#friends don't coerced you into something you told them you didn't want to do

[janecuppa]

Hello ladies and gents!

What you all have been waiting for has arrived! THE TEA.

I just have a few things I want to say first to bring understanding and clarification. I'm not a lawyer. I'm not going to try to sway you one way or another. I'm just going to lay it all out and let you decide. I feel what I share should be able to speak for itself. I may share some opinions and conclusions I've come to, but that is all. Opinions are not facts. It's just what I personally think.

I will admit the tea was served to me with a clear bias, so I will also have to pass it on with a bias.

I don't believe in trying to influence what you think and believe. Trying to coerce you into what I think, because it really doesn't matter. I think it should speak for itself. Those who influence and try to control what you think do so because they want to brainwash you into their way of thinking. I don't think that's right. Autonomy is so important to me. You should have your own freedom in that. So just take it in. Think it over. Decide for yourself.

Use some critical thinking.

Because I will say, when people get a little loud, defensive and aggressive and try to manipulate you and convince you of something, there is a reason. They're usually feeling threatened and insecure. And want to distract you and lead you away from what they don't want you to see. They will flow through different gears. Aggression and defensive to sometimes dismissive. Truth doesn't require such aggressive defending. Truths speak for themselves. Lies don't. Lies need weaving and defending.

So whenever someone has got defensive with me, I pause and bring a more critical eye to the situation. Why? Why are you defensive? What are you trying to deflect? Or if they get dismissive and almost seem to try to make you feel like an idiot for even considering it. "Don't be ridiculous. Why would you even give that a thought?". Theres something off there.

And every single time I've experienced that, I later realized it was because I was getting a little too close to comfort to seeing a truth. Many people can't handle the shame of being found out. So they try to intimidate. They get loud, defensive, or they'll try a different gear and attempt to dismiss it. So, just keep that in mind. If something is being talked about and causes a commotion, there is a reason why.

I keep in mind that people see and interact with the world with their own lense. People who bluster and bully, that says more about them. That reflects on them. It has nothing to do with me. It doesn't intimidate me. Go ahead. I'm not going to volly back. It's not worth it to me. I rather watch snow melt.

So go ahead, try to bully me. Riot and whoever else. You'll just be fighting with yourself. I didn't even bother reading what riot was posting because I really didn't care. I just immediately blocked her so I would stop being tagged and included with the infantile behavior. Do what you have to in order to cope. If it's throwing all the heinous words, threats and whatever else at me, go hard and have fun. And if some of the "NV stans" are paid like some think, then you go earn that coin! Put money in the bank! We all have bills to pay. I get it 🤣. But that still supports my point. If you're on a payroll, you're being told to go be loud and distractive for a reason.

Now. I went in search for answers. I'm snoopy and I want to understand. I ask questions. This entire thing has been bizarre and I think many could see that. It wasn't convincing. I knew there would be cracks and leaks if you searched hard enough. There's people out there that can't help themselves, regardless of administration and NDAs. There are many people around them. Some more consistently and some in passing. I knew there had to be a hotel worker, a sound guy, a friend of a friend, a waitress or something like that out there that would have seen or heard something. Some people can't help themselves if they think something is juicy. They'll tell their spouse, best friends, and maybe their parents. So I went in search for these people. I was determined and I did finally make some connections with seemingly valuable information. The one in particular proved themselves out when they told me that Henry and Natalie would have a public appearance soon. A few days later was the Enola Holmes premiere. The others had plausible stories that I wasn't seeing be talked about. I took it in under consideration, and that's where those stories still are filed. "Consideration and speculation." This is gossip. It's heresay. You have to remember that. It's not the gospel truth and should not be taken that way. Although I will say, personally speaking, that I'm lending it more weight based on the aggression I faced when I first started posting. Something in there is ruffling feathers and there is a reason.

I'll repeat. I'm not the only one who knows this stuff. If they were willing to tell me, they were willing to tell others. It has also been discussed in group chats. I myself have shared with selected people. This information is out there. I'm just the one who decided they were bored, realized they were sitting with all this gossip, and decided to put on the kettle. I knew what I was doing. I don't plan on outting my connections and sources. I don't think I could anyway if I wanted. They were careful. Thank you for your patience. I felt like I was back in university, sifting through textbooks and notebooks while I wrote an essay. That is what took time, trying to go back through conversations to make sure I had it right.

Now the fun begins! Remember, this is all alleged, gossip and heresay and not the gospel truth. I'm just repeating what all I've managed to find. Also, keep in mind I've been snooping and filing everything away for years. There is a lot to recall. I have had many many hours of conversations about this shit show. So even with all I share, I feel like you still will only get a summary. I feel like this could be written into a novel. Keep truck loads of salt nearby.

I've had multiple sources over the years. Some long term. Some have come and gone. I'm not going to keep mentioning them, but my making these multiple connections has enabled me to get all this gossip. It pays to be stubborn and snoopy.

This is probably going to come across as a story and in a way they are. It's gossip. It's multiple stories I've heard about them. I'm going to try to relay it how it was relayed to me.

Let's start from the beginning.

Henry was still under management with Dany. Dany liked to utilize PR relationships. They're common in Hollywood. They're a good way to generate traffic online and in the media with a celebrities name. People want to know the hottest gossip. Who is dating who. It helps keep their name being mentioned and relevant. In this type of business, they want to be relevant.

They wanted him to look like he upped his game from past girlfriends. They wanted to give him the look that he had a hot shot, big-time girlfriend in the industry. She wanted to take her career in a different direction, and she was only too happy to play along. She had been selected by Dany, and he agreed. There was a contract between them. It was originally only to last under a year. It was to be a business transaction.

Hollywood is all smoke and mirrors. They sell you what they want you to believe. It's a production. Even "real life" stuff. It's a business.

It's a cesspool if you ask me.

Social media is important to officials in Hollywood. Social media is another business tool to them. So they got her verified and a following to help her business, as stipulated in their contract. He was obligated to do that for her. It is also why he had to keep naming her publicly. It was in one of his contracts. He had to promote her. People thought it weird he kept naming her by her full name if she was a girlfriend, and I agree. It's fucking weird to do that for a girlfriend. But she wasn't his true girlfriend. She was a business associate and in my opinion, he told us that by calling her a "Partner". That was not a lie. She was a business partner. They were linked by a business contract.

They tried improving her image. They wanted her to be taken seriously. Her image reflected on him. The entire point was so he could have an elevated image. She was given a lot of guidance on how to act and portray herself. They put in a lot of effort. It was a complete scrub down and then rejuvenation.

She was terminated from Legendary. I was told because she was caught stealing their property. I was told it was a script. Which to me makes sense, because if you take that script to a competitor it can cause lots of problems and money lost. She also had a reputation as a bully in the workplace. She caused problems and was not easy to work with. Her ex coworkers have talked about her behavior online before. I've seen allegations on Reddit and IG from former coworkers against her.

Henry and her were in contract during this time. In short, the contract said he had to help her career. Her getting herself fired became his problem. He had already been in talks with Vertigo at this point for a possible producing partnership. He had been able to get her a sham title, articles and some contracted work. So she had worked for Vertigo but not as what they say. She hasn't had a permanent job since Legendary. But he did this to try to cover what happened and to help her become desirable to hire

Natalie also made many threats against Henry. She was not happy with the result of their contract. He was fulfilling his obligations, but she was not happy with the results. She expected more. She kept saying she would not leave until she was satisfied. She threatened that she would lie and tell stories against him.

This is after the era of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Amber Heard managed to be successful in ruining Johnny Depps life for a number of years with some lies. Obviously the two situations are slightly different but the core factors are the same. Lies managed to really cause upheaval in a man's life.

I can only speculate how Henry felt when he realized what he had to work with. He clearly took the threats seriously.

They renewed their contract many times. So there is a paper trail.

He tried to find a middle ground. But she couldn't be controlled. She stepped on so many peoples toes. She was so rude to people around them. He tried to keep conflicts to a minimum but she became too much. Staff members had enough, and they left. He tried to keep conflict to a minimum, but he couldn't manage. That's sad because staff members had to face bullying and abuse. In trying to appease her so she wouldn't go spread lies to the press and online, he couldn't also manage to keep a safe work environment. It's very sad and unfortunate. They were just working to get further in life like everyone else and shouldn't have had to be subjected to that. That's my opinion.

There has also been much conflict in regards to his families dislike of her. They don't hide that they don't like her and they don't invite her around. They don't include her, and there is always a distinct separation between them and her. There have been quite a few fights over this. I've heard she's embarrassed about the fact they don't hide it. TW3 premiere family pictures were to passify her.

They have so many reasons to not like her.

I mean it when I say she is unable to emotionally regulate herself. Each of my sources has had something to say about her behavior. It's a common theme.

She snaps. She loses control. She's impulsive. They've said it's like she loses her reason to her rage.

She screams. She yells. She throws things.

She has got physical in these episodes.

There is one such story I was told. There was witnesses. She must not have cared or she didn't think it through.

She was making demands of Henry. He was trying to explain what she wanted wouldn't work, she got angry, slapped him clear across his face, and then shoved him. They were separated. He went to get his gym gear immediately and left for the gym. She was escorted out. I was told there was a threat of getting the authorities involved that never amounted to anything. I'll talk more on this closer to the end. It's mostly opinion.

She has thrown things at him. She has yelled at and belittled him. She's gotten physical. And not just with him. Others have been involved in these episodes of hers.

His family was appalled, and everyone knew it. They wanted her gone, but there was a contract, and he was afraid she would follow through on her threats and he would have to deal with that disaster. My opinion, is he wanted to try to make it all work and he could get to the otherside. Help her career, keep her happy and he won't have to deal with his reputation being lied on and trying to fix it. I can guess he didn't want to live what Johnny Depp did. Johnny Depp was able to get his life back but for a big chunk of years his life was ruined.

She has also been unpleasant to his family and there's been fights over it. Word gets around. People know. You also just have to look at them and know not all is well there. But I have had people ask how he could let that happen and he hasn't just allowed it. There were big fights about her behavior towards them. With others around. A common theme is she doesn't mind fighting with an audience. My opinion and speculation is that perhaps she does that as a way to embarrass and manipulate him. To possibly try to exert dominance over him. Maybe she thought she had a higher chance of getting her way if she did it with an audience. But people talk, they gossip, and you have people like me who keep their nose to the ground, sniffing out stories like this that aren't really talked about. If you search hard enough, you will find a chink in the armor.

There's also been very long stretches of time he hasn't been physically available to her. She told her friends and family it was just normal long-distance relationship stuff. She's told her friends and family that it's a real relationship. He knows that. His business associates know that. My opinion is I don't think she could live with the shame of them knowing it was just supposed to be a business transaction. My opinion is she wanted them to believe she managed to bag Henry Cavill for herself. If my source is to be believed, she told them she slipped into his DMs, he took notice and responded positively.

But I was told it was because there was nothing coming up to promote during those stretches and he was off living his life and she was home living hers. I do know she had access to his Florida house at one point. Dany helped her with that. Dany had a lot of power and access to Henrys life. He allowed it. My opinion is he was naive and put too much trust in her. I know he changed all the codes, passwords and locks to everything in that house as a result.

I've already spoke on the Fuck Off post. It was a result of Natalie running to Dany upset at the backlash she was receiving. She was upset and felt it was getting in the way of what she wanted to achieve from this business deal. I suppose Dany felt the post was needed and concocted that post. My opinion is she tried to make it sound like he was some white knight protecting his damsel in distress lady love, and it came across disingenuous. Because it was. He hadn't been made a part of that plan. He was not happy, people knew, and Dany and him had a meeting over it. I don't know what was said in that meeting. I did ask lol. But I do know he was not happy with Dany, and it did play a part in her no longer being his manager. As I said, he had too much trust in her. Social media is a business tool, and his business associates have access to it. He had it so she could do with it what she felt was needed. He had given her that authorization.

Their contract had come to an end when filming in Turkey came around. Everything was supposed to have ended by then.

She suddenly showed up in Turkey using the last of her money while bringing her sick dog. She called crying to Henry about how she had no money and still hadn't managed to find a permanent job. She could no longer stay where she was, and to top it off, Meat was very sick, and she could not afford his vet care. I was told Henry had told her she could come and stay for a short visit and he would help her with Meats vet care. At that point, he didn't say anything about helping her with a job or finding a new home. It was, for now you can stay and I'll help with your dog. She was destitute at that point. This is the point where things went completely nuclear.

She caused many problems during the filming of this movie. She caused disturbances and scenes on set. There was a huge production hold up. She came on set and caused a huge scene with Henry. She was the perpetrator, the aggressor. Henry was taken aside by Jerry Bruckheimer himself and was given heck from him. That something like that could not occur again. They had a schedule they had to keep, too. They could not afford a hold-up like that again if it could be helped. So he needed to control her. She ended up being banned from Guy Ritchies films. This is just speculation on my part, but I do believe Alan Ritchson even alludes to the production holdup that resulted from her meltdown in an interview. I also speculate Guy Ritchie went out on a limb for Henry in that interview, where he made sure people understood Henry was a gentleman. It was his films these disturbances happened. He witnessed the meltdown from Natalie aimed at Henry. He knew and heard the aggression lobbied at him. My opinion is he wanted to say his piece and defend Henry from any possible rumors that stemmed from that. I also believe Henry wasn't expecting it. You can see in the interview from his reaction. He went to bat for Henry of his on volition.

She was not even allowed anywhere near the filming sets in Tenerife. She had been served a legal notice about it.

