#the florence nightingale effect

[horrorlamb]

9 Windows. A Drunk Movie Review: Clichés and Cringe in Horror Cinema

SPOILER WARNING. Lets get the important information out of the way first, shall we? Tonight’s drunk review is bought to you by this delicious bottle of Whitley Neill Raspberry gin and my soda stream. For Legal reasons I will add that I am in no way sponsored by Whitley Neill or Soda Stream. But anyway onto the movie. 9 Windows is written and directed by Lou Simon. Who has been writing and…

[danaclese]

Being each others doctors is the most codependent superhero behaviour ever

Florence nightingale effect ship-fic fuel if you're into that

[horoscope1078]

:)

Ferran burst through Pedri’s front door, his gym bag slung over his shoulder, and a look of mild panic on his face. “How is he?” he called out, his voice echoing through the quiet apartment.

Pedri’s best friend, and Ferran’s hopeless crush, you, appeared from the kitchen holding a bowl of steaming soup. You raised an eyebrow at Ferran. “It’s just the stomach flu, not the plague. You didn’t have to sprint over like it’s a life-or-death situation.”

Ferran ignored your teasing and dropped his bag onto the floor. “Where is he? I should’ve brought, like, I don’t know, ginger tea or... something. Does he need anything?”

“Relax, Florence Nightingale. He’s in his room.” you replied with a smile, motioning toward the hallway. “But brace yourself. He’s being dramatic.”

The two of you made your way to Pedri’s room, where the young midfielder was sprawled across his bed like a fallen soldier. His hair was a mess, his face pale, and a bucket sat ominously by his bedside.

“Finally...” Pedri croaked, clutching his stomach as though he’d been fatally wounded. “My rescuers. I thought I’d perish alone.”

“You’re unbelievable.” Ferran said, crossing his arms.

“You look terrible.” you chimed in, setting the soup on Pedri’s nightstand. “Eat this. It’ll help.”

“I can’t eat.” Pedri groaned dramatically. “I’ll die if I eat.”

“Then don’t eat. That’ll make things easier.” you shot back, rolling your eyes.

“Wow” Pedri said, his voice heavy with mock betrayal. “This is the woman you’re in love with, Ferran? Her bedside manner is atrocious.”

Ferran froze like a deer caught in headlights. “What?” he spluttered, his cheeks burning.

Pedri smirked, clearly enjoying himself despite his misery. “What? Did I say something wrong? My bad.”

You glanced at Ferran with a quizzical expression, then back at Pedri. “Is the fever making you hallucinate? Because I’m starting to think we should call a doctor.”

“No fever, just vibes.” Pedri mumbled, suppressing a laugh that turned into a weak cough. “Anyway, Ferran, you’re blushing. She’s going to figure it out, you know. Just confess already.”

“Okay, that’s enough out of you.” Ferran said hastily, grabbing a pillow from Pedri’s bed and gently shoving it over his friend’s face.

“Mmph!!” came Pedri’s muffled protest before Ferran relented.

“Seriously, though, are you two finally going to get together, or am I going to have to set you up while I’m half-dead?” Pedri asked, his voice slightly strained but full of mischief.

Ferran turned to you, his hands raised defensively. “I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

You just laughed, a soft sound that made Ferran’s stomach flip in a way that had nothing to do with the flu. “Ignore him.” you said, waving a hand dismissively. “He’s clearly delirious. Let’s just focus on making sure he survives the next 24 hours.”

“Oh, so you admit you’re ignoring the elephant in the room?” Pedri wheezed, clutching his blanket. “How convenient.”

“Do you want me to dump this soup on your head?” you threatened, holding up the bowl.

Pedri groaned and leaned back against his pillows. “Fine, fine. But for the record, I’m right. And you two are boring.”

Ferran muttered something under his breath and pulled up a chair by the bed. “How about we talk about you instead? Like how you ended up getting sick.”

Pedri pointed accusingly at Ferran. “It’s your fault.”

“Mine?” Ferran said, genuinely offended. “What did I do?”

“You dared me to eat that stupid hot sauce at the team dinner.”

Ferran blinked. “That was two days ago.”

“And now I’m dying. Cause and effect.” Pedri said solemnly, waving a weak hand in the air.

“I don’t think that’s how stomach flu works.” you interjected with a laugh.

“Don’t take his side.” Pedri grumbled. “Traitor.”

As the hours passed, the three of you fell into an easy rhythm, Pedri alternating between whining and dozing, you alternating between nurturing and sarcastic, and Ferran trying his best not to combust every time your hands brushed while you tidied up or handed Pedri water.

At one point, while Ferran was distracted fluffing Pedri’s pillows, Pedri stage-whispered to you “He’s obsessed with you, y'know. Talks about you all the time. It’s unbearable.”

Ferran dropped the pillow on Pedri’s face again.

“What was that?” you asked innocently, pretending not to hear.

“Nothing!” Ferran said quickly.

“Everything...” Pedri groaned from under the pillow. “He’s hopelessly in lo..”

Ferran snatched the pillow away just as Pedri dissolved into another coughing fit.

You raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “You’re awfully jumpy today, Ferran.”

“Just tired.” he muttered, avoiding your gaze.

By the end of the day, Pedri was visibly better, well enough to start texting their teammates about how Ferran had nearly fainted when you smiled at him.

“Why are you typing so furiously?” Ferran asked suspiciously.

“Oh, just telling Gavi how you..”

“Give me that!” Ferran lunged for the phone, but Pedri held it out of reach, laughing weakly but victoriously.

You sighed, shaking your head as you watched the two of them wrestle. “You guys are impossible.”

Pedri smirked at you. “He’s impossible. I’m a delight.”

“You’re an instigator.” you corrected.

“And yet” Pedri said with a grin “you’re still here. Wonder why that is.”

You didn’t answer, but the faint blush on your cheeks didn’t go unnoticed by Ferran, who was suddenly feeling a lot more hopeful.

As the evening wound down and Ferran packed up to leave, Pedri gave him a sly look. “So, when are you going to ask her out?”

Ferran groaned, grabbing the nearest blanket and throwing it over Pedri’s head.

But as he glanced back at you, catching you smiling softly at him, he couldn’t help but think that maybe Pedri’s meddling wasn’t so bad after all.

---

Did y'all miss me? ;) I was busy and out of fiction ideas until learning Pedri got stomach flu. Hope he's okay now.

[thatnonameuser]

You’ve brought up in a few posts that yanderes can be mistaken on their darlings initially, drawn to similar traits they later recognize when they meet their real future partner (I think you brought up Leona being drawn to Falena’s only to later meet MC and realize his initial mistake.)

How many times have suspension bridge effect or Florence Nightingale syndrom muddled the waters for a Yandere and started pursuing that person, only to realize their mistake? Are there reparations towards the innocent party or punishment for the Yandere when these mistakes happen, or is it brushed aside? Could there be cases of serial yanderes going from one darling to the other, chasing that high of trying to find “the one” and leaving a bunch of traumatized, semi-broken people in their wake? Are there laws against such action, especially from the actual yanderes when they find out someone got to their darling first only to abandon them when someone new caught their eye? Especially since “love” and commitment to a darling is so emphasized in this world, to the point darling abuse and murders are a serious offense in certain regions.

Also how did those darling protection laws come to be, especially since you’ve shown how even the Queen of Hearts was willing to mistreat and threaten Winston with execution? Did her behavior and actions towards him change later on to the point that abuse towards darlings became a punishable offense to yanderes? Did she create special rules in relation to darlings? Just what extremes does a Yandere have to go to have a darling be removed, like in Deuce’s mom’s case, to the point Deuce never met his dad and has such a poor opinion of him?

Just the worldbuilding of this au is so intriguing to me, it got be going down a rabbit hole of intrigue!

I’m glad it’s intriguing you, so let’s dive back into the worldbuilding rabbit hole.

When I initially conceptualized it in my brain, I loosely based the way a yandere could confuse their real darling for the wrong one on a real life disorder called ‘Reactive Attachment Disorder’, a condition that occurs in children who’ve been forced to grow up without bonding with any parental figures. In summary, the way it works is that a person will cling onto whoever shows them even the slightest bit of attention or ‘love’ to the point of destructive behavior if it means they can get the attention they crave. 

But the two syndromes you mentioned help me explain this ‘confusion’ a lot better. 

Brief explanation for the audience: The Suspension Bridge Effect refers to a person mistaking what’s making them aroused like confusing the relief of ending a painful experience for romantic arousal. Florence Nightingale Syndrome refers to where a caregiver falls in love with their patient, even if very little communication or contact takes place.

