#is not necessarily a reflection on what a real life person would experience

[deception-united]

Let's talk about character voices.

Giving a character a unique voice in your writing involves several elements, such as word choice, sentence structure, dialogue quirks, and mannerisms. Incorporating these elements into your writing can really help create characters with distinct voices that resonate with readers and bring your narrative to life, as well as avoiding making all your characters sound the same, which is important especially when switching POVs.

Here are some tips you may find helpful:

Distinct vocabulary: Choose words that reflect the character's background, personality, profession, interests, experiences, and education level. For example, a well-educated professor would probably use more sophisticated language.

Dialogue quirks: Give each character specific speech patterns or quirks that set them apart, like repeated phrases, stuttering, using or avoiding contractions, or speaking in a particular dialect or accent, but don't overdo it to the point where it's distracting or it's hard to decipher what's being said.

Sentence structure: Pay attention to the rhythm and structure of their sentences. Some characters might speak in short, abrupt sentences, while others might use long, flowing ones. This can convey their confidence, hesitation, or urgency in the particular scenario, but also their general demeanor or manner.

Internal monologue: Show the character's unique thought process through their internal monologue. This can help readers understand their motivations, fears, and desires, further distinguishing them from other characters. (This may not necessarily apply to your story if you're writing in a third person omniscient perspective, or if you intend to exclusively follow the internal monologue of the main character.)

Physical gestures/actions: State what the the character's physical gestures and actions are while speaking. A nervous character might fidget, slouch, or avoid eye contact, while a confident character would stand tall and make direct eye contact.

Background & history: The character's upbringing, cultural influences, and past experiences can all shape the way they speak and interact with others.

Consistency: It's important to maintain consistency in the character's voice throughout the story and make sure their speech patterns, vocabulary, and mannerisms remain true to their established personality and don't contradict with anything.

Real conversations: Pay attention to how people speak in real life, and the tone, vocabulary, and speech patterns of different people, to help create more authentic and believable dialogue.

Read aloud: Reading your dialogue aloud can help you identify areas where the character's voice may not sound authentic. If it doesn't sound like something they would say, revise.

Hope this helps!

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[mylovesstuffs]

OT13 reaction to the idea of a threesome with another member

Request: hey!! can you possibly do !husband!svt reacting to having a threesome with another member?? kinda like if they even would consider it, or who they would choose out of all the others. thank you so much already!! + yes hubby!svt x wifey!reader x another member is what i meant!! sorry for being unclear about that!!🤍

A/N: Some of these choices might make it seem like I’m shipping, lol, but anyway—I hope this is what you wanted! I scheduled this without saving it to my drafts for a recheck, so don’t mind any mistakes I might’ve made. Tumblr doesn’t save changes, but I have way too many pending requests, and it’s getting overwhelming. I couldn’t complete the other requests because of this Tumblr issue, but today, I had an epiphany: I can just post directly instead—at least until Tumblr gets back to me. So please ignore any typos, formatting errors, etc., etc.

This is my personal opinion and perspective. It may not accurately reflect their real-life personalities or behaviors.

Would Definitely Consider It (Under the Right Circumstances):

Jun – He’s the wildcard. He has a flirtatious and experimental streak, so he wouldn’t mind trying it if you initiated the idea. Minghao will be his choice (bahahah).

Hoshi – He’s adventurous, playful and very open-minded. He’d probably be the one to bring it up first just to see your reaction. He loves excitement and if it’s something you’re curious about, he’d be down. Woozi would be his first choice. He’d love to see his usually composed bestie in a wilder setting lol.

Mingyu – He’s open-minded and likes pushing boundaries in relationships. He’d probably joke about it first but if you were genuinely interested, he’d consider it. I think his choice would be Wonwoo or Jeonghan. They already have that chem, and they are someone Mingyu trusts completely.

Minghao – He’s open to new experiences but only if it’s something you really wanted. He’s emotionally mature enough to separate pleasure from deeper love. Jun will definitely be his choice (yes they're each other's choice). They have a natural bond and he’d feel most comfortable with him in such an intimate situation.

Would Maybe Consider It (But It’s Complicated):

Dokyeom – He’d turn beet red at the suggestion but wouldn’t be completely opposed. But the real problem is he’d get too emotionally attached and overthink things. In my opinion, I think his choice would be Mingyu. It’d feel like a fun, spontaneous thingy with someone he already vibes with.

Vernon – He’d be very nonchalant about it and respond with, “I mean…if you want to.” But deep down, he might not actually care enough to make it happen. Dino would definitely be his choice for a threesome. He’d pick someone who’s also laid-back, so nothing feels awkward.

Dino – He’d need a lot of convincing. He might go for it if it was positioned as a ‘fun experiment,’ but afterward, he’d probably get shy or maybe overthink. His choice will probably be Hoshi. There’s already a strong bond, and it would feel more like a game than anything super serious.

Absolutely Not (Too Loyal, Too Possessive, or Just Not Into It):

Seungcheol – This man is territorial. You are his, end of discussion. Suggesting it might even make him a little jealous and possessive.

Jeonghan – He loves to tease about things like this but would never actually go through with it. Deep down, he’s high-key possessive and wouldn’t want to share you.

Joshua – He’s too traditional and reserved. He doesn’t want to take even a 0.001% risk of anything that could potentially affect the relationship.

Wonwoo – Not necessarily out of jealousy, but he sees sex as something really personal and wouldn’t want you or him to share that level of intimacy with anyone other than each other.

Woozi – He’d be so so uncomfortable with the idea. He’s private and values intimacy in a one-on-one setting.

Seungkwan – Absolutely not. He would take the idea as a personal attack, wondering why he alone isn’t enough for you.

[the3rddenialist]

Mysteries left unanswered by the end of Characters FTEs

List of what is left unanswered that may get answered in the next chapter/things to think about

(note, while I may have bias, I'll try to detail as much for every character)

I'll go in ascending order

Living Life

Eva Tsunaka

I wouldn't say there are any real mysteries left behind by Eva's FTEs. And most of her mysteries are explained in the Trial anyways. Any loose ends are mostly tied up. I think her biggest mystery would be just what Tozu entailed by saying she would die but yet, that's more to do with Tozu and not related to FTEs (aka her past).

TLDR: No real mystery

Kai Monteago

His FTEs discuss how he became the Ult Influencer. During this rumour came about that twisted his image. He also only truly trust his fans who he sees as his friends. There's no big question left by the end only Damon stating how he couldn't relate to Kai but understood is all means a lot to Kai. Perhaps Damon will ask about the type of rumours? Or more about how Kai sees his fans/friends?

TLDR: No big mystery, just concerning

Curious

Ingrid Grimwall

Her FTEs go from workout to family to explaining her family business. You go through an arc with a sweet resolution. But Damon find her usage of "Food on her family's plate" interesting. He'll probably ask about that in their next FTE. Her biggest mysteries is be her finacial situation and her cleaning products.

TLDR: Her financial situation.

Cassidy Amber

She isn't fond of being known as the Ult Pro Gamer since she feels she doesn't get treated as a person. Biggest mysteries probably is her bond with her esport team and why she left them (and more on her relationship with her talent). And since Damon is curious about it it'll probably get addressed in her next FTEs.

TLDR: Why she left her esport team.

Desmond Hall

Bro needs a chill pill he has no free time to himself. Extreme version of Damon's dedication. Has a clear love of his talent and the sport and yet no longer attend competitions that catches Damon's curiousity. So that will be address next FTEs. Also a bit like Cassidy's.

TLDR: Why he no longer attends competitions.

Mark Berskii

Has an public persona known as "Mayhem" that is widely successful. Despite this he is very apathetic about his success and doesn't seem to even like his music. Damon is curious why he isn't more elated about his success, so next FTE will most likely address that.

TLDR: His apathetic nature towards his success

Suspicious

Wenona

Company, business, clan and her rise. Very interesting. But she chooses to stay away from the public eye as it invites "drama". Damon is curious what exactly makes her fear going public and if there is other things in the past that she covered up that could threaten her company. Damon will probably interograte this in the next FTEs.

TLDR: What other drama has her company need to cover up that includes her

Diana Venicia

She doesn't talk much about herself since it feels like bragging cause she has had a good life. Her FTEs are mostly about Damon first until he starts interograting her. The lack of knowledge gained about her from her FTEs is why is put it in Sus, we don't even learn how she got her talent. Future FTEs will be interesting after the arc she has gone through.

