#that's what I call growth™

[incorrectbatfam]

If Shark Tank existed in the DC universe

Jason: Good evening, sharks. My name is Jason Todd, but don't let the fact that my father is on the panel dissuade the rest of you from investing. I am here with my partner in more ways than one, Roy Harper.

Bruce: More ways in one? What—

Jason: Have you ever hung out with your family and thought to yourself, "Damn, we have a really bad habit of dying. What can we do?" Well, look no further, because our product will revolutionize the entire concept of parenting. We call it Responsibility™.

Roy: *walks out holding Lian*

Jason: As my partner is modeling for you, Responsibility will not only keep your child alive, but it will also ensure that your child grows up to be a well-adjusted member of society.

Roy: *spins around*

Jason: Our child safety technology combines your classic Adult Supervision with our state-of-the-art Age-Appropriate Activity instincts. Allow us to demonstrate.

Jason: Roy, is patrolling the city at night in spandex an appropriate activity for an eight-year-old? Without Responsibility™, you might say something like...

Roy: Of course! And while we're at it, let's get this small child a lethal weapon.

Jason: But when you use Responsibility™, you get this.

Roy: Absolutely not. That is reckless endangerment. Let's watch a movie instead.

Ollie, to Bruce: He's taking a dig at you.

Kate: So what do you want from us?

Jason: We propose a $100,000 investment to jumpstart our manufacturing facility. We have a vision of every single family having Responsibility™ by the end of this decade. In return, we will give you a 10% share of the company.

Ollie: Have you patented this?

Roy: We have the main Responsibility™ product patented as of last year and our Dad Reflex™ add-on is currently pending.

Ted: As you might know, kids take a lot of risks, especially in their teenage years. I know as a mentor to a teenager myself. How do you account for this?

Jason: Excellent question. Responsibility™ is a versatile product that evolves with time. For older kids, you receive the additional Conversation™ feature that aids in communicating expectations at a higher level.

Roy: While nothing is guaranteed in life, Responsibility™ is the best safeguard on the market.

Kate, taking notes: And what's your current customer acquisition cost?

Jason: We don't have an exact figure, but right now it's around fifty cents.

Kate: And your profit margin?

Jason: We sell Responsibility™ for ten dollars each and our profit margin is seven dollars.

Bruce: This is too conceptual for Wayne Enterprises. I'm out.

Jason: It's alright, we figured this product wasn't for you.

Ollie: Queen Industries is out too. We don't see it worth the investment.

Roy: Understandable. You have a track record to maintain.

Ted: I see the growth potential in this product. I'm going to offer you $100,000 for research and development at Kord Industries in exchange for 25% equity.

Kate: I'll do you one better. $150,000 for 30% equity and an office at Kane Industries.

Ollie: You guys can't be serious.

Ted: You're missing out. I know revolutionary technology when I see it. I'll raise you $180,000 plus Hollywood product placements.

Kate: $200,000 for 20% equity, an entire floor of Kane Tower, and a Super Bowl ad.

Jason: Sold to the childless lesbian! Looks like we have a deal.

Roy, handing her a bag: Here, take a free one as a token of our appreciation.

Kate, looking at Bruce: Thank you! I know just the person to give this to.

[agatharkn3ss]

Nicky's Rio son too.

I feel there were so many lines that imply this and the finale is starting to make more sense - especially because the dandelion in the trial!

Jen explains that Green Craft™ is about the cycle of all living things - growth and decay in constant flow. So it's not just about dying but being born too.

So it would track that Rio's love for Agatha was so strong that it actually created life - Nicky. However, there would be consequences to this because proper balance had to be maintained somehow. Rio probably even warned Agatha about it, but Agatha always believes she is above the rules so in her head she probably thought she had every right to Nicky (maybe even her "prize" that she alludes to in their final confrontation). This would really add to Rio's hurt - Nicky was her son too. She thought she was giving Agatha a gift of life, but instead Agatha sees her as this cruel "evil" that "gave her nothing". To her Rio is the one who just "took."

It feels like it is also implied by Rio at the start of the episode when she says "This walk with another woman's son on a road that doesn't...". She could be referring to Nicky being her son.

But I think Agatha finally accepts her truth during the final trial when she sees the dandelion seed in her cameo. She even says "Out of Death - life" as she grows it because she finally understands the literal implications of that phrase.

That Dandelion is representation of Nicky. And sure enough, as soon as the flower grows and blossoms, it quickly enters the final stage - when it turns into the seeds that can be scattered by the wind again and continue the cycle of life. Because guess what, "dandelions produce seeds asexually by apomixis, where the seeds are produced without pollination, resulting in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent plant".

When Nicky is born, we could probably assume it was indeed asexual reproduction - Agatha says she didn't use a spell or incantation, but instead he was made from scratch (obviously a clever nod to his name). On one hand it could be read like Agatha is astonished how something this magical could happen without actually using any witchcraft. However, this also feels like a suggestion that maybe she is just amazed at how he could possibly exist. Kathryn Hahn in her recent interview alluded to how the witches didn't need men, babies were just born. So it was Rio's "dandelion seed" that made it happen.

It is the second characteristic of dandelion species is what seals the deal for me - "the offspring being genetically identical to the parent plant". Nicky as the offspring of Death needs bodies to survive in this realm. During his birth Rio says she can offer only time, because she can maintain the balance, as long as Nicky gets his bodies.

That's why she hates Rio and calls her evil - not because of Rio herself, but because of what her "genetics" did to Nicky. Agatha would rather have people believe that she is this evil witch killer that traded her child for the Darkhold, than anyone to know the awful truth that it was Nicky who was the cause of the killings.

In the flashbacks, there are those remarks about how they haven't "eaten for days" and that whenever Nicky was poorly he said he was hungry. Agatha said she couldn't create the food for him (and protect him from what's coming). She could've cooked that goat they had with them if they were really that hungry (btw, I still believe that goat is Senor Scratchy), but that wasn't the "food" that Nicky meant.

And just like Billy, Rio couldn't just take Nicky. He had to "turn himself in". It was his choice not to kill any more witches. On the day Nicky dies, he says "My mother needs me home". I think he is talking about Rio here, since he usually calls Agatha "Mama". This is the moment the decides for himself and goes home to Death.

I feel like this opens the possibility that we will indeed see Nicholas Scratch in the future (and have a role similar to the one in the comics). That maybe even he might not have "died" because he is an offspring of death, so he just exists in some Underworld realm, where he no longer needs bodies to survive. Maybe Agatha might have hoped that by killing more and more witches, she will bring Nicky back to life/this realm?

And the Ballad really was a protection spell she made for him too?

This would also be a more plausible explanation why Agatha went to kiss Rio when Billy asked "Is this how Nicky died?". I feel this was more of an apology to Rio for hating her for Nicky's treatment, because she finally understood why she had to do it?

[alyakthedorklord]

Chiroptophobia: the Fear of Bats.

Bruce Wayne is Scared of Bats. This is a Canon Fact.

In a difference from canon, Batman pretends to actually BE a bat man.

(Again, “Loading and Aspect Ratio” by JUBE514 situation with fake wings. Please go read it I love it so much.)

Bruce turns himself into a physical manifestation of his personal worst nightmares, and sets out to be a street cryptid. People see him flinching from bright lights and loud noises (he hasn’t slept in three days and he really hates guns) twitching weirdly (testing his wings function/stimming) not fully understanding human social niceties (you cannot tell me this man isn't Autistic) and, duh, wings, and go ah yes this being is Inhuman.

