#the fact is that our experience of watching and engaging something is always going to have an enormously subjective aspect to it

[kathleenkatmary]

It's always funny when I see a post or review of a show that insists the writing is bad as an objective assessment because they find a character hard to root for, and then everything they go on to say to try to support that is not actually an objective assessment and so clearly just them having some deep personal issues that they're projecting onto that character. Especially when it's combined with that things that's becoming more and more common lately where people just like, think that a character is badly written from the get go because they haven't already completed their character development by the end of the first episode.

[altis-of-olympia]

Godspousal and my practice

Godspousal is a topic I covered very frequently on my old blog, Light of Delphi. This was back when I was fully devoted to Lord Apollon, before I was taken under King Zeus’s wing and served Him. However, just because my path has shifted does not mean I am no longer spoused to Him - in fact, the whole reason I didn’t talk about it on this blog was due to fear of backlash or being told that I was making things up in my head. However, to combat the stigma surrounding godspousal, it’s important to talk about it. So here I am, talking about it. 

Any hate will not be tolerated and will result in a block.

Godspousal is going to be a different experience for everyone. I could talk for hours about the different aspects of Godspousal, but for now, I will focus on my own experiences with it. In my experience, it’s something beautiful. 

Two years ago, I solidified my godspousal with Lord Apollon. You could equate this to getting married. There wasn’t much of a ceremony because I was in a home where my practice was closeted, but I plan on having a little ceremony this year because I have the means to do so! What I plan on doing is having a little ritual to celebrate our two years together, involving music, meditation, baking, and spending time out in the sun.

I consider myself mostly connected to His arts, music, and oracular aspects, though I cherish the darker parts of Him as well. But because of my connection to His warmer parts, He feels a lot more distant during the colder months. During this time, I do find myself mourning His presence. It is during this time that I will rely on devotional jewelry and the arts to keep Him with me. 

Once it gets warmer out, however, I am at the top of my game! My Spring Semester grades are always better than the Fall, my motivation increases ten fold, and I generally just feel more alive. This didn’t happen as intensely before my Godspousal. Lord Apollon feels much closer during the warmer months, especially during the summer. I associate Him with Cancer and Leo because of this. 

But before I continue, what exactly is Godspousal?

What is Godspousal?

The concept of Godspousal does exist in other religions. I have seen people compare being a Nun to Godspousal, which, in my opinion, is a bit of a stretch, but does make sense. There are no explicit ties to Hellenic Polytheism, though. Because of this, a lot of recon HelPols may stray away from it or shun it as a whole (though, its mostly elitists who do the latter). Godspousal is essentially when one takes a vow or makes an oath to dedicate oneself to a God for however long. Typically, it’s the rest of their life, or for this life and the next. It varies from practitioner to practitioner. 

I find Hellenic ties to Godspousal in myths. When Lord Apollon finds a mortal lover like Hyacinthus or Cyprus, I see godspousal. When Lord Dionysos fell in love with Ariadne, I see godspousal. When King Zeus fell in love with Ganymede, I see Godspousal. Especially in the way that Ganymede then served King Zeus as a cupbearer. These aren’t explicitly Godspousal relationships, but I choose to interpret them as such. My interpretation does not make it fact, it just means that I feel more comfortable in my own relationship with Lord Apollon because of it. 

One can be a godspouse in a variety of ways. It can be familial, it can be queerplatonic, or just platonic, or it can be romantic. I like to call it a lifetime devotion that isn’t Priesthood. Not everyone wants to be a Priest, so they may choose Godspousal in its stead. 

I only have experience with romantic godspousal, though. And I’ve found it to be a very rewarding experience. While no, I will not claim that Lord Apollon comes and sits beside me and we watch movies together, I will say that we spend time together. I feel His presence often, especially when I am engaging in mundane activities. That's how I know He's there and wants to spend time with me. I spend time with Him, physically in meditations and dreams. Recently, it's mostly been meditations, as I haven't been remembering my dreams.

In meditations, we have our space. It's personal to me, so I won't share it. But that is where the majority of our time together is spent. That is where the physicality of our relationship comes in. Sometimes, I will say “just cuddled with my Godspouse,” but I really mean I laid in the sun and felt His loving warmth. That is different from my meditations. If people are interested, and if Lord Apollon consents, I can always make a little series about some of our moments together. But that's off topic.

Godspousal and my Practice

Lord Apollon has been a major help in my practice. He has always been in my life. From the very start. I took up music, acting, dance, I did archery, and it only made sense that Lord Apollon showed up in my life. I was 10 when He made Himself known to me. From there, our bond has only gotten stronger. 

He taught me everything I know about divination and encouraged me to branch out. Try new things. I moved from tarot to pendulums, pendulums to oracle cards, and developed my clairaudience under His guidance. He taught me that offerings don't always have to be things, they can be actions. Through other people, He gifted me tarot cards and oracle decks that I still use to this day. He helped me learn how to trust my intuition and gut. Lord Apollon has been my teacher since the start of my practice.

Three years ago, though, Lord Apollon used to drop hints towards Godspousal. I was finding a lot more information about it on my feed, people would talk to me about it, and I’d meet a lot more people who were godspoused to different deities. It was becoming far more prominent in my life, and my readings continued to allude toward a romantic relationship in coming, which was… odd. I was already in a committed relationship, I didn’t quite know what it meant. That was, until I saw a video from another creator explaining Godspousal in its entirety. 

I asked Lord Apollon right after if He had been asking me to be His Godspouse. To court Him. He said yes. This led to a roughly year-long process of us getting closer, finding the boundaries in our relationship, and settling into what we have now. Two years ago, we made it “official” sometime in June. I forgot to write the date down, so we ended up attributing the Summer Solstice to our anniversary. 

Lord Apollon plays a major role in my practice, even more so now, with some things I will be announcing soon. He has led my hand in divination since I started. He has patiently guided me along my path and has kept me from falling too badly. And now, He comforts me when I’m alone. He praises me when I’m happy. When I bathe in the sun, I feel enveloped in warmth and love. He is always there, now.  This means that, in my practice, He has a very heavy influence in my actions. Even before I became a Priest for King Zeus, I asked Lord Apollon for His approval. I double checked everything with Him, I asked Him countless times if the path I was walking was right. It feels almost like I’m learning how to ride a bike, and He’s let go of the handlebars and is letting me find my balance, but He’s still there. He’s always there, in case I fall. He is a lover to me, more than anything.

Questions

“Probably a simple ask but what does it feel like? How do you know? Is it very meditation and intuition based or sign based or otherwise?”

It feels like joy. It feels like care, appreciation, warmth. Though every bond is bound to be different. My bond with Lord Apollon may be different from someone else’s bond with Lord Apollon. I am more attached to His art, light, and divinatory aspects. Someone else may be spoused to His darker aspects, it truly depends on the bond. He gave me signs that I was quite blind to, but the signs will typically do the trick. If you’re paying attention, you’ll see them. And if not, well, they’ll get significantly more blunt.

“I'm interested in knowing how you balance godspousal with everything else in your life!”

Godspousal plays a role in… most of my life. I am never not thinking about Lord Apollon. The biggest balance point comes into play with my physical romantic relationships. My partner is fully aware of my Godspousal, always has been. He thinks it’s adorable. In the past, he has said he hopes to show me the physical love that Lord Apollon may not be able to. And truly, he’s quite good at it. But I don’t typically struggle to balance things; it’s really just a matter of knowing when to disconnect myself from the divine or my relationship with Him. 

“How did you know it was right for you? Do you have any advice for those who are considering it?”

I knew it was right for me because it was something I thought about often. I thought it out, I considered it heavily, and I did research on it. The majority of your research will be through devotional blogs and similar things, personal WordPress blogs, etc. You have to take everything with a grain of salt. And I mean this specifically for Godspousal through a Hellenic Polytheistic lens, not generally. You can then draw your own conclusions and form your own opinions on Godspousal based on the UPG you find and the dynamics you see. But please think about it before you act - you shouldn’t run into it blindly. 

