#it doesn't really matter if the answer is yes or no

[patricia-taxxon]

I think the big internal contradiction of fatphobia is that they know that it's a disability, but they build a magic fence around it so they don't have to consider it one, just saying "they did this to themselves, we shouldn't have to coddle them" when like, idk, any paraplegic u see on the street could have gotten that way from their own folly, but that doesn't matter. if someone just decides that they REALLY want to cut their legs off, they should still get a free wheelchair right? like are there simply motivations that someone can have that void them of a right to life & dignity? their answer is probably yes but they won't say that.

[n0rmal-cat]

Farmer x reader-Boyfriend material

[sorry if I misspelled anything this was fast :,) ]

The farmer and reader sit at the dinner table together late in the evening. Reader picks at the food on their plate.

“So, I gotta ask, what are you?” They finally broke the silence, lifting their gaze to meet his.

“I’m a farmer,” he replied calmly.

“Ok haha very, but I’m kinda more talking about the black goo, so what are you made of?”

He looked in thought, “boyfriend material?” He raised an eyebrow as if asking if that was the right answer.

“Ok…walked right into that one,” they crossed their arms.

“Why do you care so much about something like that?” his eyes became wavery.

“It’s not that I really care, but it would be nice to know,” they replied.

“Human, that’s what I am,” he said, tilting his head slightly, his demeanour shifting.

“Come on, we both know that’s not true,” the reader continued with a playful smirk.

Farm stood up straight from his seat, He clenched his fists, casting a stern glare upon the reader. “Why? Why can’t I be human? What’s the difference between you and me?” reader had never seen him this mad before, yes he's gotten upset but never angry.

“H-huh?” they stuttered, taken aback by the outburst.

“If I’m not human, then what am I? I walk and talk the same way you do. If you know any better, then why don’t you tell me?” A few more of his eyes started to open in anger.

“I’m sorry, August. I didn’t know that bothered you so much. I won’t bring it up again, I swear…”

He exhaled deeply, his posture easing as he slumped his shoulders down. running a hand down he closed his extra eyes. “It’s fine, I’m fine” he muttered, the tension in his voice slowly dissipating.

Reader stood up and gently took his hand in theirs “You’re right it was strange of me to even bring it up. If you say you’re human, then that’s what you are.”

He grabs their hand and puts it to their cheek, “Do you see me as a monster? Truthfully, is that why you asked?”

“No..at least not in that way, I mean you do kinda eat people,” he looked down sadly, “but I mean hey, when has murder stopped a human?” they said nervously.

"It doesn't matter what you are, you're still hot." They pause. "That's not the only reason! Y-you're also nice and stuff"

He stares down at them and shakes his head,

He fully wrapped his arms around them and hugged them close to his chest. “I’m glad I chose to keep you, you're such a perfect little thing.”

"What? Oh ah yeah sure,” they pat his back.

[wendeeesaucy]

Prob people have talked about this before but I really like analyzing the little micro expressions and lines from Astarion. Specifically I wanted to talk about the line he has when he tries different lines to flirt with tav/durge.

So I got that scene during the tiefling party after already spending the night with him before. I'm guessing you can get that scene after the party if you're approval wasn't high enough to have been with him already but I'm going with my playthrough.

Personally, I like the flow of it better. Tav/durge has already established a sort of companions (barely friends) with benefits sort of situation with him and having this sort of banter seems to fit well. I think it's also one of those few early moments tav/durge is hinting that they know that he's one for manipulating and embellishing words in their relationship (like in an earlier scene where you could figure out that his smile is too perfect and that you shouldn't believe a word he says).

It's awareness, it's playfulness. Because tav/durge is explaining that they are in on this facade but still stringing themselves along, almost as if they're agreeing with this being an odd relationship of trysts and dalliances in an otherwise perilous adventure that they all have no idea if they'll make it out from.

That's how this flirty, teasing back and forth starts. You can keep up the 'yeah, haha, try harder because I'm not falling for it' options and that only motivates him to throw more ridiculously flowery lines.

Though ironically the one about 'it's as if the gods made you just to ruin me' is pretty accurate because tav/durge essentially ruins him/his plans especially for a spawn Astarion ending. But that's not the one I'm most interested in every time I watch this scene. It's the 'I love you' one.

Now, we are going with the idea that this banter since the beginning was all in good fun. Tav/durge knows what this is leading to, this is just banter to go along with the eventual yes that will surely follow to spend another night with him. While the first few flirting lines starting from 'here's my little treat' were a build up from the next, the last one seems oddly misplaced and a curve ball to me. We go from physical aspects to suddenly jumping to a less tangible and deeper way of expressing interest, love.

It doesn't help that we get this face to go along with it, which already is vastly different to the smirks and smug expressions we got seconds before.

Sure, you could argue that this was his way of throwing tav/durge off so they could stop being smug themselves at finding his flirty words ridiculous because he goes right back to being normal afterwards. But the thing about Astarion is that sometimes a lot of times he's bad at hiding his emotions. He lets words slip without thinking or a micro expression happens for just a split second but it's noticeably there especially on a second or third playthrough.

So to me, when I see this expression, I personally think this is a genuine face and a somewhat genuine answer.

Now you'd think I'm just falling for his manipulations but the reason I can't seem to shake that thought is because in his act 2 scene where he says 'no matter how much I'd like to' when he talks about how difficult it is being with someone and essentially caring about them deeply, we get this same expression.

It's literally the same expression, the same vulnerability except now we have more honesty and context to what it means. Tav/durge by now has learned to read him better and understand when he's being truthful. And not even just his face, his voice going softer in both scenes too!

So when we go back to that flirting lines scene, it really feels out of place and for good reason. I've heard people say it's him testing the waters and I personally think so too! He's gotten tav/durge in this place of teasing 'haha, all in good fun' mood and uses that to his advantage to throw them off by seeing how they'd react to him of all people saying I love you suddenly to them. Would they be disgusted? Tell him, yeah in his dreams? Or would they be shocked, because it sounded too good to be true? That they would like it to be true too?

