#these are all the comparisons i can think of for now........

[buildthoughts]

Minecrafters Using Reference

Reference as in real world architecture, not other minecrafters' builds, though that's a fair way to learn too. Studying real world architecture gives insights about designing buildings, while studying other minecrafters would give insight into how to accomplish certain effects in Minecraft.

I didn't have more than passing interest in architecture before watching mcyt, but now whenever I'm outside, I'm evaluating the buildings around me. Do I like their shape? color? Any interesting details? Any wear or texture? And above all: How would you do that detail/shape/etc in minecraft? (please note: I don't even play minecraft)

Rendition and Inspiration

There's a minecraft project called BuildtheEarth that's replicating the earth in minecraft on a 1 to 1 scale. There's some fantastic builds on there.

On hermitcraft, Joe Hills is known for creating to scale renditions of real world places/objects. In season 10, he's tackled a project of massive scale with Bell Labs. He used a map from the library of congress to layout all the shapes!

These are examples of renditions/replicas/copies/whatever you want to call it (Although Joe's doubles as a community build area in place of massive parking lots).

Then there's using the buildings for inspiration. This may involve just taking bits and pieces. Or maybe you just take a color palette. Or maybe just the shape. Maybe you don't take anything but vibes. As a general rule, I think having multiple sources of inspiration is important so the new build doesn't end up feeling like a rendition instead of its own thing.

Bdubs in season 9 used the bakery from Kiki's Delivery Service as inspiration for his mud cafe. It can be seen in the wood framing, the stairs, the archway, the shape, the shed, the chimney designs. But the colors, the composition, Bdubs made changes that made it his own and combined the addition to his previous shop Moss o Menos.

The aesthetics of Geminitay's season 10 base is based on the video game Dredge. I feel like the most obvious influence is in her research castle and fishing boats. She used inspiration from the spooky sea creatures in the game to create a uniquely frightening angler shop.

In Pearl's Build a Day series, she did a week focused on real world places. Here's the one she designed after a countryside home in Australia (her home country):

Goodtimeswithscar in season 7, when starting Aqua Town, based his shop on old department stores:

I like looking at his Aqua Town builds in comparison to his Scarland Main Street facades, which draw additional inspiration from Disneyland:

I feel like, comparing the builds you can see how he's grown; he's learned new detailing tricks, found colors and textures that work better with the architecture style. The main street has a similar layout to Disneyland, but his buildings are all unique.

Mogswamp is working on a massive build that's based on architecture drawings from Renzo Picasso:

He's incorporating groin vaults from roman architecture too!

I think builders learning about existing architecture is so good. It can give them so many ideas to add into their toolbox. It reminds them of small details that give builds life, like small sheds, some pipes, porches. And the builds don't need to be realistic; My mind goes to work by Shovel and Joel. Or everything Mumbo has done in season 10.

[adamofingolstadt]

I think there's been a misunderstanding.

I'm not comparing her direct actions to those of hitler, it's pointing out the cognitive disconnect people have about continuing to support her work by openly celebrating the fandom, and the way they justify it, by using an obvious and extreme comparison to point out the hypocrisy in a way that will resonate with people who don't understand the magnitude .

Taking things to he extreme natural conclusion can help people realize the full conext of what they're favourite book/series is teetering dangerously towards (joanne has an extensive history of enforcing antisemitism, transphobia, racism, etc, which are all highly intertwined with fascism, and which are especially dangerous to parrot right now, under the rise of fascism).

Maybe a more 1=1 comparison would be comparing her work to joseph goebbels, but that wouldn't work because no one has done enough research into the nazi regime to know who that is, so simply using short hand for the artists who produced propaganda for hilter is more likely to be evocative and resonate more to people who are open to changing their point of view on the books.

The point of my reply was never to use the holocaust as a "gotcha" moment, but to exemplify how supporting a dangerous and powerful person who's inflicting harm others is bad, even if you try to jusify it with detailed timelines that somehow mean that their art has nothing to do with their political view.

Art is and has always been political.

Also don't use "insane" as an insult. It's ableist as hell.

"I don't like JRK but I still love Harry Potter"

You have blood on your hands

Burn your fucking Harry Potter merch or be burned with it.

I'm fucking livid.

