#he does not like it when people call him dumb or question his intelligence

[0vergrowngraveyard]

nine visits the villain au part 2: wtf is wrong with this guy????

part one: (X)

part three: (nonexistent)

[local-hellhound-steals-spaghetti]

The wildest thing about the whole Moo Deng situation to me is (and of course I make this about cetaceans) the insistence that everything here is fine, there’s no mishandling, Moo Deng is a spoiled princess, how dare you accuse her knowledgeable zookeepers of being anything less than perfect… by the same people who decry any and all cetacean captivity as horrific abuse.

Moo Deng getting her bum smacked is cute but an actually cute video of a dolphin playing in an aquarium is abusive. A random zoo guest is to be trusted when they say Moo Deng’s zoo is great (and to be clear I don’t know enough about this zoo to make a judgement call, all zoos have issues), but someone who’s actually worked at SeaWorld is either a liar or delusional (actual comment I received) when they say that no actually, their animals are not abused.

Yep all of this!

Honestly there seems to be a whole range of people on the defensive- from people who just like the zoo to people who made Moo Deng meme their whole personality.

I have to say it’s been really really weird actively criticising a zoo when I’m usually defending them.

But at this point my thesis of the original post is on full display. That groupthink plays a role in perception of animal welfare and people will pick the side that makes them feel the most comfortable.

For whatever reason people want to believe that a baby Pygmy hippo needs to get regularly grabbed, poked, chased and harassed because that’s what this one guy does and he has experience doing it so it’s fine?

But some of those same people saw a documentary once and decided that they know more than people with hundreds of years of combined experience with orca husbandry and care.

The people that are accepting of a challenge to that perception are willing to accept some discomfort because they’re more concerned about welfare.

When that reddit post came out (with experience including: goes to the zoo, maybe knows some history of the keeper?) it was immediately snatched up and ran with.

Since then I’ve seen the same comment of “net zero information” multiple times, the same accusations of racism and the same lines of “he’s so experienced he knows what he’s doing”, “the mum’s fine with it” and “it’s desensitisation” (that one hurts to read every time ngl

It’s like they just are copy and pasting someone else’s thoughts. Just parroting it verbatim without any sort of thought.

Not a single question asked about how this person knows this information, no demanding of qualifications or where they work… just happy acceptance of information that allows them to continue to enjoy their meme.

it’s wild to see the notes popping up in my notifications of “but he’s so experienced! He has so much training!” About this one zoo keeper that has multiple videos of him deliberately sneaking up on his animals, hitting them and blasting them with a hose.

Like damn I wish people would go to bat so hard for zookeepers all the time. Except maybe the ones that don’t harass their animals for clout?

Of course it’s kind of hilarious watching this unfold as a former dolphin trainer that regularly was called an abuser for… let’s see… training dolphins with positive reinforcement in the ocean.

Is it the intelligence thing? Do people think Pygmy hippos are too dumb to need enrichment and decent habitats? Or that because this guy raised hippos before he is completely incapable of making a mistake or using outdated practises?

I had someone genuinely saying that Pygmy hippos “just behave differently” to other animals. As if a fight or flight response behaviour looks totally different in this specific species of animal.

As if they are not ungulates who are herbivores and do absolutely get predated upon and are not immune to the stress response or somehow is incapable of feeling a smack that they very clearly startle from.

Idk the mental gymnastics people are doing to justify shitty animal husbandry must be exhausting.

[eva-stator]

I think I can try to answer anons questions about the characterizations. Apologies in advance because this is LOOOOOONG.

First things first, to be in the SAS means more than just being a soldier. The British SAS are the literal top of the top, cream of the crop of their special forces. They are compared a lot with DEVGRU (seals) and Delta Force. Less than 1% of armed forces members can pass selection and complete their training. They are all, in their own ways, very hardened individuals. They’re all extremely intelligent in several skills, and equally competent. (This isn’t to stroke off the special forces. They are not superhuman and are never immune to dying from their own mistakes or pure bad luck. It’s extremely dangerous to be in counter terrorism or do raids like they do, and a not insignificant amount die of dumb mistakes or unavoidable circumstances. But they’re not to be fucked with either)

Soap is sniper, demolitions expert. These require math skills and chemical knowledge. He’s intelligent, stoic sometimes but more spirited. He wants to help. He gets angry when bad things happen, and he seems to really care about civilians. He’s got a strong sense of right and wrong, and voices his opinions always. He pushes buttons and boundaries, but he’s no braggart. Equally, he is intense. His humour is actually kinda dry and teasing, banter style humour. He’s not actually very silly.

Ghost is more ambiguous. He’s more rugged and detached. More introverted. He only starts joking with soap in alone, more than halfway through the game, so his trust is gained through time and effort. His humour is dry, sometimes dad jokes and sometimes fucked up jokes. Overall, he’s emotionally detached and goal oriented. He’s got a bit of the sillies though, just a taste.

Gaz is an extremely important main character. He was vital in all games, including the first mw reboot game in 2019, his character was made before soap and ghosts were. (Which is why his deliberate exclusion is a goddamn travesty). He’s spirited and strong, his skills of resistance to interrogation, escape and evasion, as well as VIP protection means he’s an intelligent independent mind. While injustices anger him, he’s got a level head and can cede to reason and keep that anger supressed, as well as be an important voice of reason. He can also be sympathetic and guiding, as seen in the mission where he guides a civilian through an extremely dangerous situation to safety.

Captain price is a staple character for the series. He’s confident but also slightly unhinged. He’s experienced, maybe a bit detached, he doesn’t give a god damn about consequences unless he gets what he wants or completes his goal. He will throw every law out the window. He will abandon basic morals and principles. He’s extremely dangerous and not to be fucked with or questioned. Hes called John “war crimes” price by the fandom for a reason. He has his more gentle side, but it’s rare and he will only show it to people he seems worthy of it, like Farah Karim or Kate laswell. He saves people but he does it roughly, he never seems to handle civilians with kid gloves, and he’s kinda rough and detached from them. He’ll save your life, but he’ll probably break your arm in the process and definitely won’t apologize for it. It’s important to note he knows what he does is fucked up. He knows people don’t like it. He gives people a way out, lets them choose if they really want to fully jump in the mud with him. He also smokes cigars with car windows rolled up. Absolutely evil action. He’s also my favourite and I love him in a way that you love a grizzly bear.

Obligatory Kate mention. Kate is a cia agent who is basically the leash that keeps John from acting out too hard. She reins them in, keeps them informed. She’s level headed and a quick thinker. She knows how the game of war is played, when and how to play by and within the rules and keeps everyone from breaking them in ways that could spiral out of control. She also knows when to let them do shady shit, and how to get them out of the messes they get themselves into. She is a very strong character, mainly in mind but also in body, and will get her hands dirty if she has to.

TLDR these are deceptively complicated characters, as in, it’s easy to mistake them as pretty surface level. They’re also easy to mistake with their fanon characterizations, which while fun, are often headcanons that the fandom has taken and run with. They’re also, not always very accurate depictions of the characters. If you wanna write them right, you gotta watch and listen to their mission dialogue.

These are generally simplified introductions based on what I observed playing the games.

Tip and trick, if you’re writing a dialogue line, imagine the characters voice saying it out loud. Say it out loud yourself. If you can fully hear the character saying the line, it’s probably a great line. If you can’t picture them saying it, tweak it until you can. This helps me a lot.

Thank you :)

Also love the kate mention

[ajbullet]

My thoughts on episode 4 of PJO: spoilers (chaotic edition because I JUST watched it and the thoughts are so fresh)

-First off: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

-Ok, good. Had to get that out. Second: best 30 minutes of my life

-I don’t think you guys will ever be able to fully comprehend how much I love Annabeth Chase and seeing Leah as her has only heightened that love. So imagine how elated I was to watch an episode full of my girl. She slayed, owned, and ate this episode. Whatever you want to call it. She did it

-“Are you awake?” The long-ass pause before Annabeth answered. As soon as Percy spoke, I was so hoping he was talking to her and not Grover (sorry I love him but). And then she answered

-She finally opened up to him!! We got some of her backstory!! She’s finally feeling comfortable!!!

-Percy’s face when she said she was seven. He was so surprised. I think he realized instantly how long this girl has been going through so much. They are only twelves years old. But she was a child when this began for her. Like you could tell he couldn’t believe it

-Grover mocking Annabeth was probably my favorite line from him yet. He’s so unserious I love him. Also, the food part was too relatable

-Small detail but the sky was so freaking pretty in the background. Such a unique thing to add and I loved it

-“Can I ask a dumb question?” As soon as he said it I knew Annabeth was gonna be the one to respond and she did not disappoint.

-“little girl” Annabeth’s reaction. I got chills. Leah deserves an Oscar/Emmy (whatever the actor award is) for that scene alone

-Loved Enchilada (don’t know how to spell her name and don’t feel like going back to check) but she talked too damn much. I was like get back to my kids please. Oh and back the hell up

-My BOY GOT STABBED NOOOOO. Oh he’s fine (plot twist: no he’s not)

-Annabeth took that mf DOWN for a second

-The monument!!! It was so cool!! Interesting that it’s a monument to Athena. I think I remember that from the book but either way that’s cool

-The. Entire. Conversation. Between. Percy. And. Annabeth. Oh. My. Gods.

