#especially when a society isn't accepting of disabilities

[volixia669]

...i heard it was bad but wow. That's literally just a bruise.

They could have made it look like an actual scar. Make it really obvious what a horrible thing Ozai did. Really emphasize that the extremely personal injury Ozai inflicted on his son permanently effects his vision, hearing, and balance. They could have even added a whole additional element to Zuko's character arc where he goes from hiding the disabilities he got from his father, out of pride but also out of not wanting to unpack what Ozai did, to learning that it's okay to be disabled but also that its okay to grieve what his father took from him.

That they didn't...Its like what a post I reblogged earlier said. It's saying that they can't give Zuko a realistic burn scar, because he'll be a protagonists, and protagonists can only have "cool" scars, not giant, disabling, clear sign of abuse, scars. They're saying Zuko with an actual scar can't have those silly moments of girls swooning over him, can't have his romance with Mai.

And the thing is, Zuko is NOT the only scarred character in ATLA, and there's LOTS of characters, both main characters and one-offs, with disabilities that are plainly shown and discussed.

How are they going to handle Aang's scarring from the lightning? Book 3 doesn't shy away from the fact he has two REALLY nasty scars from the lightning entering and leaving his body. When he wears his traditional nomad clothes in Book 3, you can see his back scar clearly. What about Katara getting burned by Aang practicing fire willy nilly? Sure, in the show it didn't look too bad. But it still got her hands badly enough it stuck with Aang for months. What about veterans who've fought the fire nation? Are we to believe they all got away without a single scar?

And if the war veterans DO end up having visible burn scars that don't just look like a bruise, how is Zuko's scar supposed to stand out? Remember, the startling thing isn't that he's scarred, it's the placement combined with the severity. You don't get a scar that severe unless someone literally puts a fist full of fire there.

And look, I get that Zuko isn't clearly shown to have any sort of visual/hearing/balance related disabilities. That's more fans looking at the scar and going, "oh that would cause SO many problems." But if we can't even get a fucking "ugly" looking scar, what does that say about Toph's blindness being a core element of who she is. What does that say about characters in wheelchairs? What does that say about characters with limps? Old characters who are gnarled and "weathered" but also not bad?

It's just...not great, from a series that definitely has its flaws, but also has a surprising amount of a casually disabled characters. Characters who happen to be disabled, because yeah, that's life. Especially in war torn areas.

Avatar the Last Airbender didn't shy away from covering the horrors of not just war, but also the horrors of parental abuse. By making Zuko's scar look no more severe than a bad bruise, the live action is showing they're stepping away from that. Which is a shame, because the things I mentioned are the cartoon's STRENGTHS. Without these elements, the live action would just be another imitation, nowhere near the original in quality.

I'm sorry netflix wants us to believe THIS

left only THIS scar?

[mantisgodsdomain]

We ought to write more Pokemon fic some time. We want to recreate the Pokemon Manners/Human Manners cheat sheet that we made a few years ago we think that this site would like the Sliding Scale Of Politeness When Greeting A New Pokemon You've Never Met Before.

[peachhoneii]

"You are a dumber, sweatier version of him."

Ford and Stan conformed to society's expectations of twins and their individual pursuits throughout their entire lives. Ford is the talented, gifted academic. We know he can play piano extremely well. His abilities aren't restricted to the sciences obviously. In contrast, Stan is demoted as the less intelligent, less gifted twin. In many cases, especially in his father's treatment of him, he's perceived as the dumb twin.

After listening the GF commentary podcast and rewatching the show, we've all come to the general consensus that Stan isn't dumb. Stan can't be dumb. He lacks Ford's academic gifts but is able to recreate the portal using advanced sciences, maths, and etc. This man who didn't finish high school at best is able to understand and recreate the concepts his brother included in his journal.

The more I read and rewatch I can only assume Stan has some kind of learning disability that went undiagnosed. Let's not forget, Stan and Ford were likely born in the 1950s. There were not many resources for children living with dyslexia or adhd or add or any person living outside the "norm." Or he was lazy, felt defeated in trying to make good grades especially after what his dad when he got an F-.

They can never make me like you, Filbrick Elmer Pines. If he has no haters, then I'm dead.

While I don't want to say Ford treated Stan like he was dumb, he treated Stan as if he was less intelligent than him. Stan used to cheat off of his tests in school. We saw that. This behavior is another parallel/contrast between Mabel and Dipper. It highlights how close they are and how well they understand each other.

In Journal 3 Dipper says, "Can be a real friend when she's not doing one of her bits. She's smarter than people give her credit for, and often acts the way she does just to drive me insane."

This isn't to imply their dynamic is perfect. It isn't perfect. There are bumps and a few potholes in the roads, but Dipper always treats Mabel as an intelligent person, knows she sleeps on her own gifts so she can do her bits. The difference between Ford and Stan is that I don't think Ford wanted to accept Stan's gifts and would only begrudgingly internally.

The show doesn't highlight Mabel being treated as the dumb twin. She's treated as the silly twin with more emotional intelligence than Dipper. She can be selfish, but she's also considered more mature than Dipper. Hirsch definitely sees her as more mature in a way to Dipper.

The parallels are simply so beautiful to me. I appreciate how they're not 1:1 parallels, y'know. They can fit in each various slots but serve similar roles for each other.

[thedisablednaturalist]

Kinda sucks that a lot of people are treating people with long covid as an entirely separate community from the chronic illness community at large. I've also seen people with long covid separate themselves from us as well. They are acting like they're the first ones who've been denied care or ignored, and refuse to accept that they are now "like us". So many people who were perfectly abled are suddenly becoming disabled, and it's only now society is freaking out and pushing for treatments for this chronic illness (on the bright side its sort of causing interest in POTS, fibromyalgia, CFS, etc). Where was all this research when people were coming down with other chronic illnesses? (I'm not saying it isn't good that there's research happening, and it's obviously not enough, especially because long covid primarily happens to women. It's just a lot more mainstream to talk about long covid vs other illnesses)

I want to accept people with long covid with open arms, give them advice and comfort. But I've found many don't want it from me. There's a big community of us that are here for you, cast aside your internalized ableism and join us in the fight for a more accessible world.

[punkeropercyjackson]

Percy Jackson is canonically punk and should be potrayed as such:A meta of sorts by an irl punk

Percy within every single book,including sidestories,fills out every requirement for being punk

Nonconformity/most likely transgenderism:He's amab but gender neutral/feminine presenting and it's a running theme and core trait of his he's nothing like traditional men to the point it was a major plot in Titans's Curse of him proving himself to Zoe and is always potrayed as and proven to be correct

Direct action:A lifelong bully beater which escalated into fighting the goverment in the form of an actual pantheon

Anarchism:'Does not like to be restrained' and encourages the same of everyone else no matter what rules there are against it and finds the idea that going against society is bad to be nothing but privileged loser mentality

Anti-capitalism:Hates rich people due to growing up poor and therefore on classism and refuses to accept any kind of power specifically because it's corruptive and he knows it facefirst

Activism:Helps mythos beings that're seen as lesser live better lives such as him telling the gods to pay child support(bonus points for never wanting immortality at all and actively abhoring the idea)and with ordinary things too(willingly lending a hand whenever asked and even when not even if it's not a world saving deal)and participates in Rachel's charity events and protests with her in the mortal world

