#i hate the show i can't teLL YOU HOW MUCH I HATE IT

[whitegownsandflowercrowns]

I’m reading the lawsuit now. I’m not sure. How can I tell if it’s legit vs lies?

Genuine thanks for this question and not just immediately assuming that she's lying.

Look, at the end of the day, none of us were there. The only people that know what truly went down are the people that were on that set (which is true of any lawsuit), but here's what's really convincing me.

First things first, Baldoni hired Melissa Nathan back in August to run his public relations (and this article even mentions the allegations that he made Lively uncomfortable). Nathan worked for Johnny Depp during his defamation trial against Amber Heard, and it has been found that a technique called "astroturfing" was used against Heard on social media during this trial. Astroturfing is defined as "the deceptive practice of presenting an orchestrated marketing or public relations campaign in the guise of unsolicited comments from members of the public." Basically, artificially creating hate or hype for a public figure but making it seem organic. If you remember the Depp/Heard trial, you remember how much social media seemed to turn against her. If you remember this summer, you remember how much social media seemed to turn against Blake Lively. The fact that the same public relations team was on the other side of both alleged smear campaigns is a red flag.

Second, the text messages that have been released between Baldoni and the PR team are, in my opinion, incredibly damning. One member of the team, Jennifer Abel, texted Nathan "I think you guys need to be tough and show the strength of what you guys can do in these scenarios. He wants to feel like she can be buried." Nathan responded "Of course - but you know when we send over documents we can't send over the work we will or could do because that could get us in a lot of trouble. We can't write we will destroy her. Imagine if a document saying all the things that he wants ends up in the wrong hands. You know we can bury anyone." Right below are some screenshots from the New York Times article:

Later texts also involve praise for this article

Now, is it possible that all of these texts have been faked? Of course. But they are also lengthy (I did not include all of them here) and considering what I mentioned above, unlikely.

Thirdly, I'm just considering who has more to gain from this. I will admit my own bias here - I've never bought the idea that women by and large make allegations to become rich or famous or to gain sympathy. Amber Heard is probably still one of the most hated women on the planet. Name five of Bill Cosby's accusers off of the top of your head.

But what does each party have to gain? If Baldoni loses this case and is found in the public eye to have sexually harassed the women on the set of It Ends With Us, that's probably the end of his career. As far as I know, he doesn't have the industry goodwill that Roman Polanski or Woody Allen or even Johnny Depp do, and he will most likely start losing acting and directing roles. If he wins, and the public decides that Lively is lying, his career won't be destroyed. It will almost certainly have been set back, and there will always be people who'll look at him differently, but overall he should be fine. He may even gain a new fanbase.

If Lively loses this case and is found to have been lying, her career is tarnished forever. She will undoubtedly be known as the "next Amber Heard," and she will lose out on acting roles. The taint may even carry over to her husband. If she wins, and the public decides that Baldoni did in fact sexually harass women on set, she will probably be fine. Like Baldoni, there will always be people who'll believe that she was lying, but she'll be overall fine. However, it's important to note that she had a third option: to not pursue this at all. If she chooses not to pursue legal action against Baldoni, both of their careers remain unimpacted. While there would still have been a negative public perception of her, it probably would have blown over eventually. A lawsuit and possible trial is much more permanent in people's memories. So to me, the fact that she's choosing to pursue this knowing what the outcome of her losing would be speaks volumes.

Finally, the fact that her lawsuit states that other women on set were harassed and felt uncomfortable. Again, could be a lie, but that is a lie that is very easy to disprove. And if the women who worked on this set testify that they never felt uncomfortable, that will permanently damage her case. It just feels like too much of a risk to play with if you're lying.

Of course, don't just take my word for it - do your own research, seek out differing opinions, etc. but those are my views. I hope they helped in some way!

[v1rtualsalvat10n]

𓆩♡𓆪 for the first time

― luigi thinks of you in his cell. that's it that's the fic.

notes :: thank you for all the support to show my appreciation i would like to throw a rusty screwdriver into your hearts i love u guys!!

The thing they don't tell you about prison is that it's really cold.

No, seriously. It's really fucking cold, even here in NYC where it's already cold to begin with - it's like you're in the back of a deep freezer in a shitty jumpsuit, because you kind of are. It's cold enough that I have to curl up into a ball on my "bed", knees to my chest in order to try and stay warm.

And because I have nothing to do, I find myself staring at the white, emotionless wall, and doing that sort of thing is kind of a surefire way to get your mind to wander. One of the tried and true methods, if you will.

It's lonely here. Sure, the inmates like me, they're nice, but I mean... I'm not really in the mood to socialize with anyone. This whole ordeal has sucked the energy out of me. I've been being thrown around the country for days, ever since they found me.

I don't even want to think about what's happening outside of this place, either. I'm sure people have lots of thoughts and things to say about what I did.

I wonder if she saw it.

The news, I mean. Of course she saw it, who didn't? I bet her and all my old classmates and friends are probably talking about it, about me, what I'd done - right now. Trying to pick apart my motive, maybe grieving about the life I'd thrown away. Guess I had a lot ahead of me.

Can't help but wonder what she's thinking. I wonder if she's disappointed in me. Or maybe proud. Why am I thinking so much about what she thinks of me? It was one fling, from ages ago, I can't even remember when... at one of countless parties, and yet I still see how she looked underneath me so clearly.

It wasn't really just a fling. I talked to her about it - about how the system was falling apart (if it was ever together to begin with) and I felt the need to put all this privilege I'd been granted to good use. How I felt like I had to do something. She told me about herself, too, how she'd been fucked over time and time again and how she knew countless others who felt the same way.

Actually, yeah, we spent a lot of time together, thinking back on it. She'd come over on those cold winter nights I remember so fondly and we'd keep warm together, whatever way we could find. She was kind of... below me, I guess. Lower class. Not that I cared that much, though. Didn't make her any less of a lover.

And then I went radio silent. Then I figured out exactly what that thing I had to do was, and I put all my effort towards it. I didn't have time for love anymore. I had to take the chance I'd been given and fix things.

So I started leaving her on seen, stopped answering my door, even when she'd yell that she knew I was there, stopped showing up at the places I'd loved before, I stopped everything. Dropped off the map and left nothing but a ghost in my place.

She probably hates me.

I'd like to think that maybe this brings her solace... that maybe the idea that "it wasn't because you did something wrong" made her feel better, but I doubt it does.

When I get out of here, if I even do, she'll probably have forgotten all about me, because everybody forgets. I'll be old news by the time that day comes, and everything we did, everything we wanted to do - would just be a hazy memory.

I still remember seeing her for the first time. I remember the way her eyes pierced through my soul, and I remember how it made me feel inside.

I wonder if she remembers that too.

[oliversrarebooks]

The Rare Bookseller Part 78: Oliver's Awakening

Previous > Masterlist

tw: aftermath of mind control, discussion of abuse

October 1925

Oliver writhed on the ground, his chest as tight as a drum and tears squeezing from his eyes, as all the fear and pain and shame that had been suppressed the past few months flooded him.