-The fake accent??? Where did that come from?? I had to rewind twice just to make sure I heard right. Like what in Percy’s mind told him to do that? What wires crossed or came undone? How far had that poison reached? Because that was so unserious and I fell even more in love with his character

-He likeeeeeeeeeeees her

-Annabeth’s smile!! I’ve been waiting to see her smile like that and it was so cool to see! My girl is finally happy! for a second

-“You’ve done more for me in the past two days…” “If I had to pick someone, I’d…”

That required my BRAIN

-Plot twist: (again) Percy is not fine

-The splashing water was so funny. Like I get why but come on that was something else.

-Percy seeing what Annabeth has already sacrificed for him and his quest: her relationship with her mother. He sees what he has already cost her and what helping him means to her and omg it was heartbreaking

-One thing I absolutely adore about the books is that Annabeth’s intelligence is never in doubt by the reader. It’s not Percy or other characters saying she’s smart again and again with no proof. It’s not the narrative shoving the fact that she is smart in your face over and over. She proves she is smart. She proves she is inventive and strategic and intelligent by her actions and thought process and it’s almost never mentioned verbally. That whole idea of show vs tell? It’s perfectly shown through Annabeth acting intelligent instead of people talking about how intelligent she is.

Like how she splashed Percy with water or pulled the fire alarm. The viewers are shown she is smart, not just told.

-Annabeth’s willingness to sacrifice herself for her friends. Her only caring about Percy being poisoned, bot the monsters, and helping him. She knew she would die going up against the Chimera, even calls it the “demigod killer”, yet she does it anyway so her friends can succeed. She opened up to these boys and now she was giving her life for them

-Percy doing the same. Exact. Thing. The trick with the sword. The whispered words against the door, even as they shouted at him to open it. He knew for sure he would die and wanted it to be for a good cause. He didn’t even know if he could fight the chimera, but it was better him than Annabeth

-That boy looked so sick someone please help him

-oh, someone did.

-Dude I told my dad about the whole “Rick not knowing the River wasn’t right under the arc” thing and I was so excited to see how they did that and honestly it worked. Poseidon’s first way of helping Percy was by pulling him into the water, showing him to “just breathe”. My dad laughed when we watched it.

-oh I forgot! I love the first scene with Sally. Had some ptsd from swimming lessons but got to see young Percy so it was worth it

-Also the fall was shot so cool. I felt like I was falling with him

-He can breathe underwater! We knew this! But it’s still awesome!

I can’t even wrap my head around next episode. We are going to be fed so well after this short-ass episode and I am so ready. This episode already gave more Percabeth than I was expecting all season and I wanted to cry it was so adorable. This show is the only thing getting me through each week.

(Also, if you couldn’t tell, I finally figured out how to do italics instead of just capitalizing everything. Go me!)

[steddieas-shegoes]

didn't even need a plan

THIS IS A BIG BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR @messessentialist WHO I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE FOR TWO MINUTES AND IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO HER I WOULD DIE. Short Queens rise up (on a stepladder because that's what we need to reach things)!!! I am kissin you on the mouth rn.

Rated T | 1,315 words | tags: meddling, good uncle Wayne, secret established relationship

“How do they not see it?” Dustin asked, turning away from the scene in front of them to look at Wayne.

“I don’t know, son. Sometimes smart people are dumb,” Wayne shrugged.

Their plan was in place for weeks: get Steve and Eddie in the trailer alone together, cut the power, and hope they don’t leave.

Step one was easy. All they had to do was lie to Steve about Dustin needing a ride.

Step two was a little more difficult, but only because they forgot the trailer next door was on the same breaker. Wayne bribed the owners with enough cash to go get dinner somewhere, glad that they didn’t even ask for an explanation when money was being shoved into their hands.

Step three was the problem.

Steve and Eddie hung out all the time. The problem was they never hung out alone.

Dustin watched as they walked from the living room to the kitchen, then Eddie walked down the hall to his room before rejoining Steve by the couch.

“It’s just us I think,” Eddie said.

Dustin had rigged the walkie talkie so it stayed on, his own sitting between him and Wayne on the lowest possible volume so they could hear.

“So not Upside Down, then,” Steve said, sounding relieved.

“Nope, just good old fashioned unreliable power,” Eddie sighed. “We could probably try to flip the breaker. Maybe it was just a short.”

“Yeah. Maybe we give it a few minutes first?”

Dustin smacked at Wayne’s arm, smiling.

“They’re gonna sit down!” Dustin whispered excitedly.

“Calm down. Could be that nothin’ happens,” Wayne whispered back, though he could feel his own hopes rising.

It was hard to see them through the window, but they could see shadows moving to sit on the couch.

“Something will happen. There’s no way it won’t. They almost kissed yesterday and that was with all of us around,” Dustin insisted.

“That’s what you keep sayin’,” Wayne squinted to watch.

“I really can’t believe Dustin didn’t radio to let me know he found another ride,” Steve didn’t sound angry, but he definitely didn’t sound happy.

“I didn’t even know he needed a ride.”

“Do you know who picked him up?”

“Shit,” Dustin said.

“Didn’t think that through did ya?” Wayne asked, smirk audible.

“Nah, he just left. Didn’t really question it. He does a lot of crazy shit,” Eddie explained.

“Right.”

A minute of somewhat awkward silence followed and then someone slapped their knees.

“I’ll go check the breaker? It’s the one right outside to the left?” Steve asked.

“Uh-huh.”

“Dammit,” Wayne said, slowly moving away from the window and sitting down against the side of the trailer.

“Maybe he won’t be able to figure it out,” Dustin said, joining him on the ground.

“He’s definitely gonna figure it out. He’s a smart guy.”

“Who? Steve?”

Wayne looked over at Dustin, brows furrowed.

“Yeah, Steve. Why’re you surprised?”

Dustin shrugged.

“Gonna be honest, it doesn’t sound like you think much of Steve’s intelligence, son.”

Dustin’s eyes widened.

“It’s not that! He just isn’t usually quick to fix stuff.”

Wayne’s brow raised, waiting for Dustin to realize how that sounded.

They were interrupted by Eddie’s voice on the walkie.

“No luck?”

“Nope. Maybe we should try to call someone at one of the neighbor’s?” Steve responded, the sound of him sitting back on the couch barely audible.

“Maybe in a bit. Kind of nice just sitting here,” Eddie said.

“Yeah. Kinda tired,” Steve admitted, the sound of cloth shifting on the couch.

Wayne stood and looked through the window, small smile taking over his face before he sat back down.

“What is it?” Dustin asked, just a bit louder than he probably should have.

“Might get what we wanted after all,” Wayne replied with a smirk.

“Really?”

“Take a look,” Wayne waved up at the window.

Dustin looked in, barely containing a childish squeal when he saw what was happening.

Steve was leaning his head on Eddie’s shoulder, Eddie’s arm around him, running his fingers up and down his bicep, rings glinting off the little bit of light shining through the window.

“Wayne’s out for the night if you wanna stick around,” Eddie said, softer than he had been all night, softer than he’d been to anyone else maybe ever.

“Are you asking if I’ll stay the night, Eds?” Steve’s voice filtered through the walkie, a bit crackly as if he was barely speaking above a whisper.

Dustin turned to Wayne, eyes comically wide.

Wayne just shook his head.

He had an idea of where this was going.

“Yeah, sweetheart. Been too long,” Eddie just managed to say before Wayne snapped the walkie off.

“Why’d you do that?” Dustin hissed.

“Because we’ve been played and you’re too young to be listening to what’s about to happen,” Wayne said as he stood up. “C’mon, I’ll drive ya home.”

“What?! No! We had a plan!”

“We didn’t even need the plan, bud. C’mon.”

Dustin crossed his arms over his chest and started to argue when the window above them opened and Eddie spoke.

“Mind turning on the power before you go?” He asked, teeth bright white in the darkness surrounding them as he grinned.

“How did you know we were out here?” Dustin asked.

“I could hear the echo of the walkie. Plus, you think Steve didn’t already see you when he walked outside?”

“Don’t sound so smug, Ed,” Wayne laughed.

“What exactly was the grand plan?” Eddie crossed his arms over the sill. “Hope we got bored enough to make out on the couch? Maybe if we thought it was dark enough, we wouldn’t think about who we were kissing?”

“Yes!” Dustin exclaimed, though Wayne remained completely silent.

“And you didn’t think that we do that with the lights on already? Like, for months?”

Dustin sputtered out his best attempt at words, but failed miserably.

“You broke him,” Steve said from behind Eddie, smiling over his shoulder at Dustin and Wayne.

“So. Months?” Wayne asked as Dustin continued muttering incoherently to himself.

“Officially only two. But we first kissed when I was still in the hospital,” Eddie admitted, turning his head to place a kiss on Steve’s cheek.