[ducksido]

Hi! I wanted to knw if you could write the TWST boys with a reader who's a ballerina. Not the glamorized version of what people think ballet is, but the cold and harsh reality. The strict diet, the bullying, the bodyshaming from peers and teachers that lead to EDs, the physical demands, long training hours, the teachers who pressure you and never praise you, and high levels of competition, all while managing the constant risk of injuries that can significantly impact their performance and career longevity. When practicing, ballerinas have to wear skin-tight leotards and tights in front of large mirrors, critiquing themselves with every move they make like they're their own worst judges.

Depressing, I know, but I feel like reader would feel a little triggered because of Vil's strict regiment in Pomefiore.

(Im gonna do Pomefiore's reactions + Jamil)

Vil Schoenheit

Vil is familiar with discipline—but his version of it, while harsh, is rooted in control and polish. So when Yuu joins Pomefiore and seems to flinch at every critique, Vil initially mistakes it as resistance to structure. It takes time for him to see the signs—how Yuu avoids meals, always wears loose clothing outside dance practice, and silently pushes through injuries.

When he finally walks in on Yuu rehearsing ballet alone—feet bloodied and trembling in pointe shoes, a pained expression in front of the mirror—Vil doesn’t speak at first. He just watches. He knows that look. The one where you're not practicing to improve anymore, but punishing yourself for not being good enough.

He says softly, “You don’t have to bleed to be beautiful.” Yuu laughs bitterly and says, “Don’t I?”

Vil doesn’t scold. He doesn’t call it ugly. He just wraps their ankle with precision, removes their shoes, and says, “You’ve survived an industry that demands perfection. But you’re not in that studio anymore. You’re here. With me. I won’t let you ruin yourself for art.”

From that day, he reworks his feedback style for Yuu. More affirmations. Less emphasis on weight or appearance. He teaches them how to stretch without pushing the body to collapse. And perhaps most importantly, he begins to challenge their inner voice. The one that only speaks in self-loathing.

Rook Hunt

Rook is fascinated by ballet—the artistry, the grace, the physical poetry. But when he learns about Yuu’s background, the intrigue shifts to concern.

He notices it in the little things: how Yuu hesitates before meals, counts calories under their breath, winces at their reflection. Once, he catches them tracing their waist in the mirror with a grimace, whispering critiques no one else was meant to hear.

“Mon trésor,” he says, his voice uncharacteristically gentle, “what hunts you in the mirror?”

Yuu confesses, in a broken voice, about teachers who told them they were ‘too heavy,’ the endless comparisons, and the feeling that every performance was a trial they were destined to fail. Rook doesn’t dismiss it. He listens. He observes. And he reminds them of this:

“You are not a canvas to be corrected. You are the painter. The muse. The storm. Let your movement be rebellion, not penance.”

He becomes a grounding presence—bringing food without expectation, watching practices without judgment, always ready with a poetic but sincere word of affirmation.

Epel Felmier

At first, Epel thinks ballet sounds like a cool party trick. But once he sees the toll it’s taken on Yuu, he feels nothing but fury.

He walks in on Yuu stuffing tissues into their pointe shoes, hissing through gritted teeth as they try to stand despite a swollen ankle. “What are you doin’?!” he snaps. “You’re hurt!”

Yuu shrugs. “Injury’s normal. If I sit out too long, I’ll fall behind.”

Epel’s eyes darken. “You sound like Vil.”

That hits hard. Epel hates when Vil treats him like a doll, and now he sees that Yuu has lived with that tenfold. His protectiveness kicks in. He starts watching over Yuu like a hawk—insisting they take breaks, sneakily padding their meals with extra protein, and blurting out blunt affirmations like, “You’re damn good, y’know. Even if you don’t look like whatever those jackasses back home wanted.”

He doesn’t pretend to understand the world of ballet. But he understands pressure. And he refuses to let Yuu go through it alone anymore.

Jamil Viper

Jamil respects dancers. He knows what goes into control and rhythm. But when he learns about ballet’s ugly side from Yuu, he’s quietly horrified.

“Let me get this straight,” he says after a long talk. “You were expected to starve, get injured, and compete with classmates while being told you’re never good enough?”

Yuu nods. Jamil scowls. “Sounds like a prison.”

He shares his own perspective—how breakdancing gave him freedom from expectations. “There’s no mirror judging me. No perfect body type. It’s about expression, not perfection.”

