#so then the question becomes whether they're both aware of the connection or not

[fullscoreshenanigans]

#it's all about the eyelids (via @officersnickers)

(S1 Episode 2 | S1 Episode 5 | S2 Episode 4)

filed under pictures that drive me lowkey insane

usually i don’t base character connections directly by hair colour but the first time i watched the promised neverland i went, “wow, ray looks a lot like isabella and has black hair i wonder if she’s actually his mom” and then more of isabella’s backstory unfolded and it said that she really did have a kid and that it was ray and i went “oh, i cannot believe i predicted that”

[tojigasm]

do you know what i wanna do? fuck felix in those gold wings. and like FUCK him. he jst looks so prettyyyyyy 😭😭😭

It's intoxicating. The way the gold and glittery wings flex and pulse under the warm light of the small room Felix has crammed the two of you into – they seemingly breathe back against him when he thrusts into you.

"Stop staring at 'em." Felix presses a sloppy kiss against the collum of your neck, and you moan.

"They're pretty though," you pout, and a hand comes up to turn your head towards him.

"You're pretty." He places a peck to the corner of your lips, making his way to meet your own.

You both smile into the kiss, legs wrapping tighter around his waist, and the speed of his thrusts become quicker when you bite at his bottom lip.

Felix sighs against your lips, groaning when your gummy walls tighten around the girth of him.

The shimmer of the gold wings catches your eyes again, and you shiver beneath him.

"Fucking got you up against a wall and all you can think about is those damn wings." He pulls back to nip at your jaw.

"Haa, Lex," your head falls back to rest against the wall and you feel like you could fucking sink into the drywall and drown.

He whispers something against the hot skin of your neck, something you can't quite make out.

"Lex," you grip at the bands connecting the wings over his shoulders, cunt quivering and pulsing around him.

"Y'gonna cum, baby?" He deepens his thrusts, adjusting you around his hips as the length of him strokes a new angle within you.

You nod feebly, watching the tilt and shift of shiny wings. A soft whine falls from your lips, and Felix groans.

"Look at the wings, baby." His grip on your hips, bruise your soft skin, welting in the rough heat of him. "Y'feel good?"

Sobbing, your cunt spasms around him and you let out a choked moan – pulling tighter at the bands of the wings.

Felix cums with a broken groan, thrusting into you and holding himself there with his forehead tucked to your shoulder in soft pants.

When he pulls out of you, it's nearly enough to make you cum again with the warm glow of the lamp shadowing his features.

He towers over you, the shadow of his costume's wings flutter out as if they're a part of him.

And for a moment, in your fucked out haze, you question whether or not he actually fucked you to death.

"Lex," you mumble, and he's quick to ease with a thumb pressing past your swollen lips.

"Mhm," he hums, still hidden by the shadow of his height.

The sight is biblical in every sense of the word.

You mumble something you can't quite catch as it falls from your brain and tumbles past your lips.

Felix chuckles, though, and you're half aware of the way he gathers you in his arms and makes his way back to his room.

[ddarker-dreams]

what would make the husband rotation genuinely mad and would they act when theyre mad?? bad vibes for everyone

upsetting chrollo is an arduous endeavor.

he values control, whether it be over himself or others. creating the troupe would've been impossible if he was easily agitated. ironically, by muting his emotions for so long, he's set himself up for failure. when they do escape the fortress he built to contain them, they're wild. their repression drained any civility chrollo pretends to have.

regarding what it takes to get to this point... a third party revealing his criminal affiliations to you would do the trick. especially if the evidence they provide is irrefutable. chrollo isn't naïve, he's always been aware of the possibility. it'd be different if your efforts unmasked his identity. sure, he wouldn't be ecstatic, but he'd feel a hint of pride over your sleuthing capabilities. he almost considers it your right, in a weird way.

this sentiment doesn't extend to another's interference. they've inserted themselves into your relationship and warped your opinion of him. it's a violation, an intrusion. chrollo comes off as unusually detached when this information reaches him. he would've preferred you confront him, so he could control the narrative and do immediate damage control. with that plan dashed, his anger will simmer, until it can scald the one who tainted your perfectly fine relationship.

gojo satoru wants to be the center of your universe.

he's selfish, he isn't content with anything less than you in your entirety. he wants to be your partner, your best friend, your rival and confidant. he's cool with your friends and family (wow thanks gojo), since he knows that ultimately, you're both close in a way few can understand. shoko tells him at point blank that he's overdependent on you. he's aware, he just doesn't care to fix it. he's shameless enough to admit it as much without remorse.

for this reason, should someone capable of exerting influence over you stumble onto the scene, he would not be happy. megumi (kid or teen) remarks that he gets this 'creepy look', like he's pretending to be human. if he released a mere tendril of the cursed energy writhing inside him, it'd be enough to render most sorcerers comatose. his vibes become that abominable.

whether it be a former mentor, childhood friend, or some other role he can't fulfill for you himself — he wants to create as much distance between them and you as possible. fortunately for him, simply being himself is enough to repel most people. gojo inserts himself into your conversations until this person catches the hint. after knowing him for so long, you've grown immune to his questionable boundary crossing. he'll keep at it until they're scared off.

scaramouche gets angry with you for making him fall in love.

had his chest cavity not been empty, he would've clawed his heart out to avoid this harrowing feeling. the timidity, the vulnerability, oh, how he loathes it; loathes you for the spell you've placed him under! this resentment is, in truth, mostly directed at himself. shouldn't he have learned his lesson by now? how many times must he be chewed up and spit out before he stops wandering into the maw of emotional connection? he resolves himself to kill this... whatever it is you both share, before he's dragged through disappointment once again. he'll work himself up into a frenzy, all righteous anger and crackling bitterness—

—then your eyes light up at the sight of him, his name a warm exclamation on your tongue. in an instant, he's pacified, like he'd undergone a lobotomy. what a lovesick fool he is. you won't even let him fester in his negativity, you keep flitting about, earning his undivided attention. it's embarrassing how giddy he is around you (though he hides it beneath snark and condescension). when the interaction ends, he's left torn on what to do. all he knows is that he's running out of excuses to make this your fault.

blade's fury could slice through stars if you were ever hurt.

his mara is voracious until he returns every ounce of your pain tenfold. it's a scene from hell; rivers of blood, shredded limbs, piles of corpses tall enough to be mistaken for towers. in the heat of battle, he occasionally forgets where he is or why he's even doing this. then, all it takes is his mind's eye flashing the image of your face contorted in pain for his mania to blaze anew. you're precious. kind, warm, bestowing care upon him that he hadn't experienced in centuries. annihilation awaited anyone or anything that threatened you. he thinks death is too good for them, but it's the punishment he delivers best.

this explosive rage isn't finite. once his sword is deprived of living prey, he's forced to endure silence. entropy. an all-pervasive thought that you'd be better off with another. he never understood why you blessed him of all people with your affection. upon wiping his weapon clean, his reflection greets him. he scarcely looks human. drenched in viscera, eyes bloodshot and crazed. is this the man you love? what would you think, if you could see him now?

he almost wishes the fury would return. it's preferable to the hollowness he now faces.

[spaceorphan18]

Imma be boring at first and just ask you the same question back: What are you five favourite things about Colin and Pen’s relationship?

Lol, and yet I don't find this a boring question!! :D

They are friends who became lovers.

Look, I just love and adore this trope. I love that it wasn't a thunderbolt from the sky. I love that it was a bit slow burn and had time to build and grow. I love that there was a connection there long before romance simmered. I love begin their relationship already knowing each other -- and romance is an added element. It's delicious in the most beautiful way.

2. They liked each other before they were cool.

Yes, sure, they both are seriously hot in Season 3. But that element is more for us (and their own confidence) than it is for each other. As I said in an earlier post, Penelope does not give two shits about Colin's new Parisian styles or his new charming demeanor. She fell in love with one incredibly dorky guy and when she looks into his eyes, that weirdo is still there. Likewise, Penelope's glow up doesn't suddenly make Colin's feelings change. It's her confidence and vulnerability and the fact that when he finally kisses her -- all of those feelings he's always had come rushing forward.

3. They're both writers who support each other's dreams.

It's not just that they have similar interests (they do! it's part of the friendship thing), it's that the have a deep confidence in one another. They both very much care for the other one as an individual and (after sorting through the LW mess) are both deeply supportive of what the other one wants and needs. And having the same hobbies (as well as career goals - for lack of a better term) only brings them closer together.

(And let's be real - as a writer myself, I adore stories that feature writers at the center.)

4. They're both fucking old school romantics.

Ngl, this one really does me in. Penelope longs to be swept off her feet. Colin wants to be the dashing hero. For better or worse, they both love love and are happier being allowed to be in love. The fact that even while they were having issues, even when Colin was /angry/ at her -- they still got married. Because at the end of the day, being in love surpasses any other issue. They'll continue to have shit to work through. They'll have hard times and their own issues that will trip them up. But by god, their love is deep and that's exactly how they prefer it.

