#so to see EVERYONE just supporting them so STRONGLY is incredible!!!!

[laceandsteelgirl]

not to australiapost on main but FUCK YEAH THE MATILDAS!!!! they may not have won that game but my god have they won the heart of the nation 💛💚💛💚

[felassan]

The Next Dragon Age Has a New Title

by Author - BioWare - Posted on June 6, 2024

"Join us on Tuesday, June 11 for the Official Gameplay Reveal Hi everyone, Summer is nearly upon us, and as promised, we’re ready to provide an update on our big reveal. We’d like to invite the world to join us on Tuesday, June 11, for the official first look at gameplay for the next Dragon Age! After Dragon Age: Inquisition launched, the studio was given an incredible opportunity to explore, test, and validate a variety of gameplay concepts as we worked to determine what the next Dragon Age could look like. We brought everything to the table which, yes, even included a multiplayer concept. The time we spent experimenting and iterating gradually taught us a lot. This work, and the amazing support from EA, helped us re-focus on creating an incredible single player game, with all the choices, characters and world building you’d expect from us. At BioWare, we create worlds of adventure, conflict and companionship, where you’re at the center of it all. As fans of our franchise know, every Dragon Age game has delivered a new standalone story. Set in the world of Thedas, these tales explore epic locales and threats, always thrusting you into a new conflict. Each game also introduces a new lead hero – The Warden, Hawke, The Inquisitor – that you can call your own. You can expect all that, and more, with the new game. And of course, much like your unique hero, it wouldn’t be a Dragon Age game without an amazing cast of companions – right?  Each of the seven unique characters that make up your companions will have deep and compelling storylines where the decisions you make will impact your relationships with them – as well as their lives. You’ll unite this team of unforgettable heroes as you take on a terrifying new threat unleashed on the world. Naturally, the Dread Wolf still has an important part in this tale, but you and your companions – not your enemies – are the heart of this new experience. So, to capture what this game is all about, we changed the name as the original title didn’t show just how strongly we feel about our new heroes, their stories and how you’ll need to bring them together to save all of Thedas. We proudly introduce to you Dragon Age™: The Veilguard.

We know you’ve been waiting a long time for this reveal and we’re so ready to show you what we’ve been up to. We’ll see you on Tuesday, June 11th at 8:00am PT at the Dragon Age YouTube channel with over 15 minutes of gameplay from the opening moments of the game that has you jumping back into Thedas on your new adventure. This moment means so much to everyone at BioWare, and we wouldn’t be here without you. We’re ready to have some fun, so join the chat early…we’ve got a few special surprises for you.  Thank you for all your support. See you soon, Gary McKay Executive Producer, Dragon Age, and General Manager, BioWare"

[source]

[modmad]

Hey Mod, I don't know what's going on that hurt you, I feel like I missed something that's happened, but I can tell from what I did see that it didn't just hurt you, but scared you and made you feel a Lot of doubt. I've also seen a lot of messages pouring in with support, and I want to share mine.

I have hypermobile type EDS, fibromyalgia, and a whole bucket's worth of faulty wiring in my brain. And I've always had stories to tell but I never felt I was good enough to share them. If it's because I can't focus enough to get through nanowrimo, or because I can't manage the focus and time towards drawing as a hobby, or the fact that an excessive amount of either for me leads to my hands wanting to shut down. But you? You *inspire* me. Your stories, all the ones I've seen, read, experienced in some way or another, they're so good. And you're open and honest with your fans about your own health, and of course, we support you and always would rather you rest and feel as best you can, instead of pushing out something and working yourself too hard. But all of this is to say that. I think I would have given up on my own stories if I hadn't found you and yours.

I hope whatever is going on sorts itself out, I hope you're able to keep telling your stories. At your own pace, in your own way. I think you deserve to be happy. If there's anything we (your fans, especially those of us too awkward to come off anon, whoops,) can do, to help in some way? Even if it's silly videos or cute cat pictures or whatever it is that could just help you smile. We're here. We love you.

woof. I woke up to so many messages I can't even read them all in one go I'm getting too emotional- I do feel I owe an explanation so I'll explain what happened under the cut but all you guys need to know is I'm okay, I got through it, I love you, and you're so important to me and I'm so grateful for all the messages that have asked me to stay.

tw for suicidal thoughts and all that

yeah so I have the bad morning of all mornings: was introduced to the fact there's this one character (Mr Puzzles) on a very popular youtube that. resembles RGB. incredibly strongly. like. I don't want to link to it just look if you want to. Anyway at the time I thought it had just dropped (seems to have been around for 6 months actually), and having commented on it I immediately got an inbox full of hate mail.

My website, meanwhile, had locked both me and my web designer out of it, and- already in a bad state of mind- I went into full on panic/paranoid spiral of 'they have hacked it, and they are going to delete any proof that I was here before them.' This of course wasn't true, and we have since recalimed control of the site (don't know what happened there but hey. it's fine???? haha. ha.)

On top of this my father has terminal cancer of the pancreas, which is horrible for everyone already but it means that- at some point this year- I am going to be the only person with an active income in my house. I am disabled, do not make a lot of money, and the cost of living is skyrocketing. Combine that with months of Despair at the world right now, with the multiple wars, genocide, corruption and AI and the loss of control any of us have over our IP or lives and I just decided it was time to end it all.

I somehow remembered this was a bad idea to act on immediately (hard during a period of entirely irrational thought) and instead went for a very long walk, crossed the bridge I could have jumped off and during that I came out of the worst of it. I then came back home to so much love online I felt deeply ashamed for ever contemplating it, and I cried a lot. My nose is still puffy and now my feet hurt! lmao

Anyway. Yeah. There's your context. I am not going to stop hoping, making, or living. I am prone to moments of weakness and this was one of the worst of them and I am still here, thanks in a large part to all of you. I might need you in the future to defend me against this, or people who take our ideas, but I hope you know that I will do the same for you. We need each other, and to be there for you I need to be here at all.

also fuck Mr Puzzles

[tiyoin]

Does Rook ever just "watch" twisted anxiety reader ?? I feel like he just enjoys the reactions that comes out of the reader.

the moment rook noticed reader slow down during PE was when he got a new target🤭

(rook is gonna get introduced very soon!)

it was enviable becoming rook's next watch target. silly reader! did you really think you'd be safe from people's watchful eyes in the sanctuary of ramshackle? your room?

non non non!

ofc rook loves to watch yuu. he finds them as beautiful as a stem of grass. how they go whichever way the wind takes them with gusto and elegance. how no matter how violently the wind whips them around they'll always be surrounded, always be supported by their fellow blades of grass. winter may be hard, like the obstacles they face! they may get stepped on, trampled and abused. but they'll always stand tall no matter what the cruelness of winter throttles at them. and when the spring rolls around, there's more blades of grass this time. they all get stronger and stronger, forever nonyielding to any adversities.

