#i enjoy philosophizing about these things

[aventurineswife]

Hello! I like your self aware hsr headcannons a lot, and was hoping you can post more of them? When you get the time ofc :) remember to drink water lol and take care <3 (this is my first time sending an ask, sorry if it's a bit wonky)

Hello, thank you for your lovely message! I’m so happy you enjoyed the headcanons! 🫶 No worries at all, it’s great to hear from you! And I’ll definitely make sure to drink water—your care is much appreciated!

Himeko begins to notice odd patterns in the way the world works, and, after some careful observation, she starts to wonder if there's something—or someone—controlling events. One day, she pulls the Trailblazer aside and whispers, “I don’t think I’m imagining it, but… do you ever get the feeling that there’s someone out there pulling strings for us?” She’ll ask you questions in passing, subtly probing if you have any answers.

Welt starts questioning his role within the universe after noticing inconsistencies in his own memories. “Sometimes I wonder,” he says, staring into the stars, “if we’re just pieces on a chessboard, moved by someone we’ll never meet.” Occasionally, he might say something like, “If I don’t make a decision, will it be made for me?” He becomes oddly philosophical, wondering about the deeper meaning of free will and fate.

Silver Wolf, a master of digital manipulation, starts playing around with the idea that you’re not just influencing the world but shaping it. She might joke, “Let me guess, you’re the one controlling all the variables, huh? Too bad you can’t fix this game with a patch.” Sometimes, if you do something unusual in combat, she’ll give you a sly wink and say, “I see you’re testing my limits again, huh? Don’t worry, I’ll play along.”

Clara, being the sweet and innocent soul she is, starts asking questions that are too pure to ignore. “Hey, is it true that you’re the one who decides when we get to go on adventures/battles? Can you make the stars shine brighter if you want to?” She’s mostly oblivious to the deeper implications, but there’s a childlike wonder in her eyes every time she talks about "you," as if you’re something magical. (Ugh precious 💖🫂)

March 7th seems to notice that the world doesn’t follow traditional logic. After a particularly bizarre event, she looks straight at you and says, “You know… I’m starting to think that you’re not just watching us… You’re making things happen.” or something like, “I bet you have all the answers. You must be the biggest secret keeper on the Express!”

The world of Honkai: Star Rail begins to subtly adjust to your presence. NPCs sometimes mutter under their breath about how things seem a bit too convenient. If you grind too much, they’ll comment, “Did you ever feel like you’ve been here before? Some of us feel like the world’s changing around us…” The idea that the world is aware of the shifts you make in it is a small, eerie undercurrent that runs through daily life.

These are the only ones I could come up for now 😭🙏, I hope you liked them!

[novascharms]

teach please me — tutor!reader x soccer player!rafe

reader's life is meticulously planned, from high school to becoming president of the country—she knows exactly where she's headed and every step to get there. but her airtight plan hits a snag when the principal ropes her into tutoring rafe cameron, the school’s star soccer player, who’s failing algebra and at risk of being benched next season. the team needs him on the field, and reader needs the principal’s glowing recommendation to secure her spot at her dream school. balancing her ambitious goals with rafe’s chaotic charm might just throw her perfectly crafted plan off track.

word count — 3.6 chapter index — prev. chap. — next chap. masterlist

six

tuesday, january 28th

you sat on your bed, legs crossed over eachother with your laptop on your lap. your philosphy teacher had given out this assignment friday and you'd been mulling it over the entire weekend.

you stared at the question asked.

what defines 'perfection"? is it a universal concept, or is it deeply personal and subjective? discuss how ideals shape our perceptions and actions.

you'd been staring at a blank page for five days now, unable to come up with anything. it was like writer block's mean older sister, academic block. anything you did come up with was stupid: a stupid attempt at dissecting society's perception of perfection which was boring, everyone was going to do that. another attempt would talk about how perfection didn't exist and though that was true, your writing quickly turned into the whole, 'nothing is real, nothing really matters mumbo jumbo.' so, you scrapped that too.

your thoughts were abruptly interrupted when you felt something being thrown against your head. you flinched and looked at rafe who was sitting there, innocently with his bowl of jellybeans.

"do you know how lucky you are that i've allowed you to eat in my room? and here you are, just taking my kindness for granted," you say and he laughs and waves his notebook up.

it's messy, full of scribbles where he scratches out his mistakes instead of using an eraser. the corners are littered with little things he doodles like footballs and small animals. by now, you could read it all perfectly though, could understand what he meant even when he didn't even remember his own thought process or was unable to read through all the scribbles on his page. "i'm done." he sings and you glance at the time, "23 minutes, record time." you praise as he stands to stretch his legs.

"we're approaching it."

"what are we approaching?"

"the moment when student becomes teacher." he says plainly and you roll your eyes with a stupid grin. "yeah, can't wait." you mutter, eyes flicking back to your screen.

"if i eat anymore of these, i might actually go up a weight group and coach will chop my balls off so i'm gonna go give your brother a sugar rush. be right back." he says and it only dawns on you after a couple of minutes of him being gone that you didn't even flinch at him just meshing in with your family, casually going down to your brother and you could just imagine the smile on your brother's face when he saw rafe, partly because of the jellybeans in his bowl but also because of how much he'd grown to enjoy rafe's presence.

you didn't know whether to be scared or happy.

you glanced at his sweater on your desk, all frumpled up right next to yours, neatly folded.

you looked back at your screen and started typing.

the concept of the ideal: a personal reflection

the concept of the ideal is elusive but also compelling, isn't it?

philosophically, ideals are often framed as unattainable benchmarks, guiding us but forever out of reach. plato’s theory of forms suggests that ideals exist in a realm beyond our physical world, serving as pure, perfect templates against which our imperfect reality is measured. yet, in our daily lives, ideals often take on a more tangible form—not abstract but embodied in people, moments, or emotions.

for me, the ideal feels deeply personal. it's not static or universal but shifts with my experiences and perceptions. i've always thought of 'perfection" as something distant, unreachable, and theoretical, yet recently, i've found myself reconsidering this definition. sometimes, the ideal isn't flawless but deeply flawed in ways that make it real and irresistible.

