#there is such a possibility for him to be one of the most complex and incredible characters

[phantobats]

No, Crime Alley doesn’t need a vigilante like Red Hood. In fact, Jason Todd’s approach is exactly what Gotham must avoid to break free from its cycle of crime and despair.

I've seen increasing rhetoric amongst Batfamily spaces that Jason Todd's approach to ruling Crime Alley with an iron fist is the preferable one. He's been painted as some sort of hero for perpetuating violence and controlling the drug trade instead of dismantling it, as seen here:

user iheartdeadmen79 on tiktok:

Contrary to popular fan rhetoric, Batman doesn’t avoid Crime Alley. He confronts its darkness, honoring his parents’ memory and striving to improve the lives of its residents.

Batman frequently patrols Crime Alley, protecting its people from gangs and criminals ("Just Another Kid on Crime Alley!"). His mere presence is a deterrent to crime and a reminder that justice exists.

As Bruce Wayne, he addresses the root causes of Crime Alley’s plight. Through the Wayne Foundation, he funds infrastructure projects, clinics, scholarships, and other resources that empower the community (Detective Comics #457).

Batman collaborates with figures like Leslie Thompkins, whose clinic provides healthcare and shelter to Gotham’s most vulnerable. Together, they tackle crime at its roots—poverty, neglect, and systemic injustice.

Batman’s approach is about more than fighting criminals; it’s about building a foundation for a better future.

Jason Todd’s Red Hood represents the antithesis of progress. His iron-fist approach perpetuates the very cycles of violence he claims to stop.

In "Batman: Under the Red Hood", Jason attempts to take over Gotham’s underworld, including parts of Crime Alley, by using lethal force. This creates power vacuums, incites gang wars, and leads to collateral damage among innocent civilians.

Jason targets criminals but ignores the systemic issues driving crime. Killing gang leaders may seem effective, but it does nothing to address the poverty and lack of opportunity fueling the problem.

Residents of Crime Alley already distrust authority. Jason’s violent reputation only worsens this, making him seem like another dangerous figure instead of a protector.

Jason’s “kill to prevent crime” mentality sends a harmful message. It glorifies violence as the only solution to complex social issues, desensitizing the community to brutality and ensuring the next generation grows up in the same cycle of trauma.

The Bigger Problem: Romanticizing Red Hood

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: much of the fandom romanticizes Jason Todd’s methods without critically examining their consequences. Posts praising Red Hood for “taking control” or “cleaning up Crime Alley” ignore how his actions destabilize the community, alienate the people he claims to help, and perpetuate the very violence he fights against.

Jason isn’t a hero for Crime Alley—he’s a cautionary tale. By normalizing his ideology, fans risk promoting a toxic mindset that equates justice with unchecked power. Crime Alley doesn’t need fear and bloodshed. It needs hope, investment, and the belief that change is possible.

Batman embodies the hard, often thankless work of building a better Gotham. Red Hood, though well-intentioned, embodies the dangers of quick fixes and violent rule. Gotham, and especially Crime Alley, doesn’t need more fear. It needs heroes who understand that real change comes from compassion, collaboration, and addressing root causes—not from perpetuating the same cycles of pain.

Fans need to move past the idea that Jason Todd’s methods are heroic. They’re not. They’re destructive. If we want Gotham to heal, it’s time to embrace hope, not more violence.

And I do know that the creator of the Tiktok I mentioned wrote their POV off as just being fanon, yet because it isn't explicitly stated in the caption and you have to dive into the comment section to even figure it out, it perpetuates the idea that this is how things actually are in canon, instead of being something fans with no real idea about social issues made up to praise their favorite white guy of the month.

[gay-dorito-dust]

Can I request platonic Nico fic where reader is pinning over someone but Nico it’s silently judging, seeing if that person is truly good enough for their older sibling reader?

‘You like someone.’

You looked over at your brother, who was standing next to you within the shade casted by the trees that kept you both somewhat cool, before raising a brow at him. ‘And how did you come to that conclusion my little shade.’ You replied as you ruffled his hair, much to Nico’s dismay.

‘You’ve got that look on your face.’ He tells you but you couldn’t help but scoff at the inherent vagueness of that statement.

‘I’ve got many looks on my face throughout the day you’re going to have to be more specific here.’ Nico looked at you with a glare, only to be greeted back by your mischievous eyes and matching smile, gods he hated you sometimes for making things more complex then they actually were just because you felt like teasing him.

‘The sappy ‘oh my gods I wish they were mine’ type of look.’ Nico said and you know the look he was on about, but you decided to feign innocence and put on a thoughtful face as though you were trying your very hardest to remember what he was on about. ‘Sappy look…sappy look…’ you trailed off and Nico had just about enough as he shoved you in the side before pointing across the camp and over to where Luke was and your face immediately drops.

‘Him! You like him!’ Nico exclaims and you were quick to cover his mouth with your hand when you noticed a group of campers walking past you both, greeting them with a forced and cordial smile as they breezed past you both, just to look back at your brother with murderous intent. ‘Shut up little shade, I don’t want all of camp to hear you if they haven’t already.’ You hissed as Nico only looked at you unimpressed as he pushed your hand off of his mouth, and you didn’t need to say anything to know that Nico was now in protective mode.

‘Why him? Why Castellan?’ He asked and you sighed as you remembered how the moment you first came to camp by yourself, having been abandoned by the demi-gods that you were originally with, and how Luke was the only one that actually made you feel welcomed even after you gotten claimed by Hades; You don’t hold that grudge against most of camp who shunned you anymore but you weren’t exactly buddy buddy with them either if they were going to be that superficial.

Then again Hades himself gets villainised by many in modern retelling of Greek myth that are forcing the whole ‘girlboss’ bullshit down your throat, which only leads to those kinds of books being put on half sales shelves because it’s that bad. Not that you were saying hades was innocent but out of the entire Greek pantheon, you figured rather early on that your father was the kind of deity to keep out of things that didn’t concern him.

Sins of the father or whatever. You thought to yourself as you remembered that you had left Nico completely hanging for the past five minutes for an explanation.

‘He was the only one who actually gave a shit if I stayed in camp or not.’ You replied and Nico’s brows went towards his hairline, knowing all too well how isolating being the child of Hades was or even just a child of the big three in general, but people quickly warmed up to Percy and Jason but still had caution when addressing you or him.

‘That’s it? Is the bar truly in hell.’ Nico snides as he looks at Luke from the corner of his eye, wondering what the son of Hermes could possibly provide for you. He couldn’t see the appeal as you did but Nico didn’t exactly think there were many good romantic options for you at camp or anywhere for that matter, this didn’t mean he couldn’t see that Luke was attractive and popular but outside of the obvious Nico wasn’t fully convinced that Luke was worth you.

