#expert positioning

[blogtey45]

Unlocking Success | How to Write an Expert Positioning Story | Summit Press Publisher

[dennisboobs]

7x10 // How Mac Got Fat

↳ Charlie & Dennis + getting high together

[critter-creature-or-beast]

Submitted for classification by @space-mouse

"(rescued from lake.)"

[biblically-accurate-dca]

super disorganized sketch page because i do what i want

[rukafais]

Peeking into the drow tag is incredible because people really do just be out here saying shit like BEFORE LARIAN DROW HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SEXY AND EVIL AND NEVER NUANCED EVER

Like damn I don't expect anyone to read an almost 40 book series but if you're going to do big informative rundowns you should at least do your research and look at a couple modules or something

[ash-and-starlight]

you’ve probably gotten a lot of asks like this, but I just haven’t seen any posted. what are your feelings on the remake, if you are watching it? more specifically, what do you think was the biggest problem with it?

i rlly havent actually! i think it's bc im really trying to Pretend I Do Not See It. rn i'm fighting TOOTH AND NAIL against the temptation to hatewatch because i do not need that in my life lmao.

the thing i cannot get over with is how Cheap it looks, it rlly smells of poor rushed workers to me, despite the astronomical budget that went into it. 15 MIL!!??? same as the late seasons of game of thrones!! now i'm not saying GoT is a pinnacle of virtue but it featured: a really good burn scar make up that took up half a character's face, a really good Notorious white hair wig with intricate hairstyles, really good costumes and heavy winter furs, really good location and fantasy beasts cgi and ummmmmmm from what i've seen of natla well. it had nothing of the sort. it's just bad gary it's uglyy

[purplecritter]

theories/thoughts/analysis about touchstarved after playing the demo a few times

Under the cut because it got long (I exceeded the post character limit...) Also spoilers btw. PS: All the links are to posts on the official social media accounts or their kickstarter, with the exception of the animated trailer screenshots that I got from here.

(Happy one month since demo dropped!)

Mhin

I'm starting with them because I play favorites.

Mhin's silhouette [1, 2] in the animated trailer [screenshot] highlights the crying eye (guilt? pain? blood? Their pupils almost seem to glow red, I wonder if it's connected) and the beak (in a way that reminds me of the skull of a bird rather than a live one).

The red choice connected to them is about asking if they're a scientist: their precision is almost surgical, though when asked if they've studied anatomy or medicine their reply is “Not quite” so it must be something similar enough.

When Vere complains about their first encounter with Mhin, he mentions that their dagger (visible in their in-game art) is an antique. Perhaps they inherited it, maybe from a mentor? It’s a curious choice of weapon for a hunter: stilettos (it’s described as such in the demo) aren’t ineffective in battle (especially if wielded by a physically strong fighter, which they absolutely are), but they are favored by assassins because they’re easy to conceal, they strike precisely and deeply but without letting much blood leak from the needle-thin wound.

As far as design goes, the clasps on their hood looks like a mix between the quaternary celtic knot and the triquetra / trinity knot. Symbolically, the latter is associated to the Triple Goddess (more on this in Leander’s section) or three elements, while the former represents the four elements or the four seasons or the four cardinal directions, and is often used as a symbol of protection.

Their fatal flaw is that they “resist change at all costs”. I'm led to believe that they became a Monster instead of being born one. I think it either happened not that long ago or they lost control over it recently, and that's what spurred them on their search for a cure. Them being described as “outcast” also makes me think that they could have been exiled from wherever they came from, perhaps because the people found out that “a monster hides within their frame”.

When questioning them about Ais, they say “I'm not going to risk my life in the hopes that any of them is different” which shows that they’re distancing themself from their situation (i.e., being/becoming a Monster).

Their hate towards Monsters could be either a projection of the hate they feel towards themself (if they were aware that there was a Monster inside of them before they lost control and hurt someone, for example) or just because one took over them and by extension they hate every Monster because of it. If the “lost control and hurt someone” thing is true I'll also add that they might be working as a Hunter as a way to try and atone. It could also be a way to expel the more violent instincts (I’m assuming they have some) into something productive.

The “they're afraid of being hurt. Or worse” on their relationship chart with Kuras feels to me like they're afraid of hurting him, also because when you ask them how they get along with him during the demo, they say “Few people are willing to help others; fewer when there's any risk involved” and I'm choosing to interpret that they think of themself as the risk. I know I'm really pushing it on this aspect but the “If you stay too close to me, you'll get hurt”+“Find someone safer to ask for help” only fuels me more. Their monstrous form also looks less defined and more liquid compared to the others, maybe because it's not as developed so it doesn't look as solid?

Vere is also said to be often provoking Mhin in order to make them lose control: he's confident in himself enough to think that he'd have the upper hand in a fight with Monster!Mhin, probably because they're a skilled hunter but they don't have that much experience over their monstrous side. Mhin dislikes Vere because he’s “the embodiment of everything [they] hate about Monsters”: while Mhin holds back from their nature and seeks a cure, Vere wants to give in to his instincts without restraints.

