#there aren't many examples of this but i would love to see this trope grow

[xvxblahhhxvx]

I think Dazai's backstory is really cool in how, despite having more information about it than most other characters, majority of his life is just one giant noodle incident.

Yep, that's the line I'm going with as an introduction to this analysis. Just bear with me.

To start off, for those who don't know, the term "noodle incident" originates from the (amazing) comic Calvin and Hobbes. In it, the whole idea is that Calvin did this unspecified thing in school that involved noodles, but it's never confirmed what exactly happened. It's only referenced in passing, and it is clear that it was not good. Applied to general fiction, the term Noodle Incident refers to an event that is often referenced, but never clearly explained, and what is important is the characters' reactions and feelings towards it. The principle idea behind it is that imagining what said incident could be is way more significant and impactful than anything it would actually be if it was said. It's not the event that's important, but the effects and responses to it are. *for more info, I recommend Overly Sarcastic Productions trope talk video about it*

Now, how this plays into Dazai's life is that, while it is extremely evident that he likely has a horrible, tragic backstory, we never really get to see much of it. The earliest we are introduced to him, he is already suicidal, and he has lost most in hope in existence. These feelings are tempered a bit when he first joins the Port Mafia, but they come back all too quickly. And while you could argue that him being in the Mafia is a large contributor to his depression,the main reasons why he seeks escape clearly transpired before he ever met Mori.

Dazai was already trying to commit suicide at fourteen, which is how he met Mori. Something happened earlier in his life, but we don't know what. Asagiri himself says that he left Dazai's core, the reason he wants to die, vague on purpose. We aren't given many details, and honestly, we aren't given much backstory to it either. The two biggest hints that we get is when he is speaking to Odasaku. First in The Day I Picked Up Dazai, and the second from Dazai and the Dark Era.

We have no idea who or what Dazai is referring to. From all that we have seen, all the backstories and light novels we are given, the only people that we know of whom Dazai actually lost were Ango and Odasaku-for Ango, it was that special friendship, and Odasaku, it was his life. And even so, it isn't much of an explanation, because he was obviously suicidal before he met them, as evident from how he speaks to Odasaku, and losing them wasn't a catalyst for Dazai's depression. (As a matter of fact, it was actually the first step towards improvement, but that's a different analysis).

Yet for how much we don't know about Dazai's life, I think it's done in such a way that it doesn't really matter. It's a noodle incident, in that sense. Because it's not about the events that actually transpired, it's about how that affects Dazai and the way we see him. Don't get me wrong, I would love a full, confirmed backstory, but Asagiri doesn't seem to intend to write it, and that makes Dazai's character so beautiful. It's also one of the reasons why the dark era, especially the light novel, is so tragic. Because yes, you can argue that as far as tragic backstories go, losing two friends isn't near the most awful, especially not in this universe (I'm not trying to play the "which character has more trauma" game, but compared to, for example, growing up in an abusive orphanage, it's relatively not as inherently tragic. That doesn't make it any less horrible though). But the point of the backstory isn't just to explain the reasoning why things ended up the way they did, why Dazai left the Mafia, boo hoo his friend died, but Odasaku and Ango represent everything in Dazai's life, everyone from his past we never got to meet and I'm not sure if we're ever going to. They symbolize all the things in his life that mattered to him, everything he never wanted to lose but did. The last scene in the bar, where the three of them meet up for the last time, Ango leaves, the picture with the three of them laughing and smiling, the whole thing is meant to serve as a microcosm for Dazai's life as a whole. That he feels he's always going to lose everything, and that's why he wants to die. We don't get details, we don't know the specific events, but we're left with the emotions that gives us an important glimpse into this character's mind, more than his life, and that's what makes him such an interesting character that's left open to interpretation and analysis. We aren't privy to the tragedy, but the aftereffects of it. And, almost as if to prove the point, Odasaku dies the next day. Right after Dazai says he always loses everyone, further cementing the idea that there's almost a curse surrounding him, a void of loneliness that may never be fulfilled, which is as much as Odasaku tells him when he dies.

Whatever happened in Dazai's life before fourteen was probably something horrible and tragic. Maybe he had a family. Maybe he had other good friends. Perhaps he even believed in the goodness of life and humanity. But what's really cool about the way he's written is that the exact events are not important nor necessary to understanding his character. His life is one big noodle incident, yet because of that, we're able to glean an almost deeper understanding about him, by leaving the details in the dark and exposing only the raw, humane emotions left behind. The most important part about any backstory in fiction isn't about what actually happened, it's about how does this affect the character now? What lasting impact did it leave on them, and how is it evident in the way they interact with the story in the present? This is something that Asagiri nails on the head when it comes to his backstories. And I think the lack of clear information about Dazai's backstory, yet all the information we do end up getting about him, is one of the reasons why Dazai is such an interesting and intriguing character in the series.

Thank you all for you time. You may now return to your procrastination.

[lovemyromance]

I like how Elriels don't have to read 30 other SJM (and non-SJM) books to understand the connection Elain has with Azriel. It's on the page, in black and white. There's no twisting of words or reached for foreshadowing or claims of extrapolation going on. We use current canon moments that already prove Elain & Azriel are into each other.

Anti-Elriels, on the other hand, are out here doing the MOST to both disprove Elriel moments and trying to tie together any two random theories in an effort to point to some scrap of "evidence" in favor of their ship.

For example, Elriels often point to the TT & Hybern rescue in ACOWAR to show how Azriel cares for Elain. Even more explicitly stated, in his own POV VC, Azriel is ready to get on his knees for a taste of Miss Elain Archeron.

That is explicitly stated. In the text. The logical reaction would be....to believe what is printed on the page LOL???

Antis will see that moment-read it-process it- and then immediately add on a "Well-but actually".

Meaning, they'll say something like

"Well he might've offered her Truthteller... but actually Cassian offered her a knife too."

"Well he might've saved her from Hybern - but actually Cassian said they'll save Elain first"

"Well, he might've been begging on his knees to try to taste Elain - but actually it's just lust."

Every single Elriel moment they've had some kind of defense for. Everything has to be disproven ... in order to pave the way for their ship.

They are out here trying to disprove explicitly stated moments in the text... while at the same time turning around and saying stuff like:

"Elain asked for sunlight... she asked for Lucien... because Lucien's name means light and he's the heir to the Day Court."

"Something sparked in Azriel's chest... he and Gwyn are mates."

Like how are they out here saying the most - despite having zero things explicitly stated in the text. Y'all are relying on THEORIES while trying to disprove ACTUAL Elriel moments.

Like I'm sorry, but it's a little ridiculous. That's like if I saw "Elain & Lucien are mates" and said

"No actually they're not because Lucien just wants a mate. He thought Jessiminda was his mate and he loved her for so long that now that he has an actual mate he doesn't actually love Elain he really just wants a mate."

"No actually they're not mates bc azriel let out a cry before Elain got dunked in the cauldron - therefore he was crying out for her clearly. And so Lucien & Elain aren't real mates"

Or when "Lucien is compared to flames and Vassa is a firebird so he can't be with Elain because clearly like calls to like so..."

I was gonna include more Gwynriel & Elucien positive, could be romantic (if you squint and forget all you know about romance) moments but they literally don't HAVE any

Like I could sit here and make so many illogical arguments to act like what's canon isn't canon.

But I don't have to. Because Elriel has actual moments together that confirm their growing feelings for each other. The BC gives us an added layer of conflict and forbidden love trope. The talk of rejected mates in the books is foreshadowing that we might explore that plotline as well. The setup is all there, and people are just refusing to see it at this point.

[rockybloo]

Feel like dropping a Beanstalked funfact before I go to take my daily nap so here is one about Jack's Slayer mode. This at some point becomes me rambling about fairy tales again so it's a long one:

Jack's Slayer mode exists because I grew up loving the trope of protagonists in anime that had an alternate side to them. I think one of my first encounters with such was watching Yugioh as a kid with Yugi and Yami Yugi...though that's like...a more positive spin on it. STILL - I loved how there was that switch up between a nice and innocent face to someone who was more skilled and experienced.

Then you got me getting into Inuyasha and his entire full demon mode he entered under specific circumstances, and then Ichigo's whole thing with his hollow self, and Maka's temporarily going insane during her battle with Crona. All of which are instances of protagonists becoming more antagonistic (or just losing some chill).