Greatest swordsman at camp or not it was going to take a lot more for Nico to even consider taking Luke seriously.

You groan as you put your hands on your hips. Seriously Nico? You barely knew me a month ago and all of a sudden you’re boxing your opinions on my love life?’

Nico mimics your stance as his dark eyes flare with protectiveness. ‘Someone has to keep an eye on your supposed love interests and make sure there is no ulterior motive underneath.’ You couldn’t help but smile at your younger brother as you ruffle his hair affectionately before pinching his cheeks.

‘Oh is my brave little brother going to fight off all my suitors for me? How sweet.’ You mocked before laughing when Nico bats your hands away from his cheeks.

‘Shut up.’ He grumbles but before you could mess with him some more, like all good older siblings do, you heard a familiar laugh and immediately stilled in your place as Nico’s eyes darkened with weariness. ‘Castellan, what do you want.’ Nico looks the head counsellor of the Hermes cabin up and down with scrutiny as you only nudged him in the side for his lack of filtering his words.

‘Nothing much, just saw you guys and thought I’d check it out.’ Luke said casually as he looked over at you and smiled, making you smile back almost immediately as you could feel yourself practically melt under his dark gaze and perfect smile. Oh you knew you were a goner the moment you started to comforted his laugh your favourite sound and his eyes your favourite colour.

It should be made illegal with the feelings like made you feel but you’d be lying if feeling as weak as you did in his presence didn’t feel good. You know you should pride yourself more and all, however you couldn’t help but downplay yourself in front of Luke in hopes of seeming more appealing to him, but you’d couldn’t help as some seeds of doubt to creep into your mind regarding whether or not Luke would risk being seen with a child of hades.

Nico huffs. ‘You’ve checked it out, seen nothing out of the ordinary, so does that mean you’re going to leave us alone preferably now?’

‘Nico.’ You nudge your brother in the side once more, giving him your best side eye, hoping that he’d understand that now wasn’t the time for his sharp jabs and hostility towards your crush but you knew you were asking for too much. Luke on the other hand only laughs at Nico’s words, not taking offence to anything being said, which only made Nico frown even more as his confident attitude almost came across as too cocky for his liking.

Seriously Nico wanted to desperately understand what it was that you see in that guy?

‘It’s fine, it’s fine I just thought I’d pay my favourite a visit and hope that they might want to join me down by the lake this afternoon.’ Luke replies as he slings an arm over your shoulder, drawing you into his side as he watches you with a look that made you feel as though you were being truly looked at. You couldn’t help but let out a little giggle as you felt butterflies erupt in your stomach, and a warmth spread throughout your chest from just his touch alone, you’ve had been in this position before and yet it never fails to make you feel wanted with how casual Luke was with his affection with you.

Hell even after his touch disappeared along with him as he’s taken elsewhere you were left with the lingering want to keep his arm on your shoulder forever. You didn’t think yourself as someone who was desperate for touch or to have someone constantly providing you with physical affection, if anything you weren’t particularly keen with it as you were quite cold to the touch, a weird perk of being the child of hades was to seemingly have the body temperature of a dead body; Yet you didn’t mind if it was Luke was the one to touch you.

‘Yes.’

‘No.’

You and Nico looked at one another in matching narrowed glares.

‘Yes.’ You spit.

‘No.’ Nico retorts back.

‘I’m going whether you like it or not little shade.’ You whispered to your little brother as you looked over a Luke with a smile. ‘I’m totally free this afternoon, absolutely for nothing else happening other than hanging with you at the lake.’ You chuckled awkwardly as you gave him finger guns that you immediately regret soon after, especially upon hearing Nico try not to laugh himself at your forced attempts of being cool. ‘Is anyone else going to be there by chance?’ You added.

‘I was kinda hoping it would just be me and you really.’ Luke says as he rubs the back of his head almost sheepishly. ‘Hope that’s okay.’ God you hated Luke and his beautiful brown eyes and how they made you feel.

‘That’s fine!’ You exclaimed. ‘That’s great even.’

‘Great.’ Luke beamed and it looked like he wanted to say something else but he heard his name being called across camp and his shoulders deflated, something only Nico seemed to have noticed, and he looked back at you with a sympathetic expression. ‘See you later ghost flower.’ He says sweetly as he pulls away from you, leaving you to try not to vocalise your hatred of the departure of his warmth.

‘See you.’ You and Nico watched as Luke walked away from you both and a silence lingered between to two of you, at least until Nico felt it appropriate to let his thoughts be known.

‘I still don’t like him.’ He tells you, arms cross over his chest, glaring at Luke’s back.

‘You don’t like anybody.’ You shot back at him, seeing him shrug from the corner of your eyes, unbothered at your jab.

‘Yeah that might be true but I don’t like him for the fact that he likes you.’ Nico said and you could only see this afternoon with Luke go horribly wrong if your brother was lingering in the shadows of your not date with the Hermes boy.

[rwrbficrecs]

the mountchristen pharma job by @coffeecatsme (book-verse)

@suseagull5914: Another unique, fun fic! Heist AU meets just a hint of Christmas feels, and combined with the fact that it jumps around in time, this author constantly keeps you on your toes, wondering what will happen next. A must read!

The Flight Before Christmas by @indomitable-love (book-verse)

@dot524: Alex is a flight attendant, and he’s good at what he does. But for some reason, this tall blond guy annoys the heck out of him. What will happen when they are both stranded in a snowstorm over the holiday and stuck sharing a hotel room? I’ll give you three guesses. This one had great banter and a dab of angst, and it was such a fun read!

If You're Not Made For Me (Why Did We Fall in Love?) by @captainjunglegym (book-verse)

@na-dineee: Not going to lie, this was a challenging read, which lingers long after! Henry and Alex are in an established relationship, so certain of their future together. Then they stumble over the question of having kids... What follows is messy and ugly, touching and relatable, almost destructive, but resovled in a very sensitive way. This hurt phenomenally good!

london's so nice, back in your seamless rhymes by @firenati0n (book-verse)

@na-dineee: Alex, newly moved to London, meets Henry on his first day of work while riding the bus into the city. From that day on, they commute together every morning and evening, and with each passing day, their feelings for each other grow. What can I say: it was soft, it was fluffy, it was so sweet. It was everything I needed to feel all warm and happy.

I'm a risk (please take it) by dazedandconfused (book-verse)

@na-dineee: A rom-com.' Yeah—my ass. But, Wikipedia says rom-coms focus on romantic relationships and the associated dramatic twists and obstacles. Fair enough, that fits. 3.5 years of pining, angst, hurt—but a happy ending. This fic was incredible !! I can’t stop thinking about it, weeks later I’m still imagining how Alex & Henry might be doing now. Absolutely brilliant!

kiss me on this cold December night by strwbrryfox (book/movie-verse)

@suseagull5914: If you like holiday fics and coffee shop AUs, this is the fic for you! This fic is oblivious Alex, pining firstprince, and the ins and outs of being part of a workplace environment during the holidays all wrapped up in a pretty bow that will leave you swooning.

