#her becoming more confident with more self esteem is a GOOD development

[cto10121]

…Vampire Bella barely changed, though? She practically tears off a bit of the blue dress for easy mobility, she still recoils at Alice’s giant walk-in closet, she still doesn’t wear makeup. She chose 1 oyster satin dress. Also, Human Bella did canonically enjoy 1) grocery shopping 2) always felt uncomfortable with the human world and had stronger relationships with the supernatural one 3) was more comfortable with vampires and did long to be one and fought for it. So really “I was meant to be a vampire” does feel aligned with Bella’s character—you were talking about the movies, weren’t you.

also there is something so. insidious making bella this sweet clumsy girl who rarely wears makeup and doesn’t enjoy shopping or femininity and then having her turn into this feminine vampire with smoky eyes while also having the line “i was meant to be a vampire” in the book like.

[cynthiav06]

Percy is a dude from the category of screaming "what the hell did you do!" and solve all the problems in 5 minutes. Everyone would have been dead a long time ago if it wasn't for him.

I have mixed opinions on this. On one hand, Percy is the type of person to wait about for the problem to disappear by itself just so he doesn't have to deal with it. Cause even before he found out he was a demigod, he was 100% done with everyone's shit.

But I do agree that he would be able to solve all problems because through so many books we have seen that no matter how much prior planning Annabeth or the Seven or anyone else does, Percy always does his own thing at the end. And it works out mostly for the better than whatever initial situation anyone else had in mind because Percy thinks almost too well on his feet. Every time.

But Percy has such low self esteem that he sees the fact that he has to make so many improvisations more so as his plans never working as less so as an exceptional ability to adapt. Especially when at times he can easily sense that some titan/giant is too powerful so he maneuvers around a direct fight and ends up defeating them by pure strategy and still ends up thinking of himself as "Oh shit I seriously had no plans. I am so reckless and stupid".

His whole character arc could have been evolving into a more confident and self assured but still the usual sarcastic laid back version of himself who no longer doubts his own abilities and becomes the great leader he showed many signs of being. But no, Rick had to ruin it all because, for some reason, 10+ books later and almost all the characters are still the same, just decorated with even more trauma. Rick being Rick, and instead of showing characters working out their traumas and insecurities, he just slaps a relationship on them, and lo and behold, all is better again somehow.

I am kind of disappointed that we never got to see Percy or any other members of the Seven do any solo missions(aside from Annabeth in MoA) . She almost had the very quintessential realization about how she needs others and how her hubris will ruin everything if she doesn't keep it in check only for whatever she was doing in the later parts House of Hades and all of Chalice of the Gods to take away even that little bit of character development.

And cause solo missions working out perfectly well for Percy while most other demigods struggle a bit to make it work might finally make him realize that his plans don't suck and he is actually a really really good strategist and somehow an even better manipulator. (Though more on that and his observational skills later).

Or make characters like Frank and Leo whose unique abilities and perspectives on combat could have been shown off more, making them all become more self-reliant.

And even so we could finally get proper idea of limits of certain characters like Piper (cause charmspeak isn't going to get her everywhere) or Hazel (we so need more scenes of her surprising demigods and monsters with not only her unique jewel abilities and her magic.) Plus Nico's combat limits, Jason's stamina limits (no I am not considering his death part of canon, you can't tell me it's true, I refuse to stand by it), Thalia's character development as well as her honing her powers and combat abilities more.

So yeah, we really should have gotten a few solo missions instead of so many short stories and all. And a bit more cross-over highlighting the power levels between the Norse, Greek, Roman, and Egyptian demigods/magicians/Valhalla residents/Valkyrie and so on.

To sum it up, tons of missed opportunities by Riordan and even more tragic and terrible progression of previously great characters who just needed a well-made character arc or even some favoritism. (I am looking at Grover and Rachel, who both could have done so so much if Rick had only realized the awesome potential they had).

I have said it many times that it's #percy jackson supremacy. So hell yes everyone would be dead without him, and he is arguably the best protagonist out of any other fantasy action book series. All hail Percy Jackson, the master of sass, and the most beloved but somehow still the most misinterpreted character in the fandom. Really liked this ask, would love more of these regarding Percy or any other characters.

[oceane4loveu]

Thewizardliz mindset

Liz's mindset is one focused on self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-love. Liz believes that we deserve the best and that we should be content with myself, she loves herself and she knows what she wants. She takes time for herself and doesn't let other people's opinions control her life. Liz also emphasizes the importance of changing your thoughts to change your life and she focuses on personal growth. Liz knows her worth and doesn't let the criticism of others get to her, she loves herself and has confidence in herself.

so how to have her mindset?

1-start taking care of yourself: give yourself love and attention, take time for yourself to take care of yourself and take care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally.

2-develop good self-esteem: learn to accept and value yourself. Compliment yourself every day in front of the mirror. Don't settle for less than what you think you deserve.

3-more authentic self: don't let the criticism and judgments of others hold you back, don't be afraid to be yourself and stay true to yourself.

4-completely change your mindset: adopt the mindset if it's possible for others it's possible for me and a queen doesn't chase, she attracts. replace your negative thoughts with positive thoughts. meditate, read personal development books and listen to podcasts.

5-become more selfish: put your happiness first, put yourself first without feeling guilty. learn to say no to things that do not correspond to your values.

6-identify toxic relationships and put an end to them: become aware of toxic relationships that drag you down or are toxic for your well-being emotional. it could be people who manipulate you, who criticize you or something else. identify these relationships and consider taking steps to detach yourself from them.

7-start to establish boundaries: learn to set clear boundaries and to follow them enforce respect. identify the behaviors or situations that bother you and determine what you are ready to accept or not. communicate your limits and stay away from situations that do not suit you.

[the-radio-demon-blog]

Hello Beloved Radio Host!

I come to you as a sinner in search of advice. You seem the confident type so I thought no harm in asking. How do i have more confidence when i suffer from things that constantly make my sense of self a blur?

I understand if this too big a question

Why, hello there!

Well, I will try my best to give you advice but I am by no means a therapist nor an expert on emotions.

How do you develop more confidence or more self esteem? I believe, darling, you have to manage the more bigger underlying problem. I understand what you mean: sense of self is a blur. I had a friend who experienced something akin to your experience. For her, she would have described it as watching her own life in an out of body experience or like walking through a dream.

I do hope that is what you mean?

Now, how did she manage to stop that disturbing and very unwelcoming feeling? Everyone has their own ways to deal with their own mental illnesses or mental health. For her, she began with talk therapy. And when that didn't work, more exercise. And when that didn't work, she eventually switched over to anti-depressant drugs.

Now, I do not know the cause of your sense of self blurring but the most common causes are usually environmental, trauma, stress, simply your brain or etc.

If there is one thing I have learned about mental illness, there is always a combination and it usually links back to depression. The most effective forms of treatment being talk therapy or anti-depressants.

And no, anti-depressants aren't a terrible thing. If anything, the depression many people suffer from is an imbalance of chemicals in the brain and these drugs usually set it right. And no, the anti-depressants won't make you a mindless insufferable bundle of joy. It simply adjusts your brain to reacting like a normal human being. Yes, you still become sad. Yes, you still become angry.

It simply isn't wild and uncontrollable emotions and thoughts bombarding you left and right over and over again. Causing you to be a prisoner in your own body, trying to scream louder than the thoughts in your head.

Now, adding on top of that to gain confidence? Do things you are good at or enjoy to boost your positive thinking. Surround yourself with people that make you feel good and who encourage you to go out of your comfort zone. Allow yourself to be vulnerable with yourself and others. Exercise regularly to induce dopamine (usually works for folks who have a good mind-body connection).

And most importantly, even if its terrifying, do things that step out of your comfort zone. Trust me, even the Great Radio Demon was scared on his first broadcast. Why, I was stuttering and mumbling like nobodies business, hah!

And be assertive. You must, must, must be assertive. You need to learn to communicate your feelings and beliefs to others. But you must remember to be respectful as well. Tone and open body language, is key to communicating with others in a respectable manner.

My apologies, for this tangent, I do hope it answered your question. Or least helped you in some way, shape or form. Again, I am no expert.

By golly, Charlie has been truly rubbing off on me, hasn't she? Hah!

[bananaproved]

Who will write the arcane reverse Piltover/Zaun AU I want to read so bad 🙏🙏 Like the possibilities for character and dynamic exploration and the world building are crazy I would love to see that.

First thing is if you want to write canon Zaun characters growing up in piltover, you need to take into account how growing up in a way more privileged context would have impacted them and their relationship to society. The use of violence or certain the way to present oneself is really different between the two city too.

Imagine Powder and Vi raised in Piltover by Council Member Vander ? Powder would definitely be the star of the academy, brilliant and on the brink of getting expelled twice a week. I’m afraid there is also a good 70% chance that Vi would be an enforcer 💔 But in my heart I believe there is also a 10% chance that she instead became a professional saxophone player bc this is the only hint we have of her liking something outside of fighting. Also Vander hit me as a guy that would still at least try to care for all the people including the ones in Zaun (Kind of like Heimerdinger ?) but with limited success.

