#i mean. the defining quality of her is that she is an outsider on the inside of the company. she is drawn into the mess but

[ripclaudia]

it is such an eye roll moment whenever someone says roman x gerri is toxic because gerri is a cradle robber. she’s the head lawyer of their father’s company. she was running around putting out fires not changing their diapers

yeah exactly this. obviously we don't know the full reality of what gerri's role in the roy kids' life has been, but implying that she has somehow been an extra maternal figure for them or some sort of a babysitter is just ridiculous. at most i can accept her sorting out the legalese whenever a kid got in real trouble, but she has definitely not been someone to watch over the kids while the men are working. while their respective positions in the waystar circle definitely add an interesting layer to their relationship and the fact they've been around each other for a long time is a part of that, assuming that it automatically means some sort of a deep decades-long relationship is just stupid and makes zero sense to who gerri is as a character.

[panda-writes-kpop]

OMG YOUR NAYEON FLIFF ALPHABET WAS ADORABLE I WANTED TO CRY do you think we could get a mina one????

also university is also killing me rn, all of my final exams are next week (I have 4 exams 😭) and ngl I'm pretty sure I'm not going to pass the course ls unless i score like 100% on the final exams 😭😭

Mina ~ Fluff Alphabet (Requested!)

a/n: thank you for the request, anon!!! mina is my top twice bias so of course I can do this for you. i know i'm super late to this but i hope exams went well! quick reminder to everyone that grades don't define you or your intelligence 🫶 but i was mentally wishing the best for you when I first read this request because I understand the struggle. 🥲 You're gonna do great next semester, anon, I know it 🥰

tw: none!

♡ Masterlist ♡

Affection (How do they show their affection? What love language(s) do they use?)

Mina loves spending quality time with you, even if you’re not actively talking or doing something together. Being in the same room as you while you’re both doing different activities is good enough for her - you could be working on one of your hobbies while she’s gaming, for example. Just being there for her makes her so happy.

Beauty (What do they admire about their S/O? What makes their S/O beautiful?)

She admires your resilience and, if you’re more extroverted, your extroversion and friendliness towards other people. You’re stronger than you know, and you always get back on your feet after a bad day, and she respects it. 

Comfort (How would they help their S/O if they were having a rough day?)

A simple Come home when you’re ready. text awaits you on your phone, and when you head home, you’re pleasantly surprised to see her holding a bag of your favorite fast food/takeout in one hand and a video game controller in the other. She doesn’t mind if you want to just eat and watch her game, or if you want to play together, but Mina wants to get your mind off of your struggles, even if it means watching her struggle in a virtual world.

Dreams (How do they picture their future with their S/O?)

Mina likes being where you are, and if that means that you want to stay in your apartment for the rest of your life, then she’ll stay with you there. Her idealistic future is to be with you, no matter where, when, or how.

Equal (Do they tend to be more dominant or passive in the relationship?)

She’s more passive, but that doesn’t mean that she’s not assertive at times. If there’s something that she thinks that the two of you need to talk about, then Mina will gently bring it up. You may be the one planning most of the dates, but she likes to occasionally surprise you with a date night or two, especially if you’ve been busy or had a rough go at things.

Fight (Would they easily forgive their S/O after a fight? How would a typical fight go?)

Call me biased, but I don’t really see the two of you getting into fights? Mina is a mellow, calmer person, so she tends to get along with most people. It would take a lot for her to raise her voice at you, let alone get into an argument. Not saying that the two of you don’t have disagreements, which are normal and healthy. You simply talk through them with her so you both can understand where the other is coming from.

Gratitude (How grateful are they for everything that their S/O does for them?)

Mina doesn’t often say her gratitude, but it’s often evident in her actions. A hand on the small of your back when you make her breakfast on a busy morning, clean dishes after you come home late from work, and a small note left on your nightstand, thanking you for driving her home last night (even though you do it all of the time).

Honesty (Do they tend to keep secrets from their S/O, or do they share everything?)

Mina can seem secretive to people outside of her relationship, but she isn’t secretive to you. She might not tell you everything immediately, but if it casually comes up in conversation, then she’ll bring it up.

Inspiration (Did their S/O change them, or was it the other way around?)

Mina is inspired by your constant kindness towards her and other people. When she has a bad day, she wants to close herself in a bubble and disappear from the world. When you have a bad day, you take it with grace and try to keep everything moving along while finding reasons to smile and laugh. Safe to say, you inspire her a lot.

Jealousy  (Do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?)

Mina gets silently jealous, which means that she internally broods a lot while someone is being a bit friendlier than she would like. Her scrunched eyebrows and thin smile, when you glance at her, is a sign to quickly end the conversation and comfort her. She tries to reassure you that she’s not jealous, but you both know she’s lying when she sighs as you wrap your arm around her.

Kiss (How often do they kiss you? Where do they like to kiss you?)

Mina often goes for quick pecks, especially on your cheeks. It’s an easy greeting and goodbye for the two of you. When you’re alone, however, she doesn’t mind kissing you on the lips with more passion. They’re longer kisses, and once she gets her hands on you, she won’t let go until she’s satisfied.

Lazy Day (How do they like to spend days off with their S/O?)

Mina likes to spend her days off at home, but she doesn’t mind running errands or going shopping with you if you like to do those things on the days you’re off. She does tend to spoil you a bit (if you’ll let her pay), but dinner is on you this time, you swear.

Marriage (Do they want to get married? How often do they think about marrying their S/O?)

It would be one of those moments of domestic bliss where Mina looks up at you and wishes that every day would be like this. Next, it comes up casually in conversations at a more frequent pace, and before you know it, the two of you are looking at matching rings together.

Nicknames (What do they call their S/O?)

Babe, baby, darling, dear

A mix of older/newer nicknames - depending on the mood she’s in. A teasing Mina likes to call you old-fashioned names, as they fluster you, but in day-to-day life, babe and baby work just fine for her.

On Cloud Nine (What are they like when they are in love? Is it extremely obvious to others?)

Not a lot of people would be able to notice that Mina’s in love, at least at a first glance. It’s the subtle things, like the way her eyes light up when you next her or the big smile she wears when she tells her friends that the two of you have plans this weekend. Her inner circle of friends would know, but everyone else would be clueless.

PDA (Are they very upfront with their relationship, or do they prefer to keep things quiet?)

Mina isn’t huge on over-the-top PDA, but she doesn’t mind holding your hand or giving you a quick hug in public. Kisses aren’t off the table either - a small peck to your lips or cheek will do for her.

Quirk (Some random personality trait that makes them an excellent partner.)

She’s a fantastic listener due to her quiet and caring nature. She just… knows when you need to vent and she’s ready to listen to you. If you want, Mina will give you advice, but if not, she’s more than happy to just listen to you talk all night.

Romance (Are they a born romantic ready to woo their S/O at any moment, or do they struggle to spark romantic moments with their S/O?)

Mina isn’t a born romantic, but she has her moments (that come out of nowhere, you swear) that sweep you off your feet. A teasing comment, the sweetest compliment ever, or an extra bit of affection can send your heart into overdrive as she pretends to have no idea of the effect that she has on you.

Support (How do they help support their S/O to reach their goals?)

Mina loves being there for you, whenever you need her. If you’ve got a big event coming up, she’ll be one of the first ones in her seat. If it’s not something that she can be there for, she’ll text you a supportive message or find a way to contact you so you know that she’s there for you, for the good and the bad.

Thrill (Do they like trying out new things to spice up their relationship, or do they prefer to stick to a routine?)

Mina is a woman of routine, and she likes exactly the way you two have your relationship set up. She doesn’t mind the occasional off-the-cuff date night, but it’s nice to just cuddle under some blankets and watch a movie together for a few nights in a row.

Understanding (How well do they know their partner?)

Mina has a silent understanding of you from simply observing your behavior. The two of you like to go places together, so she naturally picks up on your favorite drinks, food, style of clothing, etc., and you’ll find yourself receiving gifts from her during the holidays or on your birthday that you absolutely love but have no idea how she’d know about that. It’s not like she’d tell you, either.

Value (How important is the relationship to the person versus other relationships and things in their life?)

Mina tries to express to you that you’re one of her priorities. She takes you to meet other people who she deems to be just as important as you - her family and close friends, for example - so you know how much she values you and your relationship.

Wild Card (A random fluffy headcanon that you have about the relationship?)

I love Gamer!Mina, as a gamer myself, so she’d be ecstatic if you had the same hobby as her. Even if you like different genres of video games, you find yourself playing together or against each other. She won’t go easy on you, just because you’re dating, so you better bring your best to the table (even if you’re both playing MarioKart and flying off the edge on every turn on Rainbow Road).

XOXO (Do they like to kiss, hug, and cuddle you? How often do they do so?)

She does, but it’s often in private. When it’s just the two of you, Mina is very clingy. She always likes to be near you, and when she’s near you, an arm is around you or her lips are on you. She does like when you initiate first, and she’s more affectionate when you do so.

Yearning (How will they cope when they’re missing their partner?)

Mina simply indulges herself in her hobbies and work more. You’ll be back soon enough, and it’s not like the two of you are running out of moments to spend together. She does call you every night, just to check in on you (it helps her sleep at night, but she’ll never admit that to your face).

Zeal (Are they willing to go to great lengths for the relationship? If so, what kind?)

You and Mina believe that every big step should be taken together, as a couple. It’s a constant battle of take-and-give between the two of you, where you both are trying to be the givers instead of the takers. Sometimes, however, you need to take so you can give, so you don’t mind going the extra mile for each other when you need to.

[hallowpen]

The plan was to start watching The Sign by divvying up the series into two episodes per day until I could finish. Well…that plan went completely out the window and I ended up binge watching the entire thing in one go. So, as I try to gather my thoughts, I wanted to sort of get my feelings out there on what I thought was an incredible show before I finally unfilter the tags (as to avoid any outside influence on my opinion).

Let me preface this by saying that this is going to be an incredibly bias opinion given my cultural upbringing and background (I'm half-Thai and I've spent almost half of my life living in Thailand), so please take that into account before reading any further. I metaphorically removed my western-lensed glasses while watching this series and preferred to watch as a Thai viewer, which probably made the more confusing or difficult parts of the show a lot easier to swallow. So, yes, I will admit that the show was not perfect by any means, but I was able to overlook a lot of its shortcomings given the parts that had been done so well and what this series could mean for Thai QL media going forward.

My goddess, where do I even start…

I'm a sucker for the reincarnated/fated lovers trope, so the show had me before it even started. What I absolutely loved the most about the romance and the A+ chemistry was that it didn't dominate or singularly drive the story, which was refreshing to see. It gave room to explore the fantasy/mythological elements of the show, the investigatory plotlines (which we'll get to later), and the relationships of the characters surrounding the "main leads".

