#generally she still is pretty kind/compassionate

[crows-of-buckets]

You know, as much as I'm sure Aviae is not thrilled about being back at the circle, telling Gregoir exactly how she thought of him probably felt so good. Was it a good time for this conversation? Absolutely not but Aviae has hated that man since she met him, and now she can tell him exactly what she thinks of him without worry of being made tranquil.

[nephilimbrute]

ok since you guys don't know anything about my agent 8's personality, i'm doing a huge infodump on them. enjoy

Agent 8; they/them, nonbinary — 24 as of current time, in a relationship with Agent 4 and Captain 3

they're pretty, but also one of the worst people you'll meet. everyone who met them has had something terrible happen to them, basically a bad omen...yet they still think they're a saint! 8 is very narcissistic, but also very self-critical. they think they can be the only one to do something, that they're the best at it...but they know this is wrong, so they hate themself for it

they think they're a very fragile and innocent being, like a deer. they want to live a calm and steady life, no excessively loud or overwhelming sounds and music, just them and their close ones. they enjoy writing poetry and creating art to the likes of vincent van gogh, but also impressionism in general. they have a very bad memory now, so they want to capture the present time as best as they can if it ever gets worse. often times, 8 thinks about any big events that are coming up in the near future (concerts, festivals, etc.). they don't like to think about the future outside of these things (was team present if that wasn't obvious)

they used to be full of emotion, expressing and voicing their thoughts well. but slowly over time, they've became numb to most things to prevent themself from being embarassed by...sadness. they think being upset is embarassing, and are easily annoyed by gloomy people. they have such little sympathy, but it still exists. they are capable of love! it's not hard to crack through their shell, nor do they even have one. 8 themself is aware of how they've changed over the years, and they want to go back to how they used to be; loving, sympathetic, mindful of others. they do feel very sorry for the change in their personality, but the partial sanitization that was done to them makes it difficult to revert to their old self

8 feels like they're putting up a front when they want to be nice, and, they can be compassionate and apologetic sometimes. they deeply wish for anyone who recognized them pre-octo expansion to forgive them, even if they did nothing wrong

because of the whole octo expansion situation, 8 has developed truman syndrome, paranoia, and heavily dislikes anything involving a smart AI or robotics. this is one of the reasons why marina pisses them off so badly. to 8, they think that they've caused no harm, and every mistake they've done was not entirely their fault. they make a lot of people uncomfortable in some way without touching anyone or saying anything. despite all that, they respect people's personal space a lot!..other than pearl and marina, who they used to watch sleep before being kicked out

now, onto their relationships. 8 is doing fine with agent 4, he's nice to them so they like him... but so is cap3, yet 8 might be one of the worst things that ever happened to her. cap3 really wants some alone time and hates being stared at, and 8 does the exact opposite of that. they don't touch her at her request, but they Will stare at her whenever she's doing anything, at any given time. they don't process in their mind that they want to make her uncomfortable, they just sort of...do?

^ i only limited this to a bit so i won't delve Too deep and go off topic. you can ask about that if you want

i guess you could say they have some kind of parental issues? i don't know, they can't remember who their biological parents are anyways. they have a strong attachment to marina though, can't decide if they wanna be her or want her to adopt them. kind of "eh" with pearl, still respects him nonetheless

congratulations! if you've read until the end, here's a human 8 doodle :3

[wombatwisdom]

Great and Spacious

I

When I came out at work, I simply changed my pronouns in my email signature and on zoom. Immediately a co-worker reached out and asked if I changed my pronouns, and I said yes and she was excited for me.

Within two days others noticed too and the reaction was professional and compassionate--I felt seen, supported, and safe. My people manager and I met and we discussed the systems in place and the resources available, she didn't really understand what being trans or non-binary really was, but she knew what policies of inclusion had been put in place by corporate and in our local office to support me. She was open with me and always supportive--even after she left for other opportunities, we still stay in contact.

It was not perfect. Bathrooms were tricky, due to the lack of single occupancy options. Some if my co-workers still mis-gendered me. But I've had people apologize when they get it wrong and do better. And knowing I have the support of so many that I work with helps me navigate the small group of less agreeable co-workers (and to be clear, I've never had anyone aggressively disrespect me).

But the real proof in the pudding is how non-performative the support is. I am not the "token office trans", I am part of the team, fully integrated. My opinions and questions are considered and appreciated. People have told me they enjoy collaborating with me. In many ways, despite transitioning in plain sight, I have never felt that it was a source of burden or concern in my workplace.

II

When I came out at church, I wrote a letter. It was detailed and gruesome. It highlighted my disphoria, my anguish, my pain. I had seen the stories of other trans people crushed by the wheel of leadership roulette and knew I had to be clear and deliberate in my language. The letter was hard to write and hard to read, so I am told. I needed to focus the reader on my pain in attempt to appeal to their sympathy.

I sent the letter to my Bishop; I was Ward Clerk at the time. He was kind. He genuinely took my letter and read and thought and prayed. He prayed for two weeks, and I prepared for the worst. Obviously, the temple recommend would be gone, with it the calling. Hopefully, there wouldn't be too much blowback on my family.

Finally we met, and we spoke for hours. His position was that he didn't feel like this should matter--in his mind being non-binary was fine and I was still worthy of a temple recommend. He said he had read the handbook so many times (which at the time was pretty sparse on how to work with non-binary people, arguably it still is) and felt like he wasn't sure what to do. Due to his upbringing as a non-member he felt like he has known many queer people who were good and deserving of love and he wished the Church were different. He is one of the good ones, but even still, I was at his discretion and thankfully he was benevolent.

My Stake President needed a month with my letter. He has never known a trans person before me and admitted to being at a loss. He, too, prayed and read the handbook and also felt the same confusion my Bishop had expressed. We had only one meeting, where he said that my femme presentation was not in alignment with holding the priesthood and would not sign off on my recommend. He was kind, but firm and I was frank in return. I asked him to draw the boundaries and lines--could I speak in classes? Could I pray, if asked? What callings could I hold? Could I give talks? Bare my testimony? Wear garments? Take the sacrament?

I could tell he was uncomfortable with my questions, but I needed to know so that I could be safe. I let him decide, and he was generous, I could do all those things, just not hold a temple recommend and my calling.

My Bishop was upset at the news. We would meet more times and he would express his frustration at the outcome. I was released from my calling, which felt like a public shaming, and I wasn't ever asked to pray, or speak, or teach. My new calling was to prepare the weekly bulletin--and I did, and I made sure that all my quotes were from female leaders (a fact that no one ever noticed).

I was thanked profusely for showing up and staying. People were kind but uncertain and it showed. Some were kind in ways that felt unnatural and disingenuous. My Bishop often told me of the complaints he got for not being harsher with me. A couple told him they would no longer attend while I was permitted to come and take the Sacrament. Another man told him the I suck the spirit out of the room just by being there.

There were some who were angry for me and how things had unfolded. There were a mix of people with a mix of reactions. They had no guidance or support in how to integrate me into their community. I was at their mercy. I didn't feel empowered to participate, I felt like a problem needing to be dealt with.

III

I share these two experiences to highlight a disparity. My workplace experience has been smooth and a delight. Policies were in place to give direction and support to those who needed it and I was still treated as a respected member of my team. When I asked my team leaders if they wanted me to not interface with clients, they said if that ever was a problem to talk to them and they would handle it.

My experience at church was the opposite. It was grueling, exhausting, and soul crushing. I watched people struggle to know what to do with me. It was messy and frustrating.

In one of our many conversations, my Bishop mentioned that he has clients that he works with that use they/them pronouns and he tries to be inclusive. It made me realise that many of the people at church likely come from workplaces similar to mine that have policies, guidance and systems in place for trans clients and co-workers, so they know how to behave in the work place. But at church, it was everyone for themselves, and it was disappointing.

At church, a lot is said about the world, the great and spacious building, Babylon. We are told to fear it and to believe that the world is mocking us and trying to do harm. But I have seen a world that behaves with compassion, empathy, and love--one that I didn't have to fight for acceptance or give my agency and pain away to a man across the desk from me.

The great and spacious building has come up with a lot of the philosophies our Church has rejected and now is trying to catch up to. But it pains me when people say that the members and leaders don't know any better--because they need only look up and outward to find places of inclusion to model themselves after. My workplace did it, likely without God's inspiration, so why, with God does it take us so long?

There are places of refuge out here in the world--community is what you cultivate. Our leaders and members are not innocent lambs ignorant of what is around them--but there is a cultivated ignorance that permits them to wallow in the mire of their biases. I was there once too. It is comforting to never have to open your eyes or confront your ignorance--but the world can help us do it.

Perhaps the great and spacious building isn't the pejorative we make it out to be. Perhaps it is truly great and decidedly spacious enough to incorporate all of God's children. Perhaps not. I only have my experience--but I have seen both the world and the church in action, and I can say with confidence, which more readily offered me fruit to sustain life.

[duchezss]

I recently finished reading all the Lockwood & Co books, and my god they were good, but it got me thinking. If the show continued, like it deserved too, would Holly and Kipps have gotten a signature color the same way the trio did? If so what would they be? Well I was looking at twitter and I saw that most people agree that Holly's color would be yellow, and Kipps' would be white, and I'll be honest I disagree so badly I'm about to write an essay. It's funny because I distinctly remember finishing the books and thinking, "ah watch everyone put their colors as yellow and white cause it's easy". LOUD INCORRECT BUZZER. Y'all just don't get color theory OR the characters the way I do so listen up.