He'd been content, so content to give up his own life to become the servant of a vampire, hardly even struggling as he was taken and confined and ensorcelled. He'd enjoyed the vile feedings, looking forward to the vampire drinking away his blood, pleased to slump over in the vampire's arms as his life was drained, satisfied with the twin scars on his neck. He'd cheerfully allowed the vampire to pass him around like a party favor to his lover, to curl up around him as he slept, to dress him up in ball gowns and take him to vampire dens to show off…

But truly, it wasn't the shame that hurt the most -- that was just the easiest of his emotions to understand. No, the worst of it was the profound sense of emptiness. It was if Alexander's music had filled something within him he hadn't known was empty. It had given him a purpose, even if it was to follow the selfish whims of a monster, and now he was devoid. Knowing intellectually that it had never been a real purpose, just enslavement, didn't ease the sting of his heart.

Vivian crouched down and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Oliver, I know it's a lot to process. It might take days or weeks --"

"You don't know!" Oliver wrenched backwards to get away from her, furious. "You don't know what you just took. You can't!"

"I know it must hurt --"

"If you knew it would hurt like this, then why did you do it against my wishes?" Oliver demanded.

"Oliver!" Emily was standing nearby. "She was just trying to help. It's not fair to yell at her like that."

"It's not fair that I feel like this!"

"Leave him alone," said Vivian. "Let him scream at me if he wants. He's coming out of a much deeper enthrallment than you were in, Emily. It won't be easy."

"That's not true," she said indignantly. "I could barely talk, couldn't remember my past, wasn't even literate any more."

"Yes, and that's relatively easy for a vampire to do. What's been done to Oliver is far more precise and insidious, to keep him so intact on the surface while bending his desires and loyalties completely."

"Do you mind talking about me as though I'm not even here?" Oliver hated how angry he was, how he couldn't control the harshness of his voice. He was never angry, never so much as raised his voice at a difficult customer, not before he was captured. Even then, his anger had been weak, easily plucked out of his head by that damned Miss Lily. He felt sick to think of himself drowsing in her company, letting her rummage through his very mind, throw out anything she didn't like, and replacing his truth with a pretty painted facade.

"I'm sorry," said Vivian. "I know you're upset with me, but this is important. Can you still feel the connection with your former master?"

"No. It's been severed. I can't hear him anymore."

"That's good. With a vampire that powerful, it's likely that your connection is actually only weakened, not entirely destroyed. He may try to enter your head again, draw you under his sway."

Oliver nodded, ashamed that a part of him hoped he would, that Alexander's music would dull the pain. No, he would have to resist somehow. He couldn't go through all of this heartache for no reason, to go merrily skipping back into the arms of a vampire. Vivian's magic had stripped away the illusion, revealed the monster behind the handsome face.

"I'll try to resist," said Oliver shakily.

"Good, that's good. If you hear his voice, you need to tell me immediately, all right? I can help protect you, or wash out his influence again if we need to," she said. "It's my fault for not killing him when I had the chance. I was a coward. And now I'll have to plan to go after him again, before he hunts me down."

"Don't kill him!" Oliver's fervor surprised even him.

"Oliver, you'll never be safe until I do."

"I know that, but -- I don't want him to die. Maybe I should want him to die, maybe I'm still under his spell, but I can't bring myself to want him to die," he said, not understanding why he felt so strongly about this when he knew Alexander's true nature.

"He took you from your bookshop, remember?" said Emily. "The whole time we were in those cages -- at least, before Lily warped our minds -- that's all you could talk about, was your bookshop and how you had to return there. Don't you want to?"

His bookshop, and the tiny apartment above. His little safe haven, where he'd spent his entire life. The antique books locked behind the counter, the sagging shelves of the history section, the ratty armchair with the throw blankets that might still be waiting for him.

"I can't go back there," he said. "Alexander was one of my customers. He'd find me easily."

"That's why I have to kill him," said Vivian.

Mounting horror dawned on Oliver. "But even if you did kill him, it wouldn't do any good, because his sire would find out and hunt us both down. I'm sure of it."

"His sire? A vampire that powerful, and he's still beholden to his sire?"

"He's a terrifying vampire." The fear, which had been acute before, was now so much more sharp without Alexander's soothing influence. He could remember the feel of harsh fangs in his neck all too well, the panic of being unable to open his eyes. "Far more terrifying than Alexander could ever be. Alexander once told me that if we ever tried to escape him, he'd hunt us both down and make sport of it, and I believe him."

"It can't be…" Vivian muttered. "Tell me more about him, your former master's sire."

As much as Oliver didn't care to recall those memories, Vivian might actually be able to help. "I'll tell you whatever information I have. I'd be happy to see him die, and Alexander would, too. I don't know his real name, but they all call him the Maestro --"

"You've met him?" She gripped his shoulders like a madwoman. "You've actually met the Maestro?"

"Unfortunately, yes. You've heard of him?"

"He took my mother. He's the vampire I need to kill more than any other. You must tell me everything you know about him."

"I'm sorry about your mother," he said. "I can tell you everything I've learned about him, if you agree that you won't kill Alexander."

"Even if I were convinced you truly meant that and it wasn't just residual conditioning, I couldn't agree to that. Alexander is likely to come after me for taking you, and if he does, I need to be able to defend myself."

"I suppose that's true," said Oliver reluctantly. He didn't want to admit to himself that it would be ideal if Vivian were to kill the Maestro but spare Alexander, so that he would have the option of returning to the vampire without the threat of his sire hanging over their heads.

No, he must still be under the spell. He shouldn't return to Alexander under any circumstances, not if he wanted to keep a free thought in his head.

"You need to tell me," Vivian insisted. "Revenge on the Maestro is one of the main reasons I became a hunter in the first place. It wasn't just my mother who suffered. He's killed at least twenty hunters, and he's believed to have kidnapped a number of musicians and stage performers. He needs to be stopped."

"He does." Oliver sighed, feeling that tiny bit of leverage slip. "All right. I'll tell you what I know."

He tried to recall everything he could for Vivian's sake -- everything Lex had told him, and especially recounting his own experiences with the cruel vampire. Emily sat nearby, her eyes going wide with horror as Oliver described his blinding and the painful feeding. Vivian, on the other hand, was absorbing all of Oliver's words carefully.

"So when he controlled you -- was there any sort of induction he had to perform? Any conditions he had to meet?"

"I don't think so, or at least I don't remember any. Alexander didn't mention any either. He was able to puppet my body as easily as if I were a toy, and there didn't seem to be any way to resist it."

"Hm. That's going to be trouble," said Vivian, deep in thought. "And when he stopped you from opening your eyes again -- how long did it take for that enthrallment to wear off?"

"It didn't. The next day, Alexander took me to Miss -- to another vampire's home, one that specializes in hypnotizing humans, and she reversed the Maestro's command."

"A specialist in hypnotizing humans? Lily?"

"You know her too?"

"Yes, I'm aware of her."

"Are you going to kill her, too?"

"I really should, considering how many people's minds she's destroyed -- or are you going to defend her as well?"

"…No." Truthfully, he felt more conflicted about it than he should, given that Vivian was objectively correct. How many human minds had she stolen? How many lives had she cut short, selling innocent people off to vampires with nothing more than glee about her profits? She was the one who had twisted his mind, and all those feelings of comfort and warmth as he slept in her chair were nothing more than lies to keep him docile.