Tho if Silco is here as a council member too, Vander is going to have a lot of work on his plate because if Silco used child labor and spread drugs freely in Zaun when he felt a sense of belonging here, I’m scared of what he does to the city if he is not even part of it. I know they are fighting about it like 24/7 and everybody is tired.

Viktor is also an interesting character to put in this setting because how would he have turned if he received adapted medical care and the opportunities he deserved while growing up ? He would probably be a lot more confident in himself, but it might not totally erase his self esteem issues. However I feel like he could develop some character weaknesses similar to Jayce in this context, like arrogance, naivety and since we are talking about Viktor probably a strong tendency to believe that he know exactly what other people need.

On the other hand on the side of Zaun ? The potential is so interesting too.

First because of the living conditions in Zaun the risk to develop some kind of handicap is higher so I think it would affect characters in a reversed AU too. Like Caitlyn might have been born with an issue to her left eye or Jayce might have gotten into an accident that hurt one of his legs (or arm or whatever if you wan to be different from canon).

I think Cait would be really involved in her community in this context (and she would probably hate enforcers, ironically). Maybe she could become a local legend for liberation in this AU instead of Jinx ? But on the other hand she could potentially turn really dangerous too. She could be one of the hardest but also most interesting characters to write in this context because of how important privilege and her piltovian identity are in her canon writing.

Jayce is also a super fun one to consider. His main goal is to invent things that will improve the world in canon and it could stay the same here. I think that because of his personality he might not even be interested in attending Piltover university (we know he have no problem doing things in own way in his corner, sometimes for the worse lol) so he could be an important member of his community too but he would be more limited in some of his creations despite being brilliant. Also being too brilliant in Zaun can be dangerous so he would probably fighting Chembarons trying to hire him every Fridays and Mondays.

Also Mel could be incredible here, if she is as skilled in politics here as in Piltover she is running half of the city before turning 22. I think she would make a really good team with Jayce and Caitlin if they work together to improve their situation (King Poet Soldier kinda deal. Except instead of a poet it’s an engineer which is kind of the opposite but it’s okay). + she got the best design in the show so I’m sure that her undercity version would look so good that it would kill me but in a good way. Maybe her brother could be here too btw I think he was cool.

Tho there is some characters that would not really make sense outside of their canon context, like Ekko is really linked to the undercity idk how you can make it work in Piltover. I guess he can be the exception and get raised by Heimerdinger who is in Zaun too and become besties with Mel and Jayce and not Caitlin for some reason. One day he will get a bonus second Dad when he meet Benzo in Piltover.

Anyway I wish it was a more popular AU concept to explore in the fandom, it can be so fun.

[project-sekai-facts]

idk if I can ask u this but what is ur opinion on arata and kotaro

hello first off SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG FOR ME TO ANSWER but no i don't mind giving my opinions on the side characters

Arata and Kotaro are actually two of my favorite side characters! I didn't like them that much at first to be honest but they've definitely grown on me a lot recently.

I think Kotaro is really overlooked actually. Like I still see people bring up his actions in the main story when he’s moved on a lot past that, and then just write him off because of it. And I mean, it’s probably because he never got too much screentime between then and Power of Unity, but since he’s been making more regular appearances I think they’ve taken his character in a really interesting direction. He initially became a singer because he wanted to be a cool older brother for his baby brother and just happened to see RW at that time, which pushed him into street music. He just did it as a passtime because he was sort of good at it. However, RW did have a big impact on him, just like it had on An and Akito, even if he was only sorta casual in the street music scene. He admits in POU that the reason he never went further was because he was afraid, and seeing VBS putting their all into it inspired him.

It’s sort of subtle up until Light Up the Fire, but Kotaro doesn't have a lot of self-esteem or confidence in his singing. I think the first time it's ever brought up is in Power of Unity as far as I remember, where he asks once or twice if he's holding everyone back. LUTF makes it really clear that he has a lot of insecurities: he believes he's holding everyone back and he believes that he has no talent compared to the others. And that's what sticks out to me, because 3/4 of VBS have felt the same way. Kohane, Akito, and Toya all at some point or another believed they were holding everyone back, be it because they were a rookie, lacking talent, or had no resolve. Kotaro has been all of those and it’s obvious that he is written the way he is to serve as a mirror character to those three. He's had the same insecurities but the way he goes about dealing with them is totally different. While VBS had each other to rely on, Kotaro doesn't have a singing partner or group. He's a solo artist. And while he works with VBS, Arata, and EVER, he isn't part of any of their groups. Even Arata who also works alone still has Souma, but more on that in a minute.

(Also just an aside, I think he’s a mirror to Kohane slightly more than the others, and that slightly being the fact that VBS is what got him inspired to take this seriously, because that’s how Kohane got inspired she saw the others and wanted to be just like them, she wanted something to throw herself into and give her all to. The fact that she’s the main one who tries to call out to him when he breaks down in LUTF I think also plays into this, like it seems to hint that she’s able to relate to him.)

I really think Kotaro is much more than how he was presented in the main story and could definitely become a pretty strong side character if he ever got an event with a bit more focus (like how Vivid Old Tale gave Nagi a lot of screentime or POU had a lot of focus on Arata). Also clpl have you ever considered giving Kotaro a partner please give him a partner. Considering you rubbed in how important singing partners are before now why haven't you even tried to give him one?

Arata has definitely been given more development than Kotaro and I genuinely think he has one of the best arcs of any side character. Like he starts out as a rival for Akito, a foil to Akito. He's basically everything Akito wants to be, and also kind of a dick. Him getting beat by Taiga though, even though it was a small moment, was definitely an important turning point for him because it put him on the same level as everyone else. Because even he has someone better than him.

Oh and his development in POU was so good I'm probably gonna go on a little tangent about his relationship with Souma now because it's so important to his character. Arata's doing all of this for Souma. Souma was the one who wanted to do street music, Souma was the one who took Arata to RW, everything was Souma's dream, but it was still important to Arata. They were partners after all. But that's what it is. Were. Even if Arata wasn't the one who was in that car accident, it still took a toll on him. Souma has been forced into a position where he isn't going to be able to achieve his dreams, so Arata has to carry all that weight on his back. Surpassing RW suddenly has become so much more important to Arata because he wants, needs, Souma's dream to become a reality. The thing is, with how caught up he was in doing everything for Souma, he approached everything on his own. Surpassing RW isn't something he can do alone; the original was a collaboration between several groups, there's no way Arata could do it alone. He needed to work with people again, which he finally realised in POU.

Actually I think one of my favorite moments in his arc has to be his showdown with Taiga in LUTF. Because he's been able to overcome what was holding him back, he's actually able to get closer to Taiga's level. That is, until Taiga drops the "we're not so different" bomb. Because that moment is so powerful. Because at that point we see Arata as less of a foil to Akito and more of a parallel to Taiga. Both of them went through a similar loss of a partner, and Taiga uses that to get under Arata's skin and he goes for a deep cut. Souma is incredibly important to Arata, and Taiga knows that and had a similar experience of losing someone important to him, and is able to see exactly what’s still holding Arata back from reaching his full potential. Arata is doing all of this for Souma. For Souma. Taiga points out that Arata isn’t carrying Souma’s dream, he’s clinging onto the idea to cope with his grief. The thing is, Souma can’t surpass RW anymore. Arata’s loaded that responsibility onto himself, without even considering his own feelings on the matter. As Taiga says, Arata is good, great even, but he can’t be the best unless he asks himself if he wants this. Arata can’t even say that he is carrying Souma’s dream, that he does want to do this and he isn’t just clinging onto the idea to cope, and it crushes him to the point of leaving Shibuya.

Honestly I think leaving was what was best for Arata in that moment. Because he does need to take a step back and just let himself actually process his grief. Because even if Souma is still alive, that partnership was still lost and Arata had dedicated everything to that partnership and to Souma, and really he still does. And honestly I think this is what he wants even if you take Souma’s dreams out of the equation, but he needs time to himself to think about what he wants. I don’t know when we’ll next see him again honestly it might be a while but I’m interested to see how that goes. Arata is surprisingly developed and nuanced for a side character and the fact the devs managed to do this across 3 events, two of which he only appears in for a couple chapters is insane. Oh yeah also I like him a bit more than Kotaro if the wall of text wasn’t obvious.

[anonnnimaaa]

Why does the main couple of Alice in Borderland have so many similarities with Aruani? LET'S ANALYZE WITH ANÓNIMA

Similarities between Armin and Arisu:

1. They are both extremely intelligent and at first are not able to see their potential, they always depended on their friends to believe in themselves. Examples: When Armin convinced the troops that Eren was not an enemy thanks to Eren and Mikasa's motivation and when Arisu won his first game thanks to Karube telling him that he would get them out of there.

2. Both had survivor syndrome, as a result of these events, in the case of Armin when he received the serum on Erwin and in Arisu's case after overcoming the game of tag. They both have low self-esteem and, in the case of Arisu in that game, he also blames himself for not thinking of a better solution, since logic and strategy was always his strong suit and he desperately wanted to protect his friends, do you think? remember someone?

3. Both go through a period of wanting to die and hating life, they are constantly thinking about sacrifice for the good of others, we see this facet of Arisu more developed in the second season (the game of the king of clubs) while with Armin remains persistent throughout the anime.

