#maybe it's time for a reread

[ruanbaijie]

my final tunhai physical volume arrived 💕 somehow the mainland cn publications of huaishang's novels always have the most beautiful covers i love them so much i mean look at the poyun and tunhai covers altogether it's book cover porn 🥹 the freebies have the unholy quartet!!! and they featured one of my favourite quotes from tunhai!!! 😭😭😭😭😭

你要带我回家吗？ are you here to bring me home? 不，我不用带你，你在的地方就是我的家。 no, I don't have to bring you home. wherever you are is my home.

[ettadunham]

i've been thinking about ciri so much lately with the new game announcement. she's a princess. she's a juvenile delinquent. she got banned from seeing her childhood friend because she upstaged him so hard in extreme sports that he fell in love with her. she got a tattoo and a face scar at age 15. she's besties with a unicorn. she once killed a dude for being homophobic to her. she has the power of god and anime on her side. she unironically suffered more than jesus. she once asked her dad why he's being a centrist. and she's even bisexual.

[maraudersftw]

Ahh thank you so much for the shoutout! ♥️

@hprecfest Day 15: a fic over 50k

Room Service by ClaudiaWrites aka @maraudersftw [Jily, M, AU: meet-cute, romance, drama. Multi chap. 2021].

Summary: When receptionist Lily Evans is informed that the hotel she works at will be hosting the owner's son for the whole month of October, she figures he's likely to be smug, and unbearable, and really nothing new. As it turns out, she's right about the first two assumptions—and terrifically wrong about the third.

An absolute favorite, I lost count on how many rereads this has gone through. At this point it has become a comfort read, sort of happy place for me. 💗

[upon-the-snow]

one for the ages, it’s a tale as old as time 🍃

[thimblings]

and thus....

rook, the solution is to get your own place c'mon

--

(first two pages happen a little bit after 8 little talons, so Viago is 32, Teia is 28, Rook/Marisol/Solina is 22) (next page happens often between then and DAtV) (and then, finally, last bit is either late game veilguard or post-veilguard) (this is all stupid, i just had a headcanon i wanted to get out and also wanted an excuse to draw a bunch of Viago and Teia cuddling my Rook because ~self-indugence) (and then i spent too long on it to not post it lmao)

[obsob]

bedtime story with my love !!

[c-kiddo]

thinking abt this .. the panic :( the way he just holds onto himself :( just tells himself theres work to do : (

also look at the little beetle carapace belle left for him :(((((

[teapetal44]

TW: ABUSE, CHILD ABUSE

“He wants to air this dirty laundry to the world does he…? Dabi, you fiend…you’ve been waiting for this moment…when they couldn’t prevent mass destruction…and faith in heroes is wavering.” - chapter 292

I truly, wholeheartedly, believe that MHA as a story upholds the myth of the perfect victim. I do not want to discuss if Horikoshi did that on purpose, or subconsciously because of inner bias – I find no meaning in doing so. For me the execution of an idea, in the grand scheme of the narrative, holds more value than the intention of the author. I’ve also had my fair share of people infantilizing Asian authors in the anime community for their poor writing decisions for one lifetime. It’s patronizing to both the author and the people reading it. Whether or not Horikoshi intended for his themes of abuse to paint the picture they did does not matter, because that’s how it reads as.

MHA puts victims of abuse in narrow boxes and softly dictates what’s an acceptable reaction to said abuse. Victims are continuously walking a tightrope between being deserving of compassion and sympathy and being unredeemable monsters who are too far gone and are only good for martyrdom after being put down.  

Eri fits the clean cut depiction of abuse victims that media usually gears towards. She is untouched by the cruelty around her - she preserves her innocence and kindness. She isn't assertive, but rather meek and passive. She doesn't fight back with force. And when offered help, she is receptive to it. That is not to say that Eri's depiction doesn't have a place in fiction, or that her portrayal can't be representative of the experiences of some - as we all deal with trauma and the inhumanity people throw at us differently. We see the same thing in the portrayal of Fuyumi, who shares many of the qualities discussed above. The same thing applies to her - i personally love the idea of all the siblings having different reaction to their childhood trauma and abuse. It shows that victims are not some type of monolith.