"So do have any idea where the Maestro lives?"

"No, I'm sorry. Those are the only two times I encountered him, and Alexander never mentioned where he lives, from what I can recall."

Vivian sighed. "It's a pity. But even so, you've given me far more information than I had yesterday, and I'm grateful for it."

"You know… both you and Alexander want the Maestro dead. Could you ever consider working together?" asked Oliver.

"Working with a vampire?"

"Only this one specific time, only to kill an even worse vampire!"

"I can't do that," said Vivian. "Even if we do have the same goal. Fighting a vampire as formidable as the Maestro would leave me vulnerable, and I can't trust that this Alexander wouldn't simply enthrall me afterwards. In fact, he'd be stupid not to, lest I kill him."

Oliver wanted to protest that Alexander wouldn't do that… except that Alexander might actually do that. After all, he had no qualms at all about buying a human at auction, even a human he previously knew as an equal. Why would he hesitate to enthrall a hunter?

"Come on," said Vivian, helping him off the floor. "We can talk more about this later. You've been through a lot tonight, and need more time to shake off the spell you've been under. We have a room that you can use, but I'm going to have to lock you in, and keep you under surveillance for now, at least until we're sure that your vampire isn't going to try and push himself into your head again."

"Fine," he said, accepting that Vivian didn't trust him. He didn't even trust himself. "Why can he still do that, if you've undone the enthrallment?"

"There's a psychic connection established when a vampire drinks your blood. It's not quite the same thing as enthrallment, and it can be very strong. It fades in days or weeks, but until then, you'll still be vulnerable to the vampire's influence."

"I see." He wondered if that applied to any vampire which had fed from him. If it did, that meant -- "But the Maestro, he…"

"Yes," she said grimly. "Has he ever entered your mind before, when he's not there in person?"

"I don't think so. I hope not."

"I hope not either. I'm not prepared to fight him just yet. If you sense anything, you need to tell me right away."

"Yes, of course."

Vivian led Oliver out of the attic and into a room little bigger than a closet, with a cot and a small chest of drawers. "You should get some rest," she said, herding Oliver inside. "You'll feel better once you have. Is there anything you need?"

"A glass of water, please?" asked Oliver, sitting on the edge of the cot. "And if you have any interesting books…"

"Certainly. I'll see what I can do."

Oliver waited patiently for Vivian to return with the water and a couple of old magazines. As soon as she left the room and he heard the lock click shut, he fell back onto the bed, knowing that he wouldn't even be able to concentrate on reading, not with all the thoughts crowding his head.

He was free.

Wasn't he?

It was terribly hard to feel free when he was locked into a small room, the threat of his vampiric master and his sire still hanging over his head like an executioner's axe. The confinement was for his own safety, and he understood the reasons, but he wouldn't actually be free until both Alexander and the Maestro had ceased to walk the earth.

He was frustrated with himself. He shouldn't care so much about the well-being of a vampire who had literally purchased him at auction. And yet…

Now that the initial shock and fear had worn off, he was finding himself gripped by a deep and profound sadness. The cot he lay on was hard and cold, and he couldn't suppress his longing for his bed at home -- no, Alexander's bed. It wasn't ever his. He'd been hypnotized to share it, to cuddle up with a monster.

He'd been hypnotized into affection.

And it was really the only affection he'd had since he was a child, wasn't it? He'd lived such a solitary and quiet life, spending almost every night alone in his small apartment with books for company. Even the simple pleasure of curling up to read next to someone else had been foreign to him until he came into Alexander's possession.

And it had all been a fabrication meant to keep him compliant, hadn't it? He shouldn't miss it. He should be glad to be rid of it.

But the thought of returning to his solitary life, of never experiencing actual tenderness, was crushing him inside. He'd been starving for so many years, but it had been bearable when he didn't know what he was missing. Now that he knew that his choice was between actual loneliness and false companionship, he could only be ashamed at the parts of himself which preferred the lie.

No, he had to press on somehow. He couldn't return himself to a monster, no matter how charming. He should be happy to be freed. He could have his own life back. He could sleep during the night and wake during the day, and walk in the sunshine, and choose to go wherever he pleased.

He could take what little money he had stashed in his bookshop and take a train out of town, or a boat overseas, see the new places that he dreamed about but never got around to visiting. He could start his life over, do something else with it. Live a fuller life in the here and now rather than wait in his lonely little bookshop, wait for something to happen to him. Something had happened to him, and it should have taught him a lesson about choosing what he wants before it's chosen for him.

It was exhilarating. But…

For all his newly gained freedom, he still had no idea what he actually wanted. The desire for fangs in his neck was fake, but at least it was a clear desire. What did he want before, apart from books and safety? And who was he now, now that he knew the dangerous world of the supernatural lurked just behind every streetlamp, just waiting to pull him into it?

Previous > Masterlist

Next week: Oliver is not as free as he might have hoped.

I'll also have a Christmas-adjacent self-indulgent vampire story up tomorrow, so please keep an eye out! And vote in the holiday edition of Sedation Vending Machine!

Thanks for reading this story another year, and happy holidays!

@d-cs @latenightcupsofcoffee @thecyrulik @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night @wanderinggoblin

@whumpyourdamnpears @only-shadows-dwell-where-we-are @pressedpenn @pigeonwhumps @amusedmuralist

@vampiresprite @irregular-book @whumpsoda @und3ad-mutt

@sowhumpshaped @whumpsday @morning-star-whump @silly-scroimblo-skrunkl

@steh-lar-uh-nuhs @pirefyrelight @theauthorintraining @whump-me-all-night-long @anonfromcanada

@typewrittenfangs @tessellated-sunl1ght @cleverinsidejoke @abirbable @ichorousambrosia

@a-formless-entity @gobbo-king @writinggremlin @the-agency-archives @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi

@enigmawriteswhump @bottlecapreader @whump-on-a-string @whumpinthepot

@cinnamoncandycanes @avvail-whumps @tauntedoctopuses @secret-vampkissers-soiree @whatamidoingherehelpme

@strawbearydreams @ghost-whump @tippytappytyping @natthebatt @fire-bugg14

@fuckcapitalismasshole @slightlydisturbedbeans @paperprinxe @demetercabingreen-thumb @the-broken-pen

@pokemaniacgemini @jumpywhumpywriter @basica11ywhumped @anoontjecanush @cepheusgalaxy

@whump-me-harder @whump-till-ya-jump @the-monarch-whumperfly @ium1naryy @wumpbean

[wilhelminyard]

one thing about the foxes is they are brutally honest. they will tell you exactly how they feel about you and they'll insult you to your face without holding back like they could not care less about hurting people's feelings and let me show you why with these quotes from the first book (yes this will be a three parts post) :

WYMACK :

"do you have any idea how much I hate coming home and finding you in my apartment?"

"that's not fair" "life isn't fair tweedle-dumb. get over it."

"hemmick, get over here and be useful for once in your mangy life"

"things aren't anything but awkward when andrew and nicky are around"

"you looked busy" "I'm always busy. that's never stopped you pricks from interrupting me before"

"you're a sopping mess. get out of my sight and clean up before I wring your neck."

