#people with siblings tell me if you've been in the situation where you had to strategize on how to get into the least trouble

[lesiasmadness]

they broke a thing (part 1 / as many as my mental strength allows)

[r4izx]

Worth more than what you take me for.

ayato x gn!reader

summary: in which he had to choose between two people including you, in a life and death situation.

disclaimers: swearing (there's like one lol), kidnapping, ooc traveler.

4,032 words and 21,895 characters.

a/n: dayum. this took a while and i did not expect to write this much.

you've known ayato since childhood. your parents has been serving their clan for generations, being one of their most trusted allies. and you're no exception.

growing up with people with high authorities was such a privilege. you remember when you first met lord ayato and lady ayaka. they both were very the same yet so different. so elegant, disciplined and was well mature for their age. you felt some kind of barrier between you and the siblings but they turned out just as kind as they look. they were easy to converse with. naturally, after some time of serving them, you would have gotten closer. and in fact, you did. although you thought, you and ayato's relationship was... rather special.

for some reason, ayato treats you very differently compared to others. not in a bad way. he often calls you to his workplace, make you sit there and drink tea with him. he takes you out to go eat dinner at uyuu restaurant when you both have finished work. he requested you to be his personal assistant while ayaka had thoma. and because of this, you get to spend more time with him than anyone else. at the beginning, you always thought ayato would be a cold and strict person. but it turns out to be quite the opposite. okay- maybe he is more quiet and colder than others, but that's towards other people. especially to those he only has business with.

ayato is surprisingly different to what you originally thought. he would try to match your humor, often speaking informally like the way you would around your closest friends just to match with you. lately he's been spending his free time with you too. he noticed you liked tea a lot, much like him. so both of you had made it a habit to have tea at the estate's balcony while the sun is going down. watching the sunset together. it felt really romantic for you- but you quickly shook your head and remembered that to him- you're just his work partner. but is that really the case for him? because he was much more observant than you thought. especially about you. he notices any slight change in the mood with you. so there was a particular day when you were gloomy because of being so tired. but he noticed this immediately.

"Shall we take a break?"

-- and you don't know why but your heart skipped a beat when he said that. you thought it was funny-- how he would do all of this for you. and at times like these, you start to feel like a special person to him. just because he always relies on you compared to others. you thought you were special to him. until she came.

who is she? she looks so... bold and pretty. just one look at her and you can already tell she has a strong personality but has a gentle aura. her blonde hair swaying so glamorously in the wind. her otherworldly clothes making her stand out among people. the way she moves makes it embarrassing to stand beside her. she seems so... perfect in everyone's eyes. unfortunately, that includes ayato's. you don't remember having a guest in ayato's schedule when you were fixing it, so why's she here?

you found out the answer really quickly. everyone at the estate has been talking about her and... ayato lately. you don't know why though, which is weird- because as his assistant you should be the first to know about things regarding him. it's even weirder that ayato had not summoned you after work has ended. 'is this where our afternoon tea sessions end?' you thought to yourself. so you found it upon yourself to just be straightforward and ask others what's the gossip all about. luckily, there was another servant nearby. she quickly leaned closer to you and whispered.

"h-haven't you heard?... it seems that lord ayato had taken a liking to lady ayaka's guest."

you were surprised. really. it wasn't even his guest yet he bothered to entertain her. just who is she?

"who-... who is her lady's guest?" you nervously questioned.

"I heard it was... the traveler? was it? lord ayato visited her personally! they're just so perfect with eachother!- i can't help it." the servant squeals in excitement, contrary to your look in horror. you try not to make it obvious though. but you shouldn't even be feeling this way. why does it hurt? there's a sharp feeling on your chest that you just can't get out of. it just hurts to know the reason why he stopped your afternoon tea sessions, dinner hangouts, or just even talking with eachother is because of another girl! you were in no place to get frustrated since you were just a servant. nothing more, nothing less. to him.

you only see him through work now. the urge to invite him to a tea break and have a conversation with him while watching the sunset is getting stronger everyday. and who are you to resist?

"lord ayato... wou-" before you could even finish your sentence, he stopped you. your heart was beating so fast. 'oh no. did I do something wrong?' thoughts like these were circling through your mind.

"i told you to just call me 'ayato' y/n"

--and he chuckles a bit at the end. and so do you. you felt so... relieved. your worries instantly washed away. you felt at ease knowing that you are special to him. i mean- he doesn't do this with others does he?

"ah- my bad... but as I was saying, would you like to have some afternoon tea break with me? I mean, we used to do that everyday but it has been a while since we last did soo..."

and at this point you were so sure he wouldn't decline. he's been less busy this week, what could he possibly do that's far too important to even refu-

"my apologies, y/n. i've already scheduled a tea break with someone else this afternoon. maybe next time if i have the time. i promise i'll make it up to you. however, you could accompany us if you would like." and your mind. empty. the world seems like it stopped for you. not only was your only time to hang out with him gone but you were also replaced. all this time... he was with someone else. you had a gut feeling of who that someone else might be. but you couldn't hold a grudge, you have no right to.

"i-... i look forward to it." nope. you absolutely don't, look forward to it. that day will eventually come though. you just didn't expect it to come, three days later. how quick. you were filled with mixed of different emotions. you hate to admit it- but... you are jealous of who this person might be. but at the same time you're glad to just see ayato again! sadly, for work. when he summoned you, you thought-- 'oh is this finally it? will we finally hang out together again?' until you realize it's just that you will just accompany him to go to a somewhat date with someone else. compared to you and ayato just drinking tea at the estate's balcony, he had prepared so much as to have tea and snacks at the shore. alas, you could finally meet this person. once again. as you realize it was her. the traveler.

"traveler, did you wait long? i'm sorry, you could've ju..."

and their conversation went deaf on your ears. the ayato kamisato. speaking informally, and giving out tea invitations to the traveler. when it used to be you... why are you feeling like this? isn't it obvious. the traveler is way prettier, stronger and better than you. comparing yourself to the traveler is already such an embarrassing thing to do. no one could compare to her. she's out there defeating monsters and fighting archons. while you're here holding a grudge on a person who doesn't even know you just because you're jealous you were easily replaced. but who were you to be replaced when you weren't even his to begin with. this is why you feel guilty. because you think that you have no right to feel this way. it's just now that you realize how much of an overthinker you are. however your thoughts were cut short when you hear ayato calling out your name.

"y/n, i'll go to to the comfort room for a bit. please entertain the traveler while i'm away."

he says.

"understood." and so you take a seat at ayato's chair before. and despite not wanting to have a talk with the traveler, it is still your duty and you would not abandon it for just some mere feelings.

"greetings, i'm y/n. it's a pleasure to meet you traveler." you bow slightly and give the smile you usually show to guests. a smile you practiced countless of times infront of a mirror. "you might have not heard about me though. so allow me t-"

"oh i know. you're ayato's personal assistant. he mentioned it to me before." the traveler states. and you were genuinely shocked but also... curious.

"is that so?... then, has he said any other things about me before?" you nervously asked. though the nervously part may not be obvious to others. the traveler sees right through this. and she giggles. but nods. "would you mind serving me some tea? the tea ayato has been serving me is delicious however i've tasted it countless of times from our past tea parties. so I would like to have a different flavor this time."

the word 'countless' implies that they have been doing this for a while now and you already know that. but it still stirs a feeling of jealousy inside you.

"of course. luckily i brought a different tea flavor for myself as well. let me go get the ingredients from my bag." you return after brewing the tea and pouring it into the cups. how thoughtful that the traveler had already prepared the cups for you.

"this tastes a lot like lavender... melon." the traveler says.

"hm. because it is. you have a great sense of taste." you reply. from this point and so on, you don't really know what to talk about. the atmosphere is really awkward. but you still try to strike up a conversation because she is a guest.

"s-so... what brings you here to the kamisato estate?" you ask. in which the traveler replied with "originally, ayaka invited me. and ayato next." you don't know if it's just your eyes playing tricks on you or did the corner of her mouth raise upwards for a bit. you brush it off. maybe the grudge you have on her is going too far. i mean, it's not like you hate her though. but it's also not like you like her.

by now you've almost finished your tea. same goes for the traveler. you only had to endure a little bit more of this atmosphere and her because ayato should be back soon. so you lowered your guard and relaxed a bit. this whole time you only stared at your teacup, but it wouldn't hurt to take a glimpse at the traveler right? so slowly but hesitantly, you lift your eyes up to see her. already staring at you. but you couldn't break away from the eye contact. especially because she just asked you something you're also asking yourself.

"y/n. tell me. do you like ayato?"

despite having a smile on her face as she asked this, her tone was rather cold. it sent shivers down your spine. you don't know why she's asking this. but you also don't know the answer to that question.

...do you like ayato?

"I'm..."

that was the last thing you said before you went unconscious. before that, your vision went blurry and your head was getting dizzy. how could this be? all the years you've spent serving the kamisato clan, this has never happened.

a loud ringing on your ears forced you to wake up, you could hear numerous voices as you slowly opened your eyes. your vision was still blurry but you could figure out that someone was huge was standing before you.

"it's awake."

'it's? what do these people take me for'. --is what you would have thought when you realized you've been kidnapped and the kidnappers are a group of nobushis. you look at your surroundings, counting just how many they are until you finally notice someone beside you. the traveler. she's still unconscious. looking at her made you realize that you're also tied up and is unable to speak. screaming is no use. you seem to be in a... cave? you're not so sure because you don't remember a cave this huge at inazuma. you try to recall what happened and why you ended up here until you heard something a nobushi said.

"ya think he's coming here?"

"i heard he fancies these two. of course he will."

he? who's he? considering they kidnapped you and the traveler, don't tell me they're talking about him. not lord aya--

"oh well look who's here."

your eyes widen in shock when you turn to the direction they're facing. he's standing right there. ayato kamisato has come to save you. ...and the traveler. something moves beside you and you see the traveler, already awake, with tears in her eyes. isn't the traveler supposed to be strong and mighty? you don't understand, how were they able to kidnap her. in what situation was she in for her to become so vulnerable and be captured? i mean before all of this she was only with you-- !! your eyes widen. you saw ayato, ...glaring at you.

why was he glaring? you were in a pitiful situation right now, yet he glares at you as if you commited a crime. you can't believe it but... 'don't tell me thinks... i poisoned the traveler.' archons. he definitely thinks just that. the way his eyes softens as he looks to the girl beside you confirms so.

"give us the document. maybe we'll let both of them go." one of the nobushis spoke up. documents? what documents are they talking about? you handle all the documents for ayato, could it be he's been keeping something from you? are they comparing lives to a piece of document? surely ayato would-

"no. ...who sent you?" his voice cold as ice. the world has been surprising you a lot today. how important could that document be for it to be able to compare to a person's life. "straightforward i see... too bad, if you don't give us the documents any time we'll kill both of your precious little friends and this place will blow up soon." one of the nobushis spoke up again, it was the same guy as earlier. normally, ayato would be able to beat a few nobushis on his own. but he's way outnumbered right now. for some reason he knows that you and the traveler was taken here, yet he still came alone. you look beside you and see that the traveler is now crying. compared to the mighty traveler you seem to be too calm. you shouldn't be, in a situation like this. is it because ayato is now here? although he probably hates your guts already. but you just trust him way too much.

"...not giving in eh? then let's see..."

the nobushi paused for a moment, seemingly thinking about another way to make ayato give in and for them to gain something out of him. the nobushi smirked.