5. Their conflicts are not a result of miscommunication or repressed angst.

In a world where couples are either shouting at each other due to repression of their feelings or just plain not talking things out, neither Pen or Colin are able to hide their true selves very well, and neither do they want to. Colin might be a little slow to understand his feelings, but once he does, he's a man of action through and through. And even as he sorts out his own issues of LW and pulls away from Pen - she's still well aware of what is going on, and let's him have his space. Meanwhile, Pen's withholding of things (such as her feelings and of LW) come from self preservation, not lack of self realization.

Personally, I just find it refreshing that you have a couple who starts out genuinely caring for each other and sincerely understanding each other's feelings and the conflicts stem more so from external factors rather than issues arising because they are unsure of how they feel about each other.

(This is not shade on the other couples of the show -- this is me acknowledging that I have a personal preference for one type of story over another.)

Bonus 1 - The way they laugh together.

Whether it being just giggling over an inside joke at a ball or finding the humor in even things like sex, the two of them always find a way to make each other laugh, and it's so sweet and adorable and they both become so alive. They've cultivated their own little world and are amused by it and it just warms my heart every time they laugh with each other.

Bonus 2 - The Carriage Scene

This. This is a thing that actually happened on my tv screen, and my jaw is still a little on the floor. Because god damn that was hot and I am only human. Ooff.

[littlegaydruid]

@crunadh regarding this post here. This is a long post so hold on to your hat.

Thank you for your question! I honestly felt much the same way starting out. It's kind of a hard practice to get into if you don't join a group for it.

I’ll point out first that my practice is solitary, so what I do likely looks a fair bit different than those who belong to a grove or order. I'm also in no way an expert. If anyone else wants to reblog or comment with their own resources, please do.

It's also my opinion that, much like with being a witch, there’s no “wrong” way to practice druidry exactly. The fact is modern druidry (or "druidism") is really just an inspiration of what we think the historical druids did because we have so little information on them. The information we do have almost entirely comes from roman sources, and that was usually in the context of like, conquest. So if anyone tells you they know the one true way to be a druid, side-eye them because they either don't know what they're talking about or they're being highly disingenuous. With that out of the way…

I personally try to do three things (and feel free to try any of them to see if they work for you):

On a spiritual level, I go out into nature when I can. I believe humans are very much a part of nature and unfortunately, we've become disconnected as a society because of greed, capitalism, and the mindset that we are somehow better than nature. For this reason, rebuilding and maintaining a connection is very important. (This was easier when I lived in the mountains instead of the city but I make do with what's around, whether that's in a park or with the birds who come visit the trees outside my apartment.) At most I’ll bring a sketchbook, and I’ll walk among the trees or wherever I am, perhaps sit with them a while. And I’ll just observe, and meditate. I like to take notice of the sounds around me- the leaves rustling, the birds, the squirrels, the deer, the stream. Sometimes I talk to the trees. They don't literally talk back, but very occasionally I notice a subtle shift in their presence if that makes sense. (If there are any gods/goddesses you believe in, this is where I might suggest you could incorporate them or leave plant/animal-safe offerings in some way, but you don't have to.)

While I'm doing these things I try to maintain an awareness and respect for the fact that I was not the first one here. Both in the sense of "hey, this is not my house, but my grandparents' house," and in the sense that, "hey, Indigenous folks were here before me," because I'm from the US. Imo it all goes hand in hand and is a simple step but a necessary precursor to physical action.

On a mental level, I study. I like to research herbalism and how to identify the different types of plants and animals. Not necessarily to forage (though I do enjoy that, too), but I found it's a good way to get to know the plants and wildlife in an area, especially if it's hard to get outside sometimes. I also like to research both local folklore, and "Celtic" histories and mythologies (I'm a bit of a reconstructionist). This includes researching what we do think we know about the historical druids and the history of the modern druidic practice and spiritual concepts like Awen. I also like to study philosophy, ethics, and morals because I've found that it ties in quite well.

Then finally on a physical level, whenever I go out, I try to give back to nature. To me, picking up trash is a perfect offering to nature/land spirits. If I can, I try to find a new use for it so it doesn't end up in a landfill (recycling is a bit of a lie, so to me "reuse" takes priority). If I see an animal that was hit by a car, I try to see if there's any way to (safely) move it from the road. Little things like that can go a long way.

I also take action at a voter level and monetarily where I can. I mentioned in my other post that I greatly enjoy the concept of solarpunk. The mentality behind it (one of hope) is one that I like to embody, and I like to use it to help spread awareness about the environment and potential solutions to many of the climate problems we face, especially in the areas that I'm most knowledgeable (for me that's the construction and housing industries).

I do small things as well in observance of the solstices and equinoxes. I don't exactly follow the wheel of the year, but I want to mention druids do have one that is similar to the Wiccan wheel of the year but with different names for the festivals.

Resources

For getting into it yourself, I can point you to a few places.

OBOD (druidry.org) - You might have found this one already because its one of the first to show up when you search for druidry on google. The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids was founded in the 1960's by Ross Nichols and currently lead by Philip Carr-Gomm. They have distance learning kits that you can buy if thats your cup of tea. You can also join their order. If not, they still have a fair bit of resources and information on their website for free. They also host lives on their facebook and youtube. Philip Carr-Gomm has his own youtube as well.

The Druid Network - A resource founded by Emma Restall Orr after she left OBOD. It has information you can read about regarding practices, events, and has a whole list of books that you can read to get yourself started.

Living with Honour, A Pagan Ethics by Emma Restall Orr - She has quite a few books actually and you'll find some of them recommended on TDN, but I wanted to mention this one because it's not listed there and I think it's still relevant.

What do Druids Believe by Philip Carr-Gomm - This one IS mentioned on TDN, but I wanted to highlight it in particular as a kind of supplement to the info you can find with OBOD.

If you're interested in incorporating Celtic reconstructionism into your druidry, I recommend you check out Alexei Kondratiev's Lorekeeper Course as a potential place to start. Its an entirely free online resource.

Mhara Starling has a nice little video here talking about the differences between witchcraft and druidry with a friend of hers so I'd recommend giving it a watch.

Unfortunately, there aren't really set rules on how to do druidry like there are with organized religions, but hopefully what I've mentioned here will help point you in the right direction and get started. <3

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

Every week I will post various reviews I've written so far in 2024. You can check out my Goodreads for more up-to-date reviews HERE.

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232. The Quarterback by Tal Bauer--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

THE QUARTERBACK had some of my favourite tropes, so I initially started this duology with the excitement of getting to this book in the mini series. While I (surprising myself) enjoyed the first book more, this one still kept me fully engaged and in love with the characters.

One of the things I really liked about this was how both characters were essentially at a point in their lives where they had to figure out who they were and what they wanted for their lives. Obviously one character was more at a crossroads than the other, but their mutual attraction was definitely something that set off their introspective search for who they were and who they wanted to become.

The age gap was expected and one of the reasons why I was anticipating this read, even if at times it felt a little questionable because one MC had very, very clear daddy issues. But besides those moments where I was wondering if this relationship would have happened if there weren't any of the aforementioned issues, there were some seriously sweet and romantic moments.

Bauer is really, really good at creating relationships that form over time, where love just naturally becomes a comfort blanket for both characters. Bauer's grasp on romance and how to make the reader feel that palpable connection has always been masterful and THE QUARTERBACK was no different in romantic levels than his other books. And one of my absolute favourite things is when we, the readers, are wholly aware of that creeping love but the characters are ignorant to their impending romantic doom (LOL). There's always this sense of "finally" when the characters look at each other in a certain way, or finally just give in to what they're feeling.

Anyway, this book had a lot of tender moments and some surprisingly spicy ones (even though it was a lot tamer than I was anticipating). The love between the two characters was very different from the first book--where the first couple's love was a whirlwind of desire, this one was the slowly growing ember of love that has to be stoked over a period of time.

The biggest conflict of the book had me frustrated, so that also affected the rating. But other than that, this book was such a perfect summer romance read.

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233. The Day Tripper by James Goodhand--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

THE DAY TRIPPER blew me away and I wasn't expecting it to. While the beginning took a bit to get into, the body of the story had me completely hooked.

I love the concepts explored in Goodhand's book: time travel, speculative fiction themes, cause and effect, and the play on the concept of Schrödinger's Cat. I love the idea of what if and the exploration of everything surrounding it. I was just so deeply fascinated by it and how the MC's actions could have certain consequences.

I also enjoyed that the MC's character had so much character growth throughout the book, whether it was self-realization of the flaws we're aware of from the beginning, or the ones he slowly reveals that traumatized his life enough to have a negative effect on his choices. I like that he forged a new life for himself DESPITE the things that plagued him in the past.

Ugh, I'm just so in awe of this book and how much I enjoyed it. It was fun, but heartfelt; hopeful, but terrifying. I loved it, so much.

I need to read more books by this author!

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234. The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had a lot of fun reading this one! I really enjoyed finding out what was going on with the MC alongside him, especially because of the memory loss. The adventure, the humour, the artwork in the physical book, and the fun interludes in between chapters made this such a fun and memorable read.

