#for some reason i think about these kinds of things a lot

[thetarotyapper]

✧˖°. people's first impression of you (pick-a-card reading) ✧˖°.

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(how to pick a card? observe the given images and choose the one which you feel the most drawn to. scroll down to read your message!! remember, this is a general reading, so take what resonates! ps.- if you feel drawn to more than one card/image/pile, feel free to read the others too!! if the chosen pile doesn't relate to you, feel free to choose another. the choice is yours<3)

✮pile I✮

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is very loyal and family oriented. you're not someone who only thinks about your own needs, rather you're someone who cares about other people and always considers other people's feelings. i would say you're more of an empath. people find you as someone who is easy to talk to and someone who can understand their feelings. you're a non-judgemental person and people feel like they can be their true-self around you. you make people feel valued and seen. with the 10 of pentacles and the 7 of pentacles next to each other, i'm seeing here that people's first impression of you is that you are someone who puts in all your effort just so your family can lead an easy life. you care about others feelings more than your own. you give more than you recieve. and to be honest, because of your hardworking nature and your constant dedication to make others happy, many people see you as an inspiration. you give them this sense of being their authentic self and many people understand that love has no limits. some people, as they grow older, tend to detach or not maintain the same bond with the people from their past; but you're not that type of person. no matter the distance, no matter the circumstances, you always try your best to be there for the people you love and your compassion is something that people notice about you when they meet you for the first time. the way you care for others is what makes you stand out. your love is genuine, your love is kind, your love is rejuvenating, and your love is one of a kind. oh my god i didn't mean to sound so poetic here, but this is the message that is coming through for you, love😭✋. 

people also feel like you are someone who is a workaholic. you always strive to be the best version of yourself, and you never rest if you aren't satisfied. sometimes your overworking tendencies can be concerning, is what i'm seeing here. i understand you love, because i too tend to overwork sometimes and it's so emotionally exhausting. so please, take breaks in between and go easy on yourself. i’m rooting for you, love<3 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is not satisfied with your growth or progress and sometimes you might come off as “frustrated” to them. but here's the thing love, you're doing so much better than you think. i feel like you impose unrealistic standards upon yourself, and you're too hard on yourself. let yourself free, babe. take a step back and appreciate your hard work. you need to validate your emotions, and give yourself the love and appreciation you deserve. i see here that you are someone who appreciates and encourages people's smallest achievements; but when it comes to you, you're the complete opposite. it's fine to treat yourself with ease for once, babe. you deserve the love. people feel like you sometimes lose control while working. you might exceed your limits and this could lead to tiredness and exhaustion. i know i said this before, but please be easy on yourself, love. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who tends to overthink a lot and you might not feel too good about yourself. either you're someone who feels like you aren't giving much/being there for others or you're someone who is suffering from insecurities. whatever the reason may be, the effect on you is negative. but here's the thing, you're literally perfect, pile 1. the way you love, your kind and hard working nature is appreciated by so many - so don't burden yourself over the thought of “not being good enough”. in fact, you're more than we could ask for. your presence creates a sense of security and people feel so safe with you. you heal people, my love. 

one more thing i’d like to mention here, love - many people feel like you are someone who is easy to take advantage of because of your kind nature and many times, they do. and you know that people sometimes use you, but you're not the type to speak up and argue. their actions hurt you because you did not expect them to turn out like this. sometimes you might even blame yourself for letting them get too close to you. but that's your nature, love. you're not the type to hate and be distant. people are naturally drawn towards you. but you do need to set boundaries, my love. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is very passionate and someone who is not afraid to show your love for others. many people even look up to you and even try to be you. some people might try to copy your ways and might try to steal your identity. you're loved by many pile 1, and some people might be jealous of that. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who has been through a lot, and your experiences have shaped you to be who you are today. people close to you know that life has not been that easy for you and you have gotten things the hard way. but here's the most beautiful thing about you, love - regardless of life being so harsh towards you, your lessons and your experiences have only made you softer and more loving; rather than making you tough and hard to talk to. 

many people look at you as someone who will do ANYTHING for anyone. you give me “ask and you shall receive” vibes. you will go out of your way to make people happy. but now here's the thing babe, you are someone who is dominant and i'm seeing here that many people automatically want to listen to you. you don't come off as “commanding” - no. rather, you come off as someone who just naturally gets all the things you want. it's like the universe has blessed you with abundance - almost like a reward for your kind nature. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is a social butterfly and you naturally pull many people towards you. people are just attracted to your energy, you know? but please be aware babe, some people might be energy-suckers and will only try to be and copy you. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is courageous and independent and someone who stays true to their beliefs and opinions. they see you as someone who can stand on their own and doesn't necessarily need anyone's help to get on your feet. i'm also seeing here that you're a natural born leader. things flow according to you and for some reason, i'm getting very dominant feminine vibes. many people might even be intimidated by you, but they also find it so damn sexy. 

additional information - yellow, cream/brown, roses, light green, orange, 2, libra, jupiter, 11, taurus, mercury, 5, pisces, uranus, blue/brown eyes, dirty blonde/brown hair. 

✮pile II✮

oh my lovely pile 2, okay so before i get to your reading, i’m seeing here that there has been a major shift in your energy. you were someone who felt lost and overwhelmed. i'm seeing here that you might have even isolated yourself because you felt nervous and anxious. things have not been easy for you, pile 2. i'm seeing here that you have been having a hard time emotionally, physically and even financially. you've given your best and you still feel like you have not reached your expectations. before, you had unrealistic expectations, but now, you've realised the unhealthy and concerning effects of the unrealistic expectations you had on yourself and now you've started to impose reasonable expectations on yourself. pile 2, i'm so so proud of you. you've been such a strong person throughout and honestly, you deserve all the good things coming towards you. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is very mindful about your finances and you do not like to spend too much money. you might be someone who is focused on building a secure future for yourself because you have struggled a lot in your past and you know that in order to lead a fulfilling life, you will need to put in the effort. people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is very hardworking and you are someone who will not rest until you get your desired results. i'm also seen here that your efforts are paying off and that the universe is blessing you with good opportunities and health. people's first impression of you is that you are someone who has literally CLIMBED mountains and you ain't someone who will give up that easily (AS YOU SHOULDN'T, MY LOVELY PILE 2). 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is hard to get through and hard to understand. you tend to isolate yourself if someone gets too close to you because you're afraid they'll see your “true-self”. and babe let me tell you something, your true self is BEAUTIFUL. so embrace that bad bih energy of yours instead of suppressing it. WE NEED MORE BADDIES LIKE YOU SO DON'T HIDE THAT BABE AWAY. people might even feel like you are too “gloomy” or someone who does not express their happiness too often. they also feel like you are someone who tends to focus on short-term gratifications rather than thinking about your long term. although you are someone who is careful about your finances, you're sometimes tempted to buy cute stuff and honestly? i get you babe😭✋ i’m the same🤸‍♀️🏃‍♀️. but it's okay to spoil yourself once in a while hehe😚🤭. but spoil yourself without regrets. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is very calm and wise. i'm seeing here that there is something about your touch or the way you handle things. it seems very captivating and flawless. i feel like you guys have beautiful hands (i'm so sorry this information was out of nowhere😭) but what i'm trying to imply here is that people love your hands. i think it's one of the first things they notice about you. there's something so gentle and loving about your hands. many people would like to feel them. OH MY GOD THE WAY I SAID IT SOUNDS SO ODD BUT LIKE I'M SAYING IT IN A NOT-ODD-BUT-GOOD-WAY. i hope you get what i mean. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is constantly seeking for a secure future and i'm seeing that you are also working towards it. i don't know why but i have a feeling that you might take on a lot of responsibilities or maybe work more than 1 job just so that you can earn a bit more money. i'm getting “over-time” worker energy here. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is a little stubborn and someone who takes a lot of risk. you may tend to be a little rebellious and will hate it when someone tells you what to do. but here's the thing love, you're not someone who gives up that easily. but this trait of yours can be misunderstood as “rebellious” or “strong-headed” by many. but you know what, love? you be you and you do what makes you happy. don't let anyone control your life like that, especially if they don't know what type of person you are or what type of goal you are working towards. be unapologetically you!! people sometimes feel like you lack direction and they genuinely want to guide you, but sometimes the guidance and their advice may come out as very commanding and controlling and i see that you are not someone who appreciates that. i do agree that they can take a better approach towards helping you or guiding you, instead of straight up try to control you. i’m seeing here that you might purposely do the opposite of what they say just to piss them off lmaoo😭. you give me very youthful energy and i'm seeing here that people don't know how to handle you, so they just resort to trying to control you. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is still discovering what you want to do and you have a very curious nature. people naturally feel like they need to give you guidance or advice because if they don't, they think that you will be going down the wrong path. people's first impression of you is that you are someone who likes to explore a lot and sometimes people feel like you cannot stick to one interest. they feel like you are at this time in your life where you want to try out new things. people sometimes feel like you are bad at making decisions and they feel the need to control you. sometimes people feel like you will go out of hand and will make risky choices due to your youthful nature and i'm seeing here that they will hit you with the “i'm doing this because i care about you” move. i lowk feel like people need to give you the chance to explore your interests, because this just seems so off to me😭. like yes i understand you care for pile 2, but please be easy on them.  