In the demo, they get defensive when questioned about the Senobium, but when they say “Whatever you're looking for, the cost may be higher than what you're willing to pay” I think they're speaking from experience.

It's interesting that it's implied that they slept with Leander once. Judging by the comment about the Wet Wick being the “perfect combination for making mistakes”, they're not enthusiastic about it. I’m guessing that they don't like that Leander has seen them with their guard down? Or they

Unless I missed something, it's unknown where in Eridia they're staying. I'll say it's probably in a different direction from the Wet Wick since they make a point of saying that they're only going there to protect Kuras (instead of, for example, “I live nearby anyways so I'll take the same road”).

The flowers in their pin design look similar to cornus kousa, or some other type of dogwood, symbolizing hope, resilience, renewal (I also found: rebirth, new life, strength, regret). After a long and grueling winter, Eridia greets the first dogwood blossoms with relief. These flowers are known to cling tenaciously to life even in the worst conditions, from barren wastelands to ruins perpetually shrouded in Fogfall… Really poetic meaning! I imagine Mhin as the dogwood flower, persisting even after the Tragic Backstory that made them lonely (“barren wastelands”) and their Monster Form (“shrouded in fogfall”)

Leander

Leander's silhouette [1, 2] in the animated trailer [screenshot] highlights only his eyes (they share the color of his magic -> maybe it's how he uses magic that contributes to him being “monstrous”?).

Nothing to note about his red choice except that it is unlocked by generally following his lead (taking the flower when he offers it, touching him without hesitation).

Speaking of his magic, an Alchemist MC notes that it extraordinarily powerful, enough that he doesn't need incantations or spell circles to cast it. Kuras mentioned that Leander prefers the company of those similar to him and that the Bloodhounds are mostly people who've endured the hardships of Lowtown, so I can't help but wonder if Leander was always a natural at magic, or if he did receive training but was later cast out, or maybe he left by choice?

A recurrent symbol in Leander's design is the triangle, as a detail mostly (on his coat, boots, dangling from his belt), but there's also one that looks like the alchemical symbol for earth (🜃) attached to the brooch on his chest; another symbol for earth is, you guessed it, the serpent, whose other meaning is duplicitous nature as well as renewal and rebirth. This connects to the ouroboros (present in his earring as well as in the background of the sticker and charm kickstarter rewards), symbolizing the cycle of death and rebirth and with relevance in alchemy as the “all in one”. The same theme is also present in the symbol of the triple moon (on his belt) symbolizing the stages of birth life and death and more in general three aspects united in one; the white lilies symbolizing renewal, regrowth, rebirth. The green feels fitting too, since it's often used to symbolize health and abundance.

Alongside the little triangle shape, attached to his belt there are a key (which is not the room key he gave MC), the head of which reminds me of two snakes knotted together; there's also a... I have no clue what that glowing red globe-spike is actually. It's the only other red item (along with the gem on the earring sword hilt) on Leander, but in some of the concept art it was green instead, so I think it's at least somewhat connected to his magic or the source of it. The shape of it combined with the red glow reminds me of Eridia’s towers’ architecture but that’s probably a stretch. I also feel like the symbol on the central part of the triple moon belt buckle is relevant: it immediately reminded me of a spell circle, and after doing some digging in sacred geometry, I’ve found that its 6 petal-like shapes (lilies also have 6 petals...) look similar to the hexafoil, “germ of life”, or the central part of the “seed of life”, which is connected to the divine creation of the world in 7 days/phases; a series of interconnected hexafoils make the “flower of life”, the meaning of which is creation (both in general and of the universe itself), and that everything’s interconnected to everything else... I couldn’t help but think of the “As above, so below” tagline in the Bloodhounds' poster; the sentence has so many interpretations in alchemy/esotericism but the gist of it is, “things in the higher realms of existence are just like in the lower/earthly plane” and “what happens in a large scale also happens in a small scale” and “common material things can make pure spiritual things”.

Overall, I'm thinking that all the green-glowing details on his outfit might be arcane foci, to help him cast magic without using incantations. As of right now, I’m willing to bet that Leander's connected to the Allmother (the traveler in the cart prayed to her) and/or the Abbess (the leader of the Senobium, I think): many of the aforementioned symbols also have ties to femininity and/or feminine qualities.

Other big things in his design are the eyebags and scar that goes from the cheek to the arm. I don’t have much to say on those, probably the scar is going to be connected to some important backstory event and the eyebags are a clue to suggest that there’s something troubling behind the bright and positive persona that he presents as.

If we want to take the name literally (I do), we could assume that Leander and his Bloodhounds are not simply a group of mercenaries, but mercenaries with a cause. Hounds are a breed specifically intended to track something specific (or someone specific) by scent. Given the animosity shown by them at the mere mention of the Senobium, it could have something to do with that, but perhaps it's also something more personal to Leander.