He starts inviting Yuu to informal dance sessions. No leotards. No pointed toes. Just sneakers, music, and movement. He teaches them how to lose themselves in rhythm instead of structure. And when Yuu starts smiling—genuinely smiling—during one of their freestyle sessions, Jamil doesn’t say anything.

He just watches. Quietly proud. Because he knows they’re healing.

[sugarhog05]

Sun usually loves parties. He used to not think it was possible for there to be a bad party. And then Eclipse started taking him to political parties. By the stars did he loathe political parties. He’s yet to find another animatronic royal that didn’t bore him to absolute death.

So when Sun made his way to the balcony outside instead of mingling like he usually did, you grew concerned. You desperately followed behind him in the split of the crowd he made as he walked. You ignored the judging stares of the guests, knowing that they disapproved of a human being amongst them. You sighed as you stepped outside, the immediate relief of getting out from the crowded space was immense. Sun was unusually quiet as he leaned onto the marble railing.

“Prince Sun?” You waited, and each passing moment made your chest tighten with worry. “My Prince, is everything alright?”

You jump as Sun lets out a loud groan, “I hate these stupid parties! All everyone talks about is trade routes and territories and, and… arranged marriages! It’s maddening!” You take a deep breath before joining him at the railing. It was almost comical how tall the railing was in comparison to you, as it came up to your shoulders. You opt for leaning your back against it instead of looking out over the castle grounds like Sun currently was. He glances over at you, and does an incredibly poor job of hiding his amusement at this fact.

You give him a glare, “Oh, quit it. It’s not my fault you animatronics are so tall.” He laughs before giving you a blinding grin, “I didn’t say anything!” You side eye him, but say nothing. The two of you sit in silence for a while, the only sound to accompany you is the muffled music and chatter from inside. You sigh in contentment at his side, him glancing at you a moment. The midsummer air was slightly humid, and the sky was completely clear. A peaceful night to be sure.

“So… not a fan of politics? Must be difficult considering you’re a Prince and all.” You want to comfort him, but it had never been a strength of yours. You curse yourself, as you’d never felt it necessary to learn social skills. Opting instead for your sword to do most of the talking. After a bit of silence you glance over at him, and you’re surprised to see him staring back. He quickly averts his gaze, going back to looking over the grounds. His cheeks a slightly warmer color.

“N-no, not really. It’s something that’s never really interested me. Trade and relations with other nations have always been more of Eclipse and Moons thing. If I had the choice I probably wouldn’t be here at all.” He sighs before continuing, “But! We must keep up appearances.” He gives you a strained smile, and you wish for nothing more than to bring back that wonderful grin he wore moments prior.

“Well… no one’s around right now. You don’t have to wear a mask right now… if you’re comfortable with that, of course. I don’t mean to overstep, my Prince.” You quickly add on that last part, realizing how unprofessional you had sounded. You look over at him, hoping that you don’t see an offended Prince in front of you. You’re taken off guard however, as his expression is one of complete surprise.

“You… you didn’t overstep. I am just… surprised to see you care so much. I truly appreciate that, my Swordsman.” He leans down, hands folded neatly behind his back. You still have to crane your neck to look at him, and your chest feels like it’s about to leap out of your chest. You hope with how close he is he can’t see your face through your helmet, because you can physically feel your face being scorched by a blush. You gulp, “…Your Swordsman?” He shoots up and his hands start to wave wildly.

“W-well, that is to say- I mean…” You cut him off, “Shh… My Prince, be quiet a moment.” He instantly shuts up, his eyes widening as you draw your beloved sword from its sheath. The air is still, before suddenly erupting into chaos. Metal against metal clangs loudly in your ears, but you are unrelenting in your defense of your Prince. There are three of them you note as the red and blue one, their leader you assumed, barked orders in a language you could not understand. The green animatronic and the pink and blue one form a pincer maneuver, and you curse under your breath. The green one is slightly faster than the pink and blue one, so you side step around Sun and slice at wires that were exposed at the knee joints. It instantly buckles as the connection to its central processor is cut.

