#it’s almost like that’s what make us siblings

[maniculum]

This resonates with me as my extended family has a similar fixation on preserving family names — though they’re not as creative with it, I have to say. There’s no Roy-Emmet-Jack rotation or first-syllable approach, just “well whose name hasn’t been passed on to the next generation? great, that’s the baby’s name now.” And nobody’s as bad off as poor Breathnach Thomas.

I have a couple cousins with unusual or old-fashioned names that get funny looks — I’ve had multiple exchanges along the lines of “your cousin WHO? did you mean [more common name that kinda rhymes with what I said]?” “no i did not.” A bunch of us go by our middle names for one reason or another. Two of my cousins-once-removed have entirely normal, common first names that I genuinely don’t remember because they’ve been referred to by their middle names since infancy despite those middle names sounding like last names. I have one cousin whose first & middle names are both common but also firmly gendered in different directions: I won’t dox them, but it’s along the lines of “Frederick Jane Lastname” because there was a traditionally-female name that needed to be given to someone and the only available baby was AMAB. My sibling ended up joining the “go by the middle name that sounds like a last name” crew a while back, but that was for gender reasons.

I’ve got one of the more inconvenient-for-paperwork names, actually, which I’ll explain under a cut because I ended up going on a bit.

See, my grandfather was named after his maternal grandfather. And his mother had changed her name when she got married, but wanted to give her son his grandfather’s full name, so he ended up with two middle names. Firstname Middlename Maidenname Lastname. Nobody really liked the sound of “Firstname”, though, so he always went by Maidenname Lastname. Then he named his son the same thing, who named his son the same thing, so I’m Firstname Middlename Maidenname Lastname III. All of us agree that Firstname isn’t a good one, so we all go by variants of Maidenname Lastname. (Which means we’re all also on Team “Middle Name That Sounds Like A Last Name Used As A First Name”.)

The maiden name in question — I’ve almost certainly mentioned on the podcast what “Mac” is short for, but rather than dox myself in a text post, let’s say it’s “McKenzie”. Convenient in that it contains two syllables that are at least semi-normal names. So my grandfather always shortened it to “Mac”, and then to differentiate, rather than use one of the other surplus names, my father went by [not actually] “Ken”. My father once told me that he pitched the idea of using the last syllable for me (not actually “Zie”, but something else that in no way passes as a standard name) but was vetoed, so I’ve always been another Mac.

You would be surprised how many forms, both physical and electronic, are against the idea of two middle names. I’ve seen my second middle name squished into my first middle name to make a single word, or hyphenated with my last name, or just deleted — which is unfortunate because it’s the one I actually use. (I fully agree with my father & grandfather that “McKenzie Lastname” is the best-sounding use of our nomenclature inventory.) So I’m constantly explaining to various bureaucrats that yes, this thing that says “Mac” is referring to me, I know your system says my name is Firstname, but I go by my middle name (a practice that is in itself apparently less common than i always thought growing up) — it’s short for McKenzie — yes, I know that your system doesn’t say my middle name is McKenzie, it wasn’t designed to handle four-part names and just deleted that one — yes i’ll hold.

When I was younger, I wanted to change my name to get away from the problem — my idea was to just chop off both the first name and the last name, then I’d have the entirely normal-sounding Middlename McKenzie — but never got around to it, mostly because I was also worried that a name change could just multiply my paperwork complications. Once I’d committed to an academic career, though, I kind of came around on it, because if I just use the first two names as initials, “X. X. McKenzie Lastname” turns out to look pretty good as an author name on papers & such.

The latest paperwork issue has been how this interacts with my current employer’s “preferred name” form. It doesn’t let you enter a full preferred name (like “X. X. McKenzie Lastname”) and say “okay use that one”, and it doesn’t have a “just use my middle name for everything” option. So it turns out that the only way HR could get the system to call me “McKenzie Lastname” was to tell the computer my name was actually McKenzie Middlename McKenzie Lastname. I’ve decided to live with it.

Random question, could you give some ideas on Irish names your family may have in the 1950-60s? I got a character with an Irish grandpa with 9 brothers and sisters (3 brothers and 6 sisters) and I only got the oldest sister name (soairse) and his name (Caine). I guess I could just name the rest some form of jack and Margret since those seem to be popular, but I wanted to see if there were some “interesting” names you found in your family tree that maybe one of the siblings got named after some ancestor?

Firstly for the sake of clarity: I'm American, not Irish. All of my ancestors for the last 4-5 generations have lived here, and while I like learning about the language/music/culture, I am absolutely not an expert. I HIGHLY recommend getting a sensitivity reader, I'm sure someone in the comments can wave at you if they're willing to take on the job.

Second, Triple-check the spelling, pronunciation, meaning and provenance of any names you do choose, and ABSOLUTELY DO NOT TRUST ANY BABY NAME WEBSITES, they're basically all AI slop at best. The best written-down lists and meanings are actually on Wikipedia.

Third: If you want to learn more Irish names, you can look up the names of like, any Irish musician or artist. I think spotify still has Genre Playlists, if you look up "Irish Folk" you'll get a shitload of names of Real Irish people- and hey, if Hirohiko Akari can name all his characters after 80's pop bands, you can make a subtle ref to modern musicians. Also you'll get a bunch of fun music! --- So while I was writing this, I somewhat departed from the intent of this response, and am putting the last point under a cut because the post got long. And weird.

So there is a thing in Irish-american families, and I think it's true in the British isles still where there are "Family Names", where the same set of first names is recycled over and over and over across generations. My dad's family has exactly three male names that they rotate through over the generations: Roy, Emmet and Jack*. In that order, where the son takes the father's first name as his middle name. My great-grandfather was Roy Jack Surname, my grandfather was Emmet Roy Surname, and my dad is Jack Emmet. My sister and I were AFAB, so the names skipped us and my male cousin in my generation is now Roy Jack. In the event that there are more than three living men with the same surname in the family, that's when they start reaching for the Given Names Of In-Laws We Like and might introduce a new name into the lineup.

*Names changed for privacy above and hereafter, but you get the idea.

So if any of your characters are descendants of that grandpa? They may share a first or middle name with one of his siblings. in fact, they may share the SAME first and middle name with a living relative, and be called "Junior" or "Young Firstname" to distinguish them from the relative they were named after.

My mom's family is from England and has a similar tradition: any new girl born into that family gets a name that is based on the name of one of her living female relatives, usually by sharing the same first letter or syllable. Elanor after Eloise, Vivian after Virginia, and also Jenny after Virgnia via 'Ginny' and every variation of Margret ever, which there are way more of than you'd think.

I cannot recommend doing what they did with Male names though: Name literally every boy Bob* for like five generations, and distinguish individuals by middle name (Bob-Howard and Bob-Benjamin) surname (Bob-Jones and Bob-Bailey) or Honorific (Captain Bob, Dr. Bob, Bob Jr.) when yelling out the kitchen window.

Most families have to good sense to not have the same name repeated in a generation, even if it has a shitload of nicknames. A mother and daughter might both be Margrets (with different nicknames), but two sisters or cousins wouldn't be.