All a lot less wholesome than the Yugioh example (and all are things I got into when I was older)

BASICALLY - That switch being flipped in a character you typically see as the good guy, doing some wild ass shit just STUCK with me forever. It's very cliche and many kids these days would call it edgy but I adore how corny it is.

For Jack specifically, I felt like he'd be the best character for such a trope because Jack and the Beanstalk is a very interesting fairy tale to me. It's my favorite and I think one big reason (aside from how cool a gigantic beanstalk is) is the fact Jack isn't explicitly a good guy. He def can be depending on the story you are reading (especially one meant to be read to children) but some old retellings lack that moralization for him.

And that's something that has led to a very large amount of fairy tale adaptions featuring their own beanstalk Jacks that are viewed as the bad guy or are more mischievous than a Cinderella or Little Red Riding Hood.

TO BE FAIR the fella kind of just breaks into someone's house, steals their shit, leaves and cuts the beanstalk down, killing the giant in the process.

It helps ease the "illegality" of Jack's actions that the giant is typically a giant maneater with his whole "I'll grind your bones to make my bread" shtick. But many choose to just look past the cannibalism (or non-cannibalism since giants aren't really humans) to point at Jack and go "Hey that's actually really fucked up man"

Growing older, I def can see that perspective and understand it more than younger me who grew up with a more moralized version of the story where Jack was depicted as a little kid instead of a young adult (or straight up grown man).

So I always grew up with a bias towards a good guy Jack.

CIRCLING BACK AROUND TO MY FAV TROPE - Jack was the best OC for it because of the duality to the character he was based off of. His default personality is the Jack I grew up used to imagining: A wholesome guy just trying to do his best in a situation he very much didn't fully understand and winded up doing something drastic just because he didn't know what else to do.

And his "cool and edgy" personality was the Jack that would purposely cut down a beanstalk to kill a giant in cold blood.

Over the years of working on Beanstalked, Jack's Slayer mode became a lot more dynamic and wasn't just tied to him being angry. It shifted to something that triggered when he felt adrenaline and winded up being a peek into the emotions he'd bottle up and push down because Jack, at his core, just wants to make people happy. And some emotions make that a bit more difficult.

But it basically is just my way of having my cake and eating it too. I wanted a nice and sweet farm boy but I also wanted one who wouldn't hesitate if placed in the right (or wrong) situation.

[peawinkls]

What's Up With Jack? - A JFK Clone High Character Analysis Written By a Mentally Unwell Highschool Student

I'm gonna start this essay off with 5 words: JFK is an iconic character. He's not as iconic as…Spongebob, sure, but he is the glue that holds together Clone High as a whole because of his character. I've written an essay on him once, and since then I've always loved him and he was so interesting to analyze. Though, I felt as if I had gotten a few things wrong in that one analysis. So, I'm remaking it. In addition, I'm adding some more stuff and correcting what I've gotten wrong.

We know who JFK is. Not the former US president, the cartoon character. The brute, dumb womanizing jock. The one that's used for comedic relief from time to time. The silly himbo that people have grown to love since 2020.

While Clone High is a very satire show that makes fun of various teen tropes, we get ourselves some very interesting characters like Joan, the shadowy board, etc. So in a way, making this analysis is very silly of me but I'm a Clone High obsessed nerd who relates to some of the characters. Most of all, JFK. I want to highlight some elements that most of the fandom doesn't really dig into that much. Good news for JoanFK and Jfabe fans, I can't infodump without mentioning both of these ships.

This is a JFK Clone High essay, and why I care so fucking much. Contains season 2 spoilers.

LGBTQ: THE SEXUAL MINORITY

To state the obvious, JFK has gay foster dads. Something that you don't see in many other 2000s cartoons. Most people would expect the last thing is for a jock to have same sex foster parents. Jack seeks advice from them. He loves them. However, we do get moments where JFK gets confused about his own sexual orientation at times. For instance, he messes up his words and gets flustered around "John Dark", who is actually Joan. In the end, however, he becomes relieved at the thought of not being attracted to the same sex.

This could either mean that he was "intimidated" by his own sexual orientation, or the fact that he's bisexual in a country that many sexual minorities struggle through– even today. Even if this might be a stretch, this is the 2000s, I must remind you. It was a VERY different time for people who identified with their orientations. Since JFK is so popular in the school, he could've become afraid of ruining his own reputation because he was simply bisexual. So what does he do? He goes to his foster parents for advice.

A lot of people in the world aren't very accepting of people who are queer (hell, people shunned Abe for kissing his friend Gandhi. And while Abe isn't attracted to Gandhi in any way, I feel like this could be a good example).

Let's put ourselves in JFK's shoes for a moment. You'd happen to be a kid growing up in the 80s-90s. You have gay foster parents. You'd get made fun of for having gay parents. I think that at some point during Jack's childhood, he was probably ridiculed for having parents of the same sex. It's possible.

His Personality, His Reputation, And His Feelings

JFK loves receiving praise. He pulls constantly, he's the captain of the football team, and he likes making himself look nice. But it's very obvious that he hides his feelings, he wants to make himself look tough SO much that he's almost forgotten the one thing: It's okay to feel human emotions. JFK has mentioned before that the only girl who ever gave him feelings (before Joan came in) was Cleo– and even if she did, the two were in a toxic relationship. They argued with each other constantly, they put each other down.

This could suggest that he's only ever felt way too empty when he was around with other girls, so Cleo coming into his life brought a little color into his world. Just…not for long. He has a deep fear of breaking up with Joan and losing her, because he has abandonment issues. Yes, JFK, the asshole jock, has abandonment issues, and it's been right in front of our eyes. He himself demonstrates a genuine fear of losing someone close to us.

Now to talk about one of my favorite episodes where JFK gets some character development. Litter Kills: Litterally. If you don't know the premise of this episode, JFK loses his best friend, Ponce, due to him being killed by litter. And. That's pretty much it, everyone go home

Seriously though, while the episode itself is pretty stupid and hilarious, it also remains one of the emotional Clone High episodes. When Ponce dies, JFK is devastated, clearly. He lost one of his only best friends, and as the funeral for Ponce went on, JFK didn't care about his reputation, he didn't care how insane he looked to everyone, he only wanted to be with his friend. But even in the current situation he was in, JFK first refused to be comforted by Abe. This is also the moment of one of the first ever times he ever felt a warm embrace. And by his enemy, of all people.

Towards the end of the episode, we can see that JFK is at least starting to move on.

Now, on to season 2 JFK, I do believe that he had some sort of character growth ever since Joan came into his life, which brings me to number 3:

Loneliness And Insecurities

JFK is noticeably happier when he's with Joan, correct. She's the only person he's ever felt comfortable being with compared to Cleo, whereas the two were in a completely toxic relationship back in season 1.

I want to remind you all that Joan is genuinely the only woman JFK has ever loved, so the thought of breaking up with her makes him…anxious. He has an irrational fear of losing her, same as he lost Cleo (though, the two remained friends). In Anxious Times At Clone High, JFK avoids Joan so she wouldn't break up with him. He runs away from his problems in this episode, to be exact. When he's not with Joan, he is prone to overthinking.

Joan and JFK do share something in common, they both struggle in actually making friends. But in season 2 episode 2, Joan makes friends faster than JFK does. He's spent most of his highschool years being a womanizing stud, that he came to the realization that he actually doesn't have any friends. His only friend was his girlfriend.

So, he resorts to crying in the boys restroom. Which is where we see him become friends with Confucius, as he invites him over to his mansion for a boys night. A very convenient thing that caught my eye was: Confucius also struggles in making friends. So he and JFK also share a thing in common. This is one of the first friends he ever made, mind you.

JFK admits to the fact that he's a "loser with zero friends", after getting absolutely demolished in an internet argument against Topher Bus.

So, JFK is a very insecure person, got it. He insults himself over having no friends. He's afraid of losing someone close to him because he fears he's not good enough for her. He's so scared about the thought of her breaking up with him that it pushes him out of his comfort zone. Though, as the episodes progressed, we do see JFK gaining many other friendships, even becoming friends with his former rival, Abe.