TLDR: How did she get her talent and everything else.

Eloise Taulner

She raised the ranks quickly because people feared her. Also she threaten Damon which is a +. But she clearly does not want to be hanging out with Damon at all. She gets upset when Damon asks if her mother has a partner. Why exactly was she so skilled to the point that people forfeit andwhat's her relationship with her family. I usually would say it's interesting she's so touchy on the subject of her mother but i think that's more to do with Damon constantly bugging her than necessarily a reflection on how she feels about.

TLDR: Her skills and her family

Jean Delamer

Dramatic retelling or his near-death experience, demonstration of trust that Damon fails and how he gained his family. He has skills that Damon compares to a ninja that go unexplained, and his final FTE he talks about treating his family that Damon finds suspicious as to how he could gain the wealth. Also he is kind of scary mannn.

TLDR: His skills and his financial situation.

EXPLAIN

Ulysses Wilhelm

Big book nerd, can remember tours well, has a mentor (not much said about her), and unique idea on the killing game being a experiment or commentary. He also implies he has something he wants to talk to Damon about but doesn't feel ready/prepared yet. It could possibly be Damon's blackmail, with how determined to shifty he goes about but that's spectulation. Very sus.

TLDR: What he wants to talk to Damon about

Toshiko Kayura

Discuss Children bedtime stories and then she wanted to debate Damon, but when he wanted to make the topic 'Should Toshiko Lower Her Fan' she left in a hury. WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?????? (The funniest explaination I've seen is that she's hiding braces.)

TLDR: LOWER THE FAN TOSHIKO

Jett Dawson

He wears his suit 24/7. Probably because of the accident his intro card alludes to. I'm so so so curious about how bad the accident was cause the intro card said it left him with scars and burn. Also the fact that it seems he doesn't shower might be because it hurts but that's speculation again. ALSO we do not know much about his origins or anything. There is so little on him I WANT MORE.

TLDR: Are you alright sir

Wolfgang Akire

Wants to issue an era where a laywer's conscioence is rewarded not punished, nice ending to his final FTE but LET'S GO BACK A BIT. He says he cannot be the man he is in the courtroom as he is with his classmate, especially during a killing game. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. He's also so high up on the list cause of the mysteries with his mother and father.

TLDR: ???????????????

WHERE ARE YOU

Grace Madison

WHERE IS YOUR FTEs?? WHERE ARE THEY HUH?? WHAT IF I WANNA TALK???

TLDR: ANYTHING

Conclusion?

There's plenty of them that have clear topic of discussion prepared for Chapter 2, in which we may get another 4 FTEs MAX. The order here is one part least to most interesting and another part vibes. I would love to see an expansion on characters that only got 2-3 FTEs and GRACE. Also ignore how much I used probably.

This post was to gather some thoughts on them. Also fun fact the order changed while writing this post. This was the original image.

So yeah

Also while you're stil here did you know Kai Monteago is an anagram of Makoto Naegi?

k a i M o n t e a g o M a k o t o n a e g i

Cool huh

[msunitedstatesjames]

I'm sure I'm gonna be preaching to the choir on this one, Tumblr gamers being who they are, but I don't use any other social media where discourse is really a thing, so here we are. Mild Kingdom Come Deliverance II spoilers incoming.

On other social media platforms, I continue to see people criticize the Henry/Hans romance option, primarily by saying that it is unrealistic and makes no sense. I wanted to address that because personally I felt it to be highly realistic. A couple of disclaimers here, I'm not an expert on the 1400s, nor am I gay or bisexual. But I do have a background in literary analysis, and examining characters and stories in video games isn't so different from doing it in books.

I've seen some people claim that Hans couldn't possibly canonically have feelings for Henry because Hans is based on a real person. I'll address this one first because it's such a patently ridiculous argument. My dudes, I hate to break it to you, but most of the specific details of in game Hans were designed for a video game. I think it's safe to say that every interaction and relationship and event he goes through in the games isn't necessarily a true reflection of the real-life Hans' lived experiences.

I guess, other than that, I really can't understand what people thought was unrealistic about their romance option. Yes, it would have been forbidden and considered one of the greatest moral trespasses of the time. Yes, the punishment for such an act would mostly have been extreme, possibly castration, possibly being burned at the stake. And yet, real people in Europe in the middle ages still had same sex relationships. We know they did because we have real historical information about people being punished for that very reason. On top of that, there have been a number of nobles who were strongly rumored to have same sex relationships, which isn't the same as proof I guess, but it's not exactly the sort of thing you would openly write about in letters to your pals, not when it was a risk to your life. And I hope we can all agree that people interested in same sex relationships always existed, even if they couldn’t be open about it and didn't have the words for it that we have now.

I guess some people are more likely to say that it didn't make sense based on the specific natures of the characters involved. And honestly, I also don't really buy that one. I'm really not sure which aspects of their characters make it impossible or unlikely for them to have romantic feelings for one another.

It's certainly canon that Hans at least is pretty unconcerned about Christian morality. He's out there committing pretty major sins on the regular and is entirely unrepetant. He gets drunk, has unmarried sex, has sex for fun rather than for reproduction, is lustful, is too proud, and even breaks purely human laws such as poaching (though maybe you don't count that one since he is a noble). He loves doing anything he considers fun or thrilling, anything that will relieve his boredom, and he rarely takes into consideration the risks or consequences of such actions. I have no problem at all believing he would be willing to risk having sex with a man under the right circumstances, if only because it would be different and exciting, and I can't imagine circumstances more conducive to this possibility than the circumstances in this game, but we'll get to that later.

As for Henry, unless you play him as a very specific, extremely moral type, I think he's not a whole lot more strictly moral than Hans. Henry can get up to pretty much all the same things as Hans, and unless you're really careful with your choices, he still gets up to things that you don't intend. I play pretty much "in universe moral" characters in RPGs, but even my Henry occasionally steals, loots, gets drunk, and has sex. Some of that was by choice, some was just the result of cutscenes that happened with certain quests. At his strictest, I would say Henry is still at least passively accepting of "immorality" purely based on his friendship with Hans, who drags Henry into his shenanigans more often than not. So I don't think it's impossible for him to have romantic or sexual interest in Hans either, at least based on morality.

I also don't think the nature of their friendship precludes the possibility of a romantic or sexual entaglement. Some people argue that they're just close male friends, and if that's how you play your Henry then that's true, but the nature of their friendship doesn't make it impossible for any other kind of feelings to exist between them in character arcs different from yours. I would say it's pretty generally accepted that by the end of the 2nd game, Henry and Hans certainly love each other in one meaning of the word at least. Obviously they have the love of two extremely close friends. They've been through hell together, and they've both directly risked their lives to save each other when they could easily have left the other to die. You don't often do that for people that you don't love. But loving each other as friends doesn't mean they can't love each other in a romantic way as well, or least have an attraction to each other. Lots of real life couples or sexual partners have started out as friends, and even those that didn't still often consider their partner to be their best friend. So I don't see friendship as something that excludes the possibility of love or sex. (Not to mention the multiple real life examples of soldiers who have fought together, grown close through thier struggles, and eventually ended up growing into some form of sexual or romantic relationship.)

I've listed some of the reasons I don't find their romance to be unrealistic, now let me tell you some of the reasons I do find it realistic and well done.

I've already mentioned that if the circumstances were right, I have no problem imagining Hans trying to hook up with a man. And the circumstances for their romance scene were almost ideal as a setup (which I imagine was the point). Obviously, this would be a hugely risky venture, even for someone like Hans who doesn't worry much about consequences and is generally protected from legal consequences due to his status. So if you were going to undertake a same sex relationship or liason of some kind, I would imagine you would want one of two situations to be true. Either you would want to keep things as anonymous as possible, so there's little chance of your secret getting out, or you would want to be with someone you trust implicitly. Henry and Hans would certainly fall in the latter category. Hans already knows Henry would be willing to die to protect him. Even if the worst happened and Henry was completely disgusted with Hans, he certainly wouldn't turn Hans over to the church to be burned at the stake. Hans might lose his best friend and protector, which would be terrible, but at least he wouldn't lose his life.