"...if you give us some mora... we'll let ya choose one of them to go with. give us the documents, you all can go home safe and sound. give us none and... you'll die with them." and finally, you felt... fear. your heart was racing. you didn't know it was this bad. earlier you already knew that you're this close to death's door but you weren't panicking at all. you also don't mind dying if it was for ayato. from an early age you already knew that you had to serve and protect their clan no matter what-- even if you have to pay the price of your own life. so why panic now? is it because the nobushis are going to far with their negotiations? is it because you're knocking right at death's door? or maybe it's because you're afraid that ayato will abandon you. choosing someone else, right infront of you in a critical situation like this. but surely he wouldn't, right?

" ...traveler," he throws a pouch of mora to the ground towards the nobushis. you remember when you both were strolling around at inazuma city after dinner. when he mentions that ever since he saw you looking through the stalls but not buying anything, he figured he'd buy them for you. so he always carried a pouch of mora. for you... and not for anyone el-

".. let's go." what? are you hearing things right? but judging by the way they pull the traveler and untie her, it seems that you are. but you wish you weren't. it turns out he really would choose someone else. the traveler lunges to embrace ayato. seeing ayato slowly hug her back, patting her back to calm down her tears and letting her cry on his shoulder just made your broken heart break even further. you get it. with the traveler's back facing you as they embrace, you take a glimpse of ayato until his gaze lands on you.

" ...y/n..."

his tone was somewhat... soft. you assume on a lot of things and right now you don't wanna expect but, you are. is this his last words to me? is he telling me he's sorry? is he gonna tell me how he regrets doing this? and that he never really wanted this to happen? and that i'm someone special to him, viewing me more than just a serv-

" --how dare you."

...and his gaze turns dark. what for? you didn't even do anything. his eyes glares at you as if you both were never friends. or maybe you were never really a friend to him. and he always thought of you as a mere servant. just like the rest. you were just- too naive. so foolish. thinking you were special. special just because he went looking for you and bought medicine and special rare tea in a day when you were sick for work. special cause he always invited you for tea breaks, conversing with you and only you. special because he always relies on you, and you allowed yourself to be relied on, --when you had no one to rely on for yourself. was those years of being with him nothing for him? was it that worthless in his eyes? that you could just be replaced and abandoned any time? you thought you were someone special in his life when he treated you differently compared to others.

but what about the way you treat him?

you treat him as if you were nothing without him. because he was everything to you. you were only this happy with him. only him. if you think of the most memorable memory you've ever had, it would include him. the day you first met him, and today. the last day you're seeing ayato. you watch them slowly turn their heels to leave. and all of a sudden you spoke. you couldn't help it, you spoke without even thinking. and now you don't know what to say. or maybe-- you just don't want to say it.

"a-ayato..." 'did you ever think if me as more than a friend?'... heck- more than a worker even. you wanted to ask just that. but you wouldn't. cause you couldn't. "...thank you, but I did nothing wrong." you say as you smile. that was your final words before the traveler and ayato takes more steps towards another path, probably leading to the exit. you hesitantly and slowly lift your eyes up to take one. last. look to ayato and... the traveler. and last time your eyes were playing tricks on you, but now you realize it wasn't. cause she was smirking again. smirking at you. leaving you to death.

anger. shame. resentment.

fury rises inside of you. you were raised to be patient with others. it was your job. so you've never felt this way for someone before. you wanted to scream but you couldn't. all you could think about was the traveler.

...the traveler!! the traveler!! the traveler.

it was all because of her that you're in a state like this. ever since she came, things changed. she was the person ayato replaced you with. the person he chose to spend the rest of his life with. and the reason why he threw away all of his memories with you and treated you like nothing. he chose a girl he just met instead of a childhood friend companion who has done nothing but pledge loyalty to him. now that you think about it... for ayato you would risk your life for him, die for him even. but he wouldn't do that for you. he only showed up for the traveler when you thought he came to save you.

it felt like your world was crumbling right before your eyes, watching them walk away, leaving you to death. you could mean that literally since anytime now you might be reduced to nothing but also... ayato is your world. to you he is everything. growing up with him, growing with him. he really is that special to you.

too bad,

he doesn't even see you as anything more than a servant. to him you were, not. special. at. all.

their footsteps has slowly faded away. they left. they've left you. behind, to die. it seems... this is it. you hear the nobushis chuckling and talking amongst eachother,

"geez... what a show! anyway.., are the preparations complete?"

"really? then we could go!"

"where did she say we would meet her again?"

"that bitch... making us do all of this. if it weren't for the mora then I wouldn't have agreed."

her? who's her? who's she? these thoughts seem all too familiar, and once again, you got your answer quickly.

"oh the traveler asked us to meet her at jinren island." a nobushi replied. just when you thought your hatred for her couldn't get any worse. however your thoughts were completely cut off when the nobushis all started leaving you. not even batting a single eye. you remembered them mentioning something that would leave you to ashes here. what was it again? if you recall quickly it was probably a-- "a bomb," --a nobushi says to you. as if he could read your mind. "a few minutes from now, once we all leave, this place will get wrecked. including... you." the nobushi laughs. you have never been this lonely before. i mean, you always had ayato beside you. but now that he personally left you for someone else- who do you have now? you have no answer for that. or maybe it is the answer. nothing. no one is there to help you. your reason to live is gone. atleast, you served your life's purpose before you die. you were never really that close to others including your family because of ayato. so you have nothing to lose now. but... you wish you could atleast take revenge on the traveler... even though you hate that idea. revenge isn't something you would even consider but.. the traveler is a different case.

today has given you particularly a lot of last things. like your last thoughts just now. before feeling a strong burst of energy and the brightest light you've ever seen. and everything turns dark.

...your eyes are closed and you can't move your body. but you're hearing something... footsteps? oh, a voice.

" ...how pitiful,"

you fall into deep sleep once again after feeling such an electrifying strike on your back.

... just who was that?

[strawberrynightmere]

Bad Cats!!! [Part 3]

Warning ⚠️: yandere tendencies, mention of (temporary?) re-homing, mention of financial struggling (idk how to exactly put it), an attempt at writing a professional sounding email.

A/n: Sorry, this took a while, I had things to do. This is a bit longer than what I expected.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

It finally happened. Your boss' incompetence has set back the whole company. You knew it would happen eventually, but you thought that by then, you'd be working somewhere else. There's still no reply from the places you applied to and the bills! What are you going to do now? The obvious thing is to cut your food supply short, but that's still not enough.

And how are you going to take care of Andrew and Ashley? You can't just toss them outside. That's inhumane! You've grown attached to those two and they have also grown attached to you. Besides, they've been living here with you for some time, and you're afraid they won't be able to adjust to the streets again.

All of this has been brought up in your conversation with Julia. Unlike Nina, Julia knew how to offer helping you.

"What if I take them in until you get back to your feet."

"You would do that? Even take in Ashley?"

"Yeah! You said they got tamer over the time, besides when introduced to new people. I can deal with that for the time being."

You wanted to cry in releaf. Like a boulder just fell off of your shoulders. You make the arrangement with Julia and end the call.

"Meow?"

Andrew was right at the doorway looking at you with what you can pinpoint was concern.

You crouch down to his level and pat his head. "Everything is alright."

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

You were waiting for Julia in the park, where you said you two would meet. Andrew and Ashley were in their cat carriers wondering why they were here and what was happening.

You hear footsteps running in your direction. It was Julia!

"Sorry I'm late. Traffic." She said out of breath.

You take her to the bench you were sitting on to rest a bit. While she was resting, you, for some reason unknown to anyone, spoke to Andrew and Ashley.

"Listen, you two will be staying with Julia, temporarily, please be good to her. I'll come back for you as soon as possible." Then you turn to and tell her what she needed to know about the two.

Meanwhile, Andrew and Ashley were confused, to say the least.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

The time the cat siblings spent with your friend was unpleasant. Ashley hated everything about this situation. She hated the place they were living in. She hated Julia. She hated how she treated them as babies. She hated that Andrew was unresponsive the whole stay.

"Are you still going to stay quiet?"

At this point, she'll die of boredom and frustration.

Speaking of which.

Ashley slaps her brother with her little back paw.

"Are you gonna talk now?"

"She left us."

"Huh?"

"She. Left. Us." Andrew repeated, emphasizing each word.

"Well, watcha gonna do about it?"

"Something I should've done before."

That surprised her. It took only a moment for her to realise what he meant.

"Oh. Oh! My god, really? Are you actually gonna do it? You are gonna listen to me. This. This moment is so much bigger than me! I'd like to thank myself for holding up for so long. My parents... can continue to rot in Hell where they belong."

Andrew just rolled his eyes at his sister's dramatic speech, like she was gonna get some kind of reward.

"But anyways. This episode is titled 'Andy and Leyley and the-"

"You're not going."

"Huh?!"

"You'll stay here and distract the human. She still can't tell the difference between us."

Ashley sinks down to the floor.

"And Leyley is stuck with the crumiest job possible."

"Daww, don't worry, Leyley. We'll pick you up very soon." Andrew assured in a teasing tone.

"Ha ha ha! Fucking asshole."

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

One rejection letter after another. You were losing hope. You're gonna end up homeless at this point.

Slumping your head on the table.

Ding!

An email from your current job. It's probably gonna beo something like half of the company being let go. Whatever. You click on the email.

---

Respected workers of [COMPANY],

It has come to us with a heavy heart to announce that [REDACTED] from [DEPARTMENT NAME] has been forced to let go.

As you are all aware of the current setback in this company. We are glad to announce that this is just a small hiccup, and in soon time, the company as a whole will soon be able to function like before, and you'll be able to receive your full payments.

For any questions you have, please email us.

With full regards

[RANDOM NAME]

P. S. As for the new manager of [DEPARTMENT NAME], the position will be vacant until further notice.

---

This has to be a dream. You rub your eyes to confirm. Yep. It's real. So many questions were forming. Was any of this possible? What was this feeling right now?

Who cares! You won't have to worry about this anymore. You won't have to worry about finding a home for Andrew and Ashley or the possibility to send them to a pound. You won't have to worry about starving or being homeless.

And the best part? That sucker of your boss finally got fired.

Wait. Andrew and Ashley. You'll have to see until next month if you'll be able to take them back. Right. It's late. You'll tell Julie about the good news in the morning.

"Meow."

What the...

Black fur, green eyes. Either you're hallucinating from the lack of sleep and the lack of nutrition, or that really was Andrew sitting at the doorway.

You carefully get close to the cat and stretch your hand out to him. And then you feel his little head rubbing against your palm.

"What are you doing here?" You ask in a voice that was right above a whisper. "I can't take you back just yet. I need to call Julie."

Picking up your phone from the table, you dile Julie and wait for her to pick up, but there is no answer.

"Gess, I'll return you back there tomorrow."

As you say that, two arms trap you at the table where you were sitting. Turning around, you see the same man from your dreams. Black hair and green eyes. It suddenly dawned on you.

"You're not taking me anywhere."

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

A/n: There were a lot of possible plots I was working on, and honestly, this one was the only one that was working out for me. Hope you enjoyed it.

[carlyraejepsans]

speaking of dr, there's something that really annoys me about how shallow the ship discourse around kr4lsei is. I'm not sure I'm 100% behind this for the same reasons i doubt toby will go full in with noelle's mom being abusive, ie "those are very delicate and complex topics to handle, does he have the time and space to deal with them in deltarune's story?" so take this with a grain of salt.