The thing with Natalie is. Everyone knows and has talked about how fame hungry she is. She wants to be a celebrity. It is why she entered the contract to begin with and kept making threats so she could get her way and force him to help her make her way in stardom. In my opinion, she was ruthless. Scare Henry into compliance so she could ride his coat tails. But the thing is, she did succeed in a way. People did know of her association with him. She was publicly known as his girlfriend, just like she wanted. That means throughout the years of her association with Henry, she has been caught with her ass out, almost literally. There's been a few dalliances with different men. Can it be classified as cheating? Henry and her definitely had a weird thing going on. I wouldn't call it romantic. Their relationship was built on fear and was very toxic. But she has been seen out with men. Henry does know about it. He is not ignorant to it. Those around him know about it. That's how I know, but I've also seen some of the rumors through the years myself apart from my connections. Even after posting on here, I've had a few anons ask about the different stories of her out partying and being seen with men. If there's no romantic relationship between her and Henry and it's just the most toxic business relationship known to man EVER, then she can do that. She can have fun with men. But don't be mad if you get what you want, which is seen and recognized. People know who you are. And those people don't have NDAs to protect you. They can go to their friends and say, "I saw Henrys girlfriend drinking and grinding up on some guy who definitely was not Henry". You can't be mad if that gets out and paints you in a bad light. Exactly that happened, and people know about it. She's a party girl and that didn't stop during her association with him. She's been seen out.

Let's not be naive. They have slept together. Everyone is adults. Let's not be children about it. But...

What is embarrassing is what is being said about it.

He told people around him that he could not remember ever going unprotected and that it was only ever a moment of weakness. This is just what he apparently told people and what leaked out from that. I have seen it discussed very briefly in a few private chats, but it is also something my sources shared too. That is what he was saying. He couldn't remember ever going unprotected, and he is embarrassed at the mishap if that's the case.

She told him she was pregnant and he didn't believe her. I asked why he didn't believe her, and all I was told was he thought it was another manipulation story she was using to try to get more out of him. He figured he had always been careful as a rule, so he would be in the clear. She had been poised to tell the tabloids for money. She still hadn't managed to find a job in the industry, which at this point you have to ask why, she had very little money and she was pregnant. He was ignoring her. So she was going to sell the story. He got in contact with her and realized she was telling the truth. He gave her money to hush her up. They discussed the situation. They came to the decision they were going to co parent. At this point, he did believe he could have been the father. He had slept with her recently enough it was possible. I was told that meticulous planning went into this pregnancy situation. She wanted it to be used for clout. They did influence the timeline. People have caught on to that. They did want to throw people off. It was all part of the plan. They had a very tight schedule for everything. It was meticulous. And there had been a birth announcement originally planned.

He again went to help her with a career. He went back to trying to promote her. She now had a baby she had to help look after. She didn't even have to threaten his career this time lol. I was told he wanted the baby to be looked after and provided for by both. He didn't hide that from those around him. It was all very carefully put together and planned out. It was all very intentionally done. Even the things that throw people off, it was intentional.

South Korea was all about Natalie. I'm sure everyone knows what is said about them is known. They do know about the stories going around. They're not ignorant. They polished everything to help Natalie's image based on past criticism. She was pregnant then. And her weight loss? A result from wicked morning sickness. She had awful morning sickness at the beginning of her pregnancy. I remember being told she wouldn't eat because it made her sickness so much worse. I was told she was even harder to deal with then. It wasn't ozempic like people speculated. She was already pregnant then. SK was all about promoting her and a bit about their PR relationship to help bring attention. It was part of the plan.

They both got reprimanded for their performance in SK. There was some ignorance that landed them both in hot water. Her for her appearance and him for 'allowing' it and their PDA. They both were told they wouldn't be welcome anytime soon. Which is funny considering her IG post. It's like she didn't want that found out, so she told the public the opposite of what happened. That's my opinion and speculation. I was only told they both got in trouble, why, and what was said.

It is why the London premiere was very different. They both were reeling from the trouble. And she was told there would be no PDA and she got mad. She caused a scene beforehand. I also can only speculate but I do think she wanted people to begin to talk about a pregnancy then. Her choice of outfit, and the way she was posing and making sure the coat was pulled back. She knew it would emphasize the baby bump forming. That's my opinion. She wanted the rumor mill to start flowing then. Again, my opinion.

NYC. Guy Ritchie didn't want her around. She caused so many problems during MOUW and she was completely barred from the filming in Spain. I was told Jerry B also had a hand in that decision. So she would be unable to debut on the red carpet so they had to get creative. They arranged paparazzi to come. I was told they wanted it to look like they were being followed around and like they both were a big deal. It was staged. All of it. All part of the big plan.

The red carpet premiere in NYC. The choice to have no significant others for the actors was deliberate. To be fair and look uniform. Even the interview was pre-planned. He used it as an opportunity to promote her. That was the plan.

The Father's Day post was also part of the plan. It was all promotion. It was the plan. He would make the post, and then she would piggyback off it.

When I say it was meticulous, it was very meticulous. They also had to do things when he was around and had the time. Even if he wasn't filming, he had films he knew that were upcoming that would need work. He had meetings and trainings. He would still have to travel. So things had to be done when he could do it, such as pictures. Such as public sightings. All of their public sightings were part of it. The dinners. Everything. It was like they were trying to run a tight ship and work around a schedule, in my opinion. So keep that in mind when you wonder about timelines.

Everything went to shit when the baby was born. And there is a baby. Regardless of what some may try to push lol.

She would show up when he was at work and bring her baby. She was never invited. I was told in true Natalie fashion, it was disruptive. But people took notice of the baby. Rumors started. That they both heard. Rumors that the baby didn't really resemble him. She stopped showing up. But the damage had been done. His family had also been urging him to be smart and not just take her on her word, especially based on past occurrences with her. There had been quite a few discussions about that from the beginning.

This is where my information gets spotty, and you have to puzzle it together.

He did contest paternity, and I do know that the judge had to get involved. She was told that if she refused, the judge would then rule it was because she would know the answer to the paternity test and that would be the end of it. She was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Now this is where things get quiet.

But this is the reason why nothing further has been mentioned on the pregnancy or baby, regardless of him saying in that interview more would be coming. In that point of time a lot more had been planned to come.

They have been fighting it out in court.

He has since given her a legal correspondence that she had to leave his house and be gone by the time he returned home from work out of the country. She had also been told to leave him alone while he is at work.

She had been living at his residence but I was told seperate from him. They didn't get along, and I was told that was done so there would be minimum conflict and fighting between the two. He allowed her to stay since she had been pregnant and then had the baby there with no steady income of her own. I was told he felt it was his responsibility to help her get back on her feet.

He didn't buy that house for Natalie or because they were together. I asked lol. There was no commitment between them. My opinion is they only occasionally rolled in the hay together, and she ended up getting pregnant around one of the times. I was told he told people he bought the house for his family. He meant his parents, siblings and nephews and nieces to congregate. As well as preparing for the next stage of his life. He did tell people he wanted to settle down within the next few years, and have a family home in place for when he met someone and began that stage, it had nothing to do with Natalie. I double checked.

Natalie is gone. He sent that correspondence and I was told he wouldn't help her with paperwork anymore that would allow her to stay in the UK. She had to leave.

I was told he has no plans right now to ever talk about the baby.

I don't know the results of that paternity case. I asked lol. I was told gag order and I've seen speculation of the case being sealed.

In my opinion, no one will know the paternity for a long time. But based on puzzle pieces, of people that worked with him saying it didn't look like him and her subsequent disappearance whereas before she had no problem being around. The silence when they told the public more was coming. The fact he asked her to leave and she was told to leave him alone. I feel one can read between the lines. The way they act is apparent there are secrets.

My opinion is that the baby should be left alone. It did nothing to anyone. It's here because Natalie wanted it here. I also can't say gender. I know people think it's a female. But the baby was always referred to as her baby or the baby when spoken of in my conversations. Natalie is a single mother. Let her deal with that. It can't be easy.

So while everything in regards to the baby has suddenly quieted down. I personally would hedge my bets on him not being the father based on other factors surrounding.

My opinion is we will never see that baby. She suddenly disappeared after those rumors around his work environment made their rounds. She hasn't proudly shown off her baby online even with the face hidden. She has completely retreated, which is not her usual way of doing things.

This wasn't because of privacy. Their plan feel apart and they didn't complete it.

That is the main course. The rest is just opinions and what I consider minor factors.

She has not had a steady job since her termination from Legendary. I mentioned earlier she got paid for her appearances with Henry and yall went weird with that one. I was not implying she was an escort or he was paying her for sex. Fucking hell everyone lol.

She was being compensated for her time. It was part of the job. There is nothing wrong with that. Plus, she needed the money. It was considered work for her, and so she should get paid.

I can't sit here and tell you she beat Henry. I only know of the one occurrence where she slapped him. If it's happened more times, it was behind closed doors with no witnesses. But she has tried to shove him and has thrown things at him on multiple occasions.

I've asked and never received a clear answer. But why no consequences for her acting violently. I don't know. I can only speculate. Maybe they felt it wouldn't go anywhere. Henry isn't exactly a small man. He's tall and broad. Maybe he felt he wouldn't be believed. Or because of his stature, he felt he could handle it. Again, I dont know. This is just speculation I've made about it.

My opinion is that it is so incredibly sad. No one should have to sit through that. I don't care if you're six foot whatever and 220 LBS of muscle. If someone is acting violently against you, you should be able to to say something. We have a long way to go in order for men being able and comfortable to speak up.

It's very easy to ask why you didn't just leave. You have to live through something similar yourself to understand. Abuse and toxic situations like this do something very weird to our brains. You can look it up. If it's happened long enough, the structure of our brains change. Different areas go in over drive and areas fire off that normally wouldn't. It changes our behavior. We go into some sort of survival mode.

People have noticed, myself included, that he has changed over the recent years. He looked like shit for one, and like he's been drained of life and left a husk. You can tell just by looking at him something is not right. His attitude also changed. He seemed more irritable. He didn't seem like himself any longer. Something was changing in him.

Maybe this was why.

I can't say for certain. Just based off some gossip I was told and piecing other parts together that would possibly explain things. I also had to do some amateur research on brains, abuse and the effects. I went in lol. When I say I wanted to understand, I really meant it. That means taking the time to research and try to put it together.

Again, I can't say for sure this is true. Only they can officially clarify and verify. These conclusions are my own based off my own snooping, digging, analyzing and researching. Take that in how you want.

I believe these two were a business transaction gone horribly wrong. I believe they had a very toxic situation. I believe it was very stupid. I also believe she was the main problem. She threatened him to make him help her climb the stardom ladder. She used and abused him.

He tried much too hard to appease her because he had feared her. In doing that, he allowed an unsafe work environment to crop up. He also did a huge disservice towards himself. In showing her that he would bend to her, taught her it would work. It created a vicious cycle. Of course, she is going to continue to use a weapon she knows works.

He was stomped all over.

They're both not innocent or saints. He allowed a lot of things to occur that never should have.

But I also think it's possible he was subject to things no one ever should be as well.

She must have put too much faith in the NDAs. If you treat people badly enough. And inspire enough dislike, I think you'll be hardpressed to stop their betrayal. Fear does not inspire loyalty.

These are my opinions and conclusions I have drawn. You're free to make your own. I just want to share what I have learned, which this is still a condensed summary but this is the main bulk of it.

I wanted a clearer picture of what was happening. It took time and effort, but I believe I succeeded. But you're free to disagree with me. I won't convince you otherwise if you do. I've already shared what I think and believe. That's enough for me.

Now, let's brace ourselves. We got a taste already of what to expect.

[beatrice-otter]

Do you think it is possible for Pratchett to have not know what Gaiman was like? Genuine question. On the one hand, I know plenty of people who thought someone was a friend for years and then discovered they were an abuser in some way. On the other, with the news there was a whisper network and it wasn't just these two women, and I've seen people saying things like "pretty much any woman who met him was skeeved out within five minutes" and "I could tell just from watching interviews he was a creep, he had creep vibes" (though is that victim-blaming? since obviously the victims got into relationships with him and one was a fan and both took some time to realise how wrong his behaviour was, so clearly not every woman KNEW he was an abuser as soon as they met him), some people are suggesting it would be impossible for any friend of his not to know in this case...

I have no clue, because I didn't know either of them and while I read Pratchett's stuff, have never been a big fan of either Gaimain's stuff or Good Omens. So like. this is not something I have invested much time thinking about or reading about.

However, the thing about whisper networks is that by their very nature they don't reach everyone. That is the point of doing a whisper network instead of a PSA! People use whisper networks when they fear reprisals for saying things openly, which means they don't tell people they fear (rightly or not!) might react badly. Most people are never going to hear the whispers! And the higher up you are in the power structure, the less likely you are to hear them because people will fear you might side with the powerful figure being whispered about. A whisper network is quiet and targeted and intentionally doesn't tell people who don't need to know, and unintentionally misses people who do need to know. It's better than nothing, but not by much.

Why would anyone in the know tell Terry Pratchett? He was not a young woman that Gaiman would target! He was not vulnerable and didn't need to know to protect himself! And as a man and friend of Gaiman, he was less likely to believe the warning (because Gaiman would never treat him that way). There was nothing to be gained by whispering to Pratchett, and everything to lose if he had taken offense or told Gaiman or something, because then people could get in trouble for "smearing" Gaiman's reputation.