The direness of their situation also works in favor of their romance. It adds a lot of urgency to the whole situation. It gives it a "now or never" feeling, that might make people act on impulses they never would have before. There's a good chance in this scene that one or both of them might die very soon. If that's the case, the very serious possible consequences suddenly seem a lot less important. What does it matter that the church might burn you if you're already going to be dead before they have the chance? Even losing Henry as a friend, terrible though it would be for Hans, wouldn't matter much if they were both going to die anyway.

And I think the way they set up the whole scene and the character reactions really adds to the realism factor as well. Henry's initial impulse, to push Hans away, seems very real considering the society they live in. Even though the player as Henry chooses to kiss Hans, Henry still isn't able to bring himself to do it. All he can manage are some vaguely comforting words and a brief clasp of Hans' hand. Hans makes the first move, which realistically, as a noble and Henry's superior, I think he would have to in this time. Henry is ultimately in more danger than Hans here in terms of societal protections, though arguably Hans has a lot more to lose materially. And it makes sense for Henry to be programmed to feel a certain amount of alarm and disgust as a protective impulse to a man kissing him in this sort of society. Hans reacts so well, too. There's so many layers to the emotions on his face in this scene. You can watch him flicker quickly between surprise, regret, panic, self loathing, and resignation. Which seems pretty on point for someone who believes he just ruined his only real friendship and, despite trusting Henry, who might have just put himself in far reaching peril. But then Henry has a moment to reflect and witness Hans' distress, and he realizes what he wants and all the reasons they might as well give it a go, and he very reasonably locks the door and goes back to Hans.

And I think the realism to their romance comes all throughout the game, before, during, and after the romance scene. The few chances you have for Henry to flirt with Hans are all very tame, almost coded and carefully said so as to be easily explained away by any listener (or by Hans if he doesn't feel the same way) as words between two friends. Mostly, Henry emphasizes that he cares about Hans and wants to support him, all things that could easily be true between two good friends, especially when one's job is to protect the other. The absolute most hardcore flirting Henry does before the romance scene is to tell Hans that he really cares about him, and Hans will pretty calmly agree with the sentiment. Which, if you're trying to feel out if your friend also feels some kind of attraction to you, but that attraction could get you both killed, is about the best you can do. During the romance scene Hans has to go into an elaborate anecdote about famous knights who just really, really cared about each other. He mentions that there's some aspect of the the tale that he "doesn't have his own words for" (same sex love, anyone?), and he lets Henry point out the similarities between the story and their own relationship. He even goes so far as to imply that he would die if Henry died, without saying it in so many words, which if there's a clearer way to tell someone you love them in a way that you could somehow write off as nonromantic, I don't know it. And then, after hearing Henry tell him throughout the game about how deeply he cares for Hans and wants to spend more time together, Hans still waits until Henry grabs his hand and swears to return to him before he makes a move. Even after the romance, Henry and Hans are still extremely careful to mask their words for listening ears. Henry refers to Hans' "encouragement." Hans refers to "what happened," which could mean anything to an innocent listener, and "me and you." He also mentions that maybe they should find somewhere "more private" to stay, which would seem like a perfectly reasonable thing for a young nobleman to want. They're still, necessarily, being extremely cautious. Which makes it all very realistic to me.

I think some of the Henry/Hans complainers want to act like having a "gay romance" option in the game means the equivalent of what it would mean in modern day or in a fantasy game like BG3. Like they're just going to be walking around 1400s Europe holding hands and making out in public. And maybe that's why they call it unrealistic. But let's be real, whether you choose the romance or not, very little is going to change for Henry and Hans. Hans will still have to get married to a woman, and Henry will probably marry some day, too. There's a good chance they'll both keep sleeping around with whatever women they can in the meantime because at this point nothing would be more suspicious than to stop. At best, Henry will get to stay on in Hans' castle and be his occassional lover when he has to settle down to start a family. All that seems like a pretty realistic rendition of how a Middle Ages same sex relationship would have to look, so I have to wonder how all these people are finding this relationship to be so "unrealistic?"

[moonlight-yuyu]

✩Enhypen Hyung Line Astrology Chart Reading✩

Maknae Line

Heeseung

✩Heeseung is a generally sociable person

✩He's really approachable because of his innocent aura

✩Heeseung's peace loving and he loves a somewhat balance in his life

✩He's a rather pleasing communicator

✩Diplimancy runs naturally while Heeseung's speaking

✩He's generally good at making connections

✩Heeseung's generally goals oriented and likes focussing on his work 

✩He's productive over all and likes working towards his goals

✩Heeseung can take care of his daily life pretty well like paying his bills or running errands

✩He likes feeling useful and needed

✩Heeseung's not really flirtatious 

✩The most attractive point of his love will be his willing to make the relationship work and will do everything in his power to make it happen

✩Heeseung's gifts to his partner won’t be showy but more generous

✩In generall he'll show his love through practical means like running errands or doing the work for his loved one

✩Love just needs to make sense and have a purpose for Heeseung

Jay

✩Jay likes presenting himself as self-controlled, and responsible

✩He wants to come of as goal-oriented and controlled overall

✩Jay doesn't make decisions quickly

✩He mainly relies on his senses

✩Jay has an especially pleasant voice!

✩Love for him would be centred to the physical world and creating comfort

✩Jay's solid and comfortable all around

✩In a relationship he would need a certain measure of predictability and dependability

✩When Jay feels comfortable he likes being the centre of attention

✩But he's not necessarily outgoing

✩Jay likes entertaining others and likes being the „class clown“

✩He tends to work really hard

✩Jay can be somewhat possessive in some kind of way

Jake

✩Jake's a really intense person

✩He tends to have his own mind and for others it’s nearly impossible to get him to do some things

✩Jake just knows what he wants and he has plenty of willpower

✩In communication he's passionate 

✩Jake's especially passionate about giving other real advice and help

✩He's naturally suspicious

✩Jake loves challenging himself to do the impossible

✩He tends to have a somewhat black or white philosophy of life

✩Jake often reflects about things

✩He tends to procastinate a lot

✩Jake hates being mean or unfair

✩He's peace-loving and super dependable overall

✩Jake's gentle and having a soft touch overall especially while communicating

Sunghoon

✩Sunghoon loves challenging himself to do the impossible

✩He tends to have a somewhat black or white philosophy of life

✩Sunghoon's blessed with an observation skill

✩He's a passionate communicator 

✩Sunghoon's just passionate about giving other advice and help

✩He's cheerful and friendly

✩Sunghoon loves his freedom and not being tied down but he also loves his routine

✩He loves to laugh and being with friends

✩Sunghoon tends to be a little teasing

✩In a relationship he would need to feel like he can grow and expand his horizon

✩Sunghoon loves learning new things 

✩In a relationship he would need a partner with who he can experience everything together

✩Sunghoon's extremely observant

✩He loves analyzing people and his surroundings

✩Sunghoon's idealistic and progressive

[lizmidfordsblog]

Who is Cale Henituse? And Who is Kim Rok Soo?

In a previous post, I mentioned how OG!Cale's The Birth of a Hero future was Kim Rok Soo's worst nightmare. Raon never lived. The Henituse County was razed to the ground. Eruhaben was likely killed off by the Dragon Half-Blood or the White Star.

How do we know that was his worst nightmare? Because Kim Rok Soo (KRS) has already lived through it with the cataclysm and everything that unfolded afterward. I'm currently writing a thesis on the fluidity of identity, and the sheer lack of staticness of KRS's entire life & his personhood is physically staggering.

Orphanhood, child abuse and alienation are all examples of instability we see reflected in real life. They don't necessarily have to connote instability, but in KRS's case, they did. Shifting from different homes, in the care of (or lack thereof) of different adults etc. These are age old tales, of children aging out of systems and working hard to get into college to support themselves. Here, KRS stands out as one example out of thousands.

But the author takes this to the next level; in the Cataclysm, that already fragile sense of identity is fully squashed.

During the Sloth Test, Kim Rok Soo defines his high school experience as uneventful and peaceful. He's finally out of his abusive situation and can reset, can lay down his roots. He begins to develop goals, fosters connections (however little they are) and has the drive to reach for those goals through working jobs. The moment he dares to dream of more, the Cataclysm takes place in what can arguably be a moment in Earth 2's history that revamped every single human being's identity.

Once, Lee Soo Hyuk (LSH) was a third rate actor playing extras. Now he's lowkey the hope of the diminishing Korean population. He's the only Ability User with two (recorded) abilities.

Once, Kim Rok Soo (KRS) was an orphan working in a restaurant earning money to attend college. He'd made something out of himself, no matter how little or fragile it was.