However, people KNOW Brucie Wayne™ is petrified of bats. There was an incident at a party when one flew through a window, another at a zoo, there was this one time Manbat showed up and he practically teleported away. No one saw him for a whole month, even after Batman had captured Manbat. (He got injured in the fight.)

By extension, this means that Bruce Wayne is afraid of Batman. Just- absolutely terrified of him. No ones seen them in the same place. Ever. Bruce Wayne actually publicly refuses to even believe in the cryptid for YEARS past when he's already been proven to exist.

When the Justice League gets called in to protect Bruce and his smattering of children from some plot (batman conspicuously absent, despite Gotham being his territory) Bruce straight up tells the league that he doesn’t believe in Batman, and he feels much safer with “real heroes” rather than “a urban legend spawned from overdramatic furries and gang wars.”

The justice league is, obviously, confused.

Certified little shits Dick, Jason, and Tim, (because we’re going with JUBE514’s canon and jason doesn’t die they’re all brothers f off-)

ANYWAYS: Certified Little Shits Dick, Jason, and Tim, ready for chaos/solidifying secret identities: “Don’t worry! We believe in batman! We saw him!” :D

They then proceed to tell the justice league that Bruce HAS met Batman, but he has a phobia of bats, so when Batman saved them at a gala Bruce screamed so loud and shrill he threw off the bat-hearing and then punched batman in the face so hard he knocked him out cold, grabbed then-baby Jason and ran. (Nightwing and the second Robin had to HEROICALLY rescue a dazed Batman, Dick saw it with his own eyes!)

Bruce was so scared of the bat coming to take revenge that he jumped at every shadow for a whole month. Why, Jason, (who was younger then) had slept in Bruce's bed to keep him safe! (Dick is crooning about his cute little brother. Jason, who is hitting his growth spurt and not a little kid anymore, is infinitely embarrassed.) Right now, Brucie has settled into firmly denying Batman’s entire existence so that he can sleep soundly at night.

“Why is he so scared of bats?” The Justice League is wondering. Oh, they are so glad they asked!

“Alfred told us a story once,” Dick says, eyes wide and innocent as he prepares to lie through his fucking teeth, “that when Bruce was little, really little, he got trapped in a cave filled with bats, and his dad had to come rescue him. Apparently, Little Bruce had been crying about a massive bat, even bigger than he was, with glowing red eyes and human hands and (gasp) wait oh my goodness gracious what if that was the BATMAN :0”

“The baby batman.” Jadon adds.

“Batboy?” Tim wonders.

“Alfred, do you think Bruce met Batman when they were little?” Dick asks.

“I believe,” Alfred “the greatest enabler” Pennyworth hums, offering fresh baked scones to thier gleeful audience, “that Master Bruce referred to what he saw as ‘the bat king’ and reported seeing him outside his window several times over the years.”

“Maybe it really was him! Will you ask Batman for us?” Tim asks, already planning to hack the watchtower cameras and set up some popcorn with his brothers.

The Justice League, who have learned more about the Batman in one conversation than they have over MANY years of working together, tell the Wayne children that it will be their Genuine Pleasure to quiz batman on his interactions with BRUCIE WAYNE who has, apparently, laid batman out cold with one punch.

Alfred adds on that he personally thinks the Batman is being rather courteous to Master Bruce, as “bat king” sightings were after “difficult times” and he doesn’t come near the manor otherwise, as robin had been the one to return some family heirlooms that one time they were stolen. He calls the batman and his robins “polite young gentlemen” and then leaves.

But now the gears are turning in the justice leagues heads. Batman? Courteous? Polite? Batman is not Courteous or Polite. Not unless something else is going on.

Now. From their point of view. Batman lives in the cave systems under the richest houses in Gotham, Phantom of the Opera style, hiding his meta form (because this batman is playing cryptid really well. Maybe he was a mutant baby of some Rich Gothamites, who threw him into the caves in shame!) He’s been watching Bruce Wayne, likely as he struggled with the highly reported on demise of his parents, seeing the effects that crime had on the boy that fell into his cave all those years ago. Batman has always been so protective of children, so hateful of guns, obviously the Wayne tragedy is part of what motivates him. He loves Gotham dearly, territorial of it to the point of keeping other heroes out, and yet he breaks that rule here, for Gotham's prince, solely for Bruce’s comfort.

Bruce, another person who obviously loves the city of Gotham just as much, putting millions into charity and relief efforts. Who is clearly very protective of his children, even if he usually has no spine, to the point of attacking his greatest fear to keep then safe, and good enough to land a hit, even. (Bruce Wayne is also considerably attractive.)

Its all so clear to the Justice League: Batman is madly in love with Bruce Wayne. Has been for years. To the point of watching him sleep, on occasion. How very tragic! Batman, in love with someone he can never be with! Not only would it paint a massive target on Bruce’s back if they ever did get together- there’s no questioning what Gotham villains would do if they discovered this, (and denying himself love out of an attempt to keep others safe is EXACTLY the kind of self-sacrificing nonsense Batman would pull) But Batman can’t even truly see the man he’s in love with without Brucie running away in terror! Well, the poor guy… how sad…

This conclusion can be supported by the following evidence-

Batman being the one to catch the guy who put the hit out on Bruce. He sent them to babysit/make sure Bruce was safe while dealt with the actual threat. (Bruce had a suspiciously long bathroom break/a nap)

Batman’s first appearance being right after Bruce Wayne returned to Gotham. Was the bat following him to protect him in those missing years? Or maybe he decided to clean up the city now that his beloved had returned?

Batman always being seen near where Bruce is. He’s never once been at the watchtower when Bruce has a public appearance- he must be watching over him, a silent guardian in case someone gets it in their head to kidnap Gotham’s Prince.

Batman insisting that Bruce is innocent in a corporate scheme, despite evidence to the contrary. (Hes right in the end, of course, but they’ve never seen him ignore evidence so clear.)

Batman casually referencing Wayne Tech/Foundation inner workings- he keeps an eye on them, of course. (If he can’t be close to the object of his affections, the league reasons, of course he’d make sure that Bruce’s company and projects are on the right track)

Nightwing, when asked, confirms the Bruce Punching Batman story. He says “honestly I think B was impressed! Caught him off guard!” (Since when does Batman lower his guard? Only when he’d be… distracted, perhaps…)

Superman saves Bruce, who thanks him with a kiss on the cheek. Later, justice league was teasing Clark, batman huffs and leaves the room. He’s CLEARLY jealous! Superman feels just awful!

Batman inexplicably knowing social dances/high society manners- he must have learned by watching (stalking) bruce! He can navigate high profile talk if he wants to, he just doesn’t want to most of the time. but if the situation calls for it he can talk like the Richest of Pricks in a way that only comes with observation.

Batman bristling when some of the league members start making Comments on Brucie Wayne’s Physical Attributes. (Jealousy? Defensiveness? Perhaps… embarrassment at GL’s detailed explanation on what he’d do with a chance in bed with Brucie.)

Batman absolutely freezing up when confronted with any of the above evidence. (He’s trying SO HARD not to laugh/go tell his kids)

Dick/Jason being big enough to wear the Bat-wings rather than thier own and be convincing- they save Bruce, though the man passes out (from fear? Blood loss from an injury? Perhaps- he is faking) and Dick/Jason, either out of genuine concern for their dad or general “how can i stir the pot” chaos, gently strokes his hair away from his face in an act of compassion that the cameras just so happen to catch. (There’s a few tears shed in the justice league- poor batman! He can’t be with his love!)

