#no matter how you interpret their relationship

[stellarsecrets86]

All About Venus In Natal Chart

{PS: These are my own interpretations. For entertainment purposes only. Have Fun💚.}

[Venus is the planet of love, beauty, harmony, relationships, values, and pleasure. Its placement in a birth chart offers insight into how one expresses affection, what one values in relationships, and one's approach to aesthetics and enjoyment. Venus demonstrates through which way you love, what you expect from a partner, and your style in romance. It rules your artistic nature, taste, and the way you appreciate beauty around you. Venus indicates something that is pleasurable to you, your values, and your attitude to possessions. This planet possesses grace, tact, and social skills.]

Venus in Aries

They  are bold, passionate, and fearless when it comes to matters of the heart. These individuals are driven by the thrill of the chase and are drawn into dynamic, energetic, independent partners. They enter their love connections with great enthusiasm and sometimes may get a little too spontaneous, as they prefer leading roles in all affairs. Their charm can be magnetic, while directness might be refreshing; often they appear as impatient and impulsive.The gestures are grand, quick, and heartfelt, though they may fight with consistency over time. For them, freedom in love is a quintessential factor, and they thrive in relationships where they get to be themselves. In creative interests, boldness usually shines through in innovative or competitive artistic expressions. The passion is one of the high sides, but they have to learn patience and balance for the endurance of long-term connections.Aesthetically, they are drawn to bright colors, energetic designs, and anything that reflects their fiery personality. Their confidence is contagious, often inspiring others to embrace their own passions. However, they might struggle with possessiveness, especially when their need for excitement is unmet. Growth comes from understanding that love, just like fire, needs careful tending to thrive.

Venus in the 1st House

Venus in the 1st House gifts them with an instinctive, gracious charm and beauty. This placement often makes them well-liked from the first meeting, since people generally see them as warm, approachable, and charismatic. They have a rather sophisticated taste in personal style and aesthetics, and it becomes another source of expressing themselves.They look for balance and harmony in a relationship. Admirers are easy to attract, and they fare well in relationships where they are built up. Their instinctive need to please could lead to over-accommodating, and that can bring boundaries into question. But again, their politeness and graciousness make them good in conflict resolution and reconciliation.They are inspired by beauty and harmony, often in fields of art, fashion, design, or performance. Love and relationships deeply affect their life as these themes help develop a sense of self and career direction. Of course, they do appreciate admiration from others, but the key to their growth would be toward self-love and inner acceptance.

                Venus at 1°, 13° and 25°

                    Venus in these degrees emphasizes pioneering love. These individuals are adventurous romantics who value courage and directness in partners. Their relationships often begin with an intense initial spark. They are the leaders in love. They often guide their partners emotionally or inspire them creatively, bringing a dynamic, take-charge energy to relationships. Magnetic and fiery, these individuals attract partners who admire their independence and boldness. They thrive in relationships where both parties encourage personal growth.

Venus in Taurus

Venus in Taurus is earthy, sensual, and attached to the physical world. Individuals with this placement want stability, comfort, and loyalty in a love relationship. They express love steadily and patiently, often creating long-lasting and profound connections over time. Their romantic nature is expressed through touching, giving thoughtful gifts, cooking for loved ones, or simply creating cozy environments.Sensuality is a hallmark of this placement, and they usually have an immense love for beauty, art, and luxury. While loyalty is one of their great strengths, at times they may resist changes or become overly possessive in relationships. Quite often, creative abilities are realized through hand work: craftsmanship, gardening, and cooking.They are attracted to earthy types, the natural beauty, and unobtrusive elegance. In love, they need consistency; they feel most comfortable when their relationships are secure and can be predictable. Growth for them involves embracing flexibility and learning that change is part of love and life, too.

Venus in the 2nd House

Venus in the 2nd house, on the other hand, connects love with self-esteem and worldly possessions. People with this sign feel secure in relationships that can offer them emotional and economic stability. They have a natural ability to attract abundance and may experience good fortune in financial matters-particularly when they align their passions with their work.In love, they are loyal, dependable, and deeply appreciative of their partners. They express their affection through tangible gestures, such as giving gifts or creating luxurious experiences. However, they must avoid the tendency to equate material possessions with emotional satisfaction or self-worth.They can easily combine functionality with aesthetics, and often find much success in interior design, designing jewelry, or even as a chef. They truly appreciate the aesthetic of their environment and like to be surrounded by things that give them comfort and joy. Growth for them is learning to experience self-worth without attachment to material possessions.

                Venus at 2°, 14°, and 26°

                    Venus in these degrees signifies a deeply rooted love for nature and beauty. These individuals often seek relationships that feel grounded and stable.A powerful creative energy emerges here. These people often possess a natural talent for art, music, or design, and their relationships reflect their appreciation for harmony.They are intensely loyal and may have a protective instinct in relationships. Their love is enduring, and they cherish meaningful commitments.

Venus in Gemini

Venus in Gemini is curious, and mentally stimulating. These individuals crave variety and mental engagement in relationships, often being drawn to partners who can keep up with their quick wit and love for conversation. They are natural charming others with their humor and playful energy.To them, romance is natural, and where their intellect is kept interested, there they will be thrilled. Highly adaptable in love, they bring excitement and creativity to a relationship.Venus in Gemini obviously shines in creative pursuits somehow related to writing, speaking, and generally anything to do with communication and telling a story. Aesthetically, they like youthful eclectic styles that reflect the dynamic nature of their personalities. Growth for them involves embracing emotional control, learning to stay present in one's relationships, even through times of routine or predictability.

Venus in the 3rd House

Venus in the 3rd house emphasizes grace and eloquence in one's communication. These individuals express love through words-be it mushy letters, deep conversations, or an exchange of intellectual ideas. They are often skilled at diplomacy, using their natural charisma to navigate social interactions with ease.They find themselves drawn to people with whom they share mental stimulation in life and relationships. They just love engaged discussions and might make quite a few acquaintances through one's neighbors, siblings, schoolmates, and friends of the family. Creativity is often poured into writing, teaching or communication. Lively and light-hearted and can lean to wit and humor most readily through artistic expression.Growth would come through learning to share mental stimulation harmoniously with emotional, their relationship needing to be stimulating on every level.

                Venus at 3°, 15°, and 27°

                 Venus in these degrees is curious. These individuals thrive in relationships that feel youthful, deep and dynamic.A natural storyteller, they may express love through words or gestures, often finding joy in shared intellectual pursuits.Quick-witted and adaptable, they attract partners who enjoy their lively conversations and open-mindedness.

Venus in Cancer

Venus in Cancer symbolizes profound attachment, nurturing love, and strong attachment to family and home. Individuals with this placement are caring and empathetic in their relations, often putting their partner's needs before their own. They are sentimental and attach a lot of importance to emotional security, forming bonds that are profound and lasting.Their love language is all about acts of care: cooking meals, creating a cozy home, and offering a listening ear. They seek out partners who can provide stability for them and who share their family values. But their emotional sensitivity can make them moody or fearful of rejection, especially if they feel unappreciated.They would be brilliant in areas involved with nostalgia or the care of others, such as storytelling, culinary arts, or interior design. Their aesthetic will run toward classic, homely, and comforting styles. Growth for them lies in a balance of their nurturing with self-care, making sure emotional needs are met, too.

Venus in the 4th House

Venus in the 4th house reflects a very strong attachment to home, family, and tradition. They find their love and beauty in domestic life and mostly put their energy into making the home warm and hospitable. Relationships are deeply connected with their sense of emotional security, and they thrive in relationships that feel like home.The planets' nurturing nature makes them very caring, and they are attracted to activities that involve building and maintaining a peaceful family life. They may be interested in house decoration or investment in property. In love, they seek deep emotional connections and are happiest with partners who share their love for stability and tradition.They are very generous and giving; however, there is an issue with dependency or perhaps an overly strong need to please their family. The lesson that can be derived is related to a balancing between pleasing themselves and their commitment to others without losing one's identity in that relationship.

                Venus at 4°, 16°, and 28°

                 These individuals value emotional security above all. Their relationships are built on trust and mutual care.Romantic and artistic, they often channel their deep emotions into creative expressions.Highly intuitive, they form deep connections and seek partners who understand their inner world.

Venus in Leo

Venus in Leo is warm, passionate, and dramatic when it comes to love. They give out their affection liberally and many times shower their partners with grand romantic gestures. The thing they want and like in a relationship is admiration; thus, they like being the focus of attention. With magnetic charm, confidence, and flair for drama, this guy naturally attracts people.To them, romance is an art, and they simply adore being in a relationship where they feel special and appreciated. Besides this, their need for recognition sometimes causes friction when they are ignored or undervalued. They are attracted to a partner who can match their enthusiasm and shares their zest for life.They can be very proficient in the performance arts, fashion, and anything that displays their skills. Aesthetic-wise, they are often drawn to styles that are extravagant, plush, and king-like. Growth for them involves learning to balance a need for validation with honest self-love, and understanding what respect means in a mutual relationship.

