#no matter how you interpret their relationship

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

People seem to forget that “cult” doesn’t always mean “religious group.”

The word cult, as it is used in modern psychology, refers to the maladaptive behavior patterns within a group of people. Another word for cult is high control group. The terms brainwashing and mind control are often used to describe what happens within cults, but this term is often sensationalized by popular media to the point of having lost its original meaning.

So as to humanize former cultists, let’s look at subscribing to a group in the sense of a romantic partnership.

One person may have an extremely loving partner who respects their boundaries and helps them grow as an individual without imposing many elaborate rules or rituals. If one wants to separate from the other, neither will use force to prevent the other from leaving.

Another partnership may be sub-dom, where one enjoys being controlled by the other in certain ways. Even though the dominant one has control, it only appears in the situations the subordinate one agreed for it to appear in. Both sides agreed to the rules in place and have developed a safe word either one can use without shame or consequence if they ever become uncomfortable. There are also no punishments for the termination of the relationship. Not everyone is into the sub-dom thing so some more sensitive types may think this kind of relationship is abusive when it isn’t.

Then there are relationships where the type of control exerted may (in certain features) resemble or mimic something like a sub-dom relationship, except for the fact that the subordinate person did not consent to be subordinate, or was manipulated into it like a frog in boiling water. This domineering behavior is only enjoyable to the tyrant and bleeds through into all areas of life instead of only being practiced in a controlled setting. There may be no option to exit the relationship, or one which the victim gets shamed into not using, or one which will get them punished if they do use it. This is abusive, but sometimes so sneaky that it may appear normal to the untrained eye.

And then there are the types of relationships which continue to boil the proverbial frog past the point of emotional and mental abuse, escalating to extreme and regular physical violence, sexual violence, torture, or even murder.

As you can see, cultiness is a spectrum. And, as we’ve seen very recently in the exposé on Neil Gaiman, an individual can also take something which was meant to be consensual and feel good, and twist it into something downright evil. So, whether or not a religion or secular group of people is a cult can depend on the individual practicing it. In the lens of Muslims and Christians: some are chill; others are control freaks… it depends on what sect they’re a part of, how lovingly they interpret their holy book, and their motivations for being part of their religion which make it a cult or not.

Even if the religion as a whole only has one sect and is absolutely, positively, undeniably a cult all the way around, no matter what angle you’re looking at it from, the person practicing it may be way more lax with it than they are necessarily allowed to be. Some Jehovah’s Witnesses are allowed to do extracurriculars and go to college and do things on their own with worldly friends; others are exclusively homeschooled, practically never leave the house, get beaten for disobedience, and have trackers installed on every device.

Now, none of this means that people who joined or were raised with a more liberal type of religion can tell ex-members who were raised in a cult environment in under the same beliefs that they didn’t try hard enough. One would not tell someone with trauma triggered by fire to sit by a campfire because it’s “fun.” So don’t tell cult survivors to return to something that reminds them of what hurt them.

I don't know what atheist needs to hear this but when someone tells you they're a cult survivor, telling them that all religions are cults is both untrue and unhelpful 😌💕

[marusvoid]

I find it extremely funny that horror and dust are always somehow connected / together in like 90% of utmv fanworks.

Like , whether they're friends /lovers or hate each other's guts they're always together , even if it's not stated directly you can feel that they somewhat prefer each other.

Especially in bad sanses fanfics.

Like , cross ,nightmare and killer would be experiencing the most gut wrenching story and events and then you got horror and dust in their small little happy corner absolutely unbothered.

They're forever connected , forever stuck together no matter how much they hate each other , the fandom has decided that they are THE duo and it's been like this for god knows how long.

I absolutely have no idea how this even happened, the only canon interaction between them is when one of dusttale's creators said they would maybe become friends.

That's it.

On the other hand you got horror and fell who are confirmed to be besties and even crossdressed with each other at one point, and yet most of the fandom either makes their relationship nonexistent or make them enemies( No lovers, just enemies sadly :<. )

Don't get me wrong, I love all fan interpretations , i just found this really funny

Horrortale and dusttale are forever connected by a thread held by the fandom's bare hands and it will never let go of it. And I'm here for that.