The robins (in both identities) telling the justice league that they've seen batman watching him.

“oh yeah he does background checks on aaaaaall bruces conquests. Had a conniption when brucie found a mafia boss that one time.”

“And when he found out Bruce and Two-face had a fling!”

(The league notes that often, if a criminal gets too close to Brucie, they’re put away not long after. B is usually collecting evidence in his civilian ID. But it looks like angry Batman wanted them to get the hell away from his mans.)

The Justice League is swooning over this tragic, forbidden love story. Batman is a little creepy but hey. He apparently grew up in a cave system. Its a wonder he's as well adjusted as he is. Batman has their sympathy, he seems less unflappable/untouchable, they’re a little more understanding with him now. Superman is all too happy to be a rebound, if needed. There are magic users offering glamour spells. Green Lantern is making exposure therapy innuendos.

The robins can’t believe how lucky they got. They’re def grounded but B can’t be too mad bc his secret identity is FUKIN SET.

Alfred is rather proud of Batman's new nickname in the league being “the bat king” and keeps sending batman along with cookies. The league thinks Batman is checking up on bruce with his butler. Its a mess.

Eventually, Batman loses a bet to one of his kids. Committing to the Bit with an exasperated sigh (he’s definitely not having fun, shut up jason.)

He admits to his crush.

[slaaverin]

Jikook came home today and I couldn't be happier 💜🥺 They will be insufferable once they get out I can already feel it 😂😅 I missed them 😭

Today I wanted to talk about something that was showcased on AYS, I call it The Smugness of Mr. Jeon Jungkook™

Smugness of what you may ask?

The absolute cocky pride of having The Park Jimin Extraordinaire as a boyfriend.

I can't say I didn't love it when I watched.

Jungkook couldn't help to show him off on every occasions

This is the man in question showcased plainly by Jungkook:

Also very important to include him between food shots in case we didn't know Park Jimin was also part of his "special" food regimen *cough*

He felt the urge to inform us that his crush gives him the most attention:

"Look at my boyfriend, he's doing very boyfriendy stuff with me because he is mine, my crush, mine only and his attention is just for me, look at him good because you're having none of it"

Ok 🤨

He's really rubbing it in our faces that only he has the Ultimate Boyfriend Privilege™

Jungkook, this is a bit cruel

He even reached peak smugness. The pride. The power move. The "We're Kings of the world" attitude. We get it, he is yours. Jungkook really is a fool in love 💜

Still keeping his little smirk.

"Look at my boyfriend, he's sick and miserable but look how good he still looks, how both of us look absolutely stunning together, I'm having the time of my life, stay mad losers"

Of course Jimin looks good even sick and at any time as a matter of fact, even while he sleeps, and Jungkook is still stunned by it. What a sight indeed.

Because Jeon Jungkook thinks Jimin is prettier than clouds and can't help but scream it to the world. It's all very natural. So obviously he is proud that Jimin is his boyfriend.

Jimin is not just anybody. He's so special and the fact jungkook has him makes him one of the luckiest man in the world (and vice versa) but he really put the nail in the coffin about this in AYS. Just in case we didn't get it.

DON'T WORRY JK GOD WE GET IT WE LEAVE HIM TO YOU

Do you get how insane is that growth? From 2015-2016 when Jungkook was so shy and sometimes closed off? To THIS TODAY?

That escalated quickly.

Now he has no fear anymore and doesn't hesitate to tell and show and express his love he has for Jimin and his pride to have him.

Jimin is funny because he didn't do it as often like Jungkook during AYS, he was more lowkey, but the one time he actually did the same it was PURE INSANITY

I mean Jimin doesn't play often but when he does he plays big game. Like go big or go home. He literally spelled it out for us.

Yes he is your boyfriend. Yes. Yes yes yes. We know he looks cute.

I also love how they both took time to film each other as well. This was clearly their main focus.

Aahhhh it makes my heart so happy for them. They admire each other. They are glad to be together and they show it to us freely.

What a time to be a jikooker, what a journey.

They aren't the ace duo for nothing and will always be a power couple 🔥

Good for them 😌

Take care everybody 💜

[muletia]

Psychic Patch anon here! So glad you enjoyed that idea <3 love putting Op in situations

But as a bonus I could see that debacle being a good entry point into the obsessed megop back-and-forth. Might as well make use of what little info they did get out of Optimus's processor, 1: That you're extremely important to him and 2: Your address.

Thus begins the weekly kidnappings because you're one hell of a useful hostage, but also because Megatron has some curiosities of his own. How could you, a human, possibly be so alluring as to have a Prime at your beck and call? It makes the growth of his own infatuation a bit terrifying, he saw with his own optics what you did to Optimus's mind and can feel himself slipping down that path.

It also factors into his desire to have you as his queen, his second in command. He has some twisted respect for your "powers". After all you must be incredibly cunning and ruthless to claw your way so deeply into his spark even while he was aware of your tricks. (Little does he know there are no tricks, you're just catnip to powerful enough Cybertonians)

Our minds were totally on the same wavelength because I thought of the exact same thing! Thanks for sharing this idea <3

It’s not so easy to impress Megatron, and he doesn’t hand out his respect to just anyone. Even less so can I imagine him respecting some pathetic, miserable human... unless that human somehow managed to charm their way into and settle firmly within the very spark of Optimus Prime.

He wants to see how you pulled it off. To conduct research on a species that, until now, mattered to him as much as an empty energon container, and to use the knowledge he gains for his nefarious™ purposes. But also to talk, this time to peer into your primitive mind and extract the information he needs. To get to know you from the inside, but not destroy you — because you’re far too valuable.

I think he’d spend long sessions just staring at you while you sit on his lap. Studying your reflexes, waiting for you to uncover the true potential of your abilities, and verbally prying information out of you.

Megatron is convinced that your relationship will only ever be a one-sided transaction. He’ll squeeze everything he wants out of you and then eliminate you once he grows bored. But then you get “rescued” by the Autobots. And that’s when the real game begins — the back-and-forth of both factions fighting over you. Giving obsession time to spread through every inch of Megatron’s being.

Over time, he realizes he’s not taking you back to study your tricks. He’s taking you back for you.

Is he furious that he let himself be beguiled by a human? Probably. But the fury that burns within when he sees you in Optimus’ servos is far, far greater and hazardous...

jdbd the comparison to catnip is so spot on — not just because it’s ha ha funny, but also because of how easily you intoxicate the bots you spend time with and how dangerously quickly they become addicted to you <3

[she-who-fights-and-writes]

Ideas for subverting popular character tropes? I've started a story and am having difficulty making my cast of characters unique. I'd love it if you had any fresh takes on tropes like the mentor, the sidekick, etc...

POPULAR CHARACTER TROPES AND PROMPTS TO SUBVERT THEM

A character trope, sometimes called a character archetype, is a “recognizable element within a story or plot that defines or conveys information about a character. Character tropes can either define a character's entire role in a plot or the character's personality or motivations.” (source: arcstudiopro).

Many people bash “tropes,” but what you have to remember is that there is no such thing as a unique idea; everything has been done before, and the reason why tropes are so popular is because (a lot of time) they work!

It is totally possible to have a "normal" trope in your story without making it a cliché. However, if you’re looking to subvert these expectations, here’s a list of ideas I’ve come up with!