I think that also because of the way this book is written and the world the MC lives in, this kind of book could technically branch off into a bunch of other books. A world where people can travel to different dimensions that sometimes mimics our owe history? I'd read another book set in this world!

The mix of fantasy and sci-fi was also a lot of fun because there was that typical fantasy aspect of magical beings and fae-like creatures and gods, but then you had nanotechnology. I was surprisingly entertained by it!

Finally, this MC experienced one of my favourite tropes in fiction: people underestimate him, A LOT. And as we learn more about him, it all makes sense why, but the important thing is his character growth showing him that he can be more than the perceived image of him just beyond his memory's grasp. I REALLY enjoyed that.

Sanderson's novel caught my attention from the beginning and the adventure, humour, and the underestimating of the MC made this a really, really fun read for me!

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235. The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm a huge fan of Katherine Center. Save for two or three of her backlist titles, I've read most of her books and have enjoyed them all. THE ROM-COMMERS wasn't a different experience for me--I enjoyed this new book by her immensely. I loved the enemies to lovers aspect, the concept of it, the slow fall into romance, and the forced proximity.

Both characters brought a lot to the table and I loved that they embodied the definition of rom-com while actively trying to write one. Watching them do really adorable things with each other made me feel all giggly and excited for them. Especially because the FMC slowly brings the MMC out of his shell--but at the beginning, this is the very definition of "don't meet your heroes".

One of my biggest issues, however, with this book that I was kind of surprised by, was one situation where the FMC refuses to apologize for some pretty cruel things she said to her sister. THIS MAY BE A SPOILER SO BE WARNED: the sister apologizes profusely and it's reluctantly accepted, but other than a reminder that the FMC should apologize to the sister, she never does. It sat so wrongly with me for the remainder of the book that a part of me stopped enjoying the story as much. It was like, trauma inducing level of bad if the sister were a real person.

The majority of the book was enjoyable and was that typical Center cute and clean romance between two people that didn't like each other at first, but that blip near the end made me so uncomfortable.

I'd still recommend this cute read, but be aware that there are definitely some darker aspects of this book that could be triggering.

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236. Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood--⭐️⭐️⭐️

I've gotten to the point with Hazelwood where I tend to sort of feel on the fence whenever she releases a new book. I initially loved her first series because it had stem and some good romance between enemies, then promptly DNF'ed the third in that series because it all felt so...similar.

NOT IN LOVE is like that strange middle-ground between those very similar books in that first series, and different enough to break up that monotony. The differing factor in this one? Every time the characters met up, they had some form of sex. They were like the horny teenagers who are always off somewhere "discovering different parts of each other", even though they swear up and down that they hate each other.

While I'm normally a huge fan of smutty romances, this one felt a little forced at times? Don't get me wrong, these two had some good times. And if Hazelwood had gone through with it, it would have been an interesting exploration of a type of sex we don't typically see in smutty romances, but of course, he was "not like other men" and proved that she could indeed enjoy the typical sexual acts.

Their sexy rendezvouses WERE fun though and I remember listening through my audiobook and thinking, "Damn, okay, Ali." I liked watching these two take down each others' walls and fall into their love. Even if it was forbidden.

The MMC of course matched the physical descriptors of previous Hazelwood MMCs, and the FMC was also that quirky, slightly bitchy, curvaceously gorgeous FMC that Hazelwood also loves to write about. And I mean, I don't dislike that because I love some good rep for curvy girls, BUT it's also like falling into that Hazelwood formula that has become her character standard.

One of the main things, however, that I discussed with others who'd read this book is how STEM, the one thing that set Hazelwood's romances apart from all others when she first debuted, took a backburner to the smut in this book. Sure, it made an appearance every once in a while, but it was definitely a background character.

Look, my review nitpicks this book but you know, *shrug*, I actually enjoyed this book--for what it's worth. It was entertaining, sexy, and SLIGHTLY different enough from her previous stuff that it kept me wanting to read the rest of the story. It wasn't perfect, but it was fun for the summer. I'll still be wary of her future books, but this one was entertaining in its own way.

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237. This Book Won't Burn by Samira Ahmed--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

THIS BOOK WON'T BURN was an incredibly powerful book, but it was also from the perspective of a very young MC--yes, she's a senior in high school who was about to graduate, but some of her decisions felt very young and it was jarring, especially when those said decisions happened alongside her more mature moments.

But keeping that in mind, some of the adults in her life also let her down intensely--which, to be honest, is very realistic, especially with how North America is right now.

I wouldn't be surprised if this book gets banned because it focuses so much on what is happening right now. The racism in small town America, the idea that certain people have the power to control what other people do with their own time and what they read, and the threats that minorities face when they stand up for what is right was all scarily timely. And this made for a very uncomfortable read. Add to it that this is all from the POV of a teenager who was originally from an incredibly diverse city/school and is also dealing with the grief of her father's abandonment.

There was also such an underlying current of animosity in this book that breached the seemingly calm waves every so often, until the bigots and racists felt comfortable enough to come up for air more often. The one character remaining silent proved that silence was also the perfect example of how evil can flourish when there isn't anyone or anything stopping the abuse.

While the ending of this book is incredibly idealistic, I thought it was perfect because it adds that touch of hope that we are all wanting in such a difficult time. Real life may be a shit show of lost expectations, but at least fiction can show us what it COULD be like.

At times hopefully (because of the allies that find their bravery to stand up), and at other times terrifying, THIS BOOK WON'T BURN will definitely leave you thinking after the last page. And if you're an adult reading this book (like I am), it will make you wonder what you would have done if you were a teenager during this current political climate.

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238. The Only Light Left Burning by Erik J. Brown--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ugh, this sequel was soooooooo good!!

When I read the first book in this series years ago, I thought that it would have been great to get another book because I wanted to read about more adventures. Erik J. Brown definitely delivered in THE ONLY LIGHT LEFT BURNING and I'm so, so, so happy we got to have this conclusion!

One of the things I'm so grateful for is that this is a dual POV story. There are so many moving pieces in this book and so many instances where the MCs need to grow as characters on their own, that having dual POVs allowed for us to get the full stories.

I had forgotten how addicting Brown's writing is, too, because I was immediately hooked with this one. And there is ALWAYS something happening. There were some wild moments in this book and some that genuinely made me so itchy with anxiety and fear. Add to those scary moments a group of small kids and that's an extra level of horror.

But probably the thing I love the most about this duology is the love the two MCs feel for each other. They're young characters--I think sixteen?--but the love they share and the care they have was perfect. Plus, the guilt and PTSD of survival and past actions/choices haunting them was realistic, especially when putting into consideration just how young these two boys are (even if they're put into mature situations that challenge their survival).

I can barely put into words just how much I adored this book and how great it was. I definitely see myself re-reading this series in the future! The characters, the situations, the survival, and the adoration from one character to the next--this series is a MUST read.

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239. Rise of the Earth Dragon by Tracey West & Graham Howells (Illustrator)--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ADORABLE.

I've been wanting to read this one for a while because of how popular it is with the littles who come into the bookstore to buy this series. And I have to say that I can understand the hype. It's obviously simpler because it's for younger readers, but it's a fun adventure with characters who slowly gain confidence in their abilities.

I think young reader me would have devoured these books!

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240. Nanny Negotiations by Merry Farmer--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Quick, fun, dramatic, and caught my attention quickly.

NANNY NEGOTIATIONS was a surprising read because while it was entertaining af, it also read like a Harlequin novel. It was quick on the romance, deliciously spicy with drama, and an adorable toddler to off-set the tension between the characters and the antagonist.

I loved the idea of this single dad returning back to a gentlemen's club after a nasty divorce. And that club? It's exclusively for queer people. This club was like a safety net as the single dad MC meets and hires a new male nanny and then, of course, falls for said nanny.

While the romance between the two MCs was a little insta-lusty for me, I still liked seeing this cold and jaded man bluster his way through a conversation with the nanny because he's nervous af. I will say, though, with the size of this book and how quickly paced the story was, insta-lust to love made sense.

The drama was telenovela-worthy. It was ridiculous but I couldn't look away from the book. You know those really bad ads for those reel short videos? The acting is questionable and the climax of the story is over-the-top? Yeah, this is like the novelization of that, but more entertaining than cringe.

Anyway, I enjoyed this for what it was. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a romance book with the nanny trope, especially if that nanny is a man and the parent is also a man.

___

Have you read any of these books? What were your thoughts?

___

Happy reading!

[sqarletsworldlesswandering]

Okay so I realised that we don't talk about Angel, Demon and Co. much so have some silly questions.

Did Angel and Demon survive the conflict? And what was Aven's reaction to meeting one of his creators (I am sure that I heard you mentioned that Demon was one of the starfolks that made Aven).

Also any miscellaneous headcanons for these two?

This is regrettably true, let's fix that.

This got long, so Read More be upon ye-

Did they survive the conflict?

Yep! All of the stars Edda and Aven absorbed survived the conflict. They got spat out with everyone else and returned to their right mind (after waking up, of course).

What was Aven's reaction to meeting one of his creators?

First: Yep, Demon is one of Aven's creators.