4. They have been seen planning strategies with their respective teams, being the ones who organize what will be done next and give the respective orders, they influence others thanks to their great intellect, ability to speak that they develop thanks to the fact that they acquire more confidence in themselves. People listen to them and admire them, they also expect them to be the ones with the answers and they put responsibilities on them that they feel unworthy of most of the time.

Similarities between Usagi and Annie:

1. They are very reserved girls, they hardly open up to anyone easily, although if you break their shell you can see that they are a teddy bear. This shell is born because they have Daddy issues, Usagi because her negligent father preferred to climb the mountain rather than stay with his daughter, and Annie because Mr. Leonhart's son of a bitch treated her as if she were a weapon.

2. Because of these, the two women believe that the only one they can trust is their father. However, due to the trauma, they both begin to feel more alive when they are away from home, Usagi in Borderland, because she does not have to feel that her father abandoned her, and Annie in Paradise, away from her father's abuse. For both of them, their father in almost the entire series is their reason for being and acting.

3. They are both athletic, again due to the influence of their dads. However, they never leave behind their intelligence or their human senses despite wanting to be lone wolves. Usagi shows great empathy for those around them and despite her traumas and believing that at first she had to be alone to survive, she manages to open up and give life another chance. Annie is shown to be kind in Paradise, saving several comrades she had to betray and in the end, returning to save the world, because atoning for her sins and having a new beginning becomes more important than her father.

4. Both Usagi and Annie are the only ones who manage to motivate Arisu and Armin. Not only do they look for answers in them, but they challenge them and make them rethink things, making their romantic interests grow thanks to that.

[tornado-warnings]

The way Paxton ended up being the most supportive and sweetest guy and liked Devi for who she was 🥺 always hyped her up and saw her worth and never thought she was too much!! He never saw Devi as below him or not good enough 🥹

I feel like season 4 Devi would have been ready for a real relationship with Paxton bc she’s started to become more confident and her self-esteem and self-love has grown so much. I wish we got to see that develop but they had like 2 interactions the whole season!!

[eliteseven]

What are your thoughts on Shadowheart in terms of her character? Her feelings towards Tav and her self-esteem?

Shadowheart: Self Esteem & Feelings towards Tav:

Short(er) version:

Shadowheart is complex and so interesting. She can be caustic, witty, dry and seemingly detached- or she can be the most loving person you've ever known. She's confident- we now know much of that was born of her Sharran upbringing, but she's willful because of her parents. She's defiant, playful around those she trusts, and has a great capacity for love. She's a healer at heart- though honed as a weapon, there is no greater joy for her than being able to mend wounds, to take away pain, even though it's all she's known for so long. She's broken, at times, but healing beautifully now.

Her relationship with Tav is founded upon trust (and a LOT of physical attraction, to boot). Tav is the only person who managed to breach her walls while she was still serving Shar. Tav has laid her own life on the line for Shadowheart (and her parents) countless times. Shadowheart plays coy and flirtatious, but there is a deep internal voice that tells her she's lucky Tav considers her worthy of her love. Romantically, Shadowheart is absolutely enamored with Tav. The more she learns about Tav's upbringing, the more protective she becomes. I think she's keenly aware of the fact that she and her parents are Tav's only true family, aside from her mother all the way in Cormyr.

Long (writer's) version lol:

I think Shadowheart is a layered, complex character! We have “Jenevelle”, if you will, at her core. Traits she picked up from her parents, even if she doesn’t inherently remember everything: her kindness, her proclivity to caring for animals and the weak, even her sense of humor (finger guns after the night orchid joke lol). I feel like life in the cloister had her suppressing these traits to an almost painful extent. Her memory may have been wiped, but her instincts do not change so easily. She’s witty, she’s even fun-loving, she’s outspoken. She’s willful, stubborn, and often sees the best in people.

And then we have “Shadowheart”- or the traits she developed as a result of life in the cloister. Some are actually beneficial, some not so much. Life in the cloister makes her cynical, sly, defensive, secretive, even if also incredibly adept at defending herself. It gives her “bite” to her personality, as well as a sense of arrogance.

In the first Acts, we see more of Shadowheart, but Jenevelle bleeds through. It’s clear by Act 2 that she’s developed enough of a rapport/trust with Tav that her true nature begins to show.

I think when she was a practicing Sharran, she lived under the guise of false self-esteem. She ascribed worth to herself based on how well she could heed the Dark Lady’s orders. Now that she’s free, she struggles with reconciling deeds she’s committed in the past. Though it isn’t her fault explicitly, I think she carries much guilt for what she became. Now, living her life in service to her parents, to all their animals, and to her beloved Tav- I think she sees her life as simple, bucolic, but worth so much more. She can be proud of this life, without shame. She can reconcile Jenevelle and Shadowheart, and be the best of both of them.

Her Feelings towards Tav:

Tav is a vital piece to Shadowheart’s overall growth. Initially, she’s attracted to Tav and thinks little of her or that fact- beyond staring when she thinks Tav isn’t looking. Just another pretty girl who's surprisingly good with a blade, in her eyes. In the early weeks, they argue. A lot. Shadowheart is particularly vicious when she gets wind that Tav came from nobility. And then something strange happens- Shadowheart finds herself looking forward to arguing with Tav, just to spend more time with her. She watches Tav give her own food and water to Tiefling refugees- She rolls her eyes at the “weakness” displayed and then goes to hide her smile in her tent and repent in prayer.

Tav is the most selfless person Shadowheart knows. Tav cares more about Emmeline and Arnell than Shadowheart can fathom. She’s constantly looking for ways to make up for lost time, constantly looking for ways to help Shadowheart’s memory. She doesn’t sleep if Shar’s mark is causing Shadowheart pain. Shadowheart has never been the love of anyone’s life-until now.

Shadowheart is madly in love. Tav’s her best friend, her partner. Tav helped speak sense into her, helped her see reason, light, love in the midst of Shar’s scheme for her. Tav saw through her, saw Jenevelle and Shadowheart, and gave herself completely to both of them.

[maleyanderecafe]

Under the Oak Tree (Webcomic)

Created by: Kim Suji / namu / Seomal / P(Art)

Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Under the Oak Tree is cute, like it's really cute, but man is it a slow burn. The yandere is more of the overprotective type, but considering he doesn't show up a whole ton within the story (since he's always out fighting monsters or what not) we don't actually get to see a lot of screen time with the two (at least compared to other webcomics). That being said, the story focuses mostly on Max's character development as she goes from a low self esteem character to one who knows how to use what she has. As of now, there are 66 chapters out currently. There is also a PV out for this webcomic.

The story starts out with Maxi, a noble lady, being married off to Riftan, a honorable knight. Maxi lived a horrible life, abused by his uncle due to her stuttering and her lack of fine education, and as such has developed an extremely low self esteem. She feels that she is not worth to be Riftan's wife, as Riftan is an incredible knight and she wonders why he had chosen her to begin with. Riften on the other hand believes that Maxi properly deserves things that nobles have and that he has to provide them so that he can keep her happy. As Riften goes off to fight monsters and wars, Maxi is stationed at home to take care of the manor. She is initially overwhelmed and very worried, however, slowly is able to become more confident thanks to the staff there and a magic user named Ruth. Ruth helps Maxi by teaching her how to read and write, as well as helping her overcome her stutter, something that she is deeply insecure about. Riften often comes back to take care of Maxi and see her again, but because of his bad communication skills, the two's rifts often grow bigger and bigger. Maxi starts to learn healing magic thanks to Ruth so that she can help his army in a way that she believes matters. Currently, Maxi is touring around Agnes, the princess that Riften was originally married to, around her castle.

The summary is actually quite short compared to what actually happens in the story, but that's mostly because it focuses on Maxi's growth as a character and her relationship with Riften. Maxi as a character is very well written, as you can really feel her anxieties and her fear of not living up to what Riften might have thought she was. As a result she tries very hard to improve herself, from learning magic, tending to the castle itself and trying to fit in. While she doesn't always succeed, we can see that the people around her generally encourage her in her growth. I imagine it's not always easy to try to improve yourself in this way, especially when your childhood has been mostly abusive, so often it feels like you're taking more steps back then you are stepping forward. I think the story does a good job on trying to show her progress and struggles in this new environment and how she generally grows as a better person. That being said though, don't expect the story to really go into any fights or have any huge dramas. I like the relationship between Maxi and Ruth though since it really does feel like Ruth takes on a older sibling type of vibe when teaching her about various things. It's also nice that there is kind of a defined magic system in this story, which is something that I feel like most isekai/fantasy stories tend to skip over. And there's a lot of miscommunication due to the two just being bad at it, but in this case it is at least understandable because it's imbued into their character. It is very slow paced a lot of times though, so if you dislike slow burns and like fight scenes (instead of, essentially watching a stay at home wife) it's probably not something you'd enjoy very much.