If you've got in-laws you like, but their surname didn't carry over to their kids, you can also just use their surname as a first name! "Regan" is a first and last name, as are Riley and Bailey. This works out in some cases but not in others:

I have a pretty rare surname- last time I checked, there's only 14 people with it worldwide. It's similar to two other VERY COMMON Irish Surnames, but spelled different and from a different region. It's also Very Definitely A Surname- nobody would see my surname alone and think its a firstname.

Since I don't want to bandy it about, we'll pretend that it's "Breathnach", which has a similar vibe.

My Iowa family is Enormous and all descended from my Great-Aunt Lilyanne, Emmet-Roy's sister. Being a good catholic girl, Lillyanne took her husband's surname when she married, and most of her descendants still have that surname, and none have Breathnach.

After the last of my grandfathers grandchildren were born my Iowa family was sad- all but one of Emmet-Roy's grandchildren was female, and my male cousin has his father's surname. Assuming that we would all marry and take our spouses names, the Iowa family despaired that that the Breathnach name would die out!

So one of my second cousins decided that she would Carry On The Family Name, by giving it to the son she was carrying as a Firstname.

Yeah.

Being "Breathnach Surname" is bad enough, but this was compounded by the fact that the Iowa family's surname is Thomas.

YEAH.

My poor cousin Beathnach Thomas, who always has to re-do his paperwork because NOBODY ever puts the names in the correct boxes, who had his first name printed on every jersey he ever had because the uniform place went "that can't be right!", who cant buy his own beer because he's had so many drivers licenses confiscated because liquor store owners and bartenders think his ID is a fake, who has to not only spell his name to everyone he meets, but explain it too.

Then I made it worse.

I ran into cousin Beathnach in Bozeman, Montana quite by accident a few years ago, and while catching up, I mentioned that I was married.

"You know, it's a real hassle, but I'm kind of glad I've got the name I do. I'd heard you sister changed her name, and now with you married- I'd be sad to think we were running out of Breathnachs, you know?" he laughed.

I had to explain.

I married the most wonderful man in the world, who has an extremely common first and last name. Which was kind of a problem, because he shares it with some truly rotten people that always come up during background checks and he has have to explain he's not THAT asshole. It also sounds like and is only a letter or two off a lot of other very common names so his mail is constantly sent awry.

My husband will shortly abandon his too-common-for-comfort surname and become the newest Breathnach, taking the total to 15 (the paperwork takes a while).

...So the name lives on through us anyway, and poor cousin Breathnach Thomas went through all that for no reason. He got very quiet, got up from the table and walked outside to the veranda of the restaurant we were in to stare into the picturesque scenery for a while.

"Well, it's not like people change their first names..." he sighed, when he returned to the table.

"...You know how my sister changed her name? She only changed her first name. She's still a Breathnach." I explained quietly.

I've never seen a man look so haunted.

"I know lots of people who've changed their first names, actually. Mostly for transgender reasons, but a bunch because they just didn't like the one they were given." I added, because if he's going to get his world turned over, it's best to flip it all at once.

His brow furrowed at the ponderous speed of a continental collision, approaching the idea with caution. "...I'll have to think about it."

It's been about a year, but since then, I'll get a text from him every few weeks, auditioning a new given name. I do my best to be fair- I give him the meanings of those names, how they're likely to be misconstrued (some are tolerable annoyances, some pose a safety risk), and if he'd be sharing that name with anybody notable or troublesome. The first few were clearly based on Breathnach, but he began to branch out, and the trend of names has indicated that the idea of Naming Himself is causing my cousin to examine himself, and come to some Realizations (TM).

I realize I have gotten completely off-topic from your actual ask, but I urge you to really get into the nuance of nomencalture, because a name can tell a fascinating story.

[kireistrawberryjayla]

𓍼ֶ⊹ ࣪˖𝓦𝓱𝓲𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽⋆˚꩜

Intro: Princess Y/N, the daughter of the king’s mistress, lives a lonely and isolated life in the castle. Her mother and sister treat her poorly, while her half-brother, Heeseung, keeps a distant yet somewhat protective relationship with her. One day, Y/N meets Prince Jongseong, who shows her kindness when he buys her art supplies after she runs out. Y/N is moved by his actions. However, her happiness is short-lived as she overhears Jongseong talking with Eunjin, Meanwhile, Heeseung grows frustrated with Y/N's closeness to Jongseong,Y/N is torn between the kindness she receives from Jongseong and the harsh reality of her position, unsure of who truly cares for her.

Warning- It's just a fanfiction girly pop aka not real

Chapter one

A gust of wind blew past, rustling her pages. Y/N reached out to hold them down when a soft voice interrupted her thoughts.

"You should add some shading here. It would make the horse look more alive."

Startled, Y/N looked up to find Prince Park Jongseong standing beside her. His dark brown eyes studied her sketch, his expression unreadable. He had been one of Heeseung’s friends, always part of the group she could never approach.

She hesitated before murmuring, "You... you think so?"

Jongseong gave a small nod. "Yeah. You’re really talented."

Y/N’s cheeks warmed at the unexpected compliment. No one had ever praised her art before.

Princess Lee Y/N was the daughter of the king’s mistress, a fact that dictated her entire existence within the palace walls. She had two half-siblings—Prince Lee Heeseung and Princess Lee Eunjin. Unlike Heeseung and Eunjin, who were respected as the king’s legitimate children, Y/N was often overlooked, treated as an outsider even within her own home.

Her mother and sister made no effort to hide their disdain for her, while Heeseung, though cold and distant, was not as cruel. At times, he would help her in small ways, but he never let their bond grow beyond that.

Y/N was an innocent soul who preferred the quiet solace of her art. While her siblings surrounded themselves with friends, she spent most of her time alone, lost in sketches and paintings that became her only true companions.

Today, the castle was lively with guests. Princess Eunjin and her friends were gathered in the royal garden for an elegant tea party, their laughter ringing through the air. Meanwhile, Prince Heeseung and his friends—Prince Sim Jayun, Prince Park Sunghoon, and Prince Park Jongseong—were at the racecourse, riding their horses with ease and excitement.

Y/N sat beneath a tree in the garden, her sketchbook resting on her lap. She watched them from a distance, her fingers moving carefully as she captured the scene before her, that's when with a gush of wind the papers flew away. She longed to be included, to laugh and play alongside them.But, as always, they never even looked her way.

Or so she thought.

Prince Jongseong!" Princess Eunjin’s voice rang out from the tea table, sharp and demanding. "What are you doing over there?"

Jongseong didn’t move immediately. Instead, he turned his head slightly and replied with a calm, almost amused tone, "Just looking at something interesting."

And for the first time in her life, Princess Lee Y/N felt seen.

She wasn’t used to this. Attention. Kindness.

Jongseong was still crouched beside her, his eyes fixed on her sketchbook. "Do you draw often?" he asked, his voice smooth yet genuinely curious.

Y/N hesitated before nodding slightly. "I do… it’s something I enjoy."

Jongseong hummed, his fingers tracing the air above her drawing as if seeing more than just lines and shapes. "It shows. Your strokes are confident, and your details are impressive."