[optimisticgrey]

I don’t think Mystra groomed Gale as a child, but rather as a teenager/young adult. That’s my personal opinion anyway.

Gale has been able to use magic since he was 8 years old, and Mystra hears all Magic users. So she at least knew of him.

:) I respect your opinion either way

*sighs*

Okay, I really did not want to do that but it has bothered me for some time and I have a hard time not answering. The discussion came up again a few days ago. This is my personal opinion, I am not looking for a hardcore canon discssion. You can find the take of @archduchessgortash @waterdeepwife @sevikasstar

here

My short answer:

Please rethink your approach to media and reflect where this idea is coming from.

No one was groomed. It simply does not fit the timeline.

Power imbalances in relationships

Long answer below the fold. Buckle up, grab a beverage of choice, you know how this works.

Media literacy and self reflection This is the most important point. The claim that “they are grooming our children” is a well-documented conspiracy theory, originally weaponized by the far-right against the LGBTQIA+ community as early as the 1920s. It is literal propaganda. Despite a complete lack of evidence—hallmark of how propaganda works—this narrative has embedded itself into various forms of media and, apparently, into many minds. I understand the instinct to protect those we love (even if it's our pixel husband), but I encourage you to reflect on where these ideas originate. Why is your first assumption that a goddess "groomed" a child? To what end? Why would the Goddess of Magic concern herself with such matters when wizards are lined up to seek her favor? This assumption reflects your own thoughts and beliefs, overlooking the reality that gods are not inherently sexual beings. In fact, romantic or sexual relationships between gods and their Chosen are an extraordinary exception, not the norm. Just because something happened that you disapprove of, or because someone you care about was hurt, does not automatically mean that children were harmed or that grooming took place. There is also a Wikipedia article, please find it here. There’s an underlying layer of deeply ingrained American Christofascist purity culture at play here, one that cultivates a profound fear of sex. However, I’ll leave that discussion for another time. Important clarification: Please don’t interpret this as suggesting "grooming doesn’t happen" or "those in power never abuse their authority." That’s simply not the primary focus of this post.

DnD timeline Dungeons & Dragons, the RPG that our beloved Baldur’s Gate 3 is based on, has a well-established timeline and rich canon. The game is set in the year 1492 DR. According to the Forgotten Realms Wiki, Gale is 35 at this time. Elminster’s letter confirms that he met Gale when he was 8 years old, placing their first encounter in 1465 DR. Given Elminster’s status, it’s unlikely that their meeting was accidental—suggesting Gale was magically active at an even younger age (though this remains speculative). Now, looking at the timeline of the Spellplague, Mystra’s former incarnation, Mystryl, was killed in 1385 DR, triggering catastrophic upheaval in the Weave (including the Shadow Weave) and affecting all magic users. The Spellplague finally ended in 1480 DR with Mystra’s return, but it took until 1482 DR for the world of Toril to be fully restored. This means that during the chaotic post-Spellplague years, Gale would have been around 12–14 years old, thus denying the idea she even knew or acknowledged him when he was a child because she simply did not exist. Additionally, in-game dialogue confirms that Mystra was not Gale’s first sexual partner, adding further context to his past.

and he actually enjoys physical sex

We also learn from Gale himself that Mystra was first his teacher before she "in time" became his lover. This explicitly confirms that their relationship began as a mentorship before evolving into something more.

Knowing that Gale had sexual relationships with mortals before Mystra (we all know the "practiced tongue" dialogue) it stands to reason that his experience came from multiple lovers throughout his life. His relationship with Mystra was neither his first nor the one that introduced him to sexual intimacy, reinforcing the understanding that Gale experienced a perfectly normal progression of relationships and sexual intimacy during his younger years before he became her Chosen and, again "in time" her lover.

3. Power Imbalance A relationship between a god and a follower is inherently defined by an extreme power imbalance, where the divine being holds absolute authority, knowledge, and control, while the mortal remains dependent, vulnerable, and limited. The god dictates laws, morals, and expectations, with the ability to reward or punish as they see fit, making devotion an unequal exchange in which followers have little to no means of holding their deity accountable. This imbalance extends to knowledge, as gods often possess omniscience or vastly superior understanding—something Gale himself acknowledges—while mortals must act on faith and whatever limited revelations they are given ("I pleaded, I pouted...")

