#i never know how to tag these things

[aversiteespabilas]

I love this analysis!! This twisted, nuanced relationship with the Arcane as an entity and the way they explore the concept of power and agency is definitely the highlight of Season 2 for me.

I hadn't thought about the comparison to LOTR (probably because I'm not the biggest LOTR acolyte myself), but one of the childhood conversations I most fondly and vividly remember with my dad, who is a HUGE LOTR fan (even named me after Samwise's daughter in the book-), was precisely about the One Ring, and I was immediately reminded of it. I must have been 13 or so, and I had just watched the first movie with him for the first time, and I told him "I just don't understand what it is about the Ring that's inherently able to corrupt a good man's mind SO badly, like, it's literally just a ring that makes you invisible, and that's only if you decide to put it on. You might as well have a superhero use invisibility for good, at the end of the day it's just an object that gives you power."

And thinking back on it, I really appreciate that my dad didn't decide to dismiss my point with a cheap "well, the Ring can mind-control people too", and call it a day, because perhaps he decided to take the chance to make it a lesson for me, and it might sound silly but his answer REALLY stuck with me to this day. He said "What would you do, if you could suddenly make yourself invisible? What would be your very first thought, if you knew you could get away with anything and not be held accountable, remain unseen? What kind of deeds would you prefer remained unacknowledged: the good ones, or the ones you know deep down are not-so-good?" And that was, I think, one of my most poignant moments of going "Oh, this fantasy story is maing a point about a very real thing" and I'm pretty sure managed to make my understanding of fantasy media all the more mature and nuanced from then on. The One Ring isn't evil because it "plants" evil thoughts "in" you, it's evil because you already HAVE not-so-good thoughts and it has the POWER that would allow you to carry them out. Then all of a sudden, it is no longer a situation where you're helpless against the Ring's "mind powers", but a question of whether the strength of your morals would or would not overcome the Ring's strength. It is also suddenly a thousand times scarier, because it forces you to face the fact that there's a version of you, hidden in there, that could be the stuff of nightmares and it's only a ring's usage away. It humbles you, in a way. And that's something you can also see them exploring in Arcane with Hextech and the other multiple sources of superhuman power that feature in the show. Is the Arcane entity mind-controlling people? Well... yes. But also not exactly. Not the way you think mind-control works. Do the characters have full agency? Well, yes they do. But they don't fully understand the power they're holding. And after all, if Hextech allows you to go the easy and convenient route to getting what you most desire, wouldn't you take it too, if you didn't know there'd be consequences?

You know, it's probably ridiculous to assume that Viktor is being somehow mind controlled by the Hexcore in S2 of Arcane. Obviously his actions are entirely his own, right?

After all, mind control plotlines can be a tricky to pull off and when it's employed, creators tend to put a lot of signposts in to let you know what's really happening and how the character isn't themselves anymore.

For example, creators might do things like... having the character's eye color suddenly change, since eyes are the windows to the soul.

Or... creators might indicate that the character's voice has changed somehow, to indicate that another will is acting through them and they're not entirely themselves anymore.

Certainly one really common trope in mind control plotlines is the mind-controlled character is hearing some kind of voice in their head telling them what to do, or seeing someone that isn't there who guides them or controls them.

Certainly in a pinch, if you really want to drive home that a character has been mind controlled and hasn't been themselves, you'd make it pretty obvious by having them be horrified by what they've done once the mind control wears off!

Bonus points if their eyes revert back to their natural color and any other signs of a different voice or appearance go away once the mind control is finally lifted! That way it's definitely clear that they've been set free from whatever influence was upon them.

But seriously, without these sorts of really glaring signposts we can't really be sure if a mind control plotline was intended at all!

(Tongue-in-cheek aside, I actually love the subtlety of how Arcane executed the Hexcorized Viktor plotline, and I love how much ambiguity remains. But for anyone who thinks he was totally in control, I mean, come on guys. When I started going down the list of all the things film and tv usually does to signal a mind control plot I literally burst out laughing when I realized how many of them Arcane had hidden in plain sight.)