She swallowed hard. No one had ever spoken to her like this before—not as if she were some forgotten shadow in the castle, but as if she mattered.

"Jongseong," Heeseung’s voice interrupted, his tone neutral but firm. Y/N glanced up to see her older brother approaching, his expression unreadable. "The others are waiting. Are you coming?"

Jongseong’s gaze flickered between Heeseung and Y/N. For a moment, it seemed like he might leave without another word, just like everyone always did. But then, to Y/N’s surprise, he turned back to her.

"May I see more of your sketches sometime?" he asked.

Y/N’s lips parted slightly in shock. Someone wanted to see her drawings? Her hands tightened around the edges of her sketchbook, nerves bubbling in her chest. But she found herself nodding. "O-Okay…"

A small smile tugged at the corner of Jongseong’s lips, brief but genuine. Then, with one last glance at her drawing, he stood up and walked toward Heeseung, rejoining the others.

Y/N watched him go, her fingers brushing over the page he had complimented. She wasn’t sure why, but for the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel completely alone.

Chapter two

Prince Jongseong was known throughout the kingdom for his cold demeanor. Strict, reserved, and often seen as rude, he wasn’t someone who easily showed kindness. Beneath his frosty exterior, however, there was a complexity few had the patience to unravel. If one were to spend enough time with him, they might notice the faint glimmers of sweetness hidden deep within—though these moments were rare, and most people were content to keep their distance.

For Y/N, Jongseong was a figure she feared. His presence made her uneasy, even from childhood. His cold stares, harsh words, and aloof nature had never made her feel welcome. There were times when his gaze seemed to pierce through her, as if he could see every flaw, every mistake she had made. But despite this fear, something about him intrigued her. She could never understand why he was so distant or why he kept everyone at arm's length.

It had been years since they had even spoken—until today.

This was the first time Y/N had a proper conversation with him, and it left her conflicted. As they sat together, there was an awkward silence between them, one that was filled with years of unspoken words. But when Jongseong spoke, his tone wasn’t as cold as she had expected. It was distant, yet something else flickered in his voice—something almost human.

The truth was, Jongseong and the other princes always knew Y/N’s background. They knew she was the daughter of the king’s mistress, a title that often made her the subject of scorn and ridicule in the royal palace. His older brother, Heeseung, had made sure of that.

For most of her life, Y/N had been invisible to them, and they never tried to interact with her. They kept their distance, not because they hated her, but because they feared what Heeseung might do if they got too close. Heeseung had a certain authority over the other princes, especially when it came to Y/N. He wasn’t kind to her, but he didn’t want anyone else to be either.

There were a few rare moments in Y/N’s childhood when she had tried to reach out to the princes. Prince Jaehyun, for example, had once shown her a sliver of kindness. They had been in the garden one afternoon, with Y/N quietly drawing as usual, when Jaehyun had approached her. He had asked her about her art, and for a moment, Y/N had felt like she belonged.

"Your drawings are very beautiful," Jaehyun had said, his voice warm. "You should show them to the king one day."

Y/N had smiled, a little shy, but thankful for his words.

But that had been the beginning of the end of their brief friendship.

Not long after that conversation, Princess Eunjin had caught wind of their exchange. Her cold glare had been enough to make Jaehyun freeze. That evening, Y/N overheard Eunjin warning Jaehyun not to speak to her again.

"Do you really want to be seen talking to a child of the mistress?" Eunjin had asked, her voice dripping with disdain. "Father doesn’t like it. You’re only inviting trouble."

Jaehyun had been hesitant, but he didn’t argue. From that day onward, he kept his distance, just like everyone else.

The isolation Y/N had felt in those days had been unbearable. The few moments of kindness from Jaehyun had been crushed, and with it, her hope of ever having a genuine connection in the royal family.

As Y/N sat now, trying to make sense of her feelings for Jongseong, she couldn’t help but wonder: Could there be kindness hidden behind the icy wall he built around himself? And if so, would she ever be able to reach it?

Chapter three

The next few days passed in a blur. Y/N couldn’t shake the memory of her brief conversation with Prince Jongseong. It lingered in her mind, reminding her of how different it was from the usual cold silence she received from him and everyone else.

She spent most of her time in the garden, drawing, trying to lose herself in her art. It had become her escape—her sanctuary from the world that always seemed to ignore or look down on her. Even the wind felt gentler as it brushed past her, as though it understood her need for solitude.

But despite her attempts to focus, Y/N kept finding herself looking toward the courtyard, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jongseong or the others.

She hadn’t expected him to approach her again. After all, he was just being polite the last time, wasn’t he? A moment of kindness in a sea of indifference.

But what if it wasn’t?

It was late afternoon when Y/N sat on a stone bench beneath the large oak tree in the garden, her sketchbook open on her lap. The sun was starting to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. She was adding delicate details to her drawing of the garden when she heard footsteps approaching.

Startled, she looked up and her breath caught in her throat.

Prince Jongseong.

He wasn’t with the others. He was alone.

Y/N’s heart fluttered nervously, and she instinctively lowered her gaze to her sketchbook, as though pretending to focus on her drawing might make her less noticeable.

But Jongseong stopped in front of her.

“I see you’re still drawing.” His voice was as cold as ever, but there was something different in his tone—something softer.

Y/N didn’t answer at first. She wasn’t sure what to say. After a long moment, she looked up, her voice barely above a whisper. “I enjoy it… It helps me think.”

Jongseong nodded, his gaze drifting down to her sketchbook. “It’s... impressive.”

Y/N blinked, taken aback by his compliment. She wasn’t sure if it was his way of being polite or if he truly meant it, but the fact that he had noticed at all made her feel warm inside.

“Thank you,” she murmured, trying to hide the sudden rush of emotions she felt.

There was a brief silence between them, the kind that Y/N had become accustomed to in the presence of anyone else in the castle.

Then, unexpectedly, Jongseong spoke again. “I’ve noticed you… I mean, I’ve seen you around the castle before, but we’ve never really spoken.”

Y/N looked up, her eyes wide. “W-What do you mean?”

Jongseong tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “You keep to yourself. Always drawing. Always alone.” He paused, his voice softening just a little. “It’s... different from the others.”

Y/N’s heart sank slightly. She didn’t want to feel pitied. “I don’t mind being alone,” she said quickly. “It’s just easier this way.”

For a moment, Jongseong didn’t speak. He seemed to be considering her words carefully. Then he crouched down beside her, close enough that she could feel his presence but far enough to give her space.

“You don’t have to be alone, you know,” he said quietly.

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat, unsure if she had heard him correctly.

Jongseong met her eyes for the first time since their conversation had begun. His gaze was intense, but there was something in it—something genuine—that made Y/N feel both vulnerable and safe.

“You’re allowed to have friends. People who care about you,” he continued. “Even if they’re not like the others.”

Y/N felt the lump in her throat growing, the weight of his words sinking in. She had spent her entire life believing she didn’t deserve any of that, that no one could care about her in the way he was suggesting.

“But…” she started, her voice shaking. “What about my... my family?”

