#i was so aware that was a problem for teens in fandom spaces but i was not able to acknoeledge it might be happening to me on account of

[aropride]

anons in my inbox like every single day when i was in high school: Actually this fictional character WASNT abusive because he was mentally ill so the stuff he did was fine and its ableist to call him abusive and not forgive him

me (16): ok 👍 i think thats kind of dangerous rhetoric to be spreading considering this fandom is made up of a lot of young teenagers who might be more vulnerable to abuse if they see it excused as being fine bc "hes mentally ill so he didnt mean it so its ok". well anyway i have to go do my geometry homework

me (16) (same day): dear diary hi from the nurses office i thought i was dying again but it turns out it was just another panic attack idk why im having those so often recently. anyway some pretty weird fucked up stuff happened today with my girlfriend as per usual haha but like it's fine. i mean it's not that bad like she's mentally ill so it's not like it's on purpose so it's not like abuse or anything haha. and if i said it was that'd be pretty fucked up and ableist of me. anyway i'm going to go work on the 40 page essay i'm writing for fun now

[utilitycaster]

"There is zero attempt to extend anything but bad faith."

standing ovation for tidily describing this fandom in a nutshell tbh

Thanks, but I'm talking about a particular subset, the handwringy overwrought appeals to emotion crowd for whom the gods can never under any circumstances be redeemed, so unless you are also talking about that specific small piece of the fandom, I disagree! I actually think the fandom at large has been pretty receptive to the story as it's being told. And honestly, even when I've been in fandoms that frustrated me greatly with widespread bad faith interpretations (Midst and WBN have both had problems here)* they've come around when more obvious evidence came about. Better late than never.

I do think that an issue in this fandom, and fandoms at large, is not so much bad faith but as someone else said, motivated reasoning (though in the case of something the motivated reasoner dislikes, will become bad faith). A lot of people decide how they want to the story to go very early, often in a manner that validates their own existing real-world politics (even if they're not super applicable to the situation at hand) or personal preferences. I mean, that's in the end the source of a good number of shipping bad takes - people decide two characters must be in love and so even if they start dating other people and not talking to each other anymore, the motivated reasoning shipper decides that ACTUALLY this is all a front and the actor's blinks are in secret code and the relationship will definitely break up and the True Love was Always Endgame no matter how many times the creators say "no, it never was our intention to have those characters get together." But even then I think the silent majority of most fandoms are just. vibing and happy to be here. It's just that motivated reasoning people are loud.

And I'm not setting myself apart here; I'm loud and I'm certainly not without bias. My motivated reasoning tends to be based on foregone conclusions that I think are more likely to actually play out, I think, and I try to be self aware about it, but like, I do tend to assume stories will be good and follow some narrative lines and use the hints they drop, and that is itself an assumption because some stories are poorly made. Like, for example, with the gods, I do think that there is very little chance Matt is going to tell a story that's like "hey, Ashley, you know your first ever TTRPG character, who brought you into this friend group and whose life's purpose is to restore worship in the Everlight? Bad news, Everlight's a genocidal cunt and she's gotta die." That's obviously not my only evidence here. We've got the whole opening scene. We've got the fact that the non-Aeorian NPCs who aren't divine companions we've spent time with have been a sickly old man granted peace in death, a gnomish woman granted solace after being cruelly mocked by Aeorian forces, and the beggars who didn't have food despite wagons of supplies going to Aeor, whereas the Aeorian NPCs have been guards, slimy bureaucrats, teens badly beaten for minor crimes, and a drunk cop; the defaced and forgotten temple in a poor neighborhood that is heavily surveilled from afar because its laborers are unwelcome. Hell, as I said before it aired, the fact that the main PCs are gods and not Aeorian mages is a very deliberate and telling choice on its own. But yeah on some level, while I think Bells Hells have the space to decide to kill the gods since they are those same cast members (thought I doubt that is what they will do), I do not think Matt will tell an earlier story that says "hey, everyone at the table except Marisha? your beloved character(s) whom you played for all or most of a campaign followed a rotten-to-the-core lie."

Going off the meta of creators is a bit risky - a lot of dumb D20 discourse is based on assuming Brennan's leftism is the same as Very Online I Do Not Dream Of Labor Leftism and not his actual "the BBEG is the exploitation and undervaluing of labor and the dehumanization of others; labor itself can be deeply fulfilling, you just shouldn't be forced to rely on your capacity to do labor to the exclusion of all other things to be housed and fed" leftism and reasoning from there - but it's certainly more reliable than going off reasoning of "I as a random private individual want the gods to die for whatever the fuck reason and therefore that is the correct thing to happen and any other outcome is bad."

This is very rambly because I just got up and maybe it's that it's a nice morning and I can actually enjoy a leisurely breakfast before going into work unlike most of last week and much of the rest of this week, but for all I proudly identify as a hater, I am very much a lover of fiction and I want it to succeed and I want it to not just validate me. Like, if I hate on something it's because I wish it were better, but I don't hate on something just because it presents a different viewpoint than the one I already held. And I think you have to bring that good faith to fandom as well. If people are being idiots and assholes then yeah you don't need to keep acting like they're valid for that (I mean, they're valid in that everyone has the right to their opinions, but not in the sense that you need to grant those opinions intellectual consideration on par with thoughtful and evidenced meta and theories) but I do not actually go in assuming the fandom is going to be wrong and dumb and disappointing, and I think that's why I've found such enjoyment in it. Most people are chill! Chill people just tend not to loudly say WOW I'M SO CHILL AND THIS STORY IS GREAT.

*one bit of salt to cut the sweetness here but also still weirdly positive: the way I've dealt with that and specifically WBN is that I am trying to write one piece of meta after each episode that doesn't attack people or anything, just lays out my thoughts respectfully. Be the change you wish to see. I think a lot of people in fandom see someone disagreeing with them and go "OH YOU CAN'T LET US HAVE ANYTHING" and frankly this is the cause of almost all fandom unpleasantness I've experienced (in the sense of people seeing me say I don't like something and acting like I shut them down instead of simply didn't vibe), but it's important to remember that isn't how it works. Even if you do think the fandom has widespread bad opinions, you can change this by being thoughtful and patient and putting forth better ones. I mean there's limits, and if a fandom is genuinely hateful, get out, but if it's just surface-level takes for something that should be deeper? Be the one who shows the depth.

[ffviidirtyconfessions]

genuine question!! why do you care about sefikura so much when they are not real people? i get not liking a ship for whatever reason but your strong feelings on the ship seem unwarranted when you're literally running a dirty confessions blog. liking sefikura =/= condoning abuse nor invalidating real peoples trauma. cloud is not real. neither is sephiroth. thats why you can sexualise them silly style on a tumblr blog! i do not mean this maliciously, i am genuinely wondering

To start, above all of the other concerns, I don't like nor allow anything related to sefikura on this blog because it conflicts with the pedophilia rule. In game canon, Cloud and Sephiroth first met when Cloud was a young teenager, and Sephiroth was very much an adult.

That alone is enough to make it not the kind of content I want to promote to an audience. Though I do run a dirty confessions blog, I aim to make it as safe as a space as possible for everyone. Dirty, sexy, or NSFW spaces do not automatically have to be an anything goes, "you shouldn't have a problem with anything if you go here" place. In that light, I tag kinks that may be upsetting just as I don't allow underage, abusive, and other dynamics of relationships that can not only be triggering, but a bad, dangerous example for teens and other young people.

I am fully aware that fiction is not a direct equivalent to reality. However, I think it is very much true that it has a real effect on reality, especially in how individuals see themselves in it and relate to it. I've had a conversation on this same topic before with a veteran of the FF7 fandom who witnessed a Vincent/Yuffie roleplay couple online turn out to be a real pedophilic situation. Obviously, this is far from the case for every instance, but it happens. Just as I cannot allow confessions about underage characters to protect potential teenagers looking at this blog, I also cannot allow the romanticization of a relationship that could hurt or remind traumatized people of their own pain.

I do not believe that every person who ships sefikura "condones abuse" or "invalidates trauma". Likely, most don't even think about that aspect and simply like seeing the characters do whatever they want to together. I understand that. But speaking from the perspective of a traumatized person who has related deeply to Cloud Strife's story, I do believe that there is something to the dynamic that just isn't being understood if it's being ignored to play dolls. This is not to say that Cloud and Sephiroth being together is a 1:1 mirror that will remind anyone who's ever been in a bad relationship of their pain. Rather, it's what Sephiroth represents to Cloud, and how the games portray his feelings towards him. In some readings, you might even argue that Sephiroth is a metaphor for trauma: something unbeatable, always in the back of your mind, waiting to seduce you back to the patterns of self destructive behavior that the traumatic event might have created in you. I think that Cloud's struggle with this and his efforts to move past it are a large core of FF7's story, and to me it rings hollow to ignore that because neither character is, as you said, "real".

I don't expect to change anyone's mind, and my stance on this has already been clear on the front page of the blog for over a year now. I am sure that tens of dozens of sefikura fans who otherwise liked the blog have blocked me over this. And that's fine! Nobody has to agree with me, and there clearly will always be another space to go to for those that want to see that stuff. But it matters to me both on a personal level and as the mod of a public blog to talk about this stuff in a different light. Because if fiction can help people in a real way, it can also hurt them in a real way. I think that a level-headed perspective on all these issues can be reached. It's not all or nothing.

Thanks for asking.

[sleepanonymous]

Going through your archived material and getting a sense for just how much these guys are massive nerds behind the scenes (Vessel especially, just wow) has struck a fear into my heart that I didn't previously consider:

Given the general age demographic, interests, and time period for being chronically online teens/young adults, it's possible that at least one of the eepies (again, my bet would be on V) has a blog here.

Whether it's for lurking or a separate interest blog, the possibility of being perceived is objectively quite low but not zero.

Anyways, do with that what you will. I'm choosing to think that, if I'm right, they're just vibing with the memes and horny posting because it seems to line up with their IRL humor.

OR you yourself are one of them + that's the real reason why you've got your hands on so much lost media. I'm on to you pal (/j)

I literally don't know how to answer this, Anon 😅 Like, I don't want to freak people out but it's also a very real possibility they're at least aware of this corner of the fandom. They're in a very unique situation where they can and do lurk in certain online spaces, and I'm pretty sure a couple of them have burners for other platforms, but thankfully I don't think any of them are actively on Tumblr (thankfully).

I can tell you that they're aware of the thirsting and memes, so if they did have a problem with it, it would be stated. What they do have a problem with is fans crossing privacy boundaries or impersonating them online. That said, I know you were joking but I have been accused of being in Sleep Token or knowing them before, so I would like to take this moment to say that I am not and I do not lol. Have I been perceived by them, though? Absolutely and it's terrifying, but it's also always been my own fault 😅😩 The more I think about a certain series of events that happened the day before and day of the Phoenix ritual, the more I hope to god that none of the guys recognized me and my friends on the barricade 😨

[tsarisfanfiction]

Love Or Hate

Fandom: Trials of Apollo Rating: Teen Genre: Family/Hurt/Comfort Characters: Will, Apollo A long overdue conversation about family, betrayal, and loving them anyway. TOApril day 15 - Without Requisite or Deadline. Halfway there and this was such a weird prompt, so thanks to @fearlessinger for translating it as "unconditional" for me, which finally got my muses churning on something...