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who takes on a lot of burden or you are someone who makes commitments and does not fulfill them, or has difficulty fulfilling them. people also feel like you tend to overwork yourself a lot and see you as someone who is currently dissatisfied with where you are right now. however, i see that you are in the process of building the better version of yourself and honestly babe, i am rooting for you. many people feel like you are unnecessarily stressed about things, but rather than understanding your point of view, they might sometimes lecture you.

pile 2, i see that you are someone who is still experimenting with what you want and your energy is all over the place - which is a good thing to me because i am seeing that you can try out new things and see what you like better and what does not suit you. but what i am seeing here is that you are misunderstood by a lot of people and that is something they need to work on.

additional information - blue, orange, blonde/light hair, strings, purple, lavender, off-white/pale colours, hard working/strong hands, closed eyes/not meeting other people's eyes, 11, sagittarius, ascending lunar node, pisces, 2, jupiter, cancer, 12, venus. 

✮pile III✮

pile 3, can i just mention how captivating and beautiful you are? like gosh leave the spark for the rest of us too!! hehehe🤭👀✨. like i'm so drawn to your energy, now i understand why people can't take their eyes off of you!! people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is so intelligent, it's so ugh….sexy. like you got beauty AND brains, how can someone be this chef's kiss. like i have no words to describe your energy and your aura. i don't think i can even describe it babe because i ain't going to do you justice😭. like let me tell you this, you have people wrapped around your fingers in the first meeting itself. like for example, if you're meeting someone for the first time, they will be so drawn towards your energy, they just want to do whatever you tell them to do. and can you even blame them?

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is intuitively blessed and you are someone who is very protected by your guardian angels. no one can mess with your energy just like that. you've got the power, babe. you are the power. you are someone who possesses a lot of knowledge and people feel intimidated by you because of this. they feel like you are too good for them and they might even feel inferior or insecure around you. i'm seeing here that people would be surprised if you ever talk to them for the first time. they'll feel like, “omg, no way THEY just spoke to me”. however, some people might feel like you are “self-centred”, but honestly babe, it's their insecurity talking. they know that they can never be you. you be you, love. also, i wouldn't be surprised if many people come to you seeking guidance because you're very intuitively blessed. the universe works in your favor, babe. 

BYE i just randomly got a feeling that people just naturally want to obey you because you look so pretty when you look down at them and order them around😭🏃‍♀️. i'm seeing here that you might be someone who is pretty tall or you might wear heels. or you just give out this very dominant energy. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is still stuck in the past and you might be someone who has a lot of regrets. you might have this tendency to overthink about what could have or should have happened rather than just accepting the reality. you might be a perfectionist because you might tend to feel disappointed if things don't go your way. some people might feel like you are missing out on great opportunities because you are not willing to move on from the past. they might just straight up think that you are “over-sensitive” rather than understanding your emotions.

there is something about your shoulders and your hair, pile 3. you might be someone who has broad shoulders and strong arms or you just have very attractive shoulders. your hair is also very captivating. i'm so sorry if these messages feel random, but i'm just getting it out of nowhere😭🤭. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is very emotional and you love with your whole heart. i am seeing here that many people have even tried to grab your attention by doing silly silly things. they might try to constantly seek your validation. pile 3, you for real make people so worked up over you, huh?👀😏. 

many people view you as a potential partner or may try to pursue you romantically during your first meeting with them. they might try to impress you and will try to win you over. your energy and your presence seems very pure and many people feel like they can just be free around you. you heal a lot of people, pile 3. and you are the type of person who will love someone even though they did you wrong. sometimes this trait of yours can be positive and negative - depending upon the situation. if someone constantly hurts you and you know that they are bad for you but you still keep on taking them back, then that's a negative thing. if someone hurts you by mistake and they did not realise that but they own up to their mistake, then that is a good thing. what i'm trying to imply here is that you are someone who is very accepting and sometimes this could work in your favor, while other times it could come to your disadvantage. so please be careful when you open your heart to someone, love. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is very emotionally strong and that you depend on your intuition for answers rather than seeking guidance from the external world. you're someone who has gone through a lot of experiences, so you know yourself better than anyone else, and you've seen a lot of things. i'm also seeing here that sometimes people feel like you don't open up so easily to them and they wish that you could be yourself around them. i have a feeling that you give people just enough information about yourself and they feel like they know you - but they don't. i feel like sometimes you don't understand yourself either. but that's completely okay, and you don't have to be harsh on yourself because of that. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who is still learning and seeking knowledge. you are not satisfied with where you are right now and you want to build yourself more. many people adore your drive and dedication and many people look up to you. you are an inspiration to many and people can't help BUT feel drawn towards you. what kind of magic do you possess, pile 3? how can you be so perfect???

people might also look at you as a competition and they will always try to be better than you. you kinda hurt their ego, pile 3 ksksjakakaka. they know they can't be better than you and that hurts them😭😭. 

people's first impression of you is that you are someone who hates playing games and being passive. you prefer straightforward and honest communication, and people know they can't b*llsh*t around you. they know that you'll call them out. pile 3, i don't know how you do it, but people feel so intimidated by you, it's literally insane. like please give me some tips🤭👀☝️. 

additional information - dark/light brown hair, dark/black hair, very light blonde hair, broad shoulders, strong arms, yellow, golden, navy/dark blue, black, broad face, light blue, pink, cancer, 5, pluto, aquarius, libra, 11, uranus, 7, cancer, sun. 

hi loves!! i hope this reading finds you in good health, and i hope you are doing well. life has been so busy lately, but im so glad i finally got some time to do a reading😭. take care of yourself, and i will see you in my next reading. thank you for being here<3

(note: tarot & oracle cards provide guidance and possible insights into what could happen based on current energies, thoughts, feelings and actions. the cards can highlight potential paths or outcomes, but they do not predict the future in a fixed way. this is a general reading so take what resonates!)

જ⁀➴ all credit for the pictures and dividers goes to their rightful owners and creators

dividers - @hyuneskkami @diviniyae

[blackmoonoracle]

How to Overcome the limitations of your Mind?

pile i

This Pile could be Christian or believe in the concept of gods/god. I heard the hierophant, you need to connect with your god! Maybe some of you are depressed, suicidal, lonely, or lost- you could feel alone in a world filled with frauds. There could be cancer and Scorpio energy in this pile. People who have been hurt, stolen from, left behind because they picked themselves. Maybe some days it’s very hard to keep picking yourself. Keep going, pray together is what keeps wanting to come out. It was what I heard earlier and I was about to say to god but the autocorrect for together immediately filled in before I could even type another letter. How strange!

Maybe there’s someone you need to pray with, whether they be deceased or alive. I see here that you are going through some kind of molting or transformation or death and it’s felt very ugly and painful. Maybe some of you are further in this process than others, it feels like realization- I see lots of feathers stuck into tar and stuck into bare skin. You could feel barely human, maybe your soul isn’t human at all. Maybe you’re simply having a human incarnation & maybe it’s been hard for you. Perhaps you don’t feel suited to humanity, there is a massive wound in the heart around love, support, and community. Perhaps you always felt like the ugly duckling, a loser, unwanted, unserious, unworthy, maybe you didn’t try in life because you didn’t know you would ever learn to care. Maybe caring about yourself was never an option.

I heard “it’s not dangerous to try new things” and “don’t be alarmed when the time comes for change”

“But right now, you’re doing just fine,”

To keep fighting to survive is to overcome your mind, you are rewiring something that was broken over time. You went through a slow agonizing death, maybe something traumatic happened and from there it was a VERY slow death. Maybe too rotted, from the inside out. This is not shallow pain, this is pain that poisons like mold. That overtakes and fills your mind and your heart- you’re releasing something big this year. You’re releasing a fear, you came out on the other side of a series of deaths and rebirths and transformations. Now you are simply being asked to switch gears. It is HARD, but it is worth the fight. You overcomplicate things with extremities but it isn’t worth it.

You’re a very versatile human, with a lot to offer the world.

But until you accept that about yourself it’s going to be a bit rough, do things to prove your value to yourself in a reasonably healthy way. Show up in your life, make yourself feel accomplished- and learn more about yourself- learn about the stories of your ancestors maybe? Or the Women in your lineage, learning their stories and reflecting on them may bring you some kind of peace & solidarity.

You’re not as alone as you think, and you’re very loved. To love you is not a burden, but part of loving others is being responsible for our own well being. You will find more happiness & balance in your relationships by healing a wound of loneliness. Maybe you were exiled, isolated, etc as a punishment. It is not a punishment to stand in your own square, it is not a punishment to be sad, it is not a punishment to be unhappy.

You aren’t being punished anymore

But you’re punishing yourself

Channeled messages:

Eat better, pray together? (I heard this exactly haha)

Run through god

Ask for forgiveness

Let go of your sins

pile ii

I feel an emptiness in pile 2, as if you are unable to enjoy or partake of the pleasures in life due to fear. You could have been neglected as a child, maybe you didn’t have food, water, love, or shelter as reliably as you should have. There is a very deep childhood wound here, but you have to stop feeding it. Maybe you were literally trained not to rely on your own judgment? It seems to me that you are so reliant on others or outside sources for answers that you can’t even see clearly in front of you. You hold the power, you can make things work in your life- no matter how hard it seems. Even if it seems like escaping the pain is like climbing a treacherous mountain YOU CAN DO IT! You feel deeply,

Ngl some of u could be having relationship issues??

You actually do have the skill and ability to fix this relationship! It is 1000% salvageable!! This could also be about building a relationship with YOURSELF!!!

A lot of this feels like self motivation, taking action, and trusting yourself. You’re actually VERYYY good at rationalizing things calmly, you have a lot of stability in your life and the people around you love you a lot & want to communicate with you openly and fairly & honestly there’s a lot with a relationship popping up here. Perhaps you need to overcome these mental limitations to save it, or you need to face yourself head on to foster a better relationship with yourself.