"are you done wasting my oxygen yet?"

NEIL :

"what the hell did you call me?" "I called you a deadweight hasbeen"

"mother, may I?" "your mother's dead. I don't think she cares what you do"

"did no one tell you I hate surprises?" "what makes you think I care?"

"your attitude makes it hard for anyone to care about you"

"you're a team of pathetic bullies"

"your team's ranked first? congratulations and big deal"

ANDREW :

"congratulations are in order, I suppose. since I have none to give I will tell the others to respond appropriately"

"bruises you think, or scars? I think scars, too. can't be bruises if his parents aren't around to beat him, right?"

"you're not very bright. typical of a jock."

KEVIN :

"I'm not good enough to play on the same court as a champion" "true, but irrelevant"

"why are you here?" "I wanted to practice" "as if it will help you any"

"you worry about your incompetence. I'll worry about andrew"

"morning sunshine" "fuck you" "glad to see you're still a morning person" "fuck you too"

"I will wash my hands of you on the court and you can struggle your way through mediocrity alone"

"kevin, the man is dead. like permanently" "it's not a major loss" (not to his face but still SAVAGE)

MATT :

"didn't miss you at all"

"do you even remember how to smile?"

"when you say things like that it makes me think you don't trust us" "no one trusts you"

NICKY :

"the death threats were creative though. maybe this time they'll follow through and actually kill one of us. let's vote. I nominate seth"

AARON :

"you never have anything useful to say"

ALLISON :

"looks like you've managed to completely embarass yourself in both languages"

"you aren't funny. shut up."

"we didn't trust you to keep your mouth shut"

SETH :

"he's short. he can't play, and he looks like he has an attitude problem"

"we talked all kinds of shit about you after you booked it"

"are you stupid?"

[rin-solo]

You are absolutely correct to point this out. Tagging @glisten-inthedark because this feels like something you'll enjoy. The whole "7 years aren't as long for a god as for a human" thing aside, this just beautifully shows how differently they view each other.

To Odysseus, Poseidon was never more than just another obstacle to getting home. A much more competent, dangerous obstacle than any other, but still just an obstacle that he had no particular or special feelings toward beyond, "I have to avoid this guy." Then he spends 7 years at Calypso's and naturally forgets all about Poseidon because he just doesn't assume that Poseidon would care about him that much either.

... But Poseidon does. And that's the beautiful irony of it all ... To Poseidon, Odysseus is so much more than just a mortal who blinded his son that one time; if the Vengeance saga proves anything, it's this. Think about it—he doesn't mention Polyphemus at all anymore in this saga. Instead, he admits straight out that he's avenging "his reputation"—a fancy way of saying, "I'm hunting you for myself and my own reasons now."

And he does. He waited for him—not because of his son but because of himself. Because he does feel something for Odysseus as a person, be it hatred, indignation, or something entirely else. Whatever it is, it's personal for him, and for him alone.

He cares so much about being the one to kill him that he waits for a decade (even if that's only akin to, like, 10 weeks or something for a god, that's still 10 weeks of camping in front of someone's house to get their attention!) I don't think anyone would shame or fault him for letting Odysseus live anymore either, like I've seen some people say, especially since it was Zeus' decree that Odysseus be released.

No, Poseidon waited for Odysseus because Poseidon wanted to wait for him. Poseidon remembered Odysseus because he was "something" to him, as opposed to Odysseus, who just straight up forgot or assumed he got bored and/or had better things to do with his immortal life (a very fair assumption, honestly.) The fact that Poseidon didn't get bored and didn't have better things to do with his life tells us so much about his character that I could write a whole essay on it ... I've covered parts of it in my Get In The Water analysis and also this lil thing, but I might write a full essay on this someday.

And that's the beautiful, poetic, almost ... tragedy of it all since it's so clearly one-sided: Odysseus feels nothing—no hatred, no attachment, not even enough to consider he might still be after him—whereas Poseidon feels ... everything? A lot, at least.

It's literally a case of "the opposite of love isn't hate (or the other way around, either work); it's indifference." Odysseus is indifferent. But what you, dear god of tides, have is a very serious case of obsession. You might want to—oh, no, he can't hear me; he's passed out on some rock shore, bleeding profusely. We can only hope that being defeated, humiliated, and confronted with his vulnerability in this manner didn't only deepen his obsession. Why do I have a bad, bad feeling about this though ...

My favorite thing in Epic that we don't talk enough about is that during the Circe and Thunder sagas, Odysseus was pretty much aware that Poseidon was after him. But in Vengeance saga, considering his reaction at Poseidon's appearance in "Get in the Water", he kinda thought that Poseidon must've forgotten and let go until that time. BUT HE DIDN'T. THE MAN WAS OBSESSED WITH ODYSSEUS FOR SEVEN YEARS

[rowie264]

If someone criticizes something, it doesn't mean that they hate it. It also works the other way around. If you like something, it doesn't mean that it's done well from an objective point of view.

I love Jinx. Her design, her story, her personality, her character arc... I was just fascinated by her. Jinx has become one of my favorite characters in media in general. It was the continuation of her story that I was waiting for the most.

Jinx is still my favorite character in season 2. I love almost every scene with her. How she did Sevika's arm and the subsequent fight with the Smeech, the fight with Vi in Act 1, the prison break, search for Vander in the mines, epic appearance during the battle against Noxus.

I got a lot of positive emotions while watching s2 and especially during Jinx's appearance on the screen. But… an emotional response and objective assessment are two different things. And objectively, Jinx's character in season 2 is OOC and poorly written.

Removing very importand part of her story and personality. Her mental issues almost completely disappear. This is a very important aspect of her character. And no, Isha's presence and a "more favorable environment" would not heal her, the whole 2nd act is completely unrealistic and looks stupid, since all her problems with her mental health were magically solved off-screen;

Irrelevant piece of plot. Her arc of "Zaun symbol" passes by her - she becomes a symbol by accident, ignores the consequences and directly encounters all this revolutionary mood only during Isha's saving from Stillwater (at the same time saving her followers - an indirect action, not a purposeful one). So this arc is kinda about her, but she doesn't seem to participate in it herself, and it ends with literally nothing (like the whole Zaun revolution);

Making her more appealing to wider audience. Her hatred of Piltover and Caitlyn just disappeared. Yes, while she was with Vi in the mines she said "piltie goons who murdered mom and dad," but… that's all? Jinx doesn't kill a single enforcer in the entire 2nd season (although, for example, she could have in Stillwater) and tells Caitlyn "I didn't know your mother was there." Let me remind you that Jinx literally giggled in s1 when she killed a dozen enforcers during gemstone kidnapping, killed enforcers on the bridge without any care, she hated Caitlyn fiercely because she "stole" her sister from her, and she couldn't not know that Cassandra was a councilor. It isn't showed how and why she changed her opinion and this is important thing to her character, you can't explain such change with microexpressions or parallels;

Unrealistic happy family reunion. The reunion of Jinx, Vi, and Vander is a spectacular moment from Disney. Do you remember how Jinx reacted when Vi returned? Yes, she was happy but as soon as she spotted Cait she freaked out and immidiately thought that Vi betrayed her. Imagine what would happen if her supposedly dead - bc of her btw - father had returned and now looks like some animal;

Silco mattered much more to Jinx. A very "subtle" replacement of Silco for Vander in the role of father (Jinx calls him father, sniffs Vander's jacket and not Silco's), although Silco played probably a bigger role in this? And Jinx remembers about him like 2 times? Although it's been about 7-10 years since Vi's "death" in season 1, Jinx was still triggered by just a similar appearance. Apparently, Silco wasn't that important to Jinx (which is not true); I could still keep talking about Jinx, but let's leave it at that.