You pivot and duck behind Sun just as the pink and blue one reaches him. They put up a bit more of a fight but you quickly disarm them. As they stagger backwards you seize the opportunity and cleave straight through where their head meets their shoulders. You usher Sun back towards the doors, making sure to keep your body between him and the third assassin. This third assassin looks to his fallen comrades and a rage that hadn’t been there before overtakes his face. He comes at you with a strength and vigor only an animatronic could possess, and he begins to over whelm you. He takes the opportunity to make a move for Sun, and you have to make a decision. You raise your sword defensively to protect Sun, knowing you would leave yourself open. The assassin takes the opportunity to slash at your side, but you are able to drive your sword in between where his chest plate and stomach meet. Effectively piercing directly into his fuel line, the equivalent of a heart for animatronics. He staggers back, your sword still in his grasp. You watch him as he falls backwards, dead.

You stalk over to the green animatronic, who falls back and desperately attempts to scoot away from you. You kick him in the chest causing him to lay flat on his back. As you stand over him he pleads for you not to kill him. At least, you’re 90% sure that’s what he was saying. You’d seen it many times before, even if you couldn’t understand exactly what he was saying. You kneel down, one foot on his forearm and your gloved hand roughly grasping his circuitry.

“Do you understand me?” You ask monotonously, and when he doesn’t answer you lean into the foot on his forearm. The plating starts to warp under the pressure and his face twists in pain. “Yes! Yes, I understand.” He breaks disappointingly quickly. “Who sent you?” He looks around frantically before becoming deathly still as your grip tightens on the vital circuitry that runs along his neck. “Who. Sent. You.” He starts to cry oily tears, mumbling pathetically. “Can’t say… can’t. Kill me if I do.” You put your full weight onto his forearm and there’s a sickening crack as it breaks in half. He cries in agony.

“I’ll kill you if you don’t.” You say coldly as he writhes beneath you. He feels uncomfortably hot as his fans work on overdrive to cool him due to his panic. “Rabbit… rabbit! All I can say!” You narrow your eyes. “Good enough.” There’s a look of hope in his eyes that is quickly replaced by a blank stare as you violently rip out the wires that made him, him. You turn to the red and blue one and kneel before him. You grasp the handle of your sword and rip it from him, a viscous oil spurts out as you do, getting all over the front of your shirt. You curse, and turn your head towards Sun.

“Are you okay my Prince?” …Your Prince does not respond.

[gold-rhine]

A/N: This is Kaeya with the Disco Elysium skill system, because I miss him and I think it fits him really well. It's a scene from his hangout, the Liyue part, where—if you don't remember or criminally didn’t play it—Kaeya and the Traveler go to Liyue, meet a guy Kaeya saved from bandits a couple of times (but didn’t remember at first), and who is now being swindled by the local scammers. Kaeya already explained to him that he's being scammed, but didn't offer to help, instead advising him to reach out to local authorities. The Traveler then tries to convince Kaeya to help by telling him they think he's a good person, and he denies it, but agrees to help anyway. I always thought this would be fascinating to explore from his internal monologue POV, because his answers are so self-contradicting.

All dialogue is canon, I only wrote internal monologue.

Warnings: mentions of alcohol addiction and suicide ideation

Characters: Kaeya, Lumine

________

YOU - You walk away, but the traveler doesn't follow. You stop a few paces away and watch the traveler talk to the idiot who got scammed and his friends.

Aunt Zhang: That con-artist is human scum!

Guangzhi: Don't worry, Wu. We'll come with you to the Ministry to report the case.

Captain Wu: Surely I'll be able to get my Mora back... probably... hopefully...

PERCEPTION: The Traveler stays silent—she’s never been one for unnecessary words, and with her chatty fairy absent today, the quiet feels heavier than usual. Yet the faint crease in her brow betrays her resolve, as she turns to walk up to you with a look of determination.

CHESSMASTER [Trivial: Success]: Authorities? A tedious solution. She’s already decided—you’re the better choice, and she won’t leave without your agreement.

LUMINE (THE GOLDEN TRAVELER): She stops before you, arms crossed, golden eyes sharp and unyielding. The silence stretches. Damn that absent pixie; at least Paimon’s whining would’ve given you an opening to deflect.

Crumble immediately.

2.[Composure - Legendary] Say nothing, stare her down.

3. [Chessmaster- Easy] Tell her there will be a price for your help, and she will be the one to owe you.

>4. Surely you can think up of ways to deflect even without the Celestia's baloon?

SILVER TONGUE - Use that 'martial arts hero' bit from earlier. Remind her how you teased her about secret vigilante work, play it off like she's taking this too seriously.

LOGIC - She IS a hero. Why pretend that it's a joke?

