#the thing that actually angers me the most is that first and foremost why should i do that

[drysauce]

im still thinking about yesterday when after the cinema i mentioned than when i get home i'll help one girlie from uni with her project because she's stuck to which one of my friends asked why am i helping some random girl instead of my roommate

[the-force-awakens]

Thinking about what a sweet, kind, silly and gentle hearted person Poe is until you piss him off and once that switch is flipped, he's a force to be reckoned with

Oh, did you mean? my most favorite? facet? of his character? that makes me lose my marbles? and also happens to be maybe my favorite character trope of all time? that? Okay I hope you were expecting an infodump because what-ho! that's what's happening, I have come prepared and with receipts, let's fucking go on how Poe Dameron is a goddamned force of nature and how the galaxy should be really fucking thankful his loyalty is first and foremost to the Resistance and to the Light, because if it wasn't...well, I'd dread to think, but it wouldn't be good for anyone else.

The fun thing for me, is that it has always been a part of Poe's character, right from The Force Awakens -- it's subtle, but it's there, hidden between the sassy quips in the face in danger and the professionality of Commander Dameron; little fleeting moments that tell you that Poe Dameron is not someone to be trifled with at all, including one of his very first scenes:

I'm 90% certain that Poe's gaze actually lands first on Tekka's body here, before lifting it up to glare at Ren - and that's more than just a defiant glare, that's a look of loathing. Which fits, considering that I do believe the Force Awakens novelization confirms that Poe rushes in without thinking, and acts on sheer anger/rage when he goes to shoot Ren after Ren kills Tekka.

(More lengthy thoughts under the cut, I was not kidding, I saved a dozen images for this).

And that look is far from the only moment in TFA that clearly goes "oh. yeah, Poe can be scary when he wants to be", there's this frankly delightful moment during the trench run when Poe sees a fellow pilot perish while covering him:

and then moments later, when Poe flies into the heart of Starkiller to destroy the oscillator, we get this shot:

that's far more than just determination/focus, he's angry. and he has every goddamned right to be - he was just held captive and tortured for (??) days, and this monstrosity just destroyed an entire fucking planetary system, and the very Republic that Poe has spent his entire adult life believing the inherent values of, that he thought could genuinely improve. Never mind the detail that Poe probably likely spent time on the Hosnian System, if he didn't live there temporarily during his time in the Defense Fleet.

But these shots makes it clear where the comic gets the idea from that the First Order might, y'know, actually be. A little bit terrified of Poe Dameron:

He's a serious threat, and ruthless when it comes to the First Order. People joke a lot about Poe being reckless, but I don't see a lot of recognition for the fact that he can be ruthless - he sees point b and dives straight at it, and he's absolutely relentless in his determination to take the First Order down.

The quickest possible way to enrage Poe is inaction or injustice. We see this clearly in the Last Jedi, when he believes Holdo is essentially leading them to their deaths and has thrown the Resistance away:

but we also see it as far back as Before the Awakening by Greg Rucka:

This conversation carries on for a page or so more, I think, with Poe arguing against the New Republic's decision to not act or investigate further (it's also what prompts him into going rogue to investigate on his own, which leads Leia into recruiting him for the Resistance).

And we've even seen it in material as recent as Free Fall, which means this is a character trait Poe has had his entire life:

(these do not paint my girl in a great light but like she's fucked up okay!! and being groomed into taking her mother's place it's fine, it's fine, she's my fucked up little blorbo)

anyway. so this is Poe when he's, probably about 16? 16 going on 17 here, and this is probably the angriest he's ever been considering how shocked he is about the chill in his own voice (which if you were ever curious why I say Poe's anger runs cold, it's because of this scene right here). He's so enraged by the injustice being carried out by Sotin, that he's genuinely - for the first time in the book - considering actually killing someone. And he gets into a screaming match about what the right decision is with Zorii.

(he also gets to punch Sotin later, by the way, if you even care. It's glorious. I love my favorite character who decides murder is okay if said murder is in question a guy who deals in the slave trade)

But also.

My favorite instance of this, ever, which rewrote my fucking goddamned brainchemistry in 2017 when I read it and made me have to step away from my computer and honest to god pace the length of my house to walk it off, is his confrontation with Terex in issue #13 of the Poe comics.

Because you know what?

This entire fucking exchange is personal, and almost/pretty much outright vindictive? Like at this point, Poe has solidly won this round - Terex has finally been defeated, and all Poe has to do is hand him over to the First Order. He knows, in doing so, Terex will likely be killed, and after who knows how long of Terex's bullshit meaning Poe couldn't trust his squadron, and the fact that L'ulo just died - well, Poe's not real broken up about it, which is fun in itself.

But then he asks Malarus if he can have a moment with Terex before he hands him over and Poe....uses that moment to gloat.

And y'all know me i don't use words like that for Poe but like. he kind of does? he asks a moment alone with terex specifically so that he can taunt Terex that he won, that Terex didn't beat him, and that in trying to take Poe down, Terex cost himself everything (a fact Poe happily rubs in his face), and even adds that "and when I give you to the First Order, I bet they'll take the rest."

So like. Yeah.

Poe knew full well they'd likely kill him, and spends the next few issues full heartedly believing that Terex was dead. And he taunts Terex with it here in this moment. It is TRULY glorious and honestly had 17 year old me's little head spinning because it was such a subversion of what I thought Poe would do -- but he did! He didn't try to figure out a way to spare Terex's life, and he used his final moments with Terex to make sure Terex knew that Poe was fully aware of what the choice he was making meant.

It's fucking DELICIOUS.

And I also love this panel from earlier into the issue:

Because again, it's a great illustration of how Poe can come off cold because of the art choices Phil Noto made here: look at the jacket. It's zipped up all the way to Poe's neck (a rarity for Poe), and just generally gives him this very closed off, cold appearance because he's at his wit's end in this issue, and he is angry about the circumstances Terex has forced him into.

So...yeah. Poe Dameron is a sweet, compassionate, silly guy who makes the worst fucking puns you've ever heard this side of the galaxy. He loves his droid, wears his mother's wedding ring with the intent to give it to the right partner someday, and loves all of his friends full heartedly and is generally the most tactile, affectionate person you will ever meet. He's pretty much everyone's best friend, because he has that kind of charisma and ability to make anyone feel like they're the most important person in the galaxy.

But Poe Dameron is also the man that the First Order seems genuinely intimidated/afraid of. He's the man that destroyed Starkiller base, and toppled the most powerful crime syndicate in the galaxy when he was just 17 years old. He is not someone you ever, ever want to piss off, because for all his warmth and love, Poe has an anger that runs cold, and when he hates something - it's just like when he loves something, he doesn't go half-way.

General Organa isn't the only Resistance general that can be absolutely terrifying in her own right as much as she can be gentle and loving. It's just that Leia's the only one anyone ever notices, because...well, Poe's silly and funny and usually kind of easy going.

And the fact that people underestimate him is what makes him that much more dangerous.

[unitchiefs-blackbirdphoenix]

Forst of all, I adore Hotch when he told Reid that if he has to be mad at someone he should be mad at him! He literally told him that JJ and Emily are the last people to blame in that mess but Spencer was just like nah and still thought is was okay to blame JJ. Who followed orders. To protect her best friend. And also suffered from that secret.

But yeah lets just ignore the fact WHY JJ did that. I think Reid fans focus to much about JJ saying that Spencer was mad bc he couldn't control his feelings or something and never thought about how he hurts JJ when he said he almost took drugs again and blames her for it.

I think both were in the wrong for saing the things they said in that scene. But I think the fans makes JJ's words a bigger problem than they ended up being and ignore that Reid's words also hurted her and blames her for something that where out of her control.

I agree with all of this! I think fans, especially those of Reid, need to pay attention to all of this. First and foremost, if JJ told Reid or anyone else on the team, it will put the risk of their lives at the hands of Doyle, which means even Reid would be dead if he knew. And I’m pretty sure fans will still hate JJ and Emily for that too.

From what I remember of the episode, Reid in the entire ep began saying hurtful things towards JJ with snarky comments and JJ tried to ignore most of them. In fact, the first time she notices that Reid ignored her and Emily when she asked if he didn’t go to brunch, she said “he hates me” and Emily tells her to let him be and JJ does that.

When they’re partnered together, JJ was talking about the details of the case and Reid decided to say “Emily was buried underground and no one seemed to notice”. He started saying something and JJ wanted him to talk about it bc she knows he’s having a hard time expressing his feelings. He only keeps ignoring her and outright said that JJ had been faking her tears the entire Doyle situation. In that same scene and onwards, he continues making all these remarks towards her and she ends up trying to push them aside.

JJ’s first few approaches were actually a lot more appropriate than fans make it out to be. Considering the setting of where they are: at work. They have to be professional even around the local officers, and everyone at work were uncomfortable and tense. It seems that JJ was trying to talk to him in a mature manner of trying to get him to open up about his feelings the first few times and if he didn’t want to talk, she decides to give up and move on with the case. The next scene, she clocks on his behavior and tries to get on his level of pettiness, to see if he would react bc if he didn’t respond the first time, she would have to use a different approach. Nothing happens then.

The next scene, JJ confronts Reid and tells him straight (not harshly at first) that they needed to talk. Then, she finally gets fed up and says the whole “you couldn’t profile us” thing, knowing that they will get him to talk. It wasn’t that she knows he couldn’t profile her or Hotch; that was her only tactic left. She used it as a last resort, she wasn’t smug about it and what happens? Reid actually responds back.

They could’ve dealt with this issue outside of work and JJ has already been trying to get them to speak in private from the beginning. Even Hotch pulls Reid aside and tells him he could take his anger on him instead of JJ, and Reid pretty much ignores all that, and this scene happens before the whole argument, if I remember correctly. JJ didn’t even know he was considering using Dilaudid again that time bc he didn’t know how to express his feelings at the times he cried at her house, and she wanted to be in denial that he was thinking about relapsing, at least that’s how I saw it. Because if something did happen to Reid whether or not it was because of that, JJ would never forgive herself at all, even though as you mentioned, it would be out of her control.

I’m not dismissing him considering/almost relapsing or his anger. In fact, the way this whole ep was written or how the writers choose to gloss over everyone’s frustration the whole arc was questionable and disappointing. It was more of how fans reacted to this whole thing, how the situation could’ve been handled outside of work or in private because it would affect the team working the case (which was appropriately handled by Hotch and the first few times by JJ), and what could’ve happened if the whole team was in on the secret of Emily being alive the entire time.