Will opened his eyes with a gasp, residual light taking its time to fade away from the explosion his mind had conjured up once again.  It wasn’t the first time he’d dreamed of that moment, when he’d listened to Nico and death and his own hatred over the urge to heal and save within him, and he knew it wasn’t going to be the last, either.  Some demons just never go away, and regret was one of them.

What made it worse was that Will still didn’t know if he did regret it, and if he didn’t, did that make him a bad person?

He wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer.

Around him, dawn broke softly, a gradual light intensifying oh so slowly in the inverse of the explosion.  There was no sign of the sun, but there didn’t need to be.  Will wasn’t in his bed, wasn’t in his cabin, wasn’t even in camp, and that told him that the dawn wasn’t real.

It was symbolic, instead, a caressing comfort to match the warm hands that were settling on his shoulders, drawing him against an even warmer body.

Apollo had drawn him out from nightmares into a dream safe space enough times in his life that Will had no problem recognising the signs again, here.

He closed his eyes for a moment, watched the rest of the explosion finish fading away, and then took a deep breath.  “Hi, Dad.”

“Hi, Will,” his dad said, and Will leaned back willingly as Apollo snaked an arm around his torso, resting his head against his father’s shoulder and tilting his head up to look at him.  “More bad dreams?”

“Yeah,” Will admitted, letting his eyes fall to half-mast again.  The nightmares wouldn’t come for him again tonight; once Apollo had pulled him out of one, the rest of his night was always far more pleasant, if not necessarily more restful.  His body got to keep resting, sure, but his mind and soul wouldn’t.

Not that Will cared, if it meant he got to spend some time with his dad, uninterrupted and unshared.

“Thanks,” he added, somewhat belatedly, but that didn’t really matter with gods, with Apollo, because they always knew what he was referring to even if it took a while for him to say anything.

“You’re welcome,” Apollo murmured into his hair, and Will felt a light pressure in his hair for a moment.

These gestures of affection had never been missing from Apollo’s various dream visits over the years, but they’d become far more commonplace since his mortality and all the various fallouts from that.  Will was sure he didn’t need them to know that his dad loved him, but that didn’t stop him enjoying them whenever they were dished out.

Apollo loved all of them, and Will was sure they knew it.  He certainly did.

Echoes of the explosion flickered behind his eyelids, rudely dragging him out from his gentle relaxation with his dad, and a flicker of… of something, danced inside his chest.  It wasn’t comfortable, rather closer to dread, and in a dreamscape there was no way Apollo wasn’t going to notice it.

“Will?” he asked, probing lightly.  “Is something wrong?”

Will appreciated the offer of an out, a way to dodge the topic, because Apollo knew something was bothering him, that was as clear as the dream-dawn sky above him, but he’d given Will an opening to lie about it.  They’d both know it was a lie, of course, but that didn’t really matter, because it wasn’t about lie or truth, it was about whether or not Will wanted to talk about it.

He didn’t, not really, but it was something he’d never had a chance to mention to Apollo, what with his father’s absence and then mortal stint, and he was self-aware enough to know that he wanted answers, somehow.

He hoped he wanted answers, anyway.

“Can I ask you something?” he asked instead of answering directly, glancing towards his father’s face.  Blue eyes, the exact same shade as his, met his look evenly and softly.

“Of course,” Apollo said.  “You can always ask me anything, Will.  What is it?”

Will took a deep breath.  “Octavian,” he said, and felt Apollo still behind him.  “I… How much was the truth?”

He’d never been able to reconcile what Octavian had to say about his father with what he knew of Apollo, but as much as he hated it, the older boy had been a descendant of his all the same, and Will wondered what that meant for their relationship.  He hadn’t really met many legacies of Apollo; they seemed to be a rarity at Camp Jupiter, for reasons his father had never explained.

Apollo sighed.  “Octavian… was not evil,” he said.  “Nor was he… entirely wrong.”

Will’s chest tightened.  “He wasn’t?” he asked, his voice cracking and coming out far too small.  “But-”

“I did search for more power,” Apollo confessed, “and Camp Jupiter was an obvious place to start.  Octavian was more than willing to help me.  Perhaps it was just because he grew up hearing stories of me from the cradle, but he was always devoted to me.”  Will thought Apollo sounded a little pained at that.  “How he reached the conclusion that he needed to destroy Camp Half-Blood, however, I don’t know.  That was never my intention, or my implication when I spoke with him.  We spoke of uniting the camps, much the same way they are now, not subjugating.”

“I hate him, for that,” Will admitted quietly, looking away from Apollo because he didn’t want to see disappointment in his father’s eyes.  “Everything from his attitude to what he did annoyed me, but it was what he was trying to do that was the worst.  He was going to pin the blame for it on you!”

“I know,” Apollo said, “although I don’t think he saw it as blame.”

Will swallowed.  “Do… do you hate him?” he asked, not knowing if he wanted to know the answer to that.  He didn’t know if he actually wanted to know if Apollo was capable of hating his own descendants, because it felt wrong but Octavian had done so much bad, caused so much hurt, that Will couldn’t comprehend not hating him.

His dad didn’t answer immediately, which could have meant anything and Will didn’t know which anything it was.  There was a tenseness in his body, where Will was leant against him.

“I… felt betrayed,” Apollo finally answered.  “And angry. Definitely angry.  Camp Half-Blood is my creation, and for anyone, let alone my own descendant, to attempt to destroy it��”  He trailed off, and shook his head.  “But at the same time, Octavian is my descendant.  He might not be my son, but… that doesn’t matter, really.  I still loved him.”

“Loved?” Will wondered, and Apollo’s arms wrapped around him, encasing him in a glow of warmth.

“Loved,” Apollo repeated, before shaking his head.  “No.  Not loved.”  He paused.  “Love.”

The emphasis on present tense startled Will.  “But he’s dead,” he pointed out.

“You hate him,” Apollo reminded him gently, and Will felt a little cold at the words, no matter how true they were, because his dad clearly didn’t, and that felt like he was the one in the wrong.  “And that’s okay, Will.  There is no law in the universe that says you aren’t allowed to.  Family doesn’t have to love each other.”

“They should,” Will mumbled, “shouldn’t they?”

Apollo sighed.  “Not if they’ve only caused pain.  You don’t owe anyone love if they’ve hurt you, not even family.  Octavian only ever hurt you.  It’s okay if you hate him.”

“But you don’t,” Will mumbled.  Apollo shook his head.

“No,” he agreed, “I don’t.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t, or shouldn’t.  It’s okay, Will.”

“Even though I killed him?”  Will didn’t mean to ask it, hadn’t even realised the thoughts had been swirling around in his mind until they gave themselves a voice, but he couldn’t take them back.

“You didn’t kill him,” Apollo said instantly.  “Octavian made his own choices, and followed the fate he carved out for himself.  Don’t take on a burden that isn’t yours to carry, Will.  His death is his burden, not yours.”

“But-”

“But nothing.”  Will’s hair bowed under the pressure of something pressing against his head instead.  “Don’t do this to yourself, Will.  You did nothing wrong, and his blood is not on your hands.”

Will didn’t know if he believed that, but arguing the point against his dad was clearly a futile endeavour.

“Why don’t you hate him?” he asked instead, dragging the conversation back a few steps.

Apollo sighed into his hair.  Will felt the strands move around with the force of it.

“He’s my child,” he said, “even if there are a few more generations between him and me than there are between us.  I could never hate him.  I could never hate any of you, no matter what you do.  I’m not strong enough, not to hate family.”

Will supposed he could understand that, at least.  Maybe if he’d ever actually seen Octavian as family, he’d be the same, but he hadn’t – and if he was honest, he probably preferred it the way it was.

Finding the strength to hate family seemed like it would be exhausting.

[korkiekenobiconfirmed]

I could go on here and say my problems with st*rek lie in the lack of scenes together or the fact that their canon dynamic was more comedic/antagonistic than romantic, but honestly that’s not even it. Idc when ppl ship characters that didn’t have great chemistry, didn’t get along, didn’t even MEET in canon! idc! What I do care about is:

1) Pedophilia. Stiles is a teenager, Derek’s a grown man. I’ve seen debates about derek’s exact age but tbh whether he’s 22 or 26 or 30 doesn’t change the fact that he’s way too old to date a high school sophomore. Period.

2) Stealing Scott’s personality. All the st*rek fics are chock full of Stiles being the nurturing “Pack Mom” while Derek plays Dad when Stiles is unforgiving, caustic, and sharp-tongued 90% of the time. It’s Scott who takes in strays and treats everyone around him with utmost kindness right up until they prove they don’t deserve it. Even then, he still sometimes forgives.

3) St*rek’s prevalence. Okay, so we’ve come up with a crack ship that doesn’t have much basis in canon! Great! Why is it suddenly THE MOST POPULAR SHIP IN THE FANDOM BY A FUCKING MILE? I can’t go anywhere in any teen wolf fandom spaces without the goddamn st*rek jumpscaring me. For reference, St*rek outclasses the second most popular ship on ao3 (which happens to be Steter for some fuckin’ reason) by MORE THAN 7X!

4) The delusion. I’ve seen lots of ships like Malia and Isaac where the shipping is a little…tongue in cheek. The shippers are self-aware, they know there isn’t much canon basis, but they’ve decided to go ahead anyways because this is fiction and it’s fun and it hurts nobody. I’ve seen ships like Scissac or Malira where the shippers are more delulu (admittedly me, lol) yet there’s a decent canon basis to those relationships that make the hc shipping more understandable… but I have never (and I mean NEVER) witnessed such widespread CONVICTION about such a canonically weak ship. Never in my life in any other fandom (besides maybe the rpf weirdos) have I seen SO many people who are SO INVESTED in a ship with such little foundation, while not one of them is self aware enough to look around and admit that it’s really just a crackship!

[frosty-tian]

Being a bit aggressive today because I’m feeling violence (and poor wording).:

Boiling take,

(Maybe it got better or the majority of these people moved to Twitter, IDK.)

Unless you’re doing it for self-representation (including black folks), making edits/darkening skin-tones of anime/manga characters but then simply saying they’re blasian and leaving it at that comes off as mega lazy, especially when there are darker-skinned Japanese people as well?

There are so many other Asian countries with many dark skin individuals which are underrepresented in media, so many other diverse cultures to explore.

Other things you could do is to make OCs so you have more liberty in showing their cultures, or even give more spotlight to dark-skinned characters which often get shadowed in the fandom.