(warning for brief mention of incest, so I'm putting this under a readmore)

i think the discourse being framed as "thinking ralsei is presented as a romantic interest" vs "thinking ralsei is compared to kris' brother or like a family member" is incredibly stupid because those are... both true at the same time. yes, there's an unskippable "tunnel of love" scene, and it looks like ralsei could have somewhat of a crush on kris. but ralsei still 1) looks just like a dreemurr, 2) clearly plays, as a character, on our feelings and memories of asriel from playing undertale, as evident by their designs and their names being anagrams 3) i am 99% sure Noelle was going to say "that kinda looks like asriel" while looking at him eating cotton candy with Susie, and Susie herself suggests telling toriel he's "a long lost cousin". either way, if ralsei is meant to play on our feelings towards asriel, then as asriel's sibling, kris is likely gonna feel similarly.

are you uncomfortable? good! you should be. that's the point.

it's not random that the snowgrave route was framed and portrayed with the imagery of a wedding. first the freezering, then the thorn ring are explicitly compared to wedding rings. "we're just friends"/"we're something else". "YOU'VE BEEN MAKING [hyperlink blocked (...LoVE?)], HAVEN'T YOU?" noelle with whom kris had a strained relationship, whose feelings (platonic? romantic? we don't know) we brute force in what is the most chilling, manipulative, cruel iteration of chapter 2's story we could take... it's almost as if deltarune uses kris being forced into romantically coded situations they're deeply uncomfortable with as a way to showcase their lack of agency in the story.

and being pushed into romcom-like situations with a guy who looks like their brother works pretty darn well to follow that pattern, if you ask me.

now, if a forced romance with noelle represents their lack of agency in regards to the player, then... a forced romance with ralsei could represent their lack of agency towards Fate. The Plot/Story. unskippable cutscene, remember? not to mention ralsei's whole purposepilled shtick he clearly has a complex about.

this does raise a couple of questions about susie though, as the third option in the "who would you take to the fair with you" question, the one option kris seems to agree with, as well as being a character who is actively resisting the narrative.

because there's people who are very much FOR krusie, just as there are people against it, i doubt their getting or not getting together would work to represent kris gaining their agency back. and i believe i speak for everyone when i say that susie is going to play a huge part in that arc. either way, i'm curious to see how this develops.

idk! like i said, I'm not sure just how much toby is gonna go into this because it IS a very delicate subject. but it's an example of what i mean when i say "there's more to fandom than shipping" and "fixating so hard on Shipping Good Things" can be detrimental to analysis. I'm not cancelling anyone with this post, go on doing your thing whether it's kr4lsei or r4lsusie or krus1e. but if your first thought going into this was "I'm gonna ignore the part where the game compares ralsei to asriel because that would make my ship incest and that is Bad and uncomfortable" then... that's a very cheap way to interact with media? lol. sometimes being uncomfortable IS the point. god knows utdr makes you uncomfortable on purpose sometimes. ok rant over :P

[tirednyokie]

You want my honest opinion on some of the election statistics & politics right now? I never, NEVER, like to comment on politics, but I'm tired of being quiet and holding this in. There is no one I can be honest with and talk to other than you lovely people on the internet.

I voted blue as a young white christian woman. I was born and raised in the heart of a red state. My parents were considered super conservative, even to other Christians and conservatives. My extended family is still that way, to the point where asking genuine questions about history and reason is seen and taken as offensive and treacherous to the American good. When I went to college, I was still a very right-wing minded person. Here's the thing: I naturally have a soft heart. I don't like being mean, and I don't appreciate other people being crappy for no good reason. My upbringing in the church and my relationship with Jesus Christ both in and out of the church has only strengthened that part of me.

So, in college, I encountered a number of classmates and fellow musicians that were of other ethnicities, members of the LGBTQ community, and so much more. I learned quickly to see them as my cohorts and friends, and that I had no grounds to judge them based on their life and struggles. As they say, and I take literally, hate the sin, love the sinner. I couldn't care less if you're black, white, gay, trans, struggling with drug addictions, addictions to anything like porn, social media, etc.

I struggle with some of that too, which gives me no ground to judge. As the Bible says, "He who is without sin, cast the first stone." I am no better than anyone else, and I am actively trying to make that evident in my life.

As I said before, my ultra conservative christian family didn't like this. Not one bit of it. I managed to befriend and be a safe place for a number of my fellow musicians, because I knew about their bad experiences with other christians and the church, a recent burn from the church on myself, and their mixed family backgrounds that made my being an older sister that much more important. So, naturally, I started to lean more left, and at the same time, away from the "church."

To say I left the church would be accurate. Christianity, less so. It has been a rough four years in finding my faith again. But in the midst of that, I learned about the world around me from the perspectives of both christian and non-christian. I didn't have a reason to be spiteful or hateful towards a specific demographic (unlike some of my family).

Then I graduated and moved to New York, and let me tell you - blue state living is where it's at. But in stepping away from something you've been immersed in your whole life, you then see the issues within. I noticed this with the church, then with my family, and then my hometown and state. There are some SERIOUS issues with all of them.

This TikTok explains a lot of what I think of the modern "church:" https://www.tiktok.com/@k.t.phillips21/video/7434922467652554027?_r=1&_t=8rGnfwwJxNP

The church condemns so many things, until it applies to them. The burn from the church in my life came from a previous pastor telling someone to do something behind all of our backs, and that led to my family collapsing in on itself and my brother attempting suicide seven times. All because one man thought he knew what should be the case in a situation, and didn't think to bring God into the matter.

For my family, it's the same type of thing. The allowance of certain things, while condemning the same things when others struggle. It's exhausting. So, when I moved to New York, I blocked numbers, deleted others, and had a serious talk with my immediate family about boundaries and what being 20+ hours away meant. I happen to have understanding parents and siblings after the events of three years ago. On the other hand, my extended family is messed up. Constant asking of "are you depressed" or "do you have a boyfriend yet," while not actually caring about the answer, or just blatantly ignoring the truth. Recently, I cut off almost all of one side of my extended family because of a wedding happening in March between a girl who is barely eighteen and a boy (he is NOT a man, he just happens to be my cousin) who is TWENTY SEVEN. The relationship was arranged, and they recently decided to move the wedding up by 4 months because, and I quote: "he(cousin) just couldn't wait 😉." Mind you, his last relationship, he kidnapped from one state under the guise of "meeting the family" but was actually bringing her to another state after dating for three weeks to marry her without her family's knowledge or consent. It's messed up.

My hometown and state? Oklahoma. I think that question answers itself. Considering that it was completely red on Tuesday, and is the top state of searches "can I change my vote."

Anyways - I am disappointed in a lot of people. So many things were on the line in this election, and the fact that people are just now educating themselves on what this means now that they've re-elected Trump is ridiculous.

If a felon cannot get a job in some areas or vote, why the hell should one become president? Second - why is said felon SO quiet after winning? Something is wrong.

To my fellow women who voted blue, I'm sorry for what we're going to see and what we're encountering just days after the election. To the LGBTQ people who see this, I'm sorry too. To all of you blue (and some red) friends, I am sorry. I'm sorry that 53% of white women voted against a reasonable choice, and voted for a literal felon, rapist, and just crappy dude. I'm sorry that all of us are having so much mixed emotion about what the next 4 years looks like while my family and many others are home celebrating the idea of cheaper groceries. I wish I could hug many of you, because it's crappy that we're united and meeting like this.

To the people who voted red - I'm sure you've heard this already, but I really hope you get what you asked for. I hope you get what you wanted. I hope it affects you directly. I hope you see what happens when you don't educate yourself until it's too late. I hope you see what happens when you only look out for yourself. I hope you see how un-loving and un-Christian some of you are acting.

For the little boys (you are NOT men in my eyes right now) that keep saying "your body, my choice" and are saying so many crappy things to the women in and out of your life because you feel empowered by one president-elect: I hope you eat your words. I hope you manage to get your head out of your butt and see what you're doing. I hope you realize you've shoved your head so far up your butt that it came out of your throat and that's why you're acting the way you are. I hope you have to eat your words and get everything you think you're going to get and more.

I am lucky to be considered "safe" in a blue state, but I am still so heartbroken over my friends who aren't considered safe and have to deal with this stuff head on. I wish things were different. If any of you happen to know me in real life, take this to heart. If you don't know me, know this anyway:

I am sorry for how people in America are acting right now. I am sorry that we have to live in a nation so broken and frustrating. In the middle of it all, you are loved, and I pray now that something good comes out of this; that we learn to love and be loved, we learn to be gracious and forgiving instead of angry and condemning. I pray we learn to be people over Americans, that them and us doesn't continue, and that we learn what the right thing is and how we are going to move forward. If you need someone to be an ear or a friend, I hope you find one. Whether that is someone in real life, someone on another site, someone here, or even myself.

You are not alone ❤️

[f1orza]

Austrian GP thoughts, sorry if I'm not very articulate 🤓 just rambled really not proofread cause I'm busy

Do I think the collison was Max's fault? Yes. Do I think that the contact was inevitable and BOTH of their faults? Also yes.

Max shouldn't have moved during the breaking but they were both driving aggressive. They both wanted to be first, they both know what's it's like to be first and they won't settle for second now. I think in Lando's case he seen that if he wants to be first he has to try harder? Or that you actually have to be "agressive" to get onto that top step.

Do I think Lando was being childish? Yes. And I'm saying this as a McLaren fan.

Though I also think that any sport where you're fighting for first is inherently a bit childish. Might just be because I have siblings and we always used to fight over first place as kids 🤷🏽‍♀️idk

That doesn't justify Lando's response. Even when you're upset and running on adrenaline, you should be able to be handle your emotions I think. (I know as humans it can be hard) but if you're on live tv being broadcasted to millions of people...you should have a better handle on you're emotions; even if you feel you've been wronged, because no one will listen to you if you are acting like that. If you're levelheaded about it people are more likely to listen,(woman experience this all the time.) He needs to work on that and on taking responsibility as well, because the blame isn't 100% on Max.

That's one thing I can say about Max, I wasn't here for the "Mad Max" era but from videos and word of mouth, I can tell he's matured a lot and you can definitely see it. Max had every reason to be upset after this race (but not really), he had a good lead against Lando until RB's slow pit stop and then he went from first to fifth and some might say that's not bad, he still got points, and etc. That's not the point - his race was still affected but he did not go on live tv and speak badly on his friend.

They need to - like Max said - cool down and speak about it afterwards. I personally don't think it is worth ending a friendship with someone I considered a good friend but maybe they see it differently idk. It's something they need to talk about before the next race. And if they believe that it was worth losing a friend over, especially when they know this is situations that happen in racing then....

And I've seen a lot of people mentioning Lando still wouldn't have been first, even with the 5 sec penalty, he would'v been second with George being over 10 secs behind, I can understand why he believed Max ruined his race.

Some of y'all have a very bad habit of taking things fans do out on the drivers. If the FANS keep voting him DOTD that has nothing to do with him, if you want others to win then yall might need to vote more ig 🤷🏽‍♀️ and the chanting on the podium is again rude and nasty behavior but that again has nothing to do with Lando, I can promise you even if he would speak out it will not change anything, people will do what they want and what they feel they are entitled to do. I've seen it happen in so many fandom spaces, some people just don't care. Lewis has told people not to hate George after last race and I can guarantee that there is still people that do.