Holly is many things. She's positive, and compassionate, and kind, but she is so much more than that. She's not just a "yellow", yes maybe she is the sunshine of the group, but honestly? Not really, and that's ok. She's fierce and sometimes she has a short temper, she pretends to let everything slide off her shoulder, when really she's just keeping it inside. That's why her and Lucy are constantly budding heads in the beginning of their friendship, they are so similar. I think her color should be red. She's constantly described as wearing it, and I think it really fits her. Red represents passion, energy, confidence, and excitement to name a few. Holly is always described as having a presence, and her energy and enthusiasm comes off her in waves. Red is usually described as the color of love, and I still think that fits. She has such love for the entire crew, and it's so clear she would go to the ends of the earth for them. I also think this would blend in with the others very well. Despite it not actually being blue's real opposite, blue and red are often seen as polar opposites, which really fits for Lucy and Holly's dynamic. It also works because red and orange are both warm colors and George and Holly have always gotten along. They are similar in their methodical and sometimes odd ways of life. I also think it's fun cause Skully's color is green, and green are red are direct color wheel opposites. I'm pretty sure he hates her the most, but Kipps is also competing hard for that title. And lastly black is kinda the color in between, now more on that in a second.

I see what twitter was going for, Lucy and George are blue and orange, direct color wheel opposites, because they are quite literally direct opposites. So it makes sense for Kipps to be white since he's the direct opposite of Lockwood? LOUD INCORRECT BUZZER AGAIN. Tell me y'all didn't understand their dynamic without telling me. Lockwood and Kipps didn't get along cause they were so different, they butted heads so hard because of how similar they are. It's exactly what happened with Lucy and Holly. Plus white represents a lot of things that are definitely not Kipps. My proposed color for him is purple, I know that's a little odd, but walk with me. Although it's never explicitly stated, one can assume that Kipps was an absolute prodigy when he had his talents. I only bring this up, because purple often represents royalty and luxury, and he practically became a fallen king when he lost the only thing he was ever good at it. But purple is much more than that, it also represents bravery, uniqueness. ambition, and justice. I think Kipps' original color is grey, and not just because of the uniform. Grey represents seriousness, sadness, and boredom. That's how Kipps was before, but when he remeets the crew during book 3 and 4, we begin to see the shift. The group helps him gain his ambition back, and with all of their love and support we even begin to see how brave he really is. He has a unique way of going through life, and even when all the odds are stacked against them, he still seeks justice. Purple fits with the general color scheme as well. It's very close to black, which represents how similar him and Lockwood are, and it's also a cooler color like blue. Kipps and Lucy certainly got along the easiest out of the crew.

Overall it just makes sense. George and Holly are the warmer colors, Lucy and Kipps the cooler, and Lockwood as the mediator between them. I feel like red might be a little hard to incorporate without being overpowering, and I know that purple isn't a super masculine color, but hell if those costume designer made full orange outfits look good they can literally do anything. Anyways I know this isn't that important, but ugh I love color theory so much, and I love how much thought the costume designers put in the first time. I feel like having Holly and Kipps color being yellow and white is just a cheap easy shot, and doesn't take into account the characters and their growth enough. I rest my case.

[lokiostasis]

Politician!Reader x Finnick Odair

Both Feel The Same When Your Eyes Are Closed (1.7k)

Twelve begins with this, as much does, with this and his mother. She is multifarious. Steady at the grindstone. A wit sharper than his father’s, with mind and word; courageous; cunning, and—of all—compassionate. With mind and word, she grants her son many little shining beads of hope. To him, she urges that he don these ‘round his neck, bare them polished, but to never tell his father or of the rapier. 

~

It had been a good night. Well. As good as the nights leading up to the games usually were. There was always an excessive amount of events to strut wealth about, though you’d never been sure who it was for. The tributes certainly didn’t care, and everyone here knows everyone else. If you hadn’t been raised in this circle, you’d likely never join it. And you’d been born on the edges, but with a good solid smile and a sharper tongue than being a radio show host like your mother required. So it’d been this game, slowly pulling in, amassing wealth without real need. 

There are mentors, victors, whatever you’d want to call Snow’s dolls out here tonight. They’ll be trying to secure sponsors, you remember. It’d been a while since you’d watched the games, so a few newer faces weren’t very discernable. Two from District 4, a few from 1 and 2, oh, hey, isn’t that the woman from District… 7? Who somewhat yelled at you and your conversation partner, drunk as a whale, a year ago?

You’re still cataloging when someone slips a drink into your hand, something a little too sweet for your tastes, but you know how to play, so before looking, you slip a light crease at the eyes and turn. It’s District 4, male. You don’t remember his name, but you don’t remember many names- people who work with Snow often lie into roses themselves, so there hasn’t been much reason to remember anything but titles.

“Hey, sweetheart. Saw you takin’ a peek from all the way over,” he says, sultry, and you allow yourself to enjoy the carefully crafted tone of voice faded into ease. “Mm.. I suppose I’ve not been hiding myself nearly enough for a clever eye like yours,” you tell him smoothly, sipping the drink just once before setting it on the nearby bar where it’ll be forgotten. 

His posture is relaxed, just the right amount, white shirt buttoned down enough that it’s barely buttoned at all, hair tossuled. He’s well tanned and well kept in general, with a fake smile to rival your own. “I guess not, hm? Nice getup, though. The bracelets are a vintage touch- a bit classier than the others, aren’t you, sweets?” he says, voice a bit soft, coaxing. Praising styles is a pretty good strategy, even you’d memorized all kinds of flat-toe shoes in grade school.

“Well, I’m pleased you liked them. They’re just some scarf linings braided, but let’s keep that between us, no?” you reply with a small smirk. That is the truth- some kid in District One had been selling them when you had walked back through town from your meeting, needing a bit of fresh air. He’d been kind of scruffy- shame that he was a district kid, could be a stylist if he was born to a different family. There’s just a creeping of surprise of 4’s face at hearing the reason, and he makes the next move.

A hand against your waist, at the well-fitted but slightly uncomfortable faded black hem, thumb hooked over the belt. You don’t say anything immediately, letting the hair at the back of your neck stop standing up, sudden contact. “Who’re you rootin’ for, love?” he says, and you quickly flash the statistics, trying to block the sensation of a pale thumb sliding along the belt without pushing off and drawing attention.

“Haven’t picked yet, they’ve drawn names?” you ask, considering the time. It’s a bit early, no? “This morning, didn’t you-” he cuts off, swapping the perplexed look for a more suave one. “Must’ve missed it, then. I imagine you have some good ones?” You prompt, and he looks a bit sad when he says that they’re both promising, but the boy- he’s brilliant, very skilled. He’s selling, and you’re not sure if buying is quite the right idea. 

…It is prefferable to entertaining the lovely Mrs and Mr Chaffin sniffing around, at least. “They’re both 17 this year? Well, good for them. Better shot, statistically then. It’s been a few years since you’ve had a victor, no?” you ask, tone light but not missing the sudden stiffness that slips through him at the mention.

You remember seeing clips of that last game, just because it had been sent by a campaigning ally as a joke, some odd analogy comparing children trying to keep their heads above water to the surge in networking apperances around the annual game season. Haha, very comparable. But it’s entertainment, and here we love entertainment. 

The victor has managed to drape one of his arms against yours at some point, leaning in, casual. He’s a little taller than you, but seems to be putting an effort to dull down the intimidation. “They are, both promising… and well, sweetheart, I can promise you more than a good show if you bet on the winning lot this year.” he says, eyes a bit lidded.

He’s been sipping from your drink a bit- rather, the one you hadn’t cared for, but seems only lightly spritzed, putting in effort to seem more of a ditz than he is. He’s closer to your face now and despite yourself, a bit of something licks in your gut as his chin is almost and inch away from being against your sternum. 

Pink, slightly bitten lips, drowsed seafoam eyes that the Capitol must fawn over, plus that soft tone. Well, he’s pretty, and persuasive, if nothing. “But, but!” he interjects as if forseeing the polite decline coming, which he probably did, experienced as he is. “Enough about the best rated showing of the year, tell me something about yourself!” and he’s going the flattery route, and though you can tell it’s a little fabricated, this strategy suits him. The older lady from his district taught him well, good on her. “Ah, not much to say. You know who I am, or you wouldn’t be at my gala, no? I enjoy a good coffee, I work with the goverment, but I can’t say on what for the sake of confedientiallity.” you tell him. And none of it is a lie, barely even by ommision. You won’t say sugar in it makes you sick or that you have no idea what his name is, or who invited victors at all. “Yourself, a seafarer, I suppose?” 

“Ah, well- I’m the star, no? Not much time for boating about when you’ve got this many adoring fans, darling,” he says with a laugh,  blowing a kiss at some nameless woman who’s been staring at the both of you. Personally, having so many fans you couldn’t actively leave for home or enjoy your own time… well, to you it’s not that delightful, but to each their own!

You always figured it would make sense for victors to take advantage of being thrust into the public eye. There’s very few you know of that go home, they generally choose to be here in the capitol, to soak in their glory, make connections. Win for their districts. You suppose you can admire such an act, you yourself love your city, your country. There are bad things in it, but there always will be, and you love it nonetheless. 

You acknowledge his stardom, you do. He smiles but you see edges to it, but he’s been doing this ten years. You’ve been doing it since you were three. “Have I brought you over to my side yet, Angel?” You slip back into reality. Oh. “Well, I suppose so,  ” You tell him, tone pleased, but if he can read he could know you’re halfway there. You only bet on winning dogs, and four is a risky one.

He curls a lock of hair around his finger and presses against the wall, closer to you than before but now at your side, so you shift to face. And he look you up and down and slides the; “I’m sure we can… come to an arrangement, no?” he asks and you smile without trying. “What would you suggest?” you ask him, and he smirks, tounge poking lightly out the corner of his mouth for just a second, suggestive. 

You cut it before he explains, though you’d like to say you do it rather eloquently. “How about a nice dinner, hm? Some good company, say, this next Sunday?” He blinks a bit, caught off guard, though his body language remains loose. “Romantic, aren’t you, pretty boy?” he asks with the hint of teasing in his tone. You grin back, though it’s a bit fake at the creases of your eyes.

