#i am now absolutely certain that i know and respect these characters more than many of their writers

[inamindfarfaraway]

I present to you a Batman AU timeline wherein Selina Kyle is the richest person in Gotham City and its first vigilante, protecting it with her expanded, somewhat rearranged Catfamily. Bruce Wayne is a master thief and self-made socialite. But this is not a basic one-to-one swap! I have tried very hard to do every character justice while adapting the parts of comics canon I accept (basically the post-Crisis/pre-Flashpoint universe plus Duke), which is why it’s ridiculously detailed. There are 60 PAGES.

Featuring:

Selina and Maggie Kyle, Leslie Thompkins, Holly Robinson, Barbara Gordon, Helena Bertinelli, Stephanie Brown, Cassandra Cain and Kitrina Falcone being main characters.

Characters who age consistently, despite how little comics continuity wants to conform to the real progression time. I will make it make sense -

Characters who are allowed to be happy and romantically committed, and have meaningful development addressing their flaws and traumas in coherent narrative arcs. Their growth is not always linear, but never just undone. The Cats make healthier choices than the canon Bats make at times, like going to therapy, due to their different contexts and relationships, so there’s overall less angst and self-destructiveness. But they’re still incredibly traumatised and frequently messy about it.

Female characters who are written with respect, complex interiority and agency.

Deep, nuanced relationships, foil dynamics (familial, platonic and romantic) and vigilante philosophy.

New costume designs and codenames.

Emotional support cats for everyone with a Greek mythology naming theme.

Maggie doing cool, important stuff as a civilian and not being fridged and stuck in a mental hospital for years.

Holly being a superhero.

Babs becoming Oracle and staying that way.

Villains dying or reforming and staying that way.

More of Holly and Karon being a lesbian couple. And Brucelina, Dickbabs, Timsteph, Timbern and Harlivy.

Harvey Dent, Two-Face and Talia al Ghul being sympathetic, three-dimensional antivillains/antiheroes with genuine love for people.

And more! I don’t expect anyone to read this in one sitting, but if any of the above interests you, please give it a try. Then you can make my day by telling me what you think! Comments, questions, analysis and fanart are very welcome.

I’ve also made a Discord server:

[come-away-with-me87]

All I Need Chapter 1

Summary: You lost your love during the battle at Shie Hassaikai.  Could a certain tired-eyed, quiet man make you feel better, and perhaps, make you fall in love again?

******

Pairings: Shouta Aizawa | Eraserhead x Fem!Reader; Mirai Sasaki | Sir Nighteye x Fem!Reader

******

Warnings: This beginning of this story takes place during the Shie Hassaikai Arc. Character death. Angst. Light smut (I say light because I feel like I am *not* good at writing smut LOL).

******

Your day started off as most people: by going to work.  You worked as the student guidance counselor at the U.A. High School, alongside the other guidance counselor, Ryo Inui.  Even though you were born without a Quirk [which you were certain would be the reason you would not get the job], Principal Nezu was so impressed by your resume and interview, that he offered you the position on the spot.  And you loved your job.  Even though you were Quirkless against students with Quirks, they were still just kids who sometimes needed emotional guidance, and you were there for just that.  Ryo and you made a good team.

Because of this job, you became friends with the teachers and other staff.  You were particularly good friends with Nemuri Kayama (Midnight), Toshinori Yagi (All Might), Hizashi Yamada (Present Mic), and even the ever monotone and tired Shouta Aizawa (Eraserhead).  Even though you were Quirkless, they saw how good you were with the students.  One time, you were even able to calm down Katsuki Bakugo who was throwing an absolute fit over something trivial.  He calmed down enough that he was able to return to class. Due to your rapport with the students at the school, the staff welcomed you with open arms and you had yourself a great group of friends.

When it came to romantic relationships, you were also very lucky in that department.  You and Mirai Sasaki, more commonly known as Sir Nighteye, had been in a relationship for four years now, and you were very happy together.  Sure, he may have come across as intimidating and stoic to the public eye, but one of the many reasons he loved you was because of your sense of humor.  You weren't a comedian, by any means, but you had made him laugh more often than he could count.  Besides that, you had a mutual respect for one another, and cared for and loved each other deeply.

There was only one rule you established with Mirai at the beginning of your relationship: he could never use his Foresight Quirk on you.  You didn't want either of you to know your future.  When you explained your reasoning to him, you stated that you just wanted to live in the moment and take every day as it comes, as life is too precious to live in fear of what could happen.  He respected your wishes, and never used his Quirk on you once in the four years you were together.

When your shift was over at work, you returned to your shared home with Mirai.  He wasn't home yet; he often worked late nights at Nighteye Agency.  You decided to make some dinner, covered a plate of food for Mirai and put it in the refrigerator for him. You texted him letting him know so, and asked him to try not to work too late tonight.  You were feeling...needy.  For some reason, you just wanted to be close to him that night.  He replied back that he would be home as soon as he could.  You put on his favorite lace babydoll nightie you owned, covered yourself up with a fuzzy robe, and put on a movie to watch until he got home.

It was around 8:00pm when he finally arrived home, and he came in to find you sleeping soundly on the couch, with the movie's menu playing over and over on repeat.  You awoke to him gently shaking your shoulders, "Y/N, I'm home, my love."  You smiled up at him, "did you eat anything? You must be starving.  I made dinner and put a plate in the fridge for you, all you need to do is heat it up in the microwave."  His tall, slender frame bent down and kissed you on the cheek, "that's why I keep you around," and you both laughed.  After he heated up his food, you both sat down at the dining room table, and you just watched him lovingly while he ate.  "Anything on your mind, Y/N?" he asked in between mouthfuls, noticing you watching him.  "Not really, I just missed you today."  

He smiled at you, finished his meal, and patted his leg, motioning you to come sit on his lap.  "So, you missed me today, huh?" he asked thoughtfully.  "I did.  No particular reason why, you were just heavy on my mind today."  He kissed you in response.  You were still feeling needy for him, so you decided to deepen the kiss by using your tongue, to which he happily responded to.  He pulled away from the kiss for a moment, "wow, you really did miss me today," he said with a small chuckle.  At that moment, you stood up, took your robe off, letting it fall to the floor, where he finally could see what you were wearing underneath.  "Y/N..."  

"I know this one is your favorite," you said in a sultry voice.  He just gulped in response.  He was so cute.  You two have had sex many, many times over the course of your four years together, but you still found it so endearing that even after all this time, he still looked at you as if it was the first time he was seeing you.  You grabbed him by his hand, and led him to the bedroom.  You were so needy for him.  You both sat down on the bed, where you continued what you started in the dining room.  You kissed him deeply while slowly untying his tie and unbuttoning his work shirt, revealing his muscular frame underneath.  

You pushed him back onto the pillow, where you straddled his lap and continued to kiss him.  In the position you were in, you could feel how hard he already was for you, and you felt how wet you were.  You pulled away from the kiss, sat down on the side of him, and took the opportunity to pull off his work pants, leaving him in just his boxers.  It was at that moment that he seized the opportunity to take you by the waist, and practically threw you down on the bed, where he continued to kiss you feverishly.  He pulled away from the kiss just long enough to pull your straps down on your nightie past your breasts, where he started to kiss and gently bite down on your nipples.  You moaned in response.

"I want you, Mirai. Now."  He didn't even hesitate at those words; he peeled off his boxers, thrust himself into you, and you two made love.  You couldn't put your finger on it, but this time your lovemaking was different, in a good way.  It was more passionate than usual, like you were two souls bound together in one body.  "I love you so much, Y/N," he said breathily during your lovemaking.  "Oh, Mirai, you are my everything," you replied back to him with tears in your eyes.  You were so happy and fulfilled in that moment, not realizing that this would be the last time you would ever share a moment like this together.

******

To be continued!

[itssoinevitable]

acgas season 5 rant

well I must say it’s been some time since I wrote a tumblr essay but I think this one has been building all season. in fact, it will likely be part one of (?) because there are many feelings that need to screamed into the void. let me preface by saying that I am not a “hater” by any means, because I absolutely and unabashedly love this show and it pains me so much to criticise it, instead of celebrate on cloud nine like I usually would be after the finale. I ranked it higher than downton abbey the early seasons, which is a massive compliment for anyone that knows me. and I repeatedly told others not to worry bc it’s the show that keeps on giving and that I trusted these writers implicitly with our beloved characters.

so yes, it royally sucks that I have to eat my words, and that acgas season 5 did not bring what it should have brought. and it also sucks that this is only part one of my rant (for you and me both). if you loved s5, then I am really happy you did, and please don’t read on bc I don’t want to taint your experience. if you hated it but don’t know why, or bc misery loves company, pls read on. spoilers ahead, obv. 

1. episode structure

yes so — structure wise, it was a hot mess. I can definitely see what they were going for, in that they gave the limelight to a pair of characters every episode, and thought it would be fine like modern family style episodes. except, another spoiler alert: it was not fine at all, unless your faves are the featured couple for said episode. I would do an episode by episode breakdown but @owlsiehoot already did that. suffice to say, it is not the kind of show where you can enjoy 40 odd minutes when it’s not “your” characters’ turn to shine. they have nearly an ensemble cast, but chose not to treat it like an ensemble show. and while I can see what they were trying to avoid, the chosen execution method was far far worse imo. (we may never know the real reason for this change, but I hate whoever greenlit this decision).

even if they wanted to keep the longer scene structure, fine, maybe it could have worked. but if I could have recommended one change in the writing room, it would have been to split the main cast into threes every episode, instead of pairs. that would resemble the formula a bit more like the prev seasons, and would’ve given much more interesting and diverse back and forths to play off of and keep more general balance. some ways the dynamics could have been done:

Tris & Carmody were fine in ep 4, but keep it in skeldale more and add Mrs Hall into the mix to mother them, even better. (reminding the audience she has a biological son too, and not just these surrogate dumbasses whom she loves would have been a bonus.)