Either way! You have all that you need to accomplish this, don’t exist in lack- have GRATITUDE- and trust in your ability to use reasoning & logic because when you openly and honestly consider things from a more detached perspective you get soooo much more done. You have to find a balance between attachment and detachment, and if you trust the people around you right now you can find that balance they can help guide you but YOU MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR URSELF BB.

This reading is a lot shorter than pile 1 so I’ll finish out with some miscellaneous messages.

Be more private!!! Stop telling people your business if it doesn’t give you a good feeling, you also have spirit guides trying to communicate this with you. Don’t tell people your plans & goals, keep EVERYTHING to yourself right now. Your plans are for you to know only, for now allow people to be confused. You don’t owe them an explanation, this will help you heal in relationships. Learn to be within yourself, learn to be comfy in your own energy and in your own state of being. Your spirits are trying to teach you about yourself and you’re so scared of everything around you that you won’t listen.

Your physical surroundings, important relationships, etc, so long as they are healthy they will be FINE- But if you don’t take this opportunity to work on yourself and exist within your own sense of safety it’s unlikely that they’ll remain salvageable.

It’s up to you to choose yourself.

Signs:

Chipmunk

Warrior ancestors

Wind catchers

Fairy lights

Tangela (the Pokémon lmao)

pile iii

Accepting change. I feel like this pile is very stubborn & tends to form opinions based on emotions and personal experience. You are highly intelligent, but you also remind me of like a dog who gets aggressive when people come near his food or his toy etc… not to liken you to a dog but like you are very defensive maybe, open your mind to new opportunities and possibilities. You can change your opinion at any time, based on multiple pieces of evidence or factors & it seems like you have a tendency to cling to familiarity. Perhaps you feel like you are at risk of losing it all in any given moment. You have limitless options and possibilities, you don’t have to settle for scraps and fight to keep them. You can have more, and maybe the scraps you currently have aren’t even for you- not because you don’t deserve things but because you deserve MORE. If you are too focused on fighting for what you perceive yourself to have then you will not be able to see what else is there for you. You have to let go of what no longer serves you, and you have to find a way to accept new things and changes.

This might be a tough pill to swallow

Please know I say this without judgment, and that I truly do understand. You can overcome your mind by being more self aware. You have a lot of triggers and I feel like you also tend to have hidden motives when you deal with others as well sometimes. There is a lot of pain and insecurity, feeling vulnerable, feeling seen- it can be so uncomfortable and it seems like you sometimes will go to great lengths to prove a point even if it means being impulsive, deceptive, and inconsistent! You’re being asked to have a deeper sense of conviction in what you do. Youre very loving and lovable underneath all of these masks and these traumas & it’s NEVER too late to change sweetie.

Sometimes you just have to accept things for what they are, sometimes we lose sight of ourselves in the hunt for something more- and we fail to realize the impact our actions have on others. It’s like you’re hurt and bleeding on everyone around you. I can tell you are scared, you may feel like you’re being backed into a corner. Truth can be bitter, but sometimes you just have to accept things for what they are. We are all capable of misconceiving, continuing to latch onto this misconception is going to hurt you not help you.

Signs:

K-pop idols ?

New grounds

Masquerade

Ace of cups

7 of swords

888, 555, 333, 222

[writingwithcolor]

Does the way my alien character disguises himself as a POC perpetuate harmful tropes?

Anonymous asks:

"Hi all! I'm a longtime follower, first time asker. There's something about my current story that feels a little sticky, and I haven't been able to find any applicable information on the blog. I'm working on a queer monster romance. The setting is a modern one with supernatural elements. One of the main characters is an alien refugee, and his species has an ability to possess corpses and retain some of the last soul's memories to disguise themselves. It's morbid, but it's supposed to be a story about monsters, and he doesn't do worse beyond that. I've read a lot of posts by Latinx and Jewish people talking about aliens on Earth as a metaphor for immigrants, with the struggle of adapting to a new culture and being separated from the one you were born into, and since my story takes place in Southern California, which has a large population of Mexican immigrants, I thought it made sense to make his ""host body"" Mexican. However, the more I think on it, I'm worried that his ""disguise"" method could be viewed as a violation of a brown body. I'm also concerned that he's just TOO monstrous, and could play into a harmful trope of making POC inhuman. The other main character is white and more visibly monstrous, and there are other POC who aren't monsters, but is it enough? Should my alien disguise himself in another way? I know mods aren't answering questions about Latino culture right now, but I think this is more about harmful tropes against POC in general. Thanks for reading."

I appreciate that your response is about the Mexican community rather than the Jewish community, but still take a look at Mod Shira’s post on Jewish Monster Characters Doing Harm  as well as Monsters in General.

Consider the tension that your monsters create. As those posts suggested,  could you swap out “monster” and replace it with “immigrant,” “Latine,” or "Mexican" and see real-world conflict? If so, then the story could be veering towards a metaphor for race-relations, despite being a romance genre and not an #ownvoices narrative. 

You mentioned that some monsters disguise themselves in white bodies but are “more monstrous.” That’s interesting, but I’m still unclear: does your alien monster merge with its host, or is it just wearing their skin? In the anime Parasyte, the alien Migi and its human host have deep conversations about humanity, culture, and perspective. These are all things Migi doesn’t initially understand. This exchange gives the human host agency while preserving their cultural identity. Will your Latine MC receive that kind of humanization?

If not, and these aliens are simply using a Latine appearance as a disguise, that’s a problem. It effectively erases the Latino experience while using a Latine character’s face, which feels deeply unsettling. It risks reducing Mexican identity to an aesthetic rather than acknowledging its depth of culture, traditions, history, food, music, humor, or language.

Since this is a queer romance, it also raises another issue: if the alien is just impersonating a Latine person, then the Latine love interest is, in reality, falling for someone who isn’t actually Latine. Does the love interest teach the alien about Latino culture? That could work, or fall flat depending on execution.

Ultimately, if there’s no strong narrative reason for this alien to present as Latine, it might be worth reconsidering their ethnicity. Maybe your next story could have a Latine MC without this sort of ambiguity, or you could make the alien merge with a real Latine host, similar to Parasyte. Alternatively, the love interest could be Latine, allowing for meaningful cultural exchange. Personally, I’d pass on a book where a non-Latine entity is running around murdering and romancing in Latine skin. But that’s just me. 

~  Melanie 🌻

since my story takes place in Southern California, which has a large population of Mexican immigrants, I thought it made sense to make his "host body" Mexican.

This just sounds exactly like the aliens disguising themselves as Latin American immigrants in The Men In Black (1997) lol. In MIB, it is an intentional joke/play on the word “alien” that only worked in the 90s. That’s going to be the first thing audiences think of when they read this scenario. 

~ Rina

Rina and Melanie’s Required Reading/Watching Recs:

The Men In Black (Columbia Pictures, 1997) 

The Host (Stephenie Meyer, 2008) 😖

Parasyte (dir. Shimizu Kenichi, Madhouse, 2014)

Our prescription: more research and genre awareness.

[slaaneshsleftovergender]

*cracks knuckles* 

I have not been failing to beat the furry allegations for years, just to ignore this call to action now

I'm basing my takes on…vibes, mostly. Also there's no set system. Each primarch gets personal evaluation on Culture, Cannon, my view of what Big E would consider “sick as hell”, and just…them, ya know?

-

Lion - Obvious one*, very large and sturdy, leaning heavily towards a Dungeons and Dragons Leonin design. 

Fulgrim - My knee jerk reaction is snake, Slaneesh saw n made it happen, but I was torn because honestly when I think of Fulgrim, I think about his hair. Solution, hood like a cobra. I would love to draw Fulgrim as a Medusa now

Perturabo - Look, this all started with the Ultramoorines, and (possibly) bad news, Petty Turbo is also Bull. Same sacred symbolism situation between cultures, plus shit temper, and stubbornness. 

Khan - Okay, I'm not gonna say horse. He likes horses, I don't think he is one. I did think the basic bitch answer Cheetah, but that does not have enough flavor. He's a Hawk. That man is a hawk. 

Leman Russ* - Wolf. I really want to appologize for saying something so obvious.

Dorn - Gonna be real, knee jerk reaction is his Fursona is human. “Humans are animals” mfer.

For real though, wasp. The kind that makes nests in your rafters - builders, short temper, color scheme - I'd hear the argument for Bees as well. 

Konrad Curze - Now, a lot of people associate night lords as bats, AS THEY SHOULD. It is the morally correct thing to do. However, HOWEVER, might I interest you in cat boy Curze? 

Listen, feral bastard, actual night vision not echo location, one of the most efficient hunters in the animal kingdom. Also, someone here on Tumblr dot com said "Konrad with a cat mom" and I will never not wish that in my deepest soul. 

> Also people, normal ass people, with like cat ears and tail, do not count as furries....but like *holds up Catrad* 

Sanguinius - His alluded me. He's got wings, there's been jokes about him being a goose....but he wears a leopards pelt, maybe could take some licenser with that?

Until it hit me.

It's griffin. He likes big cats, has wings, and I want more mythical creature primarchs. Plus, they got an air of nobility while, also, kinda being a mutant in their own way. 

Ferrus - Armadillo Lizard. Look, imma be real, I don't know much about him. However, he's gotta be a reptile to match Fulgrim, and the metal arms translates to armor scales in my mind. I think the evolution of the scales would please him too, cause the Iron Fists got that whole weakness of the flesh thing going on. I think. Also cute as fuck

Angron - I was thinking maybe something that balanced before n after nails, but honestly, Wild Boar. Angry bastards. Also associated with gods of War :3

Guilliman - is locked in, Bull/Cow. I've heard Ultramoorines started due to either the symbolism, or Guilliman wanting to be a farmer. Either is fantastic….but if I COULD change it…Owl just because of Minerva? Felt worth saying lol.