Let's get to the biggest red flag of the green-themed man: “Fatal flaw: [REDACTED]” and “Not all Monsters are inhuman”. There's also the fact that Vere doesn't trust his behaviour (I'll get to it in his section but I would generally trust Vere's words to be truthful). It’s also worth noting that in the first scene he makes an appearance in, he’s presented almost as a performer, a subtle-not-so-subtle hint that he can work his audience really skillfully. Overall, he seems too good to be true, and to quote Leander himself in the demo, “Things that seem too good to be true are often just that.” I don't think he's malevolent per se, but I also believe he's a very good liar (or at least, good at keeping his cards close to his pillowy bosom chest) and he can be a lot more ruthless than he lets on.

I already said it in Mhin's section but it's implied that the two of them slept together once, and I can't help but wonder if Leander also tried the whole "let me touch you so I can see what curses you but also you can tie me down if you want wink wink" tactic with them.

I get the feeling that he also slept with Ais? “He sure likes it when others take control”+“He's not so bad once you get to know him”. The bartender didn't joke about the room being used often huh (i’m saying this lighthearted and teasingly, nothing against it lol).

He's obviously staying at the Wet Wick with the rest of the Bloodhounds, and it happens often enough that the bartender/owner is familiar with their habits. I wonder if he also as a house of his own or not.

The flowers (in-game art, animated trailer, pin design, charm and sticker design) are white lilies, symbolizing devotion, sympathy and faith (I also found: renewal/rebirth/reregrowth and purity. Nothing says “I love you” as clearly as white lilies—ironic, since they’re some of the region’s most poisonous flowers. Some mages believe that these lilies contain a mysterious magic, but attempts to harness this power have only resulted in lethal poisonings. A not-so-veiled warning to be careful of what lies behind Leander’s charming facade... And considering that he seems to like when MC defers to him, I could imagine the (metaphorical... unless?) lethal poisoning in a possible bad end!

Kuras

Kuras' silhouette [1, 2] in the animated trailer [screenshot] highlights the several eyes (truth and secrets being very important themes in his route, he's also described as “observer”) and his tears (his guilt).

No red choice for Kuras, but there is various flavour text depending on choices. First and most notably, the Unnamed MC notes that something about him feels familiar: this could simply be a hint about him being divine in nature, or it might mean something more, I'm still uncertain. Moreover, depending on dialogue, one of his scenes towards the end of the demo plays out slightly differently, and it shows the more playful side of him (which I absolutely didn’t expect, but I enjoyed that).

As far as appearance goes, his human form and his divine form have many similarities: this post does a very good job of showing them, but additionally I'll say that his halo (silhouette, charm and sticker design) reminds me of the shape of his earrings.

There are a few lines that imply that being in Kuras' vicinity feels physically warmer. It could be just a standard “MC likes him so being near makes them feel all warm and fuzzy” but I think it's more to do with his angelic nature having a comforting effect on people. Something that could be connected to that is the theme of fire (“eldritch flames”, also visible in the charm and sticker design), which symbolically is the element that purifies souls and reveals the truth.

His clinic seems very neat, for someone who works with numerous patients for the whole day. Moreover, his clothes stay unnaturally devoid of any sign of dirt. His appearance is also very curated, so I think that part of it is him being thorough about cleaning and part of it might be a consequence of his magic. Additionally, during the 16/04/23 Q&A stream with the devs (timestamp: 49:32), they (jokingly) said that Kuras doesn’t even put his hair up while performing surgeries, which to me also means that he doesn’t need to do it because he’s supernaturally clean and hygienic.

There's no clear mention of him having magic in the first place, but I don't think he could've completely reattached MC's arm so flawlessly any other way.

I wouldn't think much of it if it were any other character but Kuras' birthday being January 1st makes me think that he picked the date on purpose... or randomly, considering it doesn’t seem to be important to him.

During the 16/04/23 Q&A stream with the devs (timestamp: 41:24), it was noted that Kuras’ name was deliberately chosen, I think implying that it probably has a meaning behind it, though I can’t say what as of now (my search only revealed that kurash is a type of wrestling in Central Asia, and that there’s a deity called Kura in a region of Syria).

I think it's a known fact in Eridia that Kuras is not simply human (“Only the most desperate or the foolish would dare lay a hand on me”), so it's interesting that he chose to not disclose that to the MC. Granted, they've interacted for less than a day now and information is the currency. I also wonder if he’s always been a doctor or if he chose to become one at a certain point... I guess it would depend: is he “repentant” for something he did before settling in Eridia, or after?

Ais also thinks that Kuras used to be more outgoing but the reason he doesn’t really open up a lot to people anymore is because he “must’ve been burned”, which is an interesting insight. I lean more towards thinking that he’s been burned after becoming a resident in Eridia.

There's nothing that strikes me as peculiar regarding his relationships with the other characters,with two exceptions. Kuras' self-inflicted exile is centuries old, and combined with the fact that he (occasionally and begrudgingly?) works with the Senobium, it might be plenty of reason for Vere to hate him. I think that Kuras might've witnessed how he came to be captured (or actively took part in it), and that event is what feeds his mistrust towards Vere. Secondly, it’s said that he “looks forward to Ais helping around his clinic”: does Ais use the Seaspring’s healing powers on some patients (“I help him in the clinic sometimes”)? I wonder if the smokey scent when the MC wakes in Kuras’ clinic was because he’d been there recently.

