#listen i love alyx

[needsmoreexplosions]

Just realized that Alyx Vance didn't get to grow up on Bionicle and i'm LIVID at what was taken from her

[knight-dwx-09]

Consequences Of Your Own Actions

After team RWBY and Jaune had arrived back to Remmant and reunite with everyone. They hold a party together as RWBY and Jaune retell most of what happened after they fall and listen to what had happened while they were in the Ever After.

About Jaune stuck at the ever after, his journey with Alyx and Lewis, which they were surprised of, meeting team RWBY, and their story how they get back.

Ruby try to keep the whole drinking poison as a secret, since it was pretty mess up, but Yang won’t allow her little sister to suffer alone anymore and just tell them straight up what she did and the reason. Safe to say, most of them were horrified from their expression, especially Qrow.

Ruby: Yang! You weren’t supposed to say that.

Qrow didn’t let to continue as he grabbed Ruby by the shoulder and yelling at her.

Qrow: Ruby! What were you thinking?!

Ruby: I-I didn’t… *Sigh* I am sorry for causing more trouble…

Qrow: What? There’s nothing you did that you have to say sorry *Sigh* I have already lost your mom, Ruby… I can’t lose you too… so please, if this whole stuff is weighting you down or the pressure are too much. Speak to me, your friends, sister, or your dad. Let one of us carried some of burden. Not because we think you are worthless or you couldn’t handle it. But because we cared of you. Can you at least do that for me?

This cause her to choke a bit, tears welling up in her eyes as a sob leave.

Ruby: … I will try, uncle Qrow, I will…

Qrow: That is good for now

Ruby: I love you, Uncle Qrow… *Buried her face into his chest and hugged him tightly*

Qrow: Love you too, Pipsqueak *Ruffled her hair*

Yang smiled at all of this, happy that she could help Ruby after being a failure of a sister for not being able to noticed her sister’s trouble. Qrow noticed her and opened his right arm, gestured her to come in as well with a smirk which she replied by accepting the hug.

At the same time, Jaune simply stared at the family with a slight smiled before feeling someone wrapping their hands around his waist as he looked to the side to find sad Nora.

Nora: You must felt so alone… waiting there for years… alone…

Jaune: …Yes… yes it was… *Wrapped his arm around Nora and deepen the hug, tears slowly emerged from his eyes*

Ren open his mouth to say something but hesitant a bit, mouth tremble as his eyes wander to the side.

Ren: Jaune…

This get the attention of the knight.

Ren: *Takes a deep breath*… While you were gone, I couldn't help but reflect on old memories, and all I could say was...… I am sorry for yelling at you back at the snow storm. It wasn’t right of me to put the blame on you when I have watched how much effort to grow stronger and your desired to become a huntsman. While I become one just for my selfish desire and following Nora… I am really sorry…

Jaune: Ren… It’s okay, I have already forgive you

Ren stared with wide eyes.

Jaune: Come on, don’t be so shock. You are my brother from another family, of course I forgive you after I have the times to myself. Now come here and give your brother a hug as I really needed one right now.

Ren stood there, not knowing what to do with that information but decide to step in to hug his girlfriend and brother together with a smile, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulder. After those beautiful and cute moments, Jaune had finally ready to reveal the news. Well, more like being pressure by the voice in his head.

Jaune: I guess you all should meet my new partner from now on

This grab the mind of most of the people there, remembering about Juniper in the story.

Nora: Are we going to meet Juniper? Did she follow along? Where is she? I can’t wait to feel her fur and ride her into battle against Grimm. That is one of my dream!

This only cause Jaune to laugh awkwardly as he pulled off from the hug and stand a feet away from them

Jaune: No, he is someone I extremely despise but I don’t have any say in this partnership so here we are

Jaune closed his eyes and letting air leave his lungs as everyone watch him, awaiting what he gonna do next. The next time he open his eyes, they weren’t met with the usual blue eyes, instead, the saw purple and neon blue eyes with a grins that stretch to inhumanly size as his voice distorted with an another voice.

Jaune(CC): Oh, how nice it is to finally able to move *Breathed in* Is this how the air in Remmant feels like? They aren’t much different to my old home but they sure feel a lot fresher.

Everyone, beside team RWBY, just stared confusedly at Jaune? As he looked around the room with a big smile before stopping at Oscar.

Jaune(CC): *Appeared in front of Oscar, scaring him a bit* You must the boy name Oscar whose has an old wizard soul inside you. So, how does that work? Did the wizard pick his next host or is it just random? If it is random, is there anything conditions it must met before you are transfer to said person? I am really curious.

Oscar: Huh? What?

Jaune(CC): *Gasp as he push away Oscar* Are those chicken nuggets dinosaur you have said you miss eating? I wonder how it taste *Rushed forwards and shove a hand full of nuggets into his mouth, chewing and swallowing the whole thing in seconds, before doing the same with the rest of the food*

Those who weren’t at the Ever After just stared, no sound made, no action made to stop him from eating. Just watch as Jaune? drink a bucket of chocolate milk.

Ruby: Okay, I know you all may be confused as to why is happening at this moment

Nora: I will be the first to asked it. What in the hell happened to Fearless Leader? One second he seem normal, now he had become a child-like state who are amazed by everything around him. Did Jaune-Jaune get possessed by a curious being that seriously want to know about our home while in the Ever After?

Ruby: *Blinked* Wow… that is pretty much what had happened

Yang: So yeah, Vomit-boy here is possessed by the Curious Cat

Qrow: The cat from the story?

Team RWBY nodded.

Qrow: Well, fuck my ass. I guess he had joined into the “Two soul in one body” club *Slipped one lien into the swear jar in Ruby’s hands, don’t ask where she get that from*

Oscar: The what club now?

Qrow decided to not answer that.

Emerald: So how do we separated them?

Blake: That is the thing, we are unable nor know how to do so. Even the blacksmith said that their soul has fuse together that forcing them apart could be extremely dangerous, possibly kill them.

Emerald: And what now? Are they gonna stuck like that for the rest of their lives?

Weiss: No, that doesn’t mean we won’t stop trying to find a way. I will ask the scientists and doctor around if they have some idea. *Looked at Oscar* And sir, could you perhaps give us the blue print of the machine that could transfer the maiden power? I am not certain it will work but it won’t hurt to look into the blue print of it.