“Well, is that a yes?” you ask simply and he lets out a low chuckle. “- sounds just darling.” He dips his head and golden blond curls tun and slip just slightly out of how they’re neatly arranged. Then takes your hand- his slightly rough palm against your own, silky smooth and not a scar in sight under the powder sealed. He glances for a second at the slightly jagged bits at the turns of your nails, proof of life inside a carefully curated mannequin. His own are perfectly smooth and painted over clear, as he presses his lips to your skin. 

You give him a glittery smile, and he exchanges one without teeth, with a little wink before turning to go, stressing the movements of his limbs- long, partially bare legs that have glitter painted on, making it a sight to behold. It’s drawn not just your own eyes but many others, 

and… as ridiculous as it sounds, it’s almost as if you’re looking at something,

rather than someone. 

There’s a feeling of feathers against your sternum, a sparkle from that fairly dry conversation that stays with you- although you’re not certain if it was the alcohol or the slightly unguarded looks certain answers drew out. He was a good player of this game we call civility if nothing else, and dinner will be nice.  

You look down at your hand and wipe the faint gold glitter away. 

~

Notes; Okay! Would love feedback and there is a whole narrative backstory and plot flushed out so hopefully you guys are into it. Mr and Mrs Chaffin who are mentioned are from the fic "The Victorious" by the excellent @youcantseeus-fan as a call out. Thank you!

[animalsalvationassociation]

[ DO NOT REPOST, ALL ART & CONCEPTS WERE MADE BY ME ]

✨ Old Design ✨

Fale of the Palace (AKA: Fale Tsuyoshi / "Fae" )

( " Palace " – Pal-as )

Spiritual Name: Faelran RuneLain (Fael-roun, Rune - Lan)

Species: Siberian Sable — aka Dark Coated, Russian Marten

Accent: Hybrid / Bidialectism / Code-Switching (Doesn’t have just one accent, switches depending on region/situation — sometimes intentional sometimes not)

Status: Stressed/Depressed, Single, & Ready to "Throw herself into a pit of wolves . . . who have purple rabies . . . and smell funny . . . ? ? ?" — Who wrote this script???

Role:

Y.N.’s Older Sister / Best Friend / Assistant

Resident Coffee Maker (Despite her distain, what a good sport)

Chauffeur

Professional Body Double

Queen of Nagging

Camera Woman

Student / Intern (Archaeology)

Student of Harlan University

Artist / Aspiring Author

Cryptozoologist

Relations:

Y.N. (Younger Sibling / Best Friend)

Saídê (Grandfather/Mentor/Father Figure)

Nanouk (Childhood Friend/Crush)

Professor Tobias Hobbs (Mentor/Teacher, Head Curator of the Zootopia NHM — Fae is his prodigy)

Professors Theodore Waylen, Henry Rhodes, Enoch Harlan (Mentors, Scientists/Curators at the Museum)

Harrison, Kyler, Mateo, Koen, & Addison (Friends/Fellow Students/Coworkers)

Professor Marin Kelp (Boss)

Personality:

Professional Insomniac

Grandma Friend

I mean that literally, she is so broken (physically AND mentally lol)

And the way she DRESSES—smh /j

Will complain and everyone will know it.

“Big Sister” / “Aunt Friend”

Gremlin

Will start a harem of platonic wives TM

World's Best Assistant

Literally the only reason Y.N. is alive . . . I'm not joking

(plz let her sleep omg)

brain . . . soup

People literally call her “the camera girl” instead of learning her real name.

“Girl can’t have anything, can she?”

Anxious / People Pleaser

(Both. Both is good.)

Fears many MANY things

Water (Any Depth), Sharks, Spiders, the Dark, Heights, Zombies, Shadow People—

I could go on but we’d be here all day.

Girl needs therapy

Obsessed with History

Cares deeply for culture, whether it’s her own or it’s someone else’s. She wants to learn everything!

Another reason for her interest in archaeology.

Dedicated to what she loves

Deeply compassionate/kind

Just wants everyone to be happy and healthy

✨Generational Trauma✨

Protective

Especially over Y.N.

She may be small . . .

That’s all I got.

Wait no — *reads from script* “But she’s fierce . . . rawr?”

There we go??

Trusts her heart more than her head.

Although she is a MAJOR over-thinker

She just doesn't want to be wrong, yk?

HA. Nerd.

#1 Bullied Person in America (lol)

It’s just so easy!

What a dweeb *eye roll*

#weirdoooo

(Y'all I’m allowed to say this, she’s literally my sona)

✨“Just a silly goose~” ✨

Way too ADHD for her own good

Brain Smooth . . . like taco

(My actual ADHD decided that’s what it wanted written down so you’re welcome)

Hissss—math! (Stupid Dyscalculia)

Woman of Secrets~

Oh you thought I meant her’s? Nah. I meant everyone else’s~

She’s usually pretty open about herself tho

She so great at listening everyone just trusts her and she finds it hilarious.

“I won’t tell a soul, honest.” *Goes home & calls Saídê* “You will not believe what Sheryl just said!”

(It’s still a secret if whoever’s involved doesn’t know~)

She has all the tea~

(People really gotta stop telling me all their secrets, they don’t know the power I have)

Woman LOVES food

Major sweet tooth

I’d kill for some Pasta/Soup

(Or basically the entire Olive Garden menu)

Child at heart

Her childhood was rough to say the least, it wasn’t until she got older that she realized that she was never really able to be a kid.

She spends every day trying to make up for it.

Adds to why she's such a big collector –

Dinos, Dolls, Toys, Plushies, Figures, Books, etc. etc.

She's a dweeb for old things

Extras:

Fale was raised in the Palace Clan, an interracial tribe of nomads that have been traveling for about 23-24 years now.

She found Y.N. When they were young allowing them to find a home and family with her clan.

Like I said, Y.N. wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her.

(Back then, and even now.)

Vitiligo — (Only in her hair)

Her grandfather found early on, the more stressed she is/older she gets, the more white appears.

(He isn’t quite sure but he has a hunch as to why she not only has this condition, but why her health is declining as well.)

(Something which happened when she was born)

Physical Health: Like I said before she has a lot of physical problems. And although she does joke about it, it does actually affect how she functions everyday.

Lost part of her hearing when she was young.

Joint/Muscle Problems

Potential Exercise-Induced Asthma

Overall Depression (It’s not life threatening — she’s managed to overcome a lot in her life, but it’s come at the cost how she sees/treats herself)

Aspires to change the world with her stories and scientific finds.

#bigdreamer

Draws for her stories

Major case of Paracosm

@calamaroo 🥰

@urautismdiagnosis-wistie (You probs won't see this until you wake up, lol I am so sorry for forcing you to wait for this TvT)

Digital Illustration Time: 4hrs 27min

[ This is a Octonauts AU, in no way is this canon to the OG storyline. ]

[littlebittyhollowbugs]

Idk if you're still doing the "give me two characters and I'll discuss their dynamic" thing But I cannot forget this post you made about Bretta doing her whole "crush obsession" thing to Hollow and I want to hear about their dynamic. If they have one. Because I have my own thoughts on this but I'd like to hear yours!

Okay so Bretta and Hollow!

In our post canon series, Bretta develops a crush on Hollow pretty quick,

Hollow is a powerful, mysterious figure and she is instantly impressed and wants to know more (while also wanting to preserve the mystery and fantasize about the possibilities, as she does)

Because both of them are fairly shy, especially in the beginning, she doesn't really get to know Hollow on a personal level, and so the attraction isn't a lot more than surface level until she eventually gathers the courage to truly present herself.

Throughout our series Bretta goes on a character journey inspired by her last journal entry. (After you defeat Grey prince Zote)

"Her life's companion would not appear, for they could not appear to a maiden sat idle. She must instead seek them out, must find her love, and free them of their solitude. And thus her own journey began, out into dangerous lands, shielded by her love awaiting, guided by her love to be. With every step, the maiden could feel it, their fated meeting, coming ever closer."

She is still guided by her desire for a great fairytale romance, but now wants to take a more active role in her love life (and life in general) and works on becoming more confident and courageous.

This isn't an easy thing, but impressing Hollow becomes a big motivator for her.

On Hollow's end though, it doesn't harbor any romantic feelings for Bretta in turn. Hollow cares for her, as it does all citizens of Hallownest, and especially friends of its family, but there are no deeper feelings there.

As it gets to know her better, it does become impressed with her, especially for her creativity and determination.

And Hollow is a naturally selfless and kind bug, who also possesses a natural charm that makes it especially easy for Bretta to interpret its actions toward her as romantic when there isn't really any romantic intention there.

Hollow does eventually realize her feelings, and this doesn't change the way it interacts with her. It is formal but compassionate toward all. (unless given specific reason to act otherwise)

It doesn't alter the way that it thinks of her too much, either. It might find the attraction confusing except that it has experienced being the object of romantic attraction before.

Aside from the mysterious aspect of its character that many are drawn to, Hollow has always been physically impressive. (Its large horns, for example, are especially appealing to the ladies.) so it isn't entirely unused to the situation.

It has obviously never considered returning the romantic interest or pursuing a relationship itself. (Something that doesn't change for many years post-being freed from the black egg.)

So yes! The ship is cute, though I interpret it to be entirely one-sided, myself.

There are a few more details on their dynamic that will be shared when I post my series outline, but that's the gist of it for now!

[misguidedasgardian]

Wildcats (Part XVIII)

XVIII. For survival purposes

MASTERLIST

Summary: Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis, that’s how it worked. 

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Zombie apocalypse AU, living dead, zombies, guts, blood, guns, injures, kissing, longing, angst, fluff, reader is horny, girl talk, might miss some important warnings, but you know what this is about

+18, MINORS DNI

You did not have more time to put Daryl up to speed, you both ran towards the place they were holding the meeting, the palace from where you had heard the gunshot. And what you saw when you got there was heartbreaking.

Pete was dead on the floor, headshot, Rick was still holding the gun. Deanna was crying, and in her arms, on the floor, stood Reg, bathed in blood.