Now he's effectively nothing, as is enforced and told to him by literally everyone in this new society that prioritizes efficiency & usefulness over all else. He states it himself, considers it true himself: he was useless until he activated his own Abilities.

Then we have the dismantlement of the central shelters, then latter on a period of stability where he forges bonds with Choi Jung Soo (CJS) and Lee Soo Hyuk (LSH). He again, finds a place for himself in a broken world. And what happens? That, too, disappears.

Kim Rok Soo is someone used to change, placing and taking down different masks in order to survive. The irony of his existence is how he literally gets his soul swapped, another complete revamp of his identity. He's no longer Kim Rok Soo (not that he had much attachment to it, as KRS emphasizes throughout the novel) but rather he's Cale Henituse now. With all the connotations of the word.

I chose to write my fic specifically to interrogate this shift of identity. In TCF canon, we never really get to understanding the implications of OG!Cale's disappearance from the perspective of his loved ones. I adore KRS with all my heart, and cackle at all the 'trash' comedy going on. But I also think about the sheer tragedy of no one realizing OG!Cale was missing, or that KRS had replaced him. That's not on Choi Han, Raon or any of the family members KRS has gained post-transmigration.

It makes me think of just how alienated OG!Cale purposefully made himself that-- forget Deruth (who I can expect to be busy with work) but Ron, who was by his side every day did not realize. That's terrifying; it makes you wonder, what makes a person themselves? Their physical body, their soul, or their personality?

If KRS!Cale suddenly switched bodies back, would any of his family members realize?

(I know they would, cue our Dark Tiger quite literally recognizing KRS in the Sealed God Test, but think about it!!)

Jules works as a character because she's someone from OG!Cale's past, who knew him intimately (as close as a family member), and hence, at the realization that this is not him-- is understandably and rightfully equal parts pissed and scared. The funniest part is, this fic was never meant to be a romance, I was just toying with the idea of someone who actually knew OG!Cale before KRS took over, finding out about the soul swap. I'm really excited to see how the author tackles this with Ron & Beacrox in Part 2, who have long begun to suspect our beloved KRS!Cale.

Actually, this makes me think of Alberu, who's doing some identity swapping/obscuring of his own. I wrote a bit about it in to your eternity, but I might do a separate post just waxing poetry about the sheer beauty of him as a foil to our beloved Cale. And Choi Han. And OG!Cale. Ughhh!! Even Eruhaben, himself (as someone who has had a fixed identity/personhood across his thousand years) acts as a foil to Kim Rok Soo, who flips between identities like they're clothes. And who, ironically, has this change satirized via different characters always misunderstanding him (calling him a dragon, thinking he's a god etc.).

Any way, that is my daily dose of mental breakdowns courtesy of our favorite slacker. Sorry if I kept rambling obvious things, its just that every time I reread the novel, I'm just blown back by the characters. TCF, as it's core, isn't a plot-driven story but rather a character-driven on. It's heart is in it's found family and I think that's beautiful.

If you liked this post, or wanna geek over these characters more, shoot me a text! I'm always down!

Also, feel free to check out my fic! I currently have a chapter out talking about Beacrox & his displacement from his home/finding a new one with the Henituses.

[drdemonprince]

Hi Dr. Price,

I’m a huge fan of your work and I’ve found it immensely helpful in figuring out who I am.

In recent years I’ve discovered I am both AuDHD and Bi. My partner is also Bi and very supportive. However we have been together for over a decade and I’m struggling a lot lately with the fact that I’ve never actually been with anyone else. I’ve been spending a lot of time in queer spaces online and finding myself wishing I could at least experience some of what they do.

I love her more than anything and would never do anything to hurt her. She’s not interested in opening things up in any way, which I completely respect and to be fair I’m not even sure that’s truly something I would want either.

I guess I’m just asking if you have any advice on these overwhelming feelings of missing out on aspects of life I never knew I even missed? Other than using porn to get it out of my mind as I’m worried that’s affecting our relationship sexually, which is another issue. Should I find a dating sim game or something to push all of these thoughts on to? It’s kind of messed up but I feel like if I was allowed to flirt online and not actually act on it that might satisfy me? I don’t know.

If nothing else thank you so much for your work and giving me a space to get this off my chest. ❤️

Because I am of the mind that most longings for queer expression/recognition/community cannot and should not be met with media consumption, I'm not going to tell you that there is any kind of game that can simulate queer erotic contact in a way that will be remotely satisfying for you.

You and your partner's desires for your relationship and its boundaries are important and matter, but alongside that, I would also encourage you to listen to that urge that tells you that you'd love to flirt online with a sexy queer stranger as a way to let a little of the steam off.

The wants you are feeling are real, and when disregarded or left unattended they can spiral out in all kinds of unpleasant ways, from just regular garden variety frustration, to resentment, to conducting years long emotional affairs with agoraphobic instagram thot boys you met online (not that I know anything about that).

You want to be recognized by another queer person as a sexually desirable, available person, you want to feel the rush of a developing romance, you want the future to be filled with possibility and excitement, you want to know that your life is not over and that there's still more to learn about yourself and more experiences to enjoy -- these are all good things. These are important things, and I promise you that it is very unlikely that you won't get to experience more desire, attraction, sexual contact, romance, and heartbreak in the years to come.

Most relationships end. Those that last more than a couple of years undergo dramatic shifts over the course of their tenure. And so, it is very likely that you and your partner will either eventually split, or your various desires and capacities will become incompatible in certain ways, and you will contemplate some kind of change to the relationship dynamic (or someone will fail to communicate this and cheat. hopefully not that one. But if it does happen, well. It's very common and not the end of the world or even necessarily the end of the bond).

How does it feel to confront this information? That in all likelihood, this relationship will either end, open up in some way, change dramatically in its dynamic, or be marked by one or both parties stepping out in some way, however small, be it an online flirtation or a kiss at a party or a sexual affair? I think your feelings in response to that information is important too. And that regardless of what you and your partner decide for the time being, it is an important series of potentialities to reflect on and emotionally prepare oneself for. Also worth asking: are these potential futures ones that you can speak to your partner about? One of them will likely be headed for you in time, not through any fault of your own or due to lack of love, but simply because people change and relationships develop, just like a person develops. Whether or not these are subjects that can be broached is itself valuable information, too.

Now personally, I am very biased, but I think there is very little harm in having some virtual sex with a consenting stranger, roleplaying sexy interactions online, even getting on a dating or cruising app and posting a few anonymized photos and seeing what kind of attention you get and enjoying the rush. I think that kind of thing is all within the realm of the harmless and forgivable, but hey, my sister just ended an engagement over her fiance doing that kind of thing, so not everyone agrees with me clearly.

But I think it is worth at least contemplating the full, long continuum of infidelity that exists, from having a whole secret other marriage and family and keeping a partner in the dark about it on one end, say, and making bedroom eyes with a cute person at the bar and fantasizing about what if what if what if, on the other. If your partner did anything along that whole continuum, you might be hurt, and likewise they might be if you do.

You say you love your partner more than anything and would never do anything to hurt her. But you can't really promise yourself that. Every partner hurts one another in some way or another, sometimes even intentionally, over the course of a long relationship. But hurting one another in a relationship is, also, not the end of the world. We all make mistakes, say things we regret, lose control of our faculties at times, or are simply forced to reconcile that what we need conflicts with what another person does. And sometimes we put our needs first, even though it's uncomfortable.

I don't regret the times I cheated. I regret the lack of communication and cowardice that brought me to that half-formed, unarticulated decision. But I don't regret ever having chosen to listen to needs that had been powerfully screaming inside of me, typically for years before I attended to them.

I think you and your partner should continue having very frank conversations about these topics, and do your best to regulate your own anxieties and feelings of relationship threat when the other party brings up an activity or an idea that makes the other feel scared. The choice isn't to remain monogamous or to become fully polyamorous with no hierarchy. There are a lot of activities you can both decide are either okay or not okay, and conditions under which you will engage in them.

Even what counts as "monogamy" is subject to fierce debate, that's part of why so many jealous straight people destroy one another so easily. Is texting someone you think is cute in a flirtatious but ultimately just friendly way cheating? Is dancing with someone else cheating? What kind of dancing is okay and is not? Is cuddling on the couch? Working on erotica together? Kissing? Is watching porn with someone else cheating? Is masturbating to a video they sent you?