The relationship is further skewed by dependence—mortals seek guidance, favor, and power (in Gale's case), while the god remains largely self-sufficient, needing little from individual followers beyond worship. This creates a dynamic where the mortal’s existence is deeply affected by divine will, but the god is rarely impacted in return.(Mystra's existence did not change after Gale infected himself with the orb.) A follower may believe they have free will, but their choices are always shaped by an overwhelming power they cannot resist . In addition, the superiority of the god can make ethical concerns one-sided, where a mortal's devotion is judged, yet a god’s actions remain unquestioned. Followers may even be manipulated into believing suffering or hardship serves a greater purpose when, in reality, it may benefit the god more than them. While such relationships are not necessarily abusive, they can never be truly equal—divine influence is absolute, leaving the mortal in a position of faith, dependence, and subservience.

For Gale, this imbalance defines his relationship with Mystra. Even when framed as love, it is love on her terms—conditional, elusive, and ultimately unattainable in the way he craves. His free will is constrained not by force, but by the sheer weight of her influence. His choices, his sacrifices, even his descent into arrogance and desperation, are shaped by the overwhelming force of her indifference. What he perceives as devotion, she sees as mere mortal folly. The most devastating aspect of their bond is its inherent cruelty: a mortal’s adoration is insignificant to a god who remains unaffected by his suffering. Where Gale offers love, longing, and unquestioning loyalty, Mystra offers only distance, manipulation, and expectations he can never truly fulfill ("She told me to be contented", knowing all to well this does not one of his core traits). It is more than just a bond between student and teacher, or even lover and beloved. It is a dynamic of power and powerlessness, where Gale finds himself relentlessly pursuing a dream of equality that was always out of reach.

Thank you for reading.

[armandsfangs]

I rewatched this scene and realised I mashed together Louis and Armand's lines (oops memory is a monster after all)

"That's when you can decide if you want [the position of coven leader] back, or if you want something else."

"I want you more than anything in the world."

"You sure about that, Arun?"

"Yes, Maître."

Armand's response is way less unhinged considering they were also talking about whether Armand still wants to be coven leader. "Armand" was the name forced on him by the cult that tortured him and made him become a coven leader that he did not want to be. It is a slave name, as much as "Amadeo" is, a brand intended to assimilate him, to further remove him from his ethnic origins the way many enslaved people were.

So of course Louis, a black Creole man whose character arc was about struggling against the roles forced upon him by racial inequality, and whose whole deal in Paris was being free ("if you want me, I'm out here"), wouldn't use that slave name, a name that is specifically tied to Armand's role in the coven, in a moment where he's trying to give Armand the real choice to step away from the coven and the sub/dom dynamic if he wants and choose his own role for once in his life. So Armand's "yes maître" is responding to two questions at the same time: I don't want to be coven leader anymore, I want you to take the lead instead

It's true that Armand doesn't know if Arun was his real name, but at least there's the benefit of the doubt that maybe it was, because at least it's close to his cultural roots and there's a chance it wasn't forced on him in the brothel in comparison to Amadeo and Armand which are distinctly European and we know 100% that he was renamed by Marius and Santino. None of these names are perfect given the circumstances, but Arun is the best choice imo

I stand by my interpretation that Louis was trying his best in this moment to reach out from a place of love and to be sensitive to both his and Armand's pasts so they could go forward in a consensual relationship. I also do not think Armand understood this at all and just decided to respond how he thought Louis wanted him to respond which is why they were doomed. But it matters to me that Louis tried and that he's not an evil uncaring dom!!!

"Are you sure this is what you want, Arun?" is THE most romantic Loumand line to me because this is Louis, knowing that Armand has suffered a life of abuse, of being bent and broken and reshaped to his captors' will, knowing that he has a complicated relationship with his own sense of self from the history he has shared, taking care to ask I want to know if you actually want this as yourself, not as Amadeo, the Maestro's perfect muse, not as Armand, the fearsome coven leader, but as Arun, the real you, before you were forced into those roles against your will. Arun, who did not have a choice then, you are free to make the choice now. Are you sure that you want this?