[metamorph6se]

INTRODUCING: The Eras Legacy, by Taylor Swift

first and foremost, hi! i've been playing this legacy on my own by now, and actually lost what i had of the first generation because i changed saves, but i thought i should stop being a ghost here and actually post something and interact!

like i said, i lost a lot of stuff so i'll work with what i have now and explain later what i don't.

FEARLESS: Juliet McGrath

❝ in your life you'll do things greater than dating a boy on the football team, i didn't know it at fifteen ❞

straight, esfj

was the youngest child of four before her mom died, when she was just a toddler. her dad became obsessed with work after and she and her brothers were basically raised by her big sister

was kicked out after she became pregnant at fifteen by her boyfriend and next door neighbour, jesse mcgrath. she was welcome in by her big sister, abgail, who moved out for college and stayed there for the whole duration of the pregnancy, with she and her boyfriend still finishing high school,

the triplets were born and jesse worked long hours as an athlete to provide for her and the kids. after they have grown a little, she hired a nanny so she could finish university, but dropped out to pursue her career as a singer

she became a global star, moved out to del sol valley where she currently resides. she and her husband are known for their big parties and the love they have for the triplets, even if some feel as like she has a favorite daughter...

LOVE STORY: Jesse McGrath

❝ marry me, juliet, you'll never have to be alone. i love you and that's all i really know ❞

straight, esfp

was a football player most of his life, retired recently and is now a businessman.

did what he had to do to support his wife and is very devoted to her, but still feels like he was too young to marry. maybe that's why he has some issues regarding fidelity, even if he never acts on his desires.

favors johanna a lot because he feels like juliet doesn't like her as much as her other children, and as she is also an athlete, she is the one he connects with the most

likes dogs a lot

DEAR JOHN: Johanna McGrath

❝ dear John, I see it all now that you're gone. don't you think I was too young to be messed with? ❞

doesn't labels herself yet, enfj

has bpd and had several behavioral issues when she was younger, so now everyone around her has that impression that she's a super mean and agressive person, when she's not

has a lot of anger issues and a strained relationship with her sister emma because of that, culminating to the point where she destroyed emma's school project. she fought a lot with violet when they were younger too, even if now their relationship is okay

obssessed with ballet and becoming a prestigious ballerina ever since she was little, and will go to any lenghts to fulfill that goal

has a boyfriend that she loves a lot, alexander zhang. they met a party that he was invited because he's the brother of her best friend, beatrice. he was talking with her sister emma when they met, she doesn't know that he's in love with her sister, though.

INNOCENT: Violet McGrath

❝ i hope you remember today is never too late to be brand new ❞

lesbian, non binary, uses they/them pronouns

discovered themself as a pre-teen and came out, their family was very supportive, especially their sister, emma. that's why they support emma so much even when she's wrong: because emma was always there for them.

they're autistic and struggles a lot with communication and making friends. their special interests are science and pokemon.

is in love with nani kealoha and doesn't know how to tell her yet

SPEAK NOW: Emma McGrath

❝ please don't be in love with someone else, please don't have somebody waiting on you ❞

bisexual, enfp

has adhd and hiperfixates a lot on fantasy books. she dreams since whe was little of becoming a famous author. some of her favorites include red, white and royal blue, they both die at the end and the song of achilles

currently works as an influencer as a part-time job

met her best friend, alexander zhang, during a party the triplets threw when their parents were away. they were smoking weed together and laughing and she never felt that way for no one else, but she was not prepared for a relationship with anyone. that's why she introduces him to her sister, and they start hanging out, but it's nothing serious at first

during a halloween party that's thrown by her parents, she and alexander decide to go as tuxedo kamen and sailor moon together, he approaches her and they hook up. after that, he tells her that he and her sister just became boyfriend and girlfriend, and she almost throws up because she had just betrayed her sisters.

she decides to not tell her because she doesn't want to jeopardize even more her relationship with her sister when she didn't mean any harm by what she did. now she feels that she's catching feelings by alexander, and doesn't know what to do because he feels the same for her, and is only with her sister because he can't get with her.

[gendervesp]

Disconnected rambling about individual/community reactions to posts that criticize inter/intracommunity behaviour. Particular to queer spaces but most definitely applicable elsewhere.

When it comes to serious or meme posts that point to a genuine issue within a subsection of the community, or in general, (ex. Posts poking at how transmasc spaces treat transfems, or posts about how there's still misogyny/racism/ableism/... in queer spaces etc. The types of posts you see a hundred arguments of "we're not all like that" underneath), there's like two concepts based around how you respond to these posts that absolutely should coexist and be remembered before typing wars about how "erm ur being rude, we aren't like this at all" start. Cause it's very annoying to see people become brick walls who yell at others for "being divisive" when they're pointing out the shitty behaviour they have to endure in a supposedly safe community.

1. If we feel personally attacked by a post, meme or not, that points to a flaw within a community we share: why? What's so personal about shitty behaviour being called out? Do we feel like it's targeting us? If so, it probably is. But it's targeting our behaviour. Because it's behaviour that clearly is hurting people, we just might not realize it. None of us become fully progressive and null of ingrained bias solely by virtue of being queer - its a process we unlearn day by day. Especially with intersections across other communities. It's common to react negatively to us being in the line of fire for criticism, even when it's deserved, because it's difficult to withstand. But we have to pause before we jump to reckless defend ourselves and start a fight - we gotta sit with it and see how we ought to change to improve. If you feel personally attacked in the sense of "I don't like our community being labelled as such when I, and my friends, don't do this" please see point 2.

2. If you don't feel personally attacked, that's great but it doesn't automatically mean there's no relation to the criticism. We gotta stop with this mindset of "see, this clearly doesn't apply to me so I can ignore it". Maybe we don't explicitly engage in the issue, but implicitly or subconsciously perpetuate it. Keep the post as a reminder to check in with ourselves. And maybe also because even if we truly have unlearned/relearned the issue or whatever, that doesn't mean the rest of the space is issue-free. Keep the post as a reminder of a voice to uplift when we see our fellow community members cross lines and cause harm. Making our spaces and subsects actually safe and healthy is a group effort. We all got a role to play.

.

Either way we gotta stop coming with teeth the first sign someone is critically speaking about inter/intracommunity dynamics. It takes a lot of courage for people to speak about their experiences and issues within supposed safe spaces because the idea that it is "safe" makes it seem like objections to that are faulty, or not of actual concern. Or are subject to dismissal, anger, and shunning.

These posts, even the memey ones that mock the issue crudely as a means to cope and find solace in the isolation of having your own community shit on you, comes from a vulnerability that needs to be heard out first and foremost.

Again, we are not perfect by virtue of being queer or making cheap validity posts about how we support everyone. Actions speak louder. The words we utter outside of explicit declarations of unconditional support for people speak louder. The ideas and people and words and actions we either support or sit by and let pass speak louder. Community entails constant learning, growth, and facing our deepest flaws and cognitive dissonance between our understood morals and how we act towards others.

There's a lot more to this stuff because it's been on my mind for a while but, again, disconnected rn and not cohesive. I just wanted to write down the 2 things I feel are important to recognize when it comes to how people respond to critical posts. Especially since unfortunately tumblr has a reputation for being a hotspot for this type of stuff. I come mostly from instagram nowadays, from spaces where I really see the impact and reflections of people speaking about their negative experiences within the trans/queer community and then getting dogpiled by people who undermine their voices, insult them, claim it's bs and they're "being divisive", pulling a "not all ___" card etc etc etc. Like c'mon. The main thing dividing me from the community is this weird phenomenon where emotional maturity in the face of criticism is non-existent and its fair game to pull out all the punches whenever anyone speaks about issues like this. I prefer communities that can handle criticism and calls for growth and change..

[pixeljade]

"If you tolerate the republicans in your family without challenging their ideas about trans people you are not a trans ally."

I get the anger but as someone who knew I was bi and mentally ill (the latter to the point it's a disability which makes me unemployable) long before I knew I was trans and was guilt tripped with stuff like this can you maybe consider not everyone can safely challenge their family members' garbage thinking? Especially not without outing themselves and possibly ending up homeless?

There are other ways people can be an ally even if they have to hold their tongue around certain people.

Here's the thing buddy. First and foremost: that quote doesnt apply to you. If you actually thought it through, I think you could figure that out, because you're trans. But even setting that aside, I'm going to say: NOBODY should feel guilted to risk their lives to do anything for any group of people.

But you know what? I was in a position a lot like yours. I was Bi and disabled, and struggling to exist, and dependent on people around me, many of which were fucking republican. Not all, though, which is why I decided to come out and begin demanding they challenge their beliefs. The end result? Well, I did become homeless at one point. But more than that, I managed to get a good number of those republicans to change. See, as I challenged them, it lit a fire under the asses of those family members who DID care, and that forced all the republicans to deal with not just me, but ALL of those family members! Some of which really surprised me. Then, a portion of those republicans slowly gave up their bullshit ideas, and the rest of them were ostracized from the family. It was hard, there were certainly losses, and damned if I dont still have trauma nightmares about my homelessness. But now I can live happily and proudly as myself, instead of spending what little life I've been alotted on this planet miserable and under another's boot. Most importantly though, I can say that I've had a positive impact on others lives': much of my family came out as queer after me, shedding their old biases and fears. They've THANKED me for what I did. The bravery paid off in the end.

And see, that's the thing, is it's going to take bravery from ANYONE. We live in an era defined by fear. Even the most privileged people on earth lived through a fucking pandemic alongside us, and are tremendously fucking traumatized and largely disabled as a result. And sure, its a matter of magnitude; i'm not gonna say we all have the same level of shit in our lives! But literally everyone alive has a reason NOT to challenge those around them. And as much fear as there is, the stakes being so fucking high sure isnt helping! But we NEED bravery, we NEED strength, we NEED to NOT LET FEAR CONTROL US, because god fucking dammit this is the time when the world needs some fucking heroes!

So if you read my message as guilt-trippy, then dismiss it as such and go back to surviving. But I meant it as a call for heroes. And all it takes to be a hero is to challenge those around you.

[canon-transgender-virgil]

Patton has a brother and it's the Orange Side: A Theory

Hey, yall remember that one Sanders Sides fic I released that was like "ha ha what if Patton is related to the Orange Side?"

I think I can actually prove it.

(This is fairly long so the theory is under the cut):

First and foremost (this is what most of the theory hangs on)

THE FAMILY TREE

If you're an avid watcher of the show, you'll remember that in Why Do We Get Out of Bed in the Morning, Roman shows us a "family tree". This includes, most notably, Roman himself and Patton (which, while I'm aware that he's probably only on the tree at all because they wanted to continue the gag of "Patton is Thomas's dad", I find incredibly interesting considering that Patton isn't in the video at all - his portrait is there to show something).

