn’t help but to be jealous and bitter towards him for this, though she’d never actually act out in such a way towards him. Indeed they were very close, and in his youth she would often bring him trinkets and gifts when he was confined to his bed. Alas, eventually he started parroting Matthias and Oliver by telling her she needed to simply accept her lot in life - in part out of his love for her, and in part his jealousy. As much as he loves her, he also hates her for being so ‘free-spirited’ about everything. (By then, however, she was already enlisting under their noses.) He’s a rather weak-willed sort, doted on endlessly by his mother and not at all cruel at heart, but desperately tries to make up for his shortcomings by emulating the strength and demeanors of those around him.

Abigail “Abby” Tramont. The youngest of the Tramont’s and Olivia’s favorite. She is everything her older sister is not and more than happy to follow in her mothers footsteps, enjoying all of the dancing and needlework and such. But she loves her big sister dearly, ever enamored by the tales of adventure Olivia would put her to bed with, and Olivia’s romantic dreams of the ideal knight.  After Olivia’s return as Arisen, she would send her letters or even sneak to her house to visit her, gifting her embroideries she made. She loves to listen to all of Olivia’s own adventures now, while sipping on tea and the tasty treats she brought that she knows Olivia loves so well. And while she had next to no opinion on Pawns before meeting them so much more up close and personal through Olivia, upon doing so she’s quietly disturbed by how her eldest brother speaks of them in comparison to the reality she sees. She is very fond of Emrys and somewhat unknowingly regards him like a big brother - she’s certainly never had a brother like him, who is actually fun to be around.

[misc-obeyme]

So, i want to share a few smaller headcanons that i have about the OB cast!

- When Beel is in a good mood and/or happy, you can hear the faint sound of fly wings going "Buzz Buzz." Beel also rubs his hands together before eating his meals just like how Flies rub their hands together.

- One rare occasions when Belphie can't sleep, he'll count cute Mc sheeps to fall asleep. He also snores similar to cartoon characters like "Honk shoo mimimi." He swats away any biting bugs/flies away with his tail if they annoy him during his naps.

- Raphael has a talent for Swallowing Swords/Knives/Speers.

- Mephistopheles likes "My Little Pony," and his favourite character is Rarity. He and Leviathan talk about MLP all the time. Mephistopheles has a strong kick, similar to how strong horses can kick someone.

- Thirteen likes calavera makeup, and every year, she dresses up as La Calavera Catrina to celebrate the "Day of the Dead" also called "Día de Muertos" ((Day of the Dead is a joyful time that helps people remember the deceased and celebrate their memory.))

- Solomon likes to watch his descendants fondly from afar even if he can't be part of their lives.

- Mc dressed up as a giant pickle once and scared Diavolo half to death (not really, but he was definitely spooked)

- After the brothers were cast out from the Celestial Realm, God created Jesus, making him the 8th brother.

- Every year around Christmas time, Satan accidentally receives "letters to Santa" from young children with dyslexia confusing the words "Santa" and "Satan," so Satan writes back letters to the children pretending to be Santa. (I wonder if Santa Claus exists in the OB universe?!). Satan, after coming to terms with his existence and his place in Devildom alongside his brothers, wanted to share his ideology and wisdom with humans. So he created a new religion that encourages hedonistic urges and desires but emphasizes heavily on keeping to yourself and not bothering or offending anyone else as you act on those desires. He called that religion "Satanism", unfortunately, humans misunderstood and painted him as evil and spreading rumours that is Satanism all about sacrificing Animals/children/virgins for selfish gain which pissed Satan off.

- Barbatos likes to be in control and puts everyone's needs before his own. He's always there for others, but he won't let anyone easily reciprocate. Because of his greed, he's afraid to lose himself in his passions/desires, so he keeps all his feelings bottled up. He fears his selfishness, consuming him whole and losing himself to the darkness. That being said, Barbatos once said, "I don't want to give myself completely to the darkness, and i won't as long as you're with me" to Mc. Basically, Mc is the "light" to his "darkness," and he would do anything in order to protect his light. There's a quote that i really like that fits perfectly. It goes like this; "Love is not blind. It sees you in the dark and chooses to be your light."

Anyway, that's it. This low-key got a little bit loooong, Ooooops.

-Angsty Anon.

That's it, I'm counting cute sheep MCs to help me sleep from now on. Please, that sounds so adorable 😭

Also excuse you with the Solomon one! Like my man isn't lonely enough, now he's watching his descendants from afar?? He would, too. :(

JESUS IS THE 8TH BROTHER aklj;sdfkljdskjlf what would have happened if God had made him at the same time as everybody else!??!?!

Poor misunderstood Satan! I'd be pretty pissed too if a bunch of idiot humans decided to make me evil and sacrifice babies in my name.

Ahh, Barbatos my true love. He's definitely got something about himself that he feels he needs to control to the point where he almost never lets go... one day maybe we'll learn about that mystery of his that he keeps so well hidden...

I quite liked all of these, thank you for sharing!

