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kerizaret · 6 months ago

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1, 7 12 and 15 for tsukasa? :>

1. Why do you like or dislike this character?

Why I like Tsukasa is a question that would require a whole ESSAY. He was the first character I got introduced to snd really got to know - i started the game with wxs main story and right before his torpe event started so it was the first event i really played - and I have a tendency to get attached easily. As in, the first character I get attached to is most likely going to stay my fav throughout everything. Not always but often

There's also just something about him being this. Really well done mix of funny, stupid, impulsive and mature, caring, with a heavy sense of responsibility. You can laugh at him or with him but you can also empathise with him or feel his love and care for others, almost like he's comforting you too. It's the onii-chan vibe. I'm not gonna start dissecting his entire character right now, but I also really appreciate his growth - even within the main story itself but throughout all the events mainly. The way he's growing more open with his feelings - both his own and those for his close ones - and becoming more confident, while also acknowledging his mistakes and LETTING himself make them and grow with them, correcting them and moving on. He's both a fascinating character from story and development point of view but also just has the kind of development I like

And don't get me started on his dynamics with other charscters - that are both fun and fascinating and just. So full of love and passion and care and also silliness. What can I say. You just can't be bored with him

There's also the fact he and I also share some similarities or traits, so it's easy to identify with, and consequently grow closer to him often. He's not my biggest kin or anything, and there's plenty that makes us different, but some key values we agree on. If that makes sense. And there's also some things I just admire in his character that i wish I had, could do. And so. I just. Admire him isn't the right word but I can't find a better one rn? Something of the kind

Anyway yeah just. He's awesome. Stupid loser. I hate him

7. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you like?

I REALLY like the idea of kasaverse. It's so fun! There's so many different like, versions of Tsukasa from various of his plays/events/sets and all and they all have certain characteristics attached to them and can somehow feel like a separate and the same character simultaneously

I like that there's certain traits of tsukasa that those various "versions" of him represent, some widely accepted by the fandom or some just unique to each fan. It just feels like they're pieces of his personality separated from him and shaped into a smaller piece of himself that you can study in this form, and if you piece all those various tsukasas and their personalities together, that's when you get the full tsukass tenma. It makes him feel so.. developed? Idk how to say it. Its just awesome

I do like to imagine that each different tsukasa from the kasaverse is representative of some trait/part/dream/etc of his in a more exaggerated(?) way. Like you probably noticed I love making hinakasa have the Big Bro Tsukasa vibes ×100. I do feel like hina is just this. Representative of Tsukasa's older sibling caring side more than the others, especially seeing what event he came from. In a similar way Torpe highlights his calmer yet dedicated side - I also like to imagine torpe as the part that gets embarrassed by too many compliments (like that scene with shizuku in pandemonium). Knight can be loyalty, can be determination. Fighting tooth and nail for that happy ending. King is that charisma, ability to bringing people together, the leadership. And others. It's just fun to imagine

Also it just fits the method actor vibe SOO well

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

You know, its stupid. You know that moment when you're asked something and. Immediately forget everything you know on the topic? Yeah.... I know i have many I just never have them on hand when needed... Ironic

He's a mama's boy. He's also very close to her right after Saki and loves to spend time together and buy her gifts and help her out at home. Also his canon bedroom is a lie because he obviously has shining in the dark stars on his ceiling like saki and drawings/sketches and many many photos over his desk and plushies on his bed. Colopale is just a coward

Has freckles and thick fluffy hair but you can see that from my drawings. Always has some kind of bruise from practice on him that he never remembers how he got. He's an early bird that also falls asleep very easily and usually early too, on a schedule. Often dreams but quickly forgets, so he always writes those down as quick as he can in the morning for future reference or exchanges their dreams with Saki over breakfast

Always has to do something with his hands, especially when frustrated or nervous. Especially enjoys playing with others' hair. Had a tendency to bite his nails, so saki taught him to paint his nails to prevent that. Currently has wxs colours painted nails as ordered by emu just as the rest of the troupe. Also knows how to braid hair and do makeup thanks to Saki. Enjoys baking a lot and sometimes stress bakes things. He can't swim very well

Also a silly thing but we know hes bad at games overall but he's actually a master at playing word games. Especially Scrabble, with that dumb vast and complicated vocabulary of his. You cannot tell me Tsukasa "I am valiantly trying to confront this unscrupulous spider preventing me from enjoying my luncheon" Tenma would not win at Scrabble (I have an old comic on that)

Idk ahshfjshs 😭

15. What's your favorite ship for this character? (Doesn't matter if it's canon or not.)

I'm gonna be honest recently it's been harder to choose between all polysho tsks dynamics, but I'm gonna say ruikasa because it's the first ship I got introduced and attached to, by the friends who introduced me to the game. And just. the TRUST man. The TRUST

They've got both a funny and deep dynamic and big influence on each other ever since the beginning that can't be denied. I won't really talk much about then right now but I just simply appreciate the way they push each other to be better, to keep trying, to give their all and not hold back, while making sure the other doesn't stop taking care of himself and is aware he's believed in and trusted. Also they are just two insane weirdos who do stupid shit together and it's funny

Yeah :3 I kind of went overboard and gave quite the long answers so I hope they make sense AHDAHA

Thankie for the ask lynnie!! I hope you're doing great <3

#asks #lynnie tag #keri rambles #tenma tsukasa #silly guy. explode him #funnily enough i was at first very insistent on the platonic-only rks when i first started playing #but a friend of mine who introduced me to the game more (also a tsukasa fan) inteoduced me to the ship and talked a lot #and jt grew on me

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vesemirsexual · 1 year ago

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An interesting point relevant to your post about TWN and how the fandom translates Witcher lore into them being idiots and incapable of most things is that its actually a direct reflection of how they perceive and try to represent people who are more introverted, socially repulsed or have conditions like autism.

I'm autistic, and the traits I share with Geralt as we see him in the show are almost dumbed down and considered bad, weird, animalistic, ect by the fandom. How people treat me in real life is very similar to how fandom treats Witchers in fanfiction.

Changing their behaviors and understandings for certain plot points and story themes is fine, but this kind of thing irks me most in meta-focused fanfiction and analytical posts. Especially those pretentious posts where people with absolutely no education in behavior or psychology analyse the show and its scenes and spit out all this glittered turd that borders on ableist and offensive.

Sorry for the slow reply to this, I've been sitting on it because I wanted to formulate a good response (unfortunately my brain sucks though)!

It's really interesting you say that, because I have ADHD and PTSD and I often find the crossover of symptomatic behaviour often gets the same response. I think a lot of people identify with the ally label when behaviour can be packaged into a cute little funny anecdote or online meme, but when it's in a greater context people don't know what to do with it, or don't identify it as the same thing. I've seen people talk about autistic Geralt before, and I would really love to see someone do a thoughtful analysis/breakdown.

It's definitely irritating though. I think Geralt is one character in particular that has definitely been taken out of his original context and altered so many times that I see an interpretation and I'm not even sure that's the same guy. Fandom culture really loves to choose specific characters that become everyones favourite Guy that they project on, while forgetting that when you put it back into context it sometimes is a lot uglier than you may have intended it to be.

There's a handful of really popular tropes that make me wince, and range anywhere from uncomfortable to actively making me raise an eyebrow. It's...an interesting thing to try and discuss or unpack.

#sorry i rambled but yeah!!#reach out if you ever need to vent bc i get it #katie txt

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austajunk · 2 years ago

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Hi, I hope you had a lovely Christmas yesterday or any holiday you celebrate on that day.

I just wanted to say that your latest post really resonated with me, I first got into dangan ronpa at 16 years old by a friend who told about it and I’m now 22 years old meaning it been one my comforts and hyper interest for overs six years. It been interesting because like you my friend lost interest and we drifted apart until we were no longer friends and I did other meet with who enjoy the games but they two got bored of the topic over time, although I have other interests such Pokemon, Digimon and other games and I love talking animations and films. It just funny how this game series has been with me for over 6 years but I don’t regret it because it one the reason I got the courage to start posting my art online and one my first fandom I talk to people, yes it rocky here or there but I had a lovely time sharing my art and improving my art.

Sorry for the rambling but as a fellow autie or autistic adult, it really hit home ha ha I made jokes in my head telling dr so are gonna leave yet you done and it like nope I be staying rent free in your mind. I will say my love of dr focus more dr2 because that the one I most attached to. Yes,drawing the silly chef make my brain happy but that’s okay. Also I’m bit shy when sending an ask publicly.

ps enjoy what you love and enjoy your art, whatever make happy and keeps a smile on your face.

Hi there!

First of all, I hope you had an amazing holiday too. It was a fun time. Made homemade peppermint patties, I got a few Murder mystery board games. It was a good time.

Secondly, I’m really glad someone related a bit to how I felt too. The thing about hyperfixation is that a lot of it makes me feel powerless. Being obsessed with something and hyper focusing on it in real time to learn all its ins and outs can be so fun. It helps you find friends in other fandoms and such. But then, when it’s all you can focus on, you start to alienate people around you without even realizing that you’re doing it. People are genuinely polite and they don’t want to cut you off. And by the time they tell you something is wrong and that you’re driving them away with your interests, it’s too late. They’re gone.

And like… it sucks. It’s a hard truth to swallow and I really struggle trying to be more about other people. I want to be more open about that since I’m an adult who has now reached her 30s. I think it’s very valid to admit that I’ve struggled with this my whole life. I’ve always wanted to relate to others, to find and keep friends and then be validated for my interests. But last year, things came crashing down hard.

A former friend wrote me an entire three page letter on my flaws and a good portion of that was about my hyperfixations and how I don’t listen or hear them. And it drove them away. I felt utterly crushed and I think from then on, I had been trying to lessen my love for DR.

Ultimately, I just don’t think it’s a good thing to lose what makes you happy in the world. Even some silly piece of media. Or even just a character you identify within a piece of media. Of course, we can’t bombard the world with it as much, but those things that we obsess over are still for us too even as we’re trying to improve ourselves and work out our issues: neurodivergent or otherwise.

