#the love is there but the relationship is built on a shaky foundation

[thursdayinspace]

another random question but what do you think would have happened if scully had never gotten abducted?

i love this question. i mean, long-term, it would have changed *a lot*. no cancer arc, which would be the biggest and most obvious change. but what would it have changed right then and there? the abduction definitely impacted their partnership and their friendship.

in one way, it brought things to the surface, especially for mulder. he wasn't unaware of her importance in his life before the abduction. telling his tape recorder that he could only trust himself and now he can only trust her? telling her that the only reason he could see to stay with the fbi was if they were working together? he was already relying on her presence in his life. a lot. but when she was taken from him, i think he felt a fear and despair that he would not have anticipated. it's one thing to know you need someone who is right there, and who will set up secret meetings in a parking garage, and who, even if you *can't* right now, is someone you know deep down you *could* reach out to. it's another thing to need someone who is gone.

so in that way, i think he did become aware that he was feeling more than he had realized. and that realization definitely had an impact on their relationship. but there's another side to it:

the abduction was the first time he became aware of *his* role in *her* life. and what he saw there wasn't good. because mulder being mulder, of course he takes responsibility, of course he blames himself. the fact that none of it was his fault doesn't matter. this is when he realizes that their quest, *his* quest, is putting her in real, life-threatening danger. and that thought never leaves him again. we see that guilt that takes root in his mind there all the way up into the revival. so that is a huge thing. he would have eventually found other things to blame himself for. mulder takes things personally and holds himself accountable for things that are completely outside of his control. so if it hadn't been this, it would have been something else. because things would still have happened to her. but being abducted and being gone for that long and coming back on the brink of death? that, for lack of a better expression, really fucked them both up in a big way.

so, what is my answer to your question? i don't know. i mean, for one, scully's side of the story is still completely missing from this. i find that a lot harder to unpack. if anyone wants to analyze that, i'd love to hear your thoughts! but also, both these things i talked about could have affected them in any number of ways. it comes down to likelihoods and probabilities. in the end you never know for sure how a person will react to a situation until after they've done it. and you don't know how not going through an experience might change them. and no headcanon any of us might have will tell the story as it would have happened with 100% certainty because human behavior is simply too complex and complicated to predict with any kind of accuracy.

if mulder hadn't been pushed through external circumstances to confront his feelings in that way, if he hadn't carried her cross, held her hand fearing it might be the last time, that would have taken a huge weight off both of them. there might have been a greater ease to their relationship. mulder wouldn't be feeling that guilt. scully wouldn't have to deal with the aftermath of all of that. the abduction, in my opinion, brought them closer to each other, but also served as an obstacle on their way forward, because it's quite something to move on from, more so since it brought feelings to the surface that neither of them was ready for.

*i personally* think the abduction strengthened the bond between them but weakened the foundation of their relationship. because of that added guilt and the fact that they were not ready to confront certain feelings. i think his fear of losing her is something that came to define him. and he kept almost losing her. if that hadn't happened? things between them could have progressed at an easier pace. their friendship, and the love they feel for each other. but honestly, i have no idea. but i had a lot of fun thinking about this.

[cheolsfae]

can you do jay from enhypen as a boyfriend and his ideal type please?

His ideal type. Here is as a partner!

*Disclaimer: solely for fun! Please do not take this seriously. For entertainment purposes only!*

Past: 4 of wands, 9 of swords (reversed)

He might be someone who isn't really scared of losing the person to someone else. Not in like a toxic way. But more in like an "If they won't someone else will" type of vibe. He wants harmony in a connection and if it isn't equal give and take, he doesn't want it. He's very secure with who he is as a person. Someone from the past could have been projecting onto him their own insecurities and he doesn't want a repeat of that. He wants something more peaceful. Not more chaos than what once was.

Present: queen of cups, knight of pentacles, king of pentacles

He's very affectionate. He could like to give you things, maybe by you things. It might be his love language, present giving. It's how he shows you he cares about you. Doing little things for you could be another thing he does (because duh, we see that from the cameras) but I think it's more intimate when it's for a partner rather than for a friend/member. He's more reliant on what feels right for the person he's with. Does that make sense? Like he will follow with whatever type of love language the other person has and try his best to offer up that type of love as best he possibly can.

Future: temperance, ace of cups

He's very patient, he wants what's best for you. He's over filling with love for you. He wants a stable foundation, not something built from shakiness. Nothing weak, strong durable love. His soulmate to put it simply. He's a very romantic and loving person who deserves to have that same type of love given back to him. He'll have it one day, it's going to take time.

Bottom of the deck: 3 of pentacles

Again, he is someone with a give and take mentality. Someone willing to put in their half of work in the relationship. He's that kind of person. But he's willing to pick up some slack when he needs to just as he hopes his future partner to be. To work as a unit and not against one another!

*Oracle deck was also used!

[xhoneygirlxx]

warnings: angst, no happy ending. heartbreak/end of a relationship. Eddie and Reader are 20+

minors plz go away, this account is 18+ only.

this is inspired by Nothings New by Rio Romeo, the same song that’s been stuck on repeat for the past couple of weeks. I hope you all enjoy this <3

*if you see spelling errors/bad writing, pretend it didn’t happen

—

You both knew it was coming, a thought in the back of your mind that constantly ate away at you until it finally came true. There’s a moment in life when you just know it’s not going to work out anymore, that no matter how much you love a person it all comes down to a spark and when that spark is gone, so is the relationship.

It’s like a sandcastle right on the shoreline, you wait with bated breath as the water inches closer and closer to your creation and there’s nothing you can do about it because you’ve built it on a bad foundation. It’s like a balloon, it can only fly so long before the helium seeps out, one day it’s high up in the sky and the next day it clings to the ground where it will stay before it eventually deflates.

You nor Eddie set out to end like this, no one gets into a relationship in the hopes it ends but somehow, you ended up right where you hoped you wouldn’t.