“Can you have a friends with benefits type relationship with your deities or is that illegal”

Well, I wouldn’t call it Illegal. It isn’t a bond I’ve had - in my own personal opinion, sex with a God isn’t quite something one can do, at least not on the physical plane. It would be a discussion of boundaries and dynamics between you and the God you are spoused to. I am also not the authority on Godspousal. If you so choose to have this kind of relationship, so be it, but I am not personally sure how one would maintain a relationship like this with a God.

“I have a question. How does one start godspusal? I'm just curious. Is it like, "hey, let's get married", or does it just gradually develop with the kharis IF you want to? Also, what are the consequences of ending it, if there are? Like, suddenly stopping.”

Communication is my answer! Communicating with the God you would like to spouse. I typically operate under the idea that the God should be the one to approach you about Spousal, not the other way around, though there is no reason why you can’t. It’s just a me thing, I suppose. But communication will be your best friend. For me, it gradually developed and moved in that direction. If you end it, I don’t see why there would be consequences? If you find that it isn’t for you, communicate with your God. Every relationship will be different. 

I truly hope this post was informational! Please feel free to ask me further questions - I love discussing Godspousal with others. My love for Lord Apollon is bright and fiery. Sharing this love makes me happy.  Xaire, Altis.

[babyangelsky]

My Favorite Performances of 2024 💖✨

Welcome to Babyangelsky's 2024 Wrap Up! To commemorate my second year of watching QL dramas, and my first year of actually talking on my blog, I've compiled a series of lists to celebrate all the QL things I loved this year!

Please feel free to take my categories and make lists of your own and tag me in them if you do!

💜 All the lists can be found here! 💜

AKA, the "I Love Everything You Do With Your Face" awards. I mostly mean that figuratively but I also mean it literally because expressions are my favorite part of acting. However, it isn't only expressions that make a performance stand out to me.

♡ Chris Chiu & Kurt Huang (Unknown)

It's been months and I can still hear Chris' scream in this scene. It was gutwrenching. It hurt. Some actors are great with expressions, some with line delivery, but Chris is all-rounder. He acts with his entire body. The control this man has over his microexpressions and his body language is incredible to watch.

And Kurt is no slouch either. This man can create tension by simply entering a scene. He draws focus even when he's in the background. There's this intensity to the way he uses his eyes that almost makes you hold your breath. He's mesmerizing.

♡ Benjamin Tsang & Liu Dong Qin (The On1y One)

The sheer number of times I had to pause every episode of this show to have a breakdown about how much I loved this man's face and what he was doing with it. I'm obsessed and in love with him and his microexpressions.

The effect that Benjamin's face has on me can only be matched by the effect this man's voice has on me. He's so careful with his line delivery. He injects the perfect amount of emotion and nuance and breath into everything he says and keeps you hanging on every word.

♡ Fort Thitipong & Peat Wasuthorn (Love Sea)

I was so enamored with every single little thing that Fort and Peat did with their faces as Mahasamut and Tongrak that from the second episode onward, I posted about my favorite expressions every single week starting with this scene.

So much of acting is in an actor's expressions and body language and the two of them embodied these characters so well that you could always tell exactly what they were feeling and thinking.Their acting in Love Sea was leaps and bounds ahead of where it was in LITA and I am so proud of them both.

♡ Kim Nu Rim & Lee Sun (Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo)

I truly believe that there are only really two reasons why something is difficult to watch: either it's done poorly or it's done well. This show is an example of the latter.

Everything is done well. It was done so well and acted so beautifully, in fact, that it was brutal to watch almost the entire way through. Do Hoe's expression upon seeing his reflection in the mirror as he contemplated killing his father is something that's going to stick with me for years.

As is Ju Yeong taking off his cross necklace so he could confess to Do Hoe through the wall. It's absolutely insane to think that this was Lee Sun's first lead role. He did a spectacular job.

♡ Kamimura Kenshin (Our Youth)

This. Man's. Eyes. The way he can go from showing the most devastating, heartbreaking vulnerability to being the sultriest little minx you've ever seen would piss me off if I wasn't so delighted and impressed by it. He's intoxicating to watch. I've thought about that popsicle scene and the "infect me" line every single day since I first watched them.

♡ Becky Armstrong (The Loyal Pin)

Becky's portrayal of Anin was rich and nuanced and complex and I loved it. She was able to strike such a great balance between being so bold and ballsy when Anin was standing up for herself, being soft and loving with Pin, and being regal and intimidating when the situation called for it.

That scene at Pin and Kuea's engagement? Hoooo boy. Magnificent.

♡ Bible Wichapas & Fuaiz Thanawat (4 Minutes)

I waited so long to have Bible back on my screen and he did not disappoint. Great was a character that experienced a lot of fucked up things and complex emotions about those things and Bible was able to portray all of them beautifully. The way he carried himself as both versions of Great and how he interacted with his environment and other characters was a delight to see.

As for Fuaiz, every time I see him his acting gets better and better and I have a feeling that's not gonna stop any time soon. We got him in two roles this year and seeing him go from sweet innocent White in DFF to tormented, grieving, seductive Tonkla in 4 Minutes was a treat. He shined so much in this series. He drew you in, made you feel for him, made you root for him. Just an incredible job all around, I'm genuinely so proud of him.

♡ Lee Tae Vin (Love for Love's Sake)

From the very beginning of this show, it was so clear how much care Lee Tae Vin put into his portrayal of Myung Ha and how important it was to him to do it well, especially considering his past experiences. This is an actor who loved the character he was playing and there was never a second he was on screen where that was in any doubt. He bodied this role.

♡ Top Piyawat & Mick Monthon (Every You, Every Me)

Top and Mick each played several different characters in this show, all with different dynamics between them, but X and Namping were by far my favorites. Top's portrayal of Namping was so delicate and alluring with such an undercurrent of sadness beneath it all. The POV shots were a gift.

And Mick's X was so helplessly and hopelessly entranced by him. The way he looks at Namping like he's the most breathtaking work of art he's ever seen and also like he wants to devour him with his eyes is fantastic. I love the choice to let the silence and tension simmer between them because it was in those moments that you could really feel what they felt for each other.

♡ Yin Anan & War Wanarat (Jack & Joker)

The way Yin and War tore everybody's hearts out in episode ONE and then put them back and ripped them out again and continued in that cycle for eleven more episodes is insane. These two men are spectacular criers. They're spectacular with their eyes and body language. The Jack and Joke we saw pre-time skip may as well have been different characters entirely from the Jack and Joke that existed post-time skip.

And then on top of that, War had the extra challenge of portraying different characters every time his character took on the Joker persona and they ALL FELT DISTINCT. You can always tell when an actor puts their all into a role and Yin and War did that and then some.

♡ Namtan Tipnaree (Pluto)

I will always be impressed by someone who can not only play twins but play them well and man, can Namtan do it well. The styling obviously does a lot of the heavy lifting to help distinguish the two characters but she's got the mannerisms and microexpressions down so cold that even if the styling wasn't distinctive enough, you'd still be able to tell Ai-oon and Ob-oom apart easily. Even her voice changes between the two characters. Phenomenal job all around.

♡ Kim Yun (See Your Love)

Because the character that he's portraying is deaf, Kim Yun's performance relies entirely on his expressions and body language and he is doing a beautiful job. The fight he has in the hospital with Raiden's character where he breaks down and the conversation he has with his parents are his two best scenes so far. You don't have to hear his lines to feel the emotion he puts into them.

♡ Up Poompat & Poom Phuripan (My Stand-In)

You know what I really admire? When an actor can make me want to throw a character in front of a train and then turn around and put me in all my feelings while I still hate them and then slowly make me love them. That's what what Up did with Ming and I enjoyed every moment of it. This man plays toxic SO well. Ming was the worst the entire time and I still fucking loved him because Up is just that good.