Reg! you whimpered when you saw him.

He was the builder of all of Alexandria’s dreams, and there he was, dead, his throat slit open, blood still pouring from it. A katana on the floor, Deanna was weeping, as many others were too. In frightened moans. Jesse was there, watching her dead husband with eyes filled with tears.

You came back home after everything was sorted, you were shaken, but so was Daryl.

“I know he meant a lot for ya”, he said softly as you were walking back to the house

“He was going to teach me how to build real houses”, you whimpered, “meaning, structures and others… things we are going to need in the near future….”, you mumbled. Like the freaking wall around Alexandria. 

“You’ll figure it out”, he said softly, leading you with his hand on the small of your back. 

You stood on the porch, both of you, like two normal people, who after a normal date, the normal guy would accompany the normal girl back to her normal house and walk her to the normal door. And they were normally nervous, does she invite him in? Does she invite him back to her room?

He took a step forward leaving no space between the both of you.

He placed his hands on your hips, as he sighed. 

“Hey”, he muttered

“Hey”, you greeted back, looking at his beautiful eyes.

“I kiss ya”, he said

“Aren’t you sharp, Dixon? nothing scapes ya”, he snorted as you chuckled, “I enjoyed it, and I kissed you too, pretty aggressively, I might add”, you said with a wide smile

“Ya’ wanna to keep kissin’ me?”, he asked again, he seemed unsure, his eyes shone with what looked to be hope, and you hoped you could transmit how much you wanted it with your eyes as he was doing it himself. 

“Yes”, you said, hoping not to sound too eager. 

“Why?”

“Why?”, you echoed his question, how could he not get it?

“Why would ya? keep kissin’ someone like me?”

“Someone like you”, what does that even mean?”, you asked, incredulously, “someone kind? strong and compassionate? loyal? generous?, someone who would give his life for his family? Someone who can spend days hunting to make sure we don’t starve? someone who can survive in this fucked up world? someone devastatingly handsome? with arms for days?”, you kept going until he was blushing mess

“I’m way older than ya”, he said then. 

“I don’t care”, you said with a soft smile, “but I do care that all you’re doing is looking for excuses”, she chided softly, “we are going to find a lot, you too… my only question is why would YOU like to keep kissing me?” 

“Ya are the most beautiful person I have ever seen”, he drawled. “You’re badass, protective…”, he said, you smiled warmly at him, “Would ya like me to… keep kissin’ ya’?”, he asked softly. 

“I would enjoy that, yes”, you said, nodding excitedly, “and if you get tired I can always… kiss you”

“Soun’ fair”, he said, with a little smile. 

“Like this”, you said, leaning in and kissing him softly. He grabbed onto you, returning the kiss passionately. 

You released his lips again, because you believed you were never going to let him go if you didn’t, you shared looks, as he placed his forehead against yours. You breathed each other, enjoying eachother’s warmth

“Are you alright?”, you didn’t know what else to ask him, you wanted to know what happened in that trip

“Yeah”, he whispered softly against your lips. “Now I am”, you smiled warmly at him

“Want to talk about it?”, he shook his head. You weren’t gonna lie, you were disappointed but, you were not going to press him. Something happened on his run with Aaron, something that led him to realize something that led him to kiss you. 

But if he didn’t want to talk about it, the important part is that he was ok, he was back home, and he had kissed you.

He leaned in and kissed you now, and you enjoyed it even more…

Should you invite him to your room? Should you… screw him good like you wanted to for a while now? since the very first time you saw his naked arms, you believed.

Someone cleared their throats, making you split.

Michonne, Rick, Rosita and Abraham were looking at you, all of them with smiles on their faces. Rick looked at the two of you and he looked positively surprised. Like he just found his teenage daughter with a boy

“Well! about time!”, said Abraham. 

Daryl seemed completely uncomfortable, as he cleared his throat, looking everywhere but at the people there, including you

“Let’s leave them alone”, said Rosita, taking Abraham with her.

Only Rick, Michonne, Daryl and you entered the house. The silence that ensued turned awkward, really awkward. Rick didn’t seem to be in the mood to deal with any of it, he disappeared quickly.

Michonne winked at you before she disappeared as well, leaving the both of you alone.

“Do you want us to… go down to your room?”, you asked him, you believed he was going to be more comfortable in his domains. He smiled at you, but he leaned in and kissed you on your forehead.

“Let’s go to yours”, he said. Not only for having… intimacy of any kind with him, but you needed to talk. You were a bit disappointed that he had not let you go down there, since you had never seen his room, but again you were more comfortable in yours.

You closed the door when he entered the room behind you. 

“Wha’ happen?”, he asked, “when I was gone?”, you looked back at him with a conflicted look in your eyes. You were for certain nobody was going to hear you, so you could speak freely. 

“Everything happened quickly”, you said softly, “Rick and Pete started fighting in the street in broad daylight”, you started telling him everything that happened, “And when Deanna stopped him, he had a gun and started pointing it at people”, he didn’t seem impressed at all, “he started saying, that Deanna’s ways were over, that they needed to change… then Michonne herself knocked him out…”, you explained, “where did he get the gun? then I learned that he stole it from the armory…”, you said, “he told Glenn, Michonne, Carol, Abraham and me that he intended on a hostile takeover of Alexandria… but it didn’t came to it…”, you saw the guilt in his eyes as soon as you saw him, “you knew”, you said

“I did”, he said

“I thought of Carol…”

“She was in it too”, he said, “she stole guns from the armory…”

“Why?”, you asked him

“I didn’t take one”, he said lowly. You took a long breath

“Did you want to participate in a hostile takeover?”, you asked him

“If it was necessary”, he said, “but I wanted to try first”, you believed him.

“What was on Rick’s mind?”, you asked him

“I dunno”, well, definitively imposing his own vision of things on this place. A violent, but more realistic approach, “he wants to save this place, whatever it takes”, that whatever it takes being slashing some throats, for example. 

“What do you want to do?”, you asked him, he looked back at you. Both standing in the middle of the room. 

“I wanna us to be safe ‘ere”, he said, “Carl, Judith, ya… ya’ deserve it”. You only looked at him

“At any cost?”, you asked him

“It won’ come to it”, he said, “not after tonight”, Deanna had ordered Rick to execute Pete, Deanna had seen the “light”, so, he was right… You nodded at him. 

“So, can we finally call this place home?”, you asked him. He smiled

“Guess so”, he said finally. There was an awkward silence

“Do you wanna stay?”, you asked him. He moved where he stood, uncomfortably

“I reek”, he mumbled

“I don’t care”, you said

“M’gonna ruin yer sheets”, he whispered

“I don’t care”, you echoed, looking at him intensely, “we slept together on the road many times… I think… we should stick together, you know, for surviving purposes”, you said quickly, cheeks heated.

“G’night”, he drawled, kissing you int he forehead, and he left you there. mouth wide open as you saw him disappeared through the door.

He rejected you?

Is anybody else going to block your metaphorical cock? First Rick, then the entire group, and now the very man that was kissing you. You grunted, about to throw a fit like a kid.

You were a woman, a relatively healthy woman, and as such, you had needs.

And now you had a kissing buddy who could meet those needs… but that kissing buddy as much as ran away from you.

But you had just kissed, you couldn’t pressure him, you need to take it slow… a bit hard to take it slow when you had already literally sleeping with him

This meant nothing, right? that he as well as ran away from your room didn’t mean he didn’t want to be with you… in that way… right?

. . .

“so….”, you looked up from the blueprint at Rosita and Maggie, both looking at you with mischievous looks in their eyes. They had found you, the gazebo in the small park had become your sanctuary, is where Reg, Noah and you met, before they both died horribly. 

“So?”, you asked, even though you already knew what this might be about

“You had been… kissing… Daryl for a week now…”, teased Maggie, “soo… how is he?”

“Kissing?”, you asked, wanting to throw yourself into the lagoon and never resurface. Because kissing is all you have been doing…

It was… odd, to say the least, he would look for you, place his hand on your hip or waist when he was by your side… he would look for you every morning, to greet you and before he went on runs… 

But kissing is all you had been doing, a soft peck on the lips when he said good morning, or good night, or goodbye.

Everybody caught on by now, Daryl made sure to… make his presence known by your side in front of everybody by now, but then, when you were alone, he would just leave, especially when you invited him to your room, or tried to go with him to his.

“No!”, exclaimed Rosita, “you haven’t screwed yet?”

“Hey!”, said Maggie, slapping her shoulder playfully, but then she turned to you, “well… have you?”. you had been on edge, to say the least, you were about to start humping his leg like some horny dog, you were about to start climbing walls like a woman possessed by hornyness. 

“Come on! spill girl!”, encouraged Rosita. So you looked at the both of them and sighed loudly

“He won’t fuck me”, you admitted, “he won’t do it, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong”, they shared concerned looks

“It’s not you…”, said Maggie

“I haven’t been sutil”, you warned, “I have invited him to sleep with me, almost every night, on my room, and he won’t do it, I think I scared him, and now he won’t even go to the second floor in fear of me”

“He is special…”, said Maggie

“You know him the longest”, you said, closing your notebook and looking at her, “is he regretting ever kissing me?”, you asked her

“No”

“Have you spoken to him?”, you asked her

“No”, she echoed, “but I’m sure he doesn’t regret it, I mean… he made sure everybody knew you two are together, he might as well pee on you”, she giggled. 

You lowered your head, he hasn't even invited you out of the walls, like that day, you had such a good time, and if you suggested it… he shut it down quite quickly.

“Are we even together?”, you asked out loud

“He kissed you”, said Maggie, “he wants to be with you”

“It’s only been a week”, you whispered, “and I already feel like this is not advancing, we aren’t even speaking”

“So weird”, muttered Rosita, “Dixon looks like he would rail the shit out of you”, she said, you both laughed. It was tragi-comic at this point. 