as much as they were a fortress, they were also a home. insects and bugs alike call grassy plains home. what may seem like meters to us could be miles for them. the grass are smaller trees, rook would joke in French whenever he got the chance.

overbold after overbold, rook was more surprised than the last at their perseverance, just like that of a single blade of grass.

and yet, you were something else entirely.

you were a donkey.

non non non!! that is something you should be ashamed of!

donkeys are de toute beauté creatures! (rook is actually more offended than you were when you got upset he compared you to a donkey)

listen dear y/n! donkeys are peaceful creatures that do not need your narrow mindedness around them. they're doing their best and that's more than anyone else can do.

would you rather be friends with a show horse or a donkey?

if you say show horse rook can see why. they're beautiful, elegant, majestic creatures compared to the latter. they're the models of the mammal species.

and yet, show horses are vain, egoistical divas who are known to kick and prank their trainers. quite literally bite the hand that feeds them.

yes you feel good being around it, but when push comes to shove, they care more about their manes than yours.

donkeys, to others, may be less physically appealing than the mighty knights stead, and yet by live stock handlers are much more beloved.

donkeys, albeit enthused creatures, are sensitive, kind, are known to make incredibly strong bonds. they're loyal creatures, once befriending a donkey you have a friend for life. where you walk they walk, when you cry they cry.

donkey's do not have manes so they do not care for them.

donkeys are very social animals, it is strongly advised of rhyme to not be solo as they become incredibly distressed and depressed when not in the company of their loved ones.

and dear reader, he must call you a donkey because have you SEEN your-

*rook is thrown in horny jail*

but rook is definitely one to appreciate the hidden gems of the world. and with his (and vil's) help he could make you shine! hiding uncut gems is an addictive feeling, but being able to shape and mend those rocks into crystals- that's what rook loves.

he wants everyone else to see the beauty that is you the beauty that you keep locked away in a hidden tower inside your heart. thick vines and unkept underbrush scatter along the walls of stone, titanium, and glass guard your tower.

rook will do what he must to get that box inside the tower, under the bed. he will do whatever it takes to open that box and show the world it's contents.

so why don't you join him for lunch? dear y/n.

and if the world turns it away he'll happily nuzzle it. as you always say: more for me!

uh, but to answer the question: yes. rook does watch twisted anxiety reader. it's apart of his schedule. he especially loves their unpredictability.

you have a class today, will you make it? or will you skip it again? if you skip it, then that's okay!

there's a few times where you've made him pause to think. but there were other times you were so painfully predictable. so painfully predictable that he felt perverted when he guessed the time you were gonna go to the library. only to see you walk in through the heavy oak doors not a second too late nor early.

and oh my god he loves watching reader's reactions. this mf would keep a track sheet 😭

would you continue playing the role of l'agneau, or would you let your fangs peek through your wooly disguise in hopes that the others wouldn't realize.

rook (and admittedly a few others) want to put you under a microscope.

poor reader would never leave ramshackle again if they found out! it works out for rook that the reader thinks they're unremarkable, it really does. cause it keeps them 'grounded' and in their own little buule! so he doesn't have to worry about any outside forces or them thinking a little too hard about their shadow.

[altocat]

i'm still following first soldier's plot just from these posts but how is young sephiroth portrayed? is he evil or like he was in crisis core or what

Young Sephiroth is depicted as being confused, insecure, and kind of brainwashed from years of conditioning under Shinra. First Soldier provided some interesting aspects and moments for his character, which I'll bullet for you here real quick.

Sephiroth has never been on a real mission before this one. Most of his "accomplishments" so far have been fabricated lies under Shinra for propaganda purposes. Despite him simultaneously being freakishly strong and overpowered thanks to the Jenova cells.

Sephiroth is also apparently incredibly sheltered as he comes across as very socially awkward and kind of shy when he isn't sticking to Shinra's script. It's implied he's barely ever interacted with actual people outside of a controlled setting.

Sephiroth carries a locket of his mother Lucrecia (who he refers to as Jenova) and at this point still believes her to be alive and is looking for her. He apparently asks everyone he meets to see if they know anything about her. He loses this locket offscreen btw and it's bullshit.

Sephiroth is a brainwashed child soldier and often spouts fucked up logic/Shinra propaganda in order to justify his more violent actions. He conveys an extremely paranoid world view that if he doesn't fight, he'll be killed or hurt. This obv speaks to the conditions Shinra put him under during training.

That said, Sephiroth actively dislikes his status as a "hero" and just wants to find his mom and live a normal life. He breaks down crying after killing a bunch of child soldiers his own age and says that he never wanted to be what he is.

Sephiroth occasionally has moments where he acts like an actual little kid, giggling over Glenn's jokes, wanting the group's approval, and often coming off as being kind of timid and overly respectful. He has two modes--hardass leader sticking to a schedule and a literal child trying to push himself too hard because that's all he was ever taught.

Most of the time he's pretty supportive and courteous, if not overly polite. He clearly really wants to impress his team and often apologizes whenever he makes a mistake. He's leader, but he's figuring things out.

Lastly, and strangely most importantly, the stupid Halloween Event of all things confirmed that Hojo has been abusing/torturing Sephiroth for most of his life and is likely the reason why Sephiroth pushes himself so hard.

Currently, Sephiroth's story is still unfinished. The game makes it clear that he's grown very attached to his new team and feels responsible for protecting them from danger. He and main character Glenn have formed a brotherly bond of sorts and Sephiroth willingly goes against Shinra's orders in order to follow his team to rescue another boy his age from danger (Rosen). Rosen and Sephiroth are expected to have an encounter next chapter and it's very strongly implied that Sephiroth will end up killing Rosen as a means of trying to protect his group/some other reason. It's gonna be fucked up and emotional either way.

[consoledacup]

Favorite handhold of mine is undoubtedly the wedding shot. First of all, I'm just thrilled that Polin is paid homage with a classic hand shot like the other seasons.

And just like the other seasons, this hand shot perfectly encapsulates their journey. They kiss for the first time as man and wife, and they turn to face the wedding guests. They mutually reach for each other and meet in the middle. There is some awkward fumbling which is a cute little portrayal of their will they/won't they dynamic. They're also not as in sync with each other as they'd like to be, so it takes them a little more work to get there.

But the important part is that they're still choosing to be together, despite everything else. They face their loved ones, not to mention the entire ton, holding hands. To me, that's Colin and Penelope against the world. They have not yet fully resolved their very serious, very complex issues. And it might be frustrating to watch Colin process Lady Whistledown as he does.

But from the very first moment he finds out, he confronts Penelope, and he confronts Eloise who he's certain already knows. That's it. He even suggests he accompany his mother for wedding breakfast planning to ensure her that the wedding is on. He lowers his voice when he reminds Penelope that she's compromised, well aware of the mamas within earshot, in order to protect her honor.

His friends and Benedict question his mood at his stag do, and he provides them with nothing. Anthony straight up asks what happened, and he refuses to share. He offers his name to her as freely as he did when they were newly engaged.