Also, there's layers of knowing. Pratchett may well have known something; for example, he probably noticed that Gaiman liked to flirt with pretty young women. But there's a big gap between that and knowing all the ways Gaiman would manipulate and coerce those young women after they started a relationship with him, and that's not something Pratchett probably knew much about. Especially because in 1992 Gaiman moved to the US and they never lived on the same continent after that. Even when they were collaborating to write Good Omens, they did their collaboration via phone, email, and fax, from what I've seen, rather than in person. So if they're "friends who meet up at conventions and go to dinner when they're in the same city" Pratchett had a lot less time to notice how Gaiman treated women.

As for "pretty much any woman who met him was skeeved out within five minutes" that is categorically not true. If it were, he would have a lot more victims and something would have come out earlier, maybe during the height of "Me, too." As for "I could tell just from watching interviews he was a creep, he had creep vibes" I have serious doubts. Whenever somebody famous is shown to be awful, people always rush to say they "always knew" or "everybody could tell" and then you go back and look at stuff those same people were saying right up to the point the truth became known, and it's pretty obvious they had no clue.

People say these things because they want them to be true. They want to believe they're smart enough and perceptive enough that they would never fall prey to something like this, because they would be able to tell, and they did know! ... except they didn't know, and they wouldn't know. And you're right, it turns into victim blaming really quickly.

[acourtofthought]

It doesn't bother you that Lucien is friends with the man who joked about his mate getting raped? Interesting take....

I want you to do something for me since you decided to come to my page and ask for MY opinion.

I want you to set aside your own personal agenda and really think about what I'm saying.

I get it, we all have lived different lives and are triggered by different things. In real life, SA is not a joking matter, it's not appropriate, it's not something to giggle about between friends. I never returned to a job the day after a boss corned me and inappropriately touched me and I felt too uncomfortable to speak up since he owned the company. I was inappropriately touched by a neighbor when I was around 9 years old, someone who allowed me to stop by and play with his two dogs since I loved pets so much. I consider myself lucky because neither scenario escalated to what others have dealt with but those scenarios still give me enough empathy to realize the fear of being put in a position where you feel helpless against someone bigger, stronger and who holds power over you.

But the ACOTAR series is not what happened to me or anyone else no matter how many parallels or connections some find. It's fantasy fiction and in fantasy fiction (whether you agree with it or not), things that are serious in the real world are never given the same weight as in the book. Take murder, torture, and using others as pawns for example. These things are done by the main cast of character and nobody bats an eye. In fact, the fandom applauds them for it, turns them into sex symbols for it. Azriel literally tortures people yet many are more interested in the size of his wingspan than the things he's done to people who are unarmed in his torture room. Since Jurian's comments are so offensive and unforgivable, how are you comfortable thinking torture is something it's ok for the fandom to turn a blind eye to when it's a hotly debated issue in the real world as it relates to torture of POWs? Since you're sending me this anon I have to take a guess and say you're an e/riel and that means you're fine with torture in books but not fine with SA comments in books though both exist in real life.

Onto your specific question though, how am I fine with Lucien being friends with Jurian after he made those comments.

Simply put, because I'm reading the story the author is telling. Your reading experience seems vastly different from mine because I'm choosing to read the story as it's actually being told whereas you seem to be reading the story you wish was being told based on very specific things that are personal to you.

If I was basing my reading experience on real life morals and things that personally effect me then I could have never gotten behind the Feysand relationship because Rhys did some pretty horrible things to Feyre UTM. He forced her to drink wine she didn't ask for, he put her in clothes she was was uncomfortable wearing, he forced her (while she was drunk) to dance in his lap in a way she was embarrassed to hear about and he coerced her into a bargain she clearly didn't want, going so far as to twist the bone in her arm to force her to agree.

But I'm not basing my reading experience on real world morals, I'm allowing myself to let Sarah take the reins. I'm allowing an author to lead me so I understand what they're telling me (so long as I'm losing myself in this fantasy world) , to shape my mind, to rewrite the rules. The second I step away from my book I am once again a law abiding citizen of this world who understands right and wrong but in the ACOTAR world? I'm just a spectator along for the ride. I forgave Rhys because Sarah wanted me to forgive him, because her explanations were to serve the reasons for his actions.

"Just because Sarah forgave Rhys doesn't mean we have to listen!"

If you've already decided that she's wrong, that you don't have to agree, then you're no longer reading the book as it was intended to be read. And that's fine, feel free to hate on it as much as you want, but it doesn't change the story she's telling. Your personal opinion DOES NOT CHANGE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

It's the same with Jurian. He said / did bad things, we thought he was a villain (just as we did Rhys) until Sarah told us he wasn't. Until the author said, "this is my story and this is the reason for his actions and now he's a good guy strongly connected to the plot and the other good guys in the series". You can feel free to remain stuck in the past, unable to move forward with the series but that's not why I'm here. I want to know the story Sarah is telling, not what nameless faceless person decides I should have an issue with because they have an issue with it. If the author moved forward and the characters no longer have a problem with something that happened way back when then what good is it doing me to remain stuck in past plots? The plot moved forward therefore I move forward. It's honestly as simple as that.

I don't use the ACOTAR novel to teach me how to behave in real life. I use the ACOTAR novel to teach me what is happening with these characters. Therefore when said ACOTAR novel says "Jurian good" I'm going to accept that because that's the journey we're going on. I'm not sure why you take such issue with a reader simply following along with the story that's being told, isn't that the entire point of reading fictional books?

[scoobydoodean]

sorry, i'm genuinely confused by your s6 deancas conflict take. i don't think either is the bad guy but i think cas was doing what he could with what he had. i don't think he was in the wrong but i'm curious to know what you think he could've done to be in the right? be honest and upfront? that would jeopardize his mission and put him on the outs with dean. sure, that happened anyway but he did stop raphael

i've also always been confused by dean's "i was here where were you?" because was he though? when they did find out, they punished him and cut him off instead of idk, strategizing with cas. it was a lose/lose situation for cas from the get-go starting with his decision not to involve dean as much as he could help it because cas did care about him. if the issue was working with crowley, cas ended up double-crossing him anyway. if the issue was being dishonest, well, that's nothing new among the winchesters

anyway, i don't have a favorite between deancas because i could never pick but in s6 i very much sympathized with cas so again, i guess i'm curious what you think he could've done differently. i hope this ask doesn't annoy you too much

Let's separate this into two pieces. 1) What I actually said (i.e. the disk horse I was addressing) 2) The utility of Cas's plan to pop Purgatory.

First, what did I say today based partly on a post I made yesterday?

It’s not remotely hard to see that Cas repeatedly uses Dean without his knowledge throughout the season. But you’d think based on how 90% of destiel shippers talk that Cas was waiting on Dean hand and foot while having his own needs ignored by a callous asshole. That’s literally the story people try to tell you while Cas uses Dean for everything from spells to forced labor to a meat shield for Raphael and Virgil while only showing up when Sam and Dean having a lead on an angel weapon is mentioned. They just erase Cas’s problems in order to misrepresent and reduce Dean down to a mean friend who doesn’t deserve him.

I'm wasn't talking about the plan to pop Purgatory and the conflict that happens over it in 6.20 (we can address that in a moment). I'm talking about how a large chunk of destiel fandom erroneously argues that season 6 Dean is a bad friend throughout the entire season who only cared about Cas being useful to him, when Cas is the one who spends the entire season using Dean without his knowledge. You want to have a conversation about something slightly different, which is fine, but don't conflate two common streams of disk horse about separate things. They have some overlap yes—but don't get it twisted.

What could Cas have done differently?

Cas could have asked to use Dean's blood for a spell instead of yanking his wrist over and cutting his palm open for blood without a word, but instead, he did it without asking (and that small act sets the stage for how Cas treats Dean the entire season). Cas could have asked if Sam and Dean would look for leads for him on angelic weapons. He could have asked them if they would look for leads on Purgatory instead of secretly cosigning Crowley coercing them into forced labor capturing alphas. He could have asked them if they would keep Raphael and Virgil off his tail long enough for him and Balthazar to collect their weapons. Instead, Cas used them without their permission or knowledge. All Dean asks in these moments is to be told that Cas needs his help instead of being used without permission.

You seem certain that giving Sam and Dean any information would have "jeopardized his mission"... but how? Setting aside the actual utility of Cas's plan to pop Purgatory for now, Cas actually could have communicated what he needed in every single one of these situations without revealing his plan to pop Purgatory. In fact, that's exactly what he did with Balthazar, isn't it? But again—we're talking about two slightly different things here. EYE was talking about whether or not it's true that Dean was a mean and bad friend who didn't care that Cas needed help and never offered him assistance while Cas moped like a wet cat, back aching from bending over backwards to help Dean with *looks at notes* something. EYE pointed out that Cas absolutely did not fail to make Dean useful to him. He just didn't bother to tell Dean he was doing it. YOU are talking about whether or not the Cas's plan to pop Purgatory was the only viable solution to the Raphael problem and whether Dean should have supported Cas despite everything when the plot was revealed in 6.20. Again—this is a separate (though somewhat interrelated) discourse.

Despite all the crying about Bad Friend Dean, it was Cas who showed through his behavior throughout the season that he would rather treat Dean as a pawn than as a friend. Cas coerces and lies instead of just asking his friend for help. Forgive me if I'm not going to coddle him over it. If you've been in this fandom for a single moment, you know that the fanon fantasy of Dean being a horrible bad mean friend with a angelic guardian waiting on him hand and foot starts long before 6.20 when Dean rejects the finally revealed plan to pop Purgatory, and the whitewashing of Cas's actions and outright denial of Cas using Sam and Dean also starts long before then. So lets not move goal posts. I'm asking people to stop ignoring and misrepresenting every single thing that happened between Dean and Cas leading up to 6.20. I'm asking people to stop assigning all of those things only selective importance (i.e., they're only important when Dean was the "bad friend", but when Cas was, it didn't matter/didn't happen).

Now let's talk about "the plan to pop Purgatory" briefly and the utility of that plan and whether Dean not jumping to help Cas swallow every soul in Purgatory makes him a bad and mean and terrible friend. Multiple people in Cas's life tried to tell him his plans would backfire, and he didn't listen. He ended up starting an apocalypse which was the very thing he was trying to prevent. He just traded out Raphael for the Leviathan and made no meaningful progress toward an actual improvement in terms of "threats to the world as we know it". How exactly did he make anyone better off?

For some reason, some people insist on arguing that while it did backfire spectacularly, it was "the only option" to dispense with Raphael and "there was no other choice", but nobody saying that actually knows that. In fact from a meta/lore perspective, this is just... outright wrong. Archangels have been dealt with in any number of other ways over the course of the show. The Cage. A weird ass egg. The archangel sword. Spellwork. You can invent whatever goddamn lore you want. You cannot reasonably argue it was "the only option" when archangels repeatedly show up and are dispensed with in a variety of ways that aren't "swallowing all the souls in purgatory, going insane, declaring yourself god, and starting a new apocalypse so we're right back where we started".

The only reason "popping Purgatory" is the only plan we get in season 6 is that it's the only plan that Cas allows to be made. He refuses to so much as consider the possibility of anything else because he's so deeply caught in sunk cost fallacy. When Sam and Dean and Bobby finally learn what he's up to and disagree with his plan, Cas breaks Sam' brain to keep them out of his way. When Balthazar disagrees with his plan, Cas murders him.

i've also always been confused by dean's "i was here where were you?" because was he though? when they did find out, they punished him and cut him off instead of idk, strategizing with cas.

...No? It was the other way around.

6.20

Dean tried to get info on what was going on with Cas from 6.03 when he learned about the angelic war onward, and Cas would give vague answers then fly off. In 6.10, Dean asked if there was anything he and Sam could do and Cas said there wasn't. When he found out about Cas working with Crowley, Dean asked to brainstorm a new solution and work as a team and Cas refused to consider this for a single moment. He insisted nothing about his plan was broken despite multiple people warning him, and his own secret-keeping suggested his own conflicted feelings.

[starlightshadowsworld]

Me and the Devil (Walking side by side)

Or the Cannabalism arc gets resolved by Atsushi making a deal with the Demon.

Atsushi knows that he shouldn't be here. Kunikida would lose his mind if he knew. No matter how he could try to spin it, this was the most reckless and impulsive move Atsushi had ever made.

Which said a lot considering he met Dazai by fishing him out of the lake on the brink of starvation.

But Kunikida didn't know he was here. No one in the Agency did, maybe Ranpo would've figured it out if his mind wasn't on more pressing matters.

Atsushi wonders if Ranpo would've stopped him, had he known his plan. Maybe Ranpo already knew, and had simply let him go without another word.

Atsushi doubts it but one could never know with Ranpo Edgoawa. It wasn't as if it mattered, Ranpo was off with the others on their personal mission.

Atsushi was supposed to be with Kunikida, investigating a lead. He'd have to apologise to Kunikida later for not showing up.

That is, if there was a later. At least Atsushi wasn't wearing his Agency uniform, at least he wouldn't be ruining their image.

"I must say, I am quite suprised to see you in here." Says Fyodor, taking a sip of tea as Atsushi stands by his table.

He looks the picture of relaxed and somewhere deep down Atsushi wants to punch him.

Fukuzawa was dying. Without him the Agency will fall apart. Atsushi has never seen Ranpo so serious, so distraught.

No one has.

Kunikida is trying his best to keep it together. But like the rest of them, he was falling into despair.

Mori was dying.

Without him the Port Mafia will return to its more visceral and brutal ways. Atsushi knows little about those days, but knows it would destroy Yokohama.

If Mori or Fukuzawa is killed by the other organisation, it will result in all out war.