Ones which particularly irk me so much are white Americans/Westerners doing it for the sake of ‘representation’ while having a superiority complex over taking the lazy route, like no, that’s the bare minimum and it comes off as you wanting to be seen as ‘progressive’ but don’t really care about doing research/putting work into it. Also, it’s very eye-brow raising itself, it’s true that many Asian countries have a huge problem with colourism, but doing so is implying that light-skinned Asians are not ‘POC enough’. There are so many thoughts I could say, but way too exhausted to say more at the moment.)

(I’ll try to word things better and provide a list that a friend made on other underrepresented Asian countries which have lots of darker-skinned individuals once I’m in a better head-space and situation, but that’s the most I can say for now/just wanted to get this off my chest.)

(Disclaimer: I’m aware a lot of people doing so are teens whom likely have good intentions, but aren’t approaching it in the best way.)

[astridthevalkyrie]

do you actually agree that fics depicting child r*pe should be allowed? do you not think that having media as that so accessible can de damaging? like i’m actually seriously asking not trying to give attitude

sorry i just pulled an all nighter so if this sounds incoherent it's because i haven't slept for the past 22 hours. thank you for seriously asking and not giving attitude lol

it's not about what i think should or shouldn't be allowed. fics depicting that aren't exactly my cup of tea. i don't read them, i don't write them. but authors are going to write dark content, whether that be fanfic authors or published ones. i've written dark stuff that might be totally fine with one person, but not fine with another. your local library might have stuff that makes the worst of ao3 look tame. dark content has existed and will always exist. the problem is, as that post put it, is saying authors can't or aren't allowed to write disgusting things means that now anything anyone dislikes can be labeled a disgusting thing. the slippery slope of authoritarianism.

there are published books that i would never ever want a child to accidentally happen upon, but it is the job of their parents to monitor what their kids are getting access to, the job of the librarians or booksellers to organize things in a way where it's not just open and easy for kids to read. the same thing applies with fics, it's parents' jobs to monitor their child's internet activity, and saying that children can access something is not a good enough reason to say that it means that the writer should never have brought it into existence.

fic writers have a responsibility to tag their fics and if you see someone incorrectly tagging (if you're on ao3 PLEASE be aware that "no archive warnings apply" is very very different from "author chose not to use archive warnings") or it's purposely misleading to get people to click and be traumatized, then yeah, in that case, it's absolutely the author's fault. send in a report!

but if a person as an adult sees warnings, registers them, reads the fic that has exactly those warnings, and then proceeds to say the author shouldn't have written it....it's just so much effort for a mistake on the reader's part. fic is about making yourself happy. why are you reading things that make you upset?

i was 13 or 14 when i joined tumblr. i was 10 or 11 when i started reading fanfic. at that time i barely saw minors dni stuff. i read smut, including dark fics and art that absolutely left me scared to sleep at night. not once did i ever tell the author they were at fault for writing it. i knew what i was about to read. i knew what i was consuming. it was on me and me alone (and i suppose my parents for not monitoring my internet activity). i have two younger sisters who both read and write fic. they weren't online for ff.net and they don't go on wattpad. their fanfic experience is almost entirely ao3 and the first thing they do when they go into a character or fandom tag is take out tags they don't like.

and i'm not naive. they have both most certainly read fics that they shouldn't have read. teenagers always do. i obviously did. very few teens see a minors dni and actually just stop reading the fic. but again—if the author has done their due diligence, on sites that are not meant for kids (tumblr and ao3 both), sites where freaks were promised to be allowed to be freaks, they are not responsible for minors who come into their space.

so that's one part of the argument. the other is the debate over whether writing fictional dark content makes someone as bad as actually participating in that dark content. this is an age old debate. the first time it got really big after i joined tumblr was around the time voltron 2016 came out, when people were being called pedos for shipping shiro and keith. it's gotten much worse since tiktok has become a thing. there are other people who have talked about this and explained it better than me, you can delve into the tags for "anti" or "anti anti" or "proship/antiship" or whatever it's called now.

but calling someone who ships, say, eren and levi in aot, a pedophile, is absolutely off the walls insane. first off, a loooot of people shipping age gap or adult/minor relationships are very likely to be minors themselves. secondly, it absolutely diminishes the meaning of the word. it's the same thing with incest. i've seen people say that shipping characters who are best friends is the same as incest. it's.......not. and you might think, well, yeah, that one's ridiculous, but the stuff that i'm arguing against are legitimate. and i get it. but like i said before, slippery slope. people equating someone's fictional interests to them as a person spells a very bad future for fandom.

i think a lot of this started when people were like "oh your ship is just the character you relate to and the character you have a crush on." and i'm begging people to realize that is not the case at all. a ship can be that, but it can also be "their color palettes compliment each other." it can be "they never interacted but i think they'd be interesting to see together." it can be "oh that makes a hot pair." it can be "oh this would make both characters miserable and i love it muwahahaha."

so just. please reserve the word pedophile for real-life-harming-children-and-minors pedophiles. not for people who write about fictional characters engaging in morally dubious or criminal acts. they are not the same level of crime. i think people need a reminder about why pedophilia is bad—it's because it harms children and minors, not because it disgusts us. and incest is an even more tricky subject when it comes to fiction so i'm not going to delve into it, but in the same vein, fictional incest ≠ actual incest.

i wish i had blogs to recommend that could explain this better, but you're better off just going through the tags (and anything you can find on fandom and specifically fanfic history) because my brain is super fried. and since i am not an expert i'd like to not answer more questions about this, i'm a bit too old and tired for the anti vs anti anti debate, thanks. i hope this helped ��🏽

[perpetuallurkernazanin]

A teenager appeared in my DMs saying that Eny “seriously fucked [them] over mentally” and asking for help in spreading the word so other teens don’t also get hurt. Here’s the story they shared, and that of another teenager. (cw: the doc-linked-within-the-doc contains screencaps of fetish talk by Eny and another).

https://twitter.com/thrwawyy2/status/1634429570429452289?s=20

TLDR: Eny has been emotionally abusive and sexually irresponsible (to say the least) with multiple minors during the past year.

Near the end the doc says: “I just want people to be aware of the things he’s exposed me to and for him to stay away from minor dominated spaces permanently. I don’t want him to hurt another kid ever again.”

As the doc reports, Eny made this response.

In addition to the multiple screencaps the teen added to their doc showing that Eny is lying about being a fan of 4lung, here’s a screencap I have from 2020 (just taken today in a previously-shared server)[image]

Also, “I looked at this person as an equal instead of a 17-year-old” is a problem, not an excuse. When Eny was pretending to be an adult, he talked about maintaining proper boundaries between adult content and teens. He has not kept those healthy boundaries since becoming a real adult.

This is on top of two incidents less than a year ago.

He knowingly did erotic role-play with a 17-year-old in April 2022. There are screencaps of him talking about it here [https://imgur.com/a/CfBnrkR]. Source: this document, which documents more toxic behavior by Eny in the OSC fandom.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XT6keyvq9B-BDaWzBXLP99FkO0_oNKgMwrduhXyPmOg/edit

Here is a Tumblr post that links the above doc and says that Eny had been talking about plans to re-join OK KO fandom: https://www.tumblr.com/richestindaworld/707160361659432960/awareness-on-eny-luridbrainrotcornenjoyer

In addition to the above, in July 2022 a 13-year-old shared art on Twitter depicting one of Eny’s fetishes (involving teeth). In that post the 13-year-old said they’d never drawn fetish art for Eny, that the art wasn’t fetish, and I do not doubt that for them it was not… but in the past Eny has drawn and shared similar art in Discord servers and talked about how the subject is a sexual fetish for him. I’m not going to post those screencaps for minors to see, but adults may DM me to see them.

*

Apparently Eny has now deactivated accounts.

Hopefully he really is seeking real-life help, this time. Like Eny says: “It’s going to take years for this stuff to even begin to think of healing.” But if past behavior is an indication of future behavior, it’s possible he’ll be back in a few months expecting or insisting that people forget or excuse his previous bad behavior.

He should not be in contact with any minor, as he has shown repeatedly that he can’t help being emotionally abusive and sexually irresponsible to them.

The safest thing for everyone is to not interact, and to simply warn minors to stay away.

[chappybird]

Warning: Text wall incoming! Prepare your bottom!

While I do still have notifications turned off, I admit I did look today after not even trying to look in about two or three days, where I saw the first few words of your post. I was a bit apprehensive in clicking on your post, but I took a gamble.

I did mention a message that a Homestuck Facebook group led me to the MXRP Tumblr, and then to that Discord server. So when people were assuming I knew this or that about, or mocking me for not knowing all about it, it was strange.

The mixed race thing is I am Puerto Rican-Black, like Miles Morales. Heh. I could have kept going with that, but I quickly realized it was going nowhere fast.

LGBTQ+ stuff: What's funny with people bringing up my age is they don't realize I was a teen, and then an adult, protesting and marching and raising awareness during the times when those marches didn't often end without a hitch, let alone peacefully. When it was illegal to get married in the US. When it was very legal to outright fire LGBTQ+ people if they were accused or found out about being LGBTQ+. I think maybe a very old message on my blog talked about what sexuality I am, but I rarely bring it up because of old reservations about that and I like seeing what people assume about me. Kind of applies to the race topic as well.

And I am dogshit with text interactions, especially while upset. But if you were there in the VC, I got a little snippy at the race discussion, and then passionate about the LGBTQ+ topic, but everything else seemed calm throughout, with MMOs being the ending topic. I really wasn't expecting both the accusation and the ban. So I got emotional about such a serious accusation. Which I guess is "only my opinion" from the other replies. Then this fornication cluster went on.

I did fuck up on many things. I even brought up in one post that the things I did say could've been looked at as queerphobia. While I would have still been upset about an accusation, thinking it over would have made me slap myself with how bad I phrased it all, and apologized with hopefully clarifying everything I said.

But this is still over and done with on my side. If other people want to keep arguing about it, it's out of my sight and out of my mind.

I don't know how to do TL;DR things. I suck at synopsizing stories. Uh... something TED Talk.

I hope you don't mind me answering this publically, but I will keep it out of the tags. If you want me to delete this let me know.

I think it's unreasonable to ask you to be perfect, tbh. I don't expect it, and I don't think that launching a witch hunt is the appropriate response to something like this anyway. You misspoke on a few things (Not everything tbh as said in the original post I made I don't think all of your points were incorrect and even the ones I disagreed with I could understand the reasoning.) I've misspoken before. Everyone has misspoken before. The problem with "fandom activists" like the sort of people found on this site is that they care less about making the world and their spaces a better place for everyone, and more about feeling right by lauding "justice" at people they think are wrong.

Thanks for sharing some of those things about your experiences and life. I hope that this will blow over soon. Have a good one.

[astridofraftel]

Yes!! These questions need to be addressed, we as fans can't deflect our responsibility by blaming the writers and proclaiming ourselves victims!