Episode 3, my beloved, was what solidified my trust in this series and served as the foundation for the personalized experience I curated in my continued viewing. First off (and a bit of a side note), seeing Yoshi show up as Sand just made my heart super happy. I've been following her off and on since 2018, and she was one of the only things I actually liked about หมอ มือ ใหม่… but I digress. Behind the main story (and maybe even because of it), this episode was, for all intents and purposes, a love letter to Thai culture and its religious mythology. Which, when you consider how much international draw a BL series can hold, is truly momentous. International viewers got to experience the Bang Fai Phayanak (the naga fireball festival) that occurs every Wan Ok Phansa (the last day of what is considered Buddhist Lent) and the significance it holds over Thai history and culture. Using this as the stepping stone to establish the importance of the series' reliance on naga folklore…brilliant! The episode was also the viewers' introduction to the Buddhist idea of the cyclical intermingling of karmic fates. How the implications of an interdependence on one fate more than the others would later define the relationship between Phaya, Tharn, and Chalothorn…genius! All of this!? In one episode…of a BL!? I was overwhelmed by a sense of cultural gratitude and pride, that I still can't quite shake. I think Saint knew exactly what he was doing when he chose to adapt this series and I love him even more for it.

Aside from the cultural dependency and relevance, the show delivered so much beyond that as well. The production quality sailed high above previous BL standards and, in turn, lent itself to beautiful visuals and cinematography.

The casting! Billy and Babe's chemistry was just so *chef's kiss*. I knew Billy would absolutely smash it in the role of Phaya, but I often forgot that this was Babe's first ever acting role. It was an undertaking, that you could tell, he did not take lightly. Heng!? Wow! What a performance! He's been a staple in every Idol Factory series thus far, but he really nailed the purely villainous role of Chalothorn. Gap as Yai? No notes. He was able to flesh out what could have been a very one-dimensional character. Tack and Poom as Khem and Thongtai were a welcome levity inbetween, what was otherwise, a more weighty plot.

If I had to address any gripes I had with the series, there were only two that really stood out:

1) I wish the moments/conversations between Tharn and Chalothorn that eventually led to Tharn's return hadn't happened off-screen. There was a lot left to be resolved that could have been explored in that instance. But using my own inference based on Tharn as a character, his relationship with Chalothorn, and the core of his personality, I could kind of piece together how that ending came to be.

2)The lesser intriguing elements of the investigation storylines were shaky, at best. (If you were looking for the show to have a firm western-influenced ACAB agenda, then I'm sorry to say you were setting yourself up for disappointment. As much as I selfishly wanted it to be, this series was never going to be that show, it's a Thai drama.) From a Thai perspective, it made sense that the "copaganda" aspect of the series focused on the incompetency and inefficiency of a police force where justice is often informed by wealth and greed. I got an idea of what the show's stance on the matter was supposed to be but the overall plot and its consistency got lost somewhere within the final execution.

Other than that, I was left feeling satisfyingly content with where the series landed and I will continue to highly recommend it. It's easily one on my top five favorite Thai BL dramas and just Thai dramas in general! And…

There is such a rich history of mythology and folklore left for the show to still sink its teeth into: the garuda of it all, the pre-existing feud between the naga and garuda and why that is… Aside from a few minor specificities that were missing from naga folklore (their exclusion didn't really detract from anything, but it could have served to benefit non-Thai viewers), all of that could be addressed in a second season. Which, at this point, seems pretty likely 🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾 and would be HUGE in the BL world.

PLEASE, LET IT HAPPEN! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[theaawalker]

melodies in bloom. [crybaby x y/n]

Pairing: CryBaby x fem!reader Song Inspo: We Fell in Love in October by girl in red Word Count: 1,728 Summary: Your return to K-12 Academy brings a mix of nostalgia and apprehension, amplified by the enigmatic presence of CryBaby, whose haunting music and mysterious aura seemed to mirror the school's unsettling undercurrents. As they gravitate towards each other amidst the eerie backdrop, you sense that CryBaby holds secrets that could unravel both the school's mysteries and their own intertwined fates. Warnings: extreme fluff Masterlist: see fandoms (pc-friendly)

The sun blazed overhead, casting a golden hue over the school grounds as Y/N strolled through the courtyard of K-12 Academy. It was a new semester, but for Y/N, everything felt familiar yet filled with untapped possibilities. She adjusted the strap of her backpack, the weight of her textbooks a discomforting reminder of the academic challenges ahead.

Returning to K-12 felt like stepping back into a suffocating routine.

"Fleur!" Y/N called out, spotting her fiery-haired friend chatting animatedly with Angelita under the shade of a cherry blossom tree. Fleur turned, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as she hurried over to Y/N.

"Hey, Y/N! Ready to tackle this new year head-on?" Fleur exclaimed, her enthusiasm contagious even in the face of Y/N's skepticism.

Y/N smirked, tossing her hair defiantly. "Sure, let's see what kind of chaos K-12 throws at us this time."

Angelita looked up from her sketchbook, her hazel eyes observing the duo with quiet amusement. "At least we can count on it being eventful."

As they walked towards the school building, Y/N couldn't help but notice the familiar faces of Celeste and Magnolia sitting under the oak tree, their usual air of sophistication and drama already in full swing.

"Did you hear CryBaby's back?" Magnolia whispered excitedly as Y/N approached.

Y/N raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued despite herself. "Already? I wonder what she's been up to."

Celeste rolled her eyes, stirring her salad with practiced nonchalance. "Who knows. She's always been a bit... unpredictable."

Y/N nodded, silently agreeing. CryBaby—Melanie Martinez—had always intrigued her with her unique style and the aura of mystery that surrounded her. Y/N admired CryBaby's individuality and rebellious spirit, qualities she found herself drawn to amidst the conformity of K-12.

Later that afternoon, curiosity got the best of Y/N as she found herself standing outside the music room. She could hear the faint strains of a piano and CryBaby's haunting voice drifting through the closed door. Intrigued, Y/N pushed it open quietly.

Inside, CryBaby stood by the piano, completely absorbed in the music as she poured her heart into each note. Y/N leaned against the doorframe, captivated by the raw emotion in CryBaby's voice. The song was a melancholic melody that echoed Y/N's own feelings of restlessness and longing.

CryBaby finished the song, her eyes fluttering open as she turned towards Y/N, a surprised yet gentle smile playing on her lips.

"Oh, hey," CryBaby greeted softly, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Y/N smirked, her usual spunk coming to the forefront. "Hey there. Didn't mean to crash your solo performance, but damn, CryBaby, you've got some serious talent."

CryBaby chuckled, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Thanks. I guess I just needed to blow off some steam."

They fell into easy conversation, discussing music, art, and their shared disdain for the stifling atmosphere at K-12 Academy. Y/N found herself opening up to CryBaby in ways she hadn't with anyone else, drawn to the authenticity and defiance that defined her.

In the dimly lit music room's corner, Y/N and CryBaby found themselves surrounded by a hushed atmosphere, broken only by the soft strains of a piano melody CryBaby was playing. The room seemed to shrink around them, cocooning them in a world of their own.

CryBaby's fingers moved effortlessly over the keys, each note carrying a hauntingly beautiful quality that filled the air with melancholy and longing. Y/N leaned against the wall, her gaze fixed on CryBaby, captivated by the raw emotion pouring out through the music.

"You have such a gift," Y/N murmured softly, breaking the silence that hung between them. CryBaby paused, her fingers hovering over the keys as she turned towards Y/N, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Thank you," she replied, her voice a gentle whisper that echoed through the room. Y/N stepped closer, drawn to CryBaby's vulnerability and the unspoken connection that seemed to bind them together.

"It's like your music tells stories that words alone can't express," Y/N continued, her eyes searching CryBaby's face.

CryBaby's gaze softened, her eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and understanding. "Sometimes, music is the only way I know how to make sense of everything," she confessed, tracing the piano keys.

They stood in the quiet embrace of the music room, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them like a delicate melody waiting to be resolved. Y/N reached out tentatively, her fingertips brushing against CryBaby's hand. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through Y/N, a silent acknowledgment of the emotions stirring within her.

CryBaby turned towards Y/N, her hand instinctively intertwining with Y/N's, their fingers interlocking in a silent promise of solidarity and understanding. In that moment, amidst the echoes of piano keys and the warmth of their joined hands, Y/N knew that their bond was something beyond words—a harmony that resonated deep within their souls.

And as the music continued to play, filling the room with its bittersweet melody, Y/N and CryBaby found solace in the quiet communion of their shared passion and unspoken desires.

She turned to CryBaby, a playful glint in her eyes.

"You know, CryBaby," Y/N began teasingly, nudging her shoulder gently. "You're not as mysterious as you think you are."

CryBaby raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Oh, really? And here I thought I had everyone fooled."

Y/N chuckled, the sound echoing through the quiet night. "Nah, I see right through you. Underneath that mysterious exterior, there's a softie who secretly loves cheesy romance movies."

CryBaby laughed, a genuine, unrestrained sound that made Y/N's heart skip a beat. Their eyes found each other naturally, fingers intertwining as they sat in the comfortable silence of the pastel parlor. Y/N felt a sense of ease and belonging she hadn't felt since she left home.

From that moment, Y/N and CryBaby's bond deepened, their unspoken feelings hanging in the air like a shared secret. An unsaid promise. To navigate the challenges of school life together, supporting each other's dreams and finding solace in their rebellious spirits.

Just then, a sharp feedback played in the school speakers. It must've went on for five minutes, way too long for Y/N and CryBaby to have to cover their ears.

"Attention, K-12 students," the Principal's raspy voice arose, "all must report to the grand auditorium for a final orientation before the hour. Any children who object will be sentenced to six weeks detention! ...That is all." So much for rebellious spirits.

As they walked hand in hand through the corridors of K-12, Y/N couldn't help but ponder how this semester would play out. Cruel professors. Power-abusing principals. Bratty boys. Cutthroat girls. Ghouls in ballrooms, snakes in covers, melodies of death, and worse. Despite the dissonance of their surroundings, she knew that her connection with CryBaby was a melody of its own—a vibrant tune that resonated with the beauty of two souls unafraid to defy expectations and embrace their true selves.

And amidst the chaos of K-12's relentless drama, Y/N knew that their bond was a testament to the power of authenticity and the magic of unexpected connections, even in that academic hell.

• ♧ • ♧ • ♧ • ♧ • ♧ • ♧ • ♧ • ♧ • ♧ • ♧ •

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[rebelscum218]

Jason and Piper: how they brought the best out of each other

Despite heightened feelings that eventually didn't last, there was no denying that Jason and Piper cared for each other and valued each other's thoughts, because throughout Heroes of Olympus, these two followed through with each other's advice, ultimately leading them to where they are eventually in Trials of Apollo.

From The Lost Hero to Mark of Athena, Piper is insecure about her own abilities, as well as being self-conscious about herself and constantly comparing herself to others, especially Reyna. At one point she tells Jason 'She's beautiful. She's powerful. She's so...Roman.' In which Jason replies 'You're beautiful and powerful, and I don't want you to be Roman. I want you to be Piper.' So what does 'being Piper' mean for her? To figure out who she is as a person means that she needs to get rid of all the pressure from the gods and her family, as well as the expectations that come with being a child of Aphrodite. This unfortunately also includes her relationship with Jason, because it was an illusion created by Hera, and something encouraged by Aphrodite and her fellow cabin-mates while Piper herself was still conflicted and struggling to make sense of everything. In The Burning Maze, we see her continue in this direction: figuring out who she is outside of demigod responsibilities, who and how she wants to love, what she actually wants in a relationship and falling in love in her own terms etc. And it's ironic to know that it was Jason, whom she broke up with, that helped set her on this path.

