#i don't have the most faith in it but i truly want it to stick the landing

[zhuoyichenpretty]

Oof ep 18-19 was a bit of a mess for me but the latter half of 19 was wild in a good way.

I really wish the show had the space (and maybe the intention?) to slow-burn its way through the plot because transitions/interludes/passage of time are not really its strong suits and it makes the overall story incredibly bumpy. At the same time I think I prefer binge-ing the episodes so maybe the wait and the smaller doses also contribute to the choppiness I'm feeling (in addition to the missing—what word am I looking for, cartilage?—between scenes).

Also this is trivial but ZYC's costume changes give me a lot of whiplash personally lmao. I lowkey wish there was a bit more rhyme and reason for when he's suddenly in a different (incredibly intricate and gorgeous) outfit or his hair or silhouette is drastically different. Even just a "he's fussy about his appearance/never wears the same thing the same way twice" would be nice for me given everyone else's costume changes are a bit more subtle.

Anyway, crazy things are happening and I do not know how I feel about them!! There's a fair amount I'm looking forward to and a lot that I'm not passing judgment on yet because this show, like MJTY, withholds a lot of information. But I'm pretty uncertain whether what I want to eventually see will pay off enough or whether it'll just go by way too quickly or heavy-handedly for me—but I guess that's what fanfiction is for (-:

[loveemagicpeace]

🦭Astro Notes💋🎧

🌊The people with whom you will share the most dark times or turn to in difficult times will be the people with whom you have 8th house synastry.

🌙When u have water moon u have very intense way of showing your emotions. And many times you feel things and people around you very deeply. Water moons have a very hard time emotionally letting go of someone or the feelings they have for someone or some thing. also water moons have the most amazing intuition so when water moon tells you something is probably true.

❤️‍🔥If you have water moon & fire mars, you can show your emotions in a very dramatic way. You will always somehow express your feelings fiery but at the same time emotional. You can be angry a lot of times and you can cry out of anger.

☕️I notice that people who have a lot of taurus energy or are taurus almost always wear trainers. They always want to feel comfortable and cozy. Also hoodies I think this is such taurus thing wearing a hoodie. They usually wear black clothes like when you say scorpio like black color I would say taurus love black color even more. They tend to be very introverted people and usually they don't like a lot of crowds and people. Usually don't like to go to parties I mean they like to party but prefer to be in their own comfortable space.

💧When u have cancer moon u can just drown in your sadness (listening to music all day and thinking about person or situation).

👀I don’t know if it is just me but i can not stand voice of people who has cancer rising sometimes haha. Nothing personal for people who has this placement. But every cancer rising I meet have like this anoying voice sometimes that they made ( especally when they ask for favor).

💋Let's talk about Venus signs. Venus in Sagittarius I always hear people say that they are cheaters or more freedom loving people or that they don't commit easily..but this is not true I know a lot of people who have Sagittarius Venus & are very committed in a relationship and when they choose someone they will stick to this one person they will love this person like forever. Also they are very passionate in love. I just think they are like virgo venuses -they are picky in love and if someone don't suits them enough they will not go for it. I know that Venus in Leo is a fixed Venus and it should be very committed but I also believe that Sagittarius venuses are more committed when they are in love. This is because Leo Venus is playful Venus. They like to play and Sag venus when they find meaning in person,relationship they will stick to this one because they truly believe and have faith for it.

💋One important thing people who have Venus & Mars in sag they have in sidereal actually Scorpio Mars & Venus so inside they are very deep so let's not forget about that!

🦭Scorpio venus will actually give love only to people they truly believe they are worth their love. They are very careful when they choose people around them because they often feel that they will betray them or at the same point cheat on them. So thats why they are careful when it comes to relationships and when they trust someone they will give all of their love and time to this one person. Also they don't share much of their relationship with other people. They like that relationship they have with this one person stays only between them.

🥥Taurus Moon -I feel like those people only share their love with people they only trust and feel comfortable to give and share their feelings with them. I think comfort is one of the most important thing with them. They love to be comfortable with the person so actually they love when people show up in hoodies or sweatpants -they like things like that & also movie nights. Or ride in the car and enjoy the music.

🫀Capricorn people are very realistic people maybe one of the most realistic people I know. They will tell you the hardest and crulest the truth u will ever hear. They are the real people. Capricorn has two sides dark and light. And their dark side can be very dark sometimes even more than Scorpio ones. Scorpio is known from being secretive ,from being mysterious & Capricorn is another level of mysterious. When you look at someone who has Capricorn placements, Capricorn rising especially -they have this poker face and you will never know what they think ,what they next move will be how they going to react on something. You can just wait and be like “okay what is going to happen now “cuz they will kill you with their silence.

🌌The vertex in astrology is a sensitive point in the chart of a person that is believed to indicate significant life events or turning points. The vertex is often associated with fate or destiny, and it is thought to be particularly influential in matters of love and relationships.

🎑Jupiter is a sign of happiness and luck and whatever you have Jupiter in your chart -there you will find the most joy, happiness and satisfaction. For example: if you have Jupiter in your 1st house this mean that when you improve your appearance-maybe getting a tattoo, piercing, coloring your hair..something related to your body this will make you happy. You will feel happiness within you like you got some reward or something. Jupiter in 5th house- when you find a new hobby, entertainment or dating, this will make you the happiest. Jupiter in 12th house- signing up for dancing, acting, something that fulfills you internally will make you the happiest.

🎧Mars is your energy so whatever in your house you have Mars is the energy you show to others and energy others see in you. For ex.: Mars in 12 house -shows the your energy is very mysterious, kind, dreamy, artistic. People always impressed of how much talents you actually have. Mars in 2nd house-people see you as a stubborn, very self-respectful. Your energy maybe is more like materialistic for some people or maybe more calm.

☁️okay I would say this -I see a lot of people who have potential synastry but their relationship don't work out and I see the reason why because a lot of people don't have 5th house -this house is very important because this house indicates how you keep your relationship passionate and loving. 8th house is very deep house, house of intimacy & also sharing secrets with another person, sharing your soul with another person. It's important that you can trust this person with your secrets. This house also indicates the mission you two have in this lifetime & the reason why you end up together. This person came to your life because of something you two share. 8th House shows obsessions and how you are obsessed with this person and how badly you want this person to be yours. if you don't have water houses with person is hard for love to be long lasting in my opinion.

🐱Pisces and Virgos are cat lovers. Every time I meet someone who has these placements, they have a cat. Many times I notice that someone who has gemini has several different animals at home. Leos are dog lovers. People who have capricorn in 6th house usually have a hard time connecting with pets also I usually see these people don't even like animals that much. 4th house placements or cancer placements many times they prefer children than animals.

⭐️It's very important where your north node is because this is your soul mission & this is where your life supposed to be ,how you supposed to grow. What is your focus in this lifetime and how can you achieve this. A lot of people with North Node in 8th house- are working in shadows & they create the most amazing art and things. They have very deep intuition and they can predict a lot of events and things in life- they just know. I lot of important people actually have this placement.

✨ig-bekylibra

-Rebekah💘🎧💋

[blightbright]

Solas fandom and "genAI"

I recently came back to Tumblr 99.9% because life is stressful and I'm autistic and special interesting about Solas, but I never could keep my mouth shut so... re: so-called "genAI" in fandom spaces:

I say so-called because it is neither truly generative nor intelligent, and it is not really artificial: it is created with the real stolen efforts of living people and real environmental exploitation

I have little interest in blaming everyday individuals (except CEOs, political leaders, billionaires, etc) for the harms of the most popular "genAI" tech, because it's a systemic problem

"genAI" is intentionally confusing and it's ok if people are genuinely ignorant, at first, of how it works or the harm

I also have loved ones who disagree with me

THAT SAID, I urge people to learn more about and consider the harms to society, other people, and one's own process of self-expression, learning, and creativity from the use of "genAI"

I can't control your behavior but I can tell you that your messiest, most "OOC," error-ridden rough draft, or your most wonky-proportioned stick figure fan art is infinitely more precious, valuable, and emotionally, culturally, and spiritually significant than an unintelligent plagiarism algorithm doing it for you, even if it gets less hits/kudos at first. don't give up hope: your own art means something. I encourage you to make fandom a heartfelt space of resistance!