Meanwhile Poom was over here doing devastating and wonderful things with those beautiful expressive eyes of his and hurting and delighting me in equal measure. He's insanely, insanely good at acting with his eyes but there were also so many little body language moments I deeply appreciated.

♡ Force Jiratchapong & Book Kasidet (Peaceful Property)

Force and Book were really only in one part of one episode of Peaceful Property but their story made such an impact that it left everybody watching crying on the floor. Their performances as Phoom and Vicha were incredible. The brought those characters and the love between them to life in such a beautifully poignant way.

I'm so excited to see them in Melody of Secrets next year. I know they're going to do great things with a more challenging script.

[light-of-delphi]

Working with Odysseus!

Today, I come to you with some insight into the hero work part of my practice. I work very closely with Odysseus, he and I have a rather close bond with one another. As it stands right now, he doesn't yet have an altar. But I do plan on making him one when I can.

So, let's talk about how I honor and work with Odysseus in my practice.

Honoring Odysseus

In my prayers, I address Odysseus with gratitude and appreciation. He has been a more human teacher of mine since he entered my life, and he sort of serves as a buffer when I'm not communicating with deities. Communicating with Odysseus, in my experience, is a lot clearer, but not as concise. He has a lot to say when I do tarot with him!

He is also a huge fan of my shufflemancy playlist, and he adores the playlist I've made for him on Spotify. He likes music a lot. As another form of honoring him, his playlist has become my workout playlist for the gym.

For some context; Odysseus entered my life to help me become more active during a deep depressive rut I was stuck in back in my freshman year of college. I was fresh out of a toxic household, away from home for an extended period of time for the first time, I was coming out of survival mode and it was harsh on my mind and body. I was realizing just how toxic my home environment was, and it made me angry.

I took this energy out at the gym.

Odysseus also accompanied me when my partner and I were going through a really rough patch in our relationship. Communicating got difficult as we both went through our own issues, but Odysseus pushed me to keep trying, even when it got tough, and it helped greatly.

If you're unaware, Odysseus adores his wife, Penelope, more than anything. He tells me about her, sometimes. How sweet she is, how delighted he is to be with her forever, now. It's nice to listen to. He's been helpful in getting through the rough patches with my partner, especially while we're long-distance for the foreseeable future. The difference is, I can contact my partner within an instant, even from a distance. He envies this. However, I value communication with my partner because Odysseus has taught me how to cope with the distance. This is another way that I honor him.

My Relationship with Odysseus

Recently, Odysseus has become more of a mentor than he once was. He and I are close, we've been building a relationship for a little while, and despite taking me under his wing to help with navigating my future endeavors, he's still someone that I'd consider a friend. And that's odd to say when you remember the fact that he's a spirit and I'm a human, but it's how we mutually view one another.

He watches me sing Epic: The Musical and is thoroughly entertained by the ways in which his legacy lives on. He enjoys seeing me engage in physical activity, and work out. I started doing calisthenics and he's been a huge fan of that. When I worked my camp counselor job this past month, he loved seeing me interact with the kids, talk to them, and bond with them.

Odysseus can be a goofball, but he can also be serious whenever the need arises. That's something you shouldn't forget if you work with him.

He is also very bold. I bought a candle for Neptune and I think Odysseus took it over for about a week before Neptune actually got his hands on it. A very bold move on his part.

Conclusion!

I always struggle with describing my relationships with heroes because I don't know how to explain them in a way that people will understand. It's a lot of clairaudience, a lot of dream work. It's a deep bond that I've worked to form. Feel free to ask questions or inquire further in my inbox! Blessed be, and may the Sun be your guide. A domani!

[ghostgirl666artist]

Hi, here I bring a one-shot of Dog Man. In this story, Petey and Greg are already an established couple. No warnings are needed before reading.

Title; The Risks of Being a Police Officer

Summary ;

Dog Man is seriously injured in an explosion, and Petey is at the hospital, desperately hoping his fiancé will survive while trying to comfort Li’l Petey. Petey feels overwhelmed and angry at Dog Man for risking his life that way, but in the end, after everything, they are a family

He knew that being engaged to Dog Man wouldn't be easy. Not just because he had once been a villain or because of his troubled past, but also because of Dog Man's profession itself. Petey knew that being a police officer came with risks. Greg risked his life for a city that, in his opinion, didn’t even deserve him.

He was aware that sooner or later, they would end up in this situation because, while Dog Man was strong, he was not invincible. He hated hospitals with every fiber of his being—the overwhelming smell, the heavy atmosphere that filled the halls, as if death itself wandered through the corridors looking for its next soul to take. Or maybe his aversion stemmed from the fact that the last time he was in a hospital, his mother had died. And now, here he was again, sitting in the waiting room with his son, anxiously awaiting news about his fiancé, who was in surgery.

Everything had happened in the blink of an eye. One moment, they were at home, and the next, they heard a distant explosion. The blast was so strong that it was immediately on the news, but the worst part was seeing Dog Man being carried away on a stretcher live on television. According to Chief (who was also at the hospital waiting), Greg had saved a little girl trapped inside the building that exploded. She made it out, but Greg was buried under the rubble. When they finally pulled him out, they discovered a metal beam had pierced through his abdomen.

Petey could only imagine the pain that must have caused him. He blamed himself for not doing anything. While he had been safe at home, his fiancé had been impaled by a piece of iron. He could have done something, but by the time he arrived, it was too late. It had already happened.

Somehow, he felt just as helpless as when he had watched his mother die. He hadn't been able to do anything for her. And now, he couldn’t do anything for Dog Man either.

He felt his son gripping him tightly as he held him in his arms. He was scared. Li’l Petey had seen the news. He had seen how badly hurt his other father was. As soon as they saw it, they rushed to the hospital. Petey couldn't even begin to imagine what would happen if Greg didn’t survive. Li’l Petey would lose a father. No child should have to go through that. He didn’t want his son to experience what he had.

And he… he couldn’t bear to lose anyone else. Dog Man had changed his life in ways he never imagined. Together with Li’l Petey, they had taught him to see the brighter side of life. They had built a family, and imagining a world without Dog Man just felt… wrong.

“Papa…” His son’s trembling voice interrupted his thoughts. Petey looked down at him with concern, seeing the sadness in his big eyes. “What if Dog Man… doesn’t make it? What will we do?”

That shattered his heart. It was like taking a bullet straight to the chest.

And then, he felt a sudden wave of anger toward his fiancé. How dare he put himself in danger like that, knowing he had a family? A son waiting for him? Was his reckless heroism so blinding that he couldn’t see how his actions could hurt the people who loved him?

But he kept that thought to himself. He would confront Greg later. Right now, he needed to comfort his son.

“Listen, Dog Man is strong. He’s a hero. He’ll survive anything. Right now, he needs our support more than ever, so let’s be positive, okay? And if… if something bad happens, I will always be here for you.”

He felt the little kitten hug him even tighter, crying into his chest. Petey gently stroked his head, hoping to soothe him. They remained like that until the door to the operating room finally opened and a nurse stepped out. In that instant, his heart pounded, and his stomach twisted into knots.

“Family of Dog Man?” The nurse called out. Petey, Li’l Petey, and Chief immediately jumped to their feet, anxious and desperate. “Dog Man is stable. He just needs to rest. You’ll be able to see him in a few minutes, once we confirm everything is in order.”

Petey let out a breath he didn’t even realize he had been holding.

“Thank you, nurse,” Chief said, visibly relieved as he left the waiting room, likely to inform others that the city’s hero was still alive.

“Did you hear that, Papa?! Dog Man is okay! He really is super strong!” Li’l Petey cheered excitedly. His joy was instant, as if he had never been sad in the first place.

But Petey couldn’t stop thinking about how close they had come to losing him. It was a miracle. Honestly, it felt like a dream—like at any moment, he would wake up and still be waiting for news.