Helen & James are always lovely together, but add Tris in there for some mischief or more Jenny and Heston Grange for some sisterly bonding. 

Tris & Siegfried were cute too, but again they were away from the house, and usually Audrey was right in there with them and added something to all their interactions. 

Alternatively, give the ladies something to do and put Audrey, Helen and Mrs Pumphrey together again. (I will say though, at least Mrs P had more to do this season). 

Where the show suffered most was giving Carmody two stand-out episodes tbh, when in reality, they only had time for one.

2. tone

not only did the previous seasons have an amazing balance of all characters, they also managed to balance the darker story threads with lighthearted humour in an inimitable way. usually three concurrent storylines, two being more serious, and one more lighthearted to break it up. some episodes of course, were more lighthearted than others. but season 5 seems to have turned that on its head because almost all storylines were quite silly?? I respect there has always been a certain amount of physical humour, but it seems now that the gags have now replaced actual plots and meaningful character development. this is not a sitcom after all, unless they’re trying to change genre at the nth hour. notable exceptions include Bingo’s storyline ofc, and Candy & Joan (both which were early in the season btw) and James’ war and brucellosis experience right at the end. the middle was mostly twaddle if you ask me.

which reminds me: overall, the animal storylines seem to have become something of a joke too. the animals used to mean a lot more to their clients before, and the vets used to show them a great deal more love and respect. contrast to this season, many vetting scenes feel almost cavalier. the poor dog with the phantom pregnancy was played for laughs, which I don’t think it would have been in prev seasons. the horse that fell down after the injection, had no greater mystery to solve. Siegfried and Tristan barely seemed to care, and chalked it up to shock. it is quite unforgivable to me, as their great reverence for the animals was one of the things I love(d) about this show. 

imo a few subtle changes could have elevated many of the stories to their usual form. I gave an example on discord, but I’ll repeat it here. it’s episode 5, and picture Bosworth coming into Skeldale the same was as he did in canon, asking Audrey to come out to investigate a potential bomb. everything could have remained the same except that Audrey could have told the others where she was off to, and Siegfried or Tristan maybe asked her not to go. the whole family would have gathered together for a moment, expressed their fear for her and she would have said it’s her duty to go and check anyway. in this version, we would have felt the tension and the stakes, and it would be a looming threat of the war finally touching Darrowby. the end would also be the same, a false alarm and nothing more but the emotional impact of the episode would have increased tenfold.

and to me, the worst part of it all is that the season actually started off so promising. the first two/ three episodes, combined with the interviews by the cast, it honestly felt like they were exploring some very interesting things. but they dangled the carrot, only not to deliver imho. 

it seemed that Tristan was hiding something painful under his playful exterior, eventually to be teased out, but apparently he really came back from war completely trauma-free.

I was under the impression that Siegfried was supposed to have an identity crisis, where he was feeling left behind, but it didn’t seem to pan out properly either.

Audrey was supposed to be overworked, right? but we didn’t see her actually buckle under the strain of her many, many duties because she’s basically superwoman I guess?

James had this beautiful connection with Banerjee, only for him to be alive but never show up again I guess? really thought James would bring him to Mrs P’s convalescent home but guess not.

3. characters

and here is the crux of it, the beating heart of the show which is now bleeding out. because a truly good show is character-driven, and unfortunately I cannot say that was true for season 5. a glaring deus ex machina comes to mind, when the doorknob fell off in episode 4, trapping Tris and Carmody in a room. never thought the show would stoop to these cliched tropes tbh and it truly disappointed me.

not only did the episode structures do the characters a great disservice, but it seems to have foiled the overall season story arc too for each character throughline. to me, it looked as if the only two people with clear defined story arcs were James with his war trauma, and Carmody (my beloved). was it Sam West who said the characters seemed “busy” this season? bc yes, it’s accurate. but not in a good way. mostly they all had only things to do on the surface, but there was very little going on underneath. which is a crying shame because basically, characters have to suffer a little to grow and be interesting. they need to face challenges and grow and change. let’s do some compare & contrast:

Tristan changed and grew in every season, from 1 to 3 and faced many internal (and external) obstacles to becoming his best self, whether it was by being more studious or responsible and mature in his work and personal life. Now he’s back and we’re supposed to think… what? That he’s already his best self, I suppose.

season 4 Siegfried was holding his found family together, trying to cope with the workload and missing Tristan, worrying about James, terrified that Audrey was going to leave. contrast to s5, and Siegfried is… being adorable with baby Jimmy, and attracted to a goat heiress? if there was something deeper here, please let me know bc I must have missed it.

while last season, Helen was looking forward to starting a family, and then working on keeping her baby healthy and her family (James) intact despite the war. s5 Helen started off strong, struggling with balancing being a mother and big sister to Jenny, but now… she’s what? planting too many strawberries in the victory garden? being a supportive wife to James is important, but it cannot be her only feature. 

and last but definitely not least, Audrey in s4 was learning what a life outside her marriage to Robert could truly mean for her, and figuring out for herself where she belongs. conversely, s5has her making jam, and finding non-explosive tinned potatoes. yes she’s a warden, but what is she feeling on the inside?

4. conclusion — an empty vessel

to summarise this not-epic epic is that my true grouse with this season is its utter emptiness. it is truly a season where nothing happened and nobody really changed. okay, some things were different — e.g. Siegfried being better with handling his “boys”, and being more open and less grumbly in general. or Tristan being more responsible with his work, and standing his ground more firmly. but imo those were the results of previous season’s changes. within the course of s5, they did not do much growing or changing.

Tristan’s homecoming episode comes to mind the most. so many missed opportunities for deeper to surface — James being torn between treating a patient and possibly missing his son’s christening would have added some true to character dissonance. Helen leaning on Audrey for support when she had issues with her mother-in-law, could have worked beautifully and explored the character foils in an interesting way. James and Helen asking Siegfried and Audrey to be Jimmy’s godparents would have been truly touching and a testament to how deep their familial bonds are.

anyway, TL;DR I guess? maybe it’s because they’re saving most of the juicy stuff for season 6, but it mostly felt like a filler season, and if you looked forward to it all year just to get that then it’s truly anti-climactic. with all that said now, onwards and outwards. we shall see was the CS brings.

[writingandsins]

Hi bb! Absolutely love your work and everything in between! Especially headcanons. But hear me out. If possible.

For the characters of CoD. You can do as many as you wish. From TF141 or KorTac. How would they each react if the FemOC is a mafia daughter after they had joined them and been with them for so long. A mystery that no one knew about until now.

Sorry. I’m delulu. If possible. If you can’t. It’s okay. Stay rested and hydrated.

Wow thank you! I had never expected something like this but as a story teller, I would love to give my own insight.

(Disclaimer: The kind of FemOC’s I make are on the softer side but I love women in general. And again this is a personal opinion. Take what you like and leave the rest.)

The one thing about any military is that the higher ups would know about her background. However, with certain ranks and possible negotiations. She can trade information for protection and secrecy. She would have to come up with her own background, lined with some truths, in order to keep her identity a secret. She would be watched CLOSELY and probably punished more severely than normal because of her background. She is a liable asset in the eyes of the military. But, a valued one. Her information is worth more than gold in this case. Especially if her family has ties to Makarov or other terrorist organizations.

Price: Would probably know her background because of his rank as a Captain and has access to information as the leader of the 141. However, he is not the type to be spilling any secrets or information. Your FemOC would have to show a considerable amount of action to prove her trustworthiness. If she was not picked by Price himself and was put in by Laswell, (which I am assuming she is.) Then she is gonna have to prove her worth constantly. Which is exhausting. Since he probably already knows her background, he wouldn’t be surprised. Canon wise, Price would not pursue a romantic or platonic relationship. It would be too risky and he is a career man. If it was romantic/platonic, she at least wouldn’t have to hide that part herself from him. And Price would have a stronger sense to protect her as well.

Soap: I think he would have a little bit of a surprised reaction but would go immediately into interrogation. He would want to know who she was, who her mafia family is, how are they cleared to be apart of the 141, etc. if they had a friendly relationship prior to the reveal, he would start to keep her at arms length. If it was romantic, it would be a sense of betrayal and hurt. But, on the flip side, I think with some honest communication he would come around to the truth and accept it.

Ghost: Unfortunately this man doesn’t trust easily. But he is loyal to the team and the mission. He will make sure your FemOC is looked after. However, he has a bit of a history of secrets himself and would not judge her too harshly for hiding her past. However, that being said, if they were friends. I think he would have the clarity to respect her reasons for keeping it private, but would go right back to keeping her at arms lengths. Despite her consistent actions, he would start to wonder why her motives were to join the team and if she had any other sinister motives. And more sadly, I fear it would be the same but amplified if it was a romantic relationship. It takes a lot for him to trust and open up in an intimate relationship, her keeping secrets would close him right back up. And your FemOC would be back at square one. (If you like angst, then this would be a great hurtle for her to go over!)

Gaz: Not surprisingly, I think Gaz would be the most open to her backstory. He is younger and maybe a little more optimistic, he would give her the benefit of the doubt and would want to know more about her Mafia family. In a romantic relationship, I feel that he would feel the sting of her lying but would understand that she had no choice or it was for her own safety. She is a good member of the team and values your FemOC’s input.

Konig: Being that he is Col. and probably one of the leaders of KorTec, he is probably in the same position as Captain Price. However, being that they are members of a private military mercenary group, I think he would be more open to talking about her history openly. In this environment, she is probably not the only one with devastating secrets. There would be great comfort in the fact that she doesn’t have to hide from him in their platonic or romantic relationship and there is a greater sense of acceptance.

I hope this helps! Thank you for asking such a good question. ❤️

[hand-picked-star]

It's not a khushi bashing post.Just because I am highlighting a mistake of her,it doesn't mean that I don't love that character. Flaws would have made her more beautiful, I wished her flaws were highlighted and she would get time to work on them instead of being perfect.

