#so i understand and can support exploring the idea of them being a happy family for fun if nothing else

[mumblesplash]

for my own peace of mind i have decided all self professed ‘lesdaughter’ truthers fully understand the irony of a portmanteau made of lestat’s name + claudia’s idealized relationship to him and are simply making a very clever joke at their own expense

[weepingtalecowboy]

Considering what Batman did in Gotham war with Jason

A fanfic exploring how everyone (especially Jason) of his children starts genuinely fearing him

Because it is canon that there are more situations where he hit and beat Richard then there are off him hugging him in the comics

He did his hardest to push Tim away he literally tried to kill Jason and then he just mentally broke him because he thought that it was the only way to make him stop being a criminal

He was straight up unsupportive towards Damian and even though he knows that Damian has no idea what a normal life is and how he isn’t allowed to kill anybody because he genuinely has no idea how to navigate society but instead of therapy he just gets berated for something he doesn’t fully understand (and while I don’t excuse his behavior or actions if he was given help like even Richard himself was enough to somewhat help him out at how to actually do things without violence a therapist could probably do much more for him but Richard already shows that just basic support was good enough for a start)

Like considering how he maybe loves them but his own mental health is so bad that the constantly hurts everyone around him

He should not even be near them if he truly loves anyone of them (except if he got psychological treatment and even then he should for the love and happiness of his kids just stay as far away as physically possible)

Batman is a mess and not equipped to raise children let alone vigilantes

he himself isn’t copping well enough to help anyone he is emotionally unstable and has lots of issues but he at least has a nanny who will take care of him when he is neglecting himself but Alfred can’t do everything for everyone and Bruce himself can’t help his family and later Alfred dies anyway making Bruce's kids dependent on him

But Bruce has no idea how to do anything for them (it is not in his range of abilities to play an actual parental role that doesn’t just mean give the kid a home over their head and food)

And while I love his character a lot over the years he is losing his path of justice more and more there are more situations of genuine concern then ever before

It just makes him seem so much more human than ever before

Because no human can live a live of vigilantism without getting more mentally ill over their whole career

After all the military discharges soldiers who are unfit for duty because of mental or physical limitations and problems

It is for their own sake but Bruce wants to fight that fight for as long as he lives

And he is dragging in more and more innocent children into his war against crime

At some point it will be to much like how Jason was killed then brought back wrong

Or Richard snapping and beating him for what he did to his brother who will never be able to fully recover from something that traumatic

Tim already knows that without robin Batman will become a monster even without crossing the line of killing

And then did everything physically possible to stop him from his self destruction

But Batman is made to self destruct there is no way he won’t break at some point (seeing as he already is breaking apart and in Batman beyond he is totally and utterly alone till Terry joins in

A fanfic exploring what would have happened if he was hurt by Nightwing after what he did to Jason is an interesting opportunity to explore

But because at the end of the day everyone knows that Batman is needed they are forced to let him live but they also know that he will actually truly snap if they are not there for him

So everyone starts living at the mansion and in fear of angering him (because there is no Alfred anymore to stop him)

They do everything to keep Jason away from him but they can’t move away anymore because Bruce disapproves at it

And Richard forces himself to interact as much as possible with him so that he focuses on him instead of his younger siblings

But the most important thing is to make sure that he doesn’t find out about their fear of him because they all know that this will make him truly upset (and by now they will never try to even play with fire anymore)

But also he is forced to raise everyone by himself

Has to make sure that Jason feels comfortable enough not to feel adrenaline because that is another problem altogether (which is hard when he immediately starts crying when being in the same room as Bruce)

Has to shield everyone from Bruce because nobody feels safe anymore

And on top of that make food and do chores (as the only good enough cook in the family and Jason no longer being able to do so) and teach the others how to do their chores despite them all being disasters at it (because no Alfred anymore)

And to somehow make it even worse he has to somehow convince Bruce to take care of himself while also trying to not make him any more upset

Then after a few years into that dynamic Bruce and past Bruce swap bodies

And while the whole league of the past and the past Batman immediately think future Bruce is an imposter because he behaves differently from how Batman would they simply tie him up beat him up

Past Bruce is surprised that everyone is at home and speaking to him and just assumes that it’s a good week but quickly realizes that something is wrong like how his entire family is going out of his way except for Dick how he seems extremely nervous about everything he says

How everyone is doing their best to keep Jason away from him

Main While the whole family assume he is having a good week and under no circumstances should they ever try to upset him in any way which is hard when he is constantly seeking them out and asking about Jason

By the point he realized what happens

He proceeds to go and beat up his future self and get therapy because he absolutely hates how everyone is afraid of him

That is not how Batman should ever be seen Batman is a sign of hope for the city not a monster hell bend on hurting criminals

[alexthebordercollie]

I know this definitely wasn’t the point of your post but this line “I think he gets shipped with Stanley by people who want to see Stanley get that kind of overbearing love that Fidds showed to Ford. I do understand wanting to give him that kind of partner but Ford deserves love too,” in your Fiddleauthor comic post made me think… what about aro/ace Stan. It seems like a lot of Fiddlestan shippers only ship it because they want Stan to have that overwhelming love or whatever, but do these people ever consider that maybe the only overwhelming love Stan wants/needs is familial? The most important relationships in his life are all family, and considering his repeated mentions of failing at romance/the implication he engaged in sex work, I can totally see him just straight up having no interest in romance or sex at all. In my opinion, the most realistic scenario (and probably the best for everyone involved) is Stan being aro/ace and happy for his brother and his brother’s partner, being supported and loved non-romantically and being perfectly content with that. It certainly makes a lot more sense then breaking up Fiddauthor which has so much canon basis and taking away Ford’s support system.

Ok so I've got a lot of thoughts here, but it's a great point to bring up. I'll start by offering up some art of Stan and the beans then dig into my thoughts.

Nikola is speech delayed while Newton is an early yapper.

So I think the point about Stanley being happiest with familial love is a fantastic one. He's clearly someone who values family a lot and they seem to be his most consistent source of happiness. I think lot of people undervalue platonic love next to romantic love and I think that's a waste.

That said I don't see Stan being aro/ace, like it's a fun headcannon and I can understand the logic behind it. It's just I think something else is going on. I think Stan's issue is that he's terrified of emotional intimacy. Something backed up in the show by repeated examples of him avoiding being vulnerable in front of people. I think what happens with Stan is he tends to self-sabotage his relationships anytime they get too close out of fear. The sort of thing that likely stems from the trauma of being abused and rejected by his own family. He doesn't want to get close enough to someone new for them to hurt him. Avoidant attachment style

Family is different though. I think he has an easier time being close to family because there's this built-in connection and he isn't pressured to be vulnerable in the same way a romantic partner might pressure him. Instead, he has more of the space to open up at his own pace.

Speaking of, by that same metric. I actually think if he and Fidds ever happened, he'd probably sabotage the relationship pretty fast. Fiddleford loves rather aggressively and with an open hand and I actually think Stan would find it overwhelming. I feel like he would panic having someone shower him with gifts and bail.

Personally, I might ship Stan with someone else in this AU later on down the line though I'm still not sure yet if I want to fully commit to the idea. For now either way I see him spending at least the first few years of his nephew's lives completely single so he can focus solely on being a good uncle. He loves these boys like his own and he's just as involved in their upbringing as Ford and Fidds.

If I do ship Stan with someone at some point it's not because he needs a romantic partner. It's just because I found a ship I think could be fun to explore. Stanley doesn't need a girlfriend or boyfriend. He is perfectly content being the bachelor uncle and helping raise his brother's kids.

[writing-in-glitter-pen]

How the Genshin Men See Their Wife

Hello again, loves! It’s been a while since I posted! I’ve just been really busy lol. But I am BACK baby with lots more ideas I want to explore!

Diluc, Kaeya, Childe x fem!reader

Genre: Hurt/comfort, romance. I didn’t mean to make this post hurt but it’s just the boys I chose have such sad circumstances :( especially Childe, that one stings. The other two have a lot more comfort in them.