Penelope only confides in Eloise and Genevieve and is incredibly understanding about Colin's irate reaction when she seeks counsel from them. She's very tightlipped with her mother about his attitude, even as she acknowledges that something's off. She never once disparages Colin to anyone.

She is strongly advised to keep her blackmail situation a secret, and she can't do it. No matter what she fears he may think of her, she values him too much as her partner to keep him in the dark ever again.

And Colin even adjusts his tone when he sees Portia behind Penelope the day after the wedding so as not to reveal his frustration with her. He confronts Cressida, begging for her to understand Penelope as he does. He is all in on lying to Benedict for Penelope's sake.

Penelope fills Colin in on her potentially ruinous plan, and he's there for his mother, readily available to answer her questions as Penelope's ambassador.

He asks Penelope to dance with him five minutes after she exposes her identity, publicly revealing his support and admiration of Lady Whistledown to the ton.

The wedding handhold is a beautiful reflection of their partnership. As the audience, we were privy to a lot of the tension and internal conflict that kept the two privately apart. But to everyone else, it was incredibly important for both of them to present a united front. They have far too much love and respect for one another to behave any other way.

[intimidating-fettuccine]

Headcanon, since it’s Mother’s Day, that Mother’s Day is a huge event in the mansion.

Slender’s brothers always come over and help out, as do the rest of the creeps. Slender’s mother and Toby’s mother will both come over, and everyone else always tries to make the day special for them.

Both of those moms do a lot of cooking for everyone, so in return everyone does a bunch of cooking for them, and it’s all of their favorite foods. The girls take them out to go to the spa and get manicures and pedicures, and they go out for lunch while the guys are back at the mansion cooking and decorating. When they return, they’re presented with the gifts that everyone has gotten for them, and then they have a nice Mother’s Day dinner.

Toby is practically glued to his mom’s side whenever he can be, trying to do whatever he can for her because she’s all he has left and she wants today to be as special for her as it can be. The Slender brothers are extra attentive with their mom as well, especially considering they don’t often get to see her because of their conflicting schedules.

I think it makes both of the moms incredibly happy that everyone in the mansion does their best for them because of the fact that to everyone in the mansion they are their mother figures.

They all sit around the table talking and laughing while they eat, with the moms sharing a few stories about their children growing up, some of which are embarrassing much to the chagrin of said children. By the end of the night Slender’s mom takes her leave so she can go celebrate Mother’s Day with their father, but I think Toby’s mom probably spends the night before heading back to Earth from the Underworld the following day.

However, as night sets in, a few of the creeps also sneak out of the mansion to pay some visits. BEN/Jane/Nina always goes to visit their respective mom’s gravestones on Mother’s Day, staying there for hours at a time, because it’s days like today that they miss their moms the most.

The other creeps that had good, loving parents that are still living also sneak out, enviously looking through windows, checking on them to make sure they’re doing okay. Creeps like Tim/Brian/Kate/Puppeteer that (in my canon) had loving parents and loving homes long so strongly to be able to just pay them a visit, tell them that they’re okay, they’re still here after all these years, but they can’t. Despite their longing, they settle for watching from a distance, and leaving anonymous gifts like flowers on doorsteps.

Creeps that didn’t have good mothers spend the night together, having done their best to make the day special for the two invited moms. Jeff/Liu/Natalie/Helen comfort each other, bittersweet about the fact that they wish they had a mom of their own to celebrate, a mom that was much kinder than the ones they were born to. However, they can’t do anything about that fact, so they turn to each other and the incredible mother figures they now have to fill that void.

Mother’s Day is always a big event, and it’s also one of the more emotional days of the year for the creeps. However, all of them are in agreement that no matter what they’ll always appreciate the two women that now care for all of them and do their best to support them.

[m-jelly]

Dad!Levi x Mom!Reader. The Ackerman Family celebrates Pride Month with friends and family that are part of the LGBTQ+ Community. SFW @2moth-anon2

@ladycheesington <3

Love and friends.

Levi x fem!reader

Modern AU, Dad Levi, Mum reader, being a couple, married life, friends, supporting friends.

Levi gets word that your married friends Historia and Ymir will be at the front of a pride parade float as Queens. You decide to make time out of your busy fun-filled family life to support your wonderful friends.

@ladycheesington @levisbrat25 @nyxiieluna @li-anne @galactict3a

@youre-ackermine @thebobaprincess @2moth-anon2 @cypidity @nbinairyn

@bts-spnlvr12 @darkstarlight82 @emilyyyy-08 @levistealeaf @pelicanpizza

@hideandgopeep @notgoodforlife @demonic-bird @searriously

Lilly giggled as you painted her face to make her look like a bunny. "Mummyyy."

You smiled at her. "I know, but I'm almost done." You pulled back from her. "All done."

Your four-year-old ran to the mirror and gazed at herself. "Bunny!"

You giggled. "That's right." You stood up and offered your hand. "Shall we show Daddy?"

She grabbed your hand tightly. "Yes!"

You walked over to Levi dressing up your baby girl, Daisy, in a sweet little onesie. "Honey?"

Levi glanced over. "Almost ready." He lifted Daisy up and walked over. "Here we are, one little bunny done!"

You giggled at seeing your baby dressed as a bunny. "She looks perfect and matches her sister!"

Lilly jumped out. "Ta-dah!"

Levi leaned down and kissed her forehead. "You look perfect. You ready to go support your aunties?"

She nodded. "Uh-huh!"

He hummed a laugh. "Come on, my little bunnies. Time to go."

Daisy ran ahead. "Go, go, go!"

"She's full of beans, huh?"

You rubbed his back as you worked. "She is. She gets that from me."

"She does." He smiled. "Makes me happy."

As a family, you made your way to Levi's car and put the kids in. Levi drove through the town and towards the city as Lilly talked to her baby sister. Daisy just babbled back to her causing a sweet moment between the two sisters.

Levi managed to park up at where he worked. He was CEO of a tea and coffee company that also made biscuits and cookies. Levi was an incredible boss and his products were so addictive, just like him.

When he parked, he strapped Daisy to him while you carried Lilly. You walked out of the parking area to a nice spot on the parade route that was reserved for his company. Levi and Erwin also paid for a float and donated to charities that were at the front of this year's parade.

Levi and Erwin had big hearts. They were strong allies and strongly believed that love is love. As long as it is legal and you're not hurting anyone, you can love who you love. Levi wouldn't know what he'd do if someone said he couldn't love you. Plus, his friends meant a lot to him.

While waiting you were slowly joined by your friends. It was lovely to see everyone together. The younger ones were part of the parade, but the vets hung out together sharing drinks and snacks. Hange was with her lovely husband Moblit. Mike was with his girlfriend and Erwin had brought his wife along. It was nice to gather together and celebrate your friends.

Lilly waved and accepted pretty stickers from people in the parade. You laughed when a drag queen kissed Levi on the cheek. A lot of people were making a fuss about Levi and Erwin because they were so handsome. You couldn't blame them because you fussed over Levi and Erwin's wife fussed over him.

