#it could be still explored as toxic and it could go there easily that's why they have their boyfriends keeping them attached to reality

[creativitysloyalservant]

i have decided to break my lack of original posting on this blog to bring you my Thoughts on Rot in Paradise. because i played it as soon as i got up this morning and i have scoured for some opinions after finishing it, and now i have my own!!

(and also i posted this on twitter but twitter has such a Shit wordcount that i'm also posting my things here with More Detail)

so! spoilers under the cut, please go and play the game if you haven't. it takes literally an hour (it only took nearly 2 hours for me because i like voice acting by myself and exploring every nook and cranny) and it's also free. so maybe come back into the tag once you're done.

okay, so i noticed quite a number of people being confused and disappointed on the lack of an explanation for the monster. it's brought up in the story as the central thing driving the plot, but it's never explained on what "she" is, why she's compelling people to eat a ton of fish-related food or hell, metal, and why this doesn't impact June at all.

but you know what I think?

i think that that's the point. the focus of rot in paradise isn't supposed to be on the monster.

yeah, it's the thing that pushes the plot along besides June and the gang going on vacation in this island. it's what's causing that uneasiness from the moment that guy grabs June's arm at the drinks, to the sheer unnerving feeling of witnessing people going to the ocean to get Raptured basically. i know i personally felt a chill when i saw that one dude literally eating chains and the other hauling an anchor, as if they're trying to make themselves heavier so they get taken by whatever She is.

but that's not the main point! the main conflict is about June and her friends.

as people have pointed out, this game is about toxic friendships and relationships! it's foreshadowed in the conversation that June has with the gang about her cousin (which i will also get into), and it carries it through the way her friends are horribly warped by this ocean Creature. June goes on a silly little vacation trip with her friends only for them to become so so different from themselves that they lash out at her and even hit her in McCoy's case.

but she still sticks it out with them. through the whole game, even despite their verbal abuse, despite being slapped, despite them being people that she can hardly recognise. she stays with them for the whole game, up until the point where you are given the two options at the very end. and she could still stay with them.

because they're still her friends. she cares about them even if they still hurt her. from the way June still tells Carmen to tell June if she needs anything after Carmen literally tells her to shut up and leave, the way June worries about Vonnie eating seafood even though she continues to stuff herself despite being implied to either hate or make an active choice to not eat seafood, to the way June still trudges out to sea screaming for McCoy to come back to the shore as he wades further in even after he slapped her until her nose bled.

it mirrors the conversation about her cousin, the reason for why June was looking forward to the vacation. that while she did comfort her cousin through all of it, June clearly says that "they were dickheads, and she should have ditched them a long time ago".

but it's funny, isn't it? that June, an outsider to her cousin's friend group, easily sees the pain that her cousin's friends are causing her, and immediately calls it as it is. that her cousin should have left the second they hurt her.

and yet now, when her friends hurt her, even though this was a quick and sudden change that happened in a span of three days, June still sticks around. her friends are dickheads right now, and we can see that in the way they interact with June, but she still stays.

because they're her friends. and how could she just leave them like this if it's something that's causing them to be this way?

so no, i don't think the monster is supposed to be the main picture. we don't need to know what it looks like, or why it needs to do this to the islanders, or how it's even doing it in the first place. it adds to the scariness of the game, as per the Spooktober Game Jam, sure, but that's not the point. might be a bit disappointing to some, but that's not the point.

the point is about June, and the choice that she needs to make at the end of the game.

it's a choice on whether she chooses to be pulled deeper into the tides and be with the friends who hurt her and will continue to hurt her in this way,

or to leave them to their fates, whether deserved or not, and resurface to a world where she's alone without her friends.

and even though the first choice hurts much more in the long run, doesn't the second hurt even more in the moment? knowing that you're alone at the end of all of this?

even if it is the right choice, i'm sure the pain must be unbearable in the moment.

[circeyoru]

Contracted Love

[Alastor x Crush of Contractor!Reader]

Alastor didn’t expect such a treat when he took up that foolish human’s summoning. It was to pass the time since things were going slow and dull in Hell, with the new changes in Hell that new sinners brought, he was curious to see how the times have changed, so he let himself be a ‘servant’ of a human soul until it was time to collect it and add to his powers and abilities

The contractor was a poor excuse of a human, couldn’t get their life together and couldn’t even rely on themselves, thus the demon summoning. Perhaps they were lucky and summoned him, he doubted other demons would entertain their wishes. Speaking of, his contractor wanted their life to be happy and not depressing, like no worries of wealth and loved by all they meet. Simple enough

Until the contractor’s happiness contained earning the love of another human. You. Oh, you were everything that contractor wasn’t. So talented and successful in life, surrounded by valuable friends and a loving family. The picture-perfect crush

Alastor admits, you were special in your way, but he was a demon, so in the end, a soul is a soul. He’d tell his contractor that there wasn’t much he could help if they wanted to earn your love the healthy way, he did suggest the toxic way, but his contractor had their moral. So they weren’t all that bad

For the time being, he passed on courting tips and wooing advices. Here’s the issue, his contractor didn’t have that energy, that charisma that Alastor had in both human and demon times. Everything was done right, but there was no spark that caught your attention, you humored them (much like Alastor now) and that was it

“Arghh! Anything, isn’t there some other way I can get their love?!” His contractor would scream at nothing as another failed attempt brought them to their knees

“Hmm… Why not allow me to possess your body and kick start your courting? The moment they agree to date you, you will be in full control! How’s that?” Alastor suggested on a whim, he was getting bored with standing on the sidelines, why not some action?

His contractor agreed, with some limitations like no causing harm and all that bad stuff Alastor would love to do

It was odd. Because the first time Alastor was in his contractor’s body and tried wooing you, you sensed something was amist and asked if he (his contractor) was feeling alright. You’re more perceive than he observed, maybe it was because it involved him now? Maybe

It wasn’t. You were that observant. Even when his contractor wasn’t a close friend or your romantic interest, you took note of the usual behaviours. Like you analyzed the people around you no matter their connection to you

You were much more interesting than he gave credit

So he had to test out his theory. As easily, he got you to let him date you, in secret. It wouldn’t be public and even when the relationship was broken, no one would notice. When that was done, he got his contractor take control again. You knew. When it was him in the body. You knew

That wasn’t even the cheery on top. You prefered him over his contractor! Oh the irony

“What is happening!? I thought you said we’re dating! Why are they so distant to me?!” His contractor cried

It was because you had no talent with romance. Alastor thought to himself behind that smile. He had to be honest, the more he spent time with you, the more he wanted to be the one actually courting you. There was more to your perfect image and he enjoyed exploring it

Still there was a problem. You didn’t know it was an actual demon that caught your attention. Even when he took over his contractor’s life and lived it as his own, it wasn’t the same because it wasn’t his body!

He needed to find a way around this. Oh wait. Your deepest secret. A one-way ticket to Hell. Murder is a grave sin and you committed more than one. It was accidentally, but you started it. Arson at a night club to hide the fact you went there. You kept that close to your heart and reveal it to him on the spur of the moment when you were drunk

You’re going to Hell even without his doing. No wonder there was a spark between you two

Now he regrets help that contractor of his earn your affection. What if you slowly fell for that foolish contractor?

But could he just wait for you to arrive in Hell and sweep you off your feet instead? Let his contract for you for the brief moment of a human lifespan and he could spend his days with you in Hell, which was eternity 

Well, that was his idea and he loves the sound of that

Note: This is short and I just had some ideas so, here

Circe Y.

MASTERLIST

[cloudyswritings]

More vessel biology headcanons?

Vessels are actually really, really good at burrowing. It’s probably how so many escaped the abyss after they got sealed. They got it from both parents, and the void. Which per my silly little brain, can old be contained in round glass.

the void basically erodes/decays things in fast forward otherwise?

Vessels all have one major flaw or imperfection the void couldn’t remove, THKs was either a desire for perfection or being able to make familial bonds.