I saw this post about ships earlier this month and I wasn't sure how to feel about it, like... okay some good points were made about statistics. If I paraphrase roughly:

Misogyny first occurs in the writing, so male characters are favored and written in a "more interesting way" + Statistically, there are more male "characters with recurring speaking roles" than female ones, which means the majority of possible ships in a media franchise is M/M + The popularity of a character within a fandom is closely linked to the popularity of the ships that character is involved in = As a result, the fans have to work with what they get and it's easier to give attention to male characters, especially if they're the only ones the canon made us care about.

Okay. Okay, the majority of the writers are not necessarily good at giving as much space to female characters as they give to male characters. But the fans have their fair share of responsibility too!

Especially since these statistics really depend on the genre of a specific media. Why should we give so much attention to misogynistic stories? We as fandoms should try and focus more on female-leading media if we really care about fighting misogyny, OR we should spend more time fixing these issues in male-leading media.

Also, I have seen so many bad written male characters who get adored and fleshed-out by fandoms, sometimes more than they really deserve. Even more commonly, there are male background characters who didn't get enough time in canon to be 10% as detailed as the protagonists, but thanks to headcanons and shipping they get a whole backstory and complex lore around them! So fans CAN MAKE THAT EFFORT! Fans love to make that effort! There are so many fanfictions that explore characters so well that their canon versions pale in comparison—except now, it means that it is the fandom's turn to re-assess itself, because now the fans are the writers, and they're supposedly willing to make the efforts, however the statistics are not better.

Even worse, as it was said in the post I linked (last reply), female characters are sometimes demonized by the fandom so as to break canon couples and facilitate M/M ships.

I haven't published fanfiction but I remember clearly demonizing characters in my head because I did not like their canon pairing and I was seeing a lot of people do that so I thought it was okay—13 years ago, when I was 12. Maybe I was influenced by other teens who didn't know any better, maybe it's still younger people nowadays who perpetuate it in fandom spaces, I really hope everyone grows out of it eventually. My preferred version of Hanlon's razor is that I'd rather not attribute to malice something that can be explained by ignorance. If not, what the hell, what are we teaching the kids as self-proclaimed progressives?

And even if I haven't demonized a female character like that in years, fandoms made me care more often about male than female characters and I admit that I let them. As I said, often some characters barely appear in canon but thanks to fanfics and fanarts they become part of my favorites from the franchise. And as a community, we could have as easily deployed as much effort towards female characters, but mostly we didn't, and I know I took part in it, I'm so suggestible I know I continue to. I have to get myself in check daily! It's awful!

As much as I'd rather not shame or guilt anyone, it's important to spread awareness about this topic, because a lot of fans don't think they're part of the problem, so they never re-assess themselves.

are female characters devoid of complex characterization, or do you not afford female characters the same depth and complexity that you afford the guys? are female characters badly-written compared to men, or do you focus on the guys regardless of writing quality? are the female characters simply less interesting than the men, or do you think men are more interesting than women?

[fattybattysblog]

Friend, Please (Chapter 19)

Fandom: Kirby/Kirby Right Back At Ya!

Gen | Teen

Characters: Meta Knight, Dark Meta Knight, Velka | Arcta Knight (OC)

Summary: They should be used to desperate people making horrible decisions by now, but somehow it always goes too far before anyone does anything about it. A person fell prey to the empty promises of dark, powerful hearts to become Arcta Knight. As they make their mark on Dreamland, Meta Knight grows anxious about the encroaching danger and leaves suddenly to prepare for a duel like no other.

AO3 | SqWA

Tags: AU - Canon Divergence, Blood and Violence, Swordfighting, Original Villain Character, Gijinka Kirby Characters

@ocappreciationtag

(Cover art done by Dean, edited together by me)

Nightmares

The echo of the Warp Star's departure faded into the distance, leaving behind only silence in the darkened chamber. Meta Knight stood motionless for a moment, staring at the empty space where Escargoon had vanished, carried away toward safety. 

Dark Meta Knight shifted beside him, rolling his shoulders as though to shake off the lingering tension from their recent encounter with the Vinescourge. The faint scent of sap still clung to the air, a reminder of the battle they had won. There was no victory to celebrate yet. Not when the true enemy still awaited them in the heart of this forsaken place.

“Well, that was touching,” Dark muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “But we’ve got bigger problems ahead. We’re wasting time.”

Meta Knight’s grip on Galaxia tightened, the familiar weight of the blade in his hand bringing him focus. “I know.”

Without another word, Meta Knight turned toward the far end of the chamber. The only exit to this chamber was the way they came. A wide, jagged opening that led back up to the rest of the ship. The walls were lined with dark, pulsing vines that seemed to twitch in the low light.

Dark followed, his armored boots making heavy thuds as they moved toward the opening. “What’s the plan, Meta? Charge in and hope for the best?” His voice held a mocking edge, but there was an underlying seriousness to his question. They both knew that rushing headlong into Nightmare’s lair was more of a death wish than it was a plan.

Meta Knight didn’t answer right away, his mind racing through the possibilities. They were walking into the heart of Nightmare’s domain, where the villain had the advantage in both terrain and power. Nightmare was wise using their desperation against them, acting as soon as he had a key to the remaining Star Warriors past.

Well, that past was gone. There was nothing to stop him now. Meta’s fists tightened, gauntlets creaking.

“We’ve been fortunate to get this far. To save someone and get them out of here…” Meta took a deep breath, “perhaps that luck will follow us forward.”

Dark scoffed. “I don’t believe in luck.”

Meta glanced over at him, his yellow eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. “Then believe in this: Nightmare will try to use everything in his arsenal to stop us. We are worn down, we are unprepared. But we have one last thing up our sleeves.”

As they spoke, they passed through the old halls, past the guards and monsters they had already slain. Reminiscent of the Halberd’s halls the last time he saw them. He clenched his fist tighter. 

“That’s not very promising, Meta,” Dark’s shoulders tightened. He seemed aware of that final trick, but it didn’t bring him any ease. He was realizing just how screwed they were and just how serious Meta was about not escaping this place. He felt something heavy take a place in his stomach.

They entered the passage leading to the helm of the ship. Gradually, the temperature seemed to drop. A frigid chill crept along the steel walls, and the low hum of machinery buzzed in the background. It was an unnatural cold, the kind that gnawed at the bones. It was like stepping out into the frigid chill of space itself.

Dark’s eyes scanned the shadows, his sword at the ready. “So, what are we expecting? More vines? Tentacles? A nightmare in the literal sense?”

Meta Knight’s gaze was steady as they ventured further into the corridor, his eyes focused ahead. “Nightmare feeds on fear. He’ll try to break us before we even reach him.”

The corridor seemed to stretch endlessly before them, twisting and turning as if the ship itself were trying to disorient them. The deeper they went, the more the walls seemed to close in, the oppressive energy growing thicker with each step. Faint whispers echoed through the darkness—inaudible voices that seemed to scratch at the edges of their minds.

“Just another day in paradise,” Dark muttered under his breath, though there was a note of tension in his voice that hadn’t been there before.

Without warning, a flicker of movement caught Meta’s attention, just at the edge of his peripheral vision. He turned sharply, raising Galaxia defensively, but saw nothing—only shadows. But he knew better than to dismiss it.

“He’s watching us,” Meta murmured, his voice low and calm.

Dark growled, his grip tightening on his blade. “I’m ready.”

They continued down the path, the oppressive weight of Nightmare’s presence pressing down on them more and more. It felt as though the ship itself was alive, twisting and contorting to suit its master’s will. Every sound was amplified—the creak of metal, the distant hum of machinery, and their own footsteps, sharp and ringing against the cold, steel floor.

Finally, the passage opened up into a vast, dark chamber. It was cavernous, with no clear end in sight. The walls were lined with strange, pulsing growths, like tumors that had spread throughout the ship. At the far end of the room, a figure loomed, shrouded in shadows but unmistakable.

Nightmare.

He was waiting for them.

The air was thick with the scent of cosmic dust and the oppressive weight of Nightmare’s presence. Meta Knight and Dark Meta Knight stood shoulder to shoulder, their capes billowing in the unnatural winds that swept through this final chamber. In the distance, Nightmare loomed like a dark specter, his form twisting and shimmering with dark power.

With a low, malevolent laugh, Nightmare raised his hand, his fingers curling as though pulling strings on a puppet. From the shadows of the ground itself, creatures began to emerge, one by one, their twisted forms slithering and crawling into the open. Nightmarish beasts—spiked, misshapen, and grotesque—tore their way out of the ground. Some were covered in thick black scales, others writhed like shadows, their glowing red eyes locked onto the two Knights.

Meta Knight tightened his grip on Galaxia, eyes narrowing as the monsters formed a solid wall between them and Nightmare. “He’s stalling us,” he muttered, his voice low but steady.

Dark Meta Knight sneered, brandishing his blade with a flick of his wrist. “Then we cut through.”

In an instant, the horde of monsters charged, a writhing, snarling mass of claws, teeth, and shadowed limbs. The ground trembled beneath the weight of their approach, their collective growls and roars like the rumble of an impending storm.

Meta Knight was the first to move, leaping into the air, his wings snapping open as he slashed downward with Galaxia, slicing through the first creature that lunged at him. The beast let out a shrill screech before dissolving into black mist, but another took its place almost immediately. He pivoted, sidestepping a spiked tail that whipped toward him, cutting the monster in two before it could land a hit.

Dark Meta Knight wasn’t far behind. He charged into the fray with reckless abandon, his sword moving like a blur of steel as he hacked and slashed his way through the mob. His blade tore through the nearest creature, sending it flying into two others. He barely dodged a set of claws that scraped at his helmet, turning with a snarl to deliver a crushing blow to its owner.

“These things are endless!” Dark growled, cleaving through a beast with thick, armored skin. The beast howled as it fell, but Dark’s frustration only grew. No matter how many they cut down, more appeared, their numbers seemingly infinite.

Meta Knight landed beside him, the air crackling with the remnants of a slashed monster fading into nothingness. “We don’t have time for this,” he said, scanning the mass of creatures in front of them. His gaze shifted momentarily to Nightmare, who was watching them from a distance, his grin widening with every passing second. “He’s toying with us.”

“That bastard, I’m tired of waiting. I’ll deal with him now!” Dark snapped, his sword glowing with a dark energy as he charged forward once more. His blade cut a swath through the horde, each strike more forceful than the last. His frustration gave way to brutal efficiency, and for a moment, the tide seemed to slow.

But just as they gained ground, the monsters retaliated, their ranks swelling as new, even more twisted forms emerged from the shadows. Massive, hulking beasts with spiked carapaces charged at them, while smaller, faster creatures darted around, aiming for their legs, their claws scraping against armor.

Meta Knight parried a blow from one of the larger monsters, gritting his teeth as the force of the impact pushed him back a few steps. His wings flared out, and with a quick twist, he dodged another incoming swipe, retaliating with a slash that sent the beast crashing to the ground.

