#i shall not provide further context

[sneegsnitties]

alive but gay and i want to be gay and happy not gay and sad are basically the same thing to me

[ayyy-imma-ninja]

"Oh my ears and whiskers! It's not the time for tears!"

[dasniichts-a]

< TXT sent > : For May Day to celebrate the coming of spring. Though I believe the fact that we still celebrated meant it was his way to still connect with the home he wasn't able to return to.

Something to be said about traditions, probably. Something that could probably be said about how silly it was that such an innocent question allowed him to drift so easily. Well, he'll have to apologize for that.

< TXT sent > : Sorry, I believe I drove us off topic. But yes, I do enjoy lemon desserts.

The more Welt divulges of his home-- not the serious things, but the small, personal ones, like stories of mead and pie and family-- the more Dan Heng wonders what it might have been like there. Granted, when you grow up chained in an underwater prison, just about anywhere could sound interesting.

Welt doesn't come from "just about anywhere", though.

[TXT] Every year? What caused the occasion?

[mywitchyblog]

Trauma and Reality Shifting: Neurobiological Boundaries and the Prevention of Cross-Reality Psychological Impact

Imagine having the ability to consciously shift your existence from your everyday life to an alternate reality, experiencing different scenarios and outcomes. This phenomenon, known as reality shifting, has garnered significant attention, particularly within online communities. As individuals explore the depths of shifting, a compelling question arises: Can trauma experienced in a Desired Reality (DR) follow you back to your Current Reality (CR)? Understanding the interplay between trauma and reality shifting is crucial for both mental health and the integrity of shifting practices.

Reality shifting refers to the deliberate transition of one's consciousness from their Current Reality (CR) to a Desired Reality (DR), where different experiences and circumstances unfold. Trauma, in this context, is defined as a profound neurobiological response to distressing or life-altering events, such as abuse, accidents, or natural disasters. Trauma induces significant changes in the brain and body, affecting neural circuits, hormonal balances, and overall physiological functioning. The convergence of these two concepts—reality shifting and trauma—raises important questions about the nature of psychological resilience and the boundaries between different states of existence.

The significance of exploring whether trauma can traverse realities lies in its implications for personal well-being and the ethical considerations of shifting practices. As reality shifting becomes more popular, particularly among young individuals seeking escape or personal growth, understanding the potential psychological impacts is essential. This inquiry not only addresses fears and misconceptions surrounding shifting but also empowers individuals to engage in these practices safely, ensuring that their mental health remains uncompromised across different dimensions.

This essay is structured into two main parts. Part I: "Trauma Explained – What It Is and How It Affects the Brain," which includes two subparts: "Defining Trauma" and "The Physical Impact of Trauma on the Brain." These sections lay the groundwork for understanding trauma as a tangible, physical process. Part II: "Trauma and Reality Shifting – Exploring the Boundaries," comprises two subparts: "Why DR Trauma Doesn’t Cross the 'Reality Boundary'" and "DR Memories as Context-Specific and Emotionally Detached." This section examines the relationship between trauma and reality shifting, addressing whether trauma can transcend different realities.

By dissecting the relationship between trauma and reality shifting, this essay aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how individuals can navigate multiple realities without compromising their mental health, ultimately affirming that trauma remains tethered to its original reality.

Disclaimers (Please Read):

This essay comprises approximately 7,000 words and is likely the most extensive paper I have written on the subject of reality shifting. If you identify any information that is incorrect or outdated, please inform me so I can make the necessary revisions.

I encourage thoughtful debates and discussions. If you disagree with any points, kindly explain why, as I am eager to engage in further dialogue. However, please be aware of my boundaries: disrespectful insults and logical fallacies such as ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and hasty generalizations will not be tolerated. Such behavior will result in immediate removal from the discussion. As in imma block your ass.

As i know my word and opinion is in no way shape or form law or absolute truth. This is simply my perspective on the matter based on research, logical observations and personal experiences.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

P.S : This shit took me weeks to write i hope the message came across well if not do not hesitate to ask me questions i shall answer them asap

Taglist of the people i think would be interested by the essay or that i want their opinion/commentary/feedback on it :

@sunnirayss Because i really appreciate your content and your knowledge and i saw we were mutuals and as you have said in your boundaries : "Feel free to ask me for advice or my perspectives on things. As long as you're respectful and clear with your question, I'll probably answer it."

@carlyshifts111 Because i saw your video where you if i am not mistaken (please confirm it to me thank you) you see to disgaree with the statement "i scripted that i cant bring back trauma". A statement in which through the essay i respecfully disagree.

@shiftinghoesblog Bestie your are like my shifting sis so def tagging u in everything lol.

@lizzy4president We seem to get along quite well in the sense that we share the same takes/opinions about shifting.

Part I: Trauma Explained – What It Is and How It Affects the Brain

Subpart 1: Defining Trauma

1.1 : What is trauma?

Trauma transcends the simplistic notion of personal weakness or mere inability to manage stress. It represents a deeply ingrained neurobiological and psychological response to events that fundamentally destabilize an individual's sense of safety, agency, or normalcy. These responses are not voluntary but arise from external circumstances, such as interpersonal violence, life-threatening accidents, or large-scale disasters. Far from being confined to subjective emotional disturbances, trauma triggers quantifiable changes within neural circuits, hormonal systems, and the broader autonomic nervous system. These alterations propel the body into a sustained state of hypervigilance and defensive readiness, often with lasting repercussions.

Trauma is not monolithic; its manifestations vary widely depending on context and exposure.

Acute trauma typically results from a single, overwhelming incident, such as a violent assault or a natural catastrophe.

Chronic trauma, on the other hand, emerges from enduring exposure to harmful or abusive conditions over time, such as repeated domestic violence or systemic oppression.

Complex trauma constitutes an intricate constellation of psychological wounds arising from prolonged and compounded exposure to severe adversity, often rooted in early developmental periods. Such trauma intertwines with personal history and environmental factors, creating unique and often profound impacts on individuals.

Critically, these forms of trauma are not reflections of personal fragility but are biologically embedded responses to extreme stressors that overwhelm existing coping mechanisms.

The physiological adaptations initiated by trauma include a spectrum of survival-oriented behaviors and states. These are often categorized under the "fight, flight, freeze, or fawn" responses. Each of these reflects a distinct strategy for managing perceived threats. For example:

the fight response manifests as aggression or confrontational behavior.

the flight response entails avoidance or physical withdrawal from danger.

The freeze response is characterized by immobilization and dissociation, a state in which individuals may feel emotionally numb or disconnected from their environment.

The fawn response, though less commonly discussed, involves appeasement and compliance as strategies to defuse perceived threats.

While these responses serve adaptive purposes during traumatic events, their persistence in the absence of actual danger often leads to maladaptive patterns, such as hypervigilance, intrusive memories, and disrupted emotional regulation.

The biological underpinnings of trauma are well-documented and highlight its tangible effects on brain architecture. :

The amygdala, a critical node in the brain’s fear-processing network, becomes hyperactive following trauma, resulting in heightened threat detection and exaggerated emotional responses.

Simultaneously, the hippocampus, responsible for contextualizing and integrating memories, often exhibits volume reduction, impairing the individual’s ability to distinguish between past traumatic events and present safety.

The prefrontal cortex—central to executive functions such as decision-making and emotion regulation—experiences functional suppression, further compounding difficulties in managing stress and regulating behavior.

These interconnected neural disruptions illustrate the profound ways in which trauma is encoded within the brain, far beyond the realm of conscious awareness.

Recognizing trauma as a biologically driven process demands a shift from stigmatized interpretations to a nuanced understanding of its pervasive impacts. Trauma reshapes an individual’s cognitive, emotional, and relational frameworks, influencing their interactions with the world and their perception of safety. By addressing the physical and psychological realities of trauma, scholars and practitioners can develop more precise and effective interventions, facilitating recovery and resilience.

Trauma, therefore, is not an ephemeral or subjective condition but a profound reconfiguration of the body’s and brain’s adaptive systems in response to extraordinary stress.

1.2 : Types of trauma responses

Trauma engages the body’s most primal survival mechanisms, activating automatic responses that bypass conscious thought. These responses—fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—arise from the nervous system’s attempts to protect the individual in the face of perceived danger. Understanding these patterns highlights the physiological and behavioral imprint trauma leaves long after the initiating event has ended.

The fight response manifests as heightened aggression and a readiness to confront the threat directly. Individuals may respond with anger, physical outbursts, or confrontational behavior, reflecting the body’s preparation to eliminate the perceived danger. This reaction, while adaptive in threatening situations, often persists as disproportionate irritability or hostility in non-threatening environments.

The flight response propels the individual to escape perceived danger. This can take the form of physical avoidance—such as steering clear of certain locations or social settings—or adopting behaviors that provide a sense of safety, like constant vigilance or seeking isolation. While the instinct to flee ensures survival in acute situations, its chronic activation can lead to avoidance behaviors that disrupt daily functioning.

The freeze response immobilizes the individual, akin to the well-known "deer in headlights" phenomenon. This reaction stems from the body’s attempt to evade detection by remaining still, often accompanied by feelings of numbness or dissociation. Those experiencing the freeze response may struggle to react to their surroundings or articulate their needs, creating barriers to effective communication and problem-solving.

The fawn response involves prioritizing the needs of others to de-escalate perceived threats. Individuals may engage in appeasing behaviors, suppressing their own desires or boundaries to maintain a sense of safety. While adaptive in abusive or manipulative environments, the fawn response can lead to an erosion of self-identity and a pattern of unhealthy relationships.

These survival responses, while beneficial in the context of immediate danger, frequently extend their influence into daily life, resulting in a range of secondary effects.

For instance, hypervigilance—a hallmark of trauma—leaves individuals perpetually on edge, misinterpreting benign stimuli as potential threats. This heightened state of awareness often triggers flashbacks, wherein sensory fragments of traumatic memories intrude upon the present.

Flashbacks are vivid and fragmented, involving intense visual, auditory, or emotional recollections that bypass conscious control. Similarly, dissociation—a state of detachment from one’s surroundings or self—serves as a psychological escape, yet may disrupt the individual’s ability to engage meaningfully with reality.

These trauma responses, deeply rooted in neurobiology, underscore the enduring impact of trauma on both behavior and cognition. Recognizing them as automatic, physiological processes rather than conscious choices provides a framework for addressing their effects in therapeutic contexts. By situating these responses within the context of survival, it becomes possible to approach trauma recovery with greater empathy and scientific understanding.

1.3 : Why Trauma is Often Misunderstood

Trauma remains one of the most misunderstood phenomena in mental health, primarily due to pervasive societal stigma and the oversimplification of its nature. A significant portion of the public reduces trauma to an emotional weakness or an exaggerated reaction, perpetuating harmful stereotypes. This oversimplification not only undermines the legitimacy of trauma but also marginalizes those who experience it, leaving them to contend with the dual burden of their condition and societal judgment.

The societal stigma surrounding mental health often equates trauma with personal failure or fragility, fostering an environment where individuals feel compelled to suppress their experiences. Trauma is frequently perceived as a purely emotional reaction—an individual failing rather than a neurobiological condition. This perspective ignores the tangible physiological effects of trauma, such as structural brain changes and hormonal dysregulation. Consequently, trauma survivors are often dismissed as overreacting or dramatizing their symptoms, a misconception that overlooks the profound and measurable impact trauma has on neural pathways, stress response systems, and overall functioning.

Another critical misunderstanding stems from the tendency to view trauma as an exclusively mental or psychological phenomenon. While trauma indeed affects emotional regulation and cognition, its origins are deeply rooted in the physical processes of the brain and body.

Neuroimaging studies have consistently shown that trauma induces heightened activity in the amygdala, impairs the hippocampus’s ability to process and store memories, and suppresses the prefrontal cortex’s capacity for rational thought and emotional regulation.

These biological disruptions challenge the oversimplified notion that trauma survivors can merely "move on" through willpower or emotional resilience alone.

Furthermore, the limited public discourse on trauma has reinforced reductive stereotypes. Media portrayals often depict trauma survivors as permanently damaged or excessively fragile, feeding into a culture that glorifies stoicism while pathologizing vulnerability. Educational systems and workplaces rarely prioritize comprehensive mental health literacy, allowing misconceptions about trauma to persist unchallenged. This lack of understanding perpetuates the stigmatization of trauma survivors and deters meaningful conversations about its complex nature.

Compounding this issue is the narrow definition of trauma that many hold. The general population often associates trauma exclusively with catastrophic events, such as war, natural disasters, or severe accidents. While such events can indeed cause trauma, this perspective ignores the equally profound impact of chronic stressors like emotional neglect, prolonged abuse, or systemic discrimination.

Research shows that these subtler forms of trauma can result in neurobiological changes indistinguishable from those caused by acute trauma. However, survivors of these experiences often face invalidation due to the societal expectation that trauma must be linked to a dramatic, singular event.

In conclusion, trauma is frequently misunderstood because it is perceived as an emotional failing rather than a physical condition rooted in neurobiology.

This misunderstanding is perpetuated by stigma, lack of education, and a narrow, event-centric view of trauma. Recognizing trauma as a biological response to stress, rather than a character defect, is essential for dismantling harmful stereotypes and fostering a more informed and empathetic approach to mental health.

Subpart 2: The Physical Impact of Trauma on the Brain

2.1 : Neurobiological Changes Caused by Trauma

Trauma doesn’t linger in an abstract psychological space; it rewires the brain at a structural and functional level. Among the most notable changes, trauma disrupts the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, creating a cascade of dysfunctions that alter perception, memory, and behavior.

The amygdala, the brain’s alarm system, becomes hyperactive in response to trauma. This small, almond-shaped cluster of neurons flags threats—real or perceived—at hyperspeed. Under normal conditions, the amygdala activates appropriately to warn of danger. Post-trauma, however, it’s perpetually on high alert, interpreting harmless stimuli as potential threats. This hypervigilance results in exaggerated fear responses, persistent anxiety, and difficulty distinguishing between safe and unsafe situations. Such overactivation not only exhausts mental and emotional resources but also intensifies the stress cycle, trapping individuals in a state of relentless fight-or-flight reactivity.

The hippocampus, essential for memory formation and contextual processing, also bears the brunt of trauma. Research shows that trauma reduces the hippocampus’s volume, impairing its ability to differentiate past events from present experiences. Memories associated with trauma often resurface as fragmented, sensory-laden flashbacks devoid of temporal context. These fragments, unanchored to a timeline, can feel as immediate as the original event. This dysfunction contributes to a loop where individuals relive their trauma without the cognitive tools to process or resolve it.

Simultaneously, the prefrontal cortex—responsible for executive functions such as rational decision-making, emotional regulation, and impulse control—experiences diminished activity. Trauma suppresses this region, undermining its ability to override emotional reactions triggered by the amygdala. As a result, individuals may struggle with planning, managing stress, and interpreting events with clarity. The prefrontal cortex’s reduced functionality leaves emotional responses unchecked, leading to impulsivity, difficulty concentrating, and heightened vulnerability to stressors.

