#survivors of unfair choices

[gigidragonbbxxx]

regarding mental diet

discipline. consistency. THIS IS HOW YOU MANIFEST.

it is the discipline and consistency in acknowledging the things in your 3D that you want and ignoring the stuff that you do not identify with.

Yes Gigi, we know that why are you saying something EVERYONE says?

bc dear reader and loass community, i'm gonna say something that might be known but I don't see stated enough:

To be a master manifester, you break your old realities and create new ones - AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING ON THIS LEVEL BECAUSE THEY ARE UNWILLING TO LET GO OF HABITS THAT DO NOT SERVE THEM.

AKA = YOU MUST BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE DIFFERENT.

You hear me???

YOU MUST BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE DIFFERENT.

AND THIS IS WHAT MENTAL DIET IS: NOT GIVING IN TO EVERY TREND, EVERY LIL SONG, EVERY TV SHOW, ETC. IF IT DOES NOT HELP YOUR MIND BE SATURATED WITH BEING IN YOUR FAVOR.

I'll cite an example many of us go through: a friend who doesn't know the law and only wants to talk about how horrible men are. This friend is also addicted to complaining. What have so many loass practicing people have said? They've either 1) told that friend they don't want to talk about that stuff or 2) spent less time with that friend.

it's an experience so many in the community go through and many benefit from limiting their exposure to that type of person. because what is the point of spending time affirming lies like "life has to be hard" "life is unfair" "I always get treated like shit by men" "I'm never first choice" like EW!? guys, learn to get the ICK from this type of talk!!! there is no benefit from this energy.

YOU GET TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO EXPOSE YOURSELF TO. SO STOP MINGLING WITH ENERGY THAT DOES NOT SERVE YOU. IF YOU HAVE TIME TO THINK BADLY, YOU HAVE TIME TO THINK POSITIVELY!!!

Be willing to WALK AWAY. Be willing to be the one to say "This is not for me" if a convo is full of limited beliefs. Be willing to not participate in trends like making tiktoks about self deprecating jokes or tweet about toxic things. Be willing to say "Oh i never say those things about myself."

Let me explain what prompted me to write this:

I saw THE CUTEST lil key chains or cases made by a small business. I love to reblog cute things on my main account on twt (not my loass burner) and tbh I've manifested getting some of those cute things by making a lil placebo that whatever I retweet is mine/fact.

The first case/keychain thing was "Tummy Ache Survivor" which I thought was hilarious as I have a lot of Virgo energy in my life but the second image showcased another that said something along the lines of "Daily Dose of Dumb Baby Juice".

Guys.

Please.

Does a master manifester drink dumb baby juice? Or is she the operant power full of knowledge and wisdom leading a fulfilling life?

Now, I'm not a limiting typa gal okay? You can totally be "baby". You can totally live a soft live. Be a baby. Hell, I love being baby in a relationship. What I'm saying is even seemingly "harmless" things like that phrase...you have to have discernment in what could be unfavorable influences in your life.

Again, Gigi isn't telling you how to live your life. If you wanna declare "fuck off Gigi! I'm a dumb baby AND I manifest!" go ahead. If you wanna declare "fuck off Gigi! I can consume ANY CONTENT I want and manifest!" GO AHEAD.

BUT LETS DISCUSS SOME OBSERVATIONS IVE MADE ABOUT THE BIGGEST LOA COACHES/ACCOUNTS WITH THE MOST SUCCESS:

all of them. 100% of them. are careful about what they expose themselves to/say about themselves.

BECAUSE DOMINANT BELIEFS ARE WHAT MANIFESTS. SO WHY WASTE TIME CONSUMING CONTENT THAT GOES AGAINST WHAT YOU WANT YOUR DOMINANT THOUGHT PATTERN TO BE? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!!!

and I get the resistance to cut off things you mightve enjoyed. But i said it before and I'll repeat it again.

YOU MUST BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE DIFFERENT.

things gigi had to cut off:

sad songs on daily playlists

reality tv glorifying toxicity in relationships

accounts on twt that leaned heavily on "men are trash" mindset

conversations that were self-deprecating

and more but those are a few examples.

and you know what I have more time to do now, reader?

I have more time to affirm, to listen to subs, to write on this blog.

Because Manifestion is a Lifestyle. It's not a quick fix bc the outcome depends on the SOLIDITY of your BELIEF to enact CHANGE on the 3D.

so pls don't drink dumb baby juice. drink pretty girl juice. drink intelligent master manifester juice. drink "in my favor" juice.

with laughs and love, xx, gigi

p.s. I do not believe that this is an excuse to remain ignorant about world events and news. I encourage you to remain informed, intelligent people who do not lack awareness and instead are fully immersed in the nuance of balancing high self-esteem and understanding the political climate.

[cienie-isengardu]

Cienie's Star Wars sidenotes

While doing research and writing down the last pieces of Funeral Rites of the Clone Troopers, it became even more clear how The Clone Wars animated TV series did a great disservice to Jedi, especially in the context of medical care for clones.

TCW has clone medics, both as part of combat units (e.g. Kix from 501st Legion) and working apparently in the medcentre as sometimes was presented on the screen.

The role of doctors treating wounded troopers was given to Kaminoans (Nala Se) and droids and sure, those two groups were part of the whole GAR’s medical system in the Legends too. However Jedi Healers (doctors), as far as I remember, were seen treating mainly other Jedi like Yoda

and even then TCW barely paid attention to force healing as an important skill. 

The research about medical care for clones gives a pretty drastic idea of what was happening during and after battle which is understandable why the show destined for younger viewers didn’t go into full details about triage of wounded but considering how many dark themes were put in the same show, I dare to say not showing medical care provided by Jedi or common Republic doctors and nurses (who btw are a rare example of republic citizens conscripted into army during the war) actually is unfair. The show reduced one very important aspect of Jedi - they weren’t just generals and commanders either sending or leading troops into battle, they also provided medical help, whether they were specifically trained at healing or not. 

In Legends, we could see Jedi Healers assisting the army on various occassions, working in triage area like in Republic comics series:

The triage unit, where Jedi healers labor to save the lives of the wounded, was set up safely behind the line of battle. But as the fortunes of war shift, so do the battlelines.

and worrying first about wounded even in the face of serious danger

Master Saa! We’re cut off! There’s no way to get the wounded out!

and searching for survivors

Master Saa is hurt! She pulled the trees on top of us for protection...

and working in hospitals

Follow me Skywalker. We have much healing to do. The Jedi sickbay, where we treat the most severe injuries. And our own, of course. Master Offee has saved countless lives. She seldom leaves her post to rest. But we all work long hours.

Not to mention the whole Medstar duology dedicated to padawan Bariss Offee, doctors and nurses serving in Republic mobile hospitals close to frontine - and yes, forever I’m gonna be bitter about how TCW/New Canon treated the most iconic Jedi Healer.

(The cover art for Medstar: Jedi Healer by Dave Seeley)

When padawan Skywalker arrived at New Holstice with his troops, he was immedialy called to assist in the nearest sickbay

“Are you injured, master Jedi?”

“Not really, no.”

“Good. You can make yourself useful by heading to the nearest sickbay. We need all the Jedi healers we can get...”

and for context, this is Anakin two days after after Jabiim, one of the worst war campaigns Republic experienced so far, the solely survivor of Jedi Pack traumatized both by the loss of his comrades and what happened on the planet and forced to make a devastating choice is literally told to get at work ASAP because every Jedi in between assignment was working here hard to heal the most wounded..

Though no healer himself, Anakin even force-healed injured trooper on battlefield to stop him going into shock:

Supporting the commando trooper with his left arm, Anakin warded off blaster bolts on the run. The rest of Squad Seven supplied cover, blowing STAPs out the sky with uninterrupted fire. Cody motioned everyone into a shallow irrigation trench just short of the mound. By the time Obi-Wan arrived, the troopers were deployed in a circle, and continuing to pour fire into the sky. Anakin slid into the trench a moment later, lowering the commando gently to the muddy slope. Squad Seven’s medical specialist crawled over, removing the commando’s ravaged utility belt and deeply dented helmet.  [...]

The harvester’s pincers had crushed the armor into the commando’s abdomen. His skin was intact, but the bruising was severe. With only half the original army of 1.2 million in fighting shape, the life of every clone was vital. Blood and replacement organs - - what the regular troopers referred to as “spare parts” - - were readily available - - “easily requisitioned” - - but with the war reaching a crescendo, battlefield casualties were on the rise and treated as high priority.

“Not much I can do for him here,” the medspec told Anakin. “Maybe if we can get an FX-Seven air-dropped - - ”

“We don’t need a droid,” Anakin interrupted. Kneeling, he placed his hands on the injured commando’s abdomen and used a Jedi healing technique to keep the clone from going into deep shock. [Labyrinth Of Evil]

(and included request for evacuation of the wounded trooper when Cody called for artillery support)

In Republic comics series alone we could see Jedi showing concern for the wounded troopers at various moments, putting their well-being as priority:

or helping (healing) wounded enemies:

And I won't lie, it is frustrating how Legends, especially Republic comics series that had around 40 issues put so much pressure on Jedi Force healing and how Jedi care for wounded troopers while The Clone Wars (New Canon) that lasted for decade or so kinda ignored the issue? Which is unfair to Jedi and clones alike. The first are presented as less caring, at times indifferent? the latter deserved to have all the available medical help, not just Kaminoans and droids.