Danganronpa is a series that I think has a lot of love put into it by its creator, writers, artists, musicians, and fandom. I think that’s really freaking rad. I think it’s characters have something for everyone. I think it’s heavily flawed, but also vibrant and brilliant. I think it’s revolutionized murder mysteries in gaming and visual novels as a genre. That’s awesome. I don’t want to ignore how I feel about that.

Thank you for your words and encouragement. I really do feel that in my heart and I appreciate you and your art as well. No one draws a cuter TeruTeru than you! :3

#danganronpa #personal junk #blog stuff

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scoobydoodean · 2 years ago

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Curious since everytime i see your blog you place yourself as some sane anti bullying saint, what exactly is the point of sharing a post by someone solely complaining about who is reblogging their posts, i doubt the wincest tag was used ofcourse, they likely went and checked the blogs and are monitoring reblogs then had to make a declaration of how sick they are bcz someone rebogged the post. Is this not unfandom behaviour? If someone starts whining about interaction best thing to do is ignore ofcourse and they are entitled to say what they want and interact how they want (perhaps shouldn't run such a neutral public poll but whatevs) instead of provoking or sharing but anyways till this point what's your intent of haha so many wincest blogs on that post. Your entire blog is so reactionary as a dean stan and its fandom faction its just so weird to me how your entire stick is complaining about stans. But whatever. It just very much seems like an invitation to bully blogs for reblogging and existing.

Hi. I never intend to cast myself as an "anti bully saint". I try to be thoughtful about what I reblog and post, but I have absolutely come up short before, as we all do. I think we can all try to do better and be more thoughtful all of the time.

I make fun of stans, yes—including at times Dean stans and JA stans (who are very adjacent to my space). I find SPNblr and its many various little segments fascinating to explore in their depravity and complexity and everything. Sometimes SPNblr is hilarious, sometimes it's embarassing, sometimes it's toxic, sometimes it's utterly unhinged. I like to explore it with my telescope and my compass and my map. Regular old Dora the Explorer over here.

Speaking about all our various groups in general and certain elements in them (with no names, no identifying info) is very different from targeting individual specific people and their posts by screenshotting them to mock them behind a person's back in a circle, or sending people hate mail. Wincest shippers have received a lot of hate in the SPNblr space, but that does not make them a protected class who I am not allowed to talk about in a general sense when they Do Things™️. Among some wincest shippers, there is an extreme amount of cognitive dissonance about what exactly some of the other people in the space are like and a naive belief that conduct is always appropriate in that community, and that is simply not true.

All of that said, let me tell you what happened in the christ-figure bracket, because I was there, Gandalf—before OP erased the evidence of what was going on. OP made a single post expressing discomfort, which I thought was funny. I reblogged it because I thought it was funny. It seemed to me based on their tone, that OP was approaching the situation with humor. I may be wrong about that. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ However, the reaction to what they said was over the top from some individuals. I think a lot of people didn't see what went on however because OP deleted it pretty fast, but I did see it because it was still there on my first reblog.

In the notes of that post, there were, in fact, several wincest shippers fucking with OP trying to get themselves blocked on purpose. There were 3-4 reblogs with gifs and/or text referencing wincest including something to the effect of, "I hope Sam got Dean to fuck him on Easter Sunday". These things were stated in an attempt to mock and upset the OP and bait a block. I reblogged the same post again talking to my friend in tags, and said, #prev#there were so many wincest shippers on that post when I reblogged it. OP blocked them all now. Pretty funny.#but also sorry op RIP inbox/notifs. When I said that, I did not mean wincest shippers just existing on the post and reblogging things and getting blocked for it. I meant some wincest shippers intentionally trying to upset the OP with what they were adding to the post. By that point, OP had blocked those accounts. Then someone sent OP some fanfiction. I'm not sure if that occurred on the previous post or was DM'd to them. This got Sam kicked out of the christ-figure poll entirely. This is both extremely funny to me, and also I think a deserved outcome for the people who were being Like That™️, who did happen to come from the wincest community.

#mail #wincest mention cw #incest mention cw #<-quoting something said in particular under the cut #fandom history #also:#hate mail #<- forgot to tag before for wank sorry

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crescentmoonrider · 5 years ago

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for the character meme I'm gonna ask uhhhhhhhhhh ceasar, sanji and reigen (ofc you don't have to do all of them jebcjdbcj)

I know it’s you pika, don’t try to hide [ask meme here]

Cesare

How I feel about this character

I love him so much ! Why did you have to die bubble man, why couldn’t you overcome the Zeppeli tradition of dying for a jojo,,,,Anyway, I find him really compelling, as a good but also very much flawed person, and as a parallel who tries too hard to be a foil to Joseph. Also him being 20 in 1939 means he essentially spent his entire life in fascist Italy, and I know we all like to pretend real life history doesn’t exist in jojo, especially in Battle Tendency because like. Stroheim. But the part of me that’s stuck in academics wants to explore how fucked up Cesare would be by the historical context he grew up in

All the people I ship romantically with this character

Joseph, pretty much. I like to think Cesare “no strings attached ever” Zeppeli woke up one day, saw Joseph’s sad attempts at eating breakfast with his mask on, and had a “oh fuck, really ? really ? him ???” moment

My non-romantic OTP for this character

Lisa Lisa is his mom and he would die for her (oh no)Also Suzi Q. They’re best friends. I’ve got this whole headcanon that she comes from the Trentino region and she taught him German at his demand. They bonded a lot during these lessonsI feel like in an AU he could really bond with Pucci (from Stone Ocean), to the never-ending suffering of literally everyone else. They’d have passionate discussion on religion and how to deal with being catholic and queer

My unpopular opinion about this character

He’s a gay man desperately trying not to be found out, so he flirts with as many girls as he can in public. He doesn’t actually have any interest in them

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon.

I wish he hadn’t died

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Sanji

How I feel about this character

I greatly enjoy his fighting style and story and also like. He’s a cook. I love cooks. I cry every time I think about his childhood and how much Zeff means to him. I Do Not enjoy the way he acts around women. It’s a mixed bag. I want to love him but then he goes and looks at a girl

All the people I ship romantically with this character

Zoro, more or less exclusively ? Sanji is the kind of bisexual disaster who falls for almost everyone he meets, but it’s very rarely reciprocated

My non-romantic OTP for this character

Luffy, because Luffy is in a qpp with his entire crew and probably like, half the pirate worldZeff is his dad

My unpopular opinion about this character

It’s not unpopular to say Sanji needs to get his act together, but I don’t have a lot of other opinions on him so

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon.

I wish he wasn’t such a piece of shit when it comes to okamas. And women. But by god the Okama Island mini-arc was. Hhhhhhhhhhhh

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Reigen

How I feel about this character

Good Mentor !!! He gave me standards for mentor types and I both thank and resent him for that. Wonderful honest conman, does his best, incredibly relatable as a young adult

All the people I ship romantically with this character

Serizawa, I think we can all agree their dynamic is super compelling and they help each other growI can get behind some good Dimple/Reigen too, though I like them more as shitty friends

My non-romantic OTP for this character

Mob is his son. Teru is also his son. Tome is his daughter. Reigen is just cruising through life finding children he can mentor and honestly ? Good for himAlso mentioned earlier but like. Dimple and him are shitty friends who keep sniping at each other but also they Get each other

My unpopular opinion about this character

He’s not a father figure for Mob, Mob is his son figure

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon.

I wish he’d interacted more with Teru and Ritsu. Teru because that kid desperately needs some parenting, Ritsu because I just. I just want Ritz boy to bitterly have to bear with Reigen’s bullshit and/or tear him a new one

#yumi got asked stuff #anon #caesar zeppeli #jojo #sanji #one piece #reigen arataka #mob psycho 100 #its funny how i can identify people by the fandoms we share #but also my fandom experience is highly curated so i have no idea how popular or unpopular my opinions are #if i even have them

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keagan-ashleigh · 2 years ago

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I have some new followers so I guess it's time to do another little presentation post 😌

About me

Hi! My name is Keagan, but also Clémentine (my birthname - you can use both, you can call me Clem too). I am currently 34, I live in France (in the south), and I am a graphic designer and illustrator - and hopefully in a couple months aspiring web designer 🤞

I am a proud bisexual & greysexual (I'll often just say "ace").

And I am nonbinary: I think genderfluid - I identify as woman sometimes but many other times this just makes me feel like it's not really me, it doesn't quite fit. I identify sometimes as a woman - I identify with what women experience also, I am a feminist and my experience is one of a woman, and although I don't identify as woman most of the time I feel to be part of it - and most of the time as nothing at all.

Edit, I forgot the pronouns : she/they (elle/iel or ael in french); I don't have preferences, but I've been called "she" all my life and very rarely experienced being addressed with "they" so I'd really like people to use it more. 😊

Also I am disabled: I am autistic - not diagnosed yet but I have just started the process of getting it diagnosed. I also have dyscalculia, and chronic pain (my squeleton is sliiightly crooked, not much but enough to cause me immense pain 🥲 - in knees, back, and hips) - I also have generalised anxiety disorder and depression. And I am short-sighted and I have tinnitus, and a couple other things.

I have been touched by a bitch of a fairy at birth I tell you 😂

I am very open about all of this so if you happen to need someone to talk to about those subjects, I'm here, I can't provide answers but I can share my experiences.

About my blog(s)

I have a blog for my art here: @keagan--ashleigh ; both are me, I've just put an extra dash as to not confuse people when they see 2 usernames interacting with them 😅

I have been on this blue hell since 2012, at first I had an aesthetic blog but it very quickly became a social justice blog, and I created a side blog (this one) for fandoms, at first mainly spn, then BBC Sherlock, and although I kept the title and decorum it returned to its multifandom/multisubjects state.

I also talk about other subjects occasionally, it's not a one-subject blog, I often blog & reblog funny stuff, social justice, etc.

I occasionally post in french but I have associated Tumblr with english strongly - I will maybe introduce a bit more of french in here idk.