SILVER TONGUE - Precisely. By calling her a 'martial arts hero' — linking it to that dour Darknight persona, you make heroics sound absurd. Even she’d hesitate to embrace the comparison. Who willingly becomes another Diluc?"

ANGEL'S SHARE - She's friends with Diluc.

SILVER TONGUE - She's friends with everyone. She's friends with Paimon, but 'Emergency food' wasn’t coined for no reason.

Crumble immediately.

2.[Composure - Legendary] Say nothing, stare her down.

3. [Chessmaster- Easy] Tell her there will be a price for your help, and she will be the one to owe you.

>4. [Silver Tongue - Medium] Use that 'martial arts hero' jab again. Frame it as playful teasing - make her insistence on helping seem almost childish. The more she leans into heroics, the more ridiculous she'll sound.

SILVER TONGUE [Medium: Success] - "I am quite curious. How does our chivalrous martial arts hero intend to come to Captain Wu's rescue here?"

CHESSMASTER - What a delightfully naive question. She's not here with a plan - she's here to draft you as her personal strategist. Might as well invoice her for your help.

THE FOOL - I thought we agreed she's one of the people we will try to keep out of being transactional with? Also she did a lot for us in the past anyway.

THE LIST - Favors Count is 5 to 7 to her advantage, but she did try to screw us over with that hereditory sword.

YOU - The sword. That entire week you spent waiting for her to decide. The way she played along until the last moment. The way you almost believed she wouldn't do it.

She failed your test. That doesn't balance out. It outweighs everything.

ANGEL'S SHARE - This is exhausting, and you haven’t even had a drink today. Just walk away. Find a bottle. Forget this.

DRAMA - Just say that you don't know how to solve it anyway, so asking you is pointless.

KING IRMIN'S TRIAL [Trivial: Success] VERDICT: NOT A LIE.

The solution remains unconsidered, therefore unknown. No lie has been spoken. Your vision doesn't blur. The chains don't tighten. The old laws still shield you.

THE FOOL - But you could devise a plan if you tried. This technical truth might satisfy the law, but when did you start hiding behind loopholes with HER? She deserves better than that, try to reason with her...

CHESSMASTER - She deserves nothing. Reasoning with people is a luxury you can't afford. That scar above your eye burns at the memory. You reasoned with Diluc too. You remember how that ended.

1.Give up and crumble.

2.[Silver Tongue - Easy] Amplify the 'vigilante hero' mockery. If she wants to play champion, paint her as naive - a wide-eyed storybook hero chasing windmills. The more absurd you make altruism sound, the less she'll press.

3.[Chessmaster- Easy] State your terms coldly. She wants your skills? She buys them.

4.[Drama - Easy] Let your voice go hollow. 'I don't know how to help' isn't a lie if you refuse to consider solutions. The chains won't tighten.

>5.Try to reason with her.

6. Say fuck it and leave to get a drink.

YOU - "There are countless victims of injustice in the world. We can't try to help each and every one of them, can we?"

LUMINE (THE GOLDEN TRAVELER): She tilts her heard, as if she's heard something that doesn't quite make sense, and then says firmly, with no hesitation "But you're a good person, Kaeya."

SILVER TONGUE - What?

CHESSMASTER - WHAT???

LOGIC - She can't be serious. This *has* to be a joke.

DRAMA [Easy: Success]: She looks at your earnestly, no hint of sarcasm or dishonesty in her golden eyes. She means what she's said.

LOGIC [Legendary: Failure] - You've let her see the cracks in the mask. Even her little useless fairy caught on by now. You've manipulated *her* directly and admitted it on several occasions, why would she still be thinking of you as a good person?

CHESSMASTER [Impossible: Failure] Unless... unless this is her gambit. Not manipulation—absolution. The one move you can't counter. She was the bigger master liar all along!

THE FOOL - No, that's ridiculous, she's not. But she had traveled Teyvat. She's stood against the abyss and the archons. Seen through Signora's deceit, Childe's bravado, even Zhongli's contracts. And when she looks at you— Why does her voice sound like truth?

LOGIC - ....

CHESSMASTER - ...

ANGEL'S SHARE - No. You are a filthy sinner.

LOGIC - Yes. This correlates with the all known data.

ANGEL'S SHARE - Because you were always a dirty liar.

DRAMA - Even back then, under the rain, crying, you lied to Crepus.