[2sw]

🖤Understanding Season 4&5 Sam🖤

long post, 30 gifs

sorry I don't care if my english sucks or not anymore. I live with the urge to defend Sam 24/7, that's what it's about.

this post looks weird on pc… recommend you to read on the app

Supernatural S1E01 Pilot // S1E06 Skin S3E08 A Very Supernatural Christmas S4E19 Jump the Shark

Do you see the parallels here? This is why I think people who say season 4 Sam was annoying also hate every other character in this show, they just don't realize that. It was not a big deal when other characters treated Sam the way they did, but when Sam started to mirror them you suddenly find it annoying? That's absurd. I know almost every filmmaking choice of this show is unfair to Sam and I hate that too, but still we audiences can see things from various angles and think for ourselves. And sometimes you need to see the story as a story, not something to take sides.

Supernatural S3E16 No Rest for the Wicked Supernatural S4E04 Metamorphosis

Sam lost his entire family at the end of season 3. He was full of remorse, and to make up for that he was literally following his family's footsteps. Sam became obsessed with revenge like John did after Mary died. Season 4 was about that vicious cycle, the tragedy of it. Dean sold his soul for Sam just like John did for him. Sam tried to be more like his dad and big brother and did what they taught him. And Sam's relapse was a part of the addiction cycle. But Dean locking up Sam in the panic room changed nothing, the final seal was broken after all. So Lucifer gets out, and the oldest family drama is about to start all over again. It wasn't about who was right or wrong. It was about the circle, a never ending story. The next season was about restoring trust in each other and seeking redemption, and Sam eventually broke the chain by sacrificing himself. That's what makes Swan Song the tragic ending of all time. (though it all comes back as the show keeps going on... but what is spn without The Codependency™)

So, yeah, it's beyond me how some people can't see the reason behind Sam's choices in this season cause the context was SO clear. If you watch the show, you can see how much Sam and Dean affect each other and how much both are affected by John in different ways. And it's natural because they are family. We are who we are because of everyone and everything that has happened in our lives, and same goes for every fictional character, including Sam. It's just as simple as that. Sam was just trying to live by his brother's will while battling with grief and loss. He had to keep on fighting without Dean. And the reason why Dean wasn't with him was because Dean sold his soul to save Sam and went to hell for it. It not only made Sam the sole survivor of the family but also made the very being of him their entire legacy. Starting with Mary making a deal with Azazel, every choice ever made in this family is what brought him there. As I said earlier, it's the cycle. And a consequence. In short, if it is a sin, I think it’s everyone’s.

Supernatural S4E04 Metamorphosis

Sam and Dean's fate to be vessels? Their destiny? It doesn't matter in the end. This show was always about fate AND free will. Free will was always there. You always have choices. Sam was the one who believed that most desperately so he became the one who broke the cycle. Even though it was only the last page, he ripped out the written fate anyway and wrote the ending himself. YES HE IS THE MAIN CHARACTER. And after everything he did for the world, the story made him suffer eternal agony with the Devil because he is also a tragic hero figure. (SIGH literally the character of all time)

You can see this all only as an observer, as an audience. For Sam, the only thing he could do at the moment was just find the person to blame―in this case, it's a demon named Lilith― and get revenge. And he was lost somewhere along the road, he became an addict because he couldn't do anything about his loved ones dying, but when he drinks the demon blood it gives him power and a sense of control. (aaaaaand I still don't get why writers wrote this as some kind of diabolical desire in 4x18. I get it sammy what the fuck would chuck know about helplessness)

You can say you wouldn't suck up the demon blood, that's fine, but this story was written in this way, and if Sam didn't do that, the story couldn't go forward. Why? Because he is the main character. (It always had to be you, Sammy!) And reminds you that if you want to watch a show with multiple seasons, you have to remember what happened before to understand what’s going on now. So please don't make up things in your head, just go back to where it all started. There are contexts in everything. Everyone is a consequence of each other, but we don't have to be bound to that fact. We have choices: to change, to make things better. That's why we should be kind to each other, and for that, I love and respect Sam so much cause he didn't let his traumas define him and always tried to be a better person. ♡

I'm not done yet!!! see also this:

Supernatural S3E04 Sin City Supernatural S4E04 Metamorphosis

Dean worried when Sam killed a demon with the Colt to save him cause it also killed a person who was being possessed, and it was 'cold'. But then when he finds out about the demon blood, he is so mad that he doesn't even care about the fact Sam was saving possession victims and just screaming in Sam's face "Use the knife!". It's so??? What is the logic here? This just proves it's always been about his feelings, not really about saving people. Is that an evil thing? No, I don’t think so. Dean is just a human, he can’t control what he feels. But if you use this to beat up Sam, I'll go feral then. Cause Sam is a human too.

And look at Ruby's masterful manipulation skill. Makes Sam feel guilty about everything, and comes back with what he needs when no one's left around him. She really was the best of those sons of bitches.

Supernatural S4E04 Metamorphosis

Seriously, what was Sam supposed to do? Everyone on this show didn't even bother to understand Sam and just decided everything he ever did was fundamentally wrong. Sam was using his own body to change the things outside of him, cause there is nothing he can do about the fact of his body, the blood in it. In life, there are things we can change and we can't. We have to live with that non-negotiable fact for our whole life. Sam learned this most painful way... And one thing about Sam is that he never let the unchangeable things make him give up the things he can change. It's not always a good thing though, cause Sam in s4 was very self-destructive. He was obsessive, and that is one of his problems. Sam is so stubborn and doesn't give up on anything easily. Actually this problem could be solved after s7 cause he tried to move on, but s8 happened… so it got worse, kept getting worse, and look what happened in s10. The most heartbreaking domino effect, I'd say...

Supernatural S5E03 Free to Be You and Me Supernatural S5E06 I Believe the Children Are Our Future

Anyways, back to the point. Unfortunately, Sam started the apocalypse. And what did he do after that? When the whole world tried to hunt him down, the devil wanted to crawl inside him, and an angel called him an abomination? He didn't give up there to remain that abomination. He didn’t surrender. Instead, Sam begged for a second chance. He wanted to atone, wanted redemption. He still believed in others even though he lost trust in himself. He believed there was still something he could do about it. Even when he was possessed by Lucifer, he fought till the end to save his brother and the world. And he did it. He was a fucking hero at that moment, sadly a tragic one too. But the important thing is: Sam Winchester represents hope. (I think Swan Song was a perfect ending as a tragedy. This show got weaker and weaker after s5 which kinda ruined the perfection, but I'm also so glad the show continued cause this message fits more hopefully in Carry On. I needed to see Sam rewarded with something better than eternal agony after all those additional tortures of 10 more seasons.)

One last thing, you know what's funny about Metamorphosis? Dean had nothing to say about the fact Sam saved more people than when they were hunting together, so he just went "That what Ruby wants you to think?" Dude what was going on in your mind. like that was what Ruby intended, he was right about that only by chance, but I still find it funny that Dean said that at this exact moment. And he does this a lot, attacking the messenger when he can't refute the message. He didn't have any rational reasons like Sam, he just didn't like it and that's all(and honestly I think this can be an actual reason too cause there's a history behind it which I talked about it here. I wish Dean had just talked to Sam and had a real conversation. but he never talks about his feelings, that's what Dean Winchester does. so… yep not gonna happen. also, if the brothers have a healthy relationship, that is not supernatural lol), so he brought up Angels and evoked Sam's religious guilt. And the Angels in question also turned out to be manipulative assholes later. Everyone makes mistakes, but somehow Sam is always the one who gets most condemned and blamed. Dean, On the other hand, is justified by the narrative so many times even when it is actually his fault. As I said, unfair. This is not even a Dean crit post, I'm just mad at unreasonable people and the way this show works in general.

I swear I was normal before watching this season. Sam's demon blood arc was what made me insanely fall in love with him, so when I found out all those hate for Sam… that really could be my villain origin story but instead I chose to be on tumblr, so yeah I believe love wins<3 ha what a way to end a post. sorry guys

[atombombkaytee]

Glory and Gore

Summary: Upon arriving at Nuka World, Sole is a little shocked by some of the raider’s furniture. Feral Ghouls as seats!? On one particularly drunken and chem-filled evening, Hancock and Sole find themselves alone and discussing this unusual choice. Hancock sees an excellent opportunity to really wind Sole up.

Pairings: John Hancock x Sole Survivor

Warnings: Smut. Rough sex. Unprotected sex.

“It is kinda cruel, isn’t it?” I whisper, sipping from my drink. My companion glances across at the chair opposite us. A feral has been tied to the frame of the chair by his hands, feet and neck with just a thin cushion placed over his shrivelled thighs so that he takes the user’s full weight upon them sitting down. Hancock shrugs. He has a bottle of whiskey in his hand and, now and then, he takes a huge gulp.

We had arrived in Nuka World only two days ago, and, in that time, I’ve somehow managed to become the Overboss and to befriend three groups of (somewhat difficult) raiders. Tonight we’ve decided to drink with a group called The Pack. Colourful folks, with a shared passion for showmanship and wasteland creatures.

“I mean, don’t you ever wonder if they still have any remnants of their human personalities?”