I usually liveblogs Eurovision, the past years I have been doing that on Twitter bc it's hard to livetweet and liveblog at the same time but if twitter goes down I'll come back here lmao. And on twitter I also sometimes livetweet Top Chef in french but I might to that in here as well if I can't on Twitter idk - is there an audience for that here idk 😅

Most of my french specific stuff where on twitter, like I said I have associated tumblr with english and international stuff, and I don't know how I'll gonna get my french internet experience back in tumblr, we'll see but maybe you'll see more of my french specific stuff in the future, or I'll make a third side blog idk yet.

Worth to note I have a tagging system on both my blogs - and I tag the spoilers (unless for some reason I forget).

I often vent in the tags - it was, in this regard, better when ops couldn't see the tags in their notifications :o) I feel exposed now 😭

My ask box is always open.

About fandoms and opinions

My fandoms are: BBC Sherlock, Supernatural, Marvel, Our Flag Means Death, What We Do In The Shadows, Good Omens, Doctor Who, etc

My favorite ships: johnlock, destiel, Aziraphale & Crowley, lokius, nandermo, gentlebeard, 13th & Yaz, etc

About opinions and discourses:

I am a ship and let ship kind of person but that doesn't mean I approve of everything. I will never use the terms proshipper/anti because those words have been bastardised and the definition changes everytime I see it show up - so it's better if I just tell you what I like and don't like: I do not like incest ships, I do not like pedo ships, I am not against the fact of writing about those things but I don't like them being romanticised and glorified even. And no I don't think "it's ok because it's fiction" - whether it be fanwork or else what is written or shown in fiction has an impact on the real world, always, in a positive or negative way.

I will not engage in discourses about that though because it is tiring and useless.

I will not engage in ageist discourses either because - yes I think it's stupid to say fun has an end for people when they reach 30 but time will prove ageist people wrong and it's just sound stupid to me to have fights with literal kids over this. I'd rather enjoy my shit in my corner and not bother or be bothered by any of this.

I see a lot of ageism and condescendance from older people as well and I don't like that, being young doesn't mean people's inputs and opionions are wrong. About the fact joy must end at 30, yes, but cutting the discussions short (on various subjects) with "young people are so prude now / they don't enjoy anything/ yadda yadda"... no. No let's not do that. Times are changing and maybe some things we thought were ok then are not ok now and before we shut them up I think maybe we should listen and question what we think is true, let's not become the boomers of this generation ok, let's keep our minds open and be critical of ourselves first, we might at worst expand our worldview. And of course it goes both ways. Respect goes both ways.

At large, I will mostly enjoy my stuff and not engage with negativity, i do not have the mental health to deal with that, if people are wrong let them be wrong in their corners. Not saying I will never engage in any sort of argument but I'd rather stay away from most (especially those 2 I mentioned). I will never stop criticise mofftiss and Sherlock s4 though 😂

I also do not like ship hate.

I am uncomfortable with shipping real people but I am not against it of course do as you please as long as you don't overstep & be rude with the real people you're shipping.

And also, if I see someone implying a real person is "queerbaiting" because they appear queer & bully them into coming out I will virtually slap you in the head, ok, real people don't queerbait, period.

Last thing: I stand with the L, the G, the B, the T, the A, and all the other letters of that beautiful acronym so if you don't include trans people and ace people: please begone. :)

And also I try to be inclusive, I will not overstep and speak above other communities but I will try my very best to listen and forward those people's voices. I will not engage in discussions/arguments I am not meant to be a part of. I will try my best to take my part in making bigots feel unwelcome.

This blog, and all my accounts here and elsewhere are meant to be safe spaces for LGBTQIAP+, POC, disabled people, etc.

About me (again) - hobbies & creation

I happen to make fanarts, and I write fanfics and ficlets, I also do fanplaylists. Writing is one of my hobbies beside drawing, I also do photography, and I have recently started sculpting too. I love creating stuff so I often make little things, like I can sew, craft stuff, I do bullet journaling, etc.

Like I said I'm a professional artist, you'll find all the infos on my other blog but basically : I draw fantasy art, mostly women and feminine people.

I love science (astronomy and astrophysics in particular), arts, cats (I have 4), animals in general, I love music (I have eclectic tastes, I like rock, metal, classic, pop, jazz, etc...), I love to read & watch movies and shows (also eclectic but I love SFFF and horror the most).

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Voilà, I guess it covers the basis of who I am and what this blog is. Welcome and I hope you enjoy the ride (if you don't it's ok, just don't be rude). 🥰

#about me #know your blogger #presentation post #my posts

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parachutingkitten · 4 years ago

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Y'all suck at dissecting Kai's character, so I guess I have to do it.

And I'm not even a Kai stan. He's a bottom tier ninja for me, which I guess means you can trust me, cuz I'm not biased, but also why am I the one doing this? I don't know about y'all, but recently on my dash, the method by which Kai fans try to make him sound good is... saying the writers hate him, ignore him, and that he isn't written well? Which... I mean there is a little bit of truth to, but like yikes guys, is this the best you got? Kai is a wonderful character with plenty of attention from the writers, a meaningful piece of the cast when put in secondary rolls, fairly consistent character writing with actual progression and valuable qualities that help the team without having to be the smart one- despite what some posts might tell you.

Let's get one thing cleared up: Ninjago isn't the best written show. By high level Hollywood standards, most the character arcs are kinda weak or too heavy handed, character consistency can be iffy, and most things serve the plot rather than the characters. There is no character you can point to and say "wow, this character is written so well! No complaints!" Nya and Jay were butchered by their weird love plot, Cole's one season doesn't actually give him an arc, Zane's been nothing but the robot numbers guy for like 10 seasons now, and Lloyd seems to be incapable of doing anything but relive the same one piece of dad angst for depth. Sorry, it's true. All the characters suck when you look at it from a large scale writing perspective. So when I say Kai is well written, I mean by ninjago kids show standards- cuz that's the scale we're working on. No, you couldn't drop Kai into a well written drama, but as far as ninjago goes... he's got a lot going for him, and by no means is he the biggest victim of poor writing.

(fair warning, wall of text below)

The title is a bit disingenuous. There are plenty of good Kai character break downs. What I am presenting here is a more positive perspective. On the whole, I will tend to give the writers the benefit of the doubt, and credit for what they do right writing is hard guys. That's what I'm doing here. I don't see much sense in getting mad the writers on behalf of Kai, or any other character. Ninjago is a simplistic ensemble show that works because of the identifiable simplicity of its main characters with some deeper layers hidden underneath if you keep watching. They've given us a damn good show with some damn enjoyable characters, so here are some criticisms I feel are a little flawed:

First, let's get the 'focus' thing out of the way. Apparently there are people saying Kai doesn't have a season yet? Which... what? I mean, I get that the pilots aren't a full season, the first two seasons, though he is the central protagonist, aren't "Kai seasons" as we've come to define ninja focus seasons, season 7, though he gets majority focus, he shares with his sister. But like... did y'all just forget about season 4? You know, the season where he had the title card, was on the box sets, got the love interest, and the majority of the A-plot? not to mention it's the best season don't @ me Like... if season 4 isn't a Kai season, I can make a damn good argument that season 3 isn't a Zane season, and I doubt anyone wants to go down that rabbit hole. I really can't wrap my head around this one. And I get that the fandom hates season 11 for some reason, but like you can't just pretend it doesn't exist. Kai has a consistent arc across 30 episodes in which he takes his powers for granted, loses them, and learns that, not only does he have value within the team without them, but that his element is intrinsically a part of him that he reclaims, bringing them back more powerful than ever, and with new respect for them. That's one of the most solid arcs in the whole series- the location is even thematically connected to his element. That's some good stuff right there! (Quick plug for season 11 if you haven't watched it in a while. Give it a rewatch, you might be pleasantly surprised)

Not to mention the writers give him fun side stuff all the time. Lots of fears of tech and water to overcome, a deep protective streak with Lloyd, becoming a chancellor, having a true potential actually relevant to the plot as a whole, blacksmith responsibilities, befriending dragons, hanging out with his dad. Not to mention actual focus stuff we haven't talked about yet, like his whole "my dad is evil" phase, and his "I might be evil" phase with him and Skylor. And on top of that, even when he doesn't have an explicit side plot, he's always just a fun and dynamic side character to make jokes or give exposition.

Now, into character stuff. Let's start with Kai's hot headed-ness. Some people say he's been loosing this quality, and I will admit, that's true! But those that claim this makes him inconsistent... I strongly disagree. In early seasons, Kai's temper would lead him to snap at his friends or make stupid decisions that set the team back (see episode 2 Zane freak out)- these are bad things. These are character flaws, yes? Now, in newer seasons, people say that he's inconsistent, cuz sometimes he'll be hot headed, and sometimes he won't. I'd say, this is exactly how being hot headed... works? It flares up without warning, and as an individual gets control of it, it'll pop up less and less often because they're channeling it into productive things - like say directing the anger towards an enemy (see season 11 end freak out). Kai has gained control of a character flaw, and though it still pops up on occasion, the fact that it's a once in a while kind of thing speaks to his growth. I have a little brother who has this exact personality, and watching him grow up, I can tell you, this is how it is. He used to snap all the time, and he still does sometimes, but much less frequently, because he's a more mature person with better control of his emotions. This is a good thing. This is overcoming personal flaws. This is progression we're seeing.

And while you're hyper focused on this one aspect of him, things like his cocky confidence haven't changed a bit. I mean, that season 3 bit between him and Pixal, and his season 11 "fire maker" streak have the exact same energy. You can not convince me otherwise.

Another adjacent quality that hasn't been dampened is Kai's impulsiveness. This can be a good quality of his, he'll get into a fight without thinking, getting the jump on the enemy. Good stuff. But, this has become such a well defined trait of Kai's that it has been used in a comedic capacity. This is what happens when a character is extremely consistent to the extent that both the audience and the characters in universe would be able to predict their actions. Kai's impulsivity used to be a more serious quality that put himself and others at risk, and was a big power move whenever he did something rash, but it's become such a staple of the show that it's now being used for comedy. That isn't Kai's impulsivity going away, that's Kai's impulsivity being recontextualized for the sake of the show. The season 9 "Who's stupid enough to jump on that thing" isn't a joke at the expense of Kai just for being dumb, it's a joke at Kai's being so predictably impulsive that everyone already knows he'll be the one to put himself in an insane amount of danger without thinking twice (you know, something stupid that might get him killed). But because in this instance, the danger is warranted, this is bravery. It's a complement to his character- it's what ends up defeating the colossus. Why are some people so bothered by this joke?