For reference, here is this family tree:

As many an early theorist noticed when this video came out, Roman has a line extending off to the right of his portrait - if you weren't aware, this means that the people connected to the line are siblings.

This was later proven canon as, five videos later, who should reveal themselves but Remus (Roman's twin brother).

But notice anything interesting?

That's right: Patton has a line going off to his left, meaning he too has a sibling.

"But Calvin!" I hear you say, "What if his brother is just Janus, what if-"

Hush and let me explain.

Thomas and the team, as we’re all well aware, are generally very lenient when it comes to shipping the Sides - Thomas has stated that he views it as self-love so generally he doesn’t mind it.

However, he has stated that RemRom (romantic Roman and Remus [blarg]) makes him extremely uncomfortable because they are canonically twins.

And, in the Roleslaying With Roman livestream a few months ago, Alex and Brei stated that they wouldn’t allow people to ship Youngblood and Roman together if they knew that they were planning on them being revealed to be siblings. I imagine Thomas is in the same boat when it comes to his own characters.

Meaning that this unknown brother of Patton’s has not been introduced into the series just yet (that is to say, it’s highly highly unlikely that his brother is, say, Janus).

So, with all the other sides eliminated, who does this leave but the Orange Side?

And no, I have more proof!

As many people have theorized, Orange is likely representative of negative emotions (primarily anger, given the nature of the scenes that the color orange primarily dominated - the opening live action scene for Putting Others First, the top of the stairs in Learning New Things About Ourselves, and Logan's eyes in Working Through Intrusive Thoughts).

I think it's important to note here that just about every character in this show has expressed some form of visible anger and/or frustration before, and I'd list the most obvious examples but they are all extremely obvious (except maybe Remus, who we've only really seen get frustrated over Thomas not falling for his traps, but I digress).

There is only one main character we have never actually seen get mad or angry or any other intense wrath-filled emotion at anyone: Patton.

Which on its own is odd because, again, every other character, including C!Thomas, we have seen get mad before.

But it's even more odd when you take into consideration just how abnormal it is that the metaphysical embodiment of emotions has never been shown to be angry? Like, why? Why haven't we seen Patton... angry? Especially considering that anger is an emotion.

Not to mention that Patton tends to be one of, if not the first person in the show to actually start accepting the "Dark Sides" (first with Virgil, then with Janus). He's sympathetic towards them (or, towards Virgil at least) even before he was given a reason to.

Something else I thought was interesting (but not necessarily hard evidence towards the theory) is that Patton is the only "Light Side" to canonically have an animal trait, like the "Dark Sides" do.

Also, if one of my other Orange Side theories is right and Orange's real name is Judas, it would kind of make sense that Patton is related to him. I mean, Patton is definitely full of that ol' Catholic Guilt TM, so it would sort of track to have his brother be named after the dude who sold out Jesus (and also kind of fitting for Patton himself, now that I think about it).

So there you have it: my theory as to why Patton and the Orange Side seem so closely linked together is that they're simply siblings.

[zalrb]

Do you think Lucas was a bad boyfriend to Brooke the second time around? When Peyton confessed to Brooke that she loved him, Brooke took alot of the anger out on Lucas but i dont think he was actually at fault there. I think the second time round it was all on Peyton. Do you count the library kiss as cheating, to me it was similar to the DE season 2 deathbed kiss?

well this is the thing about brucas because when the writers decided to redirect it to leyton, the writing was basically like, oh their relationship in season 3 was terrible and lucas didn't even really care about brooke and his heart wasn't in it anyway, and i was like, really? 

what was this?

this?

THIS? oh my god his hair.

this??

this?

this?

their letters should not be overlooked because they’re significant. lucas teases her about them because he thinks it’s all in good fun 

but when he realizes that she put herself out there after being severely hurt by him by giving him those letters and that it’s representative of her vulnerability and trust in him after such a betrayal 

he makes himself vulnerable too by sending letters to her to show that there is no emotional hierarchy in their relationship, which is important

particularly after this exchange from season 1 

not to mention the first seven or eight episodes of lucas going through all of brooke’s tests and hoops to prove himself

to the point that when they are together and peyton’s biological mother died, lucas doesn’t rush to comfort her and only goes over when brooke gestures to him because foremost, he wants to make clear that there are boundaries and he wants to make brooke feel comfortable

then leyton shippers bring up how lucas could joke around with peyton in 3x17 after keith died and can’t even talk to brooke which indicates that they didn’t know each other at all but i’m like, kay, peyton and lucas have one 2 minute conversation where he makes fun of her for kissing him 

after she nearly bled out and died in the library next to him 

so yeah, he wants to make her feel comfortable and then he IMMEDIATELY says that he’s in love with brooke (no i don’t consider the library kiss cheating) it’s not like stefan and delena where peyton has to tell lucas to fight for brooke or asks what about brooke or directs him to brooke

and then finds brooke and talks to her and says that it means a lot to him that she’s there even if he can’t express it all the time -- and he’s expressing it THEN and they have a really tender moment

and then in the next episode it’s clear that being with brooke is helping him heal,

 and he’s talking to her about what he’s going through,

and OK even the whole rescue thing, an anon and i talked about this a while ago, he didn’t go and SET OUT to save peyton, he set out to bring nathan back

and i mean if nathan isn’t leaving until he finds haley and there’s blood by the library where your friend and your girlfriend were seen last and you care about your friend and your girlfriend is safe and you’re supposed to be the hero of the show, then why not go see if someone is bleeding out in the library?

just the whole fanfare around him being her hero has me like, it’s not as EPIC as it’s spoken about but anyway. (putting it out there now since anons may bring this up, the reason why i consider stefan staying to save damon in 8x16 a stelena scene and don’t give much thought to this scene as an epic leyton scene that’s a strike against brucas is 1) the way se/sc end in the episode is a far cry from the way brucas end in this episode 2) steroline was not as narratively strong as brucas)

then in season 4 when they had this exchange

i was like WHERE? 

but because he didn’t submit her stuff to the fashion competition but in season 1 he sent peyton’s artwork to a magazine that means that he just doesn’t know brooke?? that’s DUMB when they spent most of season 2 bonding

and then were getting to know each other even more deeply in season 3, 

which is why lucas can tell her in a rainstorm all the things he loves about her and it’s just HORRIBLE writing.

[eulangelo]

callout for @genderfluidlucifer

google docs

tw for transmisogyny + TERFs + emotional manipulation

Transmisogyny

Lucifer is a huge transmisogynist who will complain 24/7 about how TERFs hurt the ace community, but the moment @randomclustermissile , a trans girl (who is not an exclusionist at all) tries to point out transmisogyny in inclusionist circles (in the most vague and general way possible, without pointing fingers nor calling anyone names) Lucifer will immediatly jump to block her and so they did with me (another inclusionist) and i have to suppose to everyone else who agreed with that post, even arriving to vagueing about us in private group chats to suggest that we were “sympathizing with exclusionists”. all because we dared point out transmisogyny in inclusionist circles. lucifer is TME but apparently they think they’re the authority on TERFs and their talking points but actual trans women are not, according to them, since this is the stuff that they would go and spew to other people. (screenshots from @enbyoctoling​)

here’s more examples of Lucifer (again, a transmasc person) going deep in detail about how according to them, TERFs/SWERFs hate aro/ace people and are an active threat to us

1. link

[Image ID: Three screenshots of a post by Genderfluidlucifer. The first screenshot is of a paragraph that reads, "Hey. So I can actually answer this. Anon your commentary about how you thought terfs would approve of sex repulsed aces is sort of it. Except...not. Basically terfs hate ace people for not wanting sex in the approved by terfs way. Terfs are actually extremely interested in [forcing] amatonormativity onto everyone. Because for as sex negative as terfs are...they don't want to actually acknowledge or change the fact that amatonormativity is at the root cause of rape culture and misogyny."

The second screenshot is a zoomed in section of the post that reads, "So yeah no I have NO idea where exclus allies are getting this idea from that terfs would even remotely care about the sexual rights of ace people. Terfs generally hate any sexualities in the LGBTQ+ acronym that aren't LGB because they can't force a gender binary onto those sexualities. At least, not as easily. That's why it's actually a massive sign of someone who doesn't call themselves a terf being a crypto terf if they use the term LGB in a positive manner. Along with the term SGA, as it is deliberately exclusive of nonbinary and not inherently SGA centric queer-aligned sexualities. /END ID]

link to the full post, these are just excerpts but the whole thing is just a very long rant about how TERFs hate ace people and so on (i think it’s worth noticing that although the actual post is kinda long, trans women are never once brought op in a conversation about TERFs issues and the only time transmisogyny is mentioned is not relevant to the conversation)

2. link

[Image ID: A screenshot of a reblog by genderfluidlucifer. The original poster is nothorses. It reads, "Because apparently I have to say it: Testosterone is not a 'violent' hormone. It doesn't make you 'more aggressive' or a worse person, it doesn't make you 'dangerous,' or 'toxic.' Transmascs do not need to be 'warned of the dangers of T.' We do not need to spend our transitions terrified that we're going to become a danger to those around us - that HRT is going to turn us into a monster.

Everyone experiences mood swings during hormonal shifts (pregnancy, menstruation, menopause, estrogen HRT, etc.) and while you might have grumpy moments or feel anger/frustration that you need to learn to handle differently, that doesn't make you a bad person.

Testosterone can change the way you access/process emotions somewhat, but if you're already thoughtful about how you handle your feelings and treat others, you're going to be fine. It's normal to lash out on occasion, by accident, then apologize and work to do better. It doesn't make you a bad person. Everyone on HRT is prone to this, and everyone experiencing hormonal changes is prone to this.

Getting HRT should be positive and affirming; you should not have to spend your entire transition terrified of becoming a monster."

The post then has a reblog by captainlordauditor that reads, "The big danger of T is that needle ouchy." /END ID]

here’s them reblogging from known transmisogynist user @nothorses (once again, the irony that a post about how testosterone is seen as the "aggressive hormone" does not mention transfem at all which are literally the main victims of this rethoric in the first place)

3. link (1), link (2)

[Image ID: Two screenshots of posts by genderfluidlucifer. The first screenshot reads, "Queer exclus: We're not repackaging terf rhetoric! Saying that is transmisogynistic! Also queer exclus: Remove the plus from LGBT!" and has tags that say, "I will pay these people to grow some god damn self awareness. Imagine being this dense. Queer discourse." The post has 15 notes.