We’ve managed to escape the ruckus by means of a small shack where we are finally alone (except for the feral ghoul furniture). The light in here derives from a single light bulb attached to the steel roof, it’s dim and it flickers constantly. I feel drunk - the alcohol is different here, stronger. Hancock seems half-cut too; lolling in his seat with one of his legs draped over the arm of the chair and the whiskey bottle in his hand hanging so low that it almost touches the floorboards. We’ve been drinking for at least an hour, but Hancock has been taking his regular chems since this morning - he increased his usage once the celebrations started.

“Better him than me.” He chuckles, finishing off his bottle and immediately twisting the cap off another from the table beside him. Hancock has been a ghoul for less than a decade. Sometime in 2282, his love for getting high had gotten out of hand when he tried an experimental radioactive chem. To this day, he still says the high was worth it. It’s perfectly understandable. With the world like it is today, it's irresponsible to deny yourself any form of distraction that you can get your hands on.

He flicks the bottlecap over towards the feral and it smacks him just above the eye. The creature growls and struggles in his bound position, managing to shuffle the chair forward just a few inches. I can’t help but laugh a little. My mind is hazy from alcohol and mentats, and seeing a chair move is a pretty surreal event.

“Oh, you find that funny do you?” Hancock teases, leaning forward in his seat to catch my eye, “but, what about his feelings?” He mimics my voice, flashing a brazen smile at me before taking another gulp of Whiskey.

I lean over to jokingly hit him, but he curls his free hand around my wrist before I can reach him. I feel myself being gently tugged towards him until I’m on my knees at the foot of his armchair. He looks down at me with a smile twisting on his lips.

“Am I going to have to report you to the Ghoul Protection Society for unfair treatment?” His hand slides under my chin to hold my head in place. I grin up at him, swaying slightly from the alcohol in my system. He leans down to gently kiss me. His mouth feels rough and familiar, I close my eyes and take in his scent as he lingers on my lips, his grip still firm around my jaw.

He stands the whiskey bottle on the side table and unzips his slacks. I feel warmth travel from my groin up to my throat as I shuffle forward to admire his erection. It springs up from within his pants, pink and glistening. The skin is uneven like on the rest of his body, otherwise, he’s endowed just like anyone else.

“Be a good little soft skin, make up for your crimes against my race.” He groans, throwing his head against the cushioned back of the chair, awaiting my mouth. I happily oblige, lapping up his pre-cum with the flat of my tongue, a moan hums from the back of my throat as I taste him. Sweet and salty, ghoul cum tastes better than any human I’ve had. It must be the radiation.

Unable to hold back, I swallow his whole cock, lowering my head down until my bottom lip is brushing against the material of his slacks. I hold myself there for a moment, skilfully adjusting my position until I feel his cock glide perfectly into my throat. Drool streams from my lower lip, covering his pants and settling in a puddle on the leather chair beneath him. I begin to feel my eyes well up as I cough around him, struggling for breath. Pressure on the back of my head holds me in position and the tears begin to roll down my cheeks, black with mascara. I open my jaw wider, desperately attempting for air from around his thick cock, until he finally removes his hand.

I gasp for air, and then my mouth is back on him within seconds. Drenched with thick saliva, my lips now slip up and down his length expertly. I settle on his head, now and then, to circle my tongue around it. He pulsates with pleasure inside my mouth as I explore every groove on his cock. I taste more saltiness in the back of my throat, the arousal leaking from him only makes me want to satisfy him more. My wetness begins to soak into the cotton of my underwear. I can’t help but shuffle while I work on him, trying in vain to reach some kind of release.

I hear a loud thud, the whiskey bottle slips from his grip and begins spilling out its contents on to the floorboards. He bucks his hips, enjoying my hot mouth around his prick. I let him use me as he pleases. My eyes flick up to his; black eyes watching me as he fucks my throat until I’m spluttering again. My body heaving, I run the flat of my tongue up his length playfully. Plum-coloured veins pump blood to his erection, I watch with glossy eyes as it visibly throbs beneath me.

My hand sneaks under his shirt to feel his calloused skin and he takes the opportunity to lift me on to his lap. Still fully clothed, I frantically try to remove my jeans while he slips my shirt back over my shoulder and unclips my bra. My bare chest is just inches away from his face, glistening with sweat and quivering. He admires my breasts, breathing in my the scent of damp skin like it’s a drug to him. His tongue circles around my breast before ultimately taking my nipple between his lips, while I finally manage to kick my panties off from my ankles. I cry out, suddenly realising my own level of arousal. The frigid night air stings against my bare cunt. Silvery strands leak out from my folds, coating his hard manhood like the glaze on a doughnut.

“Please, I need you inside me...” I whimper. He manoeuvres his cock so that the tip is pressed against my slit. I can still feel him pulsating, cold in comparison to the heat deep within me. I hover obediently, chewing intently at my lip.

“Please...” I repeat, meeting my gaze with his. I’m almost in tears, I ache for him.

I jolt forward; clashing my mouth against his, sloppily exploring his mouth with my tongue. At the same time, he thrusts inside me aggressively. My mind melts away to nothing, only pleasure. He fills me perfectly, every ridge on his cock stimulating me as he slides in and out. I can’t breathe. I gasp and heave against his shoulder, letting him take complete control as he bucks his hips into me over and over again. My lip, swollen from my chewing, feels heavy as it bounces along with his strokes.

The heat building in my torso is so intense, the thought crosses my mind that I may throw up. It comes out as a scream. His cock feels like it’s in my belly, my clit brushes against his shirt. Before I know it, my whole body begins to vibrate, and my cunt contracts sending shockwaves arojnd his cock. The intensity of my orgasm sends everything into overdrive, I feel every strand of hair on my body fill up with electricity, my pussy convulses, my pulse thuds dully inside my skull. The evidence of my orgasm runs down over his thick cock, coating his balls.

Feeling me cum around him flicks a switch inside his brain. Despite my orgasming body now being slumped against him like a ragdoll, he fucks me even more furiously. The room around me becomes a blur; his unrelenting strokes send me dizzy in my intoxicated state. Animal-like grunts escape from his mouth, his hot ragged breath on my ear sends goosebumps littering my skin. I can feel his heart thumping through his chest.

His huge length pulses deeper inside me, hitting my cervix with force. Exhausted and desperate, he grabs fistfuls of my hips and moves me against him, until an inhuman sound escapes from deep within him. Still bucking his hips, I feel his seed spill out inside me. It fills my belly with warmth like a shot of brandy on a freezing cold night. His whole body twitches to an abrupt halt and, suddenly, all I can hear is the sound of our wearied breathing.

I knock back his hat slightly so that I can kiss his forehead, his sweat lingers on my upper lip mixing with my own. Twisting myself in the seat, I lay lengthways over him, using the arm of the chair as a headrest and dangling my legs over the other side. His body still trembles beneath me, but he kindly extends a hand to pass me my beer and brushes the sticky hair from my face. Content, I swig from the bottle and lie my head back, absently admiring the roof of the tiny shack while his hands stroke my thighs affectionately. Against my ‘soft’ skin they feel rough, but his touch is gentle and kind.

With the world like it is today, it really would be foolish to deny yourself any form of distraction that you can get your hands on. But maybe, just maybe, this could be something more.

[cybersteal]

BLACK DOG 𝘈 𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘈 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭

Following Jackie's death and the failed heist, the survivor's guilt and physical and emotional agony causes him to throw away his hard-earned sobriety, and search for purpose in drink. Weeks pass, and he finds no real solace or relief, so, deciding that he wasn't going to face his end wallowing in self-pity, he wrests control back from his addiction and sets out to find a cure for the Relic.

ARCHANGEL 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴, 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘮 𝘐’𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯

Finding no cure, he's seething at the unfairness of all he's lost and the sacrifices he's made, halted at every turn by shitty circumstance or just plain bad luck, eventually that rage spills over and he's pushed to storm the Arasaka tower to fight his way to Mikoshi as a last resort. Riding high on his own fury and Johnny's, he blazes his way down the Rebel Path.

NEVER FADE AWAY 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐'𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦

Having done all he could, he graciously accepts defeat and comes to terms with his death, determined to live out his last days as best he can, doing his best to leave behind as many happy memories of time spent with his loved ones as he can. So Mi, cured, and given a new chance at life, returns for what few months he has left, and Vice refuses to regret the choice he made to save her, satisfied that he could save someone, if not himself.

This is my entry for July's VP contest (I skipped June oop) on the @lenspluslight server, where we used 3 images to tell a story. I wasn't kidding when I said I like morbid stuff 😭

very cute, unedited alternate angles of the last shot under the cut to warm the heart ❤️❤️

[oh-snapperss]

Medusa: The Much Needed Shift from Monster to Survivor in Percy Jackson (2023)

I am posting this on request of a couple folks! This is a part of a much bigger portfolio I submitted to my college mythology course, so if anything seems abrupt or short, that's why. Enjoy!

Reader discretion advised: the analysis below includes non-explicit discussion of sexual assault and rape.

From the beginning of the Percy Jackson series recently released on Disney+, it was clear that many changes were going to be made throughout the series both from the book series it derived from, and the myths Riordan first retold in his books. One of the most remarkable changes to the series can be found in episode three, and stood out with the dialogue below:

Percy: “So you’re not a monster, what are you then?”