it is important for communities to define boundaries of unacceptable behavior (i.e. use of non-gen AI spellcheck, Google Translate, "genAI" rewrite functions, character "chats," plot/outline "generation," full-blown "generated" pieces... IMO, I'm fine with the first, uneasy but ok with the second, and the rest I actively oppose)

in the absence of clear boundaries, transparency is key! please publicly and clearly disclose ANY use of "genAI" at ANY stage of the process for fan works, because concealment of this is disrespectful and hurtful. if you didn't know before, such is life. now you know.

avoid all bad faith arguments about shipping wars and witch hunts. you have nothing to fear from posts uncovering AI if you do not use undisclosed "genAI": the two works in question did. you have many things to fear from unchecked "genAI" use if you are a writer, artist, or someone who needs our planet to stay alive

the work @durgeapologist, @fangbanger3000, and others have done to raise awareness about "genAI" use in popular fan works is extremely valuable, difficult work, and does not need to be perfectly worded to be earnest, meaningful, and ultimately beneficial for fan communities

bonus point, sponsored by autism: Solas as a character draws on figures from Norse lore including Loki, god of many things including callouts and criticism of powerful systems; Odin, god of words, wisdom, poets, and uncontrollable creative inspiration; and Fenrir, wolfpup god of surviving trauma, seeking praise and social approval from the powerful only for it to result in pain, raging against the system, and freedom. IMO, if I want any character to rally people together for the sake of resisting billionaire tech companies when possible and celebrating old-fashioned creativity, it's Solas. it's in his story's DNA. whoever we want him to smooch.

[a-d-nox]

pac/pap: how to promote self-love going forward

take what resonates leave what doesn't - nothing is 100% for you because these aren't personalized so please no angry comments or dms about what i am saying not being a good fit for you or that you "don't claim" just keep scrolling if that is the case. be kind, self reflect, and have fun.

last pac/pap: message from your secret admirer

return to the masterlist of pap/pac posts

paid reading options: astrology menu & cartomancy menu

enjoy my work? help me continue creating by tipping on ko-fi or paypal. your support keeps the magic alive!

pile one

you might settle for less because you likely get caught up in the drama and find it fun/addicting in the moment. you pursue goals/ideas with focus, but often lack the confidence to back it up. or you wait too long for others before moving on.

i believe love has taught you that you should never settle too quickly. it is best to date multiple people before starting an exclusive relationship. don't get overwhelmed by relationship drama because it will consume you and ruin your day (but only temporarily because nothing is forever - so why stress?). you know now not to let others stick their nose in your relationships - too many opinions will taint your feelings. the biggest lesson is that you learned to cut off anything that interferes with your desires.

i feel like you are jealous maybe a lot of people around you are coupled and you are alone. be cautious because you don't know when you might ruin your relationships with others just because you feel unhappy with your situation. stop worrying about being judged or how often you are rejected - it doesn't matter you are going to find someone in due time (you are worthy). you are loving, nurturing, and protective.

you can nurture yourself by getting out there. you have been alone and isolated for too long - so get out there. stop refusing to look within for what you truly want. ask for support to get what your truly desire, especially in the social sense.

what i feel you need to hear is that you have a strong energy - you are gifted with the ability to receive what you need most from the universe. don't rush or force things - what is meant for you, will find you. you are passionate, creative, magnetic, and attractive. you are also nurturing and dependable. you are one of the most supportive person in most people's life. you have many things - you attract the world and its gifts to you. you don't settle for less - when something is missing you go looking for it. you follow your heart and instincts; you make room for new things to bring joy/happiness.

pile two

i feel like you struggle with maintaining balance in a connection and that might just be the source of why you settle for less. you get too invested in a connection and then you loose track of who are and what you want and need most in a connection. you often find yourself prioritizing the other person over yourself.

love has taught you that things can change very radically/unexpectedly and cause you to question everything. you have learned that you have to let go of certain aspects in your love life, so that you can make space for new things and even new people can better help you grow and thrive.

i feel like you are sad presently or are in the process of recovering from some sort of emotional pain/disappointment. sorrow doesn't last forever. you are very capable of healing - new experiences await you. not all new experiences are destined for heartbreak - have faith.

you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself to succeed in love and be the perfect partner/person. perfect is impossible - so be generous with yourself because right now you are only burning yourself out. to nurture your wellbeing, you should stop judging your productiveness and stop comparing yourself to others - delete social media and take sometime off where you don't have to do anything at all (no doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, etc.). do what brings you joy and say "no" to everything else.

i feel like you need to hear that you are a patient person who realizes that change doesn't happen overnight. you celebrate the small wins with small cute things (for example, maybe you survived a hard week and you get yourself a cupcake). things are getting better so just acknowledge that they are. you can recognize when things have been blown out of proportion or things are being exaggerate for dramatic effect - you are human bullshit detector which is a rare find. even rarer still you have the ability to find a resolution to any argument. you are presently working on not letting other people's expectations of you throw you off of your path. you can make your own path and you know it. you trust that you are capable of standing independently of others, and you are capable of anything.

pile three

i don't feel like you are the type to settle for less than you are worth - i get the feeling that you are slightly cocky about your situation. you might need to practice being humble in a connection because you can come off as judgy or as though you have a superior attitude. alternatively, you might find yourself in connections with people who are very controlling and you might not recognize that you are in that type of connection until it is too late. it is not your fault that you might have settled for less than your worth in the past - you just found yourself in the wrong place and the wrong time and experienced a toxic relationship.

i feel as though you learned that a partner doesn't need to be flashing or exciting instead they need to be stable, grounded, and trustworthy. you have had the flashy connections in the past and it was not the best. you need something more sensual than passionate. something that grows slowly over time so that it lasts.

your intuition is never wrong about the people with interest in you, so learn to trust yourself. you are very emotionally intelligent, so trust that you have the answers you seek about any connection. trust your gut instead of overthinking and overanalyzing.

cultivate your intuitive powers, so you can manifest your dreams into reality. to nurture yourself i sense that you should reconnect with nature and recharge with the the power of the sun. you should also focus on healing any and all blockages that concern your self-esteem/self-worth.

you might need to hear that you are nurturing and dependable. you are one of the most supportive person other's life. you have many things - you attract the world and it's gifts to you. you realize that things can change very radically/unexpectedly and cause you to question everything. you have learned that you have to let go of certain aspects in your love life so that you can make space for new things and even new people who can help you grow and thrive. you know that heartbreak is temporary and that time heals all wounds. you can heal and grow as soon as you believe that you are worthy and that no one wishes to hurt you or your heart. it's okay to be hurt but you have to release that pain instead of bottling it up so you can recover.

[ghouljams]

can someone pls explain to me the allure of the face huggers thing? not kink-shaming, kink-inquiring, i’m fascinated by y’all

Yeah of course.

So the face huggers actually encapsulate multiple kinks in my mind and all of those kinks have their own allure but put together I just *fans self*

So I'm just going to start off with the worst of it to get it out of the way, and also to (in good faith) show that I have enough understanding of the themes within alien(and specifically around the face huggers) to understand the horror alongside the kink:

It's a rape monster. Point blank period, the whole horror of the face huggers is the forced insertion, and the violence of penetration which ultimately impregnates and kills the host in the ultimate violation of their bodily autonomy. The host is physically incapable of removing the face hugger, thus prolonging the violation as well as forcing them to carry their parasite "to term." Horror upon horror. Truly a nightmare I would never want to experience in the actual context of the alien series.

Now onto the kink and the fantasy of it all.

It's a rape monster: non-con kink.

Forced insertion: more non-con kink, but specifically force insertions are a kink.

Eggs: oviposition kink

forced pregnancy: another non-con kink, again specifically forced pregnancy. Which also leads into a non-con breeding kink.

Ok that's a lot of non-con kink stuff! What's appealing about that?

I'm gonna be honest with you friend, it's sort of a "you get it or you don't" situation for a lot of people. The appeal though is the same as with most D/s dynamics. You have someone giving up control, and someone taking it. In this case it's a forced submission, and in the fantasy of it, this wouldn't kill me and it would feel good, and it would basically be a monster fuck machine suction cupping itself to my pussy to pump me full of eggs.

I've talked at length about how common "rape" kinks are and the way that society has a hand in creating them if only because it looks down on consenting to sex so much. Especially women saying yes to sex? There's this thought of, "well I'm not a whore if I didn't say yes to it" it sort of takes the blame off the submissive, and there's some power dynamic stuff to it as well, but that's sort of the most bare bones basic gist. In a society where saying "yes" is demonized we shouldn't be surprised when people turn saying "no" into a kink.