ANGEL'S SHARE - You lied to them all. All that time. And for what? You failed to do anything.

ORDO FAVONIUS - You failed your duty.

KING IRMIN'S TRIAL - You failed your duty.

THE FOOL - But...

ANGEL'S SHARE - You failed everyone. The world would be better without you.

1. Say fuck it and leave to get a drink.

2.Say fuck it, leave to get a drink and kill yourself.

>3.DRAMA [Easy: Success] Don't do that in front of her, that would be horribly uncool.

YOU - What are you supposed to do then?

SILVER TONGUE - Play it cool. Pretend to be surprised, but condescendingly and sarcastically.

1. Say fuck it and leave to get a drink.

2.Say fuck it, leave to get a drink and kill yourself.

>3 [Silver Tongue - Medium] Cooly and sarcastically tell her you're surprised she thinks you're a good person.

SILVER TONGUE [Medium: Success] - "Oho, I'm surprised. I didn't know you thought of me as someone who helps other people unconditionally."

CHESSMASTER - Wait. Play along. Having the Descender believe in your goodness could be useful.

KING IRMIN'S TRIAL [Challenging: Failure] VERDICT: A LIE. It contradicts every known fact. Chains tremble at your throat.

DRAMA [Medium: Success]: You don't have to say it directly. Stay vague. Let her assumptions do the work.

KING IRMIN'S TRIAL [Challenging: Success]: Verdict shifts: NOT A LIE. You merely expressed surprise. The chains loosen.

THE FOOL - But she was the one who knew the bad parts and shady moves and still wanted to be your friend. If you don't contradict her now, wouldn't it be hollow after this?

CHESSMASTER - "Hollow". This is about the big picture, not your ridiculous feelings.

ANGEL'S SHARE - It's already hollow. Everything you touch rots. Why pretend otherwise?

1. Say fuck it and leave to get a drink.

2.Say fuck it, leave to get a drink and then kill yourself.

3 [Drama - Medium] Say something evasive. Let her believe what she wants. The chains won’t tighten if you never quite agree.

4.[Silver Tongue - Legendary] Map the exit before she speaks—flatter her righteousness, then pivot to how exhausting virtue must be.

5.Crumble.

>6. Tell her you're not a good person.

YOU - "I'm genuinely flattered, but we both know that I'm not that kind of person really."

LOGIC: A half-measure. You didn’t deny it outright—just implied she’s mistaken. Coward’s truth.

CHESSMASTER: Smart. Now she’ll argue for your goodness, listing your virtues like a defense attorney. Let her convince herself.

ANGEL’S SHARE: Lies taste better with honey. Too bad you’ll drown them in wine later anyway.

THE FOOL: We both know. But do you? Really?

LUMINE (THE GOLDEN TRAVELER): She rolls her eyes, but with a fond smirk. Then, she starts counting on her fingers.

LUMINE (THE GOLDEN TRAVELER): "You didn't want others to laugh at Captain Wu's woes." She bends down one finger. "You helped Captain Wu just because you were there, and you didn't even remember it." A second finger folds. "You even helped him think through where we can find the con-artist." Her third finger curls in.

LUMINE (THE GOLDEN TRAVELER): She smiles confidently, a sure truimph written all over her face. "And that's why I believe you'd be willing to help."

SILVER TONGUE: Clever. Turning your own actions into evidence against you. She’s learning.

LOGIC: Three points. All factual. No obvious counterarguments.

ANGEL’S SHARE: Or she’s just stating the obvious. Even a drunk could see you’re softer than you pretend.

DRAMA [Easy: Success]: Her smirk says she knows she’s won. The worst part? She’s right.

THE FOOL: …She’s counting your good deeds. When did anyone ever noti—

CHESSMASTER: She's wrong. You forgot Captain Wu's debt entirely. If you truly cared, it would've lingered in your mind like wine stains on ledgers. But it didn't. That's the truth she's missing—you're not kind. You're indifferent.

THE LIST: Captain Wu: No strategic value. No political ties. No outstanding skills. Of course he slipped your mind. Useless people don't get remembered.

SILVER TONGUE: You only suggested where to find that con artist so Wu would stop whining. Basic crowd control, not compassion.

ANGEL'S SHARE: Ah. So you're worse than even you thought. Not just a liar—a liar who abandons the weak. How very... you.