Medusa: “A survivor.” (“We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium” 23:22)

The decision to portray Medusa in this light is in stark contrast to any other adaptation involving her. Moments before this, Percy tells Grover and Annabeth that he thinks they can trust her, and that his mother had always told him Medusa’s story with the point “She isn’t what people think,” (21:52). This sets the stage for the following conversation, and the idea that Medusa in the myths may have been misunderstood as just another monster of Greek mythology.

In fact, Medusa’s physical appearance in the series is also markedly different from the original myth. Instead of being “monstrous” with wings, tusks of swine, and hair made of hissing snakes (“Medusa in Mythology”), the actress wears a veil over her hairand eyes, a nice dress, and has perfectly done makeup, with red lipstick. Her appearance brings empowerment to Medusa while also humanizing her, and a sense of fear or apprehension to the watcher. The answer to why these changes were made can be found in the relatability Medusa’s story has for today’s victims of rape and a patriarchal society that is unfair to women who have been assaulted.

Myths of Medusa describe her story without much pity: Either Poseidon rapes her in Athena’s temple or they willingly have sex; Athena, enraged, punishes Medusa by turning her into a monster. Poseidon goes unpunished, as he is a god (“Medusa in Mythology.") However, in current day climates, it is impossible not to draw similarities in Medusa’s story to the way victims are treated often in society. The assaulter goes unpunished, while the victim must live with the emotional, physical, and mental harm of such an attack. In fact, from my personal experience and things I have seen in the tattoo parlor I have gotten tattoos from, some victims have chosen to get tattoos of Medusa as a sign of being a survivor of such an assault. Thus, this brings back the director’s choice to portray Medusa differently in Percy Jackson than before.

Another notable difference in Medusa’s behavior is that she does not immediately attack Percy, Annabeth, and Grover (who would be considered the heroes of the story), instead offering them lunch and her perspective on what happened to her originally. By allowing Medusa the chance to speak her perspective on what happened to her, the directors of the show push for a world where women and victims are able to speak. With the show being watched by many younger teens and children, in addition to adults, an important message is carried to watchers, and her story is handled in a way that any victim watching can hear the message that they are not alone.

The director’s decision to show Medusa in this other light comes to a conclusion with Percy refusing the chance to betray his friends for her (28:03) a few minutes later, and from there the story aligns closer to the myth it derived from. The fight between the heroes and Medusa is not long, ending after Annabeth puts her hat of invisibility on Medusa, and Percy beheads her. Visually, this fight is markedly different to the myth—Medusa’s beheading is done with a hat of invisibility on, so there is no blood or gore shown (31:41). This change can easily be explained by the shows rating of TV-PG, combined with the fact that most likely, Disney would not have wanted such a gore filled scene on their platform.

Overall, the changes to Medusa’s story are headed in a positive direction much needed in the current climate of society, despite not staying exactly true to the source material.

Works Cited

“Medusa in Greek Mythology.” Greek Legends and Myths, https://www.greeklegendsandmyths.com/medusa.html. Accessed 20 March 2024.

“We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium.” Percy Jackson and the Olympians, season 1, episode 3, Disney+, December 26, 2023. Disney, https://www.disneyplus.com/play/7a078c8a-2a03-4171-a647-a4f5ed12e738.

[nanomooselet]

Episode Eight: Our Home

When this episode was first airing I saw someone describe it as "com[ing] for your feels with a rusty shiv" and it sure does! It sure does. It'll only get worse from here on out. :D

Little sprouts in their little hats! This scene is so friggin' cute and the show ruins it by cutting straight to the aftermath of the crash. Unfair.

The first time I watched this, I realised that Nai wasn't "evil" from the start. That is, he wasn't always... like he is now. I think he truly loved Rem and Vash, though he might have only realised how much later on. But on rewatch, I also don't think Vash's memories of his childhood with Nai carry the same level of nostalgic longing that Knives does for his memories. In the few short minutes he's being recorded, here are three things that Nai does.

Upset Vash by acting as though food - judging by Vash's reaction - makes Vash less of a Plant.

Play a prank by convincing Rem of something that isn't true.

Show affection to his brother... after Vash goes along with it and Rem falls for it.

I think, for Vash, the discovery they eventually made wasn't so violently unlike what he'd come to expect that he couldn't handle it. Vash believed he could rely on Rem to accept him and that was all he really needed. But what did Nai believe he had? His brother. He could rely on Vash to back him up, to play along, to understand. Vash seemingly being lesser, being other (like Rem) made Nai feel lonely. And though this touches on the manga* more than what we've so far seen in Stampede, I think Knives is far more of an idealist than Vash has ever been, even now.

Vash wants a better world, and he's willing to work for it, to fail, and to try again. He knows what it's like to fall short.

Knives wants a perfect world, and perfection admits no mistakes.

I just damn near made myself cry thinking about Rem and what she considers her mistakes MOVING ON.

THIS ISN'T AN IMPROVEMENT although it is a lovely colour scheme.

When Nai reveals the truth about the crash (or what he believes to be the truth; Knives cannot be relied upon as a source of information even a little bit), Vash flees. He continues to flee; even lying in the sand, it's to seek some kind of escape - not a good kind, but that's what it is. "I want this all to end./I don't want to be here." He can't, of course. Not before humans find him. We're survivors. For all our many faults, evolution didn't select for us giving up or failing to help each other, especially in the wake of such a disaster.

It's true that Brad and Luida aren't initially accepting of Vash, but it's Vash who frames himself in terms of usefulness, echoing Nai. It's Vash who seems to believe he shouldn't live unless he can... somehow make up for what "he" did. Luida doesn't know that. She sees another survivor, wrestling with the same guilt. I think the way she speaks with him may have been how she coped herself - and perhaps the way for Brad too, come to think of it. He acts like a paranoid dick, but when given a lead to pursue, he runs right off to dig through wreckage and bodies for some sign of Rem and finds the only shreds of comfort Vash was likely to get. They both have something to do. While I do wish Vash had chosen to live for the sake of living, I think what's keeping him in that bare little room isn't that he's an unproductive Plant or the hatred of humans (at least not just that). It's a trap he built for himself. As long as he does nothing, he's doing nothing wrong and he's not adding to the burden he already bears. They shouldn't trust him, not after what he did.

So when Luida trusts him to help the dying Plant as Rem's blank ticket story plays, she's making a choice. And that's to allow Vash to make his own choice: to live, even with his guilt.

The montage of him travelling around helping Plants! He teaches people how to take care of them properly! It makes him so happy!

So I really, really hope the speculation is wrong and Vash isn't burning himself out doing that. It seems paranoid, and it doesn't feel intuitively true the way some of my other speculation has, but that might just be wishful thinking. I definitely can't rely on Vash admitting it if it is true. I really hope he has at least one nice thing he doesn't pay for with his blood. :(

When Nai's influence re-emerges, so to does the burden of guilt, death and destruction he represents. It's funny that Brad's impulsive anger and mistrust is what drives Vash to seek his brother out - where Vash is going, he'll find plenty more of that.

One more thing. In the shot where Vash enters the Plant carrier (the city of July, or at least, the site where it'll be built in future), it zooms in to show Nai, standing. But if you look very closely as it does? He's rising to his feet from a kneeling position. I wonder what would have happened if Vash had entered a little earlier?

*Reading Maximum in like two days and then watching the final three/four episodes of Stampede was a terrible idea.

[soullessjack]

talk to me about saw. just bullet points ranting

thank you (you will regret this).

One of my favorite yet also most frustrating aspects of the franchise is that John is a complete hypocrite. His entire philosophy is grounded in the concept of the value of life, and the games are intended to teach various victims said value because John has deemed them ungrateful and wasteful for various reasons. Adam wastes his life by spying into others’, Eric destroys the nerve house peoples’ lives by framing them, etc., but there are so many victims who simply do not deserve to be there, and I’m absolutely counting the ones picked by John’s apprentices because while he didn’t make the choice himself, he still approved of them, ergo deeming them ungrateful.

Paul, the barbed wire room victim from 1 strikes me as the biggest example because he was literally just a depressed man, and the fact that John accuses him of cutting for attention because his life is superficially perfect just makes it worse. I don’t want to sound like I’m whining about mental health awareness in a torture porn franchise, but genuinely it’s so frustrating that John instantly refutes Paul’s reasons for cutting simply because he’s a healthy middle class white guy. Hank the smoker from 3D is literally just a smoker, another addict victim among the others, which is even more ironic given that his career in civil engineering was spent on making housing for people in need due to poverty and addiction, as was Jill’s clinic. John spent his life helping the very type of people he’d come to target.

Brad, Ryan and Dina from the opening power saw trap are nothing more than a cheater and the two men she manipulated. Of course cheating is a terrible thing to do, but putting them alongside a serial rapist and crooked cop is beyond incomparable. Forcing Brad and Ryan to choose between killing Dina or the other while they were completely unaware of her manipulation is unfair, and sentencing Dina to be cut in half for cheating is even more unfair. I can’t see any way how cheating could fit into John’s philosophy about the value for life.

Bobby Dagen and his team 100% deserved to be a victim for what they did. Exploiting tragedy and trauma for personal gain, so much so that he even attends support groups for actual victims and lies to their faces, is something even someone of the most sound mind would want to punish him for. But his wife, Joyce, literally believed he was a survivor, and she didn’t find out Bobby was lying until her trap had set in motion. Daniel Matthews had no involvement in his father’s job or the fact that Eric framed several people, and while John did spare Daniel in the end, he still placed an innocent child in danger for the sake of his game—which can also be said for Gordon’s family in Saw 1.