I love you’s weren’t shared as much anymore, sweet kisses turned into chaste pecks on the cheek, and the closeness you both craved was now despised. A long fall from the pedestal your relationship was once held upon, now it was just an obligation that felt torturous to even continue.

The dinner on the table is perfect, the kind you would find photographed in some kind of home and lifestyle magazine, but the two people consuming it are anything but. A date night that was supposed to be fun and exciting felt like a job, a requirement that both of you had signed on for that you just couldn’t get out of.

Eddie looks handsome as always, a sleek button up adorning his torso and unruly curls are tamed down by the products in the bathroom that both of you share. He cuts his steak with tattooed hands, the same silver rings he wore in high school decorate his digits as well as the one you bought him all those years ago when you first got together. You look at the thick black band, the engraved lettering of your initials that go across it, and you wonder if he only wears it out of habit- something he only wears on his right ring finger because he would feel unbalanced without it.

Despite the crowd that sits at neighboring tables, it’s quiet, and not the peaceful kind of silence most people would imagine. It’s the kind that happens after a car accident when dust and debris settle to ground, the sulfur from the airbags fill the air, and the ringing in your ears are too loud to hear through anything else.

You poke at your plate mindlessly as you continue to look at him, trying to piece together where it all went wrong and why the two of you have let it go this far. A bitter taste fills your mouth, one that can’t be washed down by the red wine that sits in your untouched glass, making a ball form in your throat.

As you look at the man across from you, you don’t see the person you’ve grown tired of but rather the boy you fell in love with all those years ago. Wide eyes and dimpled smile, rosy cheeks and shaky hands. Memories of shy banter and longing stares fill your head. Two young kids so full of love and adoration for one another now sit silently as they ignore one another’s presence.

Your heart squeezes, painfully twisting in a devastating way as it prepares for what’s going to happen. A tear escapes from your waterline and you don’t fight it. As much as you don’t want to be the dramatic girlfriend in the middle of a fancy restaurant you allow yourself to cry, mourning the death of a love story that started with two star cross teenagers that lost their way.

Although he isn’t looking at you Eddie can sense it, the beginning of the goodbye he’s tried desperately to avoid. He sets his fork and knife down, swallowing his food down as best as he can while his throat begins to choke up in unshed tears.

There’s a pause in his movements, a delay from looking into the eyes of the one he promised to love until his dying day. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, reaching his hand out across the table in search of your own. Fingers interlace, palms touching for the first time in a long time and for once you both feel it, the spark you used to feel when everything was fresh and new- only it doesn’t linger, it slowly blows out and fades away into the cold night air.

Big chocolate eyes meet yours, the tears that brim in his tear ducts match your own, the shared sadness for the future you will no longer share.

“This is it?” Eddie’s voice is small, like he’s straining in the hopes the sobs won’t break out.

You can’t stop it, the wobble of your pouted lip and the river that falls from your eyes. There’s no words you can say, none that will capture the amount of pain this brings to you, so instead you just nod your head.

Eddie isn’t any better, eyes closing with the hopes that this will all go away when he opens them once more. When he opens them back up he doesn’t find a different outcome but instead the blur of the fat tears that cloud his vision.

“You know I love you, right? I always have and always will love you Eddie, but this isn’t good for us anymore.” It’s like you’re pleading, begging for all of the misery to end for not just yourself but him too.

The subtle nod of his head tells you all you need to know, he agrees just as much as you that this isn’t going to work anymore, that this is killing him as much as it is you and if it continues this way it’ll only be a matter of time before this slow and painful death creeps up on you.

“I love you too, always have.” Eddie makes sure to look you in the eyes when he says it, like he wants you to know that everything that’s happened was never intentional.

You give his hand a squeeze, an acknowledgment to his statement, he squeezes right back.

This was the end, in the middle of a fancy restaurant where families, couples, and friends laugh and talk over warm meals, you and Eddie slowly cut the string that’s been keeping you tethered together for more than five years.

—

—

[thesunfyre4446]

“can you stop making alicent's relationship with her children about rhaenyra?” everything is about Rhaenyra to them because if they start viewing Alicent as her own character with her own goals and motivations then their ship falls apart.

Rhaenicent was built on a shaky foundation because it’s the only HotD ship that doesn’t even remotely exist in book canon. The writers are literally writing out of their asses so are constantly juggling this fanon pairing and George’s work. Their solution? To make Alicent a simpering doormat who Rhaenicents can project on.

i think that the problem is not with Rhaenicent as a ship. ship what you like! find your people and have fun - that's the whole point of fandoms.

the problem is when stans mix their own HC and ships with canon, and get angry at other people for not thinking like them. if you want to ship Rhaenicent with alicent abandoning her children in favor of rhaenyra - that's absolutely fine! but that's NOT canon. canon alicent does not exist for rhaenyra.

and the problem is that i never see any "rhaenyra abandons TB to join alicent" au \ fics, or "rhaenyra regrets how she treated alicent" takes. it's always alicent that's "in the wrong". it's alicent that has to apologize, it's alicent that hates her children \ or only loves them because they bear resemblance to rhaenyra. it's alicent that wants to abandon her children and join rhaenyra. this idea that alicent wants to serve rhaenyra is... yeah not my thing. my problem is not the ship, but the way some of the stans treat alicent and other alicent fans that don't think like them.

and yeah idk what's going on with the writers LMAO i mean yeah i def shipped young rhaenyra and alicent, but Rhaenicent after luke's death and B&C? no way. not for me thank you very much.

[astroa3h]

❤️‍🔥 Bonnie and Clyde: & Their Toxic Synastry ❤️‍🔥

Venus Square Ascendant

In the whirlwind saga of Bonnie and Clyde, two souls entangled in a love as infamous as their escapades, their synastry chart shows passion, rebellion, and destiny intertwined. I want to start this series with the SQUARE between Bonnie's Venus in Virgo and Clyde's Gemini Ascendant. Let's jump in.