These neural disruptions do not operate in isolation; they occur within a dysregulated stress-response system. Trauma triggers chronic overproduction of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. This hormonal imbalance exacerbates the neural damage, contributing to systemic issues such as poor sleep, mood instability, and weakened immune function. Over time, the cumulative effects of heightened cortisol levels and neural restructuring manifest in both mental health disorders, such as PTSD, and physical ailments, including cardiovascular disease.

Brain imaging studies corroborate these findings, providing visual evidence of trauma-induced changes. Functional MRI (fMRI) and PET scans consistently reveal heightened amygdala activity, reduced hippocampal volume, and diminished prefrontal cortex engagement in individuals with trauma histories. These alterations underscore the tangible, physical nature of trauma, dismantling misconceptions that trauma is “just emotional” or a matter of willpower.

In essence, trauma is a physiological phenomenon. Its effects penetrate the brain’s core systems, warping its architecture and leaving long-lasting marks on cognition, emotion, and behavior. Trauma is not an abstract adversary; it is a biological force that demands recognition and intervention.

2.2 : The Physical Impact of Trauma on the Brain

Trauma fundamentally alters the brain’s architecture, creating maladaptive neural pathways that prioritize fear and hypervigilance. This process reconfigures the brain's responses to prioritize survival, often at the expense of flexibility and emotional regulation. Neural circuits become wired to perceive everyday stimuli as potential threats, leading to persistent states of anxiety and avoidance.

Trauma memories are typically stored as fragmented sensory imprints—disconnected sights, sounds, or physical sensations—rather than coherent narratives. These fragmented memories are easily triggered, leading to flashbacks or distressing physiological reactions that are difficult to contextualize. This disorganization results from trauma’s disruption of the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for integrating sensory information into structured memories. Consequently, trauma survivors often struggle to differentiate past experiences from present reality, perpetuating cycles of fear and distress.

Maladaptive neural pathways formed during traumatic experiences reinforce survival-oriented behaviors, such as avoidance. Avoidance becomes a coping mechanism, convincing the individual that evasion equates to safety. Over time, this pattern solidifies, limiting behavioral responses and emotional resilience. The brain defaults to fear-based reactions, reducing the capacity to engage with new challenges or relationships meaningfully.

Trauma also impacts the brain’s reward systems, diminishing the capacity for pleasure or relaxation. Hyperactivation of the amygdala the brain's fear center keeps the individual in a constant state of alertness, while reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex impairs rational decision-making and emotional regulation. Chronic stress leads to an overproduction of cortisol, the primary stress hormone, further entrenching trauma-induced neural patterns. This biochemical cascade perpetuates hypervigilance and emotional exhaustion, leaving the individual trapped in a survival state.

Social functioning is similarly affected by trauma-induced changes in neural wiring. Trust and emotional connection often become compromised as the brain perceives interpersonal closeness as a risk. Survivors may experience emotional numbness, detachment, or difficulty interpreting social cues, which can lead to isolation and strained relationships. This relational disconnect exacerbates the individual’s sense of vulnerability and reinforces the trauma-driven neural patterns.

The cumulative effect of these changes underscores the enduring nature of trauma's impact on the brain. Without targeted intervention, the maladaptive wiring established during trauma persists, dictating future responses and limiting psychological growth. The brain becomes trapped in outdated survival scripts, unable to fully engage with the present or adapt to new circumstances. This reprogramming reflects not a failure of character but the brain’s natural biological response to extraordinary stress.

Trauma’s reprogramming reshapes the individual’s mental and emotional landscape, narrowing their perspective and constraining their ability to navigate life effectively. Understanding this process highlights the importance of addressing trauma at the neurological level to restore balance and adaptability in the brain’s functioning.

2.3 : The Physical Impact of Trauma on the Brain

Empirical evidence strongly supports the argument that trauma induces measurable physiological changes within the brain and body. Advances in neuroimaging technologies, hormonal studies, and biochemical analyses illustrate that trauma is not merely an emotional or psychological phenomenon—it is a tangible alteration of biological systems.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans consistently reveal structural and functional changes in the brains of individuals exposed to trauma. For instance, the amygdala, the brain's primary center for fear and threat detection, shows heightened activity in trauma survivors, reflecting a state of persistent hypervigilance.

Simultaneously, the hippocampus, responsible for memory processing and contextualizing experiences, often exhibits significant shrinkage in volume. Studies suggest this reduction compromises the ability to regulate emotional responses and distinguish between past and present threats.

Furthermore, the prefrontal cortex—the region critical for executive function and emotion regulation—shows diminished activity, impairing the brain’s capacity to modulate fear responses. These observable changes underscore the biological footprint trauma leaves on neural architecture.

Trauma also disrupts endocrine function, particularly involving cortisol, a stress hormone central to the body’s fight-or-flight response. In trauma survivors, cortisol levels frequently deviate from normal patterns, manifesting as chronic hypersecretion or suppression. Elevated cortisol levels contribute to disrupted circadian rhythms, mood instability, and heightened anxiety. Prolonged exposure to abnormal cortisol levels exacerbates the brain’s structural vulnerabilities, particularly in the hippocampus, further embedding trauma’s physiological impact. This dysregulation extends beyond the brain, affecting metabolic and immune systems, illustrating the systemic nature of trauma’s influence.

Trauma’s effects extend into cellular and molecular domains, where chronic stress triggers an inflammatory cascade. Inflammation disrupts neural connectivity, impairing cognitive function and emotional regulation. At the cellular level, oxidative stress emerges as a response to trauma-induced biochemical imbalance. This process involves the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage cells and tissues, including neurons. These disruptions highlight trauma’s ability to undermine homeostatic mechanisms, perpetuating long-term physiological dysfunction.

Decades of research corroborate trauma’s biological reality. Neuroimaging studies confirm trauma-related structural changes, while hormonal assays and biochemical analyses provide additional layers of evidence. These findings dismantle misconceptions that trauma is solely a psychological phenomenon or a subjective exaggeration. Instead, they reinforce the understanding that trauma imprints itself onto the body and brain in ways that are both observable and quantifiable.

Trauma’s effects do not dissipate when the distressing event ends. Neural pathways shaped by trauma continue to trigger maladaptive responses long after immediate threats subside. Hormonal imbalances persist, maintaining a state of heightened alertness that no longer aligns with current circumstances. The inflammatory processes and oxidative damage initiated by trauma further entrench these physiological patterns, creating a lasting legacy of altered functioning.

In conclusion, trauma manifests as a multifaceted physiological event, supported by robust scientific evidence. Imaging technologies, hormonal data, and biochemical markers provide incontrovertible proof of trauma’s biological foundation. These findings affirm that trauma is not an abstract emotional state but a profound disruption of the brain and body’s structure and function. Trauma, therefore, must be understood as a condition that bridges psychological and physiological domains, demanding acknowledgment of its tangible reality.

Part II: Trauma Stays Where It Belongs – Why DR Trauma Doesn’t Follow You to the CR

Subpart 1: Shifting Creates a Clean Slate Between Realities

1.1 : The separation of DR and CR experiences

The delineation between Desired Reality (DR) and Current Reality (CR) serves as a foundational concept in understanding the dynamics of reality shifting, particularly concerning the transference of trauma. Contrary to popular misconceptions, trauma experienced within a DR does not permeate into the CR. This separation is rooted in the fundamental differences in neural engagement and physiological responses between the two states of existence.

Primarily, trauma remains confined to the DR because the individual's Ordinary Reality (OR) brain does not physically experience the traumatic events occurring within the DR. During the process of shifting, the consciousness transitions, but the OR brain remains inactive and unexposed to the distressing stimuli present in the DR. As a result, the neurobiological impact of trauma—such as neural rewiring or hormonal imbalances—is localized exclusively within the DR. Upon returning to the CR, the OR brain has not undergone any alterations; it retains its pre-shifted state, free from the stress-induced changes that characterize trauma.

The notion that trauma could transcend the boundaries between realities misconstrues the biological underpinnings of traumatic experiences. Trauma is intrinsically linked to the physical state of the brain and body that directly experiences the distressing event. In the context of reality shifting, since the DR persona endures the trauma, the OR self remains unaffected. The lack of neural activation and hormonal response in the CR brain ensures that traumatic experiences do not carry over. Consequently, the OR neurons do not develop new fear-based circuits, and there is no elevation in cortisol levels, which are typically associated with stress responses.

Moreover, the concept of a "reality boundary" further solidifies the separation between DR and CR experiences. This boundary acts as a psychological and physiological barrier that prevents the transfer of trauma. When an individual shifts back to the CR, their emotional and physical baselines are automatically reset. This reset mechanism ensures that any emotional disturbances or physiological stress responses encountered in the DR do not persist in the CR. Essentially, the CR functions under its own biological rules, independent of the experiences that transpired in the DR.

Additionally, memories of events in the DR may persist; however, these recollections are context-specific and emotionally detached from the traumatic experiences. Similar to how one might remember a vivid dream without experiencing lingering emotional distress, DR memories do not evoke the same biochemical responses in the CR. The OR nervous system does not encode DR events as real threats, thus preventing the manifestation of trauma symptoms such as anxiety or hypervigilance in the CR. This detachment underscores the resilience of the CR self, which remains insulated from the psychological ramifications of DR experiences.

The separation is further emphasized by the absence of biochemical signatures that typically accompany trauma. In the CR, the heart rate remains stable, and the nervous system does not register DR experiences as immediate threats. The hippocampus, responsible for memory formation and stress regulation, remains unaffected by DR-induced stressors. Consequently, the CR self continues its existence without the burden of trauma that is confined to the DR.

In summary, the separation of DR and CR experiences is maintained through distinct neural and physiological processes that prevent the transference of trauma. The OR brain's inactivity during DR experiences ensures that trauma does not impact the CR, preserving the individual's mental and physical well-being upon their return. This clear boundary affirms that trauma remains tethered to its original reality, allowing individuals to navigate multiple realities without compromising their mental health.

1.2 : Why DR Trauma Doesn’t Cross the “Reality Boundary”

Trauma, as a profound neurobiological response to distressing or life-altering events, is inherently tied to the physical brain that experiences it. Within the framework of reality shifting, where an individual transitions from their Current Reality (CR) to a Desired Reality (DR), the concept of trauma traversing the “reality boundary” warrants rigorous examination. The premise that trauma from a DR could impact the CR is fundamentally flawed due to the distinct physiological and neurological separations between these realities.

Firstly, trauma is a condition that necessitates the direct involvement of the brain’s physical structures. When an individual experiences trauma in a DR, the neurobiological alterations—such as changes in neural circuits, hormonal imbalances, and activation of the amygdala and hippocampus—are confined to the DR’s physiological substrate. The CR brain, which remains uninvolved during the shifting process, does not undergo these changes. For instance, if an individual encounters severe stressors like torture or betrayal in a DR, the CR brain does not process these events, resulting in no corresponding activation of stress-related neural pathways or hormonal responses in the CR.

The “reality boundary” operates as an impermeable firewall that prevents the transfer of trauma from the DR to the CR. This boundary ensures that the emotional and physical baselines of the CR are maintained independently of experiences in the DR. Upon returning to the CR, the individual’s emotional and physiological states revert to their pre-shift conditions. This automatic reset is possible because the CR brain and body were never subjected to the traumatic events occurring in the DR. Consequently, the neurobiological foundations required for trauma—such as altered dopamine receptors or disrupted cortisol systems—remain unaltered in the CR.

Moreover, memories of traumatic events in the DR do not carry the same emotional or physiological weight in the CR. These memories are context-specific and lack the neurobiological engagement that is essential for trauma formation. Drawing a parallel, recalling a vivid dream does not induce the same emotional or physical reactions as experiencing the events in reality. Similarly, DR memories exist as mere recollections without the accompanying biochemical changes that underpin traumatic responses. This detachment further reinforces the impermeability of the reality boundary, as the CR brain does not associate these memories with actual neurobiological stressors.

The separation between DR and CR is also maintained through the concept of homeostasis in the CR body. Homeostasis refers to the body’s ability to maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes. When an individual shifts back to the CR, their body’s homeostatic mechanisms ensure that any temporary emotional fluctuations experienced in the DR do not disrupt their overall physiological equilibrium. This reset mechanism is crucial in preventing any lasting impact of DR experiences on the CR’s mental and physical health.

Furthermore, the absence of physical signs of trauma upon returning to the CR underscores the non-transferability of DR-induced trauma. Physical manifestations of trauma, such as changes in heart rate, cortisol levels, and neural activity, are absent in the CR because these physiological responses were never triggered in the first place. The CR body remains unaffected by the DR’s traumatic events, maintaining its original state of equilibrium.

In conclusion, the delineation between DR and CR ensures that trauma remains confined within its originating reality. The neurobiological prerequisites for trauma—direct brain involvement and physiological changes—are not met in the CR during shifts to the DR. The reality boundary effectively isolates traumatic experiences, preserving the mental and physical integrity of the CR. This separation is essential for maintaining psychological resilience and safeguarding the individual’s well-being across different states of existence. As such, trauma experienced in a DR does not traverse the reality boundary to impact the CR, affirming the distinct and independent nature of each reality within the context of reality shifting.

1.3 : DR Memories as Context-Specific and Emotionally Detached

Memories originating from a Desired Reality (DR) may persist within an individual’s consciousness; however, they inherently lack the emotional and physical weight that accompanies such recollections in the Current Reality (CR). This phenomenon can be analogized to the experience of recalling a dream—vivid in detail yet detached from the sensory and emotional intensity of the original event. Trauma, by its very nature, necessitates a comprehensive context that includes biochemical processes and physical states, elements that DR memories do not possess when recalled within the CR framework.

In the CR, individuals may vividly remember events from the DR, such as traumatic experiences, yet these memories do not engender the same profound emotional responses. This dissociation occurs because the DR’s neurobiological context, which facilitates the emotional depth of trauma, remains confined to the DR itself. Consequently, when these memories are accessed in the CR, they are experienced without the accompanying neurobiological changes that are essential for trauma to take root. The absence of factors such as altered neural circuits, hormonal imbalances, and physiological responses renders these memories inert in terms of their potential to induce trauma.

Trauma in the CR results in tangible and lasting effects that permeate an individual’s entire being, influencing neural pathways, hormonal balances, and overall physiological functioning. In contrast, DR memories function as mental snapshots devoid of the original biological context. The assumption that recollection equates to the retention of trauma fails to account for the necessity of an active neurobiological framework. Trauma requires the engagement of the nervous system, including the release of stress hormones and the activation of fear circuits, processes that are not triggered when DR memories are recalled in the CR. Without these biological responses, the memories remain harmless and do not contribute to lasting psychological distress.