Venus in the 5th House

Venus in the 5th house amplifies the love, creativity, and self-expression of a person. Individuals with this placement of Venus live life in a playful and romantic manner. Many are drawn to artistic and theatrical pursuits. They simply love to share their passions with other people and thrive under relationships that are fun and inspiring.They are passionate and romantic, usually wearing their hearts on their sleeves. They love the romance of it all and are usually drawn to partners who appreciate their creativity and zest for life. There may be ups and downs in their love life, but they will always remain optimistic about the same and stay enthusiastic in trying to derive joy out of it.They tend to excel in areas that require performing arts, music, or visual design. They surely have a keen sense that evokes beauty and creativity in others by using their vision. Growth for them is really about understanding that love and creativity are as much about giving as receiving, ensuring they stay grounded on the path of happiness.

                Venus at 5°, 17°, and 29°

                Bold and expressive in love. They seek partners who inspire them to be their best and reciprocate their devotion.Artistic and charismatic, they are often drawn to creative outlets and romantic partners who admire their talents.Exudes magnetic confidence in relationships and creative ventures, making them unforgettable lovers and artists.

Venus in Virgo

Venus in Virgo is practical, humble, and detail-oriented in love. These people show their love through acts of service and small gestures; most often, they attach much importance to being useful for their partners. They value stability and are drawn to relationships based on mutual respect and shared values.They are probably not the most expressive people in the world when it comes to showering love in grand dramatic gestures, but their loyalty and dedication scream volumes. They possess keen eyes for detail in noticing the little things within a relationship and thus appreciate such. At times this can be overdone-to be too self or partner-critical.They get attracted towards crafts, writing, or other forms of expression requiring precision and refinement. Their aesthetic taste is subdued and leans toward simple yet elegant designs. Growth for them involves learning to embrace imperfections and focusing on the emotional depth of their connections rather than perfection.

Venus in the 6th House

Venus in the 6th house shows love being expressed through service and routine. They find beauty in the mundane and often seek harmony in their work and relationships. They are committed and practical in love, showing their care mostly through helpful actions rather than words or grand gestures.They attract similar soulmates in relationships who can meet their growth-oriented focus head-on. They are only set to blossom in such relations when mutual support and cooperation in every situation come to the fore. Most probably, a similar approach toward health may extend in their interest in creative living: they especially will enjoy any activities benefiting both their bodies and their minds.While admirable in many respects, that sense of looking out for others should not get in the way of taking one's needs into consideration.The balance they need to learn is to tend the garden of themselves while nurturing and deepening the intimacy of their close relationships.

                Venus at 6°, 18°

                Focused on perfecting relationships. They value commitment and shared goals.Quietly romantic, with an appreciation for small, meaningful gestures. A healer in love, often inspiring their partners to grow and become their best selves.

Venus in Libra

Venus in Libra is the quintessential placement for love, beauty, and harmony. These individuals are charming, diplomatic, and deeply appreciate the aesthetics of life. Relationships are of utmost importance to them, and they often seek balance and equality in their romantic partnerships. They thrive in connections where mutual respect, intellectual harmony, and shared values are present.They can see both sides of an issue and go well mediating conflicts in their relationships. They are just, abhor conflict, and seek to avoid it at all costs. In love, they seek a partner who reflects their need for peace and who values cooperation rather than competition.They're drawn to art, design, and anything that promotes balance and beauty. They innately understand symmetry and often are found in fields such as fashion, interior design, or the arts. Aesthetically, they lean toward refined, elegant, and classical styles. Growth for them comes in learning to cultivate self-worth and independence rather than relying too much on others to define their happiness.

Venus in the 7th House

Venus in the 7th house really puts great emphasis on relationships, partnerships, and emotional balance. These people are just drawn into partnerships, personal or professional, and seem to attract harmonious relationships throughout their lives. They seek love and fulfillment with others, and their well-being tends to be linked with the dynamics of their closest bonds.They have a deep urge for justice and equality in relations and are mostly very adaptive, seeking to make peace and understanding. In love, they look for a soulmate who shares their values and aspires to long-term stability and commitment. Their diplomatic nature makes them skillful at resolving conflicts and creating harmony within partnerships.They may express themselves through projects done with others or artistic efforts with others. Their aesthetic tastes run to the balanced, the elegant, and the tasteful. Growth for them is in learning to balance a deep need for companionship with a healthy dose of self-sufficiency and independence.

                Venus at 7°, 19°

                Masters of compromise, they create harmonious and balanced partnerships.Romantic and idealistic, they seek beauty in all forms, from relationships to art.Deeply committed to fairness and aesthetics, they thrive in creative and relational harmony.

Venus in Scorpio

Venus in Scorpio loves intensely, passionately, and transforms. Individuals with this placement bring huge emotional involvement to their relationships and often experience their love on such a deep level it can change their life. They don't get excited about superficial contacts, and they are interested in partners who can return their intensity and share their longing for depth in their feelings.They are loyal and protective of the people they love, but sometimes struggle with trust issues or possessiveness. Their love life often consists of periods of transformation in which they want to transcend the ordinary by merging with their partners. The biggest strengths in their lives are passion, and yet, they have to learn about vulnerability and not allow their tendency to control or manipulate a relationship.They will be drawn to the deep, taboo, or trans formative subjects and usually excel in areas such as psychology or the occult or anything that has to do with the mysteries of life. Aesthetically, they like bold, dark, mysterious styles. Growth for them is to learn to trust and find healthy constructive ways to channel their emotional intensity.

Venus in the 8th House

Venus in the 8th house reflects a profound, trans formative connection with love and shared resources. People with this placement experience relationships at a very deep level; their relationships are usually intense, profound, and transforming. They can be drawn to powerful, magnetic partners who stir their emotions to a great degree.They may desperately want closeness in their romantic life and are usually attracted to mystery, secrecy, or complicated emotional dynamics. While they do well with passionate connections, they need to beware of over-identification with partners or loss of self to them.They often turn out to be those who can excel in the deeper aspects of human nature, such as psychology, research, and anything that deals with uncovering hidden truths. Their aesthetic: dark, alluring, or enigmatic. Their growth comes from learning to balance their emotional intensity with personal autonomy and self-awareness.

                Venus at 8°, 20°

                Intense and magnetic, they value deep emotional bonds and loyalty in relationships.Passionate and creative, they excel in emotionally charged artistic expressions.A healer in love, capable of profound emotional transformation and growth.

Venus in Sagittarius

Venus in Sagittarius is adventurous, freedom-loving, and optimistic in love. These individuals value independence and seek relationships that allow them to explore the world, ideas, and experiences without feeling constrained. They are drawn to partners who share their love for adventure and intellectual growth.To them, romance is playful, spontaneous, and an opening to more. They love the thrill of new experiences, be it traveling, learning new philosophies, or indulging in a variety of activities. While generous and loving, their need for freedom can sometimes make them gun-shy of commitment with traditional relationships.They are inspired by exploration, philosophy, and travel, often drawn to artistic expressions that reflect their broad interests and diverse experiences. Their aesthetic preferences are often eclectic, embracing a wide range of cultural influences. Growth for them lies in finding balance between their need for freedom and the stability that comes from deeper emotional connections.

Venus in the 9th House

Venus in the 9th house emphasizes love through exploration, intellectual growth, and the sharing of ideas. These individuals seek relationships that expand their horizons, whether through travel, education, or philosophical discussions. They are drawn to partners who stimulate their minds and share their curiosity for the world.They are drawn to expansive, open-minded relationships that allow freedom and growth. They may be attracted to people from different cultures or backgrounds, or even those who share their love for adventure and discovery. A relationship in their understanding is not just sharing emotions; it is learning, teaching, and growing together.They are inspired by philosophy, travel, and higher learning. They can find success in writing, education, or any field where they share knowledge or ideas. Their aesthetic sense tends to be eclectic and inclusive, incorporating elements from a wide variety of cultures and philosophies. Growth for them involves embracing the deeper emotional aspects of relationships while keeping their intellectual and adventurous spirit alive.

                Venus at 9°, 21°

                    Free-spirited and optimistic, they value growth and adventure in love.Philosophical and creative, they inspire others with their expansive vision of beauty.A seeker of wisdom in relationships, often using love as a path to self-discovery.

Venus in Capricorn

Venus in Capricorn is practical, reserved, and ambitious in love. These subjects approach relationships with a feeling of duty and responsibility; stability, commitment, and long-term goals are treasured by them. They seek those who share their values of hard work, ambition, and loyalty.The love life is serious and takes time to develop as they take all the time needed to weigh up the possibilities of longevity in a relationship. Once they choose a partner, they are deeply committed, though not always easy with showing their emotions or taking chances in love. Above all, they esteem loyalty and integrity.They might enjoy more structured or traditional forms of self-expression and often excel in business, design, or architecture. Their sense of beauty is classic, timeless, reflective of their responsible and ambitious nature. Growth for them would be learning to surrender their emotional vulnerability, letting the heart lead as well as their pragmatic side.

