#it is such an awful choice to make but we made it

[nerdcrawfish]

Jumping off Shibara. (Also in writing this I'm going to be hounding women in the first part SOLELY because I'm writing from the predominate western society/US idea that there are two genders and that anything not man equals women. Which I don't agree with at all. I'm analyzing them, not condoning them.)

No, you can clearly tell with things like the "new" trilogy of Star Wars or Supernatural that this phenomenon is a thing with some male writers. The idea of non-males being in "nerdy" areas is uncomfortable for them because of numerous reasons. One, it stops just being "their" thing. Female fans especially are seen as lesser/"fans of poor quality materials". AND then the classic: "I don't know how to see women/non-men as equal human beings because I (imparted by society) have this idealized idea of women and them being in my nerdy stuff does NOT align with my mental schemata at all!" Ever played MTG as a non-male at a card shop? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about.

In general, there is discomfort at so many levels from not matching in schemata, to what defines women, to the idea that we're intruding in "their space", the idea of "biology", to even the idea that they have to act, write, and do things different because a women is around.

There's a shitton of baggage in society about women and non-males in nerdy spaces. It's waaayyy better now, but it still happens A LOT. It still is prevalent and it WILL be getting worse now that Diet Sunkist is in back in office and all the waves of social conservatism is going to be re-surging JUST like you got locked in an overflowing porta-potty and some asshole just ran into it with their double wide Texas Made Ford truck.

(Oh and I can and happily talk about the overlap of neo-nazism and online queer spaces and this need for conservatism and how that keeps translating over to over policing and fandom hate of queer stories in a moment). And yes a lot of authors hate our existence in "their" spaces just as much as their nerdy fanboys do.

Furman will ALWAYS be the classic example because he constantly refuses to allow the idea of female transformers. This is because he sees war fighting robots as only male. This harks back to the fact that the conversation of whether women can fight has it's root so far back in history, especially white history, because women are seen only as a resource to be kept and protected. (Hence the overturning of Roe V Wade and that awful man's "You don't have a choice!" video) And even if he keeps saying he sees them as nonbinary he is using male oriented schemata in his writing--he's using hegemonic markers of masculinity in his writing and the making of his Transformer Characters. He writes them so overwhelmingly male that you and I know--based on so many context clues and tells--that Optimus Prime is male. I very much doubt Furman does see them as non-binary (especially because I doubt he has any actual understanding of what that would even mean) and is instead trying to stay above fandom ire.

So Furman--overwhelmingly yes. He hates women being in his nerdy robot stuff. He loves our money and attention but just like Picasso, we're nothing more than some pretty fancy furniture that is pretty one moment and beyond infuriating the next with our "needs" and "equality".

BUT you're going to look me in the fucking eye and tell me ROBERTS is the same as Furman? HA.

No, MTMTE/LL is a fucking LOVE LETTER to the transformers community. He pointed at us--ALL OF US--and said: "This one goes out for my homies!"

But just like we talked about entitlement of authors? Oh there is a definite entitlement when it comes to fans, too. It was pungent as HELL when MTMTE/LL was running and it was why I always stayed off of social media and had so many people blocked. Like Shibara says: just because they wrote something that you don't like doesn't mean it's bad writing. IT ALSO doesn't mean it's an attack on you.

AND I will say that censorship/Neo-nazisim is RANK in this ideology. It festers uncontrollably in this shit swamp of a psychological lens. The ideology that someone is bad/attacking you because of what they write/create is based on two things: you belief in your superiority AND that it means that you thus get to dictate others around you. This ideology, however, gives little young knuckleheads the idea that they're the good guys and that there are bad guys that need to be hurt based on shit like a book. This is why censorship has, and always will (pick up any fucking history book please), lead to people dying.

It also has permeated its way into queer spaces online. It's a fucking fact. Look at the rates of young Polish voters--who in the same breath support queer rights but at the same time believe anyone who isn't "the right type of polish" (white) needs to be removed from the country. The day that Republicans realize if they accept queer rights that they will be able to win all the races and reinstall Jim Crow laws to the fucking max in the US is one I dread immensely. You can try to argue with me, sure, but it's one I've been tracking as a child and is why we are seeing so much support for nativist/neo-nazi groups across the Western Globe. Like, do we not recall the party gymnastics France had to do a little bit ago to avoid the hella RACIST National Party from getting so much leverage? Anyways, I digress.

Roberts wrote a piece of work that acknowledged the fact (like most of the IDW 2005 run did) that we are adults. Not like the stuff Hasbro always like to run--which is just some moving forms to elicit mediocre bonding in the wish to sell cheap pieces of plastic to little kids (which hey man, you do you). (Okayy, so I'm thinking more of the general we have to keep rebooting our lines every other week and that when it starts getting serious/the writers are flourishing, oh surprise! we're getting cut short!)

No, we're talking more like the TF Marvel Comics (oh yeah baby) especially the UK side of the house--this media was always for the more mature sets of the demographic/fans. More of your older kind of teen boy--but there's a huge difference in that from say rescue Bots (which cute but doesn't have the je ne sais quoi (<--sarcastic usage) of let's say the idea of Spiderman being disgusted with Ratchet because Ratchet didn't cry over his friends being torn apart. This requires a difference of thinking and isn't a stereotypical "good ending". It's meant to invoke a sense of defeat and that shitty feeling of being misunderstood. Like we KNOW Ratchet is a great guy and that his buddies are fine because he's a medic and will just fix them up. BUT Spiderman, another fantastic guy, isn't aware of that and hates Ratchet nonetheless! It's meant to make you not feel good but provides a delicious depth of things like perceptions and not taking time to actually connect with and understand others.

So Roberts was writing not to the original demographic of the G1 Cartoon but to those us who grew up with it. To the ones of us who grew up reading and watching the original runs of so much Transformers material. And, brilliantly, I would add, acknowledged the fact that a lot of fandoms are indeed filled with, like said before, 20+ women.

He wrote MTMTE/LL with the target demographic of adults. Now, we usually associate that with age but in my time in college, working part-time and being amongst y'all--I've learned that you can be 67 and still be an immature stupid piece of shit who got their High School degree as a participation award.

Knowing that, I am arguing he put in a BIG FUCKING NOTICE that "Hey, this isn't G1 cartoon transformers! If you're here for that TURN BACK" with the fact that Ratchet is introduced literally doing an autopsy. And in order to do an autopsy--someone needs to be dead. Whirl is desecrating fucking corpses. And by the end, 40 plus bots are falling like meteors burning up in the fucking atmosphere of a planet. Oh and the entire playback message of: "Oh my primus everything is horrible and terrible-- we fucked up--STOP THE LAUNCH"

Roberts explicitly--so fucking explicitly that even if you have the reading comprehension of a peanut--you would understand just from Issue 1 that bots were going to die, the story is going to be dark, and be just how like my life motto goes: "Life is short, painful and shitty and those who don't deserve to suffer or die always end up doing just that. So let's fucking go." (said with a morbid sense of optimism! :D )

He wrote for us, as adults. And as an adult, he talked to us as an adult. He broached topics that hurt--a lot. And he was happy to see when we hurt because that meant he did his fucking job well.