JoanFK (And Why It Didn't Work Out)

I will start off with this section by saying that I do not dislike JoanFK, I personally think they are very cute. They have a great ship dynamic. Goth girl x dumb jock. But, and this is a very lukewarm take: I feel like their break up was fair.

Saved By The Knoll was the breaking point, where in one of the scenes, JFK…cheats on Joan by making out with Harriet. And while they both apologized and admitted it to her, it's still treated as cheating by Joan (however forgives them both in the end).

I believe that JFK letting Joan break up with him in Spring Broken was a very responsible thing to do of him, and he goes on about how Joan needs someone with her that's not just sexually. And JFK…makes a lot of sex jokes. He's not a perfect person. He has flaws in relationships, this includes Joan. Even though it was a pretty emotional scene, and Joan was saddened by JFK's suggestion, they are able to work things out in episode 8, Sexy Ed.

You get where I'm going with this. I personally think that JFK and Joan are better off as friends, they have an excellent platonic duo dynamic that could work out so well. The whole entire relationship thing was doomed to fail, and couldn't last long as a result. And while they both look out for each other and care for each other, I don't think I'm the only one who thought that the relationship was quickly gonna sink like the titanic.

Jfabe (And Why It Does Work Out)

I'm not saying JFK and Abe have to be a romantic couple, like JoanFK, they could also form a cool duo dynamic that we pretty much have little to see so far. I can only hope that in season 3, we could have more moments between them where they're just a powerful brotp.

I'd like to point out that these two are complete opposites; Abe is tall and lanky while JFK is short and buff. I like the thought of the tall loser boyfriend x short jock boyfriend ship dynamic. They both influenced each other's goals, Abe was determined to get Cleo to be with him because JFK was competing against him to also get the girl, and JFK wanted to win the presidential election because Abe was getting himself into danger (as said by Joan). In season 2 episode 10 however, they both agreed to the fact that, "Hey, we actually do great as a team!"

I believe that JFK and Abe could work out things if they were to be in a relationship together, such as JFK learning from his previous break up that he needs to improve. I figured that Abe could be his emotional support. The one who's always there for him, willing to help JFK out whenever he needs it. Just wanted to share my thoughts.

Conclusion

For a satirical highschool comedy, JFK is an interesting antagonist to supporting character despite being the stereotypical highschool bully, and that's probably part of why people like him so much. While they have watered him down a bit in season 2 I couldn't be more grateful that we at least got some more JFK content to work with. He has been rotting my brain asides from the show itself i think i need help . Thanks for sticking around

[thelazyhermits]

I have something I wanna share and get my readers' opinions on, which I'll put underneath the cut since I unsurprisingly wrote a lot as per usual lol

I now have an incredibly strong urge to make soulmates a thing in Twisted Wonderland since I am such a sucker for that trope.

However, rather than romantic soulmates, I just love the idea of platonic soulmates: people whom you can trust more than anyone - who will always make you feel safe and accepted - who understand you as well as they understand themselves.

It's a love that's different from the love shared between lovers, friends, and family because of that deep soul connection that can't even be properly described using words.

For these soulmates, it feels as if they possess a part of each other's souls within their own. That's why they always feel so at peace when they're together, because during that time their souls feel complete.

That said, it's not as if you feel incomplete without your soulmate. It's more like, when you meet them, you finally realize that something has been missing all along, if that makes sense.

So people can live happy, fulfilling lives without having met their soulmates, which is normally how things go in TW cause it's extremely rare for people to actually meet their soulmates.

That's why soulmates are basically considered nothing more than myths by the time Yuu arrives in TW.

Another reason soulmates are rare is because soulmates are normally only a thing for fae, beastmen, and merfolk, so the only time regular humans have a soulmate is when their soulmate happens to be a fae/beastman/merfolk.

As a result, there aren't too many people who believe in the existence of soulmates; pretty much only the old fashioned types, who faithfully pass down the stories of yore that mention soulmates, do.

Anyway, I just love the idea of Yuu having a soulmate, and it just takes a while for this truth to come to light cause people in TW don't typically automatically just know when they've met their soulmate.

That's another reason why soulmates aren't really considered a thing cause most people don't know how to identify them.

When they feel that special draw to their soulmate, they typically just write it off as attraction and won't give it more of a second thought if they happen to cross paths with that person cause that iniital draw won't normally be powerful enough in that first meeting to make them wanna approach their soulmate. That special draw grows stronger the longer you spend time with your soulmate.

Another reason it takes a while for Yuu to discover she has a soulmate is due to her being born in another world since I think that would have an effect on the soul bond, but thankfully, not a a permanent one. It would just take a while for that soul bond to be at the strength it would normally be if Yuu grew up in TW.

I also love the idea of fae/beastmen/merfolk in the past each having their own ways to recognizing their soulmates. For example, you can tell if someone is your soulmate if your soul has a visceral reaction to you hearing them sing for the first time.

That would explain why it'd take so long for Yuu's soulmate to recognize the soul bond between them since Yuu has never sung around her fae/beastmen/merfolk friends.

Anyway, I just really love the idea of concept of soulmates, and I'd love to include that in the "A Twisted Future" series by giving Yuu a soulmate since I can think of one character in particular whom I think would fit perfectly into that kinda category based on how I've written him thus far.

However, I'm slightly reluctant to do it since people might think it feels forced or doesn't really mesh well with what I've written so far/with the TWST world/story as a whole, so I just wanted to see what my readers thought of this idea.

Whether it's via asks or replies to this post, please let me know what y'all think! I'd really appreciate your feedback! ^^

[sarahowritesostucky]

Hi! don't know if you answer asks like this but just curious as a fic writer do you feel different fandoms have cliques where some writers only comment or promote writers they're friends with and not all? and in relation to this, do you think stats are the most important thing to a writers success in a fandom? I know this might seem random but just admire your writing and wanted to hear your thoughts

Interesting ask. Okay well, first off, I squee whenever somebody says they ADMIRE my writing *fans self with nearest flat object, in a flattered, flustered, and ego-inflated emotional state*

second off, I'm fairly new to Tumblr, so I am not the most knowledgeable about this

that said, I think that people on Tumblr do a pretty pitiful job overall of promoting content with reblogs, and comments are even rarer!

I have a core group of people whom I've noticed will always reblog my fics, and I absolutely have friendship-y feelings for them even though they're internet strangers, lol. (I love you guys! 💗)

I think that if you're creating quality content and you aren't an asshat, people will eventually catch on and wind up flocking to you. It's the quality of the content you're putting out there that matters most.

But also be smart and try to post regularly, try to write things you know people love (certain tropes, pairings, kinks, etc). Post at peak times of day, make sure your queue is full and set to post at least several times per day. Stuff like that.

If your OTP/fandom is less popular, commit to writing some micro fics about more popular pairings/fandoms/tropes, just to draw more readers in--They will then be more likely to give your niche stuff a try!

As your followers # grows, you'll get more promotion, just because of sheer numbers. So yes, I think having more followers is important if you want to see more engagement with your content overall. (but again, that follows smart posting and quality content)

However, it only takes a handful of awesome supporters to make for a great fandom experience on Tumblr!

As to cliques, I have experienced some pretty hateful bullying and exclusion on the platform, related to an incident where I was abrasive and made a point about free speech, censorship, being willing to discuss vs cancel, and people who are reactive instead of rational (antis).

long story short, my old account was sent death threats, constant harassing, and vile anons, before being vindictively deleted by a rogue staff member (yes, I've gotten confirmation that this is abuse from other Tumblr representatives)

Antis and trolls definitely flock together in cliques, so exclusion can happen there. Cliques can be helpful in that they weed out the nasties fast.

For example: on my new account, I have noticed that perhaps 20 or so accounts have me blocked--most of them are smalltime/not so great bloggers, but about five of them are very popular Chris Evans or Sebastian Stan authors whose content I would probably otherwise be reading and commenting/re-blogging.

I don't think I interacted with most of them directly on my old account, but they are in the cliques that the antis were in, so they hopped on the block-Sarah train based off of whatever their mutuals said.

I don't read other people's fics on Tumblr so much as I do on Ao3, and I'm more about posting my own stuff on Tumblr, so the blocking isn't really an issue with me (mostly they're the ones losing out on the content promotion I would be doing for them, lol).