Now I've also seen people talking about Lando's attitude, I agree on some things and disagree on others. And this isn't me being a "Lando crazy fangirl" trying to justify his actions but I'm just telling it how I see it. So if you disagree okay, but do not start shit with me okay? 🙃 cause I know y'all like to fight around here 🤥

I think Lando feels stuck in that wasted potential. Where people having saying for years you have the potential to be a champion and even with all the hardwork you do, it doesn't feel like it's being shown. And especially as someone who went so long without a first win. Everyone's saying McLaren made a mistake by re-signing you or that your teammate is more deserving of the first seat. You feel like you're letting people down: you're team, family, fans and yourself. Not to mention all the hate you've been getting for NOT winning, then you'll definitely be in a bad headspace. And now that's he's won and KNOWS he can win, he'll want it all the more. He has the fastest car on the grid right now, he IS a good driver (contrary to what some of you believe), and he is a bit more optimistic than last year. Now that first is within his grasp, he's been hungry to get a second one. And I think he's been a bit overconfident about it, but that's honestly all drivers, I think if you are upset about Lando's ego but not other like Ocon than you dislike Lando for other reasons and are just finding excuses now. Even more so knowing he is second in the championship standings. Now that you know you're capable of being first you wouldn't want to settle for second, just like Max. Max constantly talks about not being there for second place but many of the other drivers feel that way, Lando is clearly one of them.

Do I think Max should have just let him go by? no. Because this IS racing and if you want to be first and become a champion you have to work for it. Max has never been the kind of guy to just let you pass him, not even for a friend. So Lando needs to understand that if he wants to keep fighting Max in the future. If you want to prove everyone right or wrong, only YOU can do that and by being overly eager and dangerous, well it clearly doesn't work in your favor 😭 (sorry lando 🤧). Only thing is you do is improve yourself and I'm not surprised that Max is a champion when he is always driving be it racing or sim. If your competitor's are doing a 100% you need to be doing 200%, that's the only way to get to the top.

[rocksibblingsau]

Do you ever think about how they let a toddler join a boy band? A boy band that was a toxic environment and too much pressure that even teenagers couldn't handle? That had those same teenagers and toddlers do contless interviews, photoshoots and change the way they acted, looked and were just for the hyphotetical imagens fans had of them?

Because I do, I know it just a silly and cheerful children's film but I also think about how this same film opened with those teenagers feeling so mistreated and wronged they literally left their entire civilization, community and family behind just so they shouldn't be treated the same way by anyone else. And John Dory, who I know was implied (which I fully view that as my headcanon btw) to be a child taking care of four other children with only the help of an elderly lady, I do in fact love and sympathize with him. But I also trully need him to be mercyless beaten up by his brothers with hammers, like actually. There only so much headcanons and fic-lore the fandom can put in me before I go back to the movie where John Dory is always implied to be the one who is mostly if not the only one fully in the wrong, buddy was telling a toddler and younger teens that if they werent perfect they were literally nothing and then, left them all for years after they didnt want to be in his band anymore. Like dude, no wander his brothers thought he was still stuck on the perfect family harmony and wanted nothing more than go back to being their boss...

Anyways, writing my bruce and branch fic was been great! Im totally not crying and extemely emotional over the hyphotetical emotions of a bunch of 6 inch tall cartoon creatures. At least I got a excuse to write mom lore before Spruce and John give their last show's fight a run for its money.

I do, especially the fact that Branch likely doesn't have a lot of memories of his brothers not related to the band :)

Don't mind that smiley face, I'm not doin' nothin :)

Anyway yeah it's extremely sad that Branch was still in diapers and he was performing. Despite the fact that he only did that one live show, he was clearly in the public eye enough/involved in music making as he was on their albums and had a boyband persona long enough to have done the whole perm/frosted tips/attempt to do both.

One thing I've seen some people do is say that there was likely external pressure as well and when you consider that the BroZone situation likely took place during the era of Trollstice you really gotta think. It can shatter DIAMONDS. What would it do to say... an iron cage and some stone buildings? Maybe it wasn't John Dory's main goal, but you've gotta admit a perfect family harmony would have likely been a turning point for trolls and it's possible that everyone at that show was sure they were about to witness the end of Trollstice.

The knowledge that me and my siblings could hypothetically end countless deaths would have me acting up too.

[beryllineart]

Rambling about Asriel/Flowey

Lots of headcanon stuff and personal interpretation here, but I think Asriel enjoyed acting. You know, before he died. And I bet he was good at it!

This is a looooooong post, and I uh... don't explain my reasoning as well as I could because I kept going off on tangents, but uhhh, it might be interesting? I don't know, this all came from me trying to decide whether Asriel or Flowey would be more of a dice goblin (it's a D&D thing). Anyways, you have been warned....

Let's start with the first and most obvious reason. Flowey's ability to mimic others. He can imitate voices really impressively, and he does this in the game, imitating Toriel's voice with an echo flower. He also calls you using a voice you've "never heard before" in the elevator. This voice is the same as Asriel's adult voice, not his child one, which is interesting to me. He thinks you're Chara, why the heck would.... wait, look at Tape 4. "I... I don't like this idea, <Name>. // Wh.. what? N-no, I'm not... //... big kids don't cry." Maybe Asriel/Flowey is using his older voice to show Chara that he's not that little kid anymore, that little kid who was too cowardly to go through with the plan of killing the humans. He looks up to Chara and so this is his way of telling them that he's grown up? I don't know, I may be reading too much into things.

Talk about a rabbit hole... I just wanted to talk about Asriel/Flowey's acting skills. Anyways, Flowey is really good at pretending. He's done hundreds of resets, befriended people and killed them hundreds of times, and yet no one really seems to notice. I may be giving him too much credit since he can reset and all, but come on, it must be really hard to pretend you're meeting someone for the first time when you know every detail about their lives.

That's not a good argument. I've got a better one. Flowey doesn't freak out when you take away his ability to reset. Instead, he does his best to shift the unease to you, taunting you about Toriel's death (if you killed her), taunting you about the other human's deaths, and always stating the "kill or be killed" phrase. He does his best to make you feel uncomfortable about the choice you made, whatever it was.

"You'll die and you'll die and you'll die." "Somebody is dead because of you." "You kind of remind me of myself." "I know what you did." "Enjoy that power while you can." All of these pieces of dialogue from after Toriel's fight are an attempt to make you not want this ability to reset, because Flowey wants it back. And he acts so nonchalant about it too, like come on. He was a god, and suddenly he's mortal again and not in control for the first time in a long time. There is no way he is not furious over losing the ability to save and reset. And later in the game, he makes that clear. But right now, he's hiding any fear or anger he has and making you unsteady on your feet with his acting skills. He's taking control of an unexpected situation (much like a good actor might, improvising when different outcomes than expected are thrown their way.) He's cautious, because you're the one person in the Underground who a. he doesn't know and b. has the ability to reset. And yet he still gives these awesome speeches perfectly designed to make you uneasy because he's a drama queen who can't help himself.

He's bluffing with no cards (aka no real advantage) and you need to be a good actor to bluff successfully.

Okay, so Flowey's good at acting. He's had lots of time and lots of resets to practice. But I think his acting ability actually comes from Asriel, and this is where I get into major headcanon territory because I only have the tapes to go off of and my own wishes for Asriel and Chara's sibling relationship.

...

Imagine this. You're Asriel, and you just helped your sibling poison themself. Buttercups nearly killed your father, a big, strong boss monster. And now they are killing your closest friend in the world. They smile at you and say it's not that bad, but you know that they must be in pain, so much pain that the smile leaves their lips as soon as it arrives. But you smile back, pretending that you're fooled by their weak reassurance. And you stay there, pretending that you're not worried, that this is all just part of the plan, until they let out their last breath.

Only then does the mask break, the mask you've been wearing ever since you agreed to this stupid, stupid plan. You hid your doubts and you hid your tears because this was Chara's plan, and they only wanted what was best for everyone. They were going to free everyone. But now, with no one around, you whisper in a shaky voice, "I don't like this plan anymore." The truth is, you never did. But you never told them that because of that look in their eyes, that look that told them they'd come up with another idea, with or without you. And if there's one thing you know, it's that the two of you need to be together.

As you stand up and take the soul, you force yourself not to cry. If anyone alive were in this room, they would think you didn't care that your friend, your sibling, is now dead, but you care so much that it hurts. But big kids don't cry. Big kids aren't cowards. You know you aren't a big kid, not really, but you have to act like you are. You have to pretend you still believe in the plan that you never believed in anyway. You have to, otherwise...

You might not be able to go through with it.

...

Hey, maybe the reason Asriel idolized Chara so much was because Asgore kept saying Chara was "the future of humans and monsters." That same thing could have given Chara a savior complex where they thought they had to sacrifice themself for the good of everyone, because honestly, how can a child save humans and monsters? They felt responsible for something that was completely out of their hands and roped Asriel into it because he trusted them (or at least acted like/ convinced himself he did) and I realize Asgore's not the sole reason for either of those things, but come on, talk about putting a kid under pressure! I might have heard this from someone else but I don't know who...

Okay, so part of the "Asriel is good at acting" stuff comes from comic ideas I had of Asriel making Chara laugh with little skits and impressions after they fell into the Underground and were frightened and confused. I didn't really do a good job of explaining how any of this necessarily makes either Asriel or Flowey an actor. At the very least, I think I've shown that both Asriel and Flowey are able to mask their true feelings, fool others into believing certain things, and pretend to be something they're not. And that sounds like acting to me, but honestly, that's my opinion, and I don't know much about these things so whatever you want to think is fine.

Oh, oh, I just thought of this. During the Asriel boss fight, he gets increasingly desperate to keep you and breaks his character as the god of hyperdeath, in control and all powerful, to his real self, a scared little kid who just doesn't want to be left alone again. He tells you to just let him win because he truly has no power, and he knows that. He did a pretty good job of acting like he did have power though, not gonna lie... Same sort of thing Flowey did in the beginning of the game after you beat Toriel. I love when things go full circle like that.

And now I'm really done. I promise.

[nerves-nebula]

Sorry to give u a weird Christmas confession but I was thinking about ur art and that got me thinking about my life. And this tends to be where I direct that stuff because your perspective and insight is cool, and also solidarity in this community or something.

I always feel super shitty about the way I treated my younger siblings growing up, because while I wasn’t actively malicious, I remember being a dick needlessly a lot in what was typically misplaced aggression I couldn’t direct at anyone else, or projecting when I saw them doing anything I’d been screamed at or punished for.

But also my mom was super neglectful, so I was taking care of them in a lot of ways I never really thought counted as me taking care of them until more recently. I tend not to remember stuff, so most of what sticks out in my mind has a reason for sticking out.

I wouldn’t remember having had to wake my siblings up for school if I hadn’t written it down offhandedly in the notes of some fic writing I did years back. I wouldn’t remember having made dinner basically everyday if I didn’t feel like a lazy asshole over having been depressed and either putting off making food until way to late, or just throwing a pizza in the oven and telling my brother when to take it out.

Point is, sometimes you mention your sister, and you mention your brother, and I’m so upset that I remember being closer to your brother, because I didn’t protect my siblings from shit.

But lately I’ve been wondering if I might have and I don’t know how to feel about it. I feel like I’m rationalizing to make myself feel better but it doesn’t make me feel better. It makes me feel like I wouldn’t have to reach for stuff I’d done right if I’d actually been good.

I remember little things, like my brother breaking a plate, and me realizing my impulse to yell at him or belittle him over it was stupid, because what would he learn from that? It was an accident. But my parents would have blown up at me in that scenario. It was confusing so I just made sure he didn’t get glass in cuts and while I cleaned up and hid the broken plate at the bottom of the bin, I kept rolling around whether that was unfair or not. I only remember that because it was the first time I’d ever asked myself on a logical, non emotional level, whether my parents were actually being unfair.

My remembering that had nothing to do with helping keep my brother out of trouble, so I have to wonder if there’s more stuff like that that my brain’s just nuked. If there were any significant or consistent moments that I might never remember that could reconstruct my entire self image of what an emotionally repressed mess I was as a child.