Eventually, Historia was in view with her Queen outfit with Ymir at her side. You all waved and cheered for them. You were all happy for them and couldn't believe how stunning they looked. You danced with Lilly as you enjoyed the music on the float. Even Levi started dancing with Daisy. He lifted her arms and waved gently at Historia.

The parade slowly died down and a few of you were going to a diner later that you'd hired out. You all gathered together and waited for your friends in the parade to join you. As soon as your friends entered you cheered for them and waved rainbow flags.

Historia hurried to you and Levi. "Thank you so much! The float was even better than last year. Levi, you're wonderful."

He played with Daisy's feet. "Don't mention it. You're wonderful friends of ours. You deserve happiness and to be proud of who you are."

Lilly gasped. "Are you a Queen?"

Historia giggled. "Only for a day."

"You are so pretty!"

"Thank you." She squeezed Lilly's hand. "You are an adorable little bunny."

"Thank you!" Lilly pointed. "Daisy is one too!"

Ymir walked over and leaned to look at Daisy. "Ha, that's so damn cute." She looked over at Historia. "We should do that with our kids."

Historia blushed. "Mm, yes."

Levi smiled. "You two will be amazing parents. If you need help at all with adoption or funding IVF, let me know."

You rubbed Levi's back. "We're here for you."

Ymir yanked Historia close. "We appreciate it. I think this one would say it, but she's now emotional."

"Talk to us anytime."

Levi smiled at you. "Let's sit for a moment. I think our two bunnies need food."

You nodded. "Yes. I'm starving too."

You huddled together in a booth and were soon joined by Erwin and his pregnant wife. You all talked as a family and laughed together. The diner was full of love, and no one was judged. Everyone was welcome.

[bird-inacage]

Only Friends: What Led to Ray's Explosive Tirade (Playing 'The Bad Guy')

I have to admit that this was not how I expected this scene to play out. I was just as flabbergasted as everyone else at first. However I think there's one clear thing that Ray's outburst reminded me off: no matter whether you reveal the truth or keep it to yourself - either way, you are the bad guy.

I'm NOT the Villain

As Boston very derisively claims, if Ray reveals the truth of the affair, he'll be the one unleashing the damage. A similar parallel to what Boston did last episode (with very different intentions may I add, but damage is damage nonetheless).

Mew is incredibly important to Ray. If we talk simply outside of Ray's love for him, Ray wants to treat him well, repay him for his kindness and support over the years. Therefore, once Ray was in possession of this information, he felt very strongly that Mew needed to know. He knew telling Mew was the right thing to do. He does genuinely care about Mew as a person.

Does he warn Mew and ruin his present happiness (which is based on a lie)? Or does he hold his tongue and potentially watch his friend get hurt from other mistreatments by Top further down the line?

Ray doesn't want to hurt Mew in any way. He doesn't want to be the bringer of bad news. Why should it have to fall to him to reveal this awful act of betrayal to someone he cares for so much? And when Mew supposedly doesn't react in the way he expects to this information, Ray goes ballistic with frustration, concern and anger. Why is he the bad guy for trying to help his friend, when Top can seemingly get away with it, and be in everyone's good graces even when he's completely undeserving? Why can no one else see Top's true colours?

I'm NOT the Worst

Something else that occurred to me throughout this episode, is how often Ray's friends belittle and overlook him. And it's so routine they hardly even notice.

Boston has never tried to hide his snide little back-handed comments at Ray. Since their fight at Sand's, he's become even more callous when throwing quips in plain sight. Namcheum makes an observation about all of them being partnered up, and it's only after a few beats that April points out Ray is still single. It's as if they forgot he was even there. Namcheum doesn't tend to pick up on any of the animosity or tension within this group. She's generally not the most tactful or best at reading people.

Then when Ray speaks to Mew in the bathroom, Mew immediately assumes Ray's been taking drugs. Ray looks clearly stunned by this. Yes, he's always coined as the 'drunk' but that's not his one and only personality trait. That's not all he does and is as a person.

It dawns on Ray that even his closest friends seem to always assume the very worst of him. He had a bad feeling about Top from the offset but no one cared or listened. Rather, Ray never gets given the benefit of the doubt, when he's not committed anything as problematic as the heinous crimes amongst their group. Particularly when compared to Top, someone who gets all the praise and adoration when Ray knows he's a certified piece of shit, is desperately unfair. And most of all Top gets the respect of the best friend he loves.

I think what really sent the situation hurtling south was Ray watching everyone play happy families, when he knows there is a web of dishonesty and resentment lurking beneath. It's all a farce. And Ray couldn't stomach it for another moment longer. He had enough.

Become the Very Thing You Loathe

In Episode 4, Ray displays a classic example of self-loathing and self punishment when he goads Sand to scold him. In doing so, it's as if he's deriving some warped form of satisfaction in owning these criticisms. Because he's told these things so often, he starts to believe it, so why not own it too? I actually mentioned this in my Episode 1 meta (regarding Ray's self-actualisation of becoming a burden). Sometimes embracing the very thing you hate being know for, at least validates the presence of that criticism. 'If people keep calling me an asshole, then fine, I'll become an asshole. At least then being called an asshole makes sense.'

So Ray brought it on himself to air out everyone's dirty laundry. 'Fuck it, if you really all think I'm the worst, then fine, I'll do what needs to be done, I'll be the worst. You all happy now?'

Even though Ray adopts the persona forced onto him, he's not happy about it at all. He wants to be identified with more substance, with more credit, as more than just what everyone claims him to be.

[specialagentartemis]

First Impressions: Doug Eiffel

for this ask game

First impression

Oh my god I can’t stand this fuckin guy. He is SO annoying. Minkowski is a far better woman than I am because if he treated ME like that I would have just left him to drown in space. Little bit disappointed that she didn’t.

Impression now

Favorite podcast protag Basically Ever. I love him and I want him to be happy and he’ not but I want him to be!!! The heart of the team, the social glue who holds everyone together. Character development leaves me in awe. He went through Some Shit and the way he is makes a lot of sense, in retrospect, but also, him getting hit over the head with You Need To Try To Do Better and him truly trying to do better was so well done and I am So impressed.

Favorite moment

Choosing one is hard but I looove “Mayday” when we see Eiffel cast off in space and he shows how clever he actually is to survive!

(Also: “GODDAMN IT RENÉE DON’T DO THIS”)

Idea for a story

It’s extremely spoilery postcanon stuff but I would love to write him developing a friendship with [REDACTED] that absolutely no one else is happy with. The Tension. They get each other now in a way no one else does.