I think if people are going to be nasty, negative, reactive-not-rational, not willing to discuss, and just generally mean spirited, do you really want them promoting you anyway? Probably not.

As to the people who are not that way, I'd say: PEOPLE NOTICE WHEN YOU REBLOG AND COMMENT on their stuff.

so the more YOU promote other content creators whose stuff you like, the more they will feel affinity for you and promote your stuff!!

I suggest following TONs of people who are in your fandom--many of them will notice and follow you back. That's the best way to get started if you want to grow your account. But also like I said: put out quality content--honey draws bees; and promote other people's content to create good relationships with mutuals.

[firinnie]

what’s your favorite fictional trope?

Oh wow that's a harder question than I thought, hope I answered it well? I like it when we have more main characters that each chapter describes the situation of one and focuses on what they do, like for example in the "Spirit Animals" series, until the chapter is connected because the characters are together. "The Chosen One" is funny because basically all the evil in the world is focused on one character. There are a lot of this like in HP or PJ but it's always relatable when they've had enough. The characters grow to be in a relationship. I'm not a big fan of instant love/friendship. It's good to see characters have common interests and bond through them, but I want compromises in things they disagree on, but not always. Sometimes we have to accept something because there is just no good compromise. A character who is born into a "evil" family but develops to get out of it. They don't have to go completely to the other side and be good from now on but realize that they don't want to live their ancestors. It doesn't matter if it's by of someone who pulled them out, fear or other motivations. When the story talks about animal's perspective, for example in "Pax", we see that pets can communicate with each other, additional points if without the typical dialogues, but people do not read it. Generally I like it when animals are still animals and not like-human-be in their bodies. Prophecies are interesting. Especially if they can be read in two ways and the fact that the second one came true would be a surprising plot. Or prophecies that are fully known and we see what leads to it. In general, I like a plot that is unpredictable. Like, I don't want it to come from nowhere, but it's nice if the writing style is so good that only when you know ending do you see the little things in plot that led to it and suddenly they are obvious. I really like seeing how a character's life ends after many years, who they are canonically in a relationship with, and knowing something about their children. Characters get clinically injured and end up in the hospital or something like it. I always like that because it can go so many different ways. Besides, you know I like to give pain, right? A hero who is on a journey through which we learn about new places and characters. I don't like time travel tho, rarely does anyone manage to do it well. I generally like things taking place in times such as Antiquity or Middle Ages, but I'm not a fan of this something in the future. The character is left alone, lost or orphaned, but the point is that they starts with a clean slate and not only does they have to find a party so as not to be alone, but also has to learn to accept this element of loneliness. So that's all I can think of for now? Some are more trivial and some aren't, maybe I'll add more later. Thanks for asking!

[ad-hawkeye]

ok so it's lit student again and im like, already lacking sleep but instead of sleeping i'm gonna go catch up on all of artem's cards Just Bc like i genuinely have no idea why it's always in the dead of night that i get hit with an overwhelming wave of adoration for artem?? i'm about to start YAPPING in your inbox again im so sorry DHAKDJKS *does it anyway*

continuing off my last ask they me think of the movie i watched recently called "past lives" that's fully centered around the concept of fate (it's so good 10/10 i really want to see artem review it),,, i won't spoil but it's like hshsjadhsjhdjshs "destined by fate" but fate doesn't tell you what it holds for you??

after watching it i looked up more about the term "inyeon" (korean term for fate or providence) which the movie heavily emphasizes on and found a reddit post talking about it (i'll paste the link below <3) where they quote a comment explaining its meaning and what it says is that inyeon isn't just about the person you're destined to end up with, but also the people you encounter in your life. basically, with inyeon, your string of fate isn't simply linear but also looped around every person you'll interact with. to reach the person at the end of your "string of fate," you're supposed to treat each interaction with respect or else you'll never find them AND LEARNING THIS MADE ME LOVE THE MOVIE EVEN MORE 🥹🥹🥹

a lot of destiny tropes give the characters an easy way to end up together kinda like the opposite of "doomed by the narrative" as in they could do simply nothing and still find their way to each other, but to reference the comment from earlier: your destiny doesn't end the moment your meet your "destined one." artemrosa learned so much and worked so hard before they became a couple a d still continue to grow both individually and together even after they started dating 🥹 they're still the same precious individuals that they were in their pre-dating arc, only wiser and stronger with combined forces 🫶 they aren't together just because fate wanted them to be, they Made it happen and they're still Making it happen‼️ something something every choice i made, every path i took (indirectly and directly) led me to you

like. i genuinely wanna know more about how they met/knew each other in college because it's SO fascinating to me that their paths have crossed so many times, and they don't just simply get together. a lot of things happen that they learn from that shapes them into their best versions that also complement each other. to me it's like,, no matter what happens, what they feel for each other or how the end up, their paths will always be destined to cross, whether it's by brushing past each other on the street and never meeting again or becoming each other's partners both in work and in life and as seen from the different universes that hoyo has shown us so far, we can see that they always end up becoming each other's most cherished person, despite the varying journies that led them to that point WUAWUAWUA

pls enjoy my rambling i might actually pass out from this 😭 good fucking NIGHT

p.s. this was not written with the proposal card in mind god bless 🙏 that's an example of "it happened bc the gods demanded it and they sent a lightning bolt down to everyone who opposed it"

https://www.reddit.com/r/redikomi/comments/16drqze/the_meaning_of_fate_in_yeon_%EC%9D%B8%EC%97%B0_in_korean/

omg shut up i literally read this AFTER replying to your last ask and we literally came to the exact same conclusion HAHAHAHA OMG NO WAY. SUFFICE TO SAY. YEAH. I ENTIRELY AGREE WITH ALL OF THIS.

THIS SPECIFIC SUBVERSION OF THE RED STRING TROPE is WHY i love it in artem's route!! ohhh it's so GOOOODDDD YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR IT!! YOU HAVE TO BECOME BETTER PEOPLE!! my ass in 2021 would not shut UP about this and dear god im not going to shut up about it right now.

i just want to say you not only took the words out of my mouth but you also made them more concise and well said and ooughhh. Artem Fans. read this. NOW. you will all look at this post. oh im dizzy. oh im going so insane.

[entomolog-t]

Excuse me I'd like to book a session auahshsh

SO, for the tropes ask, my time to shine hehe boi *inhales* When a human becomes a giant, not due to size-shifting but due to a condition that changes them permanently . They lose normalcy, people they used to cherish now fear them, they lose touch with their humanity, everything is out of place, they feel too big to fit in the world they used to fit in perfectly before. But then, despite this drastic change, there's always those few people who are their friends or loved ones, who'll see the giant for who they truly are inside and who will maintain the bond and the relationship despite the difficulties adapting to the size difference and hhhhh I cry

Time for my early morning appointments.

I think size changing events are such an underrated trope in G/t, so I'm overjoyed they've been brought up in our session today.

You cited growth particular so we will progress with that in mind.

The action of growing has many subconscious meanings that tend to get associated with it such as an increase in strength and power, as well as the more metaphorical notions of growth; becoming someone new, improved, However, not all of the potential meanings are positive. Growth means a change in state. If we think about growing up, it is leaving behind a lot of the aspects of our childhood, namely our innocence. An increase in size and thus power also implies a relative decrease in power in those around us.

The Young Giant archetype ( a giant who has only just become a giant) can be used by the subconscious as a means of expressing fear of change and distrust of those around you.

I would look into what are the specific reasons you project as to why others will fear the Young Giant.

Do they not trust them with this newfound power?

Are they worried that they aren't responsible enough to wield such a power gradient?

Do they not want to be associated with someone so different from the norm?

I would then take the time to reflect and ask yourself; are these things I am worried about others thinking of me, or are these my own fears projected onto an archetype (ie, do you not trust others to wield power responsibly, etc...).

Often times with fantasy there is a very clear narrative that we are aware of, and then a level of projection we don't quite realize (which will normally be found on the characters we don't tend to identify since subconsciously we are trying to separate those negative aspects from the self.)

This trope has heavy themes of change, loss and trust, which is such an age old tale we retell over an over, since these themes are a universal part of the human experience.