THE FOOL: But... wouldn't you want to be the person she sees? Even if she's wrong about you now... couldn't you become that?

1.Crumble.

2.[CHESSMASTER - Medium] - Bargain for price.

3.[Silver Tongue - Medium] Keep deflecting! Pivot to her "naive heroics" again. If she wants to play this game, make her justify every rule.

>4.[Composure - Challenging] Crumble with dignity. Sound amused, but not shaken—a king conceding a chess move, but not the match. Let the laugh in your voice mask how her words linger.

Composure[Challenging: Success] - "Your logic is very straightforward… and quite endearing in its simplicity."

LOGIC - Deny now and you'll have to explain why. Admitting this means exposing the ledger in your mind where every kindness has a price.

CHESSMASTER: Checkmate. At least barter for favorable terms. If you're going down, make sure she pays for the privilege.

ANGEL'S SHARE: Or just drink until this conversation blurs into something less... revealing. First round's already poured.

THE FOOL: She's smiling at you. Not the smug grin of victory, but something warmer. Like she's seeing something you've long since buried.

DRAMA [Easy: Success]: The chains don't tighten. That's the worst part. This isn't a lie.

Run. Now. Before her words sink in any deeper—before that fragile hope in her eyes becomes something you might actually want to protect.

2. [Chessmaster- Easy] Betray her cleanly. One sharp cut. Report her next illegal action to Jean, "accidentally" leak her plans to the Fatui, let the consequences teach her what you won’t. Better she learns now.

3.[Chessmaster- Challenging] Betray her slowly, with consequences actually harsh. Become exactly what she thinks you’re not. She deserves better than a man who prices every kindness.

>4.Agree to help, but drown it in enough sarcasm to poison the sincerity.

5. [Silver Tongue - Legendary] Deflect desperately. Deploy every weapon in your arsenal - flash that signarure smile, spin a joke about knights in shining delusions, offer to buy her a treat. Anything to shatter this moment before it cracks you open.

YOU - "But I like how you think. So I'll indulge your martial arts hero aspirations for now."

LUMINE (THE GOLDEN TRAVELER): Her smile widens, still confident, like she didn't doubt you even for a second.

THE FOOL: ...Isn't it worth it?

CHESSMASTER: Silence. The chessboard lies abandoned.

SILVER TONGUE: Silence. For once, your tongue turns to lead.

ANGEL'S SHARE: Silence. The old script whispers its tired line: Let them leave first. Yet your feet stay rooted.

LUMINE (THE GOLDEN TRAVELER): Of course she grabs you. Of course her hands are furnace-warm. Of course that infuriating smile never wavers as your traitorous pulse leaps before your brain can hiss "abort mission."

YOU: Damn her.

[captainclickycat]

I feel like a big part of the problem is that people (sometimes wilfully) fail to understand the difference between actual discipline, taking necessary measures to keep kids safe and model appropriate behaviour and so on, and just denying kids any autonomy whatsoever because you can.

I've literally seen people respond to "there's no reason not to let a child pick out their own clothes/have their hair cut the way they like/go by a name that's different from their birth name/not always prioritise the feelings of the adults around them" with "so I suppose you think it's ok for them to just MURDER PEOPLE then?? I should let my kid just STAB PEOPLE??"

Now, maybe those specific people are just trolling to be provocative. But there does seem to be this pervasive idea that allowing kids any autonomy or capacity to make decisions for themselves is some kind of slippery slope towards blithely letting them do whatever dangerous/cruel/unhealthy thing happens to take their fancy.

The point of the partner comparison isn't that you should treat kids in your care exactly the same way that you'd treat your partner. It's a bad idea to let your kid eat chocolate cake for dinner, but a fellow adult can make their own nutritional decisions, even if they're not always good ones.

But if a parent can't differentiate between "I am preventing my child from doing this because it's unsafe and will have bad consequences" and "I am preventing my child from doing this because I'm in charge, I don't want them to and they should just do as I say at all times", that's a problem.

Your kid is going to grow up one day and you won't be able to just tell them what to do all the time. Do you actually want them to have the knowledge and foresight to make good decisions for themselves, or do you just want them to bow down to your authority?