Also SOMEDAY I will finish the Box 953 story where Eiffel comes in clutch to save the day by completely misunderstanding the assignment. A Hero

Unpopular opinion

Eiffel’s relationship with Hera is an extension of the theme of parenthood—the parallels between Eiffel’s relationship with his daughter Anne and Pryce’s relationship Hera are extremely strong in “Limbo” and “Memoria.” The parent who feels a sense of ownership over their child, and in the process gives them a traumatic brain injury because they can’t let go of that sense of control. Eiffel’s relationship with Hera is affirming and healing for both of them—Eiffel can’t undo what he did to Anne, but he can do better this time by treating Hera like a whole person and an equal who gets to have her own choices and have her opinions heard; and Hera getting to have a relationship with someone who has that respect for her. They've mutually adopted each other, but there are times—especially in “Bolero” at the funeral—where Eiffel is taking that parental role and trying to do it better than he previously did, or she previously got.

The father-daughter aspects of Eiffel and Hera’s relationship are pretty thematically relevant to both of their character arcs. And it doesn’t have to be infantilizing or childish because uh adults have parents too, and the relationship between Cutter and Pryce is a third parallel there for a man and his adult daughter when he can’t let go of that feeling of control over her either.

Favorite relationship

Minkowski and Eiffel’s incredibly slowburn friendship to becoming so incredibly important to each other… it’s everything to me

Favorite headcanon

This man is aromantic and I have textual support of this. He has never heard this word before in his life tho.

Also this man went to Catholic school and that strongly informs very much of his general demeanor regarding authority.

[dunmeshi-darlings]

Do you happen to have any head canons for characters sexualities?

Indeed I do have a few personal thoughts on each characters sexuality. Some of them a bit divisive

Laios - Pansexual I feel like laios wouldn't care about his partner's gender It's definitely more a personality thing for him.

Marcille - Bisexual but has a HEAVY preference for woman. Here's my first bit of difference from popular fanon. I believe marcille is bisexual due to the succubus arc. No shame for the lesbian marcille people, just not for me personally.

Chilchuck - Bisexual but doesn't realize it. One of those "what? Everyone's had a same sex attraction before" or "what? Some guys are just incredibly hot" situation. The one that doesn't realize they are bisexual and just think that is normal.

Senshi - I personally view him as asexual, though not sex repulsed. He doesn't have negative views or feelings towards sex. Simply that it's more of a whatever situation and doesn't feel strongly about it. Would rather be cooking.

Izutsumi - Demisexual. This one is my biggest disagreement with fanon as while I fully respect and support people that view her as aro ace. I just personally view her as Demisexual and that she can have sexual feelings for a person if she is deeply connected to them romantically.

Falin - pansexual like her brother, but has a preference for woman (blushes heavily seeing marcille naked in the shower, and also called shuro attractive). Again it's more personality than anything.

Some Bonuses

kabru - Gay, I can't see kabru as being anything besides being gay. Especially with how he interacted with laios but most importantly how he interacted with Mithrun. (I personally like them together)

Mithrun - bisexual, but the demons influence fucked with his desires so it's hard to fully pin down what I would consider him.

Shuro - Demisexual, with how he fell for falin after knowing her for awhile and relating to her in such a way when she was admiring the caterpillar. I feel like he is like izutsumi in that he would be into a person sexually only after knowing them for awhile.

Namari - lesbian, look at her. The woman longingly stares at the Kikis legs. She is incredibly lesbian.

[captainofthetidesbreath]

Fjord's perfect mechanical build? I admit I've never really dug deep into their character sheets, could you elaborate on this?

This is going to be a high-level view of my philosophical thoughts on this, rather than a precise mechanical unpacking, because I've written a lot on Fjord's mechanics while the campaign was running (see the end of the post for a small selection) and Fjord's actually has a lot of mechanics that will take a long time to go through; though, I'm always happy to talk in detail if asked about specific aspects of his build. Also of note, @utilitycaster recently answered a question about her favorite build among CritRole PCs that discussed Fjord, and I agree with everything in that post—so that also gives further insight to my belief in Fjord being mechanically flawless. (Fjlawless?)

I hold Fjord to be mechanically perfect because his build achieves something that requires a lot of technical skill to execute, has incredible versatility allowing him flexibility and viability in pretty much every situation, strongly coheres with the overall tapestry of the party's mechanics, is informed by and develops his characterization, and has deep relationship to his narrative.

His build is thoughtful, both as a mechanical exercise but also as a means through which he is characterized. His flexibility is so extreme that it is difficult to create a scenario where Fjord cannot do anything, short of preventing him from taking actions altogether. He works very self-sufficiently as an individual and equally as well cooperatively within the context of the party. Fjord's build is also an intentional challenge for Travis as a player, who was exploring outside of his comfort zone by taking on spellcasting, which intimidated him at the time after Grog.

I also generally commend Travis on focusing so heavily on mobility. Mobility Is King, and it was rather unusual to spend as many options on a Hexadin into movement and mobility to the degree that Travis did. The almost comical number of teleportation abilities is actually very crucial to Fjord's effectiveness as a build, and, frankly, the fact that Travis has picked up so many of them shows a lot of precise understanding of variations in spell use cases.

Fjord has a strongly defined niche of his own, but his build is so flexible and robust that he is able to adapt and pivot into various roles as needed. He shares a small amount of overlap with everyone else in the party so that he can "double up" on a particular aspect (tanking, spell damage, physical damage, support casting, healing) as needed, but he never feels like he's encroaching on other people's niches. He isn't the BEST at these things, but he can play all these roles in a secondary but manner that helps the Nein respond to the changing tides of combat swiftly and often allows other individuals to do what it is they do best by alleviating pressure and giving them space to work (If you're familiar with Overwatch terminology, he often acts as the off-role, i.e. off-tank, in a flex capacity.) This level of flexibility and adaptability is incredibly difficult to do without gutting your efficiency and efficacy, but Fjord's build is able to do it.

It's especially impressive when his build is strongly influenced by and speaks to his character and narrative, as we've all done a lot of discussion on as a fandom. I do want to call out that, in addition to the narrative as a warlock and paladin, Fjord as a character is someone who devotes himself fully to supporting the group as a whole and each member individually to operate at their best, and his paladin levels as narrative have been well-discussed. It's just really difficult to built that level of precision while also maintaining a sense that all of these choices are tied to character, but Fjord feels that way—and that contributes strongly to my belief that he is mechanically perfect.

Fjord is one of the highest examples of “characterization in mechanics” in this campaign, in my opinion. - after 140, updated to incorporate some two-shot information

I really want to appreciate the way Travis played during that final combat. - after 140

Can Fjord knock out any given member of the Nein in a single turn—without critting? Level 14 Edition! - I don't think burst damage is be-all end-all, but people like to look at it. There's always calculations for maximum possible damage if given infinite prep time, but I prefer to look at what's possible in a single round bc it's truer to actual combat.

Why does Fjord need so many teleports? Or, a comparison of teleportation abilities. - To give context on this, because I mention the myriad teleports.

Small discussion on Fjord, Yasha, and Beau as having slightly different niches as melee attackers

Star Razor and how it facilitates and encourages Fjord’s range flexibility 

[jaggedteeth]

as the u.s. tour comes to a close, i want to take a moment to talk about a phenomenon i’ve seen taking place within mcr internet fan spaces these last few months, my thoughts on it, and how i think it relates back to digital media literacy.