He lives in one of the more populated areas, probably because 1) more easy for patients to reach him and 2) he likes meeting people.

The flowers in his pin design look like magnolias, symbolizing longevity, grace, divinity (I also found: eternity, perseverance, purity). The elegant magnolia’s therapeutic properties are vital in such a dangerous world. The Senobium cultivates a small magnolia grove, though few make it past the imposing gates to enjoy the rejuvenating blossoms… Of course the medicinal aspect reflects Kuras well. And there’s the connection to him being employed in some form by the Senobium too, the gates could definitely be a metaphor for how he keeps the true extent of his powers at bay

Ais

Ais' silhouette [1, 2] in the animated trailer [screenshot] highlights his tattoo (Ocudeus' tentacles) and his eyes (the Groupmind's effect).

If MC’s been talking defiantly to him throughout the demo, the red choice connected to Ais also consists of rebelling to him, which he clearly enjoys (he’s said to dislike easy fights, so that’s probably it).

An Unnamed MC will note that Ocudeus’s presence/calling in the Seaspring feels familiar, and that his tattoo feels unnatural and it seems to move when they’re not looking... I’ll say that the tattoo isn’t a regular one, and might be the physical manifestation of the metaphorical mark that the bond with Ocudeus left on Ais. This also explains why in the silhouette of his monstrous form the tentacle tattoo is extended beyond what it normally looks like (it reaches his face, and over half of his chest).

The very prominent eye theme (charm and sticker design, Ocudeus possibly meaning “eye god” if it’s latin) and feeling of being watched (+“Got eyes in the back of my head”), plus the fact that the red-eyed woman knew what MC was seeking as well as their name, makes me believe that Ocudeus' area of influence is very extensive. As a consequence of the Groupmind, it's likely that apart from sharing thoughts (and identity?) those connected also share what they see to Ocudeus/Ais.

The notes left on the pillars are interesting. The topmost and middle one I feel are more useful to the player and serve as casual worldbuilding, but the bottommost one is the most curious imo: decoding the scrawling results in “never wish on a shooting star he's always listening”. Initially I thought that the “he” referred to Ocudeus, but it doesn't feel correct (Ocudeus always watches, it doesn't listen).

During the 16/04/23 Q&A stream with the devs (timestamp: 36:32), Ais was said to be the first character that they created, and the rest of the cast was built around him for cohesiveness. This is interesting to me, as from the demo I thought that “central” role would fit Leander more.

Speaking of Leander, both of them have a like/dislike relationship with each other (Leander because “the assassination attempts are funny, until they’re not” and Ais because he “won’t hesitate to put Leander in his place when the time comes”). Leander seems to be uncomfortable about the effects that the Seaspring has on people, while Ais talks about “a time where Leander's resolve will be tested, same for anyone in this plane or the next”... I wonder how soon that time is going to be 👀. I already noted this in Leander’s section but I think they also slept together at one point or another.

Same topic, different character: Vere. It’s cute that they’re so fond of each other [1, 2], and I’m very curious to know how they met. They probably bonded because of compatible personalities, but I also think that they like each other because they’re both dangerous, and being with someone who is also as dangerous feels... Fitting, safe, maybe?

The fact that he's “not as in control of his powers as he thought” is also interesting to me, since his nonchalance doesn't seem to be because he's lazy but because he's extremely confident. Perhaps he got too sure of himself and lost sight of the risks?

Ais is described as “renegade”, which by definition is someone who betrays a principle/alliance. I have no doubt that this is connected to the reason why he's a “gang leader without the gang members”, and probably to how he came to bond with Ocudeus. Because he's also said to dislike isolation, I lean more towards saying that he didn't willingly let his (former?) members go, my theory is either they left on their own (perhaps they were scared of Ocudeus, or they didn't approve of it) or he accidentally disposed of them (either because he wasn't in control of Ocudeus / the Soulless, or because Ocudeus felt hungry and they were conveniently nearby). Either way, it must have hurt him, since he's not at all willing to talk about it beyond “Gang took a walk”.

I’m very curious about Mhin saying “Monsters like [Ais] don't know or care about what they have”... What does (did?) Ais have? Could it be in reference to him letting his former gang/companions go away in favor of siding with Ocudeus and/or the Seaspring?

He lives at the Seaspring, though I wonder if he sleeps in a pile near those cushions, cuddling the Soulless, or if he has more personal quarters further in. There's a cave entrance visible on the other side of the bloody water, but that feels more for Ocudeus rather than Ais himself.

The flowers in his pin design are spider lilies, symbolizing mourning, goodbyes, lost memories (I also found: death, abandonment, new beginnings). Eerily beautiful, red spider lilies bear the sorrow of loss and farewells. Eridians believe these flowers shepherd lost spirits into the afterlife. The city has seen a sudden increase in these unearthly flowers, leaving many puzzled about their meaning… Very fitting with Ocudeus’ domain of losing memories and thus, beginning a new life! I’m not sure if we should be taking the increase in flowers literally, or just metaphorically as there’s many in the Groupmind

Vere

Vere's silhouette [1, 2] in the animated trailer [screenshot] highlights the eyes again (“windows to the soul” and all that), his fangs (him being the most openly aggressive) and the collar and chains (the thing that binds him to the Senobium's will).