(This is me brainstorming on the fly to help get your gears turning, so I apologize if these aren’t fully fleshed out or if they’ve already been done before!)

1. THE CHOSEN ONE

The “Chosen One” is a trope where “one character is framed as the inevitable hero or antihero of the story, as a result of destiny, unique gifts, and/or special lineage” (source: Wikipedia). The Chosen One is often depicted as naive or unwilling at the beginning, and has a progression of growth through the narrative when they “accept their destiny.”

Examples:

Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)

Harry Potter (Harry Potter)

Frodo (The Lord of the Rings)

Neo (The Matrix)

Subversions:

1. The protagonist who was believed to be the chosen one from the very beginning discovers that it was actually someone else the whole time and must come to terms with the realization that they no longer have this title that they’ve based their entire life (and perhaps personality) around. (Bonus points if the new Chosen One is someone they’re close to).

2. Every solstice, the “Holy Order” sends a Chosen One to defeat the monster that has been ravaging their town. None ever return. The protagonist is selected as the next Chosen One, only to find that being Chosen does not mean “Chosen to defeat the monster” but rather “Chosen as the sacrifice to appease the monster.” (Bonus points if the reason the Chosen Ones always die is because the “Holy Order” misguides them (gives them broken weapons/drugged food/faulty armor/directs them into traps/etc.)).

3. Having the Chosen Power comes with a price. After someone is Chosen, it is a death sentence. The protagonist must find a way to defeat the villain AND purge themself of the Chosen Power before it’s too late (Bonus points if the villain helps them purge the Chosen Power).

2. THE SIDEKICK

The sidekick is a friend and helper of the main protagonist. They are often depicted as a loyal comic relief character made to emphasize the hero’s greatness, and may be killed off to advance the hero’s journey.

Examples:

Robin (Batman)

Samwise Gamgee (The Lord of the Rings)

Chewbacca (Star Wars)

Pan (His Dark Materials)

Subversions:

1. The “sidekick” is actually the hero of the story; the narrator just has an inflated ego and believes themself to be the hero. Meanwhile, their “sidekick” is the one saving the world.

2. Sidekicks are often depicted as younger than the hero. Perhaps an older sidekick might do good to spice things up (Bonus points if it’s without turning them into the mentor trope).

3. The sidekick is a former hero who had to watch their own sidekick sacrifice themself, and was convinced to leave hiding by the current hero. (Bonus points if the sidekick dies in a poetic way that is a narrative foil to the way his own sidekick died, perhaps in a “I didn’t understand why they would sacrifice themself for me but now I get it”).

4. A ridiculously strong/powerful Mary Sue type character is the sidekick to a Normal Guy™ (Bonus points if they are incredibly content in this position).

5. The sidekick is not a willing sidekick; they were kidnapped by the hero because they have an object/bloodline/power/etc. that is essential to defeating the villain.

3. THE MENTOR

The Mentor is the protagonist’s teacher, who helps them transition from a “normal” person into a hero. The Mentor is often depicted as wise and virtuous, teaching the protagonist not only the ways of fighting or magic, but also the ways of good and evil. The mentor is often killed off to advance the hero’s character arc, due to the fact that they are sometimes seen as a parental figure.

Examples:

Dumbledore (Harry Potter)

Yoda (Star Wars)

Uncle Iroh (Avatar the Last Airbender)

Mr. Miyagi (Karate Kid)

Subversions:

1. The mentor is the narrator. After spending so much time training the Chosen One and raising them like their own child, they must hear news that they have been killed by the villain. While still grieving (or perhaps fueled by revenge), the mentor must venture out and defeat the villain themself.

2. Have the mentor be a woman! You would be shocked at how overwhelmingly male-dominated the “mentor” archetype is!

3. The mentor turns on the protagonist that they trained…not because the mentor has turned evil, but because the mentor believes that the protagonist has become a monster (à la Kung Fu Panda). (Bonus points if the mentor is actually right and the protagonist really has become a monster).

4. The bright-eyed Chosen One thinks the world of their mentor, only to realize through experiences with others that the mentor trained them horribly, and that the mentor only used their training to boost their renown—without expecting them to survive their fight with the villain. (Bonus points if the protagonist is an unreliable narrator, and we as the readers feel just as betrayed by the mentor because we, too, thought they were a great person).

5. The mentor is the former Chosen One, desperate for the current Chosen One to not make the same mistakes. The current Chosen One resents the mentor for pushing them so hard and treating them so cruelly, but in reality the mentor is just overprotective (Bonus points if it’s not revealed that they were the legendary “Defeated Chosen One” until later).

4. THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS

Although a Damsel in Distress is often associated with female characters, any character is capable of falling into this archetype; mostly known for being a passive figure who exists mostly as an object for the hero to save.

This is one of the few character tropes that is difficult to break the negative stigma, due to its root in misogyny and the disadvantages that come along with having a character without personal goals or motivations. In my opinion, if you have a character that follows this archetype to the T, perhaps you should consider some revising.

Examples:

Lois Lane (Superman)

Princess Buttercup (The Princess Bride)

Mary Jane Watson (Spiderman)

Ann Darrow (King Kong)

Subversions:

1. The passive, meek damsel in distress whom the hero has been working relentlessly to save actually turns out to be a villain! Their supposed rescue efforts were used as a distraction while the evil plot unfolds, and ends with a fight to the death!

2. The damsel in distress gets in a huge fight with the protagonist when they come to the rescue; they were undercover the entire time, and the protagonist has ruined their plans!

5. THE FEMME FATALE

The femme fatale is usually characterized as a mysterious woman who seduces and entraps men with her body. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a gendered archetype, but often errs into sexualization and misogyny (especially in works written by men).

Examples:

Jane Smith (Mr. & Mrs. Smith)

Nikita (La Femme Nikita)

Catwoman (Batman)

Catherine Tramell (Basic Instinct)

Subversions:

1. The Femme Fatale doesn’t know they’re a femme fatale. They are a master of seduction and gaining valuable information through licentious wiles, but it’s all an accident; they just-so-happen to sleep with rivals and they just-so-happen to say important information. The femme fatale casually brings this information up in conversation, rendering the team awed by their “impressive skill set.”

2. The Femme Fatale is male or nonbinary (Bonus points if they will seduce any gender).

3. There is a Femme Fatale team; an icy power couple dedicated to killing through threesomes.

6. THE GEEK (OR MAD SCIENTIST OR NERD OR KNOW-IT-ALL ETC.)

The Geek, or the Mad Scientist, is the character known for knowing everything. They often have a lack of social skills, and their vast knowledge of random things helps the characters when they’ve been backed into a corner…though they sometimes tend to be a quick fix for writers who’ve written their characters into a corner and need an easy solution.

Examples:

Sheldon (The Big Bang Theory)

Spencer Reid (Criminal Minds)

Spock (Star Trek)

L (Death Note)

Subversions:

1. The Geek has leadership skills and ability to inspire others. Awkward is not the complete opposite of charismatic; just because someone may have trouble talking to people doesn’t mean they can’t foster intense loyalty from their comrades. (Think along the lines of L from Death Note. Bonus if they’re the leader of their organization, and their subordinates would face God and walk backwards into Hell for them).

2. Combine the Geek with another archetype, perhaps an antithesis archetype like the Dumb Jock. For example, a Geek that enjoys the outdoors and extreme sports like rock climbing (but rather than to get buff, they just want to look at the fantastic granite deposits on the side of the mountain they’re climbing). Or perhaps a Geek Femme Fatale, whose “special interest” is the psychology of seduction.