[museaway]

I’ve been meaning to talk about this for months. The topic has likely been covered more thoroughly by someone else, but I’ve never seen a post about it cross my dash, so here we go.

A few things to keep in mind when interacting with fic writers you don’t know personally:

Reading a fic that deals with difficult subject matter or trauma does not automatically mean that the author is comfortable reading details of your trauma in their comments. Unlike fic, comments don’t come with warnings. Please be mindful of how what you say could affect someone. 

Similarly, please don’t assume an erotica writer automatically wants to hear about your, uh, physical reaction to their fic, if you get my drift. But some adore this type of feedback and tag for it specifically! Please check if it’s okay with them first. 

It can feel like you know an author if you've read a lot of their fics. You might even pick up personal information from their author’s notes, replies to your comments, or social media. But the author is a whole person separate to their work, and their personal beliefs/feelings are not necessarily reflected in their writing or social media posts. 

Some writers love it when readers drop into their DMs or send asks. Some writers are very shy or can’t comfortably interact. There is no single way to befriend a writer, if that’s your goal, and not all interactions lead to friendship. Just be friendly and respect boundaries. (This goes for anyone in fandom.)

ty for reading & take care of each other

[aversiteespabilas]

I finally watched Wish today.

I keep thinking of how hilarious it is that Disney's anniversary movie is about a Big Powerful guy who has the means to make the most amazing, wonderful ideas a reality and everyone worships him for that, when actually he's just predating on these precious ideas, keeping them from ever seeing the light, and choosing to only realize those he himself finds "tame" enough not to cause a ruckus.

Imagine having all these people at your feet who adore you, who are willing and ready to trust you with the most precious dreams, dreams they treasure, because the things they got to experience under your name have inspired them, sparked hope and joy in their hearts since they were children, and yet you decide to ditch these dreams because they might be "dangerous" for your "kingdom"? And instead you create some twisted or inane version of them? Gee... Why does that sound familiar, Disney?

Even more hilarious is how in the end, the solution Disney proposes isn't the very logical "pursue your dreams yourself or they might not be yours at all", no no. Big Powerful guy was just a bad one, but you still totally need to depend on someone to grant your dreams if they're worthy WHAT THE HECK.

This is a masterclass on how to create a fable with no lesson learned or message transmitted at all. How do you even write a story about wonder and dreams and ambition, which is the very core of what makes us human, and NOT comment on it AT ALL? I'm flabbergasted. It's a husk of a movie. So much artistry and effort and lovely animation and breathtaking colors and lighting, and yet when you peek inside it there's... nothing. I genuinely didn't think this could be possible.

[watermelonsloth]

Hello, can I ask from both this ask game :

https://www.tumblr.com/threecheersforinking/677824836625694720/anime-ask-game?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/rafael-silva/90297624190/send-me-a-fandom?source=share

For anime/manga : Naruto

Thanks 🤩

Sure! If you or others want to ask me stuff from ask games, I’m not against answering! Like I’ve said before, my favorites tend to shift a lot, but here are my most accurate answers for right now:

Favorite Character: Madara and Iruka are most consistently at the top of my favorite characters.

Favorite Arc/Episode/Scene: As basic as an answer it is, the Chunin Exams is probably my favorite arc. Team 7 talking at Zabuza and Haku’s grave and the Kakashi vs Obito fight are tied for my favorite scenes.

Character I Think is Underrated: Kabuto. Yakushi. I get that people find him annoying and I can see why, but he’s one of the most tragic characters in the series and a walking representative of many of the world’s failings. Plus his dynamic with Orochimaru is as fascinating as it is depressing (please stop shipping them, I beg of thee). I also just have a soft spot for villainous/badass doctor characters who actually use their medical skills in combat.