Sense of community:Looks out for other minorities specifically(including the enemy sided ones as seen with Chris and Ethan and instant forgiveness of Silena!!)but especially the younger ones because they need to the most,to the point he basically adopts them as younger siblings and pseudo-kids,including riding harder than anyone else for a lil darkskin black girl(Hazel)except her actual brother

And finally,listens to punk music:Alluded to frequently and confirmed to listen to The Ramones as he gifted Nico a shirt of them

Percy is also mentally disabled(audhd,dyslexia,ptsd and bpd),poor and was accidentally made afrolatino.The last one isn't simply a headcanon but a concrete canon only with no contradiction reading of texts-Percy is from El Barrio,insulted a group of classmates in Som by calling them 'rich white boys',has 'a mediterranean complexion' which is an umbrella term for brown skin and the shade is never specified and quite literally gets profiled in the mortal world all the time and he says it's always happened to him.It's important to note Sally was played by a black woman in the musical and that Percy is much more aware and therefore respectful of racial and gender dynamics than explicitly white characters,the gender part being relevant due to how gender and blackness' intersection is treated

And Percy's main villain and direct opposite is Luke,who is a VERY hardcore fascist and has illusions of being the martyr of the gods Percy actually is.Luke's life was pretty easy compared to Percy's,to most demigods in fact!,but he was a much worse person and this is absolutely a reflection of the victim complex openly violent bigots have.He's constantly telling Percy he dosen't understand how bad the gods are but the thing is,Percy instantly knew they were bad.He'd been dealing with gods,male authority figures,since he was a lil boy so he never liked them even in TLT because he sensed their bad intentions they hid behind masks he could never wear unlike them which they punished him for.As the story progressed,Percy fought against Luke's supremacy with zero hesitation as he couldn't not take him down in his heart and did other good things for everyone who deserved it along the way and even made detours to accomplish it sometimes and Luke didn't do any damage to the gods or fix the system or even nurture the Titan's Army members despite his supposed want to give them a better world and that's how propaganda works irl.Percy gets called 'stupid' for not articulating himself perfectly or elegantly most of the time but he's not at all,he's just audhd and bpd and he walks the walk every time and Luke is the reverse of him,his speeches and promises being grooming,gaslighting and propaganda.Quite literally,Luke grew up in a fantasy land(Camp Half-Blood)and Percy grew up in the real world(ours)

The 'should be potrayed as such' bit refers to how often Percy is ooc'd into a punk stereotype made by normies instead of legit punk rep.Percy is punk as a survival tactic,out of a wish for a better world for everybody and just natural traits he has due to his life experiences.He's not 'trying to look cool',he's an asshole because he's traumatized as fuck and never learned how to mask and is a cocky asf yet self-loathing combo in the same way many black men are,not like a white fuckboy who think he a bad bitch 'cause he's a misogynist 'ironically' and has a janky ahh mohawk.He's also uncaring of 'ruining his image' and has cutesy/kiddy interests in addition to punk ones openly and thinks positively of femininity as proven by his descriptions and interactions with the femme girls of the verse.He said Annabeth has 'princess hair' and it's a physical wince moment when you find out Annabeth is a butch who hates femininity for herself but is fixed by Leah Jeffries' role and makes perfect sense princess-y black girls is his canon type considering 'names have power' and 'Perseus and Andromeda'.Percy being black4black plays into him being afropunk,which is the perfect kind of punk for him considering the rest of this and how punk was started by black people for character accuracy and historical accuracy

In a representation way!Sorry Luke apologists and gods apologists as you self-proclaim but not all history is good history and many,if not most,greek people are rightfully disgusted by their ancestors' treatment of women,transgenderism and pedestary in the same way a lot of japanese people are against perpetuating their country's imperialist background as they correctly believe it's nothing but backwards thinking that hurt and still hurts people and should've never existed as a result and same goes for tons of cultures of color you use as scapegoats without listening to or even caring about the people of color who made them.Just like you do punk culture in fact!Luk.ercy and Goddsshipping automatically makes Percy and you a poser as you can't be punk and support fascism or corrupted systems and yeah,hooking up with people who're doers and in charge of them counts.You are what you eat,to use the best phrase that fits i can think of.'Shipping isn't activism' isn't said by anybody who does what is activism.Y'all don't know what it means is clearly the reason and you refuse to learn what and how to do it 'cause you're too busy writing Dead Dove Do Not Eat of a kids book series to 'fight cencorship' instead of fighting for rights and decolonization(did you even know that word exists?Yeah,didn't think so)

In conclusion:Perseo Isadore Jackson is canonically punk and in the hands of a way better author,would be explicitly afrosolarpunk,audhd,transfem bigender and reach the full potential he deserves,wants and has earned by revolutionizing the greco-roman mythos world and having a black pastel punk girlfriend he's childhood best friends to lovers with and is the same as him yet his opposite because book!Percabeth was a mistake and ooc on every level for every character even besides Percy and Annabeth themselves.Handing him a blue loaded burger and his estrogen i diy'd rn since he finished cleaning his piercings

[anistarrose]

So I have only my two cents to give on the "curing disabilities in fantasy/sci-fi stories" trope, as just one disabled person among many disabled people, but here are my two cents nonetheless.

One defense of the trope is that it's simply a form of escapism, and moreover, a fantasy that disabled people themselves can quite reasonably find joy in — as a feel-good story, a break from all the pain of real life. Many — not all by a long shot, but many — of us would jump at the chance for a cure, after all, and it's not like we're not valid to do so. Lots of us take pride in being disabled, but nevertheless, sometimes it really fucking sucks.

The counterargument to the above is this: that this isn't a realistic trope, and that particularly in combination with the suffocating frequency that this trope is used, this becomes the opposite of a hopeful fantasy. When you have an incurable condition, and the only happy endings you see represented for people like you in fiction are inevitably only achieved once the characters stop being like you — that can be indescribably upsetting.

Disabled characters do not get happy endings while remaining disabled — and fiction is fiction and all, but I'm not going to pretend like this doesn't have gradual, accumulative real-life effects on the amount of effort people/society are willing to put into accessibility and acceptance, because of beliefs like "aren't you going to be cured someday anyway?" Or "isn't this disability just going to stop existing, someday? one way or another?"

I hope I don't have to explain how damaging it is to think the above way, or to imagine a future where disability doesn't exist. (Yes, even though disability is partially socially constructed. That's a load-bearing "partially".)

So, if you couldn't tell, I do generally relate a lot more to the harsher, more critical view of this trope — but I certainly don't want to judge actual disabled people for writing it either (and especially not people with progressive conditions), not when there is genuine catharsis and escapist joy that can be wrung from it. I obviously don't trust non-disabled folks with writing "cure" stories any further than I could throw them, due to a long fucking history of non-disabled people fucking it up — but also, no one should be forced to reveal personal details, let alone medical history, to justify their choice to write something.

This is the paradox that I am willing to come to terms with, by throwing up my hands and saying, "okay, so some of the time I sure don't like it, but it's technically none of my business."

That said: if you're non-disabled, or you're writing about a disability much different from your own (a physical disability when you're autistic, for example), and you want to write an escapist feel-good story featuring disabled characters: I also want to stress that "escapist themes" versus "no one's disability gets cured ever" is very much a false binary. You can have both.