Which makes it extra unhinged that Armand's response is basically "yes daddy"

[pink-slay]

arcane Viktor and likely spoilers for both seasons

I keep thinking about Viktor from arcane all the time and I've written poems and had lengthy conversations about it but decided that I need to state it in prose to on an account that I barely update because this account is full of things that mean something to me

I constantly think about the lengths Viktor went to to be well. The writers lured me in thinking maybe hextech or the arcane or shimmer would help Viktor's vision of running on a purple arcane body become a reality. However in the end viktor became equally if not more disabled than before. He lived, yes, but at what cost, killing Sky?

And I'm a believer in the mutual JayVik love and understanding, but Sky still mattered. She was brilliant and wonderful and kept Viktor grounded. Took his head out of his work and into the clouds (eventually literally).

Often, as disabled people, we are told that if we worked harder our problems could go away and it is a prominent belief in our culture, even if unconsciously so. I remember years ago Imani Barbarin made a video on how able bodied people want to believe they could work their way out of any disability by trying harder. They then project this onto disabled people to shield themselves from their inevitable fate (disability or death). This myth is pervasive and as much as I and many people want the betterment of all, perpetuating this myth, even in a fantasy story, is at best unrealistic and at worst problematic.

However, Arcane subverts this expectation because Viktor lives, but he lives a disabled life. He tried harder, and it tore him apart. To me this is a more powerful story than overcoming. Most can try, and most don't overcome not due to personal shortcoming but because trying harder ≠ getting better (at least inherently and especially with disability).

It reminded me of how in my freshman year of college, I dropped my math minor. It was upsetting and annoying because it was an attempt to hold onto the pieces of my first analytical love, math. However I didn't have the right wheelchair then and I didn't know it yet but I was becoming progressively more paralyzed. I just couldn't make it to the classroom they assigned me and they refused to change it.

I told my mother that at a certain point it felt more impactful that my disability made a noticeable impact in limiting me instead of trying to torture myself into narrative of overcoming. Not taking that first class was one of many times Calc II would get in my way, each time related to disability.

Viktor, like me, had a progressive disability that would've continued to progress until it killed him without drastic action. For me the drastic action was a surgery that made me be on constant opioids all summer and destroyed my relationship with my mother and the scraps of independence I still had. For Viktor it was taking shimmer and bearing the almighty power of the hex core.

I guess I write all this to say that my love of math and my disability parallel viktor. We have scientific loves and would work ourselves to death. We can be romantic when we get our heads out of our work. And we are disabled. Sick and disabled. So sick we put our lives at risk for health. Even a glimmer of health.

I know Jayce's speech is controversial among disabled people. I respect the opinions of others but I think many people don't get the experience of severe disability when interpreting it. In real life with the wide variety of disabilities, Viktor may not fall into that category but he surely does in Piltover. For me, my disability is severe. So severe I questioned if, as much as I looked up to Viktor, II could ever be respected like him. However disabled people don't become more respected by shunning nonambulatory powerchair users like me. They just isolate those that make up their community.

From a severely disabled person, understand that yes, I understand you want to fix yourself, but when you have a disability that at any point threatens your life, there is a certain ubiquitous self destruction in everything you do. That's why Viktor needed Jayce's speech. It wasn't because Jayce didn't see Viktor or his pain. Jayce knew Viktor was in pain. Jayce knew Viktor better than he knew anyone. And Jayce knew Viktor needed to be shown his value that was independent of effort--- his value as a person.

To be loved is to hear things that you can't fully wrap your head around. I believe (when I think really hard about it) that I can be who am both because of and despite my disability. I say to my closest friends that it feels like all I ever was was a miracle sick child who lived and a smart person. And I break off each quality about myself and my friend says that she'd still find value in me. Because there are people in our lives like Jayce or my friend who will give speeches to you, not to gain anything but to show you your worth even if it kills them. Because in every universe, sometimes there's only one person who can show you that-- who can stop you from ending the world even if it means succumbing to life and it's inevitable partner, death. Because the people we love don't want to see our sinews as we tear apart ourselves to breathe. They want to see us. They don't want us to suffer as much as we do. But for us there is a desire to be well. And that desire drives suffering it doesn't fix it.