Oscar(Ozpin): *Took control* I would advise you to not use that machine, it’s only supposed to be the last resort due to how taxing and dangerous to one soul. The only reason we use it was to keep Amber alive and not let the maiden power fall onto Salem’s hands, it was a desperate attempt which I regretted even up to this point.

Weiss: I am aware of the risk sir and I would like not to use this as well. However, maybe we could look into the machine to find out how the soul work, deconstructing its function and rebuild it, making it a bit more safer for the person in it. Just as a last resort of course

Oscar(OZ): *Nod* if you are that willing, I will draw the blueprint for you to look at. I just hope it won’t end this way. *Gives control back to Oscar*

Oscar: *Look at Jaune(CC) who was eating watermelon with its skin* Should we stop him before he got stomach ache?

Qrow: You kidding? From how much the brat is eating, he will probably go into a food coma in a couple of minutes.

After he said that, all of Team RWBY, (J)N(P)R, and Oscar rushed in to hold Jaune(CC) down before he could stuff a whole chicken into his mouth.

Next days

Jaune could be seen sitting near the toilet, holding it like it was the only thing keeping him alive as he vomit into it. Tears began to emerged from his dull neon purple and blue eyes, half-lidded from nausea as he rest his cheeks against the toilet sit.

CC: Jaune… please switch with me… I don’t like this feelings…

Jaune: Screw that, you were the one who eat all of the foods. Then you must deal with the consequences of your own actions

CC: Please Jaune… I am really sorry for eating and drinking all of those nuggets, salad, fish, steak, cake, chocolate milk, orange juice, coffee… *Vomit*

Jaune: Wow, so this is how it feels to be the passenger of my own body? Just the feeling of floating on a cloud with my own thoughts. No responsibilities, no dizziness you are feeling right now, just a bliss, comfy feeling of existing. It’s kinda nice.

Jaune(CC) just whimper as his stomach grumble once again.

[infectioustomfoolery]

HALF LIFE HEADCANONS

(feat my man kade)

For all intents and purposes, this is for fun and any time period mishaps should be ignored. Part two eventually.

Gordon Freeman

- 5’10”, green eyes and slutty little waist, he/him, autistic, dumb little ponytail.

- So white. So very very white.

- Makes absolutely no facial expressions ever.

- Talks exclusively through sign language, but even then sparingly.

- Got a major staring problem.

- Probably trans idfk.

- He’s definitely gay or aroace.

- He has no idea he’s autistic, gay, or in love with Barney.

- He has PTSD and because of that he’s a prick to the Vortigaunts.

- Hopelessly addicted to morphine

- Anger issues but no one can tell

- Everyone in Black Mesa wants to fuck him silly.

- Derealization issues

- Really does NOT fw Alyx

- Regularly keeps up with Aperture Science

- Chell’s brother

- “I’m not gay, Barney.”

- He is. He so is.

- Definitely thinks Barney is a sexy beast in the combine uniform

- Plays DND and likes Star Trek

Barney Calhoun

- 5’6”, he/him, spectral heterochromia

- Gay and knows it

- Probably trans too fuck if I know

- Fluffy hair, permanent 5 o’clock shadow. He’s so goddamn hairy.

- If he doesn’t pluck his eyebrows, he’ll grow a unibrow

- Dadbod

- Alcoholic

- Literally never shuts up

- Every single guard in Half Life 1 is Barney. They’re all Barney. Always have been.

- The Blue Shift Barney is “our” Barney, though. I like to think he retained all the other Barney’s memories.

- Frat boy in college. He told them he liked football and now he has to pretend

- Poses infront of the mirror everytime he has a uniform on

- Understands Gordon Freeman perfectly literally no matter what

- He got a fucked up leg from the elevator crash.

- Cries over Gordon at least once a day

- Really hates all the Half Life 1 scientists. They’re douches.

- Gun enthusiast

- Likes conspiracy theories

- Lauren doesn’t exist, she never existed. He’s just a fat liar.

- Listens to Mitski

- Beefs with Adrian because Adrian thinks its funny but really does not care

- Southern as Hell

Adrian Shephard

1.) She’s a FEMALE

2.) She’s not a BOY

3.) and most importantly, She’s a GIRL!

- 6’5”, blue eyes, she/him (she has a preference for she but Does Not Care.)

- Butch lesbian

- Was in the military with Soldier from TF2. She played along with his antics and sort of “trained” under him.

- white, but very tan

- She gets hurt a lot

- Laughs obnoxiously loud

- Wears boxers

- Blonde, either a crewcut or mullet situation

- Probably has an eyebrow slit, but in a scar way not in a gay way

- Speaking of which she is COVERED in scars and bullet wounds

- Also freckles why not

- Very high pain/spice tolerance

- Fucking LOVES nascar (poor and stupid)

- Was able to make it into the military because when she was filling out the papers she wrote "yes" next to sex and the government just thought he was a normal amount of US Marine stupid

- Colette and Gina saw her from across the bar, and they really dig her vibe

- Her mask makes her sound really grovely and awesome (see: https://youtu.be/Fr8Jxm65EC8?si=5WvOpXfQerjM7G79 )

- She beefs with Barney

- Gets a kick out of annoying Gordon Freeman to death

- Probably makes thirst traps on TikTok

- Has really good abs

- Scout’s older sister

- So she’s from Boston

[glitteredbubbles]

Thank you for the tag @lc-27 !! Using this as an opportunity to promote my insane listening habits.

Rules: shuffle your “on repeat” playlist and add the first ten songs, then tag 10 people.

1. Suspended in Gaffa by Kate Bush

2. Partner in Crime by Lucy Dacus

3. What Should I Do? by Kevin Abstract

4. Famous Last Words (An Ode to Eaters) by 1017 ALYX 9SM and Ethel Cain

5. No encore. by Frank Watkinson

6. Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order

7. Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) by George Harrison

8. Hammond Song by The Roches

9. Now That I’m Older by Sufjan Stevens

10. Shark Smile by Big Thief

All of these songs being together on one playlist is wild lmao.

Anyway, no pressure tags: @schofielded @axe-76 @scriptscraps @movielp-pany @fervi-g @good--merits-accumulated @yourfavvgal @vinesandvellichor @how-evergreens @ok-just-why + open to whoever wants to join!!

