#prose responds

[prose-among-the-trees]

Uh can you elaborate on your call out on DD? Like you threw a lot of shit at the wall without a single source and I've not heard any of that before. Could you specify on the misinformation part because I haven't seen anyone say that.

The whole post reads like you have personal beef and not an actual argument

You got it. I’ll admit I should have gone about that with a lot more backing it. I’ve never met DD in any capacity, nor do I want to, but my personal issue with them comes from how did was portrayed to me before, during, and after my diagnosis through their YouTube videos and the way they sensationalize and offer clickbait titles to all of their videos.

There are three fantastic videos by a YouTuber called Cringey about the timeline of DissociaDID. The first video starts out as a desire to respond to Nin (host at the time) about the way she handled the allegations against TP and how shady that was. I’ll post the video here along with the timestamps (these timestamps are also a pinned comment by the creator)

Timestamps for part one (these are copied directly from the pinned comment)

Intro: 0:00-2:48

DID definitions and notable DID YouTubers: 2:48-7:24

The Pottergate Center: 7:24-13:08

The University Complex (Nin being denied university re-entry): 7:24-17:58

Misinformation (bad sources and using psychological terminology to sound smarter): 17:58-23:59

The Real Nin (BetterHelp, supporting TeamPiñata + friendship with Bobo): 23:59-47:51

Closing thoughts and reiterating the video’s intent: 47:51-51:35

On the Misinformation section:

Just gonna make a lil transcript for these sections because I feel like the actual words (with time stamps) are more telling than my stupid ass narration.

18:16 starting transcript

Cringey speaking: “In Nin’s video, ‘Schizophrenia and Dissociative Identity Disorder, What’s the Difference? Debunking DID Episode 9,’ she says this.”

DD speaking: “Hallucinations. Hallucinations are hearing or sensing voices that aren’t real or aren’t really there. This could be things other than just voices, so you can see things that aren’t really there, hear things, feel things that aren’t really there, and hallucinations are a symptom that can come with Dissociative Identity Disorder but are very very integral to a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

“So somebody with DID may or may not suffer from hallucinations, but somebody with schizophrenia will DEFINITELY suffer from hallucinations.”

18:58 ending transcript

Cringey corrects this, explaining that only about 70% of people with schizophrenia are reported to have experienced hallucinations, leaving an entire 30% not accounted for in DissociaDID’s quick summary of such a complex condition.

I’m going to cite an NIH article that supports that here.

For this next section, I’ll leave the timestamps for you to watch and just summarize since she rambles a bit.

Starts at 20:45 and ends at 23:44

Cringey discusses the fact that DD doesn’t discuss the limitations of studies conducted in regards to how long ago the study was conducted, the outdated terminology*, and the fact that a lot of these studies, in being so old, are no longer representative of the world now as people are being diagnosed.

Some of these studies come from 1901, over 100 years old, all the ones before 1994 use MPD as the term for DID, and a lot of the names seem to be just copied to make the sources look more credible.

“A lot of these sources are also books with individual studies in them, so if you haven’t heard of did, you’re going to have to spend a lot of time reading these books to find the individual studies, other than just providing the study itself.” Paraphrased from Cringey

*little side note here- they still will put ‘multiple personality disorder’ in their video titles and act like they’re destigmatizing the disorder. Ffs.

There is a part 1.5 where Cringey corrects points that she makes in this first video, along with clarifications and addressing criticisms of it. That’s linked right here:

This video is only 15 minutes and corrects how DissociaDID is pronounced, the university that Cringey references DD attending, how to pronounce betterhelp (English is not her first language), how psychologists can diagnose disorders in the uk, whether or not she’s DissociaDID herself, and the definition of stalking versus using public (mis)information provided by someone you’re criticizing.

I think this little video is mostly correcting semantics but it’s still important because it verifies that Cringey really did a deep dive and the actual misinfo like the way she pronounced names was mainly language based and not someone not doing their due diligence when it comes to research.

If you’re pro self dx then you won’t like Cringey’s takes in this 1.5 video so be sure to take those with a grain of salt.

Okay on to part two that I’ll link here:

More Timestamps (again copied directly from her pinned comment)

Recap of part one: 0:00:00-0:04:52

Table of contents for this video: 0:04:52-0:05:58

In depth study issues and the 1-3% statistic: 0:05:58-0:12:09

Racism + problematic behavior: 0:12:09-0:27:20

(Tw here for domestic abuse in times 0:22:36-0:26:45)

Patreon, fan exploitation, and DissociaDID draws: 0:27:20-0:41:43

Unanswered questions and manipulation: 0:41:43-0:59:42

DIDTubers and their opinions on Nin: 0:59:42-1:16:24

I’d like to point out that the issues with Nadia didn’t go away (the racism part). In DissociaDID’s update video introducing Kya in one of their first few videos back the last time, Kya alludes to bullies forcing Nadia off the internet. That’s not true. Nadia was a racist caricature of an indigenous person that people of color saw issue with.