Riften as a character... is kind of not really in the story as much as I'd like considering he's always off going on wars while Maxi is taking care of the castle. He is very caring of Maxi and the two love each other very much, as they always think of each other even when the two are separated, but there is genuine miscommunication due to the more blunt ways that Riften speaks and Maxi's general insecurity. While he is actually there, he is often very protective and jealous over her, getting jealous that he hangs out with Ruth so much, or protecting and getting angry when one of his men is annoyed by Maxi or even just being overprotective when Maxi drinks too much. Given his generally serious demeanor, he's afraid that Maxi is scared of him sometimes, and he is very soft when it comes to her. Still though, as I said, it's mostly fairly light as he's either not really there or he's only there to protect her when she can't protect herself. I would say it is enough to warrant him as an overprotective yandere considering his actions, but they are still relatively light as compared to other ones I've read. Perhaps it's possible that we might see another side of him in the new season, but again, considering that he doesn't really show up all that much, I feel like that's pretty doubtful.

I will say though that the artwork for this webcomic is extremely pretty. I did find it interesting that pretty much all of the backgrounds are more muted and brownish colored, but I suppose it's to contrast with Maxi and her more reddish hair. Still, extremely pretty.

Overall, a good slowburn story of Maxi and her husband Riften. Normally I'm not too fond of slowburns since I kind of need to read to see if the yandere exists or not, but I do like the way that the story takes time to flesh out and slowly develop Maxi to be a more confident person, even if sometimes others or even Riften himself causes her to stumble.

[ikkiokuma]

just finished mgs2 and i have nowhere else to take my thoughts so i’ll just dump them hear for my little internet vacuum:

> the AI/simulation plot twist is really interesting but at the same time doesn’t feel like it was resolved in the best way? outside of the patriots being a typical shady organization controlling literally everything, the explanation the AI colonel gives about human mind control feels at least a tiny bit more unique that your typical 1984 premise and excuse…i only have to wonder the aftermath of raiden and rose’s relationship with such a huge rift torn between them through the course of this game (which feels like it goes largely unaddressed considering raiden basically proposes to her after their reunion?) i think his character has a lot of good potential and their connection could have undergone some kind slow burn rebuild to make it more satisfying (it’s not like i didn’t root for them sometimes! tho im aware they are actually quite toxic tho)

> i’m also thinking of the people on twitter engaging in discourse about whether mgs2 is anti-AI to which i think it’s pretty clear that kojima encourages us to exercise our free will and critical thinking in this digital age…though raiden doesn’t outright say “fuck the patriots”—who are ostensibly using such a program to try and keep the masses ignorant, complacent, and dependent—in this game, his decision to pick his future for himself entirely goes against the AI colonel’s impression that everything in the simulation could decide the kind of person raiden becomes. to me mgs2 (along with being more explicitly about life in the digital age) takes the idea of free will or destiny from the first game up a notch with the question of: hey, what if it your future wasn’t just programmed for you by birth but by a simulation which you regard as the truth? it’s interesting to see this blend of themes (that the persona franchise decided to create two separate games based on, funny enough) work together in a new context

> sitting with the full weight of otacon’s backstory is kind of crushing. i know it’s not the worst thing ever but something about his tragedy feels all the more pointed when you think about how vulnerable he was…how he was basically abused and groomed and still blames himself to this day because he doesn’t know any better at all? it’s just such a heavy burden for someone so young to bear—an illicit affair and the death of your father because of your actions would mess anyone up in the head (im genuinely surprised he’s not worse than he is right now). his loneliness is so interesting because to a certain extent it’s self imposed by his own inaction (waiting to be loved instead of seeking it out for himself—some kind of self-esteem problem, maybe?) and for the first time in years solid snake manages to break down his walls and they form this beautiful mutual connection that i think holds so much more weight than any potential female relationship the games try to force him into (also with the fact that he seems into women that would only be somewhat unhealthy/toxic for him something something childhood trauma something something twisted conception of romance tragic doomed heterosexuality but he could find everything he looked for and more in the man who’s stayed beside him this whole time but i digress) otasune is so beautiful to me and i’ve been thinking more about how it really is only them against the world and burying my head in my hands i think im going to develop heartburn because of these fools and if anyone has good fic recs i would love for them to be sent my way im going to start writing essays about them again ffs. also something something otacon really is at his best self when he’s around snake—confident, in control, and a little sassy when he wants to be—which honestly makes him that more attractive … snake truly brought the best out of this nerd god bless

> pliskin is sooooooo gorgeous in this game i wish snake wore his hair down more i genuinely think i grinned like a maniac every time i saw his beautiful face on my screen 🤤🤤

> gameplay wise the game honestly doesn’t feel as bad as the first one (i was fucking struggling in the original)…fingers crossed the rest of the games will be somewhat similar difficulty to get through

now on to mgs3!! i’m so excited for snake eater yayyyyy

[princess-of-the-corner]

Glad you found that AU idea fascinating! Its probably my most well developed conceptually even if the plot structure is a mess XD Also slight correction it should have been Six-Teen Heroes cos pun.

The team is: Dragon - Kagami Tiger - Juleka Snake - Luka Horse - Nino Bee - Chloe Fox - Lila

Marinette will eventually get the Mouse, but Mullo divided themselves into several thousand when escaping Scarlet Sovereign (Gabriel) and took awhile to both come back together & pick a user.

There's some noted shifts in some of the powers because of both the changed circumstances & adapted world building/story needs.

Horse can do solo teleports, not just portals. Mouse can duplicate itself or multiply other things. Tiger is more like manufacturing an explosion via chemical reaction. Dragon is mostly the same, but it can channel lesser attacks through the sword. Snake is literal, you only get 1 second chance not infinite, but you also get excellent premonition. Bee can 'subjugate' objects, essentially imbuing them with magic that lets Chloe command & direct them. Turtle can make its wearer vastly more durable rather than just shields & also create a wider variety of protections and traps. Fox is a bit iffy, I keep oscillating on either it being able to tap into people's minds to make mirages, or to super charge illusions and make them real.

Also users can utilize their powers several times (Barring Second Chance) if they do more small scale versions of them. But doing so reduces their overall energy pool, meaning they may not be able to do a full power version.

For example:

Bee can sting five enemies for one minute, or one enemy for five minutes, or command objects more easily than it can bind living foe, ETC.

Horse can single person teleport and depending of mix of distance can do this many times, but long distances or too many & they become unable to open a portal.

NOTES:

Some other factors I like for the AU:

The Kwmai while not malevolent do have their own morals, ideals or goals not totally aligned with Fu's. Though all want to free their family. This informs some of their choices.

Tomoe Tsurugi has the butterfly and is opposed to Gabriel but is not on the Heroes side, if anything she wants to take them over or take their Miraculous. This is also why Kagami is in Paris early.

Lila was picked cos she's good at spinning lies at the drop of a hat & Trixx is amused. But Trixx also primarily uses the truth to manipulate people & is trying to basically trick Lila into genuine heroism.

There's a much stronger focus on trying to reduce civilian causalities in this AU as there is no Miracle Cure available. So the team tends to be divided up into the main fighters & emergency evacuation/defense.

Scarlet Sovereign mostly uses what he calls Charm Constructs at first & later upgrades to "Shikigami". The former involve using a charm to transform a mundane objects into an automaton, while the latter is basically creating a quasi magic 'spirit' to fight for him.

Debating Audrey having the Peacock and doing her own thing with a fixed version, or otherwise being a problem too, but not sure.

One theme I want to explore is how secret identity and powers affects behavior.

Like Chloe as Queen Bee is much more responsible and respectable, but this does not bleed over into her civilian life for awhile. Or how Juleka feels so confident as Tigress she gives up on pursuing Rose as herself & tries to do so as a hero exclusively. Or how Nino is not above utilizing the Horse for more childish or selfish ends, but also sort of questions if power corrupts, ETC.

All of them have identity, self esteem, trauma or behavioral issues is what I am getting at XD

Oh dope!

[graveyard-party666]

Blood & Wine

The calm before the storm

I started writing this chapter in May. I tried finishing it in one week but as you can tell i couldn't. I only finished it a few weeks ago.

You can certainly tell that different parts of that chapter were written in different time and in different mental state. Also, I'm introducing my new OC here.

I honestly don't really like how it came out but it is what it is. You can call it a filler chapter.

Yes, it's long. Probably the longest chapter I've written.

Adult life brings so much obstacles. That Red understood when it turned or that she needs to talk to stupid people in order to work. Unfortunate.  Another thing Red learned during her work as a psychologist is the fact that you can't put your expectations too high, never tell your clients about the expectations or promise them the results. Because that's not how psychology works.

Another thing Red learned is the fact that having friends from different fields is very beneficial. As much as she would rather avoid all that military world, everything somehow leads to the military in the end. Even before she started working as a consultant for TF141 she had to work with a few soldiers who she still deeply respects.

Friendship offers a myriad of benefits for humans that extend far beyond mere social interaction. Firstly, friendships provide a crucial source of emotional support. Whether celebrating triumphs or weathering challenges, friends offer a listening ear, empathy, and understanding, which can help individuals navigate the complexities of life with greater ease.

Moreover, friendships contribute to reducing stress levels and enhancing overall mental well-being. Spending time with friends promotes the release of feel-good hormones like oxytocin and serotonin, which can alleviate feelings of loneliness and anxiety. This, in turn, fosters a sense of happiness and contentment.

Furthermore, friendships serve as catalysts for personal growth and development. Through interactions with friends, individuals gain new perspectives, receive constructive feedback, and engage in self-reflection, which are essential components of self-improvement. Whether through shared experiences or intellectual discussions, friendships facilitate learning and expansion of one's worldview.