For yanderes, who feel a cold emptiness that can only be filled by one specific person, a person reminiscent of that special someone brings them a fraction of the relief and joy that can get confused for the feeling of meeting the ‘one’. Regardless of what traits change as the person spends in captivity, whatever traits that the darling has when the yandere meets them for the first time are the traits that the yandere will be drawn to. Eg, if the real darling is a dog lover, then the yandere will feel attraction to dog lovers. 

And that misplaced attraction is what drags in the ‘Suspension Bridge Effect’ and my original disorder into place, yanderes who’ve felt isolated and alone for most of their lives have the greatest potential to get that confusion. (Which is why Leona with his degrading childhood trauma had that kind of attraction to his brother’s wife because she behaved similar to how MC does when he first met her, sarcastic, brave in the face of disaster and strong-willed etc.) the closer the wrong darling is in personality is to the right darling, the more their hearts flutter and that confusion is what leads to them confusing that darling as their own, when it’s actually the parasite love magic maintaining it’s hold over them.

But there’s a key difference between the right darling and the wrong darling, (tying in the Florence Nightingale Syndrome), the right darling doesn’t need to have any form of a relationship with their yandere to draw them in, some yanderes can recognise their true darlings on sight without even exchanging words, and those darlings can do nothing to avoid it. But the wrong darlings need to have a relationship with the yandere for the yandere to feel the joy and contentment that yanderes crave. (Once again, this applies to Leona, his sister-in-law tried to have a positive relationship with him and things went sideways from there) 

Either way, when these yanderes are ‘deceived’ into thinking that these people are their darlings. And that’s what drives them to do what they would do to their real darlings. Kidnappings, acts of assault, murdering their friends and family… the crimes they’re willing to commit believing that the person they’re holding captive is their ‘one and only’. Sometimes yanderes will marry and start families with the wrong darlings believing them to be right. 

Once the yandere meets the real one though, or a wrong one that’s even closer to the real one, they’ll obviously want to be rid of the wrong one as soon as possible for two reasons. One, because they have their new ‘real’ darling now and two (this one isn’t completely shared), because they can’t stand the thought of the imposter that tried to confuse them.

So, they’ll wash their hands clean of the wrong darlings as soon as possible, throwing them out, abandoning them in the middle of nowhere so that they can be far, far away from the yandere and their true darlings, or, while divorce is a touchy subject in the yandereverse (the way this world’s love magic works the ‘attraction’ of the yanderes to the darlings can be tested using magic), the yanderes file for divorce and try to cut the wrong ones out of their life.  

Depending on where the couple live, what price the yandere might pay and what the darling might experience as a result can change from place to place. 

Darling Rights Areas believe that the darling and the yandere are both victims. The darling had their life completely uprooted and destroyed, so they deserve some kind of compensation for their suffering. Yanderes are also ‘victims’ because they ‘couldn’t help’ being confused, so while they should be punished, they also have to be taken into consideration. So the punishment is very light for the yandere and often, not heavy enough for the darlings. The yandere usually pays of the darling financially, or takes time in jail/lock up if they can’t afford it. The darling is taken care of by the state until they can put their lives back together, or not if they never did it. These areas provide darlings with shelters, counseling and opportunities to get back on their feet. They don’t want the darlings to start to distrust their future yanderes, so helping them heal and teaching them that their ‘true’ yandere will treat them better than the fake one did.

Anti-Darling Rights Areas believe that the yanderes are the victims here, and their different view about darlings is somewhat to blame for it. Their darlings aren’t the pillow soft angels that darling rights areas seem them to be, they’re more spitfires than sweethearts, if they’re not happy about something they’ll show it and have a lot more determination. With that in mind, they’re not considered victims of something terrible because they probably fought tooth and nail every second and even if they do suffer, whatever they do experience, their newborn desperation can lead to darlings being forced into situations that require them to ‘need’ their yanderes for support. At best there might be some community backlash, but their darlings are survivors and they’ll be alright.

In that case, darlings are quite literally on their own, and their yanderes are free to do whatever they want with their true darlings.

In a complete 180 turn, Darling Protection Areas (Briar Valley and Isle of Woe) believe in darlings being protected like jewels and treasures from the day they’re born till the day they die. That means they’re guarded like jewels, and any physical harm done to them is treated very seriously, and if something like this were to happen then it’s treated extremely seriously. In much fewer words, the darlings are the victims. 

Mutual understanding means that their yandere peers wouldn’t kill them for their crimes, instead it’s something that will remind them of their crimes after they find their next darlings to not carry out this cruelty on them or any others. They will be whipped, stoned or branded to remind them of their crimes, and they’ll make sure the injured darling(s) are treated with respect and comfort for the rest of their lives or until their real yanderes come along, whichever comes first.

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Onto the serial yandere topic, let’s go back to the ‘Reactive Attachment Disorder’, some yanderes are more attracted to the loose similarities more than others and pick up and throw away darlings like a child trying to find the right toys.

These people are more than likely orphans without familial ties, who never EVER got platonic or romantic love from anyone for most of their lives, seek those signs even more than the previously mentioned who are desperate to those who are even the slightest bit similar to their darlings. They’re more likely to commit more horrific crimes to have their darling to themselves, and they aren’t treated the same as the previously mentioned.

Instead of being punished with reparations or jail time, these yanderes are institutionalised in mental institutions. so that they can be kept away from the other darlings. The only reason why they would be released is if they find their real darling but that’s incredibly unlikely. 

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Now to the darling protection laws!

When I wrote that for Winston, I actually wasn’t sure where I wanted the Wonderland parts to go, so I threw it out there so I could buy time so I could figure it out, as you can see Winston is actually terrified that the Queen would behead anyone else. 

As you can see from the chapter release, the Queen had rules about her darling being harmed or taken, and when I eventually get to Book 4 and 5 you’ll see that sentiment shared with the Sorcerer of the Sands and Fairest Queen. With them in mind, none of them wanted to hurt a hair on their partner’s heads, and instead of hurting them physically they tortured their lovers mentally. 

Hurting your darling risks killing them, because one bad injury could steal your darling away forever. Yes, some physical punishment can get a darling to behave, but it wasn’t favoured by either Queen or the Vizier. The Red Queen didn’t like it because of her trauma with Winston getting injured by a ‘traitorous’ court member, Sorcerer of the Sands never had to discipline the headstrong princess after he got his hands on her, and the Fairest Queen because she didn’t want to place a single imperfection on her beloved’s skin. 

The reason that this sentiment isn’t shared by the Sunset Savannah or the Coral Sea, and not for the reason of darling ownership that one might think, but because that most disobedient darlings can easily fight back against their partners and saying that the yanderes can’t raise a finger to them in attempt to discipline them is stupid. The world to them works on the basis of if you make a dumb choice and poke the sleeping predator, you should be prepared to face the pain that comes as a result. Their environments aren’t the most forgiving, learning through pain is written in their instinct. 

That sentiment is DESPISED by the fae though, the Briar Valley sees their darlings as treasures, spilling a drop of their blood in an attempt to discipline is extremely looked down upon. But that’s not to say that they don’t believe in punishments for wayward darlings, they just prefer to use magic so that the pain is gone and forgotten as soon as the lesson is learned. The Isle of Woe follows the same ideology as the fae, with so few darlings there harming them is seen as cruel. Though their preference for administering punishment is found in tech rather than magic.

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As for the point where darlings are removed in the Darling Rights Areas, there are two specific situations that could lead to a darling being removed. 

The darling is permanently disabled thanks to their injuries. 

Some examples are blinding them, physically paralysing them, severing tendons to keep them from running away or fighting back. In that case, the darling can’t ever recover from whatever they go through and if their yandere ever realises they’re the wrong one, the darling’s life is permanently ruined and their right yandere will never have their darling their normal healthy self.

2. The darling is severely injured repeatedly or is injured in such a way that the injuries are potentially life threatening.

If a darling is repeatedly beaten, stabbed, bruised, sliced, or has their bones broken in an attempt to discipline, love or protect them then it’s likely that they are not safe with their yandere. A yandere is meant to do those things to others to protect THEM, not in the other way around. Punishments can always be made painless and harmless, marks of love aren’t supposed to need a doctor’s help, and if someone threatens your darling, bring them to someone who can help them, don’t let them live with that pain, therefore,  there’s no reason for it.

This one has exceptions. Carving your name into your darling’s flesh is okay, leaving them with bite marks that mark them as yours is okay, whipping your darling’s back to the point that it cuts through muscle as a punishment is not. In cases like this, it’s not a simple ‘the darling will recover’, the wounds are more than skin deep and are repetitive so there is reason to believe that the darling is in danger. 

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Sorry it’s a long one, but I hope you enjoyed it!