Maybe you were getting ahead of yourself, maybe he was the one who wanted to take it slow… but he didn’t even want to hang out with you… 

From the gazebo you actually saw Daryl, jumping off of his bike with something in his hand and going into the pantry 

He had gone out of the walls everyday since that day… and even though you never needed him here, because Rick had been weirdly calm… you couldn’t help but actually feel trapped in here, you haven't gone out there like he had, He wouldn’t take you anywhere either, so…. you wanted to get out there, maybe, put some distance between you… maybe that’ll do you both some good, to help him figure out what he wanted.

You wanted to be with him, hang out with him, have talks with him, you wanted him to pin you to your bed and…you shook your head… What did he want?

But not only because of him… this place was making you weak, you needed to get out there, you enjoyed it, besides the walkers of course, you liked scavenging, not with the Alexandria team though.

You left the girls behind as you almost ran to the man, who was coming out, empty handed, out of the pantry/garage

“Daryl!”, you said excitedly, he seemed startled, “how did the run go?”

“Found the damn’ pasta maker!”, he said, excited, like he had found the cure. You laughed as you wrapped your arms around him, he placed his hands on your waist, smiling at you.

“I want to go out there”, you said, and yes, you were testing him, trying for the last time

“Wha’ for?”, he asked, frowning, “ya should stay ‘ere”, he said softly, learning in and giving you a peck on the lips, “need to go”, he mumbled, releasing you and walking away like you were the plague incarnate.

You walked back to Maggie and Rosita with your tail between your legs.

You wanted to get out there again, and you knew Daryl wasn’t going to take you.

Also, you wanted to be useful, to your family, and to put your piece into the new community. You wanted to get out there. 

And suddenly, you realized where you had to go. And you turned to Rosita. 

“I need to ask you something”, you said with a short smile. 

. . .

“I want to go to DC”, you said to Abraham, Eugene, Rosita and RIck, you had trouble setting this up, every time you had one, the other was somewhere else, but alas, here they were, besides Rosit helped. 

“Why?”, asked Rick

“Those three wanted to go for a reason”, you said, signaling to the trio

“It was a lie”, said Abraham

“Not completely, you said you were talking to people there, and Eugene wanted to go for a reason, and he was right, if there is someone left, is probably there”

“Deanna said they evacuated them all”, muttered Rick

“So it’s gonna be empty, either way”, you said simply

“Are you planning on sightseeing?”, mocked Rosita, you smiled

“I always wanted to see the Lincoln monument, but yeah… I think it’s a good idea, Atlanta was still… lively”, you muttered, but nobody looked convinced, “look, I will go, I just gathered you here to hear your opinions and if you wanted to join me, it's just a couple of hours from here”, you said surely, “I can go for a couple of days''

“You are not going alone”, commanded Rick. You took a long sigh

“I will not make anybody come with me, I get it's very dangerous”, you said with a convincing look, “but I feel like at least one of us has to see what’s up there, for closure or whatever”, you assured him. 

“I want to go with you”, said Rosita, and you smiled

“So do I”, said Abraham, “i want to see what all the fuss is about”

“I think its best if I stay put…”, Eugene kept mumbling objections, so you tuned him out. 

“Right!”, you said with a wide smile, “we are a team”, Rick looked a you

“Are you sure you want to do this?”, he asked

“Damn right”, you said

“I’ll need to talk to Deanna”

“Why?”, you asked that so quickly you earned a look of disapproval from Rick, “Sorry I forgot”

“Yeah, I don’t like it either”, said Abraham, “since when do we ask for permission?”

“I think it would be best”, he said simply, “let her know”

“But if she insists that one of those idiots has to go with us, I will cancel the whole thing”, you warned, he smiled and shook his head

“Right”, he said, “are you all sure?”

“We need to score a big run”, said Rosita, “DC is out safest bet”

“Fine”, he said, nodding, “I’ll tell Deanna tonight”

“No others”, you said

“You didn’t tell Daryl?”, all eyes were on you when Rick asked you that.

“No”, yous aid shortly, “he is out with Aaron, didn’t want to concern him

“Fine”, said Rick

@crazyunsexycool @capricxnt

[viamutationis]

OH GREY WARDEN, WE'RE REALLY IN IT NOW.

ID in alt text, notes and oc infodump under the cut! PLEASE ask me about them they're my new babygirl of the week

Yeah. Ben-Hassrath Cousland is wild, I know. This was one of those 3 am thoughts that became a beloved oc and now they're my canon protag. Basically: She was being trained to be House Cousland's left hand to spy within the noble courts and intercept threats to her family's rule, and a large part of that meant being covertly sent to Orlais to train as a bard. Buuuut the bardmaster she studied under was an undercover Hissrad, and she wound up being converted to the Qun by her. Teenage Laurentia was in a spot where, like every kid, she was questioning the Andrastian beliefs she was raised with and all the unfair things she noticed in her society, so she was very open to the Qun.

Her role once she was sent back home was basically just to send reports detailing the inner workings of the Ferelden nobility and to be aware of any Tal-Vashoth activity in the area. Pretty benign shit, and the former task is what she was doing for her family anyway. Still recruited by the Wardens the normal way, via Duncan doing his "come with me if you want to live" shtick after the fam dies. None of the Blight Crew find her out save for Leliana, because Leli knows everything. She only reveals it to Sten just as he's about to hop on a ship back home LMAOOO.

They're genuinely very compassionate and sweet. A lil whimsical. Highly loyal and protective. Very lawful good (emphasis on lawful). It's a weird sort of internal reconciling - they are genuinely kind to most people and love listening to others' issues and helping them out. It just so happens that this makes them an excellent spy, because they're exactly the sort of person people feel comfortable opening up to, and they see no issue with passing relevant information on to the powers they spy for. The kindness is genuine, but it's also a tool, if that makes sense. Their duty comes before any attachments. On that Master Coercion grindset.

No romance because they're aro, but they do have a little homoerotic espionage cat and mouse goin on with Leliana (singing campfire songs and trading stories and braiding each others' hair included). They get along with all their companions besides Morrigan and Oghren, and even Morrigan is more just.. cordial passive aggression.

They exist in the same worldstate as my Orlesian Warden-Commander Gavriel! He's a veteran warden who joins them on the road after Lothering because his ass snuck into Ferelden to help the Wardens solo, and then he'll later become the WC while they become Arlessa because they have more political experience and he has more military experience.

They generally make the nicey nice choices, albeit not where magic is concerned, and even then it's purely out of an abundance of caution. They do NOT annul the Circle, they do that secret third option where you tell Greagoir there could still be blood mages so he puts the mages into quarantine and Wynne still joins you but the game counts it as siding with the Templars. They let Isolde kill Connor, rip lil dude. (Not like they have a choice, they would rather that than the blood magic anyway, but they kill Jowan soooooo.) Besides that, all nicey choices. Bhelen on the throne, Anvil destroyed, Zathrian reconciles and everybody lives, Ashes are not tainted, Loghain recruited, Alistair and Anora rule jointly, Gavriel and Morrigan know they'd never agree to the Dark Ritual so they do it behind Laurentia's back and nobody dies lmao.

Small notes on their disabilities: Wynne was the healer that did their cleft lip surgeries as a kid!! Their last surgery was when they were 6, so they do remember her :D & their hearing aids are lyrium-infused lazurite, the runes are all enchantments that combine to make it collect and amplify sound like an actual HA does. I love bullshitting magic technology.

Their mabari is named Princess, because they got her when they were 10, okay.

[lesserl]

CRODE OC DUMP!!!!!!!

Sasha!!! wants to be all edgy and cool, kind of a fan of street art and graffiti and shii

she also does

she's basically a leader of the party, with her making most of the decisions (although not always the best ones because of her feisty personality) but still has to rely on her buddies to ground herself

she's the type of person that isn't quite sure if they want to be alone or to be around others more (in reality it's more of the latter)

i have this kinda old image of how i imagined her weapon to work

Quinn is honestly one of my all time favorites for a handful of reasons... they might seem kind of distant with their mostly expressionless face, they are actually a huge goober and don't treat the game too seriously, not a big lore fella and all that (until a certain point in their playthrough)

and they miiiiiiiiiight like bullying Xander a little

despite having a knack for trying to keep people on their toes, they are actually pretty compassionate when it comes to their friends' problems, trying to comfort others in their own way (mostly trough just being present)

when they're in a rough spot themselves, they shut in... partially? kind of hovering behind, not talking and doing their own thing, while helping when it's needed

Zachary is just a dumbass. he just is. look at them. looK

they're the least "gamer" member of the group, going for CrossWorlds initially only because they wanted to meet someone semi-personally, but then ended up sucked into the game, so they decided to stick around with the duo above

generally a pretty laidback fella, sometimes has troubles figuring out game mechanics, but gets excited with them nonetheless. he seems to have a bunch of knowledge on completely random topics that he got from creative people in his circles, and often brings them up whenever something resurfaces in his memory

a- also- also- also--------------------------------------

boom.

OH AND height chart (at least in-game)

aaand their favorite mobs

i *do* have an idea for a story for them, but, admittedly, for me it's more of a "holy SHIT i love making crosscode designs" and my general love for slice-of-life genre, so... yeah!1!11!!1!!

[veilder]

War of the Rohirrim: My Thoughts

So, I just got back from seeing this movie and I thought I'd write up a little review, I'll give a brief overview first and put spoilers under the cut.

First off, let me get this out of the way: I really, really enjoyed it! Which isn't to say that the movie didn't have problems, just that I was thoroughly entertained throughout and also got way more invested in it than I thought I would! It was a nice, self-contained little story that did service to Tolkien's Legendarium while still allowing for creative changes and I thought it all worked really well the way it was told. The animation was absolutely stunning in a lot of scenes (notably the fight scenes!), though I did have some issues with it in others. Notably with the compositing of the 2D and 3D art together, some of those just did not look right, but they were few and far enough between that they didn't detract overmuch for me.