Oh right, cuz for some reason people want to peg Kai as the smart one? Look, Kai isn't stupid, none of the ninja are. All of them have smart moments (all of them have dumb ones too) and Kai can certainly handle himself, but "smart" is definitely not one of his defining characteristics- I think some people are confusing smart for his actual strength. Connected to his impulsivity, Kai has very good simplistic instincts. He sees the big picture and looks at the most surface level solution- which when the situation calls for it, that does indeed make him smart. But the same logic that led him to think "This snake has a glowing target on its head, lets hit it" also led him to think "I'm in a video game, therefore I am immortal." Are you really going to look at me and say he figured out Lloyd was the green ninja through logical deduction and a careful consideration of the facts? No. He had a gut feeling, and he trusted it. Instincts- instincts paired with his impulsive following of said instincts is what leads him to solve problems- and sometimes, that can be extremely effective. This goes for other ninja too. Jay isn't the smartest ninja- I would really only classify Zane and Nya as having intelligence define them (hence their ship name). But Jay is extremely creative and crafty. He also knows his was around mechanics, and as such, this will lead him to come up with creative tech based solutions which are smart. But, idk about you, if I had to point to another ninja as being 'dumb' it would 100% be Jay. Kai is a lot of things. He's passionate and determined and confident and persistent. He's a good improvisor, he's powerful and he's charming! These are all wonderful qualities, he doesn't also have to be the smart one. I am the worlds biggest Pixal stan, and she's a smart, sassy, powerful character, but I'm not gonna sit here and tell you she's also hilarious and adaptable and strong willed. She's a straight man to all the ninja's antics, extremely tied to her samurai x suit, and lets people push her around all the time. That doesn't mean she can't be funny, or self interested, but when she does act these ways, it stems from her other more prominent qualities. That make sense?

And while we're clearing up what Kai isn't, please stop characterizing Kai as an overly protective brother - especially romantically. The only two times he's been romantically protective to Nya are in Wu's Teas which I mean, come on and in the pilots when Jay is literally a stranger. For crying out loud, by the end of the pilot, he's smiling when Jay and Nya hug. That's not overly protective, that's just normal, any reasonable person would react this way, protective. And it's such a great stereotype break for a kids show like ninjago, having an older brother who actually trusts his younger sister to be her own independent person who can make her own decisions. I mean, I guess it's fine if you HC differently but like... idk, I don't buy it.

Now, is there still room to criticize the writers? Yes. Hell yes. But not to an extent greater than any other character. Could he have had more of a defined reaction to events of the most recent season that I won't name for the sake of spoilers? Yes. But could Zane have reacted for more than .5 seconds at being an evil war lord for apparently 60 years? Yeah. Has Kai taken a back seat in the past 4 seasons? Yeah. But so has Lloyd- and he's literally the main character of the show. Not to mention two of those seasons have gone to people who had to wait over ten seasons to get one to themselves, and one of them is a 40 minute special. Kai's doing just fine.

Anyway. Kai is great. He's a fun, stereotype breaking, impulsively driven, ball of energy and confidence who gets a good amount of screen time and some fun side plots.

One last thing to clear up: no hate to anyone. This isn't targeted at anyone specific, this post has been a long time coming, I've just seen some weird overblown claims on various platforms over the past few months and I finally sat down to write about it.

I like the Kai content we have. After all, if the writers were really that bad at writing him, then no one would like him.

Wow this was so much longer than I thought it would be. Um... if you have other long winded rants you'd like to see from me... let me know I guess?

#ninjago #kai ninjago #kai smith #parachuterants #analysis #lets add this tag:#/lh

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hugh-lauries-bald-spot · 3 years ago

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Ohohohoho for the character ask Conseil and/or Ned >:)

I'm doing both because theyre both so blorbo

Ned -

How i feel about the character: hes so great, such a toughie on the outside and an absolute soft marshmallow of a man for the people he loves, i love my dense himbo man your honor hes just swell

All the people I ship romantically with this character: Ned x Conseil for the win!!! I love this pairing they make me unwell (affectionate)!!! the no chill x all chill, braincell x no braincell, THE can-class-fish-but-cant-indentify-them x can-identify-fish-but-cant-class-them, truly a superb ship

My non romantic OTP for this character: the ned-nemo hostility gets me every time they hate each other so much its so funny, like theres no respect here and i live for it

My unpopular opinion about this character: hes VERY SOFT when conseil is affectionate!!! also hes bi!!! (also conseil needs to be added to whale of a tale asap just saying)

One thing i wish would happen/had happened with this character in canon: just "i want to see more of this miserable little man" in general, and it never would have happened cause it was like the 1800s but i want to see him slow dance with conseil let me dream

Conseil -

How i feel about the character: LITERALLY BLORBO FROM MY BOOKS I LOVE HIM HES MY FAVE <3 hes so serious but also just so curious and cute and im in love with him and hes me

All the people I ship romantically with this character: again, NED x CONSEIL FTW TOP TIER YOU GUYS, they always show up everywhere together, and if youre me, theres an adorable and perfect height difference, they share a room DESPITE NO ACTUAL NEED TO DO SO THERES LIKE 200 SPARES??? AND THE FISH IDENTIFICATION if you havent read this book do it read 20000 leagues right now do it

My non romantic OTP for this character: his friendship with the gay adhd disaster himself pierre aronnax, i picture him just patiently listening like "mhm" as he goes on about nemo, gossiping about their serious ocean-men bfs, all of it their dynamic is awesome BROest of TPs (also no shit to people who ship them romantically. this is a small fandom we gotta support each other despite our differences <3)

My unpopular opinion about this character: SHORT KING CONSEIL FOR THE WIN HES A LIL GUY BOTH SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY i imagine him as like 5'8". Also when i was first reading the book my brain went "hes a short lil black guy" and i literally never looked back it just happened and i ran with it

One thing i wish would happen/had happened with this character in canon: i think ned should have taught him to play go fish or something and he needed it explained a few times cause i headcanon him as the books smart kind but kinda dense about everything else (this is pure projection)

#ask #thank you ive been wanting to rave about them forever #20000 leagues under the sea #ned land #conseil #ned x conseil

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picturejasper20 · 3 years ago

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My issue with Luz Noceda (The Owl House)

For those who have followed me for a while may already know that i like talking about The Owl House. It isn´t a show i talked about a lot but it’s still one in enjoy analysing.

Now,while The Owl House it’s a series i think is great there is one issue i have with the protagonist Luz Noceda: Her lack of real character flaws.

You see, Luz is a character that find enjoyable. She is funny, cute and a good person. She delivers some nice moments in the series and it’s hard to hate her. She has had decent character development since the Season One like opening up to other kids and learning to be more responsible.

My issue with her is that she appears to lack depth in comparison to the rest of the characters: King has his huge ego and insecurities, Amity has problems with her family, Willow lacked confidence, Eda and Lilith had their own conflict. What i mean is that Luz is overshadowed by the rest of the cast,who usually have more interesting conflicts going on than her.

I get it. Luz is the protagonist, that means that she has to be a good person and help everyone since she supposed to be the heroine. She is supposed to be easy for the audience to identify with.

Or does she have to be written this way?

This is when i talk about one of my favourite character protagonists, Rex Salazar from Generator Rex

For those who don’t know: Generator Rex was a series that aired in the early 2010´s. It was created by the company Man of Action. They are known for creating Ben 10 franchise too.

Generator Rex its set in a post-apocalyptic world were nanobots have invaded every living organism on Earth. A person is capable of turning into a mutant (E.V.O.) whenever they least expect. That´s when Providence comes in: They are in charge of controlling these dangerous mutants to protect the human population.

Rex Salazar is a human hybrid EVO that is capable of controlling the nanobots in his body to create gigantic metal robot body parts. He can also cure people or animals that have turn into EVO´s too.

Much like Luz Noceda, Rex Salazar is latino. He is both Mexican and Argentinian. His culture it´s important for his arc because he doesn´t have memories from where he came from and who his family is.

He is a very caring and selfless guy. He does what he does because he wants to help people. He is an empathic and nice guy.

But, on the other hand. he can be arrogant, very reckless, impulsive, doesn´t like following orders, can be a jerk and doesn´t think things through. He struggles a lot his not knowing his past. That makes him do certain risky choices to learn more about it.

Being a EVO hybrid, he stuck in this conflict between the EVO’s and humans. As the story goes on, Rex learns that EVO´s aren´t all bad and humans aren´t completely good either. There tons of episodes in the series that make Rex gain a new perspective on this conflict, understanding that its more complex that it seems.

What i´m trying to say it´s that Rex has a real character flaws. He changes a lot through out the series and does questionable things. He is a very interesting character. In comparison, Luz Noceda feels like she lacks this complexity that Rex has.

I could go a bit further and talk about other character i really like: Lilo Pelekai from Lilo and Stitich.

Lilo Pelekai lives in Hawaii. She isn´t latinx like Luz Noceda or Rex Salazar. I want to focus on her because she shares similarities with Luz Noceda: Both being POC girl characters protagonists of their own story and both are usually headcanoned to be neurodivergent by their respective fandom. They both have issues with fitting in with other kids too.

The difference is that Lilo struggles with understanding how Nani, her older sister, is trying to take care of her in the film and she sometimes does bad stuff like hitting Myrtle (its understable why she got angry at her) or not listening to Nani. She shows having PTSD symptoms that come from her parents´ death and she misses them a lot.

In Lilo and Stitch the series (yes,there is a series) Lilo sometimes does bad things to impress others. Like many kids at her age she can be reckless, selfish and impulsive. I think she is allowed to have more flaws than Luz has while still being a very nice girl.