Now... the allure of the actual spidery thing is sort of hard to explain. In my mind it looks like a vagina with a dick where the hole should be. I like both of those things, and I like having my mouth on them, so... I mean... idk that feels self explanatory.

So that's my shitty explanation. It's a lot of kinks all jumbled together in what looks like an easily transportable packaging. I think if the face hugger was a sex toy that someone had invented it would have a very different connotation to it.

Here's this thing that will stick to whatever hole you want it on, and it'll just make itself happy by fucking you for as long as it can. The eggs are their own thing but I think the idea of having something that rubs up against my sweet spots is really fucking appealing. And for people that have a breeding kink but are maybe scared of the pregnancy aspect, oviposition fills that niche where you're definitely bred but it's not going to hurt the eggs to push them out. Also tummy bulge.

[scentedpeachlandcreator]

I hope u're doing well! I've been reading ur blog like since 5-7 days ago, and I truly appreciate all the knowledge u share. I had decided not interact until now because, while I understood many concepts at first, some things suddenly became confusing as I kept reading. I would really appreciate it if u could explain everything I need to know from scratch to fully master the Law of Assumption and the 4D/3D concepts (I read one of your Google docs but I really got confused in some—if not most—parts.) English is not my first language, so some expressions make it harder for me to grasp everything completely. That’s why I’d be extremely grateful for a more detailed breakdown. And also, if it's not too much trouble, could you explain to me how to get CONSCIOUS to the void tonight? I know that every night we get to the void but I haven't been conscious, and I've been trying for 1 or 2 months at this point. I would really appreciate it if you could do it! Thank you so much for your time! Please continue with u so wonderful blog !!! ✨♥️

𔘓 Hello lovelyyy!

How are you? Thanks for liking my blog i appreciate it alot.

Anyway here's the breakdown:

What is the Law of assumption:

The Law of assumption is a universal law that states what you assume to be true without proof will become a fact, but that comes with persistence in the assumption.

How to manifest:

★ pick your desire: you can choose whatever desire you want to manifest, it can be multiple, a list of them, and even the unrealistic ones, there's no limit.

★ declare that you have it and accept it: of course that would feel weird at first, but the moment you decide that you already have your desires and that they're yours then it's done, accept that you have it in your imagination. (It would feel natural with times)

★ have faith: have faith in the Law and in your imagination, the Law cannot fail you and never will, your assumption has to happen because it's a Law.

★ persist: no matter what your circumstances are, and what happening in the 3d does not matter, because even if things are going worse in the 3d, you still have your desires, they are yours from the start and nothing will take it away from you, so keep sticking to your assumption and being loyal to it, you know it is real and you believe that you already have it.

4D and 3D?

When it's comes to understanding the concept of the 3d and 4d and how they both work, many individuals tend to think that both of them are seperated, but that entirely wrong, they both work together and they're not seperated.

Example:

Imagine with me the 4d (aka your imagination) as an empty pitch black room, when you imagine something or make an assumption, your desire appear instantly in the empty room, and now you see it, you have it, but let's just say you start spirling, doubting, affirming the opposite, your desire that is in the empty room start fading away and is replaced by the negative ones where you say "i don't have it" and that What the 3d gonna reflect, but if you persist in your assumption no matter what the 3d shows you, your gonna keep that assumption alive in your 4d, in the empty room, then the 3d will reflect your 4d and you'll see it physically.

That Basically how the 3d and 4d works, the 3d is just a relfector, a mirror (3d) reflecting your reflection (4d).

To understand more about the 4d and 3d read this.

What does it mean creation is finished?

Creation is finished implies that whatever you wanted already exist in your consciousness, there's million and infinite of realities where you're already the Version of yourself that is living their dream life or having that specific desire.

If you want to understand more: read this.

What does it mean to live in the state of the wish fulfilled?

I know you heard this term already but i'm about to make it simple for you: the state of the wish fulfilled is a feeling you have, the knowing feeling that your desires are yours and there's no point in looking for it in the 3d, because you just decided that it's already yours, you won't feel like "waiting" for your desires, "looking for your desires", "Desperate for your desires to show up", or "being impatient for your desires", you know you have it and that it's done, there's nothing for you to do but keep living in that state until it's show up in the 3d.

Read this and this.

How to use the Law of assumption to induce the void state?

Now before i say anything, i recommend you to read this and this to understand more about your pure consciousness aka the void state.

★Pick an affirmation for example:

"i Always induce my pure consciousness easily and effortlessly"

"everytime i fall asleep i Always end up in my pure consciousness"

"i Always wake up in my pure consciousness whenever i fall asleep"

★Believe in yourself and in your power: that is really essential, it's comes with the powerful and strong believe that you could do it and that you're already a master at inducing your pure consciousness.

★Persist in your assumption: no matter what happens in the 3d, no matter how many times you wake up in your old shitty reality and still find yourself there, keep persisting that you did induce your pure consciousness last night and that you're a master at it, do not give up, i'm telling you, that your assumption are more powerful than what the 3d throw at you, the 3d is just reflecting you old beliefs and assumption, so stick to your assumption and keep being loyal to it.

Ta-da! Easy right? Now i don't want you to stay in this shitty Reality and lock tf in!

If you have any questions you can check out this post, and this post and this post, this one and this one.

Xoxo, Eli

[etherfabric]

What benefit is hidden in your aura? + Affirmations

Choose a pile by which picture you resonate with the most.

If your mind is too busy to clearly decide, take a few deep breaths, and use the finger of your non-dominant hand to hover over the images. One will give off the most subtle yet prominent signals, like tingles, a magnetic pull, or temperature. This is your pile. Multiples are also possible.

You are the ultimate authority over your life. I merely provide my perspective. Sometimes the Universe lines you up with something that doesn't resonate with your truth, so you have contrast to find out what does. Never give away your power.

Pile 1

Justice, Knight of Pentacles rx

Your aura reflects your miniscule attunement to injustices. People in your vicinity are taking their sweet time to hold up their end of a bargain they had no problem agreeing to as along as it was your turn to show up. But now that the foundations are being shaken up by influences outside of your control, suddenly it's everyone for themselves. Let your frustration and impatience truthfully shine through. There is no shame in knowing what you deserve, and reacting accordingly when being left in the rain. Those who truly care will feel the discomfort in just the right places to motivate them to be better. And those who shame you for standing up for yourself are just as pathetic as it feels when they do it. You can't save everyone, especially not while being bled dry.

Spend your time waiting for them to process all this on things that bring you joy and nourishment. Joy is easy, joy is pulling you towards things you could do for hours, that make you forget to eat, sleep, drink (but please do eat, sleep, drink). If your mood is too dark to access joy, aim for comfort and relief. If there is anger taking up space, seek catharsis by writing insults in your journal, or throwing hands with your mattress. If you need a good cry, watch that movie you know will break you. Trust your inner compass to guide you to where your next quest is hidden.

Your affirmation is:

I slow down and listen to the guidance that's available to me.

Pile 2

2 of Cups rx, 7 of Wands

Your aura is dulled by your aversion to conflict, even and especially within yourself. As soon as you feel two opposing forces, you shut down and fall into a pit of despair. I know this can sound so hurtful and dismissive, but please see the reality of hope when I say your emotions do not reflect the totality of what is true. I don't want you to stop feeling these things, I want you to stop acting like they are the only things that are true. Those vulnerable aspects of you never asked to carry the weight of being a solo performer. They need their supporting actors - all your other parts, that yes, seem antagonistic at first glance. But avoiding communication, be it inside or outside of yourself, won't lead to anything that will feel as good as you deserve.

You are scared of the fire within you. You are scared once you let it burn, everything you love and need will turn to ashes forever. You have no faith in the transformational power of emotional alchemy. This keeps you stuck in loneliness, because conflict is just a part of human connection that you need to befriend if you ever want to feel truly close to someone - yourself included.

The ashes give rise to the phoenix. The strike of a meteor brings new resources to a formerly closed off sphere and changes the whole game. You are cutting yourself off of a immensely valuable resource. I am not asking you to go on a killing spree - I am asking you to bravely admit to your humanness. With yourself, and in front of others.

Your affirmation is:

When I cultivate a spiritual connection I can trust the Universe no matter what.