Tell Me All Your Secrets by @everwitch-magiks (book-verse)

@dot524: Every time Alex visits his sister in NYC, he ends up hanging out with her best friend, Henry. Henry’s been gone on Alex from Day 1, but he assumed Alex was painfully straight. When a short-term relationship with Liam helps Henry realize that’s not the case, things start to change. The story culminates with Alex experiencing Pride in NYC for the first time. A delightful slow-burn with lots of yearning and realizations - such a satisfying and fun read.

I Will Follow You Into The Dark by @here-queer-jointpain-severe (book-verse)

@suseagull5914: This fic, the author's fic for the A Royal Big Bang event, has everything: introspection, fantasy, Alex going above and beyond for his love for Henry (as he should!), and the complex plot and suspense that will have you clicking the next chapter button until you reach the end. This fic is such a good glimpse into so many of the relationships in the book from such a unique angle!

Like Flowers In The Springtime, Every Day Is Valentine’s (That’s What Your Love’s Like) by @rockyroadkylers (book-verse)

@na-dineee: This has to be some of the fluffiest post-canon fluff ever written, I’m sure of it! After two years together, Henry is more than ready to sweep Alex off his feet in the most extravagant way possible. Of course he is over-the-top—what did you expect? And Alex, bless him, is completely here for it—he loves it and loves Henry, and I couldn’t help but melt into a puddle. An absolutely wonderful comfort read!

check out our past Monthly Faves here ❤️

[hiraeth-if]

DEMO (TBD) | INTROS | PLAYLIST | PINTEREST

Hiraeth is an 18+ supernatural mystery, that explores the complexities of love, loss, and the unshakable pull of home, set against the backdrop of a town shrouded in mystery and darkness.

You’ve built a successful career, started a new life, and finally found your place among new friends, miles away from the small town you once called home. But just when you thought you’d left that life behind, your brother calls in a panic—your mother has died suddenly in her sleep. Now, you’re forced to return and confront the past you tried so hard to escape.

As you settle your mother’s affairs, long-buried memories and forgotten connections begin to resurface. Your home town has always felt off, but it turns out to be steeped in unsettling mysteries that seem to revolve around your family, pulling you into a dark web of supernatural forces and ancient secrets. With each discovery, the line between your family’s past and the town’s fate becomes more blurred, and the closer you get to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes.

Can you unravel the truth behind your mother’s death, navigate the town’s strange supernatural forces, and maybe even find love amidst the chaos? Or will the town’s dark pull consume you before you can save yourself—or anyone else?

Content warnings include: explicit language, sexual themes, substance use, violence, death, grief, trauma, and possible unhealthy relationship dynamics.

Design Your MC: Customize everything from your character’s name, appearance, clothing style, living situation, to their sexuality and gender identity. Tailor your MC to fit your vision.

Career Choices: Choose from 5 distinct jobs—Artist, Writer, Teacher, Private Investigator, or Bartender—each with unique scenes, stats effects, and side characters to interact with, influencing how you approach the town’s mysteries and the bonds you build.

Curate Your Personality: Shape how your MC reacts to the strange events of Hiearth, from calm and collected to impulsive and emotional. Your choices will influence how other characters view and interact with you.

Romance Options: Develop deep, meaningful relationships with 1 of 4 love interests, including your childhood best friend, your ex, a mysterious new comer, or the son of the town's most powerful family. Pursue solo or poly relationships, each with its own layers and dynamics.

Explore and Discover: As you dig into the town’s dark past and your own forgotten memories, you'll encounter supernatural elements, ancient family secrets, and long-buried powers that shape your destiny.

Branching Narratives: The choices you make don’t just affect you���they can mend or break relationships with other characters, help you discover certain clues, or effect the town, altering some of the course of the story.

Niccolo [he/him] – Niccolo, the son of Hiraeth’s most powerful family, is a few years older than you and a figure you’ve only heard about through rumors. Descending from one of the town's founders, his life is defined by privilege, yet wealth and indulgence never seem to satisfy him. He seeks out fleeting thrills—cycling through lovers, dabbling in drugs, or instigating fights—but only art truly captivates him. When he's not out partying, Nicco spends hours in galleries or locked away in his studio, trying to capture the beauty of life that constantly eludes him. His reckless nature is tempered by a charm that’s magnetic, flirty, and dangerous in equal measure, always hiding a deeper restlessness beneath the surface.

Appearance – Nicco has fawn skin, sharp features, and perfectly tousled black curls that add to his hauntingly elegant look. His dark, bottomless eyes exude a mysterious intensity, hinting at a life far older than his years. His style is tailored dark clothing, favoring leather jackets, sleek trousers, and crisp button-ups. Rings and necklaces complete his look, adding to his timeless sophistication, though his polished appearance conceals the chaos that brews just beneath.

Althea [she/her] – New to you and Hiraeth, Althea and her nomadic family recently moved into a once-abandoned apartment building at the town's edge. Their arrived is far from coincidental, and there’s more history between her family and the town than she realizes. Fiercely protective and quick to fight, Althea’s guarded nature hides a deeply loyal, soft side known only to her loved ones. Her sharp reflexes and predatory grace hint at something primal she struggles to control. When not skateboarding, she can be found ice skating at the local rink.

Appearance: Althea has mahogany skin and golden brown eyes that gleam dangerously when angered. Her shoulder-length black hair is styled in a full, natural afro. She favors practical, clothes like baggy tees, crop tops, high-waisted cargo jeans, and flannels, which conceal scars linked to her family's buried secret. Despite her tough style, she carries herself with a quiet elegance, always prepared for whatever comes her way.

Magnus [he/they] – Magnus is your ex, a childhood friend you’ve known since kindergarten and dated in high school. The two of broke up when you left for college, and you haven’t spoken to him since. They now run the Witch’s Brew café, a family business passed down from their mother’s side. When not managing the café, Magnus enjoys thrifting, gardening, and composing music effortlessly. His personality is bubbly and humorous, with a laugh that’s oddly melodic, capable of shifting between playful and reflective moods, always leaving people curious about the depths beneath.

Appearance: Magnus has honey brown eyes, golden skin, and a medium-length wolf cut styled half-up. His gender-neutral style blends earthy tones with pops of color, often wearing crocheted sweaters, embroidered vests, skirts, and loose pants. Their outfits are always paired with vintage jewelry, each with a story to tell. There's an ethereal quality to their appearance, as if they belong to another world, yet they fit perfectly into the one they inhabit.

