#i feel like a little kid in an adult body

[nixthelapin]

Hi, fellow ace here!

For me, I do actually notice some of that stuff, beyond the super tight skin suits, probably because I feel very conscious of my own body and how others may perceive it- I grew up very determined to not appear “sexy” at all because it disgusted me to think a person would think my body was attractive in that way (I didn’t mind people thinking I was pretty or cute, it was specifically the sexual kind that bugged me).

I think this mostly happened due to me getting to anime, which has a… reputation… for portraying women in a sexual way.

Now, Miraculous is definitely not doing anything as bad as most animes I’ve seen by a long shot. But it does make me think about the little ways portrayals of characters can make people think about themselves and others. I’m not saying Miraculous has enough power over the minds of little girls (or boys) to change their views that much, but I think it’s worth discussing why these design choices were made- why are the girls in these basic skin-tight suits while the boys get add ons and layers, even when their outfits are tight? Why does the main character, a 14 year old girl, have so much emphasis on her butt?

Because one thing we need to keep in mind is: these are adults making these design and visual choices about how to portray these teen characters. While it may not be an overt message, or even something they intended to convey, biases and views enter both the writing and the design and can sometimes say things that are not good. Why are adults putting all these young girls in skin-tight body suits? Why are adults putting emphasized shading on a 14 year old’s butt? (And you can do this with the writing too- why are adults portraying obsession as a healthy romance? (For both main characters)) Because to them, it’s an acceptable thing to do. Why? Because the sexualisation of women and girls is, sadly, fairly normalized (especially more so now I think- younger girls are dressing older more and more now, which is so scary to see, I’m very concerned for their mental health).

Will the kids watching notice? Maybe, maybe not. But since those types of things are normalized, it just becomes another example they’ll see of women and girls looking like that, like they’re on display. It adds to the pile of exposure, even if it’s small.

(Though I will say that person in the comments bringing up that comic of Marinette being in New York naked is totally right- that was incredibly disturbing and I hope no child reads that hot garbage. That was an intentional choice and it feels so filthy. That one does actually feel like it came out of an anime because some pervert writer wanted to slap in it for his own fun.)

Is it true that Miraculous often sexualizes its characters? Because I see other people say this and want to know if it’s correct

I have not picked up on anything like that in Miraculous, but I'm ace, so sexualization has to be pretty overt for me to notice it on my own. It's entirely possible that there's something subtle that I'm missing. Until someone gives me specific examples, my stance is that this is incorrect. It's not an element that even crosses my mind when it comes to the reasons why I would discourage adults from introducing this show to kids. I am concerned about the quality of the romance between the leads, but that concern comes from a psychological standpoint about modeling what healthy relationships should look like. The love square is way too teen drama for a family show! However, from a purely physical standpoint, it's appropriate for all ages.

[unboundprompts]

Hello! Can you help me and/or give me examples of how to write a pre-teen? Specifically a slightly mature for their age but still socially-awkward, selfless, empathetic, extroverted 10-year-old

How to Write a Pre-Teen

Voice and Language

Simple but specific vocabulary: Pre-teens might not use very complex words, but they often know and throw in some “big words” they’ve recently learned or mimic words they hear adults use. Don’t overdo it, though—they’ll often misapply or half-understand these terms, which can create natural, humorous moments.

“It’s totally, like, a catastrophe that I forgot my project.”

Expressive dialogue: Pre-teens are enthusiastic and often exaggerate. They can also shift quickly between emotions, from excitement to frustration.

“That was the best movie ever!” might turn into “Actually, I mean, it was kinda boring in some parts, but, you know, overall…”

Thoughtful yet blunt: Kids this age often haven’t fully learned the “filters” adults use. They can be direct and say things that are surprisingly insightful or unexpectedly honest.

Thoughts and Perspective

Developing identity and opinions: They’re beginning to form their own beliefs but still echo the views of family, teachers, or friends.