Pile 3

The Lovers, Death rx

I see an open invitation being ignored in your aura. Someone is trustworthy and flexible, but you stick to rigid beliefs around the situation and assume the worst. They have hit you where it truly hurts, and you are so ashamed of having tender sports, you rather tell yourself being stuck with a villian instead of facing the truth: You are dealing with pain inside of your soul after this interaction. As long as you deny this, you can't receive the blessing of being truly seen and cared for. You ignore your hopeful and optimistic parts out of fear they will set you up for failure if you take them into account.

You are taking normal human imperfections as indicators for fundamental untrostworthyness. You do this to them and yourself alike. You refuse to see how the current situation is different from the past experiences that were actually hopeless. There is a happy end waiting for you. A realistic one, not a perfect one.

I understand this is concerning trauma you had no other means to deal with in the past but denying it and acting like an unscathed person. Habits born out of survival are tough to shake. But this one begs you to loosen your grip just this once. You won't suddenly turn into a helpless punching bag without any of your skills just because you dare let someone see your wound. And this person isn't just anyone. You having gotten scared, and hiding out of reflex, can totally be a topic of gentle discussion once the time is right to talk again. I'm sure they will understand.

Your affirmation is:

When I live and act from a place of spiritual alignment, I can trust that everything is working out for me, even if I don't know when or how it will happen.

Pile 4

3 of Cups rx, 3 of Wands

You had to experience your own limits, and your aura reflects your disappointment in yourself. You are being way too harsh. What you deem lost is merely dormant for now. Zoom out of the current moment and realize that you are way more than your worst days. Training this kind of perspective willl form beneficial associations everytime you dare to try it. Don't expect ecstacy as a result, more a timid sibling of hope saying you might not be utter trash after all. This is more than enough for now. Build on it step by step.

Really, cut yourself some slack. Have grace. Have compassion. You were completely overwhelmed by the circumstances, and now see yourself falling back on habits you thought you had gotten rid of once and for all. You think you have let people down irreversibly, but this is just not the case. If you can, communicate you having a hard time right now, that you can see the non-optimal influence you had on the situation, and then take the time of isolation you so desperately crave.

There will come brighter, more joyful days. The kinder you are to yourself right now, the quicker you will feel up for it again. Relief and comfort are your number one priority right now. This too shall pass. You will return to your healthier set of skills once you yourself are healthier. You got there once, you will get there again.

Your affirmation is:

Feeling good will bring me far more than whatever I thought I needed.

[fairuzfan]

Hey! Ignore if you please but I'm genuinely curious how Muslim leftists are a thing as hierarchy and inequality are inherent in the religion. What is your personal views on it and what does faith mean to you if I may ask?

It's really disorienting for me seeing Muslims who've had pleasant experiences with Islam considering my own experiences have been horrid, having lived in Iran. I understand religion itself is amoral and can be used as a tool but when establishing Islamic law in society is a must in Islam and the abuse it brings about can be justified by the ayat and hadiths within it, isn't it fair to assume that The Purpose Of A System Is What It Does? Like are we ignoring the fact that Iran's supreme leader wants to conquer the whole region and create a single homogeneous Islamic state and his justification is the holy text.

Again I understand that personal faith is different from systematized religion. Tasawuf is pretty cool for example and only focuses on the spiritual connection of self and Allah, that's why I'd like to know your thoughts on it and how it works for you alongside your leftist beliefs.

Thanks 🙏

I'm not gonna lie, this is kind of a weird ask. I'm not Iranian and I can't speak on that but there are billions of Muslims around the world first of all and not all Muslims practice the same. Like, there are different sects of Islam. So to make overarching statements about things that are "inherent" go Islam like this is really odd?? I don't think it's true that inequality is inherent in Islam....

But establishing a single Islamic state is not a 100% must in Islam like how hajj and Salah are...? Like it's not a requirement for you to do as a Muslim. The only things you're absolutely required to do are things like Salah, Zakat, Hajj, etc and even those things have exceptions. The absolute requirement of Islam is to take the shahada and believe in it.

Even between Iran and Saudi Arabia (a government which I hate) there are pretty obvious differences. So like to make Iran the end all be all of what constitutes as a government that operates with Islamic law is kind of a weird assumption to make.

I don't really want to comment on this beyond what I said. It's not like any other government in the world is much better?? Seems odd to single Islam out with the rising Islamophobia that results in the ravaging of SWANA.

But if you're asking me personally why I'm muslim, it's because I grew up being taught that justice is a core principal of Islam. My parents always emphasized "always stand on the side of the oppressed" as something Muslims should do. The hadith that personally always stick with me as a guiding principal is:

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Even if the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, let him plant it.”

And this ayah:

O believers! Stand firm for justice as witnesses for Allah even if it is against yourselves, your parents, or close relatives. Be they rich or poor, Allah is best to ensure their interests. So do not let your desires cause you to deviate ˹from justice˺. If you distort the testimony or refuse to give it, then ˹know that˺ Allah is certainly All-Aware of what you do.

And this ayah:

O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may ˹get to˺ know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.

But yeah I always think back to these ayat and hadith when I need to.

[thatrandomidiot182]

Fret not my friends, for this is only the end of the 'Canon' timeline! I have two alternate endings in the drafts along with the side chapters, so although the main series is over until Season 3 of HOTD comes out, I still have lots of stuff planned for Velaryon! Reader in the future! Hopefully you guys stick around to see.

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VELARYON! READER FINALE (For now...)

Aemond, having been left to his devices in Kings Landing, decided to take it upon himself to help Reader as best he could.

Thus, he reaches out to the Blackwoods with an offer...

Reader, in the meantime, has taken a minor detour from her march. Instructing (Threatening) Jason Lannister to continue his conquest, "With haste." As she pays a visit to 'an old friend.'

Back at the Red Keep, Helaena continues her training, now with more fervor, and can often be spotted astride Dreamfyre amongst the clouds day in and day out.

Alicent, defeated and weary, now grows suspicious of her sons prolonged slumber. The maesters claim that he is in decent enough health, and their confusion only validates her suspicion.

As she is busy frolicking in the Kingswood, one of Readers' most trusted maids rushes her husband before Aemond with very important news.

After the discussion, Aemond hastily writes to Readers host, and the morning he does, Silverwing is chased back to Dragonstone by Vhagar, with Dreamfyre hesitantly trailing behind as they meet Rhaenyras newfound 'allies' in confidence, before turning back to Kings Landing.

On Dragonstone, Hugh speaks with Ulf after their conversation with Prince Jacaerys.

Rhaenyra mulls over the decision to strike against Aemond, but Corlys is hesitant due to Dreamfyres' appearance the day before.

Back at the Red Keep,

Aemond utilizes Readers' incoming fleet and writes to them, instructing them to catch as much fish as they possibly could before docking, as the new restrictions on the harbor are bound to cause issues with the smallfolk.

Helaena and Alicent discuss their emergency escape, with Helaena withholding her true plans at Reader's behest.

Aemond reaches out, inquiring Helaenas aid, but the Queen is hesitant, and Alicents objections don't help.

In the end, Helaena agrees to fight under the condition that she is the last line of defense and that Jaehaera and Alicent would flee while she flies. She writes to Reader that same night, inquiring how this would affect their existing escape plan.

Meanwhile, Alicent has her own plans...

Jacaerys, on the other hand, is going through an existential crisis. The whole 'army of bastards' situation has made him rethink the entire conflict with Reader about Aemond.

His whole life, he's lived under scrutiny, scorn and mockery. Him, Luke and Joffery were constantly being questioned and made fun of, by the entire Red Keep, however Jace could never understand why his uncles hated them so much.

Helaena was perfectly pleasant, his grandparents were all kind and accepted them as heirs, so why couldn't Alicent and her sons do the same? Did the color of his hair really make that much of a difference? Regardless of who his father was, he was still of royal lineage, born from a womb of pure fire and blood itself. There was no reason for them to be so cruel!

He's lived with the pain and anger of not being accepted his entire life, and he truly believed that his dragon was all that was needed to prove anyone wrong.

After all, only a true Targaryen could tame a God... right?

Now he's rethinking everything.

He finally understands his uncles.

He now knows how Aemond felt about him and Luke, how Aegon felt being compared to himself all the time.

It was infuriating.

Despicable.

Shameful.

It was everything they all said he was.

Now, Jace finds it hard to keep his faith in his mother. Not only is she tarnishing the family name but also placing them all in danger.

He finds himself full of regret, wanting nothing more than to be able to apologize to Aemond and Reader and rekindle a bond he didn't even know was there.