Venus in the 10th House

Venus in the 10th house links love with career and public life. The person may find a lover through professional life, or they express creativity and tenderness through their work. Recognition is important, and building a reputation based on one's ability to create beauty and harmony in the world will be striven for.In relationships, they seek out a partner who will fit into their future plans and goals. They are usually drawn to individuals who have the ability to facilitate the realization of their career or business plans or share in their vision regarding the future. Their personal and public life almost always merges and they find their success in the areas involving entertainment, art, or design.They find their forte in the areas of life which marry beauty and success, like fashion, business, or media. They can naturally present themselves with grace and poise in the public eye. Growth for them involves finding balance between personal ambition and emotional fulfillment in relationships.

                Venus at 10°, 22°

                    Serious and goal-oriented in love, they seek stability and mutual respect in relationships. A natural leader in creativity, often excelling in structured artistic projects.Loyal and enduring, they value partnerships that stand the test of time.

Venus in Aquarius

Venus in Aquarius is inventive, detached, and idealistic in love. These people come into relationships by asserting their individuality-strongly, and often just as much valuing friendship and intellect as emotional intensity. They are attracted to people with an unconventional approach to life and a new idea or progressive cause that interests them.For them, love often has much to do with freedom and mutual respect, and what they often look for in their relationships is the ability to be independent. They may not express their love conventionally but through shared ideas and objectives. They are tolerant and open-minded and enjoy diversity, finding themselves frequently involved with someone quite out of the ordinary or from a different walk of life.They could also be creatively drawn to avant-garde art, technology, or anything challenging the status quo. Aesthetically, their preferences may lie with everything modern, eclectic, or even from the future. Growth for them is in balancing their needs of independence against the emotional depths and intimacy that sustained partnerships require.

Venus in the 11th House

Venus in the 11th house emphasizes love, beauty, and friendship through social networks, groups, and shared humanitarian aspirations. These individuals seek out relationships that are intellectually challenging and often develop profound attachments with people of similar convictions and interests. Often, their romance starts from a very close friendship that gradually blossoms into something more serious.They lean towards social causes, and the feeling is mutual mainly with those people who know how to feel responsible and answer for social causes. The relationships that offer them development, friendship, and jointly pursued goals give them utmost satisfaction. They need much freedom and individuality within their relationships, which should be well understood by the partner, too.They are often involved with projects or causes that somehow help others or benefit society in general. They may be particularly good at social activism, team-oriented work, or any field that requires innovative thinking and collaboration. Their aesthetic tends toward the contemporary, progressive, or community-focused. Growth for them comes through learning to embrace the deeper emotional side of relationships and to balance that with their desire for social involvement.

                Venus at 11°, 23°

                   unconventional in love, they seek relationships that break societal norms.Charismatic and inventive, they excel in creative and social endeavors.Visionaries in beauty and relationships, they inspire others to embrace individuality.

Venus in Pisces

The Venus-in-Pisces person in love is dreamy, empathic, and deeply romantic. People with this placement approach relationships very idealistically, often seeking to attain a connection with someone that transcends the physical and touches the soul. They can be super empathetic and may even take on your emotional vibration like it's their own. Venus-in-Pisces is extremely generous in relationships. They seek a deep spiritual connection in love and often find themselves drawn to those who are understanding and sympathetic to the sensitivities of their nature. Their love life may be tinged with idealism regarding their partners, which may disappoint them when reality does not meet their dreams. Beauty in all its forms draws them, and they may find inspiration from art, music, or nature.They are found to be creatively excellent in fields that involve the expression of emotions or artistic works, such as music, poetry, or visual arts. The aesthetic preferences of the Venus-Neptune individual are soft, ethereal, and often inspired by fantasy or mysticism. Growth for them involves learning to maintain healthy boundaries in relationships and finding a balance between giving and receiving love.

Venus in the 12th House

Venus in the 12th house brings a profound and often hidden approach toward love and beauty. Individuals with this placement are highly sensitive and intuitive in their relationships and often experience love in a private or secretive manner. They may have a tendency to idealize their partners, sometimes seeing them through rose-colored glasses.Love for them can be a spiritual or transcendental experience, and they may seek out partners who offer them an escape or a connection with something greater than the mundane. They may struggle to express their feelings openly or are afraid of rejection or abandonment that makes them keep their relationships private.They could be drawn to spiritual, mystic, or occluded modes of artistic expression, such as poetry, dream analysis, or work with the subconscious mind. Their aesthetic sense tends to be soft and ethereal, delicate as the inner world they dwell within. Growth for them, basically, means learning to share love and affection fearlessly and being vulnerable but also finding ways to bring submerged talents into the world.

                Venus at 12°, 24°

                   Romantic dreamers who seek transcendent love and emotional depth.Mystical and artistic, they channel their emotions into beautiful creative expressions.Empathetic and intuitive, they often inspire others through their selfless approach to love.

All Aspects Of Venus In Natal Chart

Venus Conjunct Sun

This aspect combines love and self-expression. These people are naturally charming and sometimes admired for their beauty or charisma. A relationship somehow completes them, and they blossom in an atmosphere of harmony. They may be drawn to artistic fields or situations that allow them to showcase their creative talents. Yet, they still have to avoid overindulgence, conceit, or dependence on others' approval. Their warmth and ability to spread love make them appealing to other people, but they will also struggle to balance their own needs with the need to please.

Venus Conjunct Moon

Emotional security and romantic satisfaction go hand in hand. They possess a natural flair for the nourishment of others and beauty around them. They are in touch with their emotions and may attract loving relationships with ease. On the downside, they may cling to close relationships for comfort and reassurance. They have a natural talent for creating peace and harmony around them and may find ideal careers as artists or caregivers.

Venus Conjunct Mercury

In them, the energy of love and communication blend. They can express their affection and appeal with words, thus, easily be convincing and charming with words. Many gain artistic or literary talents through this aspect, which also can cause an attraction toward stimulation in romance on an intellectual level. While they are easily able to be friendly, over-intellectualizing a romance often happens.

Venus Conjunct Mars 

The combination of love and passion turns out to be dynamic and bold in personality. Individuals are quite aggressive in pursuing what they want, be it romance, art, or other creative pursuits. They have confidence and magnetism that draws intense relationships. While this aspect instills passion and creativity, the energy can become impulsive or conflicted when desires are not in a balanced state. Channeling this energy constructively could lead to incredible personal and artistic achievements.

Venus Conjunct Jupiter

This is a very fortunate aspect, bringing optimism, generosity, and love for life's pleasures. These people are generally surrounded by beauty and abundance and attract positive experiences and relationships without much apparent effort. Naturally romantic, they love giving and receiving love, though they do need to balance tendencies toward overindulgence or extravagance. Their charisma and warmth make them often popular, and they frequently find joy in creative or social endeavors.

Venus Conjunct Saturn

This aspect brings seriousness and discipline into matters of love and beauty. Loyal and enduring relationships are valued highly, and commitment often overrides transient connections. Delays or restrictions in love early in life instill important lessons in patience and self-worth. With time, a deep appreciation for enduring bonds develops, and structures of beauty, such as architecture or design, may be created with great talent.

Venus Conjunct Uranus 

This aspect electrifies love, making it quite unpredictable. People with this aspect are attracted to unconventional relationships, and they flourish in partnerships that allow freedom and independence. They might go through sudden, unexpected changes in their love life, often learning to embrace spontaneity. Their creativity is innovative, and they can excel in those spheres that combine artistry with technology. While relationships with them can be exciting, they will probably need to work at emotional stability and consistency.

Venus Conjunct Neptune

The most sensitive, imaginative, romantic idealistic, and enchanting aspect of them heightens. Dreamers on the inside, love or beauty may be regarded as more or less otherworldly for them. They are spiritually drawn towards the arts, music, poetry, or the art of painting. On the minus side, unrealistic expectations will bring disillusionment in love since idealism may run too high. Their compassionate nature makes them deeply empathetic, and they often inspire others with their vision of a more beautiful world.

Venus Conjunct Pluto 

This aspect creates powerful, trans formative experiences in love and relationships. These individuals are magnetic and deeply passionate, often attracting intense connections that challenge and change them. They have a profound understanding of emotional depth and may explore themes of power, control, and vulnerability in their relationships. While they can facilitate a lot of emotional healing, they must also avoid a tendency toward possessiveness or obsession. The same aspect also inspires creativity and fuels deep emotional release into creative resources. Trines represent an effortless expression of harmony between Venus and other planetary energies that energize love, beauty, and creativity.

Venus Trine Sun

These native people are confident and have charms that make them pleasingly attractive to others, are full of self-respect, and are in an environment where they keep getting love and admiration; thus, relationships come easily with others. They are able to excel in artistic fields, social fields, and anything with ease. Their disposition in life is easy; therefore, harmony prevails within the family. They perhaps don't take their easygoing talents or relationships for granted.

Venus Trine Moon

The emotional and romantic energies blend well, creating a very loving and nurturing personality. The individual is naturally empathetic and easily creates supportive and harmonious environments. The relationships are very fulfilling, and mostly the people around them consider them emotional pillars.

Venus Trine Mars

The natural ease between love and passion equates to self-assuredness and magnetic charm. These individuals can be lively and creative in their personal or professional relationships, with a vivacity for life that makes them admired. They are, many times, at the forefront of community respect.