The processing of dreams provides a pertinent parallel. Individuals often recall intense dream scenarios, such as falling or experiencing loss, yet these do not result in enduring trauma upon waking. Similarly, DR memories emerge in the CR as vivid yet emotionally detached recollections. Statements reflecting on DR experiences, such as “That was intense,” indicate a superficial engagement devoid of the physiological reactions necessary for trauma. The CR maintains physiological stability—heart rate remains steady, motor functions are controlled, and cortisol levels do not spike—thereby preventing the establishment of trauma.

Misconceptions frequently arise regarding the impact of intense DR events, with some individuals erroneously believing that such experiences can inflict lasting trauma in the CR. However, genuine trauma requires the persistent activation of altered neural circuits, a process absent in the CR brain when recalling DR events. DR memories resemble narratives one might encounter in literature or interactive media; they are engaging and contextually significant within the DR but do not alter the individual’s psychological state in the CR. Without the requisite biological involvement, these memories lack the capacity to trigger authentic trauma responses, functioning instead as mere informational data.

Furthermore, DR memories retain context-specific details, including sequences of events, sensory information, and narrative structures, yet they do not carry the biochemical signatures essential for trauma. Significant events within the DR, such as the death of a friend or a natural disaster, are remembered without evoking the same emotional and physiological responses as real-life traumatic experiences. The CR nervous system interprets these memories as informational rather than as sources of trauma, allowing individuals to retain memories without enduring the associated psychological scars.

In conclusion, DR memories are intrinsically context-specific and emotionally detached, encompassing detailed narratives devoid of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms required for trauma. Individuals can engage with and reflect upon their DR experiences without the risk of enduring trauma, as these memories do not activate the necessary physiological responses. This distinction underscores the importance of understanding the boundaries between different states of existence, ensuring that the exploration of alternate realities does not compromise mental health in the CR.

Subpart 2: Scripting and Personal Control Over Trauma

2.1 : Shifting Grants Individuals Control Over Transference of Experiences

The practice of reality shifting empowers individuals to regulate the nature of experiences they retain upon returning to their Current Reality (CR). Central to this control is the technique of explicit scripting, which ensures that only desired outcomes and positive insights are carried back from the Desired Reality (DR), thereby preventing any adverse emotional or physical effects from influencing the CR. For instance, an individual may affirm, “I will return with only positive lessons, leaving all emotional and physical effects behind,” thereby establishing a clear boundary between the two realities.

Traumatic experiences within the CR typically arise from uncontrollable external events, leading to involuntary neurobiological responses. In contrast, reality shifting offers a mechanism for individuals to define the parameters of their DR experiences proactively. By scripting the conditions of their shifts, individuals can ensure that negative experiences remain confined to the DR, thereby safeguarding their mental and emotional well-being in the CR. This deliberate structuring of experiences allows for the exclusion of traumatic elements, as the individual asserts control over what is permitted to affect their CR consciousness.

Scripting serves as a practical tool for maintaining the integrity of the CR by delineating the scope of what is transferred from the DR. For example, an individual might declare, “I return to the CR calm, stable, and free from emotional harm,” thereby reinforcing the separation between realities. This assertion is effective because the cognitive frameworks established during shifting operations under the individual's predefined rules.

Consequently, the DR functions as a self-contained environment (as in they exitst separatly from this reality) where experiences, including those that might be distressing, do not impose lasting effects on the CR. This approach mirrors the psychological detachment one experiences when recalling dreams—memories remain, but the emotional intensity dissipates upon awakening.

Moreover, scripting enables individuals to curate their personal narratives across realities. In the DR, one might encounter chaotic or high-stakes scenarios, such as battling adversaries or facing personal loss. However, upon returning to the CR, the individual consciously chooses to discard the emotional weight associated with these events. This selective retention of experiences ensures that only beneficial insights and strengths are integrated into the CR consciousness. For instance, an affirmation such as, “After returning, I feel only a sense of accomplishment and gain confidence, not trauma,” establishes a definitive psychological boundary that prevents traumatic residues from permeating the CR.

The efficacy of scripting lies in its ability to function as a mental filter, permitting the transfer of only those experiences that align with the individual's desired outcomes. Unlike trauma in the CR, which necessitates an involuntary engagement of the nervous system, trauma within the DR remains isolated due to the absence of direct neurobiological impact on the CR brain. By reinforcing the separation through explicit scripting, individuals ensure that their CR remains unaffected by the potentially destabilizing experiences encountered in the DR. This methodical approach to reality shifting underscores the importance of personal agency in maintaining mental health across different states of existence.

In summary, the practice of scripting within reality shifting provides individuals with a structured means to control the transference of experiences between realities. By establishing clear boundaries and intentional affirmations, individuals can ensure that only positive and empowering insights are carried back to the CR, thereby preventing the encroachment of trauma and maintaining psychological resilience. This deliberate separation not only preserves the integrity of the CR but also enhances the overall safety and efficacy of reality shifting practices.

2.2 : High-stakes DRs as cathartic but non-damaging experiences

Experiencing trauma within a Desired Reality (DR), such as battling zombies or losing allies, can be likened to emotional role-play—intense and immersive in the moment (as you are living through them when in your CR) but ultimately non-permanent. This analogy serves to elucidate the nature of trauma within the context of reality shifting, where the experiences in the DR areauthentically felt by the individual.

The premise of reality shifting posits that process of shifting is mental and not physical therefore you cannot bring physical things across realities. However, upon returning to the Current Reality (CR), the metaphors of role-playing and narrative experiences become pertinent in understanding why trauma does not transfer between realities.

Trauma is fundamentally a biological response to genuine threats that impact the nervous system, resulting in lasting neurobiological changes. In contrast, DR scenarios, despite their apparent intensity—such as engaging in life-threatening missions or enduring emotional losses—are meticulously structured within a controlled environment (as in they are scripted either in our out as per the shifters will). These experiences function similarly to engaging with a high-stakes video game or an emotionally charged narrative, where the shifter undergoes significant emotional engagement without enduring real physiological harm in the CR. The separation between DR and CR ensures that the neurobiological imprints of trauma remain confined to the DR, as the shifter's brain in the CR does not physically experience these events.

The concept of a "reality boundary" further reinforces why trauma does not traverse between realities. Trauma is intrinsically linked to the specific neural and hormonal changes within the brain that experiences the distressing event. Since the shifter's CR brain does not partake in the DR experiences, the trauma-induced alterations remain localized to the DR. Upon returning to the CR, the individual's emotional and physiological baselines are automatically reset, preventing any residual trauma from affecting their current state. This reset mechanism underscores the impermeability of the reality boundary, ensuring that the CR remains unaffected by the DR's traumatic events.

Moreover, memories of DR events may persist upon returning to the CR, but these memories are context-specific and lack the accompanying emotional or physical weight typically associated with genuine trauma. This detachment can be compared to recalling a vivid dream—while the experiences are remembered, the emotional intensity and sensory details do not impose lasting psychological effects. In the same vein, DR memories are retained as narrative elements without the neurobiological context necessary to sustain trauma. The emotional responses experienced in the DR, such as fear or sadness, are transient and do not result in long-term psychological consequences within the CR.

This delineation between DR and CR experiences provides significant reassurance for individuals engaging in reality shifting. By recognizing DR trauma as temporary and confined within a controlled narrative framework, shifters can partake in intense emotional experiences without the fear of lasting psychological harm. This understanding promotes the safe practice of reality shifting, allowing individuals to explore and engage with challenging scenarios for personal growth and emotional release without compromising their mental health. The analogy to role-playing and immersive storytelling serves to highlight the protective mechanisms inherent in the reality shifting process, ensuring that trauma remains tethered to its original reality and does not permeate the individual's current existence. This does not mean that we invalited the authenticity of the practise or that we proclaim that it is not real .

In summary, the controlled nature of DR experiences and the existence of a reality boundary effectively prevent trauma from crossing into the CR. The metaphor of emotional role-play aptly captures the essence of DR trauma, emphasizing its temporary and non-permanent nature. This framework not only demystifies the process of reality shifting but also affirms that individuals can navigate multiple realities without enduring lasting psychological damage. By maintaining the integrity of the reality boundary and understanding the contextual detachment of DR memories, shifters can engage in high-stakes DRs confidently, knowing that their CR remains unaffected by the emotional and physical challenges encountered in alternate realities.

2.3: Healing and Empowerment Through Desired Reality (DR) Scripting

Trauma inflicts profound and enduring scars when actual events compromise an individual's sense of safety, perpetuating cycles of fear and psychological distress. However, Desired Realities (DRs) present a unique opportunity to reconstruct personal narratives within a controlled environment, thereby mitigating the transference of trauma to the Current Reality (CR). By exercising authority over these experiences, individuals can ensure that trauma remains confined to the DR, facilitating the processing and release of past wounds without their adverse effects persisting in the CR. Through deliberate scripting of scenarios where one overcomes adversity, confronts fears, and emerges resilient, individuals can prevent trauma from impacting their Original Reality (OR) self.

Central to this process is the assertion, “I return better, not broken,” which serves as an affirmation that recalibrates one's approach to shifting. In this framework, the DR functions as a psychological workshop, allowing individuals to symbolically engage with and conquer challenges without sustaining real damage. By orchestrating events that foster resilience, individuals can cultivate growth and empowerment within the DR, ensuring that only positive insights and experiences are carried back to the CR. This method transforms the DR into a space for emotional training, analogous to how athletes train their muscles in a safe environment. In the DR, individuals simulate threats, assert their strength, and demonstrate their capacity to overcome obstacles. Upon returning to the CR, they retain a sense of accomplishment devoid of trauma, as the DR scenarios do not imprint fear into their OR neurons. The deliberate control over these scenarios guarantees that trauma does not biologically affect the individual.

This approach redefines the traditional trauma narrative by distinguishing between involuntary trauma in the OR and consensual, controlled trauma within the DR. In the OR, trauma can occur without an individual's consent, leading to lasting psychological harm. In contrast, the DR allows for the intentional experience of trauma-like events under the individual's terms, preventing such trauma from impacting the OR self. For those seeking to heal from past OR traumas, the DR serves as a stage to symbolically confront and overcome fears, facilitating a return to the CR with enhanced clarity and emotional stability. Affirmations such as, “In my DR, I face my old demons and leave them defeated. I return to the CR with strength and peace,” empower individuals to actively manage their internal narratives.

Moreover, this methodology enables the reshaping of internal experiences, rendering trauma less insurmountable by addressing and overcoming challenges within the DR. Witnessing oneself prevail in the DR not only demonstrates personal strength but also provides emotional tools that enhance well-being in the CR. The OR system recognizes that no actual trauma has occurred, as the engagement within the DR functions as a form of immersive therapy. Consequently, individuals return to the CR uplifted rather than harmed, utilizing the DR as a space for growth and healing.

Critics who fear the transference of trauma from the DR to the CR overlook the empowering potential inherent in DR scripting. They may perceive trauma as an inevitable consequence of intense experiences, failing to recognize that within the DR, individuals retain complete control. Since trauma necessitates a physical substrate—which the DR does not provide to the CR—thoughtful scripting ensures that trauma remains isolated within the DR. Instead of bearing scars, individuals retain only the lessons and strengths derived from overcoming challenges in a safe and controlled environment. This strategic approach to scripting facilitates healing and empowerment, maintaining the integrity of the CR by ensuring that trauma remains firmly anchored within the DR.

In conclusion, DR scripting offers a sophisticated mechanism for individuals to engage with and overcome trauma in a manner that preserves their mental health in the CR. By leveraging the controlled environment of the DR to rewrite traumatic narratives, individuals can achieve personal growth and resilience without the detrimental effects of trauma permeating their everyday reality. This paradigm not only enhances the safety and efficacy of reality shifting practices but also underscores the critical interplay between psychological resilience and the boundaries of alternate states of existence.

Conclusion :

In the discourse surrounding trauma and shifting realities, it's crucial to acknowledge trauma as a profound physical phenomenon that rewires the brain and body under stress. When trauma occurs, it triggers significant changes in neural circuits and hormonal responses, but these alterations remain confined to the specific reality where the trauma happens.

Shifting between the Current Reality (CR) and Desired Reality (DR) is a genuine process that maintains the integrity of each reality by ensuring no physical overlap. Trauma experienced in the DR does not affect the CR, as the nervous system in the CR remains unaffected by events in the DR. This biological separation means that trauma cannot traverse between realities.

Empowerment through control in shifting allows individuals to script their experiences in the DR, confining any negative elements to that reality and preserving the stability of the CR. By managing the narrative within the DR, individuals prevent trauma from impacting their CR, maintaining peace and well-being.

Ultimately, recognizing the distinct and non-overlapping nature of CR and DR ensures that trauma remains confined to its originating reality. Through intentional scripting and clear boundaries, individuals can use shifting as a tool for personal growth and healing while safeguarding their current reality from unintended emotional or physical repercussions.

IF YOU ARE LIKE TL:DR (TOO LONG DIDNT READ) HERE IS A VERY WATERED DOWN VERSION OF EVERYTHING I SAID :

Since it is impossible to bring physical stuff across realties and that trauma is something physical, therefore no, you cannot bring trauma to your CR.

[ozzgin]

HIIII I was wondering if I could request an Inuyasha x Reader lime of the reader trying to explain to him that in the modern era people have sex for *fun* not just to have kids?? I think it’d be really silly lol!! If not that’s ok :3 take your time and take care of urself <333

—⛓️ (chain user anon)

It’s something I have considered given the amount of kids that popped up in the sequel, haha. I shall do my best, I’ve never written limes before so I’m curious to see if I can actually expand on more provocative topics. Thank you for the suggestion!

Inuyasha x Reader Headcanons

Featuring Inuyasha and a reader showing him the ways of casual intercourse. This is a lime so expect vaguely NSFW content.

You’ve been dating for months now and yet Inuyasha has barely touched you, save for the occasional kiss. Which you partly understand, you wouldn’t expect him to aggressively start groping you in front of the others, but even when you’re alone he keeps a certain distance and it confuses you greatly.

It doesn’t help that he’s a massive tsundere and getting him to talk about his feelings is a Herculean task. He’ll blush, avoid eye contact and just bark short, vague responses in hopes that you’ll stop pestering him.

You reach the point of exasperation when you ask him point blank if he’s just not attracted to you, in which case why even bother dating? His eyes widen in shock, completely taken aback by your statement. Was that what you’ve been thinking? He vehemently denies it but you don’t back down without an explanation. Finally he mumbles a barely audible reasoning. “I just don’t want any kids right now.” Now it’s your turn to stare. “Wha- How is that related to anything?”

It dawns on you that Inuyasha associates sex solely with reproduction. It’s not like he’s had any context to be provided a different view. You hold back the snicker that was about to escape your lips, as you don’t want to embarrass him any further. You find his archaic beliefs cute. Thankfully you’ve been prepared for quite some time now, so you quickly reassure him that it is, in fact, entirely possible to avoid offspring while still having fun. As you expand on your explanation you pull out the small box of condoms that you’ve been keeping in your backpack.

