#how it's the responsibility of each generation

[nerdy-hyperfixations]

Listen, I love Fiddlestan as much as the next guy, but where did we start getting the idea Ford was cold and dismissive towards Fidds during their time working on the portal???

I could totally be wrong because I haven't read every single GF related thing (hell, my journals aren't decoded because I'm a slacker), but like??? The first time he saw him, he bought him his favorite snacks *and* a whole ass banjo and said he'd make it his mission that Fiddleford would be comfortable in his home.

They go adventuring together and talk about things like fashion trends and the future and go stargazing.

Ford is *so* happy when Fiddleford returns that he hugs him immediately. Abd then he feels bad that Fiddleford feels bad about his failing marriage that he throws him a holiday party even though he doesn't celebrate and hates the holidays honestly. And he put on Fiddlefords favorite song (which he despises and honestly? ME TOO FORD. I HAVE BEEF WITH THAT SONG) and drank seemingly spiked eggnog with him despite not usually liking to drink. So that he could make Fiddleford feel better.

He also just openly adores everything Fiddleford does. Maybe it's only in his journals. You could argue he doesn't say it out loud but, like, he exclusively describes him as impressive all of the time-

And I get where it's coming from in like a "oh he's a workaholic who has the pressure of Bill breathing down his neck that he has to be working on the portal 24/7." And like yeah, but in the pages he's a workaholic he's a workaholic practically begging Fiddleford to stay up with him because he loves working along side him. Fiddleford and him work *together.*

Like the page where they're sorta fighting with each other because Ford wants to work more its not "leave me alone Fiddleford, I have to do this" it's "hey! How come you won't stay up with me! Ugh this is so unfair that you're going to bed even though you know I plan to continue working for another hour."

I'm just saying if Fiddleford wanted to cuddle, I imagine Ford's response would be "Oh! Awesome, I love spending time with him 🥰🥰🥰" but he'd just end up using Fidds' back as a table for his studies. Or they'd do that thing where one of them is working on a desk and they sit on one chair in each other's arms.

And, while we're here, realistically? Emotionally stunted, slapped by more women than He's dated, "I can't cry in front of people, and the only thing I'm good for is my fists." Stanley Pines??? He's not cuddling shit. He's got that toxic masculinity ingrained into him. It doesn't matter how incredibly touch starved he is, cuddling is too emotionally intimate and "girly" for him. Honestly if Fiddleford tried to cuddle him he'd probably throw him in a headlock because he's also been on the streets for years now with people constantly trying to attack him.

And I'm not saying this to diss on Fiddlestan. Again, I *like* Fiddlestan! But when I read "Ford could never appreciate him like Stan could" I don't understand it.

They so clearly bonded well together, and if Ford truly was being an asshole (or not an asshole, but just generally unpleasant even when he wasn't possessed) the whole time, I doubt Fiddleford would've stayed. Nostalgia and physical attraction can only get you so far, and Fidds is already facing the horrors in Gravity Falls, Stanford has to be a hell of an amazing person to make someone want to stay. Like, he's a grown adult. Sure he really wanted to impress Ford and allotted himself to be "the tech guy to Ford's smarts" but if he wanted to leave, he could've. And there didn't seem to much keeping him there. Especially when he was having doubts on the portal.

[thedivinetarot]

Astro observation | Family Edition

This observations are made based on experience. You need to consider the environment you were raised in before considering if this resonates with you or not.

☆ I've realized that the conjunction between fire moons is explosive by the fire nature. Ex; someone have their moon in conjunct to someone else's moon in Aries. The nature of their feelings to each other can be unpredictable or unstable.

☆ Having one of your family members sun or moon specifically in your 4th house make you feel safe and seen with them.

☆ people with mars, Pluto or Saturn in their 4th house can indicate unstable home environment. If mars, then there was violence in the environment. If pluto then the 4th house person need to break generational trauma or he/she is the cycle breaker in the family. If saturn, then the environment was so structured and organized or parents might have high expectations of the child/ 4th house person or the mother or caregiver was so cold and distant emotionally.

☆ Uranus is the 4th house means that the person never settled down for a long time in one house during their childhood. Or they were the scapegoat or the black sheep in the family. I've also witnessed that they also got treated differently than their siblings.

☆ Having your moon or jupiter with good aspects (trine or sextile) with one of your siblings can make the relationship so addictive and sweet. Like this sibling make you feel so healed and at peace (you need to check other aspects).

☆ pluto square mars in the synastry between you and your parents/siblings indicates that the mars person were violent physically with pluto person. I've seen this in people who their caregiver was violent with them physically.

☆ Having your mars square mars of your caregiver can make you both do the same task differently. I've had this with my mother and when I help her she ask me to do the task in different way than I usually do. It can be frustrating honestly each one of us thinks she is right or her way is the right way.

☆ Having your father's sun in your venus or 1st house or ascendant can make you the golden child for him. Usually the sun person spoils the venus person a lot.

☆ Lilith in your siblings chart can tell you what exactly they are jealous of. If your siblings Lilith fell into your 7th house then she or he might be jealous of your social or romantic relationships. If their Lilith fell in your 1st house then they might be jealous of how you look or your beauty or your personality or your confidence.

☆ Venus or moon square pluto with siblings can make them very possessive of you. Like you are this person who they can't live without and they get so mad and angry when you put boundaries. Guys I'm not joking I have this with my younger siblings and both of them literally compete for my affection and the are so possessive over me lol.

☆ Having your moon in trine with a siblings moon can make you understand their feelings easily.

☆ Having a sibling with a lot of opposition aspects in you chart (more than 4 aspects) can mean you either can't live without them or hate the ground they walk on. Also I've seen that this sibling can help you see any problem from a different angle.

☆ Saturn in the 1st house or Saturn conjunct the ascendant can make the person a child who carried too many responsibilities from a very young age. Like taking caring of younger siblings or parenting their own parents. This can be an indicator that the person who have this aspect is the oldest child (take what resonates).

☆ Siblings with the same mars sign can get irritated from the same things, which can be good or bad based on the other aspects.

☆ Your parent or siblings saturn in your 1st house or conjunct your ascendant can make them very critical of you. Like for ex. If someone's saturn in leo and you have a leo ascendant they can be very critical of your personality or confidence or choices. Another ex. If someone's saturn in gemini and you have gemini ascendant then the saturn person will be very critical of your ideas or neighbors or school friends or they can judge your communicating style.

☆ If you have your father's Lilith in your sun sign he can be very jealous or intimidated by you or your achievements which can lead to a lot of misunderstanding or even abuse.

☆ Your mars in your father's 1st house or conjunct his ascendant could indicate that the mars person can provoke the ascendant person easily, Which can lead into violent arguments.

☆ Your caregivers mercury square your moon can make them clueless of how you feel or the way they communicate their feelings make you very irritable.

☆ Saturn in the 10th house in the natal chart can indicate a very strict father figure. Also another thing is your father might have been very critical of you or giving you hateful comments.

☆ If you have your planets in your mother's 5th house; most of your relationship with her is either encouraging you to follow your dreams/ passion OR spent a lot of time with you doing fun stuff (watching movies, going to restaurants, shopping, having coffee together etc..).

☆ I know many people mentioned this before but I will mention it again anyways. Saturn in cancer means a very dry and unhealthy relationship with the mother. The native's mother might have been cold and distant towards the child or the house person. And the effect can be greater if saturn in cancer was in the 1st house and 4th house specifically.

☆ Moon in Aries, Scorpio, Aquarius, Capricorn and gemini have a very unhealthy relationship with their mother. Their mother either were too detached from them or too attached with no personal space. Also these moons can indicates emotionally unstable individuals.

☆ I've seen this alot but idk if you guys have experienced this. Anyways, a Taurus sun sister can always fight with Cancer sun brother. They always be like: I told you not to use my facial cleanser and he be like: but it smells so good🙄.

☆ Mercury in virgo for a sibling can make them very critical of your ideas especially if you have air or water mercury. These natives with virgo mercury can make you feel dumb honestly.

☆ Mercury opposition in synastry with a sibling can make both natives aware of how different their style of communication or seeing any subject differently.

☆ Your siblings Venus or moon in your 1st house can make them very very generous with you. Like they can give you A LOT of stuff or food or even share clothes with you.

☆ Siblings with virgo and taurus sun are very generous also. They share alot of their possessions with you. They can even give you money, food, clothes. (If they love you).

☆ Siblings with Leo placements are very generous too. They are the sugar daddy/mommy in the family.

☆ Siblings with libra placements loooovveee to be spoiled by others. And most of the time they can be the diplomats in their family when two people are fighting.

☆ Aries placements can either be your biggest bully, selfish and uncaring sibling OR the most responsible and caring one there's no in between.

☆ Siblings with Sagittarius placements or Sagittarius dominate are fun to be around. But their anger can be unpredictable.

☆ No one and I said no one can understand you more than the sibling who have their sun in your ascendant. They just get you.

Post date: 17th of sep/2024-Tue

* Feedback is appreciated

How many of them did resonate with you?