And he was angry.

Angry at Greg.

How could he be so reckless? How could he dare to nearly leave them behind? It wasn’t fair.

He knew Dog Man was a hero. He knew what that meant. But it was still hard. Dog Man was the purest, kindest soul he had ever met, besides his son. Always looking out for others, protecting a city that, ever since his accident, had cast him aside.

Petey wanted to lock him inside their home. He wanted to keep him all to himself, to make sure he was safe. But he knew he couldn’t do that. Dog Man was a free spirit—a hero who fought for others. And that was one of the many reasons he loved him so much. No matter how angry he felt, he knew he wouldn’t stay mad at him for long.

After a few minutes, the nurse returned and told them they could enter. Li’l Petey immediately jumped up and pulled his arm, dragging him toward the hospital room. Chief said he would go in later—Dog Man needed to see his family first.

When they entered, they saw Greg lying on the hospital bed, his abdomen completely bandaged. He was already awake, smiling at them with that stupid expression that always managed to make Petey blush.

Petey was so relieved to see him okay that, as expected, he reacted harshly.

“You idiot dog! You really scared us! Don’t ever do that again!"

Greg gave him sad puppy eyes.

“Oh no, don’t think for a second that you’re getting out of this scolding."

“Papa…” Li’l Petey pouted. “You said we had to support Dog Man, not scold him.”

Dog Man looked at them curiously.

“Look, I’m just worried, okay?” Petey sighed. “You’re lucky Li’l Petey is here… But please, don’t sacrifice yourself like that again. There are people who care about you, you know?”

Greg happily wagged his tail, as if nodding, and then licked Petey’s cheek.

“Hey! You dumb dog!” Petey protested, but ultimately gave in. Li’l Petey let out a small giggle.

“Nothing was going to happen to me,” Greg signed in sign language. “I wasn’t going to give up… because I had to come back to you two.”

That shook Petey to his core. Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around his fiancé, being careful not to hurt him. Li’l Petey clung to him as well.

“You idiot dog… I love you"

Thanks for reading 💕✨🐶😼

[fizzigigsimmer]

So I went to the Upside Down con on Sunday, and got a picture with Joe. I also sat in on a panel with him, Mason & Grace, which resulted in me introducing @robthegoodfellow to the absolute shudder fest that is Flowers In The Attic, later at the hotel. But before we were subjecting ourselves to incest flavored southern gothic horror, there was the con - which was way more chill than I was expecting.

Anyway some reflections, observations and a few pics under the cut. Sorry there aren’t a lot of pictures. My dinosaur phone is full of apps for work and has storage issues.

I’ve been to a few of these types of events in the past and it is always a mixed bag. Overall I thought Epic did a great job of keeping things organized and moving swiftly. It was a younger crowd on Sunday so there was generally speaking a very lighthearted atmosphere to the whole thing and generally less “mania” as some of the larger cons I have been to. But on the other hand, I think a touch of the fan frenzy has its place lol. You love to see the costumes and feel the energy… there’s something about being in a space full of people who all really love something who have come to celebrate hard - the celebratory festival vibes I think is what I missed most from this convention. But that said, it’s super young, it was a great time, and there’s always room to grow.

I will never be over the disappointment of missing Dacre, but meeting Joe was lovely. It was obvious that he was tired and (to me) he seemed a bit awkward and anxious, but it made the experience better because he was so normal about the way he welcomed and spoke to everyone despite these things. He felt real to me in a way that not everyone does. My rose tinted glasses and giddiness aside, I left the interaction feeling not like I had met someone important or been in the presence of ‘SOMEONE’ but rather that I had stood next to a nice guy who’d been told only minutes before where to stand, but who did it with sincerity.

I observed this not just in our blink and you’ll miss it interaction, but with everyone I watched him meet that day. He smiled and engaged with people, making little jokes and comments to make them feel welcome; despite the fact that besides Millie he had the largest crowds, and this was the last day so he must have been drained. He’s very good with kids. I enjoy kids but don’t find them the easiest to immediately connect with/talk to, so I admire folks who can just immediately get on their level and banter with them and that’s what I observed with Joe as he met younger fans. In answer to a question of how he became the babysitter he said it came natural because he grew up with four sisters and he’s used to it. Also, when he initially met the younger cast they were already smarter than him “so it all just came together”.

On the panel, which he could have easily dominated, he was never first to speak unless a fan directly pointed a question at him. This allowed for Grace and Mason to speak just about as often as he was speaking. Which was a relief because the imbalance of the panel was something that I as well as other attendees had noticed. Our group had actually had a discussion about this and whether we should or shouldn’t ask Joe direct questions with a young woman sitting near us as we waited for the panel to start. A few fans did end up directing their questions solely at Joe, but it wasn’t as imbalanced as we feared it could be and I think that’s due in part to the audience’s mindfulness but also to Joe being so laid back and willing to take a back seat. Literally, lol he sat in the furthest chair that was blocked by a big column in the center of the room. When he did speak he was funny and once again came off as very easy going and authentic. The Steve vibes were strong with many of his answers to random questions - particularly the one about what other role they’d take in the industry if they could. His was prop design, because it would be fun to see what he could come up with and what chaos might result. He then made a little joke about bringing some sort of rice when they had asked for knives.

This is no slight to Joe as an actor but more of a critique/observation of the Duffers, but I am even more convinced than I was before that Steve’s core is Joe and that the character we get is pieced from Joe’s acting choices. I think they were being very literal with the fact that they loved him as a person and decided to keep him around. It feels very much like when they ditched their original plan for the character they also tossed most of the character development around it. Now when they find him things to do each season I would put money down on the mindset being 80% “ooh we’d love to see Joe do this thing or say this thing!” and only about 20% who is Steve and what would he do. The end result is Steve/Joe are now only separated by very thin lines. While it’s not how I would do things it’s not a terrible thing across the board - Steve is after all very lovable and we got 5 seasons with him. Anyway, I could be wrong but that’s my honest take.💁🏾‍♀️

I would love to pick Joe’s brain one day and hear more about how he finds Steve in the soup and where he thinks the threads of character are (or were). Maybe one day!

[hush-writes-preg]

forgive me if this is a question you don't want to answer, I'm just ruminating about something someone said to me forever ago, but how do you personally contend with the accusation that pregnancy kink is just pedophilia with extra steps?

No worries, Anon! You asked respectfully, and I can see why some people would question what might seem like an obvious connection.

I've seen a few posts floating around that address this same question, and probably do so better than I do. But here comes my take.

Theme(s): Kinks, discussion of fetuses/infants in a kink space, pregnancy, birth, pedophilia, approach of the topics from a pro-choice point of view

Is a pregnancy kink (maiesiophilia) just pedophilia with extra steps?

–No.

What is the definition of pedophilia?

–Pedophilia, at its simplest, involves sexual feelings directed towards children. Specifically, it's "a psychiatric disorder in which an adult has sexual fantasies about or engages in sexual acts with a prepubescent child" (source).

What makes your ask such a sticky topic is the fact that yes, the existence of a child generally (but not always) acts as a catalyst for the kink since it precedes the bodily changes that kinksters find attractive, but in a disconnected fashion. The child happens to be physically nearby, but is not an active participant in any sexual acts.

Let me repeat that. The child itself is not an active participant in sexual activity.

Someone with a pregnancy kink is not finding pleasure from any sexual fantasies that focus on finding gratification with a fetus/infant, or actively trying to participate in any sexual acts that focus on finding gratification with a fetus/infant. The pleasure they seek (whether sexual, aesthetic, or otherwise) comes from the pregnant person, whose appearance and symptoms they find attractive, not the foreign tissue that exists within their body.