Elias [he/him] – Elias is your childhood best friend, and like Magnus, you’ve known each other since kindergarten. His family, the MacConnells, have a longstanding rivalry with the mayor’s family, but Elias isn’t concerned with politics. He prefers books, writing, and swimming, which suits his quiet, disciplined nature. When not helping his mother with real estate or attending family events, Elias retreats to his cabin, finding peace in the lake where he feels a deep, ancient connection. Though calm and controlled now, he’s changed from the crybaby you once knew, becoming someone who hides his emotions beneath a serene exterior.

Appearance: Elias has pale cameo skin and long platinum-blond hair, often worn in loose waves. His sharp blue eyes, framed by glasses, add to his studious look. His style is comfortable and put together—Oxford platforms, knit sweaters, oversized sweatshirts, overalls, and well-worn jeans. He always carries a leather canvas bag filled with his many unfinished thoughts and stories.

[circus-clangen]

YES I could just send this to u in dms on Discord and YES I'm sure u'd answer me there in full honesty cause u love meeee and I'm ur bestieeeee but likkkeeeeeeee where's the fun in that <3

At the end of the latest moon you put "Primum non nocere", which according to google translates to "first, do no harm". It is a phrase thought to have originated from Hippocrates, which in turn leads to the doctor's oath (or Hippocratic Oath) to respect patients' privacy, practice with integrity, provide the best care possible, and most importantly, to do no harm and minimize suffering when a cure cannot be found.

I'm willin to bet that this is in relation to Clownwish, not only because it's written right after the shot with him and the scissors but also. Resident medicine cat.

WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID is this an oath that Clownwish has taken? Is this something he will then break? Does this mean that to keep his sister with him he will break the oath? Again is this even an oath HE took in the first place? Or someone else took?

And the fact that Goldmask is the one holding Tiger and Trapeze in one paw and the circus in the other raises more questions. Is she orchestrating all of this? Is all of this to attempt to hurt Ring through Clown? Or to simply hurt Clown for the sake of hurting someone?

Or is all of this just the insane ramblings of a man desperate to connect the dots and standing in front of the corkboard connecting things that do not need connecting? The world may never know <3

A long and complex question, friend! And for that (and because I love you sm bestieeee), I will give a long and complex answer.

Clown has and feels no connection to the title "Medicine Cat". He never wanted to be one. Baby Clown was a seamster, taking after his mother; the only other option was to take after his father, and Ring was too talkative, too excitable, too exhausting for Clownkit. So he'd quietly watch and learn from his mama, of course borrowing her threads and needles when need be--all of which needed to be shared. But he also borrowed her scissors--something that could NOT be shared. Quickly growing tired of never knowing where they were, Goldmask directed the young Clown to the doctor's caravan, where she knew there were scissors to be found.

Ring had told Clown many times to stay away from any caravan he hadn't been give explicit permission to visit, lest he be take away by humans. But Goldmask had just given him permission.. and so off he went. He found his scissors, of course--the very same ones you see him with in the comic--but he also found needles and thread too! Only... no fabrics? Hm... what were the humans sewing then? Captivated by questions and all of those shiny bottles on the wall, Clown stayed in the Doctor's caravan for a very long time. Ring was thrilled. Clown was showing interest in being a medicine cat, something the clan needed! Though, Clown didn't show much interest in the holistic remedies Ring remembered from his old clan. He did however, eagerly eat up all of the reading lessons Ring pushed his way, so he could begin to read and study human medicine. Thusly and eventually, he came across the oath, "First, do no harm". And he understood it. But what silly cat would take a human oath?

Clown is not a Medicine Cat. If he believes in Starclan at all, it isn't a Starclan that at all resembles the real thing. And, well, when you don't believe in Starclan... you kind of need a different explanation for all of these visions you start seeing.

Clown knew his mother--dead now--was trying to speak to him. Only, he didn't know why. I've mentioned why... sort of. I've mentioned that Ring is the only one that can speak to Starclan--because Monkeypaw is the only one IN Starclan, and Ring is the only one that ever knew Monkeypaw. The same works for Goldmask. She can only speak to Ring... or Clown.

If all Goldmask had wanted to do was kill Ring? She could have made him do it himself; he's out of his mind and on the edge anyways.

But that's not all Gold is after. She needs to set the stage first; she's writing a play, and the Circusclan cats are her main characters. To get what she wants? She needs everything orchestrated perfectly. And right now? Clown is all she has to make that happen. "First, do no harm" echoes in Clown's head when he sees the scissors and the strings (vision in the latest moon). He doesn't know what Goldmask wants, but he knows what she wants him to do. Monkeypaw in Starclan, Goldmask in the in-between, and Clownwish sitting silent on the caravan roof all understand the same thing: there was never a choice for no harm to be done.

[genericpuff]

Who is your favorite LO character? Who is your favorite LR character?

i feeeeel like my answers change every time i get asked this question JFDSKLAFJSDALK but that's okay because it just means i'm constantly finding new ways to analyze and explore these characters >:3

LO faves: Minthe and Hephaestus.

Minthe because she obviously gets such shit treatment in the comic and subsequently from the fanbase, but she's a lot more relatable than 99% of the characters in the plot, she feels like she has actual depth and a real character arc, even if that arc ended with an unceremonious whisper. It goes to show how great of a character she was that Rachel practically had to nerf her out of the plot, because it was often only ever at its best when she was present. Funny how as soon as she was written out, there was nothing interesting going on with Hades or Persephone anymore - the plot was literally so boring without her that Rachel literally tried to create a Minthe 2.0 through Leuce, and we all know how well that went /s

As for Hephaestus, nothing super specific, I just like his vibes. Maybe it's just my absent older brother issues, but I would love to just like, hang out with him, game in the same room as him, just autistic parallel play stuff, I think he would be into that. Only complaint is the design flaw of giving him running blades as the default prosthetic, that can't be comfortable for his hips and joints. But that's not his fault u.u and that's basically my only complaint about him which makes him a winner in my book, esp compared to the rest of the cast. He might not be in the comic all that much, but that was clearly to his benefit because it seems the more attention Rachel pays to a character, the worse they wind up being in the long run due to poor writing. Hephaestus is in the comic just enough, not too little, not too often.

So yeah, Minthe and Hephaestus are both 10/10 characters written by a 0/10 writer. They did the best they could... not Rachel of course, she did literally the bare minimum of "representation" which often came across as ignorant white knighting at best and blatant stereotyping / stigmatizing at worst, I mean that Hephaestus and Minthe did the best they could as genuinely interesting characters with unique circumstances and disabilities who were being written by an amateur Wattpad-level writer with a privileged white guilt complex lmao

LR faves (within the cast that's currently been introduced): Persephone and Dionysus.