It might also be his way of just blurting out a thought he's had for some time, especially if you've already spend the night with him before the party and gotten to know him a little better. By then, he's already seen tav/durge help him a few times and successfully done something as the party leader, making him question just who this person is to him. After all, he's had no choice but to acknowledge this person's existence because they are not another target that's bound to disappear like the others he's bedded before.

So when looking further into the scene, he's not only testing tav/durge on their reactions but also himself and how he personally feels about that statement. He probably wants to see how it sounds in reality, not as some random thought to be forgotten. And maybe, just maybe he could see himself believing that to be true.

He might not be in love with tav/durge to the degree that he does in act 2 but I'd argue he was def falling by then if he felt throwing that line into the open was necessary.

And when you end it off with the 'having fun, are you?' line and get him to say 'I am. It's hard not to with you' it really feels like you're getting a tiny bit closer to wedging yourself into his heart.

[winningmymind]

(wholesome twinyard, Andrew brotherly jealous)

Bee can tell that Andrew's upset. He hasn't touched his hot cocoa, even when she added jumbo marshmallows and whipped cream with chocolate syrup drizzle to sweeten his increasingly bitter mood. Whatever happened to him earlier today, concerned Andrew enough to text Bee for an emergency session.

One without Aaron involved. Although it seems Aaron is the cause for Andrew needing to speak to her immediately in private.

"Are you feeling alright, Andrew?" Bee's voice is professional with a hint of sincerity that Andrew respects and is endeared to.

"No."

His arms are crossed and his lips are the closest they've ever been to a pout. Bee thinks this is the most child-like Andrew's looked since she's known him and if Neil were here, they'd both agree that the Foxes goalie appears rather cute at current.

"Why aren't you alright, Andrew?"

It takes ten solid minutes of silence before Bee's given an answer.

"Some guy in the cafeteria called Aaron his brother." Andrew sounds borderline disdainful at the recollection.

Bee's eyebrows shoot up at the tone and her hand scribbles on a blank notepad page.

"Some guy? Do you know his name?"

"Andy Mathers. Senior. Pre-med. Hockey team. Tall. Filthy rich. Fratboy." Andrew curtly rattles off, really showcasing his criminal justice major skills.

"I see you've done your research." Bee curves her lips into a fond smile. She digs a little deeper at the reveal. "This Andy is in a fraternity, you said?"

"Wants Aaron to exclusively join his cult of uppity scholars. Something about med and pre-med students with high GPAs getting connections and resources to help them in fancy pants doctor land. Blah blah blah. Boring."

Andrew's stellar memory can't stop replaying how it all went down in the cafeteria a few short hours ago. The Monsters met up for lunch. Aaron arrived at the table last with this damn Andy (short for Andrew as well, gross) following behind him like a devoted puppy.

Andy kept praising Aaron for passing an infamously difficult exam from an equally vile professor with flying colors and how he's just the man they've been looking for to represent their frat's ethics and image. Started mentioning how if Aaron pledged, he could be the "little brother" to Andy's "big brother", and they'd have this unbreakable forever bond that no one would understand but them. Planned to take Aaron under his wing and care for him just like family.

"Clearly Andy bothers you a great deal," Bee's voice pauses the loop in Andrew's traitorous brain. "Why does Andy potentially forming an academic relationship with Aaron bother you?"

Andrew narrows his eyes. If it weren't Bee he was directly looking at and if Bee wasn't comfortable around him, one would think his visage promised violence.

"Aaron doesn't need anymore brothers. He has me. Just me." Andrew states matter of fact.

"Oh. Hmm. I see."

Bee observes Andrew finally pop a marshmallow into his mouth. By now the hot cocoa's gone lukewarm and the whipped cream looks less glamorous. She runs through some ideas in her head for Andrew to process this situation better. This is a first that Andrew is claiming Aaron as his brother only and no one else's. A far cry from calling Aaron, along with the rest of the Monsters, as his in a possessive manner.

He obviously values the title Aaron has as his brother and identical twin, maybe demands the same in return, and in Bee's opinion Andrew most likely feels insulted that an outsider thinks they can walk in uninvited to forge a cherry picked siblingship.

"Even if it's fraternity brothers? In spirit? That's no good?"

Andrew shakes his head. "Andy and whoever the fuck else doesn't meet the requirements."

"Requirements? Care to explain?"

Andrew lists off his fingers.

"We share the same blood, same pathetic birth giver, and same annoying cousin. If your last name isn't Minyard, it won't ever count. Makes it pointless to be brothers. Bonus that we share the same face too."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"No room for exceptions?"

"None."

"Tell me, Andrew. Have you ever felt jealousy?"

He grows awfully quiet. Which isn't abnormal for him. She can tell he's contemplating.

"I believe you're experiencing that right now."

Andrew slightly tilts his head.

"Explain."

"Well, you called for an emergency session. You expressed that you don't like the idea of Andy gaining Aaron's affection as a frat brother. You made up excuses to reject Andy on Aaron's unknowing behalf."

Bee let's her words settle in before picking back up at Andrew's insistent, "Keep talking."

"At any point when you first saw Aaron and Andy together, did Aaron ever give off signs that he is seriously considering Andy's offer? To become brothers in a sense? Any open body language or words humoring Andy even?"

Andrew doesn't speak for five minutes. Then, he slowly answers, "No. Aaron told him to fuck off."

"Interesting." Bee smiles at the almost pleased and smug tone Andrew has about Aaron's blatant refusal. "So, we are to assume that Aaron could care less about becoming a fratbro, in particular, Andy's pledging little brother."

Andrew leans back in his chair, not up to talking at the moment, only up for listening, and Bee freely gives her perspective.