I've never written a "curing a disability" story. But I've both written and enjoyed some extremely escapist, unashamedly hopeful stories revolving around disabled characters — and it's all about accommodation.

A story of any genre where society is more accepting of — and willing to collectively help care for — chronic illnesses and chronic pain? That's escapist, and if it's something that characters once fought tooth and nail for, it's pretty damn cathartic. A fantasy or sci-fi story where medicines are still required to treat a condition, but the medicines are more accessible, more effective, et cetera, may also be escapist depending on the context.

Fantasy service animals, high-tech service robots, magical or indistinguishable-from-magic mobility devices? They're all possibly escapist too. (Just note that a lot of disabled people may still maintain a personal preference for seeing the "real world" versions, and that's that's also perfectly reasonable. Remember that the gripe with the original trope has a lot to do with a lack of variety in representation, justified by arbitrary rules about how fantasy/sci-fi "should" look, and the goal should be not to replicate that.)

So, in conclusion: if you find yourself writing a disabled character, and want to give them a happy ending, I urge you not to jump to "their disability is cured now" without at least thinking through the alternatives. Do your research regardless, and accept that disabled people will likely have a wide range of opinions on whatever you decide to go with — but accept that disabilities themselves are varied, and should not inherently have to consign either characters or real human beings to tragic lives by their mere existence.

[saintsenara]

I’m curious why you loathe the implication that wizards are immune to muggle diseases. Is it because it reinforces the idea that they aren’t really the same species as muggles?

thank you very much for the ask, @urupotter!

and the answer is - yes, pretty much.

how the body is understood, how illness and disability are thought about, how the medical system works etc. are all questions that i am primed to obsess over in any piece of media - even when they're not actually significant parts of the story.

which is to say, i completely understand the reason why the harry potter series treats these topics in the way it does. magical medicine isn't one of the themes the story is designed to focus on - which means that its purpose is as incidental worldbuilding detail which reinforces the whimsical vibe of the earlier books and the darker vibe of the later ones, and which means that its treatment in the text makes sense within the setting and genre conventions of canon. harry being able to take a bludger - a cast-iron cannonball moving at speed - to the head and living to tell the tale is the same as john wick being able to fall from a great height, land on his back, and then get up and walk around: he's an action hero in a fantasy.

and so wizards being more physically durable than muggles - and also wizards having their own magical diseases, and being immune to muggle ones - all makes sense within the context of the books as literature. kids don't want to read about harry having a cold. they want to read about him being a wizard.

but when i'm deciding to enjoy myself by taking the question of just how fucked-up wizarding society is much more seriously than canon does... the implication that wizards are immune to muggle diseases and that they are broadly unaffected by physical trauma unless that trauma has a magical cause really bothers me. entirely - as you say - because it directly undermines the series' thesis that the purity of magical blood is irrelevant and that the wizarding world's dehumanisation of muggles and muggleborns by treating them as, essentially, separate, lower species is wrong.

the main canon example of this which i detest is dumbledore's suggestion in half-blood prince that merope gaunt could have survived childbirth if she'd simply "raised her wand to save her own life". after all, if a little bit of magic makes one immune to experiencing complications during childbirth [unlike thousands upon thousands of muggles throughout history, who would probably have very much liked to have lived to see their children grow up]... then voldemort is completely justified in thinking merope's death was a selfish, shameful, deliberate choice.

[i do understand that the idea merope chose to die is primarily included in the text so dumbledore can segue into saying that lily "had a choice too", contributing to the gradual reveal in half-blood prince and deathly hallows that she's the key to the whole mystery. but i still think that jkr could maybe have though a little bit harder about what she was suggesting with this than she evidently did...]

and so i think in fandom it's both fun and important not to accept the idea that wizards are automatically resistant to anything which might kill, injure, or disable a muggle - especially because it lets us really play with some of the big worldbuilding questions surrounding the conventions and institutions of wizarding society.

what do disability rights look like in a world which is so rabidly intolerant of difference, and which appears not to have any sort of welfare state? the nhs is a recent invention, created in a muggle britain which is culturally and institutionally separate from the wizarding one: so is treatment at st mungo's free - and, if not, what happens to those who can't pay? how is queerness understood in a society which appears to have views on sexual expression which are fairly conservative - and how does this mean the wizarding state responded to the aids crisis? what do reproductive rights look like in this kind of society? if the dementor's kiss results in - essentially - a vegetative state, what is done with the people the kiss has been performed on? what might it be like for your relative to develop dementia at 100... when you know they might live to 250? what impact do biases about blood status have on how muggleborn patients are treated?

i just think it's interesting!

[tondroom]

Applying criminological theories to Phantom of the Opera #1

I study criminology, and I have an exam in a week about criminological theories (=theories that attempt to explain deviant behavior/crime.) Each theory has a different perspective. So, I figured, why not apply a theory to Phantom. It's been on my mind.

For example, there's Classical Strain Theory (Merton, 1938). It was developed as a criticism of the 'American Dream.' Merton argued that not everyone can achieve the ideals of the American Dream (ex: a good house, good job, nice salary). I mean, if you're born into a poor family, of course it's much harder to get to a top university and become a lawyer. So, he argued, that the people who don't have the means to achieve society's goals, experience "strain". An individual responds to strain in different ways. They respond differently in different situations.

🎭 "Conformity"

An individual accepts the goal (example: American Dream) and try to achieve it with socially accepted means anyway. So, they try to 'work hard' and follow 'legitimate routes.'

🔪 "Innovation"

An individual accepts the goals, but they try to use different - absolutely not socially accepted - means. Innovation! You could get rich by working hard, but you could also steal things or extort people. And this is exactly what Erik does. Let's apply this element of strain theory to him. One of his society's goals is to, as a man, have a steady job and make money. Erik isn't able to achieve this goal due to his face. He's stigmatised and ridiculed for it. He doesn't have a face that's allowed in a workspace. Not to mention that his upbringing caused him to be socially unskilled, and he generally has some odd traits that make him unable to keep a job. That causes a lot of strain. The dude can't achieve his goals. Thus, to achieve society's goal anyway, he starts to manipulate and extort the managers of the opera house. In that way, he's achieved the goal of making money, just differently (and through criminal behavior). There are probably more examples of Erik's innovations, but I want to explain the other responses to strain too.

🥀 "Ritualism"

Ritualism is another response. This is when you accept society's goals, but you don't have the means to achieve them, and you basically give up on trying. An example is an exhausted person working a thankless job, never trying to move up the hierachy within their company. They have kinda accepted their fate, and accepted that they don't have the means to grow into a better position. This can also be applied to Erik, especially to the very moment he starts living inside the opera house. One could say his goals are to get a (1) nice-looking house and (2) become a 'normal,' functioning member of society. Clearly, Erik's tried to achieve these goals in his past; he's travelled around the world, and one could say he attempted to find a steady homebase everywhere he went. He's worked different jobs (circus-artist, architect, assassin), trying to become a functioning member of society the way society wants it. But again, there's an obstacle each time he tries to be 'normal': his face. Everyone rejects and abuses him. So, he gives up on becoming a functioning member of society, also deciding to accept he won't have a nice house, nor a nice job. He hides himself in the opera house and 'functions' from the background, from the shadows. His reality is an unfortunate reality for a lot of neurodivergent and disabled folks too.