Character I Think is Overrated: There are a lot of characters I think are overrated or get attention for the wrong reasons, but I think Hinata Hyuga is the most obvious one. I think she’s actually a pretty good character in the manga when she’s not being reduced to Naruto’s love interest, but she is not “have portions of the fandom worshipping her and a bunch of people wanting her to replace Sakura as the heroine” good.

Favorite Ship/Pairing: Right now, since I’m thinking about the Chunin Exams, I’d say LeeSaku, but I promise you I’d give you a different answer tomorrow.

Something I Love About the Show/Movie: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the realistic character complexities carry this series for me. Especially in regards to how their experiences affect their actions and worldviews, how most characters are actually intrinsically motivated, and characters’ greatest strengths are often shown to be some of their greatest weaknesses as well. Even background characters tend to have more going on than what first meets the eye.

[that-wildwolf]

wow okay

Garrus hypothermia fic

(for the WIP title ask game)

“It’s getting really bad out here, Shepard,” Garrus mutters. His breathing pattern is even slower now than before, every breath clearly a labour, subvocals rippling with a low throaty note. Shepard looks up to see him staring at her, pupils diluted in either pain or fear or something else entirely.

She quickly looks away, hoping he can't see how distraught she is. That goddamn worst-case scenario is playing on repeat in her head, his lifeless body frozen and buried by snow never to be recovered or sent to his family, this planet being his unmarked grave for the rest of time.

She bites on her lip. It's getting really cold now, especially with the wind being as relentless as it is, and Garrus is a few minutes away from freezing to death: he's already lethargic, slower to respond, his every move clunkier and slower than normally. Shepard frowns. Give or take an hour, that's going to be her. And then no one's gonna be able to save them.

“I'm so cold,” Garrus whispers.

He's shivering. He's wearing heavy combat armor lined with additional padding and he's still visibly shivering.

“That's it, visor on.” Shepard stands on her toes to reach over to the side of his helmet and press on the release for its darkened visor. She won't be able to see his face, but maybe at least if he's more sealed inside his armor, he won't lose heat as quickly. Hopefully. “How’re you feeling?”

“I feel… cold. It's like I'm so cold that I don't feel cold anymore? Like my legs have gone numb.”

Not good.

[lovelylotusf1]

Wip Wednesday

Tagged by @1425fivefive thank you <3

I haven't really worked on anything for quite some time because life's been busy, so I'm just gonna post the tiniest something from my carcar (with a sprinkle of landoscar) lethal company au wip that's been sitting in my folder for a very long time! Under the cut because of a little description of violence.

"You sure I'm not going with you?" Lando asks as Oscar stocks up on the tools he needs.

A newly charged flashlight. His trusty walkie-talkie with the worst audio quality he’s ever heard. A ridiculously expensive lockpick to unlock doors that might have scrap behind them. The only shovel they ever bought that has been collecting dust in the supply closet, the metal in his hands comforting as he takes it out.

"I need you on the ship," he says, turning around and accepting the helmet Lando gives him in exchange for the shovel. "We're both safer if you're on the monitor keeping watch."

Like yesterday with the creatures, he wants to say but doesn't. He vehemently pushes the thought of what might have happened if Lando went into the facility with him to the back of his mind.

His bleeding body convulsing on the ground. Lando against the metal wall, limp and lifeless, neck broken by a crimson hand.

Oscar abruptly puts on his helmet.