“Mom says people should never lie, but I wonder if little lies are okay if they help people feel better…”

Questioning and introspective moments: Pre-teens are curious about life, relationships, and “big ideas.” They may ask questions, but sometimes keep their deep thoughts to themselves, exploring them internally.

“If friends are supposed to be there for each other, why do I feel alone even when they’re around?”

Struggle with abstract concepts: At this age, they’re just beginning to understand abstract ideas like justice or friendship but often approach them in straightforward, literal ways.

Behavior and Actions

Impulsivity and energy: They might shift quickly between activities and emotions, getting distracted or excited without much control over it. They may also blurt out ideas or act before thinking, especially if they’re extroverted.

For instance, a character might immediately jump up to help someone even if they aren’t sure what to do, or they might “borrow” something without fully considering the consequences.

Physical awkwardness: Pre-teens can be a bit clumsy as they’re still growing into their bodies. This can lead to endearing, awkward moments.

They might knock something over, trip over their own feet, or feel self-conscious in ways that show they’re still figuring themselves out physically as well as socially.

Friendships and Social Dynamics

Navigating social rules: Pre-teens are very aware of social “rules” but may not fully understand them. This is an age when they care a lot about what their friends think, but they’re also just beginning to question these dynamics.

A pre-teen might want to befriend the “cool” kids but feel conflicted when they realize their values don’t align. Or they may try too hard to impress friends and feel self-conscious afterward.

Conflicted loyalties: Friendships are often intense at this age, and they might struggle with conflicting feelings if friends argue or if they feel left out.

“I really like hanging out with Sarah, but I know Emma doesn’t. Maybe if I can make them both laugh, we could all just… get along?”

Small gestures: Pre-teens often show they care in understated ways, like sharing snacks, giving a small gift, or cheering someone up when they’re down. For a socially-awkward pre-teen, these gestures may come out clumsy but sweet.

Insecurity and Self-Awareness

Self-consciousness mixed with bravery: Pre-teens often fluctuate between trying to fit in and wanting to stand out. They might do something brave but then doubt themselves or quickly retreat if things don’t go as planned.

For instance, a character might volunteer to speak in front of the class only to feel panicked once they’re in the spotlight.

Hyper-awareness of themselves and others: They’re beginning to notice how others perceive them and may get flustered easily or worry about little things, like if their clothes look okay or if they sounded silly.

“I shouldn’t have laughed like that… I bet everyone thought I sounded so weird.”

Joking as a defense: Pre-teens often use humor to cope, covering up their awkwardness or discomfort by making jokes.

Reactions to Conflict and Emotion

Quick emotional shifts: They might go from laughing to frustrated to embarrassed in just a few minutes. They feel emotions intensely and may have outbursts or react strongly to things adults might dismiss as minor.

Heroic ideals vs. real-world disappointments: Many pre-teens have an idealized view of right and wrong, fairness, and heroism, and they may be disappointed when things don’t align with these ideals. They’re just starting to understand that people aren’t all good or all bad.

“I don’t get it… why would she lie about something like that? Friends are supposed to be honest!”

[goldfades]

what’s joe like when it’s just him and the baby for the day? is he chaotic dad energy trying to figure it all out, or is he the guy who’s got diaper duty down to a science?

joe strikes a delicate balance between chaotic dad energy and low-key having everything under control 😭😭😭—but not without some bumps along the way, of course.

when it’s just him and the baby for the day, it usually starts out smooth. he’s confident as he sends you off with a kiss and a “don’t worry, we’ve got this,” holding the baby in one arm like he’s cradling a football.

the morning? flawless. diaper duty? handled like a pro. bottles? already prepped because, “your mom thinks i don’t pay attention, but i do.” he even throws in tummy time and a few rounds of peek-a-boo, pulling faces that would definitely land him on dad of the year TikTok. he narrates everything he does, like the baby’s his own personal audience.