Synopsis: Having a wife means different things to every man. It’s all about what kind of partnership they see in it. Someone to carry half the weight or someone to be responsible for? Someone that changes them or someone that appreciates them for who they are? All are completely valid! So let’s explore what you, our favorite men’s wife, means to them.

Content warnings: Repressed emotions (Diluc). Feelings regarding trauma and imposter syndrome, physical strike on hand; non threatening, non malicious, does not cause harm or hurt (Kaeya). Depictions of blood and physical harm, responsibly for another person taken too far to the point of self detriment, borderline obsession, marital contention and deep-rooted problems, threat of leaving (Childe).

Diluc’s wife is his pride and joy. You are all he works for and all he wants to take care of. He’s always seen his management of the Ragindvr wine industry as his duty to his family name—a duty he was born with and suddenly had to shoulder alone after his father passed, leaving Diluc as the family head. Diluc found no joy in this labor, doing it solely for the sake of doing it—as he believed he had to. That he owed it to his father. But after he started loving you, once you had awoken his heart to the draw and vulnerability of being one with somebody, his sense of duty changed. For the first time in his life, he chose to be dutiful to something, to someone. His sense of duty to you was not inherited, but something he grew and tended to with his own hands. Your love is a garden he chose to start and maintain to full growth—continuing to prune and water and care for it well after it blossomed. Not out of a sense of obligation, but out of a sense of wonder—of accomplishment in how loving you changed him fundamentally. Of course Diluc sees your relationship as a partnership, but he doesn’t let you take on any burdens, even to his detriment. You do have to fight him to get him to let you take some of his emotional labor upon yourself—not wanting to leave him solely responsible for both you and himself. You need to poke and prod at him to get him to open up about his stresses, as he never wants to be a burden to you. He just wants to take care of you, never wanting himself to get in the way of that care—so you have to convince him to let you care for him in return. When it comes to financial responsibilty, you can have a job if you really want one, but otherwise, Diluc is more than happy to be a provider for both of you. It actually gives him a sense of fulfillment in his career if you let him be the breadwinner. For once, the duty he tirelessly served from the end of his late childhood into all of his adulthood finally has a physical purpose. If the money he brings home goes to your care, it is money well spent! Overall, caring for you creates a sense of home and comfort in Diluc; tending to you is beyond fulfilling, and he works while looking forward to returning to you with the fruits of his labor at the end of every day.

Kaeya sees his wife as his cornerstone, the rock upon which he can build a better self. You support him in ways he’s never felt he deserved, he never thought was possible for him. Kaeya was never able to rely on anyone to advise him or understand his complications. With such a big secret on his hands at such a young age, one he could not even trust his adoptive father with, one his adoptive brother rejected him for, he had always felt like he was treading water alone in a wild ocean—no lifeboats in sight. Your love took him by surprise. He was unable to accept it at first, pushing you away and holding you at arms length, even after you had started dating. Every time you inquired further about his feelings, asked him if you could see the parts of himself he hid, he dismissed you. Sometimes harshly. The first time you had asked to see what was under his eyepatch, holding his face in your hands with a look of love in your eyes, gently slipping the thumb holding his right cheek under the piece of fabric, he smacked your hand away. You fought, then separated for the day, and he thought he had lost you forever. His past once again holding him back from his future. But you came back the next day, embracing him once again with open arms like you always have, like you continued to do until he felt safe enough to let you see more of him. He was scared to open himself fully to you, terrified of your rejection, but as you dug and clawed away at the skin and bones shielding his heart, the horror he braced for never came. You poured warmth and love into him, melting the once-permanent icicles piercing his heart and washing him with relief. Someone loved him—for every beautiful and ugly part of him. His wife is the one person he feels he can always rely on. He will never feel alone in the world again, like his problems are solely his to face, because you will always be there.

Childe, much like Diluc, is a provider. But he, unfortunately, takes providing to an unhealthy level. Childe’s line of work is gruesome, but he bares his grim position in stride, knowing that in torturing himself, he is keeping those he loves safe and fed. You especially. His little wife is everything to him. He doesn’t know what he would do without you to come home to every night. To catch him in a warm embrace when he stumbles through the front door. He has no idea how he could sleep without you in his bed. How he had ever slept without you before. Maybe he never slept. You are just such a beautiful thing, he needs to make the world safe for you—so nothing can bring you harm. So you can keep smiling and brightening the world with your presence. His dedication to providing for you actually…harms your relationship. Watching your husband put himself through the ringer in your name is horrifying. Him coming home bloodied and beat at the end of every day is a constant source of contention and stress between you two. You’re worried about him, constantly grieving for him, and he’s indignant that you can’t be. That you need to be happy. He’s doing this for you! He can’t and won’t understand that him, your husband, working himself to death isn’t what you want. Isn’t what a marriage should be. You love him, he loves you…but you can’t go on like this. If the way he sees you as his wife doesn’t change, you can’t be his wife anymore. Though…it’s not like he’ll let you leave him. Not for his sake, but for yours. He can’t risk the world bringing you harm in his absence; fundamentally needing to stand in front of you and take every blow himself. So he’ll do what he can to convince you to stay, to adapt and change in a way that will remedy your relationship. He never wanted his partnership with you to be to your detriment. So he’ll put the work in to change it.

[sepublic]

Vee has the parallels with Luz that make her reconsider the choices she made, while also foreshadowing for the Day of Unity, and so forth. And I think Vee has the additional narrative function of complicating the idea of Camila just moving to the Boiling Isles, too; As uncomfortable as she still is four years later, Camila’s a supportive mother so fans naturally figured she’d make the sacrifice of moving to the Demon Realm for Luz’s sake, so Luz wouldn’t have to worry about leaving her mom behind. But with Vee’s introduction, it’s not that simple; Because Vee is someone who really wants to stay in the human world and even has her own friends there. And Vee is family, she’s Camila’s other daughter so she can’t just leave her either.

In a way, Vee is like the extended family Camila and Luz would have in the human world, that would deepen the ties they still have with it. Though I would’ve loved to explore their Dominican heritage via their biological relatives and other aspects, to emphasize what’s connecting them to the human world… That said, with Yesterday’s Lie being written after the crew learned of the shortening, I can see how the writers settled for Vee serving that purpose, because she already pulls off the other functions I mentioned before; It keeps things concise when the show’s runtime led to established setup like the Bat Queen’s owner or half of the coven heads being left unexplored. ‘Creepy Luz’ had already been introduced in S1, so there was a prior obligation to explain something already connected to the Nocedas.

And I can see the ties to Vee adding to Luz’s guilt, because in addition to Vee’s existence suggesting to Luz that she never needed to leave in the first place (which is of course a logical fallacy, but her trauma-riddled brain understandably isn’t being rational), it also makes her feel obligated to stay in the human world. Because Camila obviously wants to look after Vee too, and Luz wants stay with her mom, which means all three Nocedas might have to stay in the human world to make that work, since they aren’t certain about there being a new, permanent portal to normalize travel.

There’s now a new layer to her conflict; Luz wouldn’t want to force Vee to lose her own family again (first her fellow basilisks, then Masha and co. when Luz reclaimed her identity), because she doesn’t feel right making that decision for somebody else who she’d tell herself has had it worse. As for Vee, I wonder if she felt obligated to find her fellow basilisks back in the Boiling Isles, and hoped to invite them to the human realm to stay together… At which point, at least Vee can have it both ways, to Luz’s relief. And after her guilt in helping Belos, for Luz her sister would’ve been almost an excuse not to go back to enjoying the Demon Realm.

Because doing so means allowing herself to try being happy, it means letting herself pursue her dreams again, whilst forgiving herself. And in her repentant state of mind, that would’ve been difficult for Luz to accept; That it’s okay for her to keep trying to be happy and consider what she wants. It means facing her guilt by moving on, and taking risks by allowing the possibility of mistakes again; She’s allowed to make mistakes, and Luz shouldn’t have to fear them because of repentance for whatever harm she might cause.

And in the end, the Collector helped to create a new portal; And because of that, everyone could be happy. Vee didn’t have to abandon her new friends and home, but she didn’t have to lose her new mom and sister either; Similarly, Luz and Camila wouldn’t have to forsake a fellow Noceda, as well as everything else about the human world they still held dear, such as their culture.