Now this may be personal projection, as I too love to fantasize about this trope, but at times imagining oneself so large makes and everyone else by comparison so small harkens to a feeling of being overwhelmed. There are so many moving parts and changing relationships and one may feel so out of place looking down from up high, wishing to grasp at those that they used to know so dearly now running from them. Loss of relationships due to personal change is quite upsetting, but playing through the fantasy we tend to see an emphasis on faith in others (those who put their faith in us and our character by sticking by us even if we change so drastically)

This sentiment is very much a longing for others to see ones true self. In our day to day lives we mask much of our true selves, but as humans we desire intimate connection and to share our true selves. When we fantasize about undergoing such a drastic change, having those cherished few who stick by is a visual representation of the need to feel truly seen. No matter what form I am (or what mask I'm wearing) someone has seen the true me. They know me, and know I would do them no harm.

This particular example suggests one is not letting enough of their true self be seen, perhaps masking vulnerability, which could be as simply as having trouble with emotional conversation and using jokes to avoid opening yourself up to another person, resulting in a sort of fear of not being close enough to others (a combination of lack of trust and lack of intimacy)

----

I hope you enjoyed today's session. The secretary will pencil you in next week on your way out.

[gillianthecat]

My School President episode 6

My heart just smiles everytime Gun and Tinn are together. Fourth is so good as Gun, he brings so many layers to the part. I feel like I'm seeing Gun growing up before my eyes.

I continue to appreciate how this show is playing with BL (and general Romance) tropes, both on silly visual level, with all the fantasies and this making of the BL version of a music video, and on a more serious structural level. I'm thinking of Tinn's various not-quite-confessions of his love, and Gun's reaction. The typical trope would be for Gun to be totally oblivious, but this show (and Gun) are too smart for that. He knows that Tinn likes him, but he's afraid, afraid both that he's wrong and that he's right. Being wrong would be heartbreaking and so he wants to stay in this suspended moment of not knowing the truth. And it's scary for him that he's probably right. His reason is the no dating rule, but I suspect that's just an excuse for why he's reluctant. Falling in love is scary! And so the show keeps that tension of not-quite dating going that is often achieved by one character being unrealistically oblivious, but does it in way that feels true to life.

And so I love that this show is just letting them be real and scared and yet still honest and open with each other. They both just feel so human, so much like teenagers growing up and figuring out what it means to love and be loved. Like My Only 12%, (and I Told Sunset About You) this now feel like a coming of age story as well as a BL, as Tinn and Gun are figuring out how to love and care for each other like adults. What's fascinating is that while those other shows did that by moving away from BL tropes, My School President is doing it by embracing them but then turning them inside out to examine them.

I have inchoate thoughts about how QL stories (and Romance in general) are often coming of age stories, as the characters discover their own self in the process of discovering each other. This is especially true of High School characters, but I think it holds for every setting. Old Fashioned Cupcake for example, even there the characters are growing into themselves in order to be able to love each other. But that's another post, a big sprawling one that I won't attempt now. And I do think even with that, My School President is more of a coming of age story than most.

And in terms of tropes, I adored the use of that clear umbrella, how it created a little world for the two of them, and particularly how they were trading off holding it, emphasizing that neither is the seme or uke, they aren't playing roles here of pursuer and pursued, they are just two boys who like each, trying to figure out what to do with all their feelings.

So far I'm less interested in either of the side couples (or side couple? I'm assuming Tiw and Por will be a thing but we've only had the barest hints that it's happening so far). I think because they're given more of the silly teenage shenanigans and that's fun but less compelling to me. I did like all the layers of BL tropes at work in the scene with Sound and Win's "kiss" through the medal.

Perhaps my problem with them is that the rap battle confused me—there Sound was being all mature and supportive of Win, but now he's back to being petty and combative. Was the rap battle only in that somewhat non-diegetic music video from last week? Is it just a mistake in the script or editing?

Also, it's not that important, but I was confused by the scene where they were asking each other the questions in Gun's bed, when just before they had been doing it on the phone. At first I thought it was Gun imaging they were next to each other, but they serious talk about grief and the hug made me think it was happening in real life. Was it just a continuity error? Did I miss a scene transition were Tinn was like, "I'm coming over to cuddle?" Or was it really just a fantasy?

Last thought: the economics of Thai BL being what they are, I appreciate the product placement for allowing these shows to be made. And My School President is doing the best they can with it to make it plot and character relevant. But I still find it annoying.

handing off the umbrella 🥰

[kob131]

Oh my God, RWBY is so amazing because look what a little independent studio of nobodies was able to create! Ten years, nine volumes, four original video games, three video game collaborations, two runs of Japanese manga, and an anime made by Studio Shaft.

Well I'm glad that you're still so passionate about RWBY, Sunder. To be honest, I thought this was sarcastic at first.

But yeah, even if I don't find the manga or anime to appeal to me, you have to admit that having so many other people willing to work on the franchise that was made by a cool animator and two drunk interns from a studio whose last claim to fame was a Halo fanfic is pretty damn impressive.

I think the pinnacle of coolness from RWBY's collaborations will always be Cross Tag Battle for me. It showed me Blazblue and how cool and well respected those games are, to the point that I can't help but see how it influenced RWBY. So seeing a crossover between the two is just so cool to me. Though I haven't been able to play it for...silly reasons.

Though I can see why Ice Queendom is seen as the true big name accomplishment, given that most anime inspired shows can't claim to have been adapted BY a big name anime studio. And when I called it 'basically high profile Japanese RWBY fanfic'- that wasn't a negative. It's very clear the people working on Ice Queendom did love RWBY and want to add onto it, which really helped the end product. It would not have been well liked in the slightest if it was just a 'for hire' job.

And really, I understand why it's endured. It did get lucky being at the right place and at the right time with the boom of anime in the 2010's as well as the name recognition of Monty. But I've always found the writing to be the best part. The actions are cool but what really gives the action the kick has always been the context behind them. The context of Episode 8 being the final step for the show to truly begin with the dynamics of the main teams being set up as well as Ruby and Weiss working together to take down the Nevermore is a great example of classic but effective writing.

And that's kind of RWBY's writing in a nutshell. 'Classic but effective.' The characters aren't new, the setting has a unique mix but the elements are familiar, the themes are...really fucking old, the plot beats are your average 'world threatened, coming of age story'. But RWBY is an example of WHY these tropes and cliches exist. Ruby is compelling because everyone wants to be strong enough to endure the harshness of life, even if we know we can't always do it. Weiss shows that you can grow beyond just your family and be your own person. Blake speaks to a lot of cynics because deep down, so many of them WANT to believe in better things. And Yang shows a light at the end of the tunnel when things go south, that you can use your pain and mistakes as a basis for growth. These aren't new ideas but they're ENDURING ideas.

I may not be as passionate about RWBY as I once was, but I'm certainly respectful of the show. Because I think the writers and animators have a good grasp on why people like fiction. And you can't help but respect them and the show for it.

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

what’s better than a twist ending is a twist character. as in a character who the narration reads entirely wrong and with prejudice/assumption, until the story development sheds new light on their character & perspective, and turns our understanding into something different and far more empathetic

[user-needs-new-hyperfixation]

What are your personal opinion about queerbaiting in anime/manga? Sorry for the random ask...It's just that most of my otps are of 2 male anime/manga characters that describes as bff/ rivals/ enemies that don't have any romantic relationships.....Even after I watched/read BL anime/manga, I still ship more of them that canonly are not a couple....Is that weird?

First of all, it's fandom! Be weird, that's practically what it's for! But I think this is pretty common actually. I know I certainly relate to it.

(I apologize in advance for how little anime I'm going to specifically mention here; Moriarty the Patriot is really my biggest foray back into the genre after a like 8-10 year break from being an otaku. I'm still catching up lol.)

I define queerbaiting (and I think this IS the definition) as a situation where the creators of a piece of fiction have realized that their media is appealing to queer people, and have decided to capitalize on that interest without any intention of actually letting a queer story happen. So, Destiel for example is 100% queerbaiting: (many of) the writers dragged that out very intentionally while also being disdainful of and seemingly grossed out by their queer audience. They just wanted to see how much money they could milk from it.

On the far opposite side is something like Our Flag Means Death, which is like a love letter to queer audiences and has queer people on the creative team and is just generally a joy.