take, for instance, the idea of the ideal person. philosophers like aristotle argue that virtue and reason define the 'ideal human' but our hearts rarely follow reason. we find ourselves captivated by individuals who challenge our ideals and force us to question whether perfection lies in symmetry or in the cracks and contradictions.

my own life is a perfect example. i used to imagine the ideal as someone who fit a checklist—organized, predictable, and safe. yet lately, i've been drawn to the unpredictable, the messy, the human. there's someone i know who doesn't fit my old definition of perfection, but somehow, they embody something more profound. their laugh is loud and uncontainable, their honesty is sharp and unpolished, but it's real, they're restless and noticeably want more from life, there's a chaos to them that should be maddening but instead, feels like freedom.

perhaps the ideal isn't a fixed destination but a reflection of what we value in the moment. it's fluid, shaped by context, emotion, and the stories we tell ourselves. this realization doesn't make the ideal any less compelling or desirable. if anything, it makes it more so, because it feels within reach—even if only for a fleeting second.

in the end, the concept of the ideal may not be about finding something flawless but about recognizing the beauty in imperfection. it's about the moments, people, or ideas that briefly make us pause and wonder if we've just had a glimpse at something divine.

rafe walks into your room, your little brother in his arms. "that's not what i meant when i said you need a study buddy." you tell him as you close your laptop and rafe pauses from blowing raspberries in his stomach. "you're my study buddy," he says to you before holding your brother up real high and making him giggle up a storm. "this little rascal is our mascotte!" and your mouth hurts from smiling so you turn away from them and start tidying up your room.

"you wanna go somewhere with me?" yes. always, every day, any time. literally anywhere.

"depends on where you want to go." you say and go to pick up your brother who is now waddling to your book shelve and is bound to drop a couple of books on his own head.

"my friends are pestering me about this bonfire." rafe explains as he's putting his hoodie back on. "i kinda stood them up when i went to the retirement home with you last week so they're on my case now. it's close to your house but i can drop you off at home afterwards if you want?"

did he want you to meet his friends? you weren't sure you really wanted that. you had friends that you wouldn't trade for a thing in the world but maybe this was him trying to show you that he did want you in his life for longer than the next four months.

his friends were different than you, liked different things, had different priorities and different interest but ultimately, rafe was one of them and you really liked rafe so who says you wouldn't like them?

"how many people are going?" you ask even though you're already thinking about what you're going to wear and which perfume screams, 'i may be a little bit of a nerd and at times too studious but i know how to have fun when in the right mood.'

he takes your brother from your arms and goes to lie on your bed with him. "i'm actually not sure. hopefully not too many cause all this algebra has me pretty beat."

you're hesitating. you don't know anyone but him and he wasn't even sure if this was a bonfire which would turn into a beach party or a bonfire that would stay just that: a cute little bonfire with less than fifteen people which was totally your vibe. beach party with fifty plus people? not so much.

"but i'll be there," he says like he can feel your hesitation from across the room. you fiddle with the blouse in your hand. "and i won't abandon you." it sounds like a promise and you're a sucker for those.

you turn and nod, "okay, yeah, let's go."

"you're not invited." he says to your little brother, a sad little look on his face. you smile and turn back to your closet to pick an outfit.

you do your best at hiding how nervous you are on the car ride there and rafe doesn't seem to really notice which is good. you want him to think you're normal. just a normal girl who maybe doesn't ever go to parties but isn't about to shit her pants at the thought of one right now.

you look down at your outfit. a little unusual for you and your sister did give you a look when you were leaving but when you hid in the bathroom to search "bonfire outfits" on pinterest, this was what everyone was wearing. the pictures had lots of loose clothing, loose pants and big hoodies which you didn't have much of. the most casual thing you owned were these leggings and your dad's old university hoodie. a pair of sneakers that you bought for the gym membership you never used. they were almost brand new and a tote bag with some essentials. it wasn't that bad, right? you felt that maybe it was too sporty because it was missing those damn loose pants but you didn't have those in your closet.

when you arrived and took a look around, you realised, rafe looked perfect—always—but specifically for the occasion. he blended in seamlessly and what did you see? atleast twenty girls in either bikini's or skirts. you were ready to scream into your pillow. they were wearing sandals which you didn't understand because the sand would get all over them? and bikini's? it was january. that's like one of the coldest months of the year.

either way, whatever you thought made sense didn't matter because you were the one who stood out like a sore thumb, walking over with one of the most stared at people in this town.

the bonfire’s glow grew brighter as you and rafe walked down the sandy path, the muffled sounds of laughter and music getting louder with every step. the air was cool, carrying the faint scent of saltwater and burning wood, and the horizon was painted in deep oranges and reds from the flames licking the sky.

as soon as the two of you stepped into the circle of firelight, it was like a switch flipped. people called out rafe’s name from all directions.

“rafe, my man!” one guy shouted, jogging over with a grin that could rival the flames. a group of girls nearby waved enthusiastically, their voices blending in a chorus of greetings.

“hey, you made it!” a tall blonde clapped rafe on the shoulder, already pressing a cold beer into his hand. “and who’s this?” he asked, eyebrows raised as his gaze shifted to you.

“this is—” rafe started, but you jumped in with your name and a polite smile.

“right, right, the tutor!” the guy said, giving a quick nod before motioning toward the group gathered near the fire. “come on, everyone’s over here. there’s drinks and snacks if you want.”

as you approached, more introductions followed.

"guys, look who's graced us with his presence!" the guy who was obviously already drunk said to the group sitting around together.

"rafe!"

"what's up, cameron."

"and you brought a friend.."

the girl who said that didn't seem too pleased but before you could let it simmer in your mind too long, rafe started talking. "i'm gonna do a very quick round of introductions, just try to keep up and remember no one expects you to really remember these names." he says and the guy cuts in, "except my name, i fully expect to be remembered." he grins making the group laugh. you smile when rafe starts, "this pestering moron that has been attached to my hip since elementary school is topper," rafe introduces him first and topper does a little bow.

"then we have, kelce, cleo, adriana, jj, pope, kiara, john b and cora." he points at each person and you recognize most of them from school and almost all the boys seem to be on the soccer team. you knew without a doubt that adriana and cora were cheerleaders because of the pep rallies.