On Vee’s end, she can also be reunited with her Basilisk family, who now live at the University of Wild Magic! So Vee could still have her own ties to the Demon Realm that she’s allowed to keep, and not be the only Noceda sister interested in maintaining contact; Her siblings still seem fond of the isles, so they too have it both ways with family and their home. In that case, the entire Noceda family —Manny, Camila, Luz, Vee— really is a family of immigrants navigating two worlds at once! Luz might not have been so alone in her dilemma after all, which is another thing for her and Vee to bond over, and a reassurance for her wish because Luz is understood not just by her mother, but her sister as well… It was always available for Luz to work with Vee about what they wanted once the situation had settled.

And finally, Luz can still explore the Demon Realm and hang out with her friends there, while studying its magic; Her quincenera having both families of both worlds, mixing in aspects of her Dominican heritage with the Boiling Isles’ take on things, perfectly encapsulates all of this. None of this would’ve happened if Luz hadn’t let herself go to the Boiling Isles again to help, because she was needed to speak to the Collector, after all, and they helped reconnect the worlds. And she wouldn’t have kept visiting after returning to the human world had Camila not helped Luz forgive herself for loving the Demon Realm.

[mermaidsirennikita]

besides everything you have brilliantly pointed out, there are also the underlying implications of fran theoretically not being attracted to john but having sex with him. i know they could potentially have a sexless marriage and skip the miscarriage, focusing the future struggle on the grief and guilt of moving on with someone new but... if fran doesn't really love John that would mostly be a michaela pov and we know the show isn't good at exploring the love interests (of color) trauma and motivations. also john has been presented as a sweet man that sees francesca, it would be highly unbelievable if he didn't realize she wasn't into the sex. and it seems ooc for him to keep going with it too even if at the time it happened. so if they do follow the miscarriage/pregnancy route... that could be problematic. not that they care considering what daphne did to simon but still.

First off, thank you!

Second, I've been thinking about my thoughts on this (lol thinking about my thoughts) because I want to be very careful about expressing my opinion on this subject. I know it's very sensitive and I get that, and I don't want anyone to feel dismissed or unheard (and I don't want to at all validate people who are being so homophobic and vile about this).

But yes, I thought about this as well. It seems like we really don't know where Fran and John's relationship is at all at the end of the season, even though enough time has passed for them to forge some kind of physical relationship. And I just feel like... If John was a real character in the script, if his sweet and sensitive nature was honored, then I would IMAGINE that he'd notice something, unless Fran was really good at putting on a good face (and maybe she is).

When you're with someone you care about, though.... if they held off on intimacy, he'd notice that. If Fran didn't like it, I think he'd notice that, too? Which adds some messiness to tacking this on at the end of the season. This needed TIME. It adds to this idea, too, that John isn't a character, because like? He's gonna have feelings too? Not just Fran. There's more to this than FRAN'S feelings.

I would find it really sad if they did keep the miscarriage plot, tbh, if Fran truly isn't physically attracted to him. I don't want to think of her having to put up with or frankly be traumatized by that, and I don't want to think of John being framed as this source of trauma. Besides, that's Sir Philip's thing. And yeah, him being a Black man also MATTERS, and this is something (I say this as a white woman who doesn't identify as straight these days) I really dislike seeing white viewers just sort of dismiss. This is not just a queer love story. This is an interracial queer love story, and frankly, a love triangle that involves two people of color (who happen to be related... again.... And it is interesting how that's happening again, and it does kind of say something in that these show is like "two love interests of color? MUST BE FROM THE SAME FAMILY!". Like, yeah, Kate and Edwina and Michael and John are related in the books, but those aren't actual full-blown love triangles in the books).

I think I'm just so burned by the way s2 handled Edwina and Kate that the idea of them doing a GOOD job with Michaela, especially with her added layer of her being queer in the world the show constructed, is like... I'm skeptical. And maybe that's unfair. Maybe I shouldn't be skeptical. But in general, the Btons' love interests of color have really been notably sidelined in favor of their lovers' arcs, and it was bigger for Kate than it was for Simon. Hey, Simon got a backstory.... Even if his trauma was ultimately subsumed by Daphne's story after she assaulted him.

But hey, I'm happy to be proven wrong. I really hope I will be.

I'll also say, however--I just really think that people need to understand that we can support the gesture while critiquing the writing and the way it's coming together. There are a lot of people who simply hate that they aren't getting Michael, or that there is queerness on the show at all. A LOT. Some people, however, have valid critiques. Some of them are queer people; some of them are people of color; some are both. Critique isn't JUST coming from straight women who want to see Michael.

And I mean, I've already seen a historical romance author who does identify as bi on her Twitter profile and does write actively queer books get dogged out for critiquing it, so.

[djemsostylist]

Toph and Zuko, Headcanon

Generally, I don't ship noncanon ships, but in this case, I'd say this is less of a case of noncanon and more a case of after canon. After all, ignoring LOK (which I'm rather more than happy to do tbh) the last we see of these two they are still children--we don't know what their future holds.

But I want to work within the bounds of canon as much as possible--leaving ATLA as is, and working off character established in canon but working forward.

I talked in another post about the idea that Zuko and Toph would work well together as a adults for a few reasons. Firstly, personally I like the idea of the core six (that is, Aang, Katara, Sokka, Suki, Toph and Zuko) being paired off. I think they went through an experience together that is so singularly unique, it would be hard to ever find another person who could understand it quite the same way. I also think that given a lot of their issues, trust would be hard to achieve.

(More under the cut bc I'm just rambling now lol)

Now, I know in canon Zuko has Mei, but he's 16 and she's familiar. I got the feeling that Mei and Zuko were more of a "it's what you do" couple than one with any sort of lasting power. I'm not saying they didn't love each other--I think they certainly did, but I also think they were very young and they were both going through sort of a big life change. When Zuko gets together with Mei, he's teetering on the edge of trying to find out who he is and what he wants for his life. Mei is very much a person that old Zuko would have been with--she makes sense for him in that life. And I think there is genuine affection between them--but I also think a lot of it is tied up with other feelings. Her best friend's older brother she maybe always had a little crush on, the rebel son, etc. That she does eventually support his choices to change is a good thing, but I don't know that I see their relationship lasting into the future. Zuko still has a long way to go and a lot to handle when he becomes Fire Lord at 16--I think he probably isn't exactly going to be focused on a relationship all that much in the beginning, and frankly, I think Mei needs to to figure out who she is without the context of Zuko and his sister, since her entire life seems to revolve around their family. I could see their relationship sort of slowly backing off until they eventually end things mutually, no hard feelings, just a natural sort of ending to a childhood romance.

For Zuko, I imagine he would then spend most of the rest of his time not in a relationship. He's dealing with a lot with his country and his family and dealing with forgiving and understanding himself--again, I doubt a relationship is the priority. He probably maintains close contact with most of the Gaang--Aang in particular probably makes it a point to come see him, and I can see him and Sokka still having pretty close contact, especially with Sokka stepping up as the future leader of the Southern Water tribe and etc.

Toph, I think, would be dealing with a lot of similar issues to Zuko. Both of them are trying to define what home means--Zuko in the place he grew up that he both recognizes and doesn't, and Toph unable to go back because she isn't sure what she'll find. I imagine Toph spends some time with Aang, Katara, and Sokka, but it's not like she would particularly be comfortable at the poles in ice and snow, and I also think she'd want the chance to explore, to see the world, to find out who she is and what she wants from life. So around a yearish after the end of the world she sort of goes out on her own into the world and starts a sort of long, wandering slow journey. She stops along the way to do various things: sometimes she works, sometimes she helps others, sometimes she just sight sees, sort of goes where whim takes her. She sees most of the Gaang often enough, with how much the others travel, but I'd imagine she hardly ever sees Zuko (as he is busy running a kingdom).

Now we get into deep headcanon territory. I had seen it posited that Sokka invents a version of braille (in a fanfiction I believe, though I'm not sure if the idea started somewhere else, and I honestly can't recall the fanfic), and I like this idea, both because it makes sense for Sokka to do something like this, and also because it gives Toph a way to continue a bit of a relationship with Zuko whilst traveling. So basically for about the next 6 years or so, Toph and Zuko exchange letters while she travels around. They have a lot they can relate on, and talk about family and belonging and guilt and love and etc, as best they can. But they don't see each other much--maybe once or thrice throughout the intervening years, as they both grow up.