Mortarion - I was thinking Spider for some reason, but I think ultimately it's another one where the chaos god called it. Also, I can see him really liking Moths in general.

Magnus - I've seen him likened to a jackal, and I do really like that. And it would be fun to draw. However, I'd be lying if I said I didn't think Ibis fits better. Ibis was associated with Thoth - God of Wisdom, so big point there, but, once more, chaos god involvement = birb. 

Horus - Capybara 

Okay, okay. So Horus obviously likes wolves, but bro is domesticated honestly. He's really good with people, he charms them. He is a dog. 

Lorgar - Ram!!! He's got that biblical sheep symbolism energy. And horns. And I can't think of anything else lol 

Vulkan* - Dragon. Big, happy dragon.

Corvus Corax* - Raven.

Alpharius and Omegon - "Well Hydra Dominatus, they would be some kind of Scaley-" WRONG! FOX BOIIIZZZZZ

Bonus: 

Jago Sevatarion's is shark.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRfdbtvK/

[d3wdropz]

Gojo Annoying Megumi and his S/O

Imagine being Megumi's partner- it's sweet and he's a gentle boyfriend. He's quiet and isn't the best at expressing his feelings so small gestures and quality time are his main forms of love language

You spend a lot of time in his dorm or yours usually his cause yours is messy. It's such a relaxing time, getting the chance to just chill and bond together. You read books, play board games, nap, anything really- everything becomes fun when you both do it together. This is especially true for Megumi who gets to indulge his inner child

Since Megumi didn't really get a childhood you both like to do activities that gives him the chance to catch up on some of the things he missed out on

His favorite thing to do in that regard is building legos- yes he's made you a bouquet for Valentine's Day

So on a random Sunday morning, you're both in your usual spot: Megumi's room. Specifically, on his floor as you paint his nails black. It's something you've both been meaning to try and today seemed like the perfect chance

Everything is nice and calm- you're focused on finishing his left hand and he's admiring how hard you're concentrating. It's quiet, perfect even

Until someone slams the door open

"Megumiiiiiiiiii- I got you souvenirs from London!" Unsurprisingly, it's Gojo standing in the doorway

You're left shocked, still holding Megumi's hand gently and taking a glance at the now ruined nail job

Megumi, on the other hand, is silently fuming at the sorcerer who just barged into his special time

Gojo's just as shocked as you, having heard nothing about Megumi being in a relationship. If it wasn't for the sudden discovery, he'd have the time to be bummed that his little 'Gumi didn't tell him anything- but at that moment he was just absorbing it in

You're all kind of stuck for a moment until Megumi sighs and speaks up "Gojo-sensei, can you leave?"

This, sadly, breaks Gojo from his thoughts and has him gushing over the two of you

"Oh my little Megumi is all grown up! When were you gonna tell me that you've got an s/o? You've been staying PG-13, right?"

It's so much at once that you don't even have the time to think about an answer before Megumi is slamming his door shut in Gojo's face. By the look on his face, he'd prefer you pretend that nothing happened

He'll have to deal with Gojo later and that's already a lot to handle, so you go back to fixing up his nails

After that first incident with Gojo, you and Megumi rarely have a moment of peace

You're eating out somewhere -guess who's tagging along and taking up the seat next to Megumi?

You're both training- Gojo takes time out his very busy schedule to yap about how annoying the higher ups are

The relationship you had with Megumi is no longer a private matter, Gojo's constantly hanging around and inviting himself to your outings

Things only ease up when Megumi reaches a breaking point and goes off on his annoying guardian well in his own megumi way

"This is the reason I didn't tell you about us- since you found out we haven't had even a minute alone. We're not immature or reckless, so if that's what you're worried about you can drop it"

You're standing there, sweating bullets and caught in between their weird father-son/brother-brother/uncle-nephew(?) bond. In your eyes, it's a stand-off for the ages, a teen wanting freedom and their guardian that still wants to baby them

To your surprise, Gojo starts sniffling before he cries out Megumi's name and jumps him. He's squeezing Megumi to his chest and nuzzling his hair, crying dramatically

"Ooooooh! My little 'Gumi's all grown up!" He lets out a loud whine and continues to sob, "It felt like just yesterday you were my little baby!"

When Megumi finally breaks away from Gojo, he's huffing and glaring- but the strongest sorcerer is still rambling "I'm sorry that I made you feel like a baby- you're a grown man now" he sighs dramatically "I'll start treating you like one"

Before Megumi could throw insults at him, Gojo's phone pings and he's gone in an instant, a faint "Great talk- gotta go!" is all that's left

The both of you are now left in silence, just as confused and alarmed as when Gojo first found out about you two

Only difference is the lack of his constant presence looming over your heads now

a/n so hi

I know i've been gone for like ever, but the fanfic writer's curse is real and its found me- i ended up getting diagnosed with bipolar disorder, i got accepted into the biggest university of my state, and i'm moving out at the end of the summer

life's been pummeling me but i'm trying to get back on track with my writing- thank you to everyone who've been patient with me!

[hehe-69]

BOB REYNOLDS X READER

HEADCANNONS

Warnings: Fluff, Mental Health issues bc it’s Bobert yall, Mentions of abuse, Bob deserves the would and I will fits fight anyone who disagrees

SPOILERS

I would just like to say that this man is my new comfort character. I was in the theaters and watched him almost run into the cement wall and instantly I was hooked.

So these are my headcannons for what he’d be like in a relationship.

——————

I feel like you would have to start out as friends or have a deep emotional connection with Robert before he sees you as more than a friend.

If you’re a member of the Thunderbolts then this could happen very fast after everything you went through in the void.

I feel like Bob would be very shy about affection, super awkward but all in all very endearing manner. He’s literally a cinnamon roll.

You would have to be a very understanding and patient person or just someone who is willing to listen and has enough compassion and integrity to deal with Bob’s lows and help him through them.

Bob has been through a lot, he’s been experimented on, manipulated, abused, he’s canonical depressed and anxious, socially awkward, and extremely traumatized. But he is still so sweet and loving, we see this when he was willing to sacrifice himself to save three people he hand known for barely even a day. Though his depression definitely had a part to play in that decision, the sentiment is still there.

That being said, I feel like Bob would struggle with being loved by someone. For no other reason then who he is. That someone sees all of him, he’s highs and his lows, his mess and still loves him. It would be a long road of loving and healing. But I believe that it would be absolutely worth it because Bob is so precious and deserve the world.

I think he’d definitely be a sucker for physical affection, hair playing, hugs, cuddles, hand holding the whole nine yards. He’d definitely struggle with asking for it, but it’s something that’s just so painfully obvious he doesn’t really need to ask.

It would take a long while before the two of you do anything sexual, I feel like Bob would be a little hesitant to cross that boundary due to most of his truma growing up being very physically.

But once the two of you have built up enough confidence and trust, I feel like Bob would be an absolute mess of nerves.

His issues have lead to him not having much experience. So that would be something the two of you would have to work out. Because Bob would be insecure about it all.

But I think when the two of you do actually get to have those intimate moments, it would be more loving and caring. I don’t think Bob would be into roughness because of everything he’s been through.

Mans a bottom and a service top AT BEST and I will die in that hill. HE LITERALLY SCREAMS SUBMISSIVE AND BREEDABLE

BOB IS TOUCH STARVED! But in a sense of him being starved of a gentle and loving touch, because he’s had so very little of that in his life.

You’d go slow at first but eventually the two of you would find out what you liked and don’t like.

I feel like Bob would definitely be a take things slow kind of guy with everything. But that doesn’t count attachment or feelings, mans falls hard and fast.

——————

First time doing headcannons, but I’m very much deep in a Bob rabbit hole of obsession.

THIS BOB X READER IS EXACTLY WHAT I ENVISION FOR THIER RELATIONSHIP SOOOOO GOOOOOOD I WAS LITERALLY KICKING NY FEET AND LOSING KY SHIT WHILE READING IT

GO CHECK IT OUT AND GIVE IT SOME LOVE GAH IT WAS SO GODDAMN GOOOOD ITS CALLED WHEN THE SUN HITS AND THATS THE LINK TO IT

WHEN THE SUN HITS IS NOT MY WORK

It’s simply a very good Bob fic that deserves more attention

My requests are very much open for this man and for Bucky Barns.

Thanks for reading, sorry if it was shit

Love ya🫶

[contract-crawdad]

The gang's all here!

What's the deal with these guys? What do we know about them?

Let's dig into it.

The Nightmares. The Shadows. The Darkness. They've got a lot of names, but none of em are official. Their overworld sprites are referred to as 'shadowmonsters' in the game files, but that's almost certainly not their intended name, so the closest thing we have to go on is the fact that their battle sprites are referred to as 'danger(insert number)(large/medium/small)' in the game files... which is similarly very utilitarian, but I think it's very fitting.

Danger. The Dangers. That's what they are. That's all they can be.

It’s also a bit more distinctive if a name than ‘Shadows’ so I’m gonna stick with that. Not one single line of dialogue in the entire game acknowledges the Dangers directly. Part of the difficulty in analyzing these guys is just how little is concretely known about them, but that's not to say we don't know anything!

The most relevant piece of information to keep in mind is that they can appear all over the place, with odds influenced by your danger meter. The higher it is, the more likely you are for them to appear. This has led some to conclude that this implies Dangers are a shared hallucination by Sam and his party, but I do not believe that to be the case for reasons we will circle back to.