He doesn’t really understand the object you’re showing him so you decide that a concrete demonstration will clear up any confusion. Although you have to wrestle him onto the ground to convince him to take his clothes off. There are five stages of grief and you wonder if there’s a similar concept regarding someone too embarrassed to have sex. Refusal to undress, anger at being seen naked, bargaining to leave it for another time - and this is where it takes the turn - curiosity about giving it a try and finally, acceptance.

You don’t have to struggle too much, truth be told. Your body is the final argument and he can’t say no to the sight. Within moments he’s biting your collarbone and panting for more.

Once he gets over the initial shyness he’s almost like a dog in heat. He’ll constantly find excuses to temporarily separate from the group and have his alone time with you. He’ll insist on following you trough the well and to the store so he can proudly stand next to you when you restock on condoms. “You bet I’m the one hitting that” he thinks with a smug expression. Dear Lord, you’ve created a monster.

Though sometimes after your special time together, as you rest your head on his chest, he will lazily daydream about leaving the safety aside and actually starting a family with you. His ears twitch excitedly at the thought. And then a new idea strays away from it: can he still do it with you if you’re pregnant?

[sgiandubh]

Chère Madame Connasse/ Dear Mrs. Fuckwit

First of all, please excuse the length of this answer (you have also been blocked, incidentally speaking). This deserves its own audio. In French, since the French connection is so fucking tenuous:

Here is the English translation, since I am pretty sure Madame Connasse does not speak any French:

'Dear Mrs. Fuckwit,

Oh, well - how may I put it? I also find interesting that such an idiot would lose her time sending such enormous things to a page she hates and which, in return, cordially tells her to go fuck herself.

I usually am entitled to some pretty mighty garbage, but you do have enough vocabulary as to use words like 'hubristic' and 'vortex'. That makes you, by the way, very vulnerable and also more exposed than Uganda's current budget.

But why not you, after all, like so many others? The more, the merrier and you do write, not without some chutzpah, that my French connection is tenuous, as is my legal expertise and that I make you laugh, along with all the rest of the shipper community. Which, to be honest, is as untrue as possible. But it must be such a pain in the ass for you to see that people read me, that people like what I write and that, who knows, all those people (of which there are many), have a better day, in this bizarre environment.

I have already shown you some pictures of myself, including at official events. It was not enough.

I have already shown you my car, my office, my desk and my diplomatic passport. It was not enough.

With just one click you could have checked all the (very transparent) clues I have patiently scattered in my posts, in order for you to find me. Some did. They know perfectly well that you lie and you know it, too.

So, here's the deal, you stupid bitch: your cackle will turn sour when you'll see this very official paper:

This is just one of my law degrees - my Public Law BA at the Paris II University, in June 2001, as you can see by yourself. I have worked so hard and so passionately to get it, that I don't give a flying fuck about the fact that a nobody, and a coward to boot, doubts me. I have nothing to prove, nothing to demonstrate and I owe you nothing. However, sometimes one must set the record straight and I am a very impulsive person, after all.

I shall spare you all the rest, dear Mrs. Fuckwit. There is much more, but I am afraid your self esteem could never bear it. That being said, think twice, the next time you'd try to humiliate someone you do not know. Internet is so wonderfully sketchy that you never know (pinky promise: like never, ever know) to whom you're really talking. People lie very easily in here: I find this ridiculous and useless, in 2024, when one can find more or less everything about anyone. In no time at all, provided one knows exactly how to do it (between you and me, it's not even that complicated).

You and your posse of Pointless Underlings have insulted and intimidated dozens and dozens of people of our community, with an absolutely revolting ferocity. You have been doing it for years, with complete impunity and the strong belief that you were protected by a particularly perverted context, by some obscure agendas and by the indifference of the Two Main Characters. I am here to tell you I am not afraid and also that I couldn't care less about whatever you'd write or think. You will do it again, of course, because I think your obsessive universe is limited to the tiny window of your delusions.

But don't worry, dear Mrs. Fuckwit: until further notice, I shall make mine what a distant descendant of Irish Rebels, marshal of France Mac Mahon, said during the Crimea War - I am here and I am here to stay.

Also, you know: she who laughs last laughs the best.'

[appleblocks]

Super secret Next Gen AU art bellow!! I probably shouldnt be posting it since it's SPOILERS however, my brain requires instant gratification for the things i make so I'm gonna put it under the cut and you can look at it IF you'd like! :D

Enjoy!!

I shall provide no further context other than: this scene has NOT been writen yet, but I am HEAVILY considering having it once the requirements are met (Hermes being red)

[thecomfywriter]

Before i forget to ask for Alan….

Is general, overall, etc..has magic truly enriched his life? Or is it some corrupting force, taking over his soul and making a duplicate all too different. Or, it can be both. His relationship with magic, is it complicated then? Does he fault his mistakes to magic, or does he still like it?

bruh—

it’s the way i gasped when i read this ask. what a FASCINATING question. let’s deep dive into alan’s psyche and the influence of magic on his mind and identity, shall we?

day one of tcw christmas asks—alan and the corruption of magic [tov, sai, and cos spoilers ahead] 

what a question…. it’s funny because this is a question alan asks himself quite a bit in narration, but especially in sai. i’ll try to answer this the best i can, but tldr: it depends on who you ask. 

if you ask alan himself, “do you think magic corrupted you and made you who you are today? do you think it was worth the cost?” he would never blame the magic himself. alan only ever faults himself for what magic did to him. at the end of the day, he believes his own nativity and lack of willpower is what allowed him to be corrupted by magic, and not the magic itself. magic has and will forever be otherworldly and beautiful in alan’s eyes. he can’t blame it for his own downfall because, at the end of the day, magic is like nature, in soilaila—a force without judgement. 

HOWEVERRRRRR… 

let’s do a couple of considerations, shall we? if you asked ME as the author if magic was what corrupted alan, i would say no, it wasn’t. having the wrong teacher was.

there’s an excerpt in cos that supports my point, but first i’ll touch on caramel and the way she first describes magic in ToV chapter 5: 

“Just be careful, Paaya. Magic can be a dangerous thing. Especially if the source is corrupt. If you have a good teacher—a kind, benevolent, moral mentor—they can guide you to channel the magic within you into great, incredible things.” 

- Throne of Vengeance, Volume One (purchase here or read here)

let’s be SO FR with ourselves… hilbert is not that guy. hilbert and von doro both corrupt alan by teaching him magic as a vector for their own agendas. alan’s sanity was just collateral damage in their eyes. 

BUT THENNNNN....! THERE COMES EVAN’s SERIES AND THE FURTHER CONTEXT THAT CoS PROVIDES

this is not an evan ask so ill limit those spoilers, but in cos, there’s a scene where evan is asking about the “magic is corruption” thing and if he would also inevitably be corrupted by those powerful forces. he wanted to know if the corruption itself was a limit to gaining infinite power or if there was a way to learn as much magic as the gods without being corrupted. and he gets two answers that day: 

“who said that gods aren’t corrupted?” 

and 

“learn from the sources, evan, and we won’t punish you for your betrayal.” 

which suggests two things: 

there is no such thing as an uncorrupted mentor of magic (and therefore all magic is corruption. the more you learn, the more corrupt you become). and…

the gods wish to gain followers by offering them magic, and when they seek other sources, they become vengeful and increase the level of corruption the person experiences 

all things considered, alan’s corruption was as inevitable as his downfall, because in seeking to become a limious, he sought a glorious amount of power that was equal to his level of corruption. and by learning from hilbert, it solidified his arc. 

he will never see it that way though. he will always blame himself instead. because to blame fate is to remove his agency, and to be powerless is worse than being corrupt. 

thanks for the ask, smihi! 

-- once again, harrassing the dead tag list --

@wyked-ao3 @an-indecisive-nerd @drchenquill

@paeliae-occasionally @theink-stainedfolk @inseasofgreen

@thelovelymachinery @the-letterbox-archives @illarian-rambling

@bunnymermaidwrites @the-golden-comet @sm-writes-chaos

@leahnardo-da-veggie

ALSO WISH ME LUCK FOR MY EXAM TOMORROW MORNING (if this post isn't coherent, its because i'm about to knock out lol)

[mortalpolykule]

Lay All Your Love On Me

Chapter 1: Sweat

Bi Han x Shang Tsung x Liu Kang

An au in which Bi Han doesn’t betray his brothers and they capture Shang Tsung. No guarantees that there will be much plot after this. Mainly just connected short stories about the character relations. This first part is mainly just laying the groundwork for character interactions and providing context. The pacing is a bit clunkier than I wanted, but fuck it we ball.

Warnings: None for this one, although there may be smut in future chapters

Bi Han, Kuai Liang, and Tomas had returned from their mission with Shang Tsung in tow as a prisoner. The sorcerer had his hands tied behind his back and his mouth gagged with a strip of cloth. His eyes dragged slyly around the room, likely plotting his escape. Kuai Liang and Tomas briefed him on the mission. There were a few hiccups along the way, but the trio was ultimately successful in disrupting the enemy’s plans. Liu Kang praised them for their efforts. Throughout the conversation, Bi Han had his eyes fixed on Shang Tsung. On the surface, it appeared that he was just keeping a close eye on the prisoner, but there was some underlying tension between the two of them.

“And what shall be done with the sorcerer?” Bi Han spoke up. His gaze was still deadly focused on Shang Tsung, who opted to ignore him and observe Liu Kang instead. Liu Kang could feel the sorcerer sizing him up. He realized that this was their first meeting in person since he defeated his counterpart and began constructing the new timeline.

“Shang Tsung will either be turned in to Outworld’s authorities to be tried for his crimes, or he can remain here in the temple under my supervision. I leave that up to Shang Tsung,” Liu Kang explained. Bi Han did not like that answer.

“He tried to tear my family apart and bring disgrace to the Lin Kuei!” He growled. “And the only punishment you have in mind is to babysit him?”

“I will explain all in time,” Liu Kang reasoned, his tone soft in an attempt to deescalate the situation. However, that only seemed to enrage Bi Han further.

“I have grown tired of your vague statements and half truths!” He roared.

‘Ah. So that is the source of his anger,’ Liu Kang noted.

“Bi Han!” Kuai Liang called out. His brother’s temper was making him increasingly nervous. Liu Kang did not react to the outburst, much to Kuai Liang and Tomas’ relief.

The Fire God knew that he must nip this conflict in the bud before it resulted in disaster, and he realized exactly what he needed to do.

“Kuai Liang, Tomas, please take Shang Tsung to my quarters. I must speak with Bi Han alone,” He said.

The two brothers bowed quickly and exited the room, tugging Shang Tsung with them, much to the sorcerer’s disappointment. He very much wanted to observe the Fire God and Grandmaster together.

Bi Han watched Liu Kang intently, his body still tensed, ready for a fight. Liu Kang decided that they weren’t going to make any progress with him amped up like this. Liu Kang calmly walked over to him and placed a firm but gentle hand on his shoulder. Bi Han flinched, expecting a blow that never came, but he made no move to push his hand away.

“I understand your anger Bi Han. Come with me, and you will have the answers you seek,” He said before turning and exiting the room. Bi Han decided to indulge him if it meant getting an explanation for Liu Kang’s lax punishment for Shang Tsung. They walked silently for a few minutes. Bi Han had spent a limited amount of time at the academy, so he was unfamiliar with this path. Eventually they came upon an isolated clearing. There were racks with various weapons placed around a grassless circle. It was much more simple compared to the other training grounds he had seen around the academy.

“Spar with me,” Liu Kang stated. Bi Han looked at him incredulously.

“I thought we were discussing the sorcerer,” he deadpanned.

“We will do that as well, but I need your mind to be clear for what I’m about to tell you,” Liu Kang explained. Bi Han’s eyebrows raised. Now, his curiosity was beginning to outweigh his frustration.

The two of them opted to fight without weapons or powers, relying only on hand to hand skill and strength. Bi Han figured the fight would not be easy, considering Liu Kang was a literal god, but he had confidence in his own fighting prowess as well. Liu Kang matched his every blow and was able to counteract him with ease. He played on the defensive side while Bi Han was on the offensive. After a while, Liu Kang finally began to speak.

He explained everything from when he took control over the hour glass to now, how he created this timeline to be be better than the last, crafting everyone’s fate to create the most peaceful outcome. He didn’t divulge much information about the previous timeline, but he did tell how Shang Tsung was a powerful sorcerer and had caused much chaos across the realms, so in this timeline Liu Kang wanted to neutralize him by giving him a meaningless life.

The fact that Bi Han was right about the sorcerer being a danger to them all only brought a small bit of comfort, for he was beyond shocked and angry. How much control did he really have over his own fate? His blows came down harder than before and his pace was beginning to grow more frantic.

“Talk to me Bi Han. Voice your frustrations freely. I will not judge you for them,” Liu Kang stated. He was still largely unaffected by Bi Han’s onslaught, which only increased the cryomancer’s ire. Bi Han could feel ice beginning to form on his hands, a physical manifestation of the heightened emotions storming inside of him. Still, he concentrated on keeping his powers in check. The Fire God had kept up his end of the bargain, and Bi Han wasn’t about to pull out his ice for his own convenience. He had more honor than that, honor that Shang Tsung had tried to strip away. The mere thought of the sorcerer had him in a fury before Bi Han even realized it. His form had gotten sloppy.

“Bi Han. Tell me what’s going on,” Liu Kang tried again. He remained calm and collected, merely blocking Bi Han’s blows as they came. He had been so focused on reading Bi Han’s expressions, that he failed to anticipate a sweeping blow from Bi Han’s leg, knocking him off balanced and sending him to the ground. Bi Han wasn’t even sure if he himself was expecting it either. A small gasp left Liu Kang as his back collided with the floor and the air was knocked out of his lungs. Out of all possible reactions, Bi Han didn’t expect Liu Kang to let out a hearty laugh and sit up, brushing the dirt off of his clothes.

“You caught me off guard. Well done,” he said with a smile, no evidence of anger or embarrassment on his face. Emanating from him was an aura of fondness and…. pride? Bi Han was so taken aback that he dropped his fighting stance completely. His eyes were wide, analyzing Liu Kang for any tricks. He would deny forever that a blush had crept up onto his cheeks and ears. His mind was swimming. His instincts and his starvation for praise were fighting amongst each other, and there were still the revelations from during the fight. This man-this god that sat before him was so much more than Bi Han had ever imagined. Liu Kang reached a hand out and gently pulled Bi Han down to sit next to him.

“Would you like to talk about it?” Liu Kang asked, still smiling gently. Bi Han couldn’t bring himself to make eye contact with him. Liu Kang had to have noticed his blush. He noticed everything.