🕳️ "Retreatism"

This is when someone also gives up, but they retreat from society altogether in a literal sense. Merton mentions severe drug-addicts and homeless folks as an example of this. These folks don't have the means to achieve society's goals, so they give up on them and retreat from society. They're technically 'there', but not a part of it; they don't 'function' at all anymore, according to Merton. And Erik's a fine example of this during the last scene of Phantom. He lets Christine go, giving up on trying to achieve society's goals of getting a nice family, a house, a wife... But it's no use. It's implied he withers away from sadness and dies. He gives up and retreats - unfortunately resulting in death.

✊ "Rebellion"

This is when you can't achieve society's goals, so you reject them and try to reform society. Merton mentions terrorists as an example of this. However, I could argue that activists or protestors are also an example of it - without correlating them to the extreme example of terrorists. Erik rebels a lot in the show, but I want to focus on the moment he drops the chandelier onto an audience, killing them. One of society's goals is to make money, like I mentioned before. Erik does this, by innovation; he extorts the managers for 20 000s francs each month. They pay him, up until they start to reject his extorting. Christine also rejects (and 'betrays') him, ruining their teacher-student dynamic. He can't be her teacher any longer and he probably won't get to marry her either. He can't achieve the aforementioned goals of being a functioning member of society, plus marrying someone, which is another goal. So, acting out, he drops the chandelier on a bunch people, killing them horribly. This shows he rejects society's goals and the means to achieve them.

Criticism

Of course Merton's theory is an old one, and he only applied it to the American Dream. It's also hard to test this theory, because how do you measure strain? It also doesn't explain specifically what makes some individuals resort to crime, and what makes others conform. Therefore it also doesn't account for the emotional state of an individual, and how much "strain" they can handle. I mean, Erik's clearly damaged emotionally, causing him to have moments where he acts completely irrationally. This is evident when he chokes Christine for a moment in the musical, but stops when he 'comes to his senses.' Is Erik's criminal behavior a result of strain, or a result of other factors, like mental illness, or even brain damage due to the abuse he endured?

But all in all, it's an interesting theory and it's fun to apply it to characters. And now, I have to go back to studying again. See ya (:.

[horce-divorce]

Remember: bigotry and fascism are reactionary. They are reacting to the concept of anyone they've deemed "weird" (ie inhuman and genetically unacceptable) becoming normal and accepted by mainstream society (absolutely anyone who isn't white, disabled people, queer people, trans people especially because traditional gender roles are integral to maintaining the violence of white supremacy, etc).

This is why they take it so hard when you call THEM weird. To us it's not even noteworthy, it's like, if someone called me weird today instead of a slur that's a particularly good day, that's a compliment! But it IS a slur to them because the idea of being anything other than the perfect Aryan is unacceptable, it's a failure to be human, it's punishable by death.

Anyway my point is just to reiterate what many before me have said; it often gets worse before it gets better. It's this bad right now as a reaction to how far we've come in terms of diversity acceptance and queer liberation.

If we weren't doing something right, they would have nothing to react to. DONT GIVE UP!!!!!!!

Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable, and so should your presence as an out and proud minority in a white supremacist world.

Fascism requires our compliance to succeed. That includes hopelessness!!! Refuse to give fascists and bigots what they want. Deny them the satisfaction of seeing you suffer. DONT! GIVE! UP!!!!

[dandylovesturtles]

Hello, Wheelchair Annon here again (my sister parked me in the corner). I hope you don’t mind me chiming in again…

One of the biggest things that changed from being able bodied to being in a wheelchair is other people’s attitudes towards me. This is in two main ways:

Talking to whoever is with me instead of talking directly to me, even if it’s about me. People act as if I am mentally incapable and unable to participate in conversation, or even just act like I’m not there.

No respect for my personal space. I’m talking random strangers and people I barely know doing stuff, usually without even talking to me. This has included: someone coming up behind me and rocking my wheelchair back and forth; someone hanging sitting behind me hanging their jacket on the handles of my wheelchair; leaning on my wheelchair while in a lift; and messing with the controls of my electric wheelchair so I move even when I don’t want to.

How does Leo cope with this change in attitude towards him? (Does it actually happen, or are Yokai more egalitarian?). Leo considers himself the face man; how does he cope when other people don’t see him in the same way anymore? How does he cope when other non- human people don’t always see him as a person? (And does this factor into any issues he may have vis-a-vis growing up as a non human in a human world for the first 14 years of his life?)

(Also, I have a bunch more stuff I can think of relating to wheelchair use, being disabled, chronic fatigue and other stuff, but I really don’t want to overwhelm you. Would you like me to keep asking/pointing out stuff? I will not be offended if you say no!! <3)

Anon, PLEASE feel free to keep sending me these! Whatever you feel comfortable sharing! Like I said at the beginning of this, I'm able-bodied myself, so I can research all day but it's not the same as having lived experience, and I'm really grateful for your perspective! ^^

I've heard the horror stories from other wheelchair users about people just thinking they can do whatever they want with wheelchairs (which is insane to me, like, if you wouldn't rock a chair a stranger is sitting in why would you do that with a wheelchair??), it's why I included the whole point about how only the fam (+Hueso who is very responsible) is allowed to grab Leo's wheelchair handles without repercussion. It's still crazy to me that people just feel entitled to move your wheelchair or hang stuff off of it, though.

The thing about people no longer talking directly to you though, oof. I've heard people who are deaf talk about this happening but it makes sense that it would happen to wheelchair users too. I'm sorry that happens to you, anon.

To answer the questions... to start with, I don't think being accepted by humans is ever really a thing rise!Leo is particularly concerned with, and especially after they learned about yokai and the Hidden City he had other ways to fulfill his social needs that don't involve trying to get humans to accept being around mutant turtles. There is that little voice in the back of his head pointing out that he is Other, but in canon at least I don't think he lets it get him down too much.

as for yokai society itself, though, this is an interesting thing to think about! on one hand, yokai have a much greater mix of... appendage situations?? going on than humans do, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Hidden City is generally more accessible, just because shops are already factoring in that some of their customers won't have legs/arms/what have you. on the flip side, though, the chair itself is a pretty obvious visual indicator that even for his species Leo is disabled, and that would probably still lead to people talking to his siblings like he isn't there.

this would definitely be a hit to Leo's confidence, since it ties into the things he already struggles with. and to make things worse, I think it's one of those things that his family probably doesn't even realize is happening at first? especially because the experiences are spread around, so they're all getting fewer instances of it happening to notice than Leo is. but yeah I could see one of them going through a whole conversation without realizing that the person they're talking to hasn't talked to or directly responded to Leo once, and at the end they're like, "oh, they're so nice!" while Leo is sitting there feeling like he just got completely closed out of the conversation

I think Leo would just let it go for awhile at first. why would people want to talk to him, he's the failure brother! he may not even realize it's just a response to the wheelchair, initially. but as Leo gets healthier mentally (and maybe finds some community support, either online or in person), he'd start sticking up for himself more often.

I can imagine one day someone asks Raph, "Oh, how is Leo?" and Leo is like, "Leo's great, actually, his ears work just fine!" and that's the moment Raph realizes that this has been happening the whole time and for awhile Leo just let it happen and oops they just let it happen too

they are learning, though! nowhere to go but up!

[thestobingirlie]

This isn't just a st fandom problem, it stretches across fandom as a whole.