As for Jason, he was insecure about making the wrong choices. He confided to Piper in Blood of Olympus: 'I don't want to end up like my mom, chewing on my regrets forever.' Also, he is not used to working among a team of equals after being treated as a leader for so long. And through it all, Piper was there to tell him: 'You, Jason Grace, are very familiar with your own bad spirits, and you try your best not to feed them. You have solid instincts, and you know how to follow them. Whatever annoying qualities you have, you are a genuinely good person who always tries to make the right choice'. She also tells him 'being a hero doesn't mean you're invincible, it just means that you're brave enough to stand up and do what's needed'. Looking back at what Jason did in The Burning Maze, it was exactly what Piper had said to him: standing up for what's right, making the choice to do things for others even at the expense of himself. He even passed on this lesson to Apollo, and through his actions became the example of selflessness that inspired others to keep moving forward. He lived and died by the principles that defines being a hero, something Piper encouraged him to do.

It has been said a lot that Riordan backtracked on a lot of stuff in Trials of Apollo like the breakup, Piper's sexuality, or Jason's sudden and devastating fate. In a sense it is true: there was no buildup or clear groundwork for these characters' new paths. But it's not entirely out of the blue either, because there is existing material to be built on and elaborated. And what's great about reading is that we readers decide how we interpret the text, since we react and connect with the story in different ways. So from my perspective, Jason and Piper is a story of two young people who despite complicated feelings, high stakes and overwhelming expectations, were there for each other and brought out the best among themselves, experiencing the highs and lows of life both together and separately, and eventually when the time comes, knew when to let go and treasure the things they've given each other. It may not be the most compelling relationship written by Riordan, but it certainly is realistic and well thought-out.

[transmutationisms]

could you outline in more detail just how each of the siblings are attracted to fascism? i kind of get it for roman and connor but not quite for shiv & kendall

ok so, for roman and connor the connection is pretty clear because they both openly buy into the sort of hierarchical thinking that matsson and mencken bring to the table. connor has his nofap semen retention masculinity thing, and roman basically agrees with logan's dichotomy of masculine strength vs feminine weakness, but identifies himself as being in the weak category and has a sexual fixation on those he perceives as strong and dominant. also both connor and roman have tossed out some haha antisemitism moments, which goes back to their general buy-in to racial thinking and hierarchies. obviously antisemitic violence is a major strategy, tool, and goal for fascist movements. roman and connor both fixate sexually on masculinity, and although connor identifies with it in a way roman does not, they both use this strong / weak, insider / outsider thinking that makes fascism appealing to them.

with shiv i think you have to keep in mind that liberalism is not in any way opposed to fascism. fascism historically is basically an attempted solution to the internal contradictions of liberal democracies; in particular, liberalism is rhetorically egalitarian but in practice hierarchical, exclusionary, and class-divided, because it is capitalist. fascism basically says "that's fine, actually; the hierarchies are natural and biological, so they don't need to be eliminated." this is why shiv is the one to do business with matsson, who shows off his strong masculine body all episode and has a team of strapping young olympians and fulbright scholars. this type of biological-meritocratic appeal is a specific way of naturalising and justifying the class / race / gender hierarchies that liberal capitalism produces and depends on, meaning it's not discontinuous with shiv's liberal ideology at all. (note that her wealth and whiteness allow her to operate within the gender hierarchy, even as the episode shows us the ways in which she's kept from the very innermost masculine socialisation that her brothers have access to). also, her persistently thinking that poor people are dirty is, like, very classic fascist thinking lol.

kendall doesn't really have a cohesive political ideology, but he sure does think capitalism is Cool, Dude. he wants to be, like, a visionary angel investor (wearing lanvins), and he responds to matsson's stupid techno-futurist bullshit. for him fascism has a similar appeal as it does for shiv, because of the capitalism of it all, except kendall doesn't even have to detour through liberalism because he literally doesn't care. in fact, the thing that turns him off matsson's deal is that he wants to run logan's empire himself—so, he's still buying into the hierarchy and logan's concept of dominance, only he's placing himself at the top of it. kendall's not really crusading for any particular political goal because he like.... doesn't think about people besides himself. but what he wants for himself is to be the patriarch-ceo that logan was, thus replicating logan's fascism (but deluding himself into thinking his underlings just Really Like Him, Actually). his ideological vacuousness, combined with his power drive and desire for (retroactive) logan approval, mean he's drawn to fascism as a mode of capitalist governance / corporate management.

i would add that although logan's fascism comes through most directly in roman and kendall (because they don't have their own ideologies), all four sibs are operating within a capitalist political epistemology that logan('s ghost) defines. also, they all have various loganish interpersonal qualities; for example, shiv and connor share that tendency to want to Exert Their Will and Be Right, hence both of them going into politics lol.

i would also add (i'm paraphrasing césaire) that fascism was not 'new' when it arrived in europe in the early 20th century; it was already the modus operandi of colonial governance around the world. what was new was that white europeans started to experience it as directly curbing THEIR freedom. waystar is obviously a different type of empire than the nation-states of the 20th century; namely, it is a corporate entity. however, i think there's still something to be said here about the fact that waystar operates multinationally and engages in certain forms of economic imperialism and foreign political meddling. i would argue that anyone involved in upper managerial positions in the company is at the very least acceding to logics of authoritarianism and fascism in the far reaches of the empire, and more realistically is also okaying it 'domestically' (note that this reverberates all the way down to the level of the roy family unit, as it is an articulation of logan's empire).

[mrhaitch]

Hello hello Mr.Haitch !! I hope the Haitch household is doing great ^^

So, recently one of my friend’s university is all over the news, because the granddaughter of an insanely popular actor enrolled at that university.

My friend isn’t particularly thrilled about it, because that university has a very difficult entrance exam, but the celebrity’s granddaughter got in without clearing that exam.

The university claims that she has a very impressive portfolio and doesn’t need to clear the exam. But we all know that’s just bs.

So far the university board hasn’t been very subtle about their open bias towards her. Even the staff.

What is your opinion on this? Do you think people coming from influential backgrounds shouldn’t be shown such blatant favoritism? Considering how hard some people tried to get accepted at that university and afford the tuition.

I've got mixed feelings about entrance exams, and assessments in general.

Permit me to dust off my 'education is a public good' Stetson for a moment.

Much better.

Okay - for me it's all down to what you're trying to measure and why. Is the point of the exam for students to gauge the extent of their understanding, for their teachers, for awarding bodies, for future employers? And if so why?

My employer doesn't care that I got top grades in my essays on existentialism and freedom, or that I completely fucked up my exam on the pre-socratics (I objected to a question).

Is it so the university can brag that x number of students achieved a high grade? Is it to assess the quality of the teaching? What if a class' impact is more personal and profound, rather than imparting particular skills that can be measured by conventional assessment?

I know the answer to all of these questions, mostly, but the answers are - to me - unsatisfying. Learning is a lifelong pursuit with milestones, absolutely, but no real defined end. Any end that might be imposed is artificial at best, dishonest at worst. The number of people I've seen waltz into complex, nuanced debates saying "well I studied X at level y" believing it makes them an expert. I also believe the value of education has absolutely nothing to do with employability or transferrable skills (I will hiss at anyone that uses that word near me). Society cannot function without an educated populace, especially its political systems. People can and should be as informed as possible at all times, through whatever methods and by whatever means are most effective for them.

This all applies to entrance exams: it strikes me that it's all about marketing and prestige. Universities want the best students so they can SAY they have the best students, in order to attract more.of the best students. The reasons why fall broadly under, like I said, prestige and marketing - but there's also financial incentives beyond recruitment. Students from affluent backgrounds are, on average, more successful academically - largely as a reflection of the ease with which they can access high quality schooling, tutoring, additional resources, and their parents are likely to be educated as well.

While it might seem like a meritocratic system (if you're smart enough you'll make the cut) but it's another form of elitism and classism, just sneaky and underhanded. Typically this is underlined by the manner of assessment, with a written examination being the standard. That's not to say it's impossible for someone outside of the upper crust to get through, just that the odds are slim. Slim by design.

Anywho.

If it were a perfectly meritocratic system I'd be more upset about people cheating the system, and processes being overridden by nepotism. Instead all they've done is reveal the whole thing is a sham.

For anyone interested in this topic I'd recommend checking out The Tyranny of Merit by Michael Sandel.

[enchantedchocolatebars]

Molly and Scratch Thanksgiving Headcanons 🦃

💖 Original headcanons 💙

🦃 Ao3 version 😊

💖 Molly 💖:

• Has a minute-long, enthusiastic, over-the-top musical number about the beauty and uniqueness of Thanksgiving, singing about celebrating it with friends and family, the variety of amazing foods, the parades and dog shows on TV, football, (there’s a Black Friday joke), donating and helping out at food banks and soup kitchens, and most importantly, having an attitude of gratitude and gladtitude.

There’s a joke near the end of the song where Scratch mentions that "gladtitude" isn’t a real word, to which Molly quickly states that it is in her dictionary before pulling out a pink tome covered in cute puffy stickers that have the words, “Molly’s Dictionary” written in purple cursive on the front. She rapidly flips through the many pages of the book until she spots the word “gladtitude” and points to it, even handing Scratch a magnifying glass to see for himself. It’s defined, by Molly of course, as the quality or feeling of being glad, rad, and overall thankful!

• Wants to create her own Molly-fied version of the first Thanksgiving and perform it in front of her mom and dad! She’ll need tons of turkey costumes, actors and actresses, puppets, a whole lot of glitter, a glue gun, and a good script! Molly will undoubtely ask Scratch, Libby, and Darryl for help.

• She's the artsy fartsy queen and will make a bunch of Thanksgiving arts and crafts with her family.

• Breaks the turkey wishbone with Scratch and ends up getting the bigger piece, which means her wish will come true, or so she hopes. Fingers crossed. 🤞

• Her list of things she’s thankful for is quite long. One of those things, which is at the top of her list, is being cursed by her bestest non-living friend ever, Scratch.

👻 Scratch 👻:

• His sole focus is on the food.

• That’s it.

• SCRATCH IS BEYOND ELATED WHEN HE FINDS OUT GRANDMA NIN IS COMING! HE’S SO PUMPED! HE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT TASTY THAI GOODIES SHE DECIDES TO BRING.

• He'll cause some ghostly mischief at a Thanksgiving parade if Molly and her family decide to go to one.

•It’s a McGee tradition to play football outside every Thanksgiving. Molly is eager for Scratch to take part in their family fun, but he declines due to sports not being his strong suit, so to speak. When Molly brings up the baseball game with the Lemmings, Scratch simply states that that was only one time. Molly, pretending to be disappointed, walks away, sighing. “It’s okay, Scratch. I understand if you’re too chicken to play.” She smiles a small, cheeky smile. Hearing those words, the blue ghost lets out an exaggerating gasp, a look of pure outrage appearing on his face. He then flies up to Molly and shouts in a thunderous tone, “NO ONE, AND I MEAN NO ONE, CALLS ME A CHICKEN! IT’S ON, MOLLY MCGEE!” Molly is exhilarated by the sudden shift and quickly grabs Scratch’s hand, taking him outside. He and Darryl end up winning, and Scratch can't help but rub it in Molly’s face as he does a little ghost jig.