[femmeduskwight]

wol!aurelain au foulques, just for fun. for once, he gets to live! (but at what cost)

lore rambles under the cut because the brainworms are chronic.

(meanwhile foulques, getting his limbs gently-but-sternly manhandled into functioning again and not hating it bc its the closest thing to tenderness hes experienced in years: fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck)

so! fuckles foulques! rip that guy lmfao.

anyway in wol!lain verse i imagine he survives (barely) that dramatic fall at the end of the lvl 30 quest (or rather, some time before arr starts in this timeline) and would absolutely have died anyway had a certain apothecary with a horse not been nearby at the time. serendipity n shiz. aurelain patches the poor bastard up, fixes his busted limbs, and generally bullies him back to living. as doctors do.

afterwards lain leaves him at a duskwight settlement he knows to be more accepting of duskwights raised outside of the culture (who are generally regarded with pity at best and as being no better than outsiders at worst), wishes him well, and goes back to his job thinking little of it.

(meanwhile foulques is nursing a quiet florence-nightingale-effect-ass infatuation. as you do.)

fast forward some time to the middle of the actual plot. ya boi foulques has integrated pretty well to his new home, and is now part of the antelope-mounted guardsmen tasked with keeping the area safe from Outsiders. he's hella gung-ho about his job because he learnt Nothing resembling moderation from the whole debacle with the guild and ywain, but 'charging wildly into danger' is lowkey a duskwight cultural Thing so its accepted with his new guard bros.

(is some of this loud posturing against Outsiders overcompensation to make up for feeling Not Duskwight Enough? yes.)

(also his antelope's name is sloe.)

(idk whether orion gets involved in this au but if he does oh BOY that's gonna be a fun time for everyone involved. especially me, who loves making barbies fight to the death.)

im not entirely sure when he'd enter the plot bc my memory of arr is wobbly, but at One of the points when you return to gridania. probably during the sylph arc?

i don't have much concrete story yet, but his deal as a character is that he is both very much infatuated with the idealised version of aurelain that lives in his head -and- feels indebted to him for the whole 'saved his life' thing. so once he ends up joining the party (however that may be) he starts trying very hard to be Chivalrous and Heroic and butting in whenever there's violence so his precious angel aurelain doesnt have to get his hands dirty, despite protests to the contrary. he is genuinely oblivious as to why aurelain might, perhaps, be somewhat put off by this.

to quote my gf, "foulques thinks hes the utena to lains anthy but he is the touga/miki"

[wu-sisyphus-gang]

Jaune: Ruby and Weiss don’t know that I’m broken and unfixable.

Blake: You think it’s Florence nightingale effect?

Jaune: That’s…?

Blake: When nurses fall in love with their patients.

Jaune: Ah. Maybe a little then.

Blake: You underestimate their feelings for you. We all hate to see the suffering you’re going through.

Jaune: You’re a bunch of empaths one and all. Listen to me complain like I’m the one who fucking died.

Blake: You’re allowed to feel things too.

Jaune: I’m a murderer now. I don’t know how Ruby can touch me.

Blake: You didn’t murder Penny, Jaune. She chose death. You can’t keep blaming yourself for that.

Jaune: I totally fucking can.

[frodothefair]

Here's one more for the list of plot bunnies I do not (currently*) have time for.

This one is inspired by a post I saw on tumblr, but I can't remember where it was or who it was by - so if anyone can help me out in identifying the source of this idea, please let me know.

The premise hinges on two tropes: everybody lives/nobody dies, and the Florence Nightingale effect (the caregiver to love interest pipeline, which I already have ample experience with by writing Frodo and Marigold).

Imagine this. Théoden wakes up after the Battle of Pelennor fields, his body nearly broken, and discovers he is in the Houses of Healing in Minas Tirith. Almost immediately, he wishes he could have died, but then he is accosted by the ministrations of the world's most talkative and most down to earth woman, Ioreth. She is one of the most senior staff at the Houses of Healing, but on account of him being king, she is assigned to be his personal attendant. At first, Théoden is deeply annoyed by her incessant talk and her infectious, nearly toxic positivity. (Canonically, I feel like Théoden is a deep pessimist - does anyone else think so?) But as time goes by, love blossoms and the King of Rohan begins to heal, and when the time comes to return home, he asks her to follow him as his consort.

As a bonus, in this AU Éomer still takes the throne soon after the war, as some of Théoden's injuries render him disabled to the point of no longer feeling comfortable ruling. However, Théoden gets to enjoy a well-deserved retirement with his beloved at his side, he is an indispensable help to Éomer as he grows accustomed to his new role, he gets to meet Lothíriel and Faramir and really likes them, and he eventually gets to see his great nieces and nephews. Isn't that nice?

*Every day, though, I dream of retiring and becoming a full time author - one who devotes a substantial part of her time to fanfiction. But alas, that is a long way off.

@torchwood-99 @konartiste @from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras @dilettantefeminist @emmanuellececchi

[littlemissgeek8]

First Lines from Fics

Rules: Share the first lines from ten eight of your most recent fics/chapters.

I LIVE! Sorry about the silence, it's been really hard getting my brain in "writing mode" the last month, and I haven't had the brain power to do much with tag games, but I'm trying to get back into it! And thanks to @sandcastlekings for the tag! I know it said 5 but I've also seen it with 10 and I thought well, why not throw in some old fics for people who might want to see them? They're not in chronological order really, but I tried to make some sense of them. (Also several are only on Tumblr b/c I never bothered to post them elsewhere.)

1. The Viscount's Bride (Dragon Age, Varric/Cadash AU)

"Have I mentioned I hate the Carta lately?" Varric Tethras, Viscount of the city of Kirkwall asked, gesturing irritably with his glass full of bottom-of-the-shelf Hanged Man wine.

2. Legacy of Camp Blood (Friday the 13th The Game, Tommy Jarvis/Deborah Kim)

A chilly breeze rustled the branches of the trees and tiptoed over the surface of the lake beyond, leaving dark ripples in the water painted silver by moonlight.

3. The Florence Nightingale Effect (Friday the 13th: the Game, Tommy Jarvis/Deborah Kim)

“He’s not here today, if that’s what you’re looking for.”

4. The Man Behind the Masks (Friday the 13th: the Game, Tommy Jarvis/Deborah Kim)

The warm, golden tones of late afternoon had faded into the soft blues of evening outside Tommy Jarvis’s cabin, but light still glowed in one upstairs room.

5. Card Games are a Contact Sport (Thunderbirds are Go, Gen)

Making long-term plans is always a gamble at the best of times, but when your entire job requires being alert for possible emergencies every hour of every day, “long-term” can be as simple as a single evening at home that’s liable to be shot to pieces by an errant rock-slide halfway around the globe.

5. Arachnophobia (Thunderbirds are Go, Gen)

“John? It’s 3 am. Why are you making rice?”

6. The Little Merman (Thunderbirds are Go, Gordon Tracy/Penelope Creighton-Ward, incomplete)

The first inklings of trouble came from John’s “sources,” a vast, interconnected web of mer-folk and sea creatures, as well as his own well-developed sonar.

7. Charade (Thunderbirds are Go, Gordon Tracy/Penelope Creighton-Ward, incomplete)

It’s almost getting to be a habit- when they finish a rescue in Europe (at least so long as it didn’t end horribly, that is), Gordon sends a message to Lady Penelope.

Gonna toss out tags to @biowaredisasterbisexual, @hyperions-light, @thedissonantverses, @seaglassmelody and anyone else who wants to try this!

[practically-an-x-man]

Since I was just talking about this with a friend... here's the symbolism for my various OCs' names!

At least... here are the main OCs, though I usually apply symbolism to the antagonists, secondary characters, etc. as well (I can talk about them too, but that would make this post ridiculously long)

____

Rachel "Rae" Ayla McKinney: the name Rae is used as a shortened nickname from Rachel, but on its own means "protector" - fitting, with her protective personality and ability to create impenetrable energy shields! Middle name was chosen from her grandmother's first name; the same grandmother that she inherited her mutation from. Surname was not chosen with intentional deeper meaning, just chosen for a Scottish surname. Hero name, Aegis, is a reference to Athena's mythological shield.

Robin Eleanor Cassidy: first name is both a traditionally Irish name and links back to the music- and sound-based themes within her story. Middle name is also Irish in origin, and can be seen as a variation on the name Leonore, as in the opera Fidelio. Surname wasn't chosen with deeper symbolic meaning, just to connect her to the X-Men's Cassidy family as a whole. Hero name, Aria, is a reference to her sound-based mutation and operatic background.