Thank you for reading this ❤

[kittyfrisk9]

IdeaDpxDc: A nice moment with a sleep demon.

Note: Sorry, I don't know English, so please use a translator. I apologize if you don't get the idea.

Dead On Main.

---

Danny accidentally absorbed some of Nocturn's powers (like in the Vortex episode), and now, with these new temporary abilities, why not take advantage of them? Like a kid with a new toy, Danny (or should I say Phantom: with a new design) has fun every night going from dream to dream.

The dream world is so strange! Without the constant threat of a dream entity trying to take over the world and all that. Now he has fun exploring the most unusual parts of his classmates' subconscious, or anyone's in general.

Even though he knows he shouldn't be doing this (after all, he's a responsible adult now), spying on other people's dreams isn't exactly something a mature person would do.

On the other hand, Danny is the responsible adult; Phantom is the one who uses his new powers recklessly. Plus, no one in Gotham knows who Phantom is, and at the end of the day, he's not hurting anyone. Point in his favor!

It was all fun and games… until he felt it: the unpleasant taste of a nightmare, distressing and desperate. Phantom knows he has to intervene, because, unlike Nocturn, he does not delight in the suffering of others.

So he goes. And what he sees shocks him.

Resonant laughter of a psychopath, the constant pain of flesh being beaten, and the devastating reminder that no one came to help. Phantom doesn't just see it, he feels it. Gross. What is this? Why would anyone be hurting a child? Then he understands: this is not just a nightmare, it's a memory, and someone is suffering from reliving it.

He absolutely will not allow this nightmare to continue.

...

Jason hasn't been having good days lately, mostly because instead of going to therapy, he's chosen to sweep his trauma under the rug and aggressively throw himself into crime-fighting. He's not good at dealing with his emotions, especially when he's been tormented by the same damn nightmare over and over again.

He knows the script by heart, he knows how it will end, but he still feels the same fear as the first time.

His head hurts.

"No, not again," he thinks in terror. Once again, he's tied up, unable to move or call for help. It's colder than he remembers. The walls have a grotesque tint, with laughter written in every corner. But the worst thing is the silence… until the sound of clashing metal begins to resonate.

Everything is a thousand times worse. He's sure the original scenario wasn't like this, but his terrified mind refuses to accept it.

The metallic sound resonates louder, each crash rumbling in Jason's chest. His breathing quickens, and then he hears it: that laugh.

A deep, distorted echo of laughter that seems to come from every direction. The laughter snakes around the grotesque walls, filled with the same letters that repeat his agony. “Ha… ha… ha…” fills the air, louder with each invisible step that approaches.

Then, he appears.

It’s not the Joker he remembers from that fateful night. This one is worse. Bigger, more deformed, with a smile that seems to tear at his own face. The colors of his suit are darker, more twisted. It’s as if his mind has amplified him, made him more monstrous.

“My, my, how little Robin has grown? But… something remains the same, doesn’t it? No matter how many times you live it, it always ends the same way. And to think that you were my greatest work of art!”

His voice is mocking, but behind the mockery is pure cruelty, a wicked amusement that lights up in those crazy eyes.

The Joker leans towards Jason, his face invading the small distance between them. The sound of metal continues to echo, and Jason knows what's coming next.

"Oh, I almost forgot…" he says, pulling out of nowhere an iron crowbar that gleams in the dim light of the nightmare. "It wouldn't be a good memory without this, would it?"

That's when the pain begins. Jason doesn't want to scream, and he won't. Even though that abominable creature is just a representation of his killer, he won't give him the luxury of listening to him suffer. The blows continue, and Jason bites his tongue. It's just a nightmare, it's not real… it's not real.

It's not real.

It's not real.

It's not-

"Hey… Are you okay?" he hears him ask. His shocked gaze turns to where the clown should be and discovers that he's gone. In his place, there's a handsome young man: short, slightly messy black hair, expressive purple eyes, and a body almost completely shrouded in dark shadows.

The mysterious man had a cosmic air about him, surrounded by a mix of special effects of stars and galaxies. Something magical.

And new.

Jason honestly doesn't know what he's seeing, or why he's seeing it. "What?" he says, unable to find another word to describe his situation.

The entity laughs at his stunned state, a reassuring echo very different from the joker's laughter. Then he snaps his fingers, and suddenly he's no longer in that ugly room. He's now in a field of flowers, beautiful and vibrant, looking out at a starry sky.

Okay, this is the part where he asks his brain how he went from being in a nightmare to being with a handsome guy under the stars, hands free and untethered.

"Relax, you're not crazy," the being says as he lies back in the grass. “You were in pain, and I didn’t like it, so I got you out of there. Don’t worry, that abomination won’t bother you again.”

Jason blinks twice, bewildered, not understanding anything. “You… saved me?”

“You could say yes.”

“Why?” He shakes his head. “No, wait, that’s not the question. Who…?” Looking back at the being, he decides to change his question: “What are you?”

He seems to have taken the being by surprise.

It clasps its hands together as it looks up at the sky, trying to act normal. Jason narrows his eyes. “You can call me Void.”

“Did you just make up that name?”

The being looks away, seemingly embarrassed at being found out. “Yeah…” And suddenly exclaims, “Ah, ancients! I'm not supposed to be doing this, much less with one of the bats."

That last sentence had given away more than it should have.

"Hey, how about we admire the night view and then pretend this never happened?" Void suggested with a hopeful smile, turning to Jason.

Maybe it was the soft scent of the flowers, the calm atmosphere, or just the tiredness after so many nights of endless nightmares, but Jason, without thinking too much about it, walked over, lay down next to Void on the grass, and said, "No."

He needed a break.

...

And that's how Jason befriended a dream demon. And how Danny pretended to be a dream demon until Nocturn's powers wore off. He couldn't let the bats find out his identity.

After that, they spent more time together, fell in love, there was drama and there was closure. In the middle of all that, Danny started having tea with Alfred in the dream world, and at other times, he had fun bothering the other bats in their dreams.

But that's another story.

---

Note: Sorry, I don't know English, so please use a translator. I apologize if you don't get the idea.

[diyasgarden]

kisses :3

Art loves giving and receiving forehead kisses. He finds the gesture to be right on the line between intimate and sweet. He likes it when you're both just sitting down next to each other or when one of you has to go somewhere. He will do it anywhere and everywhere and multiple times.

Tashi loves kissing in general. She will have a full on make out session with you, with no intention of escalating it to sex. She just enjoys how close it feels when both of you are kissing. Her hands running up and down your body, so close together that you may as well just merge into one. It's just satisfying to her. She also loves it when you give her flying kisses when she walks away. She'll roll her eyes in response, but with a grin that reveals just how much she likes it.

Patrick will kiss you anywhere and everywhere. There is probably not one part of your body that he hasn't kissed. He's also the type of annoying to kiss your thighs and your cunt before giving head, just to tease you bit more (but that's a story for another time). He really loves when you give him kisses on his cheek. He loves making out with you (duh), but something about you giving him a kiss on the cheek feels comforting. Especially if you're both just laying down next to each other. He probably gets slightly cranky if you walk away from him without giving him one, because he is clingy like that.

[bluetoes-andstuff]

Ape and Flow

Caesar x Human!Reader

Summary: You’re moody. Caesar’s not sure what to do to fix it.

Word Count: 5k

Rating: General

Warning: PMS stuff

***You guys voted, so here ya go. Honestly wasn’t expecting to have to do it from Caesars perspective, but I accepted the challenge, trying not to make the reader seem too insane lol. This one got away from me so Enjoy***

The sun peeked through the dense fog, reflecting a soft hue of the early morning light across the forest floor. Caesar stood at the edge of his home, scanning the horizon. The morning was serene, the air crisp and filled with the sounds of nature waking up. It was his favorite time of day; a moment of serenity before the day's responsibilities swept him up with unending activity.

His thoughts drifted to you, as they usually do in these quiet moments. Things between the two of you were slowly beginning to develop. Caesar has been more than forward with his intentions, and he feels like you were finally beginning to reciprocate his feelings. Though sometimes he wonders if you realize how serious he is with his intent on courtship. The treasures he leaves outside your home seem to bring no more satisfaction or attachment than the sentiments Rocket or Tinker would bestow on you through the day. And his efforts to provide you with companionship and comfort seem no more appreciated than Maurice’s same platonic attempts.

Of course, with his duties to the colony he can’t exactly dedicate every moment of his day to spending with you, but he most definitely makes an effort to spend every spare moment he can at your side, claiming you in the eyes of the other apes, that you were his for the taking. You spend most of your time with the other females or with Maurice and the young ones, but most every male knew who you belonged to even if you yourself were not quite aware yet.

That in itself brought Caesar enough satisfaction and contentment, knowing no one else had their eyes on you. Not that they would, considering most every ape thought it absurd his attraction to you.

And despite both of your differing responsibilities, Caesar found himself drawn to your side more and more each passing day. He kept finding excuses to accompany you on your scavenging adventures, and your gardening chores when he had nothing else pressing to do.