“But. But. That was five months ago!” Dustin was pacing, kicking up dirt under his feet as he tried to figure out the timing of everything and how he could have missed the most obvious signs. “You’re never even alone that much!”

“We find ways,” Eddie said.

��I work a lot of nights still,” Wayne said to Dustin. “Why didn’t ya say anything?”

“We just wanted something for ourselves for a bit. We’re in this for the long haul and if everyone knew, we’d never find peace to just be together,” Steve said.

“But-”

“Alright, son, let’s get the power on and I’ll take ya home. These two probably want some privacy,” Wayne interrupted, squeezing his shoulder once to get his attention.

Dustin sighed.

“Fine. But you have to tell everyone soon. I can’t keep this a secret for that long.”

“Sure thing, bud,” Steve agreed before turning away from the window.

“You sure you can take him home?” Eddie asked Wayne.

“That’s the only part of the plan that’s workin’ so far, so yeah,” Wayne laughed.

Eddie nodded and waved before closing the window and following Steve.

Wayne walked over to the breaker box and flipped the switch, turning to Dustin and waving him over.

“C’mon. Don’t think we wanna be here in the next five minutes.”

“Gross. They’re like…my dads or something. That’s disgusting,” Dustin gagged as he walked to Wayne’s truck.

“Yeah, well. Maybe you’ll get a new sibling.”

“That isn’t how science works.”

“Yeah, well. We got a whole other world under our feet, kid. I think science is far out of our understanding.”

Dustin didn’t respond.

He didn’t want to even consider Wayne being right.

[livelaughghoul]

Max Verstappen - Birth Chart Analysis

Disclaimer: This is for entertainment purposes only, nothing observed or taken away from this should be considered fact. As a reminder, I know fuck all about Formula 1, I just like fast cars and have a dumb amount of knowledge of astrology and tarot. 

Max has a really interesting chart, it’s actually one of the most interesting charts I’ve looked at. There are definitely a lot of conjunctions that caught my attention, but that was about it for the aspects. 

His chart is dominated heavily by the eastern and southern hemispheres, which from what I’ve seen and learned about him makes a lot of sense. When a chart is eastern hemisphere heavy there is a lot of breaking of the mold and setting your own path. The southern hemisphere brings a lot of career orientation, which really checks out. 

His big three is so interesting to me because I see so much of the moon and rising signs, but the sun placement feels more subtle than any of the other placements in the chart. I had a lot of fun taking a look at this one though!

THE PLANETS:

Sun - Libra

I genuinely love this placement, because it feels so leftfield for me, like I never would have guessed this man is a Libra, but again this could easily be that I know nothing other than what has been sent to me and listening to him go at it over the team radio the other day. When it comes to a Libra sun I expect there to be an overt elegance and an appreciation for the finer things in life, and he isn’t necessarily afraid to show this. There is a fine line between the Libra charm and narcissism, and I think Max walks that line. I think that there is a desire to always be admired, and a need for respect and control. Yes, Libra is about partnership, but I think that this is an area of difficulty for Max. I think that when it comes to being a team player there is a lot of struggle because he is such a huge personality and has a tendency to be egotistical at times. Max likely has a lot of trouble with balance, between his own happiness and pleasing others. I get the sense that he is a people pleaser, and it isn’t the right people that he is working to please at this point. 

Moon - Virgo

I love a Virgo moon because it truly is one of those placements that aren’t afraid to say what is on their mind, call people out, and be unapologetic. It tells me that this man is incredibly intelligent as well like there is a wealth of knowledge beyond the surface level on things that he is interested in. With this intelligence though I think that there is a tendency to overthink and question the words of others. Max definitely has Virgo stubbornness, and while I don’t think he has the pessimism that can come with this placement, I think he definitely has a clear view of the world and the reality around him. 

Rising - Sagittarius

Every person I know with this rising placement are actually the most dedicated workers and fiercely independent people. We see a need for independence and freedom, and I think a lot of that comes from the perceived lack of this in childhood or early adolescence. We see a lot of pressure that is placed on the self, a drive to be the best and a natural talent at whatever the challenge is. I think that Max really has some of the best aspects of this placement, we see it through his dedication to his career, himself, and in a roundabout way, his team. Unfortunately with this placement, there is a lot of impulsivity and recklessness, which makes me think that this is a huge point of conflict between himself and the team. 

Mercury (Planet of intelligence) - Virgo

This placement absolutely fits, because I have no doubts that this man challenges whatever person is giving him the data he needs during a race. He absolutely wants to know as much as possible to be able to be a part of the conversation and decision-making, I think that is something he values. This placement does have some super toxic traits to it, like there is almost an impatience with others that he perceives as wrong or challenges him without anything to back it up. The funniest part of this placement is that it’s usually seen in a lot of creative arts, so like, I like to think that Max is secretly into crafting, like I dunno, scrapbooking or something. 

Venus (Planet of love and pleasure) - Scorpio

This is such a toxic placement, and I think it makes me toxic that it’s one of my favorite placements. It’s such a consuming and dominating placement, full of this almost obsessive compassion and dedication. It’s a placement that can be really challenging to deal with in terms of the relationship aspect of this placement. Max wants to consume his partner essentially and can be pre-disposed to a lot of jealousy. I think in romantic relationships, there is a lot of reassurance that is needed, I don’t think he would take it well if his dominance was challenged.

Mars (Planet of physical energy) - Sagittarius

I get the sense that he definitely has ADHD tendencies like he absolutely gets distracted over the smallest things. There is a lot of passion behind this placement, so there is no half-assing anything. He puts his all into everything that he does, likely to an unhealthy level. There is again this insane talent in pretty much everything that he does and puts his mind to. When it comes to physicality in relationships, there needs to be an emotional connection first and then the physical connect comes and it comes quick. 

Jupiter (Planet of luck, optimism, and success) - Aquarius

Max has no problem making friends, once they get past the abrasive and kind of narcissistic personality. There is an incredible sense of success and longevity in this placement too, but I think that he needs to be careful to not get bored with it. He needs to make sure that there is some aspect of his career that remains challenging, this is going to ensure that he continues to be a force of nature. Aquarius brings a lot of luck to others that he surrounds himself with, and I think his abrasive nature is a defense mechanism of sorts. 

Saturn (Planet of responsibility)  - Aries

Saturn is at a disadvantage when it’s in Aries, so this is a little rough. I don’t think that this is much of a challenge though, because Max has so much stubbornness and dedication through his chart, if anything, this delay is likely beneficial. I get the sense that Max has already overcome a lot of obstacles with this placement, and it’s likely led to some difficulties in forming interpersonal relationships, because he may see them as an obstacle before anything else. I think that the one big struggle that this placement will bring to him is the tendency to isolate. 

Uranus (Planet of change and originality) - Aquarius 

Again, Max is incredibly intelligent and challenges those around him on an almost academic level. I think in terms of change, there is a lot of potential for change, in many things. I think that it is a huge possibility that there is a significant change to his career, but it’s going to be one of those things that is so planned out, it won’t really be a surprise. 

Neptune (Planet of mystery and illusion) - Capricorn

Max is definitely not on the spiritual side of things and instead is very much into the practical side of things. While there may be some religion or spirituality, it is not something that is really emphasized. I think that with everything in his chart, he really values the scientific side of things and answers. He wants data, he wants proof, and he wants answers. 

Pluto (Planet of death and rebirth) - Sagittarius

We see it under Neptune, but it is really solidified here. Max wants the truth and he wants the information behind everything. He wants the data, he wants the supporting information, and he is going to get it one way or another. I get the sense that he definitely is the one that will hold your secrets close to his heart and isn’t one for airing out others' shit. 

THE HOUSES:

First house (house of self): Mars and Pluto 

I love Mars here because it again tells me that there is an impulsive nature to Max’s personality. He can be a loose cannon and definitely challenges everyone around him who offers any sort of advice. Pluto on the other hand is more about the personality than the behaviors. Pluto brings in this intense and magnetic personality, he is able to draw people in with ease, but also values his own personal alone time. 

Second house (house of possessions): Neptune 

This is so funny to me because I know he has no cohesiveness to his interior design, he thinks something is aesthetically pleasing? Perfect, he wants it. While he values aesthetics more than anything, I think that there is also an emphasis on the sentimental side of things. I think that there is a need to hold onto the good, in order to put some of the “bad” out of mind. 

Third house (house of communication): Uranus and Jupiter 

Uranus and Jupiter are actually so funny to me here because they bring the worst out of each other when it comes to communication. Jupiter has this incredibly optimistic outlook on things and an emphasis on keeping busy, whereas Uranus has this need to be independent and carve his own path. I think that the two placements while bringing out the worst in each other, work really well for Max. I think that there is a huge benefit to this because I think Uranus brings the optimism of Jupiter down to a more realistic level. 

Fifth house (house of creativity and sex): Saturn 

Does Max know how to have fun? I think that when he does allow himself to relax, it is only on a physical level. I think that he is not able to turn off the mental side of work and planning. There is a struggle to find the line between turning off work completely. When it comes to relationships and love, I think that this is one of the most important things to him, but if he feels that he has lost the respect of those he loves, it causes a spiral. 