Not tagging people directly because wednesday's (almost) over for some timezones. But if you see this & want to share your wips, please feel tagged!! :D

[arithechair]

Does superjail have a decent fandom over here??? I’ve seen like one person post anything superjail related in the year that I’ve been here lol

Anyways this is Lana! She’s basically my oc for every fandom i join and I’ve got tons of different versions of her pretty much everywhere

[angelmichelangelo]

i know i have a bajillion and one wips already building up in my google docs but i don’t wanna work on my big fics rn so on the off chance someone might do this: pretty please with a cherry on top send any and all fic prompts <3 ty

[aversiteespabilas]

Lately I've increasingly found that most of the characters I really like, the ones I think have true potential for an emotional storyline or arc but go without it, or barely touching it, are not all badly written. In fact, most of the time the issue isn't "these characters are badly written" but more like "8 episodes is not enough for a season of serial storytelling". We have too many shows nowadays that are really, REALLY good, and really REALLY well written, but still leave you with a sense of being too rushed or "fast-paced". The narrative makes sense, the arcs have the necessary beats, nothing is really missing... But we're not allowed to linger on them, or leave a bit of silence, have some fun with concepts, have a silly beach episode or whatever. No time to get too attached. No financial support for more. Sometimes characters are in fact incredibly well written, considering how much they had to be condensed for time and efficiency.

Not saying there aren't characters out there that are terribly written, of course. Just saying that capitalism keeps killing creativity in many ways, and this is one of them.

when u like a character for their potential to be interesting and complex more than how they’re actually written

[aversiteespabilas]

For those of you lovely people who may be waiting for more rabbits! (hey there, ily 💕💕💕💕)

I'm not sure if you guys noticed me getting more absent in the creative department, but in case you did, more rabbit stuff is still in production, including the next H&H chapter, more Yuki-focused stories and more chapter illustrations for the RRCU (as well as character design sheets that I'm meaning to get to, and other exciting things). I'm also hoping to practice more with horses, machines and environments for another personal project of mine. Rest assured because you can bet I finish what I start. I've just been focusing on studying for a very important exam these last couple months, and the exam just happens to be tomorrow morning!

Sooo I guess this is all to say business will resume as usual soon. And that I can't wait to get back to drawing oh my god my hands are itching for it so bad.

Also!! I don't usually make public announcements like this, I'm not a big conversation starter, BUT! I'm taking the chance to say that if you've been following me and enjoying my work this year, reblogging or tagging or commenting in it, I see you and I love you and I'd like to thank you for sticking around. Looking forward to trying yet more new things!

[headlamprey]

Sigh... Yeah I'm gonna try to ebeg again 😓

I think I can use someone's prime? Not sure but I might not need shipping covered? Anyways help is very much appreciated 💜

Toblerone would love u forever!!!

[iamcassian]

i was at a restaurant tonight and there was this really pretty guy (he used he/him pronouns i checked gang) and he was wearing a dress and he looked so pretty in it frfr and he was talking to his friends about how he liked dresses because they were flowy and stuff

and my mom just SCOFFED and i'm actually about to throw hands with her on this guy's behalf!!!

so i kinda went up to him and said he looked very nice in his dress and he went all smiley and shit and he said thank you and that i looked nice in mine!!!!

[aversiteespabilas]

During my psychology degree, one of my teachers explained this very simply. Generally most parents won't think of what they're doing as abuse, they'll think of it as a way to teach discipline, as something necessary, and are just lacking a referee to call them out when they cross the line. Or to even point out where the line is, cause it's VERY difficult to see it in daily life, and once you've crossed it you're blind to it. Add to that how in many cases the only frame of reference adults have for parenting is their own childhood, of which memories have been affected by time, and which context is altogether different from the present.

That is all to say: yes, loving parents can also be abusive. Normal, perfectly adjusted people can do terrible things and scar others deeply. That doesn't make the abuse okay, but it does mean that it's part of the vast array of human behavior and nobody is immune. If we want to rectify abuse we must acknowledge that abusers are people like everyone else. Yeah, I know, that's the scariest part.

Problem #1 regarding child abuse is that a lot of people seem to struggle to imagine normal, respectable-looking parents and other authority figures ever doing it despite the statistics so instead they do the stranger danger panic and completely overlook some of the greatest threats.

Problem #2 is that even when people understand, even if in an abstract way, that parents can be abusive they just... don't seem to actually register that as something that can apply to real life. It's just hypothetical to them and doesn't actually guide their ideas of how to prevent child abuse.