So because of your growing closeness and physical proximity… the past few days, Caesar had noticed a slight change in your interactions. The usual exuberance and chattering has been replaced with a more withdrawn moodiness. Your usual bright demeanor clouded by something he couldn’t quite identify. You laughed less, your smiles were more fleeting, and there was a tension in your movements that hadn’t been there before. He had tried to ask you about it, but you brushed off his concerns with a forced smile and a quick change of subject almost every time he branched the subject.

He considers himself to be quite an observant and considerate ape… so he knows this change in attitude is not something of his own thinking. It is a legitimate concern that keeps coming back to mind.

This only proves true later in the morning where the change becomes more pronounced. As Caesar prepares to join the hunting party, he glanced over at you sitting by the fire, staring into the flames with an abject frown. Your shoulders hunched and a tightness around your eyes screaming discomfort.

He hoots gently as he approaches on all fours, slowly coming into your line of sight as he signs slowly “Are you alright?”

You looked at him, your eyes meeting his for a brief moment before looking away. “I’m fine, Caesar. Just tired.”

He frowned, not convinced. “Something is bothering you,” he insists.

You sigh, running a hand through your hair. “It’s really nothing. Just… one of those days.”

Caesar nods slowly, though he wasn’t quite satisfied with that answer. Even though he wasn’t as close to you as he wished he was, he still had a good understanding of who you were and how you acted day to day, and you were most definitely not yourself. He knew there was more to it, but he also knew better than to push you when you weren't ready to talk.

“If you're sure….” He speaks slowly, reaching out to gently grasp one of your hands in his.

You give him a small, grateful smile. “I’m sure. Don’t worry about me.”

Both Koba and Spear call out for his attention and it forces him to withdraw from you with one last small exchange. He reaches forward for you to caress his arm and face as you usually do upon his departure, but you simply grab onto his fingers and force a smile before letting go with a simple squeeze. It may seem insignificant to anyone else there to witness it, but it was a drastic change in your usual exchange and Caesar can’t help but feel the craving for your usual affection and sentiment.

He slowly withdrew to join the hunting party, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. There had to be! He replayed your recent interactions in his mind, trying to piece together the puzzle. Your mood had been slowly shifting, and today it seemed to have reached a tipping point. He resolved to keep a closer eye on you, hoping to understand what was troubling you and how he could help, even if he had to force it out.

He got drawn into his usual duties, but his thoughts kept drifting back to you at every spare moment. His distractions through the morning almost cost the colony a kill or two, so he decided with a finality that he would seek you out as soon as he returned to end this contemplation…

Caesar returns to the camp after a successful hunt, carrying a bundle of fresh game on the back of his horse. He spotted you near the edge of the colony, outside the home you’ve been residing in the past few months. You sat on a wide stump, slumped forward, attempting to start a fire while muttering under your breath. Your movements were jerky and uncoordinated, your entire body clinging to a weird stiffness he had never seen you with before.

“Need help?” Caesar called slowly. He jumps down from his horse, handing it off to another ape to bring to the stables.

You look up when you hear him, your expression a mix of frustration and exhaustion. “No, I’ve got it,” you snap, striking the flint with a little more force than necessary.

Caesar raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. Your stubbornness was always a subject of amusement for him. “The fire… might disagree.”

You glare at him, but there was a flicker of a smile creeping along your face. “Very funny, Caesar. Maybe you should stick to hunting.”

He chuckled, kneeling beside you, reverting back to sign. “And maybe you should let me help before you set the whole colony on fire.”

You sigh, handing him the flint. “Fine. But if you can’t get it started, I’m gonna laugh.”

Caesar took the flint, his fingers brushing yours briefly. He struck it a few times with practiced hands, and soon a small flame flickered to life. He glanced at you, a triumphant smile on his face. “See? No forest fires today.”

You roll your eyes but can’t help but chuckle. “Whatever Caesar.”

Caesar sat himself beside you, enjoying the companionable silence as the two of you sat around the fire. Caesar noticed the tension in your shoulders begin to worsen as you stared silently into the flames. He hoped that whatever was bothering you would pass soon, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was at play. For now, he decided to focus on the moment, enjoying the rare chance to have a moment of shared serenity with you.

The sun was high in the sky when you and Caesar made your way back to the center of the colony. The morning’s tension still lingered between you even after your quiet moments together, but Caesar tried to push it aside as you two approached the town center. The colony was alive with activity—apes working together to construct new shelters, children playing, and the sounds of laughter and conversation filling the air.

Caesar spotted Maurice near the center of the camp, surrounded by a group of young apes who were eagerly listening to one of his stories. You usually enjoyed these moments, often joining Maurice and the young ones, cuddling them in your lap and stroking their soft baby fur, but today you did not show any interest in joining. Some of the young apes watch as the two of you pass by, eyes fixated on you in anticipation of you joining them, but you never look their way.

Caesar had plans to bring you to the communal fire where you could linger in your reflections while still being surrounded by the camaraderie of others so you might not be left so lonely, but as soon as you came close, you were immediately approached by Leaf. “Can you help me with the herbs? I need to sort them for tonight’s meal.”

You nod, forcing a smile. “Sure, Leaf. I'll help you out.”

Caesar watched as you walked away with Leaf, your shoulders still tense even in the presence of one of your good friends. He sighed, turning his attention to the hunting party dispersed around the fire. Koba and Rocket sat together, discussing the success of the morning’s hunt, the distribution of the game, and plans for the next outing as they usually did. More often than not he made an effort to involve himself in those discussions, but lately, you had taken priority.

He took a seat amongst the others to join their discussions, but his thoughts kept drifting back to you just as it had prior that day. Koba of course noticed his distracted state, and more than once bumped him in the shoulder with a disapproving look. Although he does not verbally discuss his disapproval for his relationship with you, he makes it very clear in other ways.

It took far longer than usual. At least it felt like it did, but after finishing his discussions with the hunting party, Caesar decided to check on you. He found you and Leaf near the storage area, sorting through bundles of herbs. Your movements were quick and precise, but there was an edge to your actions that hadn’t been there that spoke volumes to anyone paying attention.

Caesar hooted gently as he approached, gaining both ladies’ attention. He places a careful hand on the small of your back as he signs, pressing his body close to yours. “How’s it going?” Caesar asked..

Leaf looked towards you both with a smile. “We’re almost done. Thanks to your help, of course.” She looks towards you with the final statement but you weren’t even looking at her to see her signs.

Leaf frowns then directs her gaze to Caesar. “What happened? She has been off all day.”

Caesar shares a look with her. “I know.” The emphasis and dramatization of his sign spoke enough for him… this has been an ongoing battle with you for days now. It just seems to finally becoming more obvious to the others.

You still didn’t look up, your focus entirely on the herbs.

Caesar frowned, the hand he had rested on your back inching to grasp your hip, encircling you in his arm. “Can we… talk?”

You finally looked up, your eyes flashing with irritation, like just his presence beside you was infuriating. You push his hand away roughly, taking a step to the side to face him head on with your glare. “What is it, Caesar? I’m busy.”

The tone shocks him. You had never spoken to him in that way… In fact, no one has ever spoken to him like that. Leaf seems to share in his shock, staring between the two of them like she was expecting Caesar to throw you to the ground in some dominant display.

He would never, of course, simply because you had no concept of what your actions or tone were implying. There was no need to assert his dominance to you when he knew you were not seeking to challenge him.

He takes a deep breath and tries to keep his tone calm. Because even though his mind reasons that you do not mean to imply what you are, the instinct in him is sparking the flame of his anger.. “I’m concerned… You’ve seemed… off lately.”

Your expression softened for a moment, almost apologetic in a way, but then you shook your head and dismissed him with a wave. “I’m fine, really. Just tired.”

Before Caesar could say much more. You place the last of the herbs from your bundle on the table. You spin around to fix him with a forced grin. “I’m going down to the river for some alone time. I’ll see you later.”

And with that, you were gone.

Caesar knew a dismissal when he heard one. No matter how badly he wished to follow you and force you to tell him what was wrong, he did not.

He wasn’t really sure what to do now… for the past few months every free moment he’s had he’s spent with you. So, now, with no further responsibilities today, he had no idea what to do with himself. It was embarrassing how lost he felt with your absence. Before your arrival he was a self-sustainable, confident leader, now here he is resorted to an insecure mess.

He watches you go. He and Leaf exchange one last glance before he huffs and turns around, heading back to the communal fire on all fours. He takes the seat he had just vacated and both Koba and Rocket give him curious looks.

“What’s wrong?” Rocket signs

Caesar sighs, gives one meaningful look towards Rocket then signs your name. Rocket, of all the apes in the colony, had the most experience with females, even over Caesar himself. It was possible the chimp may have some advice.

“What did she do?” Koba questions, his interest peaked.

“It is what I did.” Caesar emphasizes.

“What did you do?” Rocket presses.