It doesn’t shock me that you haven’t heard of this before. DissociaDID keeps a tight hold on comments, both on TikTok and YouTube, as to make the audience feel more tight knit. There have been people who have had issues with them since they started their channel. Any criticism that they get, nicely worded or not, is quickly deleted and it’s assumed that it never happened at all. Most recent example I can find was on one of their most recent TikTok videos.

You’ll also notice I didn’t mention the issue of treating fusion like death in these particular sources. This is a criticism by the did community that watches her now, and most of that criticism is found on Reddit. If you don’t want Reddit as a source I don’t blame you, but comprehensive articles aren’t being written about DD, and the subreddit is where people with the condition have come together to discuss why that and so many other takes of theirs have been detrimental to the did community.

But yeah. The videos are long but they’re worth the watch if you want to see criticisms people had and still have 3 years later. My initial post was riddled with emotion and personal bias, and I won’t apologize for the former. DD hurts the community by being in it, and they should not be allowed to be a public figure misrepresenting a disorder that is so debilitating to myself and so many others.

Thanks for reading.

[starflungwaddledee]

Bandee and Starstruck 🎀💖

starting off my february starstruck dee ship-a-ganza with the big one. they do seem like... the obvious answer, huh...?

they have far and away the most development together and the strongest personal relationship, both in what i've posted, and in her story overall! would kill or die for each other in a heartbeat. i would be absolutely lying if i said i'd never thought about it, but i'm not 100% convinced my thoughts lead me to romance specifically...

they're already pretty insane about each other! starstruck in particular is madly in love with bandee in every way it's possible to be. loves him the way he loves kirby, i think (pretty sure he does not know this. might be shocked to learn it.)

however she's daft as bricks, so he'd have to initiate, and i can't really imagine anything in their relationship would change.... so he'd have to mostly want The Title or the Performance one way or another, and i'm not super sure he would!

[usefulquotes7]

Sometimes you need to distance yourself from people. If they care, they’ll notice and respond. And if they don’t then you’ll know where you stand. Unknown

[assortedvillainvault]

Captain Hook,Davie Jones and captain Barbarosa are competing each other who is better captain,has better ship and can loot more treasure.

It’s a tense air that carpets the dark, back corner table the three of them are sat at, bottles in hand.

“Well, obviously, it’s yours truly.” Hook artfully sips from the bottle cradled in his namesake. “Formerly first mate to Blackbeard, immortal scourge of Neverland, a name known worldwide and, clearly-” he sneers a bit, “The one with the most class present. Of course its me.”

Barbossa rolls his eyes as he takes a rough swing of his own bottle, apple in hand. “Hardly.” he drawls. “Yer a coward who couldn’ kill a little ginger whelp and got yerself eaten for the trouble.”

“How dare-!”

“Besides-” Barbossa continues as though Hook weren’t even speaking, enjoying the way the red coated captain’s face was turning purple. “In case yer memory be failin’ ye, I ended my tenure at sea as Cap’n of a pirate armada, more swag in me hold than can be found in most palaces, and only the wrath of Poseidon ‘imself kept me from returning to stalk the waves again. Clearly.” He clacks the bottle against the table in finality. “It be me.”

The third occupant of the table leisurely lights his pipe even as Hook’s temper breaks and lunges across the table, the razor sharp hook just barely missing Barbossa’s throat as the older pirate swears and topples arse over ankles back from his seat. Bottles are thrown, swords are drawn, and Barbossas laugh is cut short as Hook slashes his feathered hat in half – fighting back properly with a snarl.

Jones idly puffs smoke and settles in as the bartenders weigh in against the squabbling captains, blue eyes glinting in the dark. His first mate, Maccus, leans over from another table.

“Uh-” the shark begins. “What’s the question again?”

Jones boredly taps out the ashes and lights another smoke. “Who be the best pirate.”

Maccus blinks. “But we ain’t even pirates. Most a th’ crew were honest sailors.”

“Aye.” Jones shrugs. “Ah dinnae know what they think we could do with looted holds - bar souls - anyway. The Dutchman regrows any damage.”

“And normal folk run screamin’ at port or sea.” Maccus nodded, teeth clicking idly. “...bets on these two?”