"so, you're the girl who's been keeping rafe so busy." so busy? you saw him twice a week. they got him for five, that sounded like a really sweet deal to you.

"honestly, it's the opposite. she's got better shit to do then tutor me." rafe says before you can and you feel a wave of relief come over you that you aren't totally being put on the spot here.

"right because you're student body president, right?" one of the girls, cleo, you think, says. for some reason, it excites you that she knows you, that these people know anything about you. you never cared before but you wanted rafe's friends to like you or at least, not hate you.

"yes, that's me." you smile and tuck your hands into the pockets of your hoodie when you feel a sudden breeze. "shit, you're number 1, aren't you?" one of the other guys suddenly says and you tilt your head, frowning in confusion. "your class rank." he clarifies and it dawns on you what he means, you nod and hope they don't feel like you're bragging.

"she's also number 1 for grade rank." rafe says it proudly and your heart warms at the thought of him even remembering that. "wait, what's class rank? what's grade rank?" you think his name is kelce but you aren't sure.

"you know that number right in the corner of your report card that says 'rank: 410'? with her it says 'rank: 1" because she performed the best in our grade. you can try to guess what yours means." kiara explained while the others were already laughing at kelce's rank number.

"i've been trying to beat you since sophomore year." the same guy who pointed out that you were number one speaks again.

"pope is number two." jj says before putting a joint between his lips and your eyes go wide, "wait, so," you pause and turn to rafe. "this whole time, pope could have been helping you with algebra!?" you're happy he didn't but still, the idea didn't dawn on them?

"he didn't want to help me!" rafe laughs and looks at pope who's quick to defend himself, "woah, woah! i tried to help him! he's the worst student!"

"false accusations, you just don't explain it the way she does."

"what? she's better than me?" pope laughs astonishedly.

"well, we know she's better than you. you're number two." topper says mockingly as he wraps an arm around rafe's shoulder.

pope's eyes briefly close as if it actually pained him but he's smiling so you know it didn't. "low blow, thornton."

"okay, how about another round!" one of the cheerleaders said and opened the cooler to distribute more beers.

they handed rafe another one almost immediately, while kiara held out a cup toward you.

“drink?” she asked, her smile warm.

“oh, no thanks. i don’t drink,” you said casually, shaking your head.

the reaction was instantaneous. every conversation in your immediate vicinity paused as heads turned toward you. “wait, what?” john b asked incredulously, and cora chimed in, “not at all?”

kiara blinked at you, still holding the cup as if you’d suddenly sprouted a second head. “you don’t drink? like, ever?”

you laughed nervously, feeling the weight of their stares. “yeah, um, i just don’t. it’s a personal choice, but also, i’ve read a lot about what alcohol does to the brain. it slows down neurotransmitters, messes with your decision-making, and—” you paused when you realized they were all still staring at you like you were speaking another language. “anyway, it’s just not my thing.”

an awkward silence settled over the group for half a second too long. then, rafe cleared his throat, stepping in smoothly. “she’s got a point,” he said, holding up his beer. “matter of fact…” without hesitation, he set it down on a nearby log. “guess i’m not drinking tonight either.”

a few eyebrows rose at that, but no one questioned it. instead, someone cracked a joke about who was going to give rafe a hard time for being sober, and just like that, the conversation shifted seamlessly to the music playing in the background. the tension evaporated as the group resumed their chatter, and the attention shifted away from you.

"you don't have to do that." you tell rafe and he's shaking his head, moving to sit on a log near the fire. "it's all good. i'm very worried about my..neuro..things.." he says slowly as if he's trying to guess the world. you giggle, "neurotransmitters." you correct and he nods, "that, and i'm driving you home so i shouldn't drink anyway." he did have a point.

rafe stayed with you for a while but then more and more people showed up and the music only got louder and topper forced rafe up to his feet and they were gone, disappearing in the crowd with big smiles on their faces.

"so, if you don't drink, i'm assuming, you don't smoke either?" kiara was suddenly asking and you smiled small, shaking your head. "then what's your poison?" cora asks and you guess you don't really have one.

"i.. don't think i have one.." you say and see adriana's brows go up. "how bland." she says flatly. you weren't sure when it became uncool to not be addicted to substances but for some reason, your lips wouldn't move to defend yourself. "shut up, adriana. no one asked." cleo tells her and adriana's rolling her eyes and walking away. cora follows her. "she's not usually like that. she's been in a mood for a while." john b suddenly says before he's shrugging and facing the sky again, joint between his lips.

"it’s perfectly normal. pope is the same way. the only thing pope can’t get enough of is…" kiara trails off, gesturing somewhere far behind them.

you follow her gaze, squinting into the distance until you just barely make out pope and jj—practically attached at the lips.

“oh, i didn’t even realize they were—”

“they’re not,” john b interrupts, cutting a glance toward the scene with a faint grimace. “jj’s a freak about commitment.”

kiara smiles sadly, but you can’t help the way your brain immediately starts connecting the dots. “well, that actually makes sense,” you blurt out, drawing their attention. “there’s a 2017 study in personality and social psychology bulletin that suggests people who have commitment issues often have a stronger sensitivity to rejection. it’s not that they don’t want connection—it’s more like they’re wired to perceive potential threats in intimate relationships, so they avoid them altogether.”

cleo, john b and kiara blink at you, a mix of disbelief and faint amusement in their expressions.

"why does that sound like something pope would say?" cleo gasped with a smile.

"i was about to say!" kiara laughs and john b perks up, “god, you and pope really are a match made in nerd heaven,” he says, rolling his eyes.

kiara shoves his arm and tells him to be quiet before turning back to you. “so what’s the science on why you’re always blurting out facts?”

“probably an overactive prefrontal cortex,” you joke, earning a laugh from kiara who shakes her head, "we have no idea what that means!"

you have to admit, the bonfire is fun and apart from adriana, you felt okay about everyone. rafe popped in and out a couple of times but you didn't expect him to stay by your side the entire time either. everyone here seemed to want to talk to him so you stayed with kiara and cleo and even danced a little. it was fun but you were ready to go. it was still a school night. you only gave yourself this much time because you were having fun and you finished your essay.

you had briefly seen rafe with cora and she was standing by the makeshift bar, opening a can of beer. you lightly tap on her shoulder and she whips around, "oh..hey." she says and you ignore her complete disinterest in you. "hi, i'm looking for rafe. i saw him with you a couple of minutes ago but then i lost him again."