Caesar shakes his head, hands firmly clasped together in his lap as he speaks. A far away look in his eyes, “ I do not know.”

Both apes exchange a glance about Caesar's cryptic answer, unsure if they should wait for their king to expound or question him further.

“She does not want me around her,” He signs. “She avoids me, and whenever I try to speak with her she is short and terse. And when I touch her, she pulls away. She is not herself. ”

Koba shakes his head with a scowl. “How disrespectful.” He turns away from Caesar as he signs. “You must correct her.”

“No,” Rocket disagrees, “she is upset. You have no idea what you might have done?” He turns his question into Caesar.

“No,” he insists with a grunt. “I make sure to leave her a treasure every morning, and when she awakes, I bring her her favorite berries for breakfast and a fur to keep her warm. She had even mentioned her human drink, tea, and I have managed to find the best herbs to make her one every evening. I’ve even brought her to the human places to find clothing and human things. And I’ve made sure she never has to worry about being lonesome. I’ve been trying very hard to show her my intention.”

Koba scoffs, but Rocket sits to contemplate. “Maybe…” he begins, “she is smothered.”

Caesar hoots at him in offense. “Smothered?!”

“Some females panic when a male moves too quickly with them.”

Caesar pauses in shock. That was it! That had to be it! He didn’t know why he hadn’t consulted Rocket sooner.

“You are right. Thank you Rocket.” He taps Rocket on the shoulder in thanks, pulling him forward to brush their foreheads together.

“Anytime my friend.”

***

The sun had begun to set, casting long shadows across the camp as the apes gathered for their evening meal around the communal fire. The air was filled with the sounds of chatter and laughter, a sense of camaraderie that usually brought comfort to Caesar. But tonight, his mind was elsewhere. His eyes scoured the crowd for your familiar head of hair, but you’ve yet to return from the river. He’s kept a watchful eye on the entrance to the colony and you’ve been gone all afternoon. You knew his rule about being out after dark, and you’d be cutting it close. If you weren’t back by the time supper was over, he’d go out to find you himself.

You’d be pissed about it… but it was for your own safety.

He ate his fruit rather aggressively— he was well aware— as he stared towards the entrance. In actuality his worry was slowly morphing into irritation. The complete and total disregard for his rules was an insult to his authority, whether you were romantically entangled or not.

And just when Caesar about had enough of waiting, there you were. You shuffle into the colony with a deep frown on your face and your arms wrapped tight around your body. Obviously you were not quite over your mood, but you had more than enough time to yourself and Caesar had some things to discuss with you.

He waits for you to find your seat among a group of females. One of them hands you a bowl of food and you force a smile before slowly beginning to pick at your food. Caesar watches you from a distance for a few moments before he decides to approach, hoping to bring some sort of resolution before the day ends. This had gone on long enough.

He approached you, his presence commanding attention. Before he is able to even utter a word you look up at him with a scowl.

“What now, Caesar? Can’t you see I’m trying to eat?”

The camp fell silent, all eyes turning to the unexpected confrontation. Caesar felt a surge of anger and embarrassment. It was one thing for you to voice your upset in private, but challenging him in front of the entire colony was another matter entirely. And it was completely uncalled for no matter how smothered you felt.

He growls low and deep as he says your name with a snap, his voice low and controlled to match his slowly declining mood. “I think we need to talk. Now.”

You stand up abruptly, your frustration finally boiling over. “Why? So you can tell me how off I’ve been lately? You think I don’t know I’ve been a total bitch?! Even if I didn’t know, you’ve made sure I was well aware, haven’t you?.”

The murmurs around the camp grew louder, the apes exchanging uneasy glances between each other. Caesar’s jaw tightens, his instinct to assert his dominance beginning to kick in. He straightens to his full height, his posture imposing as his nostrils flare dangerously.

His voice carries a warning as he says your name once more. “This is not the time or place.”

But you were beyond reasoning at this point, your anger had boiled over and there was not much anyone could do about it. “No, Caesar! I’m done with this! I’ve got some shit going on you don’t know about. So, I don’t need you breathing down my neck at every waking second.”

The camp was deathly silent now, every ape watching the scene unfold. Caesar’s anger flared, his authority being challenged in a way that couldn’t be ignored. He took a step forward, his eyes blazing with his pent up fury. This was not a feeling he enjoyed having directed towards you, and if you were anyone else you’d be pinned to the ground by now with an eye full of his fangs.

He growls your name once more, like it was a final warning, rumbling with suppressed fury. “Enough.”

The dominance in his stance was unmistakable, a clear signal to everyone present. And you seem to finally come to realize the gravity of your actions. You had crossed a line, and the consequences would be immediate. Sometimes you forget Caesar was not human like you, despite his human qualities, he was an animal driven by instinct. A very powerful, very dominant alpha male.

You take a step back, your anger quickly giving way to fear and regret. “Caesar, I—”

He doesn’t move, his gaze locked on yours, a silent command for submission. You’ve never seen him look so intense before, and you had never ever expected to see that look directed towards you. Not from your sweet, attentive Caesar.

The other apes watched, their respect for Caesar’s authority palpable. It was clear who was in the wrong in this altercation, there was no question.

Your shoulders slump, your defiance crumbling. You held out your hand, palm up, a final plea of submission. “I’m sorry,” you whisper, your voice barely audible. Your shame sent a rippling shiver through your body, the anticipation of his potential rejection almost unbearable.

Caesar’s expression softened slightly, but he had to remain firm. He reached out, swiping your hand gently. Your body racks with an obvious sigh of relief before you turn and flee, your face flushed with shame and tears.

The camp remains silent in your absence, the tension thick in the air. Caesar takes a deep breath, his anger slowly ebbing away. He knew that this confrontation had been necessary, but it pained him to see you in so much distress with the inability to comfort you, knowing he was the cause.

As the evening continued, the apes resumed their activities, though the atmosphere was noticeably subdued. Caesar retreated to a quiet spot, a secluded area near the edge of the forest. He needed a moment to himself, away from the prying eyes and the weight of leadership. Sitting on a fallen log, he let his thoughts drift back to the beginning of his relationship with you.

He remembered the first time you met, the cautious curiosity in your eyes, and the way you had slowly opened up to him. Your bond had grown quickly, fueled by shared human experiences and mutual respect. He recalled the laughter you two shared during your explorations of the forest and into the human city, the quiet moments by the river, and the way your presence had brought a new kind of warmth to his life.

Caesar smiled as he thought about how quickly he had fallen and how desperate he was to express that to you when he first came to the realization. It took you some time to take notice of the little things he did to show his care for you. The fresh berries he’d bring by each morning, knowing they were your favorite. The abundant number of furs he left outside your home every time they came available to him. He knew how susceptible you’d be to the cold in the coming months. Then the times he’d steer away from his usual group of apes to sit with you by the fire and listen to your stories about the human world. The way he would gently brush the hair out of your face when you were deep in thought. He treasured the way you’d blush at him as his fingers brushed against the soft skin of your cheek. Each gesture was a silent promise of his affection and commitment.

But as he reflected on these moments, a nagging doubt began to creep in. Had he done something to cause this rift between you? Had he been too forward as Rocket suggested? He was under the impression that you felt the same as him by the way you gravitated towards him and touched him. Maybe he had misread your actions because what else would justify your sudden anger and animosity.

He thought about the past few days, the subtle changes in your behavior, and the way you became more withdrawn. He had tried to be patient, to give you space, but it seemed the space he gave was not enough. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. He had done everything he could to show his love and support, and yet, it felt like you were pushing him away. All he wanted from you was a straight answer.

Caesar clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling to the surface. It wasn’t just about his authority being challenged in front of the colony; it was about the hurt and confusion it brought on. He had always prided himself on being a fair and understanding leader, but this situation with you was testing his patience in ways he hadn’t anticipated.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside him. He knew that getting angry wouldn’t solve anything. He needed to find a way to reach you, to understand what was really going on. If you did not want him the way he wanted you… it might devastate him in the moment but he would respect your wishes. For now, all he could do was wait and hope that you would come to him when you were ready.

As the night grew darker, Caesar’s thoughts remained with you. He headed back to the colony to find the camp quiet, the only sounds being the gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional call of a nocturnal creature. He gave a nod to Luca and the other guard standing watch then ascended to his home high above the trees. The glow of the fire still burning in his hut lit the path leading to his home and he paused at the entrance to glance out into the dark forest, hoping that when you retreated you did not leave the safety of colony grounds.

He did not have to worry for long though. When he stepped into his home, he took one glance towards his nest to find a mess of furs he did not remember leaving there… as he approached he noticed the soft quivering of the lump hidden beneath them

He rushes to slip into his nest, reaching out a hand towards what he knew for fact had to be you.

The whisper of your name cuts through the silence, his voice laced with shock and concern. “Are you ok?”

The furs go flying, followed by a mess of limbs as you scramble towards him, quite literally attaching yourself to his front like a babe.

“I’m so so sorry, Caesar,” you bawl, your voice muffled against his chest. “Please forgive me. I didn’t mean it.”