I don’t know I guess that idea just stresses me out, and I realize I wouldn’t be happy in either scenario, whether that was or wasn’t happening.

mildly funny to hear my singular blog referred to as a community. not really sure what you mean by that, i'm not a part of many communities as far as i know.

nowwww i don't know your exact situation but i wouldn't worry about it. definitely sounds closer to one of my sisters than my brother.

like, i really can't overstate how bad my brother is. my older brother is a truly malignant force. kinda guy who starts shit for no reason and preys on people just to feel strong. he would not do any of the things you've written about here unless forced to. the best you can expect from him is apathy, or wanting to show you some weird fascist show he likes. he will otherwise go out of his way to harass and annoy and threaten people. he was constantly trying to start fights for seemingly no reason, and i mean physical fights, like he was compulsively violent or something.

i used to have sympathy for him but he's nearly 30 now and that's long dried up on my end. he's an asshole cuz it's what he chooses to be, not cuz anyone was mean to him or cuz he has bad impulses. he's a fascist loser who doesn't even want to try to be kind and that's about it.

anyway point is: what i hate about my brother isn't that he failed me or something. from your writing here it seems highly unlikely that you're anything like him, but that's something i can't solve for you either way. I haven't spoken much about my oldest sister in detail but they were cruel to me in ways that have shaped the majority of my neurosis. and i still don't hate them, because people who try aren't worth hating. you seem like you could be more like them

maybe not personality-wise though. i can't imagine them sending an ask like this to a random stranger haha. but i don't really know them very well anymore, so, who can sayyy. they've got mad memory issues too tho so there's that.

[yikes-kachowski]

"Not to mention, I don't think the equalist movement is completely without merit. I actually have a lot of thoughts on equalists and nonbenders in general in meta and in universe."

I 100% agree, would you mind elaborating on this?

I swear had my thoughts on this written down some where but it looks like I do not. So @shalheretical is usually the one who handles these types of questions for me, but I'm doing this one. Sorry if it's not as good as it could be.

I want to start with the meta because I like to use the meta to inform the way nonbenders are seen in their society. In the meta, nonbenders have three ways they can be: evil, useless, or good at everything warriors. All nonbenders who are good and useful have to be smart and perfect at fighting and usually can't fight benders alone. Other nonbenders in any position of power are either evil and conniving or stupid and naive.

Nonbenders are also less spiritual than benders. They don't consider the environment. That's constant. In the show, in the comics, a nonbender looking for ways to become equal to benders or provide for their community is usually careless toward the spirits. They are almost insulting nature by thinking they can have power.

Bumi's plotline of being disconnected from his cultures because he can't bend was "solved" by him getting bending. After he gets his bending he tells Tenzin, "I never felt like an air nomad." Tenzin tells him, "Well you are now." Why only now? Why not you've been a part of your culture all along? Why couldn't the writers find a different way aside from giving him bending?

Fanon has this issue too. The issue i lovingly call "the bumi problem." When trying to solve the way aang and katara made bumi feel excluded they say "he trained with sokka and suki, and became a great warrior." That's not the issue though. He doesn't need to be sent off to other people, he needs quality time with his own parents in his own culture. His siblings get a sacred practice that they spend hours paracticing with their parents each week. Obviously, bumi wants that too. But no one says "he learns how to cook air nomad food with aang" because that makes his skills less important. It's not about the fighting ability, it's about the culture and love. Now, in universe stuff. Bending is tied with power, inherently. The avatar, most powerful person, can bend four elements. That's how they show they are favored by the spirits and they are in charge. The fire nation sought to wipe out everyone who wasn't a firebender. They used their own nonbenders as canon fodder. (This colonial fire bending supremacy could have taken some hold in the places they harmed)

In TLOK they show nonbenders literally havinng to watch what they say around benders because it's so easy for them to be bullied into silence. The bender that harmed them for speaking their mind being Korra, by the way. Not to mention later when we hear them pleading "youre our avatar too."

The racketeering from the triads also unfairly targets nonbenders as does all violence in the atla universe. They are the most helpless in any given situation. Hiroshi Sato brought his daughter up training in self-defense. That shouldn't be a requirement for nonbenders to feel safe.

The police in their universe, have a specialized team of metal benders to violently restrain people with whips.

In their universe, it just takes one bad night from a bender for your whole home and livelihood to be destroyed. This goes back to the racketeering, but also just one drunk earthbender getting angry. And the law does not seem to protect them.

Beyond that, imagine being raised your WHOLE LIFE knowing that the spirits didn't bless you, but they did bless the fire nation soldiers that murdered your grandparents. And they did bless the triad member who steals half your paycheck.

The nonbenders also seem to be shoved into on neighborhood according to TLOK season one which is just uncomfortable. Is there nonbender red-lining? Are they all so low income they can only afford to live there?

Lastly, in TLOK, after the equalist movement is brought down (firstly, i find it sort of disappointing in a meta way that nonbenders could only be granted power from a bender) no one even entertains the idea of looking at ways to make things more equal. No one even considers it. Anyway, those are just some thoughts. This isn't 100% solid, but it's angles to consider. I find it interesting anyway. If you have a different perspective feel free to share :)

[jamiedc-they-them]

Family, no matter where what

Summary: Gwen has a sibling with the same powers. With a strong bond, you both find out about the multiverse, and it may just be the thing that breaks you.

Spoilers for both films!

Gwen's father finds you just near the end of his shift, someone had called in hearing some bangs coming from an alleyway.

All he finds instead, is a kid. Alone, scared, maybe amnesia. A single band on their wrist.

"Hey, kid. Hey, hey," he says, hands raised as you back away from him. He sees how you then look around, as if sensing something else. He just takes it as you being scared and adjusting as best you can to this new situation.

"It's ok, it's ok," he assures you. You approach him a bit, seemingly trusting him a but more now that he respected your space, "do you have anywhere to go?" You shake your head, "any parents?" Again, a head shake, "a name?" You think, then, seemingly frustrated with yourself, you shake your head 'no' for a third time.

He can't just leave you here, and god knows he knows how cruel orphanage places CAN be sometimes, so he takes you home.

Gwen comes to greet him, but she seems to know something is wrong on instinct, "who's this, dad?" She asks, looking at you with soft eyes, and not mistrust.

"Gwen…" he says, stepping aside to let her see you, "this, uh, well they don't really have a name," he says, scratching his neck.

"Oh," she says, scratching her neck as well, looking at you with sympathy. You smile a bit, before your eyes go back to the floor again.

"Would you be able to, I don't know, help them set up a bit, please?"

"Of course," she says, instantly going back to being more preppy, "come on, kid!" She holds out a hand for you, and waits until you're ready. You then take it, and she takes you to her room. You take it all in.

You point to her trans flag and look to her, head tilting a bit, "oh, that. Yeah, still people out there who think people who are different is wrong. I don't think so. I think being different makes you cool; unique." Her outlook on things makes you smile. You're technically different. You nod. She nods too with a smile, glad to have helped you feel at ease.

A siren goes off, you both look to the window. She looks back to you, and sees waves above your head. They just stand out to her.

"Oh, my god…" She says softly. You jolt at the police radio, and in an instinct your hand is held put.

Web comes out.

"You're like me," She says, finishing her now confirmed thoughts.

You look at her in fear, as if you've done something wrong.

"No, no, no," she says quickly, waving her hands in front of her, "It's ok. It's ok, I promise!" She assures you.

She puts her finger to her lips, and gestures for you to follow her. You do, and she unlocks her drum. In it, is an outfit.

She then holds her hand out in a position similarly to yours, and Web comes out.

You look to her with wide eyes. She chuckles, but it has a hint of relief to it, "you'll be ok, kid, " she assures, "I'll help you."

She does. She's patient with you. Kind. Loyal. At school and with this whole thing. She tells you about the gifts you have. Helps you control them, but makes you promise not to tell Captain Stacey. You swear.

He, meanwhile, sees how you both are with each other. You bring out a warmer side to her; she brings out your more curious and open side.

On the year anniversary of you being found, they adopt you.

Gwen had always been jealous of people having siblings, and now that wish has been granted.

You make a good team - she helps you with a suit. You can read each other like a book.

She tries to help you with your band, as it seems to adapt to the growth of body mass and age, but neither of you find anything other than it just seemingly a normal band.

Then you meet Miles and a group of other Spiderlike people. Peter assures you that while having two Spiderpeople in one universe is rare, he is sure that there must be others where that is true.

It's fun, and nice, to have other people to trust as well. People who understand.

It helps you both forget about your best friend dying. Miles becomes that to you both. You haven't healed, but you're trying to now.

But then it's over, and you're both together, but also alone, again.

Stoll though, you have each other, that's something.

But then your father finds out, and you both unmask in front of him. And, as much as he doesn't want to, he attempts to arrest you both. Gwen begs for him not to do it, but puts herself in front of you just in case it goes sideways.

The other two spider people you met when subduing Vulture appear, saving you. They both give you a chance. A second chance to be understood, to be with people like you.

You both look at each other, and nod. You take the trip to the hub of other spider people.

Miguel is distant to you moreso than Gwen, but you just put that up to how you've always been. You have always been one who could easily slip into the shadows; that, and you didn't talk much. But, still, you don't let it get to you, as you're among an almost Spider-family.

Gwen had never seen you be so happy, making new friends. She's happy for you. And you both adapt to this way of living while on missions.

Gwen offers to ask Miguel about your band, and does so when you're away on a mission. When you return, she hugs you, glad you're safe, but gives you the bad news of there being nothing new to learn. Just a regular old band.

You are saddened, but accept the news. Your hand goes over the band, and a sort of light seems to come from it; but when you remove your hand, it's like it never happened. You just put it up to lighting or something from this place.

You both go and visit Miles, and you love being with your best friend again. Don't get yourself wrong, the Spidercrew are great, but the three of you made a good trio. You were helping each other grow and heal.

That, and you made him feel less alone with the secret of being Spiderman.

The two of you are told to leave him, to never return, because of the damage the Anomaly has done. It hurts you, but your sense goes off for some reason. You look to Gwen, herself isn't going off, just yours.

"Y/N," she says to you, "I'll meet you there, ok?" You find it odd of her asking you to go first, but she just gives you one of her 'trust me' smiles. You give her a small one back, give seemingly one more goodbye to your best friend, before going through the portal.

Miles, however, hears the rest of the conversation. It's one of the reasons why he goes through.

During the chase, when Gwen falls due to being distracted, Miles tells you to stay on The Spot's trail. Despite the annoyance at not being able to help Gwen, you trust Miles, and so listen to him.

Your friend Hobie, respects your lack of talking. Tells you it's good as it's what makes you with everything going on, but also that actions always speak louder than words.

Gwen had told you about cannon events, how there was order to things. Things had to go a certain way, and your job was to keep it all in order. But you do respect Miles trying to save Pavitr the pain of loss.

Miles succeeds, but you then see the damage it causes.

Hobie says your name, seemingly spotting (ha) something you don't. But you hear Gwen reprimand him, saying that's a subject for 'later'.

You pretend you don't hear it; pretend their words got lost over the noise of everything.

The rest of the Spidercrew, and this is the first proper time Miguel spoke to you; other than telling you about a mission or during a debrief, or ordering you to get patched up. You've never seen him this angry.

He looks at you with so much anger, "and you," he seethe, even pushing you a bit, "why didn't you stop him?"

"Miguel, enough," Gwen argues. Her defensive side coming out to play.

He just dismisses her, face inches from yours. But, you do hold his gaze, "you gonna give me an answer?"

"Miguel, mate," Hobie tries.

"Enough out of you," he snaps, eyes still on you.