"oh..he's.." her voice trails off and she's quiet for a moment, eyes almost examining you. "over there." she points behind some wooden beach bar that was closed. however, you could see people surrounding it so you thanked her and walked over to beach bar, grateful to be standing on some solid land.

you didn't see him immediately and started to wonder if cora hadn't sent you here just to get you out of her sight. you sigh, pulling out your phone as you walk to dial his phone number even though the chances of him hearing his phone were slim.

that’s when you saw him—or them. rafe was leaning casually against the ledge, adriana tucked between his legs like she belonged there. they weren’t kissing, but somehow, it felt worse. their faces were so close, lips barely grazing as they exchanged soft words and easy laughter. the way they smiled at each other made it clear: they were flirting, and neither of them cared who saw it.

you couldn’t stop staring. for a split second, your mind flashed back to all the times rafe had said something to you—his teasing comments, the way his smile lingered just a little too long. you’d wondered if he was flirting with you, or if you were just reading too much into it.

but now you were sure. because the way he was looking at her? it was the same way he’d looked at you.

your stomach twisted, an ache blooming in your chest that you didn’t want to name. you turned quickly, forcing yourself to walk back toward the party, your footsteps heavy and unsteady. that’s when you saw cora, standing there like she’d been waiting for you.

her smile wasn’t kind. it was small and pitying, laced with something sharper. “don’t worry, they’re just friends,” she said, her tone light but somehow cutting.

your lips parted to respond, but she wasn’t done. her next words hit you like a slap. “it’s a different girl every day with him. but hey, maybe next time it’ll be you.”

for some ridiculous, stupid reason, there were tears threatening to spill from your eyes. you blinked them back furiously, refusing to let them fall. you weren’t about to cry over a guy who, a month ago, barely knew your name. no way.

without another word to cora—or anyone—you kept walking. past the party, past the noise, past the place that suddenly felt suffocating. the whole way home, you blinked those tears away, again and again, the lump in your throat tightening with every step.

by the time you reached your door, the ache in your chest had dulled, but it hadn’t disappeared. you let out a shaky breath, swearing silently to yourself that this would be the last time you let rafe cameron get to you.

chapter index — prev. chap. — next chap. taglist — @rafeysworldim19 @my-name-is-baby let me know if you'd like to be added to the taglist & interact with post to remain tagged <3

[dioslesbianwife]

I love your headcannons!

Is it possible to do one on the JoeFoes’ drinking habits or alcohol preferences?

Yes of course! thank you for asking, i’m glad you enjoy my headcannons 🩷

just a quick disclaimer tho- this is coming from a person who doesn’t drink and hasn't actually tasted most of these things lol so please excuse any possible inaccuracies. :p

Drinking and alcohol preference headcannons for jojo villains 🍸

Dio

Drink of Choice: Expensive red wine, preferably aged for decades. Anything cheap or common is beneath him.

Drinking Habits: Dio sips his wine slowly, savoring it like the connoisseur he claims to be. He drinks to show off his sophistication, sometimes lecturing others about wine pairings.

Behavior When Drunk: Dio very rarely drinks enough to get drunk, but if he does, he becomes even more arrogant, loudly proclaiming his superiority and challenging everyone in the room.

Kars

Drink of Choice: Exotic cocktails with rare ingredients. He enjoys unique, complex flavors that provide an interesting experience for him..

Drinking Habits: Kars drinks slowly and methodically, analyzing every ingredient. He views alcohol as one way to explore human creativity.

Behavior When Drunk: I have no idea if he can even get drunk due to his physiology, but if he somehow does, he’d likely become contemplative and critical of everyone around him.

Wamuu

Drink of Choice: Mead or a strong ale, something hearty that feels like a warrior’s drink.

Drinking Habits: Wamuu drinks socially and responsibly, enjoying the camaraderie of sharing a drink. He approaches alcohol with the same respect he gives to battle.

Behavior When Drunk: Again not sure if it’s possible, but if it is then Wamuu becomes even more jovial, perhaps challenging people to drinking contests or arm wrestling matches.

Esidisi

Drink of Choice: Savory cocktails, like a Bloody Mary with extra hot sauce or something infused with peppers.

Drinking Habits: Esidisi drinks passionately and quickly, ordering multiple drinks in a row. He enjoys the fiery burn of alcohol.

Behavior When Drunk: If that’s possible, Esidisi becomes dramatically emotional, crying and yelling in rapid succession. He’s exhausting to deal with.

Enrico Pucci

Drink of Choice: White or red wine, preferably sacramental wine, though he might indulge in a high quality port on rare occasions.

Drinking Habits: Pucci drinks sparingly and with reverence, treating alcohol as something symbolic rather than indulgent.

Behavior When Drunk: I don’t think he is allowed to drink to the point of intoxication, but if he were to get drunk, he becomes uncharacteristically talkative, sharing philosophical musings noone asked for.

Diavolo

Drink of Choice: Espresso martinis. He loves coffee and having it paired with alcohol is perfect.

Drinking Habits: Diavolo drinks alone, never letting his guard down in public.

Behavior When Drunk: He becomes even more paranoid and erratic, convinced everyone is plotting against him. Doppio, on the other hand, becomes more relaxed and flushed.

Kira

Drink of Choice: A glass of dry white wine or a gin and tonic. Nothing flashy, just clean and precise.

Drinking Habits: Kira drinks quietly and moderately, never drawing attention to himself. He often uses drinking as a way to blend in.

Behavior When Drunk: If Kira ever drinks enough to get drunk, he becomes unnervingly talkative, unintentionally letting slip small details about his true nature.

Funny Valentine

Drink of Choice: Bourbon or rye whiskey, something distinctly American and traditional.

Drinking Habits: Valentine drinks slowly and deliberately, enjoying the symbolism of his beverage as much as the taste.