Tenth house (house of career): Moon and Mercury 

I love that the Moon is in the tenth house because it’s seen in very public-facing careers. Obviously, as a professional athlete, his career is going to be incredibly public-facing, and I think there is a huge boost to this. Mercury also points to the need to rely on a team, and being able to handle changes within this team as well. Obviously, professional athletes are going to deal with a lot of changes in terms of their professional teams, but I think that Mercury is the perfect placement because he can adapt to the changes with a lot of ease…as long as they don’t challenge his position. 

Eleventh house (house of hopes, wishes, and friendship): Sun 

I see clips of Max yapping at everyone, like with ease. I think that this placement is absolutely telling of this. He is able to make conversation with just about everyone, about anything. I think a lot of this comes down to his intelligence, he is able to connect with pretty much everyone because of this. In terms of hopes and wishes, there is definitely a tendency to set HIGH goals, and really strive to be the best and accomplish the most. 

Twelfth house (house of self-undoing): Venus 

This placement is rough, I think that it’s possible that there is a struggle with finding a balance between a romantic relationship, privacy, and feeling fulfilled. I definitely see the struggle with his emotions and his almost analytical personality and intelligence. 

THE ASPECTS: 

Conjunctions - 

Mars and Pluto: His nickname is Mad Max, right? I’ve heard that a few times now. With this conjunction there is a quick and almost violent temper, it’s easy to set him off, and it can be difficult to calm him down. 

Mercury and Moon: Again, Max is a certified genius. He has so much intelligence, but I don’t think there is a lot of emotional intelligence. 

Jupiter and Uranus: When Max feels trapped in something, he gets restless, almost violently so. I think that he needs to have a strong support system in place to talk him through some of those moments when he feels trapped. 

Uranus and Neptune: This conjunction happens every 171 years, fun fact. It screams of originality, carving his own legacy, and rising above what is imaginable. 

Venus and Mars: Max has found a way to balance his natural charm with his natural dominance. It can be overwhelming, but I think that’s beneficial because it works as a defense mechanism. 

[merrivia]

Okay, I have read the Captive Prince trilogy and have so many thoughts...

(And if you like this, I have another essay on Auguste and Laurent here) 

I think the question of why Damen first fell for Jokaste and then Laurent, is so interesting to me. Yes, there’s the blond hair/blue eyes (and the trope of opposites attract + rarity of that colouring), but I think crucially, Damen is smarter than he looks or seems, and I think, desires a partner who can match him. Not in complete equality but in a myriad of ways that achieve a sense of balance...

With Damen’s physique and fighting prowess and his cheerfully open sexual desires (ok fine, horniness), plus his innate, black and white sense of honour and fairness, you can see how people would assume that he is...well, not that bright. He’s so rooted in his physicality himself, so drawn to simplicity too, it can be difficult to see. He’s clearly not stupid, but it is human to categorise, and just like Auguste was probably seen as brawn and Laurent as brains, so Damen probably gets shoved into that first category. But one of the first things we hear about Damen from another person is that he is smart- he has a ‘mouth on him’ as one of the handlers warns. He isn’t brutally cutting and filthy in the way Laurent is; he’s just smarter and quicker than you’d expect. That first line to Laurent- ““I speak your language better than you speak mine, sweetheart.””- amply displays how he is quick; when he ironically calls Laurent’s mood “delightful”, the next day...this is not a clumsy, dumb jock. 

Even the way Damen speaks languages and understands warfare and military strategies, shows his clear intelligence- he isn’t good with the twisty machinations of Vere because it’s completely outside of what he knows. He wasn’t educated that way. Clever Laurent, as a young teenager, wasn’t good at it. No-one, we assume, is born as a ready-made Machiavellian (though arguably, Laurent’s incredibly sharp mind that is good at puzzles etc., makes him innately good at it once he learns). You also have no need for plotting and planning and intrigue, when you get what you want, by virtue of who you are. Not only is Damen the heir, and pretty much the exemplary model of Akielon masculinity, but that gives him this shield of golden self-confidence- he walks into the room, and gains love and respect immediately; failing that, everyone at least has their head on the ground. He has been given such an outpouring of love from everyone around him, he sees the world far more simply because he has never had to see it any other way. As Nikandros says, no-one has ever refused him anything. Why would he recognise the long game of political manipulation- a game to get you what you want, when you can’t have it directly? 

Over the months of Damen’s time with Laurent, he not only starts to pick up far more quickly on Laurent’s impenetrable personality but also gets a much firmer grip on Veretian (read: the Regent’s ) political intrigue- when he does, it’s often describe in terms of a radical shift in mindset, a complete tilting of his worldview. The reason why he didn’t get it before was a lack of experience of a world so cynical and dark; why he does get it after, because he is intelligent enough to start to grasp it. This might be a good time to mention also how Laurent calls Damen arrogant in Prince’s Gambit (“You, with your barbaric attitudes, your brutish, domineering arrogance, are always right”). This is actually, finally, a bit of angry honesty from Laurent. Damen has thought of Laurent as unbearably arrogant from the start of the trilogy; here, it seems, Laurent actually thinks the same thing of him. Yes partly that arrogance could be seen as body language and the way Damen holds himself, the look in his eyes, but also it’s how he speaks. He challenges Laurent with his mind.

And Laurent challenges him back. After all, when does Damen ever feel challenged? What tests the full repertoire of his skills? No-one can beat him in the field; he’s the best and he knows it. Yet, he does derive real pleasure from Laurent’s capabiilities- as a swordsman and his horsemanship. It’s why it was important that Laurent finish the okton first- and how happy that made Damen. The rooftop chase, too- Laurent can keep up, and he’s exhilarated by it. The true challenge though, lies in Laurent’s verbal repartee and his mind. Damen actually does like to use his brain, to engage in witty banter- it’s fun. The rooftop is fun. Laurent and Damen laugh together a number of times, and Damen is having a blast. Laurent is difficult, and to Damen, where everything hitherto has been easily won, this challenge is finally giving his brain and his body what they wanted. There is a whole other post I could make on why Laurent in turn is attracted to Damen, but I’ll just put here that I think, the way he pivots Laurent towards healthy relationship dynamics, where being happy and laughing freely together is how you can be with someone, is part of it.

I think this is also why, tragically, Jokaste, despite her self-sacrifices to save Damen, was never The One for him. As beautiful and cold and clever as she is, there’s nothing mischievous or light-hearted about her- you can’t see her and Damen having a laugh together. He likes how smart she is, and her ruthlessness because that is how she radiates power and that feels like equality to Damen (something he can never get from a romantic partner, as he outranks everyone), but she isn’t fun. Not only that but, ruthless-as-a-result-of-trauma-and-for-survival, is very different from ruthless-because-I-am-purely-ambitious; Laurent as the former, does get to retain a sense of honour and compassion that Jokaste seems to lack. Mostly though, Laurent gets to be Damen’s near-equal; where they don’t quite match, they complement. Where Laurent needs incisive, perceptive honesty, he gets it through Damen’s mind not his muscles. The moment that Laurent actually tips Damen into the first throes of love is when he gets out Volo’s cap- the sheer cleverness of it, makes him feel the “first dizzy edge of a new emotion”. In the end it is a mutual intelligence that binds them together as much as physical desire. 

[brainjvice]

Hi!!

I was absolutely amazed by your analysis of Kaiser a few weeks ago. And I wanted to ask if you think that with a therapy he could like honestly love someone??

I've been thinking about it pretty much and I was reading a whole bunch of sites about c-ptsd and narcissistic features but I feel like I'm too dumb to make a statement 😔 i just almost hysterically don't want to mischaracterize him 😭😭

Sorry for all this yapping, have a great day!! <33

Wiiii anon I imagine you're referring to this! Thank you so much ksgdhg I am flattered you liked it this much <3

I want to preface this by saying that Love is a complex feeling and I won't use the term in a strictly romantic way. That + Kaiser is a complex character and I think his actions can't be interpreted through Black and white lens. There's a lot of nuance in his actions and in his emotions and everything I will say is up to my personal interpretation of the character.

Now, to answer your question: yes.

Even present Kaiser is capable of love. Of course, he experiences it in a vastly different way compared to most people and wouldn't manifest affection in a "canonical" way.

Unfortunately, Kaiser has never experienced love, and he's well aware of that, so he has a hard time both to recognise, to express and to react to the emotion.

And he knows that. He knows that when someone tries to give him love, he reacts with violence, because he's only known violence since he was a child. See how he reacted to people being kind towards him for the first time. See how he called Ness "loser" the first time they interacted (and he was supposed to. charm and manipulate him lmfao-- I mean he still managed to do that but it's because he was lucky Ness as well doesnt know anything about love).

Now. Ness. Do I think Kaiser loves him? In his own twisted way, yes. He loves him like you love a pet. He loves him like he used to love his ball. He loves him like his dad loved Kaiser, with violence and control.

Violence is his safe place. So every emotion and feeling he experiences is perceived through violent lens, love included.