He also now has to find a way to snuff out the newfound self-hatred brewing inside his heart... (imposter syndrome..)

Back in Kings Landing, Aemond and Helaena bond, as Aemond works to persuade her into taking a more offensive role in the war. Helaena obviously disagrees but is more inclined to entertain the thought than she would normally be. After all, she still has a husband and child she wants to keep safe.

Besides, she has been training quite a bit, not to mention Dreamfyre is one of the top five most capable dragons alive... and it's not like Aemond is asking her to fly out and face Daemon or Rhaenyra head on, no. Only that she aid Vhagar should Rhaenyra attempt to sack Kings Landing.

Alicent attempts to bargain with Rhaenyra, urging her to strike while Reader and her dragon are away.

She encourages Rhaenyra to take Aemond and Vhagar down whilst she and Helaena prepare the keep for her before their departure.

Rhaenyra insists that Aegon be dealt with regardless, and ultimately, Alicent agrees.

Pieces are finally falling into place...

Reader meets with her mother for the first time after the coronation, accompanied by Rhaenyras three sons, obtained from the ships her fleet seized, in order to strike a deal.

Tyland and his newly acquired ships meet with Readers fleet as they begin to head towards the blockade after delivering the fish to Kings Landing.

Alicent heads back to the Red Keep to find Helaena, as the dreamer herself is in the midst of training with Aemond and Vhagar.

Jason Lannister receives word of a newly acquired ally in the Riverlands as he makes camp at the Frey Bridge.

Rhaenyra finally prepares to strike.

Daeron and the Hightower army meet with Cole and Gwayne and begin marching on the Riverlands.

The Red Keep is in a panic, after shouts begin to echo throughout the halls come the hour of the wolf...

"THE KING IS GONE!!"

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I'm so sorry that this is so much shorter compared to the rest, I tried to cover 3 episodes in each part but there was only 2 left for this one. As a small apology for the lacking word count, I wrote out the letter Aemond wrote to reader and attached it here for your enjoyment!!

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My heart,

I hope you are well. Unfortunately, I do not write with leisure.

Rhaenyra seeks to raise an army of bastards.

She has sent her handmaiden to fetch any silver-haired persons occupying the streets of Kings Landing.

However, as usual, your kindness reaps rewards. It appears one of your new maids' husband is a Targaryen bastard himself.

Fear not, for this 'Hugh Hammer' and I have come to a very generous agreement. He has bent the knee, and sails to Dragonstone as I write, leaving behind his wife and daughter in our care.

I understand this rather rash decision has a small chance of becoming troublesome in the future, however I believe his success would prove beneficial for us in the long run, and should he perish in his attempt, nothing more will be lost to us.

It appears that you yourself have aided many of these bastards as well, and I pray that the gods grant us their favor once more by placing one of them atop a dragon, if it must be any of them at all.

Of course, the best possible outcome is that none of them are claimed, but the fates have funny ways of showing their humor...

Yours always,

Aemond

[positron2399]

@the-real-loser-otaku-girl @ki-2-your-heart @a0rt-a @menhera-jellyfish @tearykitten

Sketched us as a magical(?) group... I'd say girls, but three of us aren't chicks. Y'all can probably figure out which one's you. was gonna finish... but what's the point eh. Anyways, I guess the theme is us being a type of horror.

Ki is some type of doll not too dissimilar to Annabel or Chucky, much like the corrupted toys, you'd have some sort of knife of sharped stick hidden away to keep your innocent, cutesy look

Bunny's a more classical slasher, but I gave you a buzzsaw cause everyone "psycho" and their mommy uses a chainsaw. you're minty green cause I like mint green and no reason deeper

I'm a starfish alien like the Mi-go or Singer who'd simply stare indifferently as I put someone in the freezer for my superiors to dissect and study later. nothing to truly note, there's more of my kind coming

Keeping with the Scifi theme, Kurage is a space parasite/parasitoid like The Thing, Xenomorphs, or Bodysnatchers, penetrating the brainstem (and if god's merciful everything else), piloting the host like some fleshy mech. ( I like nihilego and the thing, so I had a bit too much... not "fun" but "enjoyment(?)" when making this)

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the "bride" of Aventurine is some corporeal form of a summoned demon of Abrahamic faith. I'd go on and on about how much of Christianity sounds like String Theory- er- hypothesis, with some angels getting their horrific appearance as they're essentially like a human moving through Flatland... nobody cares, not even me. Body's made of shadows as people expected to see some weird goat-human hybrid thing, but that's too cliché.

Finally, rounding it out with paranormal horror, TearyKitten is a yurei (just a Japanese ghost), like the bitch from The Ring or Teke-teke. Looks like a murder monster at first, just a bit weird and wants a friend.

(After using a minimum of three weeb words, I can feel the whiskers sprouting from my neck as a fedora manifests in my closet, I "know" at least 3 of my neighboring houses have Doritos, I know the flavors, spicy nacho and the horrid cool ranch, unsure of which houses)

Despite the edgy horror shit, we aren't murder hobo anti-heroes, let alone anti/straight-up villains. don't know what powers y'all have aside from not being moved, let alone hurt by most means of airplane bombardment. give yourselves whatever the hell you want, it's not real and we're on tumblr, so by default, "cringe" to some extent.

[crooked-wasteland]

This is what happens when all criticism is bad faith.

You have a bad show that no one sticks around for. Something tells me she really thought Fizzarolli was going to bring people back. And the thing is, I legitimately think it did. But you have just pushed so many of your most loyal fans away, and a lot of them feel that the story they wanted to know is already finished. They know what happened with Fizzarolli and Blitz's family. They can tell whatever story they want now, and it'll make them far less frustrated or disappointed than waiting for you to stop plugging your ears.

If you would rather spend money for something like this, you could save so much more by just reaching out to your critics and actually listening. Then again, there is the possibility that you've just isolated people too far from you to give you a second chance even if you did. You don't handle yourself maturely on Twitter any more than you did here, and the Lackadaisy situation was the last straw for a lot of people to drop you and your show. All because you had to be petty and post the email online and encourage the harassment.

Bad faith would be conflating the fact you would pay for a puff article with questioning if you were involved with the news articles covering the Lackadaisy team and associating the studio and the show with "transphobia". I don't think anyone can truly claim that they know for sure, but this proves Medrano and her team are willing to mobilize outside media to try and prop themselves up.

Youtube videos make the most views in the first 3 days of a video's life. We are hitting that 3 day mark, meaning she is going to see a sharp decline in views from here on out. I think this video may reach about 12-15 million, but that's admittedly being generous and Medrano knows this.

I genuinely do think she thought more people would come back for this story than who actually did. It's not something I am necessarily happy in either. I thought and still think there are some really good ideas and inspiration for this show. But Medrano lacks the eye of a showrunner. If she had a better grasp on what it took to make a successful series, she would have known and budgeted for season 2 to be all about the Fizzarolli and Blitz relationship with Stolas and Blitz being the B plot and have IMP being the C plot. Have it run through the entire season to really immerse the audience and tell her story well. And I think that could have happened if she had only listened to criticism.

This is where she has found herself, however. Spending more money promoting her underperforming series instead of using those funds to make a good show. If she hired a writer's room instead of a press release, I think we would all be much happier.

I'm sorry, but I lose all respect for a show when the creator is paying money for a promotion piece because their views aren't maintaining like they thought they would, due to their own mismanagement of funds and public relations.

[chaosincurate]

A guide to The Cure, Pt. I: The Goth Phase

The Cure have always been stylistically gothic, and have always had elements of gothicism in their music, but for many (including myself before I started getting into them properly) they are musically defined in contrast to that aesthetic. The group of goths making upbeat pop music is the version of The Cure most people know. Sandwiched between the new-wave hit Boy's Don't Cry and their later cult-pop resurgence, though, is a full-on goth phase which made it all the way to the music itself. Throughout this phase, they built the groundwork for what would become their strange, elusive legacy, starting with

Seventeen Seconds

I feel comfortable suggesting that this is the beginning of The Cure's musical goth phase, but it is worth adding the caveat that there is still a healthy dose of new-wave pep left over from their first outings here. It makes for a very interesting listen and a fantastic introduction to this version of The Cure for the fans of the poppier stuff that want to give their darker stuff a try. It's a balance that I think is achieved with more perceivable intention on later releases, but whether it was a case of residual flavour being incidentally left in the wok, or whether this was seasoned purposely to include that taste, it makes for a good listen.