You might have a very visceral response to these questions, but those are just like, your opinions. They are not set in stone and you can easily find another monogamous person who is just as adamant about completely opposing rules and definitions of what monogamy means to them. And so, it's worth talking with your partner and really being honest with yourself about what it is you want to do, what is decidedly off the table, and what the hell it even is that you two are talking about when you discuss your relationship and its limits.

If it were me, and if I could wave a wand and make you and your partner feel okay about and agree to a set of relationship limits, I think you should consider flirting with actual queer people online. But I can't control other people's behavior or emotions, as much as I have tried. But you can at least contemplate (and then discuss) alternate ways of getting the kind of attention that you desire.

There are lots of things you can do to scratch your itch that are not having sex or dating someone else: LARPing (there is larping that has a sexual or romantic component!). Tabletop games. Acting or improv that incorporates romantic or sexual elements. Going to a sex party and just WATCHING people do stuff. Going to a gay bar and just hanging out and socializing. Going to a cruising bar and watching people fuck. Going to a dungeon for a class or a demo. Going on gay speed dating but secretly agreeing that you're not actually going to take anybody home, you're just gonna see how it feels. Wearing a slutty outfit to pride and waving and winking at people. Exchanging heartfelt letters with a queer friend who you have chemistry with but who respects your relationship.

These are just some ideas, but the possibilities are limitless. One day, you and your partner might agree that you are open to having sex with other people, or flirting, but not to them having other lasting relationships. maybe you'll have threesomes together or one partner will watch the other fuck casual hook-ups. Or maybe you'll just break up. Who knows what the future holds! No matter what it is, you can figure it out with both love and commitment to your partner, but also the courage to name what you are feeling and to honor your desires. None of those things have to be incompatible, and monogamy doesn't have to be incompatible with getting a little thrill here and there either.

Good luck!

[burningcheese-merchant]

I think redemption Spice needs to beat yandare Spice to death, as a treat. Might actualy be cathartic for him.

That would be the fucking best, honestly 😭 Reformed Burning Spice, after all of that time and hard work atoning for whatever sins he could, trying to find a new way forward as a different man, finally earning back his place in society; facing off against his shadow, his doppelganger, this demon wearing his face like a mask and his skin like a coat, this monster that has hurt and killed so many that is now sneering at him and calling him soft and weak for allowing himself to feel and be a real person again

You don't even have to make this ship-related necessarily, just have the Burning Spice who climbed his way out of the abyss VS the Burning Spice who jumped in head first and let the former, with all of his newfound experiences and perspective on life and the solace he learned to find within himself and others, achieve victory. Let this be his greatest and final act of redemption: slaying the man he used to be. Let good triumph over evil, as it can, as it should, and as it must. Let Damned Spice (gonna call him that while it's VS Reformed Spice) be brought to heel - not by Golden Cheese this time, but by someone so much worse: himself. Let his pride and bloodlust be his downfall, for neither can stand against humility and proper discipline. Let the face of ultimate defeat be the one he sees in his reflection - except while his own eyes burn with hatred and his own mouth is twisted into an ugly snarl, Reformed Spice's face is calm, cool, every breath and movement measured, his eyes alight only with righteous determination.

When Damned Spice is beat, Reformed Spice offers him one more chance to stop and turn back. People were willing to take him in and push him to start over, it was only fair that he pay that sentiment forward and let his other self have the option, as well. But he says no. Of course he does. Once a destroyer, always a destroyer. If there was ever a chance to help him, it's been gone a long time, and he didn't go looking for it for one reason only: he doesn't care anymore. He regrets ever caring in the first place. Life is meaningless, all that is fun and fair is destruction. What a shame that this fool that shares his name and likeness lost sight of that ultimate truth. He welcomes his defeat, he welcomes his death. It'll be the last worthwhile thing his inferior counterpart ever does.

Damned Spice is smiling when that axe comes bearing down on his head. He's smiling as he feels it sink into his neck, carving through his flesh, rending it from bone and then slicing through the bone, too. His body slumps forward, his head hits the ground with a thud. Still wearing that hideous devil's grin. He died as he lived, as he always wanted to live and as he always wanted to die: an unrepentant monster.

Reformed Spice is... not happy, but not sad. He feels... peaceful. Finally, he can claim freedom from his past. His demons have at last been bested. Perhaps he cannot undo what he did. Perhaps there are sins he can never truly be forgiven for. Perhaps there will always be blood staining the tapestry of his life, no matter what he does to wash it out. But how the rest of it is woven is up to him, and he has earned the wisdom and strength of character needed to make better choices. Now he can continue forward, into an uncertain but nevertheless brighter future, leaving the darkness behind without looking back. Had the tables been turned, the other Burning Spice would've done the same, anyway.

🔥 Absolute fucking cinema 🔥

(To properly address Reformed Spice VS Yandere Spice: what man wouldn't want to beat the shit out of the guy that's been constantly harassing his wife? That disrespected her boundaries and her personhood in such a vile, inexcusable way? Death is too good for Yandere Spice, but it's all Reformed Spice feels like offering him. The Devil can take care of the rest.)

[caffinatedcastiel]

Okay- I’ve seen a lot of conversation about whether love transcends severance and pointing to Dylan and Mark’s innie and outie communications as evidence toward one way or another.

But I really think what this all comes down to is the severance separates you from your experiences, not your emotions. And love is both an emotion AND an experience.

Dylan as an innie and as an outie had similar experiences with their wife. Innie Dylan was put into various first date scenarios with her- the experience of love strengthened the emotion of love already there. And Outie Dylan actually understood that. He validated the fact that Innie Dylan’s love was real. Because he also experienced a similar path and understands that his emotions work the same way, regardless of severance. And he wants his innie to continue to have chances to have new experiences, if he chooses to. But there is still a presentation of choice because Outie Dylan now understands Innie Dylan is a full other part of himself, not just a piece.

Outie Mark doesn’t necessarily see Innie Mark as much else beyond a piece of himself. To him, severance is just a wall in his mind that he can knock down to unlock the memories he doesn’t have access to. And once that’s done- he’s complete again. Cool- new memories! He doesn’t really consider this as the downgrade it would be for innie Mark. Devon reflects this in a way- seeing Innie Mark as a piece of her brother. And in a technical sense he is! But he isn’t just a piece. He’s a piece that is an entire self. Innie Mark is given the full human experience, in a smaller package. And with their conversation, that difference is highlighted very well. To Outie Mark, Innie Mark’s love for Helly couldn’t POSSIBLY outweigh his love for Gemma. Because he’s someone that has only experienced his love for Gemma and has no window into the experience of love Innie Mark has for Helly. So he forgets that their emotional love is still the same and loses the conversation. It’s only when Ms Cobel brings in the suffering of the many Gemma innies and the severed floor being shut down regardless of his choice that Innie Mark is on board. Because she HAS seen the experiences Innie Mark has had and treats them seriously.

Innie Mark has had the experience of care toward Miss Casey. Because he has had experiences with her. But when Gemma returns to being her outie self- those experiences aren’t there. There weren’t those first date experiences that Innie Dylan had with his wife. He only had his emotional love. And turning around to see Helly- the person he’s also had experiences of love with, that’s what his emotions locked onto. This isn’t a matter of whether Outie Mark’s love for Gemma didn’t matter. It’s a matter that Innie Mark’s love for Helly matters JUST AS MUCH. To the outies, two years isn’t anything. But to innies, two years is everything. It’s their entire scope of life’s experiences.

That is what the testing floor and Lumen get wrong. To test severance, instead of isolating your independent variable from everything but stressors- you aren’t testing the entire scope of what it means to live. And when Outie Mark disrupts that and manages to get one of the Innie Gemmas to trust him… that displays the weak point in the armor. The emotion of trust transcended severance, because the testing experience was so artificial and impersonal. Seeing a glimmer of love without ever having experienced it before? Even without understanding what that meant?

A company can’t love. Jame Eagan can’t love. They aren’t looking to cure emotional pain because it hurts. They are looking to cure pain because they don’t feel emotion at all.