Ghosts flaw is an endless well of willpower. They will never, ever, stop. They inherited from their mothers conceptual side, because their will is the slow burrowing of roots through stone and the deceptively gentle trickle of water on metal. Greenpath vessels was a sense of adventure/desire to explore. And the nosk vessels all had a sense of longing for companionship which led to their deaths.

The vessels also seem to have physical flaws too? Like structurally I mean. The prime example is THKs missing arm, in the pure vessel boss fight that same arm is what they use for the void tendrils attack and by the time we fight them in the egg it’s entirely rotted off. I think it honestly was never as strong or stable as the other arm and was bound to be lost eventually. Broken Vessels flaw would be their third horn(the one that’s broken off).

Vessels actually do still have some of their own light, you can see this in game actually—even without the lantern you give off a subtle glow. I think that some vessels actually retained some of the godly light and status they otherwise would have had, only a little though.

The above idea comes from my headcanon that Wyrms specifically are really resistant to void as far as gods go, because they always dig deep and far and in that sometimes burrow into pockets of void far below the surface. They need to be able to survive contact with it in the short term at least. This nature would explain how some vessels retain minute traces of light, and why the pale king was the one actually standing at the mouth of the abyss waiting for vessels.

given time, soul, and light a vessel can grow to enormous sizes- or eventually metamorphose into a wyrm proper. Albeit one still tarnished by the void

in fact I wonder if any of the seeds/eggs dropped into the abyss hatched young Wyrms instead of vessels? Maybe they escaped or something? I don’t think this is likely but it’s a cool idea.

vessels are deceptively light, as in like hornet could carry THK on her back if she needed to- they’re literally hollow in a way

Void and water don’t mix, it’s like oil and water. That’s why we float in the blue lake.

The void itself might be the remnants of an ancient sea that covered the world beyond Hallownest before the age of bright gods. It would explain the trilobite creature we see in deepnest and the way the abyss and the rest of Hallownest appear to be made of fossilized shells. Plus if it’s the remnants of the sea then it could be something like a microbial mat that’s really toxic to life? Like maybe it’s a magic microbial soup? Magic microbial goop even. Vessels are goop.

Vessels are really really strong compared to other ways of containing things, like THK held the radiance for a long ass time. If a vessel tried to contain a weaker god they’d probably just be able to tbh. Like anything weaker than the nightmare heart if probably fair game for yoinking.

Vessels also sometimes inherit the hunger of Wyrms, and looking into their eyes gives the sensation of falling into the maw of some great beast. Godseaker did call Little Ghost a wielder of nail and eater of soul

Vessels are also really susceptible to outside influences, kinda like evee if they were Pokémon. This is how Ghost can use so many charms at once but also why said charms can change them so easily.

Theoretically a vessel raised by or containing a god could take on some of their traits-either by force or by accident.

Unrelatedly THK has a voice to cry out with…

I think radiance may have eventually tried turning them into something more like Grimm is for the heart, a body for her to use and a mind thoroughly broken to her will.

after-all she shines brightest against the darkness…

If they could eat, Vessels would have a truly remarkable number of tastebuds, because Wyrms will eat anything and I feel like the white lady has ways to “taste” the soil to see if it’s nutrient rich and has fertilizer.

man I’m just realizing, vessels would like some weird food, they’d definitely eat dirt

THK crunching on crystals?? Likely

Finally the horns of vessels are actually their “branches” and will keep growing indefinitely unless trimmed or broken periodically, this comes from both parents. Wyrms need to constantly replace burrowing teeth and Roots are beings of constant growth and pruning.

[variety-fangirl]

Neighbours / Moon Boys x fem!reader

Summary: you're the new neighbour, looking for a change of scenery and people, a fresh start. Your neighbour, Steven, is someone you find yourself trusting easily and quickly. Something about you both draws the other in, enticing each other to explore what this could mean. Yet, you have a secret about why you moved, will you feel comfortable enough to open up to him?

Warnings: 18+ NO MINORS angst but mostly fluffy, mentions of previous toxic and abusive relationship (beginning of physical abuse, manipulation, and emotional abuse), swearing, let me know if I missed anything! Will add more later as the story progresses.

Author's note: Hello! I am back with something quick and lovely that I have been working on for a while. It feels good to get slowly back in to writing 😊 College really had taken so much out of me and my joy for writing when all I was doing for 10 months straight was writing long essays, it was also nice to take these months to relax and come to terms with everything. So much has been happening 😮‍💨 But I hope I will be back more consistently now, fingers crossed! I've been mostly writing to get new and fun ideas, hoping it would entice and inspire me to write. I hope you guys enjoy anyways and feel free to ignore my rant 😅 Feedback, comments, likes and reblogs would be greatly appreciated and lets me know how I'm doing. Thank you for reading and enjoy my loves 💜

Word count: 1.9k

You huff as you place another box on the floor of your new apartment, watching the movers bring in two more. You felt thankful that you had decided to pay extra for the movers to help you bring all your belongings up, far too much to have done on your own.

There were endless stairs, and it would have taken you hours to bring it all up here yourself, especially with your new sofa, bed, and dining room set. All were bought cheaply from a friend second-hand who was more than happy to help you. She was one of the only ones you'd told where you were going, and had left your address and new number with to contact you. Everything new and different, nothing to remind you of the old life that you'd left behind.

You started unpacking the basics whilst they brought the rest up, there were still quite a few boxes because you had to buy most stuff brand new. Luckily you had hidden as much money as possible before leaving, so you had more than enough to buy what you needed. You would work on buying extras and niceties when you had spare money throughout, you'd moved far enough that you were hoping not to have to move again unless you wanted to in the future.

That was at least the hope. Not because you were forced to leave in the middle of the night terrified for your life.

You try to take a deep breath as you subconsciously rub at the scar on your neck, you are safe now. You wanted to distract yourself for as long as possible, so you sorted the boxes out where they needed to go, to their newly allocated rooms.

It would be weird to live on your own again after so long, it had been five years since you'd run away from home and four since you'd started dating and moved in with your now ex, Noah. It was a scary thought once more, to be alone. More alone now than you'd been before, at least you had your best friend, Natalie, at home. Now, she lives four hours away from your new place in London.

You made her promise to conceal your number and hide your address, you knew he'd go to her first to ask where you'd gone. She would lie, she'd always been good at it but he wasn't stupid. He knew you would have told her, you just prayed he wouldn't hurt her. You could never forgive yourself if she got hurt because of you.

She was one of the only people who meant anything to you in this world. She at least had her boyfriend, Tyler, who was like a brother to you. He would protect her, he always hated Noah for how he treated you. Tyler had hated Noah from the moment he met him, made you known of it also but you just chalked it up to a bad first impression and yet it never improved no matter how much time they spent together. It wasn't until three years in that Noah showed his true colours and by that point, it was too late. You were in deep and he was a master manipulator and narcissist, he'd played you well. He almost came between you and Nat but she wouldn't allow it, tried to make you see him for who he really was. It didn't take much convincing when the major problems started in the last year of your relationship together.

The first time he'd hit you was a year before you left him, he apologised and said he was drunk. The typical excuse and blame on anything but himself. Promised he "won't do it again", two months go by and it happens again but this time more frequently. He drank more, went out frequently, and came back later. By the six-month mark, you caught him cheating for the first time (that you knew of).

That was the moment you vowed to leave him, it was as if all the years of manipulation and abuse faded away and you came to your senses. You had to save enough though to leave, so you let Nat and Tyler know of your plans and they helped you to set everything up. It took you six months of planning and saving, and you were finally ready.

The night finally came, you waited and told him before he had a drink, that you were leaving him. He started out crying, begging you not to leave him, you didn't budge. He tried to initiate sex, but you said no and he didn't like that. That night was the worst abuse you had endured the whole of your relationship combined. He threatened you, managed to get you down on the living room floor with a knife in hand, and held it to your neck to the point of blood drawn. You sobbed, pleaded with him, said just about anything to get him to calm down. You would still leave but you would say anything to get him off you. He began slowly slicing your neck open whilst screaming that he loved you, only luckily managing to get an inch before you kicked him in the balls hard enough that he collapsed just to the side of you.