[bookie-bookdust]

Sebastian Sallow Fucking Sucks playlist✨

I'd make a literal playlist and link it buuuuuuut I don't care lol. This is honestly more for me than anything. I tried not to come off too dramatic with my choices, but it feels dramatic anyway. You can find SSFS here: MASTERLIST

One More Night by Red Handed Denial

Loveless by PVRIS

April, I'm Dying by KID BRUNSWICK

EVEN by Bad Omens

In the Dark by Solence

ceasefire by STIM

all I know by nightlife

Lose Control by Shallowsky

Famous Last Words (An Ode to Eaters) 1017 ALYX 9SM and Ethel Cain

Y.S.K.W by Catch Your Breath

Hate Me by Caskets

BRUISES by Echos

& Cry! by Middle Part

Spiracle by Flower Face

Ultraviolet by Spiritbox

The Devil in Decisions by Hands Like Houses

Chasing Shadows by Zero 9:36

Hostage by Black Math

Ballerina by VOILÀ and The Word Alive

THE CONTORTIONIST by Melanie Martinez

Please Be Rude by Gigi Perez

Jaws by Sleep Token

Oil & Water by PVRIS

Before You Go by Archers

We Have It All by Pim Stones

Ghost of Me by Make Them Suffer

True Friends by Bring Me The Horizon

Vertigo (Live Acoustic) by Jutes

SOMETHING IN THE WATER by Kami Kehoe

"like seeing spiders running riot on your lover's grave" by Bring Me The Horizon feat. Happyalone.

Enemy by The Plot In You

burn my house down by Architects

guilty by elijah

Woe Is Me...I Am Ruined by The Lonely Forest

If you've read SSFS and have a song in mind, I'd love to hear 🥰 I looooove music and listen to most genres. I listened to like 1300 different artists last year according to Spotify. Just keep TSwift's bony ass away from me sorry I hate her so so much LOL.

[atowncalledher]

Hi hi this is an intro post ig

we're plural and transfem and aroace but in a demigrey way but also bi and gay and and (like. most queer labels apply to us tbh)

you can collectively call us by any of our names or just Town is fine too. most stuff will still be untagged and for the most part we don't care who's fronting. if you don't know which of us you're talking about you can use she/they/it/any pronouns. when talking about ourselves we tend to switch between i/we whenever we feel like it.

we do a little writing and art but mostly vocal synth music (although tbf we don't post a ton of that. might change though) and collectively have a special interest in sound, animation, and fiberwork.

the tags "my music" and "my art" will be used for whenever I post those.

member tags

-N : Noelle/N, she/it

-moth 🌙 : Taylor/Tay/Sky/Moth, she/they

-chloe🐈‍⬛💕 : Chloe, it/she/xe/kitten

-emma : Emma, she/her

-sierra : Sierra/Star, they/them

-ash🐍 : Ash/Kei/Keiran : he/any

-ren🪡 : Ren, they/them

idk if anyone else will even post lol, if they do we'll add them in I guess.

This is a safe place for people of any and all identities. BIPOC, jewish, disabled cis, trans, intersex, gay, straight, endo systems, people who use neo and xeno pronouns and genders, alterhuman, etc. literally everything. I might say some dumb shit sometimes but if I do please let me know and I will listen and learn.

I love everybody who isn't a bigot. Genuinely and truly.

And if you say hateful shit I will simply block you.

mostly full member list

Noelle/N (she/it)

Emma (she/they)

Taylor/Tay/Sky/moth (she/they)

Chloe (it/she/xe/kitten)

Sierra/Star (they/them)

Leo (he/him)

Tessa (she/they)

Ash/Kei/Keiran (he/any)

Ren (they/them)

Alyx (any)

Dizzy (she/they)

Nami/Naminé (she/her)

Rox/Roxas (he/him)

mTau (he/him)

Saai (he/him)

K (none. the definite article only)

Lance (they/them)

Aabria (she/her)

Abby (she/her)

(honestly I haven't seen some of these hoes in a while idk that they're all still around)

(also our introjects are pretty source seperated, so. and Nami is actually from an amalgamtion of KH fanfiction on top of that so like. whatever lol)

[petit4t0m1zer]

Intermission: A HL2 Episodes fanfic that I made on my school computer

Time: Between HL2E1 & HL2E2

Location: On the train ride out of City-17

*Alyx & Gordon are sitting on the train. Gordon has the window seat, as he solemnly stares out the window, as trees either old or dead pass by. Alyx notices this and attempts to start a conversation.*

A: Hey…Gordon?

G: Hm…?

A: I’ve started to take note of you a bit more. Is…is everything okay?

*Gordon disregards this, and nods slightly. He wants to appear fine, but his desolate and weary gaze with shrunken pupils due to morphine overdose say otherwise.*

A: Gordon…

G:…

A: Gordon!

G (annoyed): What?

A: Ok, quick tangent...You haven’t uttered a single word ever since we first met. And now all I hear out of you is “What?! (mocking him)”

G: Tsk…I don’t wanna talk about it.

A (getting more annoyed): About what?!

*Gordon ignores her. Alyx notices that he put his crowbar on the seat across from them & reaches for it.*

A: GORDON! *She attempts a swing to Gordon’s groin area, which he quickly blocks out of shock, his eyes widening to a gaze that could be felt from 1000 miles away.*

G: DON’T. EVEN. DARE TO. *He pauses* I’ve had enough already.

A: Enough of what?

G: You know what, never mind, this conversation’s over.

A: Dude, that’s such a bitch-ass answer. Just tell me-

G (cutting her off): ALRIGHT, YOU WANT A REAL ANSWER, EH?

A: YEAH!

G (entering a diatribe): Alright, May 16th. I wake up at 8:30, when I SHOULD be at work at 8:35. My dorm is a complete mess because I still haven’t cleaned it up from beer pong with Barney and your father the Saturday before. I get to work expecting a normal day, big test, nothing could go wrong. Then I’m starting to hear about how my tardiness allowed the team to do further preparations, and ALREADY I can tell that’s not a good sign. Fast forward, sparks are flying, aliens are EVERYWHERE, and I probably have a minor concussion. Now imagine you’re me, eh? Having to fight off lifeforms BEYOND COMPREHENSION as well as THE ENTIRE FUCKING UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. *He starts to falter* I LIVED…OFF OF GUNS THAT I STOLE, MORPHINE, AND SODA MACHINES BACK IN BLACK MESA. I DIDN’T DRINK WATER…THE ENTIRE TIME I SPENT TRAVERSING STEEL CORRIDOR AFTER DESERT AFTER STEEL CORRIDOR. I WAS KNOCKED OUT BY SOLDIERS AS THEY CUT MY MAN-PONY I SPENT *big fucking inhale* THREE YEARS GROWING OUT…AND THEN I WAS THROWN INTO A TRASH COMPACTOR…AND THEN I’M SENT TO KILL A GIANT SPACE FETUS-

A: You mean…the Nihilanth?