Every time you feel nothing about a death in a story--that means the writer fucking sucked. Every time I write a fanfic and I have people screaming in my comments--it gives me delight BECAUSE that means I successfully got you to connect. I gave you all the right tells, I used the right structure, I used the right language and every FUCKING THING in my arsenal as a writer to share the beautiful pain that I went through in thinking up this story.

Just like he was, I'm beyond delighted because we're essentially bonding. I'm sharing my brain's secretions that have both delighted and tormented me for months going on years with you and you're feeling the same things. You're fucking feeling. My story isn't just some shitty words on a page--no it's a fucking story.

Roberts told us a story. He sat us down and told us a story. As equals.

And the reason why AI will fucking NEVER live up to actual living creators is because it doesn't have anything to give. It doesn't have any ability to connect.

Furman sucks as a writer for us because he refuses to connect to us if we're not like him.

Roberts has and always will respect every single one of us and has always been a fan--just like us.

[ssweeterthanfiction]

Hii love your writing obsessed with I wish I hated you 💋💋 wanted to request a Finnick x capitol reader where it’s him breaking in to find reader sneaking around the house at night behind peacekeepers, he was sent by the rebels to capture reader to use her to threaten snow but she is on their side and goes willingly, maybe her falling for Finnick during the escape. Keep in mind since she is close to snow by blood that means she wasn’t exposed to a lot of people so even if she is for the right cause she is naive so her love might be obsession or reliance but I mean it all works out in the end. Anyways other thank that ik I said it but I love how you write Finnick!

omg thank so so much girly💗💗 i always love whenever people enjoy my writing!! and oh i love this idea sm (THIS IS PROBABLY GONNA BE A 2 PART THING)

‘I Can See You’

finnick odair x capitol fem reader

masterlist

You'd made it a habit of sneaking around, something about it always felt so freeing. Ever since the rebels had satrted making moves against the Capitol, your grandfather, President Snow, had uped the presence of guards in the mansion. Everywhere you went, the halls would be lined with guards posted at every window, at every exit, at every entrance. You felt trapped, but you couldn't complain too much, you were trapped in a luxorious mansion whilist the people in the districts suffered the wrath of your grandfather.

You hated watching the coverage of the districts, but you're grandfather forced you to. He knew you hated it, but he hoped that you would let go of you naivety that way you could learn how to keep control of the districts, that way when it came time, you could stand in a place of power.

But you didn't want power, you wanted peace. You hated seeing the people suffer, the people that the Capitol were supposedely in charge of. You hoped the rebels would win this war.

You were sneaking around the house again. Tiptoeing around every peacekeeper on guard, your silk slippers making no noise as you did.

But something was different about tonight. Everything felt quieter. Like you were being watched. But whenever you would turn your head, no one would be there. You brushed the feeling off and turned the corner to make your way to the rose gardens, but once you did, thats when a hand clamped over your mouth. You let out a muffled gasp as you were pulled against a broad chest. You struggled a bit as the person pulled you into the shadows of the hallways.

"Don’t scream," the voice hissed in your ear.

You stopped struggling as the hand slowly withdrew from your mouth. You spun around, fully ready to call out for help or to run away, but all thoughts of escape stopped as you looked up at the person.

Finnick Odair. The Capitol Darling, now a rebel.

You had seen him before at events, but you had never spoken to him before. You were used to seeing him in flashy Capitol attire, now here he was in tactical gear.

"Finnick?" you whispered, your voice shaky but dripping with awe.

Finnick tilted his head, watching you carefully, his expression unreadable. “You know who I am. Good. That saves time.”

"I-I mean, of course I know who you are," you stammered, your cheeks flushing. "Everyone knows you. You’re... you’re Finnick Odair. Capitol Darling turned...rebel"

His lips twitched, but the hint of amusement didn’t reach his eyes. “Then you know I don’t have time to explain.” He reached for her wrist, his grip firm. “You’re coming with me.”

Your brows knit together, “Coming with you? Why? Where?”

"I don't have time to explain. So we can do this the easy way and you can either come with me willingly, or," he pulls out a tranquilizer, "We can do this the more...difficult way. Your choice honey."

Your mind rushed with thoughts, if you went with him you would be leaving the comfort of the mansion.

But it dawned on you. You would be leaving the mansion.

"I'll go with you."

Finnick smirks, "Good girl. Good choice." he says pocketing the tranquilizer. "Stay close and don’t make a sound. Keep quiet."

Finnick’s hand wrapped around your wrist as he began moving swiftly through the shadows. You struggled to match his pace, your silk slippers slipping slightly on the polished floors. Every creak of the floorboards, every distant murmur of Peacekeepers made your heart race, but Finnick didn’t falter.

"Where are we going?" you whispered.

Finnick shot you a look, his expression stern. "Didn’t I say no talking?"

You blushed from embarassment, "I'm sorry- I've just- I haven't been allowed to leave this place in a long time."

"I know," he interrupted, his tone softening just slightly. "That’s why you need to trust me and stay quiet."

You nodded, swallowing the lump in your throat as he turned another corner.

It wasn’t long before the two of you reached a back entrance you’d never noticed before. Finnick paused, pressing his ear to the door. "Come on," he whispered, tugging you forward as he opened the door, but the moment he did he saw a group of peacekeepers coming down the hall.

"Shit." he whispered under his breath, pushing you through the exit as he quickly closed the door.

He pressed you against the wall, his body shielding yours as he peeked through the crack to watch the Peacekeepers’ movements.

"Stay still," he whispered, his voice low but commanding.

You nodded and held your breath, you could practically hear your heart pounding against your chest, and you were sure Finnick could hear it too because he was looking down at you with...a look. You couldn't exactly figure out what he was thinking, but he was definitely thinking of...something.

The muffled sound of boots echoed through the hallway on the other side of the door. Finnick pulled back, taking your hand as he led you deeper into the shadows of outside.

"Do you even have a plan?" you whispered, trying to keep your voice steady.

Finnick shot you a sharp look but didn’t stop moving. "Yes. Step one: get you out of here alive. Step two: worry about the rest later."

"That doesn’t sound very reassuring," you muttered under your breath.

Finnick let out a soft, humorless chuckle. "Welcome to the rebellion."

As you both maneuvered through the courtyard, there was complete silence.

"Why take me?" you ask suddenly, "To hurt Snow?"

Finnick paused, glancing back at you with a raised brow. "What?"

"Why risk everything to get me? I'm...not that important to him, he thinks I'm a lost cause."

"You’re more important than you think. The rebels need leverage, and you’re it. You’re Snow’s blood. If we can use you, we could end this war."

You swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling on your shoulders.

Finnick’s gaze softened slightly as he noticed your unease. "Look, I know this is a lot, but you’re doing the right thing. You’re on the right side now."

You nodded, unsure if it was reassurance or simply Finnick’s presence that made you feel safe.