Then, when Toph is about 18/19 (making Zuko 22/23) he gets word from Toph that she's in jail and needs a bail out. At this point, he's tired, a little overwhelmed, and he's been a little lonely lately (Aang and Katara are married and still sort of in the honeymoon phase, Sokka is super busy with building a city in the south and all his various projects, Suki is the leader of his secret police so he sees her often but she's also often abroad) and so he basically decides to go get Toph himself. He hasn't seen her in a while, he misses his friend, and he's also more than a little curious as to why she's in jail in the middle of a nowhere town at the ass-end of the Fire Nation.

Toph, for her part, had written both because she hadn't wanted to bug the others and also because Zuko still owes her a Life Changing Field Trip and she's ready to collect. And also because she misses him maybe a little and also she knows he could maybe use a break.

So Zuko shows up and Toph is A Woman now and his poor little brain is like, trying desperately to square this information in his mind because of course he knew she wasn't 12 any more but also he wasn't expecting her to look Like That and also Toph can sense you know, everything, and she's trying to be chill also because it's just Zuko only Zuko spent the past 6 years stress working out and also somewhere along the way became A Man but this is fine and everything is fine and they are still friends right?

So Toph convinces him to play hooky for a while and come with her to track down some asshole (working on those details--some person scamming refugees maybe or something with disappearing kids? and she's trying to get to the boss) and Zuko is tired and overwhelmed and also maybe a little bit smitten and he agrees and then they go on the Life Changing Field Trip only this one is the one where they fall in love.

And it's the easiest thing they've ever done and the hardest thing all at once. Because they understand each other and they are determined to be more than their parents and together they heal.

I have so many little headcanons and one shots and larger story arcs bouncing around in my head with all this, and bless @bonesingerofyme-loc for thinking them all through with me.

I have actually written some ficlets, but they are currently pretty rough and disjointed (it's been a while since I've written) and I'm not entirely sure if I want to save them to write into a cohesive story, or tell their story in parts as I am inspired. I sort of have some scene ideas and others being build off prompt lists. I might share disjointed here and then wait to publish on AO3 until I decide what I what to do, but I'm not sure.

I will, however, share the very silly headcanons that Leo and I came up with. My Toko/Zutoph tag will be otp: it's me if you want more of my dumbass thoughts on these two lol. (Like what Toph did to end up in jail and how Sokka got Zuko's wedding invite and wasn't sure who the bride could possibly be and how Aang knew from the beginning but never said bc it wasn't polite or how Toph refuses to let Zuko ask for her parent's permission and he's like, dying slowly over the propriety of it all or how he courts her Properly™ once they are back in the capital and Toph is secretly thrilled or or or. Also Leo may have maybe made some AI adult Toko pics I can share that killed us both lol. )

[cabbageandcarrotsoup]

Inside Out 2 re-written by someone who hasn’t watched it, but is mentally ill

!!TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR SH!!

Just as a disclaimer, I haven’t seen Inside Out 2 because I’m boycotting Disney, but I was really intrigued by the inclusion of the new emotions, especially how Anxiety can shape your entire sense of self and take over all your senses and motivations! This got me wondering how a chronic anxiety or depressive disorder would look like in Riley’s head, so here are some ideas: 

NOTE: I call this a rewrite because I might do a script in the future, and further disclaimer: this is based on my own experience, and is in no way an all-encompassing representation of anxiety and depression!!! 

Anxiety:

She's like the underdog that Joy tries to befriend because her intentions are great, like Joy, so she attempts to understand

When Riley gets put on anxiety meds/antipsychotics, the pills appear as "mind police" to rock Anxiety's shit LMAO

On a low dose, a mind-policeman comes to pet and lull Anxiety to sleep, and at a higher dose, a gang of mafia-style police come to beat Anxiety unconscious with plastic hammers (nothing graphic for kids) -> locks her in a cage for a stipulated time until the meds wear off

That VERY RELATABLE self-hatred and disgust that we go through as teenagers is essentially Disgust, Anger and Anxiety brawling across the control panel (think "Can i PLEASE get a waffle" vine), but Anxiety wins by taking all the weapons they beat her with and using it against them, culminating in a dissociative episode where there's an orange flash bang. When everything passes, the rest of the emotions wake up to find that Riley has been hurting herself to calm down and ground herself.... and everyone is like O SHIT WHAT DEWY DO

We can hint at the common HC of gender dysphoria when Anxiety turns the male and female-presenting emotions against each other like gossip and paranoia, and there are some scenes where she gets really uncomfortable at her chest and her voice on top of just body odor but that won't be the main focus, just pass it off as another insecurity but it'll be a lovely little nod to my fellow queer folks out there!

Depression:

Is more of the "Big Bad" than Anxiety, appears very large and imposing like your typical high-school bullies in shows

They try to get Sadness on their side by being like "see, we both make her feel down" but Sadness is like EUUGH NOOOO, so we drive home the point to the children that depression DOES NOT EQUAL sadness! Important lesson kids!

Antidepressants appear as a spray that covers everyone in goo (the mind-police have terrible aim) on top of just Depression, so every emotion becomes muted for a while, just like in real life and they can't really move well or they slip when trying to control the mind panel!

When it finally wears off, Joy is like YOOO LETS GOOOOOOO and spams happiness, but then realizes that Depression is also free, and then we have an emotional crash

The Hobby Island is the first to go, flickering off and on erratically, causing both the hockey results and grades to slip :(((

As Riley adjusts to medication, eventually both Depression and Anxiety become a bit smaller in size; they still have an impact but everyone learns to accommodate them, and it becomes more like a "haiyahhh there they go again" instead of fearing and hating them as something massively unfamiliar!

With regards to Riley's parents, maybe their emotions have to venture into the vaults of Teenage Angst to relive their experiences and figure out how to support her. Essentially the message is that a family support system is extremely important on top of medical treatment, and that even though you can't get rid of mental illnesses, you can always live with them!

If you have your own thoughts and ideas, please add on, I’d LOVE to hear them!! But that's what I have and I thought it was an interesting idea to possibly explore :)

[mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess]

Discarded of

@anyotherpond

Touches list, number 3 hiding face in neck and/or number 11 laying their hand on the other's neck. Angst, something where Wei Ying is trying to be good enough to earn Lan Zhan's love.

I struggled quite a bit with this one, but I hope it came out well!

Madam Yu is very mean in this one, and this an AU in which WangXian get together during the CR lectures.

Wei Ying doesn't want this. Even though he's kissing Lan Zhan so earnestly, moaning pleasure into his mouth, Lan Zhan knows better than to believe him. He wants this, he really does, he's wanted this for so long that it's become part of his being - but he can tell when Wei Ying is trying to do something just to make someone else happy, and right now, trying to so very eagerly coax Lan Zhan into bed, is one of those times.

They haven't done this before. Not fully, at least. It's new territory for them both, and they've agreed to explore things slowly, discover themselves and each other at a leisurely pace. And that's been wonderful and satisfying and incredibly fun for the past several months or so.

Which is why Lan Zhan can only be puzzled about why Wei Ying is trying so hard to do something neither of them have pushed so hard towards, why he wants to skip over their tentative discovery of intimacy all of a sudden.

And he doesn't want to just let this happen either, pretend like he doesn't notice that Wei Ying is overcompensating with rolls of his hips against Lan Zhan that are a bit too forceful, or the grip in his hair that's nearly started to hurt. He's promised Wei Ying they can follow their own rules and do everything at their own pace - so whatever (or, rather, whoever) planted ideas in his head, Lan Zhan is going to remind Wei Ying he doesn't need to listen.

He gently, but firmly, pushes Wei Ying away, and stops himself from chasing the other's lips like he always does. This isn't about sex as much as it is about trust and consent and enthusiasm - and Lan Zhan can only hope he's able to convey that.

"Wei Ying."