This is what Fyodor wants. And here he is, sat in a cosy cafe. Listening to music and drinking tea while ruining everything.

Atsushi feels sick just looking at the man. But he doesn't punch him, he doesn't yell or scream. Atsushi has come here for a reason.

To bargain.

"I'm not here to fight you. I came to talk." Says Atsushi, keeping his voice light like everything was fine. Fyodor hums, clearly intrigued by this new development in his plans.

He puts his tea down and gestures for Atsushi to take a seat.

"Than talk, would you like some tea?" Atsushi sits down, ordering for himself and let's the tea cup warm his hands.

"Shibusawa told me that you're the one who sent him to me. He said I had the ability to save him, to save countless." Atsushi looks up from staring into his tea. "He wasn't just talking about my ability, was he?"

The intrigue in Fyodor's eyes only grows but he remains as casual as ever. "He wasn't. But that's not what you want to ask me, is it?"

Atsushi takes a sip of his tea, slow and deliberate. He makes a show of looking around, as if making sure no one he knew was here.

"What would you do if you had the book?"

Fyodor's easy going smile turns viscious. There's a glint in his eye that shines dangerously. It reminds Atsushi, if he ever forgot just who he was speaking too.

Atsushi knows Fyodor could have him killed at any moment. The hospital said had the sniper aimed any higher, Dazai would've been killed instantly.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a dangerous man. And yet Atsushi is not afraid.

Not of him.

Atsushi's afraid of losing his friends... his family. The Agency is their home, and Atsushi won't let them lose it.

"And why, do you wish to know that?"

Atsushi shrugs, leaning back in his chair and adopting a carefree air. Something he's seen Ranpo and Dazai do countless times.

Never say they didn't teach him anything.

"Im the guide, aren't I? If I'm going go be coerced into finding it, I want to at least gain something from it. Don't you think?"

He takes a sip of tea as hums, thoughtful. "Fitzgerald wants to bring his dead daughter back to life for his wife. Which is noble and all, but it doesn't exactly do much for me. I have no one I want to bring back. So I'm asking Dostoyevsky, what it is you want with it?"

There's a silence before Fyodor laughs.

Atsushi says nothing, he gives nothing away even if inside he's a little panicked.

"My my, you really are something aren't you? Shibusawa didn't tell me just how ferocious you truly are." Fyodor shakes his head, amused. He rests his elbows on the table, his chin ontop of his palms and leans forward.

"I want to rid the world of all special abilities."

He says it so plain, so casual as if it meant nothing but Atsushi knows it means everything.

This is what Fyodor wants more than anything.

Atsushi mirrors his position, resting his chin atop his palms and leans in. "Now that, that I can work with."

Fyodor tilts his head to the side and smirks.

"Oh?"

Atsushi chuckles. "I grew up in a cage. I spent every waking moment of my life reminded that I was a beast of calamity. That all I did was bring misfortune onto others. My ability has taken everything from me. It has ripped out my humanity and turned me into a monster. It's not a gift, it's a curse. Why would I ever choose to keep it?"

Fyodor studies him before nodding approvingly. He sits back and Atsushi does the same. "It's rare I meet someone who shares my ideals in such a manner. And I wouldn't let such an opportunity go to waste."

He takes out his phone.

"But nothing is free in this world. What do you want in return?" They both know already but Atsushi doesn't comment on it.

He sits up straighter and looks Fyodor in the eye, unwavering. "I want Fukuzawa Yukichi of the Armed Detective Agency and Mori Ougai of the Port Mafia to be cured of the Cannabalism ability."

Fyodor chuckles "is that all?" He teases before becoming serious. "Very well, I agree to your terms. I trust no one knows you're here."

Atsushi nods, he even turns out his pockets to show that their empty. His phone, Agency badge and uniform are stashed in a bin somewhere.

Much like when he left the Orphanage, Atsushi came with only the clothes on his back. He left no note, he couldn't give them any clues.

"Very well. I accept your terms, Atsushi Nakajima." Says Fyodor, extending a hand to him.

This was it.

The moment Atsushi stepped foot into this cafe, he knew he might as well be signing his own death certificate.

But it doesn't matter to him.

There was no way Fyodor was ever going to get the book. He could torture him, starve him, drown him, whatever he wanted to break Atsushi into complying.

Atsushi would not budge. It was nothing he hadn't had dealt to him before. He hadn't been lying about his ability being a curse.

He was dooming himself to a life of isolation and agony. Walking back into his cage and handing over the keys to his tormentor.

Never to know freedom or love again. It was Atsushi's worst fear. What he dreaded more than anything. But this was for the Agency, and for them Atsushi would give up everything.

Atsushi was nothing compared to them. He bought misfortune onto others and pretended he was human when he was anything but.

He was a monster. He would only bring them pain and suffering. But now he could atone for everything he'd done.

None of this would be happened if Atsushi hadn't gone to Yokohama. If he hadn't joined the Agency, none of this would be happening.

He'd deluded himself into thinking he deserved a place to belong. And now they were suffering from it.

This, this was Atsushi's karma. This was the price of his mistakes. For ever thinking he could ever belong in the light when he was born into darkness.

He was abandoned by the world. He was abdoned by his parents and no one had ever wanted him. The Orphanage had been right about him, the Headmaster had been right about him.

But now he could fix it all. The Agency and the Port Mafia would be saved. There would be no more suffering caused by him. The book would never be found and no one would be hurt trying to pursue it again.

Everyone would be okay. So what if it cost Atsushi everything?

"Than we have a deal." Says Atsushi, shaking Fyodor's hand.

(Sequel, You don't know what I'd do (for you) Part 1

[snorkling-in-sodasea]

Moments of Stupidity 17

Here we go. Apology Tour. Just... there are so many moments that are flat out nonsensical from a writer's viewpoint but, as previously established, I'm just going over the decisions that don't make sense story-wise.

I guess for starters, Blitzo for going out of his way to talk to Stolas. Maybe it's Stockholm Syndrome or he's getting so desperate for someone to be there to care that he dies and thinks he's not really having that with Loona or Millie or Moxxie and he's burned so many bridges that Stolas managed to be the one that Blitzo will settle for, but I cannot think of any logical reason otherwise that Blitzo would try talking things out with Stolas. After all, Blitzo's got a crystal now; he's even used it in this episode a few times. Blitzo doesn't have to do anything with an owl who coerced him into a sex deal, constantly demeaned and belittled him, and is actively acting like he never did such things or that he's off the hook just because of the initiative to call of the deal. So why the fuck is Blitzo wanting to patch things up with Stolas? He could get another hookup to have angry sex with or have a transactional relationship if that's what he wants, and it'll actually be on his terms that time. (Again, I got my theories but I got no indicator in the show if I'm right on either one and it's the most improbable thing ever that the show will actually go any other route than romantic endgame).

I also don't get why the fuck Blitzo doesn't bring up some damn good points in that argument with Stolas, either. Striker has never been a fucking friend, especially not when Millie and Moxxie, imps that Stolas should at least know are associated with Blitzo, fought Striker to save his fucking life. Why the hell would Blitzo want his declared family to around a guy who wouldn't think twice about killing them? Blitzo's not that callous. Plus, there's also the fact that Stolas was entirely blasé about being kidnapped, gave no useful information on how to find him and Striker, and Blitzo talked about how Loona, his daughter, is finally getting a shot she needs and she can't afford to miss it. Where is that very good memory you gloated about having, Stolas? But again, I don't get why Blitzo never brought any of that up, like how Husk didn't bring up that Angel harassed him and pushed his boundaries when told by Vaggie to go get him. (Is the hellaverse a world you're allowed to sexually harass people if you're not as bad as certain other people and so there's no point even bringing up that you're sexually harassing people like it's anything important, especially when you're upset about something?) But I digress

Finally, I don't get Blitz's fucking apology list. Martha because not only she was a hit, meaning that Moxxie is just as guilty and Millie, too, but also that the bitch tried to kill them. I agree with Millie. You don't have to feel too bad about killing people if they try killing you (I just would rather it was self-defense than killing you back). The Dhorks agents make even less sense because they were the ones who started shit first, with the kidnapping and the later attempted murder. There's also Brennan Ragers, since Octavia is actually the one to kill him even if it was just an accident. Oh, and I rather don't like that Moxxie's name was on that list but there was a question mark next to it, like Blitzo is genuinely unsure if he ever did anything to Moxxie to be sorry for

Finally, there's Blitzo's just showing up at the party where all his exes are. Considering that he apparently has broken up with so many people who thoroughly hate him to the point where they get together every year to hate their mutual ex, then why the fuck would Blitzo not bother with a disguise right from the get go? Maybe to an extent, the partygoers, unless drunk or whatever shit, are too stupid to notice their most hated ex just being at the fucking party

Of course, there's goddamn fucking Stolas. His moments are mostly more subdued but they're still noticeable and it has lasting power. Like I said above, Stolas is actively acting like he was never a condescending prick and it's not entirely his fucking fault that Blitzo sees him the way he does. Like... Stolas... if you mean to tell me you truly never thought you were behaving badly in the sense of looking down on Blitzo... then what the fuck did you think you were doing? There's missing social cues and stuff and then there's fucking social braindead-ness. How the fuck does someone end up this socially inept? Even though Stolas was isolated in childhood save for some imp servants, but then he got to be around more people when he became an adult. Considering how eager for friends he was when Blitzo was bought to be his playmate and how Stolas is stuck with an angry woman he doesn't even like, you'd think Stolas would be eager to try talking to other nobles at the very least. We know that he attends parties even if they're by Stella's design and there's no literally no reason to think that Stolas can't go to other events hosted by others. Yet Stolas remains just as socially inept even when surrounded by more people, even if it's just in comparison to his childhood. So how the fuck does Stolas live his life around others and think that it's flattering to be called a plaything? In fact, just the way he handled breaking off the deal in Full Moon was stupid but I'll get to that when I talk about the post exclusively about the Stolitz relationship (And holy fuck, do I have a list over how much I think it sucks and why and to think, the show's not over yet)

[auroraescritora]

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - PERCY/NICO AU HIGH SCHOOL - CHAPTER VIII

Hi, how are you doing? In this chapter we have some +18 scenes. Hope you liket it!

Previous chapters: CHAPTER I / CHAPTER II / CHAPTER III / CHAPTER IV / CHAPTER V / CHAPTER VI / CHAPTER VII

Nico wasn't sure he should be doing this.

He couldn't deny that last night had been good, but the time before that, he'd tried with his exes and…well, it had been so bad that all he'd felt was anxiety, pain, and the urge to throw up. Nico didn’t deny, as soon as he could, Nico had hurried away and avoided speaking or meeting Will for the rest of his time in Italy. Part of it was embarrassment at panicking, discovering in the process that he wasn't ready to do certain things with mere strangers, and the other part was… he didn't want to admit it, but it was hard for him to trust people. So what if he dated other people after Will? It wasn't his fault he couldn't relax around the blonde.

That's why he hesitated, even though he knew it was unfair to compare the two. Or to compare anyone else and Percy. Will had never invited him to eat in places he liked or taken him to see, or rather, rediscover the city as Percy had that night. They ate ice cream, visited a natural park, and walked holding hands through moonlit streets. It had been such a peaceful and pleasant night that Nico forgot about what had happened in Italy or even the whole Annabeth mess that he didn't even like to remember. But there they were, back in his room, backpacks and clothes thrown to the floor.

They hadn't even turned on the lights in their rush to get to the second floor of the house, heading towards his bed as fast as they could. Nico’s jacket and shirt came first, then Percy did the same to himself, faster than Nico could keep up. He had gasped, feeling his legs go weak, because Percy was already there against his back, skin to skin, hugging him from behind, lips against his neck kissing him softly, going back and forth to the nape of his neck and finding his earlobe, nibbling, slowly, the big and warm hands touching his chest, descending, reaching his hips and finally massaging him over his jeans to open the button of his pants.

Nico still wasn't sure, he didn't know what was happening to him; one moment he wanted Percy touching him with all the strength of his being and the next, he wasn't sure of anything. Nico just knew that he wanted Percy to continue to hold him forever, but not to hurt or coerce him like other people had tried.

"What is it?” Percy said against the skin of his shoulder, placing one more kiss there that made him shiver, his body relaxing without his permission.

"I don't know. I…”

“Hm.” Percy murmured, moving slowly with him towards the bed. "Do you want to tell me something?"

Yes, he did. Nico wanted to say how he wasn't drunk enough to ignore his fears and that he had rejected anything sexual for more than one reason. But before they reached the bed, Percy stopped in his tracks and kissed her neck one more time.

“I know you're afraid. I know I lost control in the past. But you can trust me.”

“Per.” It had only been a kiss, a careless mistake in the past, and it seems that moment would haunt them for the rest of their lives. “It's not that. I…”

"So tell me. And I will give it to you. It doesn't matter what it is.”

Why was this so difficult?

“I…”

"Is it about your ex?"

"He… he…”

Percy stopped moving and even the air around them became still.

“What did he do to you?”

"Nothing!” Nico said anxious. "It’s nothing.”

“Nico.”

"I mean! Do you remember Jason, the friend I told you about? He stopped Will…”

That's when Percy turned him around to face him and gripped his shoulders tightly, his eyes wide and fierce looking at him as if Percy wanted to get the truth out of him that way.

"You lied to me. What else has this kid done, hm?”

“Percy!” He didn't want to believe that Percy was one of those people.

Percy grabbed him by the arms and threw him onto the bed, pinning his hands above his head.

"Answer me!”

"He… he tied me up and… and took my clothes off… and when… when he was about to… Jason came, hit Will and untied me! Happy now!?”