For a man who so fervently believes in the value of life, John has no problem wasting it to teach his victims The Lesson, even if it’s an innocent one (which, I personally think could have some connection to Gideon’s death, but idk). And I’m not sure if this is a purposeful element to his character or not, but either way I actually think it adds to the franchise overall. There’s such a poignant sense of hopelessness and unfairness to it, to seeing all this suffering and brutal death and to know that, not only was it undeserved, but that it all happened because of one man’s sheer, unrelenting entitlement.

John calls Adam out for being a voyeur, and yet he makes himself a voyeur into the lives of all his victims in order to judge and choose them. He likes to book himself front row seats to his sick little games.

John Kramer is a hypocrite.

[our-asexual-experience]

Hi, i have a question. Forewarning, it's tackling some aphobia, some trauma and other stuff

Way back i read somewhere that people who call themselves asexual after going through trauma are not asexuals. I don't agree with that statement but a lot of people especially in the LGBTQIA+ believe it is true, because they say that your identity and gender shouldnt be influenced by trauma and it should be by choice... I even heard some reasoning saying that "i cant say i turned gay because i was traumatized into it"

I dont know there just seems to be some sort of ongoing denial of ace identities and it's unfair. But iirc, there is a specific orientation for aces who orient themselves as aces due to past experiences, right? And i believe theyre totally valid and reasonable. I just can't stand why people keep denying the existence of aces and how people become aces. There are many reasons, heck even if you have no reason, all is well! You chose it because you can. Wtf is wrong with people telling us what is and what isn't

Wow this turned into a vent instead of an ask. Anyway the question was

is there a specific term for aces who chose to be ace due to past experiences or my memory is playing tricks on me??

Yeah people who are asexual because of trauma are valid! They are asexual, it doesn't matter how they became asexual because thats what they are now so who cares

About the term, there's caedosexual! "Caedsexual or caedosexual is a microlabel on the asexual spectrum which describes an individual who may once have been allosexual at one point in their lives, but now identify on the asexual spectrum due to their past trauma. This label should only be used by those who are survivors of these past experiences"

[fizzigigsimmer]

Fargo Season Five: Finale thoughts.

I AM UNWELL. I have never seen a piece of television so beautiful. More of me just rambling and processing my thoughts beneath the cut. Spoilers naturally for the season.

Oh boy. I’m going to start this off by saying preemptively that I know there is going to be a portion of the audience who feels underwhelmed by this finale. In comparison to seasons past, this last episode was surprisingly lite on the blood. The epic showdown and fantastic shoot outs that Fargo has become known for was quite literally skipped over. The feeling is anti-climatic and that won’t sit well with some.

But here’s why I don’t give a shit and wouldn’t have it any other way.

This season wound us up. It brought us to a place where we were on the edge of our seats, so certain that the only way out for Dorthy, if she got out at all was going to be pathed in blood and bodies. We thought that the only way for Dorthy to be free was to rip and tear and destroy all who tried to stand in her way. We wouldn’t have blamed her. What else can she do, in a world that is kill or be killed. Fight or die. Conquer or be conqured.

But that was never the point of Dot’s story. Her story has been about how to live this entire time, and the secret to living is not more death. It’s acceptance and forgiveness. It’s empathy for your fellow man and a helping hand. It’s sacrifice, doing the right thing even when it costs us everything.It’s learning to bear the burden of the unfair, because those sacrifices are rarely made by the people with the most to give and the least to lose. It’s giving what you can, and leveraging the privileges you have for the greater good and learning to appreciate those around you. It’s putting aside our bias to find common ground and appreciate the best in each other. It’s a meal made with helping hands. It’s oatmeal cookies. It’s a buttery biscuit. It’s love.

👏🏾

I will forever love this season for giving me Dot’s story. For telling a story about abusers and survivors without the cinderella syndrome. For showing abuse survivors as they are in reality : complex human beings with flaws, phobias, bias, and toxic coping mechanisms just like everyone else. The only truly innocent character in the entire season was Scotty, a child and that is purposeful. Everyone else is just human, and it’s the choices they make that are important and define their fates.

Roy chooses to be a cowardly monster until the very end and so Lorraine sentences him to a lifetime of feeling the suffering he’s dealt to others. Feeling what it is to be weak and small and violated and at the mercy of the system. We stan a queen.

Lorraine didn’t have to open Dot’s file and hear her truth, or accept it for that matter and at first she had no interest in educating herself about the woman she disdained and tried to discard. But she chose to open that file and reckon with Dot’s past, and not only that she let it change her and how she lived going forward. It changes her for the better in small but significant ways. It saves Dot, preserves her family and allows for the chain of events that lead to Roy getting his just deserts. *Side note, Dot hugging her and her not knowing how to deal with such a kind touch and intimate moment is such a mood. 😆 I laughed out loud.

Indira was laden down by a man who could only love himself, but still she chose to get up every day and try to serve her community. Even when nobody else cared, she cared about finding the truth and helping the real victim in it even if it cost her everything. The only person she didn’t know how to fight for was herself but Dot and Lorraine showed her how. We stan a principled Queen who knows her own value!

Witt. 😭 😭 😭 In a lot of ways Indira and Witt are two sides of the same coin. They are both sentinels. Principled individuals who truly want to serve the greater good. And it’s so meaningful that the two characters showing us what true justice - true law and order - should look like, are marginalized individuals. While Indira’s struggles as a brown woman in the police force are less pronounced for a more internal subplot, the narrative does such a beautiful job of showing us the battle against external powers through Whitt. He is a state trooper. A good and dignified man worthy of his badge and yet his authority is always challenged and he is constantly reminded by those around him that he is less than. There’s a huge emphasis on names and their meaning throughout the season, and the importance of what we call people. But few characters bother to remember his name. He’s called Boy or Son more than any other character on the show. Every time he stands up for Dorthy and goes into battle we’re made aware of his powerlessness despite the badge he wears. He’s powerless to stop Gator stealing evidence. He’s consistently demeaned and threatened, and yet he chooses to bear it all with grace. He chooses to stay his course and help Dot, even when he has the least power and the most to lose. He dies alone, without backup and the last words he hears are Roy’s “Don’t fight it, it’s over now Son.” It’s not fair. It’s not right. But in so many ways he saved Dot’s life. He’s a big part of the reason she gets to go home. She’s the last character to say his name. “I’m looking for my trooper. Whitt Farr.” I cried. Still crying.

Gator. Gator, Gator, Gator, Gator. 😭 I will probably do a longer post about this someday when I’ve fully processed it all, but for now… I was fully expecting for Gator to have a “last moment act of goodness” through killing Roy, and probably die himself. My Billy girlies know what I am talking about. I’ve seen it over and over again in books and movies. I have talked about this many times over the years in multiple fandoms, but our society loves to write “the human villain” for their capacity to emotionally hook an audience. But they have no idea what to do with that humanity once it is written, and that’s because we ourselves barely know how to live once we’ve been at our lowest and done our worst. We don’t know how to forgive ourselves or others, and we don’t know how to heal and move on. We’re afraid of the work required when you live past the redemptive moment. We resent the work required and the loneliness of it. It’s boring and difficult and messy and it never seems to end. It’s so much easier just to write characters who either choose not to change or die sacrificially. But we need more than that. We need to see and to believe that it’s worth it - clawing your way through the dark, searching for light - doing the right thing and learning from the pain of yesterday. We also need to know that we will find someone waiting on the other side for us, who sees that struggle and believes in our potential. This is what Billy Hargrove deserved. This is what anyone who has ever been abused and abandoned deserves. This is what everyone who wants to change and chooses to do it deserves.

Ole. What a phenomenal use of magical realism this character is. He is the man who has swallowed the sins of mankind for centuries. He’s carried the burden of our atrocities and our most inhumane impulses until he forgot his name, his place of birth, or even how to dream. Until he became a function of the system. Tit for tat. Eye for eye. The man who ensures that the debtors pay their debts. A soldier. Until he became a code and forgot how to be a man. His use of the third person as if he is narrating the life of All Men from some position outside himself is so profound in the face of the truth he finally shares with Dot and her family. A truth he’s probably never shared before. He echos Gator’s character in a fashion. He’s a soldier who doesn’t know how to dream, a victim of an unjust system, but deep down he yearns to be better.

The old woman whose house he invades is never named, simply called “Mama Munch” and we see how he takes on an almost childlike role with her. She asks him what he wants, and the answer is pancakes - reminiscent of Scotty’s love of all things breakfast for dinner - and it’s of course deeper than pancakes. He wants to feel a mother’s love and a child’s ability to take comfort in it. But he can’t. Because he has invaded her life, and even when he guards the door the war gets inside. She’s abused by an ungrateful child and then killed on her own front step. Ole came to Dot’s house to continue the cycle and perform the only function he knows, but Dot reminds him that he can choose. He can choose to stop swallowing the fruit of the poisoned tree. He can choose to remember beautiful things. He can choose mercy. He can choose kindness. He can forgive and he too can be forgiven.

Dorthy Lyon’s story was always about more than survival of the fittest. It was about more than the fight to live on and get back to the people who loved her and find a safe space for herself. Her story was about rejecting the lie we’ve all been told since birth.

That life is like a prison. You’re born and then you’re shuffled into groups, separated by class and race, and within those groups the strongest rise to the top. And until death it’s an endless fight to take take, and hold onto what you take.