"You're being irrational, Andrew, and that's due to feeling insecure, which is a normal reaction people have about those they see as loved ones potentially slipping away. Initially, Aaron was the one who reached out to you, chose you, wanted you both to be brothers regardless of circumstances. He easily could've went about his business, knowing your existence, never once trying to get you in his life and you'd be nonethewiser. Instead, he made a deal to keep you by his side, Andrew. It was a choice. His choice. You were wanted. A family member wanted you."

Bee watches Andrew for any minute change of expression before continuing.

"Now, this random Andy Mathers comes into the picture. Offering brotherhood much like Aaron did for you. And Aaron's in your former position all those years ago, having the option to choose Andy back, like how you chose Aaron back. The Minyard twins sticking together through college. Except..."

Andrew waits for Bee to assess him some more.

"This is different than what you and Aaron have. Andy toying with the idea of adopting Aaron into his fold. They share a common goal to become doctors, and that means they could have more similar interests, the kind that binds people together perhaps closer than those they share blood with. Am I striking a nerve?"

"Several." Andrew's blunt about it.

She can always put his conflicted thoughts and sentiments into words he can't say. Bee sets aside her notepad.

"All you need to do is remember that no matter what, you and Aaron will always be brothers. No one can take that from you two. Here, Andrew. I have some exercises for you to do that'll reinforce how Aaron won't replace you with Andy Mathers, or that Andy Mathers won't take Aaron from you."

And so, much to his chagrin, Andrew obliges Bee if it means he can stay in control of his emotions.

-----

Aaron finds it very weird that Andrew is more present in his life than usual. He thought joint therapy with Bee, mandatory Exy practice with the Foxes, and the weekly trip to Columbia would be it for them as far as acknowledging the other exists. Now, whenever Aaron’s done with his last class of the day, Andrew’s there waiting across the lecture hall or lab doorway leaning on the wall, and they'll walk to the dorms together.

It takes Aaron by surprise every single time. Mostly because of Andrew's clear, direct commands the moment he's aware Aaron notices him from the throng of rushing pre-med students.

“Hang out with me.” Words Aaron least expected to hear from his twin.

Feels like Aaron's being hunted, how well Andrew can catch him off guard with unforced honesty that Aaron didn't have to pull teeth to get. In his own Andrew way, Aaron supposes, his twin is specifically seeking his attention and it freaks him out so much he internally copes by viewing Andrew as a science experiment, thinking it'll ease the new tension developing between them.

“Video game.” Andrew would say after ambushing Aaron yet again at the end of the day and Aaron quickly deciphered the non-descriptive meanings in due time.

When Andrew simply says “video game” it means he and Aaron are to solve a horror puzzle game all night until completion. Sleep be damned and junk food their only nutrition. Nicky is not to participate, it must solely be a twin activity.

When Andrew says “nap” it means he is ordering a fatigued Aaron to take a break from studying and come nap with him. Basically letting the other Monsters know that the Minyard twins have commandeered the bean bags and that they will be murdered gruesomely if their nap time is disturbed.

When Andrew says “ice cream” it means Aaron is driven off campus to the recently opened ice cream shop where they eat so much they get sick and it's only them enjoying the array of flavors. They deem it worth the hassle, sharing petty amusement at Nicky whining about the rise of blatant favoritism within their circle while Kevin scolds the twins’ poor diet, and Neil is hilariously stressed at Aaron lording over knowing a secret place that Andrew refuses to take his junkie to.

A few weeks later of this routine, Aaron dares to assume that he and Andrew are… bonding? Getting closer? They're something, alright.

“Back from Twin Time already?” Neil and Nicky have evilly coined Andrew and Aaron's hanging out. If they weren't invited, then they'd be bitchy about it.

“Shut up!” Aaron stomps off, hurrying to his dorm room, avoiding Neil and Nicky's teasing.

Andrew doesn't seem bothered by it, even getting in on the joke by texting or telling Aaron “twin time” so he knows to drop everything and look at his twin's face. Like a bat signal summoning Aaron.

Aaron gets more confused by the day, though he can't say he's not pleased at their improving relationship.

Then Andy shows up again begging that Aaron re-considers about pledging the frat.

“It'll be worthwhile! I promise you that.” Andy has no idea he's on a landmine.

The cousins, Kevin, and Neil are on their way to Columbia when Andy approaches them in the parking lot.

“No means no.” Aaron rolls his eyes.

Kevin and Neil keep walking to the car. Nicky and Andrew come to a stop, sizing Andy up. Since Aaron first brought him around, Nicky has let all the Foxes know of his lust towards Andy and how it's a shame Aaron doesn't swing.

“I wouldn't mind being in a house full of men!” Nicky proposes with a flirty smile.

“Hello to you, too, Nicky.” Andy nods politely.

Andrew takes a step closer to be side by side with Aaron. He darkens his eyes, coldly gazing.

“Aren't frats known to drug people and be shady? They get away with more crime, too, right?” Andrew tilts his head at Andy, enjoying making the older man squirm at the scrutiny.

Aaron scoffs. Pot calling kettle black. The Monsters have the same reputation, it's just among the Foxes gossip.

“If you're worried about Aaron's safety, don't. I'm a pretty big deal. I'll protect him.” Andy tries to schmooze, putting on a charming smile that'd woo donors and win parents over, hoping Nicky and Andrew are the same saps and can convince Aaron to change his mind.

Andrew subtly does some breathing techniques, part of the exercises Bee taught him, because he has the urge to reach for his knife and carve Andy like a pumpkin.

“Aaron doesn't need you to protect him.”

And Andrew really wants to claim that he is Aaron's protector. That he's kept Aaron alive even from his own self-destruction. That only he is his brother's keeper. But Bee would call that regression so instead Andrew claws his way to maturity despite making his skin crawl.

“Aaron can protect himself just fine. He doesn't need anyone like you watching his back.”