He's trying to cover up the fact that he's skittish, but he doesn't do a very convincing job of it. "What?"

"We don't have to do this."

Wei Ying blinks up at him, curiously. "I know we don't have to. But we want to, right?"

"Do you want to?"

Wei Ying hides in Lan Zhan's neck, clearly looking to distract him with a few kisses there. "Why else would I initiate?"

Lan Zhan is not easily swayed. "Why was Madam Yu here today?"

As if awoken from a dream, Wei Ying stops the tender touches of his lips, and rests his head against Lan Zhan's shoulder instead, breathing out a sigh. "How do you know?"

"A servant told me."

"Snitches, the lot of them! I'm a servant's son too, yet I don't go around telling people's business-"

Lan Zhan doesn't like the sound of that. There aren't many times in which his beloved refers to himself as such, not since he's moved in the Cloud Recesses and has received the love and respect he deserves.

"What, isn't it true?" Wei Ying adds, but fails on the playful tone he's trying to convey, the question coming out more bitter than joking.

"Why was she here, Wei Ying?"

He sighs, again. "To... congratulate us on our courtship."

"Please, just tell me the truth."

Lan Zhan can feel droplets hitting the skin between his neck and shoulder seconds later, his heart picking up at the realization. Wei Ying - his heart, his soul, his stars and his sky and his universe - is crying.

"She's... there was something, I don't know, I didn't really understand, but... I'm... I've been kicked out of the Jiang sect."

Lan Zhan wraps his arms tightly around his beloved, does his utmost to transform his anger into providing comfort and safety for Wei Ying. It's hard, because all he wants to do is chase that woman out and give her a piece of his mind - and his sword. But this isn't what Wei Ying needs right now, he needs to feel loved and supported and find his place within his soon-to-be family-

"She told... she personally informed your uncle and the Lan elders and... they're not very happy because I'm basically a nobody now..."

"That's not true." Lan Zhan squeezes him even tighter, and lets a hand gently comb through his hair. "You're everything to me."

Wei Ying nuzzles closer into Lan Zhan's neck. "I have nothing to give you but my body now."

"Wei Ying, don't say such things-"

"It's fine, you know? I do love you, and I do want you, so, even if this is all I can do for you right now, I'll take it. And I'll like it, and I'll do whatever you want..." a shaky breath, and an equally shaky whisper, "...but, of course, that's as long as you don't kick me out too..."

Lan Zhan feels equal parts hurt on his behalf as well as Wei Ying's. He would never do something so cruel to the person he loves, and he hates that Wei Ying thinks himself so expendable. Not to mention, it's painful for Lan Zhan to think Wei Ying's so ready to trample his own boundaries just to give Lan Zhan something to convince him to let him stay. Has he ever done anything to make Wei Ying to think of him that way? Does Wei Ying not actually trust him? What's the point of all this then - all the promises and the plans and the I love you's - if Wei Ying thinks Lan Zhan is only looking to... use him?

"Get off."

Wei Ying makes a wounded sound, as if he's been hit by an arrow or pierced through by a sword, and stands up, tears falling endlessly, but soundlessly, on his face. He stands there, crying, with his head down like a misbehaving child, and his fists are balled up so tight that thin rivulets of blood emerge from where his nails dig into the skin of his palm.

Lan Zhan joins him and Wei Ying doesn't see that he's crying too - in anger, in disbelief, in pain - but when Wei Ying turns to leave, having clearly received the answer that he's unwanted even by the man he loves, a pair of strong, familiar arms envelop him, so tightly that it feels like it would crush his bones.

"Don't go. That's not what I meant. I'm not... good at this."

Wei Ying tries to wring himself free, but not enough to prove he actually wants to go. "You told me to get off you."

"I don't want you to give yourself to me because you're afraid I'll abandon you otherwise. And I don't want anything of ours to be transactional."

"Then what about your clan? They disapprove of me now. They won't let us-"

"I'll talk to them."

"And if they don't change their minds, then what?"

"Then I'll defect and we'll run away together."

Wei Ying lets a bitter laugh escape him. "You don't have to lose your family just because I lost mine."

"You didn't lose anything, Wei Ying. They left you. I won't, not unless you send me away yourself." And Lan Zhan allows himself to kiss the top of Wei Ying's head. "This is what I love you means to me. This is what you mean to me."

Wei Ying finally makes an effort to break free from Lan Zhan arms... but only to turn around and hug him properly.

[casasupernovas]

imagine series 3 but instead of 'he's sad over rose' they actually did it. i mean actually, instead of just using mentions of rose to punish martha for not being her, they actually explored it.

from 'doomsday' to 'the runaway bride', he's already gone through several stages. but grief isn't sequential, you go through stages at different times. but we have seen him go through depression and acceptance the moment he touches the wall. we've seen anger and, denial depression in the christmas special.

and going from the skeleton on s3, the main couple of stages we see are anger, depression and bargaining. but also the acceptance stage but the acceptance is never a positive for him. he's accepted she's gone but he's not happy about because it's compounded grief from the loss of gallifrey and the found family with rose.

now martha is a medical student not a therapist but she's also clearly the mediator of the family, a calming and level headed prescence. and to me, the most we can get out of actually portraying this is focusing on the bargaining phase, he needs emotional support. but he also needs direction. what does he do now? donna nudged him in the right direction.

now, in bargaining, you're trying to understand why it's happened. but the thing about the doctor and rose, the doctor KNOWS why he lost her. he lost her because of torchwood. and torchwood happened because of the doctor and rose. it's this asepct of their relationship and the subsequent impact of doomsday that the show shies away from, doesn't like to acknowledge. but it's crucial to the doctor's growth and it's arguably why the doctor doesn't get that growth arc properly. not when it comes to the root of the problem because they never address it.

this should have been easy to do. with martha, someone who lost a family member to the battle of canary wharf, and the late introduction of jack who literally works for torchwood and would have known the exact what insitute was founded on and why. also establish some boundaries because the doctor and rose hardly had any and that was part of the problem, and why her earth life spilled into her life with the doctor which created so many issues. but most importantly, to factor into remember their own morals. the doctor and rose got too big headed and laughed their way through people's real personal tragedy. and that was only once, and it cost them everything.

the depression and bargaining phase could have also added an interesting layer to the 1913 story as well. he was escaping. and finally we could get some acceptance. these episodes should have been the turning point in the tenth doctor's characterisation because then the curveball of the master's return would have been the ultimate test of acceptance.

for the final arc, the utopia story could have been an exploration of what happens when you reach the acceptance stage and what happens when you come across someone on the oppposite of that, who prises open old wounds. the doctor is accepting of the war and its outcome. but the master wants to start it all over again. how does the doctor navigate this. is he willing to go through all of that loss again? or does he finally realising that prising open the past is not a good idea and be more ready to leave the master in his past and set a new path with a new companion?

thinky thoughts.

[purplesurveys]

1952

What is something you feel you're "due for"? A new job, hahaha. I've been yapping about it on here and in real life since like 2022 and I've gotten nowhere. I can easily acknowledge that it's an issue of me being lazy and scared of major changes, but at the same time it's been quite difficult to land a role that's at par with the level/tier I've reached since the pool just becomes narrower and more selective the higher you get. I do try my best, but at the same time getting rejected or outright ignored also gets so deflating and it's really the main reason why my job-hunting has been staggered over the years. I basically get into phases of getting motivated to move, then being discouraged because of all the rejects and going back to my job, then being motivated again when I reach another burnout...so on and so forth.

Is there an aspect of your relationship that other people describe or remark on often, but which you can't see yourself or which you feel they're misreading (or you're confused about why or how you come off that way)? Not a romantic relationship but those who know check in on me and my nonexistent relationship with my brother, like they'd periodically ask if we've started talking again. I feel like they fail to understand the very simple rule that family is not supposed to lay a finger on family.

What is the earliest online space you remember joining/inhabiting? How old were you and what do you remember or miss (or not miss) about that space? The early kids' magazines of the 2000s had their own online forums, one of which I was an active member. I was 9 so everything about my online activity was super cringey, from my username to the comments I'd post, so it's a part of my past that I never really think about nor mention to anybody lol.