He tugged your hand gently. "Come on. We’re not safe yet."

As the two of you approached the outer edge of the courtyard, Finnick stopped abruptly, holding up a hand to silence you. The faint hum of a hovercraft’s engines grew louder in the distance.

"Is that...?" you started to ask, but Finnick shook his head, cutting you off.

"Not ours," he said grimly.

Your stomach dropped as the spotlight of a Capitol hovercraft swept across the grounds, illuminating the pristine gardens.

Finnick pulled you close, his arm wrapping protectively around you as he ducked behind a large hedge. "Stay low," he whispered.

You huddled close to him, your heart racing as the spotlight came dangerously close. The warmth of Finnick’s body against yours was oddly comforting, even more so when he wrapped his arms tighter around you.

"Good girl," Finnick said quietly as he kept you low.

His words sent an unexpected warmth through you again, and you found yourself wanting to impress him, to earn more of his approval.

As the hovercraft finally moved away, Finnick let out a breath he’d been holding and looked down at you, brushing a stray hair out of your face. "You okay?"

You nodded, "I think so."

"Good," he said, helping you to your feet. "Let's keep moving."

You both kept moving but then Finnick stopped abruptly, holding up a hand to signal you to be quiet. His expression was hard, calculating, eyes flicking back to the mansion in the distance.

"What's wrong?"

Finnick’s gaze flickered toward the front gate, where a squad of Peacekeepers stood guard. The front gate was heavily fortified, and with the increased military presence lately, you knew escaping through there would be nearly impossible.

With a swift motion, he reached for a small device tucked in his belt, his fingers working expertly as he adjusted the settings. He looked at you, his eyes serious but with a glint of something like reassurance. "Get down," he ordered, his voice low.

"Finnick, what are you-"

Before you could even finish your sentence, he threw the device at the gate and quickly shielded you with his body.

The sound of the explosion tore through the silence of the night, the force of it rattling your bones. The entire front gate of the mansion was engulfed in a cloud of smoke and fire, sending debris scattering in all directions. You could already hear the shouts of peacekeepers and the sound alarms blaring in the distance.

"We need to go now" he gripped your wrist tightly and pulled you along again. His pace was unrelenting, and despite the fear that was settling in your chest, you had no choice but to keep up.

"You’ll be fine," Finnick murmured, his voice steady despite the chaos surrounding you. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Your breath hitched in your throat. You felt butterflies in your stomach. You're his mission. His protection was overwhelming, and you wanted more.

[raayllum]

Can you explain why Claudia is so upset with Terry when they reunite after he leaves? And why Terry, of all people, looks so guilty with her that he can't even look her in the eye? It's one of those things where you know this should all be reversed, but isn't. Why? Why is the betrayer so hostile to the betrayed?

God I loved the messy as fuck whatever they had going on Claudia and Terry dynamic in S7, and I think there's a few reasons why

One of the cruxes of Claudia's character is that she is attached to seeing herself as a good person, and others as not-good by comparison. This means that she can engage in the exact same behaviour and justify it while assuming that others' reasonings couldn't possibly measure up.

This cognitive dissonance is not exclusive to Claudia (Callum and Rayla in particular have a tendency to justify each other's choices in ways they don't with other characters, i.e. Rayla viewing dark magic use being 'evil' except when Callum is using it and he's the 'goodest' person she knows) but the focus on 'my view of myself' largely is. Most other characters in TDP are focused on "I still view this other person as a good person," not being focused on "I view myself as a good person". But Claudia is, and it's this core desire being increasingly pitted against "I will do vile, awful things to keep my family together" that are constantly duking it out.

When Claudia finds Soren and Terry waiting for her, it's clear that not only has Terry joined her brother, but has turned against her (as he could've left and then just fucked off somewhere else). This association with Soren, I think, is one of the things that gets her haunches raised, since Soren made it very clear what he thinks the last time they saw one another in 4x07:

SOREN: You have to stop trying to release the greatest evil this world has ever known. CLAUDIA: I knew you wouldn't understand.

All Claudia hears is "there's something wrong with you." That she's the bad guy and on the Wrong side (which, to be fair, Soren also calls her and Viren bad humans when trying to wake Rex Igneous in 4x09). And, by extension, that Soren is better than her. More correct, more moral, more Right.

And Claudia cannot stand feeling judged. She cannot stand being treated like 'the bad guy' (because of course from her perspective, everything she does is right) and she struggles to hold a conception of "I did something genuinely wrong and can still be a good person" (see: "We're not going to the dungeons Soren, we didn't do anything wrong") usually leaning into one or the other, and normally the latter.

So Terry being with Soren is also "you think I'm wrong, you think I'm bad, and you think you're Better than me" (vs Aaravos' "believed we could be better, so he gave us magic"). She thinks the pair are there to stop her, and she's not wrong, on a certain level.

So when Soren makes a gesture of good will, openly contingent on Terry wanting to spare her ("You're here to save me? How generous [...] I can change, and you will help me. Did I get everything?" Karim vibes), it's just seen as "you're showing off how/why you think you're Better than me" and was, quite frankly, never going to work.

Soren setting down his sword came closer, as it's more reciprocal, and it also symbolizes Soren setting down his mantle/duty (the same sword that killed Viren the first time, presumably). But Soren makes another mistake; the same mistake he made in 4x07:

Dad is dead, Claudia. You don't have to do what he wants anymore.

Set down your staff, Claudia. Dad's staff.

But while Claudia has been doing stuff for Viren, she hasn't done what he wanted in a long time. She's been doing what she wants ("You are not letting go, Dad!") for a hot second, and now alongside Aaravos. (I need to write a scene on her and Aaravos' talk in 7x06, but that's for another day.) And that has included taking down elves and dragons as a whole (and any elf that doesn't help her) for a while.

The dragons and the elves, all the arrogant fools blinded by the searing light of their own self-righteousness.

They are wrong, and she and Aaravos are right ("So much we can make right"). This is a very black-and-white viewpoint in many ways, one that some characters are faster as dismantling than others, but I have no doubt that Arc 3 will push it to its breaking point for all of them. Soren and Terry have thrown in their loyalties with the elves and dragons, since Terry was previously a "good elf Exception" alongside Aaravos because they were both helping her and, as previously discussed, Terry has now turned against her, and all the baggage Claudia carries about such a thing is now dumped onto him by proxy (which Terry doesn't necessarily know or understand).

So what does he look so guilty over?

Honestly? The illusion plan. I'm sure he's worried that Claudia might get hurt, and that things might escalate / go south, but he is ultimately there with a plan that is not what he wanted. What Terry wanted was to find the real Lissa and give Claudia a real chance to connect with her mother and maybe change her ways. But it's not real. It's deception, and he knows it.

TERRY: You lied to me! AARAVOS: I never lie. I simply said we needed a big feather and a very small feather. That is all. TERRY: No. You say you never lie, what you do is worse. You tell people half-truths and let people fill in the rest. You make people lie to themselves. It's deception. It's manipulation, and it's wrong.