“I…,” Bi Han began, but in that moment, words failed him. Where would he even start? There were so many things he wanted to say to him. To shout at him. He wanted to punch him and then gently hold his face in his hands.

“If you need time to process everything, I understand. I apologize for any distress that I have caused you and I promise to be more forthcoming about my decisions in the future,” Liu Kang said.

Bi Han simply nodded with a grunt.

“I also realize that it is important for me to admit when I have made a mistake. I believe this is the case with Shang Tsung. I weaved his fate out of spite and a desire for vengeance, and because of that, his suffering is my own doing. I must rectify this.” Liu Kang stood up and reached out his hand to Bi Han. “I will not ask you to forget your feelings, but I hope that you will be more patient with Shang Tsung from now on.”

Bi Han sighed. He had no energy left to argue, but he did take Liu Kang’s hand.

“Very well, but you better keep your promise.” Bi Han grunted.

1, 2, 3, 4

[electronicclowncollector]

Levia Essay

(This essay is made because of @dragongodryss 's request and some knowledge was provided by @lilacharbour )

(this is levia ^)

It’s commonly believed by the older generations of Fairy Tail experts that Levia Is a mere brute, who receives absolutely no character development, some even believe that he’s one of the less intelligent characters of Fairy Tail. This is wrong. Levia is an incredibly deep character with a backstory filled with sadness that can be rivalled by no other, a true misunderstood victim if I do say so myself.

Before I can explain my beliefs, I believe some context is required for who exactly Levia is, even some of my own mentors in Fairy Tail knowledge had to use meaningless sources like google or the fairy tail wiki, but of course I knew right off the bat who Levia was, as I have pondered for many hours about the sheer depth of his character. Starting with his name, Levia, likely named after the Leviathan of the Hebrew Bible. The Leviathan is often treated as the embodiment of the sin of envy, which will be important to the analysis later. In Fairy Tail, Levia is the loyal pet of Rogue from the evil timeline (who will be named Revil from now on (a mix between the word rogue and evil)), whos mission was to keep Rogue in place long enough for Revil to steal present Sting and bring him Back to the Future (By Robert Zemekis).

Now that the context has been explained, I shall now explain why most Fairy Tail fans are wrong about him. During his backstory, it was explained that Revil took Levia in when he was at his lowest point, addicted to dragonberries, without a cave over his head, and desperately needing a pile of treasure for a bed (as dragons do in fairy tail). That was when Revil invited him to join the Sabertooth guild, but the sabretooth guild didn’t like that. They didn’t allow dragons into the guild for various reasons, but the true reason is because Sting didn’t want to share rogues heart with yet another creature, this is proven in the following dialogue quoted directly from the manga, starting with revil: “Tell me, why can’t we let Levia join the sabretooth guild? Have you not seen his teeth?” Sting responded saying, “Rogue we have 5 rules in the sabretooth guild”. Sting proceeded to point at the plaque which had all the rules listed (those are unimportant for the time being). But the 5th one had been altered, from “No pet dragonets” to “No dragon in guild”, though it was clear that letters had been crudely crossed out with a very sharp knife (though the person evidently didn’t have a steady hand as it was messy), and the extra letters added to the end were clearly in a different quality to the rest of the text on the plaque. A big part of stings character is also his very poor written grammar. This clearly shows that Sting had an ulterior motive, but this is a Levia essay not a stingue essay, so I will not elaborate further. Anyway, this even led to what many fans considered impossible, the breakup of Sting and Rogue (this was before the dark destinies saga was retconned into being an “evil timeline”.

Anyway, this is what jumpstarted Rogues evil journey, he slowly became evil and manipulative, but Levia remained loyal. Rogue helped him get stronger, and Levia protected rogue any time Sting tried to bring harm to them, showing a clear sense of comradery between Revil and Levia. That’s what I would say if I was WRONG. Levia was clearly being manipulated by Revil into remaining loyal. The spinoff about the dark Destinies saga also shows one of these moments, starting with revil: “Levia, my loyal minion, I have a plan. If I can go back in time to when Sting and I were still best boyfriends forever, I can persuade past sting to come with me to the future.” Levia responded saying “But master? How will we do this without harming any of the past citizens?”. The following line sent a tear down my cheek, “a capture mission doesn't mean you can't break a few bones”. This broke Levias heart. He was always a pacifist, this was his core value, to avoid conflict at all cost. But it was his masters orders, so he was forced to follow along with it.

Of course, the first part of this mission was a success, Revil and Levia went back in time. The first part of the plan shows Revils lack of care for Levia, he had Levia keep Rogue in one place, by any means necessary. And, showing a clear loyalty, he followed his masters orders. While Levia followed the orders, he felt morally conflicted, so he decided to change his heart, and brought rogue back to sting, showing a clear sense of justice. Revil loved past sting too much, so if present Rogue lost sting, it would sting. So the final battle began. Levia was forced to watch as revil fought rogue and sting, until he finally decided to stand up for himself. He was about to step forward to stop Revil, when he was cruelly stopped by present Sting. A clear misunderstanding in intentions. This was the tragic end for Levia, he didn’t mean any harm with his actions, he was merely a product of his manipulation. It was such a shame to see such a deep character be killed off so early into his character arc.

The writer of the Fairy tail manga was incredibly brave with his namesake of Levia, treating it as though he was the embodiment of jealousy, when the true embodiment of jealousy was his master, Revil. I hope this has convinced you of the truth about Levia

[threetrenchcoatsinatrenchcoat]

Late-Stage Capitalism Was Never An Option: The Politics, Economics, and Morality of Untitled Goose Game

Untitled Goose Game is a 2019 one-to-two player puzzle comedy video game developed by independent studio House House. It is known for its slapstick humor, soundtrack made of Debussy snippets, and simple abstract visual art style. These whimsical components belie the piece's robust canvas for critical discussion of the morality of western capitalism. Despite the richness of the source material, we couldn't find such an analysis existing already. Further scholarship is encouraged. In this essay we will examine Untitled Goose Game in the context of economic policy through such concepts as private ownership, the responsibilities of businesses, law enforcement, and alienation from the self. I'm not kidding.

The primary question to answer with regard to a player's experience is: What makes being a horrible goose so fun? The player character is not shown to have a long-term motive, nor any danger from which to escape. The goose in fact plays the part of the instigator in several of the hostile relationships formed with the world's humans throughout the game. It is satisfying to trick said humans in the way a successfully pulled prank may be satisfying, deserved or otherwise. But achieving tasks in Untitled Goose Game feels morally right in a small but consistent additional sense (source: I played it, and it felt real good). There is an undercurrent of retribution we will discuss, but to consider any angle of retribution, we must first analyze the goose's motives or lack thereof.

The goose may intend simply to steal a few objects initially, but may have been intending the entire arc of the game upon starting. It is tempting to assume the provided lists of tasks implies the latter interpretation, but we argue the opposite. The game finishes when the goose places a bell gathered from the end of the game into a pit near the game's start. For one last joke, the pit is seen to contain several other identical bells, indicating the whole story has happened many times over and will happen again. Because of this fact, as a literal understanding of the lists of tasks, we could say these lists started small but grew and were refined over several cycles. We shall instead say simply the tasks and the story of the game therefore exist effectively outside of time. The goose isn't rotely following the tasks, nor are the tasks simply notating the goose's whims as they appear. The tasks are themselves the goose's present and future aims. The goose will always enter the garden, the gardener will always chase it out, and the goose will always subsequently spray the gardener with the hose.

When looking at analogues of trickster gods, such as Coyote, Anansi, or Bugs Bunny, the ethical code leading up to a great trick tends toward a sense of comeuppance. The trickster god will never aim to cause a conflict, but can end one with aplomb. The potentiality of the goose’s designs are less clear than of the aforementioned examples. The clearest cases are with the first tasks provided in each of the game's five areas. Three of them are explicitly to enter: Enter the Garden, Enter the Pub, and Enter the Model Village. The goose must choose to take on these tasks, yet the crimes of trespassing are rather benign as initial infractions, especially to a presumably illiterate animal.

The other two starting tasks are even harder for which to fault the goose: Break the Broom and Make Someone Break the Fancy Vase. The broom in High Street can only be broken after the shopkeeper attempts to shoo the goose away, whose only crime at this point is again trespassing. And the vase in Back Gardens isn't even broken by the player character; the goose moves the vase to a different backyard, and the human's lack of regard for others' property and high regard for property ownership causes them to lob the vase back over the fence, resulting in anguish for both involved humans. These instances highlight a consistent story component: the goose doesn't initially want to cause damage, but simply doesn't care about imaginary lines of personal property ownership.

Placing the player in the role of a wild animal, with no assumed responsibility for understanding western economic rules is a powerfully subtle reframing of those economic rules. The humans of the world, with a few notable exceptions, believe unwaveringly that certain lines must not be crossed, especially in fields of private ownership. A view of the goose's precedental actions as agnostic to this human concept then criminates as the cause of the game's chaos a belief in private ownership itself. Untitled Goose Game invites the player to a context not only wherein property law visibly begets disaster, but direct criminal action in its opposition is made liberating and joyous.

About half of the tasks in the game are facilitated by a human’s effort to hamper the goose. For instance, when filling up the sink in the pub, the easiest way to keep the worker from finding the player and turning the water off is to first, intentionally be loud and visible at the other end of the pub. In several of these tasks, a human calmly allowing the goose to coexist in their space would make it impossible for the player to get away with their antics, let alone the possibility that a human decision to do so may entirely remove the desire for the goose to pursue such antics. In addition, even if the player fails to engage with the motivation of each of the goose's initial acts, the goose's intent and opportunity to escalate makes a clear statement on the enforcement of those initial laws.

A dogged pursuit of a culprit and punishment-based justice occasionally inconvenience the goose, but always lead to harming the humans enacting such enforcement. The first three sections end with a task whose success depends on a human erecting an anti-geese sign. Whether by personal choice, or the perceived responsibility of a business, the humans behave with intolerance to their own detriment. This clarifies the morality with regard to trickster god logic: the initial stone cast is not the goose's if and only if the goose is considered outside of or even above private ownership. In fact almost all tasks in the game exist in one of the following categories: Problems caused or partially enabled by human hostility, Problems enabled by humans unable to recognize their possessions, and Frivolous recreations of human activity.

The first category is detailed by the last paragraph��s discussion, so we will continue with the second category. Problems enabled by humans unable to recognize their possessions consists of at most one task per area: Make the Groundskeeper Wear His Sun Hat, Make the Boy Wear the Wrong Glasses, Make Someone Buy Back Their Own Stuff, and Get Dressed Up With a Ribbon. The groundskeeper doesn't necessarily fail to recognize the difference between their hats, but we include it in this category due to their ambivalence after the switch. These tasks provide a strong representation of human self-alienation. While the humans consistently take assiduous care in protecting their property and seeking it out when missing,

in a few instances, they cannot even distinguish their items from improvised replacements. Griffin McElroy, I mean The Boy on High Street, will wear whatever glasses are presented to them, and if their vision is lacking upon the interchange, they don't show it. The Shopkeeper, when presented with the Boy's airplane toy will assume it is one of their own goods for sale. Despite the Boy's protests and having no direct analogue in the market with which to be confused, the Shopkeeper refuses to let the Boy recollect their toy without some payment. This confusion isn't even the Boy's fault, but the Boy plays the victim of this scheme, making it the prank that feels the worst to a player (source: I played it and felt kinda bad). As uncomfortable as the player may be, this task demonstrates how alienation from one's own lived experience can hurt others around one as well as oneself.

Interestingly, because of the modular nature of the game's design, this task can be repeated indefinitely, so even if unintentionally, the Shopkeeper is shown to be so disconnected from their work, they will mindlessly repeat an infinite cycle of reselling the same object to the same customer, acting as if this dehumanizing spiral is indistinguishable from the rest of their clocked hours. The Woman in Back Gardens will be incensed in dragging their goose statue back to its position, but when the statue is hidden, they will appear unable to tell it from a real goose even when tying on a ribbon. Each of these cases may be due to extreme unawareness as much as presumed societal pressure to perform normalcy, but in either case, the effect of alienation is clear: In their social and economic reality, humans must act like they deeply value their possessions while remaining removed from any tangible attachment thereof.

The third category of task drives home Untitled Goose Game's statement on capitalism: Frivolous recreations of human activity. There is one such task that consists of nested subtasks in four of the five areas. The other categories of task mentioned above present what is wrong, what is not identifiable with the world relative to the goose. This third category presents the clearest window into the goose's true beliefs, what is right, what is identifiable. The goose, and to an extent the player, does not look down on the actions of the in-game humans. The actions of preparing a picnic, going shopping, doing laundry, or setting a table, are all beautiful and fun. But only because the goose is free to choose their doing. These are the most laborious of all tasks in the game, and they are indeed rote chores to a human. It is the conditions of anti-authoritarianism and novelty that elevate the goose's perception of what could be tedium. The goose is not required externally to set a table and is certainly not required to set a table dozens of times an hour. The inescapability of the professional pressure is what removes the fun from an act that is presented to the player as a game to play. Here, Untitled Goose Game points at several cracks in the practice of western economics, and points just as precisely at a better way to live.

We previously stated these three categories comprise almost all tasks in the game. A few of the exceptions are simply flippant chaos as further, albeit indirect, just desserts to interactions humans started. But there is only one task in the game that cannot be categorized by flippant chaos, nor any of the previously listed: Be Awarded a Flower. Two patrons of the pub are notably unbothered by the goose's presence and go so far as deliberately playing with it. After the goose mimics a few behaviors for their delight, they will happily grant it a rose from their table. Everything about this interaction stands out from the rest of the game.

The patrons don't chase you, they don't snitch to someone who will, and they are themselves willing to break from rules of individual ownership: the rose appears as a table decoration, and yet they avail themselves to a handy gift for their new avian friend. It is striking that the brightest moment of community in the game is the exchanging of an object neither party legally owns. Both of these patrons are depicted with dark skin, one with a head scarf, common in Black hair maintenance and fashion. This choice of ally hints at an interpretation of the goose as a member of a marginalized community, perhaps itself an immigrant and/or person of color. We leave this topic open to further research and here make our own argument for what the goose represents: the eponymous untitled goose is change incarnate.

Keeping these foundations ahold, allow our perspective to take a step back. From here, we may observe each area is a close exploration of the themes’ elements. The first area is the Garden, wherein we explore the concept of the Individual in the context of western capitalism. In the Garden, we begin discovering a lone human’s reluctance to engage with a force of change interested in causing small disturbances. The Gardener is very protective of private property, especially with the boundaries of land, and their primary drive is toward a state of emotionlessness and order.

The second area is High Street, which centers on the concept of Commerce. Here we witness the detachment of the worker from both their work and their customer. The human drive for order and a status quo continue as we see the Shopkeeper attempt similarly to repel the harbinger of change away, but from the interests of a business rather than a citizen. Notably, the avatar for businessgoer is the young boy who is the only NPC in the piece to run away from the goose when confronted, instead of toward the goose with ill intent. Those unlucky humans dependent on interacting with capital from a position of less relative power are also driven toward a mistrust of change, but employ this mistrust without land to defend—disengagement is the only reaction left to the customer.