G (continuing his diatribe, slowly faltering): YEAH. ANYWAYS, BY DOING SO, I FREE AN ENTIRE ALIEN RACE SOMEHOW? I’M THEN PUT IN STASIS BY AN INSUFFERABLE SPACE GOD ASSHOLE WHO WAS STALKING ME DURING THE ENTIRE DURATION OF THE INCIDENT WHICH I HAVE A VISCERAL FEELING YOUR DAD KNOWS ABOUT AS WELL. I WAKE UP IN FUCKING- FUCKING BULGARIA FOR SOME REASON, BLACK MESA AND EVERYTHING I KNOW AND LOVE IS GONE AND EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT. MIND YOUR 20 YEARS, BUT HOW I SEE IT AS OF NOW, I GOT OUT OF BLACK MESA…TWO…WEEKS AGO. *he starts to shake, and tears start to form* I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ACTUAL SLEEP FOR 20 YEARS…TWO WEEKS…AND FIVE. WHOLE. DAYS. AND I HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE A PROPER SHIT…AND I’M IN NEED OF MORPHINE EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES AND I THINK I’M ADDICTED TO IT, EH? I’M…I’M A FUCKING MESS…! AND PEOPLE ARE TREATING ME LIKE I’M THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST- I…I’D RATHER KILL MYSELF THAN HAVE ALL THIS ATTENTION! I…I…I…

*Gordon bursts into tears, and flops onto the floor of the train. Alyx, trying to comprehend what he’s been through, sits by him without saying a word. A minute or so passes, and Alyx gazes not at “The One Free Man”…not the one who “fearlessly defeated the Nihilanth and became a symbol of hope and resistance”, but just Freeman. Gordon Freeman. MIT Graduate, theoretical physicist, frequent B-52’s listener…just an ordinary guy. Alyx, with this new view of Gordon, leans over to him.*

A: Let it all out. *long pause* It’s been a journey. I was only 4 when it happened. I remember taking a tour of the lab with my mom. She worked in the Nuclear Energy department. I believe it was 30 minutes or so after the Resonance Cascade once the portals started to appear near us. A lot of my mom’s friends were killed. A day or so in, I had mostly stopped crying. My mom was doing what she could to protect me, grabbing a pistol from a dead security guard, relying on everything. And then we heard the army was coming to “rescue us”. *she pauses for even longer, then starts to weep* My mom was killed. By a soldier. I think it was half a mag dumped into her throat & head. *Gordon pauses & turns to her, hyperventilating, his face wet of saliva, snot, and tears.* I tried to wake her up…A 4-year-old had never seen a family member die like this and they never should. The soldier and his comrades stared at me not knowing what to think. They killed. a mother. They killed…MY. MOTHER. DO THEY…DO THEY KILL THE INNOCENT LITTLE 4-YEAR-OLD GIRL TOO?

G (sniffling): And…and then what…?

A (wiping her tears): Their orders were to kill everyone and everything. The squad leader got the order on his radio. I think he was crying…praying…as he raised his rifle…*she pauses* I then turned around, soaked in my mother’s blood, dragging her body with me in an attempt to get away. And then, I see this…beautiful…donut-like ring of stars. It was much wider than me…and it shined a beautiful...seafoam green light. *Gordon turns his head to her in a matter of seconds. Somehow this struck him in a way that Alyx had yet to understand.* In the center was a small black void. I couldn’t help but stare at it in awe. I was sucked in…and I think I blacked out. But I heard voices in my sleep. One was calling me…special. Then I woke up near the exit, and my dad just turned the corner. One question of “Alyx, sweetie…where’s mom?” and we both knew immediately…what happened.

…

We both had it hard. You knew far more than I did at the time. But you were just as confused as I was.

G: Yeah…

A: I don’t like to think about it much. I like to find strength in what’s left of her in my mind...keeps me going.

G: The only things that keeps me going are morphine, survival, and everyone who thinks I’m such a badass… *he continues to sob*

A: Oh, Gordon, you poor thing…

*Gordon turns onto his back, stretching out his arms for a hug. He looks absolutely fucking miserable. Alyx smiles, tears still dripping down her face.*

A: Heh. Bless your heart, ya moron.

G: Moron?! Who are you calling a moron, eh?

*They embrace in a way that Gordon has never felt before in the past twenty years and two-and-a-half weeks. He grasps onto her tightly, tears streaming down both of their faces like waterfalls. But just as they start to loosen up…*

G: Kiss me.

A: What…?

G: I SAID KISS ME!

A: Okay, okay!

*She looms over Gordon’s face and leans closer. Just before their lips touch, the mustache of Gordon’s beard gets in the way, the strands of it slightly poking her upper lip.*

A: Hold on, your goat’s in the way.

G (playfully): Awh, shut up!

*Alyx sweeps up Gordon’s stache with her hand and leans in once more. The kiss wasn’t wet, nor was it dry. It wasn’t short, nor was it too long. Funny enough, it ended when Gordon attempted to give tongue. Alyx jerks back once she feels this.*

A: Dude, gross!

G: Sorry- couldn’t resist.

*Alyx chuckles obnoxiously. They both wipe away their tears and sit back in their seats, still not able to comprehend what the fuck just happened. It may be the end of the world, but at least they have each other. Although…there were concerns that still lingered on Freeman’s mind (haha ross scott freeman’s mind reference lolololololol)…*

G (to himself): Ring of seafoam green light… I believe I saw that once I killed the Nihilanth. And then- wait… *his eyes widen in shock, as he looks at Alyx with intrigue. Alyx turns around and sees this.* Does this mean…He…?! Wha…? What does He even want from her?

A: Gordon…? Everything okay?

G: Oh- What? No, yeah. I’m just…so relieved I was able to have a moment.

A: Understandable.

…

I think…when this is all over, we can eat something other than just stupid rations that taste like fascist misery.

G: Yeah…I’ve been craving some uhhh…some Dutch babies.

A: Huh?

G: The pancake…!

A: Never heard of it.