[gatekeeper-watchman]

Good Morning World Daily Devotionals for November 25, 2024  Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living

Devotional Scripture:

Proverbs 28:27-28 (KJV): 27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. 28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase. Proverbs 28:27-28 (AMP): 27 He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes (from their want) will have many a curse. 28 When the wicked rise (to power), men hide themselves; but when they perish, the (consistently) righteous increase and become many.

Thought for the Day

Verse 27 - This verse clearly says that those who minister to the poor will not be in lack. Who are the poor that this scripture is talking about? Certainly, it is not referring to the lazy, as the scripture already talks about how to deal with that problem. The poor are those who are disadvantaged through troubles and circumstances beyond their control. Good examples would be neglected children, helpless people, displaced people, exploited people, victims of tragedies and natural disasters, those who have lost their jobs, the handicapped, those who live in an area of famine, etc. One of the things the Lord desires for His people to possess is a compassionate heart because that is the kind of heart that He has.

"If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth...For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land" (Deuteronomy 15:7-8,11).

One who graciously and generously gives of his own bread (or goods) to the poor, is the kind of person who will always be blessed. Paul encouraged people to support the weak and give to the poor. He both gave and received from others, as he was a minister of God, yet he said it was more blessed to give than to receive. "I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:33-35).

Verse 28 - We saw the negative effects that wicked men coming to leadership have upon a country in Day 321. However, the opposite is true when the wicked perish and righteous men rule. It creates an environment in which righteousness multiplies. Righteous people will stand up and voice their concerns; they generate and support projects that create a healthy society. Righteous leadership has a positive influence on all of society. When there is an increase of good people in the land, the whole land is blessed because of it.

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Dear heavenly Father, we are grateful that You have shown us Your compassion many times over the years. Lord, may we become like You and show that same attribute to others, and especially the poor. Lord, bless us so that we may bless others who are needy. May we never turn our faces away from those who are seeking help. Lord, if we are unable to give in a monetary way, may we always remember we can always give of our time and prayers. Deliver us from fear and insecurity that would keep us from being generous. May we always be a cheerful giver. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen. 11/24/2024 3:25:00 PM. From: Steven P. Miller, @ParkermillerQ,   gatekeeperwatchman.org  TM, ‎Founder and Administrator of Gatekeeper-Watchman International Groups. #GWIG, #GWIN, #GWINGO, #Sparkermiller, www.facebook.com/gatekeeperwatchnan www.facebook.com/ , Instagram: steven_parker_miller_1956

[goginaporter]

in honor of people saying that gina doesn’t deserve to be gabriella because they aren’t similar, I’m gonna do a post celebrating gina + showing exactly why she’s fit to play her. I wanna say that these arguments are pointless because it doesn’t matter if gina is like gabriella or not because at the end of the day she's acting. however, gina and gabriella are cut from the same cloth so onwards!

starting with the obvious, at the beginning of hsm and s1 respectively, gabriella and gina are new girls who have moved to east high. not only that, but they've moved schools several times with their single mother, never staying in one place for too long

gabriella encourages troy to do musical theater. after singing with him on new year's eve and then coming to east high, she sees troy's potential and passion for the theater and pushes him to do it. with gina, though her intentions are initially cunning, it's her words that keep ricky in the theater club, not his desire to win back nini.

gabriella is pretty resistant to forging close relationships because of being used to moving all the time, but meeting troy helps her to get out of her shell. the same happens with gina and ricky

both gabriella and gina have incredibly impressive accolades in their past (gabriella with scholastic decathlon and gina starring in annie as a child)

people often say that gabriella is very sweet and almost passive, the latter of which does not describe gina at all. however, gabriella never allows anyone to walk over her. additionally, gina is very sweet and I would argue is the kindest character on the show. below are just some examples of that.

the way that gina is with ricky deserves a whole post on its own, but the way she encourages his talent constantly throughout the series, supports him and helps him process his feelings surrounding his mom, and is generally one of his biggest supporters is so sweet I love their love :’)

her baking gluten-free cupcakes for the theater kids at ashlyn's thanksgiving party and for opening night, despite flying across the country in the latter scenario <333

speaking of s1 opening night, stepping into the role of taylor to help kourt's anxiety despite not being an east high student anymore

constantly affirming ashlyn when she cast doubt on her casting as belle

joining kourt and ashlyn to audition to counter lily's bullying, even when she could've auditioned alone and accepted lily's words that didn't disparage her. also her defending all of her friends!

helping to calm everyone down during the storm and organizing their response to ensure that they'd be okay

this one is kinda sad, but putting her hopes and dreams aside (starring in the musical, living with her mom, choreographing the show, her feelings for ricky) to make her friends and loved ones happy

planning carlos's quince for him and choreographing a whole dance as a gift for him

helping ej with the morning show thingie + encouraging him about himself post-duke

connecting nini with her music producer brother to help her friend with her music career

the grace she extended ej during their relationship throughout s3 (and with the whole date scenario in the s2 finale), including organizing a camp prom-posal for him

the mentorship role she kinda fills for emmy

supporting ashlyn throughout her ensemble crisis

changing the camp movie night to kourt's favorite film to soothe her anxieties and homesickness, helping to fix the stuff backstage for let it go after channing messed with it, and just really all of kourtgina's friendship

there are probably a bunch of other examples but gina is an angel and I'm sick of people acting like she's some awful person for the couple of things she did in the first half of season 1, things that were no worse than all the other main characters' actions. wrapping this up by saying that gina deserves to play gabriella because she's incredibly talented and will knock the role out of the park.