Clyde, with his Gemini Ascendant at 25 Degrees - an Aries Degree, lived life on the edge. Think of 25 Degrees as someone who lives life in the fast lane, rarely thinking of the consequences. This placement speaks volumes about his charisma, his restless spirit, and an insatiable desire for freedom. He was a man who could talk his way into or out of anything, a characteristic that made him both endearing and dangerous.

Bonnie, with her Venus in Virgo at 23 Degrees - an Aquarius Degree, loved in a way that defied norms. She found beauty in chaos, order in the unconventional. Her love for Clyde was not blind; it was visionary (at least in her mind, delusional much?). She saw beyond the criminal, the rebel, reaching for the soul who matched her unconventional thirst for life. This placement hints at a search for love that was as much about companionship and shared ideals as it was about romance.

Now we square these two placements off each other and we get a clash of titans, a square that shakes the foundation of what we would usually see in loving, healthy partnership. Their relationship was challenging, provoking, and ultimately transformative in the worst way. Clyde's Gemini Ascendant at an Aries degree brought an impulsive, dynamic energy that clashed with Bonnie's more analytical and unconventional Venus in Virgo. Yet, this very clash was what made their bond so intense, deep and NOTORIOUS. It was a love that said, "In the face of all logic, against all odds, here we stand."

This wasn't a partnership that thrived on mutual growth and support but rather one that was perpetually fueled by the drama of their criminal activities and the societal pressures that came with living outside the law. Their love story, stripped of its romantic gloss, reveals a harsher truth: a relationship built not on the solid ground of compatibility and shared values but on the shaky foundation of mutual infatuation with an idealized notion of rebellion and freedom.

xox astro ash ✨ Get your own Synastry Reading @ astroash.net TikTok - astroa3h

[khaothanawat]

I bet Pat and Pran were so confused by how serious the PhuTian argument is bc to them this type of bickering is literally foreplay like wait they argue and then walk away from each other?? don't they think the competition is fun and also kinda hot????

hello anon 🩷🩵💜🧡

honestly it was so funny seeing pran just confusedly ruminate on why tian and phupha were arguing so much over something so silly, like who fell for who first. pat reminding him that they also argued about that is so unhelpful too because… well, we all saw that “argument.” it was less arguing and more horny bickering whilst still actively (probably) sleeping together hshshs

i also love that their whole parent trap plan was to get phupha and tian to get a lil 🫧tipsyyy🫧 and sing a song together. in what world, lads? i’m concerned that they’re working off the base assumption that phupha and tian know how to effectively communicate their feelings to one another, because for pran and pat it comes so naturally. their whole gig is that even when they’re arguing they’re both so confident in their love for one another that it never really even makes a dent (and thus can be turned into fun and sexy foreplay). phupha and tian have such a different relationship - it was built on such a shaky foundation. they liked each other so immediately and so fiercely but it took them years (YEARS!) to get to a place where they could really be together. they also, bless their perfect perfect hearts, couldn’t effectively communicate their feelings out of a paper bag.

(i mean this with complete adoration and affection - phutian are one of my favourite bl couples of all time. they also just happen to suck at talking openly about their feelings lololol. SOMETIMES THAT’S HOW IT IS!! BAD COMMUNICATORS RIGHTS!!)

pat and pran legit just. they argue as foreplay. any disagreement can become sexy if you talk about it enough. and they apparently also use other couple’s arguing as foreplay. absolute menaces. imagine meeting a couple in real life and TWO DAYS AFTER MEETING THEM you start sexy roleplaying as said couple. did tian really put his diary online for THIS? you stay in your new friend’s hut and think “huh i wonder what their sex life was like?” like… ok boys pls calm down???

so glad to see that they clearly haven’t gotten any less horny in their time together. absolute champions of my heart.

[underground-boss-clay]

Hello, Gym Leader Clay.

I'm writing to you concerning your romantic relationship with Gym Leader Drayden. If... it is not presumptuous to ask, I was hoping to inquire about the beginnings of your relationship. What... what exactly was it that made you realize you were experiencing romantic attraction?

Ain't no problem ta ask. Just that the answer ain't machine cut clean. 'Course, it'd be easy ta give you that "you'll know on yer own" kinda garbage but I ain't the sort ta lie like that.

See, it's been brought up a coupla times on here, but Drayden wasn't the first relationship I was in. An' well, I knew I loved her. Not think, knew. The feelings I had round her were... Intoxicating. Like there were Beautifly 'n my gut, an' even the rainiest days with her could be sunny. Jus' seein' her made the day brighter somehow. 'Cept well, love don't last long without a decent foundation, an' turns out we didn't have one. Ain't gettin' into the grit of it but the tougher times got, the harder it became to love her--ta stay 'n love with her. Them gut-Beautifly died down, sunny days got cloudy, but I--we both thought we were close enough friends that we could sort things out. ... We didn't. An' that's on both sides, mind: we didn't talk much bout our problems, an' so they just built up an' rotted the already-shaky foundation till it all fell apart under us. Whatever love we had didn't last as long as we were told it would.

An' then, a' course, the part ya actually asked fer. The feelings fer Drayden didn't come up right away honestly--hell, I didn't even realize 'em right away. We'd been friends fer so long, an' he'd been there fer so much a' the bad times, at first I just thought that what I was feelin' was appreciation fer him stickin' by me despite bein'... well, more disliked 'n usual at the time.

It took some long thinkin' before I realized what I was feelin' again, an' uh... well I didn't like it right away. Not only was I unsure after... Errythin' that happened with Celia, but growin' up I was told that feelings towards another man weren't somethin' a fella should act on. Sure I'd had them before growin' up, but as they passed quickly I figured it was just a normal, if intrusive, kinda thought? So why was it comin' back tenfold towards Drayden? I didn't get it.

An' then Mildred hit me over the head with the "it has been how fuckin' long an' you don't know what 'bisexual' is" hammer. ... In my defense it weren't covered when I was growin' up.