And I love LOVE that he is self-conscious enough to know it, yet doesn't have the neccessary means to not fall back into the same loop. At the same time, given the shit he went through, he's already doing amazing lmfao.

Also, I know I've already seen someone else state this but I unfortunately don't remember who it was, Kaiser probably projects onto Ness, the same way he projected onto that ball when he was a kid.

("You beat it up but he still comes back" -> does this imply that Kaiser had loved his father in some ways? Could be. There's lots of grief when it comes to suffering abuse from what was supposed to be your safe person. Kaiser is still in survival mode, which is very understandable, so I don't think he's gone through that part of the process Yet. Anyway.)

In therapy he could learn how to accept love and express it in a way that doesn't cause damage to other people.

Kaiser craves love but at the same time has a hard time receiving it. The fact he barely feels human doesn't help. He's so disconnected from his body and probably has an unstable image of self (look at the tattoos, his hair, etc. He wants to Represent something, he's trying to craft his own image and probably sees himself as a doll to dress up). He also. Doesn't really like himself in general lmao. So he would find it so hard to actually feel loved by someone.

He would also need to manually learn to be empathetic. He's already emotionally intelligent enough to know what to say to make someone feel a certain way, but for now he's just using it to manipulate/unsettle people in general. If he wants to reach his ultimate goal (which is to be actually loved) he needs to make the effort of not letting the mental illness take over.

It will be hard lmfao since he loves LOVES having power/control over people - it's safer this way, so I don't really blame him. You can't get hurt by someone if you control them, right? Right (Rip Ness). But he may eventually come around it in the name of the greater good.

Also!!! A thing he would do when it comes to a romantic partner is to follow the societal expectation but make it bigger. Kaiser would absolutely take inspo from romantic movies, and lowkey highkey use them as an inspiration to properly court someone.

He would do it more as a way to show off and mark his territory/scare away potential rivals. To him, courtship is a power-based game. He puts on a show and makes the effort to appear as the Best potential partner, but thats it. He wouldnt be too interested into actual dating. The chase and conquership of the final price is more thrilling than what comes afterwards. In my mind, he would be the type to flirt around, conquer his "prey", but never take them to bed. The ego boost that comes after knowing someone wants to fuck him has more value than actually fucking them lmao, and the power that comes off telling the person that he is not interested in taking them home? Yeah, that's another thing he would love.

Now, of course, in terms of both partnership and friendship, he may need to have strong-minded people by his side. People he can't manipulate and don't trigger his prey drive narcissistic tendencies.

Someone who doesn't people please and, most importantly, who can partially understand him. Kaiser would hate to feel vulnerable, and his defensive walls are all up high. He needs someone who acknowledges said walls but isn't necessarily interested in breaking in and waits for Kaiser to come closer at his own pace.

The person needs to be sonewhat caring, but not in a way that makes Kaiser want to take advantage of it. He wants to be taken care of, but babying him would be a mistake.

I think the only way to date Kaiser is to skip the dating part. No courtship, no games. At some point, he finds himself lounging in someone's livingroom and decides that the couch is too comfortable to leave. That's it.

At the end of the day, he is nothing but a cat.

[scoobydoodean]

I want to point out something in 1.16 “Shadow” regarding Dean’s resourcefulness and the derision with which his contributions are treated within the writing. In “Shadow”, multiple shots are taken at Dean’s methods of earning money and working cases as well as his intelligence level.

It starts with another small squabble about money that clearly frames Dean as still, at this point, the sole person supporting him and Sam financially through credit card scams, gambling, and hustling pool.

Yet again we have a jab at the ways Dean earns money. I wouldn’t make a big deal about this one at all if not for the outside context—the three previous episodes where Sam (while happy to benefit from Dean’s ill-gotten gains and provide no financial support to their two-man team) criticizes or is dismissive toward the work involved in how Dean earns money for them (1.01, 1.05, 1.08). Dean deserving to have his contributions dismissed is explicit in the text, but Sam's failure to actually assist with finances is implicit.

Next, it's how Dean gets information. He flirts with a cop and a bartender:

In the case of the cop, he gets information that is valuable to the case—unreleased details. In the case of the bartender, he doesn't, but he learns there's nothing to learn. But because Dean was also having fun, his actions are reduced down to him thinking with his dick, when he is actually intentionally using charm and even (see below) offering sexual favors in exchange for information:

Additionally, Sam (despite having seen Dean research just fine on his own multiple times) questions how Dean was able to do research on his own, which—you do you, Kripke, I guess? But we get "Haha name the last book you read" in a similar vein to 1.03 "Dead In the Water" (and just as Sam demands that Dean name one child he knows and Dean can't but it means nothing because Dean actually does like kids, Dean also does read—as established multiple times throughout the series.)

But also—if Dean called Caleb, why does that matter? Is talking to people to get the information you need, somehow inferior to finding some old tome and finding it in there? No. But it's treated that way in the framing of the episode. Weirdly like Dean took a shortcut or something and that's... "bad"...? When a shortcut in this context literally just means you're being efficient and resourceful and yeah—smart.

Then Meg jabs at Dean's intelligence as well:

What's also interesting, is that this is the first (I believe—I don't think I missed one at least) example of Dean's eye for visual patterns within the series.

So Dean, in this episode

Finances the suits Sam wanted to buy so they could sneak into the victim's apartment

Gets valuable information from a cop twice by charming her

Is able to recognize a symbol on the floor from blood spatter and is able to trace that symbol back to discover the monster they are dealing with using his hunting connections.

And all of this is treated in a dismissive way within the writing—like Dean's contributions don't matter or are earned in some way that causes them to deserve to be dismissed and even used as points against him. What's more, Dean doesn't fight back much. He leans into the very thinly-veiled suggestions of him just being dumb and horny and covers with jokes and a light jab about how the only thing valuable EITHER of them have gotten at the bar is the bartender's number (note that this is after he gets secret information from the cop and finds the symbol on the floor, which he could have pointed out but doesn't). He also leans into other narratives about himself suggested by Meg in the episode, but that's a separate post.

[voidandabyssal]

Can I get add the swap and swapfell brothers to the Amalgam request? Maybe even Horrortale?

Of course you can! here's the link to the first amalgram post! I'll just do the Swap and SwapFell brothers for now though.

Blue:

when you go missing he's the first to notice. Both of you text pretty frequently when your not around each other (which is pretty rare in of itself). He visits your home, then your job, then any other areas your known to frequently vist. Getting more and more worried as you remain missing for longer and don't respond to his calls.

He calls Stretch out to help with looking for you, his brother knows a lot of people so they'd both find out pretty soon that you were last seen visiting Undyne.

Blue decides to sneak into Undyne's lab. Though he does think the best, "probably just some medical check up you forgot to tell him about. Nothing big!"

Immediately goes to comforting you when he does find you.

Keeps hugging you even when you try and push him away, apologising for melting over him.

He confronts Undyne he confesses to hiding both yourself and the rest of the amalgamites away.

Blue calls in Alphys to help deal with the situation and re-unite everyone. Then he and Stretch take you back home. He promises to help you in any way.

He tries to do what you want, if you want to find a cure, then he's recruiting Stretch, even a regretful Undyne to the cause. You just want to learn to live again? Yep and he's by your side every step of the way

Stretch:

Immediately suspicious when you just disappear. That's unusual for you. He asks around and finds that a few of his bar friends saw you and Undyne together. Weird, especially cause you don't really know her.

He shoots a text to Undyne asking her where you are. When she starts acting weird, changing subject, ignoring phone calls, asking dumb questions, he gets really suspicious

He goes down into the old lab his father used to work in. Guessing that Undyne still uses it.

Imagine his surprise (and horror) when he finds you, malformed, melting and in constant pain.

He carries you up and confronts Undyne. It's not a confrontation that goes well...

Of course Undyne is heartbroken and riddled with guilt. She had never thought that determination could do something like that.

Stretch keeps you in the lab. Hoping that with him and Undyne's intelligence, a cure could be found quickly.

He grabs things from your home that he knows would comfort you. Blankets, clothes, books, anything that keeps you stable and happy.

Somehow still manages to make time for cuddles.

Black (SF Sans)

boy if you even think you're leaving his eyesight!!!

seriously tho, I can only imagine Black would ever let someone like, euugh, Undyne, if you were in serious trouble.

Likely you had some serious health issues, or maybe you even fell down.

Whatever the case, he was desperate to help you and Undyne's kind of the only qualified doctor they have left. So off you go...

yeah, it doesn't go well. Black genuinely tries to murder Undyne. He takes this not only as a slight against you, but as action against him.

You're under HIS protection, meaning when someone fucks with you, they fuck with him.

Mutt steps in and manages to calm his brother down, pointing out that Undyne may actually be one of the only people to be able to help you.

Black keeps a VERY close eye on you. If you haven't already moved in with him, you are now!

Tasks his brother with keeping you safe when he has to leave.

Mutt (SF Papyrus):

probably the one to fuck up this time, ngl.

He was actually apart of the royal scientists before he left it. Like Black, he wouldn't want any science experiment stuff going on and he tries to keep you seperate from it.