On Back Gardens, we explore the interactions of Society. The neighbors have a comically unmalleable sense of remove from each others’ beings. They may only listen at the hedge for gossip and communicate directly when grievances are to be had as society under an economy and culture of alienation sprouts rigidly divided compartmentalizations. The humans will angrily chase the goose when their own goods have been taken, but only up to the lines of legal property. Once that bound has been overstepped, the humans will entirely drop their anger and forget they had losses to cut. The lesson is that no matter what a citizen cares about, they value it far less than the potential pleasure of letting a force of change become someone else’s problem.

The Pub is where these pieces come together to be considered from an even greater distance: the old man acts as an Individual, the pub’s staff act as Commerce, and the dissociation between those two as well as the delivery workers and other patrons fill out our picture as Society, reprising the motions we’ve come to understand from the previous three sections. The primary task of the Model Village serves simply to reinforce how separate each of these elements must be: the citizens throughout the town will try to grab the bell from the goose as it runs back home, and yet will never go further than the bounds afforded them by their given cultural archetypes.

The goose exists as a wind of untamed progress into a town with an almost entirely wrought-iron viewpoint. The townspeople are resistant to the goose’s mere existence before any threat to their day is presented. They struggle in vain toward a veneer of order, often at a greater cost than of the order lost. Their stance against the goose forces them to expose the flaws in their rules and run up against their own self-imposed boundaries—occasionally literally as in High Gardens and with the bell after the Model Village. In most areas, the goose can’t move on until the humans put up a no-geese sign, as if this supernatural force will not leave them be until they have sufficiently reckoned with it.

The humans are not universally opposed to the goose, but the couple exceptions are not necessary for the goose to move on. Change comes, like it or not. Making this manifestation of change a cute animal is an efficient way to arouse empathy. A goose can’t be expected to know its actions are considered unlawful, but once the humans have clearly aimed their energies against it so, its persistence in its behavior and the players’ awareness of its criminality are, in effect, the same. Untitled Goose Game contrives its NPCs’ logic and behaviors just enough to make out-of-game economic realities appear as farcical as they already are flawed, then it gives the player the chance to undermine, challenge, and exploit what have become visibly unfair and immoral systems with an angle parallel to that required of critical political activism and reform. That’s why being a horrible goose is so fun.

We have no conflicts of interest to report, although House House if you wanna pay me for this hmu lol.

[frozenjokes]

hi um. can i ask what the cloth mother/wire mother chart means? me and my friends have been trying to break it down for like half an hour of back and forth constant debate and external sources. we understand the experiment, but could you explain each point separately as an axis?

we think that the monkey/mother is what mother they prefer.. but then what is the object? the object cant prefer a mother as an object, so then does that mean that they /are/ the mother? it.. has been a topic of much debate please explain your research i am fascinated and need to know more

let it be known, this is the best ask I’ve ever gotten. you are in for it. For reference, here is the blank graph.

short answer: this is a personality chart. The measure is How Much ____ person is Monkey/Diabolical Object vs Cloth/Wire Mother

long answer: AUTISM. let’s talk about autism shall we? yes… I think we will. Autism. I do not choose the inanimate objects I identify with. The autism chooses. And if you are a psych major in college you may know that every professor on the face of the earth talks about harlow’s monkeys. They are everywhere. I’ve been lectured on the monkeys MANY a time. Now when you’ve seen these videos about this experiment over and over again (as well as watching them on your own time because as established, your ass is not normal) you start to.. identify with them. SPECIFICALLY when you are a blunt, outwardly colder kind of person. Someone with sharper edges. Someone who has a hard time making friends and fitting in and finding people who YADDA YADDA YADDA THIS IS TUMBLR YOU (reader) GET IT. Now we see wire mother yes? Do you see a similarity? Do you see all those memes about her, DISRESPECTING HER, MISUNDERSTANDING HER, SHE’S TRYING HER FUCJING BEST AND YET SHE IS OUTCAST, SHE IS DISCOUNTED.

she also looks like this. actually, let’s take a look at all of them, shall we?

no further comment. this is peak design. diabolical object in particular is ?!!??!!!?? great. more pictures now.

NEEDLESS TO SAY. I am wire mother. I am a wire mother (on the graph I fall between wire mother and diabolical object) and I am so abnormal about it, if any person that vaguely knows me sees any post on any platform that so much as mentions this experiment it goes Directly to me.

Maybe this isn’t important. But maybe it is. Maybe you need to get to know them, to know them like I do. But now for what you’re really here for. What does it mean.

Let’s begin

THE X AXIS: Cloth/Wire Mother is primarily about Warmth. It’s about Affect. (psych term for the way people emote, simply. You can have a positive affect, a negative affect, a neutral affect, it’s used often in the context of neurodivergence. For example a person with schizoid personality disorder expresses an extremely low range of emotion, and therefore, often shows neutral or negative affect. It’s a useful descriptor for autism as well.) Do people feel comfortable around you upon first meetings? Do people feel comfortable around you upon first meetings when you AREN’T masking? How easy/difficult is it for you to mask? Do you feel the need to mask at all? Sociability is big here. It should be noted the x axis has nothing to do with someone being a ‘nice’ or ‘mean’ person. This entire graph isn’t about Nice or Mean, it’s about perception, it’s about how people hold themselves.

Cloth Mother: Cloth Mothers are warm, they are approachable. These are the type of people you’re drawn to, the type of people that make others laugh. Cloth mothers do not have to be socially adept, but they often are, or at the very least they’re outgoing enough to provide the illusion of adeptness. For example, one of my good friends is very socially outgoing, very extroverted, but at the same time, struggles with social cues in the ADHD way of not always knowing when to stop or start talking, etc etc. Cloth mothers typically have a more positive affect. They can be passionate and excitable, you take one look at them and you just know they’re so happy to be here! :D

Wire Mother: Wire Mothers tend to be colder, not as approachable. They often struggle to reach out, especially among neurotypical friend groups, and may often be perceived by other people as sad or unhappy due to a neutral or negative affect. Other people think Wire Mothers don’t like them, or that they’re mad at them, when in reality, Wire Mothers just look like that. Wire Mothers can make people who don’t know them uncomfortable, but they’re literally just vibing, I’d try not to worry about it. There’s so much joy stored in the Wire Mother, it just doesn’t always touch the surface like it does for more expressive people. It does come out though; you get a Wire Mother going and you’ll be there all day. Cat coded.

THE Y AXIS: Diabolical Object/The Monkey is definitely a bit harder to describe. I think this relies more on personal identification, as a lot of it Is Vibes. The Y Axis is about personality, but it isn’t to be taken too seriously. But put simply. Do you air on the softer side of insanity, or do you bite with teeth. Are you a little more sensitive to the world or is your typical approach BITING RIPPING TEARING GGRRBBARKKABRKABRKABKR KILL KILL KILL KILL. Do you feel a little bit bad/aren’t very good at (MUTUALLY) making fun of your friends or are you engaging in gorilla warfare, claws, teeth, kicking and screaming, all of it. It’s sopping wet and pathetic vs LITERALLY EVIL. :) vs >:) The most important thing about the Y Axis is that Being Soft versus Complete Bastard is that both sides can go completely apeshit about literally anything. Being soft does not mean you any less crazy than the Diabolical Object. You may have a little more chill But You Are Still A Monkey.

The Monkey: You take things a little slower. You are not (outwardly) as intense as your other friends. People look at you and wonder if you were raised by two inanimate objects, periodically having your pants shit by The Embodiment Of Pure Evil, and then afterwards were unable to reintegrate into regular monkey society. (Harlow’s monkey reference) You’re 15lbs sopping wet. If you have a bigger build or any muscle at all, the fandom would probably draw you as a twink. They’d probably do that anyway if you were evil, but it’s just a little more baffling in your case. This is about TangoTek. There’s more to be said about The Monkey, but like. Idk man. You’re a monkey. Everyone does a little 🥺 from time to time, but for some reason people associate it more with you.

Diabolical Object: You have zero chill all of the time. You take things way too far, you’re running at 1000% constantly and you are Going to crash and burn in a fiery explosion, but dude it will be SO SICK. You couldn’t give less of a fuck. You REALLY want people to think you couldn’t give less of a fuck. You are a devious, evil little creature. Rats, We’re Rats, We’re The Rats <- YOU. People think you’re evil. They’re right. You are the bane of your friends’ existence, and proudly at that. Part of you needs to see how far you can push everyone else’s patience because GOD you just want them to Snap. Sometimes this is with love. Sometimes you’re just bored and want to see how much of a nuisance you can be before getting kicked from the voice call. You are the cat that starts the fights.

And so here we have it again. Further questions are welcomed and encouraged. Maybe I’ll spend another hour answering them! I hope someone reads this entire thing without realizing it was, in fact, a Minecraft post. Who cares. This shit is so much fun, I highly recommend throwing your own ocs on it or other fandom stuff who cares, it’s a good time. Maybe it’s Just me.

[muraar]

Ｆｌｅｅｔｉｎｇ Ｒｕｍｏｒｓ

hello genshin Tumblr, tis me, yet another misguided writer. posting on here once again after my initial pit of depression.

me trying to act like everybody missed me (no one knows who I am)

synopsis: rumor has it that lifting the artificer is a favorable test of strength 🤯🤭 wc: 4027, gn!reader, isekai fic if yk then yk THERE SHALL BE NO CONTEXT PROVIDED, but dw its digestible even without context (hopefully)

The world of teyvat was as fantastical as it could get, an abundance of mysteries that ran from fallen civilizations to cute cabbage-like creatures. 

And dragons… because no fantasy was complete without them. 

You, coming from a relatively tame world like the one back home, had grown accustomed to all this. 

Well for the most part at least, you already knew the world of teyvat being the avid player of genshin impact that you were, so that certainty was a major factor in your nonchalance.

Barring the fact that you were in the new world entirely, at the very least your conscience didn't have to suffer through the crisis of being thrown in a world completely unknown to you. 

Genshin was fine, at least you were familiar with this world. Imagine being dropped into a world that you had no clue about, cursed with no foresight, leaving yourself open to all sorts of nefarious entities. 

You were at the very least somewhat thankful to the isekai deity that dropped you here, ignoring the fact that you wanted to sucker punch them in the face for making you lose all your relevant game progress. But that was a whole another can of worms. 

At the very least your assimilation here was rather smooth, everyone mostly liked you or was neutral towards you. Now that just might be because of your abilities but you liked to think your personality was the main selling point here. 

And perhaps that is why you are able to ask for your somewhat arbitrary whims. 

"hey diluc" you spoke out, catching the attention of the said red-headed man, who then proceeds to respond to your call. Turning to look at his side -at you- with an attentive look on his face. 

"You use a claymore, right? And primarily they are huge and bulky weapons." 

"yes… claymores tend to be big and hefty but they are powerful in their own right. Regardless, it's the weapon of my choice. " 

And he answers almost automatically, not having to think too much about your observation because you were just stating facts, which he feels like are a build-up to something. 

Although he could never be sure with you.

"strong indeed, but they've got to be heavy right?" 

There you were again stating the obvious and all known. 

"They do have some weight to them but I'm used to it. Why is this a concern?" 

He asks quizzically and you straighten up at his remark, as if your next words require you to be upright. 

And they do. 

So you position yourself right in front of Diluc Ragnvindr before claiming. 

"then… You should be able to lift me right?" 

And Diluc just looks confused for a moment before realizing what you're getting at and you see his eyes widen a tad bit. 

"... you want me to lift you?"

He asks just to be sure that you aren't joking around and that there is actually an underlying meaning to this request. Although his cheeks already seem to be flaring up at the mere ideation of the action. 

"Well, you swing around a claymore with such ease... I think it should be possible for you" 

you say most casually. Not like you have any doubts in his strength, humans in this world were something else entirely. 

"I suppose. I should be able to," he says almost to himself, blushing and queasy still. But you catch those words anyway and show no mercy. Grinning and practically beaming up at him. 

"excellent " comes your rather enthusiastic response, as you step further and closer to him. Making your suggested whim all the more obvious and irrefutable. 

The action only ends up making diluc sigh, averting his eyes with the wishful thinking that it might calm the feeling in his chest. It was ridiculous how easily you could stir him up like that. Embarrassing… And exhilarating at the same time. Though he would never admit that out loud. 

And yet… 

He finds himself relenting against you once again, lowering himself to wrap one of his arms behind your knees and the other that goes around your back. A millisecond of a wait before he quite literally sweeps you off your feet, making the action seem all the more effortless than you ever expected it to be. 

"Woah woah woah" 

You gape and reach out your arm towards him and rest it across his shoulders, more so to stabilize yourself than anything - Even though it was highly unlikely that the man would lose balance of you- but for your sake you keep your arm hooked across his rather broad shoulders now that you take notice of them. Not just that, it's all of him really, Diluc Ragnvindr feels solid and strong underneath you. And despite all that his hold on you is as gentle as it could be, like an actual gentleman. 

“Is this alright?” he asks softly, his voice sounding calm and controlled although his tone was one of uncertainty and you can tell he wants to know if this is okay - Which is understandable as he didn’t anticipate this request of yours at all. And you are quick to reply nodding up at him in affirmation, not even trying to hide the fact that you were highly impressed. 

“okey wow,” you start lightly with an amazed smile. 

“you made it look so easy. I mean I'm almost as tall as you are and defiantly on the heavier side” The admission comes in honestly, and you find yourself reminiscing about your own gym days. 

“I mean even I used to lift a little but id probably break my back if I tried picking you up.” comes your remark that ends up with you chuckling lightly as you imagine yourself trying to pick him up. All be it with a smile you shake away that thought and instead focus back on Diluc, the mirth and amusement astute on your face as you say.

“I think humans of teyvat are just built different, do I even weigh anything to you?” 

The tease in your words is evident and Diluc can sense your enjoyment from your tone itself. He tries very hard to ignore the heat in his cheeks that he can feel spreading throughout his body, and tries to focus on your question and answer it. And perhaps humor you with a proper reply of his own.  

“Of course you do. But it's a weight I’m more than capable of handling.”

Diluc's words sound firm and direct almost as if he's making a statement, and he is. His face is a lot calmer, though he's still blushing softly, he's not as embarrassed as before. Instead, his gaze locks onto yours and he seems determined enough to get his point across. Your heart skips a beat at his words but you are quick to respond by raising your eyebrows and grinning mischievously. 

He certainly has a way of putting everything into perspective with just a few simple words.

You hummed, giving him a knowing glance and a smirk before answering him.

“And I dont doubt you in the slightest.”

But the redheaded man gets no chance to reply or respond as a third voice chimes in.