Dot’s story presents us with an alternative viewpoint. That life can be devastating, but it can also be beautiful and it all comes down to who we choose to be.

[nomoreusername]

Teresa Agnes Is Innocent?

This is strictly about the movies.

For one, people say she should have known that WCKD wouldn't not hurt anyone. While this may seem like common sense to most, we have to remember that Teresa grew up with them. I'm her memories, they do good. Because of their goal and the way they took her in when she had nobody, it’s reasonable for her to trust them and have a bias.

Next, in The Death Cure we find out they have trackers in their neck. That means that WCKD was bound to find them sooner or later. Her telling them only sped up that process. There was no actually getting out of it.

People say that she is the entire reason Newt became infected. This is a flat out lie. While they did go to the city because of Minho being captured she did not give him the Flare. There are two possible places he did. The first one is when their car got flipped over. In that scene Newt does end up holding his arm. This is from one of two things. Either he just hurt his arm in some way or a Crank bit/scratched him. The other possibility is the movies followed the books when it comes to the virus being airborne. Either way, Teresa did not plan on them coming to get Minho nor did she plan on this happening. She was looking for a cure that would have saved him. Some people say it was due to her long speech. However, that long of a speech could have actually saved him. When we see her giving the speech that is all she is doing. However, someone else turned on the lights, and light makes Cranks violent. That is most likely why Newt woke up and start attacking Thomas.

Now she did end up finding the cure. She could have saved everyone, but there was a war going on in the city which was already killing everyone. This was not something she could have predicted. If that hadn't been happening she very well could have saved the world.

Another huge factor to her not being able to is Janson. Janson has only self interest. He does not care about people who can't give him something he wants. That's why even when there was the cure he wanted it all instead of making more for any survivors of the war who were infected. When Teresa realized this she turned against them completely. She decided to save Thomas instead of something that she had dedicated almost her entire life to and had lost people over. She cared more about someone who hadn't tried to understand where she was coming from instead of what meant so much. She saved him and dragged him up through a burning building. Not only that, she apologizes for her actions and says she tried, showing that she blames herself despite so much of it being out of her control.

Her death was a suicide. That is what makes people who say they laughed when she died do more than get under my skin. They also say Newt would have been happy, but I disagree. Newt was selfless in a different way, and I truly believe he would be devastated to know she had committed suicide.

How do we know this is a suicide? Well, she has people reaching for. She has the choice, but she saved Thomas. Then, she doesn't see the point in going on. She feels so much guilt that she dies a horrific death of burns and falling to the concrete from a tall building. Not only would it be extremely painful, it wouldn't feel so quick even if it may have seemed that way. She would literally die in flames. She was not standing there because she was frozen in fear. She stood there because she thought she didn't deserve to live. The way she was able to stand after part of the building fell and get up with her head held high proves it. That is absolutely awful and unfair of her to believe and feel.

Lastly, she was a teenager. The estimated ages of everyone in the movies from what I’ve seen is sixteen to nineteen. No matter where she fell her frontal cortex was not fully developed which can cause more impulsive or irrational decisions. While it was clearly a very difficult but stern one and she stood by it, my point is that she had so long left. She could have learned so much about herself and grown even more, until she was someone that could be more healed and happier.

Teresa Agnes took her life as a teenager because she felt guilt for so many things out of her control.

Teresa Agnes is innocent.

[transhawks]

But Who Can Stand Before Jealousy?

Dabi being jealous of Shouto getting Endeavor's attention (even being aware of the abuse and trauma he's faced) and Dabi acknowledging his father's abusive relationship and treatment of the entire family can coexist. Sometimes abuse survivors aren't perfectly rational and crave validation and acknowledgment from their abusers. Sometimes they get jealous of someone who had a very different type of abuse and trauma because they consider their neglect to be more painful, and yes, sometimes they compare traumas.

Abuse screws you up and I think we can discuss Dabi understanding the systemic/societal issues that lead to his father being unaccountable and knowing that he grew up in a very toxic and abusive household while acknowledging he has ugly feelings of jealousy towards Shouto and outright told him that he'll never amount to anything despite how lucky he is to be what Endeavor wanted. Do these sentiments seem to conflict? Yes!

But something called cognitive dissonance exists. Most people have it. Dabi, as a multi-faceted character, can show that a lot of his ideals don't actually work with his desires and feelings, which is very much how most people work, and people who are mentally ill and traumatized more so.

Additionally, the way the manga should solve this is not by allowing the rift and competition for Enji's attention to be validated by the narrative. I never liked the idea that Enji has to choose between his children because it perpetuates the issue and a golden child and scapegoat dynamic.

Enji choosing a child over the other will just solidify the idea that 1. Parental love needs to competed for 2. Dabi was right to feel jealous of Shouto and see him as an usurper 3. Also make Enji's prior abuse and pitting of his kids against each other kind of feel validated.

But we are then at a loss for how to make Dabi feel seen and wanted, when so much of his anger is at having been usurped as the apple of his father's eye.

Meanwhile, the manga has been building up another confrontation between Keigo and Touya. More on this from me later, but I think Hawks attacking Touya and vice versa provides a chance for Enji to still make that active choice of choosing Touya over his career/coworkers/hero cause, but not having to choose between his sons.

Because Touya needs to feel that sort of love from Enji in order to even heal, but you can't heal by opening other wounds. Shouto has never been a willing participant in this fight between Touya and Enji and it's unfair to build off him like this.

Hawks and Endeavor are shown to be close for coworkers (Enji definitely thinks of him favorably) even if Hawks's admiration or parasocial fixation on Endeavor are very different from what Endeavor likely sees (a very supportive coworker). Dabi's sense of reality is skewed enough that he might see the 'closeness' as more examples of his father choosing everyone over him, especially shiny prodigies good heroes like Keigo. I don't know what else Dabi could be referring to a precious thing in the battlefield if he's not able to give Shouto as a souvenir.

Please remember that Dabi doesn't believe his father gives a damn about him more than being horrified at what he's become. Enji has never stated it to him since the reveal that he loves him and wants him back. While Dabi is suicidal, it's a mistake to think he's referring to immolating himself.

Hawks in this scenario represents the hero society Dabi hates - a false golden idol filled with the same muck as the villains, and essentially everything his father would have wanted him to aspire to. The two attacking each other has a symbolic weight. Like I said, there's also a lot to be said about jealousy in the Touya-Keigo dynamic, but that's not what this post is about.

Simply put, Endeavor will not have to choose between Touya and Shouto. That doesn't solve the conflict. Horikoshi's setting up a way for Endeavor to start to make up for his emotional abuse and neglect of his son without throwing more of his family under the bus, and it'd only worsen the situation if the story makes Endeavor choose between his kids.

[mariacallous]

Jonathan’s actions were irrefutable: Over the course of nearly a decade, while working at a video game developer, he sexually assaulted industry colleagues. One victim came forward, posting their story to social media; others followed with stories of their own. The consequences were swift. Colleagues, friends, and peers disavowed him. He stepped away from his job and retreated from the public eye.

Jonathan, who asked that WIRED not reveal his identity, no longer works in the video game industry. His decision to remain apart from the community, he says, is the direct result of his actions. ”I made the choices I did, and I needed to hold the burden of those consequences,” he says. Had he remained in games, he felt he would be placing an unfair burden on his colleagues, as well as making the lives of those he abused more difficult.

“I didn't feel like it was right to stay involved and continue my journey in gaming when the harm I caused prevented them from doing the same,” he says.

In video game development, actions like Jonathan’s are alarmingly familiar. What's less common are solutions for how to repair the damage done. For decades, the industry has faced calls to weed out people accused of sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, abuse of power, harassment, assault, and much more. At companies like Activision Blizzard, which paid out millions to victims who alleged a widespread sexual harassment scandal, bad actors have lost their jobs or faced discipline following harassment investigations, but what then? It’s taken the video game industry so long to even respond to the problems in its ranks, little work has been done to figure out what can and should happen next.

ReSpec wants to be part of the solution. Founded in 2022 as an offshoot of a hotline for people experiencing harassment and abuse in the gaming industry, the nonprofit works with people who want to change. For Jonathan, that meant facing his actions and taking accountability. In other cases, it means recognizing misuses of power, harassment, or manipulation. ReSpec's work pushes the conversation further, but also raises new questions about whether abusers can be reformed—or if they should ever be allowed to return to the places they made unsafe.

In 2020, Jae Lin was working at the Games and Online Harassment Hotline. It was a text-based service that allowed anyone who reached out to talk anonymously about issues from crunch to depression. Launched by Feminist Frequency’s Anita Sarkeesian, herself the target of a Gamergate harassment campaign, the idea was to create the survivor-centered, trauma-informed assistance the game industry so desperately needed.

When confessions coming from industry abusers began rolling in, Lin was surprised. They were working for a hotline that was created to support victims. Unwittingly, it was also becoming a lifeline for people who’d done the harm in the first place. “Really from the beginning, we had folks texting us about harm and harassment that they had caused or been a part of,” Lin says. “It just kept happening.”

Eventually, Lin says, they realized this was “not a one-off thing,” but something the industry wasn’t addressing. There were not many resources, even outside of the games space, for people who “were feeling remorseful and regretful for what they had done and wanted to change,” Lin says. No one knew who to ask for help.