But I think people focus on and constantly bring up Steve's 'sins'/ asshole behaviour while ignoring everyone else's because fandom seems to consider homophobia the 'worst' kind of bigotry. They can ignore racism, sexism, ableism, but they can't excuse homophobia. They only care about any other type of bigotry if they can use it to prove a point.

They bring up Steve being homophobic for using 'queer' against Jonathan in season 1 but they ignore

The kid's, particularly Dustin and Lucas, casual ableism in s1, when they kept referring to El as 'the psycho' and talking about her escaping from Pennhurst, calling it a 'nuthouse', constantly referring to her as the weirdo or the freak

Jonathan's ableism in s2 when he refers to the kids as Will's 'spazzy friends'

Billy's misogyny, referring to the girls of Hawkins High as cows.

Billy's racism. Everything about the way he treated Lucas. Just because the actor refused to say the N word, doesn't make the character not racist. There is more to racism than just using slurs.

Jonathan's casual misogyny, the way he talks to and treats Nancy at times, especially in s1 when they're talking about the photos. And the way he talks to and treats Joyce at times.

These are just some of the examples I can think of just from the top of my head. But they all get ignored or swept under the carpet, because 'not that big of a deal.'

All bigotry is bad. But Steve is the only character that has shown a hint of bigotry and then been shown to move past it. To make amends and show that he is now accepting of it. No matter how much people try to claim that Steve accepting Robin as a lesbian isn't proof of him no longer being homophobic. As if lesbians are somehow less gay than gay men.

i think because the majority of the fandom is gay, they just… don’t really give a fuck about other forms of bigotry.

they really think that homophobia is the worst that it gets. and that homophobia really only seems to apply to gay men, because the way they treat bisexuals and lesbians is…. jarring. to say the least.

obviously the show is set in the 80s, so it’s not like the bigotry is… totally unexpected or out of place. but i don’t think it’s treated or written right within the show, and i think that’s one of the factors that makes people so comfortable with ignoring it.

steve’s homophobia is unambiguously portrayed as the wrong thing. as steve’s lowest point. the actions he has to claw his way back from. but the bigotry within other aspects of the show is just… ignored. it’s just a joke. or not that serious. the characters aren’t punished or proved wrong. (i do kinda think that’s because a lot of bigotry was inadvertent, and more reflective of the duffers as people rather than because they were trying to accurately portray an 80s society. but whatever).

steve’s homophobia being treated as the biggest bad is also kinda weird to me because it doesn’t really have… a ‘real’ target, so to speak. like, the parties ableism is directed towards el, who, while she doesn’t have a canonical disability, is developmentally behind and raised in a lab. jonathan’s misogyny is directed at nancy and joyce, his ableism is directed towards the party, and therefore dustin. billy’s racism is directed towards lucas and his misogyny is spoken to max.

whereas steve (I AM NOT CONDONING HIS ACTIONS THEY ARE WRONG!!!) calls jonathan a queer. who is not a gay man. while it’s still obviously wrong and homophobic, the target of his homophobia is not a member of the community. and yet, people treat his comment as if it’s the worst form of bigotry on the show.

they’re willing to overlook everything else. they’re willing to perpetuate lesbophobia and biphobia, racism and misogyny. they’re willing to write thousands of outing fics where the outing isn’t portrayed as wrong. but steve saying the word queer? unforgivable.

(honestly, though steve’s homophobia is the only form of bigotry that we see treated as wrong and we see a demonstration of steve’s growth later in the seasons. i don’t know if we can even give the duffers that, because robin wasn��t originally going to be a lesbian. which means the duffers were never planning on dealing with any of the bigotry in the show in a meaningful matter. but that’s a different conversation)

[roblogging]

Hey please feel free to delete this if it’s too invasive/makes you uncomfortable, put yourself first

But um I think I’ve seen before that you’re chronically ill/disabled I’m gonna feel really stupid if that’s never been said but I’m also disabled and I guess I was just wondering how you kept like, your will to live?

Right now I don’t have any friends or any way to make friends cause I can’t drive, and my town doesn’t have public transportation, and I can’t work, and also can’t go to school so I’m basically just stuck at home all the time and it’s bloody awful

Any tips would be appreciated (but again please feel free to not answer this, and I’m so so sorry if it made you uncomfortable, feel free to block me or something if that makes you feel more comfortable)

HEYYYY you can always ask stuff like this dwdw !!

it's so tough sometimes. so fucking tough. the chronic pain, the seizures, the heart, the migraines. the fact we don't actually know what any of it is !! it's so hard to keep going.

especially in uni where i'm walking a lot every day or i'm looking at screens all day everyday and there's not really someone to make sure i'm doing everything i'm meant to do? it's so tough. and i got a cane,,, last week? i wanna say? and i'm still yet to use it anywhere because i'm so scared of doing it alone and getting weird looks.

when it was really bad, it was online friends! which is easier said than done i know but having that connection with people that was low energy and easily accessible made things SO much easier. when i came to uni it was joining the disabled society and meeting people there, but it was online connections that made me feel better. esp in fandom! having rep in fics and connecting with people that also felt represented by them? that was everything to me. still is actually

i guess,,, the will to live just comes from enduring. which isn't what anyone wants to hear but after so many years of this on top of everything else? it gets easier to look at the little positives. like yeah, school is a lot harder for me than others - but i made it to uni ! or yeah, i can't get out of bed this day - but i woke up ! and i can do something small that makes me feel good like brush my teeth or something.

some of it for me was also that (wait PTW here for ED feel free to skip to the next para) but though it isn't the *cause* of my heart issues, my heart literally wont ever be the same, like he's gone. done for. so it was harder accepting that this is my reality and i made it worse for myself, but then !!! i made it better too. i won't even be able-bodied, but i have a body. and that's enough for me.

i,,, fear i don't actually have good advice i'm sorry 🫂🫂 it's so hard somedays to keep going but then there's some light, even the smallest bit, and it makes it all a lot easier.

but yeah,,, poor advice. not the best at this since i am not #happy a lot of the time BUT i have an open door policy across allllll of my dms on all platforms whether that's just for a rant, a distraction, or a chat with someone that understands. i can't promise to be much actual help but i can listen and that's something

[magodangretsus]

I have fanfiction ideas but I can't write them prose form, so I'm gonna write my idea in a tumblr draft so it will exist in some form even if I never get to actually writing it.

Follows from the last episode of Tiger and Bunny, can be either au or just decide that Yuri survives and is found.

Also it is clear to me that Kotetsu and Barnaby are married in all senses but (maybe) legal. And it's also obvious to me that some time during s2, Barnaby approached his husband about opening the relationship after reconnecting with Matias, which Kotetsu allowed.

And so this is when Kotetsu, having come around on that whole polyamory thing, perhaps considers pursuing a second partner as well.

Yuri is taken to the hospital, confesses while there, and eventually is sentenced to several years of prison and a good deal of mandatory therapy. During his hospital recovery which would preclude his sentence, Kotetsu and Barnaby, but especially the former, would pay him visits, which is a bit surprising but appreciated.

So either this is an au where Yuri is talked down from burning himself alive and jumping, or he is found alive afterwards. Either way, Yuri is convinced to live (you realized it's wrong to kill people for being "bad", this includes yourself, also if you feel bad for doing bad things, you can make up for it by doing good things from now on, etc), and so decides to turn himself in and face justice for what he did as Lunatic.