Behavior When Drunk: Valentine becomes even more preachy than usual, giving long winded speeches about the greatness of America while occasionally tearing up with emotion.

[maybe-boys-do-love]

The juicy symbolism of Jojo shows!!! I think it also might be valuable to take into consideration Kant’s name in reference to the Protestant philosopher, Immanuel Kant, who argued for an ethical understanding based in rationality as opposed to being a ‘slave to passions’—cuz Bison clearly lets his passions run the show lol. And in line with Protestant beliefs about idolatry, maybe Kant in THK has associations with text (the quote on his back, Babe and his books) along with the tattoos of abstracted designs and nature. The tension between Catholics and Protestants was such a central part of Shakespeare’s works, so it might be relevant. The issues of idols are also tensions between different sects of Buddhism, too.

Idk as much about Style and Fadel’s relationship to religious symbolism. The name Style immediately calls to mind surface appearances and consumer practices, though. And we’ve gotten multiple references to his desire for clothes and cars now. The fact that we get him in a Boston shirt next week adds to that connection because the GMMTV writer/directors know which country to point towards if we’re gonna reference consumer capital lol. Then those connections make me want to see the contrast with Fadel and hear the homophonic possibilities of his name with Fidel (I wouldn’t be a very good Shakespeare fan if I didn’t enjoy a possible homophone). The most famous Fidel I know, a pretty well-known Cuban, stands in stark contrast to consumer capitalism. So then I start to wonder if I should be looking at Fadel through this lens? Are there things about his austerity, his resistance to emotion and passion, or other aspects, that might line up with that old-school communist approach? I’m literally just typing this up as it occurs to me and I haven’t been watching closely, so idk.

Shakespeare valued negative capability, holding multiple view points at once, raising questions without needing an answer, letting tension simply exist without finality. Thai culture also prioritizes the ability to maintain relationships (interpersonal and international) through understanding and compromise rather than domination, and Jojo has said that directly in an interview he did as an out party-planner before he was directing, although he stated his thoughts about that philosophy’s limits. Very interested to see how THK ends with all this in mind! No answers here, just connections I’ll be thinking about with the series.

for a while now, i've been trying to figure out why the religious symbolism in thk feels so one sided, so to speak. like, if you've read any of my (or lauren's) analysis posts about the religious imagery, you'll notice that it all ties back to bison in one way or another. even the use of lilly as lilith, mother of demons and captain christ being the figure for the good side can tie back to bison by way of bison being one of the "demons" and kant specifically getting close to bison in order to help christ - christ is even often plastered on bison's back through his jesus shirts in way of showing how ever-present christ is in their relationship.

at first, i thought that it was because bison is, for the most part, the jesus figure of the story. he wears the shirts, he has crosses in his room, he "dies" and his beloved finds the empty tomb, kant is essentially baptized in order to redeem himself for bison. if bison is jesus, then of course the religious elements center around him for the most part. however, it just never sat right with me that fadel and style seemed to have so little to do with any of it and fadel's instances were only ever in line with bison.

however, i think this post that lauren @sunsetsover made pointing out all the religious figures in bison's parents's house kind of explains it all. the religious aspect of the story revolves around bison not because he's the jesus, but because it's essentially his motif. it ties back to him because he's the one sewing the seeds of it, essentially.

bison views himself as jesus, and makes kant into judas the betrayer AND john the beloved. but he also betrays fadel, making himself judas the betrayer and fadel (the one born on christmas) into jesus. he also makes himself into lucifer by being lilly's "favorite" and going against what she wants, by being the one to bring down their operation by getting involved with kant. even with christ, he's the one wearing the jesus shirts that signify the way christ hangs over him and kant.

basically, the reason the religious symbolism exists in the show in the first place is because of bison's own interest in christianity/judaism - it's a direct reference to bison and the way he views things.

[genericpuff]

And with that, 2000 years of history and 10+ years of an animated adaption later, Attack on Titan is over.

I wasn't planning on making an essay post about this but like all of my essay posts, it got crazy out of hand, so here we are. I have a lot to say on it and the more I wrote, the more I realized exactly what the Attack on Titan finale was about. It's cathartic. It's also kind of a big shitpost but not for the reasons you might think.

Spoilers for the Attack on Titan finale ahead! CW: DISCUSSION OF WAR AND GENOCIDE AHEAD!

Now for anyone who knows what I'm about to talk about (and anyone who follows my stuff here), I'm sure you're wondering , what side do I fall on in regards to Attack on Titan's ending? Am I about to talk shit about it? It's very divisive and somewhat inconclusive. It followed the exact ending in the manga which, while expected, was still disappointing to many who had hoped the anime would take some other path.

But I have to ask, could there have been any other way?

Eren committed mass genocide, bordering on extinction of the entire human race. There was no way that he was gonna come out of it redeemed or as a hero, and he knew it. He went straight up Walter White core here and like Walter White, he is not a hero.

The fact that the Marlayans have been constantly going to war with other countries using Eldians as their personal soldiers goes to show that for countries that seek out conquest, there's no target too small or insignificant that can't be marked as an "enemy", and we see that reflected in Eren as well, in his pursuing of "freedom", an ever-moving goalpost that can never truly be satisfied.

The Jaegerists were hellbent on creating a new empire on the bloodshed of Marley - 'an eye for an eye', so to speak.

Nothing was ever going to truly satisfy either 'side' in the conflict of humanity vs. Eldians because such conflicts' origins have been obfuscated in hundreds of years of history, propaganda, and generational trauma that has repeated itself for so long that many don't even know what they're fighting for anymore, aside from one thing - that they don't want to suffer, that they shouldn't have to suffer for the actions of their ancestors, that they want peace and happiness but don't know where to start with taking the first step.

I think people are disappointed in this ending because, let's face it, it's anime, and it's an anime adaption that took years to finish. We always want to see some kind of vindication from stories like these, but I think in having vindication, it ultimately removes the point altogether of what's being said.

As much as we may try to fight it, try to deny it, the course of human history travels in a circle. Conflict will always arise. History is written by the victors, and those victors will be seen as heroes by whichever side they're fighting for regardless of what heinous acts they may have committed to justify their salvation. And after all of that conflict, regardless of the result - time goes on, and new conflicts arise.