But talkin' with her made me realize that I jus' had to bite that bullet an' come clean to Drayden bout how I was feelin'. Even if he didn't return the feelings, least it wouldn't be hangin' over my head no more an' we could find somewhere ta go from there, either still as friends or... not.

Course, y'all know what musta happened. Not only did we talk bout how I felt, an' how he felt back, but we also kept talkin' afterwards, bout how ta deal with each other's issues, disagreements... We stayed as friends, jus'... made sure our foundation was sturdier before we built on top a' that.

Boilin' it all down though, yer gonna fall 'n love with people, they'll make every moment with them feel the best, but it's gonna take work ta make it actually last ferra long time.

[bardcore-jaskier]

♡ My thoughts on Yennskier + headcanons ♡

(Edited post)

- What makes this whole thing so funny and exciting to me is that Yennefer used to think that Jaskier was just some annoying sing songy twit before. While Jaskier's dramatic arse used to consider Yennefer an enemy until she saved him from Rience XD XD XD

- I adored the everliving FUCK out of their scenes together in season 2! Their dynamic is so fucking good! AAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!

- Yennskier, the ship we didn't know we needed, but definitely deserved! Their chemistry is so fucking perfect and their dynamic works so well!

- Personally I think that this ship is actually, currently, THE healthiest and most wholesome one of all my Jaskier ships! At least as of season 2! (Even if Geraskier remains as my OTP)

- In Oxenfurt, when Jaskier and Yennefer got to know eachother better without Geralt's presence to distract them both, ever since they saw the real, raw and vulnerable sides of eachother and became friends, I couldn't help but notice how absolutely toothrottingly perfect they are together!

- Legit, and I kid you not! I can't picture Yennefer and Jaskier having anything other than that deep kind of connection where you know that you are loved, appreciated and adored, despite all your flaws. The kind of love where you know you're not alone, that this person is your family and will always have your back no matter what.

- Yennefer, despite being one of the most powerful sorceresses on the entire continent, treats Jaskier as an equal by the time Ciri gets possessed. (Bro, like even Geralt doesn't do that! Jaskier is his friend, sure, but I've never seen Geralt treating him as an equal.)

- Yennefer and Jaskier have a mutual respect for eachother, they trust eachother, they enjoy eachother's company. All of those things are A CRUCIAL part of having a solid foundation to build a honest, sturdy, long-lasting and happy relationship upon.

- From compatibility POV, they work together a lot better than Geralt and Yennefer did. With Jaskier, there are no djinn related consent issues, there wouldn't be any communication issues and he would probably be a positive influence on Yennefer's mental health.

- Whereas her relationship with Geralt was quite frankly chaotic, explosive, sometimes even toxic. It was built upon a shaky foundation of lust, djinn magic and exchanged favors. Like c'mon, their time together as an on-and-off couple mostly consisted of having kinky unicorn sex, trauma dumping, dealing with magical, gorey and insanely dangerous situations, then talking about said situations until they have a fight! Leaving eachother every time in the end because they can't seem to make it work long-term. They're incompatible because in canon, the only thing that finally made them stick together for good, was an orphaned girl in need of protection. It's not right, kind of like parents who are postponing their divorce until their daughter grows up :/

- Jaskier on the other hand, despite his magic-less ordinary humanity has a hilariously witty, optimistic, stupidly brave, highly empathetic, loyal and supportive personality. Yennefer would have an understanding partner who loves her, cherishes her, acceptc her for who she is without judgement nor pity. A partner who would make it his life's mission to help her see the good things this world has to offer, to make her happy because she deserves it!

- Damn it all, they both have been through enough, they both deserve a break. They actually GET eachother. I can already feel a drabble forming in my brain, set a week or so after the whole Voleth Mier shebang, Jaskier is struggling with PTSD and nightmares about Rience, Yennefer is struggling with guilt and shame because she put Ciri in danger. So while Geralt is too busy with Ciri's training to be there for Jaskier and he feels too betrayed to be in Yennefer's company, neither Yen nor Jask have anyone to turn to in Kaer Morhen, except eachother. Three months confined to a witcher keep together? Now that is a LOT of time to spend with someone you can be openly vulnerable around, bond with, heal and share joy with, unexpectedly falling in love....

- Yennefer too is an extremely good match for Jaskier, it's almost uncanny how much she completes him! Jaskier would finally have an understanding and loving partner who truly saw him when others didn't bother. And Yennefer liked what she saw, the familiar face of a simple human bard who offered kindness and compassion to strangers even if it could kill him. She saw courage, honesty, forgiveness and so much good, a collection of rare qualities she had never thought could exist within one single person all at once. After Voleth Mier, all that goodness was given to her so freely, it is still being given to her everyday, so she knows a treasure when it looks her right in the eyes with such easy warmth. She would make it her life's mission to cling onto him with everything she's got, to love and cherish him the way he deserves, to protect the only person she deems worthy of holding her heart!

- They have a lot in common too. From both having a knack for fashion, both being mischievous little shits at heart and both having high standards when it comes to personal hygiene. To also having similar tastes in both alcohol, humor, luxury and entertainment.....if Yennefer's kinky orgy party and Jaskier's reputation as the biggest slut on the continent is anything to go by.

- Speaking of sex, both of them having a high libido and exceptional skills in bed aside, they're fucking GORGEOUS people! Why wouldn't they find eachother attractive?

- Yennefer is basically a Goddess, beauty personified! She is elegant and breathtaking, everyone knows it.

- However, since a majority of the Witcher fandom usually dismisses Jaskier in favor of simping for Geralt, I can, I must and I WILL gush about how pretty Jaskier is! Cuz clearly some of them bitches be blind, Yennefer is one lucky witch!