You ran to the bathroom and locked the door, terrified out of your mind. You grabbed the first aid kit to clean and patch up the gash on your neck. Having done this a few times when he threw stuff at you or pushed you into surfaces sharp enough to cut skin. You had a few scars all over your body, it wasn't pretty but you wore them proudly to signify that you were a survivor. He tried to bash down the door before leaving, yelling about going to the bar and he would 'see to you later'. You knew that would be your only open window to leave, he would be at least two hours there. You immediately called your best friend, she and Tyler came over to help you in any way they could.

You packed two suitcases of clothes and shoes, a duffel bag of prized possessions and important bits, a backpack of money and goods to sell, and quickly changed from your bloody clothes into something clean but comfortable. You grabbed the first aid kit too for your neck. Everything was packed into your car in less than an hour, saving you enough time to wipe anything important and any trace of you behind, away. You immediately booked a two-day stay at a cheap hotel an hour away on Natalie's computer for the night so you could figure out your next move. He would come looking for you the second that he realised your stuff was gone and that terrified you, he was not a man who gave up on things he wanted.

It had taken you two months to find this apartment after a lot of rejections and failed apartment searches. It had immediately caught your eye when you saw the ad for it on one of the apartment renting sites. It was perfect for your situation. Multiple floors of tenants would make it far harder to search through unless you knew which floor to look at so you could blend among your new neighbours. A locked front door that had a security number code to be allowed entry and without it you couldn't enter. Security cameras on each floor show all angles of the apartments, which each tenant has access to for their safety and peace of mind through an app you can download on your phone.

You had downloaded and gained access before you'd started moving the boxes in. You were given access a week beforehand, which helped your anxiety and tight chest to ease just an inch. You knew it would take some time for you to feel safe and be able to walk down the street without looking over your shoulder every five minutes or keep your taser on hand in your pocket with your fingers gripping it just in case. You were constantly worried and paranoid that he was watching you from around the corner like he would pop out at any moment and drag you "home".

The police had never given a fuck about you or your situation, Noah's family has money and connections, so it was always swept under the rug. Just another number, another person to suffer in silence, until one day your dead body would have turned up. They would just pretend they didn't know. A murder gone wrong, you imagine they would chalk it up to.

You take a few calming breaths whilst unpacking, listening to the footsteps and quiet chatter from the moving company men. It eased the anxiety when someone was around, it helped you to feel safer and calmer. As if, if someone was with you or near you, you could be protected from the 'big bad wolf'. You were hoping to become friendly with some or all of the neighbours on your floor, not just for safety in case something happens but also because you'd never been allowed to make new friends with your old neighbours. Noah had made sure of that.

So, you were hoping that this move would be the perfect opportunity for you to do so. You loved to bake cakes and savoury treats but hadn't been able to with Noah because he always ruined things you loved, but now he was gone you could finally pick it back up again. You were planning to bake something sweet as a gesture to introduce yourself to your neighbours, hoping it would make a good first impression.

You walked back into the open apartment that was now your own little safe haven and smiled with contentment, this was the start of a happy new beginning for you. No more fearing what mood Noah would be in that day when he woke up, no more being abused daily, no more sobbing silently into your pillow or taking an emotionally broken moment of peace to cry out your feelings in the shower after he'd hit you. Just you, your new clean apartment, and the ability to do as you please without fear.

It didn't take the movers long to bring the remainder of your boxes up between the three of them. They took off just moments ago, and now you were finally alone. It felt strange, not hearing shouting or items smashing. Just pure blissful silence in your home. Your own place to do with as you please. It felt wonderful to have freedom.

You felt tears cloud your vision as you stared out the window you'd opened when you first stepped inside the apartment, feeling the warm Summer air blow in. The overwhelming emotions of freedom and serenity hit you like a punch to the gut, a sob immediately pulled from you as you sank to the ground. You felt the year-long toll of abuse and terror that had been weighing down your shoulders finally crumble and release you while the sun flowed into the room. You fought the battle and came out victoriously on top for the first time in your life and it felt amazing.

Once the sobs quieted down and the tears had stopped, you took a moment for yourself. You opened a bottle of your favourite wine and picked up an empty glass to pour yourself a drink. You took the bottle with you as you sat back down on the floor in front of the open window, feeling the warm breeze kiss your skin gently and watched the sun in peace. It was still early in the day, you would have plenty of time to unpack later on. But for now, you just want to relax without worry for the first time in a long time.

[chaifootsteps]

College Anon back after so long. Got swamped with, well, college and every time I came in, your ask box was closed haha! Forgot most of my criticisms because these shows are forgettable so sorry if this is disjointed.

Anyways, WHAT THE FUCK. The new episode is SOOOO bad. The jokes are bad apart from a few at the end, the plot is nonsensical and shouldn't have happened right now, the song is TERRIBLE. I made a whole rant in the YouTube comment section because I was genuinely so disappointed.

I had found Full Moon quite good from what I remember because, to me, it was so obviously pro-Blitzø and a turning point for Stolas... Yeah. I should have known I was wrong.

As for the HH leaks, I only watched episode 2. I'm disappointed that Lute is yet another female character centered around a man. I don't like that she's also in love with Adam. It feels like there's too much emphasis on romance instead of friendships and further entangles her with Adam, therefore taking away her agency.

Pentious... I love him! I LOVE that his story is about inaction. It's a great message but his inaction was so heinous that it justifies him being sent to Hell unlike Chidi from The Good Place who showed that they needed a Purgatory for neutral people. Pentious here NEEDED to go to Hell for what he allowed to happen.

I also think this explains perfectly why it's him and not Angel. Because let's be honest, Angel doesn't deserve to go up there. His crimes on Earth and in Hell are a lot harder, if not impossible, to redeem. Him becoming a victim does not take away from the hurt he and his family caused. He could help raise the fact that being sexual isn't a crime and that Hell pushes people to get worse, with punishment unfitting for their wrongdoings. But unlike Sir Pentious, he wasn't a good person and actively harmed people. It wasn't that he was pushed to it when he was a decent person before, he simply got worse and had his remorse disappeared. In the end, it makes the fact that Charlie chose HIM to represent her goal of redemption laughable because Pentious is, he was always so obviously The One. It makes Angel's jealousy and insecurity tragic, which I wish they would explore, because he was right. He SHOULD BE. He likely won't reach redemption or not as easily. Pentious was the one to help Charlie's dreams come true and bring change, help making the afterlife better. And, my God, that would be SUCH a good concept and arc for Angel, especially when he's in a toxic, messy, and deeply abusive relationship, in a job he loves and hates, struggling to make new friendships work as a new him.

I know none of what they set up will be used or used well but the premise is good and so when they introduce these things, it makes the episode good. It's just that what comes next isn't. Pentious crying at the end of the episode is heartbreaking. The jokes land (love Abel! Great foil to Adam, I wish they introduced Cain for funsies. Saint Peter (iirc) is also pretty funny. I like that Sera is the only competent person in the room, it explains a lot (esp when you could infer that Adam nudged her in the worst direction possible) and just works), the songs are nice, the visuals are promising. The story is meh but it IS character-driven and that's working.

That said, of course it's gross to use a real life situation as backstory even though it's become akin to a legend/myth. I think they should have had something similar, maybe inspired or a clear reference to it, but not the actual deal. People died! Thousands lived in fear! A little bit of respect please!

Also, I still hope that Adam is brought back for REAL. NOT shoved in as fanservice as I bet happened but as a genuine foil to Pentious and the idea of redemption. Something to keep angels accountable, something that proves God gives a fuck. Let there be an actual cycle. We KNOW angels can fall. Between Lucifer and the Cherubs, we have ample proof. C'mon this would give Vaggie an arc, development and a backstory. Adam is a genuinely funny character with lots of potential, his VA is AMAZING and his music genre slaps. Bring him back you cowards!

Last note: it feels like the songs are FINALLY finished. Unlike Season 1, it doesn't feel like a draft or like they're missing instruments or an entire part (often a bridge). I might be biased because I don't care about ballads and Lute's song shares a rock-ish sound with Adam, whose songs were the best of the soundtrack, but it feels like there's some improvement here.