Yuri goes to prison, the heroes are reinstated and the NEXT returned to society, and Stern Bild gradually rebuilds after the destruction of the X outbreaks. Kotetsu, by popular demand once again, is allowed to continue working as a hero despite no longer being NEXT, and he along with the disabled Barnaby share their dream of inspiring weak and non-NEXT to see themselves as heroes too by being crowned Buddy Heroes. It's rough, but being used to only having access to their powers for 5 or 1 minute at a time before, it's surprisingly manageable. (Sorry Kaede, your dad still isn't coming home, but you sort of figured that already.)

Yuri hears about much of the above by Kotetsu, who is visiting him regularly in prison. This confuses Yuri, who is not entirely sure where they stand considering their former professional relationship and hero-villian rivalry. But Kotetsu has his reasons. One is to reassure Yuri that since losing his powers, even though he clings to his work as a hero, he isn't going to become like Mr. Legend. Another is to make sure Yuri is okay - he nearly killed himself before the prison sentence, and during his interrogations it became known that his mother was recently murdered, and that he's been suffering from psychotic visions for years. Kotetsu knows enough to understand him, even when they've disagreed with each other, and that means he cares enough to meddle (as Bunny would say).

So they talk, almost weekly, over the next several years. Kotetsu goes to the prison with Origami sometimes. And while Barnaby doesn't share the same impulse to get further involved with Lunatic, he can see where it's coming from, and is happy for Kotetsu when he talks about their regular chats, how their old director has started being less stiff around him and maybe even cracked a joke the other day.

Eventually, Yuri is released (with parole). For all the murders he committed, it feels soon, but he cooperated extensively during his sentencing and did help save the city.

Kotetsu is there when he's released. He invites him to drinks. Yuri accepts.

They go drinking, and mostly talk about what's next for Yuri. Yuri, guard lowered by alcohol and the many conversations they've had, thanks Kotetsu for being there for him all this time, and says he may not have believed in a future for himself without him, or had the strength to reach it. Kotetsu puts an arm around him, he cries, and Kotetsu offers to take him home because they're getting to be emotional and drunk messes.

Kotetsu wakes up in bed with Yuri. Shit.

Yuri wakes up hungover in bed with Kotetsu, who is panicking severely, because he is in a committed relationship with another man. Yuri takes stock and concludes that they did not have sex, but does remember making out pretty heavily before falling asleep in each other's arms. Knowing this was not intentional on Kotetsu's part, he offers to never speak of this again and pretend it never happened, an offer which Kotetsu eagerly and gratefully takes.

Kotetsu makes him fried rice for breakfast, says the fat helps with the hangover. It tastes very good. Kotetsu hands him his wrinkled shirt off the floor. Yuri feels some things and promptly ignores them. They part ways.

Kotetsu returns to work, and Barnaby asks how Yuri's release went, and Kotetsu does the dumb thing where he gets extremely nervous and suspiciously stammers a vague answer. He is sort of hoping that because they agreed never to speak of it again, that also means he doesn't have to tell his boyfriend about drunkenly cheating on him, because that is scary. (Barnaby is also in a relationship with Matias, but Barnaby asked for Kotetsu's permission before pursuing a relationship with him, and Kotetsu has not done that because he didn't think he was attracted to Yuri.)

The problem is - Kotetsu is still thinking about it. And, he knows he prioritizes his relationship with Barnaby, but he still cares about Yuri, and still wants to be there for him as he reacclimates to life after prison, especially when he was such a public figure both in and out of his mask. There is still definitely some worrying about his mental health, even with the therapy seeming to go well recently. Kotetsu worries. He is Kotetsu.

(Re: worrying about his mental health and still caring about him, Yuri probably calls Kotetsu at least once after a Hero TV broadcast ends just to hear his voice, prove to himself that he's safe. Living with the voices of the dead and losing family suddenly both will make you worry about this.)

Kotetsu assumes what happened there only happened because of the alcohol and heightened emotions, and Yuri is so cold and serious, surely when we're both sober, there won't be any kind of mood or opening for something like that to happen again!! Right!! If I just see him again, the atmosphere will be so different and I'll stop thinking about this!! He probably already has anyway!!

... It's normal, at first. Yuri is deadpanned and serious, but there's a humor to him now, one they formed over time; Kotetsu over-acts and Yuri plays the straight man, sometimes giving a sarcastic quip or a little smirk at his antics. Kotetsu can throw an arm around him and feel neither icy glare nor vengeful flame. But, uh, usually he doesn't glance away with a blush on his face. Uh oh. Uh. This silence is getting a little long. Oh no. Oh no, they're both thinking about it.

... Kotetsu tries to bring up Barnaby to assert how Normal things are. The atmosphere gets worse. This isn't good.

Kotetsu finally tells Barnaby about what happened the night Yuri was released. Barnaby is understandably not thrilled, but believes Kotetsu when he says he never anticipated or intended on that happening, and that nothing has happened since. But uh. So, Bunny, you know how you asked about opening our relationship..? I totally get it if you aren't comfortable with me doing it, especially considering what I just told you!!! But... Uhm...

Barnaby is a bit reserved, but ultimately decides that he can't possibly expect Kotetsu to be alright with his relationship with Matias if he can't be comfortable with Kotetsu seeing other people. With knowing consent. And it's been a few years since Matias was added to their relationship - they had some road bumps, Kotetsu was insecure at first (and didn't voice his discomfort because of said insecurity), but they've had many conversations since and both clearly know their rules about this kind of thing. So, okay. I know how much you care about him, and I know you're a stubborn old man so I doubt I could change your mind. Hmph. Love you too.

So, permission gained. Kotetsu no longer needs to feel guilty about these thoughts and memories that don't go away. Now the challenge is actually broaching the subject with Yuri.

Soooo, Yuri, want to get drinks again someti- oh, you're busy? Okay, well, when are you next free? ... You're not sure? Well, I mean - you're taking breaks, right? I know you overwork yourself! That's a bad habit to fall back into, I know things must be pretty overwhelming right now; I know, let me help you!! I insist!!

He forces his way in. Yuri is tense, and light small talk isn't lightening the mood at all. Yuri has already caught on that Kotetsu has something he needs to say to him, his guard is up for whatever it is. Kotetsu is so bad at hard, adult conversations. But. Soo, Yuri... Uh. Oh, how's Bunny? He's good! He and Matias! The three of us have been going out more as a trio, actually, and I still feel a little awkward being so much older than the two of them, but Matias is a nice guy, and we're kind of figuring out a dynamic! Not like, a romantic one, but - ohh the atmosphere in here feels like it's getting very cold very fast. He's not looking at me.

Ahem. Speaking of that. I, uh, I talked to Bunny. About the other night. When we went drinking. He wasn't thrilled, obviously, but, uh... Well, we do have an open relationship, so, uh... I, uh... If you'd... Y-yeah, I am suggesting that, if you wanted to, we could also... Yeah, yeah he's okay with it. Uh. No, I, don't think you'd have to go on double dates with the three of us. Like, they probably wouldn't mind? Bunny likes you by now! No you don't have to. But uh. Does that mean you....?