The cast of characters were vibrant and well-crafted, especially the supporting cast for me, and the voice acting for everyone was on point. I also really liked the general design and portrayal of the whole cast, I thought they all looked very good. Notable standout character for me would be: the princes, Háma and Haleth, the King's nephew, Fréaláf, and the shieldmaiden, Olwyn. And honorable mention to the Dunlanding general, Turgg, too. I can't tell if it was just the nostalgic Howard Shore score returning in some parts or if I just generally liked the whole soundtrack (notably not composed by Shore this time), but I felt like the music was very good as well. Very suitable to the world and Rohan specifically.

And, last but certainly not least, I thought the vibe of the film was just incredible. Even moreso than with the Hobbit movies, The War of the Rohirrim felt like Middle-Earth. The vibes of the movie were impeccable and it actually seemed like a genuine story set in the original trilogy's Rohan. The styles and dialogue and whole atmosphere of the film seemed very in line with Peter Jackson's original trilogy and I think that's what elevated the whole thing for me, enough to overlook its flaws, which I will get into more detail in below the cut.

Overall, I personally would rank this a solid 6.5/10. It certainly didn't match the original trilogy and likely wasn't even as good as my favorite of the Hobbit movies, either. (Which is the first one, of course. 😌) A very solid addition to the Middle-Earth series and enjoyable enough that I'll definitely be watching it again, but nothing particularly groundbreaking. If you are a LotR fan, I feel like you'll like it. If you're an anime fan, you might get a good story and some pretty characters out of it. If you're a more casual movie watcher, it might be a tad hit or miss. But overall, I consider it a very solid movie.

Now, on to spoilers.

So, first off, let's talk about Héra. I've seen a lot of entertainment outlets and reviewers criticizing her character (or lack thereof) and calling her a "Mary Sue" which is, in my opinion, just a very lazy critique of her. The movie sets her up as this free spirit, a warrior king's daughter who grew up learning to fight and ride and adventure alongside her brothers. She is a beloved princess of the realm who the people greet by name, who is kind and compassionate, clever and competent, who dreams of one day being free of her royal duties and be able to travel where she pleases. Oh, and she has an overprotective father who wants to marry her off to try and keep her safe. A textbook Mary Sue, right?

Well, no, I'd very much beg to differ.

Héra is a flawed character. Time and again, her youth and inexperience lead her into situations she can't handle and she is a liability just as often as she's shown to be a hero. And time and again her compassion is taken advantage of, to the detriment of herself and others. The fact that she is clever and headstrong and grows into a deadly warrior by the end does not make her a Mary Sue. But that's also not to say that I found her to be the most compelling, either.

Don't get me wrong, she definitely had some amazing moments (her conversation with Wulf in Orthanc, her wisdom in evacuating Edoras and her traps laid out before its siege, her amazing "I'm no man's bride." "Who are you promised to?" "Death!" line read?) but she was rather generic to me all things told. However, she's shored up by an excellent supporting cast and a great plot, so I didn't feel I really needed a super interesting protagonist to follow. She is excellent in her role as the POV character for the events happening around her and she becomes anchored enough in the main plot by the role her family plays and the obsession the main antagonist has with her.

Which, speaking of...

Another character I really want to call out is Wulf. Because he... was a missed opportunity imo. I get what they were going for with him I guess? Hm, a sort of Maeglin approach to him almost, for those familiar with the Silmarillion, where becomes obsessed with the object of his desire to the point of madness and villainy. However, I personally feel as if his character could've been so much better if they'd taken him in a different direction? These are all my own thought and you don't have to agree, but hear me out: I think they should've tried to humanize Wulf more. We are told early on that he and Héra are childhood friends, but we're only ever given the barest glimpse of a flashback between them to set that up? We have one short conversation between them at the very beginning after his proposal to her and after that he takes a sheer dive into villainy that he double and triples down on as the story goes. But if the movie truly wanted us to feel as if there was a connection between them at all, I feel like they should've emphasized that relationship a lot more. Show more of their time together as children. Give more scenes to Wulf of him experiencing discrimination because of his Dunlanding blood. Give him moments of hesitation and remorse when he's forced into conflict with Héra. Like, I genuinely believed that's where the movie was going at the end? I really thought that, after their big fight where Héra has him on the ground and shows him mercy, I thought he was leaping up at her to die. I thought he intentionally missed her with his blade because he wanted her to kill him after everything he's done and that was the only way he could accept it happening. I thought the movie might come full circle again to showing that, despite everything, there was something genuine to his affections? That he wasn't wholly evil or deranged and that his declaration of love had been true once upon a time, even if he'd since forswore it after his father was killed. I really thought they would give him some glimpse of humanity. But no, he was genuinely just trying to kill her again and she beat his ass and that's that. Honestly much less impactful to me. Like, don't get me wrong, I absolutely did not want him to be redeemed. (Especially not after the absolutely abhorrent way he killed Háma right in front of Héra and Helm, oof.) But just any show of him not just being some black and white villain would've been welcome. Just the tiniest bit of complexity to a truly vile villain makes them stand out all the more for me and I think Wulf would've been truly memorable if he'd had that.

Now, my issues with the two leads out of the way, I just wanna bring it back around to the positives again and say how delightful I found the rest of the supporting cast? For all that they were barely in it, I was just instantly captivated by Haleth and Háma, not even joking. As soon as Héra rode in to Háma singing his little song for her, I knew I had a favorite. Oh, what's this? He's a poet and a bard and a handsome warrior prince?! Well, I'll be. It seems he was specially crafted to be my new blorbo, lol! And then Haleth showed up and my mind just instantly associated the two of them with my two absolute favorite Tolkien character and I knew I was a goner. (Please tell me I'm not the only one to instantly get Maedhros and Maglor vibes from them, eh? Which, in retrospect, Haleth is much more how I picture Celegorm, lol, but still. That initial projection really stuck in my mind. XD)

Héra's servant, Olwyn, was also such a pleasant surprise? I didn't expect much of her at the start, but she really grew on me as the film went on. I love that you just have to piece together her backstory as a shieldmaiden of Rohan and then you can start using that to theorize about Héra and how she idolizes them and it all just clicks together so well? And it's always nice to see an awesome older woman kicking ass!

And then Fréaláf showed up and he was just like the coolest guy ever?! Yooooooo, I loved him so much, even though he got so sidelined in the movie. 😭 But his appearance at the end wearing Helm's armor and blowing that horn was just awesome. I don't even care if his whole arc was a bit derivative of Éomer's from the films, I still just dug his whole vibe and personality. And it's terrible how Haleth and Háma had to die (like oof, both their deaths were just... so brutal 😭😭😭), but it's obvious that Fréaláf will make a fantastic king for Rohan.

Helm Hammerhand was, of course, amazingly badass, they really kept that part intact. And though I wouldn't say he was particularly likeable as a character, he certainly was compelling to watch. And his death scene, of course, just went so hard.

And yes, shoutout again to Turgg, the Dunlander, for being cool and levelheaded throughout the whole movie. Honestly, if that guy became the Dunlanding leader instead of Wulf, things would've gone like 2000x better for everyone. And I do love that he finally just outright refuses to do Wulf's bidding at the end. It is certainly an instance of too little, too late by that point, but still. I appreciate that he at least had some sort of line he wouldn't cross, even if it was purely because he finally saw how mad Wulf had become. Cool character, I liked him a lot.

I already spoke a bit about the music and the animation up top, so I won't rehash all that, but I just want to highlight a few outlying thoughts I had.

What the heck was up with that Watcher in the Water just chilling in the woods there? That seemed so random. And also, it ate that entire mumik like it was nothing, wot?

In general, the scale of things was kind a crazy? It seemed to vary a lot scene by scene and it was hard sometimes to really tell the perspective of anything.

I absolutely loved Miranda Otto coming back to act as the narrator for this film? Not only was it wonderful to hear Éowyn again in a new project, but I loved how they used it as a sort of framing device, like it was Éowyn telling us a story of her people. (And I love the thought of her being inspired by this legend of Héra as a little girl and dreaming of being a shieldmaiden, too.)

I love that Olwyn didn't die?! I was just waiting for it to happen the whole movie, she had so many death flags it was unreal. But then it just... didn't happen! Yes!

What on Middle-Earth was that dang siege tower Wulf built? Omg, that thing was ridiculous. When they were raising it up and it just kept going higher and higher and higher?! It was like a skyscraper there for a minute, what? And then it just crashed down and didn't break? XD I'm pretty sure I audibly said "Yo, wtf?" in the theater when I saw that part, lol. (It's okay, I was literally the only person there. >_>)

I didn't realize Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd were the voices of those two orcs until I saw the credits? That was a neat cameo!

Why oh why is there no WotR AO3 tag up yet? 😭 How am I supposed to find fix-it fics about mah boi Háma now? 😭😭😭

That one eagle sure was helpful in this movie, omg. And lol, I like that they established that the eagles and wizards can talk to each other? Lol, Maia to Maia communication. XD

But yeah, those are my initial thoughts. Overall, a very enjoyable experience! I was really glad to be back in Middle-Earth again, especially since my interest in all things Tolkien has been massively reinvigorated lately by my newfound fascination with The Silmarillion. This movie hit at a perfect time for me and I enjoyed it greatly. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk movie review. XD

[bonefall]

Do you have anything on Hollypelt? I'm sorry i've been a little obsessed with her lately even though she literally does nothing

She's got a little mention on the ThunderClan Family Tree but she's admittedly a pretty small character in the grander scheme of BB!

Hollypelt is a Crusade Era molly. She's old enough to remember Mapleshade's exile, but might have been a young adult. Unsure.

She is the mother of Fuzzypelt, detested gene pool destroyer. In BB I managed to trim his devastation back, but Hollypelt's blood is still pretty influential!