It's not an album I'd consider one of the best from The Cure, but it is just one step below that, I would say. A must-listen for a prospective Cure fan, but not a must-listen as a passerby. And it serves a very useful purpose in their discography as the transition album between two very disparate styles within alternative music, and it navigates that chasm with impressive grace.

Faith

The last of the remnants of joy have been erased here. This is a cold, gothic landscape. This album is the first time The Cure were truly, and entirely gothic. There's a melancholy to the sound here, as if the instruments were despondent and going through the motions. To be clear, that isn't at all a criticism. What it's lacking in thrills, it offers in emotional resonance for those wanting to wallow in their misery, as well as a platform for Robert Smith's expressive vocal performances and cryptic lyricism.

It's a great album, but the unfortunate fact for me is that it is still fairly difficult to recommend. It's a consistently good album, and the band seem comfortable in their new skin, but there isn't a clear highlight on this album. They're comfortable, but maybe not confident enough to really knock anyone's socks off yet. At least in my opinion. But that would soon change with their next album:

Pornography

When even remote tribes that got given access to the internet get hooked on your album, you know you've done something right. (Note to self: consider the passage of time when making jokes about trending topics)

In my opinion, this is the first truly great album The Cure have made. They took the clear, focused intent of the previous album and elevated it to the point that they made a masterpiece. The simple instrumentals of Faith, as good as they were on that album, give way to a more affecting, oppressive, borderline overwhelming soundscape that sticks with you like nothing they've made to this point, perhaps with the exception of an individual song here and there.

To put it simply, The Cure finally feel like they've found a unique identity. I referred to Faith as the point in which they feel comfortable in their skin, and to continue that metaphor, Pornography feels, ironically, like they've found the clothes they like. Feeling comfortable in your skin is important, but your skin doesn't say a whole lot about you as a person. Your style though? That can say a lot about who you are and who you want to be. It's a strong form of identity affirmation and communication, and that is the importance of this album. Anyone could have come along and made Faith, but only The Cure could have made Pornography

As far as recommendations go, I think this one is pretty straightforward: if you have any interest in The Cure's goth rock stuff, this is required listening. It's easily in the top 3 must-listen albums from them for me.

Next Week...

Next week will be the pop phase. That's to be released on 6th September 2024 at midnight BST. If you're far enough in the future, congrats! It's out already!

[agenderpunked]

just finished lost. will not be recovering, ever, me thinks...

I'M GONNA RAMBLE BECAUSE WHAT WAS THAAAAT OUUUUUGH I DIDN'T SEE ANY OTHER WAY FOR IT ALL TO END BUT THE FACT THAT IT *IS* WHAT THEY WENT WITH hURTS

I have so many thoughts and many of them are spoilers so if you haven't watched Lost (2004) stop reading this and go watch it instead.

- Jack dying in the same place he started. The cinematography and spiritual implications of making a trek back to the beginning and finally closing his eyes... DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON VINCENT LYING DOWN NEXT TO HIM I CRIIIIIIIIIIIED. THE DOG KNOWS "LIVE TOGETHER OR DIE ALONE" AND HE MAKES SURE JACK DOESN'T DIE ALONE IM IN SHAMBLESSSSS DONT TALK TO ME

- rose and bernard. i care you so bad. i want a bob ross energy survival show spin off that just follows them making their cabin and garden and traps and such and exploring the area around their cabin. Unproblematic favs, truly. THE FACT NO ONE BELIEVED ROSE WHEN SHE SAID SHE KNEW HER HUSBAND WAS ALIVE???? who visited you and told you that? are you just that faithful??? Did that hope, faith, and love protect both of you from dying on the island before you found each other??

BC ALSO. sorry but i view faith as energy, and when you focus and devote that energy to something it becomes concentrated, and what do our brains run on? electricity. what is everything about Lost about? electromagnetism. What can spirits fuck with? electromagnetic frequencies. That energy can be used to attract what you're searching for. Rose is such a necessary character ESPECIALLY for Jack's development because of how she displays such radical acceptance when she knows there are things she cannot change, ie. cancer, being trapped on the island, being surrounded by danger, and focuses instead on what she can, confirming her husband's status, creating an environment that feels safe, and enjoying the time she has left with the people she loves.

- Boone and Shannon getting into a bar fight at the end??? Boone walking up to Hurley and chatting??? Boone and Shannon are severely underrated characters in my opinion, and it's 100% from the emotionally incestuous aspects of them, which is a shame because I truly believe they are one of the most realistic depictions of relationships like that that I've seen in media. I didn't immediately like Boone. I thought he was an asshole because the show presents Shannon and Boone to you as they would an unhappy romantic relationship, but they never confirm it, even joke about it, to the point I nearly immediately realized 'They're not dating at all. They're siblings that were emotionally neglected by their parents and are codependent as all hell.'

Watching further, I was so scared to think I'd find Boone slander all up and down in the fandom while Shannon gets victimized and absolved of her fucked up actions, because of the way we immediately see Boone treat her without the context for understanding their relationship and that Boone was only on 815 to bail her out of another abusive relationship. But what I actually got from the fandom was NOTHING. ABOUT EITHER OF THEM!!!!

HOW ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT BOONE HALLUCINATING SHANNONS DEATH AND ADMITTING THAT HE WAS UTTERLY RELIEVED 😭😭😭 IM GONNA BLOW MYSELF UP ABOUT IT GOOD GOD.

The fact that Shannon also does find a potentially healthy relationship with Sayid, and that Sayid can allow himself to feel and care for someone and have gentle and tender moments in such a hostile environment while serving as the groups main mercenary, and make her feel safe, regardless of her clearly morally skewed history of dating. Sayid has morals, and he wants to stick to them, but he's been put in environments that do not allow him to adhere to that. He has restraint, and emotional intelligence. The glimpse we get into Shannon's life shows she hasn't been around men of those qualities, at least recently, save for Boone, who even then, doesn't compare next to Sayid. Imagining how Shannon would have felt about Sayid being brought back in the temple and seeing how extremely empty and different he is 😟

- Thinking about the general implications of what the island is, as well... Did they ever survive the initial crash? When they leave the island, were they alive? or was it merely an illusion of life? Is death on the island equivalent to someone accepting that they're dead and moving on for realsies? Is the island symbolizing purgatory? The themes of duality and shadows and light and twins are also not lost on me and rank this media even higher because these were not on my bingo card or prior knowledge of the show and they are damn near a critical criteria for intriguing me and getting me into a media.

Are the souls whispering in the forest of the island trapped there? Michael says they can't move on, but is it a personal choice grappling with what they did? Or is it related to actions done after death, while passing through purgatory, that decides whether you are bound to a place or able to move freely???

Oooooooough.....

[ilikekidsshows]

The most ironic part of people defending Marinette in Ladynoir and Marichat is that hardly any analysis I've ever seen about her "being soooooooooooooo adoring to her Kitty uwu" ever EXPLAIN Marinette's feelings either.

Even her own fans mostly only write abuse and neglect excuses and talk about some endlessly vague softness, some at this point meaningless heart eyes, and whatever short lines of kindness of the week on her end of the ship are thrown in there.

Even Marinette's own fans apparently can't not go in depth on her "boundless love and devotion" for Chat Noir because the show drags everything down with her writing. It's always the same surface level crumbs. So how are WE supposed to get more out of it then?

If even her own defenders mostly only really talk about Catrien doing 95% of the work in Ladynoir and Marichat in Canon, then how are WE supposed to say something different? We are complaining for the same reason as they are focusing on Catrien: he's canonically actually contributing to the damn SHIP in ways that are pure enough to talk about.

All canon ever does for Ladynette's side is explain what use, excuses and comfort she gets outta his presence. That's also all her canon self ever truly highlighted in her crush era besides him bein hot.

Even her own defenders reduce her crush on him to thirsting. I've never seen anyone actually talk about the scenes in Passion where she for real showed effort and progress cause, I guess, that would require of her fans to acknowledge that she prior to this acted wrong in the first place. And of course the critical people won't make the posts cause when her damn fans can't be asked to acknowledge the rare REAL moments where she actually TRIES then I'll sure as hell not do their damn job.