Probably the first genuine compliment Andrew says aloud about Aaron's capabilities. Nicky is shocked, a bit teary eyed and sentimental and honored to be a witness to this. Aaron's eyes widen and his jaw drops, looking at Andrew like he grew a second head.

Andy awkwardly clears his throat being on the receiving end of Andrew's mild aggression.

“Y-Yes, Aaron is popular among the biochem department for his resilience.” Andy barges on. “Did you know he has a fan club?”

“He does?!” Nicky squeals.

“I do?” Aaron can't keep having whiplash or he'll hurt his neck.

“They do?!” Nicky snaps his head to Andrew along with Aaron.

“Of course I know.”

Andrew always knows what type of people Aaron attracts, murder case or not. His twin's useless at recognizing that people admire him from afar (having Andrew in proximity fuels the distance also).

“We look alike. Sometimes his fan club mistakes me for him.”

Andrew looks bored. “Yeah. They're not that smart for future doctors. Thinking I'm Aaron and confessing their undying love or whatever. I'm constantly reminding them that the only pre-med I tolerate dating Aaron is the cheerleader. Anyone else can go six feet under.”

“You threatened my classmates?” Aaron can't believe this, smacking a hand to his forehead.

“The real question is why are your classmates wannabe homewreckers? Aren't you in a supposedly happy relationship? Unless you and the cheerleader are finally breaking up.” Andrew is unapologetic as ever.

Andy watches the back and forth. He dons a strange expression. Aaron comes to realize later that Andy looked resigned.

“Well, I'm here if you decide frat life is for you Aaron. Just figured since you go clubbing religiously, you'd like to host the parties of the year too. I'll let you get back to your family. See you in class.”

Andrew feels accomplished observing Andy getting the hell away from them. Nicky's saddened that he's lost another pretty face to gawk at. They resume walking to the car. Nicky merrily climbs in, but Andrew halts Aaron, leaning in to whisper in his twin's ear.

“You really wanna be Andy's little brother? He can get you a lot farther with his support?”

Aaron is startled for a third time tonight and his brain clicks it together when he glances at Andrew's face.

Oh. So it's like that then. Aaron's science experiment of a clone has revealed stunning test results.

“You're already a pain in the ass, Andrew. Why the fuck would I want more brothers? One is enough.”

Andrew relaxes a bit knowing what Aaron means instantly. Man, he simultaneously loves and hates when Bee's right on the money.

Nicky, Kevin, and Neil (all nosy) peer out from the cracked car window.

“Thank fuck we're only children.”

[sacredsorceress]

Omg the headcanons were so good PLEASE write reader going to therapy with bob if you can ☹️🙏

☆.°*Therapy / Bob Reynolds*°.☆

pairing: bob reynolds x f!reader a/n: just a little blurb! I hope this is okay <3 word count: 526 warnings: not much besides therapy.

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・bob masterlist・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

As you sat in the therapist's office- white sofa, white carpet, white walls that nearly burnt a hole in your corneas from the lack of color- you found yourself understanding why Bob had such a difficult time opening up. Had it not been for the plush rug cushioning the floor, you were sure you would have been able to hear a pin drop.

The scribble of the doctor's pencil against paper echoed in your ears, only shadowed by the rustling of Bob's sweater as he wrung his hand's beside you.

The doctor cleared her throat.

"So Bob," The therapist said, crossing her legs. "Would you like to tell me who you brought with you here today?"

Your boyfriend glanced from the therapist to you. As you caught his gaze, you shot him a small smile.

"My girlfriend."

As if hearing the word out loud made him realize that you were really there beside him, supporting him through it all, Bob physically relaxed into the couch. He wasn't alone.

You reached across the sofa for Bob's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"And why did you ask her to come today?" The doctor asked, peeking over the reading glasses perched on the bridge of her nose.

"I uh... I don't... like... talking about stuff." Bob said, scratching at his pant legs, the sound of his nails against cotton soothing his nerves. "It makes me upset. And I'm scared that when I- if I get upset that... he'll come out."

The doctor nodded.

"Yes, I know. But, that doesn't answer my question, Bob." She said. "Why did you ask her to come today?"

Bob looked at you, fully breathing you in. Even in a room as sterile as the one you sat in now, it was like you brought color to his life. The void- the all consuming darkness, sadness and pity that came with it- was almost.. drowned out by your mere existence. You were like a splotch of paint on the canvas of his soul that no matter how hard the Void tried- he could never quite get out.

But Bob could never manage to so eloquently spit that out, so instead he said:

"I'm not as scared with her here."

And it's true. He wasn't. He wasn't scared of his therapist's opinion of him. He wasn't afraid to talk about his past. He wasn't afraid that the bleak voice inside his mind would crawl its way to the surface once more.

Bob had you. His rock, his buoy, his shield and sword: his girlfriend who he was never quite sure he deserved, but as you assured him, he was stuck with nonetheless.

Your boyfriend gripped your hand and smiled softly.

Bob turned his attention back to the doctor.

"A-and she remembers things that I don't." He added. "Like the uh.. the day when he came out. She knows me better than me.. I guess."

A barely audible "Oh, Bob." escaped your lips at his confession.

The doctor, satisfied with his answer, scribbled furiously in her notebook. When she looked up from the pages, she smiled.

"Alright then," she said. "Let's begin."

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・inbox・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

[acidbreak]

on the case of "it'd be a cold day in hell before I'd fall in love with either one of you."

( Translations differ, unofficial source for photo. Same premise of, I would never love either one of you. ) This line, in the context of the chapter, comes completely out of the blue. It's said by Shoko, the chapter before Gojo is released, the first thing we read Shoko say this chapter. I myself felt this HAD to be a mistranslation, because it came so out of left field for me that Shoko was suddenly talking about loving Gojo and Geto. Some i've seen claim she's talking about platonic love here, but I find that very hard to believe when in the next panel she is claiming that she was there for him, and is with the group of monsters waiting his return.