Caesar’s heart aches at the sound of your distress, his earlier frustration melting away. He wrapped his arms around you, holding you close. He tips back slowly, bringing you with him until you’re both lying together in the comfort of his nest as he holds you in his arms “Shh, it’s alright,” he murmurs, stroking your hair gently, holding your head close to his chest as your tears soak through his fur. “All is forgiven.”

He could feel your pain and regret, and it pained him to see you so distressed like this. He wanted to demand an explanation, to understand what had driven you to such a drastic state, but he knew that now was not the time. You needed his support, not his questions— as you had so kindly pointed out earlier that evening.

As your sobs begin to subside, Caesar continues to hold you, his touch gentle and reassuring as his hands skate up and down your back. When you finally seemed more composed, you pulled back slightly, and he got a full look at your tear-streaked face.

His voice rumbles gently with the sound of your name, and you cling to him once more, shoving your face against his warm collar. “What's wrong? Please tell me.”

You take a shaky breath, keeping your face hidden against his neck. “It’s stupid,” You whine.

“Not stupid if it… bothers you.” He speaks as soft as he can muster, and you cling tighter to him in your distress.

“It’s… it’s— I’m on my period.” you pause as if expecting him to question what it is, but before he can inquire you keep going, rapidly trying to justify and explain. “Every month I bleed really bad and I cramp. My stomach feels like it’s being stabbed over and over, and this time it feels so much worse for some reason! And then on top of it all it makes me so irrationally angry and irritated at everyone and everything. Most of the time it’s for no reason, but I-I just can’t help it sometimes. So I’m sorry Caesar! It’s my fault.”

“Your cycle?” Caesar confirms with an inquisitive scrunch to his brows. Female chimps had a cycle as well, but growing up he had heard the jokes about the horrors of the human female's cycle… human media often highlighted the bad side effects. The same ones you had just told him.

You nod, all pitiful like. “I didn’t want to bother you.”

Caesar scoffed Into your hair, then drifted his hand to your abdomen, gently pressing down. “It hurts here?” he asked.

You nod again, nuzzling closer with a quiet whine. “Real bad.”

Caesar purrs, a soothing sound that rumbled deep in his chest. He tucks you in closer, his hand rubbing gentle circles on your belly. “You should’ve told me... I would have held you all day.”

You managed a small, grateful smile, your body relaxing against his. “I wanted to be tough.”

“Why be tough… when I am here… to take care of you?” He reaches over you to grab one of the loose furs, then pulls it closer to drape over the both of you. You two had yet to share a nest for the night, but now was as good a time as any to start.

You close your eyes as you finally allow yourself to relax completely in his arms. “I don’t deserve you ”

He held you close, his heart filled with a renewed sense of commitment. The relief he felt knowing it wasn’t his forwardness to be causing your bad mood was a weight off his shoulders.

You fell asleep in his arms, face still tucked away. He continues his gentle massage on your abdomen. This he could manage… he is more than happy to take care of you.

[baldurs-writers-3]

Wyll Ravengard: A Baldur's Gate 3 Fanfic Rec List

This week, we have Wyll Focused fics! Check under the cut for ten incredible fics all about our favorite folk hero, Wyll Ravengard. And as always, comment and kudos if you like them!

Blood-seeking Blade by specimenbag (24809, Teen) Content Notes: Canon-Typical Violence Pairings: Astarion/Wyll

The end of the world must be nigh, Wyll thought, if Wyll of the Griffins spares a monster and lets him be a bloody traveling companion. Or, the series where Wyll is a Witcher, and Astarion is the vampire he saved

Reccer says: I love literally everything about this AU. The author includes helpful notes to explain witcher terminology so its very accessible. The vibes are immaculate and the characterizations are so well done.

Nothing Like the Sun by odessacastle (159772, Mature) Content Notes: None Pairings: Astarion/Wyll

Wyll and Astarion meet before his exile! Fate wants things to proceed down a similar path, however.

Reccer says: It's neat to see two canon companions have the 'oh shit we knew each other before this tadpole bullshit!!' that you normally just see more OC focused, it makes for very different starting interactions. Also man Wyll is bad at vampire spotting.

the blade falls by PurpleCatGhost (4097, Teen) Content Notes: None Pairings: Wyll & Friends

Wyll used to know his own limits fairly well, but that was before the tadpole. Besides that, having friends you can rely on is also a new experience, though at least this one is a nice one

Reccer says: I really enjoy Wyll realizing just a little bit too late that his injuries are worse than he thought, and then everyone's response to that being "How dare you not tell us you needed help >:("

Bouquet of the Frontiers by Tavylia_Sin (5796, General) Content Notes: Pairings: Wyll & Friends

Wyll tries to spend the tiefling party off on his own. His friends decide they would much rather adorn him in flowers and affirmations instead.

Reccer says: Very sweet. The found family vibes are impeccable

Hells Escape Pact by ushauz (17613, Teen) Content Notes: None Pairings: Karlach/Wyll, Astarion/Wyll, Astarion/Karlach, Astarion/Karlach/Wyll

A bit of a 'bad end' for three of the companions. Wyll is a proper demon type in Hell, Karlach never got out, and Astarion got sacrificed in the ritual. What now?

Reccer says: Bad end doesn't have to be bad forever!

Window to the Soul by normal_thoughts_official (653, Mature) Content Notes: depersonalization Pairings:

little snippets from wyll's childhood, through his time as the blade and how he sees himself as a person (and not)

Reccer says: for a short story it packs a damn punch, left me emotional

Saviour Complex by fantailsock (12246, Mature) Content Notes: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Pairings: Wyll and Friends, minor Astarion/Wyll

Five times someone helped Wyll out and one time he helped himself.

Reccer says: I'm always a sucker for found family and the team forcing someone to learn how to value themselves, and this fic is perfect for that

Less Than Ideal by jeejaschocolate (5021, General) Content Notes: some internalized ableism and drinking to cope Pairings: Astarion/Wyll

Being burned by hellfire left Wyll with poor eyesight in his solitary eye. Astarion notices. Of course, he can’t keep his opinions to himself.

Reccer says: Lovely exploration of vulnerability

a story better than the real thing by not_whelmed_yet (1100, General) Content Notes: N/A Pairings: N/A

Wyll is alone in the woods, in the wilderness, and the heroes of his youth spoke only of victory so maybe he can convince himself of it, too.

Reccer says: a wonderful character study of Wyll as the Blade of Frontiers - creating a storybook persona so he can try and distract himself from the miserable realities of his current situation. very sad. very fascinating.

And then we have three recs for the following: Allemande by adrezarach (7255, Explicit) Content Notes: None Pairings: Wyll/Tav, Wyll & Ulder Ravengard

Wyll is developing a crush on Tav and comes to realize that they’ve met before, when they were amongst the nobility of Baldur’s Gate! An introspective character study of Wyll, touching on how his life intersects with Tav’s over the course of nine years. He dances, he dreams, and he thinks about the storybook hero he wants to be.

Reccer #1 says: I really enjoyed this read and the author has a Wyll voice that feels very distinctive and true to character. Reccer #2 says: The author has a distinctive and poignant Wyll-voice, and the contrast between the timeframes of the fic is really interesting. Reccer #3 says: The author has such a strong grasp of Wyll’s character and a distinctive narrative voice that suits him really well. I love how they played with past and present so that the reader can see his changing thoughts over his life pre and post pact. It’s a strong piece as a stand-alone, but it’s clear the author has long term plans for this characterization and this dynamic. One of my favorite wyll-centric wylltav pieces.

The above fanfic recommendations were pulled from our community for this weekly event. Have any questions about what this is? Check out the FAQ!

Next week, we’ll be back with the evergreen trope, Misunderstandings!

[mesetacadre]

How do you avoid becoming a doomer with politics? I want to be more politically active but the current political climate makes me feel depressed.

talked more about this here but essentially, nothing is static. Conditions change all the time, the quantity of organized people can fall and rise (with parallel but not necessarily 1:1 development of quality). What today seems like an impassable wall, tomorrow (not literally tomorrow) will more and more began to be seen as a necessary step for an improvement to happen. The fact that there exists a scientific method of analysis of history and capitalism also acts as an accelerant; how much time passed between the first bourgeois state and the first formulation of scientific communism, 50 years? That is unprecedented in the history of modes of production, and it only took another 50-60 years after that before the first relatively permanent instance of the next mode of production.