[noisytenant]

i think it would be too simplistic to say that kinnie shit is the main reason the system zeitgeist is really detached from the literature (especially when some literature IS frequently cited), but i do think that fictional introjects--a documented and completely understandable phenomenon--trying to wed themselves to their sources of inspiration rather than articulating themselves in the real world is a canary in the coalmine for a lot of the other maladaptive patterns we end up seeing.

you could make the case that dissociation is an extreme form of "escape from the self"; to be one person is so intolerable that you escape to another. And then another, and another. so escapism is arguably the driving mode of dissociation.

but if you have these parts of yourself that long to escape BACK to, essentially, a "pre-birth" state, who can't bear to accept the circumstances they're in now, then you're probably more broadly still in an escapist paradigm. and so of course you're gonna be splitting new guys weekly, of course none of you communicate, of course you have these strong and extreme wedges between you and the others and you have these clearly defined boundaries while also, in practice, existing in such a limited context that you haven't really self-actualized.

escapism is an understandable reaction to trauma and severe chronic stress, so rather than dismissing this entire kinnie-system phenomenon as doomed, i think we can build bridges toward an understanding of Living As A System that are more aligned with established and successful therapeutic interventions.

the kinnie-system combo melds two subcultures that magnify maladaptive escapism tenfold. this adds new terminology and points of focus that aren't necessarily relevant or accurate (distinct and discrete identities and roles, "fictive" and "factive" language, source material focus, generally Online behavior and interests), and obscures other experiences (lack of clear identity, blending and blurring, dissociation as a coping mechanism for the stresses of tangible daily life, introjection as a start&not an end) and strategies (expanding the window of tolerance, grounding in the present, unburdening of extreme roles, intra-system cooperation, etc.)

i think as you work toward a grounded view of yourself and accept your reality, you can start to hold yourself more proudly, and own your experiences--even the bizarre one of essentially being a cartoon character ejected from the screen to do dishes.

dissociation is mushy, highly individual, and weird, but also a really practical solution to an impossibly difficult problem. i'd like it if we could change the common vocabulary and perspective to better reflect the diverse and unique experiences of finding a way to live When Guys.

EDIT 04/06/2025: i turned off reblogs as this is an old post that suddenly blew up! i don't disagree with myself here per se, but i would have rather offered more specific alternatives than just problematized what i saw.

i don't really feel the need to make a new post on this topic but i hope it provides you some food for thought on your journey 🌱

[justvora]

I'm sorry but… I honestly like RoseCass better than StephCass. And don't get me wrong, I really love StephCass with all my soul and one of the things I long for the most is for DC to make the relationship between the two of them canon, but over time I've become so saturated with that ship that by the end I've gotten a little tired of it - plus it brings back certain memories of not-so-pleasant relationships I had.

RoseCass is a bit of a breath of fresh air for me, it's a stranger dynamic as they are characters who have interacted little - but in their interactions have shown a peculiarly odd connection.

Cass, when fighting Rose, saw a reflection of what she might have been in another life, a reflection of a puppet turned weapon, in the service of a father, one with malice, incompetence, and a cold paternalism where there is a strange unconditional love that only makes his paternalism a creepier one.

They were conceived as weapons, and they fought to emancipate themselves from it, to be more. They have fought each other, and together, for the same cause. So that neither Slade nor Cain will ever again lay their hands on a woman to manipulate her and use her as a weapon at their mercy.

They have shared traumas from a childhood they had little or no experience in which they were conceived as weapons, but they always sought more. Likewise, their conflicts intersect - and with that lies the potential for a relationship between the two, one that need not necessarily be tender or rose-tinted, nor based on toxicity or violence, but on the way two girls who have never known real love conceive of the reciprocity of a safe environment in which they can rest, side by side.

And… I guess something like that can also apply to StephCass's ship, as both of them also shared a painful past with their parents. The theme of RoseCass is rivalry, the confrontation of two girls who have chosen paths that are certainly opposite (to some extent), but not for that reason different. It is the clash between their personalities, between their aspirations, and in the way they have overcome their trauma and grown up.

Beyond the trauma is, as I said, the way in which two girls like them could discover the love between the moon and the other, one that would go from their clashes, in combats, to the electrifying latencies of their burning hearts.

Anyway, I don't have much more to say and I feel like I'm repeating myself. Simply put… RoseCass is a breath of fresh air, it's so heartwarming to see fanarts of them together…. Even if they also remind me painfully of my ex.

And another thing is that… Jsjsjsjsjs, I really conceive StephCass as endgame, as Cassandra's happy life with the one she loves the most, but RoseCass would be like…. The toxic doomed yuri where she would develop feelings for a girl she didn't expect to do it for in the beginning - an affair, weird-.

[oldhalloweentape]

🎸Junker Queen (OW II) x (fem) Reader⚡️

(Transwoman JQ Edition!)

(Picture’s not mine!)

(WARNING: Contains NSFW content! 18+ only guys!

Ask here! I’m surprised it took this long for another person to ask for Odessa, she's so fucking beautiful and I could look at her all day lololol)

- When you both start dating, hell even beforehand she’s very open with being trans, she’s proud of who she is and what she came from, so, hiding it is just not an option to her.

- She’s just living her truth, in a place where she actually can live it, with a girl she can live it with. Even with her less than stellar backstory, the traits she shares with the man that ruined her life.

- As much as she doesn’t care about keeping her being trans a secret, I do see her hesitating when it comes to thinking about herself when she was an egg and I think it’d be a while until she shares those things with you.

- May blurt things out from time to time but she isn’t keen to repeat shit. And don’t ask her to if you’re still in the early stages of your relationship.

- She just doesn’t like to feel weak or vulnerable, I mean, she has a reputation to uphold as the ruler of Junkertown, so how would it reflect upon her if you knew she wasn’t as strong as she displayed?

- That and feeling vulnerable brings her back to a time where she was too little to fight back, helplessness ebbing at her almost constantly till she was able to claw her way through and rule over one of the only livable areas of the radiated outback.

- As confident as she in herself, she still has her moments and if she eventually sucks it up and shares her more personal emotions with you it’s basically her way of letting you in and the relationship becomes all the more real.

- JQ is loud, impulsive, but also cunning and it’s shown in and out of the fights she partakes in, she has a thing for doing things herself, so it isn’t unlikely she tries to put effort into your relationship in all the ways it counts.

- Physical touch is her most common form of affection for you, a large hand on your hip, thigh, the small of your back, anywhere really… Has a thing for having you on her lap while she’s on her throne.

NSFW content starts here! (I get kinda nasty here so be advised):

- If we’re thinking of a Odessa whose pre-op I think she wouldn’t exactly want to really rid of her dick even if she had the option to, I mean— Considering her height and overall prowess? Yeah she’s built.

- There’s many ways I can see things… Occurring but I think maybe the most “realistic” scenario is that she’s very open to experimenting with different positions or ways to get you whining beneath her or over her— She’s not picky is basically what I’m saying.

- I believe she would have a high libido, she just gives off those vibes, especially when she’s still high off of the adrenaline of winning yet another scrap. Defo the type to ravish her girlfriend.

- You get manhandled by her a LOT, I mean sometimes it’s by accident considering the height difference that may be happening between you two.

- But let’s be honest, she’s very purposeful in all she does and when it comes to fucking the woman she loves? Very choice is to make you into a panting and tired puddle.

- She has a thing for people smaller than her but if you’re like just as tall as her? Hey? More fun for her to break you down, submit to her like the “pretty gurl” you are. “I’m gonna tire you out, Brave Hercules. Break you upon my wheel.” Type shit.

- As I’ve stated previously she’s impulsive in many ways, but when it comes to edging you? Absolutely tormenting you? Oh she’s the most patient woman in the world. Cockwarming? Yeah. Using toys just to get you to the verge of breaking down without necessarily doing anything? Yeah.

- She’s likes, no, LOVES the chase but she also RELISHES in the reward, biting, kissing, pulling, and holding you like you’re the greatest prize she has ever gotten, and to her? You are.

- VERY open about what happens in the bedroom, I mean, she’s the QUEEN, what are people gonna say or do? You’re her girl, no one else’s. And if she has to make you hers over and over again to prove a point? She’s more than willing.

(I went feral LMAO)

[syndrossi]

resonant ch26 dvd commentary

That's right, it's a series now!

Favorite line:

“They will return soon enough,” he told the tiny dragons, feeling a kindred dismay that his sons had gone riding with someone other than him. “Until then, you must content yourselves with me.”

It's not my favorite chapter, and doesn't have any real bangers, but this was a fun little exchange. The mental image of Qelebrys and Shadow perched on Daemon's shoulders, all three of them wearing a glum/pouting expression, is very cute.