The next page gives context to why she would be thinking this- she can't even start to understand how Gojo felt alone. Not when she has been there the whole time for him, not when he has students all around waiting for his return. Here we can see what in reality she lacked over romantic love, a deeper understanding of Gojo. She could not understand the loneliness of being strong like Geto could. ( Though, I hate when people say this is the only difference. Sukuna too understood that lonely feeling, that didn't mean he could satisfy Gojo. )

Put simply, she was trying to figure out what she was lacking to make Gojo feel alone. And her answer seems to be that she lacked the love that Gojo ( And perhaps even Geto ) needed to be able to feel not alone in this world. How right or wrong she is doesn't exactly matter, but we know how important Geto is to Gojo. We know that what everyone else lacked for Gojo, Geto had. Perhaps outside of the ability to understand each other when it mattered. ( I honestly doubt that Shoko even realizes that Gojo doesn't see her as much more then an acquaintance. The relationship between these two is rather sad, with little communication outside of probably work. I think this is just because Gojo's only understanding of friend is Geto and their relationship alone. ) But, why is that brought up now, exactly? In the context of the chapter, on the edge of our seats for the return of Gojo- isn't it a little odd to be thinking on something like "I could have never loved you", to someone she clearly cares about?? I would think it is, if not for the fact that it's setting up for the next chapter and some vibes about Gojo& Geto's relationship.

The next chapter sets up the idea that Gojo's state after the unsealing is possibly unstable, they set up for a whole big thing. It's a little anticlimatic, IMO, when it turns out that Gojo just...teleports away?

That's what I thought at first, anyways, until I realized that Gojo had the full intentions of killing Kenjaku as soon as possible all for the possibility of mourning his body...Again. You'd assume he's past that phase, but you know, we all handle grief differently, whatever. But in the context of the past two chapters, the idea of Satoru's loneliness that could only be cured by love, not platonic love, he seeks out the body of his best friend, just to mourn him all over again...

That's not all either. As it turns out..If Gojo can't have the body right now, he'll want it on December 24th. A notoriously romantic holiday, to the point that even Kenjaku points it out as gross.

And before I hear "Kenjaku is just trying to get on Gojo's nerves!" ...Yes, obviously. The guy with all of Geto's memories, who we know has seen enough with how he had all his faith in just saying "Hi Satoru" would be able to trap Gojo. I really do doubt that Kenjaku was just randomly making insults. Especially when you consider the fact that Geto is the one who originally made these plans on December 24th. Kenjaku would not only have all the memories of Geto and Gojo's time together, but also would know the exact mindset that Geto had when planning this on Christmas Eve. I have a hard time believing this guy who has all the access to everything he could to make a cutting jab at Gojo would just pick this barely an insult "Isn't that gross cuz it's romantic?" And the other defense I often hear comes from Gojo himself.

And like...Yeah. Sure. This works as an excuse. But it's not exactly like Gojo cared up until the moment that he knew he couldn't have the body then and there. Who would this second death anniversary even matter to?

Of course Gojo doesn't give a genuine defense to Kenjaku, why would he? Giving a genuine response to something that simply leaches off of every genuine emotion you give him is a poor idea. I still kind of think that Shoko just thinking about this was kind of weird in the moment, even if it kind of led into the next chapter being about Gojo the Romantic when he's Emotional

[butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway]

I know that people are rarely their best selves at a funeral, but do you ever just watch your family move through the process of mourning the Patriarch and have a sudden and violent and vivid understanding of Why Everyone Is The Way They Are

[sergle]

wheomstever fumbled Queen Titania of the Fairy Realm reincarnated lfg herself (you) is a DUNCE, a tawdry tacky little FOOL and plain old IDIOT. You are talented, caring, intelligent, hilarious... I'd be STUMBLING over myself tom and jerry style to impress you. You deserve to be with someone who has the BALLS to speak clearly to you about your relationship, who can be honest about what they want, need, feel. How they want to be with you. Etc. You deserve at least 20 beaufriends, no... 30. MINIMUM! MAYBE MORE! B ut the bottom line is this absolute WEENIE of an individual sounds like a total cunt and isn't worth losing your life over. They're a loser. Your life is priceless, and not worth losing over someone who can't even fucking break up with you to your face. They! Are! Not! Worth it! Or worthy of you! And it would be a travesty if you let their BOO BOO CLOWN SHOES treatment convince you to give up all the magic that you are for someone who probably can't order chicken nuggets without having a panic attack because that's the vibes they're giving sorry i don't make the rules

what's difficult about my ex is like... I've seen people joking "the receptionist at heaven looking at the guy you killed yourself for and laughing" and stuff like that, that's not how this is. if I showed people a picture of the person who broke my heart, they'd go "damn. I'm sorry." like. they are hot. they are liked. people have always liked them, people like them now, people will like them after this. They will, almost definitely, have an extremely happy and successful life without me. They get hit on like 40 times a week, so they won't have trouble getting another partner after me, they have probably been dating or lining up future suitors LONGG before officially finishing the dumping process with me. I'm the loser in this situation, not them. I'm the person who was lacking.