The fetus is technically in a separate space during any sexual acts that occur during pregnancy. It's not like it's in someone's belly, actively getting poked during sex or watching NSFW content. It's also not nearly as aware of what's happening around it as an adult human. So the fetus/infant isn't going to be traumatized about the fact that its parent is getting railed because it has no grasp of the concept, and won't for some time.

I have a pregnancy kink and a birth kink. I get off on impregnation, on the way a pregnant person looks and acts, and the way their body is forced through the process of birth. But the fetus/infant is never of interest to me. The moment the kid shows up, any sexual interest I have in the scenario is gone. And I'm certain that most people who identify with the kink agree. Honestly, if people could experience all of the joys and symptoms of pregnancy without there being an actual fetus involved, I'd be absolutely thrilled.

So no, I do not view a pregnancy kink as a precursor to pedophilia (or consider it to be Pedophilia Lite). No more then having a boob kink is automatically a precursor to having a lactation kink, or an interest in knife play automatically means you'll be turned on by blood play. As in many things in life, correlation (as in claiming that two different topics are linked simply because they somehow appear laterally related) does not always equal causation.

That said, there will always be people who refuse to do anything but correlate maiesiophilia and pedophilia. There will always be people who will accuse others of deviant sexual behavior. It'll be your choice whether to distance yourself from them for your own comfort, try to change their mind, or take their words to heart.

And if someone does express sexual interest in the fetus/infant as a part of their pregnancy kink, well. Tap the sign with the definition of pedophilia above.

It's totally possible for pedophiles to entertain multiple kinks, but we don't have to claim or welcome them in our spaces.

[aurik-kal-durin]

How my obsession with shipping spoiled Avatar: The Last Airbender for me.

I'm an OG Avatar fan. I watched the show when it first aired in February of 2005. I was 15 years old.

Right away, I knew Aang and Katara were gonna be a thing. It was so obvious, and it only became more obvious as Season 1 went on. More so in Season 2 and Season 3. The show never let you forget about it, as even outside of overtly Kataang-centric episodes like The Fortuneteller and The Cave of Two Lovers, they kept bringing it up in some form or another.

Unfortunately, Zutara was a thing, and they never shut up about it. Despite all evidence to the contrary, they insisted up and down that Zuko and Katara were meant to be together. I was a Zutara shipper for a short time, and I admit that I thought it would be canon too in the weeks leading up to Crossroads of Destiny. After the Season 2 finale, I went with the flow, and sided with Kataang... and that's where the problems began to really start.

You see, the Zutara fandom got really toxic right after Season 2 ended. Kataang fans like myself didn't appreciate it, and before I knew it... watching Avatar: The Last Airbender was no longer about just enjoying the show. It was about winning. Just so we could gloat when Zutara inevitably lost.

I could no longer just watch the show and relax. I was on the edge of my seat during each episode, keeping a sharp eye out for the slightest hint of Kataang, and spent the weeks between each episode arguing with strangers online about shipping, trying to convince a brick wall that it was not made of steel... if you will indulge me the metaphor.

In short, shipping wars sucked all the joy of watching Avatar: The Last Airbender. By engaging in shipping wars with rabid Zutarians, I kind of ruined the show for myself. Not entirely my fault, because the Zutara fans back then were easily-triggered bullies who just would not stop, which made it hard to ignore them... but nonetheless, I feel like all of us should've ignored them. Their ship was never going to be canon, everyone knew it after Crossroads of Destiny. All except for this toxic vocal minority whose enjoyment of the show hinged on whether or not their ship became canon.

Unfortunately, some Kataangers (such as myself) got so upset about it (and so obsessed with it) that our enjoyment of the show also hinged on our ship being canon.

How bad was it? Bad enough that I can no longer call Avatar: The Last Airbender my favorite show of all time. Why? Because the experience of watching it the first time was STRESSFUL. So stressful, in fact, that I usually can't go back and watch it again.

Compare that to other shows I've watched... like Hilda, on Netflix. That was a very relaxing show to watch the first time around, and because of that I feel like I can go back and watch it whenever. But Avatar, sadly, only brings back memories of stress and anxiety... stemming from an unhealthy obsession with something stupid.

P.S. Why the hell did we ever call it "Kataang"? Who is the IDIOT that came up with that name? I always thought that was a stupid name for our ship. Why not "Aangtara" or "Kataraang"?

[clochanam-archive]

@svinoeikona: i'm actually struggling to just write one paragraph about this specific blog of yours, and i'll struggle with the rest too, bc the contents are just MIND-BLOWINGLY divine! like you're out here writing thranduil, jim moriarty, peter parker, gale dekarios and charles xavier on the same blog??? you're able to do that!! and i can tell from experience that the things you'll write here are going to transform my entire worldview! the dedication you have to writing such beautiful portrayals, plus the amount of love and respect you have for your mutuals, is unfathomable! i've never known a time where i wasn't happy to see you on the dash, and every thread you've ever written has so much joy and light pouring from it, even the angsty ones (and holy crap i've shed some tears reading your more emotional work!) and you can just tell that both yourself and your partners are so thrilled and engaged in each thread you've posted on the dash! i could talk for years about you, but i'm just going to stop myself now and conclude this paragraph by saying that you truly make the dash a wonderful place to be, not just for myself but for everyone who's ever had the pleasure of getting to know you!

@mourrning: em, every moment of our friendship has made me smile, and i know that won't change any time soon! the absolute range of your talent is something that always amazes me, because just reading the muse list on this specific multi alone??? i'm in AWE! how do you do it?? you've got ron stampler right next to shadowheart, and i know for a FACT that you'll write them both with the most insane degree of eloquent brilliance that you write EVERY muse you ever come across! you're about to make me go rewatch lo.tr and fight with my computer to play bg.3 again and relisten to dungeons and daddies! you mentioned being nervous about writing fantasy muses, but let me tell you, i KNOW you're going to be amazing at this, and i can tell from knowing you for so long and also from the absolutely incredible slides you wrote up so far! and on top of absolutely everything else, your friendship is a gift that i still can't believe i'm worthy of. you're such a good, compassionate person, you make time for all your friends, and it shows so much, through your interactions on the dash, and even in the intricate details and emotional connections that shine through in your threads. i'm absolutely amazed by you, and the dash is such a better place with you here!

@jennifershepard: i'm so excited to talk about you and this blog, like i'm excited to talk about all your blogs, but you've got me looking at ncis again in a "rewatch soon" kinda way! and here's the thing, i know for a fact that i'm gonna watch it and be like "nah, dorothea did this better". your creativity will genuinely never fail to astound me! again, i'm being very strict with myself by focusing exclusively on this blog, but looking through the threads you've written with jennifer, it's absolutely phenomenal the amount of thought, plotting, care and exploration you've achieved with her, and no doubt will continue to achieve! jennifer's character in the show always reminded me of legacies and a life well-lived, but with the thread we have where she visits the diner, even her survival and witness protection is written out by you with such a fantastic and realistic style! as is the case with all the muses fortunate enough to enter your loving arms, i'd read a million books written by you about her, and still want a million more. i'm so happy to be friends with you, and i'm so happy you're here to share more of your light and creativity on the dash!

@prcspcr: idek where to start here! i truly can't remember a time when you weren't on my dash, and without question the dash has been a far brighter place because of you! once again, you've inspired me to add a number of series and movies to my watchlist through your love and stellar portrayal of spock. writing a character with the background and socially steered personality that spock has would be a challenge to most people, and yet any time i've seen you writing him, it seems completely natural! you write spock with such poignancy, and in doing so you always balance out the two parts of his background, from his mother and his father, so beautifully in your writing! your love for this remarkable character, as is the case with all your muses, plus your enthusiasm for writing and for writing with your friends, are things that always bring joy to my dash and also to my life! you've always advocated for taking breaks, you're always developing such rich and organic dynamics with your friends, and i'm forever thrilled to be one of those lucky people who knows you!