As soon as he said that, Percy released him and stopped touching him immediately. This surprised Nico, offended him and hurt him in equal measures. Was Percy disgusted with him knowing another man had touched him? Was that what it means?

Then the bed moved and Percy touched him gently on the shoulder.

“No, baby, don't cry. I'm very sorry.”

"You don’t love me anymore?” Nico asked and buried his face in the pillow, trying to hold back the sobs.

“No, that's impossible. I don’t want that--"

“I just…don't like being tied up and…” Another sob, “It was awful when he tried…tried to penetrate me and…”

“Shhh, it's okay. I promise I won't touch you.”

He couldn't take it anymore! That wasn't what Nico wanted.

Crying like a baby, he crawled over to where Percy was lying all tense and sat on his lap, hugging Percy tight around the neck.

"I want you to touch me! I want you to fuck me until I can't walk, but… it hurt so bad! I don't want it to hurt. I want only you to touch me! Only you to kiss me! Only you… ah!”

Nico whimpered and arched his back as Percy pulled him by his hair, bringing their faces close together.

“I should punish you. I should show you how a good boy should behave.”

“I’m--”

“I haven't finished. No matter who you fucked in Italy, you lied to me. Hid something important because of embarrassment? Just ‘cause some random boy deceived and humiliated you? What happened? I want the truth.”

"I'm telling the truth.” Nico turned his face away and shut up, he refused to talk. It wasn't Percy's business what he had done.

“It’s gonna be like this? Since when did you start lying to me?”

“I… I didn't lie about not liking it.”

"Did you agree to do something and regret it?"

Nico nodded, feeling his face heat up.

"You didn't trust him?"

He nodded again.

“I thought I was ready… and…” Nico shrugged. “Then Jason heard me scream and… strapped to the bed …he hit Will and Will was furious. Will came after me later but I didn't want to explain what had happened so I broke up with him and Will got even angrier.”

"So you played with the kid, dumped him and let people think this Will was the one to blame?"

"I didn't mean to do this, I just…”

“Nico.”

Percy knew him too well.

He hated it when Percy spoke to him like that, serious and rigid, all authoritative. He felt like a scolded and helpless little boy. Which made him see that he would do anything for Percy to forgive him. Then, taking a deep breath, Nico said:

"I’m really sorry. I would never do that to you.”

“You already did.” Percy said and looked at him steadily and hard, still holding him by the hair in a painful way that didn't really hurt. But Percy was right, he had done it, he had run away without an explanation, and he regretted it very day since then. If necessary, he would spend the rest of his life apologizing.

“How can I redeem myself?”

"I don't know.”

"Please. I’ll do anything.”

"Anything?” Then Percy smiled at him and let go of his hair, settling himself against the bedframe. “Take off your pants.”

Nico did as Percy asked. He got up, took off his pants, underwear and socks and went back to bed about to sit on Percy's lap when he was stopped.

Percy grabbed him by the shoulder and with the same smirk, he said, "On your stomach. On my lap.”

"I don't understand.”

“Soon you will.”

Still confused, Nico laid back against Percy's legs and waited.

Moments later, it all made sense.

First, he felt Percy arrange himself against the headboard of the bed, then, with one hand, Percy held his hair and with the other, slid down his back, reaching his ass.

"Are you still willing to go on?"

“Per?”

“I spoiled you a lot. Allowing you to do whatever you want.”

"I did not want to…”

"Will you obey?"

"Wait!”

“Last chance. Yes or no?”

He didn't know, okay!? It was a lot of pressure for him to handle. Is just, Nico always wanted to try that with Percy, but he didn't want it to like this, a punishment instead of fun.

“Nico?”

“I don't know.” Nico finally said, defeated. “I trust you.”

And then, mere seconds later, Percy's heavy hand cracked against his right cheek, drawing a muffled groan from him.

“You are enjoying this. I can’t believe it.” Two more came, one after the other and Nico couldn't help himself, he squirmed, rubbing one leg against the other, trying to hide the effect the spanking was having on him.

He heard Percy gasp and settle him in his lap, his jeans brushing against his exposed cock, and all he could do was to hold on to the bed to keep him from coming from the rough treatment.

“Are you ready to talk?” Percy's voice sounded low in his ears, making him shiver.

"I've already said everything I wanted to."

"Who else did this to you?"

Shit! How did Percy know?

Percy shifted sideways and this time the crack reverberated through the entire room, making him actually shout, arching his spine. When he didn't say anything, Percy continued, his hands hitting his skin and massaging the spot until he almost...almost...

"You told me to live my life! That's what I did!” Nico screamed this time, trying to control himself, squirming all over, feeling the pleasure come faster than he expected. Until Percy stopped suddenly, keeping him at peak ecstasy to end the spanking without warning.

“All I want is the truth, Nico.”

"What good will it do!?" he yelled again, frustrated, trying to obey.

"You think you can lie to me? The more you hide, the more I want to know.”

“Percy! I don’t want to talk about this!”

"Then, I guess you don’t want to come."

"You won't do this to me!"

"Want to bet?"

Percy grabbed him around the waist, turned him over on the bed and then had him sit on his lap, his cock exposed to the cold air of the room, holding him immobile with his ass burning against Percy's jeans.

“Percy!”

“I won't encourage that kind of attitude.”

"What attitude?"

“That's why I'm so jealous, you always do that. Flirting with everyone and ignoring the problem when it gets serious.”

"I don’t do this. Do I…?”

"You’ll drive me crazy!"

"I didn’t mean--"

"You never do! That’s the problem.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Be sincere. Is it too much to ask?”

“I… I didn't know how to tell you. How could I say, ‘Look, Percy. Don’t get mad. I got needy and let some boys touch me in ways I'm ashamed to admit."

“It doesn't seem so difficult now.” Percy muttered, gripping him tighter around the waist. Nico even feared to know what would happen in the next few days. "Why do you do this to me?”

"I didn't want you to think that I… that I am…”

"A whore who offers herself to anyone who pays attention to you?"

Nico looked out the window and tried to hold whatever was struggling to break free from his chest.

“Nico, I don't care. You can be my sweet Nico and you can be this sensual being who likes to tease people. I'm sad that you felt the need to hide that part from me.”

"I didn’t want hide things from you. It just…”

"I know that you don’t. I never thought you were an angel. All I ask is honesty.”

“I know.”

“I don't want to hurt you, but I also don't want to treat you like a crystal. Don’t run away from me. I love you.”

“I love you too.” Nico said, relaxing against Percy's chest. "I promise I'll be the most honest person in the world."

***

Things seemed to have calmed down. Nico felt that the weight of the world had finally lifted off his back, he felt light and free, with nothing left to hide. That is, he hadn't told Percy everything that had happened, but Percy now knew everything, about his... about his libido that had surged in Percy's absence, and that now seemed to be on fire more than ever.

Nico thought he had made himself clear, didn't he? After all, he had shouted to anyone who would listen. Honestly, he was glad that after hearing all those things Percy was still by his side, right now, under the covers with him, hugging him around the waist and shoulders, keeping them glued to each other. His bottom still hurt and his eyes were puffy from crying. Don't get him wrong, he would be on his knees if it would improve his situation, Percy just wasn't in the mood. Percy had taken off the rest of the clothes he was wearing and had laid next to Nico on the bed, hugging him and then closed his eyes. And Nico, how had it turned out? Still aroused, even with the pain of the spanking and the humiliation of the confessions, trying to stay obediently still in Percy's arms.

For long hours he tried to do just that, obeying Percy's will. But no matter how hard he tried, Nico opened and closed his eyes from time to time, watching the hours pass by slowly and torturously, seen the sky change from dark shades to lighter ones.

He couldn't take it anymore! Touching the hand around his chest, Nico struggled and tried not to wake Percy as the grip around him tightened, Percy's arms pulling him back to his strong chest.

"Where do you think you're going?”

“I need… hum…””

"You need?”

Nico wanted to die, but before that fact came to fruition, he took one of Percy’s hands over his body and brought it to his groin.

“I understand.” Percy murmured, leaning closer.

It was okay, because Nico finally got what he wanted. Percy covered his entire groin, engulfing his cock and massaging it slowly, balls and phallus, squeezing him so good that in less than a minute he was erect, as if the previous conversation and spanking had never happened. It felt so perfect… why was it so good? Was it because Percy was touching him? Was more emotional than physical? Or it was the mid-morning intimacy making him feel light and carefree, but so vulnerable he wanted to hide under Percy's body?

“What do you need?” Percy whispered against his neck, his voice husky with sleep.

“Can you… can you fuck me?” Was he being clear enough this time?

“You only had to ask.

He moaned in frustration and hid his face in the pillow, anxious and feeling the humiliation of having to beg down his neck in the form of the blush that warmed him from head to toe.

The thing is, Nico finally had his request granted. Percy leaned him forward a little, spread his legs and immediately Nico felt wet fingirs rub softly and unhurriedly against his entrance.

Ah… he didn't know that gesture could be so relaxing and pleasurable, feeling Percy massaging it around long enough for the orifice to open and allow Percy's fingers to penetrate it, easily and without difficulty. Percy was opening him so carefully that when Nico less expected, he found himself lying on his belly and moaning with three fingers inside him, barely feeling Percy lay on his body. Because with a slight discomfort that immediately gave way to pleasure, Nico could only spread more his legs letting the head of Percy's cock came into contact with his entrance, penetrating him a with light pressure, feeling himself really open like a flower as Percy forced himself in a little more, his body weight helping him slide right in.

 "Am I hurting you? Am I going too fast?”

Nico stopped breathing for a moment, too many sensations at once frying his brain. He… he didn't know, he was too relaxed to determine if it was pure pleasure, if he had pain in the middle of it or if he even needed a break; Nico could barely lift his head off the pillow as far as understanding anything other than the need to come.

“Baby.” Percy sighed, finally leaning against his back, keeping their hips still, panting. " I need--"

“Hm.” Nico thought he'd moaned, that he was about to come. Was all he could thing about, how that couldn't be normal. It couldn’t.

“Talk to me.”

Then, Percy settled better between his legs and that slight friction inside was enough to make Nico groan, squeezing the cock inside him so good that Percy pulled his hair, a clear warning to behave.

“Per!”

Percy stopped again, trying to catch his breath, and Nico melted once more into the bed, searching for the right words to say what he needed.

“Per, I… I need… I need…”

“Let's do it this way. When you don't know what to say and want to go on, say 'thank you'. When it feels good and you still want to stop, say “Please”.

"What if… what if I don't like it?"

"Say stop and I'll stop."

It seemed easy enough, so why was there so much doubt? This was the moment he tended to wrap everything up. It was so intense that he couldn't go on, even when he used his favorite vibrator. But he didn't want to stop, he wanted to keep going and see where this went. Maybe he would allow Percy to move and pin him against the bed, just like Percy was doing, this way Nico could get to the end.

"So?” Percy murmured against his ear, holding him tight by his hair and waist.

“I… okay… thank you.”

"That's my boy. All polite and obedient.”

Nico… Nico wasn't going to let those words make him feel any further off the cliff than he already was. But when Percy stroked his hair and tugged at it, saying a quick “Good boy,” Nico couldn't ignore the reaction it elicited from him. He hid his face in the pillow at the same time a groan was ripping from him and Percy finally decided to move.

Tonight nothing was going as he expected and instead of Percy fucking him fast and hard, he felt first Percy rotate his hips, rolling inside him and then Percy push back, slow and nice, and going back to penetrate him even slower, making him arch his spine and groan like he had never moaned before, leaving no room for any other thoughts.

“Hmm.” Percy groaned, all hoarse, increasing in speed and depth as Nico's moans grew louder. "I knew you would be perfect. All soft and sweet. The perfect fit.”

“I… I… ah!”

“Hm?”

“Thank you!”

Nico thought he had screamed, that he had writhed so hard that he felt Percy grab him by the back of his neck and force his head into the pillow, telling him to breathe. But Nico couldn't, Percy had hit something inside him that made him black out for a moment; Nico was coming and coming, each time his cock spurt, a jolt of electricity shot through his body, but Percy was still inside him, hard and pulsing, so hot Nico didn't know how he hadn't been burned.

“It's okay, that It. I will take care of you.”

Nico felt fingers against his groin and on his cock, touching it gently. He moaned again, thinking he was going to die, feeling his orgasm stretching until he couldn't take it anymore:

“Please!” Then, he screamed once more, tears forcing out of his eyes, smothered with pleasure, “Please!”

“Good boy.” Percy groaned in his ear, his voice firm and low, feeling Percy's hips go as deep as possible and come inside him like Nico had never allowed anyone before.

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

Like always, it's a pleasure seeing you all here. Thanks for reading!

[ninelivesastrology]

tw: drug addiction, CSA, incest

When it comes to my CF's egg donor, I think she bragged about sexually abusing him to me to break us up. And I don't think she lied about it. And I remember during the intervention none of the other family members told me was an intervention because they thought I was on drugs and wanted me out, too, my CF told them Xanny the Nanny (his mother) started his opiate addiction. You could hear a pin drop in that room and Xanny the Nanny's head spun on her neck to give my CF the most hateful look because he finally said something.

This is in addition to one of my abuser's friends telling me Xanny was giving my CF opiates to destroy his sex drive because as a 60 year old, she has to be the only sexual experience her son has ever had. Because she was bragging about it.