Social connection is a fundamental human need, and friendships fulfill this need by providing a sense of belonging and acceptance. Feeling connected to others fosters a sense of community and strengthens interpersonal bonds, which can bolster self-esteem and confidence.

During times of adversity, friendships become invaluable resources for resilience. Having a support network of friends can help individuals cope with challenges, providing encouragement, motivation, and practical assistance when needed most. Knowing that one is not alone in facing life's trials can instill a sense of hope and perseverance.

In summary, friendships enrich our lives in myriad ways, offering emotional support, reducing stress, fostering personal growth, enhancing social connection, and bolstering resilience. Investing in meaningful friendships is not only enjoyable but also essential for nurturing our overall well-being and fulfillment.

Or at least that's what psychology books say.

To Red friendship is something nobody could ever put in words or explain.

Friendship, she pondered, was a tapestry woven from moments shared, laughter echoing through the halls of memory, and the silent understanding between souls. It was the comforting presence on a dark night, the unwavering support during turbulent times, and the joy found in simple companionship.

To her, friendship was more than just a bond; it was a lifeline, a beacon of light guiding her through the darkest of storms. And as she stood there, enveloped by the tranquil beauty of the night, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the cherished friends who had become her family, her anchors in an ever-changing world.

Too poetic, isn't it? That's why it's better not to talk about it.

What she knew exactly is that friend will always help, always warn you. That's how she was. That's what she asks from people.

Since professor Benar started helping her with profile, those thoughts about friendship and its meaning somehow became much more constant.

The weird gut feeling that was eating her up almost every day was getting unbearable. Something didn't feel right. It's as if that case was much deeper than she thought and then everyone else thought.

Her friendship with the soldiers of Task Force 141 can be called strange, incomprehensible, naive. But Red doesn’t care much about what their friendship might be called. But the relationship with the professor can hardly be called friendship. Yes, perhaps Red has become paranoid, but for some reason the appearance of her so respected professor raises a lot of questions, but only for her.

The professor always seemed to be watching the girl's slightest movement.  He is a genius, a professional, and Red has learned to analyze any of his words or actions, looking for hidden subtext. Abel Benar was not one to do or say anything just for the sake of it. And he himself believed that there was some kind of secret meaning in everything.

Why did he came now?

Red sat in her office, the soft ticking of the clock on the wall marking the passage of time. Her office was a sanctuary of calm, with shelves lined with books on psychology, a well-worn leather couch for patients, and her desk neatly organized. Yet, despite the serenity of her surroundings, her mind was anything but calm. She leaned back in her chair, her eyes unfocused as she stared at a spot on the ceiling, lost in thought.

Hassan's file lay open on her desk, the pages filled with notes, transcripts, and psychological evaluations. A name that had become synonymous with terror in the media, was her latest and most challenging case. The more she delved into his mind, the more she felt an unsettling, nagging sensation in her gut that there was something much deeper and more complex at play.

She flipped through the pages, her eyes scanning the meticulously detailed notes. Hassan's background was filled with trauma, loss, and radicalization, a story all too common in the profiles of terrorists. But there were inconsistencies, fragments of his story that didn't quite fit. Red couldn't shake the feeling that Hassan wasn't just a product of his environment; there was something else, something unseen that was influencing him.

Red turned her chair towards the window, looking out at the city skyline. Her instincts had never led her astray before. She had a talent for seeing the patterns that others missed, for understanding the hidden motives behind human behavior. And her instincts were screaming at her now that there was more to Hassan's story than met the eye.

Reaching for her phone, Red dialed the number of her contact. She only had a few minutes before professor Benar comes back. And the last thing she wants right now is getting him into her assumptions based on intuition. So she called that one person. The person she could trust, the soldier who can be trust. The one who she had an unlike friendship with. Who knows not to call her by her name.

She needed more information, more pieces of the puzzle to fit together. As she waited for the call to connect, she glanced back at Hassan's file, her resolve hardening. She would get to the bottom of this, no matter how deep she had to dig.

Because Red knew that understanding Hassan wasn't just about profiling a terrorist. It was about uncovering a truth that could prevent future atrocities, about seeing the humanity even in those society deemed monsters. And her gut told her that the truth about Hassan was far more complicated and far more important than anyone realized.

The phone clicked as the line connected, and Red steeled herself for the conversation ahead. She would follow her instincts, no matter where they led her, because sometimes the mind's darkest corners held the key to understanding, and she was determined to unlock it.

As the phone rang, Red glanced back at Hassan's file, her resolve hardening.

"Hey, Red," came Major Adam Black's deep, steady voice on the other end of the line. "Long time no hear. What’s up?"

"Adam," she began, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the seriousness of the situation. "I will be talking quickly. I need your help. I'm working on infamous terrorist's psychological profile, and there's something off. I can't put my finger on it, but my gut is telling me there's more to this than anyone realizes."

"Figures you'd call with a puzzle," Adam chuckled, a warm, familiar sound. "You always did love the tricky ones. What’s the scoop?"

"I need more information," she said. "There are gaps in his story, inconsistencies that don't make sense. I think it's important. I think it's something bigger than CIA thinks it is."

"Intriguing," Adam replied, his tone growing more serious. "Alright, send me everything you have. I’ll reach out to some contacts. We'll crack this together."

"Thanks, Adam," Red said, relief washing over her. "I knew I could count on you."

"Always," he said, the smile evident in his voice. "I missed this, you know? Stay safe, Red. We'll get to the bottom of this."

As she ended the call, Red felt a renewed sense of determination. She would follow her instincts, no matter where they led her, because sometimes the mind's darkest corners held the key to understanding, and she was determined to unlock it.

She's alone in this.

The sudden feeling of anxiety washed over Red as she started thinking about this whole ordeal. There is the certain connection in everything, the pattern is obvious yet confusing.

Working with professor was easy, he never once made Red feel like she's not smart enough. But the team kept its distance from him which were understandable. They didn't trust Red at first too, probably still don't trust her completely.

Red glanced at the clock for what felt like the hundredth time that afternoon. The day had dragged on, with deadlines piling up and meetings blending into one another. She wasn’t alone in her longing for the workday to end. Red could feel the same restlessness in the air from her colleagues, all of them itching to close their laptops with unfinished reports and escape the monotony of the HQ.

What kept her going was the thought of the evening ahead—a moment when the day would finally end, and she could unwind with the people she had shared this long day with. To listen Price's stories, to try and mediate between Gaz and Soap's bickering, to sit in silence with Ghost. There was something comforting about the idea of sitting together, laughing over casual conversation, and raising a glass at the end of it all. Red could almost taste the drink she would share with them, the laughter that would echo across the table, and the sense of relief that would come when they were no longer coworkers, but just friends, relaxing after a long day. And maybe she would even forget about her insecurities and believe for a moment that they trust her.

Red tapped her fingers against the desk, her mind drifting away from the spreadsheets and emails demanding her attention. Outside, the golden light of early evening was already filtering through the windows, signaling the end of the day was near. She sighed, shifting in her seat, knowing there were still a few more tasks to check off before she could truly relax. But her thoughts kept returning to the same place: the moment when work would finally be over.

She could already picture it in her head—how she and her colleagues would gather at their favorite spot down the street. The usual post-work ritual, where they would trade in the stress of the HQ for the easy comfort of shared drinks and stories. Red liked these moments the most, when the formalities of the workday faded away and they could just be themselves. There was a sense of camaraderie that only seemed to emerge when the workday was behind them, as if the exhaustion of the hours before somehow strengthened their bond.

Red imagined the laughter bubbling up as someone made a joke, or the way a cold drink felt in hand after a day of constant work. She wanted to feel that sense of release, the collective sigh they would all share as they eased into the evening, knowing that for a little while, the responsibilities of tomorrow could wait. In those moments, with the warmth of her colleagues around her and the sharp bite of a drink on her tongue, Red always felt a little more alive, as if the whole day had been leading up to this one point of connection and relief.

As the clock finally approached the end of the shift, the office buzzed with a sense of impending freedom. Red's thoughts were already dancing around the idea of drinks with her colleagues when the door swung open with a creak. In walked Soap, his unmistakable presence lighting up the room. Readheaded woman still couldn't understand how him and the rest became such an important part of her life.

“Come on, Red!” he called out, his thick Scottish accent slicing through the chatter. “Are ye gonna sit there all day or what? The pub’s waitin’!”

Red looked up, her anticipation of the evening sparking into excitement at his familiar, boisterous tone. Soap had a knack for bringing energy wherever he went, and his playful urgency made her smile.

“Alright, alright, I’m coming!” she replied, quickly gathering her things. He leaned against her desk, arms crossed, grinning as he waited, clearly amused by her flustered pace.

“Ye’ve been workin’ like a dog today with that professor of yours,” he teased, his eyes twinkling. “A wee break’s long overdue. The others will be there already, drinkin’ our share!”

With a final glance at the clock, Red felt the last vestiges of the workday melt away. Soap’s enthusiasm was contagious, and she felt a rush of relief and eagerness to escape the office confines. As she rushed to join him, Soap stepped back, gesturing dramatically toward the door as if it were a grand entrance.