Second: Gonna take a moment here to clarify somethin' (I might have said this before, but just in case) - For Starfolk, there's a syntax difference between "parents" and "creators." Flares that turn Roamers have "creators" - two stars who's energy contributed to their being, but that didn't raise them. Flares that become Comlaedi have "parents" because the two stars that made them actively raise them. Aven has a weird situation because of the Conflict. By technicality he was a Roamer and thus has creators, but you could also say that he has a creator and a parent, because the Angel (might retcon this to Ophan) went out of her way to try and protect him, even if she didn't otherwise raise him, while Demon simply did nothing.

As for Aven's reaction, that goes into a lot of different things. The short version is that he wasn't… terribly enthused to interact with that creator. The Angel he was curious, if apprehensive, but towards Demon he was… ambivalent at best. Demon returns the sentiment.

Aven, since creation and even more so ever since approaching Demon's fight, was instinctively (if not consciously) aware that Demon was one of his creators, and as a result the fight with Demon was… difficult. Both physically and emotionally. However, that emotional pain shifted over the fight from "I don't want to kill one of my creators" to "Why does one of my creators want to kill me?" Two very different kinds of hurt.

As if that wasn't enough, Aven had some interaction with Demon pre-Edda as part of the Conflict, insofar as Demon is a commander of sorts among the Dark Starfolk. Demon was a harsh commander at best, and Aven had no strong fondness for him after waking up post-Edda. After Eden, this translates into some serious hesitance to interact with Demon, and - given how their fight went - some outright avoidance because ✨Trauma✨. Influence of the Conflict or not, hearing outright and out loud that one of your creators does not give a rip whether you end up dead and rotting on a pike leaves some pretty nasty psychological scars. Aven as a bit of an emotional breakdown after the fact, and Edda helps him through it. To add insult to injury, Aven feels distinctly icky after absorbing Demon because he can feel his presence and it does not feel good. Luckily, Angel's remaining presence in the Absorption Soup evens out Demon's a bit.

As for Demon himself, he was outright apathetic towards Aven, creator or not. Ambivalent on a good day. In the New Eden, he… sorta softens a little? But not so much that they're interested in building any sort of connection. All the parental relationship ends up being with the Angel, and she is more than happy to mom over Aven (and over Edda too, by association). Unfortunately for Aven, he ran into Demon first, so the second (or maybe third or fourth, depending on early Conflict engagement) major interaction with one of his creators that he actively remembers isn't really... very positive either.

Also, as a general rule, Daemonae aren't… really very good people? Some of them sure seem like it, and many can be generally enjoyable people, but they often have at least one cardinal vice that can make them hard to be around and that they're actively unrepentant of. For some of them, that vice is pretty minor, other times it's more concerning. The kicker is that they don't care to change, and that's what causes problems. For Demon, that translates to a general relational apathy, plus a crushing iron grip over those he commands.

Daemonae are very good at some things, and like anyone they have their own skills and hobbies. But, that comes with an understanding that they generally aren't nice people, and you will most likely get burned. The saving grace is that Ophanim, Cherubim, Seraphim, and some Angels are generally able to handle them and won't get burned (literally or metaphorically).

Another disambiguation just to be safe: Angel that Edda fights and the Angel that is Aven's mom are NOT the same Angel (really need to come up with some names for these gals).

Now for some general headcanons:

Angel:

Vocally, Angel is a high soprano. She's got an ethereal timbre, as per the Angelic Orders in general. That said, she can also make that very screechy and shrill when she wants/when she's angry (G1 Starscream vibes fr-).

She's 13' tall-ish (ain't no one tryna measure that-)

She can fly, but only has the one set of wings.

Her halo is pretty much part of her head, though it can technically be moved around. Only if she does so consciously, though, so you can't just grab it and move it. (No hanging on the halo-)

Along with her other winged compatriots, she lives in an aerial residence, comprised of a collection of "nests." These nests are basically houses, and resemble a weaver bird's nest. Her residence specifically is in the Overgrown Sanctuary (which is being rendered slightly less Overgrown in the New Eden, but "Marginally-Well-Trimmed Sanctuary" doesn't quite roll through the sonar, does it?)

Angel was very much a… reluctant opponent when Edda confronted her. Because of the Conflict, she firmly believed she was in the right, but she was still sad that she had to kill one of her best soldiers, and was actively disappointed in Edda (that… stung Edda. A lot. The equivalent of tears were shed and sobs were had, mid and post fight). Disappointed or not, Angel lamented having to fight her and remained an honorable combatant til the end. I like to consider her a more tragic character.

If, at any point, there was even a sliver of Angel's true mind somewhere in there, that part was well and truly heartbroken to fight Edda, and hoped Edda would live.

Angel also never meets Aven until after the conflict, so when she goes to bombard Edda with a mother bear hug, she's left going "hey who's this guy?" There's also a little bit of the Starfolk analog to "when did you get a boyfriend?"

Angel doesn't quite see Edda as a daughter (while Aven's mom definitely does), so she's the cool aunt, in a way.

Once free, Angel is an absolute sweetheart, and very fun-loving. Also perhaps a touch overbearing, because once she's decided you're part of her flock and under her wing, you are going to get mother-hen'd. Or possibly mother bear'd.

Angel, for all that she's a sweetheart, also leans tough-love (mayhaps not so much as some cherubim and ophanim in the flock, but still). She expresses her affection pretty pragmatically, and will bonk you over the head when you're being stupid.

She often abides by a "play stupid games, win stupid prizes" mentality, and if you decide to play a stupid game and get the stupid prize, she'll laugh at you first, then help you fix it. Or, at least coach you through fixing it. She won't do it for you.

Angels do in fact molt, and boy howdy is that an exercise in patience because she has to employ every ounce of willpower not to be extremely fussy. Lucky for her she has a flock to help her. Well, post conflict at least. Mid conflict? Yeah, very Grouchy. If Demon were around for that, he would have snark to supply, and would get himself nailed with a spear.

Angel feathers have a few different uses - sometimes as quills, elsewise as jewelry, clothing decoration, and some more magical items (dream catchers and protective charms especially. Also occasionally flight-related charms). If you randomly find an Angel feather, that's considered some very good luck. Angels themselves usually collect the feathers they shed and turn them into wearable stuff or the aforementioned magical items, either for themselves or to sell/give. I should also mention they shed some absolutely gargantuan feathers. Some of their primary feathers are significantly longer than the average Wanderer is tall.

In New Eden, Angel works as a doctor (with some smaller assistants because most Starfolk aren't 13 ft tall….)

Demon:

Ah yes. This hot mess.

I'm a little short on headcanons for him at the moment, because I haven't 100% worked out how his fight goes or just what his character is like. I'm not quite satisfied with the below, since I really want to explore the fact that the song playing during his fight is Grand Sorrow.

However, I do have this much, though it's subject to change:

The most vanilla baritone there ever was. He tries to be a bass. He is not a bass. He also can't really sing in general.

He usually stands at around 12'9" because his posture is atrocious (stop slouching you walnut-). At full height, which is practically never, he's about 13'10".

His eyesight is absolute garbage in full light. Can't see diddly for love nor money. In darker or more dimly lit areas he can see okay though.

In relation to the above, Dark Paladin very pointedly got him the Starfolk equivalent of heavy-duty sunglasses. He refuses to wear them unless desperate. Paladin will forever be exasperated.

(By way of side context, Demon and Dark Paladin are… friends? After a certain definition? Post-Conflict they're basically frenemies that occasionally fight like a divorced-and-then-remarried couple, and frequently ask, out loud, "Why are we friends again?", but still stick around for each other anyways and occasionally rediscover why they're friends. If I want to be angsty with it, I may have Paladin eventually come to the conclusion that this is not a friendship worth keeping. If I do it will probably be via the General knocking some sense into him.)

Daemoniae in general are prone to colorblindness. Tritanopia is most common, but some are lucky enough to get away with Tritanomaly. Achromatopsia is rare, but happens occasionally. Lucky for Daemoniae, they have a secondary infrared sight, so there's that.

Demon has no concept of a proper sleep schedule, and is effectively nocturnal. Except when his sleep schedule rotates around the clock and he ends up being awake during the day. He operates on his own, somewhat-longer-than-a-full-day time table that ends up rotating him around the different light levels throughout the year like a rotisserie chicken.

Basically lives in a lava pool somewhere in the bottom of the Scarlet Ravine. Paladin is one of the only people in his life that can tolerate the heat enough to go check on him, and at that can only last for a few minutes.

This guy is a professional Grump and the epitome of "Get off my lawn" An absolute Curmudgeon. A Scrooge. A Grinch, even.

[blvcklizard]

I said I'd elaborate on my thoughts on Lily's and the Alicein brothers' dynamics and I had a really long week so I'm relaxing by dumping my thoughts here once again. This might or might not make any sense, idk. Also I includes spoilers for the recent chapters.

So starting off chronologically, you know that Lily was supposed to form a contract with Mikuni.