I just want to highlight a certain angle of the impact of khushi's decision of not telling the raizadas about Shyam had on Anjali and Arnav.When khushi knew the truth, Anjali was not pregnant.It is really sick if you think about it, the psycho shyam was sleeping with Anjali while being obsessed with khushi and telling her that he didn't consider Anjali as his wife.The psycho might had slept with Anjali within 15-20 days before she discovered she was expecting.sick,very sick.

If khushi told them earlier then that situation could have been avoided for Anjali. Another thing the show failed to show but leave if for interpretation that how much humiliation and insult a child had to endure for their parents infidelity in society. They must had suffered that by being the offsprings of cheating father.Arnav felt the society only had accepted him when he became rich.That's why he adored the guptas so much because they accepted him despite facing his rage many times,they accepted him despite his flaws. Same goes for khushi. She accepted and loved Arnav as he was, whole-heartly.It's also the reason why Anjali worshipped Shyam.

Anyway, So, it was completely a valid reason for Anjali to think of same consequences for her child. No matter how much they loved that child but the vultures of the society would devour that child for having cheating gene in it's bloodline.The society would not spare the child whose father had no respect neither in the household not in the society just like their father.

Also growing up as a orphan or fatherless is also a pain of different genre.Our life, society and day-to-day life are constructed in a manner that we needed our father in every aspect of our life.I said it not to diminish the struggle of single mothers.Those who have grown up with your father in the picture, just imagine can you picturize a life without him?Then think the pain of an orphan, and then think of the pain of a child who is orphan inspite of it's father being alive and leveled as a person whose father was a despicable person. No mother would have wanted that for her child.That time on that hospital room two siblings relived their worst nightmare once again.Anjali was that child once upon a time who thought that life was worst than death.Arnav was that child who had already lived the life that the child would had lived. A pain that no one would understand except them.

And all of this happened, because khushi didn't tell them the truth in time, believed that a psycho, manipulator like shyam would change.The way he got engaged to khushi should have been a warning enough.Then after the reveal khushi was told firmly that she should not interact with Anjali for valid reasons. But still she didn't listen. I know her intent was good, in her heart she only wanted best for Anjali, but didn't she ignored the fact that the best for Anjali for that moment was not to interact with khushi? Khushi talked with Anjali to try to reduce her guilt, whatever you say, their interaction was not absolutely selfless from khushi's side.And this mistake of hers had almost cost Arnav his last surviving kin.Furthermore, Their relationship might not even had survived if Anjali was successful in hurting herself.

So upon first watch, watching khushi-anjali conversation and what happened afterwards, Anjali's reaction seemed exaggerated. But now in rewatch, her reaction doesn't seem excessive, does it?

My scattered thoughts (12/?)

[miimo96]

Thoughts on Re:Zero S3 episode 2

So far season 2 has probably some the most Gruesomest Deaths I've ever seen, Sure it doesn't beat the HORDE of a thousand rabbits but in my opinion, they look like the most Painful to experince, which is good, I need more deaths like this PLEASE (That sounds so effed up to say ^^; )

This Bitch probably has to be the most TWISTED and SICK Villain we've ever seen so far, like this entire scene genuinely made me feel uncomfortable due to how GNARLY it is and I kid you not, I Almost legit threw up, Oh White fox is understood the Assignment this season huh

buddy I don't think you understand he didn't JUST go after Emilia, he went after EVERYONE YOU CARE ABOUT just to Hurt you. Do I NEED to bring up the scene where he used Rem"s body to play Twister!?

Oh So THAT'S What people ment when they were saying wait till they adapt the "KILL HER " scene, *chuckles nervously * I didn't think It would be THIS Scuffed 🤯 also Wow 3 in 1 day, they must Really be trying to break his record for how many times he dies since last season didn't have that much ^^;

Bruh she Literally just said he is the definition of "Built Different" and ya know what, she ain't wrong 😅

IT'S SHAMACING TIME! Wait I thought he lost Shamac last season, so all of a sudden he has it now? Explain yourself! (Shamac IS the Smoke cloud he makes right?)

Hold up Emilia, you might actually give Rem a run for her money for Best girl, in all seriousnes though, I am SO happy that emilia is finally getting the attention she deserves, like she is More than just a damsel in distress and I am GLAD they're showing that to us considering all the Hate she gets not just from the characters in the show, but from the FANS as well. I'd Love to see someone try to make an argument that Emilia is a "BAD" character Now ^^

There's a few certain jokes here I wanna say SO BAD but I can't decide on which one, so I'm just gonna say them All ^^; *ahem*

• This the Definition of "On sight"

• huh, always wondered why people never used their Strongest attack 1st, And of course

• DRAMATIC FINISH!

Bruh what is her problem, like what did Emilia DO to you!? Also who is your Husband Lady!? Her name is  Romanee-Conti, so maybe Betelgeuse? 🤔

Hold up! Emilia actually doing some shit, instead of just sitting around and relying on Subaru and puck!?, Now that's what I call ✨CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ✨

Hell yeah! That's my boy Subaru, like put some respect on his name, the guy has been absolutely KILLING it this season, and he'll keep on Killing it, like that's the homie Don't you ever forget it >_<

Oh you Dirty little Cheater, I Effing HATE you!! ^^;

NO NOT YOU, ANYBODY BUT YOU! Damn it I Hate him!

Bruh what is their obsession with her, like I can't understand it, IS She Satella, Do they know she's Satella, Do they WANT to kill her, Do they want to make her as part of the cult, sacrifice her, or even turn her into The Witch of Envy, like What is it? Can SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN IT TO ME!?

Oh this Season's about to SCUFFED as hell, and I'm all here for it ^^ (also did he just say 79th wife!? Bro really IS Greedy)

[riallasheng]

Answering an Ask

In an unusual way, because my darn tumblr be broken and didn't show the ask in my inbox! Fortunatly, @edutainer2022 PMed me to make sure I got it! ^^

===============

Hi! Just in case the asks act out, some ask game points for you:

🍒 What’s your favorite character dynamic to write? (Can be romantic or platonic, specific or general!)

🥭 Rank from most enjoyable/fun to write to least: Fluff, Smut, Angst, Crack.

🍏 Is there something you overuse, whether it’s a certain phrase, trope, or piece of punctuation?

🍐 Is there anything in canon that you absolutely hate and love to fix in fics? A wrong choice made, a fuck-up in characterization, a misunderstanding never cleared up, a conversation never shown onscreen, etc…

=============

🍒 What’s your favorite character dynamic to write? (Can be romantic or platonic, specific or general!)

Platonic and/or familial! While I can and will write romance, there's always a heavy focus on the friendship of the characters, more than the romantic ^^

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🥭 Rank from most enjoyable/fun to write to least: Fluff, Smut, Angst, Crack.

Well, I don't actually write Smut at all (closest I'll come is Lime, and usually I'll only write Orange. I've never actually written even a Lemon, let alone anything more hard core than that), and the closest I get to Crack is 'here is a silly thing that canonically could happen' rather than true crack.

Sooooo....

Drama (angst, fluff, serious, comedy, and bunch of other stuff rather than a heavy focus in just one type.) FAR and away my favorite.

Angst & Whump (as old fanwoman is old and I go by the definition that ANGST is mental/emotional 'harm' that may have a physical element or trigger, but is all about the emotions and mind. Meanwhile Whump is physical 'harm' that may have an emotional/mental element or trigger, but is all about the physical). I generally prefer it to be an ELEMENT of a story, and I strongly prefer hurt/comfort, but I do have some instances fics / ficbits that are (mostly) solid angst and I'm more likely to have Angst scenes / elements in my works than Fluff

Fluff: tends to be only sparingly and mixed in admist other things, and even my 'pure' fluff pieces like A Cure for Boredom were cahracter and fan-lore explorations alongside the fluff. Mostly because pure fluff BORES ME ^^;;

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

🍏 Is there something you overuse, whether it’s a certain phrase, trope, or piece of punctuation?

Ellipses, probably XD I actually try to alter my writing style to a degree depending on who the viewpoint character is, but I am ANYTHING but brief (even though I know brief / less is more is the 'in' thing now). So I tend to have lots of details and asides and descriptions and trend much more towards being VERY wordy

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🍐 Is there anything in canon that you absolutely hate and love to fix in fics? A wrong choice made, a fuck-up in characterization, a misunderstanding never cleared up, a conversation never shown onscreen, etc…

Oh yeah, many things XD There's always at least ONE 'fix it' in every fic I write. Sometimes small, sometimes BIG... I try to give my reasoning for any / all changes, I do my best to respect that other people may have totally different takes than me. But yeah, there's always fix-its in my fics for things that bug me or that I flat out hate

Heck, in an example that I'm currently writing (well, re-writing as back in the Naughts this darn thing was COMPLETE and now I'm re-writing it from memory XD ). In As the Wyrm Turns and my fanfic Universe in general....

I moved Marineville. I've always HATED that it's canon location for a REALLY LONG LIST OF REASONS THAT ARE VERY VALID DARN IT, so I moved it to Maine (Isle Au Haut specifically). On top of solving most of my list o' issues, it also meant that I could have the Aquaphibians living in or near 'Atlantis' ^^

[partygcthered]

So, there are a few muses on the blog that are family units, or family members of canon characters. I thought I'd make a post about the parents and kiddos on the blog because I am feeling very many things about them. (watch yourself @bearlydruid and @spawnmade specifically, i am going to make you have feelings)

August and Anoria Ancunin (Astarion)

I cannot stress enough that when he was born, and even during the pregnancy, he absolutely became the center of their entire universe. A precocious and impetuous child, but he wanted for absolutely nothing, but that doesn't mean they weren't firm with him when needed. Being raised by a bard and a cleric meant that he was exposed to all sorts of different things growing up: art and music, self defense and religion. I also cannot stress enough that August was hands on from the beginning in raising their child. He was in the room when he was born, and he was highly involved in everything after that. But elves specifically see their children as something to be cherished, loved beyond anything else, and protected. So, that being said, as a cleric and a mother Anoria feels she has failed in all her persuits being that she finds out that Astarion was taken by Cazador. She didn't do her duty as a mother. August is more of the 'let your children decide their own course' bent of mind, and understands that it was likely Astarion's own choice, but he still to a lesser degree than Anoria feels as if he failed as a parent. Every time they look at him they know he can't remember what life was like for them as a family, it's painful for them to be fighting with memories of the perfect angelic child that coslept with them for probably longer than he should have, but they really couldn't tell him no. They'd never tell him no when it meant they could help him in some way. Looking at him now, seeing how he's capable and strong, but knowing that whatever they were subjected to for two hundred years-he was likely subjected to worse? Absolutely kills them. Especially since he can't remember that they were a fairly close knit family unit prior to his death.