•Some might expect Scratch to only say that he’s thankful for tacos or the misery of others. Don’t get him wrong, those things are wonderful, especially the tacos, but really, the thing he’s most thankful for is being friends with Molly. He was pretty much a loner in the ghost world (still kind of is) and didn’t really have a companion. Molly’s enthusiasm and positive outlook on life can get annoying, but… he’s glad to have the kid around, you know? Makes him feel… like a big brother. He feels… almost alive. Yeah, pretty ironic feeling for a ghost.

[crypt1c-gho3t]

Portal and Feminism

okay because it was 12 years of portal 2 yesterday I thought my first official post should be my thoughts on feminism in the saga 

the main problem is that a lot of the times in the media violence against women is used as a plot device to make a character stronger. it’s not empowering to be a sexually assaulted and/or abused but the media often makes these themes a “phoenix” moment for women.

and while it is satisfying to see women stick it to their abusers, This portrayal often boils women down to their only defining trait being their sexuality and the only real “motivation” for women to be powerful is having that sexuality threatened.  

This abuse also enforces the point that you have to become more masculine and drop feminine traits in order to become stronger and more powerful.

women do not need to go through abuse in order to be considered powerful, being a woman is powerful enough. being feminine is being strong

This is where portal comes into play. I’ll start with what i’m sure you all guessed i was going to bring up first but in the actual games and mods every main playable character is a female (portal 1& 2 and portal mel stories) or doesn’t have a specific gender to interpret( portal 2 multi player & portal reloaded).

in addition to this one of the main “villains” is also a woman. in the first game she is given no redeeming qualities but gets “redeemed” anyways showing fleshed out characters with interesting character development and even though this development get erased (sry caroline) it’s GLaDOS’s choice and not somebody else taking it away or making that choice for her

most importantly the women in this game are influential. The classic comparison of “can this character be replaced by a lampshade” doesn’t apply to the game. whether she’s a villain or a playable character everything is biased off the decisions women make and their influence.

and while there are male side characters(the cores) the portal women are never shown to be dependent on them for coming up with solutions to problems or saving them. In fact the cores are very rarely shown to do anything that isn’t driven by what the portal women do.

the fact the chell isn’t pointed out to be a woman, she is mainly a blank slate except from the player views her through portals, is also a prime example of this feminism because it isn’t calling attention to the different ways that men and women act it forces you to focus on not the gender of the character but of the actual gameplay

now i know nothing about game development and in the mod mel stories it may have been simpler to keep the main character a female when designing. but the choice to keep mel as an olympian and how they chose to portray female olympian instead of a male shows the dedication to having powerful woman “outside” the game and inside the game meaning that she was already strong but was made even stronger by what she went through in aperture.

and yes, they do go through hardships and are exposed to many challenges yet they are never shown to be abused or sexually assaulted. they have their “phoenix” moments anyway

anyways thanks for reading and another great example of this is Ashoka Tano and her journey!

[gmsrrn98]

Pumpkin Wonderland

I'm setting up Christmas decors so I thought it would be cute to write a Christmas fanfic. This is the first fanfic I've written since I've returned to Tumblr. @choicesholidays

PROMPT: You did what with the pumpkin pie.

BOOK: The Senior

PAIRING: Kaitlyn x MC

SETTING: Kaitlyn and Emily’s shared apartment, their first Christmas season living together. The snow outside has piled up on the windowsill, reflecting the glow of their string lights. Their tiny, ornament-clad tree stands nicely in the corner of the room. Tater Tot, their golden retriever, is sprawled on his back near the couch, squeaking one of his toys while Tofu, their cat, has claimed her usual perch on the windowsill, silently judging the Tater Tot and his squeaks. The air smells like cinnamon, nutmeg, and the unmistakable warmth of the holidays.

“Kaitlyn! The pie!” Emily’s voice calls out from the kitchen, her tone somewhere between laughter and alarm.

Kaitlyn peeks up from where she’s sprawled on the couch, a sheepish grin forming on her face. She's wearing a pair of red flannel pajama pants and a sweater that says 'Dear Santa, Define 'Good'?'

“What about it?” she asks innocently, though the fork in her hand and the crumbs on her sweater tell another story.

Emily strides into the living room, holding the now-empty pie tin, her reindeer antlers wobbling as she moves. “Don’t you ‘what about it’ me! I left this on the counter ten minutes ago to cool. And now…” She gestures dramatically at the tin, “…this!”

Kaitlyn sits up, still grinning. “Okay, okay, hear me out. It’s not as bad as it looks.”

Emily raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “You’re going to have to really sell this.”

“Well,” Kaitlyn begins, standing up and twirling the fork in her fingers like a baton, “I took a small bite for quality control. And then another. And… well, somewhere along the way, the smiley face just kind of… happened.”

Emily blinks, processing Kaitlyn’s words. “Wait, what smiley face?”

Kaitlyn gestures toward the coffee table, where half the pumpkin pie remains, the filling bearing a very lopsided smiley face, complete with two tiny eyes and a crooked mouth.

Emily stares at the pie, then at Kaitlyn, and finally back at the pie. A laugh bubbles up before she can stop it. “You’re ridiculous.”

Kaitlyn steps closer, a playful grin spreading across her face. “Ridiculously creative, you mean?”

Emily groans, though her lips twitch into a smile. “You ate half the pie, Kaitlyn! That was for tonight! Christmas Eve dinner. With our friends. You can't just steal it!"

Kaitlyn gently takes the empty tin from Emily’s hands, setting it on the counter. “Correction: I did not steal it. I relocated it. In my stomach. And I gave it a personality. It wasn't festive enough!"

Emily’s mock glare softens as she looks at Kaitlyn’s hopeful expression. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” she mutters, though there’s no real heat behind her words.

“And you’re lucky you have me to make life more exciting,” Kaitlyn quips, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to Emily’s forehead. “Come on, Em. It’s Christmas Eve! What’s a little pie chaos between girlfriends?"

Emily sighs, shaking her head with a laugh. "Girlfriends where one happens to be a pie thief?"

Kaitlyn gasps, clutching her chest in mock horror. “Pie thief? I’m hurt. I prefer pumpkin connoisseur.”

Emily can’t help but laugh as Kaitlyn pulls her into a warm hug. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“And yet, you love me anyway.” Kaitlyn smirks, her voice dropping into a teasing sing-song.

“Yeah, yeah,” Emily says, trying to sound exasperated but failing as she grins against Kaitlyn’s shoulder. “We're gonna have to bake a new one and you're in charge of the clean up!"

“Deal,” Kaitlyn says, taking Emily’s hand and leading her back to the kitchen. “But only if you let me sing Christmas carols while we work.”

Emily groans dramatically. “Fine. But if you start decking the halls with your rockstar riffs, I’m cutting you off.”

In the kitchen, the two of them fall into their usual rhythm. Emily measures out the ingredients with precision, while Kaitlyn sneaks little tastes of the filling and sprinkles flour everywhere. Tater Tot wanders in, hoping for scraps, and Tofu watches from a safe distance, flicking her tail lazily as she watches her servants do intensive labor.

“You know,” Emily says as she rolls out the pie crust, glancing at Kaitlyn with a soft smile, “this isn’t exactly how I imagined our first Christmas together.”

Kaitlyn, now covered in flour from an ill-advised attempt to toss dough in the air, leans against the counter and grins. “Better or worse?”

Emily pauses, considering. “Messier. Definitely messier. But also… better.”

Kaitlyn’s grin softens into something more heartfelt. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Emily says, meeting Kaitlyn’s gaze. “Because it’s us. Chaos, flour explosions, stolen pumpkin pies and all.”

"Relocated," Kaitlyn giggles as she steps closer, brushing a bit of flour from Emily’s cheek before cupping her face. “You’re my favorite chaos,” she murmurs, her voice warm and sincere.

Emily leans into Kaitlyn’s touch, her own smile spreading. “You’re mine too. But if you eat this pie before tonight's dinner, I swear…”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Kaitlyn says solemnly. “Scout’s honor.”

“You were never a scout.”

“Details, details." Kaitlyn laughs, leaning in to kiss Emily, slow and sweet, the warmth of their shared laughter filling the room as the snow continues to fall outside.

As the pie bakes in the oven, Kaitlyn and Emily curl up on the couch under a fuzzy blanket, Tater Tot nestled at their feet and Tofu perched on the armrest. The twinkling lights of their tree cast a soft glow over the room, and in that moment, everything feels perfect—pumpkin pie mishaps and all.

[emotionally-charged-arson]

Character lineup, Transitus historical redesign edition. In their sepia tone versions, in actual artwork they’d be drawn against some pretty vibrant painted backgrounds. Come back to me on that. Been meaning to do this for a while!

Have some design notes:

Daniel - Third from left. In @hawthorn-crow’s words: "like a stiff breeze would blow him over." His shoulders/upper body have deliberately been scaled down from that of real-life Tommy Karevik. I don’t know how else to say this but if I were Henry I wouldn’t be easing around in my brother’s personal life if he could drop kick me directly into the sun. Looks pretty normal, all things considered. The "standout" trait comes from the trust fund kid status: his clothes have a LOT of variety. Literally a different jacket, vest and tie almost every single scene in a period where that was not something easily attainable. Common thing between all of the ‘normal’ outfits is the little watch chain, somewhat prominently displayed.

Abby - Third from right. The exact opposite as Daniel; cycles through two or three outfits maximum outside of her work uniform before 1884. Her box braids are thicker than the original design. Has a pair of emerald drop earrings; gift from the himbo. As for the shoes, homegirl is working minimum 13-hour days, for Christ’s sake, put some treads on those industrial strength high heels. She likes quilting Why? Cause I said so and wanted her to have hobbies like human beings do. The dress shown here is one fabric/color all the way down, but the seams form a fun little pattern that looks nothing like fire haha what.

Henry - Second from left. Lots of age lines, grey streaks. Visibly much older than Daniel. Loads of aggressive angles, you want a sense of the douchebag aura from a distance. Literally Andrew Carnegie but with none of the redeeming qualities. Really narcissistic and intent on showing off his status and is thus obsessed with outward appearance. Sharply dressed and deliberately so. Flashy, patterned waistcoats and one very expensive and painstakingly tended to pair of sideburns.

Lavinia - Second from right. Same as Abby, just a few outfits to her name and sturdier shoes. Though she comes off to me as someone who has expensive tastes that can’t be pursued to their fullest extent. Don’t we all. Pays close attention to new fashion and alters her existing clothes (and hair) accordingly under budget. Is keen on appearing above her station, though not with any malicious intent. More just a desire to fit in and look nice.

Abraham - Far right. The beta version of Abraham of from the earbook bonus pages is peak and this is very heavily inspired by that. Has not purchased any major clothing items for himself since the mid 1860s; he’s got other priorities. Any new stuff is smaller, and usually cut from the same material as Lavinia’s skirts. Fabrics are worn out (along with their dyes) and lots of layers are worn as a result. Outermost layer that he wears pretty much everywhere on account of it being the only coat he has is a bleached and dyed Union army jacket.