Jones surveys the broken furniture and theatrical shenanigans across the room, where Hook and Barbossa posture and swing, evenly matched as the barstaff duck for cover under tables and fallen wall hangings.

“...ten years say’s Barbossa, but only if it dinnae come to pistols. Hook’s a mean shot.”

Maccus grins full of sharp teeth. “Twenty years. Hook’s bloody quick, even if Barbossa’s all bones.”

Thanks for the ask!!

[evelili]

(Sorry if this sounds rude! I'm not saying you're writing is bad i'm just dense)

Idk if this a skill issue or something, but lots of parts in ur magnum opus where pretty incomprehensible to me. I just finished reading and i have no idea what the plot was.

ahh well, i think that may be a skill issue... if maybe u want to lmk what parts you didn't understand, i can tell u if it's smth other people were confused about too ^^

[cordeliawhohung]

I am morbidly obsessed with ur pet!au😶 Simon is so… unnerving!! And sweet, dumb Johnny😭 I’m curious if Bonnie tries to fight back or escape in any way? And how successful or unsuccessful the attempt would be??? Reading ur responses has me wondering how violently Simon would react. In my (sick) mind it’s kill or be killed and I’d be sure to take Johnny with me (an unnecessary casualty but Simon has to suffer frfr😔 owner privileges revoked)

Let Bonnie get her revenge 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

when your pet gets out of the house, do you put up pictures? do you scrounge each corner of the earth looking for them? do you call their name so sweetly, luring them back home where it's safe? travel to every location you know they feel comfortable, just on the off chance they're holed up there? are they predictable? are you?

and when your dog bites, or your cat scratches, do you scold them? do you make them look at the blood? do you demand them to apologize? do they know any better? do you?

do you put it all behind you? do you wrap it in gauze and pretend like it doesn't sting? or do you fear that they still smell your blood? do you fear that now that they've got a taste for freedom, a taste for you, that they'll do it again?

do you rub their nose in the mess they made? or do you put a bad dog down?

[utilitycaster]

Queueing to make it clear this isn't a one-time thing or vagueing a specific person and more an irritating trend, but: if you have speculation or a personal wish for a story, that is always totally cool and you can and should post about it to your heart's content but it is pretty irritating to post it on other people's theory posts unless you can construct a logical argument and relate it back to their theory.

You want to see a guest character return? Okay, pitch me how this is related to my post, and why it would make particular sense within the story. You think a ship is going to happen? Great, say something other than "Um, I have eyes" on my post if you want to reply to me. You think this campaign is going to go on until level 20? Do you have an argument other than "I want it to?" Then give it, otherwise this would really be better suited to you making your own post.

You don't need an argument in your own post! I think it's wise to have one if you have any interest in convincing other people (and indeed, I tend to find that if there's a lot of MAN WOULDN'T IT BE COOL evidence- and argument-free posts in the tag for something I wasn't already inclined to like, it will make me feel more unfavorable towards it), but if you're posting for yourself and not to make a point you can and should just say what you want! You do need one when you're shoving it onto mine though because now I'm going to get all the people responding to you and I don't want them. Also when people do this and I don't care for their theory I tend to hide the reblog, or I just make the post nonrebloggable if it takes off and I'm sufficiently annoyed, and now no one can see or respond to the theory because they didn't write your own post and I'm in control! Writing your own posts is great! Please, if you are not directly responding to the content of an original post but rather going off on your own tangent, make your own post instead of getting on theirs.

[greedbent]

open! (mutuals only)

“So you can be trained.” He didn’t grace the presence with so much as a glance up from the ledger he was poring over at his desk, words nevertheless sliding out seamlessly the very instant his privacy was breached. “Good to know.” A sharp flick, a soft slap of papers closed the book in one motion. Kaz discarded his pen to the side, and only as he got to his feet did his attention finally pin the visitor lurking at his door.

A stitch knotted his brow. “You’re either in or out.” He scooped up his cane, rapped it impatiently on the floor. “So, commit or get the hell out of my club.” As he rounded his desk, a gloved hand traced the edges, those holding the brunt of his weight when Kaz faced the other critically. “Close the door, whatever you decide.”