I think this interaction is incredibly interesting, because it's Mikuni pointing out that Lily doesn't seem happy about him becoming his Eve. Like, it makes sense with their characters, Mikuni is observant and intelligent, and Lily is... really not the kind of person to outright say what he feels on that matter, especially given that his hands are tied by his promise.

I also feel like this panel is defining their later interactions though, especially in the recent chapters.

Lily is very much ready to put his own feelings aside and team up with Mikuni (and Mikuni is fully aware of it). There's some truth in every lie, and Lily was bound to end up with Mikuni from the start. He is ready to become his Servamp (which we'll use as an allegory for, well, the stuff going on with him right now) essentially for his promise (Misono).

And that is the difference between his connection to Misono and Mikuni.

Misono means a lot to Lily. If he has to lie to him and betray him to protect him, he will do so no questions asked, and no matter what Misono would want in the situation.

And that's what's drawing him away from Misono, but also bringing him closer to Mikuni.

What's the central similarity between these two characters? They're ready to set the world and themselves on fire to protect Misono. And, essentially, they both end up hurting him in the process, whether it's because the less painful option is still painful (Mikuni) or because he's not acknowledging what Misono himself wants (Lily).

If you like, lust pair's contract is built on an illusion, literally. But either way, Lily lied to him, which is... not ideal, considering that breaking the trust between Servamp and Eve can and, in that case, did end very badly for both of them. You know the concept of ending up hurting someone because you love them too much? That's Lily with Misono, 100%.

That's not really new information, but it makes things really interesting if we look at his dynamic with Mikuni now, or him teaming up with him at least.

He was supposed to form a contract with Mikuni but didn't, and that's the reason why he'll always be closer to Mikuni than to Misono. (Unless he does come to realize what Misono was trying to tell him at the end of lust arc.)

And, sure, you can say that this has nothing to do with Lily himself rather than how he feels towards either of the Alicein brothers and that their story wouldn't change if he had formed a contract with Mikuni instead of Misono, but both from an in-universe and outside standpoint, this doesn't make sense.

There isn't a single pair of characters in Servamp you could swap in the narrative without the storyline falling apart, and this is especially true with Servamps and Eves. The whole manga is a network of delicate dynamics that work this way and no other.

But also in-universe, it's just who Lily is. Whether he's his Eve or not, he loves Misono, and that'll always be what will make him unable to let him build the sort of connection he has with Mikuni.

Remember what Gear said about the characters of the last three Servamps? They may be more human, but in a self-destructive way.

Lawless, whose families killed and rejected him.

Ildio, whose freedom doesn't let him connect with anyone.

And Lily, whose love burns anyone that gets too close.

[funnier-as-a-system]

hello! i'm aware this might be a strange question to ask, but is it possible for an introject to be unaware of or even in denial of who they are? not even necessarily in the sense of "well, i can't be an introject, i'm not part of a system" (though that is... another issue we may have), but just in the sense of denying any connection? and, if so, is there any way to help them see who they are? as i ask this, i realize that may sound as though i intend to force them into an identity they don't want. i want to assure you this is not the case- they've expressed a desire to be this person on multiple occasions, but simply refuse to believe that they could ever possibly be them, whether it's due to them believing they don't act similarly enough, or that we, in this body, haven't had the same accomplishments. they are denying this identity out of their own personal restrictions they seem to have placed on themself, despite them both desperately wanting to be that person and not having a solid identity outside of that.

is there any way to help? is this even something we should try to help with, or is it better off left alone? i don't want to force them into something they don't want, and i don't want to influence them to become something they're not, and we admittedly don't really have proof that they are that person, but it seems as though being them would make them much happier.

thank you for listening and for any advice you may have!

Yes, this happens sometimes. Just as with any other identity, sometimes, denial is simply a phase one needs to go through before they can accept themselves. I'd recommend just giving them room to figure it out themself– don't pressure them, but make sure they know the option is always open. Perhaps you could introduce them specifically to introject or 'kin spaces, so as to make the idea of this sort of thing just a casual occurrence rather than a large jump in identity. Above all, be casual about it yourself, whether they end up identifying as that person or not. There's nothing that makes self-discovery more difficult than feeling like the people around you are waiting for you to come to a certain conclusion. I wish you and your system the best!

[chevelleneech]

I would also like to state, physically cheating isn’t the only form of infidelity.

Buck and Eddie may almost kiss or actually kiss (which I don’t really want, but can see the potential unfolding story if they do) but that doesn’t automatically mean they will start an affair or have done it with intent.

Neither Buck nor Eddie seem aware they have feelings for the other (if that is where canon is going) so them getting drunk off their asses and giving in to feelings they’re both unaware they have, is a compelling story based on how their friendship has gone all these years.

That said, an almost kiss or no kiss but one or both of them still realizing down the line they are in love with the other, while still being in a relationship with Marisol or Tommy, is emotional cheating. Yet people still want that.

Buck cannot in good faith stay with Tommy after he realizes he’s in love with Eddie, because he’s too involved in Eddie’s life. He helps him care for his kid. He breaks down whenever he’s in danger. They fought like a couple on the verge of divorce when Buck sued the LAFD.

Eddie can’t in good faith stay with Marisol after realizing he’s in love with Buck, because Buck helps him raise his kid. Buck is in his will to obtain guardianship of his kid, over all other family and friends. Including those who are currently or have already raised children. As well, in the middle of him dying, Eddie was more concerned with whether Buck was injured or not.

The two of them have too much history built up in just five/six years, for any other love interest to compete if it becomes canon that they are in love. So while I obviously don’t want Buddie cheating to be their origin, I am curious how all those opposed will justify either one or both of them being in love with each other, while still being with someone else?

Because again, this isn’t typical “I met someone else and we connected.” It will be, “I realized I’m in love with the person I consider my best friend, and I didn’t distance myself to try and get over him.”

Unless of course they do that, but even then… the storyline would have to address it. Unless they go the unrequited feelings route for one of them, how can they justify Eddie or Buck forcing themselves to stay with Marisol or Tommy, despite being in love with someone they have a deep history with? Despite being so in love with someone else, they have to upend their life to make it work? They can’t.

The only way it works, is if Buck and/or Eddie have their realization, then become single. Because there is no way to view their emotional unavailability to a partner you want them to not cheat on, as not cheating emotionally.

Now, I for one am here for emotional infidelity. I think it’s way more complex than a physical affair, but again, I can see how a kiss or almost kiss can also be interesting story wise for Buddie. Because it can lead to emotional infidelity, without Buck nor Eddie realizing that’s what is happening until it happens. But you know… folks don’t like any sort of storytelling that paints lovable characters in a bad light anymore. Everything has to be spelled out or done the respectful way, which I understand to an extent, but no one is this hung up about it regarding Hen. And she made an active choice to cheat, even if she regretted it.

That is also a storyline I don’t like, but again, it was compelling enough to not ruin her character. Why can’t the same be said for anything Buck and Eddie might do? Because them figuring out they like each other in a way they both would never want to happen means they’ll fight it harder and likely beg to be forgiven, despite not being able to shake this newly discovered want.

And that is not feeding into stereotypes about bisexual or questioning men. That is writing bisexual and questioning men, who happen to be best friends, realizing they're in love and having it fuck up their lives due to how long they’ve known each other, yet been oblivious to how deeply involved they’ve been over the years.

[soo-won]

Hi Lumen, I love your AnY posts so much! I hope I can hear your opinions about the relationship between Hak and Kye-sook. I think it is not simply an enemy...

Thank you so much for the question OMG! And I'm glad you like my posts too :')

Keishuk and Hak's dynamic is something I LOVE to get lost in thoughts about because everytime they interact you can feel the electricity in the air, you know? There is something extremely engaging about them imo. And outside of the fact I crack ship them because I think their interactions are very hot, I have a lot to say about them!

The thing about them is they're the same pole of a magnet. Like it's because they're actually extremely similar that they have this constant animosity towards each other. There is real hatred on Hak's end, understandably, and Keishuk clearly looked at Hak with contempt until recently. But there is this thing about them where they also understand each other in a way? Because they went throught the same thing. The Lord they pledged loyalty to was murdered by the opposite faction and they started to live following their child, the only thing Il and Yuhon left behind, dedicating their whole life to protect them and what they fight for, and dreaming of getting back what was stolen from them. They're both haunted by their powerlessness and the fear to fail to protect what matters to them and especially Yona and Suwon. And it's these shared feelings, directed in opposite directions that makes their relationship what it is. I think they both ended up being aware of these similarities in the other even if not consciously. Also they both easily get extremely anxious and tend to act emotionaly because of it (and that's what differentiates them the most from Yona and Suwon, too.)

Thinking about them together requires to think about Keishuk on his own, because it's only after understanding that Keishuk is driven by the constant need of to have things go according to his plans, because as a disabled man this is his only way of fighting and protecting, that I think you can start seeing the connections with Hak. Keishuk was shaped by the feeling he needs to be useful, that can also be seen in Hak especially early on in the manga.