3. The Geek hates what they do. The “passion” that Geeks usually have for machines/non-humans/their chosen expertise is forced upon them because they’re super smart. In reality, they’d wanted to take it easy going to business school but nooooo the world was at stake so they had to become an expert in the intergalactic space-time continuum.

4. The Geek is useless. Their musings are more mania than genius, their explanations and ideas incomprehensible to a normal human being, and the group only keeps them around with the hopes that one day they’ll come up with an idea that actually makes sense. (Bonus if that idea comes at the climax of the story).

8. THE DUMB JOCK (OR HIMBO)

The dumb jock, also known as “the brawn,” is an archetype that is often categorized by being all buff and no brains. They often are, or at least begin as, the antagonist of the story, and if they aren’t, they’re considered the “Himbo” character (with character traits being buff, dumb, and respectful to women), who are often reduced merely to their attractiveness and stupidity, without much depth.

Examples:

Jason Carver (Stranger Things)

Mitch Downe (ParaNorman)

Kronk (The Emperor’s New Groove)

Bolin (The Legend of Korra)

Subversions:

1. The himbo and/or jock is frustrated with the way that their comrades always reduce them to the brawn. They feel left out and isolated because they can’t understand the lofty conversations of their peers, and know that they, in a way, look down on them for not being as smart (Bonus if this becomes a major plot point in the character’s arc, causing a huge blowout fight that fissures the group because of it).

2. The himbo/jock’s stupidity does not reduce them to comic relief. The himbo/jock is well-respected and has incredible emotional intelligence and charisma/street smarts, but merely lacks in textbook intelligence.

3. The himbo/jock is a woman! Break through the stereotype of dumb strong people being men and put some herbos in your story (Bonus if you don’t sexualize her and just let her be herself).

4. An idea from the jock/himbo becomes an integral part of the plan to save the world!

9. THE ANTIHERO

The antihero archetype is categorized by their lack of conventional heroic attributes, their execution of their goals through morally gray means, and their frequent reluctance to be the one saving the world. Their motivations may be vengeance, hatred, or any other less-than heroic inspiration besides “the greater good.” In fact, the antihero is sometimes the antagonist of the story, but due to the fact that the audience is seeing things from their perspective, they often tend to root for them.

The antihero used to be its own subversion of the “Chosen One” archetype, but became so widespread that it itself became its own archetype. That’s why antiheroes are so varied, to the point where you may not even need a subversion due to how many possible ideas there are to choose from. (This was the hardest list to make!)

Examples:

Barry Berkman (Barry)

Harley Quinn (DC)

Cassie Thomas (Promising Young Woman)

Deadpool (Deadpool)

Subversions:

1. The antihero feels guilt. Oftentimes, an antihero is depicted as stone-cold and dead-set on their actions (and sometimes they’re right! If someone killed my family, I wouldn’t care about “being the bigger person”). However, an interesting subversion may be guilt or self-awareness surrounding their actions playing a large role in the execution of their goals.

2. The antihero is not a lone wolf, and develops meaningful and positive relationships with others rather than having it be 90% snarky banter. Sometimes, antiheroes suffer from a lack of three-dimensionality due to most of their dialogue being cheeky one-liners. Anchor them solidly into the story by building a web of relationships to support them! (They don’t have to all be lovey-dovey, either! Even enemy relationships can be more than snark).

3. An honor code. Giving an antihero with an interesting honor code regarding killing, stealing, or any of their other morally gray deeds could be an excellent subversion! Having characters who are stone-cold killers but draw the line (perhaps in an odd way, such as refusing to steal cars or kill pets), somewhere can be a great way to develop their personality and show the readers their motivations.

Hope these all helped, and happy writing!

[kevindavidday]

ok but imagine:

Even if it takes her a little time to come to terms with the fact that Kevin is Wymack's son, Dan soon takes up the role of being the annoying older sister. For the remaining year she lords over Kevin not just as the captain but also as his Elder sister in spirit and it pisses Kevin off soooooo much (Matt also participates by calling himself Kevin's brother in law and then blushes when Dan looks™ at him)

But like definitely one day in some game some dickhead is going to say some shit about Dan and Kevin is gonna punch him saying 'Watch what you're saying about my sister, asshole' and everyone is going to be like 🫠🫠🫠

Wymack in tbe distance is going to be simultaneously cringing and proud

wymack is never not cringing around the foxes this is real and true

also, absolutely yes the trio of wymacks main kids from oldest to youngest is: dan, kevin and neil

dan has every right to bully kevin within an inch of his life - thinking of that time she got him started on a convo about exy and he was like ykw i'm gonna sit with her and then neil ditched them for andrew...it was like?? why would you do that to our bonding time neil???

kevin as a middle child makes sense tbh, and neil kevin as over protective younger brother figures only to end up backing away cuz dan's the one standing over them as the overprotective older sister. tbh this dynamic makes all their scenes ten times funnier: neil saying 'dan, i said please i tried to be nice' and smacking kevin at the back of his head, and the constant yapping...yeah i get it

i think kevin and dan have a lot of potential for growth + dan would love amalia i just know it and i already know she's neil's favorite so there's definitely some bias there lol

[ilikekidsshows]

Look, I know one shouldn't be so harsh on how badly it was handled that Marinette never has to face any push back from Adrichat for her own massive flaws, and instead she's just validated and all her wrongdoings get swept under the rug

But I still think it's WILD that Marinette in Pretention was made to at least somewhat acknowledge in front of Adrien that her stalking was bad, and yet she straight up justified it by saying "I did it out of love" (which only make her sound MORE like an ex-stalker???) while full blown pouting that she has to even accept that "much" accountability in the first place:

Like, girl, come on. What even IS that? xD

It is almost hilarious how pissed Marinette was written to be about giving such minimal lip service to the character growth the show pretends she had somewhere OFF-SCREEN. She is literally acting like a person who wasn't actually held accountable but was forced into begrudgingly accepting that maybe what they did wasn't as perfectly justified as they thought and now is giving a puddle deep apology they don't truly mean.

---

Marinette only ever apologizes these days when she also has a justification, which makes her apologies sound just like a Youtube Apology Video(™): “I’m sorry if I offended the viewers, but I was totally justified (and therefore would do it again).” She only apologizes to placate the audience. And that scene isn’t even an apology, it’s her giving excuses because Kagami dared to call her out on acting no different from the Adrien fans Marinette herself was criticizing. The showrunners are trying so hard to counter common criticisms of the show to the audience and it shows.

It’s also really obvious that the writers think that “I did it for love” is a suitable excuse. This has always been the distinction between Marinette and the hordes of Adrien groupies the city of Paris is crawling with: Marinette loves him genuinely. All those other people just gush about Adrien and follow him whenever they spot him around town because he’s a hot model while Marinette gushes about him and follows him around because he’s a hot model who was nice to her that one time. Clearly that makes Marinette’s love more pure. Besides, Marinette has already claimed Adrien by the Right of Protagonist, so she has the right to know what he’s doing every moment of every single day while those other people are creepy stalkers.

I also find it hilarious that they make her talk like a recovered ex-stalker when, once again, the writers are claiming something that’s never been shown. There is no evidence Marinette has “recovered” from her stalking habit, because the reason she stopped stalking Adrien isn’t that she had some kind of realization that what she was doing was too far or uncalled for, it is that she stopped having a reason to stalk him. First she isn’t stalking Adrien because she’s convincing herself she’s no longer in love with him. Her not being in love means there’s no reason to stalk Adrien. After that Adrien starts dating her, meaning she already has what she wants: Adrien to herself, so there’s no need to stalk him to make sure no other girl sinks her claws into him. She might not really know Adrien at all, but she at least knows enough to know he’s loyal.