I love Jinx even in season 2. I like watching scenes with her. But my emotional attachment doesn't stop me from seeing that Jinx's character in s2 is not a continuation of Jinx's character of the end of s1. Her image is broken, the arcs are not completed, the relationships with other characters are poorly written.

[heartcircus]

I love Mapicc and Derap’s bickering and mutual disdain, but god I wish there was someone in Mapicc’s corner who could like. Help give Zam a bit of perspective on how Derap is bending the narrative and painting Mapicc in a negative light to push Zam into choosing him bc Zam has to be the one defending Mapicc in every conversation and the more they have the more it feels like Zam’s resolve is shifting. The fact that Derap is kind of unchallenged here is like. Miserable. I don’t hate Derap but I do want things to fall apart for him bc he is just making this so much worse and Zam needs to talk to someone else. I hope Pangi tells him Derap invited him. I hope Mapicc stalks one of their conversations and gets the chance to defend himself. Planet saying Mapicc was Zam’s bestie and Zam getting choked up and just repeating “yeah” was like. Such a good moment. Reminding Zam of what they were. Can we get another girltalk if we’re doing season 4 i think we should bring back girltalk (this probably will not help). Can someone defend my dog I don’t care if he’s in the wrong I just want someone to make it clear he’s not the only one in the wrong

yeah, i definitely agree, mapicc does need someone in his corner and it's unfortunate that there's really just . no one . i don't know whether or not it's intentional that derap is pushing for zam to choose him over mapicc, in my opinion it could go either way, but i don't think he's going to like the answer he'll inevitably end up getting (that it's mapicc. it's always mapicc.).

i'm also in the same boat as you towards atlas lmao i like them, i find them cute, but i definitely think they're due for some confrontation/contestation over how derap talks to zam. even aside from mapicc, he tells zam a bunch of half-truths despite constantly reiterating that he Never lies to zam. like, the whole 'pangi found zaun on his own' thing was so weird because i don't really think zam would've been all that mad if derap just told him he showed pangi the place ? it's just a bunch of little things like that which will eventually add up over time

i'm a big devotioner, i love those guys, and as much as i love seeing them at odds with one another this time it's just so painful. it's something about seeing them both Refuse to fight one another and making that rather clear but still being unable to work together. they're just stuck at this god-awful crossroads and i can't wait for their time to come back around, whatever that means, just as long as they're together again.

[6rookie-writer0110]

Crossing over

Darcy Lewis x Male Reader

Request - Darcy x thors son. He was banished to midgard with his father.

You and your father crashed into the earth and you hit the ground hard. The ground cracked and you are not feeling hurt, because you healed rapidly.

“How can he do that to us!?” You screamed.

Your grandfather Odin banned you and your father from Asgard. You and your father just crashed into earth in the middle of a small town. You are feeling angry and betrayed and you look around.

“So we can't go back home ever?” You asked.

“We can't go back because I saw father destroy the portal our only way,” Thor said.

“Didn't you been to earth before?” You asked.

“One time, but I don't remember how I got back home to Asgard,” Thor said.

“What are we going to do?” You asked.

“Jane Foster will help us,” Thor said.

“Who?” You said.

Your father starts to tell you how he met Jane Foster. It didn't take long for him to find Jane’s van and she saw him. When you saw Darcy you developed a crush on her.

“Why did he ban you and your son from Asgard?” Jane asked.

“It’s a long boring story,” Thor said.

“What about your powers?” Darcy asked.

“Don’t worry about that, beautiful. I will still protect you. You should be my wife” You said boldly.

“I don't even know your name and I’m not your wife, but thank you for the compliment,” Darcy said.

“My name is Y/N. When should we start planning for our wedding?” You said.

“Slow down,” Jane said.

You winked at Darcy. Then your father told them what happened back home. You and your dad go to their camp and they start to about their new project. Jane is going to let you and your father stay with them for a while.

“So you and your dad have the same powers?” Darcy asked

“Yes. We would combine our powers during battle but I have other skills too” You said

“Asking every girl to marry you?” Darcy asked

“No. You are the first, Darcy and I mean that” You said.

You were serious about it and she did believe you.

“First time on your earth?” Darcy asked

“Yes, but my dad said he was here before,” you said

“Oh, yeah. The first time he tried coffee was funny” Darcy giggled

“What is coffee?” You asked

“I forget coffee doesn't exist in Asgard. But I will show you, just follow me” Darcy said.

You follow her to the diner and she starts to explain about coffee. She made you try iced coffee which you liked the most. Then you tried black coffee and you hated that one, but she laughed because of the facial expression you made. You just ordered more iced coffee then you tried lattes and you loved it. You were about to throw the coffee mug onto the floor but she quickly stopped you.

“Don’t do that. Just ask for another one, just ask Y/N” Darcy said.

“Just ask?” You said

“Yes. Your dad did the same and he broke so many mugs that day” Darcy said

She lets go of your wrist and you don't break it. She ordered more coffee for you then you started to try the food.

✯ ✫ ✯ ✫

You are still on earth with your dad but he is spending more time with Jane. You don't mind because you get to be with Darcy and you keep flirting with her.

“Earth is so much better” You smiled.

“You never left Asgard?” Darcy asked

“I have been to other realms but never to earth. But now I have a reason” You said

Darcy couldn't help to blush and she tried to hide it, but you noticted it. You enjoy listening to her talk and you ask her questions about earth.

—

Darcy takes you to a bar to show you how people have fun. You and Darcy are sitting together and you tried your first beer.

“Do you like it?” Darcy asked

“Yes and I will get another one,” You said

“Don’t break the bottle, Y/N” Darcy giggled

“I won't do it” You smiled

You head to the bar to ask for more beer. Darcy waits for you to come back but her ex-boyfriend sees her. She didn't want to talk to him but he still went towards her to talk.

“Hey, Darcy. You haven't been returning my texts” He said

“Because we aren't dating anymore and stop texting me,” Darcy said

“Come on don't be like that. Maybe we can hookup -” He said

Darcy told him no but he didn't listen. But you arrived with the beers and put it on the table.

“This is a private conversation, walk away,” He said.

“Is he bothering you?” You asked

“This is my ex-boyfriend and he doesn't understand the words leave me alone,” Darcy said

“You heard her walk away,” You said

“I’m not going to listen to you. You walk away or else” He said

“Or else?” You said.

He tried to punch you but you dodged his punch. Darcy gasped then you punched him in the face and then in the stomach. Everyone is watching, You grab him by his shirt and throw him out of the bar, and he is in pain. He gets up and starts to run away and she is speechless.