And that's where it's also fun to imagine what represented Hak to Keishuk before the coup. A pawn with so much potential that is unusable because of his attachment to Il. A man with the strength Keishuk doesn't have, a strength he lacked when Yuhon was being murdered before his eyes, and that Hak uses to serve his murderer. To be honest I don't think Keishuk cared that much about Hak and it seems he barely knew about him before the coup, but I like to imagine he saw him as a waste. However, Suwon had given up the hope of ever having Hak on his side, but Keishuk never forgot, and Keishuk is not burdened by any complex feelings towards Hak like Suwon or Judo are, so the idea of someday managing to control and use him for Suwon's and by extension Kouka's sake is something he maybe always kept in the back of his mind ( we still don't know what was Coup Crew's plan irt Yona and Hak if they hadnt caught Suwon red-handed after all).

Throughout the series, Hak comes to want to protect Kouka and fight for his country of his own volition, whether Yona asks him to or not. Which makes him share something more with Keishuk. Hak, in his willingness to become a pawn to protect Kouka, becomes in Keishuk's eyes a proxy in a way, even though Hak fights for his own reasons. Keishuk can't fight on a battlefield anymore, but Hak, who shares a common goal and a similar way of seeing himself as disposable, becomes a weapon. Hak becomes the sword or the shield Keishuk can wield to protect Suwon.

And it makes their relationship very ironic. They are opposed and enemies by the fact they serve two person that are supposed to be at odds with each other, but when these two persons enter an alliance and walk in the same direction, then it makes Keishuk and Hak simply share the same feelings and protect what the other cares for. Aka Keishuk becoming "protective" of Yona and the dragons (even if it's not out of sympathy) and Hak protecting Suwon.

In no way does it mean they become friends or that they do this for each other, though. Hak and Keishuk are in a constant battle of compromise and Hak is very much aware that Keishuk won't hesitate to take from him and use him and his friends if he sees it fit. And Keishuk is aware that he has to tread carefully if he wants to use them longer. But I find all this super interesting! They're fated enemies in a way, so to see them kinda forced to work together despite all the spite they have for each other is fun.

Lastly, something that I'm obsessed with when it comes to Keishuk and Hak is how they're connected by their respective relationship with Suwon. I already wrote a long post about Keishuk and Yona as foils in relation to Suwon, but I think the same can be said of Keishuk and Hak, even if obviously the way they do so differ.

Keishuk's presence in this scene is anime exclusive, so everyone is free to consider it canon or not. Personally I'm in love with it and I think it adds a lot of depth to Keishuk and his feelings towards Hak and Suwon so it's canon to me lmao. This scene shows a Keishuk that feels pride in knowing the "real Suwon" that Hak is ignorant about, and he taunts him about it. Like "Look, /I/ am his right-hand man, and he didn't chose you. /I/ know his suffering and you don't know anything."

And the thing is...yeah. Keishuk is not wrong here, and it brings into light an aspect of Suwon and Hak's relationship that is often only implied, aka the fact Suwon didn't trust and rely on Hak, when Hak /wanted/ to be the person Suwon would depend on. But the Suwon Keishuk knows is not "the real Suwon" either. The truth is both Keishuk and Hak know a part of Suwon that the other don't, and I find this deeply fascinating.

This is reenforced by the fact that Hak didn't even know of Keishuk's existence just like how he was ignorant of the dark parts of Suwon's life, or how Keishuk and Hak were physically assigned to two distinct symbolic places (Yonhi's mansion and Hiryuu Castle). They were totally separated, literally and in Suwon's heart.

Hak knows nothing of the Suwon at Yonhi's mansion that planned the coup for 10 years alongside Keishuk and many others. He knew nothing of Suwon's resentments, of the truth behind his grand and distant goal or the way he is resolved to discard anything to achieve his goals, even what Hak cares for. Keishuk was and is still undeniably Suwon's closest ally (despite the distance between them but Suwon and Keishuk deserve their own post lmao), and despite their differences they share the same goal and ideologies like they do with no one else. They share the same pain of losing Yuhon and the anger and feeling of injustice that came with it, and the same afront of Il's rule. But likewise, Keishuk doesn't know the depth of the bond Suwon shared with Hak, and the truth in the time they spent together. Keishuk only pragmatically saw Hak as someone that will try to kill Suwon someday, as he understands very well where he comes from, underestimating(among other things) the importance Suwon and Hak hold for each other and the depth of their trust.

That's where the Sen Province arc is interesting as well. This arc is notable for many things, but one of them is the complete absence of Suwon and the fact the troops are basically led by both Keishuk and Hak. I just said that Keishuk and Hak were completely separated by what they know of Suwon, yet what this arc highlights is that they both know him extremely well. In the end, they grew up and studied with the same Suwon, and this common knowledge of him connects them. Like to remember something as a specific counter-strategy Suwon likes is proof of the amount of time they both spent separately with Suwon and their fondness for him. It's because this moment makes Keishuk acknowledge that Hak does know Suwon well that he starts being interested in using him furthermore.

All that being said, I also just really love whenever they taunt each other. I think it's delicious like, look at that. There is just something whenever they share a page and I'm obsessed with it. Suwon and Yona kinda stay polite with each other (more or less) but Keishuk and Hak don't give a shit like that and it's refreshing. Despite everything I've said above, the part that makes them not stand each other's ass and rile each other is an essential of their dynamic and I eat it up. There is almost a sort of competitiveness? and it's very fun. I never want them to like each other it's so much better this way.

Alas now Keishuk has to be polite with Hak for political schemes reasons and I'm sad because I miss those times very much </3.

TDLR : They're not friends they're not enemies but a secret third thing.

(Bonus: fun hakyona / keiwon parallel and i ship neither but it's endearing)

[femmefatalevibe]

Hi! Question, how to be a good friend? I am recently trying to be friends with women, since I have always been friends with men. And I lacked the emotional intelligence and vulnerability aspect which I’m still working on. It’s been difficult to become a friend and keep friendships now since I’ve lost many women based friendships because they were cruel to me and bullied me and put me down. I didn’t realize it was so bad til I expressed it to family and they snapped me out of my denial. How can I be friends with high value women and be a good friend? I want to also reciprocate my good values and I’m unsure how to since I’ve been so traumatized and taken advantage of by past women based friendships. Hope that makes sense! Thank you :)

Hi love! You sound very self-aware, and it sounds like you've made tremendous progress in learning how to be vulnerable/express your feelings. Glad to hear that you decided to protect your peace and cut the negative people/relationships out of your life. Here are some of my tips on how to be a good friend (especially to other women):

Approach finding friends like you would dating (which is essentially a networking activity). Meet and mingle with as many people as you desire but refine your vetting process for your friends well before your next social interaction – whether it's a group get-together, coffee/lunch date, or a party/work event from which prospective friendship could potentially flourish.

Set your friendship standards. Know the types of people, common interests, values, lifestyle, etc., you desire to have within your friendships. Consider the type and frequency of communication that gives you energy. Be aware of your boundaries so you can communicate them calmly, clearly, and with kindness. Embody the type of friend you would want to have in your life already. Compatibility will minimize conflict in any type of relationship, including friendships.

Remind yourself that it can be more fulfilling to have friends that suit different needs, interests, activities, and sides of your personality. Once you understand what your "ideal" friend or friendships look like, you use this "best friend" archetype to divide up these qualities among the people you meet IRL. See if you click with someone who suits some of these characteristics & shared goals/interests. Choose friends you admire in different areas of their lives. Some friends may be in your life because you connect over your ambitious personalities or bond over working in the same industry/field. Other friends may be so much fun to go out with or chat about romantic relationships with, while others can be great travel companions, intellectuals, workout class friends, etc.

Practice differentiation. Understand both of you have your own boundaries, expectations, desires, and personal limits. Communicate your needs directly without people pleasing while still showing empathy and validating the other person's equal right to have their own boundaries, expectations, desires, and emotional/logistical limitations. People-pleasing is a form of manipulation because this self-sacrificing leaves you resentful of the relationship and blindsides the other person because they didn't know they crossed your boundaries. If someone crosses your boundaries and you address it from a compassionate "it's me, not you" POV, genuine friends will react to your reply from a place of understanding. To be a good friend, you need to do the same. Good friends respect each others' needs and would never threaten the friendship because you need to take care of yourself first.

Be their ultimate hype woman. Show up when it counts, follow up, and engage with a genuine interest. Cheer your friends on when they're going after and achieve their goals. Don't let jealousy & a scarcity mindset get to you. Show support for their wins. Be genuinely happy for them. Go to their milestone events (if you're invited and able to within reason), and send them words of encouragement before a big work presentation, interview, date, etc. Follow up after a coffee date to see how a certain conversation or event went if it seemed important to them. Ask them questions and thoughtful follow-up questions about their lives/something they brought up to discuss. Curiosity is the simplest way to form a connection – especially in conversation.

Don't try to one-up your friends. You appear haughty and insecure when you do this. Good friends complement and compound – not compromise – each others' successes.