Madison Sarah Douglas: first name has multiple derived forms, one of which means "strength in battle", and was also chosen with nicknames in mind to symbolize the stages of her life: she goes by Maddie until she's 15, then leaves that behind once she runs to the wilderness and begins going only by her full name, then begins to adopt the nickname "Mads" as she grows comfortable with Alex. Middle name was chosen from a list of popular names for the time, intended to be simple and unassuming like Madison's parents (her mother especially) expected her to be. Surname is can be translated from Gaidhlig to mean "black stream", a symbol towards her aquatic-based mutation. Hero name, Lionfish, is a reference to the physical traits her mutation grants her, and in the earlier stages of her story can be seen as foreshadowing towards the venomous fins and more lionfish-like traits she will later develop.

Ophelia Jo Octavius: first name stems from the Shakespearean Ophelia, intended both to connect her to her literary-focused mother and to foreshadow the tragedy she will experience throughout her life (and at one point, foreshadows her multiversal variant that genuinely goes mad and later dies to her own actions). Middle name is also literary, stemming from Little Women; however, her middle name is only Jo, not the full Josephine, meant to symbolism Ophelia standing apart from expectations. Surname is not chosen with deeper meaning, just to tie her into the canon Octavius family, but the alliteration of her first and last name is meant to be "superhero-like" and further connect her to her father. Hero name, Argonaut, represents both Jason's mythological Argo and a species of pelagic octopus.

Giovanna "Gia" Isabelle Pantazis: First name, in both its full and shortened forms, translates to "God is gracious", symbolizing Gia's faith and feeling that her surviving HYDRA was an act of God's will. Middle name also holds faith-based translations to further this symbolism. Surname is derived from the Greek blessing "live forever!", representing how having her life force bound to her clover makes her effectively immortal (at least in certain ways).

Jasper Nightingale Wilson: First name was chosen from a list of modern gender-neutral names, mainly meant to be a fitting, likely choice for a name a genderfluid teen would choose for themself in the 2010s. Middle name was chosen to honor Florence Nightingale, Jasper's personal hero and the person that inspired them to go into nursing. Surname can be derived in some ways from "desire", but was also chosen for an ongoing joke with their partner about having "two first names". Derby name, Gemstone, is meant as a connection to the name Jasper. [note: I will not be analyzing the symbolism of their deadname, and I didn't choose extensive symbolism for their deadname even if there's some to potentially be found. The only thing I chose to line up is that they chose their former derby name to be derivative of their first name, the same way Gemstone is derived from Jasper]

Indigo: Uses no surname until marriage - first because she didn't know her family, later as an act of rebellion for how "loaded" her family surnames would be. She chose her first name herself, for the deep blue color of her eyes, because being a foundling on the dog-eat-dog world of Corellia meant nobody bothered to choose a proper name for her (prior to choosing her name, her guardians would just summon her with "girl!" or "hey, you!"). Name was also chosen with a nickname in mind, both to provide variety and as a symbol of familiarity as she moves through the story.

Prometheus: Name as a nightmare was Nyx (from the Greek god of night), or the Fear of the Dark, for them being a primal nightmare of the dark. Name as a dream keeps the Greek mythological roots, but represents them claiming fire for the sake of the human dreamers they choose to protect, as well as representing the day-by-day injury they undergo in order to protect those same dreamers. The transition from Nyx to Prometheus also represents them becoming closer to their human dreamers - beginning as a primordial god, ending as a human hero.

Eris: Given name from Themyscira was Adamantia, meaning "untameable" or "unbreakable". After their bloodlust and sense for conflict became clear to the people around them, those on Themyscira began referring to them as Eris - believing they were an embodiment of conflict itself, a reincarnation of the Greek god Eris (similar to the Ares story in Wonder Woman)

Nikoletta Bordeaux: First name means "victorious" and is drawn from the Greek Nike. Surname is a region in France, but has no other translated or derived meaning (especially considering that Nikoletta's family stem from Louisiana Cajun French, not traditional French, and the further linguistic separation there). Altogether, her name symbolizes "a victory that means nothing", indicating the various façades she implements while in Belle Reve - holding a position that only grants her power while within the prison, and her abilities themselves being used as a symbol for death while actually having no tangible danger.

Azalea Jordan "AJ" Campbell: First name is a flower, connecting her to her mother Violet as well as representing her career as an assassin in disguise: azaleas are beautiful flowers, but are toxic to humans and animals. Middle name, as well as her nickname, are intentionally gender-neutral, meant to symbolize her ongoing disguises and anonymity as an assassin (since the names apply to any gender, there are fewer visual assumptions that can be made about her). Surname translates to "crooked mouth", representing and foreshadowing the reveal of her facial scars.

Quinn: Any surname or former name for her have not been revealed or even decided, and I don't intend to choose any - that stage of her life has been left long in the past, and she's intentionally placed a distinction between that life and her current identity. The name Quinn has various meanings: it can be derived from "wise", "beautiful", or "chief", but was also chosen in-universe as a reference to Harley Quinn. Her rooftop name, Aces, furthers the association with Harley Quinn, decks/suits of cards, and luck/gambling.

Kestrel: Name and character design as a whole are pulled from an American kestrel - solitary animals save for their lifelong mating bonds, known to be adaptable to a variety of habitats and nesting conditions, and extremely effective hunters despite their small size. Former name, Deborah "Debbie" Browning, was merely meant as a mundane and human identity for them to have held before they revealed themself as a changeling.

Katherine Alessia Johnson: Name is largely derived from the NASA astronomer Katherine Johnson, known for contributing valuable research and computations to the moon landing (the moon symbolism also being tied back to the moonlight-powered Tablet of Khonsu). Middle name Alessia means "defender" or "truthful", notable elements of Katherine's character as well as her connection to Bastet, the Egyptian god of domestic protectiveness.

James "Jimmy" Aaron Luciano: As a whole, name was just chosen on a whim based on what sounded right, and wasn't intended with particular deeper meaning aside from being a period-accurate name for an Italian-American New Yorker in the 1910s. However, there is symbolism to be found in that both his former partner Robert and current love interest Lars choose to refer to him as James rather than his nickname.

Vivienne Siversdatter Andenæs: First name means "life", representing her being saved from death by her transformation into a siren - the name was also chosen to be a classically beautiful and feminine name, both for a siren's ethereal beauty and as a subversion towards Vivienne being nonbinary (at least, that it would be nonbinary by modern standards). Middle name is a family surname from Norwegian naming conventions, preserving her father's name. Surname has no listed translation or meaning, but is also Norwegian in origin.

Souriya "Spider" Prakash-Cooper: First name is Lao in origin and means "sun" to symbolize his explosive energy and social "brightness", and was chosen by his parents to honor his maternal grandfather. Surname is his parents hyphenated last names - his mother Adhira Prakash and his father Darius Cooper. Prakash also means "sunlight" to double that earlier symbolism; and while the surname Cooper originally derives from barrel-making, the name was chosen more for the juxtaposition between his father's family in America and his mother's family across India and Laos. His nickname Spider comes from friends at his speed-climbing gym, who gave him the nickname for his long limbs and fast, eclectic climbing strategy.

[faegoddessog]

Day 15:n Just little Florence Nightingale Effect

January's DDof AB @dailydoseofaustinbutler

Peeps who may want to know! , @purejasmine, @slowsweetlove, @richardslady121, @austinbutlerslovers, @tadpoleteef, @allittakesisoneflight @thisworldisntrealhoney,  @1nho,  @megangovier, @briaandthephantoms, @andro-inherdreamworld @callumsgirl @blombardo  @fefeisastar @hacunamy @nestito702 @denised916 @jayydep @r0m4nitcl0v3r @heyidc03, @secondchild-2, @flander42 @natural-born-rebel-spirit @lecosymood @kathrynzaragoza @bsunshinexo @jayydep @ifyouloveweedletsgosmoke @peggyao3

“Better?” she asks.

“Yeah,” he says around the processed little cake, “Thanks” 

“You didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate that you did,” her voice sincere.

“Yeah well, the women and girls in my life, hell even my exes deserve a world that is safe for them,” he looks up at her from his seat through the longest lashes she’s ever seen on a man, "all women do."

In retrospect, it wasn’t the heroic actions, or the fact that he devolved into a little lost puppy after that melted her. It was that sentence that did her in.

She tried to think of something to say other than ‘fuck that’s hot’. Not the time.

“OK, I need to make a phone call,” he says as he looks up at her, “preferably in private.”

“Yeah, “ she offers him a hand up, “It’s ok if you just want to go, I’ll be fine, my apartment isn't that far away,”

“Oh no,” he takes her hand and stands, “I feel obligated now to make sure you’re safe,” 

Who is this guy?  All punching out creeps and insisting on ‘walking her home. A real old school gentleman. It’s now that she notices the red streak in his hair. Looking download she sees the drop of blood on the stark white tiles of the floor and another shivering and about to drop from the knuckles clenched around the red can.