The second screenshot reads, "Honestly it is so stupid and frustrating to see ace exclus continue to deny that the ace discourse was started by terfs. Proof was given countless times. And a big name terf like galesofnovember even admitted to starting it. Those of you who demand proof but ignore all of this never wanted proof to begin with." and is tagged with, "ace discourse. The post has 38 notes. /END ID]

heres another two post of theirs conflating TERFs with ace exclusionism

4. link

[Image ID: A screenshot of a reblogged post by furbearingbrick. The original poster is boxlizard, Lucifer's old account. The original post reads, "By the way for people still in denial about it, here's galesofnovember, a terf, admitting that she intended to start the ace exclus movement. She's taking credit for it. Normally if the victims of this behavior weren't ace/aro or other queer identities y'all be ready to rightfully lynch her. But since it's us, y'all just still wanna stamp your feet and go, 'Nuh uh!' instead of acknowledging facts." The part that says, "admitting that she intended to start the ace exclus movement" is a link to a galesofnovember post.

There is then a reblogged addition from furbearing brick that reads, "archived versions of the receipts" and has two links to the webarchive. The tags read, "Bringing this back since it's apparently still relevant. Terfism mention. Aphobia mention. Queerphobia mention. Blocklist." and has 1,455 notes. /END ID]

this is their post that ive already talked about but basically they found a 52 notes post made by a TERF in 2012 and this one person said "i dont know why i dont get to be the princess of the anti-ace-brigade" and apparently they are convinced that this means TERFs started the ace exclusionism movement and that this is one of their goals. which is insane when TERFs in real life only care about making life miserable for transfem people first and foremost.

5.link

[Image ID: A screenshot of a reblog by genderfluidlucifer. The original poster is yu-gay-fudo. It reads, “Just in case you happen to be unaware, some of the “radfem lite” they post to warm you up to their rhetoric, just off the top of my head:

- Ace/aro exclusionism

- Bi exclusionism or claims that bi people are “less queer” bc of “straight passive privilege”

- Saying you have to be dysphoric to identify as transInvalidating nonbinary people

- Calling queer a slur regardless of context, saying people can’t identify as queer, and saying that it can’t be reclaimed

- “Mogai hell”, “kweer”, or otherwise mocking less common labels and claiming they are “just cishets who want to feel special”

- Excluding sex workers from feminist discussions or claiming that sex work is inherently evil

- Basically anyone who thinks they can determine what other people identify as”. The tags read, "queerphobia tw. twerfs tw. no id." and has 70,727 notes. It was reblogged on March 22nd, 2021 /END ID]

another example of conflating radfems to things that, while wrong, have little to nothing to do with them because being a radfem, again, is something very specific that has all to do with transfem oppression.

Emotional manipulation

Lucifer has done nothing but block, break boundaries, spread lies and vague about people, some of which were even mutuals with them knowing they would see the posts. when confronted about it Lucifer's only answer was "just say you hate me and block me" but they actually ended up blocking everyone first, making it impossible for anyone to set some boundaries with them or even just to calmly confront them about anything.

[proof: Io(popncourse) and Lucifer had a disagreement in a shared discord server, which prompted Lucifer to vague Io in a vent post. Io confronted them, as being vagued is one of buns triggers, to which Lucifer initially agreed to delete the vent post, but then proceeded to victimize themself and immediatly blocked Io. later on, Jude(malewifedeckard) was confronted by Lucifer, then after Jude told them “I’m worried that you’ll vague me just like you did with Io” they proceeded to block Jude and vagued about him too. when Io made a post (which was not a callout, it was just bun setting buns boundaries) explaining what Lucifer did, Lucifer immediatly jumped to victimize themself, acting like they were being called out and straight-up lying, even going so far as to say that no one tried to hear them out, which is a blatant lie if you consider the aforementioned Io and Jude’s attempts at doing so, with Lucifer immediatly blocking and cutting ties with the both of them. ] 

(screenshots taken by @popncourse and @malewifedeckard)

as seen in the proof above Lucifer’s behaviour is not ok because they don’t accept any kind of confrontation and immediatly jump to blocking, and after blocking, they'd immediatly go and vague about the people who confronted them pacificly, spreading more lies and painting themself as the victim and even arriving to say “no one hears me out at all” which is simply not something you can say when you block people who are trying to hear you out in the first place.

this is by no means an invitation to go and harass them, send them hate or anything like that. i absolutely don’t want anything even remotely hateful or negative to be sent their way after this post. 

this post was only made because:

1. as an ace person who fully supports the inclusion of aspec identities in the lgbt+ community i don’t want to support an enviroment that costantly downplays transmisogynistic oppression in order to be taken seriously. there are hundreds of ways to make aspec activism without acting like we(as in TME aspecs)are the victims of a system that seeks for the annihilation of transfemenine people in real life everyday. i especially don’t want to support TME individuals who act transfem-friendly but then block any transfem who tries to speak on transmisogyny without a second thought.

2. Lucifer’s behaviour has hurt two friends of mine and i don’t want to associate with someone who actively breaks people’s boundaries without taking accountability when messing up.

3. i cannot associate with someone who spreads lies about me accusing me of sympathizing with exclusionists all while having me blocked so that i can’t see it nor defend me. they complain about people not hearing them out but they’re the very first person who does not try to hear people out, and instead jumps to spread baseless rumors. this is not someone i can nor want to associate with. 

(image descriptions provided by @malewifedeckard)

[greycaelum]

Hi there it's been a while I haven't receive your update, I hope you are in a good term. I'm anticipating your kaleidoscope series. What do you think if Gojo get sealed shortly after knowing that lil mochi would have a sibling.

Hello! I am fine, thank you for being so thoughtful, I hope you're doing well too! I actually have a draft to publish but I wanna post it with the others I'm finishing—I'm doing my best to be done with that part 2 so fingers cross what I'll do with them.

A sibling huh? I was thinking of that for a long time now... To be honest—in my selfish dream I don't wanna give Kouki a sibling while things are going shit—but who knows... There are things that cannot be foreseen.

(Lemme just insert: I'm very sorry but whenever I remember Satoru is locked in the Prison Realm I can't help but remember he don't have anything inside to eat, unless skeletons inside have a kitchen which is ridiculous, I know—even if inside bodily functions are temporarily suspended to function—but an image of a malnourished Satoru genuinely haunts me. (╥﹏╥)

As for Satoru I can see him:

• First and foremost—he was beyond ecstatic when you showed him the six pregnancy kit all positive—he finally hit the jackpot! After trying to always do it on his free time—you're sleepy? Ok let Satoru do all the work, his honey just have to relax, all your wants and needs and Kouki finally having a little sibling!

"Kikufuku, do you want a little sister or brother?" Satoru asked Kouki who won't stop clinging on you after knowing he's gonna have a sibling.

"Can we have both?"

"Why both?" You asked stroking your son's head pressing against your not yet showing belly.

"Because, Kou..." Kouki thought for a while and run to Satoru jumping up and down asking for carry.

"Because we're family."

Satoru melted at his son hugging him, and to think another little mochi is going to be part of the little haven.

• It was supposed to be—until all of this came running down.

• He's thinking day and night of you and Kouki and the little munchkin—did Yūta reach you in time? He trusts his student will raise heaven and hell to keep you and his son safe. But...even the strongest feel helpless. Just anyone dare to lay their hands on his family—killing is not an option, oh no it's a matter or how—he's not a shallow believer killing is the best revenge, trust Satoru to use his wide imagination what to do. He must calm down, he needs to be level-headed, anger is useless in this situation.

• When he's closes his eyes he can only see you and Kouki. Do you know what scares him the most? It's not the darkness and the suffocating stench corpse filled box but the image of you crying yourself to sleep on the cold bed, his son looking for him and the precious mochi inside you makes his heart quiver.

• The growing little treasure in you—it must be crazy that you're the one pregnant but he's the one craving to run his palms over your growing belly. It was the highlight of your pregnancy for Satoru, to run his hands on your growing belly, to revel in the heartbeat and warmth from you and watch the growing life in you, what makes it more wonderful is that he's going to do it with Kouki, or supposedly it was, until he's sealed in this neverending darkness—Satoru yearns for his family. He promised you and Kouki a family date to buy baby clothes—it seems it has to be moved back.

• He wants and needs to be there for you and Kouki. While staring at the abyss his pastime is reminiscing his memory of how needy and clingy you were during your pregnancy with Kou. All your frustrations and questionable craving, it should be him to fulfill all your requests and whims of the mother of his children, it should've been him.

• How much time have past? He don't know, and the more he thinks the heavier his heart beats thinking of you doubting he'll come home—thinking of you struggling to tell Kouki and the precious growing mochi that their father is nowhere to be found—

• Satoru have said it himself—it's a sin to rob the youth of young people—he must not rob his children the chance to have a father watching over them.

• "Wait for me, I'm coming home to you whatever it costs me."

• For what Satoru said, it's a reference to the Episode 6—he told Shoko, the reason why Yūji will come back in action at Goodwill Event.

Thank you so much for supporting Kaleidoscope Series! (つ≧▽≦)つ I hope this was able to satisfy your curiosity~ ✨💛✨

—Grey,

[sserpente]

A/N: Surprise! Here’s the thing—I don’t normally write sub!Loki at all. However, since Christmas is a time of gifting and making wishes come true and it has been requested quite a few times in the past, I decided to take on an anon request. I can’t write fully-fledged sub!Loki, I just can’t… so I hope this will do! There’s another anon request in there too. I hope you all enjoy it!

Words: 2357 Warnings: sub!Loki-ish, fluff, smut

Additional NSFW warnings: light bondage, oral, usage of anal sex toy

-

You cursed when you stubbed your toe on the door, shutting it aggressively all the while flinging your bag into the corner like it was the reason for all of your problems. You were trembling, anger and exhaustion gnawing at your guts.

When you let out a desperate sigh as you kicked off your winter boots, Loki tilted his head. He had appeared in the threshold leading to the living room on your floor—an entire floor on Stark Tower, all to yourself. Today, however, this very circumstance did not cheer you up in the slightest.

“A good evening to you too, pet.” He said, eyeing you with curiosity.

“I bloody hate working in retail!” You spat in response. “Why are people being so idiotic, can you tell me that? Oh, I want a refund on this obviously used item which I don’t even have the receipt for, oh, can’t you hurry up I need to catch a train—I had hours to spend on browsing but I want to pay for this immediately or I’m just gonna leave, oh, can you recommend a gift for my niece, I barely know her or her interests but surely you’ll find a gift for her because I am too lazy to use my own brain?” You were fuming. Loki chuckled.

“My dear… breathe.” He was never this gentle with any of the other Avengers but then again, you were the only one he had taken a romantic and sexual interest in. You sighed when he approached you to pull you into a tight embrace, forcing you to calm down for him. Your hands wrapped around his middle almost automatically, allowing him to lift you off the ground and carry you into your bedroom.