“Wow, I can't believe you did that, Y/N” Darcy said

“I couldn't watch him harass you while I do nothing. Are you okay?” You said.

“Thank you,” Darcy said

You and Darcy are standing in front of the bar. She is standing very close to you and you kiss her on the lips. She puts her arms around your shoulders and she starts to kiss you back.

“Let’s get out of here,” You said

“I like that idea” Darcy smiled

She starts to kiss you back and you start to smile.

You and Darcy go home together. And your dad is sleeping on the couch with his mouth open. Darcy grabbed some chips from the kitchen and she sat next to Thor. She gets an idea and you watch her put one chip in his mouth, he doesn't wake up. You and Darcy are trying not to laugh too loud.

“Shhh, don't be loud” Darcy whispered

“Let me try” You whispered

You grabbed a chip and put it in his mouth. Darcy grabbed her phone, and she started to record you and her putting chips in his mouth. Then you and Darcy took selfies with your dad and he hasn't woken up yet. But Jane came home and she was loud then you and Darcy moved away from him. Thor starts to wake up and he is confused as to why chips are in his mouth

“Did you fall asleep while eating chips?” Jane asked

“I don't remember,” Thor said

But he starts to eat the chips while you and Darcy laugh in the kitchen.

[fuji09]

Thank y'all both so much for what y'all added!

So many people don't understand that survival mode, isn't something easily overcome when you're in it for years. And Derek was in it for 6 years before we first met him. His fight or flight (and freeze!) response is literally why he reacts the way he does.

He sometimes fights, especially with hunters or the supernatural, it can be kill or be killed, with Kate and hunters, and sometimes just the people around him, he flees.

He looks scared so many times, he puts himself in danger to try to keep others from dying so many times, and he really is just a scared boy.

I hate that they changed his age, 19 was perfect for him. Him being 21 isn't too bad, plus it makes the trauma so much worse that he literally isn't a functioning adult 6 years later.

Derek is betrayed so many times that it's kinda gross. Derek can't risk trusting the wrong person again.

Derek keeps being hurt but because of his age, people don't care. Because he's a guy, he wasn't really raped. Derek keeps being blamed for everything because he's the only person that isn't allowed to fuck up, even though he does fuck up a lot. Derek is obviously power hungry because he killed Peter instead of *checks notes* letting a traumatized boy who was bitten against his will that doesn't want to be a werewolf and knows nothing about being a werewolf, in love with a hunter's daughter, would not be able to mentally handle killing someone, and has been a werewolf for like a few months and would not be able to handle being an alpha werewolf or handle more power than he already has trouble with, kill Peter because a rumor says killing the one who bit you could possibly turn you back to human.

Derek was traumatized, Derek was used and abused, Derek had to mercy kill his first love, Derek lost his entire family in the fire and feels guilty for it, Derek loses his last family member, Laura, who is also his alpha and probably the only person who actually interacted with him for 6 years, and Derek has been tortured, raped, and sexually assaulted.

But Derek isn't allowed to make mistakes because he isn't a minor. Derek isn't allowed to have ugly symptoms of PTSD because he's expected to just get over it. Derek isn't allowed to be scared because he should know better.

Derek literally feels he has to be useful to someone to be worthy of kindness.when he tells Scott he needs him alive to survive the hunters or tells Stiles he needs him alive to protect him from the Kanima, he's literally pleading with them to not let him die. Because they need him alive. Not because it's the right thing to do or because they care, but because Derek has to be of use for them to trust in these two teens that they won't let him die.

And I feel that's how a lot of people see Derek. He has to be useful to anyone and everyone all the time (whether he has the ability to do so or not) and if he's not or he makes a mistake, then clearly he deserves all the bad shit he gets.

It's heartbreaking. The lack of empathy for Derek in the show and within the fandom is appalling.

Derek Hale has PTSD. I think people tend to forget that he wasn't an ass for the hell of it. He put up a rough asshole front to protect himself. He has the ugly symptoms of PTSD. Does it excuse some of his actions? No. But he does deserve some understanding and empathy.

No matter what age you see him as, he just isn't a 'grown ass man'. He had no idea how to take care of himself. He was still mentally that 15 year old who lost everything and was traumatized beyond reason.

Derek continuously kept being kicked while he was down. The poor guy couldn't catch a break. Like have a heart y'all. He was never a villain. An antagonist at one point, yes. Villain, no.

Trauma literally rewires your brain, and that poor kid got enough trauma before the first episode. Derek needed lots of therapy, he needed friends, and he needed a pack.

Derek could literally trust no one. Not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't. He tried his best with what he had, which wasn't much, and he fucked up at times. But he kept trying to do and be better.

[celtrist]

SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD BUT NOTHING TOO OBVIOUS (I would've waited a week but this one is pretty vague spoiler wise so...): I feel like most people might think she was being unfairly harsh in part due to her being a teenager and not understanding things. But I also think that's partially not giving her enough credit. I personally think she's very right in her actions, if not a bit melodramatic. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: It is very clear Stolas LOVES Octavia, but his loving and caring about her does not make him a good father. As viewers, we haven't been given any reason that Octavia should forgive Stolas. She seems kind of absent in his life and we've seen him prioritize things like Blitz over her (they make it a point several times in the show with the Asmodeus song and Lulu Land). They've kind of kept alluding to how Stolas does, in action, love Blitz more and doesn't pay enough attention to Octavia. And the show doesn't put a lot of effort into showing him trying to be better in this. He SAYS he is, but actions speak louder than words (and in a show, it's 9/10 times better to show it, not tell it). There hasn't been a moment in the show that shows Stolas putting in effort to mend his relationship with Octavia when we know it's important to him. And granted, yes, they have only so much time and episodes. But by the same token, there are episodes they could've not done (cherubs and Fizzaroli episodes) that could've put focus on Octavia and Stolas' relationship. Stolas' and Octavia's relationship feels more important than the day in the life of Fizz (and I like Fizz and his forgiving Blitz adds to that story, but we didn't need to see his life with Mammon).

If they want to keep hammering in the issues between Octavia and Stolas, then they also need to show the two mending (or bonding) on screen for it to feel fair for Octavia to forgive and trust him. We can't just say "off-screen stuff" as a resolution when this relationship is consistently shown to be rough and needs work. It's like if a show kept showing a couple being terrible for each other, but they keep mentioning stuff they did off-screen that tells us the relationship is good. That's not good writing! And while I have plenty of critiques for Helluva's and Hazbin's writing, I don't feel like they'd try to pull the "they solved it off-screen" thing. I don't think they'd be SLOW about it, but I think they'd at least show us on-screen stuff with it.

While I do think Stolas was in a difficult situation, you can't deny he's not a very good father (he wasn't even aware of her interests until the Lulu Land episode). Like, he can love her all he wants, but if he's not there for her, he's not there. And we haven't been given many reasons for him NOT to be there for her. You can't really name a lot of things Stolas has done in recent times for her that we've been allowed to see. The only part of their relationship we've seen is that they do care for each other but it needs work. I think it's obvious she's gonna forgive Stolas, just in part because he does genuinely want to do better by her and they DID have a good relationship when she was younger. And I think that's a good route to go with it (especially if they make a parallel of Octavia forgiving and trusting Stolas while Barbie chooses to keep hating Blitz).