Jongseong’s eyes darkened for a moment, but his expression remained steady. “They don’t define who you are, Y/N. You’re not your mother’s daughter or Eunjin’s sister. You’re yourself. And maybe that’s worth more than you think.”

Y/N couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Prince Jongseong, the cold and distant figure she had always feared, was actually speaking to her like she mattered.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and for the first time in her life, she dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, things could change.

Before she could say anything else, Jongseong stood up. “I’ll leave you to your drawing,” he said, his voice returning to its usual calm tone. “But I’ll be around… if you need anything.”

Y/N watched him walk away, her mind racing. The words he had spoken were still echoing in her head, and her heart beat faster with each passing second.

Could it be possible? Was there really a chance for someone like her to find a place where she truly belonged?

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Y/N stared at the fading light, a new sense of hope blossoming in her chest.

Hubbbyyyyyyy hehe💗🙌🏻

Enddddd....for now dw

So do we love it ??? If you do tell me, so I was thinking I'll make like 10 chapters for this fanfiction, but if you guys don't like it that much I'll get it done faster and start writing something else, SO LET ME KNOWWWWW✨✨

LOVE YA GUYSSS BYEE 💗 !?

[graceisinthelibrary]

@sunsetinyork asked for a drabble for the prompt "You hair is tangled". I'm not sure, what follows is what she had in mind, but I tried anyway.

It was the kind of chaos that ensued, when a cat afraid of an injection went berserk, and a rat, eager to explore the world, escaped his safe cage. 

Surgery had been busy with several dogs, two chickens, a macaw called Bertram, and two cats. Bimbo and Betsy. The cats were siblings and lived on a farm in the outskirts of Darrowby. While one of them was shy, but still enjoyed a treat and a good cuddle while being examined by Siegfried, the other one was much more suspicious of the man in the white coat who tried to lure her with something that smelled like tuna, but definitely wasn’t. She conducted herself like a martyr. Siegfried, despite being swift and used to handle cats, got himself clawed by her. He hissed and couldn’t get hold of Betsy. So she managed to jump off the table and dug her claws into the blinds of the big window…  

About the same time, Audrey was in Siegfried’s study and dusted the shelf in the corner. With lovely precision she cleaned every token, every picture, before she noticed that the Vonolel wasn’t in his cage. 

The cage door stood wide open and the rodent was gone. “Golly!” A closer look revealed an incriminating trail of hay and crumbs spread beneath Mr Farnon’s desk. It led out of the study into the hallway. Audrey swallowed. Surgery was almost empty now, the last client inside and from the noise coming from the front of the house, she doubted the rat would have tried to run there. These creatures were clever after all. And they liked food… 

“My pantry,” she whispered to herself. Dropping her feather duster, she quickly turned into the hallway and rushed into the kitchen, her eyes firmly fixed on the floor. Every now and then she saw a piece of hay that confirmed her suspicion that the clever pet had indeed been on his way into the scullery. 

As she entered her domain she stopped and held her breath. The kitchen, so it seemed, was empty, the dogs thankfully not around. They were used to Vonolel of course, but she had no idea how the three would get along if they were about to meet each other in the wild without protective elements like a corral. 

She looked under the table, checked some of the cupboards and the basket. Vonolel was nowhere to be seen. 

The pantry. The door was ajar. She had no choice but to enter it to look for Mr Farnon’s beloved pet, but she had no desire to touch the rodent. She had learnt to accept him, yes, she even didn’t mind his presence, and she freely admitted the rat was quite cute. With his little face and his whiskers he were a good looking chap, but he were still a rat… 

She straightened her shoulder and pushed the door open. One look was enough to find out where he was. 

“You’re as subtle as Mr Farnon,” she said, crossing her arms over her shoulder. The rat gazed back, expectantly and, that’s how she interpreted it anyway, a bit mockingly. 

Vonolel was sitting in the middle of shelf where she kept the cheddar beneath a cheese dome and a big ham that had been the payment from a farmer for services rendered. Since he wasn’t strong enough to get under the dome, he had nibbled at the ham. 

“You aren’t fussy, are you?” 

Telling herself to be brave, she stepped forward and quickly grabbed the rat with both hands. A shiver ran down her spine and she didn’t really dare to look at the small, soft creature in her hand. His fur felt surprisingly warm and exquisite. She half expected to be bitten by him, but no such things happened. If anything Volonel rubbed himself against the palm of her hand and sniffed. His whiskers tickled a bit. She did her best not to squeeze him, because she feared she could break one of his tender bones. 

As the rat didn’t make any attempts to escape, she carried him out of the pantry and her kitchen. The passage and the corridor had never seemed to be that long before. Ages seemed to have passed before she finally reached the examination room. The door was now open and she marched in without even looking if a customer was still in. 

“Mr Farnon! You’ve got to close that blooming cage or that rat of yours will soon become an ingredient for…” dogfood, she had wanted to say. Instead she gasped when she saw Siegfried standing at the window, the back of his hand bleeding, his hair astray and everything that had once been cluttered over the desk at the window was now scattered over the floor. But she had only eyes for him. 

“You’re hair is tangled,” she said, somewhat dumbfounded, Vonolel still in her hands, close to her chest. 

He stared back at her, disheveled, in pain, and absolutely astonished she was holding the one pet in the house she usually gave a wide berth. 

“What happened?” They asked in unisono. 

Yielding precedence to her, he leaned backwards against the desk. “I were cleaning your study and the cage were open. Found him in the pantry…” Under his scrutinising eyes she finally dared to look at Vonolel who was curiously sniffing at her pinny

“He likes you,” Siegfried said, the expression on his face pleased, almost in awe. 

“Because I smell of food. I’m afraid he ransacked the pantry.” When he made no claim on his rodent friend and just smiled at her, she felt how she blushed and changed the subject, “And you?” 

“I became the victim of a cat,” he replied. “It’s nothing.” He looked at the back of hand, where the cat had dug her claws into him. 

“Just give me a moment,” he added and went to the sink to wash his hands. 

“That wound needs a bandage,” she said when he carefully dried it with a towel. “You won’t take him with an open wound.” 

“I’ll be fine,” he assured her, but obediently put a pad on the back of his hand and secured it with a tape before he asked her to hand over the rat. 

“Did Mrs Hall treat you well?” He asked playfully as he put the rat on his shoulder. 

“Mrs Hall’s ready to read the riot act to the both of you if you don't lock that cage and make sure he stays inside! Imagine one of the dogs would have found him!” She tried to aim one of her angry looks at him, but the sight of the rat on his shoulder, climbing around his neck was too precious. There was also this daring curl of his hair that was falling into his forehead that completed the scene. 

Siegfried eyed the rat on his shoulder and said, “She’s angry with us, which means she’s worried about you. That’s a good sign! I told you, the two of you would become friends eventually.” 

“Daft apeth!” She scolded him, knowing she was actually smiling. “Can I leave you along with this mess or do you need assistance?” She prompted him, pointing at the mess on the floor. 

“We will be fine, Mrs Hall, but thanks for offering…. That is…” 

She arched her eyebrow. “A cup of tea…maybe?” 