Loki spent most of his time in your flat here in Stark Tower. Here, he wasn’t always under suspicion of plotting world domination again—and in fact, all he did was reading, stealing your sweets and learning more about Midgardian culture, first and foremost Christmas. Last week, you had forced him through all Santa Clause films and he had actually ended up enjoying them in the end.

Another sigh escaped your lips as you pressed your face against his chest, letting his hand stroke over your head. Perhaps you should finally let the cat out of the bag and tell the others about your relationship. Loki could be so sweet… and he loved being pampered by you, even if you made sure to take your time teasing him thoroughly first.

“Is there a particular reason you left me a gift this morning?” He changed the topic. Oh yes. You had almost forgotten about this. You had shoved part of Loki’s Christmas gift into his green and gold socket above your bed before you had left this morning. It was Christmas Eve and since you would be spending the 25th with the other Avengers, you had decided that him receiving part of his gift in private would be more appropriate.

“Me?” You asked, playing innocent. “That must have been Santa, Lokes.”

“Are you going to tell me what exactly it is?” He probed. You giggled, looking up at him with innocent eyes.

“I was hoping you’d ask. Where did you put it?” Loki conjured it up seemingly out of thin air—you’d never grow tired of seeing him use his seidr—and handed you a black plastic packaging which contained an equally black butt plug with a prostate massager for men. Loki and you had recently had a conversation about toys for men as opposed to women only and much to your surprise, he had shown quite the interest in the topic. The faces of the Avengers would have been priceless, had you put it under the Christmas tree for him along with his main present.

You grinned. “Lie down on the bed for me—and magic your clothes off, will you?” Loki smiled at your request. He did not often let you command him around like that—but when he did he knew you needed it, to have some fun with his arousal for you to distract yourself from work and other sorrows, much like today. You shouldn’t be in such a bad mood on Christmas Eve, after all.

Still smiling gently, he did as he was told and then slightly raised his eyebrows for you to make the next move. You winked at him after admiring his semi-hard cock for a bit, disappearing in the bathroom. Once you had returned, hands washed, clothes changed and sex toy sanitised properly, you got to work. Loki’s eyebrows shot up all the way when you produced the bondage rope you kept in the drawer right next to the bed and then climbed on the bed as well, straddling his strong thighs.

“Please? Let me play.” You pouted. Loki sighed—allowing you to tie his hands together and then to the bedpost. Both of you were very well aware that he could rip himself free at any time—it was more a matter of it looking pretty and downright hot to have the God of Mischief tied up and at your mercy, at least hypothetically.

He shifted on the mattress just a little when you reached for the toy again which you had already coated in a thick layer of strawberry lube and brought it to his anus. It was designed to directly stimulate his prostate and you positively couldn’t wait to see his reaction.

“What are you doing?” His question was a warning; reminding you it was a privilege he was playing submissive for you and that the… situation could change at any moment. You swallowed, your own arousal pooling in your knickers like a waterfall.

“Trust me? It will feel good, I promise.”

Loki sighed once more—and gasped when you slowly and carefully worked the butt plug inside of his rear. His cock twitched, joyful anticipation mixing with impatience. By the time it was snugly in place, he was as hard as rock and moaned upon you wrapping your hand around him, giving him a few strokes with your hands partially still covered in the strawberry lube you had used.

Loki bucked his hips almost immediately, growling when you drew your hand away again. You chuckled. “You look pretty adorable like that, you know… desperate for pleasure…”

He growled in response. “You will be the one desperate for pleasure and begging me for my touch if you keep this up for long.” He threatened. Your giggle intensified. You felt so much better already.

“Just you wait.” You said, pressing the button of the small bullet vibrator inserted into the butt plug. Loki tensed up when it hummed to life, sending continuous vibrations through his anus and stimulating his prostate.

Then, taking mercy on him, your hand returned to his impressive length, jerking and pleading for attention. A few drops of precum had already formed on his red tip—it was too tempting to ignore. Unceremoniously, you bent down and closed your lips around him, licking over his slit and lapping up all he had to give for now.

Loki tugged at his restraints. A little more strength and he’d tear them apart altogether and he was barely just containing himself anymore already. Knowing he could stop this anytime and pin you down underneath him to just take what he desired for some reason only fuelled his arousal. He bucked his hips in an attempt to plunge himself deeper into your mouth but you were being particularly relentless today. He growled once more, watching how a grin formed on your lips. With a smacking sound, you released him again, continuing to stroke him all the while the prostate massager kept vibrating inside of his rear.

“Does that feel good?” You asked, almost timidly. Loki was an experienced lover, you knew this much. How many Asgardian women had had the pleasure to learn what had earned him the nickname silver tongue you did not want to know and yet, even though his confidence in bed and knowledge of pleasing a woman was exciting, at the very same time it intimidated you.

Loki nodded, blue eyes locked with yours. “Yes. Keep going, my dear.” It almost sounded like an order—one you’d do better not to defy. You took it as an invitation and pressed the button of the vibrator again.

The setting was on high now—but not high enough to tip him over the edge just yet. You needed to hear him whimper first. You had managed once, a few weeks back when Loki had allowed you to tie him up and tease him for a while for the very first time. In the end, it had resulted in him flipping you around and fucking you roughly from behind so hard you had been unable to walk the next day. Your cunt clenched upon remembering how deliciously sore you had felt. It was a risk you were willing to take again.

Loki bucked his hips once more, thrusting up in a steadier rhythm now and desperate for more friction… which gave you another idea. Biting your lower lip, you stood from the bed and peeled off the comfy trousers you had changed into, right along with your underwear. If only Loki could see the wet spot on them as you stepped out of them, he would be grinning like a cat who got the cream but fortunately for you, you were in charge tonight—or at least, for now.

He eyed you like a hungry wolf, growling in an animalistic manner as soon as your slick pussy lips rubbed against his tip and you massaged your clit with it for a while before slowly, painfully slow, sinking down on him and sheathing his cock deep inside of you. You moaned, throwing your head back. Riding him always felt so much deeper than when he was on top… unless he hauled your legs over his shoulders that was.

“More…” He choked out, his blue gaze getting almost feverish, about to turn him into a mindless beast. You stilled, not moving an inch and just kept him inside of you all the while the vibrator in his rear kept stimulating him. He gritted his teeth when you failed to move, bucking up his hips in a desperate attempt to get you to ride him but you decided to take your time. Leaning forward, you began covering his chest and neck in light kisses, tongue darting out every now and then to taste him. Loki was already sweating, his limbs shaking and you knew then just how badly he needed his release. The restraints keeping his hands above his head on the bedpost gave a suspicious tearing sound as he thrust up into you once more.

He was close. He was so close. Smiling, you kissed him and moved back up and into a sitting position. Your fingers found the switch of the vibrator, turning the setting even higher. There was no need for you to move and ride him anymore. Loki came by himself and finally, gave you the whimper you had so desired to hear from him. Your lips parted when he starting twitching inside of you, spilling himself with a groan. His warm seed coated your walls, his cock jerking until he was all but spent. Once he had caught his breath, you turned off the vibrator… for now.

“Get that lovely quim of yours up here.” He ordered with a hoarse voice, once more raising the question whether you had ever truly been in charge of his pleasure. But who were you to defy him? Biting your lower lip, you let him slide out of you, whimpering at the loss of feeling so deliciously full, inched forward until your most private parts were only inches from his mouth and then carefully sat again, your thighs to either side of his head.

Loki wasted no time. Humming contently, he licked over your slit and clit, suckling on your outer lips and circling your sensitive bundle of nerves, tongue pressing against it, massaging it, until you dug your fingers into his raven hair, urging him on. You were so incredibly wet for him it wouldn’t take you long to gush all over him either and so you did. Loki ate you out like you were his last meal, pampering your clit until your body couldn’t take it anymore and you fell, seeing stars as your orgasm crashed over you like a tidal wave, drowning you in pure pleasure. You only realised once you lifted yourself off his face because he would not stop that he had wrapped his fingers around the bars of the top of the bed. The bondage rope was torn apart beyond repair.

You smiled, allowing him you wrap you in his arms as he flipped you both around so you came to lie on the bed more comfortably.

“Feeling more relaxed now, my dear?” He asked with a sly smile.

“Much better. Thank you.” Loki hummed in response. “I’m pretty hungry… how about an early Christmas dinner? Just the two of us, without the others.”

“That sounds promising. But first I will need you to get that thing out of me.” He said, eliciting a devilish grin from you.

“I think I’m gonna leave that thing where it is for now. You’ll get a taste of your own medicine. Remember that golden butt plug you made me wear on Christmas last year? Revenge is sweet. So…” You paused. “Are you going to help me cook?”

Loki’s expression darkened, sending pleasant shivers up and down your spine. “You are going to remove that right now.”

“Nope,” you announced smugly, freeing yourself from his embrace and climbing off the mattress. “I’ll be in the kitchen, whenever you’re ready.”

Truth be told, you never made it to the kitchen. Loki was after you in a matter of seconds, dragged you back into bed and made sure you came to regret teasing him like that. Oh, and you most definitely lost count after at least five more orgasms.

-

A/N: There’s a hint in there for another smutty Loki Christmas Imagine soon to come. Can you find it? ;-)

If you enjoyed this story, I would appreciate it so much if you considered supporting me on Kofi! It’s either for caffeine or red wine, I’ll take both. ko-fi.com/sserpente ♥ 

[dialovers-translations]

DIABOLIK LOVERS Animate Kuji B Prize Tokuten Drama CD [Reiji・Kanato・Subaru]

Original title: B賞ドラマCD (カナト・レイジ・スバル)

Source: Diabolik Lovers Animate Kuji Tokuten Drama CD [CD not owned by me]

Audio: Here

Seiyuu: Katsuyuki Konishi, Kaji Yuki & Takashi Kondou

Translator’s note: Reiji suffering hours never end in the Sakamaki manor. Honestly, for how serious and low-key boring his HDB route is, Reiji is by far the most entertaining character in the early era tokuten CDs. He’s the only character who is actually trying to keep everything together but chaos just breaks loose every time lol.

→  LIKE MY TRANSLATIONS? SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI!

Subaru enters the kitchen.

*Thud*

*Rustle rustle rustle*

Subaru: ...!? The fuck’s goin’ on in here...?

*Rustle rustle*

Subaru: ...Ah, fuck! ...Where am I supposed to walk...!?

Kanato: Subaru, is that you? 

Subaru: Uwaah...!? Kanato! Where the fuck did you just crawl out of...!? ーー Or rather, what are you doin’?

Kanato: Can’t you see? ...I’m looking for sweets!