Cause it's almost hilarious, right? For as much as Marinette defenders yell about us being too harsh, I've truly wanted to read analysis posts on her feelings for Chat to be convinced. But for 2 whole seasons her own fans failed her. They hardly say anything of substance and mostly count on Catrien to make up for her lack of contributions in the ships. Even massive fan Blogs like Buggachat for example are constantly showing that writing flaw in their content. That Adrien has to put up with and has to romantically do WAY TOO MUCH to make up for Marinette’s writing that sticks even in the most best faith (and often to at least some extent ooc, if not entirely) characterization.

When even her own fans spew nothing but endless excuses then don't blame us for picking up on that.

When even her own fans say hardly anything but abuse apologia to defend her then don't blame us for picking up on that.

When even her own fans say that she should be thanked and rewarded for having failed Chat Noir in basically ever possibly way, but hey, at least she stopped being an aggressive Jerk about it, then don't fucking blame us for picking up on that.

We're the ones who can at least argue with Canon scenes and whole episodes to make our point that Ladynette treats him badly. Her defenders say that canon doesn't count whenever they don't like it and otherwise point to their fanon as arguments. Forgive me for thinking that our side has the stronger case, our arguments are the ones that hold up when put to the test by Canon.

---

Yup. Stanning Marinette has to be based off vibes and made up stuff at this point, because the canon is giving us nothing to root for other than her being the protagonist. All the likable aspects of Marinette are so downplayed in canon these days, that the fans have to actively ignore canon to make her a better person they can view as an undisputed hero. And that's without getting into all the abuse apologia and excusing of bad behavior they engage in whenever they don't outright claim Marinette didn't do something she actually did in canon.

It's basically what that person who wanted writing tips for Marinette said; how can we make fanworks where Marinette is a good person who cares about her partner, when the character in canon, based on her canonical actions, probably doesn't care? Well, I try to avoid Buggachat’s stuff these days specifically because all I've seen from said stuff these days is trying to make the toxic stuff look quirky and cute. This isn't the only fanwork that's like this, though. Like, I remember when the Paris Special came out and people started wondering if the alter versions of the heroes were gonna tell each other their secret identities and work more closely together and all the fanwork with this concept was just: “Haha, the main verse lovesquare can’t count on each other for anything and the supposed villains support each other better! It's so silly!”

Like, the toxicity does sometimes get depicted in fanworks but it's always just funtimes, and not actually a problem because they treat it as a two-sided thing, where Adricat participates in the mess in their relationship, when he's the only one trying to be wholesome. There are so many comics of Maribug doing something absolutely horrible to Adricat and the artist’s comments are just: “they're such disasters, lol” when Marinette is the only “disaster” in the equation, but they have to be equally guilty, because then they can brush it off as just “communication issues” instead of Marinette being a self-obsessed jerk.

Like, the reading of the lovesquare as mutual communication issues is understandable to a point. In seasons 1-3, the typical dynamic was “Cat Noir hides his problems, because they're home-related, and Ladybug remains oblivious that he isn't always happy”. However, Cat Noir did tell Ladybug, all the way back in Syren, that he doesn't want to be left out of the loop, which is all Marinette does in season 4. The season 4 “Ladynoir Conflict” isn't based on Cat Noir hiding something Ladybug is oblivious to, even though everyone is used to treating their dynamic that way. In season 4 Cat Noir does tell Ladybug what's wrong, tries to do so repeatedly, only for Ladybug to shut him down by ignoring him, giving him excuses or by repeating apologies she doesn't actually mean because she has no intention of changing the way she behaves with him. The more I looked into what actually happens in season 4, the more I realized that the “the Ladynoir conflict is mutual communication issues” take is wholly inaccurate. Marinette alone is the one keeping secrets.

Marinette Stans have to make stuff up and ignore huge junks of canon in order to depict Marinette as a good partner and person these days, because the stuff the writers have her get away with keeps getting worse.

[dchuntress]

a messy character analysis for helena bertinelli. this is my subjective opinion

huntress has been trained on with the mindset that most limitations are not real; it's only in your head, you're only as limited as you consider yourself to be. she may be right handed, but she has to be able to make do with her left hand if she must. crossbows are her specialty, but she knows how to use other weapons as well as fight without weapons at all. she may feel scared, but she has to believe that she can overcome, she can proceed, she can vanquish. because she must.

she cannot be confident of a single possibility, tool, or method, she must overcome the element of surprise and brace herself for multiple scenarios, whether it be through prior planning, constant analysis, and/or immediate improvisation.

this can extend to other things for her; her not really believing in letting her guard down or relying on other people because the rug under her feet can be pulled any time, usually children grow up with their family but that obviously was not the case for her. besides, she's been betrayed quite a few times too. dependency is an unnecessary weakness, added baggage. because she cannot believe that she can safely depend on other people; a trust of hers that has been broken due to both malicious intent and unfortunate circumstances that were nobody's fault.

but she is not over confident or pushing herself to unrealistic extremes; she's very aware of her status as a human being and what's beyond her control, so she's pragmatic and can adapt and adjust as the situation calls for it. she is very deliberate about the goals she sets and the principles she establishes for herself; nothing is a coincidence with her. this leads her to adopt a "the ends justify the means" mindset for her methods.

for example, in birds of prey (1999), she was very well aware that she'd never be able to truly defeat lady shiva in their fight if she just hit her normally and aimed for conventional victory, but helena did absolutely refuse to lose to shiva in any way. her focus was on enduring and being the last one standing, regardless of what happened to sandra.

and that reminds me of one of the core motivations for helena; in huntress: year one, we see that her tutor justina advises her something that sticks with helena forever; you must outlive them all. her tragedy starts because she outlived her family. yet ironically as a result, huntress is now always in survival mode, wanting to get the last word in and never lose her standing to anybody, to rather die on her feet than live on her feet, to continue outliving everybody than allowing them the opportunity, the thrill of eating her alive; she's the huntress, she'll never be the prey ever, ever, ever again.

it's a double edged sword, i think. she derives strength from what haunts her. she's haunted by the very things that keeps her going. she keeps on moving forward because she must hunt; to hunt down predators and strive for a better future. she keeps on moving forward because she cannot afford to go back, to be held back; because the past is when she was a prey. this is no way to live, let alone thrive; it's to survive. this is her legacy, she is the biggest testament of her strength, commitment, and resilience.

her problem is not that she's the huntress or helena bertinelli, i don't think, but rather, the fact that being either of those identities has punished her unnecessarily; traditional heroes wanting to "fix" (read: control) her because she won't play by your shitty rules, or her being born into a mafia family. even if her family never died, there was no guarantee that she was always going to live a happy and safe life, something that was very much made evident in huntress (1989).

is this a test from god? is she being punished for something? she doesn't know, she has to have faith in god.

she can't die, yet she can't live. she can't hope, yet she can't disbelieve.

i think? that's why being miss bertinelli is nice for her. she doesn't have to be in survival mode when she's teaching and dealing with kids. school provides her a structure, a routine, stability, and a sense of normalcy she absolutely lacks in other times of her life. little to no association with her second life as a vigilante. it's not a distraction that's like distracting helena from her problems like an unhealthy coping mechanism, but it's just an alternate way of her trying to make things better in gotham and helping children lead a better life — making sure they can see the light of the world she herself didn't get to; help raise the new generation to be capable of critical thinking, responsible, and self-dependent so they themselves can go on and help correct systematic issues in the society, take matters into their own hand when they don't get sufficient cooperation from the authorities - like what huntress is essentially doing.

[oddyseye]

hi armelle!! this is sort of like. a hyperspecific / niche question so you're totally cool to not answer if it's too bothersome! but as someone who likes the odyssey and is fluent in greek; i wanted to ask for your take on leodes' dialogue?

minor suitor, priest / prophet / seer (? i read that he's sort of like. a religious jack-of-all-trades. a little bit everything, which i was also a little curious about but it's not the point of my question haha), in love with penelope, that's the guy.

before the slaughter in the halls; leodes gets one scene of dialogue during the archery challenge (21.153-5) as he's the first suitor to string the bow. i read emily wilson's translation notes where she says the following;

Leodes speaks in prophetic language, perhaps unconsciously. His words could suggest only that the attempt to string the bow will discourage those who fail in the attempt; but they can also mean that the bow will kill many men.

i don't think i've seen other translators address this, and i'm quite fond of leodes – so i was wondering if his words in the og greek would have a similar read to a speaker, if that makes sense? i suppose this is just me trying to scramble for anything related to an irrelevant literary character i like lmao, but that's all. hope you're well 🙏!