She betrayed him, and now in his own way he's betraying her.

So what makes him decide to turn around and do something... similar, shall we say? There's a few things. The first is that they're on a time limit and have no way to reach Lissa. The second is that it's plausible the others were going to do it anyway, and Terry accompanied them because 1) he couldn't stop them, 2) he felt responsible, and 3) hoped that his presence would make a positive difference to Claudia.

The second is the other half of what Aaravos says to Terry, I think.

TERRY: I'll tell Claudia. AARAVOS: Oh, it will change nothing. She loves me. [...] And what of Claudia, then? She knows so much more than she tells you, and she keeps it that way to protect you.

Now, Terry rightfully understands that Claudia wasn't keep things from him to protect him; she did it to use him and to keep him from leaving ("I knew he'd leave once he found out"). However, Terry being willing to live in a half-truth and employ one on Claudia because he genuinely believes it will help her, because he thinks it's a truth he needs to withhold to protect her ("You have to promise me that no harm will come to Claudia" is most easily kept if she backs down)... that I can believe, especially since it lets him believe that she's capable of change/quitting. He wants to Save her, not use her.

That doesn't mean he thinks it won't Hurt.

[aalinaaaaaa]

Author Ask Tag

Thank you to @tildeathiwillwrite for the tag <333

—

What is the main lesson of your story? Why did you choose it?

In reference to Obsidian Sapphires (because that’s the wip whose theme and message I’ve fleshed out the most), the core lesson would be to not let ambitions of grandeur, perfection, divinity, etc derail you from the things you have/the people you love, and that even the most seemingly perfect solutions can still cause tragedy. The central identity of Obsidian Sapphires was always in relation to family, personal identity and the Allaitri Chalice was central to Eshani’s goals even from the first ever draft. This draft focuses on the Chalice and its ramifications as a result of it being openly used in society.

What did you use as inspiration for your worldbuilding?

A lot of it is inspired by my perspective, my experiences, etc. It draws heavily on certain aspects of my home country, and also some of my own thoughts too. For instance, Helindians being maestros at non-alcoholic fruity drinks derived from my own wish fulfillment! I don’t drink, I’ve never had a drop of alcohol in my life.

It also contains a lot of nature, because it’s a direct contrast to how sterile and corporate the real-world is and I think it really helps make the world very aesthetic, very alluring, somewhere that people would get sucked into and never want to leave. A faerie-style honey trap, if you will.

I'm going to give a specific mention of Morilaste, for it takes a certain amount of its inspiration from Italian art and history. This really became apparent after my visit to Milan and Venice, because I was in awe at the art and architecture. The scale, the details, the artistry, everything. Absolutely stunning. I find that when I'm in or near places like cathedrals and other highly grand, artistic structures, it feels otherworldly. I am awestruck that people made these, that people put funding, time and effort into these grand structures, and we get to benefit from the fruits of their artistry hundreds and thousands of years later. (This is why minimalistic, corporate-hellscape buildings of the modern age break my heart)

And it's that sense of otherworldliness that I want to evoke when designing Morilaste, because I want it to capture the aura of divinity that the court's namesake sought for. I want to use the sheer scale of it to encapsulate just how much of a beautiful, deadly trap it is, and how it contrasts and complements the way ordinary Helindians perceive it from the outside, with basically nothing but rumours and stories to rely on.

What is your MC trying to achieve, and what are you, the writer, trying to achieve with them? Do you want to inspire others, teach forgiveness or help the reader grow as a person?

Alycja’s trying to prove herself to others, reclaim her innocence in the face of those trying to misconstrue her motives. She wants to be loved, she wants to be admired, and her ordeal is coming at a time when she’s at the start of her teenage years, a pivotal time when she is beginning to flesh out her own identity separate from her identity as part of her family. Her arc is one of the most prominent ones in terms of the theme, because her choices threaten a touch of tragedy almost no matter which path she takes. In a sense, it’s a warning to not let others take advantage of you, and also an affirmation that there is a lot of power in one’s own decisions, even in the face of things that are outside of one’s control.

As for Eshani, she’s also trying to prove herself, but more to repair relations with the people she cares about. She knows what she wants, but her arc is about actually confronting the reality of her desires, and her realising that she wasn’t ready yet. This occurs all while balancing the responsibilities of her current place in life, trying to claw her way out without betraying so many people. She carries a lot of guilt, and the message I want to portray through her endeavour is that the past is the past, it cannot be changed, but the next best thing is to do something now, in the present. Dwelling on what could’ve been is what sets her back, and I look forward to the part where her character development fully clicks into place, I think it’s kinda beautiful (and it fits with the theme and her goals :DDD)

How many chapters is your story going to have?

I’ve an estimate of 30, but this could easily change.

Is it fan fiction or original content? Where do you plan to post it?

Original content, planned to go on my blog :D

When did you start writing?

Wow, it’s been ten, going on eleven years at this stage!

Do you have any words of encouragement for fellow writers of writeblr? What other writers do you follow?

Don’t give up on your ideas! And especially don’t delete them. Stash them away, let them ferment, make sure they’re written down somewhere (and not just on a computer, physical notes are important too). You’ll never know when your ideas may germinate and go full circle. And even if they don’t go anywhere, there’s value even in those ideas just existing. (Side note, people love deleted scenes and snippets!)

I follow so many fantastic, talented, creative writers on here (and I know a decent amount in real life too!), that I would break the tags per post limit so many times over. For the writers that I mention here, consider yourselves tagged for this game, and also here’s an Open Tag for anyone/everyone who wants to answer these <3

@seastarblue @bardic-tales @ominous-faechild @leahnardo-da-veggie @the-ellia-west @vesanal @thebookishkiwi @jev-urisk @cljordan-imperium @ieppiq @angelfevr @gioiaalbanoart @guessillcallitart @thereadingfoz @honeybewrites @oliolioxenfreewrites @theglitchywriterboi @corinneglass @rae-butter @oros-ash3s @mundanemoongirl @scarletteflamerald @midnight-and-his-melodiverse @ceph-the-ghost-writer @flock-from-the-void @tryingtimi @outpost51 @mattresses-and-macaroni @limitlesswritingvoid @agirlandherquill @space-writes @winterandwords @finickyfelix @wintherlywords @druidx @avrablake @inkednotebook @lizardperson @ineedaplacetostay @gaslightwestern @satohqbanana @acertainmoshke @sleepyowlwrites @talesofsorrowandofruin @talesfromaurea @the-golden-comet @bi-focal12 @write-with-will @glassstardust22124 <333

[petrichor-musings]

Fuck you. Stop talking over us & LISTEN. Remember COVID? Remember how many people died not just due to the virus, but due to disruptions in the global supply chain?

Now imagine a revolution in the US. No revolution is bloodless, painless, or perfect. There will always be a transitional period between an old regime & a new one. During that transitional time, supply chains will be massively disrupted. Life-saving medications will either fail to be delivered or fail to be made at all. Life-saving equipment will still need maintenance. The power grid will still need to function, for life-saving equipment to work. Or consider even medical equipment that ISN'T life-saving! Like our cpap. Wanna know what happens when we go a week without it? We're a fucking vegetable.