In conclusion: Luz Noceda´s main problem is that she lacks real flaws unlike other The Owl House characters. This isn´t exclusive of Luz, some animated shows struggle with having interesting main protagonists too. I compare her to other characters (POC) that i think have more depth than she has.

The Owl House isn´t over yet, there is chance this may change in future episodes. We haven´t seen Luz confronting Camila about having lied to her and getting stuck in the Boiling Isles. There is hope for her character yet.

Note: If anyone wants to make a response to this post with another post talking about Luz Noceda´s character flaws and her development, you can tag me in your post and i´ll read it.

#The owl house #generator rex #Lilo and Stitch #luz noceda #Rex Salazar #lilo pelekai #character arcs #character analysis #Disney #man of action

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cannibalisticcorpse · 3 years ago

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5, 7, 10, 15, 22, 28, 33

5. What’s a tag you never want to use for your works even when it applies?

- angst i guess, idk im sure theres some i dont use but tagging stuff as angst always makes me go "but it wasn't REALLY" even tho the entire fic is heavy angst sjfjsdf

7. Your favourite ao3 tag.

- my favorite to read is soulmates au/soulmate-identifying mark or fake/pretend relationship. my favorite to tag stuff with is "dead dove: do not eat" because it's fun to type and my favorite in terms of how funny they are would be those "no beta we die like [fandom specific thing]" but only because that's sage's favorite tag :]

10. Top three favourite fic tropes.

- oh oh oh okay in this order (can you tell i love romcoms?):

soulmates

fake dating

wrong-number text fics

15. What’s your favourite plotless fic you have written?

- The Pumpkin Challenge Fic (gore + smut warning)

22. What is it about watching the same two idiots falling in love over and over again?

- ITS ABOUT THE FACT THAT NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE OR WHAT'S HAPPENED THEY MEET EACH OTHER AND THEY FALL IN LOVE. it's about the fact that these people are made for each other, and there is nothing they can do about it. it's about how they can hate each other at first as much as they want but once they finally understand that in this world every one truly is alone and and this One Person will ALWAYS be there for them. it's about knowing that when you're together you become the best (or worst) version of yourself and you help this person become that too. it's about knowing that you have a person to face this horrible fucking life with and they have you too.

28. Any writing advice that works for you and you feel like sharing?

- write what you can in a scene and come back to it. if you can write all the descriptions and actions, write that and add dialogue later. if you can write dialogue but nothing else, do that, come back to it. if you can just write what you want to happen in brackets then do that.

33. Give your writing a compliment

- D: uhhh...... making mcdonalds a reoccurring motif is fun? (if i have to think about my writing skill for more than 2 seconds ill delete everything i've ever written)

#oranaro #my meow meow #ask game #m!george

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iknowtheendnatural · 3 years ago

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okay in order for me to move on with my life and stop thinking about this I have to write out all the little things that have been circulating in my head over the last few days

so now that the dust has settled I have some thoughts and this may be a long one, and I have like 6 followers and no one really cares what I have to say anyways but lets go

I was initially really happy and actually cried a few times when Misha seemingly came out as bi, I myself am bi and have looked up to Misha for a very very long time and coming out is a hard hard thing to do I'm not out to most of my family and every time I tell anyone I'm bi its really fucking nerve-racking

It was nice to know someone I look up to also shared a home in the same label as me

and then Monday rolled around and shit kinda hit the fan

I was crushed

it admittedly was really funny at first and I do find everything and the situation absolutely hilarious but after it died down I just feel weird about the whole thing

like okay its no lie that throughout the years Misha has remained ambiguous about his sexuality never saying he's straight or bi or anything else but has alluded to being something other than straight

now I obviously don't know the man personally but I found it very hard to believe that he is straight and this isn’t me trying to say no he’s not straight, because he said that he is and I’ll go with that because that’s what he seemingly wants to be labeled

I've read a lot of other peoples takes on everything and I agree with a lot of what has been said, along the lines of maybe he has been questioning for a really long time, maybe he doesn't like labels and that's why he never specifically stated whether he was any certain label, maybe he's not sure and that's why he never said anything

I think that after this weekend and him saying what he did he probably didn't mean for it to be him coming out or specifically labelling himself as anything but it got picked up by the fandom (which I'm not blaming us or anyone really) and got to be big enough that news and magazine sites started to pick up on it

and I think that's when maybe he realized he has to assign himself to some sort of label in the public eye

and kinda like someone else had already said maybe he doesn't consider himself to be queer enough to be labelled bi or anything other than straight, because everyones takes on what's gay and what's not can be different and what one is able to label themself

I mean I still go back and forth on whether or not I’m bi which is ridiculous because I definitely am attracted to people who identify as male or female etc.

maybe he liked being ambiguous

maybe he was forced into finally assigning himself as something and felt that he had to assign himself as straight

now this is just my take and if he felt like he doesn't like labels maybe he would have just said that, or maybe not, maybe he doesn’t even know/hasn’t really thought too much about it, who knows maybe he is completely straight and that's fine but none of us could ever possibly know as we don't know him personally and he is a person who deserves privacy surrounding the intricacies of his life

I think more than anything the lesson out of this weekend should be that no one should assume anyones sexuality unless they explicitly say they are or are not something (which yes I know he did basically say he was bi) but still its just a lot and its a messy situation

I feel like the way that media treats queer people in our modern day society is not good

Sometimes labels can be a double edged sword

I find a home in the label bi, but I may not always feel that way, just as many times people may change how they label themselves throughout their lifetimes and that's okay

media today makes it seem like once you are in a box you cannot be anything else especially for the ones who are in the public eye once you say something it’s out there forever

like now if Misha ever thinks he may be anything other than straight, unless society changes(which I do think it is changing), right now I don't see how he could ever come out

idk that's just my two cents and so sorry for the long post but I just had to work out my own feelings on this situation

hope everyone has a lovely day:)

im gonna go finally do my homework now

#misha #supernatural #nixxie thoughts

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philliamwrites · 4 years ago

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La Belle Dame Sans Merci

Fandom: The Case Study of Vanitas (Mochizuki Jun)

Pairing: Noé/Vanitas

Tags: #vanitas pines for noé, #implied/referenced past rape/non-con, #implied/referenced past childe abuse, #blood and unjury, #angst and feels, #forehead kisses

Words: 3.7k

Summary: Vanitas can’t sleep so he does the only other thing he’s good at besides curing vampires from the curse: harass Noé. It escalates royally and doesn’t end good. No one is surprised.

La Belle Dame Sans Merci

Moonlight casts slim, silver lines on Noé’s face.

Sitting on the windowsill, Vanitas can see the slow and steady rise of Noé’s chest, a constant rhythm speaking of life. How he has survived until today is still a wonder to Vanitas. Only a few feet separate him from the sleeping, defenceless body—a body he knows all too well capable of pulling tense like a bowstring when ready to strike; an animal equipped with lethal tools to hunt and destroy. But Noé is a paradox of black and white, a pacifist at heart that opens up too easily, too quick. Why else would he be interested in someone like Vanitas?

Their conversation at the top of the bell tower is still ringing all too clear in his head, a memory he’d rather strip from his mind and drop in the deepest part of a vicious, dark sea. Noé is dangerous, because unbeknown to himself, he has worked a strange magic on Vanitas, pulling at invisible chains curling around his neck however Noé pleases. If Vanitas didn’t know better, he’d call it Fate, but she has abandoned him long ago to suddenly return like a sullen lover and beg him for companionship.

“Louis,” Noé murmurs, drawing back Vanitas’s attention, and no, he isn’t jealous, not in the slightest. He just wants to reach inside Noé’s mouth and rip that name out of him. He hates that even though Noé is easy to read like an open book, it turns out its pages are filled with enigmas Vanitas is unable to solve.

A little huff escapes him as he slides down the windowsill, his feet landing eerily quiet on the floor. Watching Noé snore undisturbed, he’s quite sure he’s met what must be the worst vampire of his kind. What else explains his utter lack of awareness of danger? Vanitas imagines slipping right next to him and sliding a dagger across his throat or put the barrel right above his heart, pulling the trigger.

He’s so easy, Vanitas thinks, barely holding back a scoff. In so many ways.

Noé shifts, and Vanitas stops, only noticing then he’s already crossed the room and has almost reached Noé’s bedside. And that’s another thing he can’t stand about Noé: He makes Vanitas do things impulsively, barely spending another thought if what he’s about to do is beneficial or utterly disastrous—no matter that, in most cases he is already moving, already talking, and it’s so aggravating that 80 percent of what he’s saying in a sentence starts or ends with Noé’s name on his lips. Like a blessing, like a prayer. Vanitas doesn’t pray, not anymore. He’s stopped long ago, and no God, Saint or Martyr’s promise of benediction would be enough for a reward to make him resume.

So they punish him, and surely Noé is just another part of what they hold in store for him. Another explanation isn’t possible, because why of all nights in which he has visited Noé, this time he wakes up, his warning only a little hum before Vanitas is met with a sleepy face and white hair adorably ruffled.

No, not adorable, he tells himself. Terrible. Annoying.

“Vanitas?” Noé’s voice is rough on the edges and thick with sleep. “You can’t sleep?”

Vanitas feels challenged to say, “No, watching people sleep is one of my many exotic hobbies!” but he’s tired and sort of really desperate for some form of rest, so defeated, he admits, “No, I can’t.”

Noé considers him with more regard, and Vanitas wonders what he thinks, watching him stand in his room, barefoot and with deep shadows under his eyes. Just the previous day, he'd commented that Vanitas wasn’t looking well at all, and he'd asked if they should rest for a while. Vanitas had pressed on even harder, refusing Noé another good look at his battered form.

The silence stretches before them like a lazy beast, unmoving but still ready to pounce any second. Eventually, Noé offers with a carefully even voice, “Do you want to know what always helped me falling asleep when I was a child?”

Vanitas scoffs. “No, I really don’t.”