[solisa]

𝐚𝐬  𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧  𝐚𝐬  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐬𝐮𝐧  𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫  𝐬𝐞𝐭  𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭  𝐢𝐧  𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐞𝐝  𝐬𝐡𝐞  𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭  𝐚  𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥  𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡  𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡  𝐡𝐞𝐫  𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞  𝐚  𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫.     night  was  settling  into  the  dusk,      and  her  heart  stirred  with  unease.     she  beckoned  the  light  to  her  palm  holding  a  crystal  for  her  own  safety.     she  needed  the  act  to  be  believable  in  these  lands.     there  did  not  seem  to  be  any  life  stirring  beyond  the  shore  at  the  moment,      but  the  quiet  did  not  set  as  steady  as  it  felt.     𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝  𝐰𝐚𝐬  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭  𝐭𝐨  𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞  𝐚𝐧𝐝  𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧  𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬  𝐨𝐟  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧  𝐨𝐟  𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐞𝐝.     ❛  and  they  said  waloed  didn’t  come  to  greet  their  wary  travelers.     ❜  she  said  sarcastically  and  groaned.     she  had  heard  many  tales  of  the  beast  men  and  how  they  cooked  their  victims  alive  so  that  they  could  savor  their  screams  as  they  passed  into  death.    𝐡𝐞𝐫  𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭  𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐤  𝐭𝐨  𝐡𝐞𝐫  𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡  𝐭𝐨  𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞  𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝  𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡  𝐚  𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬  𝐨𝐟  𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦  𝐚  𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐟𝐨𝐞.   

they  would  not  be  reasoned  with,      so  she  did  not  try.     they  clearly  lacked  intelligence.     alina  carefully  placed  her  crystal  into  her  satchel—it  would  only  be  in  the  way.     as  the  orcs  rushed  forward—𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞  𝐨𝐧  𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐞𝐝’𝐬  𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬  𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞  𝐰𝐚𝐬  𝐚  𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭  𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰  𝐨𝐟  𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞  𝐚𝐧𝐝  𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞  𝐚𝐬  𝐬𝐡𝐞  𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝  𝐡𝐞𝐫  𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐲.     the  rush  of  adrenaline  pumping  through  her  as  she  felt  the  light  surge  in  her—sapping  what  was  left  of  the  sun  as  it  sank  into  the  earth  and  bringing  it  into  the  night.     𝐬𝐡𝐞  𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝  𝐢𝐧  𝐡𝐞𝐫  𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲  𝐚𝐧𝐝  𝐰𝐚𝐬  𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞  𝐨𝐟  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐲  𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐢𝐧  around  her  as  she  thought  to  relax  for  a  breath.   

they  must  have  come  for  the  orcs.     she  thought  as  they  circled  around  her.      𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲  𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝  𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫  𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬  𝐟𝐨𝐫  𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭  𝐬𝐡𝐞  𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐝  𝐰𝐚𝐬  𝐥𝐞𝐝  𝐛𝐲  𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲,      ❛  please…  i  mean  you  no  harm.     ❜  she  muttered,      looking  to  their  eyes  for  acknowledgement  that  they  understood  her  tongue.     she  raised  her  hands  in  defense  and  she  was  fettered  before  taken  away  to  the  castle  that  loomed  in  the  distance  of  the  shore.   𝐬𝐡𝐞  𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝  𝐚  𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠  𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞  𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝  𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧  𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐬  𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞  𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲  𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝  𝐡𝐞𝐫  𝐢𝐧  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞  𝐨𝐟  𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫  𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠.     barnamas  tharmr.     she  knew  him  only  in  name.      she  stood  still  with  her  hands  confined  to  her  back.    𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞  𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝  𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞  𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧  𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫  𝐮𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐢𝐟  𝐬𝐡𝐞  𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞  𝐚  𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡  𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞  𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬  𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚.    the  crystal  fetters  they  placed  on  her  wrist  did  not  stop  her  power.   

when  the  king’s  eyes  fell  to  her  she  saw  awe  growing.     this  feeling  that  he  gave  felt  familiar.      𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬  𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐧  𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨  𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.    she  wondered  what  might  have  passed  through  his  mind  when  looking  over  her  for  a  miracle  to  occur.   ❛  i’ve  heard  a  lot  about  your  kingdom.   .     but  nothing  could  prepare  me  for  how  poorly  you  treat  your  guests.     ❜   𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐬𝐮𝐧  𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫’𝐬  𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞  𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞  𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭  𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞,      ❛  i  have  an  unbearable  itch…  and  i  would  rather  handle  that  myself  if  it  pleases  you.     ❜  / @ashwarden

[daisychainsandbowties]

fhdhdhdh wow hi brain literally just wrote the first chapter of my 17776 au after weeks of *error noises*

[acaciapines]

just came up w the funniest way to include gus's part of 5 without having to write Wild Amounts Of New Prose

[sacrificialflowers]

ezekiel cuts his eyes over to the other in the shop, slow & deliberate movements as he cuts over fabric, moving sewing needles & thread off to his side table. the atmosphere is icy, & he is not pleased with their presence there. today, he thinks the sky has peeled open to reveal the nothingness behind their world ; he thinks the other only serves purpose as a void. " you look well. "

starter for @r3dblccd .