In any revolution, those that suffer the most are the ones who were already at the bottom. The homeless, the addicts, the poor, the disabled. You can't grow medications in your back garden. You can't mutual aid your way into working medical equipment.

You don't get to make that choice for us. You don't get to decide that our lives are not worth it.

The US is exploitative & awful & everyone would be better off if it didn't exist, yes. But there are also people who depend on its systems to live. Any plan of change or revolution HAS to include caring for these people, by necessity.

Let's be clear, we're not saying to never do a revolution in the US or stop calling for one. But NONE of you are thinking about us or people like us when you call for one. Maybe sometimes on a local level. But even big orgs like the IWW, DSA, or state Tenant's Unions don't make room or think about us or rarely provide resources for us. We don't participate in our local DSA chapter anymore. There's no interest in disabled folks there, despite the one person who is singlehandedly fighting to keep a working group alive.

it goes without saying that the united states of america must be destroyed

[teriri-sayes]

Reactions to The Worst's Chapter 395

Brief summary: Cale is doing his best to convince himself to stay positive upon learning what Clopeh had done. Count Lupe wakes up.

==========

Most of the chapter was so funny because of Clopeh. 😂 And Cale was heavily in denial, trying to stay positive despite his ominous feeling. 🤣🤣🤣

"Cale-nim." And finally, he faced Clopeh Sekka, the disaster. No, not quite a disaster yet. "Uh, umm.." For some reason, Cale was speechless. He would like to ask why the quest progress was like that. "Did you have a nice trip?" But when he saw Clopeh smiling, he was afraid to ask. '…Did I choose wrong?' For the first time in a while, Cale regretted his choice. “I did what you asked me to do, and I did it with all my heart and soul.” Ah. A sigh escaped his mouth. "Now that everything's ready, Cale-nim, all we have to do is wait a day." A smiling Clopeh. His gentle voice. Eyes filled with happiness. And eyes that sparkled with excitement. 'I'm screwed.' Cale realized that whatever it was, he was doomed. And- "Hahaha-" He laughed. "Yeah. Good job!" Yeah, everything will work out somehow! And I'm not going to live in the game, and it will only be a little embarrassing for that dragon half-blood guy. 'Yeah, people will soon forget his birth!' Honestly, look around you. Who, not even family, would remember the moment someone was born and talk about it for decades? 'Yeah! It's just an event! A quest!' Therefore! "Okay, I'll just wait!" Let's just sit still and receive the quest rewards. "Hahaha!" Cale laughed.

But that sentence in the middle though - Who, not even family, would remember the moment someone was born and talk about it for decades? ...KRS's past is just so sad. 😭

Clopeh then asked for Cale's help later, saying that it was "nothing special" and just "something small." Yeah, right. 😂😂😂 Last chapter, Cale spoke of his raid as "nothing special" while Alberu and Rosalyn looked at him disbelief. 🤣🤣🤣

So, Cale... why did you agree to help? You even had an ominous feeling. 😂😂😂

Count Lupe was confirmed to be dead, and his soul was trapped in the game. But his family did not survive the experiment, dying in agony. So upon regaining his memories, he vowed revenge against the Demon King.

Problem was, Count Lupe was in awe at Cale who instigated discord between the Demon King, hunters, and GoC alliance. He was giving Clopeh vibes today. Welcome to Caleism, Count Lupe. 😂😂😂

So what exactly did Clopeh do? Well, he caused 39 different phenomena in the entire continent, overworking Gashan, HD, Mary, and the others. This caused the powers of New World, such as kingdoms, magic towers, and the Eight Evils, to secretly send their strongest people in the 7th Evil area.

"…" Cale shut his eyes tightly. In the incubation room, there was only Cale and Eden Miru. On his lap lay Clopeh's report. "…" He opened his eyes and stared at the egg wrapped in a flower-patterned blanket. "…I'm sorry." …Shake. It was a gesture of understanding and resignation. (Insert several paragraphs of what Clopeh had done.) Clopeh's report ran to a whopping hundred pages. It was hard to even hold it. "…39 strange phenomena… across the entire continent? This crazy bastard." Shake. "You made a video and posted it on the forums to spread public opinion? How did you know that? Legends just make stories on their own, right? But why did you make a video and post it? Hah. You crazy bastard." Shake. "Are you excited too?" Shake. "Thank you for your hard work." Shake. "But it will be okay after tomorrow. Yes." Shake? "Yeah. I guess it'll be okay." …Sh…Sh…Shake. Cale tried hard to ignore the report that contained the order in which the birth, or rather the legendary birth, was to take place. "Hey, you just have to be born well. We'll take care of the rest." Sh…Sh…Sha…Shake…Shake… Eden Miru also turned away.

Cale's reactions. 😂😂😂 And Eden's shaking. 🤣🤣🤣 Clopeh overdid it that with less than an hour left, the birth ceremony progress rose from 159% to 197%! 🤣🤣🤣

Ending Remarks As expected of our pope, Clopeh! Next chapter would finally be Eden's birth. What do you think will his skin color will be?

[averillaratargaryen]

‘The Bitter Bond.’

Chapter XIV

“Do you think marriage to be some sort of game, Daerlyssa?” Daemon raises his voice, approaching her.

Yet being held back by Rhaenyra, as the three, along with Viserys and Alicent were stood in one chamber.

“Daemon, do not let your anger get the best of you, I am begging you” Rhaenyra whispered.

“I don’t think it’s a game” Daerlyssa spoke softly, “I am playing my part, and my duty as a woman.”

“And what duty is that, exactly?” Daemon asks.

“To be a wife, and have children. It is the duty every woman has” Daerlyssa responds, “I did not have anyone else suitable.”

“What of Lord Cregan Stark?” Rhaenyra asks, “he has proposed, and was a match I thought you’d prefer.”

“He is just.. a friend” Daerlyssa gulps, “I do not believe it would make our lives easier for me to marry and move North. What matters is that I marry a Targaryen. My uncle is suited.”

“Daerlyssa, you can not possibly believe that” Daemon scoffs.

“Your daughter has spoken, Daemon. You should be proud, that she has chosen to take this step” Viserys responds.

“I do not know what you have said to her, but I will not let her marry your son” Daemon glared at his brother, yet stood back, knowing he could not do much.

“I have done nothing” Viserys responds, “Daerlyssa is a woman grown, she has learnt, on her own.”

“My son” Alicent spoke up, as she took a step forward, offended by Daemon’s words, “there is nothing wrong with my son.”

“That is not what we mean” Rhaenyra responds, “but we know Daerlyssa well enough, to know that this was not a choice she made. My daughter wishes to marry for love.”

“Marriage is only a political arrangement. Nothing more” Daerlyssa responds.

“Daerlyssa, what is wrong with you-!” Daemon took another step forward, and once again, being held back from Rhaenyra.