…And that’s it! That’s the only relevant spawning criteria! A few sources claim that nightfall or stress are relevant factors, but this doesn’t seem to be the case at all thanks to information from my sources. All that matters is the danger meter!

Dangers on the overworld (even when you can see them) are notable for their rapid flickering in and out of reality. Where they're flickering from and to is unknown, but they make a lot of eerie hissing and clicking noises while they do it. These noises are evidently Quebec curses played backwards, which is funny, but certainly does seem to imply that these things used to be human!

That said, we cannot accurately say whether or not Dangers are cursed or not! Don't get me wrong, they're definitely associated with the Visitor somehow! But I think it's either a Frederick situation where some as of yet unseen cursed human is creating more Dangers, or a Baby Teeth situation where a cursed human is actively spreading their affliction. Otherwise, it seems unlikely that so many humans would warp in such specific and similar ways entirely independently from one another.

In combat, any Danger can perform various basic attacks, absorb stamina, and have between 0-2 skills entirely unique to them. Their smashing attacks have the ‘shadow’ element. Additionally, they are resistant to crushing, slashing, piercing, bullets, and cold damage. They are weak to fire and to explosives. Compared to other enemies, they have abnormally high evasion (20% compared to the 5% pretty much everything else has). They generally give very little EXP for how difficult they can be, and have a chance to drop a 'Black Ooze' on defeat, with the largest Dangers being guaranteed to drop it.

These basic facts, while limited, actually give us a lot to work with!

Dangers are able to physically harm humans despite their strange habit of dipping in and out of existence.

Dangers all have the same resistances, implying that they are all made out of (approximately) the same stuff.

Dangers are able to inflict various stratus through a wide variety of physical and mental means.

Dangers DO HAVE unique attributes from one another beyond appearance.

Dangers leave behind a physical trace of their existence when killed.

The fact that Dangers have the same resistances and weaknesses is especially interesting because it implies that Dangers do have some kind of biology/physiology to them! This alongside the fact that their damage is considered shadow element is primarily what kills the 'they're hallucinations' theory... well, that and the black ooze.

Black ooze, oh how you vex me.

This stuff is the most solid evidence that the Dangers aren't purely psychological terrors, that they are instead very much REAL. While black ooze can be 'used' on a character, all it does is deal a massive chunk of damage, somewhere between 72% and 108% of a character’s max health. Ouch. No shopkeeper in the game will buy it, and it is left up to interpretation whether they simply do not want otherworldly filth (understandable), or if they can't even see the stuff. Which is very possible!

No character other than Sam will ever react to the presence of a Danger. For example, one can appear in Lyle's room, but it ignores him and he ignores it. There are other examples of rooms with NPCs that can have a Danger spawn near them as well, but the key is that these characters are in their homes. And where is the one place you are always safe from Dangers? That's right. Inside your home.

I propose that that primordial feeling of safety that being home provides is an active shield against the Dangers. Resting at home, even, is enough to make the Dangers either unable or unwilling to attack you. But the Dangers are still there, one must assume.

Look Outside is not a game that pulls 'it was all in your head' twists. Ultimately, it's more horrifying that the Dangers are real and we just have absolutely no clue what they are. But they're all over the building, even if you can't always see them.

But they can see you.

And they just cannot wait for your fear to allow them to touch you.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thus ends the compilation of all known information! I could have mentioned the possible connection between the Dangers and the Shadow, or the idea that the Dangers could be connected to the teased 'infinite dungeon' that the creator wants to implement, but those are nothing but raw and unfiltered speculation on my part!

Did I miss anything about these goobers? Feel free to let me know!

Credit to @goawaypopup and @lily-wisp for some juicy 'under the hood' information, as well as @nastymajesty! Compilation images of all the Dangers are by me, feel free to use em.

Here's a bunch of Dangers exposed to the light as a reward for making it all the way through! Look at them. Nakey.

[ms-demeanor]

The first pro life response isn't actually agreeing with my point, it is hijacking my point to call the pro-choice movement fascist because pro-choice thought does't hold that fetuses have human rights. That user is opposed to Trump's stance on immigration because it's based on dehumanizing immigrants, which they say and then immediately dehumanize immigrants, queer people, disabled people, criminals, and women by comparing them to something that is literally non-human.

This isn't agreement, it is a rhetorical trap meant to get people to question if they are exercising protofascist thought if they think of fetuses as less deserving of rights than people are. It's meant to get the reader to question why they think a disabled person or a woman or an immigrant or a criminal is human, but a fetus isn't. Since a fetus isn't a person, this this is a disingenuous "gotcha" disguised as compassion toward marginalized groups.

The second person also isn't agreeing, in fact they are disagreeing completely with my argument that identifying an "other" to strip of rights is specifically and explicitly central to fascist thought.

They are both-sidesing and are using leftist-inflected buzzwords to suggest that saying "eat the rich" is as ideologically toxic as denying human rights to some groups.

Both of these replies are meant to *look* like they're agreeing with the premise of the original post, but what both replies actually do is try to equate ideologies they don't agree with to fascism.

"I agree, taking away rights is fascist, that's why abortion is fascism" and "i agree, repressing rights is bad, that's why fascism is not all that important - it's totalitarianism and leftists who are the problem" are not opinions that I feel particularly inclined to be kind toward in this political climate.

To be clear: pro-lifers practice inserting themselves into arguments like this. This is strategic, it's an attempt to derail and an attempt to seem reasonable and an attempt to make it seem like you can build a coalition with this person if you just relax and accept this one tiiiiiiny thing you disagree on. If you yell at them, you're being rude and won't broaden the movement. So you're supposed to respond politely and push back gently and get drawn into the conversation and walk away with the idea that maybe some anti-choicers are reasonable, they don't actually want to take away anyone's rights, they just care a lot about fetuses and are a little confused and maybe it's okay if they're part of the movement even if their core philosophy is based on denying body autonomy, they're reasonable and will be persuaded to your side when they know better.

They're a poison pill. But not an abortion pill!

Donate to Women on Web to help someone get abortion pills by mail today!

For me this isn't even about empathy or sympathy (though there's value in those as well), it is just straight-up a human rights thing. Once you have decided that there is *any* category of human that can be treated as less-than-human you've said that humanity is conditional, and so are the rights that come with it. You've already lost, you've granted the fascists their point because *you agree with them* that some people don't deserve to be treated like humans.

[slutoru1207]

Nowhere to Run pt 2

GIF by red-rift

Mohawk Mark x Reader

The silence stretches between you and Mohawk Mark like a tense wire, but it's broken by the sound of his stomach growling loudly. It’s the kind of growl that could be heard by a mile away, echoing over the barren landscape like a dying animal’s last plea for food.

Mark winces, then shoots you a sideways glance. "Not my fault," he mutters defensively, as if you were somehow responsible for his digestive issues. "You wouldn’t believe how much energy it takes to look this good all the time."

You snort despite yourself, arms crossed tightly as you eye the horizon. "Yeah, I’m sure it takes a lot of energy to look like you just woke up in a dumpster after a bender."

"Hey," Mark says, raising an eyebrow. "I’ll have you know that I’m the pinnacle of rugged charm. These things take time. This?" He gestures to himself dramatically, "This is perfection in motion."

"Uh huh," you deadpan, scanning the wasteland for anything that could pass as a food source or even a way out of here. "If perfection means looking like you fought a rockslide and lost, then yeah. You’re totally perfect."

Mark chuckles, but the sound is short-lived as another growl erupts from his stomach, sounding almost ashamed.

"Okay, okay, you win," he says, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "But seriously, if we're gonna make it out of here, we need to find food. And I'm pretty sure you're not gonna find a McDonald's in this hellhole."

You squint at the desolate landscape, considering your options. "Well, unless you're planning to make some weird version of a rock salad, I don't think we're getting anything here. You're gonna have to survive on whatever wild survival instincts you have."

Mark gives a small sigh, muttering, "Great. Just what I need—survival training with you." But then he smirks. "I mean, I'm sure you'll be useful. You probably know how to catch a rabbit or something."

"Yeah, sure. And I'm sure you know how to make fire with your charming personality."

"I could," he counters, turning to face you fully now, his eyes gleaming with the same cocky confidence, "but I’m gonna need a good campfire companion to keep me entertained. You up for the challenge?"

"God help me," you mutter under your breath. "I’d rather deal with a mutant bear at this point."

The moment passes in a stretch of silence, and you both just stand there in the middle of nowhere. The tension between you is palpable, yet there's something oddly comfortable in the banter, as if this dysfunctional, sarcastic dynamic could be the only thing holding your sanity together in this vast, lonely wasteland.

Mark finally shakes his head and groans. "Look, we need to figure this out. And unless you’re secretly a survival expert, we’re gonna have to work together. But only because I’m feeling generous."

You snort. "Yeah, that’s definitely the reason."

"Yeah," he says, cracking his neck, "So, what’s the plan, huh? You got anything in that head of yours?"

You hesitate, narrowing your eyes at the horizon. "I don't know, you got any ideas besides annoying the hell out of me?"

His smirk returns. "Well, I was thinking we could wait for a dragon to fly by and swoop us out of here. Or... we could, y'know, just walk."

You blink at him, trying to figure out if he’s serious or just completely insane. "Oh sure, that’ll totally work."

Mark shrugs, still with that damned smirk on his face. "Hey, no harm in dreaming, right?"

You’re about to retort when your stomach rumbles, an embarrassing reminder that you haven’t eaten in hours either. You glance over at Mark, who’s still looking at you with a faintly amused expression.

"Alright, fine," you mutter. "We’ll walk. But if we end up eating dirt for dinner, I’m blaming you."