@lackenthusiasm: mel ur talents are almost frightening to me. or at least they would be, if you weren't so absolutely lovely and wonderful!! you dedicate so much time and interest to all your muses, and norm is no different. you've written so many spectacular and deeply insightful pieces for him, as you do with all your muses, and they're always a joy to read! and then you fold them into your threads and replies too, with little revelations hidden in your incredible writing that always leave me thinking about it for days to come. norm is a character who pursued a fascinating plotline in the series, but you've made me want a whole spin-off dedicated to him now! (but only if you're directing it yk?) but above it all, there's you. and you've always been such a kind, wonderful friend to me and to everyone who's had the pleasure of knowing you! your enthusiasm to connect and plot and to explore new dynamics and scenarios, plus your genuine compassion, are all part of what make you such a phenomenal person in all respects, and i'm so grateful to know you!

[uh-velkommen]

I am fighting an invisible war against I Saw The TV Glow mainly because people are getting so defensive over it that they're assuming anyone who didn't like it is just dumb and didn't get it.

Someone says it was slow, confusing, or messy, and they say that was the point/it was a stylistic choice/you lack media literacy skills.

Someone says they didn't get it, and they say of course you dont, it wasn't made for you/you can't relate to what its saying.

First of all, just because it was a stylistic choice doesn't mean it was executed well. Also art is always subjective so a person who prefers linear story telling doesn't have to like a movie whose plot jumps around simply because that was the way the director chose to do it. The movie did not utilize its extended run time well. There's no reason for the characters to talk soooooo sloowwllyyy. Especially when nothing really happens in the film. I'm seeing people talk about "brainrot" ruining our attention span but I've seen plenty of slow paced movies where "nothing happens" and there is in fact a correct way to keep viewers engaged yet at a distance.

If someone didn't understand the film, jumping to the conclusion that they're cisgender and that a movie like this wasn't made for them to understand is a bad generalization and harmful gatekeeping. The general message of hiding something deep down until it eats at you is a universal feeling and if you wanted others to understand your trans experience via this film, calling them stupid for not getting it the first time is not going to help anyone. You can't place a film on a pedestal just because it touches on sensitive subject matter. There are tons of movies and shows that were made with the intention of speaking on something and doing a terrible job at it. People who disliked the film didn't dislike it because it's queer. They disliked it because it did something that they don't prefer to sit through when it comes to watching movies. They're not suddenly transphobic, dumb, cis, or brainrotted.

I like movies, I like dissecting films, I like media surrounding the queer experience and I like being able to express when a piece of media didn't really tickle my giblets. It's not the subject matter or the cinematography. It's the pacing and the dialogue. This movie would've done much better as a short film and I feel like I got nothing out of it. It's a very basic message buried under glitter and metaphor. Nothing wrong with that but in the end I, in my personal opinion, feel like it wasn't done well.

[flowered-mp3]

I’m the anon from the boyfriend question 😅

Ohh that’s so nice …. i actually remember when you were first getting to know him…. like the first dates?!! it was very cute!

I’m so happy that you and him are okay and that you are apparently engaged (?)

Sorry if that question sounded weird but from time to time i remember you and your work and since you havent been posting about him i wondered if it worked out.

Anyways, as i said i’m really a fan of your blog!

Can i ask you if you are still following and stanning GOT7? I really hope so!

This year i got to know mark and bambam and was amazing, they really deserve all the love from us.

no worries hahaha it's all good. also yes I am v much still a bird DON'T U WORRY! praying for a group cb in 2025 🥹

my bf also wanted to answer the first part of ur ask anon, so he typed something up to say lol it's v long lmao he's so goofy jansjwakajsnjs 😭:

"Hello friends and fans of my gf. This is really funny because I actually don't know my gf's username. She refuses to let me take a look at this blog so I had to write this blurb on my own and send it to her to post. Anyways, I was tasked with making a small update on our relationship and I jumped at the opportunity.

For a short word summary, we are doing very well. I don't think I've ever felt as comfortable and confident in a relationship as much as this one. It's incredibly liberating being able to be 100% myself with her and not having to dial anything back. Just that fact alone, is 80% of the reason as to why I want to marry her. Now, before anyone gets too excited we aren't engaged yet, but it will absolutely happen. I may or may not have written out the blueprint of how it's going down in the future, but I'll let my gf fill you in on the details when it happens.

In terms of what our relationship looks like now, it normally boils down to one of us going to the other's house, cooking meals together in the kitchen, and then us watching a show/reading together.

Quick sidenote, she got me into the ACOTAR series and god damn I can't believe this jackass Rhysand has managed to win me over. This probably sounds a little boring and admittedly on paper it does, but I really do enjoy it. There's always some dumb or silly shit we'll do or say that'll get us to laugh uncontrollably and even if that laughing moment doesn't come, it's honestly just a nice feeling to have her presence around.

One of the biggest fears, I've personally had with relationships has always been the end of the honeymoon phase. When the spark dies, and slowly the life of the relationship begins to drain and eventually someone bows out.

However for the first time, I don't really fear that happening. I think it's partly the fact that we don't need to be constantly doing adventurous or exciting experiences in order for us to enjoy our time together. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to be able to hit up a concert, go to a friend's party, bouldering, or something. But we both know that it's not required in order for us to enjoy spending time with each other. The other part as to why I feel that fear has gone away is that her love and devotion to me has never really been called into question. She always brings it, even when she's going through it, even when I'm annoying the hell out of her, her desire to want to be with me never seems to waver. And I'm not sure if I ever experienced that before. Knowing that through hell and highwater she'll always be there in my corner is what makes me love her that much more and only strengthens the devotion I have towards her.

ANYWAYS, to bring it all back I do really feel like I met my person and I'm happy to go through life knowing that I'll be at her side. Hope you all enjoyed the update, she absolutely thinks that I went overkill on this post but I felt like I had to. Catch y'all later :D."

[denimbex1986]

'...Stuart McIntyre's video for the title track of the new Sam Fender album has a lot in common with previous Fender videos - and one important difference.

The singer-songwriter's anthemic songs tends to inspire visuals that are big cinematic experiences, with a strong emotional core. McIntyre's promo for People Watching follows that pattern, and then adds a special ingredient: the main protagonist happens to be played by one of the world's best screen actors.

In various roles - from Sherlock to Fleabag to All Of Us Strangers to Ripley - Andrew Scott has been a mesmerising presence. In the People Watching video he brings his trademark intensity, and compelling ambiguity, to his role as an apparently rootless character, drifting through small-town America, engaging in a series of brief encounters along the way. But this time he burns up the screen without a word of dialogue.

As the song reaches its crescendo, McIntyre brings in other elements, flashbacks to the past - the home movie footage of a young boy, and a sick woman in bed - into a bravura sequence where the Scott character is overwhelmed by their emotional turmoil. It's a remarkable, transcendent moment to express the potentially crippling impact of grief.

In fact, bereavement runs through the course of the project. It inspired Fender's song, and as Stuart McIntyre explains, it has affected both himself and Andrew Scott in recent times...

Can you tell us a bit more about how Andrew Scott became attached to the project?

SM: Andrew came on board after we were greenlit. I don’t know the exact details of how the label reached out, but my understanding is that Andrew was already a fan of Sam’s work. However, it was the song itself that truly resonated with him. Having recently lost his mother, its themes of grief and remembrance felt deeply personal, and he may have seen an opportunity to explore those emotions through the film.

That personal connection brought an unforgettable authenticity to his performance, making this collaboration all the more meaningful for everyone.

Was there a lot of discussion between yourself and Andrew about his character before the shoot?

SM: Andrew and I spoke at length about the character - before the shoot and throughout. His motivations, his grief, his quiet longing. But more than that, we talked about our own experiences.

One idea that resonated deeply with both of us was how this character is always reaching - for touch, for connection, for something to hold onto. Whether through hugs, holding hands, even through conflict, he’s grasping for something just beyond his reach. Trying to fill a void. Trying to tether himself to the world. That ache sits inside him, unspoken but ever-present.