If your ask box is still open, I might send what I commented on the lastest HB episode because I feel like it's a decent critic but whatever. Been a while, hope you're doing well and that you aren't as harassed as before by the shitty fandom Viv is cultivating!

Ahh, I apologize for the frequently closed ask box! I hate the thought of people coming in with something to say and being met with that, but as of this moment, it's pushing 1,000. But I'm happy to report that the Viv standom's been mostly leaving me alone!

These are excellent thoughts, definitely agree on the music -- it seems to be a pretty prevailing opinion -- and I hope you're doing well too!

[dragqueenstarscream]

as a starscream fan, what are ur thoughts on megatron? i know their relationship is. complicated so whatever ur opinions may be id love to hear

long ramble incoming. this isn't directed at you anon; i just have a lot of thoughts about megatron that i've kept bottled up for a while

my view on megatron is... complicated.

on the one hand, he's an incredibly iconic villain, and you could argue that without megatron, transformers as a property wouldn't be much of a thing. every iconic hero needs a villain. every optimus needs his megatron.

and he's a great villain! he's iconic for a reason. frank welker is my favorite voice for him, though i will say, my favorite megatron is tfa megs for how clever he is. it's refreshing to see when a lot of megatrons will brute force and anger their way through things.

but this is where my own personal biases color how i see him, because, i'm gonna be honest... for the most part, i really don't like him.

it's not because he's a poorly written character. i've spoken about this before, but i'm an abuse survivor who's still going through it, and megatron reminds me WAY too much of my abuser for me to really like him rather than just to appreciate him as a character. it's the big reason why starscream is my favorite. i see my tendencies in him, and i see megatron as my abuser, especially tfp and armada.

i think this is the big reason why i despise megastar as a ship. if you or anyone else likes it, that's fine! more power to you. i'm not gonna knock you as a person for it. but it makes me feel really gross whenever people draw/write it as "uwu toxic yaoi" or make them seem really in love with each other. to me, all i see is someone trapped in a cycle he can't escape from.

and i think my bias is why i pretty much refuse to read mtmte/lost light, because from what i know about it, megatron is given a chance at redemption. and... i just can't. i understand that a lot of people love these comics, and hey, they're probably really good! but i can't read something where i can so easily imagine this happening with my own abuser, and i put myself in starscream's shoes, wondering if anyone will actually take what i went through seriously.

it's one of the big reasons why the first season of earthspark was so good for me. finally, at last, starscream's abuse was taken seriously! he had someone who was willing to listen! even when people like optimus and dot were willing to get along with megatron, starscream was still going through emotional hell, and no one was willing to listen to him because, hey, megatron's good now! and starscream was a backstabbing traitor, who would listen to a guy like him? and when someone did, he started to change for the better.

but then the writing team got scrapped and his arc was flushed down the toilet. boo hiss.

either way, i can't read mtmte/lost light because i hate the idea of an abuser getting a second chance like that. i know that this is for character development/exploration, and i won't knock anyone who likes those comics. i just won't read them myself.

tl;dr, i recognize that megatron is an iconic character and i like some iterations of him, but for the most part, megatron reminds me of my abuser, which makes me really dislike him.

[rebeccathenaturalist]

*deep breath* This, folks, is EXACTLY why I am writing The Everyday Naturalist. Because it's not enough to have an app. You HAVE to know how to use multiple identification tools and have keen observational skills if you are going to safely forage or otherwise identify things in nature.

Here's the deal. Apps are a tool. They are not infallible, and they should never, ever, EVER be your only tool for identifying mushrooms and other organisms. This goes even moreso for when you're trying to determine whether something is edible or not. I go into more detail about why apps should never be used by themselves in this article that I wrote a few months back, but let's explore a bit more about how an app works.

Any identification app has access to a particular database of pictures and other information for various species. In the case of my favorite app, iNaturalist, it draws from the over 156 million (and growing) observations of animals, plants, fungi, and other living beings that have been uploaded to it over the years.

When you upload a photo to an app, your phone usually inputs the date, time, and GPS location automatically, though these can be updated manually if need be. Then the app's algorithms sift through the database looking for species that are found in the same location at the same time of year, and which have similar photos.

Notice that I said SIMILAR, not identical. Many organisms, to include many fungi, have varying appearances based on subspecies, life stage, and other factors. And there are a lot of species that have close lookalikes, whether we're talking birds, wildflowers, mushrooms, etc.

So the algorithms then use their search results to give you their suggestion(s) of what most closely resembles the organism you are trying to identify. Some give you one answer; others, like iNaturalist, offer you a list to choose from, and may also qualify their response with "We're not sure, but these were found nearby" or something similar. The first one on the list is NOT always going to be the correct answer. However, the app doesn't have reasoning skills, and all it can do is play match-up and then produce suggestions based on that. (Yes, other iNaturalist users can come along and comment on your observations once you've uploaded and saved them, but you always want to carefully assess their claims, too.)

There are several toxic mushrooms that are implicated in poisonings on a regular basis; among them are what I call the "deadly Amanitas": the death cap (Amanita phalloides) and the destroying angels (A. bisporigera, A. ocreata, and A. verna.) In addition to these species' respective native ranges in Europe and North America, some have managed to make their way to other parts of the world. This includes in Australia, where there is a current investigation underway over a woman who fed several family members deadly Amanitas, three of whom have died.

These poisonous mushrooms have several edible lookalikes. As one example, while matsutakes (Tricholoma matsutake) are often brown, they may sometimes appear white, especially if the brown layer has peeled off. And field mushrooms (Agaricus spp, especially A. bisporus and A. campestris) are also large white mushrooms, though their gills and spores tend to be brown rather than the white of Amanita species.

Still, someone taking a picture of a large white mushroom--especially if they neglect to take another picture of the gills (the more pictures you take, the better)--could easily end up with an app telling them an Amanita is an Agaricus. Or they might read that some people think it's safe to eat Amanita muscaria if you parboil it long enough, and assume that other Amanita species are the same way (one of MANY reasons I do not advocate for treating A. muscaria as an edible.)

So--again--DO NOT USE APPS AS YOUR ONLY ID TOOL. Use them in conjunction with multiple field guides, websites, other foragers, etc. Practice using these tools and developing a critical eye before you go out foraging. Be super cautious, and when in doubt, throw it out.

And my inbox is ALWAYS open, as is my email (rebeccathenaturalist(at)gmail(dot)com.) You can ALWAYS email me with questions about field guides, apps, and other resources, and I am also happy to look at pictures of mushrooms (and other living beings) you're trying to identify, whether edible or not. You might need to give me a few days to reply, but I will get back to you. Don't use ME as your only source, either; I'm just one person. But I can point you to online groups that are also good resources.

[prying-pandora666]

“The Search” Rewrites, Book 4: Air, Leaks, and A Call for Help from the Fandom

I’ve talked a little about the Book 4: Air restoration project @book4air. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out! Three full episodes are already out and episode 4 is going to cover Zuko’s early days right after his banishment, exploring his relationship with Iroh and the world as Zuko understands it as a lost boy rapidly coming into manhood.

Wait until you hear the VA’s performance with music and everything! It’ll break your heart.

But I want to talk a little bit about what comes after these next few episodes: our adaptation of “The Search”.

If you’ve seen our adaptation of “The Promise”, you’ll know it was quite faithful. This won’t be the case for “The Search”. For the purposes of the overarching story we are telling, this story is getting overhauled. (Please still support the original release if you’d like to see the canon version).

The biggest change that’s been announced is the addition of Toph. The team felt that a story about family, identity, and faces could benefit from including Toph’s perspective as she comes from a unique but toxic family situation, has a strong conflict between the performance expected of her versus who she really is, and is completely blind and so faces don’t even register for her.

Here is the sample scene we released:

But I want to talk a little bit about what we are changing about Zuko and Azula’s roles in the story. While the set up is virtually unchanged, there is one small alteration that makes a big difference.

(Sorry for the poor quality, this is technically unreleased content and I’m being kinda risky leaking it.)

Ursa’s letters are now a diary. This means that rather than get random flashbacks, the narrative framing now becomes Zuko and Azula reading these entries together. As a result, they get to discuss their discoveries about their family, and even share each other’s perspectives.