(before we start, i want to make it clear that i’m just some guy and i am definitely not the most qualified person to talk about this, but i think some of the things in this post really, really need to be said. my hope is not necessarily to change your mind or to “get you on my side,” but to encourage you to think critically and independently, even during your daily scroll on social media.)

————

so, what is this ominous phenomenon i’m talking about? i’m referring to some of the comments i’ve seen mcr fans make regarding gerard’s gender—specifically the public, speculative, and seemingly unironic ones that attempt to put a label or a semblance of a label on his gender nonconformity.

(i think now’s a good time to mention you should read this entire post before engaging with or commenting on it. stay with me. we’re in this together.)

here is a post that i think does a good job of explaining this a little more in-depth for anyone who’s out of the loop.

regardless of my personal opinions on all of this, i understand why it’s happening. much of mcr’s fanbase is trans and/or non-binary, and seeking out representation from familiar, comforting figures is not out of the ordinary. i don’t think anyone involved means harm, and this isn’t a callout post. i’m just adding to a discussion i think has been largely one-sided up until recently.

————

what is the point of me making this post? to put it bluntly, i disagree with how much of the discussion around gerard’s gender identity and expression is being conducted.

(again, please stay with me.)

what is it, specifically, that i disagree with? is it the celebration of gerard’s gender nonconformity? is it the possibility they might not identify, partially or wholly, with their gender assigned at birth? is it the joy their gender expression has inspired in many mcr fans?

no. it’s none of those things; not even close. i can’t even put into words how i, a gender nonconforming trans man, felt when gerard wore his cheerleader dress in nashville. it was a special moment and i was so happy to see him happy.

but something that bothers me about the “gender wars” narrative is the idea that anyone who’s not all-in is, if not an outright transphobe, someone with deep-rooted biases they need to work through. i haven’t seen this from everyone, but it’s floated around here and there.

nuance in conversations like this is incredibly important. the human experience is rarely black and white. and i believe the notion that it must be, especially when it comes to topics such as queer identity, largely stems from closed-mindedness and fear, conscious or unconscious.

i have certainly witnessed people online assert that gerard must be cis, and there’s no way he can’t be cis, implying if he ever identified as anything other than cis that would be bad and gross and weird. i strongly disagree with that viewpoint because it’s transphobic and gerard is a real person who none of us know personally who can do whatever the fuck he wants. in the same way, i disagree with the viewpoint that gerard must be trans, and there’s no way he can’t be trans, implying anyone who disagrees is a transphobe who refuses to pay attention. because gerard is a real person who none of us know personally who can do whatever the fuck he wants.

i’m aware gerard has also made comments in the past about his journey with gender identity, the connection he feels to women and femininity, and even his experimentation with drag while he was in college. he’s said he should be referred to with either he/him or they/them pronouns, he’s an earnest supporter of the trans community, and he’s historically rejected the sexist shithead rock-dude stereotype.

i’m not here to downplay any of those things, nor am i trying to invalidate anyone who has taken comfort in or identified with those things. just a couple of points i would like you to think about, though:

some cis people also question their gender identity and/or use multiple sets of pronouns for a multitude of reasons (i’m not saying gerard has to be cis, i’m just giving you an extra viewpoint to chew on);

i’ve personally met plenty of men or male-aligned people who strongly identify with women and femininity. i strongly identify with women and femininity and i’m still 100% a trans man and will throw anyone who tries to tell me otherwise directly into the sun (again, i’m not saying gerard must be a man or male-aligned);

gender nonconformity and transness are complex, nuanced topics. labels can be useful, but they are not a be-all-end-all;

and i’m going to be blunt here—assuming and/or declaring someone is transfem when they haven’t publicly referred to themselves as such, just because they are comfortable discussing their own femininity and sometimes have a feminine presentation and feminine mannerisms, is basically an upgraded form of gender essentialism and completely disregards the existence and experiences of amab cis-passing queer people and gender nonconforming people. i understand it’s a tough pill to swallow, but intent doesn’t always equal impact, and just because someone may not see it that way doesn’t mean that’s not what they’re doing.

even if gerard is transfem, he’s still a real person who has a right to privacy and autonomy, and he never has to publicly label himself if he doesn’t want to. no one is entitled to seek out the details of his identity, but least of all us, a bunch of strangers on the internet who will probably never have a full conversation with him.

not one of us is an “authority” or “expert” on gerard way or my chemical romance. we can learn about the band’s history and public personas or laugh at the funny, quirky parts of their lore or cry when we think about how far they’ve come in the public eye, but what gives us the right to dig into every tiny crevice of gerard’s work and interactions and public existence searching for “clues” as to whether or not he’s trans? what gives us the right to label his gender identity for him—a process that is incredibly personal? i know “parasocial” is basically just another hollow internet buzzword at this point, but let’s not forget the very real consequences that parasocial relationships can certainly have.

do i think it would be fucking awesome if gerard came out as trans tomorrow? absolutely. do i also think it’s fucking awesome that they’re an older gnc person? that so many queer people have discovered and accepted themselves in part because of them? that they now exude joy onstage and bravely dress and act the way they do? one million times yes. and we can celebrate those real, concrete, factual things without tinhatting, overstepping boundaries, or jumping to conclusions. if they were to come out as trans tomorrow, that wouldn’t invalidate any of my arguments or make the behavior i’m critiquing acceptable, because the point isn’t about whether or not gerard is trans, the point is about how some of mcr’s fanbase is treating them.

gerard has uplifted and respected us time and time again without even knowing us as individuals. so i want you to take a moment to sincerely reflect and ask yourself this question: where is our respect for him?

————

alright. i’m glad you’re still here. let’s talk about what can actually be done about this.

i think a lot of this problem boils down to a lack of critical thinking. yes, that’s thrown around a lot as a clapback on this website, but i don’t mean it as an insult. we’re all guilty of not thinking critically, myself included. especially in the age of the internet, it’s impossible to be perfect all the time, when we’re bombarded with information from every angle.

this is why learning about and consistently practicing media literacy is so important. it’s something i’m passionate about because i’ve seen firsthand, time and time again, how it can make or break a person and their worldview, to the point that i spent hours writing about it for my upper-level journalism courses (before i dropped out lol) and worked for two semesters as an editor for a college newspaper.

if these conversations about gerard were happening in private group chats between friends who already know one another, my opinions on the topic itself would still stand, but it wouldn’t be any of my business and i obviously wouldn’t think to write an entire post about it. but everything changes when these discussions are had on a public platform with little regard for nuance.