“I’ll take the left!” Meta shouted, rushing toward a cluster of creatures that were swarming from the side.

Dark Meta Knight gave a curt nod, moving to cover the right flank. Together, they fought with deadly precision, their movements fluid and practiced, despite the overwhelming odds. Every swing of their blades cut down another foe, but the monsters were relentless, clawing and snapping at their heels.

With a mutual nod, the two Knights moved in unison, their swords flashing as they tore through the creatures in a coordinated assault. Their movements were a blur of steel and force, cutting down any monster that dared to stand in their way.

They fought like a force of nature, unstoppable and relentless. The horde thinning, the ground littered with the dissolving remains of the fallen creatures. Nightmare’s grin faltered, his confidence wavering as he realized his army was no match for the combined might of the two Knights.

And then, with one final, powerful slash, the last of the monsters fell.

Meta Knight and Dark Meta Knight stood side by side, breathing heavily as the battlefield fell silent. Their blades dripped with the remnants of the creatures they had slain, and though they were battered and bruised, they were far from defeated.

But the true battle had yet to begin.

Nightmare, still looming in the distance, let out a low, rumbling growl. “Impressive,” he said, his voice echoing through the air like thunder. “But you’ve only delayed the inevitable.”

Meta Knight tightened his grip on Galaxia, his eyes locked on Nightmare’s distant form. "Then let's end this."

The air in the room grew heavier, the shadows deepening around them as if the darkness itself was alive, drawn to Nightmare's presence. The villain’s form shifted and flickered, an ever-changing mass of fear and malevolence. The shine from his shades was all they had to know his gaze. He stared down at them from the far end of the chamber, his voice echoing through the darkness like a sinister lullaby.

“I suppose we should…” Nightmare’s voice dripped with malice. “I’ve been expecting you, Meta Knight.”

Meta Knight’s eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, his sword at the ready. His lips were pressed tight, the intensity of his glare speaking his mind.

Nightmare’s laughter filled the chamber, a sound that sent a shiver down their spines. “Oh, little knight… You’ve been a thorn in my side for far too long. But no matter. You will soon learn that no one can escape their nightmares.”

The darkness around them began to shift, moving like a living entity, coiling and twisting as Nightmare summoned the full force of his power. Meta Knight raised his sword, ready to face whatever horrors lay ahead. This was it.

Dark Meta Knight gripped his sword with both hands, his knuckles white under his gauntlets. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to choke on. His eyes narrowed, but behind the confidence in his stance was an unspoken understanding.

They both knew what they were up against.

Meta Knight stepped forward, his cape flowing behind him as he lifted Galaxia, its golden edge catching an unnatural light in the chamber. The blade gleamed faintly, but even its legendary power felt insignificant in the face of the monstrosity before them.

Nightmare’s amorphous form shifted and writhed, his smug expression only half-formed, like a mask barely clinging to the swirling mass of darkness that was his true essence. He was fixated on the two knights with a mixture of amusement and contempt, as though they were nothing more than a passing distraction in his eternal reign of terror. It seemed as if space reflected in his shades despite nothing but shadows in the room.

“You know these toys of yours can’t harm me,” Nightmare’s voice slithered through the air, low and mocking. “Why waste your strength?”

Meta’s grip tightened on his sword, his resolve hardening even as doubt gnawed at the edges of his mind. They all knew the truth: regular weapons could do little against something like Nightmare. He was an entity born of fear and shadows, a force that defied reality. But standing here, waiting to be swallowed by that darkness, was not an option.

He didn’t need to say anything. They had come this far—they wouldn’t go without a fight.

Without warning, Dark Meta Knight let out a furious roar, his body launching forward like a black lightning bolt. His blade cut through the air with a sharp hiss, aimed straight at Nightmare’s center. The strike was fast, fueled by rage and defiance, but as the blade met Nightmare’s form, it was as if he’d struck a cloud. The sword passed through, the mass of shadow and smoke rippling but undisturbed.

Nightmare’s laughter filled the chamber, booming and echoing off the walls. It was a sound that crawled under the skin, gnawing at their minds.

“Pathetic,” Nightmare sneered. His form twisted, and with a flick of his arm, tendrils of darkness shot out, coiling like serpents toward Dark Meta Knight.

Dark reacted instantly, raising his sword in a defensive arc, slashing through the writhing shadows as they reached for him. But the tendrils only split and reformed, grasping at his legs and dragging him down. With a guttural snarl, he struggled, hacking at the shadows, trying to free himself, but more and more emerged from the ground, wrapping around his body like living chains.

Meta Knight dashed forward, his cape transforming into wings as he leaped into the air. With a swift, precise slash, Galaxia cut through the tendrils binding Dark, freeing him for the moment. Dark staggered back to his feet, his breath ragged.

“You’re welcome,” Meta Knight said curtly, landing beside him.

Dark grunted in response, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Don’t get used to saving me, Meta.”

Nightmare’s laughter rang out again, louder, more sinister. “You’re delaying the inevitable. Just surrender, Meta Knight. I’ll make sure you’re treated… kindly.”

Meta Knight’s eyes flared with anger at the suggestion. 

“We’re not done yet!” Meta shouted, charging forward with desperate defiance. With a powerful leap, he brought Galaxia down in a sweeping arc, aiming for Nightmare’s core once more. The blade glowed, infused with the energy of the stars, and for a brief moment, it seemed like the strike might connect, might do something—anything.

But Nightmare shifted again, his form splitting into a swarm of shadowy figures, each one cackling as they surrounded the knights. The blade passed through empty air once more, and Meta stumbled.

From the corner of his eye, Dark saw an opening. A moment of hesitation in Nightmare’s defense. Without thinking, he darted forward, his blade poised to strike at the nearest shadow. But just as his sword connected, Nightmare’s shadow vanished. A puff of foul mist and nothing more. The lashing tendrils launched from the fissure and ensnared Dark as soon as he faltered.

“Damn it!” Dark cursed, thrashing violently as the shadows constricted around him.

Meta Knight turned, eyes wide. “Dark!”

Before he could move to help, a set of stars crashed down on him with a force that knocked Meta Knight off his feet and sent him crashing to the ground. His sword clattered away, just out of reach.

Nightmare loomed over them, his form twisting and expanding, more menacing than ever before. The cosmic storm beneath his massive cloak raged, lightning crackling and thunder rolling in the unnatural, star-streaked darkness. His sneer widened into a terrifying grin, filled with malice as he glared down at the two knights. “You can’t win, Meta Knight,” he hissed, his voice dripping with contempt. “You should’ve known better.”

Meta Knight staggered to his feet, his body aching from the strain of the battle. His gaze flicked toward Galaxia, just within reach. The sword, once glowing with the power of the stars, now felt like little more than a fragile defense. He wasn’t fighting to win anymore—he was fighting to hold the line. As long as he stood, he could keep Nightmare away from Dreamland. That’s all that mattered now.

He’d do it until the end.

Dark Meta Knight wasn’t faring much better. He was struggling, caught in the grip of Nightmare’s dark tendrils. His movements were sluggish, each attempt to swing his sword met with resistance as the shadows tightened around him like chains. He let out a furious snarl, his blade cutting through the dark matter again and again, but for every tendril he severed, two more took its place. His strength was waning, his form battered and beaten from the relentless assault.

The room darkened further, oppressive shadows deepening with each breath as Nightmare’s form swelled, his towering figure distorting the very fabric of reality. His shades gleamed with malevolent glee, the eerie glow flickering across the chamber as if feeding on the growing terror. The ground beneath the two knights began to tremble, and a low rumble echoed through the space, shaking their resolve.

With a deafening crack, the floor split open beneath their feet, jagged fissures ripping through the metal and stone. Darkness poured from the cracks like an unstoppable flood, spilling across the ground in thick, oily waves. The air itself grew heavier, as though the very atmosphere was suffocating under Nightmare’s power.

Meta Knight’s eyes narrowed behind his mask, grip tightening around Galaxia. This wasn’t real.

“There’s no way…” Meta muttered, his voice cold but edged with doubt. “He wouldn’t destroy his own ship… not for a one-sided fight like this.”

Dark Meta Knight shot him a glare, his blade already raised. “Illusions,” he hissed through gritted teeth. “It has to be.”

But the doubt crept in as the fissures widened, and the ground truly seemed to crumble beneath their feet. Darkness coiled and lashed out in the form of inky tendrils, whipping across the chamber with deadly precision. The two knights leaped back just in time as one of the tendrils slammed into the ground where they had been standing, shattering the metal floor.

Illusion or not, the danger felt real.

The tendrils came faster, striking with lethal intent. Meta Knight dodged to the side, parrying the onslaught with expert precision, each movement calculated and measured. His wings flared as he vaulted into the air, Galaxia flashing as it cut through the dark energy, but it was relentless—each severed tendril seemed to spawn two more.

Dark Meta Knight wasn’t faring any better. He slashed at the tendrils with raw aggression, his strikes wild and forceful. But the more he fought, the more tangled he became in the overwhelming darkness. Sweat dripped down his brow, and his breathing became labored. The shadows seemed to cling to him, pulling him deeper into the nightmare.

Nightmare’s laughter echoed around them, a guttural, chilling sound that seemed to reverberate through the walls of their minds. “You cannot escape this,” he hissed, his voice low and sinister. “You cannot escape me.”

Meta Knight shook his head, trying to dispel the ringing in his ears, but the room spun around him, warping and twisting in a way that made his head throb. The walls blurred, and the shadows deepened, swallowing everything in sight. His body felt heavy, sluggish, as if the very air was pressing down on him.

And then he saw it.

That mask—the harlequin mask.

Meta’s heart froze in his chest. His wide eyes locked onto the figure before him, his pulse thundering in his ears. The twisted grin etched across the mask was all too familiar. Behind it, piercing violet lights stared back at him, cold and malevolent. It couldn’t be.

Velka.

Meta’s breath hitched. It’s not real. It can’t be real.

But there she stood. Some twisted vision of her. Grinning as though she hadn’t been slain, as if the blade that had ended her life hadn’t left her body in ruins. Yet the evidence of her demise was there: the broken latch of her cape, the deep wound on her neck, jagged and nearly severing her head from her body. She shouldn’t be standing. She couldn’t be standing.

And yet, she was.

“Stay back! Get away from me!” Dark Meta Knight’s voice cut through the haze, frantic and raw, but distant—so far away that it was as though they were in two entirely different battles. Meta couldn’t see him. The fog of the illusion obscured everything, the nightmare of Velka’s presence consuming his attention.

Meta Knight tried to tear his eyes away, tried to refocus his thoughts, but it was futile. The harlequin mask loomed in front of him, demanding his attention, dragging his mind back into the past, back to the wound that he was trying to ignore until their job was done.

She’s dead.

But she was still moving.

Velka’s phantom lunged at him, faster than it had any right to. Meta barely raised his sword in time, the clash of metal against metal reverberating through the room. The force of the strike sent him staggering back, his wings flaring to regain balance. The weight behind the attack—it felt real, too real to be just an illusion. His arms shook as he parried, the weight of guilt and memory pressing down on him. The nightmare was playing with him, twisting the knife in old wounds.