Kotetsu and Yuri get together. The relationship progress is very slow, which Kotetsu is able to be patient for because he still has Barnaby. Kotetsu doesn't know how much it'd be weird to talk to Barnaby about it, but he shares some of his worries with Matias, who has some insight about being introduced into a really strong, established relationship as someone on much unsteadier ground. Kotetsu dotes incessantly on his new boyfriend to try to reassure him, and Yuri insists he's not insecure, just unused to... Expressing himself. Not comfortable with it yet. But... Appreciates Kotetsu's patience, and, does love him, even if he's still learning to show it.

Things continue, and Barnaby gradually settles on curiosity. It's just... Hard to imagine the Director interacting comfortably with anyone, let alone someone as loud and brash as Kotetsu.

The first time he sees them interact, Yuri is just frozen. Awkward. How do I act around The Husband. I'm still getting used to flirting in general, how do I do it in front of other people, especially this person??

Barnaby: The old man isn't giving you a hard time, right?

Yuri: ... I think we communicate fine.

Barnaby: ....

Yuri: ....

Barnaby: Well, if you do ever have any trouble, you can come to me. I have some tricks for handling him.

Yuri: Thank you, Barnaby.

Barnaby: .....

Barnaby: I hope you know you two have my support. And I'm glad you seem to be doing well.

Yuri: Thank you, Barnaby. And it would not have come to this if I was not aware of your consent.

Barnaby will later complain to Matias at how painfully awkward it was. He'd started to feel bad for the guy. Kotetsu got worried about the atmosphere and kissed Yuri in front of him to try to reassure him it was okay, and it only made him more stiff. Kotetsu is an idiot. (No, Matias, they don't seem bad for each other, I think Kotetsu will be okay, it's just... That man. He's just like this. But I suppose opposites attract?)

And that is my fic idea, oh no it's past 1am

EDIT: More scenes

Also after they get together, Kotetsu is like "do you want to meet my kid?" and Yuri, who has several varieties of parent related trauma, and is also a known murderer, is like "uhh are you sure you want to do that?" and Kotetsu does because he wants to introduce the people he loves to each other.

Except, uh, as we've covered, Kotetsu is bad at having Important Adult Conversations. And the whole "explaining polyamory to my 13 year old" thing seemed... Listen, when Barnaby first got together with Matias, Kotetsu sort of felt like he was being traded in for someone younger and smarter. That obviously was never the case, and he's gotten past that, but he wonders if Kaede will worry that Barnaby doesn't like him anymore and he's just living in denial. So he never told her about Matias.

But now he wants to tell Kaede about Yuri, which means explaining polyamory and that Bunny is okay with it (she knows he and Barnaby are together), and the best way he can explain that is that Barnaby was the one who taught him about polyamory in the first place. Which means he's going to be throwing a lot at her at once.

Kaede is initially overwhelmed, but this is still less shocking than her dad dating her celebrity crush, she can handle anything at this point. Yes dad I'll meet your second boyfriend.

And then Yuri is on a video call with her, or meeting her in person, and he doesn't consider himself very good with kids but... Kaede, I love your father and I believe he's a good man. But my father was once a good man before he started losing his powers. If anything ever happens, know that I will defend you.

Kotetsu: ... I don't know whether to feel touched or threatened...

Kotetsu: I mean, I already lost my powers and I'm still a good man, right?? Right??

Yuri: You are, or I would not be here.

Kotetsu: Right!!!

Kotetsu: Ohhh Kaede, also be careful touching him because he's a NEXT and his power is very dangerous!

Yuri: ....

Okay NOW I'm done with my extremely ambitious fic outline I may or may not write one day (after I do quite a bit of research into how parole works).

[racefortheironthrone]

I have watched most of the fandom believe that dorne is a progressive place, and while compare to the rest westeros it is truth, especially when it comes to women inheritance isn't it a bit too much to believe that it is socially progressive as well?

Like, sure for the female elite it much better to live on dorne. But I don't see Doran surround himself and take council with merchants or commonfolk that studied or erudite people.

Am i wrong?

It's true that Doran organizes his government on typical feudal lines, but it's also true that the rank-and-file Dornish, the "Dornish in the street," seem to have a louder and more accepted voice in shaping public opinion than the smallfolk of Westeros. However, I think when we look to social progressivism in Dorne, our best example is the policies promoted by Sylvenna Sand during the Moon of the Three Kings: using the child Gaemon Palehair as her mouthpiece, Sylvenna promulgated decrees that equalized inheritance between male and female children, mandated a bread and beer dole in times of famine, estabished a crude form of disability insurance for veterans, and punished wife-beaters. I think this speaks to a broader social progressivism in Dornish culture that goes beyond issues of gender equality to embrace at least a proto-concept of social welfare. As to whether it's all a bit much to believe, I think GRRM is borrowing from certain histories of the post-1066 wars of expansion that framed Wales as being a more egalitarian society than Norman England, based on certain Welsh legal customs around inheritance, etc.

[kustas]

dagda and olruggio for the aak game!

My first impression

Dagda: I actually don't remember! I don't think I paid much attention to him at first. He's very much an npc with little personality in the first chapters he appears in

Olruggio: hello handsome followed by woah. Here comes a true hater

My impression now

Dagda: very underrated character, I really like him but I'm not sure if at this point it's the character or my interpretation of him I like most! I used to have a lot of headcanons about his past who all got disproven by the story but I still think a lot about what he'd have been up to before plot beats, and what he's like as a person.

Olruggio: I'm fond of him! Goofy and endearing, really good foil to Qifrey, and nice with the girls....:) he's also a very relatable character to me, in many ways! And his design goes extremely hard

Favorite thing about that character

Dagda: how he views his relationship with his son. It's tragic but loving at once, that he sees him as his biggest triumph and the only worthwhile thing he's done in his life. If only you knew how highly your little guy thinks of you...

Olruggio: as mentioned before I share a lot of his personality traits and it's relaxing to me to see him portrayed as sympathetic for it. I also really like his place in the story, as someone with good contacts in witch society and legal obligations, his position as the Eye brings both tension to the story and real nice hints of world building elements

Least favorite thing

Dagda: hard to tell because he doesn't have a lot of screentime tbh. I wish he did not get murked because it feels distasteful to give Custas this much trouble when he's already struggling enough. But that's not really about Dagda isn't it

Olruggio: how he's reduced to blushy tsundere for fandom tropes' sake. He is those things but he is more than that

Favorite line/scene

Dagda: Either the monologue where he talks about Cus being the only good deed he's done, or the short flashback where he's spared by the musicians after accepting they were going to kill him

Olruggio: I struggled to pick, but I'm gonna say, the moment he finds the disabled kid in the street. It's such a good scene in terms of drama and in relation to the wider themes of the series

Favorite interaction that character has with another

Dagda: When he replies to his boy begging him to abandon him with a silent hug and wet puppy eyes

Olruggio: Previously mentioned scene with the lil kid, how he snaps at Agott during the river rescue mission, his tense little staircase moment with Utowin

A character that I wish that character would interact with more

Dagda: of the ones he's interacted with previously : Lulucy, Olruggio, Coco. His interactions with adult witches are interesting because of the balance of power. I could write an essay about his relationship with Lulucy just based on that alone! With Oru, it's because I believe they have a lot in common and could actually get along well. With Coco, I find endearing how gentle it is to her, and given she mostly knows him as a father and her own dad died when she was very young, it might be cool to see how that goes.