What that means is that when things like Zuko dangling Azula over the cliff happen, now we actually are forced to address it. The characters have to talk about how they treat each other and the reasons why. They have to confront the toxic family dynamic they’ve been forced and groomed into since childhood. Zuko has to realize his mentally ill little sister isn’t the monster here and in fact he’s the one with all the power now, and Azula has to realize that Zuko can be trusted if she can let go of her fear long enough to talk to him about her vulnerabilities.

We also address issues like this:

Many people criticize this for being OOC, but I think there’s a way this could easily not be. Sokka has been known to be juvenile and reactionary as a first response, the difference is that he always eventually apologizes and learns from his mistakes. Without even needing to be asked.

Threatening a mentally ill person who has just been removed from an asylum—even as a joke—is not okay. It would be questionable even if they’d been friends before this, but considering their prior relationship it really does seem like an boneheaded lack of awareness or compassion for how triggering this could be.

So rather than remove this interaction, we addressed it. And I am really taking a risk posting this here, but here is a brand new script page:

Sokka isn’t just comic relief. Sokka is smart, Sokka is compassionate, Sokka is brave, and Sokka knows when it’s time to apologize and reach out versus when it’s time to fight.

Safe to say, there are several things that stay the same and we tried to keep faithful to the spirit of the story, but there’s a lot we wanted to do for the Gaang and for the Fire Sibs, and I hope you’ll join us on this adventure, whether you’re a diehard fan of the comics and just looking for a fun AU, or you hate the comics and would like a rewrite, or even if you’ve never read them and would just love to return to the world of ATLA.

The only trouble is, we can’t do it alone. The project is very expensive and time consuming to produce. Our team pays for everything out of pocket and some of us don’t even have reliable housing, so it’s been a hard time.

If you can help in any way, even only by spreading the word so YouTube will stop burying us in the algorithm, that would be huge!

If you can afford to help, we have a Patreon where you can get all sorts of early goodies.

Reblogs and comments greatly appreciated! As the head writer and voice of Azula, this project is very near and dear to me. Avatar was my first pro-writing gig when I was just a homeless 19 year old, and it’s here for me again as I struggle to rebuild my life and health that COVID destroyed.

I love this series and the community that has helped me through the hardest times in my life. I can’t wait to make something beautiful with you all!

[copperbadge]

If its not too personal could you talk about what was the inspiration for Michaelis? He's got a lot of depth to him, especially for what could have been a one off character in the background after Fete. Also the way he mourns but carries on really resonates with me in Jes.

Oh sure! I mean, on the one hand it is quite personal but it's a kind of personal I really enjoy sharing. :D Michaelis began life as the Standard Hallmark Parent -- you see them a lot in the movies, the parent who is

1. Kinda grouchy

2. Usually pushing their kid slightly too hard in slightly the wrong direction (with the best of intentions)

3. Often a widow/er

4. Practically a cameo designed to stress out the lead, but easily attractive enough that they could be romantic lead themselves in the sequel.

There are actually several Hallmark films where the over-sixty characters are either the supporting romance in a one-off film or the main romance of a sequel film. (The Wedding Veil films, which despite their flaws are actually very enjoyable, have a Michaelis-like character for the mother of the male lead in the first movie, and she then becomes the major supporting romantic lead in the fourth movie.)

By the time I got to Michaelis talking to Eddie at the end of the script for Fete, I'd grown to really like him. When I adapted the script to a novel, I liked him even more. I thought that I could do a sequel with him getting jolted out of himself a bit -- and I was encouraged by how many people liked him in the initial read through. The main inspirations for the actual plot of Infinite Jes were, one, Gregory jokingly suggesting he do a podcast, and two, Michaelis's defensive dismissal of Gregory's question about what he's done for companionship since Miranda passed.

Over the course of writing Infinite Jes, he came to be a collection of themes I've explored or wanted to explore, sometimes themes I knew I wasn't skilled enough to handle yet. The core of him is based on a professor I worked with as a student; the confidence that occasionally tips into arrogance, the keen intellect that likes to take things apart, the ability to look at some toxic family traits and decide "RIP but I'm different" and be a present, nurturing masculine figure, all come from that professor, who had a huge impact on me.

But I have also been fascinated for decades now by a certain kind of character in fiction, someone who has had a devastating loss and keeps going, even if they aren't driven by something like revenge. Profound grief is difficult and fascinating for me, and I finally felt capable of exploring that fully, perhaps because the pressure on romance novels is a bit lower at times.

And honestly, a lot of him is me, processing the fact that I am aging in fandom. I'm older (44) than the oldest person I knew in fandom (38) when I joined it at the age of 14. I have, for lack of a better word, a position in fandom, a status, that affords me certain perks and requires of me certain obligations. Not to call myself elected king of fandom ("I didn't vote for him!") but the duty I feel to fandom, both as a culture that raised me and a found family, is very similar.

Most of my characters contain some of me, but Michaelis and Jerry contain far more of me than most, perhaps because I'm in a place to do some reflection. Michaelis -- intelligent, experienced, hopefully a mentor, but also lonely and detached at times -- is who I'm coming to grips with being; Jerry, the charming fuckup with power but no real clue how to use it, who is doing his best to grow up a little later than a lot of his peers and figure out how disability fits into his identity, is who I still see myself as.

So yeah -- I find Michaelis incredibly fun and compelling to write for, and I think that's because I had hit a skill level in my work where I could combine a lot of tropes and themes into one character and use him to explore why I enjoy them so much. But he definitely began life as the Hallmark Widowed Dad. :D Well, there are worse origin stories.

[salemshotspot]

Hunter Hearst Helmsley Gender Headcanons

Hunter Hearst Helmsley Gender Headcanons

WORD COUNT: 985

DESC: Headcanons of Hunter and his gender identity/exploration

WARNINGS: Not Proof Read//Someone Who Knows Nothing About Makeup Writing About Makeup Hoping They Aren't Chatting Rubbish//Mentions Taking Hormones//Tiny Bit Sad At Times If You Squint//Implied Toxic Masculinity//Discusses Complex Gender Feelings//Implied Internalised Homophobia If You Squint//Mentions Of Drinking And Being Drunk

A/N >> Drop writing requests in my inbox and let me know if you'd like to be tagged or untagged in any future fics :)

TAGS: @incorrectwwfquotes @prettyboymichaels-ao3 [apologies you got this notification twice, I was trying to fix a spelling mistake and accidently deleted your @!]

Enjoy!

——————————————————————————

So I feel like Hunter first consciously began questioning his gender when he got close with Shawn; to me Shawn seems the type to call Hunter pretty as an absent minded compliment but to Hunter it was so much more, he couldn't stop Shawn's words rattling around his mind for weeks, being called pretty really started making him question things about himself.

However, although it took Shawn calling him pretty to make him start questioning things I feel like subconsciously he'd been questioning his gender ever since he debuted his wrestling persona of 'Hunter Hearst Helmsley.'

I feel like he took so easily to that persona is because, to him, being an upper-class gentleman was the only way he could be pretty while maintaining his masculinity as he could say anything effeminate about him was merely part of his character.

Wearing a bit of makeup? It's not because he likes it, it's because he's committed to appearing as elegant as he can to fit his character, he's wearing stereotypically more feminine clothes? It's only because it makes him appear elegant in his lace shirts and silk jackets.

He was secretly really upset once he put that character behind him and became 'Triple H' because not only does he have to play a much more stereotypically manly character but he has nothing to hide his less masculine traits behind.

He was probably jealous of Shawn for so long, he was able to be so flamboyant, so sexually ambiguous, he was able to be whatever he wanted and everybody still viewed him as a standard of masculinity; why couldn't Hunter be extended this privilege, why was he burdened with the curse of hegemonic masculinity? Once his jealously towards Shawn shifted to longing, longing to have the freedom he had, to not care what people think like he did I think he'd get really drunk with Shawn one night and accidently tell him everything, the way he feels, the way he perceives himself as a man and is happy with that but he wishes when people perceive him it would be as both a woman and a man.