“After ye, lass!” he said with a mock bow, and they both laughed, ready to leave the workday behind and embrace the evening ahead.

The pub wasn't busy, woman could see why Task Force's soldiers prefer this place. It's peaceful. The blues plays softly in the back, some posters on the walls. Feels cool.

As Red and Soap stepped into the dimly lit pub, the warm atmosphere enveloped them like a welcoming embrace.

“Look who finally made it!” chuckled Gaz from their usual corner table, raising his glass in a cheerful toast. Captain Price sat beside him, a knowing smile on his face as he took a sip of his drink. Ghost leaned back in his chair, his signature skull mask partially obscuring his expression, but Red couldn’t shake the sense of intensity that surrounded him.

“Hope ye didn’t wait long,” Soap said, swaggering toward the table with an exaggerated air. Red followed, feeling the excitement of the evening lift her spirits.

“Not at all. We saved a spot for you two,” Price replied, gesturing to the empty seats. Red slid into the booth next to Ghost, acutely aware of how close they were. His presence was comforting yet intimidating, making it hard to focus on anything else.

The conversation flowed easily as drinks were poured and stories exchanged. Soap regaled them with tales of the day’s mishaps, earning hearty laughter from Gaz and Price. Readhead joined in, her laughter ringing out, but her gaze would occasionally drift toward Ghost. He seemed quieter than the others, his eyes observing the interactions with a subtle intensity that intrigued her.

“You alright, Red?” Ghost suddenly asked, his voice low and steady, breaking through her thoughts. She blinked, surprised he had noticed her moment of silence.

“Yeah, just… enjoying the stories,” she replied, trying to keep her tone casual. She felt a warmth rise in her cheeks, hoping the dim light would mask her slight embarrassment.

'Good job... keep staring and embarrassing yourself,' psychologist couldn't help but scold herself.

“Ye’re too quiet for a night out,” Soap teased, nudging her. “What’s got yer attention?”

Red shot him a playful glare, grateful for the distraction. “Nothing, just thinking about how much work I’m going to have tomorrow,” she deflected, a smile on her lips.

“Ah, come on!” Gaz chimed in. “Leave the work behind for tonight! We’ve got drinks and good company. That’s what matters.”

Red nodded, trying to immerse herself in the moment. The night wore on, laughter growing louder as the drinks flowed freely, creating a sense of camaraderie that felt invigorating.

As the evening unfolded, psychologist felt a comfortable connection with her colleagues, Ghost included. His occasional glances in her direction made her heart race, but she pushed the feeling aside, focusing instead on the camaraderie and joy that filled the air. Ghost may have caught her eye more than once. For example, when he caught her dancing in her office... but she was determined not to read too much into it, especially knowing her issues with commitment. After all, it was just a night out with people she is working with, and woman intended to enjoy every minute of it.

As the night continued to unfold in the cozy pub, the atmosphere was filled with laughter and conversations. Captain Price leaned back in his chair, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Alright, lads,” he said, gaining the attention of everyone at the table. “I've got something to show you.”

He pulled out his phone, scrolling through photos until he landed on an old one. With a grin, he turned the screen toward the group. “Check this out."

The table leaned in, curiosity piqued. The image revealed a much younger Price in his Lieutenant days, looking surprisingly clean-shaven and almost boyish. His trademark cap was nowhere to be seen, and his blue eyes sparkled with youthful energy.

“Blimey, is that really you?” Soap exclaimed, barely containing his laughter. “You look like a completely different person without the beard!”

Gaz chuckled, unable to help himself. “You almost look… approachable!” he added playfully, his eyes dancing with amusement.

Price smirked, raising an eyebrow. “Approachable? I’ll have you know I was just as intimidating back then,” he shot back, feigning offense.

“Intimidating? You look like you just stepped off a school bus!” Gaz chimed in, shaking his head with a grin.

Even Ghost, who typically maintained his grumpy, stoic demeanor, chuckled softly at the sight. He tilted his head slightly as he examined the picture, a hint of a smile breaking through his usual composure. “Still had the same steely glare,” he remarked, his voice low but laced with amusement.

Then Red leaned in closer, squinting at the picture with mock seriousness. “Jesus Christ, Captain… you should have told me you're naked in that picture!” she exclaimed, the words slipping out before she could stop herself.

The table erupted into laughter, and Price’s eyes widened in playful shock. “I’m not naked!” he protested, trying to regain his composure. “It’s just a lack of facial hair, that’s all!”

“Right, right,” Red said with a smirk, enjoying the banter. “But seriously, it’s a whole new look for you.”

“Very funny,” Price replied, feigning annoyance but unable to hide his smile. “But you’ve got to admit, I was quite the dashing young officer.”

“Dashing?” Soap cackled. “More like fresh-faced! I can’t believe you went for the clean-shaven look. What were you thinkin’?”

Price shrugged, the laughter still bubbling around the table. “I was young and foolish, obviously. It was a different time—no need for the beard when I was trying to impress the brass.”

The group continued to laugh and share stories, the camaraderie flowing freely. Red felt a warmth spread through her, the memories and banter weaving a tapestry of friendship that made her heart feel full. Even Ghost’s rare chuckle added to the evening's lightheartedness, making it all the more enjoyable.

This felt... right. No professors, no terrorists. But the feeling that it was calm before the storm wasn't leaving Red's mind. The anxiety of what might come next was bothering her, and maybe she should listen to her doubts.

Dubito ergo cogito, cogito ergo sum.

Tag list: @cloudofbutterflies92 @chloekistune

[dolorum-magne]

never seen over the garden wall, do you think you could explain it a little and how it relates to your au? :)

You bet!

This will have spoilers for the shows plot, and possibly some slight spoilers for the comics. Might be pretty obvious, but just thought I'd add a disclaimer and a "read more" button anyways, just in case ^^

So, Over The Garden Wall was a cartoon network 10 episode long miniseries written by Patrick McHale that aired in November 2014.

A short plot synopsis of the show is that 2 brothers (Wirt and Greg) who get lost in a strange forest called The Unknown with no memory of how they got there, and throughout the show are trying to find their way home. They're joined by several other characters throughout the series, such as Beatrice- a talking bluebird , and the woodsman- a strange man with a weird attachment to a lantern that he keeps lit and warns the brothers that they need to leave the woods as soon as possible and to "beware The Beast" , The Beast being the is the main antagonist of the story. (who I think is the scariest cartoon villain ever btw hes so spooky)

Things just get stranger and darker as the show goes on.

There's a lot of interesting plot points in the show, characters they meet, and places they go throughout, but I don't want to spoil the whole thing so I wont go into too much detail about what exactly happens, but I do want to go into more depth on the characters, and then explain how the themes and characters of the show mesh with marble hornets in the au :)

So starting off with the main protagonists of the show, Wirt and Greg. Wirt is Gregs older brother (its never said exactly how old they are, but we do know that Wirt is in highschool, if I had to make a guess on their ages I would place Wirt somewhere between the ages of 14 and 15, and Greg somewhere between the ages of 8 and 10 personally)

Wirt is very anxious, and somewhat of a pessimistic realist, easily spooked and surprised, and I would say he has low self esteem. Greg is his younger half-brother and throughout the show while its obvious he cares very much about him, he does seem to hold some resentment, blaming him for them getting lost, and for things going wrong. Greg is the exact opposite of his older brother, very optimistic, outgoing, and confident and throughout brings out a more playful and jovial side to Wirt. He's much more intelligent than others give him credit for and often comes up with solutions to their problems.

None of the characters fit them exactly, but I plan to have Jay and Tim as the main protagonists of the story. Aspects of Wirt and Gregs characters will probably be mixed up in both, but I mostly want to try and keep their characterizations as they are in marble hornets.(though slightly different as this au actually takes place while they're all in college, so Tim will at least at first be slightly more closed off, and Jay will probably be less paranoid as an example.) I just think it would be very interesting to put them in that same situation, and I already have ideas on specific interactions I want between them.

Next up is Beatrice.

Beatrice is very emotionally closed off and secretive at first, but is a smart and headstrong character throughout, and throughout the show her relationship with the brothers evolves a lot. She convinces the boys to come with her to see "Adelaide of the Pasture - The good woman of the woods" claiming that she will help them get home. Part way through we learn that Beatrice was actually human once, but threw a rock at a bluebird and a witch cursed her and her whole family to become bluebirds, and she wont return to her family until she finds a way to turn them back. She made a deal with Adelaide that if she lured a child to her home to be her servant, then Adelaide would give her a pair of magic scissors, with which they could snip away their feathers and become human again. I find her a very interesting character, especially as her character develops throughout the show and she becomes more attached to the brothers.

I think Jessica would fit well here, as I like the idea of her joining Jay and Tim as they journey through The Unknown, and I think the characters personalities could fit well together.

Now the woodsman.

I'm probably the most proud of how this character concept will fit into the au.

The woodsman's job is to cut down the "Edelwood" trees (hollow twisted trees that seem to have faces), grind them into an oil, and use said oil to keep the lantern lit. The reason he constantly warns the boys of The Beast, telling them to not give up hope and to make it home as fast as they can, is because the woodsman knows The Beast personally. The "dark lantern" he carries actually belongs to The Beast, whom he struck a deal with. The woodsman believes that his daughter is dead, and that The Beast killed her, and tells the woodsman that he can put her soul into the lantern, and as long as he keeps it lit, that she will live on inside. The Beast stalks those who are lost and far from home, and if you give up hope, or fall ill in his woods, he turns them into trees. Specifically into Edelwood trees to be ground up and used as fuel for the lantern.