The way I see this, inaction and pessimism feed into each other, pessimism favors inaction, and inaction reinforces pessimism, by limiting your perception because it limits personal experience. And that cycle can only be broken by first stopping that inaction, since it is possible (not always) to force yourself to act against your general feelings. And then, only by working against that inaction and finding an organization/party or general line of action that works for you, can you begin to sustain an action-optimism cycle (of course, it isn't this simple and I would not call my outlook to be optimistic, but this is the best way I can think of explaining this). This cycle is, in my experience, very fragile, and somewhat often I continue to act through periods of relative pessimism by inertia and by the continuance of the responsibilities that bind me to my party most strongly. I can keep talking about the way society and the economy evolve, but at a personal and more inmediate scale, this is the only way to avoid "doomerism", at some point you're going to have to start acting if you want to avoid it, and rethoric can help, of course, but you'll only start to internalize it once you experience becoming an active part of these mechanisms. For me, it sometimes feels like a hobby, other times like a chore, and most times like the best thing I could ever do with my life. But it's crucial that you're not only driven by blind hope. The amount of effort and time you can contribute as an individual will vary wildly, depending on your own personal circumstances, and in my experience the most common type of organized person you'll encounter is the one that can only really dedicate a few days a week or a couple of hours every few days.

There is some nuance to "you have to end your inaction" too, of course. I'm not saying to join the very first group you encounter and dedicate every minute of free time to it, but you also can't be waiting for the perfect opportunity or org to come along. I contacted my ML party on a Tuesday during a winter academic break, while I was only just beginning to stabilize out of a suicidal episode but still depressed, and while considering myself mostly an ancom (I was very lost in that regard, my beliefs were not truly emergent from any proper anarchist core, but I digress). You don't need to have read x books or need to have encyclopedic knowledge of your local movement to begin to organize yourself, and you also don't need to believe 100% in the emancipation of workers. The best time to begin is the next time you have some free time to research and begin to contact some orgs/parties, that's as best as I think I can put it. I can't assure you that it'll be straightforward, but I can assure you that you can't get out of doomerism just by thinking about it.

If it's too daunting, think about those executive dysfunction "tricks". Joining A Party can sound very big an unapproachable, but you can break it down into looking, for example, for "Communist Party of [your country]". Look at their socials, see what they do and say, maybe you find an offshoot org that looks better, or run into a completely unrelated group. Then you contact them, ask when they're doing something in your area or if they can invite you to some kind of meeting, etc. Be willing to contact them if you find a couple of drawbacks too, sometimes rumors turn into the thing everybody says about x or y org, without really reflecting reality. Have criteria, of course, if some org is talking about immigrants like they're invaders, for example, it is probably not worth your time. Everything depends on what your local scene looks like. Getting experience at a mediocre org is still better than staying at home and looking on at the state of the world like it's hopeless. this isn't a very well-structured post, I've been writing this across a few days when I can, I hope it's helpful

[multiplicity-positivity]

Internal Meetings

This post also started out as an ask response, but it kept getting longer so we’re making it a post on it’s own! Our own system has internal meetings once every month or so. We’ll share a bit about what that entails along with answering some specific questions which were sent by the anon asker. In a Q&A format so we can be sure to answer everything!

What is an internal meeting?

An internal or in-system meeting is a gathering, conference, or conversation held by multiple members within a system. An internal meeting can have as few as two members or as many as countless, depending on the system and their own capabilities. In our collective of around 20 members, usually 8-12 show up to our meetings. It can get to be a bit crowded!

During our system meetings, we update others on how our life is going internally and externally. We ask each other how they are doing, and have others provide status reports for members who are unable or unwilling to attend. We create an updated roll call for our parts to keep track of our members. We keep each other in the loop about important events happening in and outside the system. And we try to in general just socialize with each other a little bit to help us stay connected and in tune with one another.

How can we go about establishing internal meetings?

Our meetings started off with just three members, and they grew gradually over time and as our communication skills improved. It’s okay for your system meetings to start out small! To start up a meeting, first establish when and where the meeting will be held. Pick a time that works for your system when you don’t have prior obligations and can be fairly uninterrupted. Our own system holds our meetings in the living room of our headspace, with our body physically in our bedroom in the evening when we are calm, safe, and available.

Whoever wants to hold the meeting should tell every headmate they have access to, and those headmates can in turn tell others. If you’ve established a time and place, you can do things like set a reminder on your phone, save the date on your calendar, or leave a note somewhere that’s visible which other headmates can access.

How do we get into a routine of holding internal meetings?

Our system started off haphazardly trying to hold a meeting whenever we felt we needed one… but it got hard to keep up with. We are autistic and incredibly routine-oriented, so incorporating internal meetings into our routine helped a great deal to ensure we could actually have a meeting successfully.

Our meetings now take place on the second Wednesday of every month (or every other month if we feel like we don’t need/aren’t ready to meet) at 7:00 PM. This is a time where we are usually not busy, and are able to set aside an hour or so where we will not be rushed, bothered, or distracted. We have the meeting time set in our calendar, and there are a couple members in our system who have taken the job of keeping us reminded about our meeting and gathering those who want to join when it’s time for the conference to take place.

To those hoping to start up a routine, our best advice is to pick a time that works best for everyone and start making attempts regularly. Whether it’s once a year, bimonthly, once a month, once a week, or once a day, make a habit of attempting to meet whenever your established meeting time comes around. The more often you make genuine attempts to meet, the easier it will be to hold a successful meeting in the future!

What if some headmates can’t/don’t show up?

This is likely bound to happen, especially if your system is large or has high dissociative barriers. And that’s okay! Our own system has a designated minutes taker (or record keeper) who takes notes during the meeting in our physical journal. That way, any part who was unable to attend can check out a record of what happened during the meeting as they are able.

We also have some parts who don’t front often, some of whom also struggle with things like reading and staying grounded. For these parts, our caretaker pays attention in the meeting in order to share what we’ve discussed with them at a later time. If your system has headmates who don’t front often or who may struggle to understand a notes recap, having a designated headmate who can effectively relay the meeting’s events to these system members may be incredibly helpful!

What if some headmates refuse to show up?

It is a very real possibility that some headmates may refuse to attend your system’s internal meeting. They may have certain issues which prevent them from comfortably attending. They may not get along with the rest of your system. They may be sullen or traumatized or obstinate. And while it is important to try and include these headmates in system life as much as possible, we don’t recommend forcing them to show up or scolding, punishing, or shunning them for not attending.

Rather, we’d recommend treating them as you’d treat those who genuinely can’t make it to the meeting. Keep the meeting’s minutes in a central, visible place where they can see when they next front. If someone who has been to the meeting interacts with them in the future, maybe they can share some key points or takeaways. If they are unwilling to listen, be frank with them and insist on telling them only the things which are necessary for the system to know for their own safety. In all this, remind them that they are welcome to attend any future meetings, but will never be shamed for not showing up.

How can we keep internal meetings diplomatic?

Our system has a part whose role is mediator. They act as a calming presence and help to keep the peace when things get heated. If your system has a member who has or is willing to take on this role, maybe let them try to act as a diplomat for a meeting and see how it goes.

Some things to keep in mind for the whole system during meetings:

Things may get intense. There is a difference between heated discussion and useless, spiteful arguing. The former should be welcome in system meetings while the latter should be banned.

Internal meetings are for everyone. If one headmate is facilitating the meeting, that’s fine. But if one member is monopolizing the meeting and taking up all of the time talking about what they want while ignoring the wants and needs of their headmates, that is not fine.

Fights may happen. When they do, ask the members involved to breathe and calm down before expressing themselves. Words exchanged in the heat of an angry moment often sting more than those said after a chance to reflect. Maybe invite overwhelmed or emotional headmates to use REST (<- hyperlink to our post) before speaking in order to engage more effectively.

Do not shame, judge, or make fun of any headmate for concerns or ideas that they bring to the meeting. Do your best to treat each other as dignified equals, even if what someone else says sounds goofy or ridiculous. Take each other’s thoughts seriously and treat each other with as much patience and kindness as you can.

How can we ensure every voice is heard equally?

Our system usually has a roster of members pulled up (like Simply Plural or our own list) during meetings. We take note of who is there, then try to make sure that we’ve heard from everyone who has something to say. Sometimes headmates may want to just observe, and that’s fine! No one should be forced to share if they don’t want to.

Having a designated facilitator can immensely help with making sure every headmate’s voice can be heard equally. The facilitator can chime in with “Greg, we haven’t heard from you in a while, is there anything you’d like to add?” or “Daisy, you’ve been talking the most today, why don’t we let someone else share their ideas?” It’s possible to facilitate in a calm and non-confrontational way that allows all members to be heard while simultaneously not forcing other members to feel like they’re leaving the meeting without fully expressing themselves.

Conclusion

Another long post from us… our apologies! We do hope that this post may have some useful tips for anyone out there who is hoping to start internal meetings in their own system. Please keep in mind that resulte may vary, and it may take a few tries before you’re actually able to hold a successful meeting. That’s okay though - don’t give up and keep trying regularly!

We’d love to hear from y’all! How do internal meetings work in your system? Do you employ any strategies that we haven’t listed here? If you’ve made it this far, thanks so much for reading! Have a great day, everyone!