I know, very different from my LO choices, esp considering Persephone herself within LO is literally one of the most insufferable characters by the end, but I'm frankly having a great time rewriting her in my own way, especially in regards to her specific role as the "wrathful side" of Kore. I know I've gotten questions regarding the interpretation of Kore as a DID system, and while that interpretation is totally valid, the angle I always approached it from was that repressed trauma and emotional bottlenecking. Obviously those two things are, in and of themselves, contributing factors to DID, so far be it from me to tell people they can't identify with Kore / Persephone as DID representation. It just motivates me even more to give her the character arc she deserves and never got. It's gonna be messy. It's even gonna be downright ugly at times.

But I hope, in the end, that anyone who identifies with her struggles will find closure and comfort in the resolution of her story. It's certainly a challenging tightrope to walk, between honoring the themes of her original myth, retelling a version of her that almost existed in LO (a version that I was hoping for and never got), and dissecting the implications of my own version of her throughout LR's narrative, but it's a challenge that I've been having a great time undertaking and all I can hope for is that I can meet and possibly exceed my own expectations - as well as the readers - in the end. This is Kore's story - it's also Persephone's.

As for Dionysus... he's just a very, very fun character to write, and someone who I had the advantage of introducing before he was depicted in LO. It wasn't intentional but it sure as shit paid off because even though I'm sure some will assume that this is my own re-interpretation of Rachel's version of the character, myself and anyone else who was there at the time can vouch that Dionysus was aaaalllll me, baby LMAO

All that said, we're obviously going at it from a VERY different angle than how he was tackled in LO, but I'm hoping people enjoy his presence in the story, especially as he becomes more involved (which is very, very soon wink wink) The roles have definitely reversed here with Dionysus taking on more of a "parental" role to Kore rather than the other way around. I feel like his characterization has only grown stronger in hindsight compared to what we got in LO, especially where he's one of the only characters who beat LO to the punch and wound up being in a sort of arms race with Rachel's depiction ─=≡Σ((( つ•̀ω•́)つ

[gumballavocadoharry]

Secret songs, unspoken verses:

Harry adjusted his tie, the silk feeling smooth against his skin. Even after years in the spotlight, the pre-show jitters still fluttered in his stomach like trapped butterflies. From the window of his dressing room, the sprawling cityscape of London glittered, a familiar and beloved sight. Tonight was the Brit Awards, a pinnacle in the UK music scene, and he was nominated for Song of the Year. He took a deep breath, the crisp air doing little to calm the nervous energy thrumming through him.

He was Harry, the singer everyone knew for his upbeat melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Kind, sweet, gentle – the media often used these words to describe him, and he hoped they were true. He tried to be all those things, to radiate the warmth and understanding he genuinely felt for the fans who made his dreams possible. Beneath the charming exterior, though, beat a protective heart, fiercely guarding the most precious parts of his life.

He glanced at the lyrics scribbled on the notepad beside him. The words were raw, vulnerable, a stark contrast to the polished pop he was known for. These were the lyrics he wrote with ‘Skylark’, his mysterious songwriting partner. Skylark, whose words resonated with his on a level no one else’s ever had. Skylark, whose kindness mirrored his own, whose gentle spirit soothed his restless soul.

A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. “Come in,” he called out, his voice warm.

His manager, James, entered, his usual brisk energy filling the room. “Ready, Harry? They’re about to start the red carpet.”

Harry nodded, forcing a smile. He was ready for the cameras, the flashing lights, the endless questions about his latest album and upcoming tour. But under his carefully constructed persona, a secret pulsed, a truth he held close, guarded as fiercely as a lion protected its cubs.

Across town, in a similarly opulent dressing room, Yn smoothed down the shimmering fabric of her gown. The dress, the makeup, the whirlwind of stylists – it was all part of the performance, the carefully curated image expected of a pop star. Inside, Yn felt a familiar shyness prickle her skin. She was known for her powerful vocals and emotionally charged ballads, songs that resonated with millions. Kind, sweet, compassionate – these were the words often used to describe her, labels she sometimes felt fell short of capturing the complexities within.

She glanced at the screen of her phone, a message from ‘Phoenix’: Nervous?

A small smile touched her lips as she replied: Terrified. You?

The response came back almost instantly: Immensely. But seeing you later will make it all worthwhile.

Phoenix. The pen name Harry used. The man who saw past the carefully constructed image, who understood the quiet whispers of her heart. Their connection was their sanctuary, a hidden garden where they could shed the weight of fame and simply be themselves. Their shared love for music had drawn them together, their shared vulnerability had forged an unbreakable bond. Their writing sessions, conducted in secret, late-night calls and encrypted messages, were the highlight of her often-chaotic life. His words were warm, loving, just like the man she knew him to be.

The secrecy was a burden, a constant tightrope walk. Every whispered conversation in a crowded room, every coded message, every carefully worded interview was a reminder of the world outside their bubble, a world that might not understand. But it was also a testament to their love, a testament to their desire to protect something so precious.

Later, backstage at the awards show, the air buzzed with anticipation. Harry navigated the crowded corridors, exchanging greetings with fellow artists, his smile never faltering. He caught a glimpse of Yn across the room, her emerald eyes sparkling under the bright lights. Their eyes met for a fleeting second, a silent acknowledgment, a shared breath in the chaotic symphony of the evening.

He felt a pang of longing, a yearning to reach out, to take her hand, to share the moment with her openly. But the cameras were everywhere, the watchful eyes of the media relentless. He forced himself to focus on the conversation with the artist beside him, the secret burning a little brighter within him.

Yn felt his gaze and a shiver ran down her spine. He looked dashing in his tailored suit, his dark brown hair styled perfectly, his green eyes holding a familiar warmth that calmed her anxieties. She offered a polite smile to the presenter interviewing her, her mind racing. Tonight was the night. The night they had planned, rehearsed, and agonized over.

The awards ceremony began, a blur of dazzling performances and heartfelt speeches. Harry’s heart pounded as his category was announced. He walked to the stage, a practiced smile on his face, and accepted the award for Song of the Year. His speech was graceful, humble, thanking his collaborators, his fans, his family. But he deliberately avoided mentioning ‘Skylark’, a silence that felt heavy, pregnant with unspoken words.

Yn watched from the audience, her palms damp. Her own nomination for Artist of the Year felt insignificant compared to the momentous decision they were about to make. When her name was called, she walked to the stage, her heart a frantic drum against her ribs. Her speech was short, her voice a little shaky with nerves.

As she walked backstage, Harry was waiting for her, his eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. He took her hand, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her.

“Ready?” he whispered, his voice low and intimate.

Yn squeezed his hand, a surge of boldness coursing through her. “More than ready.”

They walked hand-in-hand towards the main stage, a decision that sent a ripple of surprise through the backstage crew. The presenter looked at them, a question in his eyes.