I haven’t been able to not get his red choice [edit: “hidden ending”, not a red choice], but from my understanding of what others have said it’s based on how you talk to him and not on your actions. I’d love to say more but since I don’t know exactly influences it, I don’t have much to talk about regarding that🥹

“Not quite human, not quite monster. Seems we’re both--” I wonder if he was about to finish the sentence with ‘cursed’?

 He has unique dialogue for each of MC’s backstories: to an Alchemist he says “The misery born of your mistreatment haunts you. I understand what it’s like to be used and thrown away. I’ll give your life new meaning”; to an Unnamed “You poor thing, misled by those you trusted most. You caused so much suffering unknowingly. I know that pain. I can help you forget it all”; to a Hound “The betrayal, the loss of hope, the sheer desperation that drives you still to search and search to no end. I could give you something new to live for”. Apart from showing that he knows stuff he’s not supposed to, I’m more interested about what he says to Alchemist and Hound: he knows the pain of causing suffering unknowingly, and he knows what it’s like to be used and then discarded. His powers seems to be seeing through people, I’d say almost mind-reading (“You can’t hide anything from me.”), but I think soul reading is a more fitting definition. I feel that all of the comments related to MC's backstory have more to do with what they experienced/felt than just objective facts, plus the way he says “All that suffering has made your soul so irresistibile...”, it makes me think that he's reading MC’S present and past emotions through their soul.

The most apparent part of his design is that he’s half showing, half hiding. His outfit makes the harness very visible, yet he hid the leash from the MC for as long as possible, and he didn't let them close enough to touch it. His pants are fully cover one side and show skin on the other. The sheer fabrics look very cool on their own but I like to think they're also part of the "half show, half hide" thing he has going on. An Alchemist MC will note that the collar seems to be enchanted, while other backstories will simply say that the lock seems easy enough to open.

In the charms and stickers design, there's his chain in the background, and it's broken. Metaphorically and literally, “breaking free from the chains” symbolizes putting an end to what holds someone captive, but also finding freedom to be oneself. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but I think a freed Vere would also feel free to not hide so much of himself. On that note, I'm extremely curious about what he draws on his sketchbook. Also in the charm and stickers design, as well as in the Nintendo Switch port art, is the key that he stole from the MC. It's curious that they included it instead of a more personal object like his sketchbook (present in the Switch port art but not in the stickers), but it might just be a fun nod to the demo or maybe he'll develop a habit of stealing the key again in the full game, so I don't think I should read too much into that.

Neither Vere or Kuras of them gives too many juicy details about their mutual hate towards each other during the demo, but from the additional info [1, 2] published on Tumblr, I think it might have to do with the fact that both of them have been confined in Eridia for centuries, and perhaps Kuras even contributed to the capture of Vere, too.

He’s defined as a “charlatan”, which by definition means “someone who decieves through false claims”. It fits with him saying “If I were you, I wouldn’t trust a word I say” and “Information is a luxury [...] If you valued my words you'd have taken them seriously”. This feels like a recurring theme for Vere: Ais also says, “Vere is one of the most honest people you'll meet. Just don't listen to a single thing he says”. Despite the very obvious predatory/mischievous nature of Vere, I think that he is very honest about the things he says: it’s about reading between the lines.

His very evident distaste towards Leander might be connected to this, seeing that Leander seems to be hiding a lot.

Vere clearly likes Ais, but as soon as MC asks more, he warns them about how dangerous he and the Seaspring are. I think both are true: Ais being “a good person” doesn’t exclude the fact that he is dangerous.

It could be a stretch, but I wonder if Vere lives/stays in the building that he was chained to?

The flowers in his pin design look like some type of lilies, perhaps wood lily are a type of amaryllis that symbolizes passion, allure, pride ( when researching the wood lilies, I also found: danger, determination). Local legends conflict on the origins of the amaryllis. Whether they sprang from the spilt blood of a scorned lover or were born of an ancient Senobian ritual gone awry, the truth behind these flowers is knowledge long forgotten… or held by a privileged few. Like Kuras, his flower mirrors the connection to the Senobium though it remains vague about how exactly they became involved... In the greek myth, Amaryllis consulted an oracle to win the love of the shepherd Alteo: she walked to his house every day, piercing her heart with a golden arrow, and on the 30th day flowers bloomed from her blood. Alteo became enamoured with the maiden and the flowers that bore her name... I wonder how Touchstarved’s version of the myth is different than ours, and which character Vere is more akin to?