[untoldsoup]

Hi! I was curious about how you organise work with your comics, including the writing parts :)

Idk if my process is how it's supposed to be done, but I'll share what's been working for me so far!

So for the btb comic, I got it written last year before the 'change' comic was done being drawn. I learned alot about how I wanted to do storytelling with that comic and it influenced how I organized the sequel.

One thing I learned from the 'change' comic is I absolutely loathed drawing the same location too much. Most of that comic is the wedding and by the end of the wedding I was so sick of drawing the wedding scenes (it almost caused me to quit a few times lol).

So when writing the script for the sequel I told myself every chapter would indicate a scene change. This would help me get through drawing a chapter knowing a new scene location would be drawn for the next chapter.

A scene change can be as small as a different room or as big as a new location, as long as *something* changed about the background I would have to draw.

Each chapter is its own word document (well google docs now, i switch over)

I write my stories in movie script format. When researching how to write comics I found the most helpful advice was screenwriting advice. I highly encourage people to watch youtube videos on screenwriting. I also watched a ton of videos aimed at screenwriters that talk about plot, how to write interesting characters, and the three act structure.

I made sure i could answer questions such as "why is my character doing this?" And "what motivates them?" And "how does their wants and desires change throughout the story?" I made sure that each character's motives and personality could answer these questions with a few simple words. I needed to make sure I have a clear understanding of what they wanted.

I go through a TON of edits in my chapters. I even edit alot when I finally start drawing, if I think some dialogue would work better rephrased once I see it next to my art. Editing is huge. Your first draft really is just getting the "dumbest" version down. Once you get over that hurdle, you can mold the script into what you need.

I remove a lot of dialogue during edits. Comics are a visual story telling device, so i try and make sure the words and art work together, and that the words don't feel like they could exist without the art.

There is nothing I hate more than when a comic page is a giant block of text. I find large scary blocks of text uninteresting, So I will often go out of my way to draw more panels if it means breaking up the dialogue.

I also try my best to write realistic dialogue. Would this character say this? Why are they saying this?

If you notice with my stories alot of characters are not direct in how they speak. In real life no one tells you directly "i am mad". They deflect, lash out, say things because they are jealous or hurt ect ect. I wanted to do my best to have my dialogue reflect how each character would realistically handle the pain they are dealt.

When I start drawing, I have the script for the chapter I'm working on open on one computer screen, and my art tablet with my program open on the other. This way as I'm drawing I can easily reference my script.

If I'm drawing an action heavy scene, I will often start paneling out on paper some crude sketches just so I can keep track of where everything should be. It's easy for things to get lost in the action so I try my best to make sure I am aware of where every character is in busy scenes.

These drawings are extremely crude but really really helpful. I don't mind sharing these as they are so abstract they don't really give anything away lol. But they do help me organize.

I use clip Studio to draw and from there start drawing my pages. Each page takes about 2-3 days to finish depending on complexity. I think I get about two pages done a week, more if I have vacation days or something from work.

I have a full time Quality Analyst job, so I'm only able to work on my comic between the hours of midnight and 5am lol. It's why you always see me updating and posting at horrible hours lol.

Anyway I hope that helps? Hopefully I answered your questions!

[mourn-and-watch]

i know many people are afraid of being rude and roleplaying as someone besides people pleaser (which is not not-understandable tho. especially for the first time players) but i think bg3 is the game that tries to motivate you not to be agreeable and obedient all the time. usually in rpg games with approval systems there are one or two characters who will approve of you being an asshole mostly for the sake of it but that's it. also actively challenging character's beliefs in most cases will just gain you a whole lot of disapproval and no actual change. meanwhile in bg3 there are many characters who will approve of you losing it in some situations and disapprove if you act too gullible and let everyone use you.

also following someone else's orders and desires every time won't get you far. if you'll blindly support your companions' initial goals (and they're very insistent and defensive about it and questioning their ideas may also naturally result in disapproval) it won't automatically get you their best ending and in the most cases it is literally the opposite. shadowheart wants to become dark justiciar real bad but if you support her on that path she'll be claimed by the evil goddess she unconsciously resisted her whole life. astarion wants to get ascended but helping him do it won't drive away his fears and just will lock him in the same cycle his master was trapped in. lae'zel worships vlaakith and is really hesitant to give up her faith and everything she was taught no matter what she's witnessed and not challenging her beliefs will make her just another sacrifice for a tyrant. if you play durge and decide to accept their father (which is also actively encouraged by durge's sidekick and, well, the other present option is an inevitable death) they'll forever lose their freedom and will become their father's dreadful instrument with no will of its own. if you decide to give gortash the netherstones as a goody two shoes you are when he asks he'll fuck you over on principle. this game lacks a truly unique completely evil run for sure. but it does reward your character for questioning other people and standing up for themself and does punish them for being too lenient when they shouldn't be