“Good,” Noé says, either not noticing or ignoring Vanitas rolling his eyes. “Whenever I couldn’t fall asleep, I’d go to Domi’s room and climb into her bed. Knowing someone was beside me helped, and I can sleep much better with someone warm next to me.”

“My, do I look like a ten year old boy, barely able to fend for myself that I need to share my bed with someone?” Vanitas cocks his head to the side, squinting at Noé from under his black lashes. “And who would want to lie next to a rough sleeper like you, ending up as a body pillow for your serving!”

Noé arches a slim, white eyebrow and lifts his blanket. Vanitas stares at him for a moment, then moves towards him like a moth to the flame and crawls under the sheets, settling right next to the other boy. “What a splendid idea!” no one says, because it isn’t.

Noé is a furnace beside him. Whatever space Vanitas tries to bring between them, he immediately bridges, pressing his arm against Vanitas’s.

“Dominique is going to kill me if she hears about this,” he murmurs into the darkness, ignoring how Noé’s calf feels against his bare ankle. “If you so much as mention it to her, I will haunt you down and slay you.”

Noé hums as he turns around to face him, snuggling into the blanket. Vanitas tries to lie as still as possible. He imagines he is a rock at the bottom of a vast sea where he’s been for hundreds of years and will remain for another hundreds of years. It works until he feels Noé’s warm breath ghost over his cheek and in his imagination, Vanitas sees the rock carried away with the water current.

“She won’t bother,” Noé says. “Like I said, we used to do that all the time as kids. Me, Domi and—” The sudden silence feels like the air sucked out of the room so no sound can travel. Vanitas can feel his shoulders tense, his breath caught somewhere on the way from his lungs to his mouth.

Don’t say Louis, don’t say Louis, he thinks.

“And Louis,” Noé finishes quietly, another breath on Vanitas’s skin.

“Then we must be talking about a different Dominique,” Vanitas says, not indulging at all in the boy that’s written in blood on Noé’s tongue and hands. “But then again, you are her favourite thing, and she would do anything for you. Do me one favour, would you? Don’t invite me to your wedding.”

Noé makes a strange, curious sound, and draws his knees up to his chest. Vanitas tries to accommodate by moving further towards the edge but half of his body is already hanging off, barely covered by the blanket. He shivers and turns to his side, now facing Noé and notices too late what a terrible idea that is with only a few inches separating their faces. His eyes shift from Noé’s ears to his cheekbones and focus on where his lashes throw dark shadows on his skin.

“Wedding?” Noé blinks up at him. “Me and Domi? What makes you think that we would marry?”

“What makes you think you won’t?”

“Dominique is like a sister to me.” Noé hums another little, low note, leaning his head forward. Vanitas leans back. “No, she is the sister I always wished for. I love her as family.”

“Why, go and break her heart like that.” Vanitas sighs, faking a concerned huff. Either the soft fabric just under the tip of his fingers is his own coat or Noé’s pyjama, and he doesn’t dare moving to find out. “Or maybe you’re actually naive enough to believe she feels the same way.”

“Why wouldn’t she?” He can practically hear the other boy frowning. “I’m certain she too loves me as a brother. And should she ever decide to marry, I’ll surely be sad, but it doesn’t matter as long as she’s happy. I just know she’ll be a beautiful bride.”

Vanitas rolls his eyes, unable to believe such gullibility and there’s nothing he wants to do more than claw his way into Noé’s heart and see what makes him tick like that, what mechanics work to produce such a strange specimen like him. But before he can give back a snark remark, Noé suddenly asks, “What about you?”

“Oh, I would make a lovely bride, thank you for asking.”

“No, I mean marriage,” Noé says after a poorly restrained chuckle. “Are you considering to marry Jeanne?”

Vanitas’s mouth forms a little ‘o’ before he barks out a laugh. “What in Heaven’s sake makes you think that?” he says, pressing one hand against his forehead because surely whatever Noé comes up with now will give him the headache that’s asserted itself within him since their first encounter.

Noé is quiet for a moment, then whispers, “Because you love her.”

Vanitas stops laughing. The headache doesn’t come, it’s dulled by the strange tone in Noé’s voice, one he fails to identify. It’s like grabbing mist, the whitish mystery clearly visible but slipping through his fingers.

“That is a very strong assumption,” he starts slowly, hearing the edge in his own voice. “But tell me, Noé, do you see me as someone who is capable of loving?” Noé’s breath hitches, his answer clear to Vanitas before even spoken, so quickly, and with a voice dark and hard, like late-winter ice, he adds, “A vampire of all things?”

Noé’s breath hitches again, this time sounding like a knife stabbed into his side. It does something funny to Vanitas, makes his heart jump a little out of tact, and he feels a smile slowly forming his lips into a crooked line. His hand sneaks up from under the blanket and reaches to grab a white lock, playing a contrast of black and white between his gloved fingers.

“I don’t love, Noé,” he whispers, pushing his cheek into the pillow that smells of Noé. “Not you, not Jeanne. Not humans, and certainly not vampires. I only consume those of value to my cause.” Like you. Like Jeanne and that boy she holds so dear.

Noé seems to understand, but he doesn’t pull away from Vanitas’s touch, which speaks volumes of whatever this connection between them is. No, he slightly turns his head, nuzzling into Vanitas’s hand, and with a shudder Vanitas realises how vulnerable the inside of his wrist is just inches away from Noé’s mouth and those hidden teeth that can easily rip apart his skin.

In this short moment he begs to whatever deities currently punishing him that he would bite him. Because then everything would easily fall into place, and he could kill Noé without second thought; without remorse.

Silver lines return to Noé’s face, and Vanitas blinks up at the window, at the narrow slit showing the moon emerging behind thick clouds, making Noé look like a piece torn out of the night sky: silver and black.

“Ah, but it seems there is someone else who adores you,” he says, his voice rising to a playful, ironic tint. He nods his chin towards the moon, and Noé turns around and away from Vanitas’s hand, blinking into the soft light. Just for a split second, his fingers twitch—toward Noé’s throat, his cheek, his lips?—but he already pulls it back under the blanket, still feeling exactly where Noé has touched him even through the thick fabric of his glove.

“La lune?” Noé turns back to Vanitas, brows drawn together.

“Yes, the very one. But I don’t recommend giving into it. You can only go so far on a roof after all before you reach the end.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You don’t know the story? About the man falling in love with the moon. He climbed up to a roof to reach her, but well. I think you can imagine the end of that.”

“It sounds like the moon is a harsh mistress,” Noé says slowly, surprising Vanitas in joining his antics, even following his train of thought. “La belle dame sans merci,” he whispers. “Then you two aren’t so different.”

Vanitas raises an eyebrow. “Beg your pardon?”

“Just as distant,” he says, shifting away from Vanitas for the first time. Good, Vanitas should think. Stay away from me. But instead he goes rigid and demands, Don’t go. “Just as out of reach.”

“Thank you, I try to keep things interesting,” Vanitas says, his voice hollow.

Noé surprises him (there it is again, being surprised when Vanitas has sworn that he’ll never underestimate another person ever again) by giving a soft chuckle. “But that makes me want to get closer to you even more, Vanitas.”

His mouth goes dry. His brain tries to follow up with whatever might rebuilt the wall between them, brick by brick, but instead his mind betrays him and takes over his mouth, babbling, “Did you know Alain Chartier wrote the poem about the merciless belle dame? It’s a little tacky to my taste, but then again, I wouldn’t beg anyone for their adoration. It’s a silly concept, the dialogue between the Lover and the Lady, I mean why would anyone ride out to enjoy a party, only to languish at the feet of—”

Noé groans. He stops the onslaught of words by slapping a hand on Vanitas’s mouth. The sudden silence stretches into uncomfortable territory until Vanitas can’t bear it anymore. He stares at Noé out from the corner of his eyes, and parts his lips to drag his tongue over Noé’s fingers. Noé flinches, and looks back at him with wide eyes. What usually did the trick to gross people out (Dante for example was fairly familiar with this concept and never failed to meet Vanitas’s expectations to draw away quickly) doesn’t work on Noé. He remains transfixed on Vanitas’s face as if all secrets of the universe display on his features, and Vanitas starts to questions his action. Suddenly, Noé shifts. He props himself on one elbow and leans over him, casting a long shadow over his upper body.

Just then, Vanitas realises what a dangerous situation he’s in. Up until this moment, he thought Noé to be shy, but that isn’t right at all. Noé is quiet resolve, and steadfast loyalty, he is the very silence ready to pounce and turn peace into havoc. It’s evident in how he watches Vanitas behind half closed eyes, those ruby mirrors considering him with an unreadable expression. His heart picks up, and before he can ascertain if this is a game he can win, he answers with sultry eyes himself, and mouths “Kiss me” against Noé’s skin.

It’s just out of curiosity, he tells himself. He wants to rile Noé up a little, see how far he can go and where he draws the line. Maybe Noé won’t do a thing and play the blushing maiden Vanitas imagines him to be. They both know it’s a dare Noé will lose because he respects Vanitas’s boundaries too much, and that little victory satisfies him already enough to smile into Noé’s hand triumphantly.

Noé considers him with a blank expression before his eyes slowly drift to his hand where it’s still secured over Vanitas’s mouth. Something changes in his eyes, they grow soft, and Vanitas immediately regrets what he’s done because he can’t bear the warmth in them, the unspoken promise of whatever Noé is willing to give him. He thinks about squirming out of the boy's touch, but he’s started moving his hand already, settling on Vanitas’s eyes. His heart stops. Rotten memories claw at the edge of his mind, hungry hyenas demanding blood and misery that this kind of darkness brings. Before he can lash out and push Noé away, soft moon light illuminates the darkness behind his closed eyes again, and he takes a deep, shaky breath, only now noticing that he’s stopped breathing. His eyes snap open, locking with Noé’s as he brushes black bangs out of Vanitas’s face. The moon shines a halo around Noé when he leans down and kisses his forehead.

It’s perfect.

Vanitas hates it.

He doesn’t move.