Nothing on Sen or Elyon for now since there's too little info on both, but I'm looking forward to putting them under a microscope too 👀

(bangs pots and pans) please share your theories/thoughts if you read this far? 👉👈

[alacants]

the juanki/rafa lore is fascinating omg

ISN'T IT WILD. today felt like. scripted. backstory episode dropped just in time for the narrative climax.

but their relationship is really SO fascinating. there's all these little tidbits the round-up didn't have space for, stuff like--juanki's asked about their relationship at a cincy presser and is like haha it's fine we're meeting for golf today. and then the next day he's back on message like, stop talking about rafa. rafa is speaking up in juanki's defense when he's left out of the madrid main draw, and then they're barely talking next time they're both at davis cup. even nowadays they are so clearly on the same page cheering for carlitos! …as long AS they are cheering for carlitos. i want a timer to know how long they can hold a conversation before one of them says something that breaks the get-along spell.

idk i just keep thinking that--i mean what IF that hideous run of bad luck (chicken pox, broken rib, maybe some poor decision-making) hadn't destroyed juanki at his peak. i would be so curious to know if rafa's approach would have been different if juanki had been more of a threat on the court in those first formative years on tour--more like he felt about moya or roger. instead he just leapfrogged right over him and i think that's what got under juanki's skin so bad, not just that this kid usurped his place but that he didn't even like. notice him there.

(i was just talking with my friend whose take on rafa's side of this is that the obvious bad feeling probably bothered him a lot more coming from a spaniard than it would have otherwise. like if it was… i can't think of a good example. marat safin? a former world no. 1 who was never much of a threat to him on court. --if it was marat safin who got snippy in the media and cold-shouldered him in person then lol whatever. but at home he wanted to be loved. and juan carlos did not love him.)

[thepersonalquotes]

More than attitude, posture has also been used throughout history to communicate one’s status in society.

Cindy Ann Peterson, My Style, My Way: Top Experts Reveal How to Create Yours Today

[sithfox]

Today's snippet is from Setting Fires to Keep You Warm, part 2 (current outline has it at nine parts total). It's a few months after Fox first arrives on Coruscant.

It would be great, Fox thinks tiredly, if these damn assassins would just get the hint. He pops up from his hiding spot behind Amidala's secretary's desk and nails three goons in a row before dropping back down behind the sturdy furniture. At least he had been here checking in with the Senator's team about her upcoming travel plans when they decided to attack: preventing a kidnapping is much easier than rescuing someone.

The woman beside him is fiddling with something electronic, teeth bared as she twists two wires together and whips it at the crowd at the door. One of Amidala's handmaidens, her hood has fallen and exposed her blonde hair in disarray from Fox tackling her down behind the desk. There's a loud bang and several shrieks of pain and she smirks, pleased with herself. Fox risks a glance past their shelter and is impressed despite himself—only two of the ten mercenaries are left standing, both much more heavily armored than their colleagues. Probably the ringleaders, then. He takes a split second to run through his options and decides to trust his instincts. "Cover me," he tells the handmaiden, then rolls out from behind their shelter and throws himself towards his remaining foes.

[friendofthecrows]

Hey I know I focus on low empathy disorders (esp. because I have ASPD) and this sometimes extends to talking about how many empaths demonize us but:

Shout-out to people with high empathy/hyperempathy that aren't perfect angels 24/7

I can't talk on it much because I'm Literally The Opposite but the people who have been most accepting about my lack of empathy have been people with "too much" of it.

Whether you *are* super sweet or whether your empathy manifests in difficulty controlling anger or pain you feel from others (or both, as is common) you have just as much of a right to your struggles as all of us without empathy. You're not overemotional, you're reacting proportionally to what you feel. Even if you were, you deserve to be treated with kindness and without judgement!!

Solidarity between people with low/no empathy and people with hyperempathy forever (つ˘◡˘)づ💚

[l-in-the-light]

How would Law treat so with a depression & anxiety? Going through this shit at the moment 🥺

For starters I need to apologize, I really wanted to answer it sooner, but I felt like I would do it poorly if I don't prepare mentally first and read up a bit more about the topic, to arrange thoughts in my head.

Let's say someone on Law's crew is going through this, Bepo perhaps, or if Law is with Strawhats - Sanji (for some reason I feel like Sanji is the most likely candidate for depression&anxiety combo). Law isn't the type who would ask the question directly, he would observe instead, and since he is very good at observing people, he would notice the tiny things others wouldn't. If it was Sanji, Law could realize how he didn't do any special snack or drink for the girls on the crew in the afternoon and in the evening or how his meals are suddenly a bit simpler, less exquisite, and of course Law would notice because he was slightly impressed before (but also thought it's such a waste for a cook on a pirate crew to prepare food on the level of highest class restaurant). He could notice that something's wrong in the details, like less decorative dressings, less variety, sticking to 3 flavours instead of usual 10, stuff like that. Suddenly they get more meals that are faster to make than long hours of preparation Sanji usually dedicates to cooking. In other words, things Sanji enjoys the most would suddenly stop bringing him joy, so the first signs of depression would be that he prepares less fancy meals. He stops also picking up fights with Zoro (though that would be a pretty obvious sign that something's up). Seems Sanji can't also sleep at night, and ofc Law would know, because he is also having sleeping troubles - but that's normal for him, not so much for Sanji.