G: Typical. Combine likely wouldn’t allow it anyway.

▪ END LOG

[victimsofyaoipoll]

Round 1

Propaganda Under Cut

Ginny Weasley

Okay hold on I know Harry Potter is bad its awful I KNOW BUT LISTEN- the way drarries have BUTCHERED and KILLED her character is something that truly needs to be studied because its one thing to make her and harry not date but oh my god they treat her like she is the DEVIL for EXISTING.

Tbh only remember the epilogue where they do a time skip and Harry and Ginny are married then they have a Bunch of kids boarding the train. In fics I see a lot of her either becoming psychotic trying to marry Harry and become lady potter or molly Weasley getting a contract to force a marriage. There’s a lot of m/m ships in the fandom but I think Harry and Draco are the most popular? Just wanted to throw someone different in here

The thing is, the deeper I got into the fics, the worse Ginny got? Like I read plenty of good fics where she was cool, but there was the same amount where for some reason she was controlling, or abusive, or dead. Like for Drarry? Come on! If you think Ginny sucks, I have some *shocking* news about Draco

Alyx Vance

She genuinely gets so much hate from fans who like to ship Gordon and Barney because she's Gordon's canon love interest and it's tragic because she's such an interesting character.

I LOVE HER SM but she's so often mistreated and shoved under the rug by not only ppl mischaracterizing her due to being a woman of color but also to shove her to the side for freehoun (gordon freeman/barney calhoun) bc she "gets in the way" of freehoun by being canonically into gordon ........ i need her to stay safe in my arms

Literally gordon freemans canon love interest, and she loves gordon so much. I love her and i love their relationship even if gordon is a bit of a blank slate character. Anyway Freemance (Alyx/Gordon) is way less popular than Freehoun (Gordon/Barney). Barney is some guy who appeared in half life 1 but didnt even have a name. He appears at like the beginning and end of hl2. He is a side character. And yet for some fucking reason people always push alyx out of the way to ship gordon with this random white guy (Should mention at this point that alyx is a black woman). Alyx and her relationship with Gordon have WAY more development than anything about Barney (did BARNEY get a whole game dedicated to him?). And yet. I literally saw a freehoun shipper try to say that freemance is pedophilia and freehoun should be alyx's "dads." The reasoning for this being that hl2 takes place 20 years after hl1, and gordon, at 27, was put into stasis for those 20 years. When he comes out Alyx is 24 and Barney is in his 40s. The argument is that gordon actually did age those 20 years even though he was fucking suspended in time. They even claimed that "gordon probably babysitted alyx at some point" which there is absolutely no evidence for - meeting Alyx in hl2 is pretty heavily implied to be Gordon's first time meeting her. But like functionally Gordon is 3 years older than Alyx and 20 years younger than barney!!! He did not have any fucking life experience while he was in time prison!!! It's an absolutely insane reach to try and justify why you are sidelining a black woman!!!!!! Basically I love alyx I love freemance and I do not trust freehoun shippers because there is some kind of racism and misogyny happening there to make them sideline Alyx for a random white guy

[deckof-dragons]

After only about a year, I'm replaying Half Life 2 again! It's for that sweet new dev commentary. I was thinking about getting the achievements I missed too but the dev commentary disables getting achievements. Which I guess makes sense, while listening to them the player is invulnerable, still kinda annoying though. I might get them later via going to the chapters they're in directly. It would mean more time with the gnome which would be fun (other than keeping him in the damn car anyway).

And I'd already been thinking about replaying the VR mods for it and then into another Alyx playthrough, using my left hand (non-dominant) for the guns. So I'll probably do that after I finish this dev commentary playthrough.

The Half Life games are real good. I slept on them for way too long. Also, lots of people have already said this but, 2 is free right now and the episode sequels have finally been brought into the fold. The rest of the franchise is also on sale (If you don't have a VR headset I've heard there's a mod for it that allows you to play it flat) so now would be a good time to get into it if you haven't already. (Join me in loving Alyx, please, she doesn't get as much love as she deserves.)

I'm still not letting myself get too hype about the Half Life 3 leaks but ooh, they did this all this cool stuff with HL 2 for its b-day, indicating they care about the series again. So I am a little bit hype. I hope it comes out and I hope it's good. I also would like it if they make it so you can play in VR or flat, similar to how the first Subnautica did but with motion controls. I doubt they'll do that, it'd probably be much more work that wouldn't be worth it for them but ooh, I sure would love that. That's just a fun fantasy though. Like I said, I'm not letting myself get too hyped for it yet, so many things could still go wrong that might result in it not happening.

[roosterm3at]

alyx headcanons please 🤲🤲🤲

alyx!!! hc

she has the adhd to me so bad

shes pansexual

i think alyx for sure has dated a lot of diff types of people, based on how quickly she flirts with gordon i think she is a very flirtatious person but i do think she struggles to actually deepen those relationships because shes scared by becoming too attached to someone and then having them ripped away from her, and it probably has happen before.

she lovvvesss aliens and critters, if there's a way for her to befriend them she will find a way. she will tame a strider if possible

drives like maniac and it makes barney soooo nervous he hates when she drives because barney is an anxious backseat driver and Alyx is driving places no cars should ever be

her and eli absolutely play boardgames together, they play clue and eli always wins

she does graffiti all over city 17 and has made some pretty rocker murals

she loves drawing people, (valhoun crap she has a bunch of doodles of barney in her little sketch book that she did when he wasn't looking)

she listens to loud ass 90s punk music and her dad's old CDs while she tinkers with her robotics

for sure has some stick n poke tats

[octahedral-chaos]

Daylily, my sweet girl!

(I don't have anything in mind, so please feel free to ramble all you want about her!)

Yeah!!!!! The silly ophan who popped in while listening to nightcore-

Okay so more tidbits about her

Uses she/ they (Prefers she/ her)

7'9 (Kind of short for an ophan?)

Favourite animals are wolves (... Yes she would have a sparkledog oc-)

General aesthetics would be similar to cybergoth and scenemo (Clothes-wise... at least-)

LOVES music. Favourite genres are hyperpop, speedcore and metal/ rock (Think early 2000's - early 2010's bands)

If it wasn't for the fact that she's an ophan and is over 7 feet tall, she would wear Green Day merch (Decided that her favourite rock band is Green Day-)

Owns an Idog and Ipod, Carol got those for her as a gift.