Keep it real. Set each other up to win. Good friends don't let their friends ruin their lives, goals, health, or reputation. Call out a friend's bad or desperate behavior by using language that criticizes their behaviors vs. their character (Ex: "Remember how bad your ex made you feel about yourself, you don't deserve to put yourself through that again and spend this precious time with people who care about you or going on dates with others who will value what you have to offer." vs. "You're dumb for getting back together with your ex. You're so desperate for his attention/to be in a relationship." Another example: "Yeah, not working out and eating junk food all day can make you feel sluggish and lazy. You're too cool to be acting like this. It's time to live a healthier lifestyle again so you can be your best self so we can all appreciate your energy to the fullest again." vs. "You've turned into a slob. Get it together.")

Be trustworthy. Everything they share in confidence is top-secret information unless they disclose otherwise. Only share their successes in public. Keep friends' struggles private. Don't be two-faced. Stand by your friend to their face and when they leave the room.

Schedule time to make each other a priority. Invite them out. Set a date on the weekly/monthly calendar to hang out, Facetime, have a long catch-up call with each other, etc. Create fun rituals you do together with each friend or in groups of friends.

Follow through with the plans you set in stone (unless there's a true emergency/late night at work/you feel sick, etc.). Never cancel last minute unless it's essential for your well-being. Show up when you say you will. Respect other people's time. Don't be flaky.

Hope this helps xx

[rutilation]

This latest chapter reminded me that I have thoughts about this guy. And by thoughts, I mean questions. But, before I ask those questions, I want to share my thoughts about a few other side characters in Part 2. I have a point I wish to make through them:

Miri has been used, abused, and dehumanized his whole life. It makes him suffer, but it's also as ubiquitous and imperceptible to him as water is to a fish. After Makima died, he tried to drag himself into the light, and take back control of his life, but he ended up backsliding into old habits, and wound up neck deep in a violent cult--new window dressing on the same old shit.

Fumiko deeply despises Chainsaw Man for not saving her parents, but sublimates that hatred into pity for Denji. When he's toeing Public Safety's line, she squeezes him like he's her personal stress ball, alternately degrading him and flattering him, all while telling herself she's protecting poor, scared little boy who was forced to become Chainsaw Man. But, when the chips are down, she takes every opportunity she can to twist the knife in Denji's back, and exact her vengeance.

We don't know a single detail of Barem's past, but it's nonetheless clear that he's like a version of Denji that couldn't bring himself to break free of Makima. He's a true believer in the worldview she created to rationalize her own inability to connect with others. He wants that perfect world, with no bad movies, where he never has to think or make decisions for himself. He hates Denji for taking that possibility away from him, and he hates Nayuta for outgrowing Makima.

None of these characters have had a huge amount of focus or backstory in the grand scheme of things. But, while they are rough sketches, drawn with few lines, they're still complete sketches. And, whether or not they ever get any more meat on their bones, I can confidently say I know what makes them tick.

We have not, however, gotten a complete sketch of Yoshida, rough or otherwise--just disparate puzzle pieces that don't yet fit together.

Yoshida keeps his cards close to his chest, but one thing about him that is painfully obvious is that his brain currently exists at the bottom of a crab bucket. From being crowded by speech bubbles full of excuses for his loneliness, to affirming to Denji that alienation is the heart of normalcy, to him losing his cool when Denji says he wants both his normal and superhero life, it's crystal clear how much he doesn't want to imagine a better world, not for himself, nor for anyone else, and how much he resents any notion to the contrary.

What has me confused atm is trying to square that with his apparent attitude and outlook during Part 1. He didn't seem happy per se, but he was definitely way more carefree than he is now. In particular, his scene with Kishibe seems to stand in stark opposition to his current situation. What I got out of that conversation was that he was well aware of plots and conspiracies surrounding Makima and Public Safety, and was feeling smug about the fact that none of it affected him--he had finals to worry about, you see. But, somewhere between parts 1 and 2, he went from haughtily observing the crab bucket from on high, to being at the bottom of it. How did that happen? And just what is the true nature of this bucket?

To speak in less metaphorical terms: If his new job at Public Safety makes him miserable, why doesn't he just quit? He could certainly make it as a civilian devil hunter. And, given how he was willing stand by and watch as Yuko killed a bunch of his fellow students, I doubt he's in the bucket out of a sense of altruism or duty. Based on the information we've been given, he shouldn't feel the need to put himself through any of this. He has no reason to be Public Safety's Saddest Middle-Manager. So why is he? Out of all the questions I have, I feel this one is the most glaring. This, right here, is the puzzle piece being withheld.

Another question I have: why are he and Fumiko 2 different characters? On the face of it, from a writing perspective, they're seemingly fulfilling the same functions in the story. They're both projecting hard onto Denji, they're both being so very parasocial about it, they're both stand-ins for Public Safety's tyranny, they both betray our protagonists, siding with authority when the chips are down, and they are both. such. cops.

Their only difference is their respective attitudes--where Fumiko approaches her role with gleeful cruelty, Yoshida does so with sour-grapes resignation. I don't feel, though, that such a difference would be enough on its own to warrant making them two separate characters. So, why are they? The only reason I can come up with is that the two of them are eventually going to end up in very different positions, thus necessitating two different characters. One of them needs to be a bastard forever, because The State is always going to be a bastard forever, and between the two of them, Fumiko is the more motivated bastard.

That's the main reason I believe that the general fandom expectation of Yoshida having some sort of redemption arc down the line has weight to it, and isn't *merely* the result of fans automatically siding with--and ascribing unearned depth to--the biggest twink in the room. That said, I would like to point out that just because he seems likely to eventually break with Public Safety, does not necessarily mean his endpoint is going to be sympathetic, or heroic, or conducive to shipping; it's just going to be different from Fumiko's.

Finally, standing above these questions is a broader question: why is Fujimoto stringing us along like this with regard to Yoshida? All those other characters I talked about made total sense within ten chapters of their introduction, so why not him? What's the point of making Yoshida a puzzle in the first place, of withholding answers for this long?

The longer this particular shoe takes to drop, the more convinced I am that it's going to end up being a bombshell. After being left in suspense for this long, I'll be disappointed if it isn't.

[mermaidsirennikita]

I feel like What We Do in the Shadows or Good Omens would be better recommendations for Our Flag Means Death fans. Re The Terror there's a lot of subtext but there's nothing explicitly gay to my understanding.

I don't care for Good Omens personally (I get why other people do, and it's def a better rec than the other things lmao) but What We Do in the Shadows, definitely. Very similar sense of humor. A similar approach to queerness onscreen (ie not constant self-denial and suffering lol), and obviously both have a connection to Taika and Rhys.

I didn't dislike The Terror, it was just very slow and I struggle with a lot of slow things (whatever gives Tobias Menzies work though, I adore him). But yeah, I never heard of anything explicitly gay in The Terror?

For me, there's nothing wrong with subtextual queer content, and obviously there is a very long literary and cinematic history of queer coding--it was once all you could do. However, as a consumer, I think that in new content I don't want shit I have to squint and read into. If that is ALL I CAN GET, which with some projects it is, then that's not on the creator--it's obviously on the bigger powers that be, and I'm aware of that.

But let's be real, there are creatives who do very purposefully want to live in the in-between of baiting fans and keeping audiences who won't pick up on the coding (what's the word again? Hmm...). And so, with the vast majority of new content... I wanna see it explicitly done. That doesn't mean I have to see explicit love scenes or whatever, I just don't want ambiguity as to whether or not these two characters like each, whether this one character is gay, etc.

And that was something OFMD gave, you know? There was NO QUESTION. I got into that show midway through the first season airing because of Ed/Stede gifs I saw, and I was like "oh wow that looks WAY more textual than I expected???" But even then I didn't expect a kiss, I didn't expect feelings, I didn't expect it to be confirmed through Calico Jack that Ed slept with men, I didn't expect Stede to realize he was gay--all of these things I didn't expect at all. (I mean, I also didn't expect explicitly NB Jim because I had no idea based off the gifs that Jim existed, and though I don't love their arc in s2, Jim did offer really amazing rep for people in my life I dearly love, that they can't easily get basically anywhere else.) I think that's what will be hard to chase. Not IMPOSSIBLE, but tough, because even when there are explicit, canonically queer characters and arcs on TV, they're often couched in suffering.

... Or rather, the popular ones are. And the really, really popular ones often leave it ambiguous.