Of course to everyone Sanji seems like he behaves the same way as always, spending all his time in the kitchen, smiling to the girls, maybe just less enthusiasthic than usual, but everyone thinks it's just Sanji feeling under the weather. It probably wasn't the first time either, probably any time Sanji thinks of his family he spirals mentally down into depression. But everyone on the Strawhats crew is used to it, and the new guys (Jimbei, for example) wouldn't know what's his usual behaviour anyway. Law though, would notice those tiny changes and take it seriously. He would observe discreetly at first, then try to strike a conversation, probably on one of those long sleepless nights they will inevitably end up sharing. He would choose his words carefully, mostly checking in if Sanji wants someone to talk with and share, and if not, he would just offer his quiet company instead.

After this conversation Sanji would know that his suffering isn't unnoticed. Law isn't the type to push himself or his help on people, but he would try to show support in some smaller or bigger ways, with his actions (because that's where Law's support shines the most, not in his words). For example, he would offer to go grocery shopping for Sanji so Sanji won't have to do it and feel guilty for not fullfilling his duties properly as the cook of the crew. He would also help with cooking, even though Law's meals would be probably just on the edible level of cooking, nothing special, maybe slightly on the bad end, but tolerable. He would announce soon afterwards that it's the crew's time to take turns to cook, so Sanji can get some rest - he wouldn't tell the others why or he would think up some sort of excuse, he wouldn't share personal stuff like the true reason for the sudden arrangement, if Sanji isn't ready to share by himself. It would be Strawhats turn to pamper Sanji and they would probably suck a bit at that, but they would try their best anyway. Sanji probably isn't even mentally prepared to accept so much attention and care directed at him, so he would probably protest and later cry about it on his own. Maybe that would finally push him to talk with the rest about how he's feeling and what he's going through. Sanji is the type who needs a gentle indirect push, or at least so it seems like to me.

Of course Sanji would have no idea that Law already prepared Strawhats for this talk, warned them about things they shouldn't say or do, and offered them ideas on what they can tell him instead; how they should always be ready to listen, but don't push, but be persistent and consistent in how they express that Sanji can turn to them any time he needs to. Law would also not tell them what's it about, but would bribe them to sit through him yapping and he would make sure they repeat everything they learned back to him, so he knows they understood. He would take extra time with Luffy, but not because Luffy won't understand, but because Law worries Luffy might get particularly affected about it. Law takes extra time to explain to him that he can't just punch the right guy or distract Sanji to solve the problem, but there are things only Luffy can do for Sanji.

After the talk Chopper immediately proceeds to study more about depression and anxiety, and will educate Strawhats at every possible occassion (Law will make sure Sanji isn't in the vicinity when it happens, even if it means suddenly shambling people away and disorienting them). Zoro would get really whimsical, even in the middle of his training routine, which probably never happened before. His conclusion would be, probably, to be even more annoying than usual to Sanji, to make him feel like nothing changed, not from Zoro's side at least. Zoro might not look like it, but he probably went through depression as well after Kuina died, so he can sort of relate, even if he doesn't have a good idea how to help anyone, because it's not like he ever got any support. But he is always listening carefully to everything Chopper says and reccommends to do. Nami and Robin try to spend more time with Sanji, despite the fact it doesn't make him happy like it usually would, because now he has troubles actually feeling anything positive. But the girls would still just sit around in kitchen, doing their own things, keeping him company, because at least then Sanji won't sit there alone, isolated and stuck with his thoughts on his own.

Franky will cry over Sanji at random moments, because it's Franky, he can't control it. He also went through depression before, more than once, so he provides what he knows best: creating some devices for Sanji's kitchen. He also has a long heartwarming talk with him and encourages Sanji to try some craftwork as well, no matter what it would be, because that was what helped Franky himself to deal with things, so who knows, it might be worth trying. Sanji probably has no heart to tell him that he can't bring himself to do much at all, no matter how simple those things might be, but he thanks him, the advice might have not been the best but the talk actually helped him a lot. Brook will play some sad tunes and forbid happy music on the ship for a while to show his solidarity. He also gives Sanji his music dial he keeps for Laboon, just for keepseeking, because he claims that's the only thing that saved him when he was stranded on the Florian Triangle, so maybe it can help Sanji as well. Jimbei would be the guy who doesn't do much, but always makes sure to validate Sanji's feelings whenever he talks up or mentions anything, never judges or pushes him to do or try anything, just reminds him to tell himself to keep going, "even if only for one more minute, hour or day" and that it will eventually get better even if it's hard to believe it right now. He also reminds him it takes time and it's normal it feels so overwhelming. He always remembers to tell him he's not alone and that all of them care for him. He never, not even once, looks tired or disinterested when listening to Sanji either, always giving him his full attention.