Problem #3 is that even after overcoming the above biases a lot of people have a very narrow image of what abusive parenting is where they imagine like... people doing violent things basically out of sadism and without provocation. They don't seem to think it's "real" abuse if the victim did something that "justifies" punitive violence, like disobeying the parents.

In fact, most people think parents have a right to do a whole lot of awful things to their children beyond just hitting them, like violating their privacy, controlling their access to information, and deciding what/when/if they eat, among other things.

[mizuthe-cat]

my brain is screaming at me to do something- anything

But I am not doing anything and I need to go to sleep but it still wants me to do something productive and I don’t know what that thing is

it keeps demanding things of me I cannot do

[edgyorautistic]

deranged, delusional, and downright fuckable!

[royalarchivist]

Bad: I don’t think people understand the effect QSMP had on some of the streamers in terms of like… The real raw mental impact, so I’m gonna set the stage for you. [...] Imagine that you were given a friend to play Minecraft with — like your best friend — BUT if this person dies, if they die in the game, you never get to talk to them again. Can you imagine what that’s like?

Bad: If you did not live through the QSMP, if you did not live through that, it almost sounds like, crazy. But I don’t think people realize how much of a joyous experience the Eggs were. They were SO awesome! They were literally so awesome to just hang out with and spend time with.

Bad: I’m not saying I regret it. To this day, I loved the experience. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. Even knowing how everything went, I would still do it all over again. [...] I would still do it all over again, because — even knowing like, all the trauma and suffering and stuff like that — because it was just… It was just that fun, it was just that fun.

Earlier today during his stream, Bad shared his experience and thoughts about the Eggs and the significant emotional (and traumatic) impact they had on him and his fellow QSMP members.

This clip a very edited-down version since his commentary was ~13 minutes long, so I highly recommend checking out Bad's VOD if you have the time. (Timestamp: 47:36 - 1:00:14)

[ Full Transcript ↓ ]

———

Bad: To be fair Chat, I really think the QSMP... I don't think anyone really can relate to it, Chat. It's something that's so... I've told people this before, like– but it's hard to understand. Right? Like...

Where was I? Sorry Chat, I'm losing my train of thought. Look, let me explain Chat– here's the dealio, ok? Here's the dealio, and this is what I mean when I say like, it's important to keep this in mind, Chat. Ok? It's important to keep this in mind:

I don’t think people understand the effect that the QSMP had on like, some of the streamers, in terms of like… The real raw mental impact, so I’m gonna set the stage for you. This is the analogy I’ve given to every person who I’ve like, shared this with. Imagine you meet somebody– [He hears a strange noise] What the fudge was that? Did you hear that?

Anyway– Chip! The story I was just relaying to Chat, Chip, was this: I was sharing this story with them, I said–  I was giving them an analogy. 

Imagine Chat, for example, imagine that you were… playing Minecraft, with like– you were given a friend to play Minecraft with, Chat, like your best friend, and [unintelligible] were like, “Hey, you get to play Minecraft with this person, right? BUT if this person dies – they’re currently your best friend, Chip – but if they die in the game, you never get to talk to them again. Ever again.” Can you imagine what that’s like, Chip?

I don’t think a lot of people understand like, what that does, right? I’m not gonna say that like, it creates this situation, Chip, that like, messes with your head, but it– Chip – but it totally, totally does, Chip. It messes with your head! It literally puts you in a position where you’re second-guessing and thinking about everything, Chip! You’re thinking about EVERYTHING Chip! Ok? And that’s the problem, Chip– is you turn into a paranoid monster because of it, Chip! Like, you don’t understand Chip– I was- I was so afraid of every dirt block, I used to carry a shovel with me Chip, and I would specifically right-click dirt blocks that looked suspicious because mines, Chip– mines could not be shoveled! Like, I was crazy, Chip! But here’s the problem, Chip: that craziness is still there. I’m genuinely like–

I remember thinking Chip, that I would one day– I was like, “I’m going to move past–” here, let’s go up here, Chip. I remember thinking one day Chip, I was like, “I’m gonna move past the underground base, one of these days. You know, one of these days, I feel like I’ll be able to grow and achieve the desire to build a base that doesn’t have to be underground.” But I don’t think it’s possible now Chip, because I think… I just don’t know. I feel like the paranoia– there’s still like, residual leftover trauma from that situation, Chip.