Not to self insert but I feel like, like myself, he perfectly understands how he feels about his gender but he can't put words to it, he can't put a label on it, nothing feels right when he tries using a label, he uses a fluid label? He feels he's betraying the binary, set in stone aspects of his gender, he uses a binary label? He's reducing himself down to something that doesn't encompass him truly.

Shawn is indifferent to this information in the sense of 'I don't view you any differently, you were my best friend before you told me this and you'll stay my best friend after you've told me.'

Although Shawn is indifferent to the information he makes a conscious effort to try and help Hunter express himself at his own pace and the first way they did this was with makeup; Shawn owns a lot of subtle makeup, he loves to look his best and doesn't see why makeup should be just for women when it's such a life saver.

This is oddly specific but to build on this idea I feel like when Shawn did Hunter's makeup for the first time so he could see how it feels Hunter was absolutely mesmerised by the blush on his cheeks and would end up not going anywhere without having a bit of light pink blush dusted over his cheeks and nose.

I feel like he takes really good care of his lips, like always using vaseline to make sure they're never dry and always look healthy but give this man glittery lip gloss and he will fall in love and use it all the time, bonus points if the glitter is silver.

I do not think he would be completely against the idea of taking oestrogen, he's probably like to take low doses of it if he ever fully committed to HRT, however he is overall indifferent to it; if he never took hormones he wouldn't feel incomplete within his own gender, it could just be a nice little bonus to him if he ever felt he really wanted to.

I do however feel like although he is exploring his more feminine side he wouldn't wear dresses, he just doesn't feel they're his thing [although can I say if they were he would rock a red floor length dress that hugged his curves just right], but when he went to formal events he'd experiment wearing less typically male formal attire [like a ruffled red dress shirt instead of a white one, it's a subtle change but he feels great when he does it.]

Speaking of formal fashion I feel like another thing he'd experiment with is shoes, he feels like wedged shoes are a good middle ground between the black formal shoes men and heels.

Probably heals his past self by allowing himself to indulge in socially accepted feminine acts like for example I feel like he loves baking, he baked with his mum growing up but he was made fun of because it's 'a woman's thing.'

Pronouns wise he says he doesn't care if people use either he, she or they but sometimes when he hears people use she/her he's like a giddy little kid.

Just reiterating how much he loves to be called pretty.

I also feel like being secure in his gender helps him become secure within his sexuality [I personally see him as bisexual]; before he'd be so flustered and paranoid if he did anything that he thought felt gay in public, what if somebody saw?, But since feeling more comfortable with his gender he proudly kisses Shawn live on Raw without giving it so much as a second thought because it's just a show of affection between him and his friend.

——————————————————————————

A/N >> I'm aware this turned into headcanons for Shawn too, I might do Shawn his own headcanon list if anyone is interested! There's a few wwf wrestlers I want to do these headcanons for

[bloop-bl00p]

Hi! I'm new to your post so please feel free to one me out😅🙏 imma give some context before going the real thing [it's been a while since I watched Helluva boss so I only stopped somewhere at western energy, I was able to watched the helluva shorts, short 4 is my favorite, I was able to watched some important parts of the series such as the full moon episode. End] ever since the released of sinmas and mastermind, my hate for Stolas continues to rise. I never knew nor understood the appeal of the Stolitz relationship during the pandemic to 2023. Until I started to see more of the Stolitz fanarts, it created the idea of a forbidden relationship aka the commoner x the emperor, it's a good and engaging trope to read when written well in a love story and in a psychological way. So imagine my surprise when seeing leaks of Blitzø kissing and hugging Stolas, however seeing the outcome of Stolas choosing Blitzø over his daughter wasn't enough for me to satiate my hate for him. After for a few days I started to analyze how maybe I'm hating too much on Stolas when Blitzø also has a big fault too, so when searching in google; searching for others opinion on what Stolas SHOULD have been, I stumbled upon you! You were able to state the important facts on both parties being in the wrong, despite how I have a few arguments you still able to reach out the IMPORTANT facts. So I'm glad you initiated in making a post on how the Stolitz relationship is so toxic and in the same time they are still bad but victim beings. I was also planning to write my own original helluva boss so this gave me an extra boost on what kind of characters Stolas and Blitzø should have been, ever since I watched videos on YouTubers hating Stolas I was able to create an illusion that Blitzø was a saint however I was still able to grasp that MAYBE he was NOT a saint.

[here are a few things I want to state and I WANTED to hear your take, I think Stolas should have a knack in conversation when talking to Blitz in the Ozzie episode {however it can be easily eliminated since he's having a person conversation with Blitz without any indication of fornication}, and if Stolas was banging Blitz for how many months I think he should have asked how's his relationship with Loona since that's something they're in common. I also like to state how a lot of people hate on Stella too much, I did NOT like how they made Stella the evil mom. It was scene and implied how she and Stolas were happy during their marriage, so it would understandable for Stella to be mad at Stolas not to mention he was sleeping with an Imp. A lot of people really said how Stolas was in the right for cheating on Stella and it made me question about my idea of relationship and marriage. I do accept that Stella should have face consequences for abusing her husband, but Stolas should at least face some consequences which was shown in Sinmas. He CHEATED on his WIFE, the word wife/marriage means you're ONE with your partner and that you're in a BINDING VOW. He also should have think about his actions and how it will affect his family{Octavia mostly}. Stella is wasted character to be made since it could explore her experience in marriage, motherhood and her mixed feelings for Stolas and Blitzø. (I know how it's set in hell but why is it they have hospitals, rehab and such. Despite how an amount of demons cheat I'm sure there's room for demons who don't accept cheating.) I'm sure you have some thoughts and amazing facts to point out my opinion, so feel free correct me!]

All in all I enjoyed your post and I hope you continue more to create amazing content! Your post of the analysis on Stolitz relationship gave me motivation to create my own fanfic, and is it alright for you if I take inspiration to your take of the Stolitz relationship cause I have some big plans for those two characters, I'll always make sure to credit you and mention your analysis is my inspiration. That's all I have to say, have an amazing and healthy day, Merry Christmas!!!❤️🔥🎄

Hey, so I’m happy to have helped you and you can totally take inspiration from me for your rewrite.

Anyways, you’re right. Having Stolas try and make moves on Blitzø without it being sexual would have helped show that he was interested in more than hooking up. The things I didn't mention in my review are that we spent the entirety of season 1 barely seeing him, and when we finally do, he’s making bad attempts at dirty talks. We don’t see the progression of him being only interested in sex to "I’m in love" so his attitude in episode 7 is just random, they were no buildup.

As for the Stella situation, I’m equally disappointed that up to now she’s reduced to Le Evil Wife, but I look forward to season 3 since we’re going to have more info on the Goetia, so possibly her backstory. As for the cheating, I think they should have empathized with the fact that it’s not the cheating that bothers her, it’s the fact that it’s an imp. This was done at first in episode 2 but they should have kept it going.

Since Stolas and Stella have an arranged marriage, they could have established that they’re in a free relationship. They slept together only for Octavia, but aren’t sexually interested in each other, so they keep appearances in public but sleep with whoever they want indoors. Then there are two ways to go with it:

Stolas follows the terms of agreement

He keeps his relationship with Blitzø indoors and does everything to stay low-key. In that case, Stella is unreasonable because she’s only angry that he’s sleeping with an imp and that’s just fucked up. On the other, Stolas and Blitzø’s relationship could never evolve because Blitzø will probably doubt the prince’s sincerity considering he’s doing everything to keep him in his closet. Imagine the drama.

2. Stolas is exactly like in the shows

By that, I mean flirting publicly, going on dates and stuff. While it’s certainly going to make Blitzø trust Stolas, Stella is a little bit justified. I mean, you shouldn't kill your husband for cheating, but Stolas would have been allowed to "cheat" whiting certain conditions. Not only is he ruining her reputation but he cheated with an imp, which means that now her friends think that she’s such a bad wife that Stolas searches for relief whiting the lower class.

This could also impact Stolas’ reputation whiting the Goetia Circle, and perhaps even Blitzø whiting the imps. All of them could think like Striker, "You think you’re better than us because you date a Goetia."