Viktor meant a lot to me as someone whose life keeps changing especially in regards to their disability. Hesitancy toward drugs and spinal hardware and leg braces. And so did the way he almost destroyed the world craving something.

I have longed to be normal, to be well for most of my life. But life doesn't work that way. In fixing ourselvea and the things we view as flaws, we lose beautiful parts in the crossfire. Our friends beg us to see ourselves and if we're lucky our friends do. But so do we. I don't succeed but maybe Arcane has pushed me to see the beauty of being kind to myself because working myself into the ground isn't worth the pain especially with such a bleak unsuccessful outcome. We'll be told to fix ourselves forever but at least for once, in this one show, we can be valued despite our ardor for work. Yes, it isn't inherently wrong to want to be better. But we have lifetimes for that. Just this once maybe we can sit in the beauty of being loved both because

and despite.

[benevadeca]

OK we all know SJ's fatal flaws of pride and envy and how it's a combination of the two that make him unwilling and unable to communicate.

But also like when you have had your humanity and personhood denied your entire life like. Why bother? Not only on a personal level of him thinking it's not worth it because he subconsciously internalized it, or his self-sabotaged interpersonal relationships, but the underlying social level.

Like historically saying something would just lead to worsening his circumstances, who listens to a slave? And then later it becomes his imposter feelings of well they already can tell I'm not One Of Them, let's not make it worse by clearing the waters bc an unpleasant lie is better than a vulerable truth. Bc to him both can and will be weaponized, but one is much more palatable.

But also like. Having to continuously justify your behavior, attitude, accomplishments, actions, etc to people who have, would, and did use any of it to deny his humanity and personhood and label him an Other. Fatalist king. Bc in his mind it's just a matter of which thing will be that which tips it over the edge. And ofc he takes this tendency as one born intentionally out of malice that cannot be unlearnt so like oop. People who've never had to worry abt such things denied to them, and so do not even realize said tendency to immediately act as an enforcer of an inherently exclusionary system is kind of un-righteous of them 🤷‍♂️. SJ internalizing these dynamics but he also doesn't even in now they're bad, to him they're just the natural state of things and that he as an outsider = he is inherently bad bc he is an outsider to them. Guy who cannot change the system or his role in it bc he's society-pilled 😔.

Anyway tangential but ngl in fics when the WRP stuff gets cleared and they're like ohhh you only hang out with Lesser people but you're not a Lesser person that's fine :) and SJ is just fine with this interpretation... like man those are His questionable-power-dynamic-born besties why would he be ok with that. Guy who's fine with any ad hominem against him but as soon as you insult his jiejie's he's like wait a minute. Fantasy china's first sex work-positive diversity hire cop.

[stellarisstars]

Something that’s been on my mind as I’ve lived in the sunturine ao3 tag for the past week is how the fandom (generally writers and fans) tend to depict and interpret the relationship between Sunday and Gopher Wood.

Now I’ve seen a lot of interpretations where Sunday is reprimanded by Gopher Wood a lot either through punishment, emotional abuse or physical abuse. I’m not going to argue and say “oh those are inaccurate and wrong” because I can see how people could interpret the relationship between them like that. I’m here to offer my own perspective on the matter because I think it’s interesting.

I think that rather than abuse, Gopher Wood excelled at manipulating Sunday. He manipulated and carefully crafted situations where his point of the Harmony’s flaws would always be true, example being, when Sunday was appointed as the Bronze Melodia. He knew that Sunday would see how the long-time resident Dreamchasers would affect Sunday, wavering his belief in the Harmony and push him towards the Order. He INTENTIONALLY created such a circumstance where Sunday had very little power and was forced as an observer and the few times Sunday did actually try to help (recall back to when he tried to help someone wanted by the BloodHound Family) he was punished for his kindness, another thing Gopher Wood did intentionally.