"My job. Saving people," you say, knocking your head against his. Hobie whistles in respect.

Peter tries to intervene again, but is met by silence.

Finally, Miguel pulls back. Gwen approaches you, putting a hand on your shoulder. She squeezes it.

Miguel then shows the massive webs of the Spiderverse (you agree with Miles' name for it. Goes with the theme you all play by after all).

You had never actually seen it before, and look around it in awe. You see Gwen and yours timelines.

Scratch that, you realise. Gwen's. You're not there.

You look at her, she looks away.

"Where's mine? Where am I in this?" You ask her in a quiet voice.

She doesn't answer.

"Here," Miguel says, voice cold, but not as angry this time. There's almost, ALMOST, a sense of sadness to it? You aren't sure.

He puts a hand on your back, turning you to a strand high above. He holds out his hand, and it comes down.

"Go ahead, kid," he says, not unkindly, "take a look."

You hold out your hand that has the bracelet on it. Those lights come back again, but you see them this time. The image of the innocent bracelet flickers away for a moment, and there, on your arm, is the bracelet that Gwen wears. Or, a version of it, at least.

Your eyes are wide, heart thumping on your chest. You always wondered why you didn't need one, people had plenty of theories to put you at ease, even your friends.

You then look to the circle, an unknown Spiderperson is there, holding someone.

You.

"Who - who are they?"

"A rogue. Went back and changed events." Miguel says, simply, before turning back to Miles and his protests about this fate thing.

He's locked down, you aren't. You look to Gwen, who looks down. You look to Hobie, he looks at eyes with a mix of things (guilt, relief, anger, sadness) but then subtly moves his head to the exit. He then nods to Miles. You know what he's saying.

So, as soon as Miles realises what he's done, break out, you both do what Hobie suggested. You run.

You both seem to know which way to go to split up the seemingly endless Spiderpeople chasing you. Despite Gwen going for Miles, she sees you leading your own pack too. She's scared for both of you, but the mission. Part of her says fuck the mission; but another part says to see it through, it will all work out in the long run.

It won't. She knows that. She knows it'll only hurt you both.

You and Miles are both saved by Peter, who tries to get you both to understand. You thought you'd found another father figure, one who understands all this. He's genuine with his words, but you dont know who to trust anymore.

"Y/N…" Miles stops himself, unsure of what to actually say to you.

"Your dad," is all you say to him, "we can save him. We just need to get you to the machine."

Miles nods, glad you're on his side, but he clocks how you don't say 'we'.

"What about you?"

"I will distract them."

"That's suicide!"/"Kid, no!" Are the protests from the pair.

No time to argue, the other spiders are here. Peter swears he didn't bring you both here to trap you. Part of you believes him.

"Too late," you say to your friend, before you both plummet through the inner workings of this place.

You both make it to the train, making sure Miles is ahead of you. A Web then catches your foot, and Miguel leaps, slamming you into the train, spit flying from his mouth as he tells you, "I'll deal with you, later!" As he then goes after Miles.

"Y/N!" Gwen shouts. You find some strength in you, continuing to crawl towards Miguel and Miles, "Y/N, stop! Please!" You can hear your sister friend Spiderperson call out to you.

You ignore her, and instead keep going towards the one person you can trust. He gets himself out of his rut, but as he swings away, he first a Web to you. You grab on, and follow him.

You get to the machine. You place some, what toMiles looks like, mines.

"What are those?" He asks, getting the number he needs to go back home.

You hit a button, and it fires out a bunch of webs, creating a shield.

Miles leaps into the machine. It starts up. You hear tearing at the Web, it's Miguel. You put more and more down. He keeps tearing through them.

"Anomalies working together! Of course!" He shouts, tearing through and more of your barriers.

Miles disappears. Then you set yourself up, and leap into it. You feel a hand grab your leg and a yell of 'no!' Before you hit the floor.

"I'm sorry, kid," Miguel says, before holding up his hand. You close your eyes, but if never comes. Opening your eyes, you see his hand being held back. Then another Web on his other hand. It gives you what you need, and you get into the machine.

Looking back at them, you see it's Gwen who did it. She gives a nod. You don't give one back.

Time to get some answers from your home.

Gwen knows you'll write your own story with the answers you find. But, she's been writing hers all along, she realises. You dropped into her universe, and gave her a friend. Gave her a sibling. Gave her someone who understands. Someone who fought by her side. Someone to always have her back.

She didn't always have yours, but she'll do so, starting from now. From this. By letting you go, and trusting you'll be ok.

Sure, she's thrown back to her world. But, it allows her and her dad to talk. It gives her the resolve she needs. She'll save Miles with your Spiderfamily, then she'll find you.

She promises. Swears on her life.

This is one she's not breaking.

[platonicallylovesick]

Some more "ppl defending Mrs. Bakugo" crimes against my mental wellbeing

People on titok are genuinely insane oml

"It's not abuse tho abuse is where its mentally and emotionally affecting the child's well being. and i think Bakugo is completely fine since thats his family's love language." GURL WHAT. GURL. DID YOU WATCH THE SAME SHOW?? IS BAKUGO DEVELOPING A CRIPPLING INFERIORITY COMPLEX AT THE AGE OF 6 NOT AFFECTING HIS WELLBEING???

"this is just for comedy... plus Bakugo is a brat and needs to be slapped sometimes" literally no child *NEEDS* to be slapped. the 16 yr old boy does not NEED to be slapped and esp not in front of his teachers who he genuinely looks up to and respects? ESP NOT WHILE BEING TOLD HE'S THE REASON THAT THEY NEED TO BE MOVED INTO DORMS IN THE FIRST PLACE????

"They're just messing around, have you never had a good relationship with your mother?" I have a lovely relationship with my mom, and there is a SOLID different between being lightly and playfully smacked on the shoulder during a lighthearted conversation AND BEING HIT ACROSS THE HEAD WHILE BEING YELLED AT TO SHUT UP IN FRONT OF *MY ONLY IDOL*

"Plus lets not forget in the earlier seasons this dude was a BULLY plus if you look at Bakugo he isnt even phased by her words he's just mad cuz she hit him. also if you watch the rest of the episode, Mitsuki says to All Might and Aizawa to take care of Katsuki and shows worry for him" oh so there's plenty to unpack here! First up. I WONDER WHY HE WAS A BULLY? I WONDER WHERE THAT 5 YEAR OLD LEARNED THOSE BEHAVIORS?? IT WASNT FROM ALL MIGHT VIDEOS, I PROMISE YOU THAT ?! Next up: "he isnt even phased, he's just mad she hit him." Bbg if you're told you're trash even just once a week for at least a year, you will stop reacting to it every time, in the moment. that does not change the mental stress it puts on you. Now add in the factors of "its def more than just once a week," "that is his MOTHER," "He's already immensely guilty about the situation," and "HE IS A CHILD." Then we have, "He's just mad she hit him." YOU'RE TELLING ME. YOU WOULD NOT BE UPSET. IF YOU WERE HIT BY YOUR MOTHER. IN FRONT OF *ANYONE* YOU RESPECT. LET ALONE THE LITERAL SYMBOL OF PEACE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE HIT BY *YOUR* MOTHER IN FRONT OF FUCKING IRON MAN?!

Last but MOST CERTAINLY not least: "She shows worry for him." Babe imma hold your hand in an white knuckle grip when i tell you this. I don't think you've ever been abused in your life. Because you do know that most abusers don't wake up thinking "MAN today will be a great day to torment my only son," right? She doesnt think she's abusing him. She's just doing what comes natural to her. She isnt reflecting on what effect her actions have had on her kid, she's the mother so ofc she's in the right and she loves her son so clearly the problem is his peers praising his powers too much, I cant possibly be to blame because i love him! She doesn't think about how its affecting him at all. Hell, it could even be a cycle bc honestly it already is one. When Katsuki is faced with unruly children he correctly identifies that there's some kind of lead kid (because he was a lead kid at that age, he was a problem child), and then HIS SOLUTION IS TO PHYSICALLY FIGHT THE KIDS, USING THE JUSTIFICATION THAT THAT WAS HOW HE WAS RAISED AND IN HIS OPINION HE TURNED OUT FINE.

This is actually a trap I've fallen into myself, I have recommended a little more tough love against my little siblings because I was treated much more harshly at that age than they are now. I WAS NOT IN THE RIGHT. KATSUKI IS NOT IN THE RIGHT. THIS IS HOW MALTREATMENT CHANGES A CHILD'S MIND. THIS IS HOW IT WARPS OUR VIEW OF THE WORLD AROUND US. Unless he gets some serious SERIOUS help, he will carry these experiences with him for the rest of his life. He might become just as terrible a parent as his mother.

His behavior is not his fault. He is a CHILD. A MINOR. If he was in his twenties and has experienced life firsthand and he was still being a bully for no reason or being physically violent with minimal to no provocation, I would agree that he needs a serious wakeup call. Still wouldnt agree with hitting him, but like yeah he's an adult, his prefrontal cortex is fully developed, he should be self reflecting. But AT SIXTEEN. HE IS A CHILD, A LITERAL CHILD. THIS KIND OF HOUSEHOLD ENVIROMENT IS ALL HE FUCKING KNOWS. IT IS THE RESULT OF HOW HIS PARENTS RAISED HIM, WHICH WAS TOXIC, ABUSIVE, AND EMOTIONALLY NEGLECTFUL.

Shoutout to the one guy in that comment section fighting for his life making good points as to the fact that YES Mitsuki is the fucking issue.

[rainyweeds]

A little bonding time

Pairing: Ao'nung x Fem!Reader

Summary: You and Ao'nung bond over the events that took place during the war with the sky people.

Contains: Violence, Character Death (Not major *cough* Neteyam), bonding, Fluff

Authors note at the end

You woke up one morning, an uneasy feeling in your chest. The last time you felt like this was when Lo'ak dragged you and the gang out to the abandoned shack in the forest. You walk out of your marui to see Jake and Neytiri knee-deep in the ocean. Jake calling out for his skimwing.

"What's going on?" You find Neteyam watching is parents get on the skimwing.

"There has been a report about a tulkun found dead." The oldest frowned. The tulkun's had just recently visited the clan to return to their spirit siblings. You stood next to Neteyam and watched as Jake and Neytiri rode away along with Tonowari, Ronal and a few other warriors.

It was a cloudy day in Awa'atlu so your daily lessons were going to be held indoors. So you, Ao'nung, Tsireya, Rotxo and the Sully children all sat in a circle in the clan leaders marui. But ever since you heard about the poor tulkun, everyone remained silent. The lesson was long forgotten.

"Who could have done such a thing." Tsireya choked, breaking the silence as tears filled her eyes. The tulkun were always peaceful creatures. Never hurting other creatures or na'vi. You quickly pulled the crying girl into a tight hug.

The horn blows, indicating everyone had returned. All of you ran out of the marui to meet up with the survey group. Except when you saw them, everyone was sullen, Ronal especially. Her eyes were puffy and she was shaking.

Everyone had gathered around each other, around Tonowari and Ronal. You stood beside Tsireya, holding her close.

"My spirit sister and her baby were killed!" Ronal growls. Everyone began shouting in anger.

"This war has come! Through the hunting of our tulkun!" Tonowari continues. "We must fight back!" The crowd began to rile up. Jake quickly trying to defuse the situation.

"You need to tell your tulkun to leave." He pressed. You knew exactly who was behind this. Judging by the device Neteyam was holding in his hand, you could only assume that it was those awful people you met back at the abandoned shack. They somehow found out that Jake and his family were hiding on an island with a clan, and they were determined to kill him.