"Deal," Mark says, offering you an exaggerated bow. "Lead the way, oh wise survival expert."

You roll your eyes but can't suppress a small smile as you start walking, knowing this journey’s going to be anything but boring.

[countbarov]

medieval times were silly times

As I am equal parts stalker and writer, I have observed the KCD fandom for some time, and I've again found something that raised some questions for me. And this time it's not about homosexuality (alone), but the perception of medieval times in media today, in contrast with what we know about medieval times

A common name given to this period is "the dark ages" (and, as an ESL speaker, it's a phenomenon unique to English as far as I'm aware; feel free to correct me). But with a name as dramatic as that comes the connotation that "the dark ages" were rife with conflict, famine, death, disease, and violence of all kinds. But that's not what "the dark ages" means, and this evocative language is very misleading

They were called "the dark ages" because we didn't have enough information on them. Thus "dark", as in, lacking clarity

And importantly, they WERE called the dark ages. They are NOT called the dark ages anymore. Because we have more information on them

One of the things that gets brought a lot in relation to all characters, really, is religion. And since KCD2 is still very new, I won't make any specific reference to events in the game, but I will use KCD1 examples to illustrate my point

Religion in the Czech Republic has always been an interesting subject. They're nominally Catholic, but their history as a conquered nation and vassal state to bigger empires has marred the subject. It's considered today to be a very atheist nation, but this is a slight misunderstanding. Many Czechs are believers, but won't follow institutional Catholicism

Due to being ordered to die in battle for the Catholic church repeatedly (and causing a revolt about it, which was violently squandered by Catholic forces), it's easy to understand why the Czech public would be less than enthusiastic about Catholicism. But there was, in the 15th century, an interesting man by the name of Jan Hus. A priest who sought to reform the church to more accurately represent the Czech approach to religion; a priest who was executed by the Catholic church

A priest we meet in KCD1, interestingly enough, whom Henry accompanies on a debauched weekend of revelry, culminating in a drunken speech performed by Henry as he pretends to be a priest

Not very puritan and devout of him, alongside Hans' constant visits to the brothel

Another sore topic in the common understanding of medieval times is homosexuality, and how it's thought of by contemporaries

Modern conceptions of homosexuality will have us identify as "gay/lesbian"; as people who ARE homosexual and feel homosexual attraction. But back then, homosexuality wasn't understood as something you were: it was something you did

As such, "BEING" a sinful little gay wasn't a thing. You were performing a sinful act, but you were not sinful by nature, because it wasn't understood as an intrinsic part of your identity

This doesn't change the fact that it wasn't a good or happy time to be gay. For Hans and Henry it would've been a scary, uncertain, extremely secretive part of their lives. Their love could not be freely expressed and had to remain hidden from the public eye. But that doesn't mean they were ashamed of it

I think it's more beautiful to see their relationship as something they're proud of and happy to fight for rather than a sore topic of discussion. They would've been excited to share each other's company, share with their closest allies, and share in private without fear

It needs to be said, also, that I am not trying to police how people enjoy media. I'm simply expressing that Hans and Henry don't necessarily fit the mould of a tragic gay relationship as we know them today, and it's more interesting for me to engage with media where it's at. Part of the reason KCD's gay romance is so important to me as a gay man is that, instead of shameful and painful, it's euphoric, and gay media NEEDS more gay euphoria

We deserve to be happy, and I'm delighted that media starts to represent us not as doomed, but blooming. We deserve better than that

[thejaymaniac]

I do get it, but I also don't think antitheism is super based. There are a couple different angles on this, in no particular order:

First off, if ever someone tries to weaponize antitheism to imply that people who follow certain religions should have less rights or considerations than others, red flag. Secularity has been used as a bludgeon to remove people's autonomy, with the reasoning that 'those people follow an oppressive religion'. Classic case of this is France banning headscarves in school (as a hint, Islam is a very typical target of this kind of rhetoric).

There are a lot of nontheistic followers of lots of religions, so you're going to need a better reason than 'believing lies is bad'. Plenty of people are involved with the philosophies, rituals, or communities of religion without being involved in the belief part, because religion is a lot more than that.

I know it might not seem like it if you live in an American dominated by the Evangelical Right, but there are instances in which religion and conservatism have not been synonymous, or even allied. Slave rebellions on religious grounds, civil rights movements on religious grounds, heck, Liberation Theology comes out of fucking Catholicism. You might not agree with the religion part of these ideas, but you might want to be able to work with and ally yourself with people who hold them

in general, try to at least kind of understand what people believe and how their religious communities work before you make a judgement on the religion as a whole? This also means don't just assume Buddhism or Shinto is this peaceful, harmless thing. You can criticize specific parts of a religion or specific practices, but if you make some kind of blanket statement about something you don't really understand it probably won't help anyone.

Also, to OP's point, a lot of people who are marginalized in the world are part of religious communities, and if you want to make a concentrated effort to make the world a better place to live with your activism, you at least have to respect the people who are part of religion and who think it's important

“We need to strive to be more accepting of POC” you guys can’t even handle religion.

[suzukiblu]

WIP excerpt for Cheshire behind the cut; “Billy adopts Conner and it actually goes pretty good!” (( chrono || non-chrono ))

“. . . sure,” Lynn repeats, finally. Billy reflexively brightens. 

“Cool!” he says excitedly, linking his hands together behind his back to keep himself from the reflexive clap he almost went for. Probably the clap thing would be kinda dorky, to a teenager. Or just kinda loud to a baby; either/or. “Um–cool, yeah. Do you want help picking one out, or do you wanna do it by yourself? Or, um, try by yourself first, and me or Tawky can help if you have trouble? Or me and Tawky, if you want!” 

Lynn stares at him some more again. Billy probably seems incredibly uncool to a teenager and incredibly weird to a baby, though he doesn’t really know which one of those things Lynn is thinking right now. Like–it could be both, probably. Probably it could be both. 

Gods, how is he supposed to be a cool enough dad for his teenager while also not being too weird a dad for his baby? How’s he supposed to even do that? He’s gonna need his own books. Like, just so many parenting books and stuff. And also, like–he’s probably gonna have to do some trial and error stuff, probably? Like, that kind of thing, he guesses? 

Well . . . actually, Billy guesses it’s a little weird, but probably, like . . . books about kids with developmental delays or trauma would probably be able to tell him how to split that difference, right? Like, come to think? Like the parts where Lynn’s a teenager and the parts where he’s a newborn and the parts where he isn’t really either, probably. Billy’s second-least-shitty social worker had said some stuff about developmental delays and stuff like that a couple times, and then the guy’d tried to send him to a psychologist like he’d actually thought Billy was dumb enough to talk to a state psychologist about jack shit, and–

Maybe Billy should be getting books about kids with developmental delays or trauma, yeah. That’s maybe a thing he should do, yeah. 

He really needs to, like, start keeping a to-do list already. 

“. . . dunno,” Lynn says stiffly, glancing awkwardly towards the stacked-up piles of books. “Uh–there’s . . . a lot.” 

“Oh, yeah, kinda,” Billy says, then thinks–well, since Lynn hasn’t been talking that much, if he bothered mentioning that there were a lot of something . . . “Want me and Tawky to pick out a few that look good for bed, and then you can pick from those? So it’s not, like, so many all at once?” 

“. . . sure,” Lynn says. Billy doesn’t really know how to read Lynn all that well yet, but he does think the other maybe sounds a little relieved about that offer. Which, well, hopefully he is? Since that’s like, the whole reason Billy made the offer and all. 

“Cool!” he repeats cheerfully. “We can pick some out while you, like–brush your teeth and wash your face and stuff. Or take a shower? Um, I guess you did just get changed, but you could if you wanted. Or a bath, even! It’s like . . . evening-y and all. Or you could do it in the morning, whatever you wanna. But I don’t think we have bubble bath and it’s way better with bubble bath. But we could get some! Like, later, I mean. Um. Did I show you where the bathroom was yet? Well, um–bathrooms, I guess, I guess there’s two of ‘em.” 

There are two–the bigger one’s in the hall, and then a smaller one’s actually attached to the biggest bedroom, so Billy guesses that one’s kind of “his”, technically, but like, he doesn’t care if Lynn wants to use it too. Lynn’s a baby. Though also he’s like . . . a teenager, so yeah, he might care. Billy has definitely met some teenagers who really care about which bathroom they use. 

The idea of caring whose bathroom is whose is really weird to Billy, honestly, but also he’s not a teenager yet, so like . . . yeah, who knows. Teenagers are kinda just weird too, he’s pretty sure? That’s what everybody says, anyway, and he’s met some pretty weird ones himself, so yeah. 

Also–well. Billy hasn’t really been in a situation where it was up to him which bathroom was “his” or which bathroom he could use or anything like that in . . . a really long time, yeah. Or like–ever, really. His parents had a bathroom attached to their bedroom too, and there was like a “half-bath” on the first floor without a shower or tub or anything in it, and he’d just always used the one next to his bedroom with the– 

Billy feels–weird, suddenly, and stops thinking about . . . that. Stops thinking about . . . his old house, he means. His–parents’ house. 

He doesn’t usually . . . think about that, is all. So it’s–weird, thinking about it now. And like, he guesses it makes sense that he is, like how he’s thinking so much about his parents now that he’s a parent too, just . . . 

Just–it’s weird, thinking about it. 

That’s all. 

“I know where the bathrooms are,” Lynn says, which is admittedly pretty obvious. It’s a big apartment, but it’s not like a huge giant house or mansion or something; there’s only so much space. And Billy did show him the bedrooms earlier, at least, and at least where a couple things are, so . . . well, yeah, it’s pretty obvious. 