In between, you have things like Good Omens or Hannibal, that maybe weren't setting out to be queer stories, but embraced the love from that community and allowed that element to grow within the series. The anecdotal story about Hannibal; that Bryan Fuller as a gay man was actually setting out to explore straight male friendships that he didn't feel like he could entirely access himself, only to have the chemistry between the leads shift the story, is something I really love (regardless of whether it's entirely true.) THAT is the kind of romance story-telling I want to see; something organic played out between writers and actors and audience. A living thing, rather than a set-in-stone script.

So, bringing that back to anime/manga, and using the series I'm most obsessed with, I think SherLiam is a bit of that. They've been very clearly fitting into romance tropes right from the get-go, but I also would not be surprised at all if our Senseis were responding to positive feedback from fans as they keep letting it get gayer and gayer. Though I have zero expectations of the words "I love you" or of an on-page kiss (and frankly I like what we have gotten better), nothing about it feels like a loveless manipulative money-grab. It feels like, "we like this, the fans like this, so we're gonna let it be as much a romance as it can be within the confines of the magazine it's published in."

In a more general way though, I totally agree with shipping not-quite canon couples above couples in things that are strictly romances, whether straight or gay. If you're watching a romantic movie or reading a BL manga, the ending is a foregone conclusion. You know they're gonna get together. And quite often sex is brought in very early.

Personally, I prefer a genuine will they/won't they. I like not knowing. And I like a couple to get really deeply emotionally intimate before sex factors in. So slowburns and things that never really become canon, or become canon right at the end, really work for me. There's always fanfiction if things aren't resolved the way we want, and in the meantime I can enjoy seeing a pair truly get to know each other in a way that most couples who only get an hour and a half of screentime or a few episodes just don't. I'll take 100 chapters of pining with no resolution over a couple hopping in bed after 45 minutes on screen.

[thejustmaiden]

So out of nowhere I was tagged and quoted by a SR shipper for a blog of mine posted in August of last year. Talk about throwback but, hey, gotta appreciate that level of snooping. 😉

Back in the day I actually used to encourage discourse amongst Inuyasha fans- both shippers and antis alike- but I've since realized that it's a lost cause. But for you, @feministmetalgreymon , I'll grant this exception. Just 'cause it's been a while so why the hell not. haha

I want to assure you, however, that nothing you say will ever convince me that Sesshomaru and Rin are meant to be together romantically or that the story intended it so. Nor will you find any validation here. You can ship them for all I care, but please for all that is good and holy while I have your attention try- I mean really try- to understand why it is so many of us Inuyasha fans are so against this pairing in the first place (newsflash: it's not about ship wars), and why we believe a romance between the two of them is completely and utterly out of character.

For those of you interested in reading this, the blog of mine in question that the above shipper mentions in their counter-argument is here for reference. It's titled "Jaken = Rin's Dad?" I'm going to try and keep this short, but I'm also making no such promises. After all, I'm not exactly known for my brevity. haha Now let's get crackin'!

Like you, feministmetalgreymon, did for your recent blog here where you took screenshots of mine to address certain parts, I will be doing the same and dissecting yours accordingly.

[Snippet 1]

I worked with kids for many years as a teacher, and many people in my family have too or still do. Two of them happen to be just over 5 feet which is quite short for the average adult woman living here. I've also worked alongside many a women of short stature, and never did I hear any of them complaining of issues with their students having difficulty differentiating them from their own peers just because they were short as well. I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous. Kids are quite smart and pick up on a lot more than you seem to give them credit for. Height is not the only characteristic they look at to determine who's an adult and who's not, and it's foolish to suggest otherwise. So unless you're a babysitter who's still in their teens and/or who has very childlike features or behavior then I'm afraid what you're getting at is total hogwash. This is just another example of how you shippers offer nothing of real substance to your reasoning, it's only ever cherry-picking or strawmanning from you guys. Stop deflecting from the real issues please, because this certainly isn't one and only winds up being a complete waste of time for all parties involved.

[Snippet 2]

Okay, calm down now. I wasn't insinuating that relationships between parents and children can't change over time in terms of how they get along. Of course that's possible, as all families experience their fair share of estrangement and abuse. What I was speaking about was in reference to the overall dynamic between the two. Because a bad mother or father can still be viewed as a parental figure to their child even if say they're not in said child's life anymore. Since Sesshomaru and Rin share a healthy bond- and just a friendly reminder that in my blog I even said that he doesn't have to necessarily be labeled her father but that a romantic relationship later would still be inappropriate- I didn't deem it necessary to address what you brought up. Plus, it kinda, umm, misses the point?? Please, let's stay on topic. And it's not captured in the screenshot, but stop acting like there isn't a small part of them that idolizes their parents at some point during childhood. Just like you mention later on how it's normal for kids to have innocent crushes on adults that they eventually grow out of? Well, guess what, the same concept applies here. Kids eventually learn that their parents are far from perfect and make mistakes too. Rin is so damn young in the OG series though that we never even get to see her reach that maturity level.

[Snippet 3]

LOL! Alright, okay, so the "unbreakable bond" bit you're mentioning was actually me quoting you sessrinners. Did you not catch that? I literally spelled it out. *sigh* The whole point I was making is that shippers like yourself make hypocritical and contradictory statements all.the.goddamn.time. One moment you guys claim that Sesshomaru and Rin were essentially strangers and meant very little to each other, only to say in the same breath a few seconds later that they were destined to be together and their bond is like no other. I agree, their bond is special, but why must that mean they're going to fall in love?

That is the root of the matter here. Too many animes/mangas have romanticized this older adult man & young girl growing up falling in love trope that it's become way too normalized and widely accepted across the world- and yes, in some cultures more than others. Sadly, you lack the awareness to recognize how this all works. You know how we know that? When we see that you shippers are so desensitized to sexualized images of girls in the media that you share posts like this one below which *subtly* imply a future romance although one half of that pairing is still just a child in the pic and then try and pass it off as cute. That's like super fucking problematic and it scares me that you can't see that (or deny you do). 🤢

After all that's said and done, Sesshomaru leaving Rin in the village with Kaede is to me the strongest indicator more than pretty much anything else he's done for Rin that proves he is her adoptive father. It's so funny to me how you somehow see the exact opposite though. 🤔 What I think is happening is that you got yourself on some squeaky clean ass shipper goggles fresh out of your little echo chamber. Because I hate to tell you, but what you're fantasizing is what you want to see and not what's actually there on screen or was written into the story. I'm strictly talking about Inuyasha and the manga of course. [For the TL; DR version skip to the last paragraph.]

Parents looking after their kids is what parents are supposed to do. A good parent will do anything to keep their child safe and ensure they are cared for, so what he did for her by leaving her there was in her best interests clearly. Besides, as a babysitter, you more than most people should understand that parents aren't always able to be there for their kids so sometimes others gotta step in to help. Haven't you heard of the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child?" Which in Rin's case is literally true! 😂 Sometimes kids are even sent off to stay with grandparents and that's who raises them instead. Or maybe they have to temporarily live with an aunt or uncle because their single parent's job requires they work out of town 4-5 days of the week so they're hardly home. But that doesn't mean that the parents care or love their kids any less, and it's foolish to assume that Sesshomaru must have thought very little of Rin simply due to the fact that he made the decision to leave her in the village. Come on, y'all are acting like he abandoned her there!!

It's just given the circumstances Sesshomaru finally came to learn that Rin traveling with him was no longer safe. I also like to think it's because he wished for her to live a more normal life and to learn how to fully trust humans again. Plus, continuing to travel with him as young as she was would have proven dangerous and unwise. Now for you to know all this and still manage to turn his past actions towards her while she was just a child into a romantic gesture is what boggles my mind. Regardless of how you look at it, from my perspective or your own, Sesshomaru is in the wrong. Either he's a father figure who impregnates his daughter at the young age of approximately 14. OR he's this man she used to travel with who maybe isn't a father to her but who nonetheless basically rapes her since kids her age can't consent to sex with an adult. Idk about you but it sounds to me like nobody here wins with either scenario we're given. In other words, you should be just as mad as we are. If only one side didn't choose to forsake their morals they know we both have in common for the sake of a ship. Welp. 🤷‍♀️

I agree, incest is disgusting but that's not the only problem we have with this pairing. A romantic bond forming between Sesshomaru and Rin would also constitute as grooming.