Harry took the microphone, his voice clear and confident. “Thank you all for this incredible honor. There’s something I’ve wanted to share for a long time.” He glanced at Yn, his eyes filled with love. “Many of you know me as a solo artist, but I’ve had an incredible partner in my songwriting journey, someone whose words have inspired and challenged me.”

He paused, letting the anticipation build. “That person is the incredibly talented Yn, who many of you know for her own amazing work. But what you might not know is that Yn is also the writer behind the pen name ‘Skylark’.”

A collective gasp rippled through the audience. Cameras flashed, capturing the stunned expressions on the faces of the celebrities and industry executives.

Yn stepped forward, her voice clear and strong. “And Harry, the man I’m so proud to stand beside, is the writer behind ‘Phoenix’.”

Harry smiled, his eyes shining with happiness. “We’ve kept this part of our lives private for a long time, nurturing our connection away from the spotlight.” He took Yn’s hand again, his thumb gently stroking her knuckles. “And that connection,” he continued, his voice filled with warmth and love, “goes beyond songwriting. Yn and I are in love.”

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the frantic clicking of cameras. Then, a wave of applause erupted, starting tentatively, then growing in volume, fueled by surprise, excitement, and genuine warmth.

Yn leaned into Harry, her heart overflowing. He squeezed her hand, his gaze filled with adoration. The relief of finally sharing their truth washed over them, a sweet release after months of careful concealment.

Later, as they left the awards show, a sea of flashing lights and cheering fans greeted them. They walked hand-in-hand, no longer hiding, no longer whispering in the shadows. The world was watching, and for the first time, they were sharing their whole selves, their music, their love, their truth. Under the glittering lights of London, Harry and Yn, the singers who had found solace and strength in each other’s words, stepped into their future, together. The journey wouldn't be without challenges, but they faced it with open hearts, their love a melody finally sung for all the world to hear.

[whentherewerebicycles]

my baby is eight months old and every month of his wonderful little life has been better and more joyful than the last (which is saying something, because every month has been so good). he is still very Baby but he is also suddenly blossoming into a little kid before my eyes and it’s so much to handle 😭 he has always been an expressive talker but these days he has the most delightfully animated little conversations with himself, full of complex baby feelings like surprise and delight and shock and glee and of course spluttering indignation (you would not BELIEVE the wrongs done to angelic little babies these days! they have to take naps in their CRIBS!!). he laughs and gasps and hoots and fake coughs, and then he looks at you with a sly little expression to see if you think he’s funny. he is silliest with me by far (he still gets a bit shy and reserved around new people) but he also absolutely adores Liz & A and his nanny and breaks into the most bashful gummy little grin as soon as they walk into a room. he is still bald as an egg but NOT FOR LONG, as he wakes up every morning with more dark fuzz on his big round noggin. this month he learned to sit up and now he wants to be sitting up playing with his toys all the time (he is over the moon to have discovered a mother-approved alternative to accursed tummy time). he has developed strong preferences for certain toys along with the motor skills to select the objects he wants, and he is quite discerning—last week’s toys are so last week and he gets an impatient expression on his face if you try to entice him with formerly beloved objects that are just like sooooo over, mom, pleaseee don’t embarrass him in front of his friends (the dogs). speaking of the dogs it is his most cherished desire to pat them but they give him a wide berth except for the occasional facewash sneak attack. he spends a lot of time bouncing up and down in his seat reaching longingly for them while they ignore him completely. he has the chonkiest most solid little baby feet you have ever seen in your life and little fat bow legs that curve down to his chonky little feet and perfect fat little baby hands that he loves to slam repeatedly against his tray or his mat or your face. he has one little razor-sharp sliver of a front bottom tooth and I genuinely CANNOT handle it, it is just too much, he gives you his square little gummy smile and then you see the TOOTH and you’re like that’s it, I’m dead, this killed me. he had perfectly shaped little orecchiette ears when he was born and I am delighted to report that they remain absolutely perfect and when you nibble on them he acts like you’re tickling him and does his little turtle-in-a-shell teeheehee reaction. I would say that his basic temperament is the same but perhaps tends more towards a happiness default than the reserved watchfulness of previous months. he is still quite watchful—in all the daycare videos I get he is sitting with the big kids observing them play with a totally focused expression—but he is also delightfully silly and laughs a lot, especially at home. if he’s not hungry and has napped reasonably well, he is easygoing, adaptable, and game for pretty much whatever. he is such a good sleeper I can’t tell anyone in my offline life about it except liz whose baby is also a unicorn sleeper… but honestly I think that’s probably the root of his default good mood (if I slept 12 hours a night I’d also be the best possible version of myself). let’s see what else… idk this month has just been so fun. he’s just a little person now and I genuinely enjoy hanging out with him. I just think he rocks.

his favorite toy in this exact moment: his stacking cups, especially when you put a plastic ball inside of them for him to tip out onto the floor. his most beloved object: his squishmallow, of course, which sends him into transports of delight when he sees it. his favorite food: with the exception of arugula this child has never met a food he didn’t like. he LIVES to EAT. words his daycare teacher most frequently uses to describe him: “Owen is SOOOO hungry!!!” other favorite activities this month: kicking in the bath or in the pool, watching trees go by on car rides, slamming his hands as hard as he can against his high chair tray, watching the dogs wrestle, being swung slowly back and forth like the pendulum in a giant clock, gazing at his beautiful reflection in the mirror, kissing his beautiful reflection in the mirror, having mom make his squish swoop down from high above to CHOMP him, chewing on the edges of plastic bins, and scritch-scratching the rock wall outside of our house. he’s perfect. my beloved little kiddo.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Wukong's wings strained as he darted around and between the complex, taking note of entrances, possible exits, and any guards and security systems he could spot. The place was built like a fortress, demons and bandits mixed together in a truly frightening number had it been any normal mortal that scouted the place and there were likely even more traps and tricks within. It had been a long time since ehes truly used his transformations this long and in this manner, usually only slipping in and going straight to his goal or finding a resting spot to spy from rather than actively scout a location out. But he wadnt taking any chances, not with Havoc who he remembered all too well as the dangerous beast he had been before, and especially not with his newest string of hostages! Not with his son and Master on the line.

If he were to look, he could just barely spot his brothers a distance away, taking cover behind a group of boulders as they awaited him to return with his findings and a plan of action. Waiting for him to save the day like he normally did. Unfortunately for them and for himself, he isn't finding any opening that could be used without causing a ruckus. Havoc had learned from his previous encounter with Wukong and the whole place was covered in barriers and traps meant to catch a sneaky demon slipping in under a glamour or disguise, and there were too many of his lackeys to simply sneak past on their own. Wukong did one last circling of the complex, hoping beyond hope that he had been wrong in his assessment, before banking towards where he'd left his brothers with a series of quick flaps.