“I’ll see what I can do about it.” With one last look at Vonolel who was climbing down Siegfried’s chest, looking for a place in his white coat, she turned away and mindfully closed the door behind her. On her way back into the kitchen she couldn’t stop smiling and when she poured Siegfried a cuppa, she added a piece of shortbread to his saucer and a tiny piece of cheddar for Vonolel. 

[umbrelladripdrop]

Here's a bit that I scrapped from chapter 11 but thought was funny:

Dabi finally lets the smirk grow on his face as he raises his hands in mock surrender at Jason, “Chill out man. Just wondering who the chick is.”

Jason’s face falls as he just, stares at the man.

He stares at him very hard.

“Uh, you know? The redhead who’s taking us on a tour of this place or something?” Dabi says with a nod in the direction the girl had gone and disappeared around the corner having not waited or at least not noticed they’ve stopped, “You seemed pretty friendly with her so…”

Holy shit the guy’s being serious.

“You’re a dumbass, you know that?” Jason says with a mix of annoyance and sheer disbelief, “If you don’t know that then I’m taking it up as my civic duty to tell you that you are, indeed, a dumbass.”

“What- no,” Dabi sputters as Jason continues to stare at him with a completely deadpan expression, “If anything you’re the dumbass here seeing how you’re the one who went and got all buddy-buddy with the person who kidnaped up.”

“Who’s kidnaping people?” Says Danny’s sister who is suddenly right there standing next to them.

Jason’s sad to admit that if he didn’t know how to hide his surprise through years of Cass sneaking up on him he would have jumped out of skin there, and the fact that he was comparing this random teen to Cass of all people was something he would never live down if any of his siblings found out. 

He’s going to blame Dabi for it, Jason was distracted by the man’s stupidity after all.

Speaking of Dabi-

“HOLY FUCK!”

-the man didn’t seem as well trained in the art of not looking like you got the shit scared out of you by the sudden appearance of someone who was not there five seconds ago.

It didn't quite fit with everything so I took it out but still, is funny.

I changed Dabi's name so that people who haven't read the fic this was almost a part of (Fic name: I died and all I got was this lousy group chat) wouldn't be confused. And by that I mean at this point Jason was still referring to Dabi as Crispy for reasons that make sense if you know the fic.

Jason also doesn't know Jazz's name so he only ever refers to her as 'Danny's sister'. Jason is walking around clueless while also trying to act like he has everything under control. Spoiler, he really doesn't.

[megapteraurelia]

sibling!bokuto.

a/n | i thrive writing bokuto in silly situations being absolutely silly

“HELP ME, i don’t know where i put my— woahh, holy shit,” bokuto koutarou paused in his sentence as he entered your room, his focus suddenly on something entirely else. wide mouthed and a pointer finger digging in your face, he screeched, much to your chagrin, and you thought about kicking his shin, “when did you decide to become a miscreant?!”

“what the—” you pushed away his hand and went to sit in front of your commode to work leave-in conditioner into your hair, “first, how do you even know that word? second, you ever heard of knocking? third, why the hell do you think i’m some kind of criminal?”

“your ears, duh,” he looked at you like you were stupid, which was rich coming from your brother, “you’ve got, like, a bajillion quadrillion piercings in there.”

you stared at him through the reflection in your mirror, hands stilling in your damp hair, and at the accusing glare he pinned your way, apparently offended that you hadn’t decided to share your resolve to switch to the lawless side of living with him before you went and did it.

“since when do any amount of piercings make anybody a ‘miscreant’? also, don’t use words that are smarter than you. it creeps me out.”

koutarou flashed you a grin, his hands stemmed on his hips, and you watched him pose in front of the mirror when he caught his own reflection, ridiculous faces pulled at his double biceps, “it’s okay to be jealous of my vocabulary, dude.”

“akaashi-san taught you, didn’t he.”

“yep!”

you swatted his hands away when he reached out to touch your hair, either to mess with it or to help you, which you’d rather not have him do in either case. the amount of knots you had to work out of your messed up hair last time was more than enough for a lifetime and gave you enough material to have proper nightmares from. bokuto koutarou with a brush and a hairband could stay faaaaar away from you.

“either way, kou,” you flicked his hands away again, and he lightly kicked your chair in retort, “something as simple as ear holes doesn't make anybody a criminal. it’s like saying that everybody who has dyed hair is going to rob a bank or something.”

you sent a pointed glance to the white-grey strands on top of his head, and his eyes followed yours through the mirror to his own reflection and the spiked artwork he had fixed his hair in. the way his face froze in a surprised, almost scared, grimace was the pinnacle of humour in your book, and you couldn’t help but start giggling to yourself.

“oh god, i’m going to rob a bank,” he groaned, the heels of his hand digging into his eyes as he fell to his knees, “fuck, and i don’t even have a plan yet!”

your laughter transformed into a full-blown cackle at his despair, and you heard your mother yell up to you from downstairs to “tone it down you two!”

[forsaken-headcanons]

Just decided I'll drop some of my killer (mainly Kidd) headcanons cuz why not?

- C00lkidd was one of the survivors once, his dash ability could easily be him avoiding "being it", and brick.... He could probably throw like a ball to push killers back or something (or throw items to other survivors? idk)

- During one of the matches however, kidd and his dad were running away from killer, when 7n7 used his clone to get away, but kidd didn't notice it so he thought he was still running with him. 1x1x1x1 then got the clone, still blurry from Unstable Eye, and when approached by C00lkidd, she said that his dad was just very tired and will come back later (They then proceed to take C00lkidd with them and by being exposed to so much corrupt energy, kidd eventually got somewhat corrupt himself)

- Guest 666 is probably rather nice to C00lkidd, being almost in a sibling-like relationship

- 1x1x1x1 (specifically Betrayed) is like a parental figure to C00lkidd. Although not perfect, he still tries their best to make sure kidd's basic needs are met (it's canon they let C00lkidd play with their zombies sometimes)

- Jason is just straight up mute. He will prob leave creepy ass handwritten notes all over the place just cuz he doesn't really have time to sign (What?? Put down machete just to say something?! Blasphemous!!)

- John Doe, mainly based on what I read as canon iirc? Is just. There. He doesn't even talk to other killers, despite being more than capable to. He doesn't attack them at least ig, but C00lkidd is still horrified to hell and will start straight up sobbing if put anywhere near John.

- 3 of the killers so far (at least based on my designs/specific skins) all seem to have a theme going on. Their right eye being messed up, and you can see some of their ribs(or what looks like it) sticking out.

- M

007n7 really went to get the milk with that one.

Anyway, love these, I really really do. Keep cooking.

[yukidragon]

Is Ian capable of brainwashing Alice?

He is desperate enough though

That is quite the intriguing question there. I think it all depends on what your definition of brainwashing is, how far Ian is pushed by guilt, and how much his mind degrades into dangerously unhinged yandere desperation to fix things and have Alice back. It can also depend on the AU. Mafia AU Ian for example - at least the version of him that has angel wings - would be intimately familiar with tactics of brainwashing and indoctrination by his mother.

Real quick let's throw in a Content Warning that this post contains talk of brainwashing, past child abuse, religious trauma, abusive/toxic relationships, yandere obsession, and generally unpleasant controlling behaviors.