And, like, even after they started dating, Marinette has gone behind Adrien’s back to the Agreste Mansion because he’s “keeping things from her” or because she has to question Nathalie about his whereabouts. This girl is so obsessed with knowing every detail about what Adrien is doing, getting what she wanted only mitigates it. Which is why she’s back to spying on him with binoculars in the sneak peek for the upcoming season 6.

[cloudcountry]

WELL WELL WELL! LOOK WHAT TIME IT IS!

IT'S 'LET'S ALL CELEBRATE AUBERGINE'S GROWTH TIME'!!!!! (in all seriousness, congrats :3 )

May I order an iced coffee in a Mostro Lounge™ sponsored collaboration cup with a slice of dark chocolate & white chocolate pound cake, please? (thinking about meeting up with an old friend from my college days wink wink, nudge nudge)

REMEMBER TO TAKE BREAKS, DRINK WATER, EAT SOMETHING, AND TOUCH GRASS!!!!!

HI DOVE!!! THANK U I DIDNT THINK ID GET THIS FAR LMAO baps you. I WILL REMEMBER I HAD CHOCOLATE MILK AND A COOKIE TODAY RAHHHHHH

an order of platonic fluff with divus crewel!

Catching up with people after graduation was difficult. Graduates from Night Raven College were spread out all across the world in a myriad of industries, always climbing to the top of their group. After doing some soul searching during your higher level schooling, you’d decided to become a teacher and head right back to where it all started.

It was baffling to see just how much had changed in the six years you’d been gone, even if it was something as small as the arrangement of desks or the positioning of cauldrons. You’d spent so much time gawking at the new additions to the alchemy lab that you totally missed an all too familiar figure approaching you from behind, a rolled up whip in hand.

You jump when someone calls your name from right behind you and turn around, prepared to apologize for getting too lost in your thoughts when—

“Divus!?” you gasp, a hand flying over your mouth, “Great Seven, it’s been so long!”

“And you still have that dopey look on your face. Really, have you changed so little?” he shoots back, greeting you warmly with a friendly hug and a smile.

“And you still have that self important attitude.” you grumble, punching him gently in the ribs, “You’d think you would have gotten rid of that once you started teaching these boys.”

“And girls.” Divus says fondly, “I assume you heard the news about Night Raven going co-ed?”

“Did I!” you laugh, “I’m so happy Crowley caved to the pressure. Telling him it would give the school more praise and recognition was the right move, huh?”

Divus laughs, deep and rich, and it makes you laugh too. You’d missed the friend who helped you play pranks on Professor Trein, who went with you on snack runs in the middle of the night, who helped you sneak in and out of your dorm so you could come see him.

You’d missed him, and here he was. Fate had brought you two right back to each other.

[jdorian]

The daddy issues dinner scene felt soo much like "Is this why they call you firehose? "Nope 🥰" and I love it!! Evan Buckley has always been sexy and flirty, let him try that on his boyfriend now that he's less nervous

YEAH!! you know I looove Buck 1.0 for what it was and I love his growth throughout the years, but I feel like some people got the wrong message and think that Buck being slutty and flirty was a Bad Thing™ and now he is this "decent member of society" and his relationships must look like he is a housewife in the 50s for whatever reason...

yeah, he spent a lot of time channeling his issues into meaningless sex and he consciously put a stop to it, because it wasn't good for him — he didn't stop loving sex or being flirty or a tease, he just slowed down and found his balance.

so anyway I want them to be flirty and to tease each other and giggle about it too, actually

[hiraeth-nostalgic]

SO (sorry i was gone i'm back to YAPPING)

who the FUCK is out here thinking reki had absolutely NO growth through the first season of sk8??? I saw a post talking about how even though he is the main character we "never see any development" regarding him and i just need to tell people who believe that: you are wrong.

Listen, reki is the main character™ so let me recount some things for us all.

first thing that comes to mind: when he is experiencing the jealousy that comes from the insecurity of being left behind, but he still shows up to see Langa race Joe. He still calls out to langa, and we see that even though he was insecure and feeling left behind he STILL came to support someone. he then sees that video talking about the guy who created the track shoes that were being worn and thinks it's stupid. that if he can't be at the top of skating, he shouldn't even skate anymore. he should just give up his dream bc a couple people are better than him. He has the talk with his manager that even if you aren't the MOST talented that doesn't mean you can't be involved and Reki still isn't quite there yet. I believe it was Joe who reminded reki that they are all on different levels and reki gets pulled into the beef with Adam. NOW the beef with Adam we see Reki trying to bridge the gap. He wants it so bad. it's not that he's not a great skater, because he is, but i think it comes from the general lack of self-love/self-confidence that held him back for a couple of things. HOWEVER he avoids Adam's moves, he literally JUMPS off the side and FLIPS (something he had never done before!) reki NEARLY wins and he would've if his board hadn't snapped!!! He embarrassed Adam!! something no one else had done!!!

the second thing: We see Reki become okay with not being the absolute best of the best and how he is a great skater, in his own way. (this starts to show in the race with Adam and then at the end we see it REALLY show) sure it may take him a little longer to learn a trick or something but he still learns it. he still loves skating. he redefines his LOVE of the sport not because he's the best of the best but because he actually has a support system in skating instead of before when he had no friends who shared the interest (you know, aside from a previous friend who could no longer skate) and its the story of even if you aren't as great as someone else you know, its still okay to do things for FUN and hanging out.

like this idea haunts all of us. for example: singing? most people are fine singers!!! but because they don't sing like Beyonce or Billie Eilish, suddenly they shouldn't sing for fun bc "they can't make a job out of it" like, the same for reki. Joe, Cherry, and Shadow are all adults who have lives outside of skating but for a CHILD it's the only thing for them at this point in their life, they are still trying to figure out who they are. its crucial to teens. Reki's not getting on a national team, he can't build a career out of actually skating so does that mean he shouldn't enjoy it? no!!! he works at the skate shop, he's really talented at building the boards, designing them, and understanding what will help individual people the best!! that's more than anyone else in the S community that we see actively skating.

Anyway, reki has so much growth in not only his skating but in his mental health but because it's not as flashy as Langa's or Adam's, people overlook it and downplay it.

[kalpalatas]

I know I asked about the one but I just reread the list and saw the words "baby acquisition" so now I need to ask again-

BABY ACQUISITION? SPILL

(wip ask meme!)

let me introduce my favourite OC in this fandom so far....Hirano Akika, who has one dad's eyes and her other dad's extremely persuasive pout. her eyes are her most distinctive feature because her face is 80% cheek fat.

(she's not related to kagi biologically i just believe the pout is a learned skill)

( @justahungrydango named her. the kanji are apparently very cutely related to hirano's own. i can't read japanese i just thought kika-chan is too cute a name to let go of)

her backstory is that she's technically hirano's second cousin...? her bio mom kind of took off and her bio dad died in a car accident and hirano's mom left her in his care while she tracked down her niece to make her take responsibility for her kid. long story short hirano adopts her as his own instead, and later kagi when they get married. they take the hirano last name so kika-chan doesn't have to go through her THIRD government name in her eighteen months of existence.

it's really a very silly au i daydream about when i'm bored. i have her whole life mapped out until she's like 30. i've been making friends tell me about their baby niblings so i can track her growth through the story better. a part of hirano's angst™ is about how he's her dad for all intents and purposes but also not because he's just taking care of her in the meantime right? anyway the result is she calls kagi "papa" readily and it takes months to make her stop calling hirano "tai" during interviews with the government worker sjfhfffh

(i did. an absurd amount of research into japanese adoption procedures for this fic. then went "wait. this isn't real" and abandoned all of that lol)

anyway. snippet below is kagi's first meeting with the little blob.