Subaru: Haah...? Didn’t you have a cake of some sorts for dinner just earlier? 

*Rustle rustle*

Kanato: ...I’m hungry...but I can’t find anything to snack on...Uu...Even though I’m starving...So why...? Uu...Sob...

Subaru: Argh...Geezー Shut the fuck up...I only came here to fetch a drink! Oi! Did you happen to across a bottle of mineral water?

Kanato: Don’t ask me. Look for that yourself.

Subaru: I can’t because you flipped the whole damn kitchen upside down!

Kanato: I can’t help you if I don’t know myself. ...Right, Teddy? I wonder why he’d lash out at me like that when I clearly said I don’t know? When he could make an effort to search for it himself, he just takes out his anger on me instead...That guy should just drop dead already.

Subaru: Che...! This is such a pain in the ass!

*Thud*

Kanato: Hm...I wonder why he’s there losing his cool in the corner by himself. Right, Teddy?

Subaru: Che...!

*Rustle rustle*

Subaru: Haah...Ugh...Huh? ...Tsk.

*Rustle rustle*

Kanato: Ah! Found something!

*Rustle rustle*

Kanato: Oh...Crackers? ー Ugh.

He chucks them to the side.

Subaru: What’s the problem? You were searching for food, right?

Kanato: You really don’t understand, do you? I’m looking for sugary treats. I finally found something, but it turned out to be these bland-tasting crackers...Haah...Are the people in this house trying to starve me to death!?

Subaru: Ahー Everything has to be loaded with sugar for you, doesn’t it? Hm...?

Subaru walks over to the counter.

Subaru: The fuck’s this? A small container and a bottle...? There seems to be some sort of white powder inside? Sugar, maybe?

Kanato: ...!! Give that to me!!

Kanato snatches the bottle away from Subaru.

*Rustle rustle*

Subaru: ...Uwah!? ...Oi, aren’t those the crackers you tossed away earlier?

*Rustle rustle*

Subaru: ...? D-Don’t tell me...!?

Kanato rips open the crackers and starts pouring the sugar on top.

Kanato: If I do this...Then the crackers will become sweet...Fufufu~ 

Subaru: No, wait! I said it might be sugar! But what if it’s something entirely different...?

Kanato: Haahn...

*Munch munch*

Subaru: Listen to me!!

Kanato continues eating.

Subaru: ...How is it?

Kanato: Fufu, it’s sweet...~

Subaru: Which means...It really was just plain sugar? The fuck. There wasn’t a label on it, so I thought that maybe Reiji left one of his shady concoctions laying ‘round. ーー In that case, I guess the liquid in this bottle is just plain old water as well. 

He opens the bottle.

Subaru: It’s transluscent and has no scent so...It should be fine, right?

*Gulp gulp*

Subaru: Haah...

Reiji enters the kitchen.

Reiji: What are the two of you doing in here this late at niーー 

Subaru: Che...Geh, Reiji!?

Reiji: Ah...What happened in here!? 

Kanato: ...

*Munch*

Kanato: I was only looking for some sweets.

Reiji: Ah, geez! I’ve told you before that your snacks are in the shelf over there in the back, haven’t I!? Your searching method is to blame here! ...Wait, Kanato...What is that you’re holding in your hand?

Kanato: I poured all of this sugar over the crackers and ate them. ...Fufu, it made them at least somewhat palatable, right, Teddy?

Reiji: All of it...!?

Subaru: Oi...Did we make a mistake?

Reiji: ...Why do you people always put everything in your mouth straight away!? That medicine is still in its testing phase, so I cannot predict the effeーー

*Cling*

Subaru: ...!? Ugh...

Kanato: Uu...

Subaru: My headーー!

Kanato: ...It hurts...! It feels like my head’s splitting in two...!!

Subaru: ...Aaaargh...!!

Reiji: ...And that’s exactly why I keep on telling you lot not to eat everything you see...

*Thud*

Reiji: ...?

Kanato: Ehehe~ Such lovely weather we’re having today~! It’s like Mr. Sun is smiling brightly at us~!

Reiji: K-Kanato...?

Subaru: Yeah, mate! On days like these, I just want to go for a nice, long run!

Reiji: Subaru!?

Kanato: Ooh~? Rei-pyon, didn’t see you there! ...What’s wrong~? Why are you making that strange face?

Subaru: Kanato! Rei-rei’s face always looks weird, remember? You shouldn’t tell him straight-up though.

Reiji: R-Rei...pyon? Rei-rei!? 

( Is this the medicine taking effect...? )

Subaru: Rei-rei! If you keep on making those troubled expressions, you’re only going to get even more wrinkles, you know? If somethin’ is weighin’ heavy on your mind, why don’t you join me outside for a round of soccer?

Reiji: ...I have no worries! I refuse to play soccer as well!

Kanato: Rather than playing soccer, why don’t you join me and Teddy and bask in the sunlight~? I’m sure it’ll be a blast!

Subaru: No! A healthy mind in a healthy body is key! You should play some soccer as well, Kanato. Ah! I guess the more, the merrier, right? I’ll go call the other guys as well! Hehe~!

Subaru runs towards the door.

Reiji: Ah...! Subaru! Halt!

Reiji stops him just in time.

*Rustle*

Reiji: ...Either way, we have to sort out this situation first. If you insist on playing soccer, please wait till later.

( If I let the other brothers see these two in their current state, things will only get even more troublesome. For now, it is most important to get a good grasp on the situation. )

I’ll start with you, Kanato.

Kanato: What’s wrong, Rei-pyon~?

Reiji: ...! ...Please stop using that disgusting nickname at once.

Kanato: Eeeeh~?

Reiji: ...

Kanato: Ehehe~ 

Reiji: I suppose I should retrieve the drug first and foremost. ...Kanato, please hand me those snacks.

Kanato: Eh...?

Reiji: ( I suppose he is still reluctant to hand over his sugary treats. However, the usual Kanato would most likely throw a tantrum here. I suppose I should push him to the very limit. )

Kanato. Hurry up and give them to me. I’m confiscating these! 

Reiji snatches the crackers from his hand.

Kanato: ...Ah! ...Uu.

Reiji: ( ...!? He’s not getting mad!? )

Kanato: Uu...Hic...Rei-pyon...I’m so sorry. Will you give me back my sweets if I promise I’ll be good...?

Reiji: Ah...N-No...I did not want an apology from you or anything...Here.

*Rustle*

Kanato: Ah~! Thank you, Rei-pyon!

Reiji: But like I said, no more of that nickname! ーー Well then, how about Subaru?

Subaru: Hah...Hah!!

Reiji: ( ...He’s doing sit-ups...!? )

I take my eyes off you for two seconds and what are you doing now!?

Subaru: Can’t you tell? Sit-ups! Nothin’ feels better than movin’ your body! 

Reiji: ( The drug affected him in this way, huh...? )

What happened to your usual self, Subaru? While it is more than fine you decided to stop destroying everything in your sight, this is creepy on a whole new level. 

Subaru: Hm? Taking out your anger on other things isn’t good, you know? If you’re got any worries, I’ll listen to you, okay? Come on, tell me!

Reiji: ...

 Subaru continues to do his sit-ups in the background.

Reiji: I didn’t think I’d ever hear those words coming from you...

( If I have to try and reason with them any longer, I will surely lose my mind. While I am still not certain about the exact effects, I should prioritize getting started on an antidote of some sorts. )

Kanato: Rei-pyon? Is something bothering you? Want some sweets?

Reiji: No, thank you. 

Subaru: Then want to go for a run? You’ll feel reborn afterwards!

Reiji: I am fine! ...Either way, I shall prepare an antidote at once, so just drink that!

*TIMESKIP*

Kanato: Uu...Sob...I’m hungry...Uu...

Subaru: I don’t remember leavin’ my room and comin’ here at all...Although I’m strangely exhausted for some reason? ...I wonder why?

Reiji: Haah...

Subaru: ...Hah? The fuck’s with that face, Reiji? You look like an old geezer.

Kanato: He is older than us, so of course he does, Subaru. Fufufu~

Reiji: ...Who do you think is to blame for that?

Subaru: ...Aah?

Kanato: Say, is dinner ready yet? Did you not hear me when I said I’m hungry earlier!?

Subaru: Ahー I could go for some food as well.

Reiji: Aah, god, I know! Fine! Whatever you do, don’t touch any of the bottles theーー

Subaru: Tsk...I’m thirsty as well. ...Oh! There’s a bottle right here!

*Gulp*

Reiji: ...Ah.

ーー THE END ーー

[nanaminokanojo]

[9:00 PM] Kamo Noritoshi

LOG 13 OF MY JUJUTSU KAISEN TIMESTAMP DRABBLES

CHARACTERS: Kamo Noritoshi X You | JJK Characters (mentions)

WORD COUNT: 1,112

GENRE: slight angst | fluff | implied race

TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of violence | injuries | profanity

SPOILERS: n/a | a little bit of that blond Zenin guy *whispers* Naoya

collection masterlist

📸 photo/fanart credit to @fushigummy

You sat, assuming proper seiza*, on the tatami floor of Noritoshi’s private study at the Kamo Clan estate. Your hands balled into fists while you tried hard not to make a sound or show any kind of expression to give away just how much pain you were in. In an embarrassing concatenation, you ended up there, the left-arm side of your prescribed, dark blue kimono – a sort of uniform as one of the guards to the clan's heir – folded neatly under your arm, while your other hand held onto your hanjuban* to keep your chest modestly out of view.

Your current state of partial undress revealed severe bruising on your left shoulder, the irregular purple and red patches covering that quadrant of your back, extending downwards. It was a result of your reckless decision to go against the arrogant heir apparent to the Zenin clan who came for a visit, only to insult Noritoshi. The young man you served said nothing even as that blond, young master of the other clan said all those disrespectful things, mostly questioning Noritoshi’s legitimacy to hold the same position as he does for the Kamo clan. He had nerve mouthing off when there was talk about him not being fit for the role either.

You ended up losing, and if it weren't for the interference of both present clan heads, you would probably be dead. The malicious intent in that person's eyes as he regarded you as if you were a piece of insignificant trash was etched in your mind, making your blood boil with anger. It wasn't your place to go against the Zenin boy. It was imprudent because your course of action was not under a command but merely based on your whims. Still, your priority will always be to protect Noritoshi regardless of the circumstances, even at the cost of your life as, first and foremost, a servant to him and the clan, and secondly, as his friend.

"What have I told you about your temper?" Noritoshi said rather sternly.

You watched from the mirror on the wall as he knelt behind you, having insisted that he would tend to your injuries himself despite your protests. You hated it when he uses that tone of voice when speaking to you in private when he also insisted you act casually around each other when no one else is around.