“[Name]- oh… am i interrupting something?”

making both you and diluc turn your heads toward the source of it all. 

And just a few feet away right at the entrance to your recently build garden stands the Sumeru Akademiya scribe, looking impassive as ever. Although there is a clearly interested look on his face as the eyes the two of you, well more like you in the arms of Diluc Ragnvindr. And you dont even get the time to reply before another figure trods in. This one looking clearly agitated, almost as if he’d had to run and catch up with Al Haitham to reach here.

And given that it's Kaveh, it's all the more likely that Scribe just didn't bother waiting around for him.

And Kaveh is about to give Al Haitham an earful but he stops midway as he too spots the pair of diluc and you. And given then he is much more well-versed in reading social situations it takes him mere minutes to point it out to his supposed companion. 

 “Of course, you are interrupting something!” he quickly chides the scribe almost ready to drag him away before shooting towards you, the both of you as his gaze swaps between you and diluc, an embarrassed and apologetic look. 

“Sorry [name] we’ll be out of your hair in just one second-”

Kaveh’s voice is rushed and quick, he's midway in his actions to drag Al Haitham away too, but it's your apparent and loud voice that stops him in his steps.

“It's alright you aren't interrupting anything, I was simply testing out my curiosities and diluc here.” you pat his shoulder lightly, “well let's just say I managed to rope him into indulging me.” 

The light touch on his shoulder is effective in bringing Diluc out of whatever trance he was struck in. And on hearing and processing your reply the only response he can manage is a sign. Before proceeding to lower you, placing you on the ground. He watches you step down, his eyes looking at you intently, hands lingering for a few seconds longer than necessary and then withdrawing completely. 

“You certainly did” he voices out and you can practically feel him going back to his usual stoic self. 

You eye the red-headed man briefly not at all surprised at the sudden change of tone, but rather smirking at him smugly. 

“Well I had a thought and I had to test it out,” you answer while crossing your arms, very much feeling like a child coming clean to their parents. 

“Understandable but still I would like to apologize on behalf of Kaveh, because as you just witnessed. He’s quick to jump onto conclusions.”

The Scribe speaks out, seemingly content with your explanations but ending the statement with a nonplussed look towards the resident architect. 

“Why? You little- I do not jump onto conclusions, I only reasonably responded as every sensible individual would have, not like you would have any understanding of that.” Kaveh fires back, half irritated and half abashed because he did very well assume that you were-

“You mean on impulse and without any critical thinking and questioning?” Al Haitham is still less than impressed as he replies to his roommate, the feeling evident in his face and actions as he too crosses his arms in front of his chest. 

And while the two go on at it again, Diluc on witnessing this whole ordeal only slides you a questioning and worried look. One that you reply with a shrug and a sideways nod of your own. Before lightly uttering the following words.

“It's just like you and Kaeya.”

The winery tycoon all but sours at the mention of his brother’s name. But part of him does start to wonder if this is truly what his and Kaeya’s conversations sound like to you.

“Just shut up alright? Arguing is not what we came here for.”

Kaveh says loud enough and exasperated enough that even Al Haitham stops with the curt replies of his own. This finally leads you to wonder why were they here in the first place. Not how because pretty much all the people you knew had a realm dispatch for this serenitea pot of yours, and that list obviously included these two Sumerian gentlemen.

“Yeah I mean any particular reason that you're here?” you think your thoughts out loud anyway it's when they both turn to look at you that you realize that you've said them out loud too.

“Not that I mind of course,” you add on quickly, not wanting to make it seem like the opposite. 

“Well, Kaveh insisted on me seeing this Archaic Pallvillion that he claims to have constructed in this realm.” Al Haitham answers cooly as he steps further in to explore the said garden. With Kaveh following close behind, all the previous embarrassment forgotten as he walks forth with his chest puffed up, and pride literally oozing out of his person. 

Because of course, he was proud. Getting to work in this magical adeptal realm that could handle all of his wildest designs? Having all the materials required available on a whim? And getting paid for it? It was too good to be true but that's the deal that you struck with him when you proposed the idea of him taking over the creative reins of your realm. He had half considered that this was just another dream of his but when he pinched himself and nothing seemed to change, that's when he remembers standing starstruck. 

Your concerned face at his silence and the fact that you insisted that he could refuse if he so wished, ah well that expression still brings a smile to his face. It would be a foolish decision to refuse an offer as gracious as this… and you too now that he thinks of it. 

Which leads us back to the place at hand, Archaic Pavillion, the said garden he had designed and materialized in this adeptal abode. Kaveh’s latest creative endeavor and the reason for his and Al haitham’s presence here. He wanted, to put it into simpler terms show off, and have a chance to meet with you too given that this provided for an opportunity for it. Convincing the scribe to come along was a task of his own but even he relented quickly enough when Kaveh mentioned you being there. 

“Archaic Pavillion huh? nice choice of name.” you point out, having connected the dots together and doing a brief look around the entire place, very much satisfied with the aesthetics, not like anything less could be expected from the light of Ksharwar. 

 “Fits the place perfectly.” you smile up at the architect, very much appreciative of his ingenuity. And he puffs up even more, much like a peacock. 

“It doubtlessly is exquisite.” surprisingly enough it is Diluc that voices his thoughts, seemingly appreciative of all that stood constructed. He might not be the most into design and aesthetics but he knows excellence in works when he sees one. It was all very much different from the buildings back in Mondstadt but this was not all Sumeru style either. Sure there were similar elements here and there but everything had a distinct feeling of you, The batch of small lamp grass that blossomed carefully cultivated in the vicinity was evident enough. A keepsake or rather a reminder of your first day in this world, however bizarre that was for you and him. 

This was your place and the architect seems to have kept that in mind when he went about designing all that would subtly hint at your likeliness. A statement that Diluc himself would attest to, the blond man had certainly gone out of his way to capture your essence with the place. 

Kaveh was on cloud nine soaking in the praise of both you and Diluc but his merry time is all but interrupted when the resident scribe opens his mouth. 

“I agree, this is quite remarkable. And quite literally by your standards.”

Comes the abrupt awakening by Al Haitham’s hands as it doesn't take long for Kaveh to catch up with his offhanded compliment.

“What's that supposed to mean huh?” Kaveh shoots back, all ready to defend his latest creation

“It means you've done a good job for once.” The grey-haired man’s reply does nothing to quell Kaveh’s growing offense though and he is already to bite back but Al Haitham acts faster in getting his inquiry for you out.

“Anyway, [Name] what were you testing? If you dont mind me asking.” Al Haitham leaves for you a choice to not answer, but one look at him it's obvious that he wishes to know. Even Kaveh abandons his previous offensive in favor of listening to your answer.

Well, it's not like you had any intentions to hide it in the first place.

A pinch of awkwardness that you feel at being put in the spotlight and your hands drifting to the back of your neck. 

“Well Diluc is a claymore user, and understandably claymores are quite bulky weapons to wield… but people here wield it with such grace and ease.”

“I was wondering if they would be able to lift me then.” one small look towards Diluc. 

“Needless to say, it clearly no big task for Claymore uses.” you smile faintly at him.

“Certainly not for Mr. Ragnvindr” and once again Diluc starts to feel warm at your words but the man chooses not to humor you with a reply this time, only by his classic and standard hmph. 

Al Haitham who has been intently listening to your assertions only nods at you. Of course, Diluc would be able to lift you there was no doubt of it. In spite of being a claymore user, the winery master was a formidable man. The scribe might not know a lot about him, but he does know that Diluc Ragnvinder more than knew his way around a conflict. Which makes his tendency to follow through your whims all the more curious of an affair.

But all his pondering seems to be disrupted when Kaveh points out yet another obvious. 

“Well, I wield a claymore too.”

One single statement and that's all it takes for all three of you to stare blankly at the Dendro Claymore user. Kaveh does not even seem all that fazed by the stares either, not when he was claiming that what was true. He is proficient in the use of the said weapon, not to mention the prospect of getting to hold you in his arms is enticing and right up his alley. 

 “So lifting you should indeed be piece of a cake,” Kaveh speaks looking at you directly, looking very much pleased and confident with himself.

“What do you say [Name]? Do you wish to be swept off your feet?” Kaveh asks and you're sure he's teasing you, but the question comes across so earnestly sincere and genuine that you find yourself feeling flattered regardless. The strive in his voice is more than enough to let you know that he’s willing to go through it too.

So who were you to refuse-

“I am hardly confident about that endeavor.”

Another moment was once again ruined by the esteemed Akademiya lunatic. And this time Kaveh doesn't even bother hiding his vexation and while the act of Al Haitham riling up the architect is no stranger to you, it is very much new to your Mondstadtian companion. But even he seems to be observing with interest. 

“Your opinion matters little here because I am more than capable of lifting up them should I choose to.”

Kaveh essentially hisses out his response, the clenched fists at his side a clear indication of his annoyance.

“The skill set you might have might be somewhat similar to Diluc, but your abilities vastly beg to differ.” 

Al Haitham explains cooly, keeping his gaze fixed on the apparent Claymore user. His arms crossed, almost as if explaining something elementary to a child no less.

“Wielding a greatsword is clearly a much-practiced skill for Diluc but that’s barely the truth for you Kaveh, given that most if not all of your actions are through or aided by Mehrak.”

And the architect all but rebounds at his statement, taking offense at the insinuation against him.

“My actions aren’t solely by Mehrak’s hand. You simply don’t understand the nuances of the connection between us.”

Comes Kaveh’s response sounding a lot more defensive now. His cheeks too, starting to color a little at being flustered and cornered like that. And while yeah what Al Haitham said was true.

It wasn't all on Mehrak to do the heavy lifting. 

“Nuances like making your weapon essentially weightless? And have it follow along with your hand gestures?”

Al Haitham really wasn't intending to make it easy for Kaveh and the scribe really makes it look obvious too. Making his words seem like facts rather than carefully articulated jabs. But you know him well enough to understand that it's not true. Al Haitham’s replies to Kaveh are thoughtful and articulate, for better or for worse. 

“It's not like you can do any better, wielding that sword of yours.”

This looked like it could go on for quite a while and you have half the mind to call in the shots for peace, but that was before the direction of the quarrel changes entirely.

“Heh, and you claim that you dont jump to conclusions, unlike you I dont rely on any gadgets for my sword wielding.” he huffs out a reply of his own before adding.

“In fact, I would have a much easier time lifting [Name] too.”

And you wonder to yourself just how did the tables turn like this? A few sentences changed the entire course of the ordeal, Kaveh muttering something along the lines of ‘impossible’ underneath this breadth, and Al Haitham now staring at you with an expectant look, wanting to get a nod of approval from you before proceeding. 

Hell in even Diluc looked mildly interested in this entire ordeal. Considering his flickering amongst the three of you.

“By all means then.” You reply in a resigned fashion to them all but especially Al Haitham you seem intent on holding your gaze the entire while as you went about speculating. And only gives you a nod in affirmation as he approached you. 

And much like diluc before, his body lowers itself, one of his arms hooks itself behind your knees, and the other goes about to support your back. You have to admit though that his touch does give you a little jolt. But it's not long before within one swift moment he's standing upright, with you secured within his arms. 

And although no gasp of disbelief leaves you this time, your arm almost instinctually moves to set itself across the expanse of his shoulders, the tail ends of his hair faintly brushing across your arms, which turn out to be surprisingly soft. 

That and the fact that his rather unrestrictive choice of clothing means you're able to feel just how well-built he is. It's rather distracting though and you'd much rather concentrate on your current predicament, rather than thinking about how very, very close you were to his chest, with how broad and strong his biceps look underneath his tight sleeves. At least in the case of Diluc, it was all hidden within layers of clothing, but with the scribe that was currently holding you? 

You clear your throat awkwardly, not wanting to go down that trail of thoughts, and then give in your verdict.

“Perhaps I shouldn't underestimate sword users after all.”

You look up at him briefly, his features are unreadable, and his face is set into a neutral line but he does turn towards you, catching your gaze instantly.

“You shouldn't jump to conclusions either, dont let Kaveh’s impulsivity rub off you,” he says in an almost amused tone, before turning to look at the architect himself. 

Unable to form a reply of your own you reside to follow his gaze and at the end of you you discovered a borderline fuming Kaveh, shooting daggers at the grey-haired man, almost bubbling with barely contained indignation.

He swiftly moves closer to the pair of you, pointing right at the scribe, as he proclaims. 

“Put them right back down and I’ll show you just how easy it is for me as well.”

The challenge is very much evident in his tone, which does nothing to faze Al Haitham though, the man promptly looks at him before starting to settle you back onto the ground. 

All the while you can only think to yourself, just what the hell did you end up starting? 

And here my dear readers lies the origin of the rumor that lifting up the Artificer is a favorable test of strength. Needless to say, it does end up becoming quite popular amongst the netizens of teyvat… 

Bonus

“Hah, you see Al Haitham? I can lift them just as easily!”

“Huh, perhaps you do have some semblance of strength after all.”

“...Is that a suitcase glowing behind your back” (noticed by diluc btw)

-----------------------

yk what im in a very good mood , so random fic be upon ye

Feedback is ✨appreciated✨

[whirlwindstars]

Since I presented both Bossuet and Courfeyrac, why not meeting the others as well, shall we?

"Les Amis de l’ABC"

-1964 version-

Let's start with the bad news: Bahorel and Joly do not appear. I know. I'm disappointed too...

Let's see who's here, then!

COMBEFERRE

I really like Combeferre in this adaptation! All his major traits are covered: he's a guide, he's philosophical and he cares about progress.

And I love that beard!

In Episode 8, he's given this big monologue, one the screenwriter tailored from Hugo's long historical contexts. Here are some extracts for a comparison:

"Grumbles, tiredness, drowsiness. This has been the Restoration"

"The Restoration had been [...] fatigue, buzzing, murmurs, sleep, tumult." IV-I-I

"The Bourbons gave us the Constitution, like a loan."

"...the political right conceded in the charter of Louis XVIII [...] and graciously given to the people until such day as it should please the King to reassume it." IV-I-I

Also, him and Enjolras are often shown very close, almost touching at times. And they do depend on one another, when it comes to politics and leadership. Just how Hugo describes them in the book.

FEUILLY

Not a lot to say about him, for now.

He's also portrayed as a vocal member of the group, and it's made relevant that he's a worker, not a student.

I can't tell if his monologue is also tailored from the book, but it's very in character!

JEHAN PROUVAIRE

I have very little to say, for now, other than the fact he's the one singing the "I Prefer My Mother" song. And he has a small intervention in Combeferre's speech. Here's a line:

"The Bourbons were an instrument of civility, which broke in the hand of Providence!" again, from VI-I-I

ENJOLRAS

(Their faces are priceless here!)

That's probably one of the few Vintage!Enjolras that looks like the book counterpart. Not just aesthetically, also in the way he talks and in his facial expressions. (OK, maybe the screenshot doesn't help selling it. XD)

Maybe a bit too sassy. It's weird, for Enjolras... But hilarious, in some cases. You'll see later on.