“You’re not real!” Meta shouted, his voice sharp and edged with panic as he slashed at the illusion. Galaxia cut through the air, and yet Velka was still there, her eyes burning behind that accursed mask. Each strike she threw felt heavier than the last, and his sword trembled under the weight of her blows.

He fought her back with everything he had, each strike a desperate attempt to sever the illusion, to tear through the lie. But with every clash, with every glint of that harlequin mask, the ghost of her presence grew more oppressive, more suffocating.

Meta’s vision blurred. His thoughts spiraled.

Why are you still here? Why won’t you die? I couldn’t save you, I tried. You wanted to die.

“Meta! Don’t—” Dark’s voice was there again, but Meta couldn’t focus. He couldn’t listen. Velka was too close, too real.

The illusion closed in on him, her blade swinging in wide arcs, and Meta met her with everything he had, Galaxia flashing like a beacon in the darkness. The two figures moved in a deadly dance, swords clashing and sparks flying with every blow. Meta’s breath was ragged, his limbs shaking with effort.

She shouldn’t be this strong. The weight behind each of her attacks was far more than a memory’s ghost should wield. Meta gritted his teeth, his grip tightening around Galaxia’s hilt as he forced himself forward, slashing at the illusion with renewed determination.

He spun, his blade catching her across the side, sending her stumbling. For a moment, her form wavered, like a mirage on the edge of reality. Yes. He’d almost broken the illusion. He could end this.

But as he moved in for the final blow, everything shifted.

Velka’s mask flickered. Her body flickered.

And in that brief moment of clarity, Meta Knight saw the truth.

It wasn’t Velka at all.

Without warning, Meta’s blade collided with Dark’s.

Meta’s breath caught in his throat as the illusion shattered, revealing the all-too-real figure of Dark standing before him, his own sword raised defensively. Dark’s chest heaved with exertion, his armor dented and scratched, blood dripping from a deep gash on his side where Meta’s blade had struck him.

“Dark…” Meta whispered, horror flooding through him. What have I done?

Dark Meta Knight stumbled back, his hand pressed against the wound in his side. His face twisted in pain and fury, his eyes burning with accusation. “You cut me!” His voice was ragged, strained, barely holding back a snarl. “You could’ve killed me!”

Meta dropped his guard, his mind spinning as the last remnants of the illusion faded away. His body still trembled from the intensity of the fight, but now the weight of guilt crushed down on him, heavier than any blow he had endured.

Meta tried to speak, his words faltering as he took in the sight of the blood staining Dark’s armor. This is my fault. “Nightmare… he made me see…”

Dark’s eyes narrowed, his gaze sharp with fury. “You saw what he wanted you to see,” he hissed, wincing as the pain in his side flared up again. “I get it… dammit…”

Meta’s heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in short, shaky gasps. He had fallen for Nightmare’s trap. He had been so consumed by the illusion of Velka, by his own memories and guilt, that he hadn’t even realized who he was attacking.

And now Dark Meta Knight was bleeding because of it.

“I didn’t—”

Dark’s glare cut him off as he struggled to stay on his feet.

The weight of the attack hung between them, heavy and suffocating. Meta’s grip tightened on Galaxia, but his strength was gone, drained by the realization of what he had just done. His gaze flicked to the wound on Dark’s side, the blood still dripping onto the cold metal floor.

Nightmare’s laughter echoed in the distance, low and sinister. “How easy it is to turn you against each other,” he taunted, his voice slithering through the shadows like a venomous snake. “You’re nothing more than puppets, dancing to my whims.” Nightmare’s laughter grew louder, filling the chamber. “Your minds are so fragile… so easily twisted…”

Meta Knight and Dark Meta Knight stood side by side, their breathing heavy, their bodies bruised from the blows they had unwittingly inflicted on each other. All this did was show him that it really was futile. No matter what they did here, it wouldn’t amount to anything.

Cold light began to gather around Nightmare’s form, swirling like galaxies being born in the black void of space. A series of stars coalesced above him, shimmering with raw, destructive power. They orbited around his hand as he raised it, the energy building to a terrifying crescendo.

Meta Knight’s breath came in ragged gasps, but he stood tall, even as he knew what was coming. This was it. The final blow. Nightmare intended to end it in spectacular fashion—a relentless barrage of starfire that would pummel them into oblivion, leaving nothing but dust. But Meta did not flinch. As far as he saw it, it was deserved. It was about time something came back to him for his mistakes.

If this was the end, he would meet it with honor. Unwavering.

The stars above Nightmare pulsed once, twice, ready to rain destruction down on them both. The swirling maelstrom of power cast long shadows across Meta’s face, but he did not waver. His eyes hardened behind his mask, and with one last effort, he raised Galaxia, prepared to block the inevitable storm, knowing full well it wouldn’t be enough.

“This is where your story ends, foolish Knight,” Nightmare stated coldly, as if it were a simple fact.

But he would not kneel. Not here. Not ever.

The stars launched.

Time seemed to slow. Meta Knight braced himself, the roar of the cosmic energy bearing down on him. He could feel the heat of the stars, the sheer force of their power. His body screamed in protest, but he held firm, determined to stand his ground until the very end. The first wave of stars hit, sending shockwaves through the air, each impact pushing Meta back, his feet sliding against the ground as he struggled to hold his position.

Nightmare chuckled darkly.

But then, just as the second wave of stars was about to crash down—

A blinding flash of light exploded through the room, cutting through the darkness with a brilliant, radiant glow. The stars scattered like dust in the wind, their energy dissipating as something—no, someone—plunged into the battlefield like a comet from the heavens.

He flew in on a Warp Star, his form glowing with the same starlight that had once seemed so distant. Kirby shot toward Meta Knight, intercepting the stars with his own power, spinning at breakneck speed on the star vessel and deflecting the deadly barrage before it could reach his mentor.

Meta Knight’s eyes widened in shock. “Kirby…?”

Kirby landed gracefully beside him, the Warp Star shimmering behind him, waiting. He turned to Meta Knight, giving him a reassuring nod, his round eyes full of fire and resolve. There was no need for words—Kirby had come to fight, and he wasn’t backing down.

Nightmare’s grin faltered for only a moment. His form darkened even further. The cosmic storm beneath his cloak raged, swirling more violently now as he redirected his full attention toward the newcomer. “So nice of you to join us, Kirby. You’re foolish to think this will change anything. You still won’t be able to defeat me!”

Kirby stood firm, his small body radiating a quiet, unyielding strength. He reached up and adjusted his sword hat, a determined gleam in his eyes. This wasn’t just about saving Meta Knight. This was about saving all of Dreamland.

Meta Knight pushed himself to stand straighter, the weight of exhaustion lifted slightly now that Kirby was by his side. He felt a surge of hope—small, but undeniable.

“We can end this,” Meta said quietly, his voice steady despite the chaos surrounding them. 

Kirby gave him a sharp nod, his expression fierce. Together, they turned to face Nightmare, ready for the final battle.

Nightmare’s form shifted again, the swirling galaxies within his cloak pulsing faster, the reflections in his shades burning with the white-hot intensity of a quasar. His presence seemed to cast long shadows across the dark battlefield. An ever encroaching and constant deepening of void. “You’ll all perish here!” he roared, his voice echoing like the rumble of a distant supernova. The stars above him flared back to life, reforming into a barrage even more powerful than before, the cosmic energy brimming with lethal force.

Meta Knight clenched his fists tighter, but this time, the weight of hopelessness no longer dragged him down. They weren’t fighting alone anymore. Kirby was here, and together they had a chance.

It only took a few subtle signals between them—a glance, a slight movement—for Kirby to understand Meta’s plan. With nimble speed, Kirby launched himself toward Nightmare, his tiny form a blur of motion, drawing the villain’s focus entirely. Stars streaked through the air like missiles as Nightmare unleashed his fury, but Kirby skillfully dodged them, bouncing and weaving around the onslaught.

Meanwhile, Meta Knight ducked out of the line of fire, using the distraction to dash toward where Dark Meta Knight lay collapsed by the shaking barrage. He was barely able to move, his energy drained, defiance waning.

With a swift, precise motion, Meta Knight snatched Galaxia from the ground. Dark groaned in pain, his battered body barely able to move as he pulled away from Meta’s attempt to aid him. They had no time for this.

Meta pulled him to his feet, struggling under Dark's weight as they stumbled out of the immediate battlefield. Nightmare’s relentless attacks continued to rain down around them, the ground shaking with every impact.

“How bad is it?” Meta asked, his voice calm but urgent, his eyes scanning Dark’s injuries as he half-dragged, half-carried him away from the worst of the chaos.

Dark gritted his teeth, his usually cold demeanor faltering under the strain. He was moving sluggishly, every step seeming to cost him more than it should. “You’re not a Knight for nothing,” Dark hissed, his voice strained. “Don’t… drag me off like some weakling.”

He attempted to push Meta away, trying to stand on his own, but the tremors of the battle raging around them knocked him off balance. His knees buckled, and with a bark of pain, he collapsed to the ground.

Dark growled through gritted teeth, clutching his side as the pain surged through him. He slumped against the ground, one hand pressed against his ribs, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. Meta dropped beside him, eyes sharp with concern.

“We need to do something,” Meta said quietly, his tone leaving no room for argument. His mind raced, trying to assess the situation. Dark was in no condition to keep fighting.

But they didn’t have time. Nightmare’s fury was still growing, his attacks becoming more wild and destructive as Kirby continued to dance around him, deflecting the stars and cosmic beams with his sword and dodging with incredible agility. It wasn’t enough for Nightmare.

Dark winced, his stubborn pride evident even as his body betrayed him. “I can still fight…” he muttered, his voice hoarse. But when he tried to push himself up again, he let out a sharp breath, the pain too much to ignore.

Meta placed a hand on his shoulder, keeping him down. “Stay here,” Meta ordered, his voice firm but not unkind. “You’ve done enough.” Meta looked around for something to use, having little to choose from. He pulled his cape around to his hands, tearing the bottom of it off and using it to wrap Dark’s wound. It was as much as he could do here.

Dark scowled, but there was no defiance left in his eyes—only frustration. He slumped back, forced to accept his current weakness. It was clear he wouldn’t let the attack go so soon, but he understood the urgency was best placed elsewhere. “Tch… Fine,” he growled, begrudgingly, though it was clear he hated every second of it. “Just… finish him off.”

Meta nodded, standing back up. He turned toward the battlefield once more, watching Kirby continue his relentless fight against the cosmic force that was Nightmare. The little Star Warrior was holding his ground, but Nightmare’s overwhelming power was pushing him to his limits.

Meta’s grip tightened on Galaxia. He wasn’t about to let Kirby face this alone for much longer.