Hawthorne Silverbough (Halsin)

Druids are by nature very social creatures. Especially if they're raised by a circle. Being that his mother was a nature cleric and his father a druid, Thorne came by that naturally. The importance of children in nature centric religions cannot be stressed enough. Circles typically place a high emphasis on creches and on caring for their young, teaching them, loving on them, showing them how to respect nature and defend themselves. We all know that Halsin's compassion is one of his defining traits, but growing up with him as a father? Spoiled brat. Not in terms of like, money or objects for certain, but definitely in terms of affection and availibility. (Again, also being an elf, the cultural significance of children being absolutely treasured comes from two sides for Halsin). Halsin is also imho, one of the parents that dont' give two fucks whether you're 3 or 333, you can still sleep with them when you've had a bad dream. Thorne had so much support growing up, so SO much. He was cherished. As such, as a young adult (150), he has a very confident and affectionate relationship with his father. They're both verbally and physically affectionate with one another, and he likes to make sure that he gives all credit where it's due-Halsin was very hands on with him. He taught Thorne all the things he knows, which normally would have fallen to the crechemaster along with whichever of the druids were on rotation to help care for/teach the kiddos. Not normally archdruid things. But because he cared, he put in the effort to do it himself, he went below his station because it was his son, it left a huge mark on Thorne. He knows that his father has gone above and beyond for his own sake. He isn't going to squander that. His compassion, his care, but also his fire and his anger to some extent, come from his father as well. But telling him that he's like his dad is the biggest fucking compliment you can give him. (insert daddy's boy joke here, but joke's on you, its not toxic masculinity, he just really fuckin has a good relationship with his dad thanks).

[nashiriel]

Hi! So I’ve been following this since chapter 2 and I cannot tell you how blown away I am at how you managed to capture everyone's personalities so perfectly. Your writing is so in depth with the characters and how they’re feeling, it actually sounds like them. The story has such a grounding feel to it that it’s refreshing. Your writing is beautiful and I hope you know that.

I truly admire the bond that is being cultivated between Luke and the Cannibal. It has a sweetly twisted tone to it and I can’t wait to see what else you add to it. I feel like “I’m Still Standing” would be a good song for them, or at least for Luke.

Slightly concerned with the faceless men tactic the Greens might go for, but given that these assassins are also a cult that worships death, and Luke was brought back by a version of death… 

To be honest I have really strong feelings about how after everything, the chase, Arrax’s death, Luke’s near death and resurrection, and the feast, Aemond still thinks that he is owed a debt. Even if it’s just his way of scraping for any connection to Luke, it’s completely asinine. I cannot wait to read the reaction Aemond has to seeing Luke atop the severely underestimated Cannibal, coming to collect their own debt. Aemond trying to get Luke to understand that he didn’t mean to take Arrax away while Luke is gunning for him is going to be a mess for sure and I’m really looking forward to reading it.

If there's the chance, I would love to see Aemond try to do his “fight me” stance against Cannibal, like what he did with Meleys in ep 9. Emphasis on try. 

Got a few questions if you don’t mind. Last chapter, what was going through Cannibal’s mind when he sensed Luke was in danger?

Currently, how would you say the relationship between Cannibal and Moondancer is? To me it seems like they are in the early stages of developing a camaraderie. 

How would you describe Luke’s new armor? Is it like Daemon’s or is it a completely different style?

I’m curious about what will happen when Luke is confronted by Vhagar once more and if he might get some ptsd flashbacks, triggering Cannibal’s protective side. 

These are just my thoughts and I hope you like them. Eagerly awaiting the next chapter!!!

I’m pretty sure I woke up my neighbours with my excited squeal when I saw this lovely ask! I’m so happy that you’ve stuck with the story for so long (despite the wait between chapters) and that you like the writing. I absolutely love getting to hear people’s thoughts and questions on it, so without further ado:

I truly admire the bond that is being cultivated between Luke and the Cannibal. It has a sweetly twisted tone to it and I can’t wait to see what else you add to it. I feel like “I’m Still Standing” would be a good song for them, or at least for Luke.

The bond between Luke and the Cannibal isn’t healthy, but it’s certainly filled with affection on both parts! As I said to another commentator, the Cannibal is essentially acting in many ways as Luke’s emotional support animal for his eldritch-induced PTSD - it’s just that his support tends to involve mayhem and murder. 

And you're right - those lyrics do apply pretty well to Luke!

Slightly concerned with the faceless men tactic the Greens might go for, but given that these assassins are also a cult that worships death, and Luke was brought back by a version of death… 

Now that they’ve been rattled by the prospective PR nightmare that is Arryk’s failure + Rhaenyra’s son claiming a second dragon, the Greens are going to try being a bit more proactive on certain points than in canon (such as not letting Borros take his armies and fuck off for a good portion of the war). So making use of Hightower gold to splash on supernatural assassins when the other side boasts more firebreathing monsters is certainly on the table.  Alas for Luke, he never seems to get any benefits or respect from his deluxe Drowned God experience, so the Blacks might want to stay on guard…

If there's the chance, I would love to see Aemond try to do his “fight me” stance against Cannibal, like what he did with Meleys in ep 9. Emphasis on try. 

Aemond’s rather convoluted logic probably follows the line that Luke still has the net total of 1 dragon, whereas he’s -1 eye, but you’re right - it doesn’t really square up when you see how much grief and trauma Luke still carries. Whether Aemond would still carry that attitude after actually interacting with Luke remains to be seen, but he’s certainly got a lot to work through for Luke to regard him with anything other than murderous rage right now. 

Aemond squaring up to the Cannibal alone certainly would be an amusing image, not least because the Cannibal is basically a clingy, jealous housecat who can’t bear anyone getting close to his human and would beef with anyone daring to assume they had any kind of claim on Luke.

Got a few questions if you don’t mind. Last chapter, what was going through Cannibal’s mind when he sensed Luke was in danger?

The Cannibal freaked the fuck out when he sensed Luke fighting for his life; he was ready to blast a squire into kindling simply for landing a blow in a friendly bout, so Luke being in genuine terror is enough to trigger a fairly cataclysmic response. Because their bond is so close, and because the Cannibal is so unused to having any kind of connection with another creature, he tends to often perceive Luke’s stronger emotions as his own. As the Cannibal is largely unused to feeling pain or terror, his response is generally murderous rage and termination with extreme prejudice of anyone involved.

Bit weird, really, that he didn’t immediately come rampaging over to the weirwood when Luke was driven to a near panic attack by Alys’ comments…

Currently, how would you say the relationship between Cannibal and Moondancer is? To me it seems like they are in the early stages of developing a camaraderie. 

Moondancer isn’t entirely blind to the danger that the Cannibal poses and would freak out like Arrax if the Cannibal actively exhibited warning signs like growling and snapping at her (Cannibal however has the nasty habit of giving absolutely zero warning before he strikes). So long as he’s calm however, she’s young enough to be quite playful and inquisitive around him, and doesn’t have the raging hostility that Syrax exhibits towards him.

The Cannibal, as Luke notes, would have absolutely no compunction about eating Moondancer still if he thought Luke would let him get away with it. However, he did actually enjoy the flight, if only for the time spent with Luke; there is a positive memory associated with Baela and Moondancer now, which is certainly interesting for him. The Cannibal is also developing a dim awareness that there is a ‘Them’ group (all the other wild dragons + the Green dragons when he meets them) and an ‘Us’ group of dragons - and when he’s with the ‘Us’ Group, he’s often either playing around with Luke or about to tear into some enemies, so there’s definitely a lot of positive reinforcement being built into his socialisation there!

How would you describe Luke’s new armor? Is it like Daemon’s or is it a completely different style?

Luke’s armour is actually closest to Rhaenys’ - but plain black with no embellishments, which certainly doesn’t really add much to his image in the unimpressed eyes of lords who haven’t seen him in action. Rest assured however that Corlys has already commissioned the glitziest, gaudiest armour Westeros has ever seen for his precious, precious heir. Jewelled seahorses and elaborate onyx black dragons in abundance, if Luke can ever be pinned down long enough to get forced into it! 

I’m curious about what will happen when Luke is confronted by Vhagar once more and if he might get some ptsd flashbacks, triggering Cannibal’s protective side. 

Luke’s PTSD and its effects is currently a major vulnerability for him, and he is likely severely underestimating how big an impact seeing Vhagar again would have. The Cannibal’s protective side (fairly indistinguishable from his murderous side) would certainly have him seeking to remedy that problem quickly, but there’s certainly a slight issue if Luke’s frozen by his trauma and the one making battlefield decisions is the omnicidal carnivore who currently only gives a fuck about himself and his rider. 

And now that I've just dumped that essay in your lap, a huge thanks again for the ask! Really made my day.

[acacia-may]

Let’s pour some salt together, Acacia~!/lh 💖

If it’s not too much trouble, can I ask #7 generally, #10 for Fairy Tail and Black Clover, and finally #25 for Demon Slayer?