I'm unsure who her mate was. They might actually be faded because their name isn't remembered, or it might be Mistpelt.

If it's Mistpelt it's divorce. Never speak to me or my cottonball son ever again

In any case, Holly raised Fuzzy alone.

She was buddies with Mothwhisker, somehow.

I'm unsure if it's mentor/apprentice or just friends, but it was completely non-romantic either way. Moth only likes other toms.

If I was picking cats for Pinepaw to be rescuing Crystal from during the Crusades, it would be Hollypelt and Mothwhisker.

Generally I see these two as BRUTAL together. They have excellent synergy and are both notoriously ruthless, but Mothwhisker is more... aggressive than Hollypelt.

Hollypelt holds a grudge and plots but Mothwhisker turns you into confetti on the spot.

Mothwhisker, Hollypelt, and Bloomheart are favorites of Oakstar during the Crusades. A trio of violent soldiers.

Off the battlefield, Hollypelt was also not the nicest girl around. She loved Fuzzykit fiercely, but she got in conflict with other cats regularly. Kind of grumpy, took innocent statements very personally

Had a tight-knit little circle of friends, and venturing out of that circle usually didn't go too well for either party.

Fuzzykit was the result of one of those times.

In spite of that, she was compassionate and loyal to her clanmates, and was cordial and polite to compensate for her lack of patience.

Though she wanted to die in battle, she starved during the Great Hunger. She, insistently honorably, refused to eat detestable "foods" like grubs or fish and wanted her Clanmates to eat first.

She was also small. Fuzzypelt is much larger than her, even though most of it is fluff. Hollypelt is like one of those pure black cats who's as thin as sticks, and Fuzz is a big black cloud.

[bloodismymedium]

tina headcanons :pray:

ohhh alright… you twisted my arm. 😉

🌸 Tina loves flowers and has a passion for gardening, she would grow her own vegetables too and she used to make flower crowns for Flora all the time.

🌸 Tina is a deer and bird girl but is an animal lover in general. She used to dream about living in a cottage in the woods where she could feed the deer and watch the birds and squirrels on her porch all day.

🌸 *slams fists on table* Tina is CHUBBY, she has a poofy BELLY with pretty stretch marks and THICK fucking thighs and I will not hear anything to the contrary. Tina used to be really insecure about her body too but Jack helped her out of it a little bit.

🌸 Tina loves baking and had aspirations of opening her own bakery, she was studying entrepreneurship and the culinary arts at college before “meeting” Mona. She used to bake things for Jack all the time.

🌸 Tina is a sweater girl, she loves wearing sweaters, especially the yarn and wool kind because she likes dressing up conservatively but also she likes being warm. Tina hates the cold and tries to be as cozy as possible.

🌸 Tina is a compassionate bleeding heart who always thought of other people, she’d donate to tons of different charities every day, volunteer at soup kitchens and animal shelters, you name it. Her first job was as an operator at a suicide hotline.

🌸 Tina was very religious but very accepting of other people regardless of their background or sexual orientation and generally a nice person all around. Her faith in God was challenged when Jack and Flora were killed by Mona and Bill, and then finally destroyed after they came back for her and killed her mother in the process, she simply couldn’t find it in herself to believe in god after that…

🌸 Tina is bisexual and it took a long time for her to finally come to terms with her sexuality. Jack and Flora both knew but Tina was adamant in keeping her sexuality a secret from her mother since she was a very conservative, hyper religious type and Tina feared she wouldn’t accept her if she knew.

🌸 Tina is Jewish-Sicilian on her mother’s side and Mexican on her father’s side. She’s fluent in Spanish thanks to her dad speaking to her almost entirely in Spanish up until she was sixteen, when her mother and father divorced and he moved far away. She still talks to her father frequently though. Tina has her mother’s last name because she and Tina’s father kept her surname after they got married.

🌸 Tina was obsessed with photography and was big into Instagram (which Mona stalked). She would take pictures of everything from food to cool nature things all the time and she would always drop whatever she was doing if a photography opportunity presented itself.

🌸 Tina is an old soul, she’s in her early twenties and yet she acts like a total grandma who gives out bags of cookies she baked for friends and loves knitting and sewing, she definitely used to sew things for Jack and Flora all the time.

🌸 Tina is into bad boys to a rabid degree, she loves the idea of rehabilitating them with her love which is more or less what she did with Jack who was a childhood friend of her’s that became involved with a bad crowd and was a petty criminal but Tina helped him go straight and he even got a steady job thanks to her.

🌸 Tina legitimately thought Mona was a demon or some kind of supernatural entity when she first encountered her due to her unnatural appearance and mannerisms coupled by Tina’s religious background. All she could say is prayers after Mona murdered Jack and Flora in front of her and what Mona would say to her in response would stick with her for the rest of her life…

“If there is a God, it’s fucking me. Look into my eyes and know me, love me, but do not pray. I don’t answer prayers.”

[nilolol30]

Hi there, can I request Wukong x female S/O who is a big sister figure to MK? She's quite flirty, sassy and sarcastic and will not hesitate to kick your butt, but actually to her friends she's really kind, protective and compassionate. It can be either headcannons or one-shot, I leave that up to you. Thank you in advance!

At first he never paid much attention to you mainly focusing on Mk and his training but after he heard a bunch of stories about you he won't lie he got curious.

Not long after meeting you he's way more interested now mostly because you threatened him if he hurts Mk or put him in harms way even though he's a Almighty powerful being you didn't care.

Oh but that wasn't it no no no once you got comfortable around him you started tossing in flirts he was aware you did that with everyone but that doesn't mean it can't catch in off guard but now you and him toss flirts at eachother as a little battle on who can catch the other in the corner.

But what tops it off is you quick remarks always tossing in a few sarcastic jabs at anyone who annoys you or you're fighting and he's all for it have you heard this guy he loves quips too!

In all honesty Mk thought you guys were dating way before you actually were so when you both announced it he was confused and shocked it too you two THAT long but he fully supports it he wants you and his mentor to be happy and both of you are happy together.

While dating you both still do the flirt battle routine but obviously aiming to completely fluster the other it's amazing how you two manage to not make a repeat of the same compliment always shaking it up and making new ones.

He loves your protective side he's the same way himself but both of you mellow eachother out so the other doesn't go too far and both being protective of eachother Wukong found it pretty funny and doesn't really stop you unless you're about to chew off more than you can handle.

You both train together it's a normal routine sometimes you have a friendly little sparing session or just play fighting in general of course Wukong holding back to at least give you a chance.

[femmeleatherface]

i tortured myself by reading the poto (1925) shooting script! there were good things and bad things and if i don't infodump about them i will explode

really long and rambly disclaimer: this isn't the original-original draft (which from my understanding is where the rosy hours of mazandaran sequence came from, but don't quote me on that), nor is it the same as the los angeles premiere cut (which from my understanding included the redemptive love ending for erik, which was apparently never scripted and got shot on the fly while they struggled to figure out how to end the film, But Again Do Not Quote Me). that said, you can see traces of the original script and some of the sequences lost with the los angeles premiere cut, and some of the choices made are... interesting!

long post so thoughts under the cut

complete list of items i am mad or at least disappointed we didn't get in some capacity:

the frame narrative. for some reason they had the story come from the files of m. faure instead of anyone actually involved in the narrative like christine or the daroga, but still. would have been cool

a close, honestly sweet relationship between joseph and simon buquet. if you're going to spend so much time focusing on joseph's death, maybe making us care about him is a good thing??? wild concept

la sorelli's knife <3 also just a role for her in general

erik using a trapdoor to spirit away cesar the horse. i don't know if they ever actually filmed this or what since it seems a little complicated, but the way it's written gives me major looney tunes vibes:

130-D ANOTHER PART OF CELLAR #5 OR #6 IF WE HAVE THE SET. MED. SHOT NEAR THE BIG OPERA HOUSE FORGE A groom currying a great white stallion while a Hercules of a smithy is preparing to put new shoes on the stallion. We plant the stallion fastened to a ring bolt in the stone wall by a strap and is parallel with the wall. The blacksmith is holding up the hoof of the great white stallion to measure a shoe, then he moves over to the forge and with his back to the horse pumps the bellows and sings to himself -- then a strange thing happens, a section of the wall and floor upon which the white stallion stands suddenly turns as if upon an axle and the white stallion vanishes leaving apparently the same wall floor and ring bolt - the smithy lifts the red hot shoe from the forge and prepares to hammer it. He casualy looks around toward the place where the horse was, gasps and drops the hammer. Then thinking perhaps one of the stablemen played a joke, he calls to him - they join him and he asks them about the horse.

so! much! daroga!!!! obviously he is the highlight to me. he gets so many more little scenes and i will say they get pretty repetitive after a while (he shows up, is mysterious for a paragraph, leaves, rinse & repeat), so i get why they changed things. but what i find interesting (and most agonizing to lose) about this particular version is that he's shown to be a pretty compassionate man, aloof but overall very kind and caring about others, even before we know what his deal is. he has a scene with raoul where he shoots him a look of "friendly compassion" while raoul is the exact opposite. it's... a wonderful characterization. what the fuck. also i get the sense that he regularly visits erik's house offscreen and maybe every time he's leaving/entering the cellars we are supposed to infer after the fact that he's paying erik a visit. MANY QUESTIONS. anyway this daroga is amazing and wonderful and i love him. we were robbed.

the "erik visible behind the mirror looking at christine" shot before ALW made it cool:

[181.] SEMI C.V. CHRISTINE ON COUCH Suddenly part of the mirror beind her becomes transparent, revealing the upper portion of the masked face.

mme valerius! she's christine's biological grandmother in this script rather than an adoptive mother, but waves hand. her relationship with christine is very sweet. definitely understand why they cut her, though, she shows up in one scene and isn't even mentioned anywhere else. but what she gets is nice

the cemetery at perros scene. it's SO atmospheric and probably was gorgeous-looking in black and white. unlike some of the scenes in this script we know they actually filmed it because we can see extant photos of it and UGH. UGH!!!!! MAD!!!!!!!