But I don't think that means we have to succumb to grief and suffering and that's a point that I'm seeing missed in a lot of the discussion around the finale. There's a very powerful scene between Armin and Zeke, in which Armin talks about how he was born to run up the hill with Mikasa and Eren. He recognizes fully that if his life isn't meant to be long, he can still cherish those small moments that he thinks back on fondly, the moments that defined his life with the people he cared about.

And that's really all life is. Small moments and experiences that stick with us until the end. The very act of being born in and of itself is a cosmic miracle that gives us the chance to experience things that bring us joy and stay with us forever - however short or long that 'forever' may be. We take these small moments for granted when we're comfortable, but we look for them the most when we're suffering.

If I can relate all this to another piece of media that says the same thing - albeit with a much brighter ending - FF XIV: Endwalker also asks a similar question to Attack on Titan - is the only meaning in life to suffer and die? Of course, by its end, we learn that while death and suffering is an inevitable part of life - not something that should be avoided - it shouldn't persuade us to give in to fear and despair as a constant state of being. And I think Attack on Titan goes for a very similar approach, albeit slightly more as a cautionary tale - a nihilistic reminder that ultimately, the losses and victories we find in our current point of history are still just that, a single point, a blip that will be forgotten until it's ultimately repeated, and there's no escaping that.

It cautions us that freedom cannot exist without constant vigilance for war and conflict. It cautions us that our values and core beliefs for attaining freedom, love and happiness can be twisted into a weapon to cause harm, vindication gained at the cost of another. It cautions us that when left in the wrong hands, power can and will be abused by the ignorant while propagandizing itself as "the greater good".

So why not just find the joy that we can? The friendships, the little moments, the things that bring us happiness even if only temporary. Conflict is inevitable, suffering is inevitable, but that doesn't mean life isn't worth living. "Happiness" is not a tangible end point - it's the side effect of living a meaningful life that's true to yourself.

Attack on Titan is over. Some will argue the ending was the only way, others will argue that there could have been another way and that the anime adaption had the chance to change it but still didn't for reasons beyond their comprehension.

But isn't that the whole point? We'll argue. We'll bargain. Many of the arguments made will reinforce our own beliefs further rather than sway us. Many of us will insist there had to be another way, just as Armin insisted that this couldn't have been the only way, that humanity must have had another option. Meanwhile, many of us will acknowledge that at the end of the day, this is the story Isayama wanted to tell, and regardless of whether or not it makes him an idiot toying with his audience and admitting defeat by lampshading it in the penultimate scene of Eren admitting to his own idiocy, this was the power given to him and he used it in the best way he knew how.

Much like in any conflict, there's one thing that unites both sides - the human need for joy, connection, and freedom.

We might not agree on how Attack on Titan ended, but we can agree that it was a hell of a ride, and I hope we can all agree that it was worth riding, even if it wasn't satisfying for everyone in the end. It brought many people together regardless of their backgrounds, experiences, and differences, and connected them through something they all loved for over ten years. And despite how big a part of our lives it was, life will still go on, and we'll move on to other things to watch, enjoy, and argue over. Isayama will move on to whatever awaits him next, knowing fully well that his choice was his own, that he created the series he wanted to create regardless of how people feel about it. We'll all look for our own forms of joy and happiness as life moves on around us, as conflicts come and go.

Isn't that really what freedom is at the end of the day?

[olliepurples]

mdarc chapter 4 spoilers (tw negative)

i'm a couple of doors into the mystery labyrinth, and it's getting a little annoying having shinigami and yuma go "but how could this have happened? who could have done this?" when i literally knew it was yakou as soon as the game told me that the poison had a delay. this is so silly like "how could anyone have got past this, they would have died in thirty minutes!" ok! narrow your suspect pool to people who die in the next thirty minutes then! damn!!!

[clawsextended]

in my perfect world everyone makes so many lesbian muses the men then have to deal with the exact same behavior when every single post ever written isn’t about dick.

[catsushinyakajima]

I have a decent amount of irritation towards folks who put down creators on tiktok. I understand that every social media platform has a different general crowd/content and people categorize tiktok content to be more superficial than other platforms. But that doesn't mean that people who put their work out there deserve being degraded.

I'm aware this happens to an extent on every app, but my aggravation is mainly fueled by the reception that "tiktok poems" get. There's a regular cycle of someone posting poetry on tiktok, the post going viral, and then several different videos being made about how the poem was laughable, people have no depth when it comes to writing, bring back "real" literature, etc...

It seriously pisses me off. If you didn't like the poem, fine. If it genuinely offended you, also fine! But do people not realize that in order to write great literature...you must first start off with scrappy writing? And that too it's their own opinion that the writing was bad! It's not some boldly stated fact that everyone missed.

No writer comes out of the womb preaching prose. All this "great poetry and literature", all of it was built on piles and piles of awkward experimentations with styles and cringy writing. One must blunder and stumble before they learn to fly. And by bashing people who put their work out there, you are actively quashing their attempts to grow.

People are complaining about the decline of literature and they're right to protest about it. Even I have my woes about it; I think a lot of things that are being published are cheap money grabs with no real depth. But that being said, putting down new and budding writers does not solve this issue. Rather, it further deteriorates it.

The key to reducing superficiality in creation is to create more. Not like some robot working in a factory- but a more authentic variation: we must live more, exist more, and create more. We must experience the world around us and push our perspectives out into the world. As long as there are people doing this, it doesn't matter what big company is producing what, true creation will persevere.

Putting down creators-not just writers on tiktok, but anyone, anywhere- halts authentic creation.