[angeart]

Howwwww did you angst the world tour?? 🎀

this question made me giggle so much oh i'm glad you asked :3c there was so much yummy grian angst in the hc world tour!

it's all about grian and his penchant for destruction. he doesn't even mean to! he's not trying to be pesky; quite the opposite. he's curious but restrained, trying to be good, trying to follow instructions. he's not malicious at all! he's just there to see what people were up to, open and friendly and curious, eager to look and learn and praise. not a bad intention in sight... and yet things seem to break wherever he goes. everything he touches goes wrong.

the guilt churns, acidic and overwhelming, and grian's miserable. why is he like this? he's trying so hard, why is this the only way he can ever be? why can't it stop?

spoilers for grian's world tour video below <3

plantie pointed out to me how, during the tour of scar's train, when grian got rid of scar's arrows—the glitched ones that doc put there—he was so desperate to point it out after scar just glossed over it. as if he wanted to show that he can do something good. he can be helpful, he can fix things instead of just breaking everything.

but then we have all the other things, right? grian can't escape it.

when he was with etho and the mushroom farm exploded, he sums it up in a wretched if confused apology: "i'm so sorry. the two times i tried to use it, i broke it :( and created a water source floating— which i don't know how it happened— and flung the TNT, which i really don't understand—"

they move on, but it's so clear it lingers.

etho isn't blaming him. he's amused and brushes it off and moves along, unbothered, but grian himself can't wrap his head around it. about that propensity to breaking things, even unintentionally. the way nothing is safe around him.

he tells etho: "i can't stop thinking about your mushroom farm. why does everything i touch break, in new and unexpected ways?"

(not to mention when etho's showing him frogger and grian plays, almost instantly etho goes: "uh-oh, the game's broken", with a little huff of laugh. it wasn't exactly tied to anything grian did, but still something i wanted to point out, since grian was there for it <3)

and then grian goes to zedaph, right?

the very first game zedaph shows him. the very first. grian plays the way he was told to, the way he was meant to, and— he breaks it.

zedaph just laughs and moves them on.

(just sprinkling in a side note that zedaph's furnace minigame also didn't seem to work the way it should've—)

by the time grian gets to pearl's, it's starting to be a pattern that's so clearly eating away at him, making him anxious. he doesn't want it to happen again!

and yet.

pearl invites him to play her wordle game, and grian mindlessly goes and pushes the wrong button trying to start it... instantly stepping away with a quiet groan of a dread-filled "...oh-" followed by: "i just— ruined it already."

there's something about the mood switch. the way he seems more restrained and tame, silently upset with himself, trying so hard not to mess things up further. questioning why this is happening again. why he can't stop making it happen.

he walks over to the reset game button and asks, carefully: "can i press reset? is it gonna hurt? 🥺👉👈"

pearl reassures him he can, with a sigh noting that it'll just take a while.

there's an almost hysteric laugh from grian, followed by an exasperated, upset scream. "everything i touch breaks! when i went to e— i broke etho's thing when i went to— not frogger, his— his mushroom farm i— it blew up."

"you blew up his mushroom farm?? how? what did you do?!"

"yeah, i— i broke zed's game, instantly, pretty much, it's—"

"oh my gosh :("

"sorry 🥺"

pearl is quick to reassure him, though. "well, luckily for you, this is— you doing that (pushing the wrong button) does not break the game. it's just, you now have to wait for it to reset."

she makes sure grian knows that he didn't mess up anything terribly here. he didn't break pearl's game. it's okay! it's fine!

and then grian right clicks to open the book, and instead makes bonemeal pop out of a composter.

i think at this point pearl is a little bit taken aback by how wrong everything really seems to be going around grian. she makes sure to say, "it's fine," again, just so grian won't start worrying about it all again. "you're clicking on everything that people do not usually click on today. but it's okay. it's still not broken! it's not broken, it's alright, it's okay— i've got failsaves for people like you."

it's so sweet how she really tries to soothe him— and yet she can't help but let out that last remark.

people like you.

those few words surely lodge in more than all the reassurances. they're like splinter, proving grian right.

eventually, he gets to skizz.

during the tour of skizz's base, skizz shows him a horse statue and starts talking about how he lost his first horse at an event that grian was also a part of. and grian's stomach instantly sinks.

he asks hushedly, a bit confused, trying to remember: "was i there?"

skizz laughs. "you were absolutely there, dude."

which leads grian to ask, uneasily: "did i do it?"

skizz waves his hands, quick to easily reassure that no! that's not it, grian didn't do it!

grian lets out an oh with such palpable relief, and goes on to explain about how, "i remember witnessing it, but sometimes it's hard to disentangle whether i did it or not. coz i tell you what, on this tour i've broken everyone's stuff."

nobody was upset with grian when things broke, but here he is, several hermits down, still unable to leave it to rest. because it's him. it's him who did all of that, somehow, and he didn't mean to, but it doesn't matter. it happened anyway.

and now he can't even tell what is and what isn't his fault anymore.

the guilt is deep rooted, leaving anxious assumptions and dark, jagged precipices. how much did he destroy? what else should he be feeling guilty about? how far does this go?

he keeps breaking things, and it's such a blur that he can no longer tell what is and what isn't his fault.

the tour continues, and he delves into skizz's pyramid. and it's just— it's just a tunnel to swim through. nothing to mess up, besides potentially dying to suffocation, right?

and yet you can hear skizz shrilly exclaim: "oh he's going to end up breaking something!!"

and, (plantie's words: ) grian hearing that and just wondering, is that all i'm good for? is that all i'm known for? is that all i am?

there's no room for doubt; not really. that is what grian does, all the time, whether he wants to or not. he breaks stuff. he just— he doesn't mean to. and this tour is one big show of how powerless he is against it. (how everyone expects it from him anyway.)

despite it all, grian perseveres, trying out skizz's game, stubbornly dedicated and trying to win. (to pass; to have something to be proud of, at least—) and he gets to the powdered snow section.

there, he jumps across to a pathway that he was meant to circle to through the snow instead.

it's not breaking anything, not really. not even the rules. it's not cheating! he's just— he just did something skizz did not expect, but that was entirely possible within the game's design, even if not intended. he exploited it to his advantage; a risky, tricky shortcut.

and yet skizz remarks with a laugh: "this is what grian does! he breaks games!"

no matter what grian does... is that all he'll ever be?

is that all they'll see?

he fails getting through skizz's game, is thanked for play-testing, praises it all, they talk it all away, and...

and then grian goes to tour mumbo's base.