In reporting on this piece, WIRED reached out to survivor-focused groups like the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network to better contextualize ReSpec's work. A representative for RAINN declined to comment, saying that the organization doesn't have an expert who could speak on the subject.

Lin would officially found ReSpec—a nod to rebuilding attributes in role-playing games—with the goal of providing virtual meetings that could be attended by anyone in the world. Because counseling offenders is different from working with survivors, they consulted with therapists who had experience working with incarcerated people and people on the sex offender registry. They also spoke with facilitators of batterer's intervention groups, members and leaders of men's support groups, and many more experts with experience in sexual violence prevention.

At ReSpec, facilitators have backgrounds that span hotline counseling and trauma-informed care to sexual violence prevention and “men's roles in interrupting cycles of gender-based violence,” Lin says.

Part of ReSpec’s work is about acknowledging that harassing behavior in the video game development world doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The industry is still overwhelmingly male—69 percent of devs identify as cis men—and at times hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit that mold. People drug developers at industry parties; conversations about alcohol's presence and the culture it communicates in professional spaces are a constant. Whisper networks, more powerful than they’ve ever been thanks to online forums, work overtime. It does not matter what size a company is, or even the industry it serves. The MeToo movement existed for over a decade before the allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein published in The New Yorker and The New York Times in 2017 catalyzed a global reckoning.

“So much of what we heard about from folks was rarely about a single, egregious instance of harassment or abuse or violence,” Lin says. “This is something that they're facing every time they play a game, every job they work at—it was everywhere.”

Harassment rarely impacts only those directly involved. It is a pernicious act, one that can ripple out and inform work culture. It can drive people out of industries they work in, or discourage others from joining at all.

In the last few years alone, games industry powerhouses such as Riot, Activision Blizzard, and Ubisoft have been the subject of allegations of workplace harassment and abuse. However it’s labeled—as a callout, a cancellation—bringing attention to abusive individuals is part of a greater push for justice and accountability. Victims have used social media spaces like X to tell their stories in their own words. It is an imperfect system, one that opens survivors up to widespread abuse online and off, that many turn to when they feel they have no other options.

“If you think about some of the other mechanisms that the legal system provides, they don't necessarily provide the kind of remedies that people might want,” says Jennifer Robbennolt, a University of Illinois law professor whose research focuses on integrating psychology into the study of law. Criminal cases deal with fines or prison; the civil system is about monetary damages. “In certain kinds of cases, those outcomes might be appropriate,“ Robbennolt says. “But a lot of times what people who are harmed or people in those communities will want is changed behavior.”

In the criminal system, advocates for restorative justice work with offenders and victims together in an attempt to reconcile. The goal is to move forward, and sometimes reintegrate the perpetrator back into a community or workplace, albeit often in a different role. “In some ways, that's both a benefit and the challenge of restorative justice,” Robbennolt says. “It's a collaborative process that creates room for there to be nuance to the consequences to the harm, and to tailor the solution to that particular circumstance.” However, she adds, it’s important to not minimize “the more severe end of the spectrum.”

Aside from the nature of the harm done, there’s also the matter of how remorseful a perpetrator is—a difference between someone who either cannot or will not admit to wrongdoing and someone who can potentially learn. Not all offenders should be treated the same, even when their behaviors are similar, Robbennolt says.

While other programs may align with restorative justice, Lin says ReSpec’s focus is on a different model known as transformative justice. “Our focus is really working to address the roots of how harm happens,” Lin says. That means examining behavior, history, and practicing new ways to build relationships.

A key element of a program like ReSpec, says Lin, is time. They’re betting on long-term change. “Change that happens overnight can be undone overnight,” they say. “We really believe that this change towards accountability takes years—years of commitment and unlearning and active engagement.”

Getting those outcomes starts with wanting to change, which means showing up.

[remarcely]

I didn't like Sylvie in S1, mostly because of the whole sylki thing, but S2 has made me her number 1 defender.

It blows my mind that people watched the show and went away with 'wow, Sylvie's a bitch' because it just reeks of misogyny and not having the capacity to understand a complex character.

Sylvie, since the age of 10-ish, has been fleeing a constant threat to her existence and grew up in apocalypses. She couldn't have anything permanent other than herself because she has to keep moving and anything she leaves behind is destroyed. No friends, no family, and no universe of her own.

Then she gets put in a room with the one guy who ruined her entire life and countless others, of course she's going to be determined to kill him. She started as a scared child, it makes sense that she became and angry adult. Nothing, not even Loki begging her, could stop He Who Remain(ed)s death.

And lets be honest he deserved it.

Then in the finale, she watches a variant of herself and a friend she faced hell along side sentence himself to an eternity of sitting on a throne, holding the multiverse in place. Loki gave everyone a chance to live and, most importantly, a choice. To stay at the TVA or go home. Verity (Hunter B-15) and Frank (Casey) chose to stay, Mobius found it too difficult without Loki and left, and Sylvie's choice was obvious.

It's unfair to be angry at her for showing happiness in the finale. Time has clearly passed since Loki left, though we're not shown how much, of course she's managed to move on. I don't see anyone pissed off at B-15 for continuing with their life? What about Casey or Ouroboros?

Also, we saw Sylvie's face as Loki made his sacrifice.

Does she look happy to you?

That is a face of horror and distress as she watches yet another person in her life essentially give up his freedom while she survives.

Do you ever think about the survivors guilt Sylvie has? That in all of the apocalypses she hid in, she saw men, women, and children be killed knowing she technically could save them but it would make them a variant and doom them further. That she is the only one from her own universe that wasn't reset, making her the lone survivor of her world?

Even with the infinite possibility for the future multiverse, those worlds will have their own Sylvie. There's no place for her there, so she has to make her own somewhere else.

From the end of Season 1 to most of Season 2, Sylvie has been fighting for the chance to live a normal life. When she gets it, through such suffering and loss, is she really supposed to be miserable forever because one person is gone? She quite literally got the only thing she's ever wanted, that's got to give her a lot of relief.

Don't be the person to think 'this silly woman gets between my gay ship, brrrr rage what a bitch' or take her as one dimensional.

She's selfish because she's sacrificed everything she had, I think by now she's allowed to be. Sophia Di Martino did a wonderful job and deserves to have her character be enjoyed and understood, not labelled as annoying and 'the real villain'.

Some people only paid mind to the shipping when watching the show, ignoring the plot, and it really shows.

[maryonmega]

Twin Stars - Chapter 11

Better than nothing (even pain?)

((A bit on the shorter side. Sorry))

You turn the shower as strong as it can get so Mirabelle won't hear your breakdown. Would be unfair, but so would to force yourself to be silent. 

 

You're a ghost. You were a ghost. Except not anymore. You're a sole survivor to people who are alive. You're a blank slate and carry baggage.

 

You're...

 

You're Sisyphus, no? Siffrin's sibling. A wanderer embraced by a family of choice.

 

You...

 

You still wish you could forget.

 

You know it won't happen.

 

But...

 

You want this life. You really do want this life.

 

Will this get twisted too? Rotten untill it falls apart?

 

This is how everything you dare want ends, isn't it?

 

When you get out already in your bed clothes (you like them. It's comfy. And you got it second hand so it didn't drain the little coin you had back then), the bathroom is full of steam. Does Mirabelle like hot showers? You can't remenber. You hope so. 

 

Did she like hot showers? Did she know how to sew? Could she sing? Could she paint? What's her favorite shade?

 

Your memory. Your precious memory. You condensed into a few hours. You broke before you truly had the tiny freedom Stardust was granted. Even the sweetness leave a bitter, rancid aftertaste. 

 

You call her to go to the now free bathroom. She comes out a few minutes later, already with the net thing on her hair. You need to figure these words out, dang it.

 

You lie down.

 

You...

 

She came out of the hall entusiastic. Why did you have to mess things up by holding a torch that should not even exist?

 

Close your eyes. In, and out. You're just going to sleep, like normal people do after watching a sixteen hours long play.

 

"Uhn, Sisyphus?"

 

Oh, no.

 

You sit up to look at her. Her gaze is soft. You get a sense of deja vu.

 

"Yes?"

 

"Are, un, are you really fine?"

 

The softness never left, but there's something else there, too. You can't remember if you got to know this side.

 

If it even existed. Before.

 

You didn't forget her name again. You still remember all of their names. You remember much more than you have the right to. It makes you even more painfully aware of what you forgot.

 

"I mean, I know the last part of that play was pretty sad, but, uhn, you kind of... looked like it was worse than that? I know it might not make sense, but! It kind of started before that?"

 

You know. You also know she's onto you. Maybe a little less than the Researcher but she is. Did the ordeal with Stardust turn something around?

 

She's rubbing her fingers. You know she's putting on effort to not bite her nails. 

 

"I know we're not, close, but, if you need to tell something, or, uh, a hug? Console, I mean, I wouldn't mind..."

 

"A hug would be nice, yes."

 

She doesn't hide that you took her by surprise. She also doesn't give enough time to second guess your decision before making her way to the bed you're sleeping on. It's not bad, right? You're taking up her offer. And, she's not wrong about you, so...

 

Her hug is gentle. Not tight, just firm enough to be soothing, grounding you with the pressure you with the pressure. She lets you lean on her torso. You hug back. You do lean. A warmt and care that no gods could erase if they tried.