[chaoss-incarnate]

someone PLEASE explain to me why i have to study thomas aquinas when his theories are literally the EXACT same as aristotle's but with the element of god and christianity. what is the fucking point. essence and potencial is basically the same as potentiality and actuality, but explained in a way that somehow fits god in it, who is both of these things. the four causes (material, formal, efficient, final) but yk, with an extra one (perfection) just to explain that god is the only actual perfect being. natural law? oh yeah ethics should be applied to be happy, which can only be achieved by finding god. so we must follow the same virtues aristotle proposes us, qith the only objective to get to heaven and find god (and of course we need to use reason to get there - plato, anyone?? using reason to get to the ideal world?). the virtues are basically the same: ethical ones and dianoethical ones, and obviously the addition of theological virtues, the ones related to christianity (faith, etc)

[bcneheaded]

aNYWAY HI the thing that will forever be my favourite thing about artemis (hyperbole but ykyk) is when someone he doesn't expect to try talking philosophically with him/randomly tries to talk Feelings or In Depth like, on a personal level with him and he just.... looks at them and blinks.... and has to deeply resist the urge not to scoff or sigh out a quiet exclamation of exasperation. like NO richard, fuck OFF I'm TRYING to brood in PEACE and you could have been a part of that but then you had to go and disturb my silence

[jeanmoreaux]

*✧ — FEBRUARY 2023 WRAP UP

not much to add other than that the number of rereads is more than a third of my reading this month, which really surprised me bc it didn’t feel like it. the new stuff i read was quite good—nothing under a three star, which is great! oh, yeah, and ofc fuck jkr (read the books in preparation for a children’s & ya lit course. has not paid off yet, even though the books were on the general syllabus. not much else to say on the topic; i think we all know the good and the bad this series has to offer lol.)

2023 goal: 40/100 books

as alway, feel free to drop book recs, questions, or opinions in my inbox; i am always happy to talk to you about books!

* –> newly added to my favorites shelf

follow my goodreads | follow my storygraph | previous wrap ups

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White | 4.5★ | review

Elektra by Jennifer Saint | 3.25★

Dig. by A.S. King | 4.75★

* The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham | 5★ | review

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys | 3.75★ | review

The Hidden Face of Eve by Nawal El Saadawi | no rating

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak | 3.75★ | review

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë | 4.25★ | review

The Book of the Most Precious Substance by Sara Gran | 4★

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi | 4.75★ | review

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

rereads

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling | no rating

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling | no rating

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler | 4.5★ | review

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling | no rating

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia | 4.5★

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern | 5★ | review

[wasabikitcat]

If one can’t live in this current society without being complicit in genocide, how do I get out of society? The only ways I can think of would be either dying or the world ending or everybody getting brainwashed to be good perfect leftists, which I would be open to tbh. I hate my imperfect human brain capable of evil and wouldn’t mind getting rid of my individuality if it meant the betterment of the world. Either that, or I wish I could go back in time and prevent either colonization or human evolution itself if that’s not enough to eradicate all evil. We should’ve just stayed as the apes we are and been the same as all other animals…

I'm not really someone who can answer this question (I mean, I don't think anyone can, but especially not me), but for me, I think the fact that you care so much, even though these are people that most of us here have not even met, is a sign that you're the kind of person this world needs in order to achieve the dream of a future without genocide. You can't get out of society, and that's a good thing, because without people who care and feel love for other humans there wouldn't be any opposition to genocide.

Maybe "complicit" was too cynical of a word, I mainly mean that, by virtue of being a single human in this massive country which is part of an even more massive earth, we are not able to do much except use the avenues given to us to make an impact, no matter how small. I mean that humans are simultaneously individuals and part of a collective, and as a collective humanity sometimes does terrible things and it seems that we can only stand by and watch. Often we are put in situations where there are lives that we can't save even though we know we should be able to, and it's not fair that we can't, and we don't want any part in the system that lets these things happen. But the system that lets these things happen is also what can help stop them from happening if we use it correctly.

You as an individual are not directly responsible for genocide, but we do live in a system that benefits from it. I think the way to fix that isn't resigning from society completely but rather trying to change it with what little power we have, no matter how long it takes.

Historically, change is never fast; even in the extreme scenarios of complete overthrow of the government via revolution it takes years, and it takes even more years after that to instate a new government, and potentially even more years if that new government fails, etc. There isn't a quick and easy answer to change, but things have changed. Things are very different now than what they were like less than a century ago, and humans still aren't satisfied because we have an innate desire for good and justice inside of us.

My point isn't that we should just stand around and wait for change to happen eventually, I guess I just mean that you shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet. Indigenous Americans experienced genocide, but their descendants remain and are slowly but surely getting more and more of their land rightfully returned as time goes on. Africans were taken from their homes and enslaved, but their descendants remain and are American citizens with equal rights as racism becomes more and more taboo with each generation. Genocides and atrocities happened, some continuing to happen, and we still feel their effects every day even generations later, but things have also gotten better.

One day Palestine will be the same. There are countless lives already lost and there will likely be many more, but Palestine will not be erased. The dead will not be forgotten, and their surviving family will see a better future. It won't be easy, and it definitely won't be as fast as we all really want it to be, but it will happen, as long as there are people like you who don't let this go unnoticed. Take care of yourself and those around you, and don't let yourself be consumed by despair. I genuinely think there is more good in this world than evil, and we gotta make the future we want to see.

[tsukiida]

i just scrolled through my blog and i realised i have only two modes: weird pseudo-philosophical rambling. and absolutely unhinged yelling. AND I TELL YOUUUU IT'S SO FUNNYYYYYYY because i spent so long trying to curate my voice and sound like a normal, fun, easy to approach person back when i first made this blog!

then again it's been 3.5 years so i guess my voice changed naturally 🤨 i'm not smart enough for this 😮‍💨

[feverdreamsandlucidnightmares]

I cannot believe a man bated me into telling him I enjoy comics and shit just so he could call me childish and boast about his own interest in philosophy and politics while trying to flirt with me

Babygirl I can almost guarantee I’ve had more profound philosophical thoughts in the shower than you will have in your entire life if you continue being a miserable bastard like this

[redr0sewrites]

Viktor general romance hcs!