- Jaskier is like only 1,5 inches shorter than his grouchy snowman friend. Meaning he is tall as all hell and he definitely isn't lacking in the muscle department either, that bard is jacked yo. His voice is soothing and his vocabulary is extensive enough to make the most experienced of whores blush from pillow talk. He has VERY soft looking hair and he has one of the most angelic fucking faces I've ever seen. His eyes are the clearest shade of blue and his expressions + mannerisms are absolutely adorable! Ok, I'm done gushing, onto the next point....

- Unlike Jaskier, I don't think I have a dummy thick enough of a vocabulary to express how much dopamine Yennskier fanfics give me, more specifically when their husband and wife act from Oxenfurt becomes an inside joke for them, leaving the rest of Kaer Morhen's inhabitants confused as fuck.

- Geralt getting a bit jealous? His brothers wondering when that could have happened? Ciri feeling bamboozled as well?

- It's all shits and giggles until somebody giggles and shits. It won't take long until their inside joke is no longer a joke. They already bicker like a married couple anyway XD

- I can not help but also headcanon Jaskier as not fully human. It would be sad if he up and died on his dear immortal wife. I don't necessarily picture him having chaos or other powers in this scenario, but when I do, I think that they would discover them together on accident.

[him-first]

are you building your house on the rock or on the sand? friend, really think about this question! Matthew 7:24-27 says:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

think about your relationship with God. what state is it in? is it in a state of falling apart? or is it in a state of growth?

think about the romantic relationship you're in right now. while you are building your house on the rock, is your partner building their house on the sand? what will happen when the storms of life come your way? will your house stand while your partner's house falls?

the devil wants to see you fall. he wants to see your house sink. he delights when you are on shaky ground. he rejoices when you are not sure if you believe in God anymore.

but you have been given a choice. Jesus gives you a choice: to either build your house on the rock or build your house on the sand.

and good news! you can find security in building your house on the rock! why? because Jesus is THE cornerstone! Isaiah 28:16 says:

So the Lord and King speaks. He says, “Look! I am laying a stone in Zion. It is a stone that has been tested. It is the most important stone for a firm foundation. The one who depends on that stone will never be shaken."

wow! did you catch that? Jesus is THE most important stone for a firm foundation! with him, you will NOT be shaken! amen! what a beautiful promise from God.

you have nothing to fear, my friend. start building your house on the solid rock of Jesus! he will never fail you or let you down. you will always find security in him. he loves you forever. he is the perfect cornerstone.

[beanghostprincess]

(Different anon but still on the same wavelength of Usopp Yasopp Franky)

I think that the most interesting thing about Usopp and Franky’s relationship is their foundation of forgiveness and atonement. They eventually find common ground, they realize they’re so much more similar than they are different, they both deal with their pride in opposite but reflective ways. I don’t think Franky ever really puts what he did to usopp fully behind him, but he has to keep moving forward regardless (Self forgiveness being one of his major character themes).

And I don’t think that side of the story will ever really get conveyed to Yasopp, but I do think the moral would be. If anyone understands deeply Usopp’s capacity to forgive, it’s franky. But I can also see him making a comment to Yasopp that it’s a two way street and takes work and effort to fix things on his end as well.

Sogeking gets to be this like, distillation of the vague idea of Yasopp built up in Usopp’s head. But he’s also never come back from sniper island because he doesn’t need to. Usopp gets to form his new identity, his own identity, not based on what his utility to other people are but what he likes.

That’s all to say that he’d be shaky and a little less confident telling his dad about all the inventions and machines, but then they’d spend like five hours in the gardens talking carnivorous plants or something.

This is so true. I just woke up so I'm not sure if I'll be able to expand this idea tbh but I think you said everything I wanted to say, anyway. I love Franky and Usopp's bond for the same reasons. I really hope we get to see Yasopp bonding with his son too :(

[matan4il]

Good morning Alice! I was gonna wait to send this till after the finale, but then said duck it I'm not predicting anything. I'm just curious about your feelings.

So I always felt like if the network was to cowardly to make Buddie Canon it would only end 2 ways, them maybe dating women or just ambiguity single as a family. Basically I never expected to see an actual fleshed out love story written for either.

And well, S1 Buck is single, S2 Shannon is dead, Ali leaves, and we get good montage hug, S3 single and great party montage. OK S4, if that was the series finale we got Buddie walking into a party, Buck not fullying entering, Eddie uncomfortable and the will reveal. As shippers, we would have never bought it. The general audience would have just shrugged. Again, they weren't left in love with women but did leave with a crazy strong bond. S5 single, and now we approach S6. I have no clue what will happen with Marisol and Natalia, but I think we can all guess it would resemble the S4 ending if anything. So again, if they were unsure about renewing and left it open-ended, the GA would shrug, and we would be like "well then here is what really happened".

So I watched that Love in the Air montage like it was approaching a series finale and felt exactly like I thought I would. I was laughing at how vapid these relationships look on Buddie vs the others. 911 love stories are built on adversity. Couples that don't get a lot of representation because maybe some don't think they are sexy enough. That's what makes me love them is how strong their foundations are. They are not built on meet cutes, you know. You can't write a love story for these 2 that approaches touching the bonds and experiences they have already experienced together. I will use the word again. it seems almost vapid!

So no clue what will happen in the finale with these girls. My gut instinct is not a lot of focus. But I'm already excited to move to ABC, where I think they will actually be invested in.

As always, I loved your meta!! Stay safe, and I hope you are feeling OK and made headway with your new treatment!!!

Hi sweetheart, thank you so much for this lovely ask! And for the kind words about my 617 meta! *HUGS*

I agree with you, if Buddie doesn't go canon, the show would never be able to develop a fully fleshed out and satisfying love story with any other Love Interest, so the show would either use really lame LIs (where it's easy to see that they'd go in the way of Ana and Taylor a short while after the cut off point of the show's finale) or Buddie would be chronically single (and each other's life partners). I admit, I prefer the latter. The former just means a break up to get to the latter, and then in both cases I'd just headcanon that Buddie finally had a feelings realization and confession, getting together at some point in the future that we don't get to see. It's inevitable with their love story.