It’s several questions and a bit all over the pl s so I hope you don’t mind… 😅

Cheers, Erika! 🥂 Thanks for the chance to get a little bit salty about so many different things! ^^

Necessary disclaimer above the cut: These are just my own personal opinions based on my personal tastes, perceptions, and feelings regarding the series, stories, and characters and their relationships. I genuinely have the utmost respect and absolutely no ill will towards anyone who has a different opinion than me. In fact, I have always said that one of the greatest things about fandom is that we can all experience and perceive these amazing stories and characters in very different ways but still love them. Even some of my dearest fandom friends enjoy different pairings than me or see our shared favorite characters in wildly different ways than I do. I personally find it very rewarding to have respectful conversations about our differences of opinion, and I hope that my opinions will also be respected. Also, I don't vibe with just mindless bashing things, so even though this is about to get very salty and a little snarky, I'll try to keep it respectful and all in good fun. I am not tagging anything and am hiding my thoughts under the cut so you all don't have to be subjected to my hot takes and "Salty Acacia," if you don't want.

MAJOR Spoilers for Demon Slayer below the cut. You've been warned.

7. Is there anything you used to like but can’t stand now?

ATTACK ON TITAN/SNK. My sister says I need a swear jar because I can just rant for hours about how I was just so personally, viscerally disappointed with how that series ended (made all the worse because I had several years of investment in it). As a disclaimer, I still like my favorite characters and the side story "No Regrets" will always be **Chef's Kiss** but yeah...you could not pay me to watch or read it ever again.

But again, disclaimer, that's just me. It's my cousin's favorite anime of all time, and he loved the ending. Everyone's different.

As for anything else from fandoms I actually talk about...I'm not sure there is anything. Like everyone with an online presence, I have definitely been disturbed, appalled, and otherwise very upset by things I've seen on the internet, but that's what the block button is for (and I know it's all peace, love, & good vibes around here, but I block aggressively, actively, and unapologetically when the situation warrants it). As a general rule though, I try not to let what other people think get to me and ruin the things I love, and in that way, I don't think I have ever had a situation where something was just completely 100% ruined for me by a terrible fic, toxic fandom, or anon hatred ect. ect. I have certainly distanced myself from certain pairings and certain fandoms because of that, but I wouldn't say any of them have ever reached the level of "I can't stand it now." If anything, I sometimes feel a little contrary and dig my heels in on that thing in a petty revenge, "Well in that case, I'll just like this more" kind of way, if that makes sense?

All of that said, I have no patience for nasty, toxic fandom environments, and I stay away from those even if it's a media I really like i.e. you mentioned MHA in one of your salty asks...I wrote my one platonic friendship fic and got the hell outta there (nothing bad happened to me but it just wasn't worth it to take any chances). But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy it in real life and sometimes talk about it with my sisters and irl friends. I just don't want to discuss it online. It's not worth the headache & drama.

I definitely get fandom fatigue sometimes where the aggressiveness and toxicity of the fans of a certain pairing or character I already don't like just intensifies my dislike for that thing. But that's really only ever happened with things I already don't like or don't have an opinion on at all, which I don't think that really fits the prompt here.

10. Most disliked arc? Why?

Fairy Tail: The anime-only Celestial Spirit Arc by a landslide. It was so boring and had so many pacing issues. I literally fell asleep during it and didn't even both going back. I'm also super bitter towards that arc because my sister got so bored during it that she quit the anime (right before getting the best arc Tartaros). I keep begging her to pick it up again and just skip the stupid Celestial Spirit Arc but she swears she is a completionist and would never be able to do it. So yeah. Can't stand that one! The only positive thing I could remotely say about it was that Levy on the game show was kind of entertaining, but overall the whole arc was kind of just like a boring bizarre dream I'd like to forget about.

For arcs that appeared in both the anime and manga, I really didn't like that flute arc (which a google search has informed me is actually called the "Eisenwald Arc"). I'm glad we got Gray and Erza introduced as characters, but the arc had a lot of pacing issues and just went on for way too way, imo. They could've wrapped things up a lot faster, also I just didn't get the whole "evil flute" thing--it was really random and kind of bizarre (also not the most well thought out plan in the world). I will say this arc gets more points than the Celestial Spirit Arc because my sister and I had so much fun making Kokushibo flute jokes.

Black Clover: Gotta go with the anime only arc here too because again, it was boring and didn't have a lot of bearing on the series as a whole. It also felt like a major let down after the high stakes of the Elf Arc. Honestly just not a fan of that one.

If I had to pick a manga arc...uh...I honestly don't know. Maybe the Sosshi village arc? But only because I thought it was better in the anime where they really took the time to flesh out Magna's backstory. It felt more rushed in the manga, but I don't dislike it as much as that anime only one.

If I can pick a character arc, freaking FINRAL'S!! Like what happened here?! It was so, so good...until it wasn't. I JUST CAN'T WITH THE AMOUNT OF REGRESSION. It makes me want to beat my head against the wall even more than he is! But I think this was about story arcs, not characters arc so I'll refrain from ranting here.

25. Would you change the ending of Demon Slayer?

This is kind of a complicated one. My sister and I were just talking about this because she feels there was too much character death, but I feel it was a justified and appropriate amount for the high stakes of the series (even if it was devastating). So for the sake of this discussion, let's assume that the author had a "character death quota" (or a set number of characters who were going to be killed off by the end of the series). If that was the case, I would have axed Uzui at the end of the Entertainment District Arc and saved Genya in the final arc.

If there was a believable/reasonable way that Muichiro could have gone into god-mode and defeated Kokushibo without dying, I would have saved him too, having Uzui take his "death slot." Then I would have saved Genya by having Sanemi die to protect him (which would have been a much more satisfying ending to his arc, in my opinion).

As sad as the other deaths were (*weeps about ObaMitsu*) Muichiro and Genya were children. While it's realistic for them to die, it's especially tragic, and if I got to rewrite the ending, I would prioritize saving them.

Though to be perfectly fair, I would have been much happier with the ending if Uzui had died in the Entertainment District Arc and any of our heroes who died in the final battle survived instead. I'll forever be salty that Uzui of all people somehow managed to survive to the end when so many others did not, especially since his arc had already wrapped up and him dying in the Entertainment District would have been a satisfying conclusion to his story whereas so many other characters who did get axed had storylines that felt unfinished (Genya especially).

Also, Himejima should have played the flute at Kokushibo causing him to lose his cool in the infinity castle so much faster. I'm really upset this didn't happen. (Kidding but I would’ve loved to see him just go completely unhinged over the flute. I make way too many Kokushibo flute jokes…)

[capitano-marina]

As usual, now that the season is over/as all good traditions hardly come to an end, here's my thoughts/post (call it however you want) about this season

1. Maya DeLuca Bishop

Oh Maya my sweet Maya I absolutely loved the character growth she went through this season, as much as it pained me to see all the negative things said about her and the zero empathy at times to what she was going through. Her demotion was not fair and will always not be fair and i get the need to make other characters look great but it was to the point of being annoying. Her apology to Ross felt wrong (i get that she needed to apologise for the blackmail) but chief Ross clearly hates her even Maya knows this and she drove her to her breaking point with Beckett treating her bad, that’s some very twisted way for revenge, and the way absolutely no one even apologised for the way they treated Maya for months or even someone tried to stop it but instead we got people making fun of her and not welcome her back the proper way!

One thing is for sure and will always be Maya will always choose her wife and will always have heart eyes for her.

2. Carina DeLuca Bishop

The sad reality that we all should accept by now that Carina in this show will be Maya’s wife and nothing more yeah she will have her moments with Vic, Ben and the rest but it will always be For Maya’s storyline, I guess this what makes it hard for fans with certain lines being said you feel the need to pick a side when both sides feelings and emotions are valid but when only one side shown on TV it becomes a war between fans that only love/respect/understand (call it whatever you want) one half of the ship.

Glad Carina now knows she is Maya’s number one priority 🥹 and yes she will also always have heart eyes for her wife.

3. Marina my beloved

I am no fan of angst and will never be specially knowing the shows won’t give as much as i want, yes we had good moments between the bathroom scene, shower scene and all in between the sweet and not so sweet moments it was still missing lots of things, my favourite TV wives don’t get as much as they deserve and i am learning to accept that (not really). At this point i am just glad they are back together because I really didn’t see us getting them back maybe that was just the effect of the drama/angst.

4. The rest

Vic needs to leave Theo, the mayor storyline wasted so much time and no one really asked for it or even enjoyed it, couldn’t care less about this captain storyline that’s been going on since the show started, one character is gonna take it and we all know it will always end like that so why drag it out so much when none of us care! (Captain Maya Bishop forever tho), don’t even get me started on Ross double standards.

I know fans want more action and calls to be added like other wee woo shows but I honestly don’t want it, i like the “family” vibe that is going on here because more action less focus on the personal stories that are imo more important than a good call.

5. Episode 18

That was way better than expected tbh. Hot,sexy and the most beautiful wives there is, find it hard to believe that Carina doesn’t have a dress, but they looked amazing so not complaining, them talking about plans for the baby is what i needed to hear, that baby they delivered might be adopted or maybe not I still want Carina to get pregnant because that’s what she wants so s19 please at least give her that!. Captain Andy about damn time now we can move on 🤞🏻, Glad to not be part of any cliffhangers my heart can’t handle it at all.

6. D&S

I am forever in awe for their talent and love to this ship without them so many little moments would go unnoticed because let’s be honest here they don’t give them as much as they deserve storyline wise for whatever reason there is. We as fans notice and want things to the point of being delusional (we all been there) and we give the show more credit than they give to the TV wives (no disrespect to anyone) so yeah it hurts when fandom theories are really good and make sense but you don’t see it on screen.

Thanks Danielle and Stefania for being the captains of the ship and adding your little touches here and there you will always shine even in the background.

Until next season ❤️

[qui-rault]

Bellart on Herault de Sechelles

In my quest to start building some sources, I have translated Nicolas Francois Bellart's anecdote on Herault de Sechelles.

Please note:

The source for this is Oeuvres de N.-F. Bellart, procureur général à la cour royale de Paris. Tome 6, 1827-1828 authored by Billecoq. You can find the original here: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5586566r and it starts on page 124 of the text.