Dee - Far left. Entire character is defined by being stuck in the past. Like Abraham his clothes are very 1860s based but in a more fashion forward and emotionally stunted, "I never got over my wife dying a d am making it my kids’ problem" way, as opposed to the much more reasonable "being impoverished" route. Hair is also very much mid-century and meant to look out of place next the shorter, clean-cut 70s/80s style that Henry has. ….old. Like basically on death’s door, he kicks the bucket almost immediately after Daniel does.

[femmefatalevibe]

hi femme, how are you? <3

i am currently 18, and probably experiencing some growing pains but i don’t know what to do… i’m too attached and dependent on my mum. my mum is my best friend, i feel like my child self when i was scared to be away from my parents i feel kinda empty if i’m not around my mum and i’m scared that i’ll have to be surrounded by other people who are not my mum because i love her so much but i don’t want to burden her or be desperate, i feel like my mum is getting tired of me and it hurts. i also feel bad because she is always there for me and i don’t want everything to just be about me, i want her to also rely on me, instead i feel like i’m so codependent and attached to my mother and i feel like i’m annoying. i don’t know how to express myself in a way that doesn’t seem clingy and i can’t explain it either like she’s my mother most people do everything they can to get away from their parents but i love her so much and i don’t want to be away from her for long and i wish that i could be always with her for the rest of my life. unfortunately i am moving out of home in september, and going abroad and i know she has her own life but all i feel is like that 5 year old child how loves and is pretty much physically and emotionally attached to her mother, like those kinds who hold onto their parents legs in public because they are too scared to be apart from them and don’t want to be around anyone else… this is probably pathetic but i just need some advice because i feel like this is probably excessive and i hate feeling empty whenever i am not with her…

thank you <333

Hi love! Fortunately, you're still young and self-aware of the codependency issue before you've gone off to live on your own. Moving abroad is intimidating if not scary for anyone your age, so that makes complete sense! While I'm by no means a therapist or licensed health professional/psychologist (someone you should probably speak to about this), here's my take and some advice I can offer on the situation:

First off, I would say that, at 18, you should have your own schedule and activities you do independently of your mom and family every day. Some ideas include:

Spending your morning alone reading, working out, having coffee/breakfast, journaling

Taking a walk/going to a workout class/lunch with a friend

Getting a part-time job or remote internship over the summer to learn some practical skills and how to work independently in the "real world"

Make your own decisions regarding most meals of the day (I know a lot of families have dinner together if everyone lives at home), when to go shopping/when to run errands or do chores

Some other suggestions I have include:

Schedule a set time of day or dates throughout the week to connect with your mom. Have a standing catch-up time either at the end of the day or for a weekend brunch, a weekly dinner out just the two of you, etc.

Take time to reflect on your personal values and the person you want to become as you begin this new chapter of your life. How would you describe your independent identity outside of your mom & family? What are your ultimate life/career aspirations? What do you plan on studying in school? What are your likes and dislikes, favorite activities/fields of study? What does your ideal social circle and social life look like? How would you describe your personal style, food preferences, lifestyle habits, decor setup, favorite books, music, and TV shows? What character traits and qualities would you use to describe your personality?

Consider healthy boundaries you can set to support your well-being. If you know that your over-reliance on your mom is an issue, speak to her about how you're aware that you're very dependent on her, appreciate her time and efforts (while this is her job as a parent – don't feel guilty about your mom providing healthy emotional and instrument support), you know that it is best for both of you to define some boundaries as you're growing and moving away. Some potential boundaries to set are how often you two hang out throughout the day (I need time and space between X hour and X hour in the morning & evenings), certain tasks you want to complete independently, and specific activities you decide to do with friends or alone throughout the week.

Join a club, team, or organization that allows you to socialize with university-aged peers, so you can develop more healthy interpersonal and social skills with people outside your family. Hopefully, a couple of them become your friends in the process!

Read some books on self-discovery, confidence-building, and other life skills/traumas you're healing from. I recommend Lighter: Let Go of the Past, Connect with the Present, and Expand the Future and Confidence & Assertive Skills for Women: How to become a Strong, Independent, Confident Woman in the Modern World come to mind. Maybe also try a self-discovery/shadow work journal as a self-learning and identity/confidence-building practice.

Hope this helps xx

[green-ville]

Run Boy Run Part 3

House of Memories

_________

             Dean Whiller drove them to Nevermore Academy. Giavanna was appropriately discharged from the hospital with a prescription for extra strength ibuprofen, and a caution to continue deep breathing, otherwise she might come back soon with a pneumonia. Lovely.

           She was on edge when she got into the car. Wednesday sat in shotgun, she sat in back with Xavier. She didn't like not being in control of the car because if something happened, she was subject to someone else's driving, and she'd rather have control.

           Still, she was being given shelter in, apparently, a safe school. She was told that there had been an accident last semester and that to better protect the students, wards were put up along the perimeter. That eased some of stress.

           The microscopic inkling that whatever chased her could get through it, that stayed.

           It was ironic, though. She was on edge, nerves tight as a taut string, and yet she was nodding off five minutes into the ride.

           The Dean was talking to her, telling her about histories and how the school is run. She had never started listening, but it was nice white noise to her. Then there was the warm company beside her, and she was cold. Space separated Xavier and Giavanna; her head hung down and he knew she was asleep. He was looking elsewhere, staring out the window, watching the scenery pass by when he felt her head on his shoulder.

           He looked down, warmth spreading from the contact. He would've moved closer if he wasn't worried about waking her. He stayed where he was, not moving, not doing anything. He went back to looking out the window.

           The drive was twenty minutes long. When they pulled up in the front courtyard, circling around to the main doors, he looked to Giavanna again. He woke her with gentle taps to the knee. Her head lifted like it was weighed down and sleep continued to hold onto her.

           "We're here."

           "Oh, what? Yeah, yeah I know," she was yawning, eyes shut as she unbuckled herself. "I was just resting my eyes. Haven't, haven't slept well, couldn't sleep thinking about it, you know?"

           She was out of the car before he could ask more.

           "You said this place had wards?" Giavanna asked, looking up with the type of face Wednesday wore. Analytical. Critical might have been the better word.

           "Yes," Dean Whiller smiled, coming to stand by her. "We had warlocks come in from New York to place them and we had a second party double check them."

           "Well lucky you, you're about to get a third party," Giavanna's lips pinched. "These wards are the product of a first grader."

           "What makes you say that?"

           "Because I was doing them in first grade." She shook her head. "I'll add to them. Or redo them, depending on their quality. I mean, sure, they're good for deterring accidents, but you said this school was attacked. Attacks are planned where I come from."

           "How can you tell?" Wednesday asked, staring at her.

           "Magic leaves a trace. When I look up, I see the wards." She pointed as she spoke, looking up again. That hurt her ribs and she stopped doing that, going into a coughing fit that only hurt more. Her eyes watered and she mumbled an 'owe.' "I'm fine, ignore me. So, trace," her voice was quiet from the fight to suppress another series of coughs. "These wards are thin, so I can see through them. A good ward is thick and hides the world outside of it. I'd be able to see the colors but not defining features like a tree."

           Wednesday nodded. "What's your education?"

           "I. . ." She frowned. "I don't remember having one."

           Dean Whiller smiled. "It's alright dear, don't think too hard right now, you have a concussion. Where are your sunglasses? You're not supposed to look at anything bright."

           "That's why I'm looking at Wednesday."

           Wednesday stared. "Flattery will get you nowhere." She turned and walked away, into the school.

           Giavanna tilted her head, speaking to Xavier. "You know, she's not so bad."

           Xavier offered a small smile. "She's a good friend to have. Just uh, try not to get on her bad side. She might accuse you of murder."

           "What?"

~

           "Giavanna, I would've liked to put you in Ophelia Hall because you seem close with Wednesday Addams, but there were no openings in the rooms and it's not fair of me to ask someone to move their things when they're already settled. So I'm hoping you'll be okay with Lily Hall?" The Dean asked.

           "Well, as I'm the guest here, yes, that sounds lovely."

           "We have an odd number of girls now, so you'll be rooming alone, but never be afraid to visit the girls around you. They're all very friendly and I'm sure they'll take well to you."

           "Sounds great."

           What wasn't great? Walking up twenty five (approximately) flights of stairs to get to her room. Was there not a single elevator in this building? Did they not have enough money to put in an elevator? She had three broken ribs, she was wheezing, she was apparently at risk for a pneumonia; sure! Let's take the scenic route up thirty eight flights of stairs.

           Why did buildings need to be tall anyway? What was wrong with making them wide?

           They finally got to her floor and went all the way down, which was only three rooms. She had the last room and once she saw it, her anger lessened. Slightly. She still struggled to breathe.

           It was a beautiful room. Two beds, clearly meant for two people. A corner room so there were windows on the left wall and the very back of the room. A balcony wrapped around the edge, which was good. She'd have an escape plan if something ever went wrong.

           "Okay, so this is your room – " a phone ringing cut her off, and Dean Whiller pulled out her phone from her pocket. "I am so sorry, I'm late for a meeting. I'm going to get a student and they'll give you a tour, you stay here and they'll be right here! Sorry again!"

           She answered her phone on the third ring, walking away as she did so.

           Giavanna was left along in her new room. With nothing better to do, she did the only thing she could think of; put up wards. She started at the door, her biggest threat. Then she did the windows, carving into the wood with the knife Wednesday had thrown at her stolen motorcycle. She carved her runes every five feet, which was more protection than normal, but she was paranoid. And, if any beast had gotten this close to be right outside her door; she'd need the extra protection.

           After that, she assessed her bed. She pushed down on the mattress, not hating the softness to it. She laid on it, testing the waters. She fell into a coughing fit after laying goofy, and realized she had to lay on her back or her airway was impeded.

           No, the intent was not to fall asleep, but she really hadn't been sleeping well the last month. With the chance for rest, and quiet rest at that, her body succumbed to it quickly.

           The sun fell outside, her room gradually increasing in darkness until it was hardly more than shadows. Her body curled in on itself to preserve the little heat she had, but that obstructed her air flow and she ended up waking herself up with a series of violent coughs. Her face puffed up, turning a dark shade of red, and she actually had to stand up, fixing her curved back, in order to calm herself down.

           It was only when she could breathe again did she hear the knocking on her window.

           She whirled, seeing a blurry, ominous, but slight figure outside one of her windows. Hard to see because the wards she put up were thick, but her critical thinking took away the fear of danger.

           The figure was too small.

           Her steps were detached and lonesome as she crossed the room, and the window creaked when she opened the hidden door. Outside, Wednesday Addams stood.

           Giavanna blinked. "How did you get onto the balcony?'

           "I climbed."

           "Up?"

           "No. Your door is locked."

           "Actually it's just the wards. Keeps out all people I don't invite in."

           Silence set in. Wednesday stared.

           "Would you like to come in?" Giavanna asked, unsure if that was where she was supposed to go.

           She didn't nod or speak, but she did step inside. That was surprisingly respectful of her to wait.

           "Xavier is on the other side of the door."