But here’s the problem Chip: I don’t think I don’t think– I don’t think people understand it. Like, I just really don’t. But I also don’t blame them Chip, ‘cuz I don’t think it’s possible to fully understand it if you haven’t lived through it. Like, if you did not live through the QSMP… I’m talking about the QSMP, I don’t- I don’t know if that was obvious– if you did not live through that, it almost sounds like, crazy. But I don’t think people realize how much of a joyous experience like, the Eggs were. Right? I don’t think people realize it. Like, they were SO awesome! They were literally so awesome to just hang out with and spend time with, Chip. So, it’s just one of those things that–

[He’s interrupted by a loud rumble of thunder above them]

Did lightning just strike here? Is it thunderstorming out…? But anyway, Chip. That’s the food for thought.

But that’s the problem– Like, every time it rains in Minecraft, I have to like, look at the sky, and I get this weird, like, second--hand vibe because of the trauma. The trauma, Chip! The trauma is real! But that’s the point– I’m not saying I regret it. I, to this day Chip, I loved the experience. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. Even knowing how everything went, I would still do it all over again. 

[He falls down] Dangit, don’t come over here Chip, ‘cuz I’m coming back up! Ok.

I would still do it all over again, because — even knowing like, all the trauma and suffering  and stuff like that — because it was just… It was just that fun, Chip, it was just that fun. I really wi– I don’t think it’s ever gonna be possible, Chip, to give people that same energy, like that same experience. You know what I mean, Chip? I don’t think it’s ever gonna be possible again. Like, EVER.

Because… because like, one: I will say on one level Chip, I will say on one level, like– it’s sort of emotionally like… It’s emotionally devastating, and I think to actually go through that– and this is where like, if I ever do end up going to a– see a therapist, if I ever do end up going to see a therapist at any point, I’ll talk it over with them and be like, “Hey, what do you think about this?” Because I genuinely think on one level, like– it’s created this fear of forming attachments because of like, how things can go. You know what I mean? Like, the fear of getting attached to something and then potentially losing it. Like, it’s- it’s a genuine thing. I think people forget about that.

Like, at the end of the day, everything was RP, right? On the server. You know what I mean? Like, everything was RP, Chip. BUT at the same point, even though it was RP Chip, it was still like– there the reality of you were still playing like, with another person, and you were still getting that experience, and it felt like you were genuinely attached to someone and you didn’t want anything bad to happen to them. It was GENUINELY stressful, Chip.

But at the same point, I don’t regret it, and I don’t think it was a bad experience. I’m– 

Sometimes in life Chip, you go through stuff, and maybe you have a certain amount of like, things that like, can happen, that you’re like, “You know what, maybe this wasn’t a good thing that this happened,” but at the same point, you still aren’t necessarily upset about it, because… it’s like growing as a person, right? Here’s the thing Chip; even bad situations, Chip, can lead to an overall good outcome. Like–

Even if you’re going through something bad Chip, just because a bad thing happens doesn’t mean that only bad things have to come from that. That’s one of the things I tell people all the time, Chip, is that if you go through a bad situation, you can learn from it, and you can use your experience to help others. And you can be that– you can be, at the worst-case scenario, you can be someone for other people who are going through that same experience to lean on when they go through that.I think there’s a certain amount of comfort that comes from that; from knowing no matter how bad your situation is, you’re not the only person who’s experienced it. You know what I mean?