My French is absolute trash. And Bellart's writing does not help. @ans-treasurebox was lovely enough to help me out with a chunk of the translation and I am very grateful. However, any incorrect translation or mistake is entirely on me.

Italics are my own notes.

M. Herault de Sechelles, as everyone knows, was Advocate General in the Paris Parliament. He had wit, a lot of pretensions to the talent of speaking well, which he possessed very little of, a determined taste for metaphysics which ruined him, and above all an unbridled desire to have fame. Moreover, with everyone, and especially with the men whom he believed could serve to propagate his reputation, [he had] the most engaging manners, gentle forms and treated those around him with flattering equality to bolster their self-esteem. 

Young lawyers, principally, were the objects of his coquetry. He spied on their forces, and when he thought he had discovered that a beginner was worth winning over, he had no rest until he had attached him to his chariot by his attentions and courtesies. 

And to deserve his attention it was not necessary to have brilliant faculties; it was enough to be someone ordinary. I was precisely one of those men. So, I had my turn of seduction with M. Herault de Sechelles. He sought me out, made many advances to me, even coming to see me in a poor little apartment which I occupied at a cork maker. There was indeed, in these kindnesses of a great magistrate, for a poor little lawyer, the son of an artisan, enough to turn my head. So, he turned me around: and frankly, I began to love M. Herault with all my heart, to recommend him, to praise him, to celebrate, in short, as best I could, his fine and good qualities. 

He undoubtedly learned about it. He was very grateful to me: and to add to my enthusiasm by his good graces, he invited me with M. Pigeau, then his secretary at the Palace, to go and spend a few days of the holidays at his chateau at Epone*  

*Bellart writes Éponne here.  

One can judge the eagerness with which I accepted. On one of the first days of September, I therefore went there. I found there, besides the master of the house, a certain Y.....,* his private secretary (1), brother of the conventional of that name; M. de La Salle, the most obscure metaphysician of his time, author of the Desordre Regulier, and finally Vitry, prosecutor in parliament. The revolution had begun. I noticed it in the evening. 

*I’m not sure who this is referring to.

(1) The man of whom Bellart spoke here has been, for some years now, by his humility, by his piety, by the practice of all Christian works, the model of the most sincere conversion. Bellart most likely ignored it, since he didn’t comment on it, but I, who know who this man is, I had to say it. (Author's Note) [Billecoq].

And at supper and after supper the most extraordinary theses were raised. We were discussing them three against three, M. Pigeau, Vitry and myself on one side, M. Herault, Y..... and de La Salle on the other. I heard proposals to make my hair stand on end. God, religion, even the respect due to paternity, everything was called into question, and with a cynicism and freedom of expression that made me wonder more than once if I was not dreaming and if I was really with one of the first magistrates of France. M. Pigeau and I, when we retired to our rooms in the evening, we moaned, about everything we had heard, blaming on Y .... and de La Salle all the odious doctrines that the ease of character of M. Herault had made him welcome. For me, in my real tenderness for the latter, I was truly distressed.  

An incident happened the next day to divert me a little from my sad thoughts. Very early in the morning, the famous president of Saint-Fargeau [Lepeletier] arrived at M. Herault's, to whom he told, as he got out of the carriage, that he had spared himself a week to spend it with him. The master received this new guest wonderfully, and the two of them, with M. Pigeau and myself, went for a walk in the park while waiting for lunch. I don't know how it happened that we got together two by two. [Lepeletier] took possession of M. Pigeau for a few moments; I stayed with M. Herault. When we were a little apart from each other:  

"You heard,” said M. Herault to me, “[Lepeletier] telling me that he was coming to spend a week here. He won't even stay for dinner.”  

“- How! Why?”  

“I don't want to tell you that. You'll find out later. But you'll see if I'm prophesying correctly." 

He didn't want to go into more explanations then. Soon the lunch bell rang. Everyone from the night before gathered to meet the newcomer in the dining room. He looked rather distant, said little, and went out for a few moments towards the end of lunch, then returned to his place at the table. We chatted; half an hour passed. [Lepeletier]'s valet brought letters to his master, who, to read them, retired to an opening in the window. 

Soon he returned to M. Herault, to whom he declared, with great appearances of contradiction, that he was in despair, but that it was necessary to get him post horses without delay, since a matter of the greatest emergency recalled him immediately to Paris. M. Herault seemed to take this speech at face value. The horses came. [Lepeletier] left. When the carriage which carried him left the yard, M. Herault burst out laughing, saying to me: 

“Well! Will you now believe my prophecies?” I asked him for the key to the enigma.  

“The key to the enigma,” he replied, “is Vitry. " 

Everything was explained. Vitry was a prosecutor in parliament. [Lepeletier], such a great zealot of liberty and equality, was the most arrogant man who existed. He considered it a diminution of dignity to go down to dinner with a prosecutor. The prosecutor had put him to flight. This is where this execrable demagogue was then in his republicanism, he who voted for the death of his master. 

Rid of him, M. Herault and his guests returned to their ease. Metaphysical controversies resumed. In this cursed castle we only discussed, and God knows what we discussed! The master of the house rested from impieties with obscenities. Finally, in two or three days, I discovered that he was materialistic to the highest degree. My sorrows came back to me. I was losing respect for the master. I couldn't stop myself from retaining my affection for him. I set out to convert him. I clung to him. Several times, tete a tete, while out walking, I employed all my wisdom to combat his deplorable doctrines. I spoke to him with force, with warmth, with interest. 

"What a disheartening belief," I said to him one day, grasping his hands warmly, "to have in this world neither the interest to do good, nor a witness to the good one does, nor a goal toward which one strives while doing it. Religious beliefs, the desire to please God through love and charity towards others, the hope of being rewarded by being kind and obliging to others, even at one's own expense, are the foundations of benevolence, friendship, and generosity. In materialism, the universe is empty. Morality is even emptier. There remains no longer a single reason not to sacrifice others to a harsh and cruel selfishness."

As I was uttering these words with great heartfelt enthusiasm, my interlocutor could only discern one notion from it, namely that I feared his opinions might make his willingness to assist me grow colder; thus, seemingly, I was engaging in a dispute with him only for the sake of the safeguarding of his favor that I wished to maintain!

"Don't be afraid," he said to me in a tone that brought tears to my eyes, "even though I am a materialist, I will still take care to serve you if necessary." Ah !

“Advocate General,” I cried to him bitterly, “you are cruelly mistaken, it was not about me: it was only about you, but since we understand each other so little, let's talk about something else. " And we talked about something else. Indeed, this sordid suspicion, thrown on an outpouring of heart which would have made me at that moment almost sacrifice my life to pass into his soul, for his happiness, all the convictions which burned in mine, had the effect on me of icy water falling on hot coals. 

I made up my mind from that moment to make a short stay at E, where disgust pursued me all the more invincibly because my friendship, mingled with gratitude for the master, had at first been more exalted, and because the hope of seeing him return to reason and happiness had just died. A discovery which I made two days later made me make up my mind in a hasty manner.* 

*I can't believe Bellart doesn't tell us what he saw.

 I left the next day. I never saw M. Herault again in my life. 

I don't see him again at his house, at least. I contented myself with writing to his door at the times of the year when I could not have omitted this homage without exposing myself to the danger, either of appearing insolent, or of explaining my conduct. I saw him again sometimes, but in public, at the prosecutor's office, where the lawyers used to go before the hearing. I saw him there again to confirm myself in the estrangement which he inspired in me, and to which he added considerably by a story which I heard him tell one day. It was some time after the storming of the Bastille. The unfortunate Berthier had been massacred by the revolutionary cannibals, who paraded his sad remains in the capital. His head, carried on the end of a pike, had reached the top of the Faubourg Saint-Martin. However, M. Foulon, father-in-law of the victim, arrived at the same place, dragged in a cabriolet from which the imperial had been torn off, by another troop of scoundrels, who also demanded with loud cries that they hang him from a lantern. The two bands met. The monster who bore Berthier's head had the ferocity to bring it closer to Foulon's and to force this poor old man, half dead, to kiss it. 

It was precisely this execrable adventure that M. Herault related. He told it with a kind of naturalness and lightness that made me shiver. He told it almost pleasantly, and as if he had told something that would have been nothing but ridiculous. And when he came to the atrocious act of having wanted the unfortunate father-in-law to lay his lips on this head separated from the trunk of his own son-in-law, he smiled, saying "Just imagine this scene, and this bastard presenting his head to the father-in-law, as if he had said to the son-in-law, kiss dad, kiss dad."* These words froze me. I didn't want to hear any more coming out of that coldly cruel mouth. Never have I seen him since.  

*The actual French here has him saying, “Baise papa, Bais papa". You may translate that as you wish.  

This man was not a barbarian; he was not even revolutionary. He was so little [a revolutionary] that, when asked which political party he was from, he answered: “the one that doesn’t give a fuck about the two others.” And it was true. He was selfish; he was a philosopher; he was materialistic. He wanted to escape, to live, to live like animals. He was neither good nor bad. He possessed neither virtues nor vices, at least not the kind that harm others; and with all that, either through absolute carelessness, the primary trait of that base soul, or through complete indifference to good and evil, or, finally, due to a crude desire for his own survival, he complied with whatever was desired, took part in crimes, and voted for the death of his king, and perished on a scaffold, in the midst of brigands whom he had made his fellows, his companions and his friends. I dwelt on this man, because I recently read his eulogy, and I felt indignant. 

[zeph0r]

Oct 29 - what do you love about Dragon Age?