           She nodded, heading towards her door. "You two are quite the pair, huh?" All of the cute ones were always taken.

           There was a physical manifestation of 'no' in the air, before it was said. "No."

           Her brows rose, and she didn't open the door, even though her hand was on it. She did turn back around. "So you two aren't?"

           "No."

           "Is there any unspoken thing I should know about?"

           Wednesday looked at her now, turning away from the windowsill, where her fingers traced the carvings. "While I can't fathom why, and disagree with your ability to trust so quickly, there is no personal attachment between Xavier and I."

           Obviously Giavanna wasn't going to act on it, there was the whole issue of being hunted down, but it was good to know these things. She opened the door, spotting Xavier right away.

           He gave a small smile. "Already set up your wards, or just didn't want to see me?"

           "Wards," she answered quickly. "Yeah, and I was asleep," which meant she looked terrible. She started pulling down her shirt and top, flattening the creases. "Sorry about that. Uh, but you can come visit anytime," to make it seem like she wasn't picking favorites, she immediately pivoted, and said the same thing to Wednesday. "You too Wednesday. You both have access now; you can use the front door."

           Wednesday frowned. "Shame."

           "Or you can continue to scale the roof, but if you fall, I won't take the blame –" the comment struck a different thought inside her, and she turned back to Xavier. "Hey, so quick question. I was talking to the Sheriff before, and he made this comment, I might've misunderstood it, but I just wanted to clarify, you know? So uh, he kinda made it seem like you tried to catch me, when I fell?"

           Xavier broke eye contact. "Oh, uh, yeah, didn't do it too well though."

           "That is, wow, that was so nice of you. Gosh, are you okay? Please don't tell me that's why you broke your leg, it totally is, isn't it? I'm so sorry, you didn't have to do that."

           "He did." They both turned, facing Wednesday. She was looking over Giavanna's bed now. "You would've died if he hadn't. Then I would've had my murder mystery." Her black eyes found Xavier. "Now I just have a mystery."

           Giavanna shook her head. She frowned at Xavier, disappointed. "Honestly, have you ever done anything right before?"

           He gave her a look, green eyes light. She had to look away because she experienced heart palpitations and that made her want to cough and that caused pain.

           "I guess, I'm sorry?" He struggled to keep the laugh out of his tone. "I brought you this, by the way. In case you were still cold."

           She was handed a jacket. Along with it, she was handed attachment issues and feelings.

           "If you two are done –"

           "AH!"

           Something grabbed her ankle and began to crawl up her. She jumped in the air, leaping away from her previous spot and then spazzing out like she thought spiders were crawling up her back. Her heart dropped and her fight or flight activated into its lesser known counterpart; self-combust.

           It wasn't an intentional self-combust but her screaming had thrown her into a coughing fit that hurt her ribs and turned her face red. She did all this while scurrying around the room, trying to be free of her attacker.

           Something flung off of her at the movements and she screamed again, seeing it race across the floor to Wednesday. When it was crawling up her stiff body, Giavanna was now cowering on her bed.

           "Thing, manners," Wednesday scolded, not at all harshly.

           It was a hand.

           There was a hand on her shoulder.

           There was no body attached to the hand.

           Giavanna coughed her voice clear. "What the hell is that?" She was hoarse.

           "Thing," Wednesday informed.

           "Fine! What the hell is that thing?" Why did she need a grammar lesson? It hardly seemed the time!

           "No, this is Thing."

           She made a face, utterly lost. Xavier was doing his absolute worst to hide his laughing. "What?!"

           "This is thing."

           "Yes, that is a thing, but what is that thing!"

           "Thing is a hand."

           "For the love of God."

           Xavier stepped forward. "Giavanna, this is a friend of Wednesday's. His name is Thing."

           Why? Honestly, why?

           She sagged, heart slowing down again. It was a miracle she didn't have any heart issues.

           Giavanna didn't know what else to say. "Nice to meet you."

           Thing turned onto his stump and waved. Slow, and tired, she waved back.

           "If little old Thing scares you," Wednesday commented lightly, "we have a lot of work to do."

           "I was told this place is safe -I need to do the wards." In the nicest way possible, Giavanna was like a horse. She needed blinders to focus on the path in front of her or she'd get distracted. She stood from the bed, slipping on Xavier's jacket and pointedly ignoring how nice it smelled.

           Focus.

           "How could I just fall asleep without doing the wards?" She scolded herself.

           "Hey wait, it's night out, you can't go out there now," Xavier stopped her, a hand around her wrist.

           Did this man radiate heat or was she always freezing? The short skirt did not help.

           "I have to, the wards are terrible. I'll be right back, don't worry," she smiled at him for reassurance and pat his hand. She slipped out of his grip and left the room, shutting the door.

           Xavier turned to Wednesday. Wednesday looked back. "I'll follow from a distance," she informed, reading his mind. "Copy down the runes she made. They're old."

           "I didn't know you were an expert in runes."

           Wednesday stopped in front of her exit; the window that led to the balcony. "I'm not, but from the looks of it, she is."

           "How do you know?" He rushed out before she could turn.

           She stopped again. "The knife strokes. They're confident. Clean. Well-practiced. I might not know runes, but I do know knives." She nodded, unblinking. "Now sketch them."

~

           Wednesday slipped through the forest, blending in like she was one of the shadows. In truth the similarities were shocking. Eerie, lurking, made you second guess yourself. Yes, Wednesday Addams was very much like a shadow.

           She had caught up with Giavanna easily, it was a choice to stay behind her, out of eye. Her Uncle Fester taught her how to creep and crawl, observe without being observed. He had evaded the best of the police, sometimes hiding right in front of their enraged gaze. With him as a teacher, she had become a competent apprentice.

           She had lost Giavanna.

           An hour later, she still hadn't found her.

           Thing scurried across the ground, finished with the search she had sent him to do. He crawled up her body and seated himself on her shoulder.

           He reported nothing.

           "How could I have let this happen? Uncle Fester would be disappointed." There were very few people she cared about disappointing. For her to say such a thing made Thing deflate.

           He did several hand signs.

           "I don't need to involve Enid. I need to be better."

           More hand signs.

           "She hasn't left yet. I would've seen it."

           She cut him off halfway through his next series. "I'm getting better control. The Hospital was. . .an outlier. Now stop it, we have a girl to find."

           "Found."

           Wednesday whirled, her braids flared, and Thing gripped tight to her shoulder to not fall off. Giavanna stood in front of her, red hair puffier than before. The color was depleted in the dark lighting, not so violently bold. With the borrowed jacket covering her crop top, she was slightly more bearable to look at as well.

           "What gave me away?"

           Giavanna shared information like Wednesday ignored the unimportant; with ease. "I figured you were going to follow me from the beginning. You were always following a projection of myself."

           Wednesday's eyes narrowed. It was clever. She'd have to be clever for whatever was chasing her. She must have known about this for quite some time to prepare in such a way.

           "Where did you learn to make those runes?"

           "I don't know."

           "Then how did you know which ones to make?"

           "Instinct."

           That's what Wednesday had been thinking. On instinct she gave glimpses into her past, it was when she thought about an answer, even for a split second, that she no longer remembered.

           Wednesday walked forward, hands behind her back. Giavanna took a spot beside her, the unspoken 'we're returning to campus' understood.

           "How do the runes look now? I trust you took care of them?"

           "They're all good. I circled the perimeter and – "

           "The runes in your room were impressive, I don't believe I mentioned this. Clean cut. You used my knife?"

           "You did throw it at me, so I thought that meant I could ke-"

           "I didn't throw it at you, I would have hit you if I had been aiming for you. So, you know the runes are good when its too thick to reveal the outside world?"

           "That's one way to see it, yes. Sometimes you need to see the outside world even with the runes so you can add more runes to make it transp- "

           "Who taught you all this?"

           "I was self-taught –"

           "I have some clothes you can borrow," Wednesday cut in again, storing away the information. "Or, my roommate has a more eccentric wardrobe filled with the opposite side of the color palate, if that's to your choosing."

           "That's so nice of you, you and Xavier have really been so sweet to me. But I can't just keep borrowing things, I have nothing to give back in return."

           Wednesday shook her head. "This mystery is reward enough for me. You may borrow my clothes if you wish, or Enid has offered as well." Her dialect had sped up in order to keep the conversation fast paced; she wanted Giavanna to give those instinctual, no thought answers. "You mentioned you had trouble sleeping before. You knew you were going to be attacked."

           "I was supposed to die on my 16th birthday, no. . .wait, that sounds like it's from a Disney movie – "

           She was thinking. Wednesday acted quickly, trying to redirect before it was too late. So she lied. Her lie was carefully crafted, mind you. A piece to the puzzle she was filling in based off observation and deductive reasoning.

           Wednesday had noticed some scars on her. Most were invisible to the untrained eye. Some were raised.

           "You did a lot of training, you mentioned before. Despite knowing you were going to die, you wanted to put up a fight."

           Admirable. Effective, clearly, as it had worked. If the backstory was true, and she was fated to die on her 16th birthday.

           Giavanna puffed out a breath, cheeks flushed from the cold. She wrapped her arms around her torso, pale, exposed legs wracked with goosebumps. "Who wouldn't want to put up a fight? It was the only thing I was living for. I had nothing else."

           She was only living to die. When Wednesday said this, it was with only a 99% monotone voice, instead of 100% monotone. She was practically smiling as she said it, by her own standards. When Giavanna said it, it was weighted and depressing. She wanted something else to live for but did not have it.

           More clues. Interesting ones.

           Distraction.

           "Last semester this school dealt with a Hyde. They're creatures that have masters that dictate their every move, like students in school but with even less independence." Giavanna smiled at her. Wednesday hadn't said a joke. "As it happened the master, a teacher that went here, needed my blood to resurrect the dead, as I am a descendant of the one that put him under. She controlled this Hyde and killed many people. I involved myself because I wanted to, but even if I hadn't, I would've been involved anyway." There was no point to her telling that story. She wasn't coming to some grand conclusion that would spark a revelation; she purely did it for distraction.  

           Wednesday asked another question. "What attacked you?"

           Giavanna, focused on her story, answered after a moment of hesitation. "A servant, contracted by a blood agreement. . ." her brows knit. She stopped walking.

           Her forehead knit next. "I. . .It's right there, it's like I have this vague image in my head, a blurry outline, but I can't clear it! It's right there!"

           A blood agreement? A blood oath. They both meant the same thing; a deal with a demon.

           Wednesday didn't know who Disney was, but she did know this. If Giavanna had made a deal with a demon, then it was very plausible she was scheduled to die on her 16th birthday. Worse than that, if this were the case, the likelihood that Wednesday could help her? Not high.

           But that didn’t answer the question; why would she have made a deal with a demon?

           A twig cracked behind them. Both girls spun. Wednesday remained calm and collected. She had a knife on her person and could pull it out within the blink of an eye.

           Giavanna attempted to be proactive, and worse than that, protective. She stepped forward, and her mistake was in trying to push Wednesday behind her. Once her bare hand made contact with Wednesday's arm, it was over.

           Wednesdays head bent back, eyes bursting open. Her arms tensed and flexed towards the ground, her back arched, and she hit the ground after stumbling like a drunk.