Favorite detail:

Carrying the theme that Daemon noticed when he took Rhaegar and Jon on Caraxes to and from the Giant's Toe, where Rhaegar is drawn to the beauty of the world when he's up high on a dragon, while Jon is looking at those ships below and pondering their significance. It's just as much reflective of their life experience as personality. Jon without the burdens he carries of having been a leader, responsible for administering multiple wars, might be able to afford to look upward or forward, rather than downward at the world encroaching in.

Favorite dynamic:

We had a few barbs traded with Cole, but it was fairly tame. Rhaenys and Daemon are my favorite dynamic again, in part because I enjoy writing people giving advice that makes sense to them but isn't necessarily the most healthy. No one character is an infinite font of wisdom, existing to dispense it to our heroes. Everyone has their own faults, flaws, self-interest, etc, and their advice is colored by it.

I'm talking, of course, about Rhaenys basically telling Daemon to suck it up, give up on having a good relationship with his brother founded on mutual understanding, and resign himself to the fact that his brother prefers a version of Daemon that isn't real, with all the edges filed off. Daemon does in fact know his brother better than Rhaenys, so it's actually not the best advice in this situation!

But it doesn't mean he didn't need to hear some version of "suck it up and figure out an approach," because he's been reactive/passive so far with Viserys. (Some of that is out of fear, to be fair.) But he can't afford to be afraid/not take risks, Rhaenys believes. Not with so much at stake.

(Rhaenys is not without her own self-interest, either.)

And Rhaenys has a better grasp on Otto than Daemon. She's not wrong about what he fears. So that was also good context for Daemon, if he pays it heed. But the conversation doesn't leave Daemon in a great place at the end, sadly.

"Quick" hitters:

I mentioned this before, but there were three separate scenes written for and removed from this chapter, including one that was up in the draft I saved on AO3 and then removed this morning before I posted it.

I think I figured out my real issue with this chapter, and it comes down to using the wrong lens during the Dragonpit parts. We're focused in tightly on Daemon and Rhaenys's conversation, which is fine/fair, but we pull back too much for the kids and hatchlings interactions. It would have been nice to perhaps get the actual introduction of the dragons as dialogue rather than exposition, and focus in a bit more on Jon during the final naming.

The chapter feels very self-indulgent and filler-y, which may be while I feel guilty about writing it. Not that you can't write those things, but I always feel like they fit better in side-stories.

Jon naming Shadow was added into this chapter after the fact. I'd decided on the name a while ago and kept trying to find the perfect moment for it, only for it to not really materialize. Jon making it a game the baby cousins could join in on ended up feeling right.

I kept going back and forth between the Valyrian and Common versions of "Shadow," but at the end of the day, Jon has a theme.

I really liked Harrenkos for a name ("suitably long" in Valyrian), given that Shadow is a longer boi than most.

With Laenor and Rhaenys about to be gone, and Rhaenyra in Dragonstone, the poor Velaryon boys are about to be on their own (with their nurses) for a while, poor lambs. We'll see if Daemon invites them over for supper a few times. That's a lot of kids to wrangle by himself!

I'd been holding onto this, but I don't think it's something I'll end up doing later on in the story, so I'll go ahead and share one of the deleted, incomplete scenes. Originally, there was going to be an attack on the carriage on the way back, but Daemon being up in the air on Caraxes made it a really poor choice on the part of their attackers (and the attack itself a little too obvious not to have the place swarmed with Goldcloaks), so I scrapped it.

Apologies to Rhaegar, who was going to get a hero moment and possibly his first kill (though I didn't get that far).

x~x~x

The hatchlings were exhausted after their exciting day, each settling on their laps to nap for the carriage ride back to the Red Keep. Jace soon followed their example, nodding off against Princess Rhaenys’s side twice before she rearranged him so that he could rest his head on her lap.

Jon had enjoyed their day out, but he did feel a sting of regret at not being able to accomplish either of the things he had wanted to today: gaining an audience with King Viserys, and speaking to their father about the candle. There was always tonight for the latter—or tomorrow. But he hated the thought of it continuing its efforts to torment Rhaegar, especially since they were now separated in the afternoon.

“Did you hear anything today?” he whispered to Rhaegar.

“Not in the yard,” his brother said, which was not a no.

The bumpiness of the ride down the sloped path leading from the Dragonpit gave way to the cobblestone of the Street of the Sisters. The sun had set, and the sky was halfway to twilight, leaving the interior of the carriage dark. Jon tuned his senses to hearing to distract from the unpleasant odor of Flea Bottom, which the street passed through briefly.

It was quieter than he remembered. Even the slums of King’s Landing had their equivalent of markets, and plenty of peddlers hawking their wares. He sat up straighter in his seat as the carriage slowed, and the strong scent of burning wood wafted through the window. He could hear the low murmur of their two Kingsguard ahead of the horses.

Jon glanced at Rhaegar, who met his gaze with a tense frown as their hatchlings stirred on their laps. Princess Rhaenys meanwhile was gently shaking Jace awake, turning to glance behind at the window. A glow was visible now, lighting up the area, and calls began to ring out from further away. Jon stood on his seat to get a better view; up ahead, he could see buildings aflame on either side of the street, and what looked to have once been a wagon burning in their path.

“Can we go around?” Jon heard Ser Erryk—or Arryk—say in a low tone to the carriage driver.

“Only if you fancy going deeper into Flea Bottom,” the man said.

“Turn back,” the Kingsguard ordered. “We will return to the Dragonpit.”

Smoke was beginning to drift through the window, stinging his eyes, and the shouts were growing louder. Jon reached carefully for his knife, which was strapped against his leg beneath his pants, though he did not yet slide it free. It was possible that whatever fire had broken out along their path was entirely accidental, but if so, it was extraordinarily convenient timing.

The clack of horseshoes on cobblestone was just audible over the din as one of the Kingsguard pulled alongside them. “My princess, remain within. We will turn and head back to the Dragonpit until the fires are put out.”

The tension in the knight’s voice told Jon that he too believed it to be no coincidence. The street was still narrow at this point, which meant two very long minutes of horse and carriage maneuvering to turn back north.

Too long.

The horrible scream of a wounded horse pierced through the din, and through the haze of the smoke still spilling in through the window, Jon could make out the shaft of an arrow embedded in its flank. Two clanking noises followed, the noise familiar to Jon—the clatter arrows deflected by a shield.

“Ser Erryk,” Princess Rhaenys called out tensely, holding Jace tightly to her side. Their young cousin was wide awake now, eyes large with fear.

There came another two loud thuds, this time above them, and Jon could see the point of an arrow splitting through the wood of the roof, and another a foot away from it.

“They are trying to set the carriage aflame, princess,” the knight said. By the sounds of it, he had drawn up along the side of the carriage opposite from where the first two arrows had come. “You and the children may need to leave it, if the fire catches.”

Jon could hear the agony of indecision in his voice. The carriage afforded protection from arrows, but the longer they remained within, the longer whoever was attacking it could get into position for—whatever it was they were after.

Us? Jon wondered. So far, none of the arrows had been aimed at the body of the carriage, but even so, he dragged Rhaegar several inches further from the wall. The other Cargyll brother joined his twin on the safe side of the carriage.

“There are at least four with bows,” he said. “They do not yet approach.”

The horse’s screams were quieting, which Jon knew meant another obstruction on the road. The smoke was growing thicker, enough to make Jace cough, and a glance upward revealed a darkening of the wood of the roof.

“Jon.” Rhaegar’s voice was low but urgent, his face set with tension. He extended a hand toward Jon. “Give me the knife.”

His first instinct was to deny the request, the notion of being unarmed in the chaos nearly unthinkable, but his arm was still injured. Rhaegar might lack Jon’s experience in a real melee, but he stood a better chance of defending them.

[end scene]

[weirdstrangeandawful]

What is whump?

I get asked this question a lot so I figured I'd just make a post about it! I doubt a lot of people will see this since I'm a small whump blog but at least a few people will have a quick reference.

The short answer is that whump is a fictional genre of media. Like any genre, it's difficult for one person to entirely characterise but I'll do my best.

Whump is a fictional genre focused on the experience of pain. This can be physical pain or emotional pain. The pain could be acute or chronic. The focus could be on the recovery from the pain or on the pain itself. It's a super versatile genre!

Some frequently asked questions:

Okay, but how is this different from hurt/comfort?