He also purposefully gave Sunday control of Aideen Park and the insane set of rules because he knew that it would affect Sunday, once again, he slowly manipulated and moulded the Sunday we saw in the Penacony quest over years. He made him believe that Robin’s ideals were too romantic, too foolish for so long that he couldn’t even admit to himself or anyone that he likes her songs because of the rules and manipulation done by Gopher Wood.

Yet at the end of it, Sunday doesn’t blame Gopher Wood. He doesn’t seem to hate him or particularly resent him for anything which makes me wonder if there a genuine bond between them but it’s hard to say since there’s a lack of depth on Gopher Wood’s side. But overall I believe rather than abuse, Gopher Wood took advantage of an emotionally well-meaning child like Sunday and manipulated him into a puppet, devoid of any notable traits. It also worth noting that, all of these incidents ended up giving Sunday a saviour complex and seeing himself as expendable/ creating even more hatred for himself, as ive mentioned in my previous post

Of course, this just my opinion lmk know what you guys think too because the power dynamics between their relationship are also very interesting to me

[sigurdjarlson]

I always found that sweet how a lot of the time in TLG Med would jump to reassure Khadgar or even apologize after snapping at him

And yet in some ways the cruelest thing Medivh said to Khadgar in my opinion was correcting him when he called Karazhan “Our Tower.” And reminding him he was there at his whim and he could send him away at any time.

And he never did apologize for that one and honestly I don’t really blame Med for that per se? It is his tower and Khadgar can’t tell him who is allowed there. What I mean is going by JUST the power dynamic they have as mentor-apprentice, Khadgar is absolutely out of line there

In some ways could have come off quite spoiled and entitled but the thing is I don’t think that was the case at all.

He’s become so comfortable in Karazhan he’d started thinking of it as his home. Then Medivh has in one conversation reminded him it very much was not his home and he could send him away at anytime if he so wished it

He’d finally found someone who cared about him, respected him and treated him as a person. He found a place where he felt he belonged for once in his life and…

No wonder he was so jealous of Garona for a while after that. He’d been reminded that all of it could be taken from him at any moment and here was someone stealing his Master’s attention.

Just thinking about how that jealousy so obviously comes with feeling like he’s not enough and insecurity about his place in Med’s life.

Just very interesting how I think it could very well have went over Med’s head as not that big of a deal too? One of those things he’d be like huh oh yeah I said that? Meanwhile Khadgar is spiraling about it

He could of also been absolutely aware of how harsh it was because Medivh does lash out like that on occasion (especially towards the end of the book as Sargeras gets harder and harder to fight) he can be a little shit we know this

(Don’t really blame him for that given being possessed by the demon lord Sargeras is probably just a teensy bit tiring /s)

Also seen valid and honestly very possibly canon interpretations where he’s also trying to push Khadgar away cuz he knows what’s coming and what Khadgar is going to have to do.

The more attached to him he is the more difficult it will be for Khadgar to do what needs to be done.

What better way to push someone away then hit them right where it hurts?

And yet even then I think those words hurt Khadgar deeper than he’ll ever know :(

[knifearo]

i hate the concept of platonic and romantic as a binary i hate the concept of platonic and romantic as a sliding scale of "less" to "more" i hate the concept of platonic and romantic as the only two options i hate the concept of platonic and romantic as significantly different things i hate the concept of platonic and romantic as all encompassing i hate the concept of platonic and romantic as the two halves of a shallow concept of love that doesn't actually encompass anything at all i think we need to overhaul every popular conception about "types" of love so we can talk about things that are real and true for once

[marzipanandminutiae]

My Dark Ship Is Morally Fine Actually; Your Dark Ship Is Icky And Gross And You're A Bad Person For Shipping It will never not be a hilarious take to me

like we're both here at the devil's sabbath my guy. you're just embarassing yourself

[puppppppppy]

i feel like im not making any sense but does anyone else feel like there are stories that let u run with them and ones that spell everything out for you

[shakingparadigm]

In a modern au I think the wagyein would be like one of those gaint ass crocodiles that Ivan gets away with keeping because its technically a service animal. As long as its on a leash its all good and not a threat to the public!!