What is a new experience (or something you haven't experienced in a while) that you would like to experience again soon? Do you have any plans to do so? In the last couple of months I've gone to the cinemas on my own, which I found really fun and therapeutic! It's been limited to K-pop documentaries, though, so I'd love to branch out and buy myself a ticket for whatever movie I may be looking forward to seeing soon. The MMFF will kick off in a few days so maybe I'll start from there.

Has a hobby or interest of yours been so obsessive to the point of interfering with your responsibilities or "real life"? I feel like the only time this happened - and to the point where it became a problem - was when I was 10 and we had internet recently installed at home. I had NEVER experienced being online until that point so exploring the world wide web was literally hypnotizing. I was visiting so many websites in a day and pouring several hours into each of them...I was also barely sleeping and would make multiple cups of coffee so I can keep being on the computer. At some point I started failing my exams so my mom very rightfully took the laptop away from me. At the time I thought it was the most unfair punishment but at 26...I now know she did the right thing, lmao.

When was the last time you thought about reconnecting with someone? What sparked your interest in doing so? Did you act on the thought? Tbh I don't really think of this a lot. It's just that I know the people I grew up with have their own lives now and so do I. Reconnecting simply hasn't been a priority since I prefer to be on my own much more and I'm more than happy with the circle I'm left with.

If a scenario happens where I naturally and organically get to reconnect with someone from my past, that's always great. But I wouldn't be doing it proactively.

What is something that other people seemingly find emotionally moving that you don't? What about vice versa? Healthy mom-child relationships. Like when I encounter stories of people gushing about their moms or just being super thankful for their mom's love and support; I understand the idea of it being a tear-jerker but I'm not fazed by it one bit because I don't really get to say the same or act the same. I'm grateful to my mom, of course; but we just never got to have a deep relationship and I know we never will.

In contrast, I do get emotional when I see testimonials for my dad because I am quite close with mine and have had to contend with living without him all my life.

Anyway, to answer the 'vice versa' part...I guess anything related to my niche interests haha? Like wrestling. There are so many emotional moments to its storytelling that you'd only get as a fan but will never translate to a non-fan.

What is a revelation/realization you've had about someone (a friend, family member) recently? I mean...my dad recently shared that in his younger years his family accidentally ran over my grandma's thigh when she fell off their truck. They didn't mean to, of course, but the way she fell just unfortunately matched the angle that'd lead her to getting ran over. She got out fine with no issues or injuries whatsoever.

If you had to reread a book right now, which book would you reread? There's none that comes to mind.

Is there a lyric/motto/phrase/quote that inevitably/seemingly goes through your brain at least once a day? Either "future's gonna be okay," or "everything goes."

What is a cliche that you truly believe in (eg, that "everyone is good at heart")? That everything will fall into place. It's not realistic, but it's one of the few bits of optimism I like to keep close. It also helps me calm down when I start feeling overwhelmed or start to get the feeling of wanting to compare myself to others.

How do you typically consume news? Digitally. I hear whatever breaking news there is on either my Facebook feed or on Reddit. On a much smaller scale I'll also get news from the evening program.

[brzatto]

Okay the anon mentioning that thing about Mikey leaving Carmy the beef and in a way leaving Richie to Carmy IS FANTASTIC

This fucker really said these two idiots will only survive if I force them together.

Also I feel like Richie is dying to take care of someone in a way? Like, he was really good with Tiff and he wants to be a good dad so bad. And then his dead best friend said heard and just shoves this chaotic, broken, mess of a little brother into his arms with no direction or further guidance. And he grew up with this kid right? He saw all the awkward phases and knows him better than most of his family even though it was probably more of an annoyance than genuinely wanting to know.

So he, on a super base level, probably knows Carmy enough to be surprisingly good at keep him alive and healthy?

Mikey gave Richie the human equivalent of a depressed house plant and he's actually doing a decent job at keeping Carmy it alive.

Also

Also

Along this same train of thought, what would Nat and Donna do once they realize Richie and Carmy may be a little closer than they realized? I think Nat would give a fierce shovel talk to Richie and then hug him for a really long time. What about Donna? She's already fucking nuts. I kinda want to explore the idea of her snarling something about Carmy always trying to be Mikey but I also like the idea of her thinking they can support each other better than she ever did.

And I feel like it's just glazed over but the trauma of being in that fucking house? Like Richie's dad wasn't around right? I would argue that's almost better than whatever the fuck Donna was doing.

There's so much to explore there. Add in the stuff while Carmy was away with the fuck face chef and oh Lord this boy needs help.

Do I think Carmy is in a place like Mikey was? No, but not taking care of yourself is a form of self harm and that boy does not even know how to spell self care.

I feel like Richie would better understand and be very aware of those things. They're always yelling at each other but Carmy usually has like a meltdown of some type after. Maybe Carmy hates when someone's close behind him in the kitchen because it makes him think of fuck face chef. Richie clocking in on that and going out of his way to discreetly move people around Carmy quick or to place himself between Carmy and someone else if they have to be behind him. Because if Carmy would let anyone see all the little, broken, scared parts of him it would be Richie.

And possessive, protective Richie who picks up on all these little flinches, self deprecating remarks, the lack of self care, or general depression and putting all the pieces into a picture that he does not like. I think he'd pick it all up and make sure anything that may trigger Carmy is taken care of, within reason, and subtly do things to help or make things easier, all while Carmy is oblivious but also realizing he isn't as stressed as he usually is. And Richie seems very pleased with himself lately.

**I rambled again, sorry. I just love actually having someone to talk to about this pairing ♥️

you’re correct! something that really irked me before s2 came out was the mass richie misinterpretation where everyone thought he was fundamentally a bad person with a few good moments/interactions as opposed to vice versa. the way richie treats carmy is a testament to their closeness but also probably to how estranged they became since carmy left home, when we’re introduced to richie in the pilot he’s visibly very warm and friendly with everyone else in the kitchen (except for fak and syd who are outsiders that carmy chooses to bring in) and is seen being openly affectionate, kissing tina hugging marcus etc etc. richie takes good care of those he cares about and i’m so glad they gave us a glimpse into his dynamic with tiff while she was pregnant because richie was soooooo (biting my fist) i’ve never doubted for a second that he genuinely loved her and i’m glad they showed us them being happy and sweet rather than the deteriorated version of their relationship that probably came after eva was born/mikey’s addiction got worse.

i feel like growing up carmy was relatively sheltered in a way? probably naturally shy and quiet and introverted even when he was younger and in spite of all the chaos in his family i really feel like he was spoiled lol or at least comparatively. especially with the comment richie made to sydney about always being nagged about being careful with carmy i can see nat and mikey both being really protective of him. in opposition richie was definitely the one who’d tease and antagonize him the most but he still clearly had that sense of responsibility drilled into him back then because we can see how instinctual his protectiveness is with carmy even now. i’m still trying to decide what his relationship and dynamic with donna was like when he was younger because in fishes we see him successfully placating her when nat couldn’t, i can’t tell if she’s always favored carmy just for being the youngest or if mikey and nat had to shield him from the brunt of her dysfunctionality growing up or maybe even if she was more stable when he was younger and then her mental health deteriorated/behavior became increasingly more erratic over time?