“Okay, cool,” Billy says. “Do you know how to get ready for bed or do you need a hand or anything?” 

“. . . I know how to get ready for bed,” Lynn says, staring blankly at him. 

“. . . do you want a hand or anything?” Billy offers, just because that phrasing wasn’t, like, an actual no. Lynn–frowns, briefly, and glances towards the wall. 

“Um,” he says. “. . . no.” 

“Okay!” Billy says cheerfully, and really can’t help brightening up again. “Then Tawky and I’ll pick out the books while you’re doing that, okay?” 

“. . . okay,” Lynn says, sparing him a long, blank look. Then he turns around abruptly and disappears back down the hall. Billy feels pretty good about the conversation, he thinks? Lynn told him he needed some stuff, and told him he didn’t need some stuff, and he told Lynn what he could do to help him with the stuff he needed help with, and Lynn said okay to him helping. 

And he’s just, like–he’s really proud, that Lynn feels okay enough to say “no” to him. Like, proud of Lynn for doing it to begin with, but also a little bit proud of himself for apparently doing an okay enough job at being a dad so far that Lynn thought it was safe to say “no” to him. 

Like–definitely he’s proud of that.

[clairewritesfanfics]

A-Z Fluff Alphabet: Mohawk Mark Grayson

Author's note: The alphabet here is an amalgamation of fluff templates from the following writers: @themarauderstheoutsidersandpeggy, @snk-warrior, @queervibesmydude and @imagineimagineimagine, and my own personal additions.

Adoration: What does he can’t help but gush about you? 

Your brain. Your intellectual curiosity and passion for discussing various concepts, regardless of which field they originate; be it writing an essay about a random video game’s exploration of identity and the Ship of Theseus, drawing out an outline for the evolution of meme culture across generations, or borderline obsessive studying of his own alien physiology. The way your eyes light up and how confident you sound get him excited.

Baby: Does he want a family? 

No. You are his family, the only one he will ever need. 

Comfort: How does he help you when you’re down or stressed?

He tries to joke, hoping it would help you laugh and release some of the anxiety frying your nerves. But if that doesn’t work, he will seat you on the nearest counter and make you look at him. He’ll ask what’s wrong and when you don’t tell him he will kiss you until you feel better.

Dates: What are his ideal dates?

He likes taking you to concerts, can be anything as long as both of you enjoy it, from rock bands to Opera. Alternatively, he would surprise you with tickets to a museum involving your most recent hyperfixation. You two would hold hands and talk while you pass each display. He also flies you to different parts of the world at a moment's notice; "Oh, you suddenly want to collect volcanic rocks? I got you, babe."

Everything: You are his __________.

You are his inspiration, his muse. Your passions are his passions, not for some shallow reason like getting you to like him (he has his good looks and nice ass for that), but because your sincere drive to know more, to explore the world beyond what it is, encourages him to seek for more, too. 

Fight: How often do you argue? How does he handle the fight itself and its aftermath?

“Me and my girl don’t argue, she tells me to shut up and I do” kind of guy. But in all seriousness, he doesn’t like upsetting you, so unless it’s something serious, like your health, then he just goes along with what you want. 

Gifts: Does he spoil you?

I discussed this before in my husband headcanons for him, but he doesn’t actively seek out to buy you presents as often as one would think. It’s just that, when he sees something in a store window or on his phone that reminds him of you, without thinking, he buys it. 

Honesty: Does he keep a lot of secrets from you? Are they white lies or hide world-shattering truths?

He tends to hide his negative feelings, covering them up because he would rather push down all the bad than bother you with it. Otherwise, he’s an open book. You already know the password to all his accounts and he registered your fingerprint on his phone.

Injury: What’s his reaction when he finds you physically hurt?

Tries to alleviate the gravity of the situation with jokes as a way to keep you calm. Actually, if we’re being honest, the bad jokes are to keep his composure while he assesses your injuries and starts planning a murder. 

Jealousy: Is he a green-eyed monster?

He can be prone to jealous fits, but they’re rarely that deep and never last long enough to warrant violent responses. That being said, the one thing that can really grate him is when someone else manages to have you ramble about your most recent hyperfixation–only he gets the privilege of listening to your spiel.

Kiss: Describe the way he kisses you.

Lifts you up on kitchen counters, stands between your knees and has his hands over your thighs. Kisses you playfully.

Longing: Who fell first? How did you two get together?

He is a natural flirt, so you didn’t take him seriously at first. “That’s just how he is with everyone,” you used to say. Mark didn’t realize it himself, but he stopped hitting on others and unconsciously focused on you every time you were near. When he finally had that "oh shit" moment, he immediately tried to convince you that he wanted you.

Marriage: Does he want to be your husband?

Originally, no. He used to believe that marriages were pointless in that they were “merely labels” and if two individuals truly love each other then a piece of paper was meaningless. You then countered that if it was meaningless then it shouldn’t matter if he agreed to marry you. To this day, it was still his favorite loss.

Nightmare: What is his greatest fear?

That one day you would lose your wide-eyed curiosity.

On Cloud Nine: Is it obvious to tell when he is happy?

He’s already a pretty chill guy, but his underlings know he’s in a really good mood when he isn’t mocking everyone he comes across, and they all know it’s because of you.

PDA: Yes or no? If yes, to what degree?

Yes. He isn’t opposed to giving you a peck or having his arm around your shoulders while you’re out on a date, but he’s not going to make out with you in a park or a family restaurant. 

Quaint: What is his favourite non-modern thing?

Ink and paper books.

Rhythm: What’s his favorite song or genre of music?

Doesn’t have one. His rule is that if he hears a beat that he likes then he likes it. He’s an open-minded guy, so you would be hard-pressed to find him disliking anything. He’s no poser. 

Spa: What helps him relax?

Lying with you, on a bed or a couch or a picnic blanket, while he reads, shutting you up with kisses when you laugh at the stupid lines.

Tea: What do you two often converse about? 

Everything under the sun. The beauty of your relationship is that you two don’t feel restricted about the topics of your conversation, you’re not afraid of sharing your thoughts about the most niche topic and he knows you can keep up with his interests. Each of you has something to offer and nothing is off the table. 

Understanding: How well does he know you?

Enough to know what kinds of books you would definitely fall into obsession with. 

Value: How important is the relationship to him?

So much so that if he ever lost you, he would try to erase every trace of you, because if he didn’t how else was he supposed to breathe? He would turn to violence and parties and meaningless one night stands to forget about you, even if just for a moment. He wouldn’t be able to stand anyone who looks like you, so every single one of his flings would be the opposite of what you looked like. 

Wild Card: Random fluff headcanon

He’s a philosophy nerd. When he was younger he was interested in ethics, but right now, he’s really into existentialism and absurdism. He also dabbles in poetry. 

XOXO: How affectionate is he?

Super affectionate. He is never afraid to tell you and show you how much he adores you. 

Yearning: How does he cope when you two are apart?

Mark always preferred the epicureans, but you’re more of a stoic, and stoics believe that patience is a virtue, so he bites his tongue when you tell him that no, he can’t come with you to girls’ night. He distracts himself by reading so that he can complain to you about the garbage he had to read while you were away.

Zebra: If he wanted a pet, what would he get?

He wouldn’t call them pets, more like decoration, but he would like a whole bloom of Turritopsis dohrnii, a species of jellyfish. One of his favorite dates with you was scuba diving somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea, and that was where you first saw one in person. “It’s functionally immortal,” you said when you two resurfaced. He hopes that, like this jellyfish, your time together will be everlasting. 

I'm thinking of taking requests again (last time I did it was for MHA back during The Plague, LOL), but until I sort out my rules, you guys can ask for Mark Grayson (and his variants) fluff for now. Also, I must say, after seeing that post about semicolons, I found myself using them a in my recent fics. Subliminal messaging at its finest LOLOLOL

[cozymochi]

Hey Cozy! Saw your most recently answered ask about Nyoka and wondered. How much would someone or thing have to push him to actually show or use his fangs? Or use his unique magic on them. Basically, how much would it take for him to actually go off? Since he's not a hot head, I assume it would be a lot.

Also, what about Emilio and Cecil or Tia? How much would it take for them to go off on someone, and would they use their unique magic/Grim (or any physical object within reaching distance for the lovely magicless Tia) in that situation?

(Apologies if this has been answered before! I couldn't remember if it was or not.)

Anyway, thank you for sharing these wonderful characters with us! And for putting up with us and our questions. 😌 Hope you have a wonderful day/night!

(i like questions, they keep me sustained 😭💖 I was gonna draw for everything but I kinda. Hurt. Anyway-) Prev Ask in question /// Unique Magic/Signature Spells

I’m not sure… he puts up with a lot already every day. It’s very hard to get him to bear fangs at all, he’s just not going to no matter how much he’s goaded. He’ll certainly threaten it, but he doesn’t want to actually do it. He puts being dignified above that. That’s a last resort defense if truly cornered, and he would be very unhappy (and lowkey embarrassed) if it resorted to that without a justifiable reason. He’d have to really be taken by surprise, which also isn’t easy to do. Unless, like…. Someone like Grim was suddenly lobbed at his head out of nowhere—

Who can prep for that? But, I suppose it would vary. He’s not as bite-happy as one would think.

Nyoka’s UM in itself isn’t very practical in terms of being beneficial to him consistently, so there isn’t much incentive for him to use it. Unless he was playing very dirty for some reason and knows what kind of person he’s targeting— and don’t get me wrong, he’s not above that sort of thing. There’s just no reason for him to want to use it. It’s just not subtle enough and risky. Somebody else more ambitious might find making others act unscrupulous against their will useful though.