[cdroloisms]

a little ramble about dreblr, meta, and the ever evolving nature of this fandom, i guess?

i don't mean to soapbox, this is mostly just going to be vomiting some thoughts into a post. some recent stuff and a post or two have had me thinking about this fandom and how different it is from when dsmp was ongoing. it's,, pretty obvious that the fandom is quite a bit smaller and less active than that time, and there are generally a lot fewer people actively posting meta and such every day--which isn't necessarily a bad thing, and is natural obviously considering that the dsmp ended almost 2 years ago, but does mean that the culture around (?) meta and such has shifted, as well. it's one of those things too i think that is felt so much more obviously in dreblr, which is an even smaller group within this fandom that formed in response to uhhh being very much considered unwelcome by the greater fandom at the time.

that being said, as is the nature of all fandom, dreblr is still a community of people who are largely strangers who have gathered together because of one commonality: very strong feelings and often very strong opinions on the dream smp and c!dream. and i think when the fandom was more active, the entire fandom felt a lot more like a "pvp enabled" zone, lmao -- it was every other day when there'd be some new batshit meta about c!dream or some stream to react to and analyze and fight people about and whatever. since then, though, with the dsmp gone, the fandom has become quieter -- which i think has allowed some of the variation in opinions within dreblr become more and more obvious? and also become a sort of source of friction.

again, this is normal for any fandom. i'm certainly not here to agree with everyone about c!dream always, lmao. but the vagueing of takes is always more awkward on both sides when it's someone where you share more of the same circles. at the end of the day, it's up to each individual blogger's discretion to choose what they will or won't post on their own blog, but at the same time ... when it comes to the community, just speaking for myself, i don't want a super high barrier of entry when it comes to people feeling like they can't join this fandom unless they've got [xyz] experience or [xyz] takes.

when it comes to actual analysis of the source material, though, keeping meta a safe place for people to say "no, i don't agree with this take because of [xyz]" is important as well, which always raises the question of how said disagreements should be handled. and again, i'm no authority, i'm not here to tell people what to do. personally, when it comes to my own blog, i don't like to post very much directly about any one blogger, but I know I've definitely written posts inspired by specific takes before as well as screenshots of takes from the fandom's heyday, etc. i don't necessarily feel uncomfortable with this ...? but at the same time, i know that vagueposts can be a source of discomfort, especially if they're about your take in particular (speaking from experience) -- so it's you know. not the easiest line to draw, I guess, especially when we're talking about a community where different people are going to have different levels of comfort with what they post on their own blogs and what other blogs do in response to their takes. and whatever.

vagueposting, i think, has been common in the tumblr dsmp fandom for a long time, and especially in dreblr -- direct engagement in the past errr usually went badly, so a habit formed of keeping everything we did kind of within our own spaces (hence why many of us don't even tag c!dream or even dreblr on most of our posts; keeping everything untagged, or keeping the tagging system restricted to our own blogs, limited the possibility of trouble). that being said, vagueing within dreblr has become more common, i think, as disagreements within dreblr have become more and more obvious in the time since the dsmp ended. (just for the obvious example: i think it's a bit of an open secret that i, personally, strongly disagree with much of the common depictions of c!drunz in this fandom. i've written some meta about this before, as well as some responses to meta--which i enjoyed greatly, believe me--but i've also noticed (perhaps coincidence) an uptick in c!drunz positive meta every time i or someone else makes a post that maybe skews more negative. which is normal, don't get me wrong, but also a pattern i've noticed. i'm also very aware that someone the arguments i may bring up as counterarguments or structure my posts around arguing against are based on actual arguments i've seen while in this space, which i'm aware is an easy source of friction within dreblr.) and it's easy to say "don't take it personally when it's just metaanalysis," but that's easier said than done, lmao, especially depending on the tone of the vaguepost and a myriad of other factors.

i'm not saying that i have the answers. or, for that matter, a single answer. the boundaries i set aren't going to be the same as the boundaries other people set, for one, and i have no desire to police what other people do on their own blogs. i do miss, sometimes, the more collaborative and discussion-based meta experience of this fandom when it was more active--i might try to more actively reblog posts (including those i don't necessarily agree with) to discuss this server and these characters, bc at the end of the day that is kind of why we're here. personally, i've always drawn a pretty sharp distinction between fanwork and analysis -- i think it's pretty bad form to criticize people's AUs In General (not that i've not. been guilty of it in the past, but i try at least to keep it to criticizing more general patterns within fanwork; look, i'm not going to claim a moral high ground, i love bitching way too much and should probably get a handle on that but asj;lkfdsaf) but when we're talking meta about the source material, barring shit like. you know, harassment and otherwise abusive behavior, i do consider it more of a free-for-all. at the same time, i know that these standards can lead to newer fans feeling like they're going to be booed out the door for sharing their thoughts, which, i mean, isn't great 😭😭😭 fresh eyes can bring a lot of really cool new insights, and it'd suck pretty damn bad to miss that because they don't feel welcome, yknow?

anyway, this is a very inconclusive post, but i thought i'd just throw some of my thoughts out as someone who has been here for a decently long time. and if you want to discuss w/ me, inbox and dms are always open :)

[anteroom-of-death]

Unnecessary Evil

Synopsis: What was going on in the Doctor's mind when he escaped the Confession Dial? At what limits did he let his mind wander to? What prompted his redemption?

A/N: it's so fun playing with characters that don't have concepts of human morality. Warnings for general darkness and such.

Coming out of Hell, his ears rang like a bomb detonated in his general vicinity. Deafening. Blood-draining. The paranoia seeping in. Both of his hearts shot cold.

He turned to face wherever he was.

Of course! His own traitorous, ungrateful race. Of course! Jealous and naturally unambiguous, these demented fools, ever so committed to his demise. At the cost of her.

Never satisfied. Even after he, all of him, bailed them out of the War. It probably caved in their illusions of dignity. Saved by one of the ones they cleaved into rejecting. Useless unless used…

He craved to reach into the chest of whoever was responsible, and crush their hearts. Probably Rassilon. Or that general who called him mad, even as he held the fate of their entire survival in this hands. Mangle theirs as his had been. He craved to beat them as bloody as he was in that dial. (Although, the blood draining from him each time took on new levels of pleasure in her absence.) He felt more animal than Time Lord, all fried nerves and the lust to take his teeth and tear into their jugulars. Every single last of the arrogant high-born class he had the displeasure of being born into. Watch them regenerate helplessly as he ran their lives out.

No plan, yet.

And violence on this level would disappoint her. His beautiful Clara, her rage would never cease if he saved her after he slaughtered every single last one of them.

He had to do a cleaner job for her sake.

The image of wanting to reach his hands into their bleeding chests still gave him a rush. A just cause- a million lives for one…he had done it before.

What did he call himself once? The Time Lord Victorious.

Yeah, he could do that once more. Being the only one of his kind seemed delicious at the moment.

Even the Gallifreyans that weren’t a part of the Time Lords would benefit. Lives under such disgusting and pathetic ponces would be better off erased from the count of the universe. The elite grew fat off pretense while everyone else starved- where they could still breathe, his Clara lay dead in the long-forgotten past on Trap Street.

A past that the High Council and him remembered. That stupid little human he regretted saving had probably blotted her from her bratty memory. All of Clara’s loved ones lay dead and drained of existence.

All but erased.

It sucked the air from his lungs and felt like glass had waded its way into his guts.

To forget Clara Oswald, in her infinite sass, her boundless character, her goodness? A sin worse than any recorded by any faith imagined by any weaker mind. How nobly she had gone off to die! Without him.

How he regretted not going to her, to hold her warm, little hand as she breathed her last. Not alone, die in her place or even die right with her? To lay in his final death beside her? To lie in the cold ground of Earth right beside her? Silent bliss. What he was owed.

Another sin.

A necessary evil to blot out an inexcusable one? He already knew he wasn’t a good man. He’d long since established that within himself.

He wouldn’t grieve for her, he’d go to her. Save her. Fix this. Burn this planet and all its people out of existence.

A plan began to form.

Alone with all he stood for draining out of him. He needed new clothes. Nothing she would call Doctor-y or enjoy.

Doctor no more.

Of course the wee folk, the ones that truly recognized his sacrifice over the years would welcome him, and they did.

The hospitality was worlds-class as he laid himself down and rage took over.

Of course, the first thing these parasites did was threaten them to get at him. Weak, parasitic creatures. Getting an immortal earthling to bring him to heel?

One line was drawn in the sand.

He crossed another line.

Rassilon had all of time now to run terrified of him, terrified of what the bastard son of these Time Lords may do to him. His hearts could stop in fear every time he saw a shadow. His brain may eat at him in agony of it all. Maybe he’d become a sacrifice to a mad Dalek or even worse, some foe of the Time Lords that they blotted out of reach and memory.

Maybe he’d chase him down. Nowhere to run, just get it over. Dispatch him as cleanly and get it over as quickly as that man ordered the death of her. The Lord President, frozen in fear as he realized that he had no way out, no place to run. Not even a scream escaping his lips as he died like a fox torn by beagles.

Good.

That image felt good.