This is a complicated question (hard to entirely characterise an entire genre, eh?) and it really depends on the writer. For me, hurt/comfort is a subset of whump where the comfort is required whilst whump is the larger, overarching genre where comfort is not an absolute necessity, but many others have different opinions!

What is a whumpee?

You'll often hear writers (especially prompt writers) in the whump community refer to characters as 'whumpee', 'whumper', and 'caretaker'. These are placeholder names like your good old A, B, and C. 'Whumpee' refers to the character experiencing the pain (literally 'the one being whumped'); 'whumper' is the (optional) character causing or contributing to the pain; and 'caretaker' is the (also optional) character helping care for the whumpee and alleviating the pain.

Why would I support someone who thinks people should experience pain?

Pain and adversity are facts of life. In fact, many of us as whump writers and readers engage with the genre to cope with pain and adversity in our real lives. It's important to remember that whump is a fictional genre and someone's interest in the fictional themes portrayed really aren't a reflection of what goes on in their real life. The name 'whump' may be contemporary but this is definitely not a contemporary genre (Shakespearean tragedies anyone?) so there is no use criticising its existence. If you don't like it, that's okay! Scroll on by and block the #whump tag if you need to. Like many artists, we're an accepting community and won't judge. In fact, we probably understand better than most that there is too much pain in the world and not everyone wants to read about more of it.

What's the difference between whump and BSDM/kink?

This is a complicated and very individualised answer. The oversimplified answer is that BDSM and kink are explicitly sexual/sensual whilst whump is not necessarily related to sex. But that is extremely oversimplified and doesn't cover all or even most people's experiences with either whump or BDSM/kink. The most generalised answer I can give is that whump is an overarching genre whilst BDSM and kink are individualised cultural practices and activites. But even that needs nuance and context to understand and apply. For me personally, I don't like combining the two because I experience them in very different ways, but that's just my experience!

Edit: I realise that I was not clear in the above answer. BDSM and kink are absolutely not inherently sexual at all. In my personal experience, I've found there to be a lot more overlap between BDSM/kink and sexual experiences than with whump but this is not true for many and maybe most people. No one person is qualified to answer this question.

[itgomyway]

(you)r sp and you ♡

i have already made a post about how you should love yourself and your sp will love you almost as much (bc they actually are you!) but lets go into more detail

a lot of you guys, including me, wanted to get into a relationship. and with that, youve discovered the law of assumption. the basics start off with whatever you assume will be. but after months of arguing, harassment, and bullying on twitter, you’re probably confused and too scared to ask.

FUCK THAT. let me be the one to tell you that none of it matters. you very much can and WILL manifest your sp. others false opinions (false because theyre not real) mean nothing. this isnt a loass post though im talking about non dualism (which is not the same).

“but wait… i want my sp and non dualism isnt about getting so why would i-“ because your sp shouldnt be someone that brings you happiness. they should be someone who adds to your quality of life. why does that sound like loass vs non dualism? because it is.

people use the law of assumption to manifest desires for their physical world. theres nothing wrong with that! that is how i manifested my current relationship. however, when we speak about non dualism, it goes beyond trying to get anything. youre just being. and “getting” into a relationship can very much help or make your false sense of self feel better. you as consciousness know relationships themselves dont exist because it is you but your ego, the false sense of self doesnt know that. it wants to experience love as part of the human condition. but youre still not getting anything. lemme explain.

you were trying to “get” something that was never outside of you TO make you happy. that doesnt make sense when not only are they you, but they are apart of you. everything your awareness is on “reflects” how you feel about yourself because all there is is you.

lets go back to non dualism’s basics. everything is consciousness = you creation is brought on by your awareness = you. “but back when x happened-“ the past and the future do not exist. the only thing that exist is now. you cant “apply” this way of thinking to something that doesnt exist. that makes no sense. youre just going to confuse yourself. i am telling you RIGHT NOW the only truly real thing is YOU. that is all there is and will ever be. you can control your awareness through observations meaning youre in total control. read that again.

so when it comes to your sp, romantic or not, they are never not yours. they were never not you or not a part of you. every thought, feeling, affirmation, or word you wrote down, they have received. because its you. think about it. are you ever aware of anything youre unaware of? (no). because things only exist the moment youre aware of them!

and remember, if something can come to our awareness like a relationship and leave our awareness it is not real. but you, as consciousness are infinite and are always here and always consciousness. so you are real!

after discovering non dualism i have thought about the feelings my boyfriend has presented to me and how they currently match the feelings i have for myself. i have always loved myself and will always love myself. if i didnt, how could i expect my creation, which is a projection of my own self image, to have different feelings than me? your sp isnt a separate person. Your relationships will always show how you feel about yourself, romantic or platonic. they’re not real because they come and go through your awareness but your ego as the false self believes they are. and thats okay. thats its job. let it be and observe them as consciousness.

nothing can happen outside of your awareness because the moment you are aware/conscious of something, it exist instantly. so if your sp is treating you the way you dont want to be treated then reflect on your own feelings about yourself. this DOES NOT necessarily mean work on your self concept. ask yourself if “you” think youre worthy of what it is your ego desires. a lot of my blockage came from that. i had to fall in love with myself so my ego could comprehend how i could be loved. because its still me.

lets talk about “free will”.

“free will” doesn’t exist. lemme tell you why. the idea of free will is a person outside of you having a say in their own life. the basic principle of non dualism means theres only one being, consciousness (you). so tell me how can “another person” “outside” of you have a say in their “own lives” when none of that exist in the first place?

your sp having or not having free will shouldn’t effect how you feel about them unless you see them as a separate entity outside of you. they’re not an “object” you control theyre your creation and another form of consciousness so of course you have control over your creations you have control over EVERYTHING.

your sp feels the same way you feel about yourself. always. if you dont feel good about yourself then i do suggest working on your self concept. not to “get” anything but for YOURSELF! why not love yourself? why cart that responsibility off to your creation?

at the end of the day, itll just be you surrounded by your creations. you can pick and choose what they are specifically BUT THE ONLY REAL THING IS YOU

© itgomyway

[emeldiir]

Can rich people be butch and femme? I wanna create some OCs but I read somewhere that rich people can't be butch femme?

I wouldn’t really consider this to be a case of if they can or can not, but more of a ‘what should i consider when making accurate to life representations of butch/femme culture and identity?’

there’s a few different points I wanna make here, so bear with me, hopefully this will make sense to ya ;>

1) butch and femme as it is most commonly recognized today was born out of american sapphic working class culture. It originally evolved to be a protective dynamic for queer people to shield, shelter, and find life saving companionship with each other in during the 1930s up through the 1990s until queerness and transness began to be (slightly) more accepted in mainstream society and violence/brutality lessened (slightly)

2) because butch/femme is born out of working class queer culture it is most authentically practiced, worn, and understood by the people who helped define it. wealth, power, and privilege often go hand in hand so for a rich queer person during the height of queer bar culture and butch/femme dynamics, the experiences they would have had would (most likely) be significantly different to the experiences that a poor blue collar butch/femme person would have had.

3) as times have changed, so has the way we define and label queerness today, and as a result we now have a myriad of different experiences and cultures to pull from. I am very hesitant to gatekeep the labels of butch and femme from most queer people, but it is important to sit down and self reflect on the identity and what the labels mean etc etc. the historical identities of butch and femme are no longer used for their intended purpose of protection in larger society from violence and now are more so defined as a gender or a dynamic at play in queer relationships. The aspect of richness doesn't necessarily exclude anyone automatically from the identity and culture in such a polarizing way anymore

for example, there are butches and femmes in L.A. right now who make thousands and thousands more then i do, in my little rackety midwestern ohio town. I would not say that they are not butch or femme, simply that they have a very different butch/femme experience then I do.

I do not want to make the final decision on if rich fictional characters can be butch/femme for you, I want to give you some insight into how butch/femme dynamics and identity work in real life and then hopefully you can pull an answer that suits you from the information i’ve given.

since these are fictional characters, it’s up to you as to how lifelike they will be, so all of this information is supplementary to your own original ideas and the story you want to tell.

as for my opinion, I personally enjoy making my characters as accurate to life as possible so while I wouldn’t be opposed to rich butch/femme characters in my stories, it would be very apparent that they have a different understanding and experience of their butch/femme identities.

I hope this offered some insight to you, and please let me know more about these ocs if you’d like anon! I love hearing about other people’s stories and their. characters!