And it honestly makes me wonder if Xanny the Nanny's brothers and sisters knew about the drugs and sexual abuse, but obviously benefited from Xanny taking care of their parents for over 25 years and just didn't say anything and allowed it to happen. And only when my CF's escalated addiction came to put stress on their parents, perhaps, that's when they cared, but who knows? I don't know. She was literally malingering (yes, there's a TERM for this behavior, it's what ADDICTS do), claiming to be sick while giving her teenage son drugs to turn him out.

I learned from being a caregiver that

a family unit will tolerate things they shouldn't tolerate as long as they don't have to clean up urine or feces or constantly babysit an elderly person who is struggling to look after themselves.

When I was pregnant, I came to the conclusion that I really didn't want any of these people around me or my child just from not being able to trust. I didn't want their money. I didn't want their support. I didn't want to be a slave (period) to their expectations. I didn't want them trying to coerce me into taking care of Xanny the Nanny because they knew I was an ex caregiver. That would be two addicts I would doing domestic labor for at the same time, crazy. These are things I didn't want. I really wanted my freedom a mother and more importantly, I wanted my child's safety. I also don't wanna play the "I Tolerate You For My Child" game with anyone.

Figured if these family members were the type of people to just blindly believe what Xanny the Nanny said about me from their behavior towards me, they were in too deep or maybe not involved enough at all. They're not people I wanted to play close either because some of these people may not have a spine. Or just don't care. Again, who knows? In that way, I feel bad for them because she was calling them drug addicts to me and calling me a drug addict to them and the call is coming from inside their mother and father's house. The phone is next to a prescription of Dilaudid.

Ever since I started going to Nar-Anon, I see this situation so differently. They said, "If someone in your family is an addict, your entire family is sick," and that's true. And it's not my child's job to fix them. The distance is justified.

[ahopkins1965]

Good Day Everyone!  My name is Anthony Hopkins and I am responsible for enabling other people for more than a half of a century.  I remember when I was a child, I used to help others with their homework for school. 

 

 

 

I am getting very honest with myself and others about enabling behavior.  I have been clean and sober for 34 years now.  I rarely ask anyone else for help.

 

 

Next, I am letting all of you know that I am guilty of enabling other people.  What is the definition of enabling?  Enabling is when someone is doing something that other people can do for themselves.  At one point in my life, I was coerced by other people to do something for someone else.  The fair-weather friends that I had were using me.  My family members told me to my face that people were taking advantage of me.  At that time, I had concealed the person and the whole problem. 

 

 

 

 

 

 I have a fair-weather friend that still ask me to do things for him.  I didn't know that this behavior was getting worse because I was always broken financially.

 

Further, I am sharing this information because I know that there are other people who are going through the same thing.  I know that certain people do not love me personally.  I have got my friend released from prison back in 2016.  He did not appreciate it.  I have done so much for other people that I am in need, and the same people who I have helped cannot help me in return. 

 

 

 I know that I am sharing all of this information to help others wake up and smell reality.  I am very sorry for allowing other people to take advantage of me.  It hurts me because I owe $ 32,000 dollars in student loan debt right now.  My mother told me to my face that I will see the error of all of my ways. 

 There are members in my family, who have not given me a dime to help me, but my nieces and nephews helped me and I am very grateful.

 

Moreover, I want to inform all of you that my neighbor's at Wentworth Hi Rise Apartments have helped me when I couldn't call my siblings.  My siblings helped me in the past.  My brother paid my rent for me. 

 My siblings want me to live with them, but I don't want to caste all of my burdens on them.  I really need a job working somewhere just to pay my student loans and other bills.  I am sharing all of this just to let everyone know that my church members helped me out a lot.

  I am saying all of this information to learn how to help others who are in need.  My Pastor told me that I am an analytical thinker and I am an excellent Writer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Addition to the library and Church that I attend on a regular basis.  It's that I am very sick physically mentally psychologically and spiritually drained. I am asking God to help me out with this drained problem.  Emotionally, I am losing my memory right now.  I have lapses in my memory right now. I am very happy to have a place to live for 13 years now.  I only wish that I can stop the marijuana smoking inside of the building.  My back is still hurting me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, I am telling all of you that enabling is a very serious problem.  I tell other people who enable others to please keep away from me.  I realize that I have Jesus Christ and God as my real friends.  I am very happy to help others but I will not allow other people to take advantage of me and my kindness.  I suffer from Diabetes Full Blown Type 2 and Alzheimer's right now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 My family members do not visit me anymore because of the bedbugs that are inside of the building where I live.  I can understand everyone is skeptical about me and my building where I choose to live.  I write because it helps me to cope with a mental illness.  I do spray alcohol inside of my apartment to prevent bedbugs from bothering me.  Enabling affects me and everyone else. 

 

 I cannot keep on doing things for people when they can do it for themselves.  I have some bad news to share with you.  The Social Security Administration is getting ready to terminate my benefits. 

 

 People who are under the age of 65 have to go back to work and make a decent living for themselves.  Social Security Administration specifically stated that I have written three books in 23 years.  They are saying that I have to report my income.  The US Government has given me a stimulus check and I used money to publish three books in 23 years now. 

 

 I love all of you, but this enabling problem is affecting me personally.  If someone knows how to use a computer, I will let you do your own work.  I am an Author of three books.  I have to copyright all of my most recent writing.  I love you all.  Please start using your phone for everything. 

 If I can apply for a job using my phone, then anyone else can do the same exact thing.  Enabling has caused a lot of people to become deprived of learning a brand-new skill.  Enabling does not give me power, it is transferring power to the other person.  Enabling leaves, you powerless, and you do not have to be in active addiction.  My fair-weather friend has used me so much that I am getting tired of being around him.

 

In Conclusion, I have learned a valuable lesson for doing things for other people, and you are not getting paid.  It also deprives you of money and learning new skills myself.

 

 Enabling is an addiction and it needs to stop.  Enabling causes other people to consume you with their stuff.  Anger resides inside of the heart of fools.  It defines our culture.  Enabling for me has made me out of a fool.

[claire-starsword]

Bloodline of the Sacred Dragons - Chapter 2-5

[warning for needles and coerced blood tests. Yes, in Shining Force. this one is a ride]

"No."

The old lady flatly refused.

"Please, master. Don't be selfish. We just need Randolf's help for a little while," Krin begged the old lady with her hands clasped together.

This lady, known as Granny of the Experiments to the mages of Manarina, was Krin's teacher, Tyrin's friend, and Randolf's employer. She was an exceptional weirdo among the already weird mages.

As his boss, the old lady refused to grant Randolf permission to leave. No matter how one looked at it, she seemed to just be having fun causing problems for Tyrin and the rest.

He and Krin were at a loss on how to deal with her tantrum.

The other four, standing outside her laboratory, gathered near the half opened door without thinking, listening in to the discussion.

"If I said no that's a no. If I let Randolf go, I won't be able to continue my sublime research, will I?"

"Ma'am, this is an order from Master Otrant," Tyrin told her gravely. At least he hoped to impart the gravity of the situation. But it didn't work with her in the slightest.

"Otrant was once just a naughty brat I gave plenty of beatings and scoldings to. That one's a hundred years too young to order me around!"

She laughed, and Tyrin began sweating as he tried to persuade her.

"So this is the kind of place my sister's been studying at?" Karin whispered.

"I guess." Bleu scratched his nose at her words.

"Who was that? Is there someone outside?"

The old lady had heard Karin speak, and went to look outside her room. Her ears were apparently in pretty good shape for her age. With a bit of regret for having talked so carelessly, Bleu and the others entered the room.

"Ooh, if it isn't a Sacred Dragon. Good. Excellent. Alright, if you all help with my experiment, I'll let you have the dwarf."

The old lady's eyes shined as she saw Bleu, and Randolf angrily raised an eyebrow at what she had said.

"Hey hey hey, I'm not a thing. Don't go handing me over as you want. First of all, to let him help on the experiments, what do you want to turn him into? Or, are you gonna turn someone into a dragon…?"

Randolf looked at the machine in the corner of the room. It was bigger than Bleu. The imposing contraption, covered by a transparent dome, was a shapeshifting machine.

The reason the old lady was known as Granny of the Experiments was due to turning people into a bunch of different animals with that machine. That's why even the bulletin boards in Manarina had posters warning to beware of her.

"Even I can't turn people into Sacred Dragons. That's why I'm still researching. I hardly get the chance to pick up such a rare material to experiment with. Hohoho!"

"Bleu isn't any sort of lab animal!" Karin shouted.

"To me, all creatures are lab material, me included. You, and you, and you, and you…"

She spun around pointing each one of them.

"This machine, it looks a lot like the one in the Ancient Tower at Prompt… So you want me to get inside?" Bleu asked. Camallia wanted to say something, but the old lady was faster.

"The machine in the Ancient Tower was only for breathing lifeforce into an artificial creature, like Dark Dragon. It sucked out the life of living beings that entered it and transferred it to something else. This machine here is very different. It was dug out from the Bustoke Quarry a long time ago. Good ol' me here restored it, and it became usable again."

The old lady scolded Krin for not being awed and clapping like a pupil should. The poor girl praised her after way too long. A bit angry, she continued to explain the machine.

"This machine can transform a creature into another kind of creature. For example, it can turn giant worms and such into cute chickens and cows. Oh, it's such a groundbreaking invention."

She made a dreamy face, enchanted by her own words.

"But, I don't think anyone would want milk or stew from a cow that used to be a worm…" Karin mumbled, disgusted. Karna nodded, her lips tightened together.

"You don't understand the greatness of this research. Foolish little girls."

Karna got terribly angry at the old lady's insult, puffing her cheeks. But, suddenly remembering her reason for being there, she quickly calmed down.

"Old lady, have you seen a man called Gong, maybe?"

"Gong? Let's see…" She inclined her head, trying to gather her memories. "Ah, do you mean that huge monk? He helped me here a couple of days ago."

Karna beamed.

"It could be him. So, could you tell me where he is now?"

"He left."

"Ehh?"

She froze instantly, after having jumped in joy at first.

"He just suddenly walked out. I have no clue where he went."

He ran away, whispered Tyrin in Karna's ear. Probably, thought everyone who heard him.

Bleu too started wishing to ran away like Gong. He didn't have time to waste with this stuff.

"We can't spend too much time here. I enter that, then you give us him, right?"

"Don't give in, Bleu. This is a waste of time too," Karin rushed to stop him as he touched the machine.

"Whoa, whoa, who told you to enter? What I want is your cells. Turning a Sacred Dragon into a frog or a snake wouldn't be much fun now, would it?"

Rummaging through a box, the old lady chided the hasty dragon. Right after, she exclaimed "here, found it," and took out an odd tool with a needle.

"What, I'm just gonna take some blood from you all."

Her face contorted with glee as she carried the giant injection needle.

"Hey, hey, you don't mean even from me, do you?"

Randolf took a step away from her.

"I don't see why not. I still don't have many dwarf cells, after all."

Hurried by Bleu and Tyrin, who were fed up with all that, everyone agreed to her procedure against their will. Even Randolf and Cerberus fell in her clutches. The one who resisted the most was Camallia, who tried to plead religious reasons, and that she was a foreigner, but the old lady didn't care at all for that. In the end, she went after half of the group had already done it.

"One Sacred Dragon, one dwarf, one elf, one half-elf, three humans, and one cerberus… Hohoho. Now, what crystals should I use…"

This time, she began rummaging through another box, full of crystal slabs shining in every color of rainbow. It was as if she had immediately forgotten about everyone else in the room.

"Hey, you're a bother to my work. Out."

She ushered them out of the lab. Camallia wished from the bottom of her heart that this old mage's research with their cells never got completed.

"Well then," Tyrin relaxed his shoulders, then asked his old friend, "guide us."

"Hang on, why do I have to do this?"

Randolf grabbed Tyrin's orange-brown robe, stopping him from running ahead.

"What do you mean 'why', I explained everything before. And the old lady has allowed you to."

"The old lady is the old lady, I'm talking about me. I'm no kid to be sent out by my guardian. I do what I want to."

"Then, can't you consider it?" Tyrin requested once more.

Randolf stubbornly rejected it. "I refuse. I shouldn't take anyone who isn't a dwarf through the secret path. Besides, I have nothing to do with this Manual and what it will be used for. I'm not sticking my nose in that kind of trouble when it's not worth a cent."

"Cheapskate."

Someone murmured.

"What did you say?"

Randolf turned around, and saw Karna with her puffed cheeks.

"I said you're a stingy miser, that's what you are. Lending a hand to people in trouble is the right thing to do."

She began preaching to the stubborn dwarf as a priest was bound to do.

"That's my decision to make."

"Cheapskate," she made the same face again. Of course, it was useless to preach to a man several times her age. Besides, Karna wasn't one to keep a dignified front for long.

"C'mon now, a young girl shouldn't talk like that. Not to mention, you seem to be a priest too."

"Oh, I can speak however I want to a dwarf like you. I don't think the gods will forgive your actions."

"My, what a difficult kid."

"You're the difficult one!"

Karna had got angry to the point of tears, and Karin hurried to calm her down. She hugged Karin, burying her face in the older girl's chest.

Randolf felt a bit troubled, as he did not intend to make her cry.

His gaze fell downwards, and when he raised his head again, the white dragon was right in front of him.

"Randolf the dwarf, I beg you once more. We need your help."

Bleu's long neck was bowed down all the way to the dwarf's face.

"Bleu, you shouldn't ever have to go this far."

Karin tried to push his head up. A proud and noble Sacred Dragon, hero of times past, shouldn't lower himself to a mere dwarf. But, Bleu's head stayed firmly where it was.

"If you want us to beg, then, please."