You know, I was slightly dreading this question because I'm not entirely sure I'm going to do the answer any Justice (see what I did there?), so bear with me a sec. Preference for fantasy RPGs aside, every single Dragon Age game has come to me at a time when I needed it. Like, rock bottom needed it. Like, bad-terrible-rock-bottom needed it, if you catch my drift. I could lose myself in a world where I could just be some absolute nobody working towards righting wrongs and saving the day with a group of friends, which, as most depressed RPG/TTRPG players know, is kind of the core thing - being able to make a difference in a way that you just can't in real life, while being surrounded by people who mostly tolerate and sometimes even like and respect you. The world is incredibly rich, the NPCs feel very much like real people. It's shitty and dark and grimy while still finding hope and humor, and the light moments feel so good when they come after some absolute gutpunching moments. Origins fell into obsession territory, and DA2? Well, that just straight up consumed my entire fucking being. It still does, even more so now than the when I first played it. I was a little indifferent on Inquisition, and I'm... apprehensive, I think, about Veilguard. I think a lot about certain OC's of mine on the daily, and one of my daily mantras for when I get stuck on something is still What Would Hawke Do. Thankfully I have my tabletop characters to help mitigate the 'yolo'-diplo/sarc element a little. She does win sometimes, though. Dragon Age (and Mass Effect) inspired me to try out this tumblr dot com thing, and through it I've met some of my favourite people ever (even if I haven't met most of you irl) who I wish I could hang out with and drink coffee and shoot the shit with. I am better for having known all of you, and you're all so creative and talented and fucking fantastic. You (and the game, to be fair) have even inspired me to actually give this creative thing a go again, so I guess 'watch this space'. Idk. This series means a lot for so many reasons, and this post has barely scratched the surface.

[dvilsdesire]

MUN MONDAY: GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Respond to the following prompts out of character, then tag others you'd like to get to know a little bit better!

ROLEPLAYER NAME: You can call me Owl, or Sam. :) Whatever you prefer.

ROLEPLAYER PRONOUNS: He/Him

MUSE NAME: Haarlep.

PREFERRED COMMUNICATION: I'm fine with either IM's or Discord. Time zones are a bit shit for me since I live in Australia, but I'll catch you when I can.

EXPERIENCE: I've been Rping way over a decade now. On tumblr? Since... 2012, I think? But waaay before then, back in probably 2007 or something. I've Rped on multiple platforms.

PREFERRED ROLEPLAY TYPE: I greatly prefer para/novella. I like delving into a character's mind and thought process. I know I write a LOT of inner monologue for my muses as well, I actually STRUGGLE with short replies, so when someone gives me a single para or line... it's really difficult for me to match that short length, but it's also something that I don't really vibe with. I greatly prefer longer replies. I want to delve into characters and see how they react, I want to learn all of those little things about your muses as well. I'm a sucker for character development. I'm also a fan of the nitty gritty.

PET PEEVES & DEALBREAKERS: One line responses. Please, for the love of god... give me something to work with. It's a quick way for me to show disinterest and likely not really reach out to write with unless it's something that I am REALLY enjoying for small snippets. But please, I greatly prefer longer replies. Short ones also make me feel like you're just not interested in what my characters have to say :/ Please read my rules, whilst I know we can't remember EVERYONE'S rules (seriously, I forget as well!), it is obvious when people don't. If my muse is a muse of power or something, then please treat them as such. If your muse ends up wanting to attack or something, and they are of a lower class... then they won't win. It's just that simple. Respect the power of certain muses.

PLOTS OR MEMES: I like both and am fine with both. Whilst I LOVE plotting and getting to know muses and getting an idea of where we can go, I also understand that sometimes our brains are just too tired from real life and memes can be something simpler and quicker. I think both of them are very good for very different reasons, which I'm fine with both. By all means, memes are EXCELLENT ice breakers imo, and then we can always plot something once we've established a little starter. :)

LONG REPLIES OR SHORT REPLIES: Long, lol. As covered in my previous responses.

BEST TIME TO WRITE: I get a lot more done when I'm writing in the mornings. Obviously due to work, I am tired in the evenings, so I get very little done (Haarlep has certainly reawakened my muse tho I'm shocked at how much I've been writing on my work nights lol). I mostly write on Fridays as it's the only day I have to myself, so I try and churn out as many replies as I can, but once it hits the afternoon, I'm pooped lol. So yeah, mornings are definitely best!

ARE YOU LIKE YOUR MUSES: Haarlep? Absolutely not. Haarlep caught me by utter surprise when it came to being a muse of mine. I saw him once, had a little laugh, and suddenly he wouldn't leave my mind, and then I just... had the persistent urge to write them. I'm very happy that he did come to me, though, as he's really been helpful in making me come back to RP on a more regular basis and I've had such a good time exploring him. But no, we're absolutely nothing alike. Haarlep is an incubus, and I'm asexual as fuck lol. If anything, and don't take this the wrong way because it's probably going to sound BAD lol, but I have more in common with Raphael than I do with Haarlep X'D and that's... saying something, since I am not an evil devil hahaha. The only thing I think I could say about me and Haarlep being similar is the fact that I can mask like a beast in public. (: Even then, that's entirely different to what Haarlep is doing, I'm just masking because I'm austistic and people have expectations of me in society lol, Haarlep is masking because he's trying to seduce and eat someone hahaha.

Tagged by: @shimmerbeasts Tagging: @astralrogue @chaoticbard @dcwncametheclaw @galefcrce @azzagrazt and anyone else! Tag me so I can read :)

[dingoat]

So, a whole two people had an interest in my thoughts on cathar in Star Wars and purring, which I guess is enough to prompt me to try and put some of them into proper words. I do want to preface this by saying my own personal thoughts and feelings on these matters are very much my own personal thoughts and feelings, coming from my particular areas of interest and professional knowledge, and have absolutely no bearing on how much I enjoy other people's takes/characters, or how willing I am to interact or depict other people's takes/characters! Everyone approaches these things differently and frankly I have no interest in nor take any pleasure from raining on other folks' parade or telling them how to write/design/depict their own characters. Mostly, I want to reassure people that it is in fact completely okay to have completely different ideas to the more popular fandom headcanons, it is absolutely fine to disagree, and it is very not cool to try and force a single way as the 'best' or 'most correct'. I also, personally, have way more respect for people who will readily admit that they imagine a character/species a certain way purely because it viscerally appeals to them- they dig the aesthetic, they just think it's cool/cute/neat, etc- rather than those who dream up a feature and use ham fisted imperfect science to try and justify it.

If you like your cathar to purr simply because you think it's lovely, you go and do you, I love and respect you for it, and my words going forward here and now are simply not for you. I'm not here to fight or argue or try to convince you otherwise, I have no interest in discourse! There are just facets of world building and character design that I know I feel differently about than most people and I'm making myself vulnerable here by sharing some of them.

(I am also going to talk about a little more than purring.)

So! A little bit of background on me and where I'm coming from.

Animals are my life, I have studied them academically and work with them professionally and have lived and breathed animals since my very earliest memories. I am fascinated by form and function, by taxonomy and natural selection and adaptation to environments, by behaviour and cognition, and I am deeply committed to conservation efforts. All of these interests are what inform and guide the way I think about fiction, they are what I enjoy about made-up species, sometimes I think long and deep, and sometimes I just have gut responses. (Also, most of you here wouldn't know me from a bar of soap and I don't expect you to believe anything I say simply because 'I said so'. I could be lying about my life experience! If any of my talking points are of genuine interest to you I encourage you, I implore you to research further on your own!)

Now!

Cathar!

Cathar are just one of many many many 'space cat people' that hang out in Star Wars land. I was first introduced to the greater Star Wars universe through a tabletop RPG and I found myself RAVENOUS for lore, to know what was out there, to help expand and flesh out our character's adventures with as much delicious and beautiful variety as possible. I love this stuff. I dig the obscure aliens, I love the nonhumans, and because of my interest in real world animals, yes, the animal-analogue aliens have always been particular favourites.

Star Wars has lots, and lots, and lots of cat people, and visually they vary from very-animal (fluffy, four-limbed Cor) to basically-human (hi, Cathar, hi, new-canon Zygerrians), with a bunch of in-betweens at varying levels of cattyness and a few novel features here and there. To me, applying every variation of 'earth felid' to every species of 'sapient feline' in the Star Wars universe is just kind of boring and scientifically improbable in a way that (personally) irks me. If Cathar are the only space-cats you think of and utilise in your corner of fandom, I can see why you might enjoy making them as wonderfully varied as all the wild and domestic cats we have around us, but I just don't feel the need. I am far more interested in seeing some-features-here, some-features-there. These guys more like tigers. These more like domestic turkish vans. These ones more like lynx but WHAT IF theyr'e from an ocean world?? I have fun with that. I don't need a tiger-cathar and a siamese-cathar and a lynx-cathar and a margay-cathar. I have way more space cats to play with, and where canon/legends falls short, I'll make my own thank you very much.

So, coming from this angle alone, I actively don't want to stuff my cathar full of every variant of earth-cat behaviours and abilities. I have literally no need to make cathar, arguably one of the most humanoid cat-people Star Wars has to offer, capable of purring. To me, they're physiologically pretty much human with some mild, superficial feline facial features and fuzzy bodies. Human mouths, lips, tongues, throat, speech capability. I don't think they meow or prrp or hiss or purr (at least, no better or with any different reason than a human might mimic these sounds), I even struggle to visualise them 'perking' their ears, and if I want a character that I can write with those more catlike tendencies, I'll pick something that isn't a cathar! (And if I want a tail, I'll write them as a farghul or something. I don't need my cathar to have tails, and the function and variety of tails is another thing vastly misunderstood and misrepresented in popular fiction, but that's a whole other essay.)

We've also got the whole thing where roaring and purring are mutually exclusive sounds. No cat species can both roar and purr, and it is a distinction in the hyoid bone (that supports the tongue/larynx) that makes a cat capable of one or the other. Some big cats might have little rumbles/growls that can sound a bit like a purr, but it's really not the same thing. Hollywood messes this up all the time, look at every cartoon lion and tiger out there, and while it's totally within your right to headcanon some cathar-specific vocal apparatus that allows for both, I simply prefer neither, because the unique position of this bone in humans is apparently the foundation of our ability to speak. I look at a human-proportioned head, and I imagine human equivalent vocal abilities (so yes, I'd imagine the same for zabraks, @gran-maul-seizure ). I might write a togorian capable of roaring, or a trianii capable of purring, as both are significantly more alien than a cathar in my eyes.