Ivan being rewarded with a more expensive and unique kind pet like a whole fucking crocodile honestly seems pretty in line for him 😭 especially since it adds a new "chic" flair to his photoshoots and his general aesthetic. Imagine Ivan's new photoshoot drops and he's in a suit posing with a fucking crocodile. Insane.

I really like the imagery of this large, scaly and dangerous looking reptile being tamed as Ivan's pet, something that could help boost his image and push that luxurious, enigmatic vibe. You know, like how stereotypical evil lairs have sharks or other rare and dangerous animals guarding the entrance or simply acting as accessory. That kind of vibe. I also like the imagery of this sharp creature being forced into submission and captivity. Forced to become a good, obedient pet, holding in its urges and keeping its teeth hidden. A being taken from the ruthless, grimy darkness, cleaned and maintained to perfection, forced to perform for the cameras. Ivan can empathize, he knows what it's like.

"Technically a service animal" is fucking hysterical. Ivan going Hello, sir! Please excuse my emotional support 12ft crocodile. Don't worry, he's very well-behaved.

I actually think Ivan would get along very well with his hypothetical crocodile. Just like the wagyein, he'd feel connected to it in a very personal way. Also just like the wagyein I think Ivan would be the only person it would never harm. In my head I have the mental image of Ivan petting and cuddling it as if it were a puppy.

[altschmerzes]

getting real tired of people who are shitting on “found family” more generally as a narrative concept and specifically named familial dynamics in fan interpretation of characters in particular because it all seems to be getting painted with a really wide and really homogenous brush. “we need to take found family away from people because they think it all has to be In Nuclear Family Terms and do you know friendship exists and you don’t have to call these characters siblings to legitimize their relationship while making it clear you Don’t Ship Them Ew Gross and THEN you sneer at people who Do ship them” cool cool that is a lot of really intense characterization and assigning of motive to other people en bloc!

like sure there’s some meaningful critique to be found in a broad trend to label every single relationship directly and specifically with terms that have very specific contexts and roles but im waiting to be told when anyone IS by the standards of people making and reblogging these very sweepingly generalized posts allowed to call a relationship parental or whatever. is that Ever allowed. who is handing out the permits. sometimes a specific term for a relationship isn’t actually about wanting an excuse to sneer about your ship (and frankly there’s a lot of projection going on there imo from people who are actively sneering about other people’s interpretation of a relationship!) and it’s because there are very specific contexts and details about a dynamic that makes exploring it from the lens of siblings or whatever very rich and compelling and interesting because words mean things and assuming everyone is just being reductive and demanding conformity to a nuclear family is, ironically, really reductive.

so like. cool it. stop being really fucking mean about people having an interpretation of a dynamic you personally don’t like or makes you feel a little weird or uncomfy because you ship them.

[thatswhatsushesaid]

currently thinking about just how much su minshan was willing to sacrifice--of himself, and of other people who relied on and trusted in him--to protect jin guangyao

goes 2 my knees, clutches my hair

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

At The Feet Of The Sun

book 2 in a slow paced high fantasy duology*

the right hand of the emperor (who is off searching for an heir) struggles with what to do after passing on his responsibilities and also discovering various pieces of information that are mindblowing to him, personally,

after adventure is thrust upon him, he travels to find His Radiancy and they go on some otherworldly adventures while growing closer and figuring out the nature of their friendship

(*there’s extra novellas & i think another book coming? duology adjacent, currently,)

[nathaylee]

“Hello, Jenny,” the man said. There was a strange emphasis to how he spoke such simple words – and, hang on –

Jenny sat up. “How do you know my name?” she asked suspiciously. The harmonies of the hum deepened as Laser Grid Girl also looked at the man askance.

“Oh, you might say I know your dad,” he laughed…

~~~~

Ruby’s in the middle of saving the inhabitants of the Moon of Praxis – just a typical adventure with the Doctor – when a mysterious stranger swoops in to help. When the Doctor learns who she is, he’s determined to get her back where she belongs.

hello I'm alive I think???? and my interest in Doctor Who has been roused from its slumber?????? Russell absolutely got me by bringing Tate and Tennant back (and has been killing it ever since)