“misinformation,” or the unintentional spread of false information—not to be confused with disinformation, where the person spreading it knows what they’re saying isn’t true—might not be a totally accurate descriptor for some of what’s going on here, honestly. none of us can prove what gerard is thinking or feeling. but based on what we do know, what he’s publicly and concretely shared with us, i think it’s as close as we can get. a lot of the posts i’ve seen don’t read to me as “hehe funny celebrity headcanon that’s obviously just for fun.” or even “i relate to this person’s art and/or publicized experiences, but i understand i don’t know them and at least some of that is just projection.” rather, they seem to make invasive leaps and use inaccurate vocabulary while simultaneously taking themselves very, very seriously, and that concerns me more than if a random tumblr user was just trolling to start fandom drama or something.

to put things into perspective, this is why every single one of my journalism professors drilled it into my head that you have to get your news from multiple sources. those sources must have differing perspectives and you need to look at every single one with a critical eye, no matter how trustworthy they may seem (listen, i get it’s way more complicated than that and i could go off on a whole other tangent about the glaring problems with mainstream news media in the united states and not in a cringefail right-wing way, but this is an mcr blog, so let’s just focus on the basic principle here).

obviously, i don’t think anyone should engage with transphobes unless it’s for the sake of making stronger counter-arguments, because their beliefs are provably harmful and false. but someone making good-faith criticisms of speculating about a stranger who has not publicly come out as trans and/or non-binary is markedly different. i’m not the only person who’s written something like this, and i encourage everyone to seek out similar posts and think about the points they’re making, even if you don’t agree with every single one of them.

this speculative commentary on gerard’s identity has spread like wildfire and created a polarizing echo chamber, from what i’ve seen. i understand why. but it’s still deeply worrying to me. seeing as this is primarily happening on tumblr, i’m concerned less because i think gerard will ever see or care about these posts (that’s obviously still important, though), and more because of what this says about how people in mcr fanspaces view celebrities they feel strongly about and engage with information they see online at large.

please do research on digital media literacy, and please use reputable sources with authority on journalism and communications to do so. don’t take what you see on social media at face value. don’t trust any one social media user to feed you commentary or shape your viewpoints, and that includes me. read with a critical eye. think about the possible implications and intentions behind the words other people use, big or small, and why those might be there. be aware of your own biases and blindspots. remember that you’ll never be perfect, not even close. and while you’re at it, learn more about the experiences of gnc people, and the experiences of queer people of all different ages, backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, perspectives, lived experiences, etcetera. if you can, engage in diverse irl lgbtq+ spaces. they put things into perspective in a way the internet never will.

but i still use tumblr in 2022, so what do i know?

————

if there’s anything you think i overlooked or misconstrued in this post, tell me! i want this to be a living, breathing conversation, not a monologue. these are important issues and they deserve our time and attention. thank you so much for reading.

[circular-jerkular]

If One Alter Believes It... Adult Edition(TM)

Way back in the day, I made a post about system accountability. Here's a link to that post, in all it's clickbaity glory, for those curious. I still believe this post holds true for myself (though, obviously, not every system works like mine, and not everyone will find this framework helpful; I just find it incredibly helpful for myself, as I hope others will too).

But I want to talk about the 18+ side of things now, particularly as I see more discussions about paraphilias and problematic alters in system spaces. Consider this a continuation of that post, but with more severe triggers and discussion of mature topics.

The TL;DR: If one part (or whatever you call yourselves, headmates/alters/people/brainmates/buddies/pals, etc) believes it, then as a collective whole, you need to work together to overcome it -- if one part believes it, you all do. And yes, this applies to the harmful things as well.

Let's dive in.

If one of your parts is a pedophile, then to some degree, you have a part of you (collectively) that is a pedophile. Part of YOU would have that paraphilia.

If one of your parts is torturing other system members, then to some degree, you have a part of you (collectively) that is torturing yourself. Part of YOU believes you deserve to be tortured.

If one of your parts is an abuser, then to some degree, you have a part of you (collectively) that is abusive. Part of YOU is abusive.

I want to say, out of the gate, the most important part: this does not and will never mean that you are evil. You are not somehow tarnished for hurting yourself or others. You are a person worthy of love, respect, and care, regardless of the things that you feel make you unworthy in some way. There is nothing wrong with abusive, hurtful, "problematic" parts, and anyone who says otherwise is not supportive of recovery, in my opinion.

But, inherently, being a system means you are part of a team. Regardless of what language you use, you are working together -- and since you are all part of one body, you have got to mitigate those problems together, regardless of if you fully agree. Simply put, their beliefs must be taken on as part of YOUR beliefs. And treating them as entirely separate beliefs can often lead to lack of communication, compromise, or structure, and can lead to a rise of conflict. By thinking of specific part's problematic "issues" as collective beliefs instead, we better understood how to work together to solve them.

This is how we combated our grief about murdering a part of ours. This is how we mitigated our distress over our own paraphilic thoughts and how they impacted us. It's how we came to accept that, yes, we are abusive in many ways, even when we try not to be, and that does not make us evil.

These traits are inherent to who we are. They were baked into our parts. For instance, Debra was split specifically to abuse us. And she did! She tortured us relentlessly because she believed, wholeheartedly, that she was stronger than us; that we deserved to be abused, because it would teach us our place. This was a belief inherent to her formation.

And we formed her, collectively, due to our trauma. Part of us believed so strongly that we deserved to be abused that she then appeared in order to abuse us. She's even a part of ours that we understand to be willfully created, rather than split solely from trauma; we remember thinking of her, talking to her, and purposefully telling ourselves that we deserved to be hurt. And she was there to torture us, to the extent that we split more parts due to what she did to us.

But that does not make her unworthy of love, or evil, or forever scorned and abandoned. In fact, the idea that she was evil and could never change -- that something inherent could not also be changed -- was what led to us murdering her. The fear that we were evil, horrible people for what she did to us led to us killing her, thus setting off further guilt, fear, shame, etc. It led to further breakdowns, pain, suffering... and when she came back, she doubled down, because we were not working together.

Regardless of your feelings, as a part, on matters of 18+ material, you must work together to solve problems. You must work together to find compromises. (And, well, that goes for everything -- not just problematic stuff.)

Viewing Debra's beliefs as collective instead of just her own... that's what led us to understanding why she was there. It made us realize the connections she had to us: how Wade believed so firmly that she was teaching him a lesson, or how Numb believed someone needed to be hurting us for him to protect us. Her beliefs were part of our beliefs, as a whole. And only once we started understanding that did we begin to dismantle the beliefs entirely.

Because it was far harder to say, in isolation, "Debra, you are wrong, and YOU are hurting us" than it was to say, collectively, "This line of thinking we share is hurting us all."

And those beliefs are still inherent for her, even if she has changed! She still deals with those thoughts that she is better than the rest of us, that we deserve to be punished, and that she is the one who has to do that. But, now that we are working together -- now that we take on her beliefs as ALL of our beliefs -- we can help her when it is distressing to have those thoughts. And, through that support, she has those thoughts less, and less, and less.

Everything in this post is a personal example. We have to deal with all of these things. But it applies to others as well. If one of your alters, or headmates, or brain buddies, or pals, or chums, or whatever have you, has a problematic belief -- then it may be helpful to view that belief as a collective, team belief. Collective, system-wide, whatever phrasing you want.