“Oh shit, you’re hurt,” she grabs a wad of napkins, pressing them to his hand. “Listen, my apartment isn't very far from here. I could get you cleaned up and you can make your call in private,” she offers.

“You don’t have to do that. It’s… it’ll be fine,” but he lets her hold his hand. 

“What about wanting to make sure I’m safe?”  she smiles, “besides, I can’t just walk away and leave you empty handed after such a display of bravery, Mr. Knight in Shining Armor.”

He looks at the empty can in his hand, then back at her with a raised eyebrow.

The walk to her building wasn’t far. They really didn’t say much. 

She sat him down at the kitchen bar after tossing her purse onto the couch. She pulls out her first aid kit from a drawer in the kitchen and sits next to him on the matching stool to tend to his hand. 

“Is it ok if I talk on the phone while you…” he nods to his hand. 

She nods. He calls and puts it to his ear.

“Hey Aus, what’s up?” says a female voice on the other end. 

“Yeah, I need to give you a head’s up. There was a situation at a bar.” 

“Ok, what happened?” 

“Umm. short version, There was a guy, a real jerk and he was about to y’know hurt someone so I uh… stopped him… with my fist to his head.”

There was silence for a couple heartbeats. 

“Are you ok?” the voice sounds earnest. 

“Yeah, I’m being looked after, just a scratch on my hand, it was one hit and he was out. Hssss,” he winces as she squeezes a stream of saline onto his cut. 

“Dammit, this is not your brand, Austin,” the voice says, exasperated. 

“I dunno, he tried to drug a young lady then was takin’ a swing at her,” Austin says matter-of-factly. 

“Ok yeah, that is your brand, just not one the public really knows. We can give it a guardian angel kinda spin if it comes out. Okay. Well, did anyone recognize you?” 

“I don’t think so, it was kinda a dive bar, not my usual,” Austin admits.

“You say that like you have a usual,” the voice jests, “ok well you know the vultures can be anywhere, I’ll call Dave just in case.  And we’ll keep an eye on the socials. Thanks for the heads up.”

If she had actually processed what she heard of the conversion, she would have figured he’s gotta be somebody to have to make a call like that. As it stood, her attention was split between trying to tend to his hand and the fucking pheramones coming off him. Good Lord does he smell good. 

“It doesn’t look too bad,” she says, placing the last of three bandages in an effot to cover his knuckle, “It’s just gonna suck cuz where it's at.”

“Thanks,” they sit in silence for two heartbeats, just staring at one another. 

“I’d… uh… better go,” he breaks eye contact. 

“You don't have to,” she starts to  put away her first aide kit, “besides I should keep an eye on you in case you crash or something.”  There is no way she is just gonna say bye and kick him out the door.

“Oh, I don’t want to inconvenience you,” his words are nothing but polite, but his eyes tell a different story. He wants nothing more than to stay, but…

“Nah, I haven’t even thanked you properly,” her voice only just rolling into an alluring timbre.

“Sure you did, that Coke and Twinkie?” He stands, trying to ignore the way she kept her hand out, brushing from his palm, to this thigh. “Plus you just helped me with my hand.”

“You know that’s not what I mean,” she cuts to the chase,  looking up at him through her lashes, fingertips lightly playing at the side seam of his jeans.

He breathes in, his face a mingling of hidden desire,  confusion,  and propriety. 

“I…um…. But you.. I- I- I shouldn’t,” he doesn't even know what he is trying to say. 

“You know,” she takes her hand away in a surrendering gesture, “If you just aren’t that into me, you can just say you’re not that into me, its ok. Or are you already taken?” It's better to get it over with if either was the case. 

“No, no it’s not either, not at all,” he nervously rakes his hand through his hair, wincing at the pull of the bandages. “ I just…. Okay, after what almost happened to you,” he takes a step away from her, “I didn't think you’d be interested in some guy you just met making any advances, especially in your own apartment.” 

“One: it didn't happen to me because of you,” she stands up,” two: you have definitely proven that you are not just ‘some guy’,” she closes the distance between them, “and lastly, do you think I would have brought you here if I wasn't interested?”

[videostarblogs]

12. dark mori kei

dark mori kei is a substyle of mori kei that merges the forest inspired aesthetic of traditional mori kei with a darker, more mysterious edge. often called dark forest girl, this style retains mori keis connection to nature but emphasizes its mythical, shadowy side -- akin to walking through an enchanted forest at twilight, here's a breakdown of dark mori kei

origins and development

evolution from mori kei: dark mori kei emerged as an offshoot of mori kei around the early 2010s, developed by individuals who appreciated the cire aesthetic of more kei but wanted to introduce a "gothic", darker element. It offers a way to explore the darker side of nature, moving away from bright, pastel colors to show off the shadowy side.

influence of folklore and fantasy: the style draws from mythology, fairytales, and myths often portraying a darker character that could represent a witch, forest spirit, or some sort of dark fairy. its aesthetic plays on the mysterious qualities of deep woods, misty paths, and magical creatures

key motifs

Dark color palettes: Unlike traditional Mori Kei's earthy, light tones, dark Mori Kei uses a palette of deep, muted colors like black, charcoal gray, forest green, burgundy, deep plum, and midnight blue. shades of brown, rust, and dark cream may also appear to keep the natural theme but in a more somber way.

Layered shapes: Layering is essential in dark mori kei. The look often involves flowing, asymmetrical layers of dresses, shawls, and oversized sweaters to create a slightly ragged shape. Loose cardigans, cloaks, capes, and lace details add to the forest effect.

nature and mystical textures: materials like lace, velvet, wool, and cotton add a textured, vintage feel to dark mori kei. worn in or distressed fabrics are common, as they give off the impression of a forest wanderer. dark lace, crochet details, and feather or fur trimmings add an extra touch to the outfits.

occult and nature theme accessories: accessories in dark MRI kei often include items inspired by nature and witches---think of dry flowers, feathers, crystals, charms, and bones (fake or real). silver jewelry, layered necklaces, rings with dark stones, and talismans are popular, giving off a forest witch vibe.

dark makeup and hair: makeup in dark mori kei is more pronounced than in mori kei. dark eyeshadows, smudged eyeliner, and berry or plum-colored lip tints enhance the makeup in this style. hair is often left loose and wild, styled in braids, or decorated with hairpieces like flower crowns, vines, or feathers. darker hair colors or tones of auburn, deep green, and black complete the look.

music

dark mori kei is often associated with atmospheric, ethereal music that has a haunting, folk-inspired sound. neofolk, dark folk, and ambient genres resonate well with this aesthetic. artists like Wardruna, Chelsea Wolfe, and Florence + the Machine capture the spirit of the style. Medieval-inspired or witchy folk songs set the right mood for dark more kei as well. here are some artist suggestions

lamp

ichiko aoba

800 cherries

tico moon

HUS

astrud gilberto

joao gilberto

kaede

kali uchis

serani poji

movies

films that embody the magical and mysterious parts of nature fit dark more kei perfectly. Pan Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro is one amazing example. other fitting films include The Witch, Sleepy Hollow, and The Secret of Roan Insih. here are a few other movies I suggest!

the ancient magus' bride

anohana

fruits basket

honey and clover

is the order a rabbit?

Mary and the Witch's flower

Mushi shi

snow white with the red hair

the dark crystal

mirrormask

books and other media

folktales and dark fantasy: dark mori kei is often linked to literature that explores enchanted forests, ancient magic, and gothic themes. works like The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Garden, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, and classic fairytales with darker themes resonate with this aesthetic.

witchcraft and nature journals: witchcraft and nature-themed journals are popular in the dark more kei community. many enjoy documenting plant knowledge, seasonal cycles, and forest photography, often with an emphasis on the darker, hidden beauty of nature.

visual art and photography: dark mori kei is also influenced by art and photography that captures shadowy forests, mystical creatures, and haunting but beautiful landscapes. artists like Brian Froud, known for his dark fantasy illustrations, are popular in the community.

inspo

dark mori kei is a style that celebrates the mysterious, darker side of nature through a forest-inspired aesthetic. with its deep colors, layered fabrics, and mythical accessories, it channels the spirit of a dark forest fairy or a forest spirit. dark mori kei is for those who find beauty in the shadows, embracing a balance of nature and magic that feels otherworldly and grounded in the forest. this style offers a sense of hidden magic, embodying the darker, mythical says of the mori kei aesthetic.

make sure to follow, comment, and reblog for more style breakdowns like this!!!!! use my questions box in my profile to suggest any styles you want to see!!!!!!!!!!!

videostar logging off..............................................................................................................................................................................................