Noé’s lips are surprisingly soft. So is his smell, a faint fragrance of sandalwood with the sharp tint of clove and something coppery hidden under the layers, and there’s nothing better to describe it than home. The realisation cuts him in a sharp, painful flash, one that robs him of the air he’s only just now regained. Noé is careful that no other part of their bodies is touching, and it’s the last act of kindness that pushes something in him into a bottomless, black hole.

His fingers splay on Noé’s chest as he pushes him away, staring up into a slightly flushed face. The blushing maiden. Despite everything, it makes Vanitas smile.

“You live dangerous, my friend,” he murmurs, playing with a shirt button close to Noé’s collarbones. “But I will condone it this once. It seems I forgot one gets burned when playing with fire.”

Noé leans back, one hand beside Vanitas’s head carrying his weight, contemplating. Vanitas already knows whatever he’s going to say, it won’t be good.

“I never thought of you as someone who would yield to anything,” Noé says eventually. “Not even fire.” And quieter, he adds, “Ignis aurom probat.” Fire tests gold.

A shudder ripples through Vanitas’s body, stealing his control and causing him to laugh involuntarily because he doesn’t see himself as pure as gold, and Noé is so much more than a simple fire. Noé is a searing blaze, devastating cities and forests and leaving ashes of their self, allowing them to rebuild and regrow and turn away from an unwanted past. Vanitas would gladly sell his soul for such an opportunity, but he’s shackled by the shadow of a little boy half his height with a sweet voice and eyes the fairest blue even the sky envies.

“You’re quite the charmer, but you do know what they say about gold, don’t you?”

Noé hesitates, shifting a little, and even Vanitas with the little imagination that he has, can quite clearly picture how the muscles must shift beneath Noé’s dark skin on his back. He closes his eyes and breathes through his mouth. “Gold gives to the ugliest thing a certain charming air, For that without it were else a miserable affair.”

Noé pales. “I didn’t mean—”

“Shhh.” Vanitas smiles a smile Lucifer must have worn just seconds before God banished him from Heaven. His eyes don’t leave Noé for a second when he lifts a finger and presses it against Noé’s lips.

“I know, you didn’t mean to.” He rolls his eyes, voice in a mocking tone imitating what Noé was going to say because he’s easily predictable. “And you would never hurt me. But that makes us different. Because I will gladly hurt you if you let me.” He follows the soft curve of Noé’s lower lip with the tip of his finger until he reaches the corner of his mouth. There he curls his finger inside and pulls one side into a crooked smile. A sharp tooth grazes his skin, not quiet enough to break it, but a shiver travels down his back nonetheless.

Noé pulls Vanitas’s hand away from his face, looking down at him like he’s a strange animal he’s never seen before. A dull sadness settles over his eyes, but it’s too quick for Vanitas to really acknowledge.

“Not gold then,” Noé concludes with resolution in his voice. “But quicksilver.” And with that, he places Vanitas’s hand carefully back on his chest, and retreats to his side of the bed, laying down so Vanitas is faced with his broad back, his body completely turned towards the moon.

Vanitas blinks, stretching out one hand to follow the curve of Noé’s spine in the air with a finger, imagining what it would feel like to curl against this strong body and hold onto something what won’t break under his touch. He stays like that until he hears calm, deep breathing. Only then he lifts that same finger that’s been inside Noé’s mouth to his lips and sucks slowly until his mind talks him into believing it’s actually Noé he tastes.

I don’t love, he repeats over and over in his head until his eyes fall close and he drifts into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning starts just like Vanitas has always feared a morning sleeping beside another body would go. Waking up slowly to a woman’s voice in the far distance, he’s still walking on this slim line between sleeping and waking, a coma really, when his conscience registers a heavy arm around his waist and warm breath in his neck. His body locks up into one painful, tense muscle; all desperate instinct and frightened awareness because No, I don’t want Doctor to touch me, and he starts frantically scrabbling for the dagger below his pillow only to find nothing. Vanitas feels punched back to when he’s eleven and caged under Moreau’s heavy, naked body, a choked whimper like a wounded animal leaving his mouth. The arm moves, allowing the tiniest leeway. Vanitas doesn’t think. He swings his arm as hard as he can and hears the satisfying crack of a bone breaking. The man beside him gives a surprised shout, and Vanitas jumps to his feet, ready to break more than bones as the door crashes open at the same time, a woman storming inside.

“Noé?” Dominique cries, taking in how he's bent forward on the bed, holding his face. It doesn’t stop the blood dripping all over the white sheets, and Vanitas grows cold when her sharp eyes land on him, a furious hate boiling inside them. “What have you done, human?” she hisses, reaching Noé’s hunched form within few steps.

Vanitas is lost for words, a quite frequent reaction whenever he’s in Noé’s proximity. But it isn’t like anything he’ll say can excuse or save him from Dominique’s wrath, so he just stands there, dumbfounded, and watches her valuate the graveness of Noé’s broken nose, wondering if the man who’s fallen off the roof in the pursuit of his love lost as much blood as Noé right now and if that was worthwhile, or if he’d have rather poisoned himself with quicksilver.

Not that it matters.

Both end in a painful, slow death.

I saw pale kings and princes too, Pale warriors, death-pale were they all; They cried—‘La Belle Dame sans Merci Thee hath in thrall!’

[John Keats]

#philliamwrites #ap3 #fanfiction #the case study of vanitas #vanitas no carte #vannoe #vanitas #noe

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bigskydreaming · 4 years ago

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And just FYI, I’m not TRYING to be emotionally manipulative or guilt trip people or anything here, but just speaking brutally honestly - my disengagement from Batfandom over the past couple months and how little I’ve been active in it has absolutely everything to do with just being TIRED of this fandom’s stance not just on rape fics, but the enabling of them. I mean, yeah, personally I gravitate towards Dick Grayson’s character as a rape survivor, so its super not happy fun times constantly sharing the fandom with people who are far more interested in perpetuating him as a rape victim, emphasis on his repeated sexual victimization in fics where his placement as a character-to-be-violated is the literal DRAW for readers.

(And ever notice how its the character MOST acknowledged as a rape survivor, SPECIFICALLY.....who is also the one people are MOST interested in writing as a further rape victim.....I’m not even talking about in the context of canon events, but specifically creating further scenarios in which he’s raped by characters who never raped him in canon, in numbers FAR greater than people create these scenarios for other characters. Oh, its not limited to just him, obviously, I’m aware these fics exist for all the characters, and in large numbers, but does it not strike anyone as like.....particularly odious, that the clear frontrunner for this particular form of sexual victimization-as-a-draw in fics just so happens to be the character most noted as a survivor already? Just saying, the fact that this particular character and this particular status seems to draw in people not just interested in him BECAUSE it makes him a survivor....but equally, people interested in him BECAUSE of his having been made a victim.....is....umm. Its umm. Let’s just call it umm.)

But what gets to me even more than that is just the willful refusal in a fandom that CHOOSES to keep the subject of rape front and central to so much of its works....to allow for ANY critical discussion of rape itself whatsoever. You’ll pull out all the stops in examining the trauma of rape in some fics, sure, but this fandom absolutely will not allow critical examination of the ISSUE of rape itself.

And that’s abso-fucking-lutely because of how much this fandom has COMMODIFIED rape and incest and pedophilia, and how much it fuels the engines of fandom content production. Its commercialized in this fandom in particular, and its so high-prized a commodity in terms of fic content, that even most people who don’t have any particular interest in these types of fic content themselves deem it too costly to speak up on the matter, because they’re afraid to lose followers who DO like it.

And THAT’S what gets to me.

Those of you who will be like I’m not taking a side here, but absolutely take a side as you’ll freely reblog posts about fandom purity and censorship but not a single point to the contrary. When you only air one side of an argument, guess what? You’ve picked a side. Whether or not you agree with it or every bit of it doesn’t matter, you’re still signal boosting it while refusing to examine or boost any point said against it. I reblog stuff all the time that I don’t agree with every single line of or point made in....but the point is I agree with ENOUGH of it that I’d rather boost it for others’ consideration rather than pass by it because it doesn’t one hundred percent accurately reflect everything I believe and only that. (And yet funnily enough, I’m the ideological puritan, remember?)

You can’t be like, I’m going to continue to encourage shutting down every critical mention of fandom problems in this or other regards while refusing to do anything or even signal boost people attempting to critically examine or just encouraging others to be more critical about this stuff......and think that like, you’re not still being an active part of the fandom ecosystem there that keeps this fandom environment being as everpresent as it is.

If it feels like you’re in this picture and you don’t like it, maybe its cuz you’re in this picture and getting pissed at the picture-takers doesn’t ever do anything to change that or your discomfort with being in the fucking picture here.

I can get literally anything I say in this fandom reblogged EXCEPT for so much as even a single thing I say on this particular subject, and you can try and blame that on my temper or aggression or hostility or word choice but I’ve been making these posts for years in this fandom at this point, and in all that time, I’ve done so in a variety of ways and the fact that still none of them, not a single one, no matter WHAT tone its in, has EVER gotten more than a handful of notes from my Batfam followers and only ever catch on because of my older TW followers or people who follow me BECAUSE of my stances on this and other subjects.....like. (Its funny how few people seem to mind my attitude or posting style when I’m talking about Dick’s treatment by the Batfam or DC itself or when in my asks trying to point and aim me at other characters’ fans like a bonafide attack dog, lolol, I’m just saying).

I’ve talked to people in this fandom about this very subject of how being critical of rape fics is NOT the same as being anti-sex or in search of moral purity, and I know damn well they understand my point there because they even acknowledged it themselves and said okay, I understand the nuance you’re making there.....and then they turn around and keep reblogging all those fandom purity posts even after admitting they GET now that its not actually an accurate representation of the issues and thus a false flag to raise and pass around.....and yet they keep participating in passing it around, with not a word to the contrary.

And hell, it doesn’t even need to be my posts that get around....its not like I see anyone reblogging anyone else’s critical posts on this particular subject either, even while reblogging the stuff mocking such posts or stances.

I’m just saying. I’m very keenly aware of all that, and its exhausting.