You realize that over the years he visited her in the village that he brought her gifts too and essentially watched her grow up right before his very eyes, right? I mean, I know you do, but I really shouldn't have to explain further why pursuing a romantic/sexual relationship with each other is plain and simple wrong. And before you say it's not because he didn't have any malintent, please understand that considering their history and power dynamic up to then that yes this is still considered grooming even if Rin supposedly "wanted it" or "made the first move." Whether you consider him her father or not, as the adult who took on a role resembling that of a caretaker in her early life- a critical developmental time for a child- Sesshomaru is obligated to turn down any advances by Rin and most definitely should not initiate any himself. As the first close adult figure she's had in her life since her parents died, it's unfathomable to imagine how Sesshomaru could go through with taking advantage of this young girl who was under his care and supervision since they met. To think he could be capable of betraying that trust sickens me to the core.

This. Now THIS is how a parent/guardian or a similar adult caretaker (babysitter, teacher, etc.) talks to a child. And, in turn, this is how some young children talk to adults. You'd be insane and delusional to deny it! We see it in our everyday lives, do we not? From where else do you think our stories draw most of their inspiration? Yes, obviously these fictional universes have aspects of fantasy that don't exist in the real world, but so how then do you suppose we're able to relate to them? The reason for that being is because these stories are written by people for people, so naturally there are going to be real life aspects embedded throughout. Sure, a little escapism doesn't hurt as we don't need to take everything so seriously, but ultimately we all need to recognize that the messages in the stories we tell matter. Most stories possess a combination of both light and dark themes, but when it specifically comes to the latter we gotta be careful with how we tackle this in children's media since kids are far more impressionable.

So if at the center of a story we have two of the main protagonists whose mom is basically their same age and to top it off she knew their dad when she was just a girl and who just so happened to help raise her, wouldn't you say that's beyond fucked up or at the very least so fucking weird? Like why would we think it's even remotely okay for our children to watch this garbage?? Really think about it. Try and be objective for once and think about how it would sound explaining this storyline to an outsider who's never watched IY or HNY. Well, antis have tried this before many times and we always get the same reaction: Ewww!

Like I said earlier, if you wanna ship it then fine, but 1) please stop seeking our approval or trying to change our minds - your ship wish came true didn't it, so why do you need us to validate it? 2) even though it's not canon, respect that we don't support this sequel portraying pedophilia in a positive light. It's harmful af to not only allow but glorify the continuation of sexualized images of young girls everywhere. And I shouldn't have to say this, but just because this trope is popular as you say does not make it right. Lolicon themes in the media have been an issue forever and it needs to stop. Yes, even some people in Japan or "the East" would agree. Shocker!

We're pissed off and rightfully so because Yashahime's TV rating is 14, not to mention it airs at the prime time kids in Japan watch TV after getting home from school. That's Towa and Setsuna's age, true, but if Rin being the mom when she's like only a year older than them (please don't argue w/ me about the math- antis have so far been right every time with it) is straight-up disgusting and not something we should be supporting or endorsing. Rin's a whole ass child!! Please don't start with the "but times were different then so her having kids at 15 is acceptable" argument either, because we've already debunked that and every other single excuse you guys throw at us. Besides, how or why would you expect young viewers to know these historical "facts" anyway, especially if as you suggest fiction doesn't affect reality so what does it matter? Yet here we are, arguing over a fictional show in real life almost a year and a half into the "Sesshomaru fucks?" sequel being announced. My ass, your ass, hell all our asses fiction doesn't affect reality!

Look, I do apologize if the tone of this blog came off as snippy or condescending at times. I do not wish you any ill will, it's just I'm not really sure what you expected to get out of all this besides maybe getting on my nerves perhaps. haha A lot of you shippers have been desperately scrambling to interact with us, lurking in our tags, jumping onto our posts screaming canon and getting so defensive even though you sought us out first. We've been sticking to our tags, so how about you stay in your lane too. By the way since we're on the topic, have you seen Twitter or Reddit?! SR shippers there are the actual worst and many Inuyasha fans (not just antis) have complained of not feeling welcomed to engage in fandom spaces anymore. Shippers swarm them and scare them off simply because fans don't like your ship and refuse to accept it. It's pathetic, really. No one should ever be bullied or harassed just because they don't like something you might. We're all fans of Inuyasha, aren't we? So let's act like it. Yashahime on the other hand, you guys are welcome to that pungent heap of trash. Fans have a right to criticize it too, but if you like it then good for you, so keep on liking it and don't mind us.

I'm almost done, but real quick back to Jaken! Let's not forget about how the official Yashahime website- which came out after my blog, mind you- described Jaken. This translation isn't the best one available but it's the only version a fellow anti friend could track down. They do recall a better one done by a native Japanese speaker who was also an anti, and that member confirmed that Jaken is indeed called Rin's babysitter. So you see, I was right in my interpretation. In the original post I did compare Jaken to a brother, but after talking to others (some comments can be found under said post) I did acknowledge that he's more of a reluctant babysitter who's not related. And if he's not at least a brother to Rin, then he's definitely not her father.

At the end of the day, the creator Rumiko Takahashi has the final word. Which is guess what? Hogosha. 💖 Probably should've just started out with that and saved us all the trouble, huh? Good day/night to you.

Papamaru bids you adieu now. 🤞

[darklydeliciousdesires]

🎢 Which of your fics would you call your wildest ride?

🤩 Who is your favorite character to write?

🤗 What advice would you give to new fanfic writers that are just getting started?

The wildest ride in recent years was Borne of Bullets and Bloodshed, my Tyler Rake/OC fic. That one took it out of me, detailing two addicts hellbent on destruction, and showing how they went from such messed up headcases to two people who were resolute that they could become more, become the people they were before life broke them when they were forced to change their ways. I had to include many layers of their personalities and how they all unpeeled during the journey they took together, and it was tough!

Favorite right now. MY MAYANS MEN! Loving writing them so much :D

Advice would be to always be willing to learn. If you write OC's, don't fall into the trap of writing yourself into the character either, because I did that, and I see others doing that, and while it is easy to do so, to write what you know, you need your character to be the extension of the story, and not an extension of yourself. It will open you up to greater risk taking, to different perspectives and challenges, to write from a different viewpoint than your own. Also, write about subjects that are out of your comfort zone, about things you don't know and aren't familiar with. Go on a little learning expedition before you begin, because you'll excite yourself as well as your reader with offering something a little different to the norm up to the plate, as it were, so explore those tropes!

Also, read, read, read and re-read what you write. Even people like me with years of experience still proof read to death (and then embarrassingly realise I've made a stupid spelling mistake that I didn't spot during the three proof reads I ran through, but this I put down to a mild case of dyslexia) prior to sharing. Make sure your work is polished, as this is enticing to your reader.

Ask for help, too! If you feel you're stuck with something, ask an author who you enjoy the works of to give you some advice. We all had to begin somewhere :)

Realise that you always will have room to improve. I feel like I'm improving all of the time, and I've been doing this for 20 years. I'm always learning, always growing. I'm far from perfect or the best at what I do. I'm just a woman who loves to tell a story, and hopes she does a fairly decent job of doing just that, but is always willing to see where she could make something better and challenge herself with every story that passes to make that happen!

Lastly, and perhaps the most importantly, never let negativity drag you down. Constructive criticism is one thing, but there are sadly some pockets of a few fandoms that have members within who are nothing more than little balls of toxicity. For example, telling you what you can and can't write, gatekeeping tropes and characters, shouting that you aren't allowed to put your own spin on a character and if you do, you're not being true to them. I mean yes, writing someone completely different to how they are on screen/in printed word is one thing, and those people doing such should probably not be writing fan fiction, but using your own interpretations based on what you see in said character, that's fine. That's using your imagination! I've faced such backlash in the past, luckily only very mildly and not enough to dent me as an author, but sadly I've witnessed others truly being raked over hot coals for it, and it's done what those doing the raking want; pushed people out of fandoms. This behaviour says more about the person doing it than it does you!

Okay, actually lastly... ENJOY IT! If you love what you do, it shows through your work! :)

[crystalitecloudie]

I HAVE CAVED INTO MY DESIRES.

here is me rating the twisted wonderland characters by if my self insert oc, mitsuki hanehara, would date them.

yes we are doing this.