[busterkeatonsociety]

MovieMonday Parlor, Bedroom & Bath, 1931 was also known as ‘Romeo In Pyjamas’ in the UK. Dorothy Christy spoon-feeds a lovestruck Buster Keaton who is hoping the Florence Nightingale effect kicks in ❤

[bumpkinspice0]

Recovery Time: Chapter 5

Joel Miller x Fem!Reader

No use of y/n

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 3.5k

Summary: Joel and you are finally comfortable around each other, finding a rhythm to your new strange little life with him in it. You can't help but start to develop feelings for him and wonder if he could feel the same?

Not sure if i captured the emotions and motivations very well in this one but I think I like it anyway.

Warnings: Pining, angst, mentions of past trama, Joel's a sad cowboy playin' sad cowboy songs

Series Masterlist

Previous - Next

AO3

_______________

Chapter 5: Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues

This man. This fucking man was threatening to tear your entire life down, and he didn’t even know it. You can’t get anything done, too stuck inside your own head to focus on a single task. 

The last few days you’ve woken up to find him already in the garden or limping about the property doing some random menial tasks— and you’re still not sure if you like it. Well, you liked having the help, of course, but you selfishly missed his sweet music to accompany your day. If he was working he couldn’t be playing and you hated that fact. When you were suddenly without his music to listen to, you find yourself just looking at him instead. With him taking care of what little there was left in the garden, mostly squash and corn at this point, you had time to make your winter preparations— chopping wood, mostly.

You were usually so focused. There was only ever the task at hand, that’s the way it had to be for so long. Now you catch yourself daydreaming in a way you hadn’t for years now. Longing stares from around the corner, loaded glances, fantasizing about something that you know just wouldn’t happen with Joel. 

It was all foolish really—a childish crush on the first person to come into your life in years. Forced time together was making you obsessed. It was just the reality of the situation and you should know better— but why did he have to be so goddamn handsome?

In another way, you should have expected this. Being around someone new for days on end. It’s only natural. Like it was bound to happen.  And it would likely pass in due time. You hope it would, at least. It’s an innocent crush at best, the Florence Nightingale effect at worst.

He started calling you pet names. Sweetheart, hon— darlin’ seemed to be his favorite. Your stomach still jumped every time he said it with that deep raspy accent. He was a polite man, at least to you. He’d gotten more comfortable and lowered his walls, just a little. He trusted you. That’s all it was. Still… it only stoked the growing fire inside you.

Lilly took the most liking to him. She was with him now in the garden sitting right next to him on his stool. He didn’t seem to mind. You’d even caught him a few times calling for her when she wasn’t right at his side. It was sweet, really. 

He had Lilly, you still had Gus.

Gus had finally warmed up to him in a sense. He didn’t guard you, or watch Joel’s every move like a hawk anymore. But he was still almost annoyed by the whole thing. He’d gone out with Joel a few times since he put up the traps and everything seemed to go over smoothly. Maybe he was jealous he wasn’t the only man in your life anymore. You chuckle to yourself at the thought.

You take a break from stacking your next pile of wood and sneak a peek around the cabin to look at your new favorite pastime for the dozenth time today. Lilly perches herself on his broad shoulders while he digs out the last of the zucchini, humming the latest song he’s been learning. It was adorable—a little glimpse into a domestic life that didn’t exist anymore.

He was healing fast. He still had a limp you wanted to monitor for a little longer and you’ll take his stitches out in a few days. He’ll be gone before you know it, just another ghost in your life.

Again, that selfish part of you wishes he wouldn’t leave. Sure, he would stay for guaranteed food and shelter, any sane person would… but would he stay just for you? Because you wanted him to? How did Joel Miller feel about you? The question that kept you awake more than you’d care to admit. A friend? Just a caretaker… or something more?

Nosey , was probably the right answer.

An annoyed ruff at your side pulls you back to the task at hand. You sigh and sit beside Gus, your only anchor to reality. Your family. This dumb little dog had saved you in more ways than he could ever know. Could he even comprehend the depths of your kinship? What he means to you? A part of you likes to think so.

You pull him in and give him a rough scratch around the neck, “You know you’re the only guy for me, buddy.” 

_______________

“Ya know, we started this game so we could play it.”

“The way you play this game is strategy. And strategy takes time.”

You’d been staring down at the same chessboard for over 5 minutes now. You both started this game over 2 days ago, just a little something to do on breaks. Joel had heard of professional chess games sometimes taking days but you were both clearly so far from professional. You were losing. The more and more it became evident the longer and longer your turns took. It was to the point where he just grabbed the guitar and started playing whenever it was your turn— he had plenty of time. Better than twiddling his thumbs and staring at you, not that he’d mind all that much. If his mindless picking was distracting you, you didn’t say anything. 

It felt good rekindling something he thought he’d lost forever. It came so naturally. When his fingers danced across the strings so effortlessly it was almost a relief. Part of the old him was still there, just a little. Someone he thought died a long time ago.

It was a fine instrument. Old but well looked after, just like him, he supposed. Small scratches and chips scattered about it that likely told a story. The words ‘With Love, Ruth’ sloppily burned into the back. You hadn’t mentioned the name Ruth yet but he’s sure you’ll tell him about her one day. Likely the wife or long-lost love of this Art fella you always talked about. For now, he just leaves it be.

You liked listening to him play, he could tell. You never explicitly said so, but the faint smile on your lips whenever he picked up the guitar was enough. It made his heart swell with… pride maybe? You didn’t know any of the songs he was working on but it didn’t seem to matter. Music was music and he was happy to give something back to you, however small it was.

You finally make your move and he counters almost immediately. He had you cornered in every spot. The game was probably his at least 5 moves ago, you just didn’t know it yet.

“Check,” He says as he returns to strumming. You continue to deliberate. 

“What song is that?” you passively ask, eyes not moving from the board, “It’s really coming along.”

“ Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues ,” He answers, plucking through the verse progression smoothly. He supposes it has come along in the last few days.

“ That’s a blues song?” you raise your brow, quizzically.

A fair question. Blues was in the title but the twangy folk melody didn’t remotely resemble classic blues, “More of a country song actually. Dad used to listen to it. Sad old song for sad old men.”

“How old does that make you?” you ask, tapping your finger on your Rook piece. You decide against whatever move you were brewing, not that it would have saved you anyway. 

“Old enough to play sad music.” 

“That old, huh?”

“What about you?” 

“Oh, Twenty-one of course,” you jokingly answer without hesitation. He gives a small chuckle before you answer truthfully, “Thirty-two.”

He does some quick math in his head from what little you’ve shared with him. You were a nurse before and after the outbreak, yet you seemed to be so experienced. You must have gotten to work right after high school or gotten a quick degree.

“That’s… young.” He immediately regrets it when you shoot him a look, “For knowin’ what you know, I mean. A lot of experience.”

You shrug it off with a smile, “With a dad as one of the only doctors in a small town, I ended up volunteering at the hospital most of high school. He died my senior year. Turned out to love the medical field and got my associate's in nursing ASAP. I didn’t want to waste my time with a bachelor's or med school. I just wanted to help firsthand. Ended up knowing a lot more than a few of my teachers, but if I had to do it over again I’d’ve probably tried to be a doctor, follow in Dad’s footsteps maybe. Only got a year of real-world experience before the outbreak. Learned the rest from Art.”

“Art taught you medicine?” 

This is what your mealtimes have become. Long streams of questions, learning just a little more about one another each time. Joel withheld a lot but still found a way to share a little bit of himself with you. He didn’t want to share in the first place but felt he had to when you were such an open book. 

“Art taught me a lot of things,” You answer, “Medicine, hunting, survival— A man of many hats. I called him my consultant . He would only tell me what to do, but he wouldn’t come help in town. He stayed out here away from it all. He gave up on the world but not on me. I was the only one he’d talk to when… when it all ended. The world.”

It was a common thing in the apocalypse. People closing themselves off from what was left of humanity. Joel would never meet this man but yet he understood him completely. The world was so ugly, why should he give any of himself to it? Look out for yourself then there’s only one person to worry about. Yeah, Joel really understood that.

Still, another part of him could understand why Art would want to look out for you. There was something in you that needed to be cherished. Needed to be protected.

He’s not sure he should ask his next question but he does anyway, “What happened to him? To Art?”

You pause as if trying to push back a memory. A twinge of guilt pricks at his conscience and he wishes he could take it back. He should know better than anyone not to ask about the dead. Still, you answer anyway.

“He died 5 years ago trying to protect me.” You answer in the flattest tone he’d ever heard you speak since he got here.