richie’s a person who naturally receives gratification from doing things for others and feeling useful/needed and that probably manifests itself in a much more competitive/spiteful way with carmy because his feelings towards him are just Like That and carmy is also bad at thanking (not other people just richie specifically) him so it’s not quite as transactional as his dynamic with, for example, tiff where he does things for her and is directly rewarded with affection/praise/seeing her happy. i think at first richie just likes the idea of carmy, who he always knew as just some snot nosed loser and is now a well established name in a competitive and high end industry, still being incompetent in some facets and having to depend on richie for something (even if carmy would NEVER ask for his help first or even admit his dependency), likes the idea of having it to hang over his head etc etc (or at least this is how he justifies it to himself) and then with time it gradually morphs back into a Normal relationship where they’re willing to accept that richie takes care of carmy because he cares about him and carmy accepts it because he also cares about him but because they’re them and they’re difficult we have to go the long way around. this is the plot of bcm essentially

lol for sugar and donna’s reactions i think you summed up my own feelings pretty well. i do have a wip fic that sort of includes how that would go with sugar, but in it they actually don’t tell her about ��being together” at all (because they do NOT think of themselves as “being together”) and she finds out herself after carmy has been unofficially living with richie for like the past however many months and is understandably pissed. it’s supposed to be a more lighthearted fic so there’s no seriousness to it but i think having known for richie for so long she’s already intimately familiar with all his loser scumbag asshole tendencies as well as carmy’s bullheadedness and notoriously bad decision making but she also knows richie’s good at heart and carmy needs someone like him in his life. especially in light of richie’s apology to her in s2 and effectively amending their relationship (which meant SO much to me) genuinely i can only see her being mad over them not telling her about it rather than anything else. also i love the implication that mikey and richie were also romantically involved before at some point too and donna weaponizing that… when i choose to incorporate past richie/mikey in my carmrich plots the notion that richie is just another one of mikey’s hand me downs or that carmy is simply mikey’s fill in for richie is always one of carmy’s biggest insecurities and i can’t quite decide if donna would be cruel enough to weaponize that against carmy specifically but the thought has delectable angst potential. your mind

i think about richie’s family life a lot like goodness what was going ON in the jerimovich household that donna berzatto could’ve possibly been the better alternative… in reality i think richie’s mother actually just wasn’t present at all, like i think she probably either died or left when he was a child but since sydney’s mother also passed away when she was young and i doubt they’d repeat that plotline for richie i’m guessing it’s the latter. his father also probably wasn’t around very much because of service, but when he was he was probably a dick because he was a cishet (vine boom) white man (vine boom) in the military (VINE BOOM)

and actually it’s funny that you say that because to me i think carmy would definitely have his own vices, like obviously we see his smoking habit but a personal hc of mine i’ve always had for him even before s2 came out is that he has a bad relationship with alcohol—not to the point of addiction or anything like that but i think he probably abused it a little to cope with mikey shutting him out and stopped once it posed the risk of interfering with his work. if you happen to remember in ch2 of bcm there’s a line where carmy mentions richie knowing carmy doesn’t drink—there’s a reason why and that’ll get expanded on in future chapters! but yeah carmy’s form of self harm definitely manifests itself as self neglect. i’ve seen a lot of people write him with an ed but i don’t necessarily think he has one or that his relationship with food is tainted per se i think his eating habits just reflect his own self negligence. carmy definitely is on his way to developing gastritis if he doesn’t have it already

and this is such a sweet scenario for them i love this >_< anything with richie being attentive, considerate, thoughtful, gentle, tender etc etc i am seated immediately… like sometimes i read my own writing and feel like i’m projecting because i want him so unspeakably badly. always nice to see you in my inbox thank you for this anon 🤍

[redwinewhiteroses]

Hello! Can I join your new tarot game please? 🥰💗

My initials are C.M., Libra sun, she/her, I prefer male.

The best tip for a happier life is the let them theory, because some things are just not in our control. I envision a life filled with so much love and abundance. Creating a beautiful life with my divine partner and having a successful career.

Thank you so much! 💗

The life you envision is so beautiful 😇✨️ I hope all your wishes and dreams come true!🩷

Circumstances in which you meet your fs

The Empress, The Hierophant, The Tower

So I'm picking up on multiple situations in which you will meet your fs. You could meet them through a marriage proposal, through parents or elders of the family, in a traditional setting or in a completely unexpected way. You could be around family members or in a college/educational institution when you meet them. The meeting will be very comfortable and you will feel like you can be yourself throughout the interaction with them. You will feel very respected by them, I think both will feel very respected and honored in a way in this meeting. You could meet in the church, a religious event or at a wedding. It could be that you decided on the last minute that you wanted to attend an event and boom you end up meeting your fs there. You could find each other by surprise or there's a rush to your interaction despite the warm, cosy and celebratory atmosphere around you.

When you catch feelings for each other

Ace of Wands, Knight of Pentacles/Page of Pentacles, Knight of Wands

First things first, you will feel it strongly. The attraction, passion and excitement, it will be very obvious to you and to them. The physical chemistry will be on fire. You will feel it in your gut lol that they are the one. You will likely just want to start a relationship with them immediately, you will see a lot of potential and you will be impatient too. You will just want them then and there. You will work to make them yours 😅 I will make them mine somehow comes to mind. So although you feel this rush of excitement, you are still being responsible with approaching them in a slow and steady manner, in an attempt to not scare them away. You will nurture this connection with the intention of building something real and lasting with them. You will want to give them something, offer them your love and heart but you might feel like it's not enough or you don't have what it takes to give them the offer/thing that they deserve. This could be you or them or both of you. You will definitely want to start a relationship at this point but still take things slow but eventually you will just rush towards them. You will charm the sh*t outta them or this could be them. You will be flirts all the time when you are together. You might have an adventurous approach to love and romantic relationships. You could start a really passionate physical relationship with them and really explore all facets of the relationship you share with them. You will pursue new experiences together in an attempt to bond and understand each other better. You could travel together somewhere. You could also go on a lot of exciting and fun dates. You will never run out of fun date ideas it seems. It will be a very exciting and passionate phase for the both of you.

Settling into a long-term relationship with them

Nine of Cups, Two of Pentacles, Nine of Pentacles

You will have all your wishes fulfilled and it is honestly so beautiful. You both will feel well supported, appreciated, loved and protected within the relationship. Your minds and hearts will be at ease. There's a lot of shared happiness, gratitude and emotional fulfillment. You will have a very good physical relationship and intimate life as well. And all that you desire, you will have in this relationship. Both of you will value your individuality and respect and admire your quirky traits if any. You are beautiful as individuals and equally or more beautiful as a couple is what is coming through. Within the relationship, one partner could be more emotional and sensitive while the other is practical and grounded. You could be so similar yet different, but at the end of the day you two complement each other so well. Like puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly. I think you will balance each other out perfectly. If one of you has a short fuse, the other will have a cool head. There's yin and yang energy here. You could have your tasks and responsibilities divided between you in a way that both partners can be their best selves and contribute in the fullest potential. Both partners will support and encourage the other to go after personal goals and to succeed. You will be very prosperous and you will manage your career and relationship extremely well. There's a lot of material abundance, you will have good finances as an individual and you will create more stability and abundance together as well. There's emotional fulfillment and a lot of stability and security in your relationship. Although sometimes there will be too many responsibilities, possibly career and work, you will juggle those well and make up time to spend with each other without fail. Work is at work and at home, it's just you two and no one else. There's freedom and good healthy boundaries between home life and work. There will be a beautiful sense of freedom within the relationship too. So let's say you were really busy with work, your partner will make you dinner knowing you are exhausted. They won't judge or be unkind to you just because you were occupied with work too late until night. They respect the life you have as an individual and your freedom to live life the way you want is well supported and respected by them. You will value each other so much. It is a very emotionally fulfilling partnership and you will always see how much your partner adores you and the love will be evident.

Channelled song

For a book/movie that resembles the love story with your fs, I choose Destination Wedding(2018) film.

I hope you enjoyed the reading and feedback is required! 🧚🩷

[variousqueerthings]

happy aromantic awareness week!