           Wednesday sat up, orientating herself with her surroundings with the efficiency of a trained operative.

           She was in a library. A nice one at that. There were two desks in it, on an oriental rug of rich green shades. Two walls had floor to ceiling bookshelves. The farthest wall had a tall window with an arched top. It was small, cold. Purely for academics.

           It was empty.

           Wednesday left the room, On this floor, there were the standard features of a house. A kitchen, a living room, a dining room with two placemats - noise.

           She heard noise and followed it, a bloodhound that had caught a scent. She opened a door in the kitchen that took her outside, wondering how she could have missed looking outside? It was as clear as a horrible bright blue sky.

           Giavanna was there, facing away from her, but that long, wild hair was indistinguishable. Wednesday supposed the color wasn't so terrible considering how identifiable it made her. Although, considering she was hiding from a demon, the ostentatious color might need to be reconsidered.

           Her fingers were weaving a spell in air, burning it like there was wood in front of her. It was a shade of red that bled with darkness, making it an impure shade. The more her fingers wove the bigger the spell grew, until it was half the height of her and wider than her frame.

           Wednesday turned towards the next sound that had become familiar to her. Familiar in the sense that her roommate was one.

           Snapping jaws. Growling. Paws digging into the ground as a strong, lithe frame bounded forward.

           Wednesday side stepped, spotting the werewolf immediately.

           A werewolf, not a demon? Had Wednesday's tactic to retrieve information not worked?

           Giavanna wasn't concerned though – and she wasn't wearing the same clothes she wore when she first appeared at Nevermore. This was a different day.

           This wasn't the threat.

           Training.

           Yes, it made sense. Wednesday stepped forward, closer to Giavanna, and saw a small cut across her cheek. The blood was already dried, but it matched up with a scratch she had still healing in present time.

           The werewolf was ten feet away, he leapt again, and Giavanna stepped forward, pushing with overlapping palms, and her spell work burst.

           A net shot out, capturing the werewolf, pulling out a yelped cry, and forcing them to the ground. Giavanna opened her eyes and grinned.

           She was pale, without any rose on her cheekbones. The bags under her eyes perfectly matched the bags she wore currently.

           The werewolf huffed from the ground, trapped.  

           "My last day as a living woman, and I finally best you in a fight," she shook her head. "Think it's enough to give me a chance Pietro?"

           The net disappeared. The werewolf whined, standing, coming to Giavanna. Nudging her with his head.

           She scratched him, halfhearted. "I know. I know. I should try to be hopeful. . .thank you, for taking care of me all these years. It shouldn't have been your job – "

                       Her body surged forward, leaving the uncomfortable, cold embrace of the ground she took pleasure in. Immediately, Wednesday assessed the situation, recognizing right from wrong.

           Right? True to her growing theories, Giavanna was a woman of exceptional training, who might, and the bitterness inside her grew at this thought, be able to combat Wednesday in a fight.

           Wrong? Giavanna was standing right beside Wednesday, breathing heavy. Surrounding them were five werewolves, students no doubt, all struggling under raging red nets. Trapped.

Taglist:

@sawendel

[shatterthefragments]

american shorthair, bombay, and fishing cat please ♥️

Ohhoho get ready for a ramble~

american shorthair — what’s your biggest comfort ?

Answered here 💖

New answer addition: when I’m with one of my best friends and we’re hugging 🫂

bombay — are you an introvert or extrovert ? what is your favourite time of the day ?

Ok ok. So. My whole life I’ve identified as and been told/assigned introvert. (While also being “the social one” of my nuclear family)

But let’s go look up the definitions. (Webmd is apparently one of the first results so we’re going with it)

If “An introvert is a person with qualities of a personality type known as introversion, which means that they feel more comfortable focusing on their inner thoughts and ideas, rather than what's happening externally. They enjoy spending time with just one or two people, rather than large groups or crowds.” Then fuck yes I am an introvert FOR SURE. I do vastly prefer spending time with just one or maybe two people (it can be a bit overwhelming in groups tbh)

“The term extroversion describes an aspect of a personality that is often characterized by expressive and outgoing patterns of behavior. People who are extroverts tend to be very talkative, sociable, active, and warm. Jung defined an extrovert as someone who feels energized by the external world and social interactions.” Hmm. I *can* be very talkative and social (case in point I like doing longer replies sometimes 😘) less so irl (since 3rd grade. Before that I was maybe fairly outgoing?) but 🤷🏻

I vaguely recall hearing that introverts get their energy from being alone and extroverts from being around others. And by that definition I’m both? I have briefly considered “could be an ambivert” and then I. Stop thinking about it bc it doesn’t really matter. I need to recover with some alone time always. But. If I’m with one of my friends 😁 like when I’m with her?!? I’m just so happy!! I don’t think I’ve ever loved another person more tbh (but no I’m not in love with her nor do I want to be in a relationship with her. Like yes I trust her enough to snuggle and I haven’t really thought about it much but I am almost certainly open to a QPR if she and her partner were okay with it. But I can’t imagine life without her.)

Favourite time of day… hmm. On my days off - sunset or sunrise if I happen to be awake :) (or if I make myself breakfast and a latte and go eat outside :))

On work days: that area where I’m still waking up while I’m at work but before we’re open (6-7 or sometimes 5-7 am) and I play music out loud from my pocket :) (sure I pass by my coworkers sometimes but I try to keep my distance in case they can hear) or if I get to bother/talk to one of my coworkers I went to school with :)

On Adventure Days: whichever time I get to see my friend(s)!!!!!! If not a friend adventure: whichever time I get to relax: be it staring at the ocean or chilling in a park or something, ideally with food.

fishing cat — what are your hobbies ? ALL of them

“ALL of them*” <- there’s the TLDR 🤣 *there are *some* I don’t do or want to do though

I’m a writing artist who plays instruments and games and loves the ocean. Is the quickest version of this. Or to quote my sister: “so many things”

So. For this we have the ACTIVE hobbies, the BACKBURNER hobbies, and the THEORETICAL hobbies. And i am hoping i remember all of them.

(Would it be easier to say everything BUT jewellery making and ttrpgs (so far)? Yeah. Probably)

Active is uh still relative to when I have a miracle of both time and energy to do them but alas.

Back burner I suppose is that i only do them every once in a while OR have paused.

Theoretical is more stuff i want to try but i have the supplies and/or the project ideas

I draw, paint (mostly watercolour and occasionally acrylic, one project was spray painting tote bags for a pride event!) (and it was a paint your own ceramics studio that actually revived my love of painting!) , do both lino and dry point and can do woodcut (if I have wood) printmaking, (would Like to do etching and mezzotint as well but I haven’t tried those yet and they require additional supplies and knowledge :()

I’m going to try my hand at making comics again bc of Nazareth Trans Allegory that I am still Consumed by the idea of (@bubacorn I am still working on more details for your ask about it from the Wip game!) (the last one I made was a few pages from a story I was writing as well.) (there are so many things I want to draw as comics. I don’t really draw things the same though so I Worry but why?!? Why worry?!? Just have fun, maybe the skill will slowly develop on the way!! I am trying to convince myself of this)

I’m a bookbinder!! I would love to be an apprentice for this actually!!! (I have made exactly one hardcover for a wedding present (classmate in college and on the board with me) and mostly I did a couple Japanese Stab Bound and some Coptic stitched notebooks/sketchbooks for friends :))

(I would like to make handmade paper too!! I haven’t yet but I got a cheap frame kit to start one day!!)

I’m a calligrapher since finding a book of calligraphy alphabets in fifth grade in my elementary school library but I am VERY out of practice bc I really only do it for cards now.

I’ve done exactly one leatherwork project but I really want to be able to be a leatherworker too! Also a career I would love to apprentice for! But the specific studio I want to learn at I can’t afford to move there. The sustainability of creating something that will last for generations is 🥹💖

I’m not really a ceramicist. Sometimes I enjoy it a lot sometimes the texture is Too Much. But either way the way clay sucks up moisture from my already easily cracked hands means it’s not something I can pursue professionally, though I do think I want to take more classes :) so. Sort of sometimes 🤷🏻 but it’s better for my poor hands to mostly stick to painting at the paint your own ceramics studios :)

I guess I take photos as a hobby, but even though I have over 21,000 on my phone… ok 2600 are screenshots… I do not consider myself a photographer. Mostly I just like to have reminders of things I’ve done bc I have a hard time remembering and I get things all jumbled up in my head all the time.

And I want to sew as well. I would love to be able to make and mend my own clothes and items! I have a half finished bag that I started in sewing club but uh. We’ll see if I’m ever able to finish it… (when I find it and my sewing case again… like?? Where did it GO?)

I mostly cook rather than bake. But I can. And I’m a cake decorator! (And FUCK I kinda want to make an Ivycakes cake but I can’t remember who said this initially of the ass cake but also I live with my family and while my sister will simply raise an eyebrow and judgementally go “okay”, my parents would Judge)

But I love making things and doing little experiments (mushroom chili French toast this morning anyone? Could’ve used more chili oil tbh. But it was good! Update!!! made it the next morning too (this morning) and added more chili oil and that was really good but it could’ve used more butter), and sometimes you just need to stir something (* when my wrists/hands are okay to)

I write - mostly poetry and lyrics, mostly of the vent variety but I’m trying to branch out into the euphoria variety and things that bring joy variety too.

I also write stories sometimes. Not very often currently. I’ve written scripts in my intro to scriptwriting class but I REALLY loved it!! Such a different format than I’m used to!!

In that vein I want to actually finish composing and arranging and (probably completely rewrite the lyrics) maybe record a song (with no guarantees of quality, I am set to do One (1) this year based off a flippant comment which a discord server said That’s Your New Year Resolution Now to and I agreed)

And also in this vein I am Playing Music Again (#shatters plays music again) and picking up instruments I haven’t played since high school ✌️ I was lucky enough to have my own flute since middle school (buying a cheap one was cheaper than renting one even just through middle school and I also played into high school) anyway I still somehow remember a lot bc I played for 6 years!! Which I am so delighted by!!! I’m not good and way slower than I used to be but excitement!! and I switched to tenor sax in grade 12 (I got to borrow one from the school) which was AMAZING and I found one off facebook marketplace this year!!! (I need to uh. Wash the mouthpiece. But then to reteach myself!!! Bc I only played for one year uh. Nearly a decade ago (we’ll round up in this case for Emphasis) so I don’t have that same muscle memory in place and I’m unsure on the fingerings even though they’re VERY SIMILAR to the flute. AND I can’t remember who said the fingerings are the same in alto and bari sax too but 👀 might have to see about alto at some point too?!? (My lungs simply would give out if I attempted bari)

BUT I HAVE A GREAT NEED TO LEARN STRINGED INSTRUMENTS!!! Partially so I can play while not in the greatest respiratory health. Partially bc I MUST. Have always been obsessed with cello. Used my free 30 min lesson for the cello instead of my flute like it was Intended for (to further develop skills for band) ✨ guitar is very versatile but honestly it’s cool ass guitarists and bassists that make me want to play. But getting to play the guitar last month is GROUNDBREAKING and I really want to!! (It uh. Might hurt my left wrist/hand too much to properly finger. But we’ll see. Maybe I need to try one of the left handed opposite guitars?? Idk.) (I used to play ukelele!) and I’d love to learn piano even though my fingers are too short (or so I’ve always been told) but even without knowing how to play they’re so much fun to make noise on!!