Kagiura stood stock still in the middle of Hirano's living room, shoulders drawn up, having some sort of staring contest with the baby. She had already lost the challenge a few minutes before, but Kagiura wasn't backing down.

Hirano saw the tell-tale shakiness of his irises, and smacked his shoulder gently with the back of his hand.

"Oi," he called. "Kagi-kun."

Kagiura swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing, but didn't acknowledge him otherwise.

Hirano sighed. "Akira," he called, "c'mon, man."

"Is she yours?" Kagiura whispered finally.

"What? No!" A treacherous bubble of laughter lodged in Hirano's throat. Seriously, Kagi-kun. "Where would I even-- ? She's my cousin's."

"Oh," Kagiura said faintly. "She has your eyes."

"Well, yeah." Hirano walked to the sofa and picked the baby up. "We're related. She's got my grandmother's eyes."

"Guh!" the baby agreed.

Kagiura deflated, the tension leaving his body in one big exhale. He lurched forward to drop his head on Hirano's shoulder, breathing him in.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, nosing closer to his boyfriend's neck. "I don't know what came over me."

Hirano pressed a kiss to his hair, the giggle finally bursting out of his mouth. "It's alright, you big baby." He shrugged his shoulder, jostling Kagiura's head. "Now get up and let me introduce you properly."

[edwardsissyhandsthtdanceslikeabb]

i think what makes my feelings on hans so muddled is that there seems to be no discernable truth to him, there's no concrete narrative or even throughline to hold onto.

i started out believing hans, partly bc my initial view on magnus was shaped by my inclination to contrarianism, but also bc the facts simply aren't in his favor. looking at this tangibly, what magnus said, alongside the prevailing undercurrent characterizing hans, has been rooted purely in bias and irrationality.

however, grandmasters have been speaking on how his play is uncharacteristically engine-like, both his playing style and level are notably unstable and he's not consistently good in any format. he has no foundational characteristics. which is suspicious when you're operating in a sector predicated on skill and ranking.

on the other hand, magnus' loss to him has been analyzed as reasonable through both fair play and quality analysis, with it being said that his strategy was simply impaired on the day. and its not like magnus hasn't been susceptible to being psychologically affected by elements he finds suspicious or distracting before. however, magnus' impaired play doesn't preclude hans from cheating, and him making a few inaccuracies or blunders could easily have been intentional. yet, i would immediately write off the theorizing and confirmation bias inherent in sustaining this position, and i initially did, except hans is the one who most incriminates himself in this whole situation.

however, i honestly think hans' reactions thus far have been completely understandable, i think there's reason to his hyperbolic and paranoid view of chesscom and the top players, and how scarring and overwhelming it must be to be dogpiled and ostracized, especially as a teen and burgeoning talent. its obvious why your idols persecuting and shunning you must've crushed him, or how bravado would be an instinctive mask to that. or even that he would demand more from bystanders like levy for example, and would regard impartiality as betrayal when the definitive narratives around him were so punitive and overt. its clear why he would be impulsive and retaliative and uncordial. i think hans is right that his life was ruined over nothing™.

but i also know that the nothing in question is only for present proof, and that regardless, demonstrably, he has a propensity to morally grandstand and equate punishment with remorse, which is partly justified bc at least he has been punished, but the question of magnus or even hikaru's dues begin to grow dubious when its not just them who constructed the cheater narrative, it preceded and eclipses them. its not merely a reactionary stance, but one rooted in consensus and skillful inclination. but magnus was also vulnerable to confirmation bias, and the inconsistency in which cheaters they play holds gravity.

which makes one think abt what exactly in him elicits sm ire, and whether its truly his play or rather his attitude — which is further complicated by magnus' eagerness to nurture the youth, and his embracing of competition he sees as genuine and substantive, with him platforming alireza, pragg and others, despite the former's equally inconsistent play, yet historic aptitude with faster time controls and success in less pressurized events. this eliminates hubris or elitism as magnus' motivating factor, especially when his legacy goals are so attuned to the youth and fostering their growth and succession.

ultimately, it blurs the lines between bias and justification: when hans has a history of cheating which he vehemently downplays, obfuscates and cherrypicks, and consequently twists the juvenile shellshock that could've resulted in his pisspoor post-game analysis into smth more implicating and sinister. it calls into question the premature and subpar blunders he makes, or his association with a supposed anti-cheating figure like kramnick. and also forces equal skepticism when he psychologically outmaneuvers elite talents like wesley, and when he unexpectedly loses to typically middling IMs. and where this otherwise would have been branded an expected lapse, hans' glaring lack of stylistic and rating consistency, supposed cheating in both prize and non-prize events, and overall cheating history, which extends into the hundreds in actuality, will forever cast doubt on him — painting him as more of a glory cheater if anything.

the central question remains, why exactly is a guy so historically inconsistent now in the top 20, and what delineable evolution has he underwent in his play when he's still as inconsistent as ever. turning what may have otherwise been a witch-hunt into smth inadvertently understandable. hans is overt in his irregularity, he's unabashed. but, he's also logically and evidentially innocent.

hans can't account for his growth, yet neither can his detractors. he's an amorphous oscillation relegated perpetually to inscrutability. he's an inherent contradiction, and any objectivity we try apply is inevitably refracted through his personhood, and whatever sentiment he reflects back at you. the question of hans' validity, of his professional narrative, is now his career. hans is tasked with completing a picture with colours he doesn't have.

there is no way to know, no vision to clarify, and i hate that.

[celestialastronmy]

"Cullen Rutherford: Redemption Arc or PR Stunt?"

(Disclaimer I'm OK with Cullen. I just needed to slander him )

OH BOY, let me tell you about Cullen "I've Seen The Light" Rutherford, everyone's favorite problematic templar-turned-commander who somehow failed upward into one of the most powerful military positions in Thedas. Don't get me wrong—I GET why people love him. He's got that whole tortured golden boy thing going on, and his character design is basically "what if trauma was hot?" But let's talk about the MASSIVE narrative blindspot that is his redemption arc.

First of all, let's address the nug in the room: this man was literally part of a system that imprisoned and abused mages. And not just ANY part—he was actively complicit in Kirkwall, aka Magic Prison But Make It Worse™. Yes, he had his own trauma from the Ferelden Circle (which, valid), but using that trauma to justify participating in further oppression? That's gonna be a yikes from me, dawg.

But HERE'S where it gets really spicy: the way his redemption arc is structured is basically "Trauma Processing: The Ladies Edition." If you romance him? Congratulations! You're now his unofficial therapist AND girlfriend! The Inquisitor—particularly a female one(only elf or human bonus points if a mage)—becomes this weird combination of emotional support and validation dispenser. She has to carefully navigate his lyrium withdrawal, his past trauma, AND his current authority position, all while he... continues to be the commander of one of the most powerful military forces in Thedas? Make it make sense!