 

Real. Warm and solid and real. Everchanging, even if she doesn't see it, because, now, she's living again. Mirabelle. Mirabelle. Mirabelle. 

 

You don't realize you started crying untill she pulls back and wipes your tears. She mumbles "there, there" with each pat like you're a stray animal she's luring to a vet. 

 

You wonder if that's really as much a metaphor as you thought at first. 

 

"Thank you." You choke out. 

 

"It's ok." She says, her voice still soothing. 

 

You love her. Blind you, you still love your Mirabelle, but your soul is determined to love this one too. 

 

You don't know what to think of that. You don't want to think about that. You don't have a choice about doing so or not. 

 

You hug your pillow when you actually go to sleep. The cry tired you out. 

 

Her hands. Her warm, small hands. Calloused from battles and gentle like her heart. As good as in your memory. 

 

You want more. You don't dare ask for more. You feel like a summer plant with yellowing leaves. You feel like you'll drown if she waters you again. 

 

Your sleep is mercifully dreamless. 

 

~~~

 

Mirabelle checked on you as soon as you got out of bed. You didn't have to lie about feeling better. 

 

It still hurts. An ache in your chest. Like your heart haven't beaten in years and is now getting reused to doing so. You don't like it, but... it's better then hollowness.

 

You want to hold her hand. You know you'll drown. You put your cloak on and hold your own hand under it.

 

Today there isn't quite a pinpoint. You thought the groups would swap, but that's silly, no? Of course it is, the family agreed to travel together. Separate would kill the porpuse.

 

So, you wander around, but this time it's a good thing. Mirabelle is on the front again. You... 

 

You don't have it on you to reach for her again. But, you don't want to be too far. Or too close to the little couple (you can tell that Stardust also cried last night). You hang by the middle, near the Researcher. Like this, you could almost believe-

 

No. Not really. 

 

~★~

 

There are places with trees and bushes. You're not sure if "plaza" is the right word. You're sure they must be beautiful in summer. Too bad it's not summer. 

 

Last night was embarassing. Crying your eye out like that after being fine for over a week. But, it was also good. In a way. You felt horrible at first, to let out that you let them die more than once. Even in the morning, even after being told again and again that it was the King's fault for killing them and falling asleep with rain noise on the ceiling, the part that reminds you that you were the one with the duty of knowing still persists. 

 

But, not as loud now? Now, as you smell the still slightly damp earth, Isa's strong arm around your shoulders, your family's comments about plant care a comforting noise (Pétronille seens to be on some sort of tennis with Odile, Mirabelle looks like she'll take notes as soon as she gets some blank paper), you feel somehow light. One way of distracting from the festering thoughts. 

 

It's ok. It's ok. Ok, not really. For sure not, but... Your family can protect themselves now... And you'll never stop protecting them. It's just... mutual now. Better like that. Twelve eyes is much better than just one to look out for things. Right? Right?

 

"... you have to let them breath, or they're not gettin' tall. That's why the best ones are wild."

 

You... for sure did not make a noise when Nille got louder.

 

"Why are you even so bothered? It's not like you can grow things now." Bonbon cuts in, and see the opposite aged ladies back off like it was a comand. 

 

She triggers your fight or flight instict, but... She's far from bad. 

 

You see Loop looking at the situation and smiling. It doesn't look faked. 

 

Taking advantage of the focus being on the three for now, you hold the hand hanging off your shoulder.

 

Hard to have a boring moment. 

[bonefall]

I've gotta know, where does Heathertail fall into the rewrite? She's one of my favorite side characters, I find it so funny she was friends with Lionblaze and then went to date his messed up half brother. She feels like an 'I can fix him' kind of girl and I love that for her. Also, obviously, the drama she could have had about Darktail and Onestar, which could have been very interesting family drama. And, speaking of that, Whitetail isn't Onestat's apprentice anymore, right? If she's even still Heathertail's mother.

[ID: Halfbody sketch of Heathertail from Warrior Cats. She has a long face, purple eyes, and one long whisker. She's a pale ginger with sandy ears, muzzle, and legs with brown stripes. She's glaring at something off-screen.]

Heather has a VERY expanded role in this rewrite. I'm VERY normal about kids with complicated relationships to their dads.

FIRST THINGS FIRST;

She's a bit of a rebel, but not completely disloyal either. She marches to the beat of her own drum, but stays in-tune with the band, y'know?

If she feels like she's got a good reason for doing something you can't stop her.

Heathertail's Clanmew name is Wishswash-- "Bell Heather Tail".

Contrast to Heatherstar's Clanmew name, Ssinbshai-- "Common Heather Tail"

Onestar's new reduxed parentage is Cloudrunner x Larksplash.

He was named Onekit because he is the only survivor of his birth. His siblings were stillborn and his mother died in the process. It's a hard word to translate; "Ul-arra" means One, but also a whole fraction, and loneliness.

I like the idea that Heathertail looks ginger in some lights, especially as she grows older and her pelt brightens. Like Firestar, or Brushblaze is flashing through her, somehow. A haunting for Onestar.

Onestar's apprentice was Runningbrook, who traumatically dies young in TNP.

Whitetail was not Onestar's apprentice nor was she even his mate; Heathertail was the result of an Honor Siring.

Whitetail wanted kittens and decided to ask the leader of the Clan. Onestar requested co-parenting.

There was no Galekit, Heathertail was from a single-kit litter.

(because im saving galekit for someone else's litter)

Heatherpaw in Po3

Since Bonefall Po3 is episodic and worldbuilding-focused, Heatherpaw is able to feature in a bunch of individual conflicts

She is meeting HOLLY in the tunnels this time around, not Lion

They catch feelings for each other, but Heather isn't as ready to ride as Holly is.

Pressure from her father as tensions between Thunder and Wind grow, Holly's growing investment in their relationship, and eventually the kittens getting lost following her, Heather breaks it off and stops seeing Holly.

When Sedge reveals the secret tunnels to Onestar, Heather was EXTREMELY uncomfortable that One immediately started planning to use it to attack ThunderClan

he was one of Breezepaw's friends who joined him on his dog-patrol, and feels bad he got in the most trouble when they were all part of the bad idea

She starts to develop a growing resentment for her father. He's unfair, he wants conflict when there doesn't need to be any, it's upsetting.

She does NOT join the Dark Forest though. She IS approached, but knows right away that this is bad news

Breezepelt's growing radicalization along with her old friends is concerning, but she doesn't know what to do without snitching

Yeah this is bad, but IMAGINE telling dad about this and seeing him do something drastic. She doesn't trust either side.

Onestar's not always the worst but she also doesn't feel like he reliably makes good choices.

Unlike canon, she is not a Breezepelt Stan after OotS. She doesn't trust him, for good reason. However, she is more sympathetic to his conspirators. Especially Sunstrike, who was so badly wounded in the battle that exiling her could have been a death sentence.

Heathertail in AVoS

She is a main character in AVoS this time around.

Her narrative use is to be the inside voice of WindClan. She's there to see how Onestar grows increasingly paranoid, and to point out his cruelty as he refuses to aid ShadowClan, and how this eventually leads to Darktail assuming control of it.

This is important because The Kin starts as a small problem. The point here is that the fall of ShadowClan could have been avoided if pigheaded Clan isolationism hadn't gotten in the way.

This directly leads to the Law of the Lake at the end of this arc-- that all Clans have a responsibility to preserve the others.

But, back to the story

The first members of WindClan who join the Kin are Known Halfclans and Dark Forest trainees. Cats who feel ostracized. Breezepelt is the very first, Sedgewhisker probably joins next.

(Adding a bit of depth to Sedge by saying that Gorsetail fumbled her secret and spilled the beans about Beechfur)

That causes the treatment of the deputy Harespring, the elder Sunstrike, and her mate Furzepelt to get worse, though they keep trying to prove their loyalty at first.

ONESTAR is not the one who makes his confession. Darktail pushes him and pushes him, trying to goad him into admitting it, finally revealing his pedigree after a point I haven't worked out yet.

And it's at this point he recruits Heathertail directly.

Heathertail joins The Kin, wanting to know more, and to hear out the other side of her father's legacy

Unfortunately, this was a trap. Darktail wants to hurt Onestar and the minute he feels Heathertail 'betrays' him in some way, she's in the same boat

She rekindles her friendship with Breezepelt in the meanwhile

Dark keeps Heather around for a while until some minor infraction pops up, and he uses this to execute her and a bunch of others (probably talking to cats outside of The Kin, maybe even Onestar himself and Darktail says this is spying)

And this becomes the moment where Breezepelt makes his dramatic turn.

"Execution? But, you said... you said you only wanted to show her the truth, not hurt her??"

"This is our truth. Breezepelt, you understand it better than anyone-- you want to bring the same pain to your own father as I'm about to do to my treacherous blood-kin."

Breeze has a moment here, realizing that he DOESN'T want to be Darktail and Heathertail doesn't deserve this

He has more to work through but right now those are the two major things

Heathertail escapes with several others including Breezepelt, back to WindClan.

After this, she's a huge proponent for SkyClan's inclusion at the lake. She is probably a major reason why the Law of the Lake is passed, cutting through general fear and xenophobia to remind everyone that The Kin never would have gotten as big as it did if the Clans had not allowed ShadowClan to falter.

The Clans need some good peppering of characters who make reasonable, diplomatic arbiters who are good at public speaking. That's how I'm seeing Heather.