Ian is no stranger to indoctrination even in the regular universe. He suffers from an abusive upbringing where everything he did or desired was labeled as wrong and sinful. His mother wanted to control him, and she exerted her influence into everything he did or even thought.

In a way, abusive relationships can rewire someone's brain to be dependent on that person, similar to brainwashing.

The sad thing is that this can create a cycle of abuse where someone who grew up being abused winds up modeling themselves after their abuser, whether intentionally or unintentionally. This can lead to them inflicting similar forms of abuse on their friends, partners, children, etc.

This sadly is what happened to Ian in his relationship with Alice. While Ian wasn't using religious doctrine as a weapon like his mom did, there were other behaviors he wound up unintentionally copying. His mother was the master of the guilt trip, making Ian feel horrible for the slightest thing, as if everything he did without her explicit approval was sinful, wrong, and hurt her deeply. Ian internalized those feelings of guilt, quick to take blame, cry, and apologize over and over again.

Over time, Ian was trained into internalize his mother's words, which left her with power over his behavior even after he moved away and tried to cut contact. His mother's flying monkeys would pass along her guilt trips and shaming in order to weaken his resolve so that he would fall right back under her control.

Alice did try her best to support Ian, but eventually that support turned into coddling him and enabling his worst traits. Ian always had to walk on eggshells around his mother or risk doing something wrong to upset her. Alice got to a similar point with Ian, having to be hyper vigilant not to accidentally send him into a depressed spiral of guilt. He made her feel terrible for the misery she unintentionally caused, much like how his mom made him feel miserable for upsetting her.

Even if Ian didn't cheat, their relationship would've collapsed eventually. His cheating ultimately was the catalyst to help Alice actually see the rot in their relationship that was decaying both of them. Ultimately, they weren't compatible. Maybe things would've been different if they hadn't grown up together to create an unhealthy enmeshment or if Ian and Alice saw a therapist or couple's councilor.

A toxic relationship can be hard to let go of, as it's familiar and there are good moments along with the bad. They shine so brightly in contrast to the darker moments. The highs are even higher when contrasted with how low the lows can go. This is especially true when you've known the person practically all your life. Ian didn't have anyone in his life besides his mother before Alice came along. Through Alice, he found a family as well in her siblings and parents who were much kinder and more like a family to him than his mom.

When Ian moved, he lost all of that - his partner and his almost family. He wanted to pursue a dream in acting, but he had been taught to be subservient and dependent. He struggled to have confidence in himself and relied heavily on the support Alice and even her family gave him.

In a lot of ways, Ian depends on someone who guides and takes care of him. He's insecure in himself and his own decisions. It took a lot of time for him to stop looking to his mother to guide him in the right direction and see that she ultimately didn't care about him, but about how she could control him. Alice helped Ian detach himself from his mother, but he wound up latching onto Alice for support to an unhealthy degree in just about everything.

Alice wanted to help Ian follow his dreams, and wound up giving up on pursuing her own dreams in the process. He needed her help, and often times that meant spending most of her time focusing on him and his needs. It's what led her to take acting classes in college when she wasn't really interested in that career path. There were countless school plays during elementary and high school that Ian was too scared to join unless Alice went with him. Alice enjoyed the time they spent together even though it was hard. She was happy that she could help Ian... but it took time and energy away from her own dreams and goals.

Ian even wanted Alice to go with him when he moved to his dream college, he was terrified of being left alone without her support to guide him, but that just wasn't possible this time.

Ian grew up leaning to obey his mother, and that influence left scars that still affect him to this day. Alice grew up as Ian's hero, his only friend and only escape from a toxic home life and a cruel mother. She was the only one to really encourage him to pursue his dreams instead of crushing them. The more he needed her, the harder it was for Alice to do anything on her own. He was so lonely and in pain. If she left him, then he only had his mother...

This wasn't an explicit lesson being taught to Alice. Ian didn't even realize he was conditioning Alice to pour so much of herself into him and their relationship. She was the hero that he needed in his darkest hour, and he made sure to let her know he was grateful that she was always there for him. He never hesitated to apologize for being useless, worthless, and in general not good enough as a human being. Alice would always hold him whenever he cried and supported him, built him up into someone he could almost be proud of. She was responsible for so many of his smiles, his confidence. If he didn't have her, how would he ever be happy again?

In a way, the conditioning inflicted on a person by a toxic relationship is a form of brainwashing. Abusive behaviors can be normalized to the point that the victim grows to believe that everything wrong is their fault, even they weren't the one who actually did something negative. Coming out of a toxic relationship can leave a person feeling like a fog is lifting from their eyes and they can actually see things clearly now that they just couldn't before when they were in the thick of things.

Alice, in a way, is trying to find her way out of the lingering fog in Sunshine in Hell. Breaking up with Ian was a big step in doing that, and it cleared the air a bit around her, but he wants to pull her back in with promises to change, apologies, and reminders of their enmeshment. He keeps bringing the fog back to her no matter how much she runs from it.

Change is scary and can make a person long for familiar nostalgia. They know what to expect in a place they've been for years, even if that place is a toxic relationship. It's a sweet, poisonous temptation that can be hard to resist even if you know that it'll destroy you over and over again.

That's why Ian keeps getting back in contact with his mother even after Alice helped him find the strength to block his mom and cut contact. He was just so lonely at the new college... at least at the start before he wound up making friends. In a way, trying to get away from his mother, only to give in and talk to her again is a familiar too.

Now, I know that learned behaviors like this aren't the same as intentional brainwashing techniques and outright mind control. I mostly highlight them to show that people can wind up programming others into certain behaviors, habits, and thought patterns, even unintentionally.

In a way, Ian has trained Alice to be a certain way - his partner, hero, lover, and biggest support. When she couldn't be those things for him after he moved away, he wound up seeking these things in others. Ultimately, he hasn't found anyone who is willing to sacrifice so much for him like Alice did. These new people in his life are fun and exciting, but he always wears a mask around them. He doesn't have to do that with Alice, and she always went out of the way to meet all his needs, even when he was denying them to himself.

Well, except sexually. Ian will never admit it, but he wasn't quite satisfied with Alice's body or the amount of sex they had. His internalized shame made it difficult for him to properly communicate his wants and needs without immense guilt. It was all too easy for someone bolder - someone whose body type matched what he found attractive - to sweep him off his feet and excite him in ways that Alice simply couldn't.

Guilt brings Ian back into his mother's clutches. Guilt leads Ian to denying his own desires and chase after Alice so that he could have his support back. Love is complicated, and familiarity is safe. These relationships might not be exactly what Ian wanted them to be, and he's becoming a worse version of himself in them (though he won't admit it), but there is comfort in familiarity.

As I mentioned in the love and sex post, all the love interests are big on consent. Brainwashing someone takes away that consent. Ian would have to be broken pretty badly to convince himself that it's justified in order to get Alice back.

The groundwork is there though in the years that they've known each other and the habits they've formed. Ian wants to take the two of them back to those days where he and Alice were together and she was his biggest support. They used to only really have each other, with no other friends who wanted them. Him waxing nostalgic about the moments where she helped him the most are reminders of those years of conditioning. It's almost a form of brainwashing, unintentional but still trying to change her mind.