I got to play violin and guitar on my trip and even just open string bowing IS SO GOOD AND FUN AND NICE and screwing around with a guitar is too!!! (Maybe I’ll post one one day? But I have to edit for sure bc it has my full face there)

But guitar or cello or keys would be the first. Unsure which. (Sis says to “work on the ones I have first”, but there’s so much joy in noise in so many forms!!!!! (I could learn trumpet on hers!! But I remember it made my lips feel weird when we tried when she first got it)

Bc keys are more versatile and can have different instrument settings depending on the keyboard BUT. Idk.

(Why yes FB marketplace advertises instruments to me all the time and is pretty much the only reason I pop on every once in a while 🥺)

Uhhh anyway a future hobby will have to be very basic music production haha ✌️✨

Ah off that - I sing (badly?) too? I love singing along to songs!! When nobody’s there to hear! (Based on a couple lines of Blood Sport I sang to a coworker though “not that bad” bc he was talking about some of the drunk karaoke night people)

(Singing That Part of Ascensionism just immediately shreds my throat though 😭) fun fact I sang in the elementary school talent show at least once! I frequently sing to myself if no coworkers or customers are around!!

Snuggling my stuffies!!! Listening to music!!

Candles! Collecting things! Other things I am realizing are just stimming habits and sensory seeking activities!!

Like sailing i only do every once in a while, and im unsure of what capacity, if any, I’ll be able to continue on doing it after this year.

Other sports type things I do intermittently… I used to play badminton but the local clubs are SUPER COMPETITIVE and I am simply here to have a good time. Maybe I’d join an intramural soccer team again if it was casual. I did one set of kickboxing lessons in high school and would like to do it again one day. Especially now that I’m more comfortable driving around to where I’d need to go now than when I was freshly licensed :) I enjoy paddling more than swimming and take every chance to canoe or kayak or even dinghy sailboat I can! (…it’s been a while! I should see if groupon has any deals when I have any money again) One day I might get a cheap blow up paddle board so I can just kinda chill out on the water but. The life jacket is a very important investment for that. Tbh I’m not the strongest swimmer.

I don’t like hiking in rural Rural areas unless I’m with a group with someone who knows more about wildlife/safety than I but I’m also slower than a lot of people so I tend to mostly just do nature walks/ocean strolls when I can. Can’t be left behind if you’re on your own!! (And I enjoy being on my own) (but I do get sad when I’m left behind)

I dance a bit sometimes (a little less since I uhh Very Likely threw it back too hard to Granite and uh. Pulled something in my chest and ended up in the ER after a few days thinking I was dying. 😬)

I go to concerts again now :) hoping I continue getting to for a long time!! I love going to art exhibits! I love going to cat cafes! and really any cute cafe tbh. Going to try fancy croissants!

(Is getting tattoos a hobby? Bc I want more!! Too many ideas too little time and money and time for timing it for healing while still working bc I need my time off for other trips, mostly to see concerts and visit a semi local ish friend that’s maybe 3-5 hours away depending?)

Quilting i have both ideas (too many truly) and supplies for but no skills yet haha.

I inherited knitting supplies and maybe crocheting supplies from my grandma so. Probably those at some point? I liked finger knitting when I tried it at a library workshop ages ago (small child. I have no idea how I remember this…) so probably I’d start with knitting?

I love playing video games! Especially like. Stardew Valley! And anything potions! (I enjoyed Potionomics a whole lot even though I’ve never played a card deck game) and also dating sims ✨ (pacthesis games my beloved back then!! Would still replay now if I could) (I only play on PC or steam deck bc that was a decision I made haha but I was happy I got it when I was sick and at home and couldn’t be assed to use my laptop bc it was a Barrier and I just Couldn’t.)

I would love to make a silly little text based game (think sim date flash games (does anybody else remember pacthesis?) but like. Not a dating sim (ah well,, maybe also a dating sim? Idk. I’ve so far only scripted one adventure one out when I took a coding class in high school) and in theory all I have to do is brush up on python and I could do a very simple one 👀 but honestly given the time commitment I probably won’t for quite some time *if* I do bc I’ve heard other languages are better suited for nicer games. (I do indeed have two different game making engines, untouched (they were free at the time but I have no clue about now))

Shopping is less of a hobby and more of a necessary evil and also I love getting new art supplies or new supplies for a new hobby I *hope* to start 😬

AH also reading. (Looked at my bookcases haha) 🥰💖

If you made it all the way to the end I am kissing you on the forehead and we are hugging if you want!!!!!

[prying-pandora666]

My Azula Diagnosis Analysis Part 8: Identification With the Aggressor

As the master post I wrote was too long, I’ve divided it into parts. Find them all here.

Sick of bad armchair diagnosis for Azula? Me too! So in this thread let’s discuss Azula’s most commonly “diagnosed” illnesses and disorders, and find out what she actually meets the criteria for, if any.

“Identification with the Aggressor is one of the forms of identification conceptualized by psychoanalysis. Specifically, it is a defence mechanism that indicates taking the role of the aggressor and his functional attributes, or imitating his aggressive and behavioral modality when a psychological trauma brings about the hopeless dilemma of being either a victim or an abuser. This theoretical construct is also defined as a process of coping with mental distress or as a particular case of zero-sum game.”

In other words, it’s a coping mechanism to deal with abuse where a victim mimics the abuser’s actions and beliefs to escape being further victimized.

Does Azula display Identification with the Aggressor?

Identification with the Aggressor Claims

—Azula reflects whatever Ozai wants to hear

—Azula is both afraid of and dependent on Ozai and will do terrible things she doesn’t even want to do to stay in his good graces

—Azula would prefer to act like her abuser than be viewed as the victim, even if it means going against her own desires and goals

So Does Azula Demonstrate Identification with the Aggressor?

As always, symptoms can present in a number of ways. People are all different. But diagnostically significant symptoms include:

—Mirroring the Abuser: The most obvious case is with Ozai. Azula parrots his political beliefs and grievances since early childhood, something that makes her come off frightening for such a young child. Interestingly, her manipulative and scheming qualities seem to come from both her parents, as Ursa is the one who came up with the plan to assassinate Azulon to protect Zuko.

—Concealing Vulnerability: Azula’s breakdown is the most dramatic reveal of her hidden internal vulnerability, but it isn’t the only one. In The Beach, Azula deflects from her own emotional wounds with a joke (“My own mother thought I was a monster… She was right, of course, but it still hurt.”), but we later learn how real this trauma was for her. She also conceals how much she cares about others, often couching advice or help behind a veneer of mockery.

—Enmeshment with the Abuser: Azula displays a concerning lack of agency or personal desires outside of Ozai. We never are given any motivations for her that don’t serve Ozai (or occasionally Zuko) except for when she wants to flirt with boys her age. The moment she tries to act on her own desires, her incredible confidence and aptitude vanish. Even then, she attempts to woo Chan by offering the very thing she knows her enmeshed abuser would want: world domination. To tragically disastrous results.

—Kicking the Scapegoat: When desperate to protect herself, Azula will turn on the scapegoat child (Zuko), no matter how much she loves him, hoping to deflect the abuser’s ire to a more acceptable target.

—Deflecting and Transferring the Blame: As confronting the reality that their abuser, whom the victim is both afraid of and desperate to please, is the source of the problem may be too painful or frightening, victims often subconsciously transfer the blame to an easier target. Both Zuko and Azula do this to avoid directing their grievances at their true abuser: Ozai. While Zuko tends to pin the blame for the abuse he suffered on Azula, Azula tends to pin it on Ursa.

Conclusion: Azula does identify with the aggressor.

An interview with the head writer only drives it home even further, where he overtly states that Azula was trapped doing worse and worse things to please Ozai as she had become alienated from her mother and had no one else.

The book 2 novelization also makes it concrete, spelling out Azula’s fears of vulnerability and rejection.

This may also perfectly explain Azula’s reaction to Zuko being burned.

[franciskirkland-deleted]

What does France like the most about Turkey, what does Turkey love about her wife ? and which one is into PDA the most? What would be considered the perfect TurkFra date?

aaaaaaaaa thank you!!! <3 her wife? nyo!turkfra isn't something i've considered before but it kinda slaps tbh, im gonna assume that was a typo tho so no worries xx

1. on a purely superficial level i'd say 'their bodies' bc... these two (at least how i see them) are embodiments of physical perfection on different ends of the spectrum.

in an objectively aesthetic sense, sadik is the ideal man. he's well-built and extremely fit, with defined musculature, a bit of cultivated scruff, and sunkissed tan skin. he's both rugged and put-together. fran is slim and supple with graceful curves, flawless porcelain skin and flowing golden hair; alluring beyond the restrictions of gender.

but that's only skin deep. i think fran and sadik are both extremely multifacted, though others have a tendency to dismiss their complexity. they're the only ones who give each other a chance to be truly understood. they recognize that there's so much more beyond the exterior. not in the way that they put up masks for the outside world, necessarily (ok, turkey literally does wear a mask so you got me there) but in that they have varied personalities that might take a while to surface. the more time they spend together, another layer is shed, and they fall deeper in love with what's revealed.

sadik loves how poetic fran can be, how she sometimes says things that are so articulate, poignant and clever that it takes him by surprise. he might like to pretend she's a bimbo, but smart is sexy, and they love to make a game of one-upping each other's wit. fran knows sadik's good qualities outweigh his occasional brutishness. she's never met a man who ticks all the boxes of being intelligent, optimistic, mature, and yet can make her laugh, all at the same time. i think they also appreciate one another's culinary talents!!

2. that's so wild bc i was literally just thinking abt how they're both super touchy-feely and would engage in full-blown PDA constantly. like they get their freak on in public and make it everyone else's problem. i say this about practically any fran ship but i mean it fr, they're one of those couples who cannot be not touching each other. fran always has his/her hand on sadik's arm/chest, sadik is always holding his precious angel baby by her little waist, keeping her safe.

so, between sadik's confidence and fran's lack of shame, i'd say neither of them mind PDA at all :3

3. the thing i love about turkfra is they're both constantly trying to impress each other. eating ice cream from the carton, on the couch in front of the TV might be alfred's idea of date night, but that does not cut it for sadik.

he is typically the one who plans their dates, especially in the initial phase of their relationship, and you know it's gonna be expensive. he and fran both are all about luxury and opulence. they are EXTRA.

i feel like he'd love to treat fran to a date that's interactive/a learning experience, like a trip to a historical site and an elaborate meal at one of his country's finest restaurants; or something wild like a private dinner at an exclusive restaurant on a remote mountain in japan that takes reservations months in advance. simpler, but just as fun, could be learning and making a new recipe together at home.

i can totally see fran surprising sadik with a weekend getaway, either to a bustling city (paris or istanbul, duh) or to one of the many gorgeous beaches in southern france, whether a secluded, romantic little enclave all to themselves or a flashy, popular vacation spot where they can show off how grotesquely in love they are.