With one final glance back at Dark, ensuring his companion was at least somewhat safe for now, Meta Knight launched himself forward, sprinting back into the fray. His cape billowed behind him as he charged toward Nightmare, his mind focused and clear.

Nightmare, sensing Meta’s return, sneered. “Back for more?” he taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. He raised his hand again, summoning another storm of stars, each one more violent than the last.

Meta ducked under the first wave of attacks, his movements swift and calculated. Kirby, noticing Meta’s approach, leapt into the air and slashed through the remaining stars, clearing a path for him. The two exchanged a quick nod��no words needed. It was time.

Nightmare roared, his booming voice reverberating through the battlefield, shaking the ground beneath Meta Knight and Kirby’s feet. The stars within his cloak burned even brighter, becoming like molten embers against the swirling void of his form. The storm around him whipped into a frenzy, cosmic winds howling as meteors of light and darkness tore through the air. But Meta and Kirby didn’t falter, their resolve unshakable.

They moved together in perfect sync, a well-practiced rhythm honed through many battles fought side by side. Meta Knight’s wings flared wide as he surged forward, clashing with Nightmare’s massive claws, while Kirby dashed around the battlefield with nimble speed, staying just out of reach.

But the weight of the battle was shifting. Nightmare’s power was growing, his attacks becoming more erratic and destructive. Meta Knight could feel the strain in his muscles as he parried blow after blow with Galaxia, each clash sending shockwaves through the air. The cosmic stars swirling above them began to condense, gathering into a new, more deadly barrage. Dark clouds gathered in the air, crackling with malevolent energy, ready to unleash hell upon them.

Kirby darted out of the immediate fight, making his way back to where the Warp Star had landed moments ago. He could feel its energy pulsing, calling to him. As he reunited with the powerful relic, a plan formed in Meta’s mind. The story passed between Star Warriors was finally ready to come to fruition. Kirby didn’t need direction, by instinct he knew what to do.

Nightmare didn’t see it. His focus was still locked on Meta Knight, who remained in the heat of battle, fending off the relentless barrage of stars. With a savage grin, Nightmare cast the full weight of his star-storm down upon him, the cosmic orbs crashing around Meta in blinding explosions of light. The ground cracked beneath his feet, the force of the attack pushing him back, his wings straining to keep him upright.

Meta shot into the air, his wings beating hard as he ascended through the lashing darkness and cascading stars. He raised Galaxia high, the golden blade gleaming in the stormy skies as he locked onto Nightmare’s clawed hand, ready to meet the strike head-on. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed, the impact rippling through the air like thunder.

For a moment, Meta held firm, his strength matched against Nightmare’s overwhelming force. But he knew he couldn’t hold this position forever. His muscles screamed with effort as he strained to keep Nightmare’s claw at bay, the sheer weight of the attack pressing him back. Sweat dripped down his brow as he gritted his teeth. This was the moment.

"Now, Kirby!" Meta barked, his voice cutting through the chaos as he suddenly closed his wings, vanishing from Nightmare’s sight in an instant.

Nightmare stumbled, his massive claw lurching forward as the object of his resistance disappeared. His eyes darted wildly, searching for Meta Knight, his gaze flicking through the darkness. For the first time, there was a hint of unease in his movements. He couldn’t see the true danger approaching.

Just then, a brilliant flash of light filled the room, piercing through the oppressive shadows that cloaked Nightmare’s form. The light was pure and powerful, chasing away the darkness with radiant energy. Nightmare flinched, recoiling slightly as the searing glow reached his eyes, the lenses of his shades barely shielding him from the intensity of the light.

Kirby had swallowed the Warp Star.

The power surged through him like a flood, coursing through every fiber of his being, filling him with an overwhelming, radiant strength. His whole body gleamed with a powerful glow, the shimmering light wrapping around him like a second skin. The air around him crackled with energy, pulsing in rhythm with the beating of his heart. And then, with a blinding burst of light, the Star Rod manifested in Kirby’s hand—a weapon of legend, formed from the pure essence of hope and dreams.

Nightmare staggered back, his previously smug expression replaced by one of shock and alarm. The Star Rod’s light was too much for him, a power far beyond what he had expected. His towering form recoiled, the swirling galaxies within his cloak twisting erratically as he tried to shield himself from the burning light.

"Impossible!" Nightmare hissed, his voice dripping with fury and disbelief. "You… you couldn’t have known about that!"

But Kirby stood firm, unshaken by Nightmare’s screeching. The Star Rod glowed brilliantly in his grasp, its light a beacon of hope cutting through the darkness that had engulfed the battlefield. With a determined gaze, Kirby glanced at Meta Knight, who had reappeared at his side, his wings folded and his eyes locked on their enemy.

Meta Knight, despite his exhaustion, felt a renewed strength in his heart. They had a chance. With the Star Rod in Kirby’s hands, they could defeat Nightmare once and for all.

Nightmare roared again, his cosmic fury unleashed as the blue light gathered at his claw tips, arcing lightning between his fingers. A storm of cosmic energy swirled around him, but Kirby was ready. He lifted the Star Rod high above his head, its light growing even brighter, before pointing it directly at Nightmare.

The two forces collided in a cataclysmic explosion of hope and despair. Nightmare’s lightning fizzled against the Star Rod’s power, each strike hitting a barrier as they met the brilliant glow. With every strike Kirby made, the oppressive shadow around Nightmare weakened, the monstrous figure slowly losing his form.

"NO!" Nightmare bellowed, his voice cracking with desperation as his once formidable power crumbled. "This can’t be! I will not be defeated by the likes of you!"

But Kirby was relentless. With a mighty swing, he flung a massive, sparkling star from the Star Rod, crashing it against Nightmare’s chest, the light piercing through the villain’s cloak like a spear of pure energy. The wild, swirling void within Nightmare’s form collapsed inward, his towering figure unraveling as he let out one final, anguished scream.

The battlefield exploded in a brilliant display of light and color, and then—silence.

When the light faded, Nightmare was gone. His cosmic form had dissolved into nothing, leaving only the faint, distant shimmer of stardust. The oppressive weight of his presence had lifted, the air now calm and still. The darkness started to dissipate.

(Previous Chapter) | (Next Chapter)

[whimsyrefrain]

REGARDING THE THING ABT SHIPPING HIMERU W ANYONE BUT RINNE IN YOUR RENTRY.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE OH THANK GOD. istg i have never seen another person say this, especially with the exact same reasoning as me. i ALWAYSSSS get told im being too "sensitive" about it, but theres always a chance he could be multiple years older than most of the fanbase expects him to be and it makes me feel weird when i see him shipped w/other characters..

nothing else i wanted to say! just thankful someone out there agrees + your toujoubros sticker/chibis are absolutely adorable ^_^

Hello anon! okay first off i'm genuinely sorry that people have made you feel this way, especially if you're young. i do not know how old you are, but if you are a minor your worries are 100% reasonable and understandable. and do know that there are people who do share your stance.

Also thank you for the compliment!! i'm glad you enjoyed them :3

Okay with that out of the way, now onto my personal thoughts.

the thing is though, i'm aware that inherently fandom spaces care so little about applying critical thought when it comes to shipping. so i try to not let it get to me too much, even if i'm bothered. but i can't lie i am both perplexed and annoyed by how little thought people put into shipping himeru with other characters

like fine. i can admit that i am perhaps a little too sensitive when it comes to age gap relationships. part of my distaste IS a me issue because it's one of those things i cant separate the reality from fiction, but i find this really strange among enstars fans? because i feel like at least among younger fans, you'll see them denounce all sorts of weird dynamics... but somehow himeru is out of the radar for such discussions? which is odd to me

maybe the problem is i just don't understand what age people perceive himeru as? because i thought the fandom consensus was that he's probably older than rinne, the only question is by how much. but i personally find that hypothetical irrelevant to the discussion. because if that's true then regardless of what specific age himeru is, he's still considerably older than majority of the cast. why are we pairing an established adult with teens who barely graduated high school

or at least that's my opinion. i've seen people believe himeru is 20. which makes no sense to me considering his lore but 🤷 i don't know maybe my other issue is that i value kaname as a character too much 🤷

[x1e3ju]

its that time of the night again.

its 4 am, the eepiness is calling me but the voices are louder so ive come on here to rant abt shuake instead of doing smth productive like drawing❤️ i waste away ranting abt shuake on tumblr to drown out my sadness and overwhelming nostalgia at random times of the day, how wonderful!

i did one of those song association annotation thingies to capable of love by pinkpantheress (she’s so queen may i add) and it got me thinking so much about shuake and just as of late ive been thinking of them bc schl is ending so i finally have time to replay and play the games like p3 or tactica and q1/2 and be able to focus my time on them and also bc im seeing a psychiatrist very soon from now! which makes me think abt shuake a lot bc they are like. HUGE projection dolls for me and i think on that.. quite often especially akechi since he’s the main one for me, the one more personal to me. i think abt his bpd and mentally unwell brain quite often (lol) and i think the way their love is is just very fascinating to me.

i guess its nice or interesting i guess, to see the way i feel and view love be shown in a character so out of the blue. the way akechi’s love is for akira can be viewed this way and again, i think it’s all very interesting. i love shuake so much for this reason and what i wanted to talk about mostly today is how much they truly mean to each other. This is one thing i hate ppl in fandom spaces for bc they always manage to find SOMEWAY to ruin any nuances anything COULDVE had (ik atlus did not try past queerbaiting lmfao) and i hate how to anyone else not apart of these spaces but aware of them just sees anyone talking abt a ship and specifically any popular gay ship and is so quick to assume like wait i actually care lol 😭 and i bring this up bc i really love to view their characters like akira and akechi’s characters individually through the shuake lenses and perspective. tbh i dont really care for persona outside of them and obviously a few other things of course but shuake is the real reason why im even fixated on that game still in the first place so of course, naturally i will focus on this.

i love to think on how akechi subconsciously views akira in his head. i like to interpret akechi as just a nerd girlboy who has a little crush and all the fun cutesy things abt being a teen or whatever 😆 i think that’s all so cute and fun for him and i believe its so him and i love to view him as the teen he is, the child inside of him that’s ridiculous and goes off for hours ranting about his favorite things repeating himself over and over until he tires himself out or the lovey dovey part of him that thinks about akira in random parts of his day and cant stop giggling and smiling at a simple text yk like all the cutie things ☹️ it doesn’t remove nuance and it doesn’t remove character bc thats how teens act, obviously not as stereotypical as i described but that’s how ridiculous we are sometimes! and i love to think on how he views all these big horrible issues in a simple lenses.