Venus Trine Mercury

These individuals have a communicative gift, especially in expressing love and creativity. Sweetness with words endears them as good poets, writers, or speakers. Their articulate affection and charm draw people to them. Relationships run smoothly, and they can resolve conflicts with ease through open dialogue. This aspect often indicates a talent for blending logic and beauty, such as in design, diplomacy, or storytelling.

Venus Trine Jupiter

Love and generosity flow. These people possess a type of optimism that makes being around them quite pleasant. They are mostly lucky with love and financial issues, since opportunities for growth and happiness find them. They have an expansive nature that makes them very generous with their time and their resources, although they should try not to overextend. Artistic pursuit is usually crowned with success; travel and cultural exploration satisfy them.

Venus Trine Saturn

Stability and loyalty define the relationships. The grounding nature of these individuals in an approach to love is to build connections that are long-lasting in nature and based on mutual respect and commitment; this makes them really patient and dependable, often a source of strength for their loved ones. The aspect nurtures a great appreciation for tradition and structure and may manifest in careers related to design, architecture, or management.

Venus Trine Uranus

Creativity and excitement run freely in their love life. They thrive in the most unconventional of relationships where freedom and individuality are allowed. They are usually ahead of the times in their artistic vision, bringing innovative ideas into being. Their relationships are thrilling and inspiring, though they may need to ensure they maintain emotional depth and consistency.

Venus Trine Neptune

Romantic and artistic energies blend harmoniously. Highly imaginative, these individuals usually find their place in the world of music, painting, or other creative activities. Their idealism in love is inspiring, though they remain sufficiently grounded not to be disillusioned. Compassionate and empathetic, they bring healing and beauty into their surroundings.

Venus Trine Pluto

Emotive depth and passion meet love and beauty in a harmonious balance. The individual is trans formative in the relationship with others, allowing others to grow while growing themselves. They possess a powerful charisma that attracts deep, meaningful connections. The creativity is often intense and impactful, and they may excel in areas involving psychology, art, or healing.

Venus Sextile Sun

This is a naturally charming and artistically talented individual. Love and admiration are drawn to them, but they need to make an effort to develop their talents in life fully. Artistic and social skills fall into place when encouraged.

Venus Sextile Moon

The emotional and romantic vibrations complement each other and work well in nurturing relationships. They are good at providing emotional security in relationships and may have a flair for interior decoration or looking after people.

Venus Sextile Mercury

They are fluent, expressive, and eloquent in relationships by nature. This makes them charming, convincing, and a pleasure to know. Many may find their calling in either the arts or sciences.

Venus Sextile Mars

Their affection and passion are nicely balanced, leading to satisfactory love and creative lives. Dynamic and inspiring, they get much done if their energies go into useful channels.

Venus Sextile Jupiter

Love, joy, and abundance are within easy reach. Naturally optimistic, they attract positive opportunities in relationships and finances. Their generosity brings mutual growth in return.

Venus Sextile Saturn

Hard work and discipline will pay off in long-lasting rewards in love and career. Loyal and stable, these individuals often shine in roles that require responsibility and attention to detail.

Venus Sextile Uranus

They innovate and excite their relationships, often thriving in non-traditional partnerships. Creativity is enhanced by embracing new ideas.

Venus Sextile Neptune

Artistic and spiritual inclinations thrive with effort. These individuals have a tender, compassionate approach to love, often inspiring others with their vision of beauty and harmony.

Venus Sextile Pluto

Love and creativity allow access to depth and transformation. These people can reach deeper layers and stimulate further growth in themselves and others.

Venus Square Sun

This aspect tends to create tension between the need for beauty, love, and personal identity. Persons with this aspect may feel pulled between their need for self-expression and the demands made by relationships. There can be difficulties in balancing the personal desires with the expectations of others. Self-esteem might be linked with how loved or admired they are, and this may bring insecurity. Growth can result if learning integration is developed, integrating an ego identity and the need to love and be loved compatible. An overwhelming sense of wanting to be appreciated due to one's charisma or creative ability tugs sometimes irreconcilably in the other direction from inherent self.

Venus Square Moon

The emotional and relational needs may consistently feel antagonistic. There will be ups and downs in a romantic affair that may confuse or dissipate emotions. A person of such nature may easily idealize or fantasize about having perfect love, and finally, when things get practical, may end up disheartened. Balancing emotional security with romantic desires is one balancing that will be carried throughout your life. There could be stress in reconciling personal needs with the desire for love that might result in mood swings or turmoil.

Venus Square Mercury

There may be troubles in relationships concerning communications, specifically. Subjects may struggle in putting affection and love in ways other people understand. They are likely to misunderstand their love life or rationalize their love life so it creates space between lovers. Creativity is shut as your emotions will be off in one corner and then ways to effectively communicate down here. This may cause people to overthink romantic relationships.

Venus Square Mars

There is a lot of conflict between passion and love. This aspect may make them intensely emotionally and sexually attracted, but it also sets them up for a whole lot of friction in their relationships. These people are often prone to power or impulsive issues in the way they approach love, which makes finding a balance hard. They might have the desire for affectionate closeness but struggle to work out how to go about it in a healthy, grounded manner. There is the tendency to act impulsively in relationships, leading to arguments or misunderstandings.

Venus Square Jupiter

This aspect may create overindulgence or excess, though the natural optimism and generosity in love are well placed. These individuals may have to work against the tendency to idealize romantic partners or love as an idea. There might be a tendency to "overdo" love or beauty, setting one up for disappointment or non-alignment with reality. They may also face some problems in maintaining boundaries in relationships, at times putting way too much energy into the relationship without getting equal returns.

Venus Square Saturn

This square might speak about love and relationships being hampered in some manner or not allowing complete expression. There would come a time in one's life when one must suffer the coldness of heart, the distance from people, or just an impossibility of satisfying their urge in life. Love matters quite seriously and caution-processes that at times create an unrest and a sense of being dislocated to exercise freely the power to express. More simply said, in time, the connection can be deep based abidingly on commitment and loyalty, but it could be heavy and hard to win.

Venus Square Uranus

This makes relationships unpredictable and often unstable. These people may want freedom and excitement in love, which may make them seek unconventional or nontraditional relationships. Sudden and unexpected changes in romantic life can stress or raise uncertainty. The strong desires for novelty and excitement may be at odds with finding stability in relationships. There's this tendency to fight conventionality in love, and such can bring friction with other people who strive for stability.

Venus Square Neptune

Idealism in love can often come up against reality, leading to confusion or disillusionment. They may have fantastic expectations from love or a partner that may lead to disappointments or emotional disarray. A person with this placement may project an idealized version of love onto others and then be disappointed when a relationship doesn't live up to their ideals. There is also the possibility of losing themselves in dreams or escape mechanisms due to an inability to balance romantic ideals with the reality of their relationships.

Venus Square Pluto

The aspects are all about intensity and change of emotion. People having Venus square Pluto usually go through very intense, transformative relationships that may turn out to be overwhelming, manipulative, or abusive at times. Power struggles or jealousy may come up within a partnership due to some deeper fears or desires to gain control. This can definitely make a balance difficult between love, desire, and personal power. It is in this intense emotional experience that they may achieve profound self-awareness and healing.

Venus Opposition Sun

This immediately sets up a tension-a push-pull dynamic-between one's need to be themselves and the desire for affection and connection. Individuals in such positions may feel torn between self-expression and people-pleasing, between their identities and others' approval of them. They might not find that right balance between their need for self-expression and their need for partnership. A romantic relationship can be likened to a mirror reflecting both one's strengths and insecurities. Personal growth for him will depend upon how he learns to balance these two competing energies.

Venus Opposite Moon

The pulls of emotional security and romance are opposite in direction. This position may bring internal emotional tension into your life, moodiness, or a confused feeling about love. Here, the emotional wishes contradict with the desire to be loved or acknowledged. They might also be torn between their own personal needs and the emotional requirements of their partners. This generally involves balancing one's private emotional life with one's public life of romance.

Venus Opposition Mercury

Hardly any ease in communication-especially about love matters-could be the case, and the poor thing cannot clearly state what's on his or her mind or what is desired, which might give way to misunderstandings in a love relationship. They might be prone to intellectualize feelings, set themselves apart from deeper contact. Learning ways to naturally express their affectionate and loving feelings will overcome this opposition.

Venus Opposition Mars

The tension between love and desire often makes for an intense and passionate relationship. The deep longing for affection might often turn to frustration or conflict. This is an aspect that may result in a battle of wills in partnerships: one will may be more forceful or dominating, while another yearns for affection and intimacy. There can be a fine line between desire and control, and this opposition often brings up issues of power dynamics in relationships.

Venus Opposition Jupiter

This opposition sometimes faces over-optimism and overindulgence in love. On most occasions, individuals with this opposition battle between ideal relationships and a reality check of their limiting factors. They always tend to overindulge in love or idealize their partners to the core, only to get disappointed in the end. Learning how to balance enthusiasm with moderation in relationship matters is important.