He does some quick math again. It’d been ten years since the outbreak and you’d been out here for five. Why did you stay here alone instead of heading into the QZ? Your skills were in high demand, people would have given you whatever you wanted. Someone in charge would have given you a good life in exchange for your medical knowledge. Something happened that kept you out here all by yourself in your dead friend's home. Something terrible. He won’t ask anything more.

“You never answered my question,” you break the silence he didn’t realize had formed. 

“What?” He resumes his picking.

“How old are you?”

He genuinely has to put some thought into it, “Forty- six.”

“Oof, you are old,” you roll your eyes and he gives you a playful kick in response, “When’s your birthday?”

“The 26th of Se–.”

The words slip out of his mouth before he can stop himself. His guard was down. It was just so automatic he didn’t realize until it was too late. He didn’t want to think about this right now. He didn’t want to think about his damn birthday and what that meant. He didn’t want to think about her. God, not right now.

“The 26th of what?” You press. He doesn’t respond, looking away from you. Regardless, you still try, “September? The 26th of September?”

He does nothing. Doesn’t nod or speak. He just plays. A look of realization springs on your face and he knows it’s too late.

“Joel… that was 2 days ago.”

“It’s just another day,” He grumbles, focusing on his finger-picking.

“Just another day?” You stand, “Joel, we have to—”

“Don’t.” He bites. It came out a little harsher than he intended. Still, you get the message and sit back down. “I just… I don’t celebrate my birthday. Please, just forget I said anything.”

You look sorry. It wasn’t your fault, really. It was a completely normal question for anyone else. There’s no way you could have known. Still, he hopes his harshness helped you get the message— forget it.

“Okay, Joel,” You nod. It’s at least another two minutes before you finally make a move. Your knight takes one of his pawns guarding his queen. Futile. He slides his Bishop right in the path of your open King.

“Check-Mate.” 

_______________

On top of having help with daily chores, getting finished early was something you weren’t used to either. Tonight you actually had time to relax and unwind instead of just collapsing into bed. You can’t recall the last time you were able to make it into the house before sunset without your bones weary from constant movement. Jumping from one thing to the next just to stay alive. 

Joel brought in a rabbit from one of his traps and cooked dinner that night, along with a few of the vegetables he’d harvested that morning. It was incredible. You're not sure if it’s because he was actually a decent cook or because it’s the first thing in years that you didn’t have to make yourself. Maybe a little bit of both.    

You could finally relax— just a little. You’re not sure you know the meaning of the word anymore.

You decide to start with a shower. In a perfect world, it’d be a hot bath with maybe some candlelight. Maybe even a glass of that god-awful chokecherry wine in the cellar. There was an old claw-footed bathtub on the back porch that Art never got around to installing. The thing was massive . You’d boiled some water in it once or twice when you really needed a break. Lately, it worked perfectly as a produce washing station. Maybe a spa-style bath some other night. Funny how something like sitting in hot water became such a luxury. 

When you finally leave your cold shower, twilight has settled in. You walk out to the living room ready to get cozy with a book and a glass of wine, expecting Joel to be waiting in his usual spot on the couch. The house is empty, even of the animals.  Before you even have time to wonder where they are, the faint strumming of a guitar catches your attention.

You look through the living room window and see Joel sitting out past the yard by the sheds, a flickering lantern at his feet. Gus and Lilly sat peacefully at his feet, eyes closed in contentment. It seems you’re not the only one who missed his playing. Why was he so far away from the house? He’d usually practice on the porch or in the living room, he knew you didn’t mind listening.

He’d caught you off guard today, with his response to your question. He’d missed his birthday, one of the few things left in the world to celebrate. Almost as if he was ashamed of it. You thought about it all afternoon. Was it his age? When he finally gave the number there didn’t seem like any embarrassment or hesitation there. He was simply stating a fact. 

He didn’t seem defensive until you brought up the vague possibility of celebrating. He was afraid to ask anything more of you— that was your theory anyway. Yes, you’d given a lot to him and he’d shown how grateful he was in so many ways. Still, everyone should have a birthday, right? 

The last half of the afternoon was spent scheming. Just something small, like what you do for your birthday. You’ll get the generator going, make something nice to eat, listen to music, or watch a movie from Art’s sparse collection. His stay here had been plagued with so much pain already, he could have a treat too. This was his home, even if it was temporary, and he gets all the amenities that come with it.

And that includes a birthday party.

You crack the window to get a better listen and drag a rocking chair over. It’s not a hot bath with all the fixings but candlelight with some music and reading was the next best thing. You peek out the window before you open your book. Joel hasn’t seemed to notice you yet. It would be hard to see you mulling about the house from that far away. He wanted this moment for himself, that’s fine— But there’s no rules about you just being a bystander. That is— if he didn’t know you were. 

You barely get a paragraph into your new chapter before you hear it. It catches you completely off guard. You immediately snap your head in his direction just to see it with your own eyes. 

Joel was singing. 

You know just enough about him to see that this was a rare moment you're not sure you’ll ever have again. You’d missed the first part of the song already. You commit the next precious moments to memory.

Some caught a freight, some caught a plane

Find the sunshine, leave the rain

They said this town's a waste of time

I guess they're right, it's wastin' mine

Some gotta win, some gotta lose

Good time Charlie's got the blues

Good time Charlie's got the blues

The words came out gruff and rugged. His voice is unpracticed and raw but beautiful in a way that’s just so him . He practically speaks most of the words yet you can feel a deep melancholy over all of them as he does so. Lyrics sung with feeling.

Ya know my heart keeps tellin' me

"You're not a kid at thirty-three"

"Ya play around, ya lose your wife"

"Ya play too long, you lose your life"

I got my pills to ease the pain

Can't find a thing to ease the rain

I'd love to try and settle down

But everybody's leavin' town

Some gotta win, some gotta lose

Good time Charlie's got the blues

Good time Charlie's got the blues

Good time Charlie's got the blues

He sings the second half quieter, slower as if the words are hard to say. He hums himself out with a gentle melody. What’s he thinking of while he sings? Are the memories with this song just too painful? Questions you so desperately want to ask him but know you never will. He starts the song over and his voice quakes ever so slightly. You hold back a tear yourself, gasping into your hand and turning away from the window before he sees you. This moment was his, you want him to have it without your presents souring it. You feel dirty for even having witnessed it, yet so grateful that you did.

There was such sadness in his song. Something deep and beautiful. You saw a side of him tonight that you hadn’t before. A raw aching side where a lonely hurt man lay. You’d seen it so many times before in so many other people. The part of them you couldn’t fix.

You don’t know what Joel has been through. You may never know, and that was okay. You’d probably never tell him your full story either. Too much darkness is already in the world— too much pain and death. Yet, here you both were together. It’s not a fairytale but maybe something new. The closest anyone could hope to getting a normal life. 

He’ll leave one day. You’ve accepted that. He’ll go back to whatever life he had before and you’ll go on living yours. But what if he had something more to remember you by than the scars on his body. What if you gave him something back to show there’s still a shimmer of light still in the world—still a little bit of humanity and kindness. 

Show him you care about him as a person. As a friend. That he’ll always have a place here if he wants it.

Yeah, you’re definitely going to throw Joel a Birthday Party.

_______________

'Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues' by Danny O'Keefe

I'm a whore for old folk/country songs and decided Joel is too, well for this song specifically. My dad introduced me to this song and the first time I heard it i was like "Yeah, this Joel's vibes." Hope it wasn't too cringey! I never thought I'd be the type of person to put songs into my fics but... well here we are.

[askganon]

Okay why does everyone want to attribute your actions to some curse of Demise, that's dumb. I like you because you are hilarious. Like HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU TRICKED THE KINGS OF HYRULE ON SOMETHING VERY OBVIOUS? One time you made an alter ego to fix the problems you caused to make them appreciate you. AND IT WORKED! YOU SENT ZELDA TO THE DARK WORLD, AND YOU MIND-CONTROLLED HYRULE'S ENTIRE ARMY! It was hilarious!

How can people not like that?

The answer is surprisingly quite interesting. To put it bluntly, most crave me, but naturally see my actions as deplorable. However, because their drive to have me supersedes the warnings given off in their minds, they develop a complex called by many names, including the Florence Nightingale effect and the Nursemaid Role.

It is a mental complex revolving around the mantra of "I can fix him."

In this complex, they feel that if given the chance, they could turn me, or whomever their subject would be, from their dark or wicked ways.

They would become more important to me than any other, because they could do what no other person ever could; save me from myself.

But first, they must create a source for such darkness that is outside of their subject's control. In my case, it is the soul of the Demon. To them, I am not responsible for my actions, I am a slave to the desires of the Demon's Soul.