And can we talk about how his "redemption" never actually requires him to give up any real power? He goes from being a templar (power over mages) to being the commander of the Inquisition (power over... basically everyone). Where's the sacrifice? Where's the ACTUAL accountability? He gets to keep his sword and his status while everyone else does the emotional heavy lifting of helping him process his guilt. It's like he's playing redemption arc on easy mode with cheat codes enabled.

The writing treats his withdrawal from lyrium as this massive act of personal growth—and don't get me wrong, addiction recovery is HUGE. But it's wild how the narrative frames this personal health choice as somehow equivalent to addressing the systemic harm he participated in. It's giving "I stopped being actively terrible so now I'm automatically good" energy.

The most frustrating part? There's actually a really interesting story buried in here about power, accountability, and genuine redemption. But instead of diving deep into the messy reality of what it means to truly atone for participating in systemic oppression, we get... broody looks and chess metaphors. CHESS METAPHORS, people! Because apparently nothing says "I'm processing my role in magical fascism" like moving some pawns around.

Don't even get me STARTED on how the game treats his past actions as primarily a source of personal angst rather than, you know, actual harm that affected real people. His guilt becomes this weird form of character development currency that he gets to spend on being perceived as reformed without doing the actual work of material reparations.

Listen, I'm not saying Cullen is irredeemable. But his arc is basically "What if we took this man who participated in magical oppression and made him feel really bad about it... while still letting him keep all his institutional power and outsourcing all the emotional processing to the women around him?" It's the redemption arc equivalent of putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg and calling it healing.

And yes, I know someone's going to come at me with "but he changed!" Did he though? Or did he just switch from enforcing one power structure to enforcing another, while looking very handsome and troubled about it? Because from where I'm standing, it looks less like actual redemption and more like a really well-marketed rebrand.

The worst part? This is a missed opportunity to tell a story about ACTUAL accountability and transformation. Instead, we got "Hot Guy Feels Bad: The Adventure." Don't get me wrong—I still end up slightly tolerating him in every playthrough because the game basically requires it, but I'm not going to pretend this isn't some of the most privileged character development I've seen in modern gaming.

In conclusion: Cullen's redemption arc is basically what happens when you try to address systemic injustice with personal growth narratives and a really good haircut. It's giving "I've changed (but will face no real consequences and maintain all my institutional power while women do the emotional work of validating my growth)" realness. And that's the tea. Thank you for coming to my TED talk about problematic favs and the power structures they maintain.

(Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go replay Inquisition while aggressively side-eyeing every scene where someone has to process Cullen's feelings for him.)

[nomsfaultau]

Halloween interactive event (p.3)

The fault crew gets spat out of the Spiral of doom™, one by one. The first sensation that hits them is unreality. Everything is just a little too blurry, a little too disorienting, a little too dreamy. The feeling calms down after a bit, but it's still there, just on the peripherals of their minds.

They seem to be in a garden. A royal-like garden, to be precise. Bushes of rainbow roses(?) surround them on all sides except one where the mansion stands. It's relatively old-looking, probably relatively new for Phil. The style of the early 1900's.

In front of them, a person in a crow mask stands. Dave is sitting on his shoulder, now visible to everyone. The person speaks:

"Welcome to the masquerade! State your name please."

He is holding a paper notebook of some sort, seemingly one with every guest's name.

The Blade: *Jogs out of the portal. He’s pretty used to getting teleported so he isn’t phased about his body unraveling into nothing and reassembling elsewhere. Now what really divides him is the pull between Dave and the garden. After deep inner turmoil he begins exploring the garden. Or rather, judging its suboptimal growth strategy. Smh the yield is so subpar.*

Wilbur: *Pops out, void chaotically swirling and ready to attack. Mostly just ends up ripping flowers. What? It eats when it’s stressed!

Philza: *The portal explodes with light as he pours through in a blaze, only to blink and realize it’s chill. Warily keeps an eye on the figure as he calms down Wilbur.*

Tommy: *Shaking bc covered in bees.*

Tubbo: *Bees after bees after bees pouring in. Eventually a dinosaur inflatable suit is spat out. Their groan peters out as they spy the lush garden, and immediately they join The Blade to start judging the garden and talking smack. insert minor joke about Rhodes and Rosalind both being named after roses here.*

[figure asks for names]

Wilbur: Ah but it isn’t polite to ask guests first! If you wouldn’t mind giving me the pleasure, would you give me your name first? ……. *His genuflection falters to a scowl.* Saw right through that, huh.

Philza: Invite did say to remain a secret or else. So, everyone do be careful about identities.

Tommy: Oi spooky figure! MY name is Alpha Male Supreme and you will refer to me as such.

Tubbo: Supreme???

Tommy: please, Mr Supreme was my father. Call me Alpha Male Supreme. Full title. Every time.

The Blade: y’know, The Blood God’s domain is Supremacy, so like, does that make you my disciple?

Tommy: Nope! Other way around big B, you’re my apprentice in Alpha Male Supremacyness. I basically taught you everything I know.

The Blade: ….huh the voices say this is lore compliant. Anyway I’m going to ignore that. Hulloo, my name is Wilbur.

Wilbur: I’m going to kill you (this is legally a joke).

The Blade: hey! It’s my costume! It’s not my fault you named yourself after a famous pig!

Wilbur: *hotly* I did NOT- I did not. Because my name is Solaris.

Philza: And my name is Philza :)

Wilbur: *screeching* DAD!

Philza: eh it’s not my True Name. I’ve had a lot of them over the years. What’s the harm? No really. What’s the harm. Come at me mother m̸͉͒ư̴̻f̵̻̏f̶͔̏i̷͍͑n̴̘̕er I’m waiting :)

[njnetails]

Introducing my Writeblr!

About me:

Hello!

I'll introduce myself as Rin (she/her), I'm 24 years old as of this moment and I've been writing as a hobby ever since I was a little child. I'm not new to Tumblr, I've been here for more than a decade, but I've never ventured into being more than a lurker.

I've had a really big writing break for a while because of mental health issues and a bad environment, but I've started doing better recently. By creating a Writeblr, I hope it will help me with fully committing to a lengthy project so that I can fulfill my wish of becoming a published writer.

I listen to music all the time and it helps me a lot with getting inspiration or getting me in the mood to write. I mostly read books within the fantasy genre, and I do the same with writing. I also play Dungeons & Dragons, proudly being a Dungeon Master for three campaigns at the moment.

About my writing:

I love creating characters and studying their behaviors while I think or write about them, my general focus being Trauma™. Wordbuilding is also one of my best brainstorming qualities. I used to write for my D&D characters and NPCs, and I've also posted a few fanfiction pieces on AO3 in an anime fandom.

My WIPs:

I've currently started brainstorming for my very first book project! The idea is very rough right now but I want it to be high fantasy, with emphasies on Gods, prophecies, magic and its consequences and a lot of character growth. I am still thinking about including romance, but as it is still in the early developement process, I haven't decided on anything. Update: the WIP is called Godsfallen!

I also plan on brainstorming for an east-asian mythology book (wuxia), but I haven't made enough research to focus on that one for now.

Conclusions:

I will most likely want to post a lot of my brainstorming ideas on here, as well as writing snippets or character details. If you want to see anything like that, please feel free to follow me (I will follow back)! I'm down to hear about your WIPs and I'd love to build a small group of creative friends where we could freely talk about what our brain is cooking.

I want this blog to be a space for writing, so I hope you will join me on my journey!

Thank you if you took time to read all of this! See you around!!