But the real turning point came when Andrew shared a sketch he had drawn of his mother. The moment I saw it, I knew - that was the heart of the film. That was what he had been chasing all along. Throughout the story, we see him sketching, but we never quite see what he’s drawing, until the very end. That realization gave everything a deeper weight, an emotional throughline that felt inevitable.

It must be said, Andrew gave a lot to this film. More than I could have ever asked for. He allowed himself to be vulnerable, to let the camera see him. That kind of bravery doesn’t happen without trust. And for me, for all of us on set, it was essential to create a space where he felt safe enough to let go, to explore, to give himself fully to the moment.

And you feel it. In every glance, in every silence, in every flicker of his eyes—there’s something raw, something searching. A longing that never quite finds its answer. It’s beautiful. It’s heartbreaking. I’m so grateful.

And did you have much (or any) direct communication with Sam Fender during the process? If so, at which point did he make a valuable contribution?

SM: I didn’t have the chance to speak directly with Sam, but I collaborated closely with creative director, Semera Khan, whose insights became a guiding force in shaping the film’s heart. She shared Sam’s vision, his hopes for the piece, and, most importantly, the weight of the song’s meaning - the love and grief intertwined in his tribute to Annie Orwin, his godma.

Sam’s presence was profoundly felt through Samera’s guidance, in every note of the song, and in the raw emotion he infused into it.

From our very first conversation with Andrew, we kept returning to grief, loss, and the delicate responsibility of honouring those we’ve lost. But this wasn’t merely about telling a story. It was about capturing something unspoken, something that belonged to Sam and Annie yet resonated with all of us. Everyone on set carried their own experiences of loss, their own quiet understanding of its weight. That shared knowing united us, urging us to create something honest, something that mattered.

Since its release, I’ve been overwhelmed by messages from people navigating their own grief, sharing how this film has touched them. It’s a profound reminder of why we create—to connect, to console, and to remind each other that we don’t bear our grief alone.

I’m incredibly proud to have helped bring this story to life, to have crafted something that lingers beyond the screen.'

[blood-mocha-latte]

~ miscellaneous tag game ~

tagged by the lovely @mutantmanifesto and @dontirrigateme <3

Favorite place in the world you’ve visited?

rough draw but munich! 'twas gorgeous and also where I got engaged

Something you’re proud of yourself for?

dragging my ass through college in two years and double majoring. nearly killed me but by god it's done

Favorite books?

the awakening by kate chopin - the woman in white by wilkie collins - all quiet on the western front by erich maria remarque - a tree grows in brooklyn by betty smith - letters from the 442nd by min masuda

Something that makes your heart happy when thinking about it?

mah wife (borat voice)

Favorite thing about your culture?

god what even is my culture. how unhinged would i sound if i said swamps and rigatoni

When did you join the HBO War fandom? What was the first show you watched?

joined about three years ago but not on tumblr, but watched the pacific first

Have you read any of Easy Company’s books? If so, which ones were your favorite?

no because i. have a reading list and they aren't up in the queue lmao

Favorite HBO War character and your favorite moment with them?

leckie. he’s like. webster if webster was a wet cat what’s not to love. favorite moment is all moments ever EXCEPT for the sex scenes because what kind of hallucinogen did i take to have to watch that

Do you make content for any fandoms, if so; what sort of content?

i write fic and am. a little consumed by it at all times. i also make edits but am going through a bit of a rut with that so for now only writing thank you

Favorite actor/actress and your favorite film of theirs?

eliza dushku for her wonderful performances in buffy the vampire slayer and angel (i'm gay. can you tell)

Favorite quote/s that you wish to share with others?

just this entire dick allen poem which is luztoye coded forever and ever

Random fact your mutuals/followers don’t know about you?

hm. idk. i once got bit by a raccoon in a bayou and had to get rabies shots for the next two weeks

If you’re a writer, do you need a beta reader (say yes so I can be your beta reader 🤭)?

i write everything by hand and then put in in the Computer which is like. a built in beta edit. and then mah wife (borat voice) betas for me because she's wonderful

Three things that make you smile?

mah wife (borat voice) (i'm predictable)

our air purifier (i’m old)

our vintage dog teapot

Any nicknames you like?

my name is three letters long like there's not a lot of leeway there. i went by adelasia for a while which is my middle name but like. that's it. does papera count

List some people you love to see around on tumblr!

@lamialamia is the pillar of my entire person at all times and genuinely one of the nicest people i’ve ever met. linh wrote this wonderful fic for the secret santa exchange, which i am currently reading and fawning over

@staud is easily one of the talented people in the entire hbo war fandom and has the fucking VISION for gifs and videos. most recent of which i’ve watched (and panicked about) being an incredible eugene sledge video. erin is also just fucking funny bro idk what to tell you

@mutantmanifesto is someone that is like. genuinely a celebrity to me. every time i see lenora’s drawings anywhere i have flashbacks like i’m in the louvre. also just a wonderful person with incredible taste

@ep6bastogne is on a tumblr hiatus right now but always deserves a shoutout. she did incredible edits of skinny sisk, eugene roe, ron speirs, and david webster for the secret santa exchange that changed my brain chemistry forever and is one of the warmest people i’ve ever talked to

@ewipandora is someone that i’m ALWAYS holding hands with <3. both a genuinely funny and wonderful person and has incredible taste in reblogs. ewi is currently doing a band of brothers ship series that i plan to Consume as soon as possible because i have no doubt that they’re incredible

@dcyllom is an incredibly underrated and kind part of my Dashboard Experience™ and is also just wonderful and one of my favorite Tumblr People :)

@educationalporpoises is a genius and an INCREDIBLE writer. zee was my secret santa gifter and this luztoye fic knocked it all the way out of the park and into the cemetery, which is how hard it slayed. also wins for best mutual handle

@almost-a-class-act is ridiculously supportive and kind, and a backbone of the hbo war fandom forever and always. sam’s also one of the best fucking writers to ever grace this earth, with the most recent thing i’ve read being this top notch luztoye fic <3

What would you do during a zombie apocalypse?

die. girl i work in an er i'd be the first to go

Favorite movie?

ladri di biciclette for all time favorite movie ever. a perfect movie

Do you like horror movies?

it depends entirely on the level of homoerotism that can be found in those movies. and also if matthew lillard is in it

Tagging:

everyone mentioned above as well as anyone who wants to do it since i have no clue who’s been tagged :)

[lurkingshan]

Shan! One of the things that I’ve loved learning during my Old GMMTV Challenge project is discovering filmmakers and watching through their project lists. Do you follow specific directors or screenwriters for Asian dramas? If so, who are they, and why? And which dramas of their do you recommend?

A fun one, and an area where I know we actually differ in our approach. In short, my answer to your first question is yes, but also no. :)

By which I mean, I generally do pay attention to who creates the shows I watch, because when I am impressed or infuriated by a drama I like to know who is behind it so I can look into their other work, either to pursue or avoid it. Sometimes I have to go looking for that information, but there are some creators who have such an obvious style that it sets them apart and makes it near impossible to miss the connections between their shows (Kim Eun Sook in kdrama, Aof Noppharnach and Jojo Tichakorn in tbl, Hwang Da Seul in kbl, Lin Pei Yu in twbl, etc). With those I might start something unknowingly and then be like wait a minute is this X’s work? I do maintain awareness and keep creators’ other works in mind when I watch something new because it's fun to look for themes across a body of work, and frankly, to know where the pitfalls are likely to come in.

That said, I do not feel any need to be a completist about any one auteur's resume, I don’t intentionally sit down to watch a creator's work in an organized way, and I actually prefer not to know that much about their personal lives, because I like to focus on the fictional stories without too much real world gunk getting in the way and clouding my reads. I am a "let the art speak for itself" girlie; I'm less interested in authorial intent than in allowing stories breathing room to be interpreted by the audience. I do believe in the Death of the Author school of thought and I don't think it's great when creators try to do too much to control how their work is perceived. One of my current beefs with the Only Friends watch experience is that there is so much real world gunk (branded pairs, shipping and actor stanning, creators posting on social media with context that is not included in the actual canon) getting in the way and messing with interpretations of the show.