This would be the thread Ian would follow to lead him down a dark path to outright brainwashing. Little justifications nudge his morality just a bit at a time, moving the goal posts further and further on what is sinful and what is for the best. For the longest time he'd be in denial that's what he's doing or that he's crossing lines he can never uncross. In his mind, he's just reminding Alice of how much they mean to each other, how much he needs her, and how they belong together.

Any sin Ian commits can be forgiven if he repents. He just needs to be forgiven, and only Alice can give that to him.

In the AU where Ian walks down the yandere path to poison Shaun and assault Alice with an unwanted kiss after stalking her to her home... Brainwashing would be an obvious eventual step. After all, she doesn't want to be with him anymore, going so far to say she doesn't love him anymore. Even when he finally has her in his grasp, she won't be what he needs her to be.

Ian doesn't want Alice to be scared of him. He doesn't want her unhappy. He just wants her to love him! He needs to have her back the way they were before. She simply forgot that this is what is best for both of them, like he did when he cheated. He simply has to remind her of just how much she loves him, how happy they are together, and how much they're meant to be together.

So, yes, in the right circumstances, Ian can convince himself that brainwashing Alice is necessary. He doesn't see it as rewriting her mind to mold her into whatever he wants - he's far too deep in denial to admit that - but just "reminding" her of what they used to be. He's making amends for all the ways he hurt her, and when she finally forgives and loves him again, everything will be right again.

Ian already did such sinful things that committing more acts of sin can be justified as long as it leads him to the path of absolution and forgiveness from the person he's hurt over and over again.

In the Mafia AU, Ian has been more exposed to brainwashing techniques and having it normalized. His mom has brainwashed many people into her cult after all. He knows that such methods are wrong, but so is this city and all of its sin. Forcing someone to join the flock is "justified" as long as they are "saved from sin" in the end.

Of course, Ian isn't ever going to get the chance to brainwash Alice, no matter how warped his state of mind becomes. Jack isn't going to let him put his hands on her ever again, not in the Mafia AU or any other universe. As you might recall from the yandere Ian post, Jack was quite successful in quickly eliminating the threat that tried to steal his sunshine away. Mafia boss Jack isn't going to let angel Ian get away with that nonsense either, and he has the resources to back him up.

So, yes, under the right circumstances, Ian is capable of resorting to outright brainwashing Alice. He just has to have his mind and sense of morality to completely corrupt beyond repair. Fortunately, he won't ever get the chance to get that far with Jack around.

The closest Ian will get is using their shared memories and Alice's weak spots to guilt convince her to come back to him. Even then, Jack is going to interfere as much as possible and make sure to strengthen her resolve against Ian. Not to mention all the other people who care about Alice and want to help her cut contact with Ian for good. Shaun, most of her family, and other friends will support her and weaken the influence Ian had over Alice that made it so hard for her to break out of the unhealthy mindset that keeps her from totally freeing herself from their toxic relationship.

@channydraws @earthgirlaesthetic @sai-of-the-7-stars @cheriihoney @illary-kore @okamiliqueur @kurokrisps

[the-one-and-only-aroace]

Older siblings love to pretend that everything is about them and that younger siblings for some reason like their praise being an excuse for their parents to complain and not actually about them

[kizzer55555]

Core Gems

So when a ghost becomes injured, they have a last ditch defense where they retreat into their core. And I mean, injured badly where their body is rip apart to the point they can’t hold a solid form anymore. And they basically go into a hibernation state until they are strong enough to form again.

Ellie, Danny, and Dan are all injured in a final battle against the GIW. The organization was destroyed and the ghosts were safe but the halfas ended up being so injured that they reverted to core form and then went to sleep for a bit. When they woke up, they were still weak but at least recovered enough to gain consciousness. And realize…they are in some kind of auction…in the middle of a heist. It appeared that two furries (one in a bat costume and one in a cat costume) were ducking it out. And they…they were a necklace. All three of them had been turned into a necklace with their cores as gems accompanied by sapphires, pearls, and opals. And frankly gorgeous craftsmanship as the metal was crafted around their cores as if to cradle them and the other gems.

Unfortunately, they were too weak to take a form properly, they could still feel the strain on their bodies. But at least they could still communicate through their auras. Then the cat lady punched a hole in the glass container surrounding them and grabbed their necklace.

However, the bat grabbed the other end and it resulted in a sort of tug-a-war. Meanwhile, Danny, Ellie, and Dan were having a back and form commentary on the situation and what they should do. Completely unheard by the other party.

In the corner of their eye, the three halfas finally noticed a third contender. Some kind of clown who was…hold on…holding a gun?! And it was pointed straight at the two fighting furies who had yet to notice him. The ghosts’ protective instincts went into overdrive and they frantically tried to shout, yell, move. Just do something to warn the two but their cries fell on deaf ears. All they succeeded in doing was faintly glow which immediatly caught the attention of the fighting duo. The two turned to look at the strange necklace but right at that moment, the clown fired and a gunshot rang throughout the auction room. Having no other options, Danny and the others poured every ounce of ectoplasm they had to try and phaseshift, making the two furries intangible as the bullets passed right through them, but in their shock, the two jumped away in opposite directions and accidentally ripped the necklace apart. Gems and pearls went flying and the three cores bounced along the ground.

Luckily, the two finally noticed the clown and went to deal with him and his minions who had appeared. Seemingly putting their fight on hold and forming a temporary truce. The three halfas could only watch as the battle finally wound down, ending with the cops barging into the place and arresting the clown and his grunts, the cat managing to escape with half the scattered gems and pearls from the broken necklace along with a few other jewelry pieces (none of their cores though) and the bat leaving through a skylight.

The auction continued and in the end, despite being broken, their necklace seemed to have caught someone’s interest. A man named Bruce Wayne bought up every piece of the shattered jewelry wear. The auctioneers appeared relived that the item managed to sell in the end and gratefully gave it to him.

Bruce had no idea what happened at the auction, but he could have sworn that some of the gems faintly glowed right before he and Selina were shot. If the necklace was some sort of magical item, then he needed to understand exactly what has been brought to Gotham. It was unfortunate that Selena had taken some parts of the necklace but he utilized his vast wealth to make sure all the other parts ended in his possession. Now he would take them back to the mansion for examination.

[bvckbiter]

fandom talks too little about hylla and reyna. reyna killed her father when she thought he'd killed hylla. hylla dragged them out of puerto rico and found them sanctuary and employment on circe's island AND became one of circe's favorites. then when they got captured by blackbeard hylla also got them out of that situation by out-pirating literal immortal pirates. then in a span of three years, they split up, found their own ways to the amazons and cj, and became the leaders of their respective factions. when hylla's queenship was being threatened by otrera in son, she plotted a counter-coup and defeated an amazon queen who couldn't die two nights in a row in one-on-one combat, THEN led her cavalry to camp jupiter. (ik this woman slept like a corpse for a week afterwards). hylla used reyna as an absolutely ruthless bait-and-switch to capture orion, and all reyna said in response to that was, "bet." reyna carries insurmountable amounts of both guilt and gratitude towards her sister. even though they havent seen each other in a while, hylla still drops everything and does everything in her power to save her baby sister when she knows reyna needs her.