Splitting cathar up into different subspecies with different abilities doesn't really work for me either (a lot of fandom intra-species variation doesn't really work for me) because there are a lot of very widespread, fundamental misunderstandings of how natural selection operates, and what leads to different species in the first place, and even what makes a species at all.

If these points don't matter to you, again, I re-iterate, that's fine. Go ham. If all you want to do is make a thousand creative variations, if you want to make a cathar for every cat-look under the sun and that's what's fun for you, please go right ahead! But these points matter to me a great deal, and so I take great enjoyment out of including them in my world building and character thoughts.

[Why do these things matter to me? Because I want to see life on our actual, real world home planet earth preserved. I believe understanding the vast variety of life is essential to fostering greater appreciation and ultimately care of our natural world. Biodiversity is essential and so poorly understood/acknowledged by the general public and it is one of my genuine missions in life to increase and improve understanding in whatever avenues I have available! Not every rabbit is created equal. You can't replace one lemur species with another and expect it to fulfil the same role in the environment, they are fundamentally different creatures. One lizard is not the same as the next, one skink is not equal to the next! People stroll down the beach and cast their eyes over a dozen different shorebirds at once and yet all they see is 'seagull' despite so so many different processes and niches and roles operating right before their eyes! If people can't recognise a sandpiper from a curlew from a crake, let alone a wood sandpiper from a marsh sandpiper from a terek sandpiper, how can they learn, how can they understand that each individual species is doing something different in the environment? That when one species goes extinct, something is irrevocably lost? Helping people understand that one species can not simply be replaced with another, no matter how superficially similar, is truly important to me. Important enough to me that it matters in my fiction as well! That I get more joy out of seeing exploration of earth felids represented across multiple unique space cat species, rather than a one-size-fits-all-cat-man!]

So, back to the space cats. To me, personally, it is most believable to imagine that cathar evolved to a certain level of intelligence, sapience, technological advancement, within a single environment, and then these abilities allowed them to expand further into more extreme environments, cross oceans, survive in hostile climates, etc. A single, distinct species, with certainly some physical variation (just like humans) but within very specific parameters (just like humans - our skin colours and body shapes vary, yes, but across predictable spectrums; we don't have spider-monkey humans and chimp humans and mandrill humans and capuchin humans and snub nosed monkey humans and pygmy marmoset humans). I imagine that when the early cathar population spread, say, from a lightly forested landscape into the snow, they did not need to evolve a fluffy coat with snow leopard patterns because it was their ability to make heavy coats out of wildlife pelts and construct shelters and build fires that allowed them to move into the snow in the first place. They didn't need to develop camouflage appropriate to the environment because they could find colours to wear, they could dye or bleach their fur, their intelligence took over and allowed them to adapt much faster than natural selection ever would. Once they hit a certain point in their species' evolution, they did not need to continue to change physiologically to adapt to environmental pressures.

Could you look at it the other way? That the cathar-predecessor spread across their home planet and adapted into various environmental niches, developed new coat colours and vocal systems before actually becoming the intelligent and self-aware spacefaring cat people we know and love? Sure! But I would argue that it is deeply, profoundly improbable that what you would wind up with is a single species! I would argue that it's profoundly improbable that each one of these environmental variants would develop to the same level of sapience at all, let alone wind up able to produce offspring together, but y'know, the idea of multiple dominant species from a common ancestor is cool and fun too. The key, here, for my own personal believability, is multiple species. If you don't care about any of this in your fiction, fine! Do what's ultimately more creatively fun for you, but own that creativity rather than misrepresent science! And if you actually do like to consider species variation and evolution from a more real-world biology perspective, I encourage you to read and think a little more deeply, go beyond the rule of cool and get to understand the sheer, magnificent, overwhelming variety and beauty of our own home a little better.

My cathar don't purr, because biodiversity matters to me.

Footnote: Slightly more sideways thoughts, I guess, but I also kind of find the trend of giving animal-esque species cutesy animal-esque tendencies to be a little rude, and it's something I prefer to write into Imperial xenophobia rather than make fact for alien species. I don't find it especially fun to consider Aric Jorgan getting distracted with a ball of yarn or being placated with a saucer of milk or grooming himself with his tongue, and especially not any implications that the behaviours might be involuntary. I imagine it's a very tiresome, disrespectful gag for human Imperial agents to give a bowl of milk to their cathar colleague, and I imagine a Republic trooper wouldn't dream of insulting their cathar counterpart in the same way.

[messiahzzz]

So I came across your post for Wyll. And even though you did an update it really did shake me to see the silencing black voices and how they come off as “hostile.” As a black gamer myself and black character is treated (usually) like a subhuman. On pages where people calm them slurs and other vile things. And we’re told to essentially “get over it.” And in this regard when it comes to Wyll, we see that he has less content than the other 5 origin characters. Which is odd since he’s been around from the very beginning. Yes, he did have a rewrite due to white people saying “he’s not trustworthy/he’s to mean” like black people as a whole are supposed to fit into a nice little mold that suits them. Do I think Larian should have stood on business and kept EA Wyll as he was? Absolutely. Do I enjoy the Wyll we got at release? Absolutely. But hearing takes like yours when you, in the past, said that Wyll needs more content. It’s like you’re backpedaling to fit a narrative or be more palatable for a certain audience.

I don’t know man. It was just hurtful to read really.

“But hearing takes like yours when you, in the past, said that Wyll needs more content. It’s like you’re backpedaling to fit a narrative or be more palatable for a certain audience.”

this is going to be a long reply, but let me start it off by saying: i have always said so and i’ve never claimed anything different, even on the exact post you are currently referring to. i fully and wholeheartedly believe that wyll deserves more content until he has the exact same amount of scenes like everyone else. this includes the quality and any other aspect of his story that is in thorough need of improvement. this is something that won’t ever change.

for the sake of full transparency, these are all of the posts i’ve written that vaguely address this entire topic. [x] [x] [x] [x] [x]

the original post is — like i’ve said many, many times by now — a mere scene tally. meant to compare the amount of content (not the quality or substance thereof) wyll currently has in the game, taken in strict comparison to the other companions. not addressing the racial stereotypes and tropes present in wyll’s story in this specific post was a conscious choice i made.

i didn’t want this specific post to turn into a discussion about racism in media/fandom in the first place, because i fully believe that it is a complex and crucial topic that deserves to be addressed separately and with just as much consideration, respect, and care. as well as with actual, coherent references to back it up. however, i also recognize that these topics are inherently and inevitably interlinked. which is why i felt it unfair to refuse dialogue. i considered it my responsibility to explain my approach and also reiterate what the original purpose of said post was. …until it got out of hand.

i do think we’ve reached a point where a certain (loud minority) of the fandom is vehemently insistent on misunderstanding and misinterpreting anything i will say henceforth, no matter how many times i will repeat myself and explain my intentions. this is unfortunate, but ultimately how fandom as a whole works. branding a single person as “the problem”, while goading and egging each other on, on their respective discord servers until the next discourse pops up. and before anyone even goes in that direction: no, this is not me playing the victim, but merely an observation.

people that have been following my blog for a while now likely know that my posts are almost always accompanied by strict data & examples. i rarely derail from the topic at hand and prefer to make separate posts for each issue i want to address — not a justification, but an explanation. another example, to further illustrate what i’m referring to: if i made a post about the number of scenes gale has in comparison to the other characters and someone else asked me: why "i am not addressing the grooming and abuse he suffered through mystra as well?”. i would also tell them that: yes, while this is a crucial theme that stretches throughout his entire story and ultimately shaped his character, this is not the purpose of this specific post.

i genuinely love wyll as a character, he is one of my favorite companions in the entire game and it saddens me that there is so very little fan content of him. however, i do feel like that by effectively shutting down every discussion around him that isn’t centered on his personality and/or his romance it will inevitably leave fans burned out and even more discouraged from creating more content with him than they were in the first place. policing others on the topics that are acceptable/unacceptable to talk about (and in which manner they should be addressed) is only putting further restrictions on the little content wyll already has within fandom. it is counterproductive.

i can assure you that it was never my intention to be hurtful. neither to make poc players feel like i am silencing them nor urging them to “be quiet and get over it.” quite the contrary, in fact. i believe correction is necessary to ensure that the data (we give larian for review) is detailed, comprehensive, and factually correct. so it will be taken seriously and consistent, elaborate changes will be made. instead of merely receiving a few measly bug fixes to appease the masses.

i do hope you’ll respect my decision to remove myself from this discussion entirely and not send me any more asks regarding said topic in the future, nor reply to this post. respectful and civil dialogue is something i will never reject, but i’d also really like to let it rest and have us all focus on the aspects of fandom that genuinely bring us joy & allow for the pleasant kind of escapism.

now, since this was a lot of text, allow me to sum it up once more:

i fully believe that wyll deserves more content. until the quality, as well as the amount of his scene are exactly on par with the rest of the companions.

i have never urged anyone towards inaction or claimed that the fandom should simply “shut up and be content” with what they’re given.

what i have criticized is the methods of action that were taken by a small amount of fandom (i.e. petitions and demands directed at larian) my personal opinion being that it is not a long-term effective approach that will bring about the desired results (said petitions not even entering larian’s peripheral vision or being consciously ignored entirely). as well as being rather disrespectful to the developers and the people that continuously work on the game.

i have never claimed that you shouldn’t critique larian. in fact, i do this often myself. there are maaaaanyyyyy aspects to be critical of.

i personally believe that it is a much more efficacious approach to provide larian with direct feedback via their form. i have provided instructions, as well as examples of reports you could write on my posts (upon specific request) and also repeatedly linked to their website.

last but not least: please let it rest ✨