Cecil mostly takes the any of the shit given to him with sarcasm or grumbles to himself, but he’s an opportunist. IF given the shot to retaliate in a dirty way, and he isn’t having a second-guessing moment then he is more than willing to shut somebody up via freezing them like a statue. They won’t be having a good time when their eyes dry out from not being able to blink /hj. God forbid being on the receiving end of a spell screw-up from him too at that. With how sarcastic he is, it seems like everything bothers him all the time to some degree.

Emilio is already a mess, stepping on his boots might be enough to get him upset to the point of retaliation /hj. Like Cecil, he’s an opportunist so if there’s a chance to play dirty he will. His UM is not useful in this kind of scenario though. If Emilio feels his abilities in some way are being underestimated or disregarded it’ll probably just turn into a stupid competition to prove his superiority. Despite how he wants to present himself he is a bit hot-headed and his retaliations might be disproportionate in scale. “This person touched my coffee mug, so I took their kidneys” headass. (Disclaimer: not literal, but that’s the energy)

The first thing Tia did when summoned to Twisted Wonderland - aside from run from Grim - was scream and lob nearby objects at Crowley when he found her. He still holds this act of violence against him to this day. Tia gets bothered pretty easily and will speak up about it or try defending herself in some way. She also hates being underestimated and thanks to her tunnel-vision may jump into situations she’s not equipped for at all just to prove a point— then regret it almost immediately. She tries to stay composed and usually she will be, but she can get cranky if pushed too far.

She’s the prefect, I think the “what” in this scenario speaks for itself. She’s at NRC. Her friends are the principle cast. It’s over.

[delicateperspective]

I think people who assume Harry is completely free tend to overlook a lot—especially things he shows during his concerts and in some interviews. Starting with the queercoding, but also those really vulnerable moments. You can literally see it in his face what it means to him when he waves a rainbow flag. And when he says things like “that doesn’t happen to people like me”—it’s heavy.

And I don't blame them because Harry's public image has been pushed very hard, especially with dwd and that stunt with the director. But If you really pay attention to the details, it’s pretty clear that Harry isn’t fully free. He’s just doing what he can, playing the game with everything he’s learned along the way.

I’m sure he’s negotiated as much freedom as possible over time, and what we see is a gradual result of that. I really hope in this next chapter, with all the leverage he’s gained, he’s been able to secure even more freedom.

I honestly just wish the best for both H and L.

yes exactly. you put it so well — that’s the thing about public perception. in order to see H & L the way that some people do, you have to be willing to accept a version of events that genuinely doesn’t make sense unless you ignore… well, everything.

to believe that version, you have to believe that:

harry was a womanizer from the very beginning. that he dated half the girls at bootcamp and then moved on to older, high-profile women who just happened to boost his image (taylor, kendall, olivia). that he’s a commitment-phobe who’s never had a long-term relationship. that he leans into queercoding and wears obviously queer clothing just to sell albums — even when he doesn’t know he’ll be photographed. that he writes intimate songs about home, about loving the same person through every season of life — despite having no personal experience with any of that. and that he deliberately distanced himself from the other boys in the band — especially louis — because he thought he was better than them.

louis, meanwhile, apparently changed his entire personality between 2011 and 2013 for no reason. that he got angry at a magazine for implying he supports LGBTQ+ rights. that he got a triangle on his achilles heel because he just… liked the shape. that he wears t-shirts and brands with overt queer symbolism (Tchaikovsky, All Out, Only the Brave, Maison Margiela) without realizing or caring what they mean — even though he loves fashion. that he used to call himself “camp” and “flamboyant” all the time, but only as a joke. and that he had a long-term girlfriend during the band, which is clearly why no fans ever had a shot — not because he was gay.

and that’s just the surface level stuff.

the more you pay attention, the worse it gets.

you have to eat a lot of narrative gymnastics to believe that version. honestly? in some cases, you have to make more illogical leaps than even the most unhinged larries do. you have to completely discredit every contestant who’s ever spoken out about x factor. every person who’s criticized modest management. every lyric change — like: “women just don’t feel right”, “i’m hoping someday i could be open”, “i can’t compete with my boyfriend”, "hopelessly devoted to Lou", etc. — has to be chalked up to coincidence or queerbaiting or… misheard. and you have to believe that none of it means anything — even when it obviously does.

i’ll always go back to the metaphor harry gave us in the As It Was music video — the red pill and the blue pill. just like in The Matrix: the red pill means you wake up and see the truth. the blue pill means you stay in a comfortable illusion.

so many people would rather take the blue pill. and honestly? i don’t blame them. it’s easier. it’s lighter. it doesn’t force you to confront how corrupt the industry is. how normal homophobia still is. how much trauma they endured. to accept that kind of truth — especially about people you love — takes a toll.

because once you see it, you can’t unsee it. you’ll always question the narrative. you’ll always feel that unease when something doesn’t add up. you’ll always see through the bullshit.

and yeah — sometimes I wish i could close my eyes too. especially in this world, in this moment, where everything is already so heavy. but i can’t.

so we keep paying attention. we keep listening between the lines. we keep hoping the next chapter brings them more peace, more truth, and more freedom.

because they’ve earned it. and they deserve it.

[celellken]

HOT TAKE: I think McLaren’s strategy of having “two number one drivers” is working exceptionally well.

There’s been a lot of fan speculation and frustration around McLaren’s claim that they have “two number one drivers” or in other words “they don’t have a number one driver.” Particularly in the 2024 season in Lando’s pursuit of the World Driver’s Championship, races like Budapest 2024 and Monza 2024 where Oscar ultimately overtook and finished ahead of his teammate were highly criticized. While some argued Mclaren should have supported Lando more aggressively in his fight for the WDC due to his position in the standings and his form, I think it was more important to not jeopardize the team’s fight for the Constructor’s Championship. The decisions were made cautiously, maybe overly so, but nevertheless made in the interest of the team as a whole.

The drivers are, very clearly, the heart of the team, but I think the development of the car—the rapid, impressive turnaround—reveals a team that is working well on every level.

With McLaren’s current form in 2025, one driver’s win is the other’s loss. This goes back to McLaren’s “problem” that they have two number one drivers. As a fan of both drivers, each race this season there’s been conflicting feelings of joy and excitement mixed with sadness and disappointment. Happy for one driver to win or give the best performance, and sad that, for whatever reason, the other was not able to.

Now, I said I was a fan of both drivers. I am. One hundred percent. I admire and appreciate Lando’s openness. The outstanding grit and resilience that comes with his imperfection. I admire and appreciate Oscar’s natural composure. The quiet confidence he possesses while remaining kind and competitive. However… I resonate with Lando just that little bit more. I look at the way he wears his heart on his sleeve and feel mine moved as well.

At the Bahrain Grand Prix 2025, Oscar dominated—beautifully, impressively. Meanwhile, Lando scrapped, fought, and made mistakes. Lando’s drive was entertaining. It was aggressive. It was the type of drive championships are won with. However, I think it does no favors to Lando to deny his shortcomings and create conspiracies surrounding his performance. I think it does no favors to Lando to deny Oscar’s talent, consistency, and current dominance. Lando himself does not do that. Lando and Oscar have both spoken about the importance of having a teammate who challenges the other driver. How their ability to push each other and collaborate elevates the team and themselves as drivers. Oscar Piastri’s good form might just be the perfect catalyst for Lando’s improvement.

Denying Lando’s mistakes and providing false excuses isn’t loyalty—it’s limitation. I acknowledge Lando’s mistakes because I believe in his capacity for growth.

Consider the two most recent Grand Prix: Jeddah 2025 and Miami 2025. In Jeddah, Lando looked to be the (slightly) faster McLaren up until his mistake in qualifying that saw him into the wall at the beginning of Q3. His drive from P10 to P4 was well executed, but not perfect. However, I came away from the weekend with the overwhelming feeling that Lando had made improvements from the prior weekend. It was a cleaner drive, and a car that Lando seemed more comfortable pushing to the limit. In Miami, once again, I came away from the weekend feeling even more positive. Lando qualified ahead of his teammate and reduced a gap of nearly ten seconds to just under four. Despite missing out on the race win, to find that form—against Oscar’s dominance and consistency—shows a lot about Lando’s ability to improve and adapt quickly under immense pressure.

For Oscar, Miami 2025 was also exceedingly positive. He came away with another Grand Prix win, but his teammate put on an impressive performance as well. Oscar commented that, while he was happy with his results, there were still things he wanted to improve. His qualifying was imperfect. His race was imperfect. In other words, having a quick teammate is pushing Oscar for more than just results. Lando is pushing him for perfection, not even allowing another win for Oscar to feel like enough.

So why do I think this means that McLaren is doing a good job managing their drivers? For the two drivers, having a high achieving teammate is forcing rapid improvement. “Letting the boys race,” as Zak Brown would say, instead of imposing an artificial hierarchy between the drivers is allowing both drivers to benefit. Their individual success is motivating the other while also providing the actual data for improvement. Their combined success is also helping the team earn maximum points each race weekend. They are two competitive drivers in a top team, and the feedback loop is immensely positive. Good drivers, good results, good strategies, good development, good car.

We’ve yet to see a true battle for the lead from the McLaren drivers. Perhaps, as we’ve seen before in many famous F1 rivalries, the competitive nature of the sport will sour the relationship between the two. Perhaps then McLaren’s refusal to single one driver out as the number one will backfire and they’ll lose a championship or fail to maximize a great driver. But with Lando’s resilience, Oscar’s composure, and McLaren’s priority of competition rather than control, I believe we are at the beginning of success for both Oscar and Lando.