While he doesn't find out what the trees used to be until the end of the show and has his final confrontation with The Beast, he knows The Beast has it out for the boys and tries to point them away from it throughout, but they don't trust him because of his strange behavior and because of what they hear about the lantern he carries (a tavern keeper tells them "he who carries the dark lantern must be the beast." when talking about the beast, and bring up the woodsman at the mention of the lantern).

He later learns what the edelwood trees actually are, and also that his daughters soul was never in the lantern to begin with and that it was really The Beasts soul all along. At the very end, during the final credits we learn that his daughter was never even dead to begin with! That she was alive, and all that time she had been waiting at their family home for him to return, the home he never returned to once he was tricked by The Beast, unable to bring himself to return to it, believing it to be completely empty.

While he does technically work with The Beast, he outright despises it and does what he believes is best. For this reason, I think Alex fits perfectly here, and that he carries the lantern because he believes that Amy's soul is inside.

There are a few timeline things I need to work out because of this though, as in the show no time passes in the real world between when Wirt and Greg leave their own world (explaining as briefly as I can because this post is already so long lol, Wirt and Greg actually tumbled down a hill and land in a lake and fall unconscious. The Unknown is, as best as I can explain it, sort of a parallel world/limbo somewhere between life and death, Presumably, if they gave up hope and were claimed by The Beast and never made it home they would have drowned. Its very complicated and we actually still have absolutely no idea what The Unknown itself is, but we do know for certain that everything that happened there was real, and not just some strange dream.. although, they can and do visit the unknown in their dreams in the comics? Its very confusing lol) but Alex is obviously from Jay and Tims world, and would have been there for much longer than they were. I'm still unsure how he and Amy would have ended up there in the first place, or exactly how they were separated, but currently, I think that when the story starts from Jay and Tim's perspective, Amy and Alex probably mysteriously disappeared a week or two ago, and from Amy and Alex's perspectives they would have been stuck in the unknown for months.

Finally, The Beast.

I already explained most of what The Beast is above when talking about the woodsman. He's a silhouette in the shadows, singing eerily into the night to lure people too their dooms. The forest is his domain, and everything in it is his prey, and all who live there know this and fear him. He's also highly manipulative and deceitful.

one quote specifically sticks out to me that I think sums up how he acts very well is:

"No. There is only me. There is only my way. There is only the forest, and there is only surrender."

The character of the Beast is just perfect for The Operator. I considered possibly trying to mix the two but I think I may just keep The Beast as is, as its just too perfect. Also, I think that if the Operator had a voice and could speak, it would 100% sound like The Beast.

Collection of The Beasts voicelines in the show in case you're curious.

Btw, fun fact, the guy who voices him isn't actually a professional voice actor, hes an opera singer. I just think its very cool

There are a few other characters I'm still working on including in the story (mainly Brian/hoodie, but explaining that reaches more into comic territory and its difficult trying to work out how to blend the ideas in the comic and the show together.)

Anyways, that's the gist of the au, and about Over the Garden Wall itself! I cant recommend this show enough, its one of my all time favorite shows and I definitely recommend giving it a watch if you're into that kind of thing! Thanks for asking about it!

Apologies for any spelling/grammar mistakes, and for the length of this post lol. Grammar is not my strong suit and this took me about 3.5 hours to type up lol

if anyone has any other questions about the au, please ask me, I would love to answer them or hear any feedback/ideas!! Really if anyone has anything to say about this au at all, please tell me ^^

hope you have a lovely day/night!!

[elcor-thespian]

For the tarot ask, I was wondering about the livers and the star (if you have time)

Your rooks are so interesting!

Crying screaming up. I can't believe someone wants to hear about my children. Bless you.

The Lovers: Who is your Rook's most significant relationship within the Veilguard? How do they help Rook feel seen and understood?

I feel like it's cheating to use a romantic relationship for this. We're going to go deeper.

Nasreen Aldwir and Nephele Mercer

I'm actually going to go past the obvious too and not say Nasreen and Aleksei. Nasreen and Aleksei are essentially siblings, because they were raised together from the time Nasreen was about 11 to 18. But they've been estranged for several years, and while they do get to that point again by the end of the game, Nasreen harbors a lot of resentment towards Aleksei and she won't confide in him at first the way she used to.

Nasreen definitely sees Bellara as a mentor, which makes it all the more complicated when Aleksei joins and starts flirting with her. But she has a really hard time making friends, and I don't think she would classify anyone in the Veil Jumpers as such. Similarly, Nephele has been a Shadow Dragon for much longer than Paloma, and Paloma looks up to her a lot, and idolizes her (much more so than Bellara and Nasreen). I don't think Nephele notices this at all.

In my canon, each of my 7 "Rooks" were independently agents of Varric's that he would call on at different times for different reasons. When the game opens, Nephele, Elspeth, and Paloma are the ones with Varric, with Nephele being the one that the game opens on in the bar, and the one that disrupts the ritual and becomes the protagonist. The next day or the day after they go to Arlathan, where they pick up Nasreen and Bellara (and then Brenna in D'Meta's Crossing).

Nephele is great at making surface level friends, but doesn't allow people to get very deep with her. But for some reason these two just locked eyes and immediately got each other. You ever have that with a friend? Like, thank god, someone who's freak matches my freak (platonically).

Nephele opens up to Nasreen in ways she hasn't with anyone before (although not quite as much as she eventually does with Lucanis), and she just instinctively trusts that Nasreen will listen without judgement and not share anything she tells her. Nasreen has never had a female friend, and can talk with her about things she's never had anyone to talk to about before, especially when she starts to develop feelings for Emmrich. Nasreen has no dating history and is very much of her depth. Nephele is a professional flirt. In many ways their relationship is very big sister, little sister.

Aleksei Laidir, Konstantin Ingellvar, and Paloma

I am so obsessed with these three's dynamic it's not even funny.

Both Konstantin and Paloma are very quiet, apparently stoic people for different reasons. Paloma is a deeply traumatized person (ex-Saarebas), who desperately wants to engage but has no experience in having conversations or making friends. She will think so deeply about exactly what she wants to say, that oftentimes the conversation will move on before she can say it and so she ends up saying nothing. She's not nervous about how people will take the things she says, she literally had her mouth sewn shut for years and doesn't have the practice with forming words. When she does eventually speak, it's startles people since they've often forgotten that she's still there.

Konstantin is the poster child for low self esteem and social anxiety. He is so worried about what people think about him, and he desperately wants to make a good impression. Through no fault of his own, his size (7'2" Qunari brick shithouse) means that he is often banging in to things or breaking things and he is just trying to get through life as unobtrusively as possible. So, like Paloma (and Nasreen, and Nephele) but for different reasons, he doesn't have any close friends.

Aleksei is the polar opposite. This ADHD king has never thought once about something he's said or done, let alone twice. He is constantly fucking up and as long as it all works out in the end, that's a win. He is very socially capable, like Nephele, and the two of them can charm their way in or out of any interaction.

Konstantin is sort of an assistant/bodyguard for Emmrich (Emmrich would say that he's his mentor, but Konstantin feels bashful about that term because he isn't a mage so he really tries to downplay it), and comes with him when he gets recruited.

The day they move to the Lighthouse, Konstantin is unpacking his and Emmrich's things, and Aleksei decides he's going to help. He's been at the Lighthouse for like a week now and basically no one has asked him to do anything useful or important, so he's feeling very superfluous. This leads to a lot of hijinks because a lot of what needs unpacking and sorting through is books, correspondence, notes, etc. and Aleksei can baaaarrrely read. He doesn't want anyone to know, so he does a lot of picking things up, putting them down in random places, rearranging piles indiscriminately, and just generally making things take 10x longer than they needed to.

However Konstantin really doesn't notice because the whole time Aleksei is chattering away: introducing himself, giving the backstory of what Konstantin has missed so far, and gossiping about the other companions. It's probably the longest anyone has ever spoke to Konstantin. And what's more he asks lots of questions, which makes it easier for Konstantin to engage than if he had to come up with talking points himself. And Aleksei seems GENUINELY interested in what he has to say. So what if it takes them 6 hours to put away a few books?

In the same way that Nephele and Nasreen are the embodiment of the importance of female friendships, Konstantin and Aleksei are absolutely what a non-toxic male friendship looks like. Aleksei is constantly including Konstantin in conversations and advocating for him, and Konstantin would absolutely die for this boy.

Ok so where does Paloma come in. This is all like two days after the dragon attacks on Minrathous and Treviso. Paloma had been really confident in her role in this as a Shadow Dragon, and had just been tagging along with whatever Neve and Nephele were doing (side note: I picked the name Nephele before we knew about the companions and I refuse to change it. Sometimes people in friend groups have similar sounding names). However, when Nephele helps Treviso and Neve leaves the Lighthouse, it's a lot less clear what Paloma is supposed to be doing. She's still at the Lighthouse, but she's going to Minrathous during the day to help with relief efforts, but she still very much idolizes Nephele and wants to support her. It's all very muddled and the vibes are BAD. Paloma isn't used to making decisions, she's used to being told where to go.