“Daemon, please!” Rhaenyra looked in his eyes, pleading for him to restrain his anger towards their daughter.

“I’m sorry, father” Daerlyssa was quick to turn away, walking out as she closed the door behind her.

Leaning her back against the door, Daerlyssa held her heart, as she took a breath. The heavyweight feeling almost impossible to hold, her eyes threatening with tears.

Turning her head, she finds her brothers, Helena, and both Uncles looking directly, seeming that they wished to eavesdrop on the conversation taking place inside the chamber.

Daerlyssa looked at them in panic, her eyes specifically meeting Aegon’s, who could only question her as to why.

Yet, instead of giving him an answer, Daerlyssa is quick to turn away, looking for an escape.

“She does not seem happy” Helena looks towards Aegon, “you don’t think father has forced her, has he?”

“There is only one way to find out” Aegon responds, before quickly walking off, following after Daerlyssa.

“There is no possible way this was Daerlyssa’s choice” Jacerys spoke, having Helena turn to face him, “I know my sister. I know her well enough, to know this marriage is not willingly.”

“But Daerlyssa would not accept without reason” Lucerys responds, “there is something, that had persuaded her to accept the proposal.”

Before Helena could speak, she was overrun, by Aemond, who made his way through them, walking off in the opposite direction.

“What is wrong with him?” Jacerys asks.

“I am not sure” Helena sighed, “it has been an awful morning.”

-

“Daerlyssa” Aegon called out.

“Not now, Aegon” Daerlyssa responds, her footsteps pacing as she was close enough to reach her chamber door.

Quick to open it, she turns, to close the door behind her, yet fails, as Aegon stops it with his foot.

“Daerlyssa we must speak” Aegon pleaded.

“What is it?” She gulped, looking away, “your grace.”

“Your grace?” Aegon looked at her confused, “Daerlyssa, you know our friendship has allowed us to speak to one another by name.”

“It is no longer a friendship. We are to be married, soon enough” Daerlyssa responds.

“Why? Why did you accept this?” Aegon storms into her chamber, walking past her.

“It is my duty” Daerlyssa responds.

“Duty?” Aegon scoffed, turning to face her, “you have only just turned seventeen, and you talk as though you are a grown woman, with duties.”

Daerlyssa falls silent, knowing she could not tell the truth.

“You will ruin my life, and your own, if you do not take your word back!” Aegon pleads.

“I can not” Daerlyssa whispered back.

“We had promised one another not to do this. Daerlyssa, I am in love with another man, you are aware of this! I don’t-!” Aegon scoffs, holding his hair back, as he looks around.

Confused, angry and worried.

“And you can continue to do as you please with him, once we are married” Daerlyssa responds, “i do not plan to have you in my bed, at night.”

“So you wish for a loveless marriage?” Aegon asks, “you would sacrifice your happiness, for duty which is not needed.”

“You do not understand” Daerlyssa turns around.

“Then make me understand!” Aegon shouts back, walking to face her once again, taking both her hands, “make me understand why you are ruining your life, and mine!”

“I can not tell you, Aegon!” Daerlyssa cried out, looking up at him.

His furrowed eyebrows became rested, his eyes softened as he looked towards her.

His fingers slipping out her hands, as he is struck by the look on her face.

“I can not tell you what my reasons are. I am not trying to ruin your life, that is not what i want to do!” She let out a sob, but was quick to wipe her eyes, composing herself as she took a deep breath.

“Daerlyssa, please. In order for this to work, I need your honesty” Aegon spoke much softly, this time, “what is going on?”

“I’m sorry, Aegon” she apologises, shaking her head no, “i can not tell you my reasons. But I will not force you to be a husband to me. I will not force you to love me, and give me children. I can promise you, that you can continue to live your life as you please.”

“And what about your own?” Aegon asks.

A question that had silenced Daerlyssa and her thoughts, once and for all.

Knowing she would not tell the truth, Aegon felt himself no choice, but to give her harsh truth.

Holding her from her chin tightly, he held her face up, to look at him, as she let out a soft whimper.

“You are a coward” he spat out, before harshly slipping his hand off, turning away to walk out.

As the door shut harshly behind him, Daerlyssa felt herself fall to her knees, her hand sliding from the headboard of her bed, her other hand covering her mouth, from the loud sobs she wished to let out.

Yet she could only keep herself composed, as she cried to herself quietly.

-

Aegon paced back and fourth, mumbling to himself.

Many thoughts coming to him, many reasons and theories, for why Daerlyssa would do this.

With a soft grunt, he finally sat himself on his bed, yet still stressed, wondering what he could do.

As his mind was occupied, Aegon had found himself looking at his chamber door, as Aemond had let himself in, closing the door behind him.

“Aemond, good. You are here” Aegon sighed, before he stood back up, “I am to run away. You must help me.”

“Aegon, you can not just run away” Aemond scoffed, “have you spoken to her?”

Clearing his throat, he then spoke her name, “Daerlyssa.”

“She will not say her reasonings” Aegon responds, “I pleaded, yet she does not seem to care for it. She continues to go on, about letting me continue on with my life, with the way I please, not seeing the reason I am angry.”

“So it is not because she is in love with you?” Aemond asks.

“No!” Aegon scoffed, “but that is beside the point, I can not marry her!”

“And you can not run away from her either!” Aemond shouts back, “think of her. Of her dignity. Will you truly tarnish it, for your selfish gain?”

“Then tell me what I should do. What would you have me do?” Aegon asks.

“Nothing” Aemond responds, “you do nothing, until I speak to her tonight.”

“And why would you speak to her?” Aegon asks.

“That is not of your concern” Aemond responds.

“Aemond, you are my brother” Aegon held his arm tightly, “Daerlyssa is not willing to tell me the truth, now you must!”

“Exactly, you are my brother” Aemond clears his throat, “the least I can do is speak to Daerlyssa, and help her see reason, so that she does not have to marry you.”

“Aemond” Aegon sighed, holding his brother from his arms, “I feel like I might lose my mind.”

“Aegon, sit down” Aemond pushed him back, onto his bed, “breathe. And stop overthinking. We will figure something out.”

“I can not marry her” Aegon whispered.

“No. No you can not” Aemond agreed.

-

“I do not understand this” Daemon muttered.

“Daemon..”

“No!” Daemon stood up, moving away from his wife, agitated, “I know our daughter. Rhaenyra, you know our daughter. She was keen not to marry him from the start, and when she is keen, it is something she will hold for the rest of her life. Her mind could not have changed.”

“We don’t know what she is feeling” Rhaenyra responds, “she is a young woman, going through changes.”

“Then we must find out what is going on” Daemon made his way towards the door, ready to walk out, before being held back by his wife.

“Not tonight” Rhaenyra warns him, “we will speak to her tomorrow, when you are calm, and fresh headed.”

“You expect that I be calm?” Daemon asked.

“Daerlyssa is our daughter. You will frighten her with your anger and drive her away. In the end, we will get nothing out of this so please-! Leave it be, for tonight” Rhaenyra responds.