This isn’t a dramatic omg I’m running away from fandom post, I’m not going anywhere, I still have plenty of things to say and write about Dick Grayson and I’m ultimately here for me and not anyone else so I’ll continue to do so, but like.....its just a its been depressing as hell to be in this particular fandom lately, and wearying, and just thought some of you might like to know that in case you feel like doing anything about it ever, to maybe make it a little more inviting and engaging to those of us who AREN’T here to see the rapists keep raping the characters we identify with and gravitate towards as survivors.

(And if your go-to response here or first thought is “some people write it to cope” - great, what I’m saying here is that’s not true for everyone, and whatever the experience of writing it does for them in that regard does not actually change my position on what the experience of seeing it shared and proliferated publicly in such huge quantities without allowing for any kind of criticism of this (which is actually a separate matter entirely) does for others. And that this ENVIRONMENT is actually COUNTER to other survivors’ coping, so you can’t claim that your stance on this subject is based on what’s best for survivors’ coping when its ACTUALLY based on what’s best for the coping of survivors who also happen to feed the fandom further sexy rape fic content......and uh, just FYI for anyone who isn’t a survivor themselves, whomever this might apply to - that’s literally just commodifying and exploiting the survivorship of those whose coping mechanisms happen to serve your personal self-interests and if you don’t get how that’s gross as hell, like, I don’t even know what to tell you there.)

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spaceorphan18 · 4 years ago

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Idk if I'm the only one but I literally can't stand Santana. She is one of the most toxic and verbally abusive people I've ever seen on TV.

It's so confusing to me when I see the compilations that are called some shit like 'santana being a queen' and its just her body shaming Finn, being biphobic, manipluating people, and being anti-semitic. I get that it's a TV show and it's supposed to be an exaggeration and satirical but 95% of what Santana said throughout the show was unjustified and straight up bullying, and she gets praised by fans for it???

Thoughts?

My thoughts on Santana are a little bit more complicated, even if I do agree that she’s had her share of terribleness on the show. And you are not alone -- as there have been plenty of people I’ve met in my travels who just do not like Santana. Don’t let your tiny bubble of the internet be a projection of how the majority feels.

I am not a fan of Season 1, early Season 3 Santana -- or the Santana who spends a lot of her time body shaming people. People get up in arms about the rant at Kurt -- but I think a lot of what she said to Finn and Rachel can be considered just as mean (or worse) and I think a lot of things do get a pass when other characters are held to a higher standard.

Santana, unfortunately, is cut from the same cloth as Sue, Quinn, Kitty, and Bree -- characters who are mean for the sake of being mean, and for the sake of the writers wanting mean humor to be funny. Sometimes, I do think there are funny lines baked in there (mostly Sue - played by an actress who can sell the satire for what it’s meant to be), but often times -- it’s just mean. And in a culture who is less and less finding humor in the shaming of others, characters like this don’t hold up.

I do, however, like Santana at various parts in the series, though. I do like her in Season 4-6 when they allow her to become a fully functioning character, give her depth and dimension, and allow her to grow past the mean-spirited bully she used to be. And I’ve found it unfortunate when they regress her to that -- specifically at times with her feud with Rachel and the rant at Kurt. There’s a really fascinating character there, but like so many characters on the show, she’s held back by the writers relying on the same old tropes to get them through the series.

As for why people worship her -- I can’t fully answer that. I will say -- part of it is because of Naya, especially after passing, people have clung onto Santana in the say that people clung to Finn and forgave him a lot of faults after Cory died. Some of it is because, as a friend once told me, Santana as a frustrated lesbian makes a lot of sense -- and they identify with that. Some of it is because there are a lot of mean people out there, and Santana being a beloved character makes them feel okay to be like that. I don’t think there’s one simple answer.

I will say -- there’s something that happens on the internet that I’ve called “the fandom drain”. When people who are in a bubble create an echochamber of opinions -- and the more you’ve connected and engaged with these people, the more likely you’ll cling onto the idea that you’re opinions are right and should be celebrated and others are wrong. And within fandoms it begins to accumulate in this “us” vs “them” mentality.

Meaning -- Well, Santana is my favorite, so I can excuse her flaws because my community says it’s okay, but I will say your fav is the worst even if Santana shares those same flaws.

It’s unfortunate in internet culture that we’ve lost the function (or maybe humans in large groups just can’t do this) to look at things objectively and say -- hey, Santana is problematic here, but also really awesome there. I don’t know.

At the end of the day, it’s fine to not like things, and it’s fine to like them, just as long as we can continue to have civil conversations about it. <3

#I feel ya nonny #sometimes I think the internet needs to take a step back an reevaluate #Anonymous

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skimblyshanks · 4 years ago

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Negativity and me rambling about discoursey topics below the cut. feel free to keep scrolling. Actually, I encourage it ilaushdfhasd Have a great day!

I want to talk bluntly here.

I know I probably come off like a jackass nowadays, and I don’t want to, but at the end of the day there’s a group of ppl who are going to continue spreading lies about people based on what they ship, how they read characters, or literally anything that they disagree on, and they don’t listen when you try and explain anything.

so I’m kinda tired and grumpy and I genuinely try not to address it because I know no one who i want to get through to will listen, but also I feel like if I don’t just make a big old post whining about it there will probably be more of those small, whinier posts that I delete after an hour or so. But anyway. People are going to call me and my friemds horrible things, and they’re not going to listen if we try and defend ourselves. Which. Old news. Already found that out last July-August.

Guess what? I was here last year. I missed most of the first drama of the year, that being Kittencourse 1.0, but I was dragged along for the ride every other time. And it was anti-shippers starting those dramas, every time. I probably wouldn’t have lebelled myself as anything if not for the fact that for half a year bullies were throwing around their weight and justifying it by being antis, even when their opponents were doing nothing wrong.

I was here when someone was harassed for months over a fanfiction. this person wasn’t some huge presence in the fandom; the fanfic wasn’t some bastion of the fandom. I don’t think most of us knew either person or fic until antis decided it would be fun to fuck with the account for months on end.

I began identifying as pro ship because at least the pro shippers didn’t seem to be going out of their way to be nasty.

You know the funny thing? For a long while the most problematic thing I shipped was Tugger shanks. Even now, the most problematic thing I ship is Munku pounce, which I will not hesitate to tell you is a comfort ship, as pounce is one of my comfort characters. Any other ship is between kittens and those in the nebulous young adult range, which doesn’t seem to match the Anti Council’s definition of problematic, given many of them had no issue following a blog openly labelling itself as pro ship when the spiciest ship was Pounce/Plato.

And that’s the other thing. I’ve been very open on this blog about being pro ship.

Every time I got a wave of followers who seemed v likely to be anti-shippers, I reblogged posts explaining my stance and hopefully making it clear that I was pro ship. Regardless, I ended up having these followers for months; I didn’t block them bc many of them didn’t make it clear either way what they felt, so I dared to assume they were alright following a pro shipper. Then of course a few months later: a pro ship DNI, maybe some soapboxing, and more than once this has been while they are still following me.

And the fact is, it doesn’t matter what I try to explain.

It doesn’t matter how many posts I reblog trying to explain what it means when I use the term pro ship.

It doesn’t matter if I say that incest ships aren’t really it for me.

It doesn’t matter if I say the kittens are not young children to me.

It wouldn’t matter if I compiled every instance of kitten characters being provocative or taking part in sexually charged numbers.

It doesn’t matter that what we’re talking about here are fictional anthro cats played by adults.

It doesn’t matter because antis have already made up their mind and don’t want to hear otherwise.

It wouldn’t help if I changed labels because the label isn’t the issue, it’s the opposition to antis and their mentality. If I changed labels, they’d simply transfer the baggage they’ve given pro ship onto whatever I had chosen instead.

And I don’t think there’s going to be a middle ground reached because both sides are coming at media differently.

Yes, Pro shippers are alright with people having ships between characters who are related, ships with large age gaps, and, yes, even ships between adult characters and child characters. Because this is fiction we’re talking about. No one real is being harmed by this ship existing. The threat of grooming with these ships exists for all ships, all fandoms, all pieces of media, and all things that can be used to gain a victim’s trust.

Also, you don’t know why anyone ships what they do. You don’t know why anyone has the headcanons they do. I think it’s well-documented by now that there are survivors on all sides of this discourse, so that much should be clear. Telling those who do use these more controversial ships or headcanons to cope that they ought to be doing it in private is not only callous but disingenuine, as antis have, multiple times, gone into private spaces and leaked all content thereof so they could call out those within the group.

As it applies to this fandom, I don’t believe I’ve seen any potentially triggering ship in the main tags. Most of us who do ship controversial ships are aware people don’t like them. We provide tags to block, and of course users can be blocked as well.

Speaking of which.

I know who blocks me back. It shows a specific icon when a block is mutual. I assure you very few antis block me, even when they say they do.

Listen.

The truth is, at the end of the day, this is a blog for a musical about cats. I’ve shifted away from interacting with most users, partly so i don’t end up with more followers who end up antis, and partly so other, neutral users don’t end up catching flack for interacting with me.

And yeah, it is true that the current fandom climate is hilariously hostile to several ships that were popular for decades beforehand. It is true that antis have double standards. That their hypocrisy is easy to point out. That’s true of antis and fandoms in general.

But also. No one outside this fandom gives a shit what any of us are shipping, really. We’re all weirdos to them. The block button is right there; the filtering option is right there, Xkit and its blacklisting tool are right there. Yet there are still these dumb as shit outbursts and fearmongering and soapboxing.

And I’m Tired.

I’m tired moreso by general antidom.

There are multiple compilations of anti shippers being horrible people over ships and fiction, and sometimes even just because they think someone is a pro shipper, even if they aren’t. I’ve had many urges to link them, to share them, but often I think about the trigger warnings it would require and I lose steam; I don’t want to share that stuff with my followers.

And I’m Tired.

I’m tired that the same stupid points of drama are probably going to get resurrected again. At least this time I have most of them blocked.

But, yeah.

I’m Tired.

#fandom discourse--#discourse--#fandom drama--

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