Only to freeze into a glide when he noticed the shadow against the sun. It was impossible to tell coloration with the glare shadowing it's form, but Wukong would be a fool not to realize that was a large predatory bird diving straight towards him at ridiculous speed. With an alarmed chirp, he began pumping his wings, trying to gain speed to avoid the hawk or eagle that was after him and barely missed being caught in sharp talons. As the bird fell past he managed to get a good enough took to realize it was a falcon of very dark plumage. Where falcons were build for speed and ambush, sparrows were built to darting and weave around, giving Wukong a bit of an advantage as he pumped his wings to get away from the bird, especially since most falcons would not go after prey when their initial ambush failed.

Apparently this bird was different however, the falcon quickly ascending once more and chasing after the smaller bird in a manner far too similar to how Wukong had once been chased by a certain celestial warrior with similar transformative abilities to his own.

'Well, guess this is going to be a chased then' Wukong mused to himself as he began his ducking and weaving, very much wishing they weren't in the open sky as branches and foliage would give him the coverage he'd need to transform into something else and lose the predator behind him. As it stands, with him so close to Havoc's castle and in the open air, it'd be too risky to do so where anyone could see. And the falcon behind him was gaining on him, apparently determined to catch the sparrow it had spotted. '

Wukong is proud to say he had been able to send the falcon on a merry chase that lasted quite a while before he inevitably faltered as his tiny sparry body finally couldn't keep up with his frantic wing flaps and heart and began to slow. He let out a curse as he felt sharp talons snag one of his wings and then close around his body, pinning the appendages to his side. He wiggled about in the other bird's grip as it banked, aiming to fly away with its catch as his tiny beak useless pecked and bit at the bird's legs. With a huff of frustration, Wukong began to gather his power, aiming to transform into something thay could get him out of this, damn the consequences.

'I don't have a choice but to reveal my presence to Havoc!' Wukong's thoughts screamed at him, 'I am not going to be a bird's dinner!'

But before he could release the power that would allow him to transform, the talons around him tightened, oddly gentle for a predatory bird with its next meal, and he felt a foreign and suspiciously familiar magic tightened around his own, cutting him off from transforming. The falcon glared down at him with a single purple eye and Wukong felt all thought and air leave his body. It couldn't be...

In his shock, Wukong could barely comprehend where they were headed until he felt himself be dropped, his transformation breaking as he turned back into his true form. With a gasp, he sat up as he turned to look behind him. Just in time to see the falcon transform itself mid flight and a dark figure land heavily as he leaned over him, a face Wukong had dreamed of but never imagined he'd ever actually see again.

"M-Macaque!"

That feel when your last meeting with your husband/life mate ended in a bitter arguement, and you both stewed in regret and ire for 500 years because you couldn't contact each other in that time. And you mad at them for going on a religious pilgrimage/parole to appease the very same Heavens that prosecuted you, thus keeping you from your family.

Macaque would 100% make Wukong think he about to eat him.

But the shouting and kissing can wait until their son is safe.

I love your writing so much.

[sarafangirlart]

This is just my personal opinion and it isn't a fully developed but I'll basically try to verbalize one of the possible reasons why Athena is unnecessarily demonized, namely that she doesn’t fit into a "dark aesthetic".

A lot of people - typically young adults and teenagers - usually develop a fascination for a macabre, gloomy, eerie and overall dark aesthetic. This aesthetic is also linked into the awareness of morality, a sense of empowerement and a desire of being unique and different from others.

The main problem is that many people end up confusing the idea of a morally grey, complex character with an aesthetically dark one, and have the impression that if a character has sonething "dark" - wheter this has to do with death, monstruosity, darkness etc. - then it's automatically a complex and interesting one. That character usually turns out to be either labeled as "misunderstood", or have their flaws and wrong deeds erased or twisted.

See how so many people are obssessed with Hades and Persephone purely because of aesthetics, despite the fact that they barely appear in any myths and the major one is literally focusing on a forced marriage and an abduction. Or how Medusa becomes the misunderstood victim in the Media and a lot of headcanons are spread as facts about her despite the fact that even Ovid didn't write them, so that she could be perceived as unique and/or a complete girlboss. Underworld deities in general receive this type of treatment.

Athena, on the other hand, doesn’t fit into this type of aesthetic, or at least not into a classical one. Nor do Demeter, Hera, Perseus or Hephaestus. Which might be part of the reason why they receive unnecessary hate.

P.S: I'm talking here as someone who wears black all the time, is into goth literature and watches horror and disturbing movies. Therefore I have all the right to criticize my own kind.

I agree yeah, there’s this idea that figures like Hera and Athena “uphold the status quo and patriarchy” even tho they are the ones who cause or at least attempt to cause change constantly. They are the ones that try to overthrow Zeus, they are the ones who stand up against him the most or in Athena’s case, step up as a parental figure to his children since he’s rarely a present parent. Hera and Athena are some of the most popular and well known women in myth so it’s unsurprising that they receive a lot of hate from ppl who wanna be contrarian and different.

Hades is never seen as ever directly opposing Zeus, in fact they seem to get along just fine considering the fact that Zeus thought Hades would be a good husband to his daughter (aside from in Claudian’s Rape of Proserpina in which he threatened Zeus to get him a wife which Zeus does), but bc he has a dark aesthetic and has been turned into a shadow daddy by retellings, he’s seen as hating Zeus, rebelling against Zeus, hell even being against him for his violence against women which is RICH coming from Hades of all ppl.

That same mentality is why ppl think Ares is a mama’s boy who would do anything to protect his mom even if he has to confront Zeus when that’s literally Hephaestus’s thing! Hephaestus was the one to defend Hera from Zeus not Ares.

They want the aesthetic of ‘sticking it up to the man’ but not actually sticking it up to the man. Medusa didn’t kill abusers to protect women, Perseus did, he was the one who chose to kill Polydectes, Proetus, Phineus and their goons not Medusa.

[gl1tchr]

it’s late and idk how to phrase this so I’m sry if this question is confusing, but what’s your favorite aspect of edward’s nashton’s trauma? what interests you the most or what is your favorite part of his backstory to talk about

I think his early nonverbal period really gets to me. It's not talked about a lot, but it's my favorite part of issue 4. It's a microcosm of the larger struggle Edward will face his entire life played out in one scene. He's speaking, communicating his pain and anguish in the only way he can think to and everyone around him is just - blind. Somehow, they can't understand him, and Edward doesn't understand *that*. To him, he's communicating in the easiest way possible, the clearest way he can express these incredibly complicated emotions for such a young child to be feeling. He doesn't understand that their minds don't function like his, so his only conclusion is they aren't listening because they don't care. And that will snowball into his lifelong victim complex and isolation.