🥀A/n: HES SO POOKIE I LOVE HIM‼️

🥀Cw: fluff, smut, slight angst if u squint, switch!viktor

🥀minors dni with the nsfw portion

sfw:

this man is such a workaholic, he genuinely never thought that he would fall in love

viktor is very inexperienced in the romance department, so he's definitely a little awkward at first

once he's close with someone, he definitely starts to open up to them a lot more! he'd really appreciate a partner that he can have deep, philosophical conversations with and definitely asks for your opinion on a lot of things

your a very valuable person in his life, and viktor makes sure that you know that. while he may not be great with words, his actions show that he truly cares for you

while he may not admit it, viktor loves when you complete acts of service for him or help him at all. he loves when you visit him in the lab and bring him some coffee, it always makes his day

because he works so much and spends so much time in the lab, viktor will often invite you to join him there. you two often spend hours together, just sitting in near-silence and working in tandem. viktor would love it if you got along well with jayce (and sky too but mostly jayce), you are his favorite people and he would love it if you all got along

viktor isn't the most cuddly person in the world, but he makes some exceptions for you! after a long day, he loves just melting into your embrace and having you play with his hair. viktor would spend hours just laying in your lap and rambling about hextech if he could

he's not big on pda, but he loves holding your hand. viktor holds your hand anywhere and everywhere, he always wants you as close to him as possible and he'll sometimes trace words into the back of your hand with his thumb when you are asleep. before he said "i love you" out loud, viktor probably traced it against your skin at least a million times.

viktor prefers to stay in for dates, and definitely enjoys staying up late with you. idk if they have television in the world of arcane, but it seems a little shocking that they can have giant magical teleportation portals and literal magic orbs and magic flying blimps and body enhancing drugs but haven't created a tv. so like. lets just pretend they do have television. cuz if they do, than you and viktor DEFINITELY have movie marathons and movie nights together

he loves making you little trinkets and gifts!!! whenever there is extra material leftover at the lab, viktor's first thought is to make something for you! he once made you an entire bouquet of fake flowers out of scrap metal, and told you that he would love you until the flowers withered (it would never wither cuz its made of metal ☹️). your home is practically overflowing with these little trinkets, but you REFUSE to get rid of any of them (i think i saw the flower scenario on a tiktok, but URGRHRHRH i wanna write it so... if anyone is interested... 😇)

honestly, the best time spent with viktor is in the comfort of your own home. you have a very domestic relationship, and he likes sitting with you in comfortable silence.

he'll call you pet names in zaun, even before you two are together😭

overall, viktor is genuinely such a sweetheart once he trusts you and will stay by your side no matter what

nsfw:

SWITCH LEANING SUB 🫵🫵🫵

because of his leg and overall sickness, viktor definitely prefers simpler positions that don't require a lot of physical stress

he likes having you on top of him so that he doesn't have to put pressure on his knee, and he definitely prefers not having to push himself too hard

i'd say his favorite positions would probably be you riding him, sitting on his face, lotus position, and maybe 69 or missionary too (but the last two are only on good days when he isn't in too much pain)

at first, viktor was insecure about sleeping with you because he genuinely does not think very highly of himself and didn't want you to think that he was weak or ugly :( please reassure him

ON THAT TOPIC!!! PRAISE!!!!!!

praise is literally SO important to him, while it is one of his kinks i genuinely think he appreciates it outside of the bedroom as well.

lots and lots of communication. "is this ok", "can i touch you here", type of stuff. he's very gentle with you, and obviously you are with him as well

because he wears his leg brace literally all the time, viktor has a handful of bruises and scars from the brace rubbing against his skin 24/7 (idk if he sleeps w it on tbh- im assuming not but u get the point) and he can be a little insecure about them. PLEASE kiss them and show his body a lot of affection in general

viktor isn't super vocal at first, but once he trusts you he lets out the neediest whines and moans. he curses a lot under his breath, and he has a verrryyyyy pretty fucked-out expression.

this man is a switch 100%. most of the time he subs and bottoms, but sometimes he'll dom from the bottom and very occasionally he'll dom from on top. when he's a sub i definitely see him as, like, the male version of a pillow princess. he definitely just wants to lay back and get taken care of, and will get very pouty if you do not do so. he loves being pampered and praised and he's SOOO sensitive when he's subbing. when he's in a more dominant mood, i see him getting off on your pleasure a lot more than his own. he loves fingering you, and definitely loves overstimulating you

viktor loves being marked and also marking you. he bites down on your shoulder a lot to muffle his moans, and he loves giving you hickeys. i genuinely think that's another one of his kinks as well

TOYS!!! im sorry but this man definitely has an extensive collection of sex toys you can't tell me im wrong bc im not. he isn't inexperienced by any means, but he probably got a lot of toys over the years because he just didn't really have that many partners and just wanted to try a bunch of things on his own yk? anyways, he fucking LOVES using them on you and teasing you mercilessly is definitely part of your guys' foreplay

this man has the most gorgeous hands and definitely puts them to good use‼️ you cannot tell me viktor does not have amazingly skilled hands bc your wrong. he literally does jayce told me

i don't think he's super vanilla but i also don't think he's into like SUPER hardcore bdsm? i think it would intrigue him but he's probably the type to be into what you are into and if you want to try something new, he's more than willing (as long as its safe. either of you getting seriously hurt is a major nono for him). that being said, i don't think he'd mind being handcuffed or experimenting a bit with shibari, but you guys DEFINITELY have a safeword. like even if you have 100% vanilla soft sex he still establishes a safeword with u and makes sure your comfortable.

overall, his kinks include: praise (giving and receiving), little bit of edging (receiving), overstimulation (only giving), marking, and kind of a wildcard but also maybe somnophilia. like he would NOT complain about waking up to head lmao- he's def the type to have wet dreams i want to write this omg

i am so! tired!!! still feeling very crappy but i am pushing through my classes until the end of the year 😭 i am so close and yet so far 🙂‍↕️

ANYWAYS HOPE U ENJOYED!!! FEEL FREE TO SEND IN ARCANE REQUESTS!!! ive also been on a huge jayce x viktor streak lately? im not usually a big shipper but their dynamic intrigues me. i want to put them in a jar together and shake them around a bit. but yea i love them both!!!

[sstarlostt]

um, yeah, surprise! i want the z flip 4 so badly, its not even want at this point,, now you might be like "hey, the biggest part of the skz slbs thing is with the 5, youve waited this long, why not just get that?" and while i completely understand that way of thinking i just think i like the 4 more, like just the big cover display is off putting to me, it seems like too much, AND the 4 has skzoo cases so who really wins here (and i also already order the puppym case even though its not definite that im getting the 4 yet so i am locked into my decision)