[xxplastic-cubexx]

Fam and i were passing a sock shop and we saw a cyclops one and In Devious Union my brother and i said ‘cysocks’

[sparklecryptid]

I had no patience for people policing other peoples ships before i went to library tech school and library tech school has make me a little bit pissy about the entire thing actually.

[whatudottu]

So I’m reading through your ideas for Ben 10 and seeing the “cliquey and territorial cerebrocrustaceans” one is making me realize how absolutely hysterical it would’ve been if at the beginning of Alien Force Brainstorm was incredibly kind and affectionate towards Gwen more so than Ben usually is meanwhile he’s just disgusted by Kevin’s entire existence.

Brainstorm: “Oh, Gwendolyn! I have a surprise for you! I witnessed you express an interest to see a feature film that has recently debuted, so I decided to purchase two tickets so that you may go and see it with a colleague of your choosing! And there’s no need to worry about refreshments: I’m more than happy to lend you the proper fare required for you and your chosed companion to purchase all of your favorites!”

Gwen, genuinely put off as Ben’s never been this nice to her before: “Umm…thanks?”

Kevin: “Hey Ben, do you know where the bathroom is?”

Brainstorm: “T H E  G R O U N D  U P O N  W H I C H  Y O U  S T A N D.”

(Of course, as Ben gradually warms up to Kevin, Brainstorm eventually grants him one of the highest honors he can bestow: permission to touch him without needing his consent first)

Oh hell yeah this got me cracking up!

Ben 10 rarely ever explores the differing psychology between Ben’s humanity and all the aliens he does transform into- well, save for Rath that is! Sure, the smarter aliens he transforms into affect his intelligence, but academic IQ is a completely different ballpark to social instincts, and the idea that Brainstorm who - being a cerebrocrustacean who’s social evolution centres on a severe in-group vs out-group - would interact quite differently with his peers than in his human base form.

Hah, Gwen may be confused and perhaps slightly off-put given Ben - while affectionate and caring of her - isn’t quite so open and hmm… what’s the term… considerate? Attentive? About her interests that he’d spend the money on them for her. At least for the sake of their present closeness Brainstorm wasn’t on 10 year old Ben’s playlist, Gwen would have been on the outest of out-groups you’d need to have been a criminal actively harming him to get it worse.

*looking at Kevin* Ah right yes, that criminality- Kevin would HATE Brainstorm like it was personal, even after Ben the human gets to trust him more and drop the suspicions. Would probably groan whenever he shows up again, it’s almost like Kev treats Brainstorm like an entirely different person (in a similar but opposite way Ben sees his transformations as people), even after he becomes part of Brainstorm’s in-group. Can’t handle the saccharine :P Understandable-

[hadesoftheladies]

hate going for christian weddings sometimes because i always see the prettiest women with the ugliest men, the sermon is always some shit about wives being slaves (but not like bad slavery, mutual slavery except the husband is a benevolent master which makes it okay) and making babies for their husband, the music is always lame, the mc is always weird and obnoxious, and older women keep fucking asking me when it's gonna be my turn and never take no for an answer.

[queenofthursday6599-blog]

You know, when I think about Arcane I can't help but think about the fact that I'm not a huge fan of how Vander handled things.

I mean his heart was definitely in the right place, he wanted to protect his children and his people, but to be honest there were moments where I felt like he was very confidently doing the wrong thing.

Specially in a child rearing sense. Now I just want to put it out there, that we the audience are shown a biased depiction of Vander.

Just about every scene he's in he's surrounded by his people who (mostly) look to him for protection, his children who adore him, or his enemies who are literal drug lord gang leader bad guys and corrupt policemen. Who are not humanized by the story until after his death.

For one there's Vi's pretty obvious eldest daughter syndrome, which Vander does nothing to try and curb. In fact I feel like in most of their scenes together Vander is treating this unhealthy dynamic as Vi being her sibling's leader and that she therefor needs to take more responsibility for them.

Even though I feel like Vander teaching Vi that way of thinking caused a lot of problems for all of the kids.

Sure it's great when your kids can work together, but there shouldn't be a pecking order among them, and if there is you shouldn't encourage it.

Vander fully expects Vi to take responsibility for Powder(which makes some level of sense considering she's 4-ish years younger than Vi), but also Mylo and Claggor, who are both the same age as her.

Meaning that if Vander trusts Vi to look after herself (and Powder) I feel like he should be able to trust Mylo and Claggor to look after themselves.

Vi should not be saddled with the responsibility of being in charge of her siblings, who are literally the same age as her.

If Vander is going to be reprimanding Vi for getting into trouble, he should be getting on to Mylo and Claggor just as much.

Sure Mylo and Claggor mention that Vander is going to be upset, but it's very obvious that the majority of the responsibility rests on Vi's shoulders.

Which, sure they look up to Vi and listen to what she has to say and what she thinks they should be doing.

But if it's to the point where Vander thinks it's gotten to the point that they will literally blindly follow Vi into dangerous situations because she said so. Then I feel like it's time for Vander to have a sit down with the rest of his kids and have the very important "Thinking for yourself" talk.

It's- You can't raise your children to just blindly follow their oldest sibling their entire life, and raise the oldest child to be the caretaker of the rest of their siblings their entire life.

Yeah, Vi needs to think things through a bit more, because the other kids look up to her a lot, and will go along with whatever her plans are, because they think she knows what she's doing and they trust her.

But also the other kids need to know how to assess things for themselves, rather than just blindly follow whatever it is Vi says, no matter how much they look up to her.

Like this man fully thinks that his 15 year old daughter, who clearly has problems with her temper and being impulsive herself, should also be responsible for her two adoptive brothers who are functionally the same age as her [one with a pretty obvious superiority/inferiority complex], alongside her younger sister who already has problems of some kind of anxiety.

Mylo and Claggor are just fully not held to the same standard as Vi in spite of being the same age, and literally getting into the exact same trouble. Their choice to go along with what Vi planned, is put onto Vi's shoulders when it shouldn't be, because if Vi is old enough to know better in Vander's mind, so are Mylo and Claggor.

If it was just Powder I could somewhat understand. She's younger, more impressionable, she idolizes Vi, she's not as strong or fast as the other three and if Vi forgot that at some point Powder could have gotten left behind or hurt.

You know the general "You need to be a good role model for your younger sibling because they look to you for guidance" stuff.

Like the fact that Vi feels the need to fight Piltover in order to secure a better life for Powder in Act 1 tells me so much just how parentified Vi is when it comes to Powder's care.

Which I do think originated from before Vander adopted the girls, to be fair to Vander. Vi gives off the vibe of looking after Powder having always been her responsibility.

To be unfair to Vander, I don't think he did anything to try and undo Vi's over responsible and over protective mindset when it came to Powder after adopting them.

[you-will-return]

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(I keep telling myself that I won't post it and then I don't and then I feel annoyed with myself but I tell myself that I shouldn't post it and then I don't and-)