We don't always get what we want though, from one reason to another, bad timing, thoughtless decisions, etc. You ended up overdosing from two much determination.

the guilt almost cracks his soul in two. He can't look you in the eye after what happened.

Keeps you hidden away in the true lab, occasionally popping in when he's either really drunk, high, or holding some new serum that's supposed to cure you.

Poor boy already struggled with substance abuse, this just makes it worse.

When he shortcuts in drunk; he just cries, holding your malformed body and crying apologies and begging for forgiveness.

Then he disappears in the morning when he wakes up hungover as hell and realises what he'd done.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

the mother i know

Fandom: DC Comics, Arrowfam

Summary: Roy leaves Lian with Jade for a few weeks while he follows up on a lead for the perfect Mother's Day gift for Jade. What starts as a quest for confirmation, becomes a complicated family situation, and a worrisome reunion.

Jade spends quality time with Lian, but she fears that Roy's hiding something.

Chapters: 3/?

Characters: Roy Harper, Jade Nguyen, Lian Harper, Tommy Blake Jr.

Relationships: CheshRoy

Additional Tags: Complicated Relationships, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Mother-Daughter Relationship, Accidental Bonding, Multiple POV, Reunion

Chapter Three: Quesadillas with a Stranger (Roy's POV)

I tried the park once I realized finding him at his school would be like finding a needle in a haystack. So, I spent the afternoon jogging around the perimeter of the park before sitting on a bench in the center of the walkway. I picked the bench facing away from the playground, and at that time, a little boy sat on the bench across from me to tie his shoe. He had a school uniform on and a beanie with iron-on patches around it. 

The little boy looked up at me, staring, and he waved before sitting on the bench across from me. I waved back, tilting my head upwards to enjoy the cool breeze under the warm sun. “Red hair is very rare,” he whispered, “That means there are very few people like you.”

“Yeah… I guess that makes me pretty unique… But I know a few others,” I replied. 

He swung his feet back and forth. “Are you left-handed? I read in an article once that redheads had a higher percentage of left handed people,” he replied. I shook my head. “I can tell you have a child. A girl, right?” 

“I do. How’d you know?” I questioned. 

“You have a handprint t-shirt. Your hands aren’t that small,” he replied, “Does she have red hair?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “Nope. She looks like her mom,” I answered, “Are you waiting for someone?”

“I’m hiding from my nanny,” he confessed, “I’d like to be away from her for a while… But I’ll let her take me home soon.” He smiled at me, his front tooth missing, and his demeanor was peculiar… Almost familiar. I had to take a chance and ask him. 

“Is your name Tommy?” I questioned. 

He scrunched up his nose and squinted at me. “Nobody knows that except my Mama and Papa… I’m not even supposed to know that. They all call me Oakley… But Oakley is a lie,” he replied. I leaned forward. I could tell by the way he spoke, he was extremely intelligent, and he knew something strange was going on.

“Why aren’t you supposed to know your name?” I asked.

“Because they didn’t want me to know I’m adopted… At least I think that’s why. But you know my name. So, you want something? Is it money? Are you going to kidnap me?” he questioned. He wasn’t afraid of what I’d do to him. I thought that was odd. 

“No. I’m not going to kidnap you… Someone already did that five years ago,” I answered. I felt like withholding information from him would’ve been counterintuitive. The kid was definitely smart enough to be talked to in a straightforward manner. I wasn’t going to waste time splitting hairs. 

“Do you know my birth mommy?” he questioned. Mommy. He was smart, but he was still a little boy. I had to remember that when I spoke. I wouldn’t dumb things down, but I had to be gentler. 

“I do… You were taken from her when you were a baby, and she thought you were gone forever. I got a tip that you were alive, but I wasn’t sure it was you… How did you know you were adopted?” I asked in reply. He stood up and took my hand. 

“We have to go… My nanny will be here soon, and she won’t like that I’m talking to you. I’ll get in trouble,” he explained. I nodded and let him lead the way. “I heard the grownups whispering at night time once. I got in trouble at school earlier that day, and Papa was upset. He said that they never should’ve taken me. Mama said, ‘Tommy is a good boy. He’s just not being challenged.’ She called me Tommy, and Papa shushed her. He told her I might hear them. 

“I heard him walking, so I hid under the stairs, and he shut the door, but I could still hear them. Papa said I’d be a killer just like my parents... Are my parents killers?” he questioned.

“I—. What should I call you? Oakley or Tommy?” I replied to dodge the question.

“Oakley is a lie. My name is Tommy…  Are they bad people?” Tommy asked. He had the same serious look in his eyes that Jade got when she needed me. Most people would mistake that look for rage, but I knew better. 

I swallowed hard. “Your mommy is someone I care about very much. I’m not your dad, but I’m your sister’s father. I promise I won’t lie to you. I don’t think your mommy is a bad person, but she’s had to do bad things before,” I answered. He squeezed my hand. 

“Show me a picture of her. I want to be sure,” Tommy whispered. He kept pulling me along, so I figured he wanted me to multitask. I pulled up a picture that Lian sent of her and Jade in matching makeup. 

“That’s your sister, Lian… And that’s your mommy—.”

“Jade,” Tommy interrupted. I stopped in my tracks.

“I never said her name. How do you know her name?” I whispered. Tommy pulled my arm. 

“Come on, Mister. I’ll tell you when we get there. Hurry up,” Tommy groaned as he dragged me further down the street. 

He took me down an alley, across the street, and in front of a restaurant. “Could I have a quesadilla and a chocolate milk?” Tommy asked. 

“A quesadilla and a chocolate milk? And then you’ll answer my question?” I asked. Tommy squeezed my hand and smiled at me. “Tommy, I’ll get you whatever you want to eat, but I need you to promise to answer my questions. Okay?”

“I promise,” Tommy whispered. 

I held his hand a little tighter as I ordered his food and mine. Tommy stood on his tiptoes. “Tommy, are the quesadillas good?” I asked. 

“Uh-huh. When grown-ups order it, they get spanish rice, too,” Tommy answered. 

“Hm… Okay. I’ll get that, then,” I replied. 

We sat down at a table in the back, and he opened his backpack and removed an old stuffed black cat plushie. It was worn and faded brown in some places, but its collar was shiny and expensive. He opened the bell part of the collar before unfolding a little photograph of Jade holding him up. His little chubby face toward the camera. I turned the photo over, and it read in Jade’s perfect handwriting, “To my newest love, Tommy Jr. Forever and always, your mommy, Jade.” He quickly took it back and returned it to the bell. He wouldn’t look me in the eye as he packed it away. 

“If you tell someone, they’ll take it from me. Please don’t tell,” Tommy pleaded. His whole demeanor changed. His face reddened and his hands tightened around his backpack. 

“I won’t let them take it… Tommy, I don’t know what to do with you. You belong with your mom, Jade, but these people—.”

“They don’t want me anymore. You can ask them. They’ll give me to you,” Tommy whispered as tears slid down his cheeks. My heart hurt looking at him. He stood up and climbed into my lap, and I wiped his tears with my thumbs before pulling him into a hug. 

No kid should ever feel that way. “Tommy, why would you say that?” I asked. 

“It’s true. Papa said I’d be a killer. He wants me far away. He doesn’t love me anymore,” Tommy cried. I rubbed his back. 

“Hey, it’s gonna be alright. I—.” They called our order, and I carried him on my hip while I got our tray. “Hey, I’m gonna try to work things out. But, I want you to eat your quesadilla first. Eat your food and drink your milk. It’ll help you calm down if you have a little bit of food in your stomach.” 

He obeyed, eating quietly while I thought about what I’d do. I thought about talking to them, trying to reason with them as best I could. “I don’t think you’ll like me anymore if I tell you why I got in trouble at school… I want you to like me, but I know you’ll find out about it if I don’t—.” 

“Tommy, everybody does bad things sometimes. If you feel bad enough about it to want to do better next time, I think you’ll be fine. Maybe if you tell me about it, you’ll feel better. It doesn’t have to be a scary secret,” I reassured him, “It doesn’t have to be a secret at all… Like… Hm… I curse when I get angry sometimes. I know I shouldn’t, but sometimes I do. It’s not a secret and no one hates me for it.” 

Tommy nodded and sighed after he finished chewing. “Michael hit Emilia at recess And I didn’t—. I didn’t stop him. I was so scared that I had to go home. Mama was upset because I wouldn’t tell her why I had—... 

“I went back to school and drew a picture of him. That’s when I got in trouble. I only drew it because he did something bad and someone needed to punish him. Emilia was bleeding, but I was so scared. I did something wrong, too. I didn’t tell on him… And I drew a bad picture. I—. The principal asked why I drew something like that, and I was too scared to tell her. I thought Michael would hit me, too. 

“Papa was so angry. He grabbed my arms and yelled at me. He shook me and told me to tell him why I would draw something so terrible. I couldn’t tell him. I wanted to, but I was scared, and he was hurting me… He sent me to my room, and I—. Do I have to tell you everything?” Tommy asked. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes and rosy cheeks, and I shook my head.