Usopp probably is the one who has the most ideas how to help, but feels like nothing will work out (sometimes he tries anyway, sometimes he resigns before even trying any of his ideas), so he ends up feeling down as well, because we all know Usopp has actually chronic depression himself. Law warns Chopper to pay attention to him as well, already having predicted that Usopp will need extra support. This results in one night of Sanji and Usopp bonding over a really long, serious talk about their feelings, slowly working through them together. Finally Usopp declares he probably couldn't help at all and that's it's all his fault, he tells Sanji how great he actually is with how he deals with all of this, and ends up just taking care of Sanji by massaging his shoulders or giving him a foot massage as they drink chamomile tea that Chopper insists for them to always have at hand. It turns out Usopp is pretty good at making sure of that. And also to identify and erase any stressors or things that cause Sanji to feel anxious (anything even remotely swirly like Vinsmoke's eyebrows, for example), even if he sometimes overdoes that. He soon accompanies Law for grocery shopping as well, having realized that's also something he is able to help with.

Luffy struggles the most on how to show his support to Sanji, despite Law always sticking to his side and telling him he just needs to act like he always does. But Luffy thinks that's never enough, because no one was ever alright with Luffy just acting like Luffy, though he doesn't say that part outloud. Finally, Law teaches him some things he learned long time ago from medical books, like 333 or 555 rule for anxiety. And Luffy is overjoyed when he can teach that to Sanji, always accompanying him for the exercise, breathing deeply, withholding his breath and releasing it again, even synchronizing it together with Sanji. Now whenever Sanji has to do it, Luffy does it as well with him, even if he has to rocket himself from the other end of the ship. He also starts to love naming the things he can hear, touch or move; despite the fact he always found stuff like that boring before, but since he's doing it for Sanji he thinks it's awesome now. Luffy thinks Law was right and that there are things he can do, and Law ends up teaching him a few more.

They all form a support network for Sanji together. When Sanji is ready to get some therapy help, they're his anchor providing a safe environment for him to recover. The Strawhats also control each other, so that no one accidentally pushes Sanji to do something that makes him feel uncomfortable or to prevent someone from blabbling out something harmful (while thinking it's helpful). Since they're on a ship, soon Chopper needs to become a therapist for Sanji, and Law also educates himself more to act as a support when needed.

I guess Law would arrange the support circle, make sure the help others offer isn't misguided, and gives Sanji a gentle push. Then he would just observe and direct others to get the message across: that Sanji isn't alone, that everyone is understanding and available for him, and that whatever he's going through isn't his fault. That's exactly what Bepo, Penguin and Shachi did for him, and what they did for Bepo when he was having some of his depression episodes. Law might not be good at giving direct help, but arranging things to show support is something he can do and will definitely do. Finally the skills he gained from Doflamingo's training, one that was meant for taking advantage of people, exploiting their weaknesses and manipulating them, has ended up being actually useful, but not in ways Doflamingo would even think of. Now, when holding firmly in his palm all the knowledge and vulnerable things he learns about people, he knows how to use all of that to offer better help and save people, instead of harming them.

Sanji probably notices it was all his doing in the background, even if Law takes no credit for it, but that's a whole different tale.

I'm sorry you have to go through this, anon, I know it's not fair. I also have a friend who has depression so the topic isn't completely foreign to me, but I'm aware that at the end of the day it's only you who knows how it feels and how much you're going through. I hope you have someone you can get support from, be it family or friends, please never hesitate to reach out to anyone for help, even if it feels really overwhelming to do that. Please remember that it's okay to feel like this, your feelings matter and nothing of it is your fault. Take care of yourself ❤

[oidheadh-con-culainn]

also none of that means you can't send me asks or whatever. i can decide whether or not to answer and in how much detail and if i give an in depth answer then that means i both have the information and am happy to provide it. i'm just tired of the repeated trend of my shitposts being held up to the standard of Educational History Content when they were never intended to be that, they're just me blowing off steam in my nerdy way because that's who i am as a person

[queerism1969]

[ohsalome]

You know what's sad? Because western discourse is shaped by the post-vietnam* attitude towards war and soldiers, his torturous death will have meant nothing for these people. Sure, most westerners feel bad about deaths of Ukrainian civilians, especially children - you have to be a real reptilebrain not to - but when it comes to our soldiers, it's almost as you think that brutal torture comes with the territory. Or maybe it's the poisonous effort of articles slandering Azov, and now people think that the entirety of ZSU is made up of literal ww2 nazis... 😓 I just know that every time our civilians get massively killed, we manage to convince our western partners to send us more weapons. It's like a bloody requisite for the fucking application. But our soldiers? Idk. Why do you think people lose their humanity once they put on the uniform? They defend our homes, they are literally the only reason all of us, myself included, are alive today... Only to feel even more pain, all this pain...

Спочивай, брате

[blood-orange-juice]

There's a scene in the first season of Babylon Berlin where a characters reads a lecture on psychoanalysis and PTSD (the series are set sometime between the two world wars) and the audience boos him.

"Brain is an organ, not a poetry book," they say.

For me it put into perspective how important was what Freud did. Considering the setting he had to work in, the setting he had to overcome in his own mind first, we really don't value the guy enough.

Not like I didn't *know* it, but it helped immensely to see it in context.

He was the first who said that humans have an inner life that's neither sacred nor purely physical. That it's governed by its own predictable rules and breaks in predictable ways, and that it can be mended through talking. Not being electrocuted or medicated out of the patient.

Just how awesome is that. Just how much inner work that required in his times.