Once you get into a fandom at all you will inevitably be exposed to a ton of this kind of thing whether you like it or not. And it comes up a lot in bl because so many shows are adapted from pre-existing source material and rely on known actor pairs, which inevitably affects discourse because people come to these shows with a lot of baggage even before they begin. But I am always interested in story first. I dove into I Feel You Linger in the Air and Absolute Zero with zero hesitation because timey wimey soulmate shit is my jam, not because these shows were made by Tee Bundit and New Siwaj (in fact that would be more of a deterrent than anything if I let it dictate my viewing choices).

So while I am interested in the undercurrent of melancholy across Aof's works, and Jojo's devotion to messy ensemble pieces where everyone is a little bit of an asshole, and Kim Eun Sook's uncanny ability to tap into the zeitgeist and create banger after banger across a range of genres, I don't need to know too much about why their areas of focus are important to them or how it relates to their personal experiences. I prefer not to use fiction as a means to psychoanalyze the real people who create it; instead I just try to engage with and appreciate their art as art and afford them respect as creative geniuses without making assumptions about how each work is meant to reflect their real experiences. Understanding some basic demographics about creators (as in, do they have the appropriate lived experiences to be telling the stories they choose) is about as far as my curiosity goes.

Question 1 TL;DR: I do like to pay attention to who creates the shows I watch so that I can follow the themes in their work, but I am not interested in following the creators themselves closely.

Question 2: who are the creators I recommend following? I have mentioned a lot of them above, and my overall recommendation is that if you are invested in a show, you should look to see who writes and directs it, not just who stars in it. Actors are of course important but usually it's the creative team behind them that really makes or breaks a drama, because they are the ones ultimately in control of the story. Having that grounding can be really helpful for setting expectations and in interpreting and processing what you watch, and also just for helping you find more of the kind of thing you will probably like. I’m extremely glad, for instance, that I watched Gay OK Bangkok before Only Friends, because it gave me a framework for understanding the themes they were likely to dig into. I also just finished watching Rainless Love in a Godless Land, which I was interested in due in large part to it sharing the same screenwriter as my all time favorite Taiwanese drama, Someday or One Day, and being able to pull out the similar themes and ideas across the two projects made it all the more interesting for me.

[lostcauses-noregrets]

Hello Lost I know you said you are busy but I just wanted to say that I remember you answering an ask about Eruri's popularity and you said Eruri is almost at its most popular and today I saw the aot ships spreadsheets from 2022 and it's interesting that Eruri was 86th most popular ship on ao3 in 2021 when I think Erwin was still alive in the anime? But in 2022 they jumped up to 53th place which is a huuuuuge jump for that list. Did Erwin's death brought more angst which made the ship more popular or was it the crate scene :D

I'm a bit out of touch with the anime time line but there is always a noticeable uptick in interest whenever a new series or episode airs. And there's certainly no denying that a lot of Eruri fans are unreconstructed angst junkies, so the crate scene has been pushing our buttons for years.

The Eruri fandom is certainly proving to be remarkably resilient. A lot of fans predicted the fandom would wither away to nothing as far back as 2016, when Erwin died in the manga and yet here we are, still producing amazing fic and art every day. Obviously the longevity of the fandom has a lot to do with Erwin and Levi's amazing characterisation and the depth and nuance of their relationship in canon. However I think one of the things that makes the Eruri fandom still so popular is that it's become self perpetuating. The Eruri fandom has always had a reputation for producing really high quality fic and art and that continues attracts new fans, regardless of what's going on in canon. In fact I think a lot of newer fans discover the ship through fanart and to a lesser extent fic. Some of these fans might go on to watch the anime and read the manga, but others only every engage with art and fic created by fans. This can lead to some "interesting" takes on Erwin and Levi's character, but that's another story.

I also suspect that the fact that the Eruri fandom attracts a slightly older demographic might have something to do with it too. I've got no hard evidence for this, other than my own experience, but I wonder if older fans have a tendency to stick with a ship for longer rather than jumping off to the next new thing?

Of course the fact that both Erwin and Levi are very easy on the eye does no harm either...

[silence-and-reveries]

YouTubers and LOA subreddits aren't actually helpful (short-rant)

Let me explain,

The various loa subreddits are kind of a cesspool. It's always some person who has no idea who you are trying to push their limiting beliefs about love and money onto other people.

You can never talk about sps cause nowadays people will call you limerent, you can't say you want to win the lottery (even though tonnes of people do!) cause they think it's not possible or that you're messing with the middle "oh you can get the money in any way, don't limit it to the lottery!"

Dafuq. No one tells anybody they shouldn't play the lottery. Rich people buy lottery tickets. Someone ALWAYS wins the jackpot eventually.

The 3D means nothing though and neither does other people's limiting perceptions about possibilities.

I hate how we call any person that doesn't immediately move on from a deep connection "limerent" these days. That term didn't even exist 50 years ago.

All of the classic and historical works of fiction, and even historical tales themselves portray romantic plots far more convoluted and disparaging than anything modern people experience nowadays. No one told these people that loving a person who you're in separation from was bad, that was literally the norm cause life was so much more chaotic.

People have to understand that circumstances can come in any form and that no one's circumstances mean really anything in regards to their manifestation. Because that's the fundamental principle of the law.

Another thing, we can't go around telling people their desires are bad for them. Cause that's stupid as fuck. Nobody chooses the things they get to desire, it's literally given to us by our higher-self, subconscious, divine self or whatever the fuck.

Yeah you can have tangible needs based on your 3D circumstances but as a manifestor you have the option to change the 3D itself or manifest something to change the 3D. Either way, we're still the operant power!

"You don't want to win the lottery, you want the feeling of wealth"

"You don't want that SP, you want the feeling of being in a loving relationship"

Like, this was literally posted today and all the comments are people agreeing. When it's fucking nonsense.

Literally shut the fuck up. No one tells engaged people they aren't actually in love, or tells business people that they don't actually want to have success. So wtf are we doing? Why do the mods let people say these kinds of things and reinforce people's limiting beliefs, literally killing their manifestation????

Please, if you can stop watching loa content creators on yt and stop reading subreddits (at least the posts that aren't success stories) cause these people don't read/listen to the source material and are making shit up to feel above others and ensure they're constantly dependent on them for advice, cause their manifestations are being sabotaged.

Never, ever give the 3D circumstances power over your subconscious mind or let it dictate what you should or shouldn't desire. Because that's you. The 3D is YOU. It would just be your past, unrealized self telling your current self to maintain the old ways. NEVILLE LITERALLY MENTIONS THIS

Idk idk, it's so upsetting to see posts like that first thing in the morning. I wish the mods would get over themselves and be more consistent.

Neville quotes about desires, limiting beliefs and the nature of the 3D

"Stop asking yourself whether  you are worthy or unworthy to receive that which you desire. You, as man, did not create the desire. Your desires are ever fashioned within you because of what you now claim yourself to be."

"Facts are the fruit bearing witness of the use or misuse of the imagination. Man becomes what he imagines. He has a self-determined history."

"Imagination is the way, the truth, the life revealed. We cannot get hold of truth with the logical mind. Where the natural man of sense sees a bud, imagination sees a rose full-blown."

"Truth cannot be encompassed by facts. As we awaken to the imaginative life, we discover that to imagine a thing is to make it so, that a true judgment need not conform to the external reality to which it relates."

"To passively surrender to appearances and bow before the evidence of facts is to confess that Christ is not yet born in you."

He says so many important things but people want to misconstrue his words for their own benefit. It's a problem.