"To not let it bring out the worst in me," you answered promptly albeit grudgingly. You didn't really want to speak while he fiddled with your injured back since it was harder to conceal your pain. Your voice came out wobbly at best as you spoke through gritted teeth, breaking into cold sweat. Even harder when you were trying to sound calm.

He sighed. "Are you angry?"

"Am I..." You let out a snagged breath as you chuckled without mirth, the sound coming out from your throat in a stifled gasp. Even that action made your whole body hurt.

You've had enough seeing how everyone seemed to be tormenting him just because his mother was a mistress. You've had enough of witnessing how lonely his existence was, crying for his mother when they sent her away when you were kids, the haughty bastards that they are. You had to see all those tears but you've also watched how hard he worked to become stronger. And you've most definitely had enough of seeing everyone act as if the sins of his father defined him when he was so much more than that. Hell, you were treated better then him until he was named heir to the clan, all because he inherited the clan's curse technique.

Finally snapping, you swatted at his hand, preparing to stand up, acting out of turn again. But he placed a hand on your injured shoulder, the pressure hardly there but you fell back on your knees, your upper extremities seizing. You glared at him from over your shoulder, eyes becoming hazy with tears but you blinked them back.

"Am I supposed to just watch while that person steps all over you?" you hissed. "All this time I've known you, all I could do was watch and wait for you to order me to actually do that. That's my job, but you're not letting me do it. Instead, you're protecting me. To answer your question, no. I'm not angry. I am fucking furious!"

"Y/N, language," he admonished. Damn it, he would be paying attention to propriety while you were lashing out like that. Only Kamo Noritoshi.

"Don't tell me to watch my language! Right now, I don't care if you're the heir to the clan leadership. I speak as your friend, and I'm telling you I won't just stand by idly. No more."

You didn't even realize you were already a crying mess until you felt his warm hands cup your face, kneeling before you, his thumbs wiping away your tears. Just then, he opened his eyes and broke into that rare smile. "So you have this side to you?" His tone was gentle and he regarded you the same way.

You winced, clutching at your shoulder and finding that it had already been wrapped up properly. You sniffled, calming down. "Thanks. You're not even supposed to be doing this for me." You sighed, quelling your fury. "I should be taking care of you."

"Stop saying that," he told you, fingers caressing your cheek as he drew nearer. "You've protected me enough, more than I can tell you. Don't undermine what you do for me because I don't know what I would have done without you by my side all these years."

Your eyes widened at his words, surprised that he thought that way. You never really thought you were doing much for him, but as if he read through you he said, "You've protected me all this time, now it's my turn to do it. I don't keep you by my side because I need you to watch my back." He reached for your hair, letting its silky length run across his palm.

"Then why?" you asked.

"Because you're mine..."

You didn't know if you heard right, but your heart stopped just the same when his words registered. "Huh?"

He smirked at you then and closed the distance between your faces, his hand gently pressing at the small of your back as he pulled you closer, his lips claiming yours in a sweet kiss that knocked the breath out of you.

When he pulled back, he touched his forehead to yours, breaking into a smirk as he said, "And I always want to keep an eye on what is mine."

-END-

TERMINOLOGIES:

*seiza (正座) – the proper/polite/formal sitting position in traditional Japan

*hanjuban (半襦袢) – traditional undergarment worn under the kimono, particularly for the upper extremities; it’s like a traditional undershirt which goes with another piece called susuyoke (裾除け) for the lower half of the body and together, the ensemble is called hadajuban (肌襦袢)

ハッピーバースデー @fushigummy!! This one's STILL for you.

Thank you so much for reading. Likes, comments and reblogs are deeply appreciated! Hope you enjoyed it.

© ORIGINAL WORK BY nanaminokanojo. CHARACTERS ARE INSPIRED BY GEGE AKUTAMI'S JUJUTSU KAISEN. [20210603]

PHOTO/IMAGE/GIF/FANART CREDITS TO THE RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

[lunaslovelyrambles]

It's canon that Levi is very self conscious about his handwriting since he came from Underground. BUT it's also canon that his handwriting is neat. So how about Levi writing his crush a letter but then decides not to give the letter last minute but too late! His crush saw the letter in his hand and they basically have a tug of war over the letter 💀 I hope this is okay. Thank you ❤️

of course it’s okay!! sorry for the long ass wait.. but thank you for sending this in! it’s such a cute request :)

went w a scenario bc i’m rusty with them! as always feedback + reblogs are appreciated :3

——

levi ackerman

He was screwed, wasn’t he? Yeah, he was totally, and wholeheartedly screwed. The second he felt the wavering in his heart and fluttering in his stomach he knew he was screwed.

Because Levi Ackerman - Humanity’s Strongest Soldier - has a crush.

Levi wasn’t one to focus too heavily on his emotions. Oftentimes he’d dismiss any unusual feelings without any second thought. He didn’t have time for that: any sappy, mushy feelings. He was a soldier first and foremost. That was his duty, and that was his priority above all. He should focus on the fight for humanity and that solely.

So why, why was he so hellbent on getting your attention?

Because he liked you, that’s why. But he didn’t want to admit it. He could die at any second and so could you. Like hell he’d want to form a relationship under those conditions.

Still, pushing his feelings toward you aside didn’t help in the slightest. Every day as he watched you laugh with some of the other cadets he felt his hand clench around his cup. He wanted to sit by your side, hear your beautiful laughs and be with you goddamnit.

Why was this so hard? Why was liking someone romantically so hard?

These thoughts permeated his mind as he stared at his paperwork. His pen had been sitting on the table for quite a while now as he thought, once again, about you. He had long forgotten about what he needed to get done for the night and was purely lost in his thoughts.

Should he tell you? No- what if you rejected him? He’d be crushed and not only that but things would be awkward then.. but what if you said yes? Then he could finally get this off his chest and-

He groaned heavily as he laid his head on his desk, causing some of the papers to crinkle underneath. He couldn’t stop the thoughts from growing louder and louder in his mind. They were all too loud and distracting for him to do anything.

But he couldn’t just go and confess! That wasn’t the kind of person he was! He wasn’t the type to just do something like that.. To him, it was way too embarrassing.

As he laid with his head on his desk an idea suddenly entered his mind. One that would save him some embarrassment while also conveying his feelings perfectly. Well, less embarrassing than directly confessing that is.

A letter.

He could write you a letter. The perfect way to confess his feelings. He could write exactly what he wanted and completely avoid the awkwardness of him telling you. It was only an added plus thay writing a letter was seen as sweet and romantic to most people.

Levi finally picked up his pen and started writing on a new, clean sheet of paper.

-x-

It had been several days since he initially came up with the idea to write you a letter and Levi still hadn’t written one that he liked.

Several balled up sheets of paper could be found stacked in his garbage can, and even more burned in the fireplace.

For some reason he just couldn’t get the wording right. Every time he wrote it it just didn’t seem... right. It didn’t feel good enough, it was too blunt, it was too wordy. Every draft he was just unhappy with. And he kept trying only to be continuously dissatisfied.

He sighed as he set his pen down another time. He looked at the singular sheet of paper and began to reread it.

“Dear (Y/N),

I just wanted to say that - ”

“Whatcha got there?”

Levi nearly fell out of his seat. Standing in the doorway was none other than you. And you were very curious to know what he was holding. For a split second he thought about balling it up and chucking it at you, but his body reacted quicker and shoved it into his desk drawer.

“Why didn’t you knock? Didn’t you learn any manners?” he quickly retorted, but he was still caught off guard by your entry thus causing his words to come out quicker than he would have liked.

You rose an eyebrow and walked further into the room, closing the door behind you.

“I did. Several times actually,” you responded, “What was that paper you shoved into your drawer?”

He swallowed thickly. It would be hard for him to maneuver his way out of this one.

“Why are you here? Do you have something to report?”

“...no. But you haven’t really been out of your office all day. Now answer my question.” As you spoke you inched closer to his desk before standing on the side - the one closest to the drawer with the paper in it.

He didn’t answer. Shit. You were not gonna let this go.

He half expected you to keep harassing him with questions until he either forced you out or gave in. But you chose a third option, which was one he wasn’t expecting.

Which was shoving yourself between him in the drawer, effectively blocking him as you grabbed the letter out. Luckily for him, he regained some sort of mind to fight with you for the paper as it left the drawer.

You tugged on one end and he grabbed the other, neither of you showing any sign of letting go. He really started to begin to regret training you to be so strong.

As he gave one harsh tug, and you doing the same, the letter finally ripped in half from the tension. He had the top half and you had the bottom.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Do you always go through other people’s stuff without permission?” he looked down at the paper and back up at you. Naturally he was angry with you for taking out the letter without asking, but when he looked up at you his anger slowly dissipated.

Your mouth was slightly parted and your cheeks were slowly heating up as you finished the letter. Your eyes then flickered from the letter up to him. You turned around the letter to face him and pointed at the words on the bottom.

“I really like you, (Y/N), and I’d love to go out with you sometime.”

“Is this... for me?” you softly asked. His mouth formed a thin line as he avoided your gaze, his cheeks now dusted with a faint pink. There was no way he could say no, it wasn’t for you, because your name was literally on the note.

He was beyond embarrassed. He was mortified. His feelings were out in the open now and there was no going back.

Just as he was about to leave the room to avoid the uncomfortable sting of rejection, he heard you giggle. The noise made him glare back at you, and it was that that made you full on laugh.

Now he really felt humiliated.

“I just can’t believe that you fought me tug of war style for this,” your laughing died down a little, “Did you convince yourself that hard that I’d reject you?”

Levi didn’t know what to think anymore.

“I mean.. kind of, yeah,” he still spoke softly, still not looking at you.

“You’d be wrong, then.”

He finally stopped looking at the floor and back at you. You were smiling at him, a big toothy smile and one that he loved seeing every day.

“I thought that letter was, like, you kicking me off your squad. So I thought ‘hey I’ll bite the bullet and take it out even if he’ll hate me for it’ or something I don’t know. I’m sorry for going through your stuff-”

Before you could finish your apology Levi had uncharacteristically pulled you into his chest. He had felt like someone crushed a building on him when you stole that letter out but now? He feels like he just got the best night sleep.

“Don’t. Don’t even worry about it. I’m.. glad you took it. It’s okay,” he smiled into your shoulder as you returned the hug.

Maybe he’ll write you letters more often.

——

masterlist || rules page

[vajranam]

Dealing With Anger

ON DEALING WITH ANGER

Undoubtedly, both Shantideva and the Dalai Lama are most articulate in their discourse on how to deal with anger and hatred.