erik has a black mask. i get why they didn't do this one too because it wouldn't have shown up well in a black and white medium, but oh... it would have been nice...

the unmasking scene being partially colorized like the bal de masque. i am a sucker for silent film experimentation, this could have been neat

also the rat catcher (as a rat catcher vs. some random guy) having a colorized red scarf around his neck to make him look decapitated. very morbid. love it

the comic relief played by snitz edwards being the guy who touches red death. from a storytelling and filmmaking standpoint it makes sense (brings new characters into the original story, less actors to pay, etc.) and i'm honestly surprised this didn't make it to the final cut. also, erik's "don't touch me i am red death" warning is on his cloak like in the novel and that is one of my favorite book details so it delights me they were originally going to do it in the film

this erik line:

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY BAG? DON'T YOU KNOW THAT IS THE BAG OF LIFE AND DEATH!"

more understanding of/sympathy for erik from him expressing his desires in general

subjectivity in the torture scene. raoul imagines a forest fire and a lion in his delirium and maybe it wouldn't have worked but i love the stark contrast of that with the daroga's perspective of the frankly banal reality of the torture chamber immediately after (if only because it's a great daroga moment)

also the daroga being more levelheaded during the torture scene in general like in the book. i don't think they necessarily changed this in the final cut, but i do think they shortened the torture scene to a degree and used shots such that the daroga actively searching for a way out based on his preexisting knowledge is a little hard to infer, whereas on the page it is very obvious

this beautiful moment between christine and erik:

[535.] MED CLOSE UP ERICK AND CHRISTINE AMBER Christine gazes up at him earnestly and the picture is held for an instant. Erick realizes that the final moment is at hand and there is sense of terror in his manner. She asks him in a trembling voice: "DO YOU SWEAR TO ME THAT THE SCORPION IS THE ONE TO TURN?" BACK: For the first time Erick shows fear. In a hushed way he answers her: "YES... IF YOU WISH TO BE MY BRIDE." BACK: Quietly she turns from him. [536.] CLOSE UP CHRISTINE AMBER Without an instant's hesitation, but with thorough consciousness of what she is doing she turns the scorpion. [537.] A LONGER SHOT AMBER Erick walks toward her - a man crushed. Christine in this instant has become his master. Christine turns calmly to meet him.

but also i am extremely glad we didn't get these things:

a long, tedious history of the opera house. so much exposition that is mostly not interesting and only barely ties into the story. yawns. we dodged a bullet on this one

just raoul's entire starting characterization. the raoul we got is hardly amazing but wow. this guy is... literally everything raoul is not supposed to be: cool, suave, dashingly romantic, a womanizer. he's basically every 1920s he-man romantic lead and I Do Not Care For It. he gets better the further the script goes along/the closer the script follows the book, but woof. bad. BAD!

reveal of erik's face and the chandelier scene way too early. 35 pages into a 126 page script, or about 30 minutes in if we follow the 1 page = about 1 minute rule. that would have KILLED the suspense of erik's character and undercut the unmasking scene with christine later. and probably also messed with the pacing and sense of stakes. speaking of:

messy pacing. the most egregious offender of this is the beginning. the first fifty pages cover a single night, in which we: meet our characters, introduce the opera ghost concept, get even MORE boring exposition about the opera house, get three "wow the persian is so mysterious who is that guy" moments, set up the plot with erik wanting christine to sing, the murder of joseph buquet (also setting up his relationship with simon so we're sad about joseph biting the dust later), stealing cesare, the chandelier scene, an erik face reveal, raoul finding out about erik, and a whole bunch of other stuff that i can't even remember because it just comes nonstop all at once. the order is... weird, and the story does not benefit because there is just no dang moment to breathe and get to know any of these people. also HOW DOES ERIK HAVE TIME TO DO ALL THIS MAYHEM IN ONE NIGHT. HOW!!!!!!!!

erik's name is erick. for some reason??? it's like they couldn't decide between the eric and erik spellings and just decided to mash them together for... some reason...

subplot with philippe and his wife trying to send raoul to monaco. i do like giving philippe more to do to make his death is more meaningful, but this... is not the way. philippe calls the cops on raoul when he ends up becoming an army deserter, and i get the desire to add stakes, but I Do Not Care About Any Of This

the rising action for the climax is way too complicated. we do not need christine and raoul planning to leave after the bal de masque and then having their plans foiled because raoul gets thrown in prison, only for him to manipulate philippe into letting him out and then give christine a new plan to run away with her after the show, have erik find out about this and be mad because he was the one helped the cops catch raoul at the bal de masque (also he found out about raoul's prison escape and the new runaway plan because erik's apparently a peeping tom who watches christine get dressed in her dressing room, charming), and THEN get to erik kidnapping christine during the performance because apparently he is great at coming up with elaborate kidnapping schemes on the spot. we do not need it. we do not.

the daroga gets less important rather than more important at the end: this is something you can see in the extant versions, but it's especially frustrating in the shooting script because so much of his character was built up, but after the grasshopper and the scorpion sequence he just... exists. becomes one with the mob and that's it. at least in the extant cuts he gets to be the ONE person who ushers in the mob, semi-justifying his presence after he guides raoul to erik's house. in this script he ushers the mob in with simon buquet and raoul (because yes, the mob ending apparently existed in some form dating back to this script if not earlier--UGH!!!!!), which doesn't make the daroga feel really useful or necessary as a character at the end. also he and erik don't even get one scene together in the entire script, which is flabbergasting to me because the trajectory of the story is clearly steering toward some kind of confrontation between them at the end, but nope. my guess this is all a casualty of the constant ending rewrites and the daroga's character being one of the more difficult characters to adapt to 1920s hollywood movie standards, but i'm still mad. this daroga was so good and even during pre-production was getting done so dirty

philippe.... lives????? how did that even happen, what. just what. he went and was drowned but sike! he's alive! what the fuck.

[theartisticdoofus]

ok, so i WAS writing a continuation to my bsd x wtdsik fanfic 'baby ineed a drink' but it literally wont come out right i am crying how do fanfic writers do this, itis so incoherant, it jumps randomly, no continuity at all so instead i'm writing what the ada thinks of iruma right here instead. maybe i'll continue the fanfic LATER. Ok, so

Kunikida: this is what spawned my idea for just making a post about this in the first place. Iruma is greedy and wants everyone to be happy. he's kind and compassionate and he wants to do what Kunikida has accepted he can't.

Save everyone.

I think kunikida would think of iruma as a youngster who doesn't understand how the world works yet. he would be approving of iruma's kindness but dismissive of his ambitions and ideals as unable to compromise with reality. because kunikida learnt what it means to not be able to save everyone the hard way. i think he would sit iruma down and try to teach him. i think iruma (the current one if he doesn't relapse) would keep it in mind but cling onto his own ideal, his own ambitions. it is not very satifying to kunikida.

for everyone else, kunikida has to accept that his ideals can't be forced onto others because they dont have those specific goals or are just generally too flawed for it. For iruma, he has to accept that this child will attept carry out the most unattainable ideals no matter what. it will be fraught and i love thinking about it.

Atsushi: um. well. i think atsushi and iruma would get along well. like, that scene in beast where atsushi and aku just talks about the bullshit they went through during their childhoods and are friendly to each other for like. 10 minutes. that. Iruma sees himself in Atsushi, and Atsushi sees himself in Iruma. they are very different from each other and yet so similar. they would get along well i think and talk about dealing with their trauma and how it still affects them. the terrifying fact that they might not have survived without it. they would know not to get too deep.

Kyouka: these two are very similar. Kyouka was pretty much exploited by the Port Mafia for her ability at a young age and told she was good for nothing but killing. iruma was exploited by his parents and told that he should say yes to everything. they both have very deep trauma and are trying to get past it. but for how they actually interact, they are the only somewhat normal 14 year olds (Kenji is... he doesnt count) and iruma is used to talking to people his age now. kyouka would like having someone who just talks to her normally like another kid and its also someone who reminds her of Atsushi. i would be good for her to have someone around her own age she can talk to and who wouldnt be chased away by her assasin past. they would be good friends and maybe even open up to each other one day and when they do, they would help each other heal.

Yosano: She would really like Iruma, i think. They are, similarly to kyouka, two children exploited and traumutized for an adult's gain. Iruma's childhood literally just started at age 14 and before that there's nothing but trauma. Yosano was forced to be a medic in a war and watched her patients slip through her fingers because she couldnt save them and if she could save them, they died on the inside anyways. Yosano would admire Iruma's spirit and determination to get what he wants. does she believe he can? i dont know. but they get along fine (Iruma deals with demons on a daily basis, the agency's weirdness is slightly noteworthy but generally just another day for him) and if he gets injured, yosano just gives him an injection that half kills him instead of doing it herself.

Tanizaki: we dont know a lot about him, but he would really just do everything he can to help iruma out. but when he hears about what iruma's parents did, unlike kunikida who just wants to give them a lifetime sentence or government handled execution, he wants to kill them himself. this is because iruma's story reminds him of what happened to Kyouka and potentially Yosano and he is crazy protective of those he cares for.

Dazai: I'm not very sure about how to go about this. in the context of my fic, Dazai also got information out of iruma that helped him find the mole in the port mafia so he also owes iruma at least dinner. i think that chuuya would just dump iruma on his desk with money, go 'i'm not dealing with this, you deal with it' and dazai would act like he doesn't remember iruma just to tick chuuya off. iruma would then fucking prostrate before him and ask for his help with all the determination in his little heart and make fucking dazai feel ashamed or even embarrased for once in his life.

Fukuzawa: first, Fukuzawa is concerned about his childhood and promises the agency will do all they can to help him get home. he is also regretful that iruma was adpoted by demons because he would genuinely fit in great at the agency. iruma is also grandchild material.