Because of trauma, she prefers to hide the fact that they're missing wings. They usually use hoodies and stuff to cover the scars from that... ordeal.

Will use 2000's slang on occasion (The starfolks are mildly confused)

Probably crashes by Carol and Alyx when on Earth, and probably lives with her flock when in the Realms.

Decided that her flock is Hills Delta-Samek. @sqarletsworldlesswandering I might have accidentally made an entire flock-

Anyways... back on her flock! Her "parents" would be tailors or something. One would probably make tapestries and such, while the other would probably be a scribe? Not too sure.

She may or may not be an only child.

Also to explain how she got on Earth in the first place. Basically a storm or some other disaster happened and unfortunately... Daylily and her family was caught at the wrong place at the wrong time: Daylily got swept away during the chaos, before getting yeeted into a rift.

[decks-writing-blog]

How Long Has it Been?

Summary: From Gordon's perspective he's just killed the Nihilanth and accepted G-man's job offer before getting dropped off on the train. Clearly a lot's happened that he missed.

[A/N] I'm playing Half-Life 2 again (the VR mod of it which is awesome, if you have a VR headset, I highly recommend it) and I realized at the start, no one explains to Gordon what's up with the Combine. They weren't around when he was put into stasis by the G-man so in that moment he'd have no idea what's going on. And it's been 20 years so all his friends are gonna be visibly older so that'd probably throw him for a loop too. So in answer to these thoughts, I wrote this. He also gets to have a little sit down because being frozen in time doesn't count as having a break and he's certainly earned one.

~

If Barney hadn’t introduced himself upon lowering the helmet’s visor, Gordon might not have recognized him. He was older, not just older than Gordon where once he’d been a couple years younger but old enough that his hair was starting to noticeably gray. Just a little around the edges, he wasn’t an old man yet, but, unless he was graying super early, it was a clear sign that more than just a handful of years had gone by as Gordon had first hoped upon realizing he’d lost time when stepping off the train.

What all had Gordon missed whilst in stasis? Not just with what was going on with his friends but the world as a whole. Who were the Combine? Did they have anything to do with the aliens he’d fought before? Certainly not, right? He’d defeated their leader, or at least someone important to their attack… somehow, barely. So what was going on? How many years had it been?

He lifted his hands to ask. Too slow though, Barney was already talking again. “When Eli said you were coming, I almost didn’t believe it. And then when I saw you I almost didn’t believe it again ‘cause well… you look exactly the same as you did back when I last saw you. You haven’t aged a day.”

How could Gordon possibly look the same? So much had happened. He’d killed more people and aliens than he cared to ever think about. He’d died and come back also more times than he could ever think too much about whilst also hoping to keep whatever thread of sanity he had left intact. He’d been to an alien world and killed and alien superpower. How could none of that have changed him visually at least as much as the years had changed Barney?

“But man, is it good see you again. I uh… missed you.” Barney sagged a little, the emotion on his face unreadable. A moment later though, he shook it off as he straightened. “But as much as I’d love to chat for a a bit, we don’t exactly have time to catch up right now. We gotta get you to Kleiner’s lab, ASAP.” He turned and started typing into the console again.

A few moments later Kleiner’s face came up on the monitor. He too was visibly older; more wrinkled, balder, and what little hair he had left, entirely gray. Like Barney, he was alive though, he’d survived the Black Mesa disaster. And Barney had mentioned Eli so that meant he’d gotten out too. But… how many more survivors were there? How many casualties? Now probably wasn’t a good time to ask.

“Dr. Kleiner, you’ll never guess who just showed up,” Barney said, whatever somber emotion he’d been feeling before fully gone from his voice now.

Later, Gordon would get his answers later. For now he’d just continue to listen and do as he was told. Barney and Kleiner knew what they were doing, they’d explain it in time. Besides, Gordon had gotten quite good at forging on ahead despite emotionally not wanting to.

~

It wasn’t until the elevator slowed to a stop that it finally clicked who Alyx was, or more like who exactly she was talking about when she mentioned her dad. Perhaps it should’ve clicked with him sooner, especially after having seen visible signs of age on Barney and Kleiner, but he was still getting used to the fact that he’d been in stasis for who even knew how long.

“You’re Eli Vance’s daughter,” he signed before she could turn away as the doors opened with a soft ping. He’d never met her or seen anything more than just the single photo Eli had kept of her on his desk but Eli had talked about her sometimes. Enough that Gordon knew her name. And if she was, there was a good chance he’d have taught her sign language as it was useful for far more than just people who couldn’t speak.

She gasped, almost seeming to flinch a little. “Oh, I’m sorry, are you… do you need me to…” She awkwardly lifted her hands to sign, her movements slow and unsure. “Yes. Eli is my dad. Sorry. I’m… I’m…” She fumbled with her hands, clearly unsure how to say whatever it was she wanted to say.

“I can hear.” Gordon made sure to move his hands a bit slower than usual as she clearly wasn’t very comfortable with this form of communication. “You don’t need to sign to talk to me.” He appreciated the effort though, not everyone did.

“Oh, thank god,” she said, visibly relaxing as she lowered her hands. “For a moment there I thought you missed everything I just said. Dad taught me sign language when I was little but I don’t get many opportunities to use it outside of missions. And for those we we only really use stuff like ‘all clear’ or ‘three Combine ahead’, you know?” As she said the phrases out loud, she also lifted her hands to sign them too. “So I’m not very good at it.”

“That’s fine.”

“All right um… I guess I’m gonna have to practice that, huh? For now though, we should continue. We’re almost there.” She turned and resuming leading the way and Gordon continued to follow. Still no time to waste on talking apparently.

~

Despite never having been in this iteration of Kleiner’s lab, it still felt somewhat familiar and very Kleiner. A cluttered mess that was somehow still organized. The addition of Lamarr wasn’t nearly as shocking as everything else Gordon had seen upon waking up in the new present. In fact, it was the exact kind of thing Gordon would’ve expected from him if he’d been given the time to think about it.

As Lamarr hopped away, Gordon set to exploring. Not counting his time in stasis, it hadn’t been that long since he’d last been in a working laboratory but it certainly had felt like it had been ages. He missed it.

Would he ever be allowed to settle down and just be a normal theoretical physicist ever again? If given the chance would he even be able to? The world had changed so much while he was in stasis and he’d changed so much during the fallout of the resonance cascade. All the killing, violence, and death weren’t things he could just pretend didn’t happen. Surely there could be no peace after…

Something touched his shoulder. Flinching, he snapped around to face it as he reached for a gun that wasn’t there. He scrambled for were his crowbar should be magnetized to suit’s front instead but that also wasn’t there.