Konstantin and Aleksei are hanging out most of the time now and at one point a couple days in Paloma hears them while walking by Konstantin's room and she lingers in the doorway for just a second. Aleksei immediately invites her in and gives her the same welcoming treatment (even though Paloma has technically been on the team longer than him).

So now we have two giant Qunari sitting criss cross applesauce on the floor while Aleksei is basically doing the yapping of 6 people. And Konstantin and Paloma just kind of keep exchanging looks like "What is happening and how did we get here?". But they roll with it, and before you know it they've both been surgically attached to this small boy. Who they keep having to stop from blowing himself up on a daily basis.

Aleksei is so important to them because he lets them engage at their own pace without ever showing any judgement and without any awkward silences. They both end up talking more in those hang out sessions than they probably ever have in their lives.

Meanwhile, Paloma and Konstantin's relationship is so important that it makes me sick. Konstantin has literally never known another Qunari. They do pick up Taash pretty soon after this but they are not nearly as easy to get to know. Konstantin clings to Paloma (not literally, Paloma's not a touchy person) because he finally has someone else around that at least looks like him, and for the most part acts like him. They actually don't have that similar of personalities, but it's enough.

Paloma, conversely, grew up primarily around Qunari (yes, we're using the word Qunari to describe specifically people that look like her, obviously any person of any race can technically be Qunari), and she had a BAD time. Her relationship with her heritage is very fraught, and she has made a point to avoid any Qunari since leaving the Qun (which is easy to do in Minrathous). So it's very healing to have this positive relationship with another Qunari who is very sweet and quiet and kind, and also is very comfortable with magic having grown up in the Necropolis. Paloma ends up romancing Taash, and I don't think she would have had the ability to do that without first forming that friendship with Konstantin.

Brenna Thorne and Elspeth de Riva

We're in the home stretch folks. Brenna and Elspeth have very similar personalities, and are on the same page about a lot of things. They are both warriors and spend a lot of time training together. They aren't particularly emotionally close with each other for the bulk of the game. I don't think most people get that close to either one of them.

However, when Davrin dies, Elspeth refuses to leave Brenna alone. She sits with her at all hours, and she and Lace make a blanket fort for the three of them to sleep in in Harding's room (other people join the blanket fort from time to time during the time Nephele is in the fade prison. Especially Aleksei, who is having a Bad Time dealing with Bellara's disappearance). Most of the time they don't talk. Sometimes they do. But Brenna is never alone.

Brenna's family disowned her when she became a Warden, which she's never really let her self dwell on. She's used to dealing with everything by herself. She was just starting to get to the point with Davrin where she saw herself letting someone in, and that was taken away from her. If no one had been there to step up, Brenna probably would not have recovered. She absolutely would have died in the final battle. But she realizes that this isn't just a group of people that she happens to be fighting with right now. She finally has a family again. And she's going to fight to protect that.

Which brings us to

The Star: When things get dark, what gives Rook hope?

I'm going to sum it all up here. Obviously, the entire Veilguard is a found family. But specifically these 7 come to view each other as siblings. They are inextricably connected. Throughout the game and beyond, they know at each of these people will support them unconditionally, and most of them have never had a family to count on before, and those that have haven't had them for a long time. These people are used to being their own protector, and finally have someone to rely on. They would each happily fight to protect that peace.

[blushcoloreddreams]

Glow up 2024 - introduction / What is a glow up?

With the new years approaching, it’s time to reflect upon your life, what happened in the previous year and set goals to improve yourself. It’s also around this time that we hear incessantly about “glowing up” but what does that mean?

Glow up is a popular expression that refers to someone’s impressive transformation. Usually referring to their physical appearance, lifestyle or self confidence

This transformation can be the result of conscious changes like improving the way you dress, adopting a routine to take care of your health or your skin, consistent exercising or it can reflect an internal growth or emotional development. In summary, a glow up is a notable improvement in someone either internally or externally

So understand, I don’t want this to be just something you read, but something you reflect upon and take in for your life. Because The results you have in your life today, the life that you lead, in all senses is nothing more than the result of a sequence of choices that you have been taking on the past years.

Therefore, if your results are not that good, you must first learn to make decisions that will make you reap good results. These results are visible. A disorderly, messy life, focused on the wrong things, generates bad results that will influence everything.

Even when a woman is beautiful on the outside, if she has a disordered life she cannot be happy. Some area of ​​her life will be bad. Have you ever met a beautiful woman on the outside who is financially successful, but has never managed to have a good relationship? Or you've even met a woman who has a good relationship, but can't prosper financially and lives with low self-esteem because she doesn't look the way she wants to? Or even, that woman who has a lot of money, has a good relationship but suffers because she can't take care of herself? These are all signs of disorder in life. If life is messy, things are not in the right place and this will reflect on everything.

Want an example? Imagine a woman who came from a messy family and repeats this pattern. She has a romantic life as bad as her mother's and because of that, she makes bad decisions. She gets involved with multiple partners or enters into extremely toxic relationships. And so, she ends up feeling anxious, with low self-esteem and creates bad habits and compulsions. This way it is natural that she is not as bad as she would like to be, as well dressed as she would like to be or as well dressed as she would like to be. Ultimately, for anyone who sees this woman from the outside, she is not at her best. She's not as happy as she could be.

These series comes right here, to help you put order in your life. Cleaning the house, understand? The house is a metaphor for your inner life for your inner world. Putting your personal life in order so that this orderly life reflects on your outside world. I believe in constant steady growth and self-development and i want to take you in this journey with me

What i want this blog to be a place where you say "Okay, now I know how to live from now on, I know what I need and I know where I can and want to go. I know what is right to do and I know how to pursue what I want. I'm ready to become the best version of myself as a woman." If that's what you want then you've come to the right place.

Here you will acquire one of the things that is perhaps one of the most important things for a person: clarity. clarity about who you are, clarity about who you have become, clarity about who you will become

And I'm not talking about that nonsense about you need to know your objective, know from point A to point B. You've heard that many times and it doesn't work. Do you know why it doesn't work? Because most people's problem is not knowing where to go, it’s not point B. For most people, and it was like this a few years ago, it is being so lost that they don't even know what point A is. They don't have the self-knowledge and understanding of reality to know how they got to where they are.

You will discover what you think you need to do to become the most beautiful woman you know. And there lies one of the biggest problems of modern life. Most people cannot think about this, based on reality because there are many external influences pointing to the wrong paths, pointing to paths that seem like they will lead you to complete happiness but end up taking you to the opposite path, to an unhappy and incomplete life.

So I'm going to be forced to show you things, things you need to know before you become the happiest woman you know. Then you will understand the reality of what a woman is, you will understand why you were born the way you were born, what fulfills you as a woman, why men and women are so different and why these differences point the way to women's happiness.

The path to femininity has nothing to do with the series of wrong ideas that have been spread around, including through the media, over the years. The idea that a feminine woman doesn't work, just stays at home taking care of her husband and children although it is a possiiblity i want for my future is not the only one possible. In my personal experience, I realized that the more feminine a woman becomes, the more she has the resources to achieve professional success. The difference is that a feminine woman achieves all of this with much more ease and tranquility than that woman who thinks she will achieve everything with the strength of her arm.

Another completely wrong idea that people spread about femininity is that very feminine women don't think and don't have a life of their own. In fact, if you were born a woman, there is nothing more unique to you, nothing more essential to you than femininity. Which is very different from an artificial empowerment that comes through an aggressive and combative stance, such as a woman who tries to behave in the same ways as a man.

Even more wrong is the idea that femininity is some trick to find a rich husband and a weapon of manipulation or bargaining. Like exercising femininity, being yourself is something you do so that someone can pay your bills or give you some kind of benefit. Having femininity is not a costume for you to hold a male or a way for you to get compliments and flowers. You were born a woman and with a woman's body. So in fact femininity is its essence. It's what you have that's unique and special to offer the world. It's your nature. By understanding all of this, by understanding what femininity really is, you will better understand how relationships between people work, understand the lies they told you about being a woman. About money, career, relationships and then something very special will happen.

With a new year coming - although you can and you should always work on yourself - you will have the opportunity to review your history, to reorganize what you know about yourself. Make peace with your past with your family life. Put each person in their right place to get rid of all that weight you've been carrying for years. You can literally free yourself from the weight of your past. From the weight of carrying your parents' family history on your shoulders. The weight of guilty coming from your past relationships. Weight is the guilt you carry for every bad decision you've made in your life. And here comes the most important thing: you will review your path. Review your life based on reality, based on your essence, based on who you are and who you were born to be. And then you will create a design for your life. Draw the correct path you want to follow. Choose the life you need to live to become the happiest woman you know you are

And I'm not the one who's going to point that direction to you. You with solid knowledge will make better decisions for your life. You will be ready for the next chapters of a prosperous and happy life. If this is what you need, if this is what you came for, then come with me, take my hand and trust because now I am that friend that wants to grow with you that you have been looking for for so long. I wanna be with you to help you first grow into yourself and then into your dream life.