He found himself the new President, control slipping as he sat around as they quizzed him on the stupid myth of a hybrid. The ludicrous rumor of something half Time Lord- half Dalek…

He couldn’t lie to himself; the windows and walls would benefit from a coat of every single one of these aristocrat’s blood as paint. This body loved to draw and paint. He could even draw his beloved Clara’s face (even though he always had trouble with faces and found it difficult to memorize even his favorite face, hers…) in exquisite detail. Then he could drag the rest of the Time Lords up here and make them apologize to her as he dispatched them.

A slow genocide…

Every single time someone called him by his chosen name, he recoiled. The Doctor was someone Clara could count on. Some title that felt more natural off her tongue. Someone, something that belonged to her.

Who was he now? Was he that Valeyard, whom he would become eventually? Possibly. He didn’t feel there yet. The name didn’t feel remotely natural. He’d have to find a new one to bridge the gap between the Doctor and the Valeyard…

The Sisterhood of Karn stood there as his world divided. Useless. Saccharine. Pretending to play both sides.

There were places in the cosmos where they’d fetch pretty prices. Maybe he could sell them? He had no use for money, but their faces as he sold them to people who’d ruin them in body, mind and spirit would please him. Perhaps he’d purchase the services and watch them flounder in service to him…

The white-hot rage burned through him. All but purifying his mind and detaching himself from the table in which he sat.

So he sat, trying to figure out a new plan, a new name, a new anything. Something to rid him of this guilt, he felt a tug at his gut and an image blind his mind.

Her face.

His Clara’s face. Finally clear, despite this current body’s inability to process faces. Radiant as the day he lost her.

Unlined, except for crinkles around her eyes just beginning to form. Brought on by years of laughter and smiling at him when he managed to save everyone and everything. The little furrow that would smooth itself out after a few hours she’d get when she was deep in thought or grading papers aboard the TARDIS. All these effete elite’s faces had lines from regeneration and ageing into their bodies.

Clara was cut off before she would go grey, before she could wrinkle. Before he could add more lines to her face with smiles and proposals. He was thinking of making their life together official, in a way close to her species. He’d give her anything, a wedding, a million little Clara’s totting around the TARDIS, as bossy and good as their mother, adventures to all of time and space…

Anything. She was what was best of him.

She stopped him from teetering into the entrance of this body’s darkness and preoccupied with morality. She made him good when he didn’t know if he was good.

She wouldn’t want him like this.

Clara wouldn’t want him to be this.

Could he do this? Save her and remain the Doctor?

Did he want to do this?

Could he want this?

The images of what he could do or have done to his entire traitorous race still brought him glee. Glee and pleasure. He still wanted them to pay. He wanted them to feel a single grain of sand compared to the desert of pain he felt. He knew it was sadistic, but he'd been sadistic before. The thin, young, freckly man with the dark eyes and brown hair was certainly a sadist. So was the broad one with the curly blonde hair and a penchant for cat pins and sarcasm. Certainly, his first body was. Before Susan taught him to bleed it out of him. That little blonde bastard enjoyed killing Torvic for Koschei. He enjoyed the god-like feeling that killing someone with your bare hands gave from the very beginning.

Why did this form of sadism feel remotely different?

Options and his plans that started to form became colored with her of course! Clara wouldn’t enjoy his sadism.

Wasn’t he the smartest an most exemplary of then all? He could have his cake and eat it to. If he wanted. He could be sadistic and good too.

Many things can be true at once, he reasoned with himself.

Clara wanted him good.

He could be good for her.

He could bury these past mad days behind him and focus on that. Follow her orders.

He was in obeisance only to her. Even Missy knew. Missy even enjoyed it.

A plan snapped into place. He knew what needed done.

The image of Clara in a woven wedding dress slashed out of his mind’s eye. If he were to save her, he’d never get to offer himself to her on bended knee. Never get to hear her laugh or insults again, or that soft warm slightly-tanned hand in his large pale cold one. Her stomach round and tight with child…

He mourned the infants they should have had. Cradles sadly empty, tombs gladly never filled…

He prayed for love and his mortal dreams now dashed. Prayed to her, his Clara. His life never realized. Her life only a quarter-lived.

Their lives together, cut dreadfully short.

No more yesterday’s or tomorrow’s…

He set out and went to make her happen, to make her happy and alive.

Maybe that would be good enough, to echo her alive like her echoes did theirs. Not ideal, but just enough to give her a chance.

That was the man that he’d want to be for her. Good, or at least trying his best to not be, and not totally stained with the reality of what he was. What she refused to see. What she formed him to be. Different that he should be.

Her perfect Doctor.

And thus, the Doctor was reborn once more…

[elerrinacrownedwithstars]

The idea that only Ulmo or Nienna care about Middle-earth and do anything to help Eruhini is a strange misconception because Tolkien pretty clearly shows that at least Manwë is watching very closely what's going on and sometimes even interferes? It's just that the Valar mostly seem to work through the elements they represent, which if you think about it is pretty neat.

Like there are various instances where the wind acts up suddenly, causing storms or rising in just the right moment (as in ROTK, clearing the air for the Rohirrim and speeding Aragorn's journey as he sails for Minas Tirith)

And even more obviously, the Eagles. Tolkien specifically says that the Eagles are Manwë's advocates in Middle-earth, providing miraculous aid when all else fails. Without the Eagles, Beren and Lúthien's quest would have failed and Huor would not have got to Gondolin (which then would have prevented Eärendil's success or even meant he was never born). They give crucial aid to Gandalf more than once. The Eagles also help Fingon to save Maedhros, because Manwë "would not wholly abandon the Noldor". Tolkien recognises that the Eagles are "deus ex machina", and in this case, the meaning is quite literal.

Then there are the Istari, envoys of the Valar: while there is proof of only Gandalf's success, even just the efforts of one of the Wizards was enough to bring down Sauron.

As for Ulmo, you could argue that he is responsible for the whole Eärendil and Elwing arc - and that it was a job between him and Manwë. It's Manwë's Eagles that bring Huor to Gondolin, and Ulmo later sends Huor's son Tuor into the hidden city. Tuor and Eärendil both get sea-longing in their hearts. During the flight of the survivors of Gondolin, Eagles are again present and bring up the body of Glorfindel, making you wonder whether they would have interfered more in the Balrog fight if Glorfindel had not stepped up to protect the refugees - and Eärendil, the fated saviour of Middle-earth. Also, Ulmo rescues Elwing when she casts herself into the sea, turning her into a bird so that she can fly to find Eärendil. Water and air and birds keep showing up in the stories of Eärendil and Elwing and if that's not proof of Manwë and Ulmo's plotting, I don't know what is. I mean, it's even said in the first pages of the Silmarillion that they are fast friends and closely allied from the beginning! Eärendil becoming a star also in a weird way even combines the elements of Ulmo, Manwë, and Varda: bearing the Silmaril, Eärendil sails an immortal ship in the sea of heaven and stars, forever as a sign of hope to the Children of Ilúvatar.

What about the other Valar? If we keep in mind that they chiefly work through the elements they represent, their abilities to interfere are limited (and this is a self-imposed limitation clearly). Yavanna's creation of the Ents proves to be a pretty great one in The Two Towers, although you can argue to what degree she is influencing the events. More obviously In Shelob's lair, Sam calls for Varda, and the light of the phial of Galadriel comes alive in his hand and smites the great spider, helping Sam to defeat the monster. Also, during Sam and Frodo's desperate march through the hellscape that is Mordor, Sam yearns for a little bit of light and water to hearten him - and lo and behold, he gets these exact things as if Varda and Ulmo personally delivered.

In other words, the Valar are a lot more active in Middle-earth than they get credit for, and they work in subtle and indirect ways because only then can they make sure they don't accidentally kill a lot of the Children.

[ardentpoop]

something that I find very amusing when I’m not annoyed by it is just how often the general spn audience is like “john winchester (derogatory)” while praising dean in the same breath.

they are the same man this is crucial to your understanding of dean. imo dean far eclipsed john in terms of damage done bc dean was given access to tools that john couldn’t have dreamed of in the pre-series spn days.

[mxdotpng]

i genuinely dont know how tales of the abyss did what it did because ive never had a game hurt me so much with like sixteen separate character relationships. all at once.

[the-everqueen]

i need white people to know that while YOU'RE glad we're "having these difficult conversations," people of color are NOT, we are Tired of having these conversations, where maybe at the other end you MIGHT see us as marginally closer to human and/or consider our perspective the next time we jump on this merry go round of discourse. you might not! you might decide we're just killjoys and actively exclude us from your "inclusive" spaces.

[monty-glasses-roxy]

If it wasn't obvious with the last incorrect quotes post, I still find the idea of Roxy and Freddy both having flavours of tism that bounce off each other in the worst way possible very enertaining lmao

Even before canon events, they just. Never saw eye to eye on anything ever and if they did, it would stun everyone including themselves

[eternally-tired-cryptid]

During the Ciri on the training course scenes I love how Lambert goes from trying to get her to give up to genuinely coaching her thru it, even tho his tone of voice has hardly shifted at all and he's still being kinda a dick abt it but like that's lambert