“You okay, pal?” It was just Barney looking at Gordon with a concerned expression. His hand was still raised as if he wanted to put it back on Gordon’s shoulder but didn’t dare.

Trying to pretend he wasn’t breathing a bit harder and his heart wasn’t still racing, Gordon stepped back and looked up and around to see Alyx and Kleiner looking at him with similar shocked expressions. They’d been talking to him, hadn’t they? He’d heard their voices but had been too lost in thought to pay attention. Here, that was fine, anywhere else though, a death sentence. Even if he reset afterwards, dying hurt, sometimes a lot. He’d like to avoid it whenever possible so he had to be more wary and honestly shouldn’t have relaxed as much as he had in the first place.

“I’m fine. Continue.” Somehow he managed to keep his hands steady as he signed.

Silence held for a few moments before Kleiner broke it. “Ah well, as I was saying, I upgraded your HEV suit. If you would like to put it on, I’ll go over the specifics with you.” He turned to the keypad in the wall he’d apparently walked over to whilst Gordon hadn’t been paying attention. He input a code, opening the metal door next to him. Inside was indeed the HEV suit.

Of course Gordon had to put the suit back on. He wasn’t here to rest and relax, he had a mission to complete even if he wasn’t sure of the full perimeters of it. He was good at killing people now and even better at not dying because he didn’t stay dead when he did die. There was probably no time to waste either, things were happening, he needed to get a move on. But also…

“How long has it been?” Surely asking for at least that much would be okay, right?

“Since when?” Barney had stepped back from him and lowered his hand to lean lightly on a nearby table but he was still just in arms’ reach.

“Since everything that happened at Black Mesa.”

“Oh, uh, ‘bout twenty years, I think.”

“Twenty years to the the exact date, actually,” Kleiner added. “From the resonance cascade, not since you went to Xen to kill the Nihilanth.”

Oh. He’d lost twenty years. But hey, at least he had a name for the thing he’d killed Not that helped him much. He still missed twenty years of his friends life while apparently the world went to hell even despite his efforts to save it.

“Wait, if he’s been frozen in time since the Black Mesa incident, does he not know what’s going on with the Combine and stuff?” Alyx said it in a near whisper to Kleiner, just barely audible to Gordon from over here. Thanks to the suit, all that gunfire hadn’t damaged his eardrums though so he did hear it.

Kleiner took a moment to respond, his forehead wrinkled in thought. “Now that you mention it… Gordon, do you know what’s going on? I’d assumed you’d been told but if you don’t even know how long it’s been…” He trailed off.

Ah, so they hadn’t been barreling on because they didn’t care, they’d assumed he was caught up. Probably a safe assumption to make since the man in the suit could’ve easily told him something before dropping him off on that train. “I know nothing.”

“Oh dear, we don’t have time for a full debriefing right now but you are certainly owed and explanation. Come on, come over here and sit down and I’ll give you a rundown on things.” Kleiner gestured for Gordon to come over as he walked back over to his desk. “Barney, go with Alyx and help her brush up on her sign language skills, she’s gonna need them now that’s Gordon’s back. Though, really we could probably all brush up on them some.”

The thought of sitting down and having something explained to him was almost too good to be true. Surely something would come up to interrupt them. … If so though, Gordon should hurry over to get as much explanation as he could before that happened. He jogged over while Barney and Alyx moved off to the side. Besides, he’d earned an explanation and a break. Even if it was bound to be brief, he’d happily take it.

[glendover]

new podcasts I discovered this week while I frantically finished a crocheting project:

Syntax - how come I’ve never heard anyone talk about it???? I’m only on eps 8 but is sooo good and Silas is baby girl through and through,,, also pls let me hug J, Alyx and Lissy 😭

Midnight Burger - soooo funny and cool??? Gloria is such a mood and Caspar pls I love him (also I’m on episode 5)

The storage papers - I finally caved in and listened to it, it’s good but Uhm I think I missed the over all plot (or maybe there isn’t one idk I’m just confused 😭💀 but I’m also only on eps 10)

[blankfairy]

✍️ WIP Wednesday Friday SUNDAY✍️

haha i'm not late or anything.... don't worry about it (:

i was tagged by both @murmel-malt and @rainwingmarvel7, thank you guys!! i loved your excerpts :3

i've been reworking the intro to my fic a bit,, it's not too exciting but

[...] Death-touched flesh. Hollowed bones and festering skin. Samsa eyed the crack beneath King Viserys Targaryen's door, tasted the air soaked in sickness and sweetsmoke, and decided then and there that there was no saving him. Three-and-ten, self-decidedly wise to the ways of life and death and the powers that kept each at bay, wondered if her aunt's facade was even worth playing. Alyx continued to fuss with her hair. "You won't do that in the presence of the king." Samsa was too busy trying to listen to the murmuring behind the door to give her lady aunt any attention. "... Do what?" "Disregard me. Ignore someone who's speaking to you. Stare..." The king's voice was a hoarse murmur, and what must have been the queen's was firm, worried. Samsa heard nothing of the Hand. Alyx pressed the underside of Samsa's chin with a sharp finger. "... with your mouth agape like a simpering fool." Her gaze, an indigo as rich as the sky at dusk, was fierce. Still, she found her threats harder to take seriously now that she had to look up into Samsa's eyes.

it's sunday so i won't tag anyone, but, if anyone sees this they're welcome to do it themselves!! just tag me so i can see what you post!! :D

[skaruresonic]

"Lanolin is interesting because even the sonic series needs moments of negativity every now and then"

Somehow I don't consider the equivalent of an overly bossy store manager to be more emotionally moving than when an entire tribe got wiped out by their god

Lanolin doesn't add anything new. She's just annoying.

You know the character is unpleasant when you love kuuderes and assholes and even you don't want to be an apologist for them lol.

Apologies for the Half-Life talk - how people claim Lanolin is disrespected on the basis of gender reminds me of how Judith Mossman is actually sidelined and disrespected on the basis of her gender. Not only within fandom, but within certain parts of canon too.

Mossman is another strait-laced, uppity mom friend character. She, like Lanolin, has few quirks to speak of. The only thing we know about her background is that she lost a job to Gordon Freeman and likely resents him for it even 20 years later.