“okay, buddy, we’re gonna change this diaper real quick. you’ve been kind of quiet, which makes me nervous, but we’ll handle it. easy day.”

chaos doesn’t really hit until lunchtime. he gets too confident, thinking he can multitask, and suddenly there’s baby food on his shirt, on the baby, and somehow on the ceiling. he’s apologizing to the baby like they’re a grown adult, holding up a spoon of mashed carrots like it’s a peace offering.

“look, i know i said i’d keep this clean, but mistakes were made. let’s not tell mom about this, okay?”

by nap time, he’s half-asleep on the couch with the baby snoozing on his chest, one arm draped protectively over their tiny body. the TV is playing some kid’s show he swore he wouldn’t turn on, but it’s the only thing that kept the baby from crying earlier, and now it’s become his white noise, too.

when you get home, he greets you like everything went perfectly, his grin a little too smug. “told you we had it under control,” he says, but then the baby giggles and spits up on his shirt mid-handoff, blowing his cover.

“control, huh?” you tease, but he just laughs, unbothered, already wiping at the mess with practiced ease. because, chaos or not, joe’s got the kind of dad energy that makes you feel like everything’s going to be okay—and honestly, it always is.

[poetry-protest-pornography]

kpop sampler

my dear @auriette was asking about my non-skz kpop feelings, and i have so many of them, so i thought it would be fun to make a little playlist.

i'm sticking with the 10 link limit (which is v hard) but if you also have a lot of kpop feelings, please rb with a song/group rec of your own!

in no particular order:

The Rose (k-rock)

i love them. They are super funny on social media, and their music is incredible. Screaming this song at the top of my lungs fixes me a little every time. Woosung is also a soloist and he's amazing.

WOODZ

This song gives me the shivers.

He also has a cover of Hype Boy that is A+

The duality of man.

I think WOODZ is vastly underappreciated, and i wish more people were as into him as i am.

Ateez

i know i already talked about them a little bit, but i have to do it again because i love them. just a bunch of insanely talented, stupidly hot weirdos. i love that they're all nerds who make legos together and that everyone but hongjoong and jongho have zero concept of personal space. wooyoung and san are medalists in the kiss your homie olympics. (woo is also bffs with changbin and also yeonjun from txt)

i'm still obsessed with this song and this MV. the ateez lore is very intricate and this is basically cinema.

TXT

insane dance skills, super talented, great music. it was hard to pick which song of theirs to include here, but this is defintely a favorite. def check out devil by the window" also.

they collabed with the jonas brothers and anitta and both songs were incredible. yeonjun just released a solo album. more talented goofballs. i love them.

OnlyOneOf

i am obsessed with OOO. they are incredible. they do most of their own choreo, they committed to making their MVs queer af and include messages of acceptance and support for the lgbtq community in the notes for all their videos. they paired themselves up and talk about kissing each other casually.

and they back it all up with high concept MVs, insane choreo, and great music that will absolutley get stuck in your head. picking a song was hard, but this choreo is too iconic

Hwasa

i am obsessed with her. she is also in mamamoo, who are great, but i am currently absolutely obsessed with her cover of lunch. but this song which is a pretty direct call out of the rampant body shaming in the industry is so much fun.

KARD

kard is the only mixed gender kpop group i know of, and we need more.

they are all adults, and their music and MVs are, too. killer dancey tracks. their friendship is a lot of fun.

BM is also a soloist, and has some very explicit horny songs that don't bother with the (barely) innuendo that kard plays with. he's also hilarious on SM, and on the daebak show

Enhypen

they're just good. i love a concept album, and they killed it with this.

Evnne

i love them.

they were all on boys planet, and i love all the groups that formed from that show (i was going to cheat and make a whole playlist of bp groups, but i'm just going to share this one and i'll make a whole separate bp post)

this video and song are just so fun, and they're so good, and i wanted to yell about them.