Venus Opposition Saturn

Love and emotional expression can be experienced as restricted with this opposition. These people can feel that they do not get the emotional support in a relationship or possibly feel that love has to be hard-earned. There is a tendency for these individuals to feel loneliness and a disconnection with others on an intimate level. While over time this opposition can give rise to long-term, committed relationships, they may feel to require a lot of effort and emotional discipline.

Venus Opposition Uranus

This position is known to generally make the relationships quite unconventional, thrilling, and unpredictable. There is an inborn longing for freedom in love that contributes to instability and tension in romantic relationships. Their love life may comprise sudden turnarounds and unexpected happenings, which give a roller coaster feeling both excitingly and disturbingly. A balance between freedom and togetherness in love has to be achieved as too much unpredictability in love can cause emotional exhaustion.

Venus Opposition Neptune

This romantic ideal can sometimes collide with harsh realities, and thus might create a kind of disappointment or confusion regarding love matters. There is a tendency to idealize the partner or project fantasies onto them and later get disappointed because reality cannot live up to expectations. They might not clearly understand the true nature of love and relationships; it takes introspection to differentiate fantasy from reality.

Venus Opposition Pluto

This is an intense aspect in relating, signaling transformation. There is a deep-seated desire for passion and connections, but it will often be associated with some kind of power struggle or emotional manipulation. These people are likely to find themselves in relationships that confront them with their own wounded psyche or deeply buried desires. The way to grow into this opposition is to allow the transformation without getting caught up in control or struggles for power.

[kit-kat-reader]

Absolutely! Obviously, there's a fine line, especially when it comes to love triangles, and it's okay to see it in canon or interpret it that way. But you still need to be aware, unless the author states otherwise (ex. Wicked, apparently the author intended to write glinda and elpheba's relationship as romantic) that's just your interpretation. You cannot claim that is what the author intended, or that yours is "canon". No matter the evidence you have, it's still fanon - your interpretation.

(Ex. In the lost hero, leo compares jason to thalia, who he mentions several times he likes romantically. As a valgrace shipper - yay! More shipping material! But I'm not gonna take that one sentence and go around saying valgrace is canon. It doesn't matter how much evidence I have, I'm still not gonna do that. It's rude.)

Sure, go ahead and debate the merits of ships, and don't be rude to one just because it isn't canon. At the same time, you can respect that your ship isn't canon and there ship is, so ultimately, canonically? The character is better off with the other person.

You don't really have to remember this 24/7, just during debates, be mindful of that.

Thank you for listening to my TedTalk.

I'll fully respect anyone who wants to take canon material and run off into their own little fanon corner where they flesh out paltry characters and relationships into something they want to play with. I will NOT respect the person who does this and absolutely insists the author meant it that way from the start and everyone else just doesn't get it.

[quarterlifekitty]

🚪🧍‍♀️ how can a real one get your thoughts on ghost with a gf who is under going some changes and strange behaviors due to lycanthropy 🤲

like, as you write Simon (which btw, I'm kinda new here but I have latched onto your fics like a cold and hungry, wet stray kitten would with some warm milk and a blanket. i LOVE ur writing) I'm imagining you've been together for maybe 5ish months now, which any other person would see their gf of 5 months turn into a werewolf they would just cut their losses but not ghost. he's in this for life (and lycanthropy)

—🦣 (bc I expect that I will be here in your inbox quite frequently)

Come suckle from my teat like I’m a mother hog

I mean. Thanks. For the kind words.

For the purposes of this ask, I’m going to interpret reader as the “big wolf” type of werewolf, like damao from all saints street. I am choosing to go with this instead of the horrifying bone crunching screaming agony American werewolf in London version. Sorry if that’s the one you wanted lol.

When Simon finds out that you’re a werewolf, he’s a little ashamed that his gut reaction is that this is such a win for him.

He’s always wanted a dog, ever since he was a kid. He still gets excited when he sees stray dogs. But these days he’s not home enough to have one, and even if he was, he’s too depressed to trust himself with the care of an animal.

So now it’s like he has a dog that can take care of itself! And it’s his girlfriend!

You would have to waterboard him to get him to admit to that reaction, by the way. He’s taking that to the grave.

As for your relationship… he kind of treats your transformation like it’s your period. It’s pretty similar. Once a month you get a little moody, get some strange cravings, shut yourself in a little more than usual. So he goes shopping, gets your favorite snacks (raw meat and jerky), and whips out the lint roller (your fur is no joke).

By the way, if you’re ever shopping or watching tv and see some stupid product designed for dogs, Simon’ll be like “do you think we could use th—“ and you’re like “we’re not fucking buying that to use on me.”

It’s true what you say about Ghost being ride or die once he decides he likes someone. In his opinion, there are way worse things you could be than a lycanthrope. For example, you could be in the military. Ha! Just a little classic Ghost humor. He laughs, that’s what matters. He’ll be here all week.

[marimayscarlett]

Hi I’m back back, back again! With more questions!

The fandom calls Paul and Richard guitars husbands right? But to help a relationship status to married you have to gradually progress through the stages of like: pining, mutual pining, dating, boyfriends and then finally married.

I was wondering what pictures or gifs/videos represent those stages for our dearest guitarists?

If I forgot one feel free to add one or remove one if it doesn’t have any fitting content! 😌 🖤

Hello dear, and thank you for your ask! 😊

I have to admit, though, I found this ask a bit tricky to answer at first. I kept going back and forth, trying to establish a clear timeline for Paul and Richard’s, let’s call it loosely, “relationship.” In some ways, that’s possible. At the start of the band’s history, we have a popular example of looks exchanged that could definitely be interpreted as “pining” or “longing”:

(GIFs by @ukulelette)

Later on, there were repeated moments on stage where they looked for closeness or looked out for each other:

Nowadays, there are wonderful moments on stage filled with cheekiness, emotions, joy, and surely also some kind of love between two people who’ve worked together for 30 years, experienced so many life situations together, endured a lot in the band's life and in general..:

(first gif by @sechsherzen)

And yet... the story between Paul and Richard always seems incredibly dynamic to me. They started out as young musicians who discovered a lot of common ground in their musical visions (I think I recall Richard saying something along the lines of “he completes me”). At the same time, they were also musical rivals in some ways, given they played the same instrument. Two people with strong opinions and firm points of views in things, who sometimes wouldn’t accept any other viewpoint but their own. They are so similar, yet have their struggles, especially to see that they're so similar it seems.

But they always manage to come back together, no matter how difficult working together might be - even going as far as seeking help for their communication (Olsen Involtini apparently played a big role in ensuring that harmony was quickly restored, as mentioned here). They maybe do it simply because they see the bigger picture. They see that enduring personal differences is worth it for the good of the band. They share the same drive to make things happen and, over the years, have learned to listen to one another and give each other space to express themselves.

If we indulge in the “Paulchard” fantasy, we can find moments of connection (body contact or just looking out for each other) at various points in the band’s history. It’s difficult for me to identify a clear chronology here - whether it’s the 90s, the challenging Mutter era, or the MiG tour...:

Of course, their warmth towards each other has exponentially increased in recent years! Longing, hugs, kisses, comforting each other, or just being there for one another.... And sometimes really taking their time with each other during these interactions, like in Frankfurt for the plane watching 🥹.

It feels like they can express these things more freely now, in their more mature years, after all their shared experiences - or at least it appears that way. And for that, I’m very happy.

(first gif by @mrsfitzgerald)

So, yes. Paulchard interactions are varied, dynamic, and ever-changing, just as most likely a relationship between people is. 🤍

And for people who like to see the Paulchard wedding with their own two eyes, there's always lovely edits 😄

(some more picture sources: x x)

[danielleargentino]

blackbright stuff + rant for todayyy!!!! happy holidays everybody :))

christmas blackbright . hell yeah

silly doodles for a twitter thing.

ms paint thing i did in 10 minutes based on a song i really really like (luna roja by soda stereo). please listen to it i'm begging youuuu. if you do tell me your thoughts on the tags pleasepleaseple

very quick aziracrow gomens thing . not a fan but felt like sharing you know. whatever man. i might edit it later though

blackbright body hcs andd the little rant!! i've been thinking about them and how i want to interpret their relationship . so i've decided that my drawings will feature an au where bobby was kidnapped and rescued a short time after turnabout for tomorrow. very important warning i need to do research and stuff for this, these are just my initial thoughts on the matter. stuff will probably change.

he and simon reunite, they had worked together 7 years ago on some cases and met again much later a week before bobby's abduction (which was a bit before the events on dual destinies). now that they're meeting once more, feelings are weird and complex.

the phantom has affected them both a lot, the trauma is fresh and simon didn't even get a chance to process his feelings of betrayal before bobby appears again and now he's feeling so many things at once he thinks he might die. they have a slowburn that also goes super quick ? how do i explain it.

after a month or two, they impulsively move in together because they can't stand how lonely their respective houses are. they're pretty much the only ones who can understand each other, they need each other a lot; but they also feel like running away and from the other and hiding forever.

simon needs constant reassurance that bobby is himself and not the phantom; on occasions he can't look at him in the eyes, he feels unsafe with him at times and has to leave and look for other's company and comfort. still, he also wants to cling to bobby and never let him leave again, to know him properly, to learn to love him healthily.

bobby on the other hand feels horribly guilty, responsible for the things the phantom had done and the damage he'd caused simon even before taking his form. the way simon looks at him sometimes makes him feel dangerous, but because of that he needs to be there for simon, to help him heal, to give him all the love he's been deprived of.

they have to work a lot on their problems, attend a lot of therapy and take some time off work, and, slowly but surely, learn to trust and love each other.

aaghdhs whatever these are just sketchy thoughts please don't be mean if you don't like them i will cry a lot and die

same au, three years after aa5 just like in the previous picture because. i like to draw them healed and happy. but i will draw more of their process.