Without him, surely I am a good person, and therefore redeemable in curable.

I can be molded to fit their needs.

But in truth, they do not wish me fixed or cured from my inner darkness. They want me to be their toy, their slave, submitting to their own needs and desires.

It is not hope or love they feel, it is narcissism.

[kaialone]

All Fanny Win & Lose Quotes Translated (Guilty Gear Petit)

As the title says, this will be a translation of all* Win & Lose quotes involving Fanny from Guilty Petit and Guilty Gear Petit 2.

(*Except for the mirror match quote, if one exists, because it looks like you can’t get a proper mirror match in single player.)

I thought these would be interesting to know about, since they’re pretty much the only characterization Fanny gets outside of the Petit 1 & 2 story modes, plus getting to see a bit of how the other characters react to her.

EDIT: I have since also translated all of the Petit 1 & 2 story modes (yes, all of them)- check those out here.

--

Some more things to note before we get started:

Characters who appear in both Petit 1 and 2 have identical Win and Loss quotes in both games.

The final roster also includes four “GG” characters: GG Sol Badguy, GG May, GG Millia Rage, and GG Ky Kiske.

These four characters are essentially their base form counterparts, but with an alternate moveset inspired by the first Guilty Gear game. They are given different color schemes to differentiate them in gameplay, but they are effectively treated like they are the same characters, even though they have separate quotes and story modes.

The only exception is GG Ky Kiske, who is actually Robo-Ky!

Finally, in terms of status-quo, the characters are roughly plucked from around the Guilty Gear X era - for example Dizzy is part of the Jellyfish Pirates, but Zato-1 hasn’t fully passed away yet (but is still controlled by Eddie.)

Though the stories of these games are really more on the humorous side.

Now, onto the actual translations!

--

Fanny Win Quotes

(These are the quotes Fanny herself says when defeating these characters.)

Sol Badguy: せんせいは、かんじゃさんに リラックス してもらおうと おもっているからこそ あんなにユーモアにあふれているのです。 The doctor wants to help his patients relax, that's why he's so full of humor.

Ky Kiske: すみません、せのたかくてスマートで ウィットにとんだせかいさいこうのめいい、 ごぞんじないですか？ Excuse me? Do you happen to know about the tall, suave, witty, and overall greatest doctor in the entire world?

May: せんせいはえいせいてきにかんがえて、 あたまをそっていらっしゃるのです。 …たぶん。 The doctor shaves his head for hygienic purposes. …I think.

Millia Rage: ねんのため くすり だしておきますね。 I'm giving you some medicine, just in case.

Potemkin: わたしのオデコのほうが かたかったみたいです。 Looks like my forehead is harder.

Kuradoberi Jam: せんせいのようしですか？ あしがながくて くびもながい ひかりかがやいているかたですわ。 What does the doctor look like? He has long legs, and a long neck, and he's just a positively radiant person.

Mito Anji: せんせいもあなた��ように ステキなめがねをしてらしたのよ。 The doctor was also wearing lovely glasses, just like you.

Johnny: ステキなけんさばきでしたわ、 でも せんせいにはかないませんわね。 That was some fine swordplay, but you still can't hold a candle to the doctor.

Faust: ああっ、せんせい… どこにいってしまわれたのでしょうか？ Oh, Doctor… Where could you have gone?

Chipp Zanuff: ぜひ けんけつをおねがいします。 きっと ちが おおすぎるのですわ。 Please consider donating blood. I'm sure you have too much of it.

Axl Low: ごめんなさい、わたしは「はくいのてんし」 わたしのあいは みなさんびょうどうですの。 I'm sorry, but I'm a "white angel"- I love everyone equally.

(Translator's Note: “はくいのてんし/hakui no tenshi”, meaning “white angel” is a non-official term sometimes used for nurses in Japanese, as far as I can tell. As far as I’ve heard, this term might’ve come from the legacy of Florence Nightingale, particularly the 1937 movie based around her life called “The White Angel”. Obviously likening nurses to angels is a thing in English too, but I still wanted to explain the details here.)

Zato-1 (Eddie): あなたぜひ せんせいのオペを うけるべきですわ！ You should absolutely get surgery from the doctor!

Testament: せいしんあんていざいを うっておきました。 もうだいじょうぶ！ I have given you sedatives. Everything will be fine now!

GG Sol Badguy: せんせいのすばらしさがわからないんですか？ おきのどくに。 Don't you know just how wonderful the doctor is? How unfortunate.

GG May: せんせいは「ハゲ」ではありません！ 「ボウズ」ですわ！！ The doctor is NOT bald! He just shaves!!

GG Millia Rage: あなたのこころのキズ、はやく せんせいに みてもらったほうがいいと おもいますわ。 I think you'd better let the doctor take a look at your broken heart as soon as possible.

GG Ky Kiske (Robo-Ky): あなた すぐにせんせいに みていただいたほうがいいわ！ せんせい！！きゅうかんです！！ You should go see the doctor right away! Doctor!! It's an emergency!!

--

Fanny Defeated Quotes

(These are the quotes these characters say to Fanny when they defeat her.)

Sol Badguy: かんごふってのは、みな、こうだったか？ Are all nurses like this?

Ky Kiske: かんごふ というのもまた からだをはる しごとなのですね。 I suppose being a nurse, too, is quite the physically demanding line of work.

May: ボクもずっと すきなひと さがしてたからわかるよ。そのきもち。 I'm always chasing after someone I like, too. So I get how you feel.

Millia Rage: さいきん えだげが ひどいのよね。 いいくすりしらない？ I've been having awful split ends lately. Do you know any remedy for that?

Potemkin: ずいぶん かわった たたかいだったな… That sure was a strange battle…

Kuradoberi Jam: ちょっと、やりすぎたアル…って ねてるアルか？ Whoops, I think I overdid it… Wait- Are you asleep?

Mito Anji: 「まてば かいろのひよりあり」ってね がんばって さがしな "Good things come to those who wait", you know. So hang in there and keep on searching, alright?

(Translator's Note: What Anji says in the first line is a Japanese idiom that would literally translate to “waiting for fair weather at a sea route”, in case you’re curious. But it does essentially mean “Good things come to those who can wait.”)

Johnny: とう「ジェリーフィッシュかいぞくだん」では チャーミングなナース ぼしゅうちゅうだ むかしのおとこ わすれさせてやるぜ？ The Jellyfish Pirates are looking to hire a charming nurse right now, so what d'ya say? I'll make you forget all about that other guy.

Faust: 「いりょうのみちは いちにちしてならず。」 かんじゃへの あいのみに いきるべきです。 "The path of medicine isn't forged in a day." You should live only for your love towards your patients.

Chipp Zanuff: へんなねーちゃんだな？ おれはどこもけがしちゃいねーけどな。 What's with this chick? I wasn't even hurt anywhere.

Axl Low: 「はくいのてんし」はすきだけど もうちょっと おとなしいほうがすきだぜ？ I do like "white angels", but… I'd like it even better if you were a bit more gentle, eh?

Zato-1 (Eddie): モウオソイワ コイツトオレハキリハナセンヨ。 YOU ARE TOO LATE. HE AND I CANNOT BE SEPERATED.

Testament: わたしに いりょうなど ひつようない。 I have no need for medical care.

GG Sol Badguy: かんごふがくるとこじゃねぇぜ、ここは。 This is no place for a nurse.

GG May: さいきんのかんごふって ずいぶん つよいのね？ Nurses are pretty tough these days, huh?

GG Millia Rage: ボーっとしてるから…。 That's what you get for spacing out…

GG Ky Kiske (Robo-Ky): カカカンゴフ トトトトイウノモモモマタ カカカラダヲハル ㇱ、シゴトナノデスネネ。 I- I- I SUPPOSE BEING A- A- A- A- A NURSE, T-T-TOO, IS QUITE T-T-T-THE PHYSICALLY D-DEMANDING LINE OF WORK-K.

--

[wu-sisyphus-gang]

Jaune: Ruby and Weiss don’t know that I’m broken and unfixable.

Blake: You think it’s Florence nightingale effect?

Jaune: That’s…?

Blake: When nurses fall in love with their patients.

Jaune: Ah. Maybe a little then.

Blake: You underestimate their feelings for you. We all hate to see the suffering you’re going through.

Jaune: You’re a bunch of empaths one and all. Listen to me complain like I’m the one who fucking died.

Blake: You’re allowed to feel things too.

Jaune: I’m a murderer now. I don’t know how Ruby can touch me.

Blake: You didn’t murder Penny, Jaune. She chose death. You can’t keep blaming yourself for that.

Jaune: I totally fucking can.