Merry Christmas to you too by the way.

[likely-moony]

If you still accept requests, could do Yandere Mamoru Chiba from Sailor Moon?

Yes, I still accept requests and ofc, here you go!! <3

Istg, when I was a kid, I rly thought mamoru was low-key creepy asf, like why tf are you, as a grown ass-man, doing hanging around a little girl??

Mamoru Chiba 《Yandere Headcanons》

General Yandere Headcanons for Mamoru Chiba ♡

TW!!: Yandere-Themes, Yandere Characters, Abuse Of Power (Supernaturally, Scientifically??), Obsessive Characters, Unhealthy Feelings, Unhealthy Relationships, Manipulation, Gaslighting, Abusive Relationships, Cheating Accusation, Toxic Relationship.

Masterlist

Rules For Requesting

Taglist

Mamoru's obsession with you is born from his overwhelming need to protect you from any harm. He sees himself as your knight in shining armor, destined to keep you safe at all costs.

He maintains his charming and charismatic persona, using it to win your trust and affection. Mamoru hides his darker intentions behind his friendly demeanor, ensuring you never suspect his possessive tendencies.

He subtly manipulates situations to ensure you're drawn closer to him. Mamoru uses his influence to orchestrate meetings and interactions that strengthen your bond without you realizing.

Mamoru's jealousy knows no bounds. He's easily agitated by the presence of others around you and shows his possessive nature whenever he suspects someone might be a potential rival for your attention.

He strategically creates situations that isolate you from your friends and loved ones. Mamoru convinces you that he's the only one who truly understands you and that others are mere distractions.

Mamoru leaves subtle cues and hints to guide your decisions, making you believe they're your own choices. He believes he knows what's best for you and uses his influence to steer you in that direction.

He leaves you mysterious messages and gifts, alluding to his feelings for you without directly revealing his obsession. Mamoru uses cryptic notes and symbolic presents to keep you intrigued.

Mamoru constructs an idealized fantasy of your life together, imagining a future where you're inseparable and blissfully happy. He believes that he's the only one who can make that fantasy a reality.

He oscillates between his charming exterior and his possessive, darker side. Mamoru seamlessly transitions from the gentleman who sweeps you off your feet to the one who would do anything to keep you close.

Mamoru's obsession drives him to explore magical means to ensure you'll be together forever. He entertains the idea of dark magic or otherworldly rituals that bind your fates, even beyond death.

Hope you enjoyed it! :)

[unsiredtribrid]

travnat is starting something toxic already.. like you can see it take root. travis feels emasculated and insecure because nat slept with bobby before they knew each other, and instead of considering that nat was manipulated (even when he had jackie standing there telling him it was considered creepy to her/other girls that bobby was sleeping with girls still in high school even after he graduated) or even that it was something nat regrets, he’s angry and assumes she has poor character like bobby. he thinks she’s of little worth because she slept with bobby

i can understand him feeling hurt she withheld the info/lied but it’s also not his business who she’s slept with unless she’s carrying an std, so? especially because in this time period, girls were being slut shamed even more than now. and that’s basically what he’s doing to her right now

then you have the way her dad was a freak about her sex life… being controlling about if she does it or how, acting like it’s some mark on her character if she did. so of course nat wants to fix things with travis and get his approval :/ travis is regarding her with the same contempt, like she’s dirty/tainted, as her father did. and nat can brush it off more easily with travis because she can just say that it’s him being hurt because she fucked his bully, but deep down even she knows that that’s an insane thing to be insecure about, given nat and travis didn’t know each other when she fucked bobby. she even tells him she regrets it and honestly she shouldn’t have even had to because she was the one who was a victim of that weirdo

travis is a teenager and it’s not malicious, he just genuinely feels hurt and has misogyny to unlearn. but it’s a particularly unhealthy thing for nat to have to go through because of her specific trauma. travis having a relationship with ANY of the other girls, even jackie (despite that she seems like she could be a lesbian) would still be less toxic than this shit with nat, just because the other girls either do stand up to him full stop (and stand on business) or they don’t possess nat’s unique trauma about sex and male figures

so it seems intentional, writing wise, that nat is paired with travis and gravitates to him. like i think they wanted to showcase allll of this, which is only reaffirmed in the adult timeline when everyone keeps saying nat and travis were bad for each other specifically. this probably only got worse after what she did to javi and all of the other shit they did in the wilderness

i think some kinds of toxicity are interesting to explore in a pairing (if they have good romantic or sexual chemistry as well), but since travis and nat don’t and their romance scenes make me cringe, i would never be able to ship it 😭 also this specific kind of toxicity (just misogyny and like? emasculation? or something?) gives me the ick and is not something i would want to explore or deconstruct in a shipping way. and that aside, the het ship taking up so much of nat’s screentime is also pretty tone deaf for ‘the lesbian show’. so they’re kind of just set up to fail with part of the audience. the casual viewers and people who do like most m/f they see in shows might enjoy the nuances of travnat but i think all of the above reasons are why they are disliked by the queer fandom

like honestly it would be more interesting to explore how nat’s relationships to women become closer because of the wilderness and the matriarchal cult and how that spirals out into her sexuality. her tension, borderline jealousy and overall conflict with jackie is explored far better in fics than in the show, for example

[desirespeaks]

I love writing traumatized characters.

One of my favorite quotes (that I'm probably misquoting) is from Maya Angelou. It's something like, "People always remember how you made them feel."

Because I'm not a sociopath like my characters, it's something I use to remind myself to always be kind to others etc IRL just as a life rule.

More importantly, when writing or developing a character, I'm actually obsessed with this in the context of trauma. Some of my narcissistic/sociopathic characters get off on the fact that they can be so cruel and heartless that their words or actions might have a lifelong effect.

For my most toxic characters, there is a sick sense of ownership they feel with this. Think, "XYZ lives rent free in my mind". (I know that is associated with things that bring joy or humour etc. But consider it for trauma.)

For a controlling character, the thought that what they did or said can affect your actions is still a way for them to control you. This is pretty common for abusive people and any therapist or psychologist will tell you that you need to work on not letting it control you anymore as you will struggle to truly move on from the person/experience/trauma. That itself can be a lifelong pursuit, which a controlling or abusive character could derive some kind of sick enjoyment from in itself, especially if the work to "move on" isn't working/has moments of relapse. An abusive person will move on if they feel like they can no longer control you. Sadly, IRL, that often ends fatally.

On a less morbid scale, it's like if you break up with someone at a museum because you told yourself you should do it in person in a safe space and not at an eatery where you might not be able to leave so easily. But despite all that it's still brutal because he begs you not to. And you leave him there crying because you are embarrassed and wanted it to be over. Some people would hate that museum now or may even be unable to visit that same spot. IRL you would hope they are able to move on and don't associate the two. But for a character, I'm really drawn to the idea of such an experience being so impactful (mostly in a negative or traumatic way) that it actually changes your life or how you interact with the world.

Obviously this is how we all go through life. We experience moments of life, both good and bad, and they shape us and impact how we live our lives. Not that revolutionary.

But for a character, I just love the idea of exploring the most fucked up experiences that impact them. Imagine for the museum break up the museum itself becomes the focus of a revenge plot as the 'scene of the crime' LOL I'm talking about the unhinged person kidnapping their ex, breaking into the museum at night, and holding them there at gun point. "This is where it happened. Do you remember what you said to me that day?" I'm obsessed already.

Another example is some sexual abuse survivors throw up or have other physical reactions if they return to the scene of their abuse. That's on the more extreme end of the trauma scale and would be hard to explore authentically in writing, especially in roleplay. But it's a good example.

On a less dramatic scale, consider just the simple instance of someone saying something offhandedly to you that might not even register as fucked up with other people, but the way it hits you in that moment at that time stays with you for years, decades, or possibly even forever. I've had this quite a lot and sometimes it has taken me months, even years to realize why it hit the way it did. Mainly because I'm curious about my own mind. Sometimes you never find out why, or worse, there's no reason at all! It's just how it hit you it at that moment in time.