You watched at Jake held the device in the air, explaining how the sky people will stop at nothing to get what they want. How they forced the Omatikaya people to leave their home tree. He proceeded to tell them that if they didn't warn the tulkun, they would die.

There was a silent pause. Tonawari took a deep breath before turning to a nearby warrior. "Tell the tulkun." Everyone began calling for their skimwings, going to find their spirit sibling to warn them. You watch as Lo'ak slips away from the crowd, heading to the ilu docks. Neteyam seemed to have the same idea as you because the two of you quickly went to follow him.

"Where are you going?" You finally catch up to him. Lo'ak already has the saddle on his ilu, ready to leave.

"I have to warn Payakan." He doesn't bother looking up. Was Payakan the creature who brought Lo'ak back that night? He must be.

"No way you're running off now." Neteyam steps forward. "You've got to keep your skxawng ass here." The two brothers begin fighting, hurtful words being thrown out, mostly from Lo'ak. In the end, Lo'ak still manages to hop onto his ilu and swim away.

"We have to follow him!" You call your ilu. Everyone gets on their ilu and you swim out to follow the youngest Sully boy.

You are way out past the reef by now, closer to the Three Brothers Rock. Lo'ak calls out for Payakan and you see the creature swim up to the surface. So this is the tulkun that allegedly killed many na'vi and fellow tulkun. When you all swim closer, you see the same device that Jake had stuck in the tulkun's side.

"Help me pull it out!" Lo'ak grabs the blinking device and pulls. Neteyam joins his brother and pulls everyone else up to help. Everyone pulls as hard as you can but the device is not moving. You look up to see something coming closer.

"Guys! A demon ship!" You yell. By now, Neteyam was on his ilu with a rope attached to the saddle hoping to wedge the device free. "Hurry! It's getting closer!"

The device is finally pulled free, falling into the water. Everyone gets back onto their ilus and quickly dives under water. But not before Neteyam can grab the device and swim in the other direction of the group. "I'll distract them." He says. You quickly dive underwater, hiding amongst the plants.

The ship behind you begins to send out small machines into the water to chase after you. Ao'nung quickly leads all of you into a bunch of plants for coverage. Your ilus allowed for quick movements around the large plants, creating space between you and the sky people.

You weave through the water before stopping in front of a sky ship. One of its robotic arms reaches out to grab you, grabbing onto your ilus tail. You break your bond, allowing it to free itself and swim away.

Before it could reach you, Ao'nung grabs your wrist and pulls you away. He pulls you onto his ilu, and regroups with Kiri and Rotxo inside of a plant containing a pocket of air.

"Kiri!" You grab the girl and pull her into a bone crushing hug. She returns your hug before pulling away. "Where are the others?" You only spot her and Rotxo.

"They broke off a little after we started getting chased. We need to go or they'll catch us too." The four of you quickly dove back into the water, swimming in the opposite direction as the demon ship.

You arrive back on the island before long, climbing onto shore and looking for Jake and Neytiri. You see them gearing up, grabbing their weapons and applying paint over their bodies.

"Jake!" You rush over to him. "The sky people-! They're coming!" Just as you begin explaining, there's a voice coming from the intercom around his neck.

You couldn't completely hear the muffled voice, but you were able to make out a little bit of it. They had Tuk, Lo'ak and Tsireya.

Tonowari was leading the charge alongside Jake as the remaining warriors on Awa'atlu began swimming out towards the demon ship. You were quietly getting on your ilu who had made it back safely from the prior events that took place. Everyone had already left the island, leaving you, Ao'nung, Kiri and Rotxo.

You convinced Kiri to stay behind with Rotxo to watch over the kids who were far too young to leave the island. Ao'nung had insisted on coming with you, going on about how his sister was also on the ship. The two of you quickly dove beneath the ocean surface on your ilus.

The ship was coming up in the distance, a full blown fight going on between the Metkaina and the sky people. You sneak onto the ship, looking around for any soldiers. Once the coast is clear, you begin searching for your friends.

They were on the desk tied to the railing. Nobody was watching them, all too busy fighting for their lives. You take the chance and run over to them, pulling out your knife and cutting them free. "Come on! We gotta go." You push them towards the same way you came.

One by one you begin diving into the water. You picked a gun from one of the dead soldiers nearby, ready to shoot anyone that came your way. Just as everyone was in the water, an avatar comes in from behind you, grabbing Tsireya by her queue before she can dive into the water. She lets out a scream as you turn around.

But when you look over your shoulder, you're met with the butt end of a gun. You stumble back, hitting your head on a nearby railing. Ao'nung was already climbing back onto the ship, ready to kill whoever held his sister captive. It was a dreamwalker, holding Tsireya in a headlock with a gun pressed into her temple.

"Release her." He was holding a dagger. The dreamwalker turned to point the gun at Ao'nung instead. Ready for any incoming attack from the na'vi boy.

Now fully grasping the situation at hand you lunge at the soldier, effectively making him release Tsireya. "Go!" You punch him. The two of you tossed each other around. Soon, you found yourself being overpowered by the avatar. If you couldn't beat him, the least you could do was buy time for your friends.

Ao'nung watched Tsireya dive into the water before running back to you. He tackled the man on top of you, throwing him off of you and to the other side of the deck. You scramble to your feet to pull Ao'nung away. Neither of you notices the dreamwalker coming back behind you. It wasn't until he towers over you, about to swing his gun at you.

"Move it skxawng!" Ao'nung shoves you out of the way.

He knocks the Metkayina unconscious, standing over top of him and pressing a knife to his neck. Any thoughts you previously had begin to disappear, leaving only one thought. Protect. Before you could even control yourself, you throw yourself onto the soldiers body. Using the momentum to throw him off of Ao'nung. Quickly cocking your gun and aiming, you shoot the faux na'vi.

"Come on. We have to go." You hoist the boy onto your back and run towards the water. You jump into the water, your ilu swimming to your side. You make tsaheylu and swim off, keeping an arm around Ao'nung's waist to keep him secure.

When you get back to the island, you see everyone had returned back to Awa'atlu safely. Some had minor cuts while others had more serious injuries. You quickly take Ao'nung towards the healing hut to be examined. Ronal immediately rushes over to you when she sees her son unconscious on your back.

"What happened?!" She quickly helped you lower the boy onto the ground.

"We went to save everyone." You pant, collapsing on the floor next to the Tsahik. She looks over your body before tending to her son. Ao'nung was still knocked out with blood now dripping down the side of his head.

Ronal made quick work of the injuries, cleaning the blood and patching him up. Once she was done, she stood up to go tend to other injured members of the clan. Leaving you and Ao'nung alone.

Despite being cleared to leave, you remain silent by the boys side. The feeling of adrenaline still coursing through your veins. You slowly begin to calm down as you watch the stars take their place in the sky. Finally being able to breathe properly after you make sure all of your friends were safe.

You jolt awake at the sound of wood creaking. Someone had just entered or left the hut. You look to your side and realize Ao'nung was no longer in his makeshift bed, he must've been the one to sneak out.

The night sky was illuminated by the stars. A gentle breeze blows past you. You see a figure sitting on the sand looking out into the distance. Ao'nung just watches the waves slowly roll in and therefore, isn't aware of your presence. It's not until you plop down right next to him that he snaps out of his trance.

"Hey fish lips." You settle down. Ao'nung just scoffs at your nickname for him. After the last few months that you spent on his island, you couldn't think of a more creative nickname. "Why're you out so late."

"Just thinking about how we almost died today." He says in a monotone voice. You hadn't thought about what took place earlier today. Too busy trying to help around the village.

But everything was alright now. The sky people died and the demon ship sunk to the bottom of the ocean. You're safe now. And everyone you love remains by your side.

"I heard from my mother that you dragged me all the way back to the island." Ao'nung breaks the silence.

"Yeah, and your skxawng ass was heavy." You take the opportunity to lighten the mood. "Your just lucky I'm nice."

"Well. Thank you..." The last part came out as a mumble.

"What was that? Didn't hear you." You lean in with a hand cupping your ear.

"I said thank you." He pushed you away from him. You flop sideways onto the sand, laughing. After spending so much time with someone, you begin to notice things that you didn't before. So when Ao'nung has a small smile on his face, you can tell it's a genuine one.

"It's not like I was actually going to leave you there." You say in a serious tone.

Ao'nung chuckles, looking back out into the distance. The moonlight highlighting his features. Eywa how could someone look so beautiful. You were always taught not to stare because it was rude.

But the more you looked at him, the more you fell for him.

A/N: Anyways I'm not entirely sure how to feel about this fic but I liked writing it so I hope you enjoyed reading it. I didn't want to necessarily give a whole confession scene since it's more about just you bonding and falling in love.

So thank you for reading and I hope you all have a great day/night!

[mewtwoandme]

Everytime you post an update with these Mewtwos dealing with their emotions it seems you and mewtwo just can't win

Mewtwo being hard on Newt because of the prepaid asswhooping and her disowning him and it leads to him not wanting her to stay his house? People telling Mewtwo to get over it or saying he should NEVER forgive her ever in life

Mewtwo pointing out that his other sibling fucking bounced after she kept a secret he nearly died for? Now he's a hypocrite and going too far!

This dude can't win at all he must just be happy go lucky 24/7 with his dysfunctional family and they must never grow alongside him, they must always be in the right from newtwo to mew to Lakota even if they hurt him, he must just grin and bear his transgressions

Idk man it sucks to see because you clearly put your all into representating EVERY perspective and EVERY consequence to flesh these characters out and if these ppl had it their way they'd be chucking Mewtwo into the volcano for every little thing. I know you're probably used to it by now but damn. Goddamn. You have my appreciation for creating such a detailed yet simple to follow story. I hope you know that this story you've written is beautiful.

Thank you so very much ^^

When telling a story with multiple characters, it's difficult to portray everyone's individual struggles, emotions, and pov's, but that's exactly why I wanted to do it this way. Normally, with stories, it's always focused more on just one character's pov. And even when there is focus on multiple characters, sometimes each character gets their own individual arc, showing their struggles as a story or series goes on. In my story, everyone is struggling all at the same time and not individualized into separate arcs, because I planned it that way.

With what my characters are going through right now, all they're trying to do is make good decisions in a rather stressful situation, no one is in the right and no one's in the wrong, they're all just trying to do their best amidst their own inner turmoils. But people are so quick to choose who to root for, that there's someone who's more right or wrong or who's more justified in their actions than the other when here, that's not the case at all. I don't see much storytelling that does this, that's why I wanted to do it this way, when it shows where everyone is coming from and what emotions they feel. It is more difficult to do admittedly, because of the fact that the audience's opinions are so divided. Lakota got a lot of hate for supposedly "taking Newtwo's side" in the argument she had with Mewtwo, Newtwo got hate for being discriminatory towards her brother and disowning him. Mewtwo sometimes still gets hate or is disliked because of being too emotional, and Mew got some hate for leaving without telling them when she'd be back. I'm still going down this route regardless because it's necessary to the story I'm trying to tell.