They also cut his and Marius' argument over Napoleon, only leaving the part about the meaning of the song, but such part is now stripped off of his original context, so it does not hit Marius as hard as in the book...

Don't worry, Enjolras will have his time to shine.

GRANTAIRE

He needs a dedicated post, because his own introduction is so well done and entertaining!

The screenwriter understood the character and gave him his own spaces, so that he can be further explored.

And he's a talker. His digressions add so much depth, so you really look forward to them!

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for putting my little brother in a violent and dangerous situation to free our family and friends? 

TW: suicide, racism, violence, violence towards children, child death, referenced child abuse

To briefly summarize the situation, I (12NB) willingly sacrificed my life for his people’s freedom, as part of a plan we both agreed to beforehand, but my brother (10M) failed to follow through after I was dead (reduced to a spirit only perceptible to a single host, which is how I’m conveying this posthumously) by refusing to harm anyone, even in self-defense, which got him killed as well.

For those who wish to further understand what happened, allow me to provide some context. My family’s entire race has been forcibly confined to a small region by another race, which I shall call the Oppressors for the purposes of this post. By killing a small number of Oppressors, their people could free themselves.

My brother and I were the best of friends, perhaps each other’s only friends, even though he was the sort of sensitive person who would cry over a dead butterfly or something, and I was… decidedly not. I had been…suffering, mentally, before the fateful plan was made. Part of my distress was anger at the Oppressors, and I worked with my brother to find a way to aid his people. The crucial fact is, I was adopted - I was born as one of the Oppressors and ran away at a young age, ending up in my *true* family’s small region. By taking my own life, I could give my brother the power unleashed by the death of an Oppressor, allowing him to escape the barricade and kill the six other Oppressors required to gain freedom for his people. I had several Oppressors in mind who deserved it, such as my abusive birth parents. I killed myself by poisoning, and pretended for our parents’ sake that I suffered from an ordinary illness, as they never would have allowed my sacrifice had they known of it. It wasn’t until I had already taken a lethal dose and was on my deathbed that my brother voiced his second thoughts and told me this was a bad idea. It was too late to save my life; there was nothing either of us could do except go forward with what we agreed to. He seemed at first to follow this after I died, telling our parents that I had wished to be buried outside the place his people were confined to and making his escape with me, both hosting my spirit and carrying my lifeless body. When we ran into a group of Oppressors and they attacked him, however, instead of calling on the power I’d given him in death and defending himself, as he needed to do to free his people, he shut down and refused to hurt them, even as they were killing him and I was pleading with him to fight back. In the end he just barely managed to crawl back home before dying of his wounds, further traumatizing our grieving parents. I never meant for him to die; I intended for him to return and be hailed as a hero, and for him to finally be free, along with our parents and everyone we cared about. There would have been relatively little risk to him if he had been willing to use the power I had died to give him. I now regret what I did, however, and I especially regret the way I involved my little brother in it, placing such an awful yet crucial responsibility on such a softhearted, overly sentimental kid. 

Knowing all this, would you consider me “the asshole”?

[moonchild-in-blue]

Sleep Token x The Phantom of The Opera

Spooky season and ST brain rot gave me ideas - this has been on my drafts for quite a while now, and finally I've had the time to finish it. @polteergeistt here as promised! I hope I made it justice! Please accept my humble offering 🙏🖤

[brace yourselves folks, this is a LONG post]

So, for context. We know that Sleep is a deity that comes in dreams (and nightmares). We know that Vessel has been visited by that deity, and offered his worship in exchange for glory and such. I know there are plenty other theories of what is Sleep, but for this to make sense, let's go with this one (the og provided by the band). With this in mind, let's take a look at the POTO's title song lyrics, shall we?

[Christine to Erik aka The Phantom]

In sleep, he sang to me In dreams, he came That voice which calls to me And speaks my name

Hummmm. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Let's proceed.

[Erik to Christine]

Sing once again with me Our strange duet My power over you Grows stronger yet

Oh???? You see where I'm going with this right?

[Christine and Erik alternately]

Those who have seen your face Draw back in fear I am the mask you wear (It's me they hear)

Funny how Christine is the metaphorical mask, or vessel, for the Phantom's music and talents, and Vessel is a literal vessel for Sleep, donning the mask as to signify the connection with Sleep. Both Vessel and Christine bear their phantoms' faces and spirit on their voices - Vessel taking it further and giving up his own identity in lieu of them.

[Christine and Erik in unison]

Your/my spirit and my/your voice In one combined The phantom of the opera is there Inside my/your mind

There we go. It is hard to ignore the Sleep x Vessel parallels in this. Seeing Sleep as a deity that not only inspires, but instructs and maintains a mentoral (?) relationship with Vessel, carefully curating and polishing his talents, and slowly taking over him. Of course, in POTO, Erik doesn't actually comes in dreams - for he is not a phantom but a man -, but in Sleeps case it is very much fitting. Both of them have a deep connection to the dark, the night, the subconscious. In the last verse of the song above, they mention a labyrinth, as a dark place where the Phantom lies. "Thread the Needle" is a perfect companion to it (that whole ep and most of Sundowning in fact)

Thought the musical, both the Phantom and Christine refer to each other as "Angel of Music". For Christine, the role Vessel embodies, she sees the phantom as a supernatural entity directly connected to her voice, to her music, to her father. A real angel in all senses of the word. She also mentions that the Angel of Music is someone who looks after her, who teaches her; someone who protects her - a shelter. In his music, Vessel often alludes to Sleep and/or their relationship/love as a shelter, someone or something that protects him (or should at least - in "Higher" we see that's not quite the case).

Also important to notice, Christine is as much in awe by the Phantom as she is frightened - she knows something about him isn't quite right; he holds a tremendous amount of power over her, the only one who seems to be aware of his existence; he his as seductive as he is possessive. She later describes his eyes as "eyes that burn", eyes which there is no hiding from, for he sees all. All of these qualities can be applied to Sleep, even more if we consider the romantic and sexual aspect of their relationship with Vessel, and how much more entwined they are in each other. Just like the Phantom is "inside her mind", Sleep resides within Vessel, possibly taking over him at times; possibly having dominance over his mind

For the Phantom, however, he sees in her the pure, bright, untarnished qualities of an angel. She represents the life he always longed; the love he never received; the praise he deserved yet was never offered. "Heaven" in a sense - Erik spent his whole living in hiding, living in the shadows, taking cover in the dark, without any real opportunity to show his talents an his face. Much like Sleep - a being that lives in shadows, in obscurity. An untangible being who has no face, but manifests itself through their vessels. A being who's "eyes like fire" hide behind a literal mask.

Let's look at some of the lyrics from "Music of The Night" (the Phantom to Christine):

Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation Darkness stirs and wakes imagination Silently the senses abandon their defensens Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendor

Like I previously wrote, we know how important and symbolic the night-time is to Sleep Token. The night is when God and Worshipper, Apparition and Human, can finally reunite and be with each like lovers. It is also when Sleep's influence and power seems to be heightned. The night represents divine bliss, the moment where, for a moment, Vessel and Sleep are somewhat equals (in the sense that they can at last look at each other face to face). The night is tender, vulnerable, safe. The night comes down like heaven.

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar And you'll live as you've never lived before Softly, deftly music shall caress you Hear it, feel it secretly possess you Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind In this darkness which you know you can not fight The darkness of the music of the night

If this doesn't scream "Fields of Elation" and "Calcutta" to you, I don't know what it does. I just really love the idea that Sleep is the one who sings their music to Vessel, that they are directly responsible for Vessel's success and "glory". If we take the supernatural aspect into account, we can see this as the moment Vessel truly surrenders to Sleep and becomes "one" with him - he becomes literally possessed by them, thus gaining his title as Vessel.

Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before Let your soul take you where you long to be Only then can you belong to me

Isn't this so seductive? So sensual? So manipulative? Hmm, mmh. Delicious. I love toxic vibes by sexy masked singers. The rest of the song is incredibly sensual, almost like Sleep's version of "Give", "Sugar" and "Hypnosis", or the conversation that led to them. There is however one verse that I want to highlight:

You alone can make my song take flight Help me make the music of the night

In the musical, this is Erik basically confessing how actually powerless he is. As much of an intelectual and musical genius that he is, his talents mean nothing if he cannot show himself and share his music with the world. He needs Christine perhaps even more than she needs him.

However, in the ST lore, I want to refer to all those instances Vessel mentions Sleep's place is, or was, in heaven. Songs like "TNDNBTG" "Levitate", "Blood Sport", "Euclid", etc etc. Could be interesting to think that Sleep had once belonged to a place like heaven (making them an actual angel), but for some reason has been cast away (from Eden? Ooh this is good). And Vessel's worship, love, and devotion somehow helps them get there again? Or maybe heaven is just a metaphorical place to the state of mind they're both in while in love. Not sure, but there's something there right?

So if your wings won't find you heaven I will bring it down like an ancient bygone

Just to cement this point, here's this verse from "Stranger Than You Dreamt It" (the song directly after this one, also from the Phantom to Christine):

This loathsome gargoyle [referring to himsef] Who burns in hell, but secretly yearns for heaven Secretly, secretly But Christine Fear can turn to love You'll learn to see, to find the man behind the monster This repulsive carcass Who seems a beast but secretly dreams of beauty

You see what I mean? This powerful, scary deity, who is both seductive and frightening, is not quite so omnipotent as they sometimes look. They too have a weakness, they too want to find (or go back to) beauty and glory; true divinity. Maybe it's because of this flaw, of this desire, that Vessel and Sleep find some sort of comfort and understanding in each other. For Vessel it may mean to become free of his mortal pains, of his torments. Or to atone for whatever his "sins" are. For Sleep, could mean a chance to regain their long lost glory - or perhaps just a convenient opportunity for a power-hungry, sadistic being to feed and have fun. There's a lot of room for interpretation, and if I go there I will never finish this "sHOrT bLuRb" (lmao).

So let's do a time skip and jump to (my personal favourite) "Point Of No Return". At this time in the story, the Phantom is fully unhighed and murdery, and Christine and her boring, wet-rag of a fiancé Raoul (he's so boringgg; who wouldn't want to be with a wet-cat masked goth man who plays music and does magic tricks?? anyways-) are now trying to capture/face him. Not gonna explain the whole plot (because let's face it, if you've read this far, then surely you're as much as a POTO weirdo as me), but basically Christine is still somewhat conflicted and allured by Erik, even though she knows how Not Nice he is, and is terribly afraid of him and what he might do to Raoul.

(side note from one horny yearning op: this whole scene in the 2004 movie is soft-core porn to me: Emmy is SERVING, Gerard is looking Fine in that sluty suit; Raoul is on the verge of tears because he knows he could never be HIM; THAT EMBRACE??? Ai Dios mio, I totally did not just rewatch this scene over and over, no sir)

[Erik to Christine]

You have come here In pursuit of your deepest urge In pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent (...) In your mind you've already succumbed to me Dropped all defenses, completely succumbed to me (...) Past the point of no return No backward glances Our games of make-believe are at an end Past all thought of if or when No use resisting Abandon thought and let the dream descend

This to me is pretty much Chokehold and The Summoning from Sleep's perspective. It's them luring Vessel once more, knowing how entwined in each other they are; knowing Vessel is too week to resist.

[Christine to Erik]

You have brought me To that moment where words run dry To that moment where speech disappears into silence (...) I have come here Hardly knowing the reason why In my mind I've already imagined our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent (...) Our passion play has now at last begun Past all thought of right or wrong One final question How long should we two wait before we're one? When will the blood begin to race? The sleeping bud bursts into bloom? When will the flames at last consume us? [Emmy EATS this line on the movie - she's a queen]

I couldn't help but put here most of her verse, because really, this is pretty much ST's whole discography. The man is constantly yearning, and aching, and feeling defeated. Tell me that this doesn't remind you of "The Offering" or "High Water". Tell me those last lines are literally just "Vore".

[Erik and Christine in unison]

Past the point of no return The final threshold The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn We've passed the point of no return

Nothing to add. Let's just apreciate how beautiful and raw these lines are. Seriously, if you haven't heard or seen the musical, or if you just know the title song, do yourself a favour and listen to "Point of No Return". The composers went HARD with this one.

[Erik to Christine]

Say you'll share with me One love, one lifetime Lead me, save me from my solitude Say you want me with you here, beside you Anywhere you go, let me go, too (...)

After this beautiful love confession (suck it Raoul), which ironically is much more fitting to Vessel towards Sleep then the reverse, Erik kidnaps Christine and takes her to his underground chambers. This is where POTO and ST differ the most. Christine is once again forcibly taken and deceived by the Phantom, and wonders if she is there to feed his "lust for the flesh". The Phantom, while someone who was terribly mistreated and misunderstood, is very much a villain (especially book! Erik, the musical does soften him quite a bit), while Christine remains the "pure, kind heroine" until the very end.

In ST however, there really is no "evil" one - Vessel and Sleep are both flawed, both corrupt, both toxic. They are consumed in and by each other, hurting each other and themselves in the process. He is never really forced to do anything - coerced perhaps, but it really depends on how you choose to interpret - all of the pain and suffering he endures seems to be by his own volition, often welcomed as a desperate attempt of connection. Of course it's much more nuanced than that, but in comparison to POTO, and to simplify things, he is not exactly a damzel in distress (he is, however, a babygirl).

While the Phantom recognises his shortcomings and ultimately lets Christine and Raoul go, we know that Vessel is the one who is trying to set himself free from Sleep's clutches. He doesn't seem to want to go (Rain and Euclid are very clear in this), and yet he knows how damaging it is, and that he must. Because Sleep is no guardian angel, no shelter, nor do they wish to give him up (The Apparition is the most obvious reference, but I'd argue that the whole of TMBTE is that final moment of taking action and leaving; of change).

The story ends with Erik feeling remorseful and sad about his actions, touched by her choice to show him kindness despite his horrible treatment, and the love and devotion Christine and Raoul have for each other - willing to die or live a life in the shadows for the other to escape.

In ST, as far as we can see, the only one who feels remorseful is Vessel. After all, why would a God ever show regret or remorse? For me, Sleep seems to be imensly arrogant and fickle, a true sadist who thrives and feeds off Vessel's pain (and he is not innocent either). Vessel is still very much a human, no matter how corrupted or entangled with Sleep he might be. Sleep, unlike the Phantom - a man of flesh, bone, and sadness - is no human. I'm very curious to see how ST's next album will fit into this narrative, seeing as the trilogy has a very final, or at the very least decisive, tone to it.

If you've actually read all of this, please know that I apologise for any incoherences and mistakes, and that I am eternally grateful for having someone out there who is as passionate about the Phantom Of The Opera as I am. I'm always elated to talk Phantom Matters™. 🖤🥀🎭