Shantideva in fact opens the chapter on patience with the strong statement that an instance of anger can destroy positive imprints created over “a thousand eons.”

He further asserts that there is no evil like hatred and that there is no fortitude like patience. Thus, he recommends that we all seek to develop patience.

In Shantideva’s view, anger acts as the principal obstacle to the development of patience. To use the well-known medical analogy, hatred is the poison and patience is the medicine that removes the poisonous toxins from within the mind.

As the Dalai Lama’s commentary makes clear, Shantideva identifies two key elements in our attempts to overcome anger.

First and foremost, it is important for us to have a profound appreciation of the negativity of anger. Of particular relevance is to reflect upon the destructive effects of generating anger.

Second, Shantideva identifies the need to develop a deep understanding of the causal mechanism which underlies the arisal of anger. This is of special interest to the modern reader, who will unavoidably be approaching Shantideva’s text with many of the popular assumptions associated with modern psychology and its views on human emotions.

In verse 7 of the chapter, Shantideva makes the crucial observation that the “fuel” of anger is what he calls “mental discomfort.” This is an interesting notion. The Tibetan word is yi mi-dewa which can be translated as “dejection,” “unhappiness,” or simply as “dissatisfaction.”

It is best understood as a pervasive, underlying sense of dissatisfaction, which need not be felt at the conscious level. It is that nagging feeling that something is not quite right.

Shantideva seems to be suggesting that it is this underlying sense of dissatisfaction that gives rise to frustration. When this happens, the conditions are set for an immediate outburst of anger when things do not go the way we wish.

Once this causal nexus between dissatisfaction, frustration, and anger is understood, we can then appreciate the virtue of Shantideva’s approach to dealing with anger. We can see that much of his approach is aimed at rooting out this underlying sense of dissatisfaction rather than engaging in a head-to-head confrontation with actual full-blown anger.

This is the reason for Shantideva’s emphasis on reflections which aim to create stability of mind. As to the specific practices, the reader can follow the detailed commentary of the Dalai Lama in the appropriate sections of the book.

An important point to note here is that Shantideva does not appear to make any distinction between anger and hatred in his discussion.

However, the Dalai Lama’s commentary explicitly underlines this critical distinction. He observes that, in principle, it may be possible to accept what could be called a “positive anger.”

Anger as an outrage toward injustice done to others can often be an important catalyst for powerful altruistic deeds.

However, he rejects such possibility with regard to hatred. For the Dalai Lama, hatred can have no virtue. It only eats the person from within and poisons his or her interactions with fellow human beings. In his words, “Hatred is the true enemy; it is the inner enemy.”

Perhaps we can say that the feature that distinguishes anger and hatred is the absence or presence of ill-will. A person can be angry without bearing any ill-will toward his or her object of anger. The Dalai Lama instructs us to ensure that our anger, even when it arises, never culminates in full-blown hatred. This, I think, is an important ethical teaching.

A few words on some of the general principles which lie behind the approaches suggested in this book for dealing with our emotions and developing patience may perhaps help the general reader.

A key principle is a belief in what could be called the plasticity of the mind, that is, an assumption of the mind’s limitless capacity for improvement. This is supported by a complex understanding of the psychology of the mind and its various modalities.

Both Shantideva and the Dalai Lama are operating within a long history of Buddhist psychology and philosophy of mind which emphasizes a detailed analysis of human emotions.

Generally speaking, in this view the mind is perceived in terms of a complex, dynamic system where both cognitive and affective dimensions of the psyche are seen as an integrated whole.

So, when the two masters present means of dealing with emotions such as anger, they are not suggesting that we should suppress them. Both Buddhist and modern psychology agree on the harmfulness of mere suppression.

The Buddhist approach is to get at the root so that the very basis for anger is undercut. In other words, Shantideva and the Dalai Lama are suggesting ways of reorienting our character so that we become less prone to strong reactive emotions such as anger. It is in this light that most of the reflections recommended in this volume should be understood.

The motto is simple: Discipline your mind. Shantideva underlines the critical importance of this inner discipline with a wonderful analogy:

Where would I possibly find enough leather

With which to cover the surface of the earth?

But (wearing) just leather on the soles of my shoes

Is equivalent to covering the earth with it.

Likewise it is not possible for me

To restrain the external course of things;

But should I restrain this mind of mine

What would be the need to restrain all else?

(Guide, V:13–14)

This of course is reminiscent of the memorable verse from the Dhammapada in which the Buddha says:

Intangible and subtle is the mind,

That flies after fancies as it likes;

Wise are those who discipline their minds,

For a mind well-disciplined brings great joy. (Verse 35)

Shantideva calls this basic Buddhist practice “guarding the mind” and he discusses it at great length in chapter 5 of his Guide.

Another general principle I wish to draw the reader’s attention to is the basic pragmatism of Shantideva’s teachings. He does not appear to believe in the possibility of one cure or solution to any problem.

His is a strategy that involves drawing extensively from all our inner resources. Many of his arguments appeal to what we may call human rationality. But he also uses approaches that appeal to our fundamental humanitarian sentiments. Often he plays upon our sense of moral outrage too. So, the bottom line seems to be “whatever works best.”

In the final analysis, many of the approaches presented in this book are insights grounded in common sense. For example, who can argue with the sheer practicality of the following lines, which the Dalai Lama is so fond of quoting:

Why be unhappy about something

If it can be remedied?

And what is the use of being unhappy about something

If it cannot be remedied? (Guide, VI:10)

Perhaps most importantly for the modern reader, it is vital to appreciate that both Shantideva and the Dalai Lama do not believe in “instant enlightenment.”

In their teachings, there is the basic assumption that cultivating inner discipline is a time-consuming process. In fact, the Dalai Lama rightly points out that having expectations of immediate results is a sign of impatience, the very factor the teachings in this volume aim to counteract.

With a sense of irony, he observes that often what the modern reader wants is “the best, the fastest, the easiest, and, if possible, the cheapest way.” So the journey of someone who is on the path of self-betterment is arduous and requires long commitment.

Nevertheless, the rewards of embarking upon such a journey are potentially enormous. Even in immediate terms, the benefit such an endeavor brings to the traveler’s life seems remarkable.

If the Dalai Lama is representative of those who have gained the fruits of this journey, its merits are shown to be beyond question.

Geshe Thupten Jinpa

Girton College

University of Cambridge

Perfecting Patience - His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Geshe Thupten Jinpa - Shambhala Publications, Inc.

[papirouge]

American evangelicals and independent baptists/southern baptists are weak links because of the perversion in American culture in large areas like the "Bible belt" (central America mostly) intertwining violence and life. Catholicism has its major flaws too especially with sex crimes against children and women (nuns) by supposed men of God. Both are just empty bad faiths leading people to anger and violence than Gods love and word. The culture is twisted into a love of violence that many believe will absolve them of sin. Like, sure say you're pro life but craving tools of war and death like guns and worshiping them like idols isnt Christ like as God condemns violence of all kinds, Especially from his children. There are pockets of good places and good people here but the overall message of Christ isnt strong. The history of the bible or the revelation of other books being banned from being published with it is not widely known as many believe that the English translation is the actual word of God. I've met a girl befoe who told me how the old Hebrew translation "version" is actually the younger newer version of the bible for the Jews to read, that the KJV bible was the first one to be written as God intended it to be written in "American" first.... I've been kicked out of my church group in the past for not agreeing that Christ would be a republican (why is the importance of political parties even matter here?) or him most likely being a dark skin man is a leftist woke agenda. To me, it seems like many of these practicing Christians are like the Pharisees in spirit

MY GOODNESS ANON YOU DELIVEREDT🍵🔥🔥

If you got kicked out of church groups that's a sign you 10000% based anon. 💜 Christians today are spineless and will let fly the worst theology just because some pastor/cleric said it.

You're such a queen for calling them out in their political Christianism crap. Everything is leftist woke-ism now if we're trying hard enough. That's the new "SJW" or "snowflake".

You are soooooooo right for pointing out the pathological mixing of violence and life by most American Christians. They'll claim being pro life but feel entitled to kill someone whose life belongs to God. Their lips say they love God but their actions & thoughts says otherwise. They'll say they rely on God's protection but will be hellbent on carry a gun. They do not make any sense.

I made plentiful of post reminding how Jesus NEVER retaliated or resorted to violence. He even healed the ear of one of the men who came to arrest him that Peter had just cut off (to defend Jesus). Peter represents these foolish Christians thinking violence will get their way. Jesus is actually so full of Love that He will heal those who came to murder him. American pro gun evangelicals should read their Bible more closely.

Yeah I'm very stunned to see how some books are completely slept on. The book of Revelation is definitely one of them. The Destiny of Christiandom is all in there: the antichrist rising, the persecution of Christians, the mark of the Beast, the 7 seals, the 7 trumpets, the rapture....

Reading Christians bloggers is lowkey depressing because they seem so spiritually sheltered and unprepared. They only care about worldly achievement (marrying, having their lil cosy home, their little Christian community, "pls pray for me coz I'm sad uwu" etc.). The Bible calls us to be WARRIORS first and foremost. Not Christian conservatives, not patriots, not housewives, etc. But you'll see most Christians would rather identify as the latter because it asks them less dedication. Spiritual warfare is real, and it will ask Christians more effort & commitment than pulling out an aesthetic/brand on socials. They're modern day pharisees, you're so right!!

The Bible talks about war, and Christians being executed.... And yet most Christians NEVER talk about such things... they would rather bicker about denominations, saving the "Western culture", politics and all this nonsensical secular trash. They are up for a very hard wake up call and I'm sure many Christians will take the mark of the beast as long as it enables them to live their perfect quiet "Christian" life and not be hunted and killed for living the true Gospel. Many Christians have more lust for a "Christian life" than they have for Jesus.

Maaan that American girl is so cringe 💀American exceptionalism is something else.... What do they put inside water for them to be so delusional? 💀 if God has chosen the Jews to breed the Messiah then He logically chosen Hebrew to write the Bible has He intended - not english. These debates about which version of the Bible is the most accurate are retarded cause all Bible are flawed in some aspect. I read the Bible in several languages and words and phrases construction do differ. That's why American arguing about how the KJV is the best version doesn't make much sense because...english isn't the only language in which the Bible is translated, DUH! Jehovah witness too do think their bible is the "right" version. So do Mormons and many other Christian sects. That's why it's sooooo important to have a connection with the holy spirit for Him to guide you in the Truth of God. Sorry but there can't be as many truth as there are Bible versions, however there is only one holy spirit 💜✝️

Early Church Christians didn't have any Bible and yet they were doing just fine. Christians bickering about Bible versions are lost because a book is their sole guide, not God.