♥️HEARTSLABYUL♥️

Riddle Rosehearts ~ 1/10

The chance of this actually happening is pretty low, not gonna lie. Not only is Riddle quick to anger, but he is a bit too strict on rules and following them. Mitsuki very much values her freedom, so I feel like they'd squabble more frequently than anything.

Trey Clover ~ 7/10

I can see it. They'd probably bake together, and his vibe is a lot more caring and loving than many of the others in the game. She'd probably get flustered though if he ever tried to help clean her teeth. Even if they aren't dating, Trey is definitely a person Mitsuki puts her trust in.

Cater Diamond ~ 7/10

Let's be honest, he's only a 7/10 bc I'm biased. Shhh.

Anyways, Cater's casual demeanor probably makes him a great companion for Mitsuki. I can definitely see a "friends to lovers" kind of trope going on with them. Sprinkle in some angst from both of their traumatic backstories, have a happy resolution, and you're good to go.

Ace Trappola ~ 3/10

Friend only. Sorry Ace, you're just not dating material... yet.

Maybe when you're older buddy.

They'd be great friends though. He's just too... brash? Not sure how to put it.

Deuce Spade ~ 8/10

For some reason, I feel like they'd really hit it off. A former delinquent, trying to turn his life around as an honors student, paired with Mitsuki, who was heavily bullied as a kid, yet has recovered and learned to grow from that?

It oddly works. In the past, they would have been enemies, but meeting later in life like this makes them two peas in a pod.

🦁SAVANACLAW🦁

Leona Kingscholar ~ 7.5/10

LOTS of playful teasing. And I thoroughly mean that.

I feel like he'd have a relationship with Mitsuki similar to Ruggie... but she'd refuse to do chores for him unless they were super close. Overall, I can definitely see this happening, but Mitsuki might not be fully satisfied with the relationship.

Ruggie Bucchi ~ 8/10

Mitsuki would definitely heavily relate to him and his background, so they'd probably become close through that. The one big problem in this relationship would be initiating it. But once they finally start dating, it'd go off with virtually no hurdles.

Mitsuki is still probably a bit suspicious of him at first, though. You can never truly come clean from some things, I guess.

Jack Howl ~ 2/10

Sorry but..buy... this one's a no.

The first problem is his tsundere-like personality. Jack has a hard time admitting aloud what he wants, more so that many of the other characters. He also makes it obvious that he wants something, but still won't say it. Mitsuki probably knows what he wants, but without explicit, verbal consent? Nothing is going to happen.

The other problem is just his physique: he is heavily active, and very much "buff". Mitsuki's not really into that romantically. Overall, they'd probably have a mutual distant respect, but nothing further.

🌊OCTAVINELLE🌊

Azul Ashengrotto ~ 10/10

This one is another one that I think would go off really well. They both have been harshly bullied and shunned in their pasts, and Mitsuki has plenty of experience in working at cafés. Their ideals of benevolence are similar, too. Their relationship would be a perfect example of the "Boss x Subordinate" trope.

Their cautious personalities, but their gradual trust in each other, initiates one of the best romances possible on these rankings.

Jade Leech ~ 4/10

They'd work so much better as friends. They do get along well personality-wise, but interest-wise?

They'd contend. A lot. Mitsuki is a city girl through and through: mountains and mushrooms can only intrigue and entertain her for so long before she loses interest.

Floyd Leech ~ 6/10

Mitsuki handles his mood swings like a PRO. She's also really observant, so she'd quickly catch on to the fact that he is much smarter than he appears to be on the surface.

Unlike Jade, I feel like Mitsuki might actually date him, but the chance is slim. She'd still let Floyd squeeze her, though.

☀️SCARABIA☀️

Kalim Al-Asim ~ 2/10

Nope. He's much too chipper... and dense. Mitsuki would get tired of his personality very quickly. She'd also probably feel awkward if he tried to gift her anything for free, unless it was food.

Jamil Viper ~ 7.5/10

They're really not all that different -- they'd just have a hard time trusting each other, especially after the incidents of Chapter Four. If he starts being more honest, though, especially with himself and his feelings, it'll definitely work out.

⚠️Mentions of Chapter 4 (nothing about the actual story included, just mentions about it).⚠️

This one could work, if they are given time to build trust in each other.

🍎POMEFIORE🍎

Vil Schoenheit ~ 9.5/10

Definitely. He's been compared to Riddle before, but unlike Riddle, his "rules" have a purpose -- their positive outcomes when followed. This tough but honest and real love is something Mitsuki heavily appreciates and admires right from the get-go.

The only point of contention would be Mitsuki's self-care, as she hasn't really put in too much effort towards her skin-care: her skin just naturally stays clean, for the most part. Instead, most of Mitsuki's bodily care goes toward her hair, which has certainly paid off.

Other than Mitsuki's imbalance in self-care, though, these two would get along almost perfectly.

Rook Hunt ~ 7/10

At first, I think Mitsuki would find him creepy, especially considering the way he talks. But over time, she'd definitely grow to trust in him and appreciate his honesty. They'd probably date eventually, if they were given time to do so.

Epel Felmier ~ 4/10

Mitsuki would probably see Epel more as a brother. Their relationship is that of a familial bond.

Especially since they look so similar. Literally. Mitsuki would probably be mistaken as his actual biological sister. And there are plenty of ways in which they are similar, but enough differences to give them that sibling bond.

Overall, it would probably never get romantic. Even if it did, they'd both probably suppress it in the back of their minds.

🌐IGNIHYDE🌐

Idia Shroud ~ 5/10

⚠️BRIEF SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 6 IN THIS ONE (nothing too story-heavy). You have been warned.⚠️

This one... I honestly have no idea. Part of me says yes, and that it would be perfect, but the other part of me says they'd work better as friends.

For pros, Mitsuki enjoys rhythm games, and is extremely good at them. Her childhood best friends frequently took her to the arcade, so she's familiar with video games and their controls.

However, Mitsuki mostly plays video games for their stories (besides rhythm games) -- the same goes for anime. And all of the "games" he talked about in chapter 6? Most of them don't have "story" or "thought" put into them. They're brainless, and even the simple plot for the last Galaga-like game that he describes is, well... simple.

And these are the ones Idia LIKES. So she might have a hard time relating to him there. Overall, I don't know about this one (which is why it's in the middle).

Ortho Shroud ~ 0/10

No. Nope. Not happening.

That is all.

🟢DIASOMNIA🟢

⭕️Note! These ones are probably subject to change, especially since Chapter 7 isn't out yet in any version. <3

Malleus Draconia ~ 4/10

Interesting guy. Probably like Yuu, she would not understand why he is so feared, but Mitsuki would respect that he "has feelings too", and would try to invite him to things.

Mostly though, she doesn't know too much about him, so there's some distance. There'd probably be some mutual respect, but unless they suddenly decide to hang out more, nothing too interesting will happen.

And no, she doesn't find him "hot" (gasping sound effects).

Lilia Vanrouge ~ 9.5/10

Probably third place of all the boys. If we had place rankings, Azul would be first, then Vil, and then Lilia.

Lilia, despite not quite understanding modern human society, has a really good grasp on human life and what it means to live as a mortal. The "death cycle", so to speak.

Guess who's also experienced way too much death in their past? Mitsuki.

Mitsuki would also probably look up to him, especially with his war general past. Their common interest in music (and possibly gaming) would unite them together very quickly. Not only that, but Lilia can talk about non-mortal things to Mitsuki.

And she actually understands it. It doesn't just go through her head.

Also, she can cook. So.

Overall, this is the pairing of "two 'old' people who don't quite understand humanity yet. <3

Silver ~ 7/10

Mitsuki and Silver would definitely take naps together. No questions asked. His calm and more mellow nature is also soothing, and he can talk to animals?? Yes??

I don't have much more to say on this one, but it can definitely work.

Sebek Zigvolt ~ 2/10

Sebek is too... loud. And overbearing. And dramatic. Mitsuki worries and is cautious, but she knows when not to worry. Sebek worries TOO much, and often makes unreasonable statements and claims. She'd probably want to steer clear of him more than anything else.