“Did you see her at the dinner table? She did not look at Aegon, nor speak to him. Neither did he. It is not a marriage of love and consent. My brother has done something, and I do not know what and I must find out!” Daemon’s eyes lingered in tears, but one’s that were filled with rage.

“Whatever it is, we will deal with it. I will speak to my father, and we will speak to Daerlyssa, when you are reasonable, and not agressive” Rhaenyra responds.

-

As the night was cold, Daerlyssa found herself stood at the balcony, in need of some fresh air.

She knew she would spend the rest of her days here, tormented and judged by her decision, with no one to turn to.

Not even Aemond.

Whether he wished to speak to her of it, or not, she was not aware. But she found herself too much in guilt, to face him.

Her lip quivered, as she stared into the distance with the view before her, wondering whether she had made a mistake.

“Daerlyssa” Aemond whispered.

Turning around, she found him walking towards her, yet he himself could not fathom to look her way.

“I apologise” she responds, “I will leave.”

Turning away, to walk off, Aemond had held her back, his fingers curled around her arm, with a firm yet gentle hold, “stay.”

She let out a shaken breath, turning around to face him.

The disappointment on his face was all she needed to know, to understand how he felt.

“Why?” Aemond asks, “why did you accept to marry him?”

“I was adamant before” Daerlyssa cleared her throat before letting out a blatant lie, “but I find myself interested in marrying a man like Aegon. He is kind, and caring.”

“If you truly cared for those traits, you’d have accepted Lord Stark’s proposal” Aemond scoffed, not believing a word that came from her.

“Excpet, Aegon is a Targaryen. Lord Stark is a man from Winterfell. It will not go well for either of us, should I have accepted it” Daerlyssa responds.

“So you are choosing to lie to me to?” Aemond asks.

“I am not lying” Daerlyssa responds.

“It is clear, that you are lying to me!” Aemond raises his voice slightly, causing Daerlyssa to take a step back.

“I know, that everyone is disappointed and upset, but this is my decision and I have made it” Daerlyssa responds.

“So what we had? Was it for nothing?” Aemond asks, “was it simply because you here bored?”

His questions had gone unanswered, as Daerlyssa turned her head away, not being able to tell the truth, and too afraid to lie, knowing the trouble it would cause.

Aemond, noticing her silence, then took her hand, as he pleaded with her, “you can not marry him.”

Composing herself, Daerlyssa took a deep breath, before turning around to face him, once again, “why not? It is not as though you love me.”

“What..?” Aemond’s voice trailed off as he whispered.

“What we have, with one another. It is not love” Daerlyssa shook her head, “this was all just for some satisfaction, and your idea of a good time. It is all just lust.”

“Is that what you truly believe?” Aemond questions her, “or is it that you believe that you can not be loved? Because i have never dared to question that.”

“If it was love, you would have proposed, before i chose to accept your father’s proposal, to Aegon” Daerlyssa responds, “yet, you have kept me a secret, as though it is a forbidden romance.”

“Daerlyssa, i have done this for your safety, and mine” Aemond responds, “do not say that- please.”

“I’m sorry” she whispered, turning away once again, determined to leave before she could cave in and tell Aemond the truth.

But she knew Aemond would not let her go. Not when he pulled her back towards him, the back of her head against his chest, his arms forcefully holding her from her waist.

“Aemond, stop” Daerlyssa called out.

But Aemond would not stop. Instead, he had buried his head to the crook of her neck, as he held her tightly.

“Let me go, Aemond” she wriggles herself out his embrace, turning to face him.

“No” Aemond demand, “no, i will not just let you go.”

“It has been done” Daerlyssa responds.

Aemond, with much desperation, bought himself to kiss her, his lips forcefully touching against hers, like a man of starvation, devouring his last meal.

Despite Daerlyssa’s attempts to push him back, Aemond held both her wrists, pulling them down from his chest slowly, as he felt Daerlyssa ease into him.

He took a couple of steps forward, as she took a couple of steps back, having Daerlyssa lean her back against the wall, that was once beside her.

As he let go of her wrists, Aemond had held her close to him once again, his lips not parting, but rather a free hand, reaching up to cup her cheek.

But as his palm had gone to touch her, Daerlyssa had flinched in pain, the two then parting away.

“What is it?” Aemond asks.

“N-nothing” Daerlyssa turns her head away, “this is a mistake, we can not-!”

“That mark on your face” Aemond looks in closer, noticing a bruising, that appeared in sight, from her chin.

“It is nothing” Daerlyssa whispered, turning her head away, to avoid the confrontation.

“Tell me who has done this” Aemond demanded, a whisper that sent a chill down Daerlyssa’s spine, as she knew he was serious, to wanting to know.

-

After the days events, Aegon had found himself drunk, and fast asleep, his mouth agape with drool that lingered in the corner of his mouth.

A deep sleep he hadn’t had in a while, considering it had been more than a month, that he had been sober.

Aemond, after hearing the truth, had made his way back to his brother’s chamber, in rage, despite promising Daerlyssa he would not hurt his brother.

Walking in, without warning, Aemond finds Aegon fast asleep, quiet snores escaping him, as his body spread out, across his bed.

Without thinking, Aemond’s rage was still lingering to the back of his head, causing his next actions to be justified.

He had made his way to Aegon’s bedside table, where a glass of water was placed above it.

Removing it from its coaster, Aemond had threw the water over his brother’s face, watching him panic himself awake, gasping and confused as to what was going on.

The wine bottle that lingered in Aegon’s hand now fell to the floor, hitting the wooden slabs.

“What the hell!” Aegon shouted out, before looking up to see Aemond, “wha-? What is going on? Aemond, why are you here? Wha-?”

Completely clueless to anything that was happening around him, Aegon felt the grip of his brother, as he held him from the collar of his shirt, forcing him out of bed.

“Aemond, what are you-?”

His question had gone unfinished, when he felts the stabbing pain of his brothers palm against his cheek, having his fall back onto the ground.

“Argh” he groaned, as he was laid to the ground.

Lifting his body up slightly, holding his cheek in agony, he looked towards his brother, raising his voice“what was that for?”

“Don’t you ever touch her again” Aemond warns him.

Aegon looked at his brother, confused as to what was going on, still clueless, having just woken up from a drunken sleep.

“The next time you lay a hand on Daerlyssa, will be the last that you see them” Aemond lets out an empty threat, before turning away to calm himself.

There was a moment of silence between the two, as Aemond collected his anger, whilst Aegon had come to remember what he had done wrong.

“You’ve spoken to her, i see” Aegon gulps, as he covered his cheek with one hand, the other pushing on his bed, as he lifts himself up off the floor.

“Daerlyssa is not to blame” Aemond responds, tuning back to face his brother, as he grabs a hold of his emotions, “she is not to blame, you had no right to hurt her!”

“She accepted this proposal! Who else is to blame, beside her!” Aegon shouted back in defence.

“Our father” Aemond responds, as he and Aegon look toward each other.

With light breaths, Aegon looks at his brother confused.