and fails to even die properly to his llama—

and then mumbo shows him his archive machine, and instantly panicks when grian gets curious about it, begging him not to touch anything. and grian says: "your stomach just fell through didn't it?" and after mumbo's immediate agreement, he adds: "and rightfully so. coz, almost everything i've touched on this tour has broken."

there's not a sliver of surprise to mumbo's anxious rushed: "yeah, yeah yeah! please stop now." because, of course things have broken. of course what grian touches is bound to go wrong. of course—

and then mumbo very carefully tells grian what to do with the machine.

grian does as he's told.

mumbo looks up and pauses, a frown crossing his face as he takes it in. he notes that grian probably did it too fast—

(something went wrong)

(something broke)

mumbo says: "i can't believe you come along and every single thing in my base starts [going wrong/breaking/malfunctioning]"

and then grian mysteriously ends up with an extra book from mumbo's machine, much to mumbo's dismay. grian's confused, cogs spinning as he tries to figure out what did he mess up this time to result in this.

it's clear mumbo wants grian away from his machine. it's not safe. (grian isn't safe.)

"maybe just give that to me and maybe just step away from the contraption. and then— maybe just leave me to—"

grian's upset and bewildered voice cuts in: "i didn't do anything wrong this time :(("

he's trying so hard.

he's trying so hard to be good and do things right and not mess anything up.

(it isn't working.)

(it's never bound to work, is it?)

mumbo ushers him away, and ends up showing him another cool invention—an elevator. except the second mumbo hits the button, a creeper shows up and explodes it. (it's midday.) (it wasn't even meant to be there.)

this one isn't grian's fault at all, but with everything that's happened— well, it's easy enough to link it to grian's presence. like a bad luck omen.

apprehensively, grian asks if the elevator broke, and mumbo—a bit bewildered by the reality of it—says that no, it seems to still work. "amazingly," he tacks on, disbelieving.

grian's relieved. "ohh, i thought we were in big trouble there!"

besides himself, mumbo anxiously agrees: "augh. i was like, if every single creation that i show breaks in some fashion, i'm just gonna quit."

because this isn't normal. none of this is, least of all everything at once. it simply doesn't happen.

(not when grian isn't there, anyway.)

mumbo notes that he needs to work on his lighting, and grian nods wisely saying it's a perpetual issue, but the anxiety is digging its talons in now, unrelenting. (what else is going to go bad in grian's presence? what else will he mess up? what else will he break? why is he like this?)

another remark that comes after this is mumbo's nervous: "i've actually just built up the automatic sorter which does this—which you're not gonna touch. we're banned from touching any redstone contraptions!"

and what can grian do but oblige? (but he can at least look, right?)

but does it ever change anything?

does it matter?

-

at the end of the day, the others don't think too much about it.

they all say their part, pass their judgment, wave their hands, dismiss, move on. it doesn't keep them up at night.

... i think it might keep grian up at night.

a cacophonous collection of word snippets, aimed at him or woven around him, digging under his skin until it bleeds. a noose of inescapable fate, a tightening band around his chest that promises he can only ever be one thing:

a vessel for destruction.

it doesn't matter if he wants to be.

shackles and chains and a cosmic inevitability written into his skin, etched into his bones, tangled into his bloodstream. and an ever-rising guilt like stormy sea, far above his head now, drowning him.

(maybe he's not meant to be near other people and their things.)

(maybe he's not meant to touch games that were constructed with so much effort and love and passion poured into them.)

(maybe he shouldn't—)

==========

bonus screenshots from discord DMs (with extra sprinkles of hmtb mentions):

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bonus hmtb quotes because i kept thinking about it:

He always destroys the things he loves most, after all.

and:

He destroyed everything he touched, and when there was nothing left, he destroyed the only remaining thing: himself.

-

[lloydfrontera]

javier realizing how much he cares for lloyd, how deep his loyalty to him runs, how ready he's to lie down his life for him, not because he's the son of his lord, not even really knowing exactly why he feels like that but just being absolutely certain that lloyd is his friend and he can't allow anything to harm him

And yet, why am I trying so hard to protect him? He had no way of knowing. But one thing was clear. It was a very simple matter. I want to protect him. Lloyd is my true master in my heart. Lloyd was his friend. And now, Javier wanted to protect Lloyd. He would sincerely protect him with everything he had.

he doesn't even know why!! he just knows that lloyd is his friend and his true master in his heart and that's!! more than enough for him to decide he's willing to put his life and everything he has in the line to protect him!! i'm just!!

[skyward-floored]

📚

Twilight princess, Link is a disaster after Midna leaves, but he can't feel anything. It's been months, but he hasn't cried, he's barely emoted at all, he just... feels numb. He keeps busy helping the Resistance, but he's still just numb about everything, and going through the motions. But when they find some weird ruins, he perks up a little, because they seem like they could be influenced by Twili, and despite hesitancy from Shad, Link goes right in.

And next thing he knows he's waking up as a wolf and staring at a kid in raggedy clothes who looks just as confused as he feels.

He's been time-traveled to botw.

The story goes along, Link gets to trusting this kid, and the kid him. Link figures out what's going on, he realizes this kid is a hero like him, he helps him hunt for food and fight monsters, he nuzzles him when he gets a memory and comes out shaking, curls around him when he cries because he can't remember, feels less and less numb as this adventure goes on. He realizes at some point he could turn into a hylian if he wanted, but at this point it's... easier, to stay as a wolf. For both of them. This kid is like his brother now, and he doesn't want to break his trust.

Until one day when the Other Link does something stupid, fights something he shouldn't have, gets hit by a guardian, I don't exactly know. But the point is he's hurt, and badly, and by the time Link deals with the danger and gets to him he's actively dying. Link freaks out (he's come close before like this yes, but he's out of healing items, they were about to stock up--), he's about to lose somebody close to him, he's about to leave him, and he can't do anything about it again, and he turns from a wolf to a hylian because he can't do anything else.

Other Link is understandably shocked by this, but then he smiles and his last words are literally something like "somehow I knew you weren't just a wolf".