[occasionalincorrectquotes]

COUNTERPOINT. Toto is clearly learning a lot from working with Ron. It's not that he was "suddenly" so good at his job in the Cruise arc, in the alliance detectives being shaken off his trail. That is CHAPTER 90+. It's been basically a YEAR that he's in what is essentially a one on one lecture with Blue's most skilled student. You'd get smart working under Ron no matter how stupid you start out, deduction is a skill not a talent. (Also Ron could've just sent Toto instructions on how to shake the alliance tracker off his tail, Spitz is Blue's tracking instructor too, he could give some good pointers)

In the Auberge case I'd say it's because Ron brought Toto with him, Toto is his plus 1. Plus if he was that suspicious for being a plus 1, you'd think the people who were linked to that case be super untrustworthy of him. They accept his (true) story of coming to the auberge because he's with Ron, and Ron is DIRECTLY related to the case. If you were in the Auberge you'd want an official police officer helping you live this murder mystery, wouldn't you?

I do agree tho that Toto is around 26 years of age, it's exactly because he's a newbie that he's so young and entered the division. The division doesn't only hire seasoned professionals, they hire fresh blood like any job, maybe it's just that that specific division got sent Toto from their prefecture's list of new officers fresh out the academy.

As for the manga just showing Toto without his thoughts. Have you considered: No thought head empty. On a less joke-y note, it's probably just to show Toto's expression. We don't need to hear EVERY ONE of Toto's thoughts. Ron suspecting Toto's action in the Cruise arc… I must've missed it during my binge, you gotta point me to that for me to fully dissect it. What IS weird tho is Toto not thinking a single thing about himself, him not thinking about himself so he doesn't speak his thoughts out loud is what you'd do if you were him and was actually a spy, but it's like that thought experiment: If you're told not to think of a pink elephant, you'd think of a pink elephant immediately. Toto would have to constantly distract himself with other thoughts to stop this, and we don't see any of that at all.

What's also a thing that shows he's a silly guy is that he's been a known idiot for a while. Does he really need to play an idiot in front of Amamiya to the point that he's literally on the verge of being fired? I get that for Kiku, that's his closest path to Ron, but Amamiya? He wouldn't need to go THAT far, he almost lost his JOB. If he did have malicious intent on using Ron and pulling his heart strings with his adorable face, he could do a less than average job than a terrible one. It's not like Kiku sent Toto to Ron as a one off thing either, Kiku's sent multiple young detectives his way to get him out of his slump, it wouldn't be hard for Toto to just be a little bad at his job, ask Kiku for advice, and be recommended Ron Kamonohashi from the random apartment complex he manages. Losing his job and losing that connection to Kiku and therefore Ron is the worst possible scenario, he did not need to risk that much.

Putting out my Toto conspiracy theory because this is such an insane level of blatant withholding there’s no way there’s not more to him-

Okay so some other people have noticed that we have almost no information in Toto other than some very thin slices he’s provided and what Ron has deduced.

So here’s my theory:

The facts:

Toto is suspiciously bad at a job that he should not have otherwise been given without qualifying for it.

He almost never talks about himself or his past

Ron deducted that he must have grown up in a refined environment and was spoiled

He grew up with his grandparents

His age is constantly censored or left out of identifying documents and promo material related to the manga and anime, including the chapters in which they celebrated his birthday

He acts as a coil, constantly providing Ron with motivation and opening up his ability to move on or investigate when he would otherwise have looked something over or not been able to proceed

Which all seems far too convenient when we look at the broader scope of things.

So I have two theories here actually and this does contain spoilers for the most recent chapters so proceed with caution-

Toto is working for Alice specifically and before you get all puffy about it HEAR ME OUT:

if not for Toto, Ron wouldn’t have started investigating again, which would would have never lead to him confronting Elliot, ultimately leading to his downfall- something that also never would have happened without Toto being present and injured at the time.

Ron only knows what Toto has given him: very obvious clues that tell a story so he doesn’t have to.

Alice also has a lot of candid photos of Ron, which could have only been taken by someone close to him.

Now mind you I hate this theory personally. Toto to me is a ball of genuine fluff and must be protected at all costs but he’s just too convenient.

Which leads me to my second theory, which has started forming within the last few chapter releases (somewhere around 150-153)

Toto is working for Ron’s mother.

Mainly spurred on by the fact that in both correspondences she has sent to Ron, she has singled out Toto specifically. Now this could be just a mom worrying for the safety of her child’s only close friend but it seems odd.

“I’m glad you get along so well with Isshiki-san but you can’t keep selfishly dragging him along”

Okay fair, she’s smart, she knows what’s going on is life or death and that Toto always gets pulled into these things

BUT THEN she sends Kiku over with a message to “Give Totomaru her best” without giving Ron anything else and I’m not going to lie guys my theory is now leaning more heavily into the Toto is working for Alice territory because this seems like

A) she was trying to encourage Ron to leave Toto out of things which means she may know he’s connected in some way

B) a threat not a well wish, “I know what you’re doing and good luck with that”

And I hope to all deities and non-deities that exist that this is just my crazy conspiracy theory board and that Toto is just baby okay? But I can’t help but to wonder…

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Thank you. I'm sorry.

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[galactic-rhea]

Thoughts on Padmé x Anakin x Rex?

Padmé and Anakin are so mutually obssesed they would first have to check into that before trying to bring another person to their carefully-balanced-kind-of-damage or something it's going to explode.

Honestly it's a fun ship! But I don't have too many thoughts about them because when I consider them is usually in very low-stakes-fun-AU-scenarios.

And I'm actually a bit of a fan of Rexwalker myself! Athough I tend to like them more as very good buddies, the covering-for-you-dynamic it's so funny for them, lol It's also angsty and complicated because, y'know, the power-imbalance and unchecked trauma? Is funny that the clone that's actually a slave for the republic is the most normal if you bring him into the anidala romance circus.

Also shout out to @phoenixyfriend , she has a lot of rexanidala fics and recs for anyone interested reading this!

[c1trvswurld]

Finally glad the mouthwashing fandom-at least on here- is finally coming around to see the idea that neither curly or jimmy are completely innocent nor should be babied or completely villainized because to do that you'd need to *checks notes*

Completely ignore how mouthwashing is a story of how systems of abuse are kept in power. Particularly rape culture and the patriarchy that encourages these actions while also encouraging bystander effect from other men close to predators...which is all encouraged under a system like capitalism.

Idk read more of tha rant in tags I got carried away I fear.

[milfbrainrot]

"claire's a bad mom" claire chose to have her kids claire tells her kids bedtime stories and claire pretends not to be in life threatening danger when she's terrified for her own and her kids' safety to help them stay calm and literally only wants to know if they're okay before prioritizing herself and keeping them far away from danger by rescuing herself i think ur just racist