This may not help you. But I really, really hope it does. It helped me greatly.

Good luck out there, y'all.

[lucidia-sys]

In Defense of Pharma

Guys I'm really tired of seeing ppl shit on Pharma solely for the incident with Ambulon. Seeing people defend Ratchet against him. Tired of people being awful to him because of things he couldn't control. People will really support the toxic ones because of the simple fact they are a popular character that everyone loves. I'm tired of pretending I like Ratchet (I adored TFA and G1 only). I don't. He's an awful guy when you look at the case with Pharma. And personally I just don't find him interesting like other characters. Ratchet fucking ruined Pharma pre-Delphi. He was this sweet guy who did his best and I strongly believe Pharma may have BPD, so that only makes what Ratchet did so much WORSE. The way Pharma attached to Ratchet reminds me of one with their FP (Favorite Person). He believed so much in Ratchet, looked up to him, considered him one of his closest friends, his FP if you will. He cared deeply about Ratchet, and it deeply affected him when he just up and fucking left without a proper goodbye. And so began a long fucking chain of him getting fucked over. Another point that gets used against him was the virus he unleashed, that wasn't his fucking fault. Tarn was pressuring him. He was stuck in an incredibly hard point. The DJD would after him if he didn't feed Tarn's addiction, he'd still be fucked even witht he fact he did it. Pharma gets stuck in the middle of nowhere with two people he doesn’t care for, and one of them is a direct target of the group blackmailing him into killing patients. There was nothing he could have done to make the situation better. And I fucking find it such BULLSHIT that First AId went to Ambulons side rather than Pharmas DESPITE THE FUCKING FACT Amublon is a ex-con, he could very well have been conspiring with Sonic and Boom. The fact Pharma got immediately blamed pisses me off. He was just doing his job, trying to keep his job, and juggle his issues with Ratchet appearing. His FP that fucking abandoned him. This is a STRONG example of how mental illness can fuck oneself over. As someone with BPD, I heavily relate to Pharma, so I am very defensive over this (no shit I'm writing a whole thing defending him). I understand his panic. His stress. The need to prove himself. A case too is with the incident of Ambulon. Yes, the way he handled the situation was awful, but think about it. He wanted to prove himself, to prove he was better than the asshole who left him behind. So how does he do it? Give a prompt to Ratchet that he KNOWS he can't fix, prove that Ratchet is not as good as he thinks he is. And as for Tryest, it's another situation of lose/lose. I didn't pay much attention to that bit of the story but I can say that Pharma was dealing with that whole 'I need to prove im better than these jerks so everyone will like me and need me' BPD mess he has going on. A person with BPD often seeks validation from others, needing FPs to love them and respect only them, which is why he usually claims himself as the best medic. He needs the validation, that boost to his fragile ego that is crumbling with every second. Plus Tyrest promised him a place in the forged only world he was planning. It made him feel valid and needed. He chased that feeling. And then Ratchet came along and started to derail his mind. Leading him to do something that ultimately painted him in a bad light. And he proved he was stronger within the Lost Light comics. Issue 4 showed him hurtingTyrest in such a fashion that not even the best medic, not even his "beloved Ratchet" (his words, not mine), could figure out how he caused so much damage. He was pissed off. He was having a split. He was damaged. I believe we should focus more on the goods of a character, the compexity of their issues, rather than honing on one specific thing that was not that big of a fucking deal. This fandom is awful with painting certain characters as awful awful people for simple issues that can be explained very easily. NOW IF YOU'LL EXCUUUUSE ME. I'm going to take a moment to nap because I am so frustrated and overstimulated and angry rn.

[bbygirl-aemond]

bella i need the faith of the seven parallels with the targaryen parental figures IMMEDIATELY

…I admittedly put way too much thought into this, but I will seriously never tire of the religions themes/parallels in Stormbreak. Plus, there's about to be a ton of religious stuff happening in upcoming chapters, so it's just on my mind. So here are all seven of the parental figures of Team Black & Green, as members of the Seven!

The Father- Aemond Targaryen.

The Father Above is known for being stern, but not unnecessarily so. He has a strong sense of justice, and considers it part of his duty to enact said judgment. At the same time, he's a protector, particularly of children. Aemond is similarly very reserved and righteous, but is deeply protective of children in every possible way (physically, but also mentally and emotionally).

The Mother- Rhaenyra Targaryen.

The Mother Above is known for being very loving and merciful. She's strongly associated with families and motherhood. Rhaenyra is a kind parent who can sometimes coddle and shelter her children. She's probably the best example of a Targaryen parent who loves her children unconditionally. Despite initially being wary of motherhood, she genuinely comes to love the act of building her own family, her own little clan.

The Warrior- Daemon Targaryen.

The Warrior is a study of opposites. On the one hand, he is associated with the most violent aspects of humanity, such as bloodshed and battle. But on the other, he is also one of the most compassionate faces of the Seven. He is the one who brings peace to the souls of those slain in battle, and who comforts the grieving loved ones left behind. This suits Daemon so incredibly well; he encompasses both of these extremes perfectly. It's also very clear that he identifies himself as a protector of his family, in part specifically because of his battle prowess.

The Smith- Alicent Hightower.

The Smith is, at his core, the mender of broken things. His entire purpose is to fix, to repair, to heal. Because of this, he is associated with incredible inner strength and selflessness. Alicent spends her entire life desperately trying to solve the problems of everyone around her. She is a natural caretaker and feels personally responsible when members of her family are unhappy.

The Maid- Criston Cole.

The Maid is associated most strongly with innocence and virginity. She embodies the value of chastity, and is also connected to children and marriage. Criston is a very religious and conservative man who views everything through this lens of righteousness and purity. His downward spiral after he sleeps with Rhaenyra and his devotion to Alicent are both directly related to the violation or fulfillment of this value. He also falls very naturally into a nurturing and guiding role for Alicent's children.

The Crone- Helaena Targaryen.

The Crone is associated with unparalleled wisdom. She is the one who knows the path ahead, and guides those around her along that path. There is an element of mystery to her; the idea of forbidden or secret knowledge. Helaena, as a very powerful dragon dreamer, has access to information about the path ahead in a way that no other Targaryen does. And we see her use this knowledge to influence the directions of those around her, always trying to nudge them towards the right path.

The Stranger- Aegon Targaryen.

The Stranger is part of the Seven, but is simultaneously completely unique. Unlike the others, they have no gender, nor do they have a face. They are the outlier, and this makes them the patron saint of outcasts. They do not decide where the souls of the dead go, but they lead them to their final resting place. Aegon feels isolated from his family, as if he is the lone black sheep within the herd. He distances himself from the other members of his family, and from his Targaryen heritage. He wants to support his loved ones, but thinks it is no one's place to decide or influence another's path.

Hope this fulfilled your brainrot the way it did mine!