...about that, however, i won't be able to draw on my computer for like two weeks starting this saturday, since i'm going on vacation. i really hope i can buy a new drawing tablet when i come back, tho!

thank you if you read everything <3 wishing you all a happy new year in advance too!

[sapphiresaphics]

The reason why I keep bringing up media literacy and bad faith criticisms is because of things like this. Follow along if you can!

^^^———

I saw this post the other day where this person suggested that the reason Vi didn’t get as much character development was because the writers didn’t know what to do with her. That’s a pretty bold statement to make. I’ve certainly not heard any of the writers express that opinion at all. So where did this idea come from? What interview provided us with that look behind the scenes?

Luckily someone asked for a source, and they obliged! And my friends… this gets weirder…

The “source” ends up being this game journalism article:

This is an entire article dedicated to basically interpreting, reframing, and summarizing…. A tweet.

A single tweet by Christian Linke.

An entire article that took his response to a question WAY out of proportion and infused it with more meaning than was intended.

Here’s the original tweet. A user ask’s about VI’s character being less prominent, and his response is basically “we had a lot of characters” which is true. There were a lot of characters to squeeze in appropriate amounts of time for. Vi included. Here’s the original tweet:

It’s really not much at all, is it? This isn’t him admitting they didn’t know what to do with her, or that they abandoned her storyline or anything like that. All he said was there were a lot of characters and as a result Vi got a little less screen time as a matter of fact. Nothing more, nothing less.

But here’s how the game article summarized things:

^^^———

So do you see what I’m getting at here? A fan asks a reasonable question, and Linke gives a very straightforward answer. This is picked up and interpreted by the games journalist reporter and given far greater weight that it deserves, including a flashy headline. People see this and add even MORE of their own personal biases and exaggerated opinions and spread that around… and before long that innocent tweet somehow is “proof they didn’t know what to do with Vi and that’s why her arc was reduced to X thing I didn’t like!”

Swirling around Season 2 of Arcane is this weird game of telephone where with each step of the journey the original message is getting lost and distorted and twisted around. Unfortunately when a quote is this ambiguous, it leaves it open to interpretation. I’ve seen this same tweet be used to explain why every character had “bad writing.”

And the games journalist isn’t technically wrong in their coverage… after all, all they did was post the tweet and then re-summarize the same tweet. But by taking what the fan asked and twisting it into “Arcane lead explains why Vi felt like a side character” as an article headline, they’ve distorted the original interaction and infused it with this twinge of negativity designed to get you angry enough to click on the article.

Arcane Season 2 had a lot of story to tell with a lot of characters. As a result Vi’s screen time was slightly reduced. Doesn’t matter that out of all the characters she has the most screen time across both seasons. Nothing about acknowledging that as a simple fact explains motivations behind the writing of her arc in season 2 at all. It says nothing about her pitfighter phase, her relationship with Caitlyn, or her final battle fight with Jinx and Warwick. But if you were already critical of season 2, this gives you a plausible air of credibility for whatever “reasons” you think they did what they did. And then you just spread this fabrication to the internet where it just snowballs out of control.

So much of the negativity surrounding Arcane Season 2 is the result of this game of telephone and it’s really starting to bother me. And when you label overblown garbage like this as “arcane critical” then I genuinely believe you’re doing this on purpose and you don’t have an original thought in your body. You’re not being critical, you’re just letting your ignorance and biases control everything. This is bad faith argument construction at it’s worst.

[katerinaaqu]

Hello :) firstly I wanted to say that I love your analyses and I love all the information and knowledge you’re able to give us, thank you soo much for that.

Secondly since you know so much especially about the odyssey and Odysseus and I’ve recently seen a post where you explained the calypso situation I wanted to ask if you’ve made such an in-depth analysis on the Circe situation? I’m convinced the whole thing wasn’t consensual but there are always ppl saying stuff like “what Hermes said isn’t important” “Circe was at his mercy when she asked him to do the deed with him so he tricked her into doing it” “Odysseus was invulnerable to her powers so that means he wasn’t in danger meaning he willingly slept with her” and since I haven’t read the odyssey in a while I wanted to ask you .

Tysm for your time and I hope you have a wonderful day

Hello and you are very sweet! I really feel happy you do enjoy them and I am also grateful to receive comments and thoughts from you under my work 🙏 it always means so much when people get interested in the ancient texts much more when they honor me with their trust on tye matter.

I believe you are referring to my latest answer then where I re-analyzed the Calypso matter.

OF COURSE I can! I would be happy and delighted to especially since their relationship is so complicated and fascinating to begin with. The way in which it evolves in a very interesting degree and the way both characters share common traits is also fascinating. Circe is called also wily or with tricks which also seems to correspond to the essence of Odysseus himself. A power couple no doubt. But indeed so misunderstood by the media and their interpretations.

So here goes sorry if this is long:

I find it so interesting how far selective interpretation goes 🤔 😆 I find it interesting that indeed there are people out there that read the passage where Hermes SPECIFICALLY mentions how Odysseus has no choice and say that "oh it doesn't matter really!" Hahaha so to be more precise the passage goes as such;

Then you shall not refuse the goddess's bed if you want her to release your comrades, and she shall offer entertainment to you

(Translation by me)

The passage is clear. Hermes tells Odysseus he has no choice but to accept the bed of Circe's if he wants to save his men and see them again in human form. I find it quite interesting that people ignore that or they claim it is unimportant to the plot. This is literally the reason why Odysseus is there. What is more I find the notion of the moly immunity funny because Circe was not a force to be reckoned with only with her magic. In fact Homer also writes afterwards;

However make her swear a sacred and great oath that she will have nothing else bad in store for you so that she won't hurt or unman you when she has you stripped naked.

(Translation by me)

Hermes clearly states that Circe does not need to turn him into an animal to be dangerous. In fact as someone else said before me, it almost seems like Circe might as well kill or castrate him while she has him naked and vulnerable. Hermes clearly states that Odysseus is not safe even if he is immune to her power at that specific moment. It also shows that Circe could harm him at every moment and the only reasons she didn't were this promise that he extracted from her and perhaps her own feelings for him (curiosity or other). Throughout the passage Odysseus was speaking on the fear he was feeling even from moment number one;

And she opened the fine doors calling me in and I followed her with a heavy and grieving heart

(Translation by me)

Odysseus was literally frightened. All the time. As he said he had a grieving heart (ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ) and he continued to be distrustful of her and afraid even if he had extracted that oath from her.

However my heart could not be pleased for I was distracted as my mind was always thinking on dark thoughts

(Translation by me)

I adore how Homer uses the word ἀλλοφρονέων (=to think differently, to be distracted) but the word αλλόφρων also used in modern Greek to speak on someone who is mad or crazy and is also used as a phrase to indicate someone who is not just worried but someone crazy in fear. Odysseus has extracted the promise, he has accepted the attentive care of Circe and her handmaidens in the bath and he is now sat before a real feast and he is crazy in fear and doubt. His continuous sense of anxiety is obvious in the passage. So to say that Odysseus was just fine and that the whole adventure with Circe was a breeze and that he was safe against her just because he had eaten the Moly at that time seems to me funny since every part of the passage shows how he was afraid. What was more, there is no guarantee that the Moly would protect him forever from Circe's magic not to mention that as we said before, even without her magic Circe had plenty of aces up her sleeve starting from her animal entourage till a potent knife at the time that she had Odysseus under her mercy (thus the need for a promise on her part).

Also even if we say that Moly would keep him immune forever, what about his men? His men had not consumed Moly and it was obvious that the only reason that Odysseus was there was to rescue his men. What guarantee did he have that Circe wouldn't enchant his men again if he misbehaved? Quite frankly as I said above, Circe's likeness for his boldness or potentially his mind plus the oath he extracted from her seems to be the only thing that prevents Circe from using his men as hostages once more. Quite frankly the whole adventure with Circe was a very big hostage business. Odysseus was thinking on his men's safety (not to mention the rest of them waiting by the ship) apart from his own and as you see he was already very much afraid as it was.

I also find it interesting that the reason why Circe seems to be getting Odysseus immediately to her bed is that she knew he would come. Just like Polyphemus knew by a prophet that Odysseus would blind him (although she didn't know the nature of the person that would blind him) Circe says that she knew from Hermes that a certain Odysseus would arrive at her isle on his way back from Troy. So in one way someone to say that Circe was out of options seems at least funny as a notion. It seems that she knew who was coming she just didn't seem to know the conditions that would bring him there.

Now was Odysseus attracted to her?