I feel like people can be a bit lenient on Stolas because he's depressed and was in a loveless forced marriage with a woman while being gay, but I don't think that's fair for a character like Octavia then to have her feelings brushed off. Like there's certainly wiggle room to be sure, but it shouldn't mean we should ignore his actions and forgive him for everything he does. Stolas did do wrong and it makes me happy to see that there are consequences to his actions (good or bad). We've seen him keep flirting with Blitz over spending time with his daughter. These are things we DO see on screen. I do think Octavia was harsh, it's not like I don't (like with her reaction to the pills), but we as viewers haven't been given much reason for Octavia to forgive Stolas so easily. We haven't seen them have a good relationship really. Hell, we haven't even been shown them having a BAD relationship really. But the times we do get, it often shows the rough, bad side of it. Yes, she's 17 so her emotions are a bit wild and everything, and while I don't think she fully understands all the complexities, I also don't think she's a baby. Like... she's not an idiot. Teenagers have the capability to understand some of these things, she's not 5. Octavia wasn't JUST upset about the pills, she's upset because the man who said would always be there for her kept leaving for the imp he had an affair with. She's upset because he keeps being dishonest with her. Stolas has done far more for Blitz than we have seen him do for Octavia. I think the pills and that he's never told her about them was just the final straw of everything.

I don't think it's fair to say "Octavia doesn't know better" when she's 17. The show has hammered in the point that his actions have not = how he feels for Octavia very well. That, or just neglected to show any good bonding moments between them or anything that didn't involve Octavia having to forgive Stolas (as any Octavia episode had Stolas ignoring her and then saying sorry. Which would maybe be fine if they showed more to their relationship outside of that).

Rambled more than I thought I would for the series I have way less interest in, haha. But I don't really care for the "Stolas did nothing wrong" attitude I see some people have when Stolas has done things wrong. He was in an unfortunate situation to be sure, but he can still do wrong things (by all accounts, him cheating on Stella was wrong on a moral level). I LIKE Stolas' character too btw, and I like how messy he is. But I feel like a lot of people are gonna brush off Octavia's view as "she doesn't know any better" or just that she was being unfair about everything when I don't think that's fair to her. She was harsh, yes. I think the pill thing she doesn't understand entirely, but she's 17 not stupid. And there's more than just the pills that Octavia has reason to be mad about concerning her father that I think people don't wanna acknowledge. Maybe I'm talking nonsense though? I don't know, I really haven't been convinced about some of Stolas' actions, even if again his situation was messy/complicated.

[blatterpussbunnyfromhell]

I still haven't had the time to watch the Wwdits finale, but I've seen enough of the plot online to talk about this. I've also seen people calling it "the worst ending in tv history" and I am convinced that these people are either very young or haven't seen that many tv shows in their lives lmao, or both.

Some of yous were in middle school when the Game Of Thrones finale aired so I don't think you were around for this but. That cultural juggernaut of a show that made every production team want to make the next GoT, a show that even people who weren't nerds or into fantasy that much were watching, from your stay-at-home mom to your jocky and preppy classmates, a show that was referenced everywhere on Youtube and tv, which had merch everywhere from specialized nerdy shops to big chain malls, a show that literally changed the media landscape for the better part of a DECADE

That show, fizzled out into oblivion because of how terribly written, rushed, incoherent with the plot and themes of the story it had established, its ending had been. People only remember it for its terrible ending now.

Are you telling me that Wwdits' ending was worse than that?? I highly doubt it.

And in more recent years we've had the endings of shows that were considerably better than Wwdits at handling continuity and character development (like, say, The Umbrella Academy), still ending like shit. In much, much worse ways than Wwdits (which at its core was always meant to be a silly comedy, and I'm sorry to say it but some of yous were treating it wayyy too seriously).

What I'm getting from all this negativity, is that some people dislike/hate the ending because it wasn't what they had expected, some because they have a warped or absent sense of media literacy (no, nandermo wasn't ""queerbaiting"", you guys need to learn the meaning of some words) or were expecting way too much from it (no, a secondary character that served as a punchline 5 years ago wasn't going to make a comeback in the finale).

It makes it disappointing for you, yes, but doesn't necessarily make it bad. I can't talk about my own opinion on the episode itself as I've not seen it yet, but honestly, I know it's not THAT bad.

[theswanqu33nsblog]

Sometimes love is not enough and the road gets tough..

events after discovering how Kit had sex in the kitchen asylum with Grace.

little 18+ content, and of course not for minors.

You've been avoiding Kit for the past few weeks, because... you found him banging Grace in the kitchen, which by the way traumatized you; weren't you and he supposed to have feelings for each other?

Whatever, you found out that he was punished harshly just like Grace, and yet, you still didn't feel it was fair... you thought maybe he deserved more, but it's okay, killing him wasn't an option, you loved him too much for that.

So while you were kneading the bread dough, alone and bored, and right at the table where Kit fucked... that woman, Kit came in sighing when he saw you and closed the door behind him.

"I'm sorry" was what he said, getting a scoff from you.

"Yeah, forgived for fucking the crazy hoe" you scoffed bitterly. "Who has been annoying me since day fucking one."

"Grace isn't crazy, okay? I talked to her and-" You just looked at him when he started to defend her, hurt by his words.

"So what? You two confessed your love for each other and now you're going to be happy forever?" you scoffed annoyed "I'm sorry to disappoint you...you two are never going to get out of here." You said and then mumbled. "Neither do i."

Kit just looked at you, you could tell that he DID regret what he did, but in his mind he was just saying "being locked up here made me desperate and I went to her." But he couldn't tell you that, no, in fact, he did love you, he was just an idiot who didn't know how to fix the damage he had done to you.

You kept kneading the damn dough that was still damn hard, what crap was this? This Is the shit the nuns gave you and the others to eat.

"lemme help ya with this, suga'." He said standing behind you, rolling up the sleeves of his blue shirt, and you groaned at that.

"suga' suga' god damn stupid word just like your fucking face that if it gets any closer to me I'll break it with this fist." You said, showing him your small fist that was full of dough, and he just laughed... and then you felt him press against you from behind, yes, you actually felt his bulge press against your butt. "No, don't do this. I don't want your ugly and...gross dick that i remind you, was inside that crazy bitch."

And he kept laughing at that, was that so funny?.

"come on..." His breath was in your ear, warm and his damn husky voice, at that moment the only thing you wanted to think about was getting away but somehow there you stayed. "look im sorry, alright? I know it was messed up...but ya' can't seriously think she's better than you huh?." He whispered, and you just closed your eyes.

"it hurt me." You said under your breath.

"shhh..." He whispered to you again, your heart was beating strongly as his large, veined hands caressed your waist...and slowly lifted your gown and he gently ground himself against you, bringing one of his hands to his belt and slowly unbuckling it while his lips touched your neck making you gasp.

"i fucking hate you..." You whispered.

"mhm i know." He teased and just pulled down his boxers a little while his other hand pushed your panties aside and then he whispered to you. "But you don't hate me that much..."