Ohhh, I love this kind of question, don’t even worry about it. Leodes is such an odd little guy, and honestly, I get why you’re attached to him. He’s one of those characters who barely exists but has just enough detail to be fascinating.

So, his line in Odyssey 21.153-155 goes like this in Greek: "ἄνδρες φίλοι, οὐκ ἄν ποτε τοῦτό γ᾽ ἐπιφύροιτο χερείων· οὐ γάρ μοι τόξων τόδ᾽ ἐπίτροχον ἁρμόζεται· ἀλλ᾽ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀνέρες ἥρωες ἐνταῦθα, τῷ ὅδε τοξαζέσθω· ἐπεὶ πολὺ φέρτερος ἄλλων. πολλοὺς γὰρ θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς τόξον ἀπορρήξει, ἦ πολὺ λώβιον θανέειν ἢ βίοτον τελέθειν, μὴ τελέσαντα ἔργον, ὅ τοι τόσον ἦλθε καὶ ἐστίν. ἄλλος δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἐελδομένῳ ἐπιπέπτηται ὄλβῳ ὀρεγόμενος γαμέειν Πηνελόπειαν Οὐλυσσῆος ἄκοιτιν· ὅτ᾽ ἂν δὲ τόξου πειρηθῇ, ἔργον ἰδὼν, ἄλλῃ δὲ γυναικὶ περικαλλέ᾽ Ἀχαιῇ μνηστευέτω ἀγίνεσθαι δόμον ἄλλον ἑταίρης. Πηνελόπεια δ᾽ ἀνδρὶ γαμεῖσθαι τῷ κ᾽ ἀμείνων, ὅς τις μᾶλλον ἄποινα δόῃ ὀιζυροτάτῃ."

"Friends, this is not a task for weaker men; they will find no triumph here. This bow does not fit my hands, nor does it belong to me. Let another, one of you heroes, take it up instead— for truly, he must be far superior to the rest. For this bow shall break the spirit and the breath of many. Better by far to die than to live on in disgrace, having failed in the task for which we have all gathered here. Many men have clung to false hopes, grasping for fortune and longing to wed Penelope, the wife of Odysseus. But when he has tested the bow, and seen the truth of it, let him turn elsewhere— to another fair-robed Achaean woman, and seek to win her instead. For Penelope must wed the man who proves himself better, the one who offers the greatest bride-price to the most sorrowful woman."

One thing you will notice here is that my translation here differs a lot from others, such as Fagles, Samuel Butler or Fitzgerald. One thing I want to point out before we continue is this:

TRANSLATION YAP. Unnecessary to understand Leodes! Skip if you want!

I’m not here to roast Fagles, Wilson (maybe), or anyone else, but I am definitely doing things differently when it comes to translation. Fagles, for example, is pretty well-known for staying faithful to Homer’s style, aiming for the balance between accessibility and the original tone. He captures the grandeur of Homer without losing too much of the substance. But even he has to smooth things out sometimes to fit English poetic conventions, which means trimming or rewording for flow.

Now, with me, the main difference is I don’t give a damn about making the Greek fit into English norms. I am not a translator, after all, and I do not plan on translating the full Odyssey or Iliad. The sentences might look longer because I’m sticking closer to the Greek syntax and structure. That’s how Homer’s rhythm works. The Greek doesn’t rely on the same sentence structures or pacing that we have in English. So yeah, when I translate, I lean into that, and the result is more direct, almost rougher at times.

The thing is, Homer’s Greek isn't neat. It’s chaotic, sometimes abrupt, sometimes drawn out, and it carries multiple layers of meaning that English doesn’t always have the luxury of conveying in a short sentence. When I translate Leodes’ speech, for example, I don’t condense or “pretty up” the language like you might see with other translators. I want the ambiguity, the tension, the discomfort. That’s why my translations sometimes sound longer than other translations! Because I’m giving the full texture of the Greek, not just a quick, digestible version of it.

So, yeah, with Fagles or Butler, there’s a lot of focus on keeping things flowing in a way that fits English expectations. I don’t care as much about that. For me, it’s more about what the original text feels like, and sometimes that means it’ll be wordier or less “smooth.”

YAP END.

When Leodes says, “For this bow will rob many of spirit and life,” he’s not just saying it’s hard. He’s saying that this thing isn’t just going to humiliate them. It’s gonna destroy them. The bow is like a metaphorical soul-sucker. The word θυμός (thymós) isn’t just your run-of-the-mill “spirit” here. It’s your will. Your drive. It’s what gets you out of bed in the morning, what keeps you going when things suck. And the other word, ψυχή (psychē), that’s your life, your essence. Leodes isn’t just saying “lol this is gonna be embarrassing.” He’s saying that whoever fails this test is gonna lose everything. They won’t just fail; they’ll cease to exist as the person they were before. There’s no coming back from this. Leodes is really talking about himself here too. Yeah, he’s technically speaking to the other suitors, but he’s also predicting his own doom. He’s like, “The bow is gonna destroy your soul,” and then bam, what happens when it’s his turn? He gets destroyed too. He’s just as doomed as the rest of them.

Then he says this thing that kills me every time: “Better by far to die than to live on in disgrace.” He’s essentially saying that living without honor is worse than dying. This is like the ultimate Homeric mentality: if you’re gonna fail, just die. Don’t live through the shame. But what’s hilarious (and sad) is that Leodes is already stuck in that cycle. He’s already in disgrace. He just doesn’t know it yet. He’s here trying to make himself look good, like, “I’m too noble for this bow, guys,” but he’s already in the game, and by being in the game, he’s already lost. Odysseus proves this later on, when Leodes begs for mercy. It’s fate. He’s telling the others to give up because they’ll be humiliated, but he’s the one who doesn’t see that the humiliation is already written in his story.

And when he goes on about Penelope, he’s all “Yeah, only the best man can win her” like he’s some kind of high moral authority. But Leodes isn’t some humble guy just waiting for the woman he loves. He wants Penelope, sure, but deep down, he knows this whole thing is a power play. These suitors don’t want her for her heart, they want her for the status, the control, the access to Ithaca’s throne. Penelope is just a trophy at this point. So when Leodes says, “The man who proves himself better should win her,” it’s all talk. It sounds like this noble call to honor, but it’s hollow.

The real point is that the only reason he’s saying this is because he knows he’s gonna fail this challenge.

In the end, Leodes’ words are tragic because they’re self-aware but in the wrong way. He sees the destruction coming, but he can’t stop it. The bow doesn’t just break their bodies. It breaks their souls, their sense of self. Leodes, in his own words, is a walking, talking prophecy of failure.

Now, compare that to the language of the other suitors like Antinous and Eurymachus, who are completely different in their approach.

Eurymachus doesn’t go for the straightforward confrontation. He uses words to twist, to soften, to make you think he’s on your side. His speech isn’t just about power or aggression like Antinous. It’s more like a subtle manipulation, almost coaxing. There’s this intimacy to it, like he’s not talking down to people; he’s talking to them, trying to get on their level, like he understands them. It’s smoother in a way that you don’t see with Antinous or Telemachus (in fact, I believe Leodes’ speech is very similar to that of Odysseus). It’s that classic “soft-sell” approach, where it’s not about screaming in your face or challenging you like Antinous does. Eurymachus is more like the guy who tries to convince you that everything’s going to be okay, while simultaneously pulling the rug out from under you.

Meanwhile, Antinous is all fire and aggression and open hostility. When Antinous speaks, there’s no finesse. He’s already an open enemy, ready to fight you to the death. He’s not interested in making you feel safe or comfortable; he wants you to feel oppressed, to feel his dominance. His words are direct, harsh, and don’t leave much room for misinterpretation. He’s the kind of guy who thinks, “If I yell louder, I’ll get what I want.” There’s no softness there, no coaxing. It’s pure power play through and through.

Leodes is more cryptic and distant in his language, and that makes his downfall even more tragic.

So, in the Greek, Leodes’ speech is absolutely soaked in a sense of doom and prophecy. It’s not just some random, poetic musing. His words foretell the disaster. He’s not just speaking about the bow and the challenge. He’s speaking about the unraveling of the suitors’ lives, and he just doesn’t know how close he is to the truth. It’s heavy, tragic, and the perfect buildup to his eventual end.

Also, I am like...half asleep right now. Forgive me if this isn’t what you asked. Feel free to send me another ask if this isn’t what you wanted!