But without a doubt, when we know that the whole (or at least majority of the) finale is the one call during which the 118 will be going down, that means there won't be much room to develop anything with either Natalia or Marisol. And I feel like that's exactly how 4a left off with Ana, and 4b did the same with Taylor. They exist, something has started there, but it's built on such shaky ground (they really did give us less than nothing for why Marisol or Natalia would work out with Eddie and Buck), we KNOW that this ground would collapse under these new LIs after a short while.

I do think the move to ABC has a lot of potential. I'm thinking ABC bought the show from Fox knowing that things are a bit rocky, so they KNOW they need to bring in more viewers, and I'm sure they understand that letting Buddie go canon has the potential to do just that, make TV history, create buzz and bring in more viewers.

On a personal note, I'm just still blown away that my HMO actually approved this treatment, but it's gonna take another week (exactly) until I get my first treatment. Which sucks, I have to cancel guiding students from Harvard in order to make this appointment, but yeah. Health before anything else, right? If I kept the Harvard tour, the next appointment is mid June.

Thank you, darling! I hope you're having a great day, too! Love you tons. As always, here's my ask tag. xoxox

[bwhitex]

Dating Authentically: Embracing Yourself Without Apologies

In the world of modern dating, we are often confronted with a myriad of "dos and don'ts" that can make navigating romantic relationships feel like walking through a minefield. From playing hard to get, to presenting a polished version of ourselves on social media, the pressure to conform to societal standards of attractiveness and desirability is immense. But what if the key to successful dating isn't about moulding ourselves into a 'perfect' partner but rather, about embracing our true selves, flaws and all? In this blog, we'll delve into why being authentic is crucial in dating and how psychological principles support this approach.

The Psychology of Authenticity

Carl Rogers, a pioneer of humanistic psychology, taught us about the importance of being genuine. He argued that for personal growth, we must have an environment that provides us with genuineness (openness and self-disclosure), acceptance (being seen with unconditional positive regard), and empathy (being listened to and understood). When these conditions are present, individuals can develop a greater capacity to accept themselves and understand their feelings, which is a cornerstone of meaningful relationships.

In dating, this means showing up as our true selves. The façade of being who we think our date wants us to be can only lead to relationships built on shaky foundations. It's like constructing a building on sand—eventually, the truth will come out, and things may crumble.

Self-Compassion: Your Dating Superpower

Dr. Kristin Neff's research on self-compassion also provides insight into dating authentically. By treating ourselves with kindness, acknowledging our common humanity, and being mindful of our imperfections, we set the stage for healthier and more honest relationships. Dating with self-compassion means we don't beat ourselves up after a date that didn't go well or obsess over our faults.

When we date with self-compassion, we're less likely to tolerate bad behavior from others because we know we deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. We also apologize less for being ourselves—whether that means owning our quirky laugh or not hiding our love for geeky hobbies.

The Detriment of the Apology

In many dating scenarios, there's an underlying pressure to apologize for our preferences, opinions, and even our personality traits. This is where we need to draw a line. Apologizing for being late to a date is considerate, but apologizing for your taste in music, your career choice, or your sense of humor is unnecessary and counterproductive. It undermines your self-worth and sends a message that you're not confident in who you are.

The truth is, a partner that's truly compatible with you will appreciate your idiosyncrasies and the unique blend of traits that make you, you. They won't want your apologies; they'll want your authenticity.

Embracing Vulnerability

Vulnerability is another concept that's crucial in dating. Dr. Brené Brown's research has shown us that vulnerability is not a sign of weakness but a profound strength. When we allow ourselves to be seen, truly seen, we open the door to real connection.

In the context of dating, this means having the courage to express our feelings, desires, and fears. It's about being honest about what we're looking for in a relationship, whether it's something casual or a life-long partnership. It's about having the difficult conversations about values, boundaries, and needs.

Conclusion: The Unapologetic Path to Love

The path to love should not be paved with apologies for our very essence. While compromise is a necessary part of any relationship, it should never involve compromising on being yourself. As we navigate the dating world, let's remember the words of Carl Rogers and the importance of being in an environment that allows us to be our true selves.

So, go on that date. Be unapologetically you. Laugh too loudly, share your love for obscure indie films, and talk about your dreams and passions. The right person will adore you for it, and you'll be building a relationship on the solid ground of authenticity.

Remember, in the grand scheme of your love story, the most important person to fall in love with first is you. When you do that, you won't feel the need to apologize for being who you are—and that's when you'll attract someone who loves you for you.

[egopocalypse]

Gone Away: Chapter 9

Forgiveness is Earned through Purifying Flames (So Where's the Pyre that You Seek?)

A Disc War Finale AU

Rating: Teen Warnings: Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings Category: Gen Relationships: c!Tubbo & c!Tommy, c!Sam & c!Tubbo, c!Dream & c!Tubbo Chapter-specific warnings:  Mentions of death/grief/mourning, references to religion, emotional manipulation

In theory, Ranboo’s thought process makes sense. Tubbo has never been able to have many attachments, but when he did fight for them, it was to protect something else that the object was a crucial part of.

He loved L’Manberg for the community and the home it crafted, enough that he spilt his blood twice to protect it. He loved the camarvan that housed the four revolutionaries, curled up on the floor and each other as they squeezed around the brewing stands stashed in the back. He loved the docks for the times he and Tommy hopped from post to post, laughing as they fell into the lake and dragged the other in. He loved the walls that kept them safe and secure, that reminded them that land was their community.

He loved New L’Manberg, too. He loved the shaky foundations, rebuilt over the remains of the second blast that tried to take his homeland. He loved the lanterns that lit up their nights and the shops that were built on the decks. He loved the apiary he and Ranboo built and kept, the main solace when the nation felt too much like a burden rather than a home. He loved it enough to make it into a home Tommy would’ve been proud of if he had the chance to live in it, but he couldn’t love it enough to save it.