Few HL players actually like Mossman and care to examine their reasons for why. It's pretty much a reflex for most players to dislike her, often upon the very moment of meeting her for the first time.

While some of this dislike can be chalked up to Mossman deliberately emitting two-faced vibes, it can't all be attributed to just that. Otherwise you'd have people glibly writing "let's pop a cap in Breen's ass" fics as well. Her gender does factor in.

Mossman frequently rubs people the wrong way. If you pressed them on why, they'd probably say it's because she's duplicitous and hides her real emotions behind a fake smile (much like Lanolin's "plastic smile"), but here's where the double standards emerge. While Mossman occupies roughly the same roles as Barney Calhoun and Dr. Breen, neither Breen nor Barney are nearly as maligned as Judith. Which begs questions of why.

Dr. Breen is so two-faced that it's laughable, and he doesn't receive half as much disregard as she does. Probably the difference is that Breen is eloquent and someone you love to hate while you listen to him bluster on about nothing, so we give him a pass.

Honestly, I suspect that the likeliest explanation is that Mossman reminds people of an evil stepmother archetype. Some authority figure who spoils your fun through strict adherence to rules. That one teacher in childhood that used to piss you off by being so uptight. They're not really looking at her so much as whatever mental proxy she stands for.

It doesn't help that she's the "no fun allowed" guy, literally telling Alyx "the zero-point energy field manipulator is not a toy." And since we're inclined to befriend Alyx, we're inclined to dislike whoever she dislikes.

However, there's more to Mossman than simply being an austere traitor who sugarcoats her words. She shows glimpses of vulnerability, of reconciliation with Alyx, and once she stands up to Breen, she's on our side for good.

There's a lot of potential for depth and complexity with her character and her motivations, which makes it unfortunate that fandom seems more interested in writing 10K-word angsty Barney Calhoun character studies instead. Especially since Barney was created just to be some rando.

Coupled with the way Marc Laidlaw practically forced Alyx to stuff her in the fridge in Epistle 3, these are all reasons why I am the biggest Mossman apologist ever. Normally I would be in the camp that's not too hot on her, but her treatment makes me protective in a way that's simply not present in my feelings on Lanolin.

You mean to tell me we're given the choice to mercy-kill Breen, motherfucking Breen, but Alyx lugs a tortured Mossman around, blames her for Eli's death, and unceremoniously pops one between her eyes once she's outlived her usefulness? Nah, Marc, you're too drunk to drive. Give me your keys.

...Anyway. My point is that you can have negative Nancies, but they need to not be so goddamn dour all the time. Unlike Lanolin, you can see bits and pieces of Judith's humanity peek through the hardened crust of insensitive character writing. That alone makes it worth suffering through the fridging and undercooked portrayals.

Lanolin, on the other hand, doesn't really give us any glimpses, if at all, of a personality to offset her unpleasant demeanor. Assholes aren't assholes 24/7, but it's like every time you see her on the page, she's sneering for no real reason.

[skayafair]

Podcasts against gender stereotypes (yay!)

I made a post about the way gender essentially doesn't exist in Arcane, but I also wanted to say a few words about two podcasts I've been listening to lately.

In The Sheridan Tapes, I was struck by the way Bill Tyler and his partner, Robert Quincy, became the emotional and caring core of the searchers team. Sam Bailey was also allowed to be vulnerable, his "Heart" episode was soul-piercing, and his power relies mostly on intuition, on feelings. He literally needs an emotional connection for it to work in a certain way.

Kate Sheridan and Maria Sol, on the opposite, felt more like the action members of the team for the most of S2, very determined and tough when needed, holding themselves together at all times.

Things shifted to more neutral in S3 and 4, but S2 had me pleasantly surprised, because the traditional gender roles were sort of reversed but not driven to the extremes (like a lot of movies deal with 'tough women' nowadays). I'm agender so I like when gender stereotypes are treated as non-existent and the authors write people, not "men and women".

It's pretty much the same with Syntax Podcast. There's no clear devision gender roles wise, but I liked how Silas - not Lizzy or Alyx or even the most sociable of the group and the team leader Cassius - became 'the caring one' for the team: despite his stuck up attitude at first (or it just sounded that way to me in the beginning, I'm relistening and it feels way less so now), seemingly being more of an introvert and just 'on his own wavelength', it's Silas' trailer where everyone ends up gathering when they need support, Cass goes to him right away from the very beginning when they want to have some advice or just to discuss anything, any time a team member is having a hard time he makes sure to come up to them and give some reassurance or ask if they need help, and it was him who was making rounds to ensure everyone was ok when they were waiting out a siege. All this, considering that they have a leader, a medic and a security head on the team as well. So it wasn't strictly necessary, but he ended up taking this role all the same, just like he used to care about his mother's wellbeing since childhood after his father died.

Greg, being the "papa bear", also never shows any callousness despite serving in the military for the most of his life. In fact, his supernatural experience story is concentrated on moral support of his fallen comerades families. Moreover, although he tries to act tough like his place in the team demands, he's still allowed to show vulnerability and takes the chance. Same with J - military experience and no toxic masculinity whatsoever (I mean yes there were a few jokes but he was lightheartedly picking on Alyx and paid for this right away XD).

The girls are never damsels in distress and do a lot for the team.

(I don't mention enbies since I'm not aware if we even have any stereotypes going on for us, assigned gender at birth aside? Anyway, there's none of that bullshit either.)

Well, I may mention Greg being "papa bear" and June behaving like a mother hen but these traits aren't toxic, at least in their case. They feel very nice, and actually these two (I'm in denial S3 ending-wise, I have a fix it au in my mind OKAY) act pretty similarly in their care for the team, although they do it in different ways. Plus, I don't mind gender existing at all, only the expectations related to it being perceived as mandatory.

Everyone is written just as people, and they don't shy away from things that traditionally may be attributed to the opposite gender. I love to see - well, technically, hear - this. Please, more.

As a side note: I'd love not to pay attention to such things in general because to me people are just people as is, but in the society I live in every day gender stereotypes are still shoved in everyone's faces. In my country visibly not conforming to them is edging on committing a crime now. Plus gender socialization is still a thing, sadly, so toxic masculinity and femininity still exist and show up often enough, so I have to consider this as well. All this makes pieces of media like Arcane, TST or Syntax all the more enjoyable as they show the world the way I see it and would like it to be in reality.