But the narrative treats the "forgiving" or "receptive to help/support" victims of abuse with more grace and with much more kindness. if you are willing to forgive, or the very least be quietly tolerant, the story grants you a happy ending. Forgiveness isn't a bad thing, it is an individual choice - but an abuse victim shouldn't have to do it for them to have a happy ending.

In a vacuum Eri and Fuyumi's character arcs and depictions of abuse are good but it becomes a problem when that's the only experience and type of victim we ever hold in high value or recognize as valid and deserving of compassion. Which the story reinforces.

Touya and Tenko's backstories aren't pretty nor comfortable or easy to sit through. Their responses to abuse aren't either. Reactive abuse is very much real.

[sengenism]

The Ishigamis and The Gifts of Science

Dr. Stone is a love letter to humanity and its sciences. The main character, Senku, often acts averse to all forms of affection, and the only love he doesn't deny is his love for science. But Senku is so so full of love. He just expresses it in a way other than physical touch or words of affirmation. He gives.

But let's go back to the one who taught him so– Byakuya Ishigami, his father. The love of Senku's life.

Byakuya is introduced in the tenth chapter of the manga as a dotting father who sells his car to present Senku with scientific instruments he will need for a more efficient research. This car is Byakuya's means of transportation, and given that he is crying and shaking in this scene, it could not have been easy for him to lose it. But his love for Senku is so big, that he wants to support his son's passion even if it means sacrificing a great convenience for him.

And Senku? Senku truly fell in love with science at this moment.

If there is anything that Senku is, he is Byakuya Ishigami's son through and through. They may seem like two very different people, as Byakuya is an openly affectionate guy while Senku is more closed off with showing his true emotions. But Senku takes more from Byakuya than not, and one of them is by showing his love and/or care for others through giving the gifts of science.

And it starts with Byakuya.

[Bodysuit Acquired!]

Byakuya had failed his first attempt at being an astronaut ten years back, but he doesn't give up and tries again. Senku then creates a bodysuit that manipulates muscle movement to help Byakuya pass his swimming test. And while the bodysuit doesn't quite help Byakuya to swim, the thought Senku had put into it had motivated Byakuya more than ever to pass the test. This is one of the fundamentals of gifting– sometimes, it really is the thought behind it that matters.

This motivation is what Byakuya credits during his interview with JAXA for passing the tests. He understands that Senku might not have given him any words of encouragement, but this bodysuit was all the words that were needed between them. Senku wants Byakuya to achieve his dreams just as badly. It's the way Senku shows his love for his father.

And it's the way Senku shows his love for others too.

[Glasses Acquired!]

One of the primitive aspects of the Ishigami village is that it considers bad eyesight as a type of "disease". Fuzzy disease, to be exact.

Suika wears a melon mask at all times to help clear her eyesight, which Senku later reveals is due to the pinhole effect. She, however, has never told Senku or the others about having the fuzzy disease. Senku himself notes how odd it is for her to wear a melon around, and confronts her about it once he decides to create glass. This is one of the most beautiful scenes in Dr. Stone, as Suika finds out that her disease was never a disease, and is finally able to see as clearly as the others. Senku basically gives her perfect eyesight, something she didn't even know was possible before.

[Antibiotics Acquired!]

One of the most beloved people in this village is the priestess, Ruri. Two of Senku's new friends, Kohaku and Chrome are deeply affected by her unknown fatal disease. Senku is such a person who would help a stranger even if there is no benefit to do so (though he would never admit to it), what more a person who his new friends truly love and care about. He cures Ruri of pneumonia, giving her a chance to live a life without the worry of it being her last day every day.

[Cola Acquired!]

Senku forms an alliance with Gen, who plays the role of Tsukasa's spy, for the promise of a bottle of cola. Both Senku and Gen are aware that the cola is only a front for Gen's loyalty to Senku and the Kingdom of Science, for Gen needs his superficial reputation as a comfort and cannot simply join them if there is no personal benefit for him to do so.

This cola is also the first gift post-petrification that Senku brands himself on, probably because it represents the first gift that is not out of necessity and leans toward a comfort/luxury that they both used to enjoy in the modern world.