Other Link stops breathing, and Link just stares at him,not willing to process this, not willing to even entertain what this means. But then he starts glowing, and Link stares at him because he doesn't realize what Mipha's Grace does. Other Link hasn't had to use it yet.

It activates, and Link is staring in shock, and then Other Link opens his eyes and sits up, and probably says something stupid like "why are you looking at me like that"

And the dam finally bursts, and Link is crying, all of the stupid emotions he'd been plugging up and unable to acknowledge all come out right then and Other Link sort of just pats him on the back with not much clue what's going on, but the hugging is nice since dying is kind of traumatic actually.

... and that's all I had XD

[countdown-to-love]

i've been semi-inactive on tumblr and i come back to the best url ever ,, please forgive me but what was your previous one again? /gen 😭

hey anon!! i used to be @/hwang-intak (and then @/hwang-intak-archive while i was inactive^^)

[discjude]

I think I should focus more on the link between Rafal and Japeth in TCY because I was typing out a joke post that went something along the lines of "TCY is so funny because the whole division between the two Pens comes down to "omnipotent omniscient harbinger of fate" vs "some snake guy" under the assumption that the scim that was Lionsmane was just one of Japeth's, but I realised I didn't have a source for that so checked flesh and blood again and what do you know Lionsmane is apparently "made out of my father (Rafal's) spirit.". I was aware of the reference to 'Rafal's spirit' mostly because it's a concept never mentioned by name again in the series but somehow never noticed that Lionsmane WAS just. Rafal. which has horrible consequences for the Japeth Lore

Basically. It seems very important to me that the "Storian VS Lionsmane" duo can be boiled down to "Fate VS Japeth", given that a lot of Japeth's motivation comes from his desire to be able to control fate, stating in Flesh And Blood "soon I'll be fate's master, with the power to take love back (where he's talking about Aric)." . Saying that he IS Lionsmane ties into that nicely, given that he'll write his own fate with the pen that Is Him. This also fits into the "Past is Present" prophecy, given the last line of "Until you change it", being exactly what Japeth aims to do.

However, Japeth does not 'change it', because he's not the one writing his fate, because He's Not Lionsmane. RAFAL is. The fate that Japeth thinks he's creating for himself isn't the one he wants, but is Rafal's fate instead... which is exactly what ends up happening to him, given the second fratricide incident. This also works with Past is Present, because Past IS Present, given it's the same fate. Which also works as a lovely little reminder that Japeth has absolutely no control over his fate in the slightest, reflected by a few other pieces of book 6 information: Rafal's message to him (that happens before book 4) instructs him to remain loyal to his brother, and to always put his brother first. He doesn't win a single one of Arthur's Trials. It is literally stated by Rafal in a flashback that it was LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE for japeth to end up being One True King. what I am Trying To Say is that there was absolutely no way in hell Japeth could ever have "changed it", ever. Anyway because of all of this I firmly believe that Soman should've put at least a couple of vague references to the TCY twins in the prequels given that Japeth and Rafal might have the most interesting link between them in my opinion

[tera-starstorm]

wonder if FV volo regrets that he has long since severed any chance to have a positive connection with yasuta but knows he deserves to have it be that way

[light-wrath-paradise]

I love characters who are manipulative in one way or another but rarely or never lie.

Especially scrumptious when there IS a clear reason for them choosing this tactic.

In other words shout out to Solas Dragon Age and Henry Miller DSAF specifically. Trying to think of more hoes like that but the thing is that I mostly remember the ones I've analysed.

Or like I can think of two more characters but for them I believe it's just circumstantial? Like one of them seems to simply...not consider lying and he doesn't need to because 90 % of the time he frames what he's saying as a hypothetical. And now that I think about it he does lie sometimes. I think he just genuinely doesn't consider it as his go-to tactic, I don't think he avoids it on purpose. And the other guy lies like...twice and also doesn't seem directly opposed to it, it's just that most of the time it was enough for him not to tell the whole truth. And that's easier than making up a lie. I don't think he has a special reason either.

But yeah anyway shout out to characters who avoid lying on purpose. Show me more of these hoes immediately.

[girltomboy]

My bf was acting sus abt Tr^mp's election and he kept telling me about some bullshit conservative content ("youtube shorts") that just "appeared on his feed" and I asked him why he keeps watching shit like that and what he understands from them. Like in what way do they speak to him, what itch in his brain and soul do they scratch? And of course he couldn't give me any straightforward and clear answer other than "it's funny, it's entertaining". So he was like trying to tell me that Tr^mp is funny and El0n M^sk is "a cool guy"??? And I was like in what way do you benefit from the actions and success of these men, like what can you tell me about them that isn't regurgitated conservative propaganda? And he asked ME to tell him why he shouldn't "like" them. While I was in the grocery store. So I was like well YOU look it up and form your own opinion. Look up information about their lives, their past, etc. and think thoughts on your own based on your principles and priorities. Why is it that you can only form thoughts through second hand propaganda, someone whispering in your ear at all times. This is the same guy who had to ask his dad who to vote for in the EU elections. And will probably do the same for the presidentials 🤡 so ok this conversation remained in the air for now because he stopped replying (he was on the train) and I continued my shopping. But wow how sobering it is to realize the person I've been dating for 5 years might be a closeted right wing freako and I didn't even know because every time we had a remotely politics related discussion nothing concerning sprung to my attention. Like everything he said sounded rational. Idk why I accept some of the things that I do about him. Like his lack of interest in books or politics, things that matter to me. I just didn't care that much bc I don't really discuss the topic of "books" with other people. Even other readers. Nobody I've met so far seemed interested in talking about books even if they claimed to love books & reading. My theory is that a lot of people are posers. Anyway. I've been really overlooking a lot of important things. And I might stop cause he's ruining my vibe and my aura. Like I can't go on dating someone with whom I'm so incompatible.