Of the ones he has not interacted with previously, I am begging mentally for him to spend a significant amount of time with one of the Wise Three, the king, or both - to contrast between the leaders of their respective societies, and a guy who is the lowest of the low in said societies. Also I really want a world where he hangs out with the atelier girlies and they get to bother him

Olruggio: of the characters he's interacted with: all the girlies...especially Riche and Agott. He's less...overtly affectionate? Than Qifrey, more frank and snappy but it feels like they like him for that. Dagda as previously mentioned. Beldaruit bc their interactions were rly funny lol

Of the characters he's not interacted with yet: Lagler, because they're both witches who work with unknowings with strong moral compasses. Ininia, because I want to see him react to a kid who's unapologetically in his opposing faction. Atwert, because given that guy's current situation and his own empathy it would bring up lots of interesting elements I feel

Another character from another fandom that reminds me of that character

Dagda: they have nothing in common personality wise but lots of contextual parallels with a character I adored as a kid, Dustfingers

Olruggio: as previously established, Me from Real Life (jk. I couldn't find a good one for him)

A headcanon about that character

Dagda: I think he's a very meek and submissive man who's seen a lot of shit but has never tried to fight against it properly. Haven't decided yet if it's because he's a pessimist or just doesn't care. Also I think he's not very clever

Olruggio: That one's basically confirmed but I like to imagine he gets wooed a lot even by unknowings, and absolutely hates it LOL

A song that reminds of that character

Dagda: Corvus Corax - La i Mbealtaine. It's my voice claim for him, and given he's named after a Celtic god and he's a minstrel, a gaelic song made from a medieval poem feels fitting

Olruggio: can't think of one ;_;

An unpopular opinion about that character

Dagda: nobody ever talks about this bloke lol there are no popular opinions. I'm the only one. Hello. Hi

Olruggio: I'm not denying there's something kinda gay in the air in that Atelier but the fandom's accepted romantic pairing of him and Qifrey feels completely OOC. It would not be a nice sweet relationship, Qifrey is a sneaky elusive man with deep rooted trust issues and Oru strongly corrects him. I think they have deep affection for each other that manifests in commitment and boundaries but that their actual communication is entraves by both their personalities and that in their current state at least they would never enter a traditional relationship

Favorite picture

Dagda: this panel bc it's closets to how I draw him/imagine his face! He's got some cute panels too tho

Olruggio: yes it's not in the manga but man. Unmatched swag and the details are so sweet. U know crumbs fly off when he sits up. I could NOT find the full pic but you need to know he's wearing fuckass flipflops with this fit

[trekessayist]

Eugenics in Star Trek: a Disabled Perspective on Genetic Augmentation

Not the essay I wanted to write, to be honest, but I was scrolling through the DS9 tag and violently reminded of the dubiousness that Augments are treated with by the writers. It has never sat right with me how Augments get treated, both in-universe and by writers.

So let me start by pointing out that I think some of the Augment storylines were really well-written, and others sucked. Enterprise's Augment storyline sticks out as the absolute worst of the bunch, though apparently that was one of the better-received storylines. But I digress.

The problem with Augments is that, of course, their concept is based in eugenics. They're established in Space Seed to be remnants of a worse time on earth, people "improved" so much by genetic alteration that they believe themselves to be the superior humans, going so far as to wish to kill other humans. They're a very clear reason why genetic augmentation as a whole was banned on earth, later carrying over to Federation law as well.

This includes ALL forms of genetic augmentation, with no nuance. This becomes especially clear when it comes to Illyrians, who are banned from joining the Federation and Starfleet despite arguably genetically augmenting their own bodies for a noble purpose.

In Deep Space Nine, this culminates in Julian Bashir having to hide his status as an Augment to be able to have a career. It's clearly a sore point for him, and he really struggles with the concept of his authenticity as a person. I'm reminded of the one post talking about how Kukalaka, his teddy bear, serves as a physical reminder that even before his father took him to be augmented, he was fixing up or "healing" his teddy bear when it was broken or "sick", that becoming a doctor was in that sense the only path that felt authentic to his personality.

The other Deep Space Nine Augment storyline involves Julian's efforts to help a group of Augments who came out of the process still "defective". Which is still a great storyline in my opinion, despite its flaws.

And I understand that the Federation attitude towards Augments is an example of an idealistic society that isn't flawless, which is in many ways what DS9 represented as a whole. So I feel the storyline is very much relevant to the series.

Still, the issues it (and later Augment storylines) presents are painful to watch, especially as a disabled person whose struggles are largely genetic issues exacerbated by their interaction with one another in my body.

In the first place, while I understand the decision to outlaw genetic modification as planet earth, or even as the Federation, because I understand why the decision was made, I don't feel that that's a proportional response to what happened in the past. As mentioned before, even beneficial genetic augmentations are banned, as seen with the Illyrians. That means that for people with genetic diseases cannot get meaningful help in a time and place where that should definitely be possible.

Looking at what I experience, should I be expected to consume painkillers my entire life? Physical therapy twice a week to keep up the strength in my muscles? Spend time having ligaments and tendons regenerated every so often? When a small genetic alteration could be a cure that doesn't require repeating? Degenerative diseases and conditions will degenerate if you don't continuously control them, even in the utopia of Star Trek.

So in the first place, the complete disallowance of genetic augmentation in the Federation is harmful. But then what do you do with people who were augmented either way, as a humane and just society? Especially when they didn't have a choice in the matter because they were a child? Do you accept them and take care of them, recognising that if you teach a child it is fundamentally different and therefore deserving of ostracisation and scorn, it will start to hate those who are different from it? Will you allow them to lead normal lives, with normal careers, like normal people? Will they be allowed to have children and start families, like normal people? Will you allow them the dignity of a peaceful life?

No, why would you? The ones that turn out poorly are tossed into a hole and forgotten about! The ones that turn out well you presumably don't hear about, because they can hide it better! Ignore the problem exists, why not? Whatever could go wrong?

Which then also becomes difficult to watch as a disabled person, because that's what the "failed" Augments are, they're disabled. Whether they display autistic traits or OCD symptoms or other mental (or physical) impairments, they are disabled. They may or may not have been disabled before their augmentation, but they certainly are now. And so their treatment becomes an issue of how the Federation treats its disabled citizens. And the answer seems to be: not very well!

So the ongoing storylines with Augments, and the 'organic android' storyline in Picard season 1, are two different sides of what is essentially only a debate on disability rights, and whether or not we deserve to exist. It's a conversation that gets so little nuance from the shows, but one that requires it.

The show could have gone the nuanced route. Legalise genetic augmentation so you can regulate it. Outlaw the modification of children and those who cannot consent. Give people the choice to change their bodies, should they desire or see a need to. The better you regulate it, the more you can prevent cases like the people in DS9, the more you can use the techniques to help people, the less you ostracise the people who did get augmented or who would like to get augmented.

But instead, all sides of the conversation within the series are advocating for eugenics, for genocide. Khan and his Augments, wanted to eradicate non-Augments, who they see as lesser, as inhibited, as small. Richard Bashir, and presumably the parents of the other augments, wanted to get rid of their children's disabilities and impairments. And the Federation is trying to eradicate Augments, by denying them lives, livelihoods, by ostracising and scorning them and throwing those you can visibly tell are different into a cell somewhere you don't have to think about them.

And I, as a disabled person, would simply like to watch Star Trek without being reminded that people would want me dead.