Joining the plea for help, Karin also bowed down towards Randolf, by Bleu's side and as deeply as him. Not leaving her sister alone in that, Krin also bowed by her side.

"I ask of you as well, dwarf, sir."

A bit late, Camallia joined them. Hers was a more elegant gesture, bending her upper body without lowering her head as much.

"Now, what will you do, dear friend. I will ask of you once more as well. To retrieve the stolen Manual, we require a dwarf's assistance..."

Tyrin bowed.

Karna quickly lowered her head as well by Karin's side, her face stained with tears.

"Fine, I get it, stop pestering me, you all. I'll guide you, now get these heads back up already."

Randolf had at last joined the group.

To next part>

Translation notes:

With thanks to Spriters Resource, here's a refresher on what the shapeshifting machine looks like:

And the machine in the Tower of the Ancients that gives power to Dark Dragon (we only see it after it's destroyed by Cain):

The similarities between them kinda start and end with having a glass dome. I don't see any entrances in the last one and Darksol does not put anyone inside it to supply Dark Dragon with energy, so yeah, the writer took some liberties here. Of course, there's no original explanation for it so it's not a big deal.

Karna is confirmed here as a half-elf. According to the afterword at the end of the book (which I'll be translating eventually), the writer did contact someone (he doesn't clarify who exactly) to ask on the issue of her looking like an elf while listed as a human in the manual. The way he talks about, it was very likely a mistake, and deciding to make her a half-elf was just a hasty fix. They decided the same should go for Taya even though she's not even in this book.

Rolling my eyes at the dwarf racism that seems to be going on here. I don't recall dwarves being established as a lesser race anywhere in the first game and its extra content, with Gort even being a legendary hero in Guardiana (despite centaurs dominating the army there in general, but that's mentioned more as centaurs being the prejudiced ones, as opposed to everyone else being on it). The SF2 encyclopedia has a note on Randolf being from a "rougher" subrace of dwarves, so he seems to attract this kinda comment, but in the same sentence that book establishes regular dwarves as respected, so the portrayal here still sticks out as the writer doing his own thing. Which feels pretty bad, especially when Randolf is so far the only character defined just as a worker as opposed to having some special heritage, religious or academic connection.

[youarestellarverse]

[image description: a purple banner that has the words “work in progress” on it. end of description]

Appendicitis pre-Jercy fic, part 2

Content warnings for emergency rooms, child abuse/neglect, and food insecurity.

They're still holding onto each other when Thalia bursts through the doors with the energy of a hurricane. Clutched in one arm is a large toy wolf Percy recognizes from the room she keeps for Jason at her place— Lupa the Second, he remembers, named after the identical one she gave her brother when he turned two, which he was coerced into throwing out before he even hit middle school. 

"Where is he?" 

"Still in surgery." Piper peels herself away from the huddle and wraps an arm around Thalia's skinny shoulders, guiding her towards a chair. "Leo talked to a resident. He's doing well." 

"They'll keep giving us updates when they can," Leo adds, his voice suspiciously strangled. He grabs one of the grocery bags, though he won't look Percy in the eyes. "Looks like Perce brought us sustenance." 

"Lots of it," Percy agrees, carrying the other bag over. "I got coke, orange juice, water, chips, bananas, some hostess cakes—" 

Thalia sobs, sharp and sudden, a sound Percy's never heard from her. He takes the seat next to her and puts a hand on her knee, Piper on her other side. 

"I bought him a hostess cake for his first birthday," Thalia whispers, staring at the floor, her blue eyes welling up. "I couldn't afford real cake, but I wanted him to have something special. He was so happy. He kept pushing it towards me and saying 'share, share', no matter how many times I told him he could have the whole thing. It was one of his first words, after my name." 

She clings to Lupa, her gaze fixed on something too far in the past for the rest of them to see.

"Why don't we save those for him, then?" Percy suggests softly. "They'll keep until the apocalypse, and I bet it'll make him smile when he wakes up and sees you with 'em." 

In moments like this, Percy understands why his friends look at him in stunned silence when he jokes about Gabe. Happy just doesn't make sense, knowing why Jason learned 'share' so early— because Thalia, seven years old at the time, was desperately trying to keep herself and her baby brother from starving, and had gotten in the tragic habit of giving him half (or more) of everything she managed to scrounge up. 

"Good. We're all in agreement that Thalia gets to visit first," Leo says roughly, keys jangling in his pocket as his leg moves in a likely unconscious tell of how scared he is. The anger is another, as he scans the room. "Seeing as his parents were at the game and aren't even fucking here." 

"Speak of the devil," Percy growls. The doors whoosh open, and the sounds of arguing filter into the room. 

"—told you he shouldn't play with a fever, Rex, I told you something would happen—" 

"—not going to teach my son that he can just let his teammates down every time he feels a little queasy—"

Thalia straightens up, eerily silent. 

Percy can feel the electricity building under her skin. The same ire is sparking at his own fingertips. 

Piper inhales sharply. Leo smirks, vicious. I say let her at 'em, it seems to broadcast. 

Percy looks at Piper. In unison, they nod at each other and sit back, giving Thalia plenty of room to explode into movement and charge across the lobby like an enraged bull. 

"You made him play?" she bellows, much louder than anyone that tiny should be able to manage. At barely over five feet, she's dwarfed by her father, but her presence is at least twice that tall. 

For a second, Rex is shocked into silence by his daughter's seething rage. Then he comes back to himself, scowling as he leans his substantial bulk and height forward.

"You have no say in how I raise my—" 

Thalia ignores the painfully-obvious attempt to intimidate her. She wheels to face her stepmother like he isn't even there, her expression as punishing as a gale-force wind. 

"And you didn't fucking stop him? What is wrong with you?" 

"Thalia Renée—"

"Don't you dare," Thalia spits, her eyes so bright with anger they look like the blue flame of a welding torch. "You think you have any right to full-name me like— like I'm some spoiled kid, when you knew how sick Jason was and you let that man force him onto the field anyway? What were you thinking? He could have fucking died! He could still—"

Her voice breaks then, and her hand curls into a trembling fist.

"Thalia—"

Juno, for what reason Percy can't even begin to fathom, tries to put on the motherly act and reaches for her. Before he can get up and throw himself into the ring, Thalia recoils violently from her, backing away with Lupa hugged to her chest instead. 

She steps on Percy's foot, startling at his presence. He ignores the slight pain and steadies her with a firm, supportive hand on her shoulder. 

"If something happens to him on that table," she tells Juno, tearful and venomous, "it's your fault. Both of you." 

She storms out then. Percy wants to follow her, but he lets her go— she hates breaking down in front of people, and she needs a minute to herself. Instead, he focuses on Jason's parents. 

"She's right," he says plainly. 

"Hope it was worth it," Leo adds, crossing his arms over his chest. 

Total word count: ~2700

Ping list: @elaborateruses, @perseusjackson-jasongrace 💜

[theravenkin]

hcs for the gangsey? just any hcs you happen to have about them?

ooh or hcs/theories about ronan and kavinsky’s relationship? (doesn’t have to be romantic)

UMMM ok. i have some controversial opinions about the kavinsky situation. if you want to read controversial dark shit and why i do not like kavinsky and do not think he deserved a redemption arc continue below. if you like kavinsky and want to keep liking him then ignore this lol

(also my gangsey hcs are here :))

*tw: SA*

so i've discussed with other people who've read the books and they didn't read the dream thieves the same way i did, at least not the first time. (my best friend reread after i told her how i'd read it and she agreed with me then, but she totally didn't see it the first time.) i read the whole outing with kavinsky as sexual assault. here's why:

while he's in dc, gansey receives a picture of like "a certain part of ronan's anatomy" or something that's implied (implied) to be a dick pic. i don't have the text with me so i can't quote it exactly but. it's very much implied to be a dick pic. this being said, maggie often says things in vague terms and sometimes doesn't mean for something to be interpreted in one specific way. she might have left that open to interpretation on purpose. however, she often uses euphemisms for certain unsavory things, like in TRB when she left the "F" in SRF (gansey's nickname from random guy which ronan called him teasingly for a period of time afterward, y'all remember that? anyway) unspecified. it could have been "fuck", or it could've been a slur. we really don't know, so it depends on how you read that situation and ronan's character. so yeah. the dick pic thing is open for interpretation, but the fact that she left the body part unspecified implies that it was at least something private. it seems that any way you look at it, ronan was violated.

because we know ronan was not sober, maybe not even conscious, when that photo was taken/sent. he was drugged and drunk and often wasn't conscious during that time with k. so it's easily assumed that ronan was not in his right mind and either was coerced to take his clothes off, or his clothes were taken off of him. and then pictures were taken of him without his full consent.

other than the more literal implications, that whole period has a sexual vibe; we know that k desired ronan in that way. we also know that ronan was desperate for k's help. the nature of this dynamic is obvious. k had the perfect opportunity to take advantage of ronan, and based on his other actions, it's pretty likely that he did in one way or another.

now, we don't see ronan confront any experience like this after he leaves k. this is because if something did happen, he probably doesn't remember it, again either because he was inebriated or unconscious. he does, however, have these repressed feelings that he feels taken advantage of, like he has to get out from under k's thumb asap. also, the way that maggie is, i wouldn't expect her to handle sa delicately. i wouldn't be surprised if she had intended for the situation to be read as SA and then purposefully glossed over it. rip maggie but i don't put that much faith in her, especially her in 2013. i think from that perspective, she was probably writing "horny repressed teenage boys with a dark twist" and not really considering the kind of trauma that really is for anyone, especially a teenager. especially for TEENAGERS to be READING. ugh. sorry i just really think that shouldn't have been implied and then brushed over. i think that was really shitty of maggie.

anyway. you can interpret it different ways, but because i interpreted it the very first time as SA, i Do Not Like kavinsky. at all. i don't think that the "he's got a shitty home life and he's repressed" factor balances out SA or any of the other shit he did, ranging from kidnapping to premeditated murder. sure he could've gotten better, but would he have? that’s my reservation with the redemption argument.

aside from that, i DEFINITELY want kavinsky as far away from ronan as possible. firstly, ronan wouldn't do any of that shit; he's fundamentally different from k in that way--that’s exactly why maggie uses kavinsky as a foil for ronan’s character in book 2. 

but more importantly, i can't stomach the sexual or romantic pairing of them having interpreted that event as i did. so yeah i'm extremely anti-rovinsky, but mainly because i read ronan as k's victim, and that dynamic in a sexual or romanic context just makes me feel so so gross. ugh.

anyway. if you ship rovinsky no hate, and i am really sorry :/

[burning-sol]

People in the replies are being SO fucking annoying and it's really hurting me as a victim of gaslighting myself, so I feel the need to comment. NOTE: this analysis may not end up being accurate to the situation, but I feel it's important to say because nobody here seems to understand what being gaslit is like.

I notice that a lot of people are commenting on OP's "attitude" when I don't actually see an issue with the attitude, OP just seems to the point and blunt about things, which I see as being the opposite of an issue. If someone says something about you that is wrong, why would YOU be in the wrong for stating what the truth is? I have some memory issues myself and have never felt offended or needed to be coddled just because my friend told me I misremembered something about them. Nor do I double down and get mad if they appear to have changed their mind on something. You say OP is insufferable as if OP isn't the one who is being compromised here by having to defend parts of their fucking identity.

Maybe you feel OP has an attitude because the examples that were brought up are "childish" or "inconsequential" when that's textbook gaslighting at its best. Gaslighting isn't just about big things, it's about smaller things that make you appear like you're overreacting or being unreasonable to outsiders. "You're upset because they say you like PreCure? It's not a big deal!" The goal of gaslighting is not just to undermine the victim interpersonally, but to coerce outsiders into undermining by making their situation seem ludicrous. In my case, I started shutting down and stopped reaching out for help once everyone around me made it clear they didn't understand or thought it was silly.

Continuing from that point, I want you to notice that both of these examples have something in common I've already pointed out. ALL the examples target a part of OP's identity. "You like blueberries." "You don't like dogs, so you don't like anything dog related." "You like PreCure." These aren't just disputes about random things, it's constant attacks on someone's cohesive sense of identity. The amount of damage that this does carried out over a span of time is difficult to articulate. You feel frustrated and helpless, unable to push back against something that should be objectively true.

Also note that the gaslighter is being VERY specific about the dates, which is incredibly odd behaviour to me. In OP's case, they brought up tangible, objective evidence (a recorded discussion) of what was true about the situation, and then the other got mad that they were proven wrong by something that is OBJECTIVELY correct about something they SHOULD have known. Meanwhile, the other doesn't show proof while apparently being able to state exact details about events. If these statements aren't true, THAT'S OBJECTIVELY GASLIGHTING... And if they are, it's still emotionally abusive to commit to this behaviour, to I assume "prove a point" because someone pointed about something YOU SHOULD REMEMBER, AND WAS TRUE... THAT'S NOT NORMAL.

Next, some of you probably don't go looking into the replies for these posts.. So I want to point out this tidbit from OP. This next section is gonna cover some different points that are red flags for me. NOTE: it's possible it's just a coincidence but I need to point it out because IT'S IMPORTANT!!

"I just noticed she turned like that when I started therapy."

Now some of you may not know this, but often when victims reach out for outside help, this is when abusive people start showing off their most controlling behaviours. Outside people have the capacity to give comments on the situation that aren't being manipulated by them, they don't have emotional attachments to the person like the victim does, which threatens to bring to light what has really been transpiring between them. So you can see why I find this correlation to be concerning.