In my opinion there is no doubt about it as he describes how beautiful Circe was. Would he consider to sleep with her if it weren't of Hermes's advice? In my opinion no. Odysseus would absolutely be finding Circe attractive given her beauty and her divine nature, which is no surprise there but finding attraction to one person and act on it are two different things. In my humble opinion I do not think that Odysseus would act according to that attraction. Would he be curious on the experience with an immortal goddess? Absolutely. He is a naturally curious person and he wants to gain knowledge from other experiences in his life. Would he act up that one? Again I think not.

The reason why I think so is that the essences of loyalty in marriage are not as cut and clean as we usually think of in modern times. True if we judge from Hera myths, it was not preferable for a man to have extramarital affairs but it was generally tolerated. Agamemnon speaks on the affairs he had and many others had affairs. Odysseus would have no reason to hide his actual attraction towards Circe (and he doesn't given how he does speak on her very warmly eventually). Throughout his narration he mentions many things negative about himself including but not restricted to; the conquest and enslavement of Ismarus, his mistake to insult God Poseidon, self-destructive thoughts, feeling of fear towards Circe or Calypso, his moments of sadness and isolation etc. All of these things would be considered embarrassing or even diminishing for him. Why would he hide affairs at a world that was more tolerant towards the affairs and instead say all these others that would make a king or a warrior embarrassed?

Now there is an interesting question of course as to why did Odysseus remain there for a year?

It is indeed food for thought to think about it because once his men were back to human form in theory he could leave right? That in my opinion is not cut and clean like that. For once he had to wait until his men were back to good health and spirits to travel and he might as well take advantage of Circe's hospitality to refill their batteries. However there is also the moment where in the Odyssey his men arrive personally and scold him that he forgot about their country and their homeland for the arms of Circe. So one can think indeed; did Odysseus indeed forget himself?

In my opinion it is possible. His men are not the only ones who wanted to refill their batteries. So was Odysseus. In fact he has MUCH MORE in his plate than the average human already. He has already been at war, he has the war crimes on his mind anyways and he has also witnessed most of his men dying in horrifying ways (Cicones, Polyphemus, Laestrigonians etc) and he has just witnessed the results of his actions as well with the Curse of Polyphemus and the way that the sack of Aeolus fiasco happened. Odysseus already was suffering a lot. Regardless of the fact that he was always afraid of her, the hospitality she offered was very much needed. He could rest and enjoy some safety of dry land for a change after everything he had been through and Circe kept her promise and was a very good hostess to them. Odysseus too needed that break. It is possible that he forgot himself at the care of Circe and quite frankly Circe seems to be also wishing to keep Odysseus by her side so she does seem to make it as easy as possible for him to stay.

So Odysseus enjoying some nice rest after so long, even in the arms of a goddess that scares him makes it cheating? In my opinion no. What is more it seems that the fear of Odysseus was always apparent. It seems that he was avoiding requesting from Circe to let them go the whole time. It almost felt like he was putting the whole thing off out of fear for her anger and refusal. He almost seemed to be gathering off the guts to tell her. When his men straight out demanded it he didn't seem to have a choice but to comply. So it shows how scared he was when he literally BEGGED Circe to let them go by falling on her knees.

And then I climbed onto Circe's beautiful bed and hugging her knees I begged her to set us free with a cry.

(Translation by me)

So basically Odysseus felt helpless before her and he had to do the employing ritual to her (you can see my other post about this ritual) so that he would be sure that Circe wouldn't refuse him or be angry at him. That same fear continued later for when he came back from the Underworld, he preferred to stay by the ships. He was literally brought back in by Circe herself who gave him some advice.

But while most part of the text in the Odyssey indeed implies the lack of free will or lack of options etc someone would think why would Odysseus be considered a cheater in the hands of Circe?

I think the answer lies to the general idea that many people have that we should consider Odysseus as an unreliable narrator and that all the details he lists are lies to cover his cheating.

Although as a logic seems to be very generalized, and it COULD hold some water in regards to some details, I still am not convinced as mention above that Odysseus is lying here. For starters he was already very emotional when speaking to the Phaeakes and an emotional Odysseus is the most honest Odysseus (we saw his emotions betraying him with Polyphemus, with his revelation with the Phaeakes or later with Penelope). Odysseus was already in a very strong emotional state so I do not think his narration is inherently doubtful. What is more, he does seem to have so many details in his narration about himself that are not positive about himself. He would have no reason to hide the specific one. And Odysseus mentions how Circe never had his heart before (see also my other answer here). I cannot find much of a reason for him to lie about that when he has literally admitted everything else that could paint him in an unpleasant light (especially his hubris with Polyphemus).

So to sum up yes I think he was being forced. His men were held hostage and he had to save them. Circe was never helpless regardless of the situation and she had many different ways to kill him if she wanted to. Would he be curious anyways? Absolutely. Would he act according to that curiosity? In that case I think not. He does say so himself and his imprisonment in Calypso's island in his narrative was supported by other characters and the poet so why would he lie for Circe either. One can definitely think about his emotions and how strong they would be about Circe but I think regardless of that, he wouldn't have necessarily act towards that curiosity given how his psychological state was originally

But I guess this is everyone's guess.

I hope this helps. It definitely it is up to you what you want to interpret and I will be happy to offer more passages inside the future reblogs and such! ^_^

[poeticsandaliens]

Aight so I keep seeing these discussions about what the Arcane creators did and didn't say and whether that means Jayce and Viktor are canon platonic or romantic or some secret third thing and I would like to make a case for ignoring irrelevant things that writers say in an attempt to clarify their creation. And I say these words as a writer who peppers my AO3 shit with random endnotes commenting on my creations, which you can feel free to throw in the trash.

I'm not arguing that we should all just clamp down our ears and go lalalala, nor am I arguing for full-on Death of the Author. I just think if a storyteller has to clarify a textual detail in an interview or on Twitter (looking at you Joanne) then it doesn't actually matter. Because if the creator CARES that much about how we as an audience interpret that detail they should put it into the fucking text. If it matters that much to the text it should be in the text. And if it's not in the text then it doesn't really matter and I'll go on interpreting. This especially goes for taxonomizing murky relationships. We often desire taxonomy, but ambiguity can say compelling things about the way we navigate human connection.

Like there're shades of gray to this. But specifically with respect to Arcane I'll argue that a creator actually gets no bearing on whether you read Jayce and Viktor as erotic or platonic or whatever. Because they chose to tell a story about the power of love and part of that archetype is its slipperiness. Love to the point of literal cosmic singularity. Soul-bonding shit. It doesn't matter to the text whether they're having filthy lab sex in our imaginations.

Normally I wouldn't write a little thesis about it, but I adore love stories where love is hard to pin down. And this reminds me of Achilles and Patroclus. Classicists will argue forever about whether or not they were fucking, and we'll get into historical context, and Athenian traditions that post-date them, and so on. And it's a fun conversation but it's also deeply not the point. I read Achilles and Patroclus as a complicated slippery relationship where war and love and lust get their wires crossed and you've known someone so deeply for so long you can't HELP but cling to them body and soul. But what's so interesting is that clinging body and soul can be any combination of sexual/erotic/platonic/worship/etc. I read them quite erotically but what matters to me in the end isn't whether they're fucking it's how wholly and wildly they loved each other. What matters isn't the taxonomy; it's that when Patroclus died, Achilles dragged Hector's mangled corpse behind his chariot in a fit of grief and feral rage.

Anyway I feel very normal about this.

[velvetvexations]

Note: I discuss CSA and rape towards the end.

Indeed. To say trans women are killed because we're trans women is a true statement that is also deeply misleading. We are killed for the same reason gay men are killed, and gay men are killed less now because of massive social change, but they're still killed and historically they were killed by the bushel. The animus towards trans women is an extension of the same morality and base instincts that lead to it being open season on gay cis men in the past. We are trans women and we are killed for that reason theoretically, but this does not mean that the internal motivation is not the same when it comes to killing queers AMAB.

The disconnect between rates of murder for trans women and gay men were similar in the past, and the disconnect now exists because they've only just started to separate the two categories at all, and while gay men have become more socially accepted, trans women are still struggling for even the limited acceptance gay men have gotten.

The reason why the two categories did not achieve this at the same time is largely because being trans is more of an imposition on others - using the correct pronouns, placing the ASAB you're not attracted to in the category you are, more visibly departing from norms when someone that was clearly AMAB is wearing women's clothing, and it actively requiring medical treatment for children in most cases. It's not like you have to watch two gay men have sex, though Lord knows some still act like that. Also, cis gay people are far greater in number, and have relatively more power and security as a result.

TRFs will take this and say I'm claiming it's all just "misandry," and to be clear, I'm not. To interpret it that way is, if not deliberately malicious, and it is but let's just be generous, not seeing the forest for the trees. Gay men and trans women are killed for being AMAB and queer. It's the queerness. That interacts with being AMAB, whether it be cis gay men or trans women. Queers AMAB provoke the most visceral and loud disgust because it's a direct assault on cis men's insecurity that they, too, could be fags.