[bldrdsh]

HE WATCHES QUIETLY, stalwart guardian of the Moon Isles, and as it would seem, GOD OF THE HAVEN in which many of Erlik's children might find peace. He has a sinking suspicion that THIS is going to become a recurring thing for him. The admission from Temir has him WONDERING just how many of Erlik's children felt the same way? MATYR was obvious, and Shyngay was FAR EASIER to get to open up than Temir, but the very IDEA that many of them feel the same way has him WONDERING if perhaps there was HOPE for them yet. He couldn't tell, and while perhaps it wasn't his DUTY, he'd likely do it anyway.

"I didn't say it was simple–I said it was possible. Make no mistake it is LIKELY to be a terrifying experience. Removing yourself FROM BENEATH the IRON FIST of a tyrant..."

HE LEANS back finally standing upright once more from his otherwise relaxed position on the railing of his cabin. HE CAN'T sit idly by and let this continue. DESPITE notions of frustration it's AGONIZING to watch deities cower from the prospect of a HATEFUL parent. It makes him ANGRY. It reminds him of memories of a parent who FAILED him as Erlik has failed his own children.

"When I was a mortal I studied history & mythology. It consumed much of my life–if there's one thing that BOTH of those subjects taught it's that TYRANTS only maintain their power when their subjects are split apart. When they DO NOT realize the power they possess. I've seen MANY of you & your siblings show up in my domain, yet your father himself IS just a shadow hiding in the dark. His influence is strong on all of you–but not indefinite."

The more Temir speaks, the more inclined he is to TRY HARDER. A fervid drive igniting within him as he draws in a QUIET breath, hands resting in his pockets once more as he watches the other god. THERE'S A SORT OF BREAK–like the facade can no longer be held up. His admission of FEAR followed by the CACKLE that comes at the idea that his SIBLING who should by all accounts be able to know ALL has been DECEIVED leads Karthisius to believe there's MUCH more to this than he is being led to believe.

"I told your brother as much and I am a MAN of my word above all else. While you tread on these lands, YOU ARE UNDER MY PROTECTION. No god from any other pantheon can step foot in this place without me knowing and ONLY if I allow it. At any point I can easily remove UNWANTED guests."

DID. Past tense, yet still somehow Karthisius isn't entirely sure he BUYS into that. Seeds of doubt remain, otherwise this conversation wouldn't have even been happening, but he ELECTS not to share that thought.

"Your father is a BULLY. Exactly. Bullies get power over the masses with fear–have you not wondered why he is SO intent on dragging your brother back into the fold? Why he insists that you & your siblings continue to chase and torment him?"

HE WAITS A MOMENT before finally closing a bit of space between them, stepping off the porch and approaching with a QUIET hum.

"He's afraid–just like you are–I would wager that the more you & your siblings allow yourselves to think about taking charge of your own existence, the more afraid he'll get––and like your brother I will extend the same off to you. This place is SAFE from prying eyes. Should you need a PLACE to...THINK and process those...DOUBTS you had, this place can be a sanctuary for you."

Now, Temir had a feeling how the interaction between this younger god and his brother had gone. Was it the same for him? Had this one plucked at his heartstrings? Stared at him as though piercing right through his soul? It was both invigorating and terrifying to think about, to finally be seen, to be known for what he truly was, but to a point where he was genuinely becoming uncomfortable. Maybe a little too seen -- - for the first time in his entire existence.

"You think you have it all figured out, don't you? You've got a good eye for the little details, I'll give you that." The Turkic deity mused with the lift of his chin. "But it's not that simple. Yes, one of my brothers walked away from his family a long time ago, yet that wasn't the end. He's still pursued by the rest of my siblings, a factor that I, personally, have never taken part in. I don't see the point and genuinely believe he should be left to his own devices. If he wants nothing to do with his family, then so be it, it's none of my concern." It was strange to think about, the two of them on Earth for hundreds of thousands of years, yet the younger of the two had always kept his distance from Matyr. Was it out of respect? Hatred? Was he simply disinterested? Or was it just painful to see him, to know he'd built his life there from the ground up as well, yet their paths had gone in entirely different directions?

One helped people, punished those deserving of it, while the other sought to punish everyone.

Yet as Karthisius continued, poking holes in the siblings' logic, shining a light on their fathers' lies, Temir fell silent. The latter was nothing new to him. He knew he was little more than a pawn in his father's grand scheme to screw over his siblings above, but to accept that humanity wasn't just black and white, that there were shades of grey in between? It just made things complicated. It was easier to think that they were all bad, that all of them were Giselle's in the making, ready to stab him in the back if he should dare lower his guard for a single second. Were they all like that? He'd never given anyone else a real chance to prove him and his father wrong.

"Yes..." The answer to the Greek god's question cut through that bravado like a knife through butter, almost surprising Temir himself as he physically stepped back, his shoulders sinking, not out of relaxation, but a moment of defeat. "Of course, we're all afraid. Isn't that the hallmark of a bully? We're scared?" It was a crushing admission, one that he'd known for a long time now, but never allowed himself to utter or ponder for too long. But it was the truth, wasn't it? He was scared, scared of defying his father, of letting someone in, letting them get close and being rejected all over again. "Stop..." His voice quietened, his breathing quickening. "Stop! This isn't fun anymore." He wasn't in control of the situation, emotions were running freely and he was more open and seen than he'd ever been. Again, he was afraid.

"I came here to find out what happened when Shyngay visited. It seems I have my answer... it doesn't take a genius to know that he likely went down this same path. I've shared his doubts in the past, I wager he doesn't even know I've ever had them, or that I took any notice of him. It's easier that way... but I do. I did." He was quick to correct himself, lifting his hands to adjust his lapel again, though this time as a mere distraction. "Above all... I knew this place had to be secure. Nothing had reached my father, or Uchar, which is quite the feat given that he's the god of informants. If someone knows, he'll find them. Yet... nothing. Silence." Dark eyes studied the other god for a moment when suddenly he began to laugh. "The sheer delicious irony that only the god of bravery has had the courage to leave while the rest of us stay in our place. Perhaps poetic in a morbid sense."

[goldenhand9107]

i will literally pay Tim and ABC money to have someone actually say the word "bisexual" on this show, i swear to GOD

[shannonsketches]

like why did they change where Vegeta was when Cell announced the cell games in the anime

why did they make this vegeta starting shit with yamcha instead of chillin in the lab with his family? why did they take Bulma out of the lab? Why'd they say she was Out while Dr Brief was repairing 16? Why did they change Bulma working on advanced robotics to running in late with her baby?

it's the same scene except: - Bulma's actively at work being a scientist - Vegeta's not being rude to her (or anyone else!) - Vegeta waits for Trunks instead of leaving the room - Cell interrupted the airwaves, which means Trunks and Vegeta were just hanging out with Bulma and Dr B while they were working

Those are all Great Character Details!! That the anime rails against!!

[little-whats-her-name]

"I can't hear you over the sound of the eight billion glasses and plates clinking, and the very high possibility that I'm going to lose my job, and the fact that everyone at this charity dinner hates me but we have to act nice to each other, and the weird lighting in this room, and these fucking Spanx!" - Katherine Hastings, probably