Obviously this is all more relevant for sensitive characters because there are lots of types of characters who would probably not experience this kind of thing. Sometimes a bad break up at a museum or a string of hurtful words happen to you and your body/mind processes it, and lets it go. That's the goal IRL, for sure. I'm sure there are lots of sexual abuse survivors who have gone on to lead functioning and successful lives because they were able to overcome the trauma.

But in writing, "People always remember how you made them feel," is such a perfect way to add to the complexity of your muses that our words and actions can have really unintended (and long lasting) consequences, especially for emotionally sensitive characters.

[cardentist]

As a nonbinary/genderfluid biromantic, demiromantic asexual, literally every part of my gender identity and sexuality has been subject to the same "you could EASILY pass as cishet, so can you REALLY say you experience oppression when you could simply CHOOSE not to" and "you're not REALLY oppressed for being XYZ, you're only oppressed when people mistake you as cis fem/trans fem/gay/lesbian/any other identity we think is ACTUALLY important." My existence in online queer spaces has been hounded constantly by people trying to tell me what my lived experiences are and what they mean, shouting me down about how I can't speak about Insert Issue/Topic Here because sure maybe I'm queer (and to some, I don't even have the right to call myself that) but I'm at the bottom of the Who Is Oppressed More Hierarchy, I am only Oppressed in the way that sometimes I experience what they deem to be a different group's oppression. Not even my oppression is my own! I am too much of an "aberration" to find community and a place to speak amongst the general populace, and I'm too privileged to have a voice in the queer community, even about things that affect me.

And now, I'm watching that same rhetoric being used against transmen and transmascs. I remember when people on this site started really exploring queer headcanons for characters, everyone cheering "let's make X character gay! Y character is trans! Z character is a lesbian!" but if you dared to suggest "can Q character be ace?" you'd be met with "... that's boring." I remember how quickly ace exclusion devolved from "aces are boring" to "god, aces are annoying" to "when you think about it, aces aren't even really oppressed, so they aren't queer, so they should just shut up." And then it wasn't just aces, it was bi folks. And then it was enbies too. And now. Here we are.

This is the only site where people will blog about how "Gender is a sandbox! It's fucky! Men can be women, and women can be men! I'm a boygirl kind of girlboy! There are genders and sexualities in all sorts of shrimp colors you can dream of!" but in the same breath, they'll still act weird about he/him lesbians. They'll still claim that ALL masculinity is toxic. They'll still say that men are boring and annoying and-- Oh? You think that's kind of hurtful? You want to use this as an opportunity to talk about your own lived experiences and vent your frustrations courteously and privately on your own blog? Why do you have to make everything about you?! You're lower down the Who Is More Oppressed ladder because, wHeN yOu tHinK aBouT iT, no man can be oppressed for being a man! Even trans men! So you and anybody even vaguely masc aligned should just shut up and stay out of the conversation and let the queers who experience REAL bigotry talk!

... They could at least say something new instead of reusing the same rhetoric they've used for aces and aros and bi/pan folk and enbies and masc/butch lesbians and countless other queer identities.

All that to say, as someone who has been subject to all this for every part of my identity, I stand with you. Trans Unity! Queer Unity!

Context: [Link 1, Link 2]

I know Exactly what you're talking about !

I was around in inclusionist spaces 10 years ago at this point, before I'd fully crystalized what I Had Going On.

I Remember it being pointed out that ace exclusionists were stealing talking points from radfems directly, up to and including ripping off entire posts and just swapping out "trans women" with "asexuals."

I Remember people warning each other that normalizing these kinds of talking points, convincing people that that Mindset is a valid one, would then make it easy to swap out the Target of said mindset.

and it Has happened, over and over and over again. people are Always looking for the marginalized people that nobody wants to stand up for. that people don't understand, that people don't see as Needing support, that people already have negative feelings about even if they don't recognize Why.

it'll only ever stop when people examine the talking points Themselves and throw them out. when people are willing to stand in solidarity with people Regardless of whether they understand them or not.

if someone is trying to convince you that class of people As A Whole are undeserving of support, are lesser than, shouldn't have their voices heard or considered, Question It ! when they hold people up in Comparison to say that their pain is Lesser and therefore doesn't Matter, Question It !!

[petruchio]

LEAVING ASIDE the nonsense that was the marketing for these films, how do you feel about the songs Taylor released on the THG soundtrack?

oh i love them!! i actually think eyes open is the superior hunger games song of the two and i think it's a brilliant interpolation of taylor's own relationship with fame projected onto katniss in a way that i think highlights just how incisive the commentary of THG is -- like "everybody's waiting for you to break down/everybody's watching to see the fall out" could easily be on a track like the lucky one and it clearly reflects a lot of taylor's own anxieties about fame and celebrity -- but the fact that it maps so perfectly onto katniss is just like MWAH! perfection. and it's just proof that suzanne collins tapped into a VERY real set of feelings and ideas about fame and living under intense scrutiny. and the hunger games-y lyrics are SO GOOD bc they feel natural but also are so specific and cool: i love "keep your aim locked the night grows dark" like YES LOVE IT.

to expand on that honestly... i think that line eyes open in particular is proof to me that a lot of great songwriting comes out of using stories that are not your own. i think another great example of this is olivia rodrigo. like don't get me wrong: i LOVE deja vu. i think it's a pretty perfect pop song honestly. but "can't catch me now" is SUCH A GOOD SONG. it has imo a some of her best songwriting on it, because i feel like it gave her new metaphors to explore and made the lyrics and the music feel fresh -- like "there's snow falling over the city, you thought that it would wash away the bitter taste of my fury and all of the messes you made" is a BRILLIANT line! like to me, it's leagues above "i used to think i was smart but you made me look so naive" (i could write an essay on my feelings on vampire honestly but that's just one example) (like i really genuinely enjoyed guts a LOT -- but it did start to get repeptitive, only being about heartbreak and insecurity. yeah those feelings are rich and layered! but i also like the song about falling in love with a future fascist dictator and then disappearing into the woods a la wordsworth and existing in a perpetual state of unreality for the rest of time. like that one was really good too! (another side note is that she has that one unreleased song on her instagram inspired by twilight -- and it's also like, wonderfully written. like yes olivia, free yourself from the need to be a diaristic songwriter and just write insane fandom songs. PLEASE.)) (i felt the same way about "what was i made for?" -- like that song is PERFECTION in the way it maps so perfectly onto the metaphors and images of the barbie movie and yet it stands alone as a great song as well. low key i wished wwimf and ccmn had been released in two dif years because i wanted them both to get the best original song oscar. just incredible work by our gen z pop girlies.)

and to go on and on MORE... all of this is why i think the taylor swift effect in pop music has been like... honestly a net negative for a lot of artists honestly. like music doesn't NEED to be about gossipy personal details to be good! don't get me wrong, i love the way we get to dive into "taylor's diary" and i think it's the reason i still love so many of her personal songs -- bc they feel like various entries into the experience of growing up as a lonely little girl and trying to understand your place in the world. and exploring the evolution of her personal relationships over the years is really cool and makes for a fascinating body of work to dive into and analyze. but also... sometimes songs are still good even when they're NOT intrinsically tied to the personal life of the singer! like nobody cares if "toxic" is about justin timberlake or kevin federline or whatever -- it's just a great fucking song and it doesn't matter that it's britney singing it, except in that her vocal delivery and performance style lends itself to that banger of a track! (AND THIS IS TRUE FOR TAYLOR TOO! i've said often she does her best work when she's fantasizing -- "you belong with me" is inspired by a phone call. "august" is a completely pretend story. "death by a thousand cuts" is about a movie. like those are some of her best songs!! and it's at least in part because they feel expansive and fresh because they're NOT ABOUT HER!)

anyway my point is not to say that diaristic songwriting is bad or that i don't like it -- because i really DO, i love looking at the connections between taylor songs across albums and eras and analyzing how she ties certain images or phrases to certain muses and tracking the evolution of her relationship to life and love over the years. but i also just think she's a good songwriter -- so when she writes songs about other stuff... it's interesting and cool. i wish she'd do more of it haha