Aemond sighed, slightly ashamed at what he had done to his brother, before leaning in towards him, “He has given her no choice, in marrying you, for the sake of her mother.”

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

[everyfandomever]

I made myself sad :(

[knockknockitsnickels]

Thoughts about Prison3r bc she's making me go insane

Spoilers under the cut (also minor spoilers - chapter name & brief discussion of other routes - in the tags, so don't read those lol)

I have a feeling the Cage is going to get overshadowed by Sp3ctre & Happily Ever After, but I was really surprised by the direction they took her in, and I think she makes Pris all the more tragic as a character.

IMO, the Prisoner route kind of functions as a giant trust fall. You've established in the previous chapter that you're skeptical of this whole setup (hence voice of the skeptic, lmao) and willing to help the Princess, and this route puts that to the test. Can you focus on what's important without getting caught up in questioning irrelevant details (the empty shackle)? Can you trust the Princess enough to give her your weapon? And on the other side of that, can she trust you to understand her plan?

Part of what makes the Prisoner compelling to me is the unspoken trust she has in the player (part of why I've never understood the take that she doesn't actually care about you? Maybe we've got some Autism2Autism telepathy going on though). Her lines in the Shifting Mound fight (if you free her) talks about how "shared skepticism blossomed into trust", and the Drowned Grey further implies that she put a lot of trust and hope in the player which they ended up betraying.

I was expecting Prison3r to play with that betrayal of trust - she showed we could trust her, but her trust in us was misplaced. It doesn't really matter if you leaving the head was an honest mistake or not, we still let her down. I was expecting a scenario where we'd be stuck apologizing to a Princess who couldn't bring herself to trust us again, no matter how sincere we were being. I was expecting her to be angry. I didn't expect her to just... give up.

If the Drowned Grey is meant to represent the Prisoner (metaphorically) letting go of the tight control she has of her emotions, (literally) drowning you in her (metaphorical) grief and rage, then the Cage is the opposite, locking her emotions even deeper away. Shifty describes her as (paraphrasing here, emphasis mine) "someone who wishes she could be just a set of eyes and ears." The Cage isn't angry with you for leaving her behind. Why should she be? It was her mistake, after all. She shouldn't have been so stupid to think she could break the cycle and actually be freed.

The route also plays with the contrast between the Princess and the Player (via the voices) in fun ways. While the Cage is already resigned to repeating the cycle, skeptic (and paranoid, if you get him) are panicking for the whole route, trying desperately to find a way out of it while unintentionally forcing you to into the same patterns as before (by forcing us to take the knife. Thanks guys, very cool).

It honestly feels like the perfect response to the common fan complaint of "Why is the Prisoner mad at you for leaving her head behind? It was an accident!". Well, here you go. She's not mad at you. It would honestly feel better if she was.

[stagefoureddiediaz]

Eddie’s arc gonna be so so so good this season

The Chris stuff is going to hurt so bad and break me but healing is coming for them both and I’m expecting a Chris-tmas episode reunion of father and son

[rhineposting]

okay pause on phone people posting to do some Rhinedottir Posting ™

I think that while all of the Five Sinners are generally around the same level of unhingement and gray morality, Rhinedottir was just Like That even before taking a dunk in the Eldritch and Forbidden. I think it's kinda funny.

"That's Surtalogi, he basically invented lycanthropy and has a pet multidimensional narwhal that eats French people, that obelisk over there is Vedrfolnir, the single greatest visionary to kinda-live, capable of restoring sentience to the cursed, and the lady over there is Rhinedottir, a revolutionary alchemist and she, uh... Yeah these days she's mostly printing flying dismembered dogs. No idea why. She's not even taking care of them, or of any other thing she ever made for that matter. Yeah, she made a bunch of her clones and dumped most of them into a vat of acid. No idea why, something about them not being good enough. Oh yeah no, that was before our country was nuked. I don't know what's her deal and honestly at this point I'd keep it that way. Anyways, that guy over there is Rerir and he uhhhhhhh-"

[quietwingsinthesky]

you ever just think about. “You are diseased, albeit a disease of our own making. No more.” you ever just. oh, they made him and they discarded him. it’s never going to be quiet again for him, and that’s just collateral. they let the sound rot through his whole life, his whole timeline. because that’s the kind of easy sacrifice you can make when you want to save yourself above everything else, one that doesn’t ask anything of you. you dig open a child’s mind and you bury your survival inside him and when he follows the noise back home, when he does exactly what you groomed him for, you call him ruined for it. that’s. you ever just think about that.

[sunnysideaeggs]

We spent 8 seasons watching how everybody south and north of the wall scorned Jon for being a bastard and how even the doubt of the future king being illegitimate (while having the very plausible excuse of looking like his mother) burst a giant war where almost everybody dies and now we are supposed to believe Rhaenyra putting bastards (that don’t even look like her) on the throne has no political repercussions whatsoever?

[earl-grey-crow]

.

[cluescorner]

Some people: Kaeya’s bio father is an abusive monster who abandoned his son in order to achieve his own selfish goals. He is an evil man who deserves everything awful that might happen to him. 

Other people: Kaeya’s bio father did the right thing and leaving Kaeya in Mondstadt was the only way to give him a halfway-decent life. He is a better father than he is given credit for and should not be as hated as he is. 

Me: Kaeya’s bio father is integral to the general ‘war is hell and bad choices can reverberate across time’ thing that Genshin seems to be going for. He made unethical choices, but mostly because the ONLY OPTIONS HE HAD WERE UNETHICAL. If our understanding of the Alberich’s role in Khaenri’ah is accurate, General Alberich (my name for him until stated otherwise) was suddenly in charge of a hopeless and dead kingdom which begged to be saved. Assuming that there was a reason Kaeya specifically was chosen for this mission, General Alberich was forced into a position where he needed to choose between the lives/future of every Khaenri’an vs the life and future of his young son. Abandoning either is an awful thing to do and a horrible decision, but the bad decisions of Celestia and Rhinedottir have led to a scenario where General Alberich can only make bad decisions. In the end, he chose to prioritize his people and made his young son into a spy. We do not know the process for this, but knowing how much Hoyoverse loves to torment people (especially Khaenri’ans) we can assume that this process was horrific for Kaeya and could definitely be considered abuse. General Alberich is effectively making his son into a child soldier for a war that the majority of people never wanted or asked for, and one Kaeya was likely far too young to understand. At least, until he was forced to grow up far too quickly in order to fulfill his duty. General Alberich likely loathed everything about what was happening and even in his last moments with his son he asks for forgiveness. He knows that what he is doing is wrong, but to turn back now is to both abandon his subjects and make everything that happened to Kaeya in order to turn him into a child spy be for nothing. So yeah, General Alberich is a terrible person who made horrible choices. But war and the bad actions of others have created a situation where he has nothing BUT horrible choices and where being a terrible person is the only thing he can be. And that’s without considering how the curse/abyssal corruption could impact the scenario. 

[borealing]

im gonna go off on one in the tags pls enjoy