For a modern man such as Gen, drinking his favourite soda in the stone world might have been one of the happiest days in his life.

[Cotton Candy Acquired!]

Senku cares about people so much, even if the people in question have tried to kill him. Senku sees Homura as a soldier who is merely following the orders given by her leader, but he also sees the Homura as a lonesome girl sitting by herself on trees day and night.

As usual, Senku hides his kindness and care by showing an evil ulterior motive, such as turning Homura to their side using the cotton candy, but Ruri points out that this is a facade. Similarly to Gen, a person with such an ego is unable to seem as if he is doing something good out of the kindness of his heart.

[Stove Acquired!]

As winter approaches, the elders in the village are worried about losing people to the cold. Senku hears about this and creates a stove which has a multi-purpose of cooking and also radiating heat for the people to stave off the coldness of winter. And speaking of winter...

[Christmas Acquired!]

Senku hangs up lights in the tree for the "light bulb test" on a random night. Except the date isn't random at all and he drops enough hints for Gen to catch on that it is the night of Christmas. The significance of the day is only appreciated by Gen and himself, as they are the only modern timers in the village. It is for the sake of nostalgia, but Senku would rather be caught dead than admit that he is a sentimental guy with such irrational feelings.

And well, it all comes back to that scene with Byakuya, doesn't it? If you recall, Byakuya calls himself "Santa" while giving the scientific presents to the young Senku. This indicates Senku received them during Christmas. Which means... Christmas is a sentimental day to Senku and his father. An anniversary of Senku receiving his Christmas presents from Byakuya, which led to his deeper dive into his science obsession. The beginning of it all, one would say.

And even though he's dead and buried, Byakuya never stops giving. He gives Senku the Ishigami village to provide Senku with allies. He gives Senku Lillian's music, because he believes in the light of music and understands the importance of media to society. He collects platinum till his last breath, because he believes that Senku will need it someday. Byakuya keeps on giving to Senku, because his love for his son is so huge and unconditional. And because he promised.

Surely, there is no greater love in the manga than Byakuya's love for his son and Senku's love for his father. Byakuya could easily win ten billion best father awards... well, not like there's much competition for that in shounen mangas.

[letthesunshinein]

there’s something so beautiful about the way ley lines and cabeswater are used to talk about trauma and healing??

so much of the dream thieves is about ronan coming to terms with his existence as the greywaren and his sexuality and it manifests as night horrors until he comes to terms with himself, and then he finally has control (over his dreams) and knows what he wants (adam)

and when adam has a total breakdown/dissociative episode and finally goes to fox way to work with persephone the first thing he encounters is his memories of abuse, of feeling alone, of pain. and it’s only after he moves through it that he can start to heal, that cabeswater can start to heal

and both of them still have to deal with their anger and trauma throughout the rest of the series but dream thieves really just cracks these two boys open so that new things can grow

[amethystroselily]

I’m pretty sure every time Matt beat up Kevin for Neil’s sake, Kevin wasn’t even actually entirely in the wrong, but he would not know that that bc it’s not like Neil or Kevin feel like explaining themselves. When he pulled him off of Neil, Neil was the one who started that altercation. When he fought him in the doorway with Seth the next night he was just trying to invite Neil to night practice. When Matt punched him for the Evermore incident, Kevin was just complying with Neil’s wishes. But again not like Matt would know that. So Im pretty sure he’s living in a world where Kevin is terrorizing Neil and Neil is completely innocent, at least in the first two books, but in reality they are both annoying and mean to each other. Does Matt even know they’re friends? Because I don’t even think Kevin and Neil know they’re friends.

[sysig]

Two skeletons in a trench lab coat (Patreon)

Bonus:

He’s very careful! Everything was fine before you interrupted!

[orb-the-watchman]

maybe I should continue BotSE cause I put my whole Orbass into this panel for nothing otherwise

[little-mouse-adventures]

"We never do anything small, do we? Why can't we for once have a meeting in a Starbucks?" Butler complains about meeting Kong in Taipei 101, conveniently forgetting that the last time he and Artemis had a business meeting in a restaurant, he got shot in the heart and died.

[lunarharp]

more phoenix wright situations