I've been slowly exploring and poking at my aromanticism throughout the last year or so. while I've been happy to id as such for about 10 years (however long it was after I learnt the term) I definitely felt a certain reticence about thinking too much about it, and mostly deep-dived into other facets of my self -- aromanticism makes even other queer and lgbt+ people uncomfortable, and since I was living my life as I wanted to anyway, I was able to be open about it without insisting on understanding (call that a mix of internalised aro-phobia, fear, and probably just not being ready)

I think as I get older the aro part of me feels like it's coming to the fore as the constructs of society affect me more and more. it's not easy being a part of the world without conforming to normative ideas about relationships and family

this has made me both more radical in my aro-based politics, while also asking more questions on a personal level: what do I want out of my time around other people? what matters to me about connection?

it's been leading me to exploring the term "loveless" -- a pretty heady word I think, a lot of people have a kneejerk reaction about it, but it feels good to me. this could be something in flux (similar to how i inhabited what I call a void space in terms of gender before feeling comfortable exploring masculinity-as-drag, and with asexuality before I started poking at kink), but honestly I've never understood the term or its apparent accompanying feelings. I enjoy the company of other people, I like sharing things with them, and I have connections that for one reason or another have shared more than others due to the ways we've met and our history together, but I'm also not deeply emotionally affected by people on the whole, nor do I feel like I'm "missing" a certain kind of connection that I need to pursue to feel whole

I mostly spend time with others through the lens of specific community spaces, in which we have the same goal (be that political, artistic, fandom-based, sharing rent, etcetc.) and that's really what I want -- shared goals, having a fun time, building spaces, communally caring for one another

so that's where my aro-based poking has lead me so far. it's still a tad reticent, because... well I do worry. I worry that people in my life will take this to mean I'm uncaring about what we've done together or the plans we've made, or that I'm in need of some kind of fixing, and I'm worried as I have been since I was a kid that in the next 10, 20, 30+ years I could really be struggling to survive, because I'm not able to create the kind of social safety nets that are "acceptable" in the eyes of government structures

I do have a safety net currently, and it's a good one I think, with people I really like, and who care about me, but its legal ins and outs, as well as my internal being that will always have this particular lens through which I experience the world, make it less stable than if I'd been in a romantic relationship or even if I experienced "love" in some other way (and tbh ending up in this scenario was pure happenstance and I'd never have been looking for it otherwise)

so to think about the future: what forms of connections do we value, materially? what kind of people do we allow to thrive and under what structures? how do we build (queer) community spaces in which we provide care for one another that aren't predicated on finding the exact special person/s that potentially leave others behind? how can this kind of ethos on a massive, societal scale, potentially make us more able to care for people with no social safety nets, especially homeless, disabled, elderly, and underage people, who get stuck in systems that can't -- and often won't -- adequately support them?

and what sort of connections do you like forming that aren't strictly romantic or fall under "the special person" categories? personally I just joined the local theatre group and am going to their social events and it's been a massive boost to my self-confidence

[cursed-princess-club]

I wonder your opinion regarding CPC ships, at least woth the pre-existing 6 couples in CPC wiki (https://cursed-princess.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Relationship) a.k.a Maria/Blaine, Lance/Lorena, Frederick/Gwendolyn, Jolie/Nell, Jack/Lilyth (Leelathae). Thank you for seeing my message and sorry for asking too many at once!!!

ohhhh i find all these relationships interesting! Lots to unpack probably. this is all probably known stuff but uhh uh uh Yes

maria/blaine: you know when older sibling dilemmas. People Who get each other kind of but not really but also a little bit maybe . similarities but also really strong differences. yes, the pressure of being the eldest, but relations to those siblings greatly varying, and the contrasts in their support systems. Trying to put this idea into words raughh. HOW DO I SAY. well uh... idk idk something about the two most dedicated to the marriage the role they play for their families. Something about that relationship becoming what it is with the obsession and idolization then the heartbreak then the understanding and such- and i say this as someone who wasnt really invested in maria and blaine!!! The DRAMA dude

lance/lorena: good people! who seemed to vibe the best at first! Not the right place or the right time??? maybe ?? In another life they wouldve been gym bros yk. they adored each other but were also completely set up to feel bitter once the whole arrangement was revealed to be... Yeah.

gwen/fred: it's like if the two most open hearted doe eyed maybe maybe not insecure and self deprecating friends accidentally hurt each others feelings a lot/keep scaring each other. And stuff. u know how it is. I enjoy them and their development a lot! They need to catch a break so bad

jolie/nell: There is so much to explore with this relationship but it happens of screen so shout out the wonderful fan content of them out there! i like their dynamic :) haha wouldnt it be funny is jolie became an optometrist. That sounds like some shit lambcat would pull actually

lilyth/jack: veryvery VERY interesting. leelathae's story in general, what she gave up for jack?? the consequences?? Very compelling. The story of an immigrant woman marrying a foreigner and following him back to his country, and being looked down upon and his parents locked in the mindset that you dont belong here and you're tainting our bloodline- and how now she can no longer belong to her home island ever again, because of tradition and how she chose to leave it all behind. and yet she still loves him, and she gave up everything to be with him, because it's what made her happy. Ohhh and how that's been passed onto gwen. Mmmmm.

jamie/leopold: dareisay pygmalion and galatea type beat. Artist and muse. Muse and artist. the gwenfred situation speedrun, because their communication skills are better. people who create and put their passion into it all. and recognize that in each other perhaps. oooooo..

[ostentumm]

PERMANENT PLOTTER FOR OLIVER~.

I think it's time I start to branch off on what I wanna do for Oliver. He's got a lot to learn, of course, being that he's still a kid. he's tasted freedom and what the world is like with all of its Normalcy like a world with a sun, clear blue skies, and all of that stuff. There are a lot of things I wanna explore with Oliver so here we go!

Both who have interacted with Oliver and have yet to interact with Oliver are welcome to engage in this plotter call! As long as our muses can vibe with mine and they can click in any way, as long as we can see our muses going somewhere, then yes!!! Please, consider meeting my baby boy.

By liking this, I'll safely assume that you're okay with me hopping into your IMS or DMS (if we have each other's Discord) for plotting reasons, Memes on memeday, and sponty starters. I usually already do these (not all the time), but if you'd prefer I ask first before I throw one at you, please let me know ahead of time. I love, love, LOVE sponty starters, but I understand that some may not be down for that. I will always ask and communicate. Anyway, this isn't just for Oliver, this is probably for your character as well!

Let's develop our babies together!!!!!

Under this read more are lists of relationships that I'm looking for.

Friends: Oliver has met a lot of people here since his arrival. He's met ALL kinds of people, really. A lot of them are acquaintances. Maybe he's met just a small handful of people he can call a friend, but I don't know. Anyway, Oliver is pretty easy to get along with, if anything a little different and there's nothing wrong with that. Oliver is the biggest hype boy, so you'll always have him in your corner hyping you up and supporting you.

Enemies: It's hard to make an enemy out of Oliver. Even if you're a monster out there terrorizing people and such, he only does what he does because it is part of his job. It's expected of him. He doesn't really hold any ill feelings toward monsters as he ALSO understands that it is what they do. Anyway, to make an enemy out of Oliver may be a challenging one, actually. Still, it's not impossible. Oliver considers the people he's gotten close to as his family and Oliver is a family boy. So, the quickest way to get on his shitlist is to mess with them.

Sparring Partner: Oliver LOVES sparring. he loves anything that gets his blood pumping like exercises and stuff. Whatever chance he gets, he's always looking for a sparring partner, so if you feel this is right up your character's ally, hit him up! He's always going to say yes to sparring.

Hunt: Oliver is good at tracking things down with his nose. He may be capped right now, but yeah! If you're having a pest problem whether it's monsters or just evil-doers or what have you, Oliver is your guy for hire. In his world, he was a monster hunter anyway, so hunting in general is his thing!

Mentor: There are maybe a small select few he'd call a mentor back home, but here in Spirale he hasn't come across any yet. Maybe Garry. Anyway, he's still a child. He is going to need help being guided and nurtured into a wonderful person. There's always something to learn and there's a shit ton that Oliver does not know about the world and overall just anything in general!

Found family: Garry is so far his found family. He found her all on his own and he's so happy to have them! As I've mentioned in I believe the beginning of (enemies section), Oliver is a family kid. He loves the idea of being surrounded by family whether blood or not. He'll do anything for those he deems super close to him.

Crush/Romance: This goes hand in hand with romance. THIS does not give an open invitation to be a creep. I will block on sight. Anyway, Oliver is a kid. he's 16 and he's going to have crushes here and there and he's going to one day meet someone where he wants to spend his entire life with and that's okay! When it comes to crushes or falling in love with someone, it can be a one-sided thing. Anyway, this isn't really something I'm focusing on. I just thought I'd throw this in there.

IF THERE IS OTHER IDEAS YOU HAVE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

If you wanna know where Oliver frequents in Spirale, please let me know! I haven't gotten around to writing what locations he likes going to on his stats just yet, but there are so many places he'd explore and check out. There are a handful of places he really likes going though.