I do have a personal rant I'd like to get off my chest though, so read under the cut if you choose

I've had many people tell me how my Mewtwo is "overly sensitive and/or emotional" trust me, I just roll my eyes at those people. It's not the easiest to portray such a complex character like Mewtwo's but people are so used to how he is portrayed in the anime, cold, distant, ominous, broody, bad tempered, continuously in a state of contemplating and having an existential crisis....that's what he's always been known for. God forbid anyone else wants to take different routes to expand on a character's personality and vulnerability for character growth. I always get things like "What have you done to him? He used to be so strong and badass, now he's just a whiney wimp!" (A petty child's argument in my opinion) and "That's not the Mewtwo I know." Well no shit Sherlock, this is MY interpretation of him. Given everything he's gone through, the vulnerable side of him that involves his trauma was never explored and I wanted to explore it further. It's not like I just make shit up on the whim just for him to start crying or breaking down, I make him go through real and possibly relatable life emotions that people irl experience when they've undergone trauma and Mewtwo has valid reasons for his emotions. Abandonment, the crippling feeling of doubting your self worth or value to others, the feeling of always needing to be independent because no one was there for you to rely on etc. are just a few of the things he still struggles with from time to time. A lot of recent events that have happened in the story have opened up some old wounds and triggered trauma responses. Especially Newtwo disowning him, the feeling of not being worth his own sister's time and love, and Mew, just up and leaving when Mewtwo needed her. Also, regardless if it's been 20+ years since Giovanni, that still lingers with him and what happened with Howard Clifford was more recent and that fucked him up too. You can't simply get over it, as some say. When you're traumatized, it can take years and years to heal. But sometimes you don't heal at all, sometimes the emotional damage is permanent and it changes you as a person, and you have to find ways to manage it in order to function on the daily. And if it sounds like I'm speaking from personal experience, it's because I am. Sometimes trauma...doesn't always make you stronger...

[acaciapines]

hey acacia pleaaaase tell me more about dess and chara in the dess raises kris au

OH I'D LOVE TOO

this got. long as hell so its under a cut. can you tell ive thought about this so hard. literally more people need to consider this relationship okay IT HAS IT ALL...

so! youre dess. you've just had what asriel is calling 'a mental break' but what is to you descending down into the bunker which is REAL and WRONG and NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED, and its done something to you, and your best friend doesnt understand, and nobody understands, and this thing is going to kill your sister and it is going to use asriel's little sibling to do so. and then one day, weeks later, when asriel still wont believe you and you are slowly losing your mind, he goes out to tour colleges.

and kris is staying at your house. and there is nobody to stop you. and asriel doesnt believe you but if it is his little sibling stuck up in everything, and, and, and...

and then the next thing dess knows she has descended into the bunker with a five year old and come out somewhere else, somewhere FAR AWAY, and. by the time shes back in her right mind shes in way way too deep to ever go back. she CANT go back. besides, what help was asriel? he never believed her! her BEST FRIEND, and he wrote off everything she was scared about!! thought she was making it up, but she WASNT, and she'll PROVE IT, and she'll SAVE THE WORLD, and then they'll see. then they'll all see.

that town, that bunker--it is going to kill her sister. and dess will do everything to keep her sister safe.

even if it means she has to lug a kid around.

so, time passes. dess wanders. kris wanders with her. dark worlds here work sort of like mystery dungeons in the pokemon mystery dungeon series, but a lot fewer people know about them. there ARE, though, forums, and small local places where people meet up and swap stories and try to defeat them, which is where dess needs to be, but she cant do any of that with a five year old. so she takes to leaving kris at hotel-rooms and daycares and doing her best to schema-hunt (this group calls dark worlds 'schemas'), and its when picking up kris one of these times that dess meets chara.

chara has also had xir own run-ins with schemas. its what led to xir having frisk--getting stuck in a schema that was Awful for xir mental health, led to a lot of self-hatred around being a loveless aromantic, and a few dubious situations later xes pregnant and after xir own childhood of never being wanted and realizing that as bad as everything leading up to this has been xe WANTS this kid, xe has frisk. for two years chara struggles as a college dropout and a single parent barely scraping by, still dealing with lingering schema-trauma xe cannot talk to anybody about, and...then xe meets dess.

its not a love story, because both of them are aromantic, and chara doesnt love, anyways. but its two people who have been struggling and alone and scared finding someone else who UNDERSTANDS. its how dess finds someone who believes her when she talks about the schemas, who doesnt write her off. its chara making a friend for maybe the first time in xir entire life. its how theyre both trying to raise kids on their own but its not so hard when theyre together.

the honeymoon stages are REALLY good. its chara who has never been anybody's first priority, but now xe is dess's, and it is probably the closest xe will ever get to understanding why romantic love appeals. its dess who has a place to actually REST, not her and a five year old hopping around hotels, but somewhere she can call home. dess and chara can talk to each other about everything, about anything. about the things they've seen in the dark and the deep. about how scared they are for the kids.

they get an apartment together. they get married. they make up a new last name to share. the kids start going to school. chara officially adopts kris. neither of the kids remember a time without dess and chara both around. things seem like they might actually work out.

but dess is so RESTLESS, see. she has this amazing place, with the people she loves most in the world, but as chara settles down xe starts to put xir time in the schemas behind xir. devotes xirself to being a parent, to going to parent-teacher conferences, sitting through meltdowns and fights and being the parent xe never had in xir life. dess hates how kris clings to her whenever she is around. it makes her itch. like shes being held down.

dess starts spending more time on online forums. staying out later and later. goes out on trips--for a day, two days, a week. meets other people like her, people who dont know how to stay in place, people who need to find and close schemas, who save those trapped in them. she maybe starts to miss chara's calls. she maybe misses kris's birthday. she loves chara more than she loves anybody else, and that includes the kids. she comes home and can barely last a few days before she has to go again.

shes not meant to be pinned down by kids. shes supposed to be OUT THERE, saving the world. she and chara fight, more than they ever used to. she hates it when chara cries but she doesnt know how to make it better. maybe if she keeps running, keeps diving into the dark, she'll figure it out. maybe when she saves the world everything will be okay. then she can rest. then there wont always be this nagging fear at the back of her head, this nagging fear that everything she has is going to come crashing down around her. then all the missed calls will be worth it, all the broken promises made okay.

she's dess. defeater of schemas. and one day she'll make it back to that bunker, and destroy it, and her sister, the sister she hasnt seen in a decade, will be safe. one day she'll call asriel and this time he'll believe her, and forgive her. one day she'll go home and sit down next to chara and this time when she promises to stay, she'll mean it.

just a little longer. then she'll fix everything.

(meanwhile, chara is back at home, waiting for a wife that wont come back. sometimes in the middle of the night frisk creeps into xir bed and asks why dess is never home, why chara doesn't divorce her. chara doesnt know how xe is supposed to tell this child xe very nearly did not have that dess is the only person who chose to love xir because she could. that dess is the only person who was there when chara had nobody else. that sometimes when it is very dark xe thinks back to the schema xe was stuck in, for so very long, and the prophecy xe heard there. how xe saw dess and some part of xir knew, then, that surely, this is who those ancient words spoke of. dess, with her glorious warmth and light.

chara is the one who stayed behind. chara is the one who deals with all the struggles of raising two children-now-teenagers, who watches kris, waiting always for dess to come home; frisk, who doesnt speak of her at all. xe doesnt know if xe's doing the right thing. xe just wants xir kids to be OKAY, and, selfishly, to be loved by someone even if xe can never return the feeling.

one day frisk comes sobbing to chara and spills everything: that kris, who has only ever wanted dess to be proud of them, who knows dess is one who slips into the space between light and dark and comes out again, has dove into a dark world of their own, and has not come back out.

and chara who already knows xe will dive into the dark xirself if that is what it takes to bring kris back safe wonders if maybe xir selfishness is what will get xir children killed.)

[the-cat-and-the-birdie]

I have a spidersona but i feel i won't get accepted because I ship her with Miles...🤦🏾‍♀️

Honestly GO FOR IT - like RUN AT IT

The best part and root of fanfiction is exploring and expanding on parts of the character we don't get to see on screen. And OCs are THE BEST at doing that.

SO DO IT. GO FOR IT no matter who you are!!

TBH I've always been rather meh about canon couples because like.. I know they're gonna end up together so I don't really crave things like fanart for them.

To me Canon Couples are like a jumpscare. If I know it's coming it's gonna get less of a reaction.

That's why a lot of my Spidey-writing pre-ATSV is about dancing around MJ and keeping her platonic. I much prefer Felicia Hardy (The Black Cat) because she challenges Peter's character in a way we don't often see.

The same goes for SpideyPool too. It's so cute because Spidey is nice to everyone, but REALLY sassy with Wade.

Relationships and OCs can bring out so much color and variety in a character, that like...they're so useful writing wise. Not just in a fanfic sense, but expanding your writing.

AND I AM NOT ABOVE KILLING OFF CANON CHARACTERS - DO IT FOR THE ANGSTTTT and for the indulgence I'm genuinely surprised I haven't seen anyone kill off Gayatri and ship an OC with Pavitr cause like...nothing stopping you. That's a great fic opportunity.

And if Hobie gets a Mary-Jane: hell yeah I'd kill her in a heartbeat NO MERCY idgaf how happy she makes him and im deadass!!!! fjgdgjdgh

I will ALWAYS say OCs are the best writing practice, far beyond canon stuff. Because not only are you writing canon characters, but you're shaping and filling in gaps in your story, and reflecting how characters react when a whole new influence (your OC) is brought into the situation.

OCs ARE MY LIFEBLOOD OKAY -

I know you didn't ask for this but

OFF-TOPIC SIDEBAR: Adults can ship their OCs with Minors - That's literally how all writing works

[below is a short rant where I beef about people who say 'Adults shouldn't ship their OCs with teenagers' - spoiler alert: EVERY minor ship in media is written by an adult.]

One final sidebar before I go cause I feel like this is such a weird thing people have beef with -

I find it SO WEIRD when people are like 'Oh adults shouldn't ship or write their OCs with minors that's weird and nasty'

Like ?????????? ?? ???? ?? Think about that sentence.

So. Who you think wrote the movie then? You telling me a minor wrote ATSV?? They had a 16 year write the movie??

Or did an adult do it? Like how adults wrote literally every minor relationship you've watched..since the begininning of time?? Cause like - Wasn't....Gwen & Miles romance written by an adult?? Am I missing something?????

Stranger Things. Wednesday. Riverdal?? The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Leonardo and April?? MCU Spiderman 1, 2, AND 3???

TWILIGHT??? ALL teens dating, written by an adult. JOHN GREEN FAULT IN OUR STARS?? HELOO??

Like.........99.5% of the relationships about minors you read is written by adults. Almost EVERY ship of fictional minors are written by an adult shipping their characters together sfhkjghkjdfgshkjdg

Are we arresting people for that now cause if so put the writers of Euphoria IN CUFFS and put a curse on their land!!!!!

idk it's just funny logic to me cause like ?????? my sibling in christ you are enjoying the adult written minor relationship as we speak djkgfdgjkf

"Don't write your OC in love with Miles, the only adult that can do that is the dozens of adults in the writers room getting paid to do just that, most of which didn't create Miles or Gwen themselves"

umm.. ok.

Make OCs, ship them, explore character relationships, WRITE. Ship them with canon characters, talk about your OCs like they're canon, let them build relationships and grow within the story nobody can stop you.

And last point honestly saying adults can't write stuff like that - HORRIBLE writing advice. HORRIBLE.

Because if you're a writer who can only write adults and you leave younger people out of your story - or you write teenagers as adults because you have no experience writing them... not a good look. How do you expect to write a character arc with a character that doesn't age or go through stages of their lives? You need range to write all ages. Half of romance movies out there start with them falling in love as kids and reuniting, you need to know how to write people at different stages of life. Telling adults they can't write anyone below 18 is just...not good advice. Like you can't just...refuse to write a large part of the population??

N E Wayyyyyy Once again this became a rant lol but this isn't like an angry one, it's like a '???why is the statement??? why it exist when it make no sense'

here hobie look at him wooo

hes so sassy looking :3 i love him his shape up is so nice

Bye.