(all the boys planet boys are also stray kids levels of obsessed with each other, which i appreciate --zb1 is probably the worst-best about this, but they're all super close)

oh gosh only space for one more... ahhhh who to choooose

Blitzers

this is just so much fun

no one really sounds like blitzers. the horns and big band elements are wholly unique and fit surprisingly well. they are super talented and clearly having a good time with what they do, and it's just a good time.

I hope you like at least some of these songs/groups!

(Now, to play by my own rules and not add another ten in a reblog unless specifically asked to do more!)

Please add your favorite kpop/krock groups to share the joy of good music that we can all be super normal about together!

[aropride]

anyone else feel like people expect them to be way better at being alive than they actually are. like i feel like people expect me to know more about how the world works and be able to do more things and have more skills but i just . dont . like does anyone else feel completely underprepared and inadequate at being a human person with no clue how to begin to learn everything youre lacking or even what youre lacking in the first place. you know

[sergle]

I really really REALLY enjoy when Hugo gets to meet people/kids and gets petted. It's fun for me to just stand back and watch, especially since he'll happily let kids get all up in his face.

[softest-butch]

i started reading the vampire armand. btw

[hauntingblue]

ARCANE EPISODE 7!!!!

MY GOD I WASNT READY FOR ANY OF THIS!!! WHAT WAS THAT!!!

Also ekko wallpaper I got with my fries lmao

[dragoninahumancostume]

My favorite part of being alive is that I've never felt welcome in any space except for that one year when I thought I was a non-binary bisexual asexual girl when I was 13 :)

[llatimeria]

processed some trauma i think

[opens-up-4-nobody]

I desperately need to be a scene kid for Halloween this year

[spokelseskladden]

When i was like 12 i used to read those self insert fics where fans gets transported into the world they're a fan of, like either through the isekai method, or like a portal or astral projection idk. Anyway, i started reading Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint and it scratched that itch 12 year old me created, like hell yeah normal regular guy, get some cool powers and hang out with the characters you love, go off king. Also look out for the horrors

[llumimoon]

Dose Dot age or do the oaks just pass them down from generation to generation like an antique vase? 

HELPPP ANTIQUE VASE THATS SO FUNNY

Ok I think physically Dot doesn’t age until they decide they want to and then it’s a lil family thing where everyone goes out into the backyard and they help build Dot a new body ANSGEGAHAHAHA eventually she DOES have a young adult body that he sticks with for the rest of history. Kinda like that weird great aunt/uncle that’s just been there for AGES for the Oaks. She generally considers himself to be siblings w/ Normal and Hero though when thinking abt themself on the family tree.

In actuality Dot isn’t even mentally as young as I draw them. He is mentally abt 13ish I think, (since the Doodler in the current timeline represents the Teenage Experience), but the point of the body is for her to experience a normal human childhood. Like after the pretty traumatic first years of it’s life, sometimes they just wanna regress and be taken care of, you know? Age is SO WEIRD for eldritch gods anyways. So sometimes Dot acts like a little kid, and sometimes she suddenly gets very aware, knowing, and a little sassy.

Honestly I think the years that they spend in the young kid body spans the time that the teens are in high school. After that, they’ve emotionally healed and have grown to know a lot more about what it means to be a person, and he’s ready to move on to a teenage form that’s more accurate to it’s mental age. Maybe she even tries going to school.

[robinsnest2111]

winx club number 1 comfort media to me when I was a weird preteen and was ugly and was acting strange and all my peers hated me and bullied me and shunned me and my friends dropped me because of signs of mental illness and no one knew how to handle me, least of all myself ✌

[tyrantwombat]

PEEAAAAACE. baby you're back.

lol his perception on Han Yoojin is great. He finds Gnosi and the first thing he thinks is 'this creature HURT father? and father did not then smite it in just vengeance????' HE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE HAN YOOJIN. HE KNOWS. Only second does he think 'And Han Yoohyun ALSO did not absolutely murderize this thing???? ...father must have a plan.'

Peace knows what's up.

[dovedrangeas]

if i die before my mom i am going to leave her something very insulting in my will i think.