[badboysupr]

@kindofuneven || cont.

Hold on, everyone. Wait, hold on!

There’s a phrase for this . . . There’s a phrase we can use for this. It’s perfect. Scott’s gonna love it. (And by “love it,” Leo means probably hate it, but why else would he say it?)

“Down, dude.” Not yet. That wasn’t it, but words cannot even describe how tempting it was to say “boy” instead of “dude.” Here it is: “Askin’ good ol’ Leo to throw you a bone, huh? Crazy. I’m not seeing where I’m benefitting here.” Look, he’s not trying to be a Grade A Jerk, but the guy’s basically asking for it at this rate; look at him. That dumb expression on his face and everything . . . Man, Leo hoped he was never down bad enough to be like that.

. . . or he just hoped it wasn’t nearly as obvious.

He folds his arms, fingers drumming a never-ending rhythm. “Uhh . . . I wasn’t paying super close attention to the exact words she said, but I mean—” Leo shrugs. “What’d I just tell you? Take it up with her. Gods know she’s gonna be thrilled you’re talking to her. What’s stopping you?” Other than just being a guy, he guesses. Can’t be helped.

[usefulquotes7]

I'm a firm believer that you can't control what happens to you in this life. But you can control how you respond to it. Colleen Hoover, Regretting You

[butterfly-in-progress]

An Old Friend

Last night, I was visited by an old friend

He takes many forms. When I knew him most, he was a vicious beast I had to tame. Sometimes he was a whispering ghost, just dancing at the edges of every party and social gathering.

But last night, he came in the form of a small child, wailing in the corner of my mind.

"I hate you! I hate you!" He screams.

I shush him as he sobs. "Oh, you're hurting very much, aren't you?"

I put on his favorite cartoon, and that distracts him from the screams for a bit. But then in the lull between episodes he stomps his foot. "You're so icky! And worthless! And stupid!"

"Someone sounds hungry" I said, and gave him some crackers to munch on. "Those aren't nice words, and they're not even useful. Tell me something I can work with."

The child considers for a moment, "your friends don't like you! They're annoyed and you made them upset cause you're so annoying!"

"Well, I have reason to believe they like me. If they have a problem with me, then they're big enough to say so. If they don't, then that's none of my business."

He continues to pout, so I give him a bath, and while I wash his hair he says. "You're just too much! Too much to deal with!"

I don't respond to that, so after a bit of silence, he musters. "You're not enough for anyone!"

I laugh. "Well, which is it? Too much or not enough?"

"Both!" He exclaims petulantly. I laugh and shake my head.

When he's warm and dry and has a cup of water to sip on, he makes one last feeble attempt. "No one loves you."

"Well that's not true, cause I'm someone, and I love me."

"That… that doesn't count!"

"I think it does, love."

I read him a happy story, and I tuck him into bed.

And the child that shares my name falls fast asleep.

When he wakes up, I will do it all again. And that's alright, I don't mind taking care of him. He's an old friend, after all.

[sureameline]

who: @sabbioneta what: ameline’s no longer a born again virgin ! anyway, ancestry time. where: leo’s house (that sounds like it should be the title of a 90s-era sitcom) when: february 15th, 2023 ( or, for non-americans, 15 february 2023 )

nothing ever felt sinful with leonarda. in the purest sense of the word, it all felt divine. if anybody had been made in the true image of Christ, ameline was to believe that that person was right in front of them. they were inclined to believe that that person was who they had danced with less than twelve hours prior, who they had dined with less than twelve hours prior, who they had expressed their love with in its purest sense less than twelve hours prior. for warmth was an expression of love. it was only to be given when they felt the warmth of love. it was only to be given when they knew that, if circumstances were different, a ring may suffice. “ i thank you, leonarda, ” he stated, plain as the day is long. he did not look to repeat what he had surely said dozens of times within the day they had spent with one another ( or, perhaps, days ). but he would be aghast to awake with her, awake in her home, the first bed he had slept in since the cots of kappa, the first time he had been carefree enough to not care that he was separated from his object of protection ( in this case, our lady of perpetual agony -- even the loveliest woman could not dull the ache notre-dame left him with ), the first time he had felt more than just a modicum of self-confidence, and neglect to express his gratitude. “ the warmth you provide... you are as close to the sun as anyone will ever get. ”