Just look at sexual assault statistics. While they're fairly close overall, and both leagues above cis people, the fact of the matter is that if they saw us as women the SA stats for trans women WOULD be higher. But it isn't. Because cishet men generally don't want to fuck people they see as men.

Let me tell you a story. My aunt was sexually abused as a child by her father. For as long as my mom lived, she resented her for it. She also had NPD as I do, and she saw it as her sister being chosen over her. It's deeply sad. That's how my mother took it and it colored their relationship forever.

It's an especially pathetic and sad example of wanting desperately to be taken as a woman when a transradfem insists that the data is simply lying. Given how little they think of transmasc's status as trans people, it comes off as a weird fucked up jealousy similar to my mother and aunt, who were, of course, cis. It's not unique to trans women, but the fact that trans men are seen as women by cis society to the point of their rate of sexual abuse being higher twists the knife for some of them.

Trans women are murdered more often because they're seen as men and trans men are raped more often because they're seen as women. If we can't accept that baseline fact about why people get in their heads to hate us we're all going to die.

Okay first off please don't take this the wrong way I promise I'm not trying to say trans women all have male privilege or something. I think it is perhaps important to consider that while trans women do make up the majority of trans homicide victims, generally (cis) men make up the majority of homicide victims. In 2020 in the US, men made up 82% of victims.

I think trans women being killed more than trans men isn't necessarily because of transmisogyny being so strong or w/e, but a combination of people being more okay with killing people *they view as* men, and because transfems are much more likely to be sex workers than transmascs (though that may be caused by transmisogyny). Gay men are also killed at much higher rates than lesbians, and usually most homophobic rhetoric and laws and tropes are targeting gay men specifically, but I haven't seen this used to say lesbians have it significantly better, or have structural power over gay men, the way I have seen the same used to say that about trans men

Obviously, trans women are not men and trans men are not women, but to transphobes enacting violence, they are. Imo, it's important to keep in mind that transphobes do not actually view trans people as the gender that they are, and this means that the mistreatment of us will mirror the mistreatment of the gender we are transitioning away from, not towards.

I'm not saying that trans men have it worse, or that trans women all secretly have male privilege or something, just that less overt obvious violence towards trans men does not mean we have it significantly better, just as lesbians facing less overt obvious violence does not mean they have it much better than gay men. If you argue that gay cis men have it worse than lesbian cis women because of this, fair enough, that's consistent, but you can't define male privilege as "the privilege men of any group will always have over women of the same group all else being equal" if you do. (Or you could argue cis gay men are also affected by transmisogyny, I guess?)

Genuinely please don't bite my head off for saying transphobes don't actually view trans women as women (and vice versa) and that affects how they're treated skdkfkdjxhd if you have a good faith criticism of this post I'm all ears

[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

[puppyeared]

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.

[stromuprisahat]

metvmorqhoses:

Let’s not forget that this grand declaration of love, the “I see you now” (which would have already been top cringe in normal circumstances) is only coming right after the entire country has started to see the said “old friend” as a national treasure and a literal saint lol could it be that the idiot only started to “see her now” because literally everyone else suddenly started to see Alina as special? Worth seeing now? One has to wonder lmao

all of Ravka:

Malyen: I see you now...

sad-outsider:

I think this is from R&R, but I could be wrong🤔

albediz:

Well, I'm not sure either, but I think they're referring to a chapter of ruin and rising. Ruin and Rising Chapter 16 - "I looked down, brushing petals off of the desk. “Did you ever notice me at Keramzin?” He was silent for a long moment, and when I glanced at him, he was looking up at the glass ceiling. He’d gone red as a beet. “Mal?” He cleared his throat, crossed his arms. “As a matter of fact, I did. I had some very… distracting thoughts about you.” “You did?” I sputtered. “And I felt guilty for every one of them. You were supposed to be my best friend, not…” He shrugged and turned even redder. “Idiot.” I think that would be it, but Mal said she feels "guilt" not "shame". Unfortunately, I have this chapter recorded in my memory since it is where Mal and Alina have sex and it is quite depressing.

Thanks. I'm glad I didn't get to it yet.

You can tell he's supposed to be cute by how red he gets. I suspect he might be holding his breath to fool Alina, because it's funnier explanation than "LB's trying to make it heartwarming and adorable by suddenly presenting Malyen as awkward and shy, when some of us remember how he treated Alina previous two books".

But hey- he didn't mean it. He just couldn't bring himself to ask out the only girl he truly wanted. 😉

Thinking about it- this shows the seeds of two cases of terrible gaps between writing and expected perception- Wesper and Zoya.

To keep it short (I wrote about both elsewhere.)- Wesper is presented as a cute relationship, yet when you look, they're a variation on "If he bullies you, he likes you.". Zoya gets traumatic past and a garden for dead people she previously didn't care about to make her vulnerable and tender on the inside. Deep, deep down. Please ignore her mean, cruel behaviour.

Besides, if a guy acted the way Malyen does in a situation like this, I wouldn't interpret it as a shared vision of married future, I'd suspect him he was jerking off above my sleeping form (since there wasn't that many to pick from, and Alina likely believes she's never supposed to touch her nether parts, so she won't even think about that option).

The fact that Malyen felt ashamed of the feelings he had for Alina already tells us a lot about these supposed feelings.

In reality, who would want to fall in love and date a stick...

Hey nonny, next time add a quote or at least a chapter please, because I'm not sure which of his star moments you're refering to. I don't think he ever speaks about shame- that's Alina's domain.

What I DO remember is his surprise he misses his "oldest friend", which like... okay, who wouldn't be shocked to care about losing something they took for granted?

Forgive the sarcasm, but I'll never cease to be baffled this is supposed to be peak romance. I miss my own bed, when away from home. You're telling me he didn't thought he might feel the same about a PERSON he spend most of his life with? One he ALLEGEDLY ~cares~ about?!

That whole scene leading to his great declaration lies somewhere between laughable, pathetic and repugnant. I've already done its analysis, but let's try again:

“Did you miss me, Alina? Did you miss me when you were gone?” “Every day,” I said honestly. “I missed you every hour. And you know what the worst part was? It caught me completely by surprise. I’d catch myself walking around to find you, not for any reason, just out of habit, because I’d seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And then I’d realize that you weren’t there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me. I’ve risked my life for you. I’ve walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I’d do it again and again and again just to be with you, just to starve with you and freeze with you and hear you complain about hard cheese every day. So don’t tell me we don’t belong together,” he said fiercely. He was very close now, and my heart was suddenly hammering in my chest. “I’m sorry it took me so long to see you, Alina. But I see you now.”

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 19

“Did you miss me, Alina? Did you miss me when you were gone?” Looking for assurance Alina DID miss him. Which could be innocent, except his next sentence makes it sound as if she chose to leave of her own free will. To abandon HIM.

“Every day,” I said honestly. “I missed you every hour. Trying to outdo Alina in how much. It's pretty childish- Malyen is no poet going for hyperbole, even unintentional, it's as if Alina's feelings weren't enough. HE's the one giving more (and deserving greater appreciation).

And you know what the worst part was? It caught me completely by surprise. Yup! Here's the one on how much did he value her company before she became important to others...

I’d catch myself walking around to find you, not for any reason, just out of habit, because I’d seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. Again, another half-innocent sentence, that grows much more negative in context of his previous and following (S&S!!!) behaviour towards Alina. He doesn't seek her out because he enjoys her company, but because he's used to her unwavering presence. It's about what she can do for him.

And then I’d realize that you weren’t there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me. Yes, that happens, when you lose a constant in your life, but that doesn't mean you love or care about it. It might be about a comfort of rutine.

I’ve risked my life for you. I’ve walked half the length of Ravka for you ... now he's listing what she should be grateful for as if she asked for any of it. Knowing Alina at this point, steady glance in her direction would be enough, but that's no grand gesture, is it?! This makes me think how often Alina has to listen to the list of what he gave up for her post-R&R. How often he seeks loud appreciation of his "sacrifices". Happy home indeed.

... I’d do it again and again and again just to be with you, just to starve with you and freeze with you and hear you complain about hard cheese every day. So don’t tell me we don’t belong together, Again, this one started nice... for Malyen to fuck it up with the last sentence. That one isn't reassurance. That's an order. What if Alina only wanted to be friends? The excerpt above follows Malyen's anger over Alina's performance at Winter Fete: That night at the palace when I saw you on that stage with him, you looked so happy. Like you belonged with him. I can’t get that picture out of my head. What if Alina realized Baghra was lying and wanted to regain Aleksander's trust? What if she found someone else? What if she decided she has plenty on her plate as it stands, so she won't start a romantic relationship with anyone? The next book will show us neither of those options are an option, when Malyen's concerned. He'll guilt-trip her into being with him want it or not.

And here comes the cherry on the top- I’m sorry it took me so long to see you, Alina. But I see you now. I don't need to be mean to say too little- too late. Hell, Alina could (should) have! This sounds like he's expecting a pat on his head and a badge of honour for his accomplishments. Admitting he wronged her in the past shouldn't earn him a clean slate, he should first change his ways. Not to mention he'll soon prove "see" and "accept" are a whole different beasts.

Geez, it gets worse with every re-read!

[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