doing the song associations with so many taylor songs and then a pink one really reminded me of this bc of the fact that taylor’s (OLD) lyrics are just so serious and more “mature” and i mostly mean folklore and evermore bc im talking abt cardigan specifically rn (that song is just so akechi im sorry) to now doing capable of love bc pink’s lyrics are simple! not bad just obviously more simple so i get to really view akechi in these lenses. I get to have that minute of writer relief even if he isnt my character but yk wtv ig😞 anywhoanywho, again, i love to view akechi in a simple lenses as the simple teen girl he is, its fun and why particularly? bc i personally feel it adds so much more depth to their dynamic. akechi has. ALL these problems going on, akira does too but they still make time for each other and ik i dont focus on akira much (im so fake lmao) but he plays into this just as much! although the council of the world has decided for him he must save it not them, he still makes friends with the enemy and enjoys their time together as if none of that wouldve mattered. he still loves unconditionally like if nobody was going to take that all away from him someday and i think thats so beautiful.

akechi still loves akira so much as if they really were together and akira loves him just the same. akechi is going through all these problems mentally and on the outside but still that child part of that craved love and connection/affection seeps through and overtakes him and his emotions, allowing his crow persona to like be free ig? and of course, that was not the only reason i like to think that it couldve been a part, even a teensy part bc again, they are just kids in love lmfao (so cringe) and yes, it is going to be cringe and a bit ridiculous BUT ITS SO SERIOUS YALL DONT UNDERSTAND

the way im not even done unpacking 25 PERCENT OF THEM YET there’s just so much depth that can be added to their connection, i love them they are so cringe-friendly i hate atlus but god bless shuake frfr 🙏🙏 but i just wanted to highlight this a bit bc i felt like i didnt enough in the insta story and tbh still but yk, to get some of it off my chest. i love gay people i can project on always a great flavor im off to my cave of inner thoughts now hopefully i knock tf out ❤️

[cleverthylacine]

The problem with age gaps is always the power imbalance. An older person does have a lot more freedom and independence than a younger person.  And yes, this can be abused.  Adults and minors shouldn’t date except in the instances where the adult has only recently become one and they and their minor are a couple of years apart on either side of the line, at the same life stage and maybe going to school together. If you turn 18 while you’re in high school you shouldn’t have to stop dating your SO and try to hook up with college kids. Also, why would any adult want to date someone who can’t decide for themselves how to spend Friday night without parental input or permission? That shit was annoying when I was a 15-17 year old who attended college. No way would I have put up with it after I was more than 21 years old.

(Financial means?  It varies. We have more freedom to spend the money we have, but there are some minors who have a lot more money than I do, and I know this because I have seen them come into Angelic Pretty and leave with 5 shopping bags.)

But the most important aspects of the power imbalance in age gaps are: the amount of power the older person has to affect the younger person’s future, and the amount of space the older person takes up in the younger person’s head.

You should not date anyone you can’t see as a regular human being who makes mistakes just like you.  Sex and hero-worship don’t go together well. That’s a dangerous power imbalance.

And even long after you turn 18, you shouldn’t date someone with a lot of power over your success in your education or your career.  Do not date people who decide what grades you earn in school or how much money you can make.

One of the most annoying things about being older than 35 in fandom is the number of minors and people in their late teens/early 20s who think you have a power imbalance over them that is equal to that of a parent, teacher, or employer because you’re the same age as that person, and therefore act like they’re entitled to be parented or protected by you, and treated with the same social distance online as a teacher or boss.

Do not hang out with or talk to older people who make you uncomfortable whether you’re a minor or not. You shouldn’t hang out with people who make you uncomfortable no matter how old they or you are.  But please be aware that for the most part, older members of fandom are probably just interested in discussing the blorbos from their shows, and they absolutely cannot affect your grades, your earning potential or your health. Do not try to assign them social roles they have not volunteered for. If I had really wanted to parent children, I would have adopted some.

whenever twitter wants to land their hot takes about age gaps in relationships, I think what’s often overlooked is that it’s not all that unusual to not be aware of how old the people in your personal life are.

if you asked me how old my coworkers are, i don’t think I could give you a single confident answer. I could give you some educated guesses based on their appearances, interests, and behavior, but not anything more specific than “I think Kat is in her 30s?”

[stars-in-a-jam-jar]

Thinkin' about how Gamzee Makara is genuinely a Really Tragic Character. Like he spent his entire childhood unsupervised and unattended in the throes of a cult, developing an actual substance abuse problem in an attempt to self medicate because of the constant voices he appeared to be hallucinating. Except He Wasn't Fucking Hallucinating, THOSE VOICES WERE FUCKING REAL they were the Literal Devil and an unholy fusion of what would become of his debilitatingly loyal and subservient friend after Gamzee kills him and some thirteen year old alien But Fucked Up And Dangerously Overclocked By A Supercomputer made as a response to apocalyptic loneliness and said someone else's need to keep occupied and feel on top of things, and Gamzee could only hear them because his soul is irrevocably tied to the cursed artefact they all reside in that brings nothing but misery and paranoia wherever it goes. He developed a very laid back unbothered inscrutable personality in response to all the awful things he didn't want to be aware of and relied heavily on his faith in a pair of Mirthful Messiahs that would give deliverance to all and forever erase any unpleasant stagnancy in favor of a chaotic carnival of wonder.

When Gamzee calms down from his whole murderous rampage/vindictive ruining of the Beta Kids' Session thing, he Can't go back to the way he was. He Can't be the same person he was before. He never speaks the same again, we hardly see him speak again At All. His thirteen-year-old mind breaks under the realization that he is not who he thought he was. He is not the person who extends his own brand of kooky clownish shangri-la to those around him until they see the world as it should be. He is the tool of something malevolent and petulant and calculating and selfish. He decides (correctly if the deterministic Alpha Timeline is to be followed) that this cannot be helped, and simply leans into dissociation.

Like-- Karkat sees this kid when they're still on Alternia and is like 'I can fix him' and he tries so god damned mother fucking hard and fails in part if not only because he simply was not meant to fix Gamzee. Not because Gamzee never wanted to be fixed, but because when Gamzee sobers up and his head becomes clear enough for him to reckon with reality and he understands that: he hasn't been hallucinating the voices, the religious beliefs he has held above all else throughout his broken memory were corrupted half truths at best, and at least two of the trolls on this void forsaken meteor are dirty backbiters and bad friends who he believes don't deserve an ounce of forgiveness, he completely goes off the deep end and starts relying on The Literal Actual Most Evil Person To Ever Exist for judgement. How is Karkat supposed to remedy that when he doesn't understand or won't believe that the voices are realer than he previously believed and He Is Powerless To Dispel Them? When he truly wants all of them to just. Fucking. Be A Team and trust one another and be good to one another, but Gamzee no longer believes that was ever an option? What does one Knight wager against the Devil and The Narrative for someone's soul?

In that space of three years where he's growing into the offputting smelly clown husk of a teen that Jane meets in front of her house just before The Trickster Incident and that everyone in the fandom in my experience collectively frowns and groans audibly at, he tries to become comfortable in this new state. In the dreaded Retcon Spree that removed a huge chunk of the complexity happening in an effort to power through to an ending, it's revealed that he did genuinely develop black affections for Terezi, He Just Also Was Bad For Her and she wasn't what he needed because Nobody could give him what he needed because what he needed was to Not Be Connected To Lord English for one second longer. He brought out self loathing in her and no amount of fucking with her and getting into fights that were supposed to be stimulating and romantic but in reality were just hurtful and toxic could make him feel like he could be any semblance of any normal ever again.

I have thought about Gamzee taking care of Calliope and Caliborn from the shadows for Literal Actual Years at this point. He does it because he has to. Because it is his duty as steward and passive enabler to the evil locked inside Lil Cal. Because he has faith that this little sugar loving skrellington squiggle worm will grow up big and strong and horrifying, and it is imperative that he help that along. We never once hear him say anything about Calliope. It's as though she's not a factor that weighs at all in his mind. As though her existence is incidental to the fruition of his grander purpose in her brother's life. Does he think about her? Does he know that another version of her is what will do in the voices that have tormented him since he could comprehend speech? Does he want good things for her? Does he think Caliborn is good at this point, or does he just think he's Important? Is his perpetually placid vacant stare a mask he uses to become inscrutable, or has he truly locked away his every emotional reaction from even himself never to be found again?

The interaction he has with Kurloz and Meulin between becoming sober and becoming a caretaker where the other two are going all 'Hail Lord English' and doing The Cult Thing and he just looks at them with such deep contempt and says in all lower case 'shut the absolute mother fuck up' is So Fucking Important-- like he does not think this is fun and glorious and enriching anymore. He just knows it to be true and knows he's in this shit whether he wants to be or not. These two Chose this. Kurloz could've Run The Fuck Away from the chucklevoodoo bullshit that deafened his matesprit, and Meulin could've simply Not leaned into this evil toxic nonsense, but they both actively turn to it to cope. They see serving the power of Lord English as their salvation. Gamzee sees his salvation as completing his grim purpose and hopefully finding solace in oblivion, and he Cannot Fucking Stand these two talking like that grim purpose is a blessing that gives his life new dimension instead of a horrifying curse that ruined his health and relationships.

I don't mind the existence of The Retcon, I think a retcon was a perfectly sound writing decision given The Everything, but I really hate that the solution to everyone's problems in The Retcon was just bringing back Vriska so she could be The Most Important Person Ever just like she always wanted with no downsides and no caveats. This is in no small part because the solution she provides to The Gamzee Situation is just to domesticate him essentially. He won't be a problem if we keep him leashed up and under control. After all Gamzee's always been passive and only started being a problem when he started committing murders, so just keep him where we can see him and keep the option of murder off the table and Nothing Bad Will Ever Happen With Him Again~. And he Never Does Anything Else and We Never Hear From Him Again. Or if we do, it certainly wasn't consequential enough for me to remember it. Like, if you're gonna take the Gamzee Piece off the board while still holding the story together, just create a scene where the others banish him to Earth A during the timeframe where he's taking care of the cherubs and then bam! He's no longer a factor in the Alpha Medium while also still being able to do the things that he Must Do in order to retain the most continuity. Like I get that keeping him in the fridge for the rest of canon is a joke about fridging a character, but It's Not A Good Joke.

Gamzee Makara Deserved Better! I'm not even necessarily saying he should've gotten better. He deserved like. A Moment for us to see into his head before/whilst he went Full Catatonic Sycophant, as a token of respect for the Really Fuckin' Tragic arc he underwent. He deserved the ability to speak his mind post-Sober Murder Rampage. He deserved to be given weight beyond 'Anyway, now the murder clown is Also Here, so you know some funky shit is about to go down.' Or at least a proper transition into that 'portent of further chaos' role and not just a weird disconnected moment of Calliope going 'Yeah, bards are real passive and real fucky, y'all are lucky you don't have one in your session.' as a vague hint that Gamzee is doing the shit he does and appearing where he appears for completely inscrutable reasons that you shouldn't be looking into. Gamzee is one of plenty of characters in Homestuck whose arcs and selves kinda got lost in the shuffle, and It Makes Me Sad.

This essay has been brought to you by the emotions that arose in me thinking about how Gamzee Makara could've been a really good kid, and the only person who seems to mourn that loss is Karkat offscreen.