“You don’t have to tell me all of it… Just the parts that feel okay to talk about,” I replied. He took a shaky breath.

“That’s when I woke up to talk to Papa. I wanted to apologize, but he was talking to Mama. He was still so mad. So, I waited until they went to bed, and I cleaned up all by myself. I didn’t want to make him angrier. He’d never been mad at me before. Now, he’s mad at me all the time,” Tommy whimpered. I reached across the table with an open palm, and he held my fingers. “He makes me carry the picture to remind me that I’ve been bad. He’s going to make me carry it until I apologize to Michael or tell him why I did it.” He let go of my hand to reach into his bag again, and he pulled a piece of paper out of his binder. I took it and frowned. It was a drawing of Michael and he’d used red crayon to scribble blood all over him. He’d even drawn purple circles on him for bruises. 

I frowned. “You drew it to punish Michael?” I asked. 

“I wouldn’t really hurt Michael. I just wanted to make him feel bad for hurting Emilia. Her lip was bleeding, and she was crying… Our art teacher says drawings are supposed to help people feel better,” Tommy explained. 

I nodded. “Did it make you feel better to draw this?” I asked. 

“No… I thought it would, but I feel bad all the time now… Mister, my tummy hurts now. Can I sit with you?” Tommy asked. I nodded and smiled at him, turning the picture face down before picking him up and sitting him on my knee. I finished eating and zipped up his backpack before resting my chin on his head. I felt like I was talking to Jade, and it broke my heart. Maybe I was making her carry around memories of the worst things she’d ever done. Maybe I punished her for things I couldn’t understand. “You don’t like me anymore… Do you?”

“I still like you, Tommy. I do… I understand why you did it. I understand you were scared, and you just wanted to fix things in the only way you knew how. You aren’t a bad kid. I’m so sorry that you were made to feel like you were bad because of this,” I apologized. He wrapped his arms around my neck, and I could feel his tears hit the back of my shirt.

[sokkastyles]

Not only is the idea that Zuko is dumb a lie put forth by his abusers, but I also think it is important to analyze the moments when he is called dumb, and how Zuko believing he is stupid makes it easy for him to be abused and controlled. Azula is the one who we often see call him "dum-dum," but I'm certain that idea originally came from Ozai. This is also why I don't see certain things Azula says as harmless or altruistic. I'm thinking of a few places in particular where Azula calls Zuko dumb.

One is when she is trying to get their mother to make Zuko play with her so she can play a mean trick on him. Ursa says it would be good for them to play together, and Zuko says he doesn't want to cartwheel, because he knows what his sister is like and that she probably has an ulterior motive than just wanting Zuko to play with them (which she does have). Zuko bringing up cartwheeling also means that he might have seen Azula and Ty Lee cartwheeling at the beginning of the scene, where we see Azula push Ty Lee for doing a better cartwheel than her. What Zuko actually means when he says he does not want to cartwheel is that he does not want to be pushed like Ty Lee was. What he's really saying to his mom, without having the actual words, is that he does not want to play with his sister because he knows that doing so will get him hurt. Azula responds with "cartwheeling isn't a game, dum-dum." Which seems like a typical sibling banter moment if you ignore the pattern of abuse Zuko is living with, and how him believing he is stupid is used to abuse and control him. So here, his concerns about playing with Azula are ignored and dismissed by making him look stupid and irrational. And so Azula gets her way and used Mai and Zuko to humiliate them both. This seems like a minor incident, but it gets worse when the kids get older.

Another scene where Azula calls Zuko "dum-dum" is when she is telling him not to visit Iroh in prison. I know many people want to argue that Azula was being caring to warn Zuko here, but the thing is, as unsafe it might be if Zuko were caught by Ozai visiting Iroh, Zuko is even less safe with Ozai and Azula. In reality, Iroh is the only one protecting him. Azula knows this, and knew she had to seperate Iroh and Zuko in Ba Sing Se in order to capture Zuko. She also knows that maintaining control over Zuko relies on keeping him distant from Iroh. So what she says, despite being phrased as a warning, actually becomes a subtle threat, and combined with Azula calling Zuko "dum-dum," reinforces the idea that Zuko is too stupid to make decisions for himself and that keeping him seperate from Iroh is for his own good, when in reality, it is keeping him isolated from the one adult who cares for him and easier to control by those who want to abuse him.

Another scene I'm thinking of where Azula calls Zuko dumb is when Zuko begins to question the official story of what happened to Sozin. Azula insults Zuko's intelligence for questioning Fire Nation propaganda. And the thing is, not only is Zuko right, but Zuko also learns that believing the Fire Nation propaganda was also a tool used by his abuser to keep him under control, which is why he confronts Ozai with it along with the ways that Ozai has hurt him more personally.

Zuko actually is smart, but it's not a coincidence that the people most invested in wanting him to think that he is dumb are those who want to abuse and control him.

[sushisocks]

One thing abt Sean that I really like is that he never really teases Arthur for being stupid. The only time I've seen him do it, has been when Arthur starts it by calling Sean stupid and Sean being like "well youd know, wouldnt you" -- not even denying it but grabbing at the chance to enjoy some banter.

I think it probably has a lot to do with the fact that Sean doesn't think Arthur is dumb. It'd be a bit "throwing stones in glass houses" to call a man who reads and writes unintelligent, when you can't read and write, and that ability is seen as a hallmark for intelligence by most of your contemporaries.

It's just a nice difference from a fair amount of other people in the gang. Arthur's teased for his intelligence a lot, whether warranted or not, but Sean, who is seen picking on the rest of the gang a fair amount, doesn't really bring up this as a thing with Arthur.

Instead, what Sean harps on, is Arthur having English heritage -- which arguably isn't even true. More importantly, it's something Arthur doesn't really care about, beyond being annoyed by Sean's insistence on bringing it up as often as he does. Which means it's a safe topic! Sean can tease Arthur about this and be sure it won't be taken harsher than what it is; light hearted.

I feel like that's the case with a majority of Sean's interactions in camp. He's trying to bring some light-heartedness and fun in, and he does that in the way he knows best, while toeing the line as best he can. I have thoughts in this regard because you do see him stepping back when he realizes he might have overstepped (like with Javier), as well as show some genuine disapproval in other interactions (usually when related back to his own heritage and home; failing to connect with Molly due to class differences, for example, or getting mad about how Colm's name is pronounced).

I think about how many camp interactions he has with Kieran a lot; they have a fair amount, and you can actually learn a fair amount about Kieran from Sean asking questions. The way their relationship evolves from Sean headbutting Kieran while drunk, to genuinely listening to him talk about his life and about Colm, is very interesting to me. Sean very clearly wants a connection; in the same way he very clearly wants a connection with Molly.

But it's not just about how he clearly wants to connect with anything and anyone who reminds him of home. It's also about how he interacts with everyone else in the gang. It's about a majority of his teasing usually not actually being that offensive. It's about Dutch yelling at Sean when he's not being the silly goofy camp clown.

I think I lost the plot at some point in here but I wanna end this with saying that I think Sean clearly is cast as this role in the gang that he has to navigate as best he can, and he's barely allowed to be seen beyond that role if you don't pay him attention. But he clearly cares, a lot, and it shows in how he chooses to fill that role. And I think it's a little sad that he's often reduced to the silly clown or stupid bully that he's expected to be, because I think there's more to his character worthy of exploration and discussion.

[kboo1999]

i love adam!!!

the way that adam is there making mak breakfast and her and kim are studying for their respective tests -- justttt ugh **sigh** this man is such a wholesome all loving and caring person

i love my little kimmy kup

adam loves her

he has always believeed in her sooooo much

*sidenote* adam is sooooo lowkey, but as we've seen in previous seasons/episodes, adam actually knows so much about the actual rules and regulations, and i don't know if that's all because he never wanted to be the type of cop that his dad's group of cops were, or pure

kim is such a badass

she asks the right questions

i bet kim's thinking eyes on her? you know she's in voight's unit right?

deep breathe, babygirl has got thissss

---

she

right, over $500?? that's wild

kim can be so caring while asserting herself so firmly

come on kim, catch on!

she caught it !!

yes Kimberley yessss!!!!!!

hot damn - of course this happens to her, why couldn't it just be something so simple

i will say though, that officer should have been way more observant and caught that blood trail and her odd behavior quicker

---

i chased him without it getting it progressed...job is to maintain the crime scene

the demand and control that kim held, she was so much more comfortable with her unit. the fact of the matter is all the stuff kim's been doing in intelligence has been a good portion of being a detective, so she just needs to do her job like usual but allow herself to take make more control, true demand and command

she said adam you're with us, she knows her man will always listen to her with zero argument

oh hell no. that's horrid. the way they are swapping stories is amusing

this wouldn't be the first time someone has turned their eyes to kim, not even the second.

i love that she speaks Spanish. it impresses me more and more everytime she does

she is very creative though, it still amazes me that she's the one who doesn't really do any undercover work

well damn kim knows how to really take the fuck off

--

the call

awww!!! yes, the reassurance and support that adam gives kim

the way that adam is always hands-on and supportive - he will never allow kim to rag on herself

yes. 13 long fucking years baby! like just because she's not a detective YET doesn't mean a damn thing

i know that kim hated that. and everything about it. kim would get better answers out of her

this bitch is dumb af!! I'm sorry but i will and would NEVER choose a man (regardless of father of my child, husband, boyfriend, or not), my damn child is first, especially if you're out here involved in murder, yeahhhh. hell nah.