I think I'm especially off it at this point because I don't watch as much TV as I once did, and I do read so many romance novels, many of which do feature queer characters who are explicitly queer and have amazing HEAs (albeit after some angst!). That's become more of my standard, and I have less patience for TV

[acourtofthought]

hi! im new to the acotar fandom and im only in book 1 but i love reading theories on the characters and i see that theres a ship war between elriel and gwynriel/elucien. and i just have this one thought that i havent seen anyone mention before:

if elain is lucien’s mate, that means azriel has his own mate that we dont know about yet. could be gwyn or it could be someone else entirely. and yes while azriel for sure lusts over elain, do we really think that he will forego the thought of his own mate? we’re talking about azriel here. someone who is desperate for a mate, for love. to be loved and to love someone who is his and only his. if he gets with elain, wouldnt he wonder about his own mate? especially if the bond snaps and he figures out who is mate actually is. i dont see him abandoning his mate for a forbidden love (elain). and could he stomach the thought of permanently taking someone else’s mate?

i guess when it comes to gwynriel (assuming gwyn is his mate) or elriel, the question really comes down to whether his desire for his one true mate is stronger than his desire to be like his brothers and get with an acheron sister.

and ive read that the cauldrons can make mistakes when it comes to mates. but i refuse to believe that they made a mistake with azriel’s mate. he has been through so much and he already feels unworthy as he is. imagine how much worse he would feel if he knows that the cauldron made a mistake in his bond. like “i’m not even worth the careful consideration in pairing mates with one another that they just carelessly pair me with someone wrong”. my baby az 💔

You're going to have to check back in once you finish the series and let me know your thoughts on what you read versus the theories you've seen!! And what you think of Az once you get further along. Az in book 2 definitely reads differently to me than Az in later books. I agree with what you're saying. There's little chance that Feyre, Rhys, Cassian and Nesta would have been given perfect mating bonds while Elain as the remaining sister would have been given a poorly matched bond and Az as the remaining brother would have either received no bond or a poorly matched mating bond himself. SJM told us in all of her series that Fae Mating Bonds are unique and special and there's no other way to look at it then feeling like a main character who was given a poorly matched mating bond is then the loser of the group (not like "personality" loser but the one who wasn't gifted that super special bond). And if both Az and Elain do have their own mates but reject those mates, they'd always be aware that the other has a pull to someone else. That's a weird thing to do with characters in a fantasy book, write a MF romance where they picked one another but the reader will always walk away with the knowledge that Fate wanted them to be with someone else and they're always going to share a unique connection with them. And maybe, even with all that, it wouldn't be as much of an issue if E/riel shared an undeniably special connection. But for the fact that half the fandom is extremely concerned by their behavior together, I think it's proof that they don't have the epic kind of love that could convince everyone that mating bonds don't matter. He never once gives Elain credit for who she is as a person, he protects her in a way that's stifling her growth, we get confirmation they don't communicate well, we never get confirmation from Azriel himself that he's moved on from Mor though we do get confirmation that Az hasn't thought of a real future with Elain. And the reason it's ok Amren doesn't have one is because she wasn't really Fae to begin with and Mor actively does not want a bond with a male partner. So if she does happen to have one with Eris, her desire to be with a female strongly overrides caring about whether she has bond with him. The "tug" that would always exist becomes more of a familial thing than a romantic thing. Not that SJM couldn't end up writing it so Mor / Eris aren't actually Mates and she has a same sex mate instead but to me it does seem she's going in the direction of Mor and Eris as mates.

[princesslocket]

I can do the same and ask for lore >:3c gimme the power of friendship/relationships lore for Locket and the twst homies!!

You know... Even after asking the question I kind of have the same reaction sljhgioeshg

While Locket does have a good amount of connections with the students of NRC, I feel like she struggles a bit to maintain those relationships. Not because she doesn't care (sometimes she cares a little too much) but because she can get lost in her own world and forget to communicate with others unless they're right there in front of her.

Ramshackle & Staff

Grim: They're pretty good friends! Or at least Locket thinks so! Really she just enjoys following him along on whatever kind of adventure he wants to do- Honestly, she indulges him a little too much. Whether it be feeding him to his heart content or appeasing his whims.

Ghosts: Every now and then Locket will make the ghosts little ornaments and trinkets just to have. It's mostly her way of thanking them for their hospitality since she really doesn't know what else a ghost might like or have use for kshvjsnv

Sam: Locket finds his endless supply of items extremely fascinating. Like she can get super specific on what she wants and Sam will almost always have it somewhere (hidden) somewhere in his shop. She once spent an entire weekend in the shop reading one of her favorite comic series with him

Heartslabyul

Riddle: Views Locket as a menace (derogatory). She's always eating all the apple tarts and doesn't even share!!! (She does but it's always coincidentally when he's not around. I promise it's not on purpose). He'd throw her out the dorms if she wasn't so nice- Really it's a pain how well the two get along when they're in club together...

Ace: Her self appointed older brother! Locket just liked his vibes decided he was her unofficial older brother day (unbeknownst to Ace of courses). The two of them get along as well as anyone else would - And they both end up getting into tricky situations more often than not even when they're both being mindful of the other.

Cater: Before meeting Cater, Locket was seriously against having her picture taken/posted online for fear that someone from home might find her you know 'cause if tsum's could appear out of nowhere then surely her family could too, right? But after being shown what differences filters and editing could make to her own photos, she reluctantly started to warm up to magicams and the like. She STILL doesn't really like having her picture taken but Cater is always kind enough to put a sticker on her face, cropping her out, or just not the posting the picture to keep her mind at ease.

Trey: He probably views Locket as a little menace (affectionately). The only times she visits him are when she's hungry for apple tarts, which is quiet often. And while he make the tarts for her, he has to wonder what would become of their relationship if he suddenly stopped making her the tarts- He's considered teaching Locket how to make them herself multiple times but is afraid of what would come next...

Savanaclaw

Jack: Low-key headcanon he has a crush on Locket and isn't even aware of it yet himself. He's just has some conflicting feelings and chalks them up to strong friendship vibes uwu

Ruggie: Out of everyone here, Ruggie probably knows Locket the most. And totally not because she told him anything but because he found out while snooping through her belongs (during book 2) He's been real good at keeping her past life a secret and all and Locket's real thankful for that but every since he found out, she's kept a subtle distance between them. Very few have noticed this besides Ruggie, Leona, Ace, and Lilia.

Octavinelle

Jade: Has her order practically memorized at the Mostro Lounge. I like to think that when business is slow he'll join Locket at whichever booth she's settled at and ask what kinds of foods she enjoys because there's no way the girlie can survive on the same exact meal each and every day.

Scarabia

Kalim: Her partner in parties! These two could dance and sing all day and night if you let them! Locket's waited YEARS for someone to match her lively energy oh boy was she glad to have found Kalim! They plan all kinds of activities to do together when no one else wants to party. It's usually up to Jamil to keep them both in check from overdoing it-

Jamil: Locket is a little wary of him- Even though her time with Kalim has shown her just how smart and reliable Jamil is, she just can't shake the feeling that he probably knows more about her than he's letting on. Of course, since she has no proof of anything she's on much better terms with him than she is with Ruggie.

Pomefiore

Vil: In the beginning, Locket exclusively avoided him because he reminded her of her mother (not to mention his massive online presence) but after The National Arcane Academy Culture Fair, Locket quickly warmed up to him. She doesn't go out of her way to make her presence known to him nowadays but every now and then she'll send him some sweets to eat even if she knows he'll throw them away (he doesn't but she doesn't know that).

Rook: They're archery buddies uwu They first met when Locket was trying to reenact that one scene in Brave where Merida was firring off arrows as she rode through the land on Angus's back and Rook found it amusing how awful Locket's aim was so he helped fix her form on ground and then by horseback and they've been friends ever since! And yes, Locket does give Rook some sweets to eat too!

Epel: Locket's always been an apple lover so when she heard about Epel and his history with the fruit she knew they were going to be fast friends! She quickly found out however that apple talk wasn't exactly the best thing to base a friendship on. Luckily for her, the two where able to find other common interests such as their shared love for blastcyles and potion making.

Ignihyde

Ortho: For some odd reason Locket's always been good with little kids. Probably because she has a hard time saying no and they take advantage of it but with Ortho, she never has to worry about that. The kid is smart enough to know what limit he should and shouldn't push and makes sure Locket is having just as much fun as he is! The two of them have spent countless hours making up fantasy worlds for fictional characters to live in.

Diasomnia

Malleus: He's her literal favorite person to talk to when no one else is around. Partially because Malleus never pries into her life but also because he's got such a comforting aura. She makes it a point to invite him to any and all events, even if it's just to walk around campus, but is rarely ever taken up on the offer. On nights when the two of them are conversing outside, Locket will sometimes fall asleep to the sound of his voice. And when she wakes up, she's almost always tucked back in bed with a few fairy lights lingering by her window...

Silver: It was strange how they became friends- Whenever Locket would wander off looking for somewhere quiet to be (the library, the forest, Sam's shop, etc) Silver was always sleeping right there! Sometimes he'd wake up to her placing a sandwich by him as she was preparing to leave and sometimes he'd awake to no one at all but with her blazer wrapped around him- No matter what happened he'd always seek her out later on to return her jacket/repay her for her kindness.

Sebek: He scares her. Being in the same club and should have helped her come to understand his character a little more, but really, it's just confused her more on who he is as a person. Let's just say the two don't see eye to eye (literally with their height difference and all XD)

Lilia: He helps tutor Locket when she's having a particular hard time understanding a subject. He breaks it down for her in ways she can get without having to do mental gymnastics. And if it's late when they're done, he'll invite her back to the dorms for dinner or walk her back to the Ramshackle dorm. (I feel like he wants to adopt Locket but can't because he isn't sure how Silver would take it XD And yes I'm implying that I can low-key see a ship happening with her and Silver or her and Malleus)