Read on AO3

[alyjojo]

April 🌻 2023 Monthly - Virgo

Whole of your energy: The Tower

This is a very difficult reading for you this month. In the meditation, you were outside and there were thick black clouds rolling in fast, lightning flashing between them. You knew you had to get to shelter, but there was none. As it started pouring down rain, you did what any sensible person would do, you removed your jacket and wrapped up your phone, plus the ring on your finger, and set them in a corner as far from the rain as you could find, while you thought of what to do next. For safety reasons, both being metal, to you, but seeing the reading laid out, it could mean something different for you. Having Shadow Grey Storm come out right after seeing that is a bit jarring for me, I can’t imagine what you must be feeling. A Tower is coming to clear away whatever is built on a shaky foundation in your world. You’re very defensive of whatever this is, and you’re heavily burdened by the fallout from it. For some, it’s a relationship, and for others, it’s a job. At least those are the two main things I’m seeing here. The last row indicates you’ve been warned, or there was some indication that this might happen…you just didn’t believe it, didn’t think it would be you, something like that. Which makes you even angrier and ready to fight your case when you realize it’s becoming a reality. I’m sorry Virgo 😞

What’s going on in April:

The Hierophant:

What’s going to shock you comes in the form of actions or a message from someone, either your work or your committed relationship, saying you’re on your own, The Hermit. It’s also possible that you’re the one saying this, King of Pentacles is directly tied to The Hermit, which is your energy. If so, it’s because you feel the need to defend yourself from being so heavily burdened by someone or something that you feel is unfair, and you can’t take it anymore. Or you’re trying to fight your case against whoever is saying this to you. Underneath, you’re worried about what will happen to your 10 Cups, your relationship, your family perhaps and their stability, because no matter what this is there are finances involved. I don’t see you in debt. Yet. But it’s something that’s on your mind for the future, behind your happiness, because you’ve got a broken heart more importantly 💔

3 Swords:

Surrounded on both sides by NEW. You don’t want new, you want what you have. In the case this is your decision, you’re upset you could be losing money in a divorce or through your position and you’re still standing your ground. There’s a shock to this situation, whoever is on the receiving end of this is heartbroken as well as having the rug completely pulled from their feet. If this is a connection, you or some other person may be moving on to someone else very quickly, or that could be the reason for all of this in the first place, and someone is deeply hurt by all of this. I assume that’s you feeling the pain.

Ace of Wands:

This is a card of inspiration, passion, excitement, but can also represent ANGER and it seems to be more along those lines in this reading. 9 Wands shows you being in a lot of pain, you’re having to walk away from something because you have no other choice. Or you may have been hurt by the connection you’re in and you’re leaving in search of something that is your wish fulfillment, your 9th Cup, the thing you dream of. 8 Cups is searching for better, there has to be more than just these 8 Cups. But in the beginning, there were 10. Someone is deeply wounded here and has no other option but to go.

2 Cups:

True love, or a very good connection if this is work related, you and others are on the same page and get on very well, you could have made rewarding relationships with coworkers and partners in your career, everyone worked well together and appreciated what the other had to offer. Or at one time, your love relationship was this way. This could also show your person moving right into something else and giving their all to some other person, or you’ve done this. Someone left to search for their 9th Cup and found another relationship. It’s possible one already existed prior, with 3 Swords. A very painful situation no matter who is on what side. Wheel of Fortune shows this possibly being a destined event, or a karmic relationship, situation, something along those lines. Things are changing very quickly.

Death:

This is the end of this job, relationship, whatever this is. This row specifically points out that this is a truth you’ve avoided, or someone has avoided being held accountable for their truth, possibly this 3rd party and the effects of this situation on the other person. The avoidant person is trying to dodge this pain, mental anguish, sleepless nights, the sense of failure or having failed someone. There may have been a glaring truth staring this person in the face before now, like a storm they could see coming but did nothing, they rejected it, fought it, 7 Wands, defended the connection or position, whatever it is. Because it’s inevitable, destiny, and/or possibly karmic in nature, the Tower had to fall. Sudden shocking sweeping away of the floor beneath you is the feeling. Two butterflies 🦋 on your oracle cards, and pulling Retreat, shows you going through a complete transformation, similarly to a butterfly. You will need some cocoon time, Hermit time, Virgo time 🙏 But this situation is going to change you from the inside out, and this other person no doubt as well, in whatever way they’re meant to. Your advice for now is to simply pause and experience your experience as it comes, you’re still in the thick of this. This time of retreat is a good time to practice manifestations. When things are exactly how we don’t want them to be, it’s the right time for us to really figure out how we DO want them to be, and visualize making this a reality for yourself. Dream up a stranger that’s your perfect match. Dream up a job that’s your perfect fit. What qualities do these things have? Use this as an exercise to escape the 9 Swords mental prison, if you’re the one in it. Whenever you can. That’s all you can do for right now 🙏

Signs you may be dealing with:

Libra, Scorpio, Leo, Sagittarius, Pisces & Taurus

Oracles: ✨

27. Pause

- Accept that you must wait and prepare for developments to reach the next stage.

54. Visualize

- When we develop our abilities to visualize, we can manifest maximum influence on our experience of reality.

40 Retreat 😴

This is a good time to retreat into your safe place and gather your resources for what’s to come. Work on making your body, mind, and soul as strong and unencumbered as possible. This is the card that urges you to get your “ducks in a row” as fast as possible, for changes come fast and furious. Even when they are longed for, they can take us unprepared. Changes are coming your way soon! Alternately, it can show you needing to process the changes that have already come. You need alone time to heal, think, and process everything you’ve been through.