And note, that once victims are able to engage in healthier relationships or seek said therapy, it becomes easier for them to notice themselves if they're in a manipulative relationship, even if nobody points it out to them. Especially if the form of abuse is similar to anything they've experienced and had the time to process.

And third in this subsection, victims are likely to be victimised more than once and can be victimised by several people at once. Toxic people may appear to be more friendly and reliable than others if you have someone who is much worse in your life by comparison. I have no idea the background of the friendship, but again I'm just noting things that are important.

7. Lastly, toxic relationships can be confusing to experience. People who hurt others may, in fact, be experiencing a reality where this behaviour makes sense and they DO feel like they're being "gaslit" by their victims. They can have an internal reality where the events make sense and they're the real victims.. And that still doesn't make it okay. I don't know what the deal with OP's friend was, but I'm glad that they're out of their life. It was clearly a bad friendship to be in that was damaging, and you don't have to stick around with someone even if their toxic behaviour is understandable. Maybe they're not AN asshole, but they are THE asshole here.

CONCLUSION: As a victim myself it honestly nearly brought me to tears reading some of these messages. I know it's not anybody's fault for not being able to recognise this sort of thing, but it was disappointing to read others calling someone an asshole because someone couldn't phrase their wording in a palatable way or brought up examples that seem absurd. I wouldn't want any of you to be my friend.

If you still don't understand me or think that I'm being overreactive, that's fine. I hope you don't understand what it's like. Ever.

Am I the asshole for using old conversations to confront someone?

My friend, for an odd reason, has decided to start standing her ground and giving extreme detailed explanations of events that have happened years ago. It started to bother me, because I've been with someone who would mentally abuse me and deny things happening and I was starting to see those red flags with my friend. So, she tried saying I somehow was an avid watcher of this precure meta youtuber, (I'm sorry, I think it's stupid being meta or whatever you want to call it for animes, I couldn't give two shits about it) I asked when did this happen. She started saying it was years ago and I'm confused cause I actually hate precure and think it's stupid sorry not sorry to the fans. She was relentless and tried saying I was a fan of her, which isn't true, I've only saw 3 eps of one season and hated it and never gave it another chance and now even less. So, earlier this year I told her I was playing nintendogs, a copy I got off ebay, despite us still having our copy from when the game was released. (I'm sorry everyone, we're 25+, not a bunch of middle schoolers). She got mad at me and said why am I playing the game despite being a cat person. I told her the game is fun to play and helps distress me. So I asked her how was her play through going since I only bought one off ebay after she told me she got one from ebay. She denied it, she said that never happened that I'm mistaking it. So I pulled up screenshots from discord that were from 2021 and she got angry with me. So apparently I've been trying to gas light her and use things against her, and I'm very confused since it feels like she's trying to manipulate me with events that have happened. Either way, I haven't spoken to her as much, but I think her getting mad I pulled up discord receipts is stupid when she tried claiming I was a fan of a youtuber for an anime I hate and trying to shove it down my throat.

What are these acronyms?

[satanfemme]

I'm sure there's better schools out there, but I've attended about 4 different art schools (1 high school, 3 college) and all of them had a focus not on "how to make art" but on "how to be an artist". it wasn't a hobby it was a lifestyle. how to market your art, how to market yourself, how to make the art that industry professionals will want to see; the colleges, the employers, the professors. how to make bigger art, more art, quality and quantity all at once. and, because of the limits of time: how to skip sleep, how to skip meals, how to skip socializing, how to isolate yourself in your room all weekend doing nothing but making something for someone else.

these are all major elements in their curriculums, if not in some schools even more of a focus than the art itself.

from a capitalist's viewpoint this makes sense. if you're going to art school intending to get an art job, you're gonna need good job skills. you're gonna need to know things like how to sell yourself on all the major social media profiles and then some, both small scale for commission work and large scale for your jobs at major corporations. (you will, of course, most likely be doing both. neither job pays enough by itself). you're gonna need to know how to "grind", nonstop, you're gonna need to know how to grin and bare it. you're going to need to know how to mass produce schlock cause that's what a job is, and that's what you've signed up for. this is all logical.

but if you take a step back from that lens, it all falls apart. most of these students are still kids or young adults in their early 20s (which isn't much more than a kid, let's be real). so, a kid enjoys art for the love and joy of creation, a kid enjoys art because humans enjoy art, they want to make things for themselves, for their friends, to relax, to feel good - so they're coerced into an art institution.

And I can 100% guarantee you that ANY and ALL criticisms you have on the commodification of art on social media, absolutely applies to every single art institution I have ever been a part of, if not more so. Art institutions are not a safe haven away from capitalism, consumerism, and the domination of corporations - they fester it. They survive off it.

competition within the algorithm is brutal. competition instructed by your guardians, between yourself and your real life peers - as a child, teen, and young adult - is even worse. this is very literal competition by the way. I have, multiple times, had my art ranked in value against my peers. our art (if not our names) listed from worst to best.

the "you can sleep when you're dead" mentality is also very literal, I need you to understand. this is one of the things that haunts me the most. why does a child (as young as 14!!) need to sacrifice their health for creation - creation so forced it doesn't even have any passion or love attached anymore. you could say my teachers and professors didn't know what they were encouraging, but you'd be wrong. a student who sacrifices their health for art is more than applauded, directly for that fact. likewise a student who prioritizes their health, at the sacrifice of "better art", is called lazy ...at best.

I don't think people understand how hellish art schools are. I don't even think most art students themselves realize it amidst the plague of self-deprecating humor that spreads thru those buildings (which I've also seen encouraged by college professors). maybe some other schools are better. I don't know.

When I was still a child one of my classmates made a piece about how suicidal our art classes were making her. (they made everyone suicidal. this was known. there were surveys done about it, and nothing else). but, my teacher told her not to talk about that kind of stuff during crit, or he'd be forced to report it to the guidance office. although he wanted her to keep making this art (so personal, so meaningful, it was - by his standards - better than most our class's), he didn't want anything to be done about the suicidal tenancies of this child he was in charge of. he didn't want anything to be done about the art classed he helped plan and teach. he didn't want any solution to the problem, he just wanted her to keep making art about it.

I know this is long, and I've spoken about this before, but it feels important to understand. It's not just social media that's "ruining art". But it's not these art institutions either. you could reform this system as much as you'd like and I promise it'd do all but nothing for you. because these flaws, for how traumatizing, life changing - and to be frank: life ending - they are, they are not the root cause of this commodification. these institutions are the physical manifestation of capitalism. it's capitalism and the very lens in which we view art that's the problem here. maybe that's a grim note to end this rant on, when there's not much we can do about that on a personal level. or maybe there's better schools out there. I don't know.

[more-than-a-princess]

@quickdeaths asked: Shinobu thought, perhaps, that if she were to close her eyes and count to five, this situation would reveal itself as some sort of unpleasant dream. Yet, when the archer opened her eyes, she did not see the sterile emptiness of her room at the dojo, but rather the still-smiling face of Miss Sonia Nevermind. Anzu seemed quite happy to have made another friend, so Shinobu supposed they shouldn't intentionally cause any trouble. For Anzu's sake, only. "Very well, Miss Nevermind," she finally answered. "But, know that I'm only doing this because you asked it of me." It was for the sake of Anzu's budding friendship with her, nothing more.

Grumpy/Sunshine starters - These have been fun to write so I'll continue to accept them!

"Ah, Yaguchi-san, I was hoping you would be in. Would you mind-"

That was as far as Sonia had gotten, verbally at least. Physically, at Anzu's insistence, Sonia had knocked twice and then opened the door to Shinobu Yaguchi's lab, careful to avoid the marked shooting area as she gave the other a smile and a wave with her free hand.

She'd frozen, however, when an arrow had been set free from the bow Shinobu held, hurtling right by Sonia's left cheek before being embedded into the wall. A similarly-sized chunk had been taken out of the same wall not too far from where the most recently-shot arrow had ended up. Sonia's smile remained, despite how close she was to becoming an unintended target, though her eyebrows raised in interest. Her blue eyes glanced from the arrow to the archer before giving her a slight shrug, one she'd see once she opened her eyes.

"You know, that's not the first time I've been targeted for death," She told her brightly, as if she were admitting the first time she'd experienced something as innocuous as riding a bike or seeing a movie. "But I've envisioned you to be an excellent shot since we met. I'm rather surprised your arrows have strayed so far from their intended destination. Oh well, no matter!"

Perhaps a scream of terror would have been more appropriate, considering how she'd felt the arrow soar past her. But instead, she merely waved her hand again: this time in dismissal of Shinobu's immediate agreement to...well, the request she hadn't even asked yet. "Oh, no no! You needn't agree if you don't want to!" She assured her with a shake of her head. This elicited far more panic than an arrow ever could: being coerced into doing something simply because she was the Ultimate Princess. Or at least, that's how it usually went at Hope's Peak. Something her classmate was keen to take advantage of.

"All I came to request is that you take one of these," Sonia nodded to the stack of papers resting against her arm. With the opposite hand, she reached for one leaflet and extended it towards Shinobu for her to take: each of them was printed on brightly-colored neon paper and crudely drawn. But that was the point: it was messy, it was wild, it was metal, and Ibuki Mioda wouldn't have had it any other way. "Well, I gave one to Tachibana-san to give to you, but she insisted that it would be more positively received if I brought it over myself."

Sonia shook her head. That was jumping ahead a few steps, wasn't it? That didn't explain why she'd interrupted Shinobu's study time with a stack of flyers, an interruption that had nearly gotten her hurt in the process. Well, her friend's music was all about taking risks: when she recounted it to Ibuki later, Sonia felt certain the other girl would be entertained. "My classmate, Mioda Ibuki-san, is performing in a rock metal concert and needed some assistance in growing the attendance of the show. She was originally going to throw her announcement papers," She gestured to the rainbow stack she held, "from the top of the Hope's Peak Academy Main Course building, believing everyone would pick them up and she'd cause a ruckus in the progress. I convinced her that having members of the class distribute them about the school would be a much more constructive method to inform that it is occurring."

There. That was probably sufficient. Sonia nodded, chuckling at both the story and her own inability to recount it in a way that made sense. "You don't have to attend if you don't wish to, but I wanted to give you one anyway. In any case, I shall leave you to your self-study! I apologize for the interruption."

[ahopkins1965]

Good Day Everyone! My name is Anthony Hopkins and I am responsible for enabling other people for more than a half of a century. I remember when I was a child, I used to help others with their homework for school. I am getting very honest with myself and others about enabling behavior. I have been clean and sober for 33 years now. I rarely ask anyone else for help.

Next, I am letting all of you know that I am guilty of enabling other people. What is the definition of enabling? Enabling is when someone is doing something that other people can do for themselves. At one point in my life, I was coerced bu other people to do something for someone else. The fair weather friends that I had were using me. My family members told me to my face that people were taking advantage of me. At that time, I had concealed the person and the whole problem. I have a fair weather friend that still ask me to do things for him. I didn't know that this behavior was getting worse because I was always broke financially.

Further, I am sharing this information because I know that there are other people who are going through the same thing. I know that certain people do not love me personally. I have got my friend released from prison back in 2016. He did not appreciate it. I have done so much for other people that I am in need, and the same people who I have helped cannot help me in return. I know that I am sharing all of this information to help others wake up and smell reality. I am very sorry for allowing other people to take advantage of me. It hurts me because I owe $ 32,000 dollars in student loan debt right now. My mother told me to my face that I will see the error of all of my ways. There are members in my family, who have not given me a dime to help me, but my nieces and nephews helped me and I am very grateful.

Moreover, I want to inform all of you that my neighbor's at Wentworth Hi Rise Apartments have helped me when I couldn't call my siblings. My siblings helped me in the past. My brother paid my rent for me. My siblings want me to live with them, but I don't want to caste all of my burdens on them. I really need a job working somewhere just to pay my student loans and other bills. I am sharing all of this just to let everyone know that my church members helped me out a lot. I am saying all of this information to learn how to help others who are in need. My Pastor told me that I am an analytical thinker and I am an excellent Writer.

In Addition to the library and Church that I attend on a regular basis. It's that I am very sick physically mentally psychologically and spiritually drained. I am asking God to help me out with this drained problem. Emotionally, I am losing my memory right now. I have lapses in my memory right now. I am very happy to have a place to live for 13 years now. I only wish that I can stop the marijuana smoking inside of the building. My back is still hurting me.

Finally, I am telling all of you that enabling is a very serious problem. I tell other people who enable others to please keep away from me. I realize that I have Jesus Christ and God as my real friends. I am very happy to help others but I will not allow other people to take advantage of me and my kindness. I suffer from Diabetes Full Blown Type 2 and Alzheimer's right now. My family members do not visit me anymore because of the bedbugs that are inside of the building where I live. I can understand everyone is skeptical about me and my building where I choose to live. I write because it helps me to cope with a mental illness. I do spray alcohol inside of my apartment to prevent bedbugs from bothering me. Enabling affect me and everyone else. I cannot keep on doing things for people when they can do it for themselves. I have some bad news to share with you. The Social Security Administration is getting ready to terminate my benefits. People who are under the age of 65 have to go back to work and make a decent living for themselves. Social Security Administration specifically stated that I have written three books in 23 years. They are saying that I have to report my income. The US Government has given me a stimulus check and I used money to publish three books in 23 years now. I love all of you, but this enabling problem is affecting me personally. If someone knows how to use a computer, I will let you do your own work. I am an Author of three books. I have to copyright all of my most recent writing. I love you all. Please start using your phone for everything. If I can apply for a job using my phone, then anyone else can do the same exact thing.