!!and this detective lady is not doing them any favors with the way she came for her child instantly...

--

yes torres!!

i love the fact that she helped train him, too, so he's good because

kim knows she loves kick down damn doors

lol adam really sad come on

i love that kim genuinely thought about it for a second, but they both were like soooo apprehensive

yes kim yes!!! i love that girl. like girl girl girl.

awww that yes ma'am was real. he was ready to give her any and everything that she needed to do this thanggg

the silent communication between adam and dante though. like yes sirsssss

wow. that's a lot of fucking bodies this man is dropping over some small money....it always makes me wonder, like do people not realize they can just get a damn job?!?!?! - like is this such a hard principle?

--

i know that adam

kim's run i love. her run stride is amazing

i know kim is damn tired of this men attacking her

hell fucking yes kim!!!!

kim doesn't play. she's not going to die, it's not in her nature.

oh hell. voight. voight. voight. he doesn't play about his kimmy - even when she was in uniform, he didn't like this shit

I'm waiting for adam's reaction to her damn face

kim is really, like, really bitch?!?!?!

area central? play the game? i don't think it would make her better at all

adam is not going to be oaky with it, he physically can't. he needs to have eyes on her

hell fucking yessssss!!!! deputy reid isn't playing a politics game

why would he do that? i think he did it because he sees how voight's unit runs, and he might just actually like it and their activeness, he's been hella involved on the scene since the first episode of the season

i also don't think the person evaluating has the actual say where they go. and deputy chief reid did say he does is detective exams differently, and he didn't even realize kim was going to be there

aw. dante is really concerned about her

I'm mad as hell that they didn't have Kevin in this episode. He's always supported torres reaction to this case is really scaring me though - oh hell...this mother fucking bitch is back in the picture. Like she couldn't just take the out that these people cut her?

[saltydumples]

Oh, goddammit, I came up with ANOTHER idea for an AU and I have NO TIME to write it so I'm just going to scribble down my notes here:

Ze is a human astronomer. He specialises in tracking constellations and planets, and mapping them out. One night whilst stargazing he notices something really weird. Like scientifically life-changing weird. Unfortunately, he never gets to share his discovery.

Chilled is the captain of the galaxy's fiercest space pirates. Or, at least, he's trying to be. He's got the ship, he's got the chaotic charm and charisma, but the crew is, well...questionable. That and the job itself isn't quite what it used to be: there are rules to follow now. And, one such rule, states that any lifeform that does not hold a universal intelligence level of at least 5 Caulks (a very precise galactic measurement not at all to be mistaken for the material used to seal joints) then they must be shielded from any knowledge of lifeforms outside of their solar system until they meet the requirement.

Chilled is a terrible pilot. Very wreckless driving - he has twelve separate accounts of wielding a plasma gun at the wheel. Against the advice of pretty much everyone else on the ship he decides to use the gravity of a small solar system as a slingshot. They're meant to be in and out in the blink of an eye but instead the engines stall and for a second the entirety of the Mungus System is on display right outside of a planet called Earth. And, after a moment, the ship's detectors show that it has not only been witnessed but recorded.

Ze is halfway through looking over the pictures he'd captured of the strange event when they suddenly disappear. Entirely. Wiped from his device - nothing to show for their existence whatsoever. So (panicking over the potential of losing the discovery of his lifetime) he starts to draw it down on a piece of paper from memory. And Ze's memory - when it comes to constellations, at least - is very good. So good, in fact, that the system in Chilled's spaceship warrants him as an immediate breach of law and does the only thing it knows how to in order to fix it: it brings him onboard.

Cue a whole lot of chaos and shenanigans - a space adventure packed with pirates, space nukes, galactic riches and a fantastic abundance of cosmic kitties. The main story will follow Ze as he tries to navigate his love for the unknown with his desire to return home.

That's pretty much the overview of the plot! I'm going to note down more stuff about characters under here:

Ze: Unwilling evidence of a universal breach in conduct. Homesick 60% of the time, curious for the rest of it. He's a fast learner and does his best to find out everything he can from everyone on the ship, even though they're pretty unwilling to teach him. Because, unfortunately for Ze, everyone low-key assumes that he's too dumb to learn it. In fact, given that the average intelligence for humans falls under universal regulations, Ze is not able to be classified as an official crewmate but rather more of a pet. However, as his time in space continues, he soon proves himself to be more competent than about 80% of the ship.

Shubble: Head engineer. This fungi-descended crewmate has a soft spot for all kinds of animals and a penchant for leaving mushrooms in the vents. She's also the second most dangerous person on the ship. She's the proud owner of a rare voidal cat called Starlord alongside her newly adopted human, Ze. If she didn't adopt Ze then she was 90% sure that some of the other crew might have eaten him.

Chilled: The Captain. Reckless and yet simultaneously paranoid; willing to accept ridiculous odds but inconsolable if one (1) space bug is found on the ship. He plans to one day commit the biggest space heist ever seen - legally, of course - and is always in search of the perfect crew to pull it off, most of the time not realising he already has it because half of the people he employs spend their days acting like they're consistently rolling critical fails.

Skadj and Speedy: Deputy Engineer and Assistant Enginer respectively. Really Speedy has the skills to be Head engineer but he turned every offered promotion down - more workload and more responsibility? No thank you. They both come from the same firey planet and have slightly draconian features - claws, tails and orange scales. They can seem a little intimidating but tend to care a lot more than they show. Fun fact: when Ze was abducted onto the ship, they were the first to suggest eating him because humans used to be an old delicacy on their planet.

Kara: Leading Medic/Biologist. One of the only people on the crew with an actual braincell, she's the main glue keeping the mess that is the crew in one piece. Half human, half snake, this space naga is not to be messed with (Chilled should know - she's threatened to crush him twice now): though kind in nature she used to work as an assassin, only switching to piracy so that she could conduct her scientific experiments legally (mostly).

Pasta: Assistant Medic. Less concerned about using shields to save people, more curious as to what they can survive while it's on. Completely unpredictable but protective when it counts, this apparent descendent of the Great Spaghetti Monster has a big heart and one of the best laughs you've ever heard. Chilled didn't so much as hire her as he did find her stowing away on his ship and deciding to let it slide. She's been a part of the crew ever since.

There are so many more people but idk how I would get through them all so I'll just leave it there for now.

Bonus fact: Ze spends 80% of his first few months in space wearing fluffy pastel onesies that Shubble buys him because until he's proven to be above the set universal intelligence level he can't legally make any purchases himself.

[thestobingirlie]

I remember that in some interview Joe Keery gave he said that Steve didn’t think he was dumb, and that has stuck with me for a while. Writers love to treat him like’s never had an intelligent thought in his life and other characters act like they don’t know how he graduated high school, yet Steve, at least according to Joe Keery, thinks he’s smart. And that’s just tragic. Like, the idea that a person who believes that they are fairly intelligent and capable is constantly having to compete with this image created by those around them (this image of a braindead jock who needs his hand held through every explanation) is frustrating and super demoralizing. Especially because it seems that Steve knows what he’s talking about (and so does everyone else, they knew what he meant when he referenced the Germans) and just struggles to articulate it correctly.

A part of me has always wondered if the way his intelligence is treated partially influenced his decision not to play Dungeons and Dragons with the kids. The guy’s learning abilities are called into question so many times it isn’t even funny. Other characters harping on him for asking “dumb questions” is treated as a running joke and any time he suggests something its almost immediately written off. With all of that in mind, would it be crazy to say he would be hesitant to play a game involving a lot of math and player interaction? I can totally imagine Dustin (especially S4 Dustin) or Mike getting tired of having to remind him how stats work, and I can definitely see Steve trying to engage in the campaign as best he can but still doing it “wrong”. I know in the show he has no real interest in playing because he thinks it’s too nerdy, but I can’t help but wonder if some part of him is afraid of embarrassing himself.

Sorry for the wall of text.

i think it’s really interesting to consider, because in canon, yeah steve gets a little mocked, though i feel that’s written more for the audience to laugh at than an implication that the characters all think he’s an idiot.

but the way steve is treated in fanon actually kinda makes it heartbreaking to think that steve considers himself smart. because he is just constantly put down by everyone around him. like. steve is smart! but the way people constantly over exaggerate steve forgetting the right names for him, and have all the characters laugh at him every time he says the wrong thing. really, how long until steve would start to just feel like utter shit.

and i do think that’s interesting! i think in canon, steve probably just isn’t that into d&d, but in fanon, i wouldn’t be surprised if he just doesn’t want to spend a couple hours getting laughed at. (and yeah, i do not like the way s4 dustin and steve’s relationship is portrayed, and it is one of my many pains over this season.)