We enter into April as:

Sky Blue 💎

“You’ll see it when you believe it.” - Wayne Dyer

Seeking wise council is vital when you are pushing into new territory that may be overwhelming. Choose wisely though; if you choose someone too critical of your dreams, it could be a hinderance. When we are close to the proper decision, often we teeter on the brink and simply give up for fear of being embarrassed. Do not use another person’s negativity as an excuse to hold yourself back. If you pick someone who you know will not support you, do not blame them for your shortcoming. When you believe something is possible, everything and everyone you need to manifest your desires will materialize. We can only create what we can envision. It is time for you to imagine what you wish to create, for you will only see it, when you believe it!

What is to be learned in April:

Shadow Grey Storm ⛈:

“I can no longer hold your secrets.”

In the most direct way, Shadow Grey Storm is about taking responsibility and not blaming others for your situation in life. This Storm was created to clear away the debris preventing us from moving forward. It could be something you are angry about (but have chosen to bury) is about to be re-revealed to you. This is an inevitable awakening, whether by conscious choice or not, you cannot hide and move forward at the same time. While this comes without judgement, it brings judgement day. Whether it is a pleasant experience or not, you will feel an awakening, a refreshing release from your bonds. This is a blessing. No matter the background, we all have secrets we hide. Your best protection is honesty. The rays of light in Shadow Grey Storm are piercing knowledge and hidden truth, and there is a great discovery coming to you too.

Gray may be a lucky color 🌫

[pauein]

Ugh. my horrible sibling bribed me with Frivolous Snack Purchases to post this godawful string of discord messages i wrote regarding whether or not the Boyfriends from webtoons Boyfriends would survive the House on ash tree lane, going off half-forgotten memories of when i read boyfriends as a joke in 2022. SIGH.

"Ok. Fine. For starters. They all move into this house together and when stuff starts getting weird (likely as a result of the shaky foundation their relationship is built upon plus the weirdness with prep and goth) they all decide to investigate it together after some hesitation

Things seem to go mostly okay at first however they all get separated at some point- goth and prep find each other again and soon jock as well but they cant find nerd. Unfortunately continued search efforts have no avail at the moment, so they decide to call upon the Girlfriends (canonically more competent than them) to help out. Girl goth also had like an occult club or something iirc so thats probably the first one they called and she brought the rest of her polycule

However their assessment pretty much ends up being "you guys gotta gtfo" but they refuse to leave without nerd so they continue searching

I honestly dont know much about the girlfriends since they were a later introduction so i cant effectively wrap up their part here but i imagine the tensions between the two preps definitely does not help the condition of the house

Meanwhile nerd is still alive but barely and going insane. Through no fault of his own his sheer dependency on the other boyfriends is leading him into an untimely demise, a labriynth with no escape as he feels there Cant be an escape without the rest of his polycule

Also side note but about the earlier exploration before nerd went missing. Goth was one of the most eager to explore this first because dark and spooky shit but they Nearly got separated the first time, leaving him hesitant the second exploration. However the others still wanted to go back in out of curiosity, nerd in particular. Prep encouraged goth by pointing out that goth is the spooky things guy and its the opposite of going out in the sun. they all vow to protect each other but its a hollow promise against a threat they havent truly come face to face with. And they have already failed through this push to go back in.

Anyway so they go back in , girl nerd maybe stays behind with jock to keep track of things with the radio. The added hope of having the girlfriends along leads them to nerd, but hes clearly already in his death throes. However he attempts to kill goth and prep so they wont be apart. He fails, (might accidentally take out a few of the gfs, idk,) and when he realizes jock isnt even there he gives up, dying tragically, surrounded but alone. he never even finds out jock was keeping tabs on the radio

Goth and prep are stuck figuring out how to get back now, especially what to do about the dead bodies. Unfortunately on their own bringing back the bodies proves to be a very difficult task (girl jock was one of the ones who died and goth and prep are canon wimps strengthwise) and supplies are running low. But they refuse to leave the others behind

Love got them into this mess and theyre going to get out with love in tact, they think.

They just barely manage to reach the escape, however, just as they are, doubt sets in. The corpses they carry and the reality that things will never return to the way they are again stretches the corridor, pulling the door farther, and farther away. Can they truly say they escaped with their love? Like this?

Suddenly, behind them the hall feels like its collapsing, from above, below, all around. Prep panics, theyre both so out of their depth, and now theyre doomed to sink with the ship. However, goth thinks just quickly enough. Almost. He stages his last stand, shoving Prep through the door- sacrificing himself in the process. The bodies also do not make it.

The weight of this grief also collapses the house itself, foundation and walls not sturdy enough to support it. The survivors all escape unharmed, but can they say they really escaped in one piece?

It is unknown where the remaining GFs relationship ends up after this. However, Jock and Prep end up breaking up on despairing but amicable terms, believing nothing can be done to bridge the gap in their hearts. The last shot is of prep, more alone than he ever was, but just as alone as he thought he was before the polycule began.

Fuck you man"

I am not caught up with current Boyfriends lore and i do not plan to be so if i got anything wrong or inaccurate i am not sorry and in fact you should probably be the one whos sorry.

[llycaons]

this is such a stupid thing to complain about/part of the appeal of sitcoms for a lot of people but I hate when there's a couple and the show is like 'they're Right for Each Other' and then a season goes by and they need to shake things up and now the two that were so perfect for each other suddenly AREN'T due to a contrived character flaw or a situation that was never established, but was treated as always having been a part of the dynamic! and now some other couple is Perfect for Each Other and always has been I GUESS

and I don't mean genuine growth as people OR relationships built on a shaky foundation that make sense not to continue (diane and mr. pb's arc was *mwah*), I mean when it comes out of the blue and all previous character work is completely retconned and a new, shoddily crafted dynamic is suddenly supposed to be the center of our emotional journey! ceg is doing this a little but this is actually way more annoying in the great. fuck marial and grigor and george and their STUPID love triangle that makes no sense and only functions to churn out conflict in a very shallow and sexist way instead of examining each woman as independent and well-developed players, like they have been these past few seasons! also who gives a shit about grigor at this point all he does is be sad and that's supposed to be compelling!