[everythingisamazing]

"How Viktors story overshadows the tragedy of Jayce" or "Why disliking Jayce means you don't understand him (yet)." Disclaimer: This is a long one. Since starting to post my (mostly) Jayvik thoughts, I've discovered layers to Jayces character that I feel don't get talked about enough. I disliked him in S1 - he grew on me in S2, but what makes him so compelling to me NOW is how the show replicates the central tragedy of his character with the viewers. Let's start with the assumptions the show encourages us to make about him: Good looking, smart, a little naive, selfish, overachiever, golden boy. These are then strengthened by comparisons to Viktor, caused by their shared screen time and narrative connection. And since V is the one being "framed" with the tragic story (escaping an inescapable death), the tragedy of Jayce, that is happening simultaneously (more on that later), gets obscured. Truth is: If Jayces life looks like success to us, that's mostly because he has to make it look like that. Let me explain: Jayce, as a boy, almost dies on his way to Piltover. As tragedy would have it, he gets saved by and falls in love with what's forbidden in his new home - magic. So he researches the thing he is basically destined to create in secret, only to get found out in the worst way possible. Cue the trial scene. I think the reason why we don't empathize with him enough here (especially not on the first watch) is because it happens so early in the show and we are still busy getting situated in the universe of Arcane. But if you look at it from Jayces perspective, it's pretty traumatizing: He is the heir of his house and having apparently lost his father early, responsibility rests heavy on his shoulders. A house, comparably low on wealth and influence. And you could say it's arrogance, that makes him blurt out "I was trying to create magic." but if you consider his behavior throughout the whole show, I'd actually call it impulsivity and not being able to hide his emotions (I hc Jayce as having ADHD). What we get next, is him wanting to throw himself off a building - which can get misread as "wow, this guy was so obsessed with his vanity project, he'd off himself", when his moms words at the trial ("My son is not well") point to him struggling with something for a while and this being the final straw. And I mean, just think about that - You have a character that starts off at rock bottom, but because we didn't see the journey of how he got there, we fail to empathize with him going forward. If you put yourself in Jayces shoes, would you not feel like you had to do everything it takes, to never get to that point again? Can you imagine the fear, having almost lost your future because a mistake you made escalated to the point where they wanted to exile you? Wouldn't you feel like becoming everyones "golden boy" to make good on that, is something you had to do? THAT'S what I mean, when I say the show replicates the central tragedy of his character with the viewers. We see his story (until a certain point) as the story of someone who wants to go up, up up, but miss, that from his pov, the alternative means going all the way down. I want to end this by giving an example, how Viktors presence plays into that: There is one time, where Jayce actually voices his feelings regarding this matter, when he says "I never asked for this!" And isn't that true in more ways than one (hint hint). But because Viktor is the one who died and is (understandably) upset in this scene, revived and changed against his will, it seems selfish, that Jayce would even bring that up. But is it? Or is he rightfully pointing out, how every single thing he did (and I will give examples in future posts), after Viktor essentially stopped HIM from dying (another amazing parallel) in the very beginning was trying to make the best out of the circumstances he was given? Circumstances, that, quite frankly, ANY character in that show would have severely struggled with?

[aimportantdragoncollector]

A new werewolf idea that I might or might not write someday:

During the medieval era, there was a stray werewolf who liked to travel the world and befriend humans during brief stops on the journey (staying one step ahead of the Vanguard). Unusually, this werewolf was a huge believer in informed consent and would give humans a frank description of werewolf powers, an accurate explanation of the free will restrictions, explain the tradeoff between being a pack wolf versus a stray, and let them decide. This werewolf got quite a few converts for the pack and also some people who had trouble deciding. So the werewolf would leave vials of venom with human friends that they could use to turn if their lives were ever in danger.

This werewolf was very well-intentioned but didn’t think through how much chaos it would cause to spread vials of indestructible werewolf venom. The Vanguard has this person’s picture up in their break room and they all take turns throwing darts at it. From there, I can create hundreds of stories about humans with vials of werewolf venom and what circumstances they would use them:

-A story about a bride gets sent to an arranged marriage with a man in another city. The man wanted to marry someone else but wanted to keep her dowry, so he plotted to murder her. (Either with fake bandits or poisoning.) The bride had a vial of werewolf venom in her luggage, a gift passed down from her mother and grandmother. She drank the venom at the last minute. While the man is marrying his lover, the bride busts into the church wearing a bloody wedding gown and just starting to sprout fur. But perhaps human enough to commit murder?

-A woman who was dying in childbirth (the most dangerous event for medieval women) and took werewolf venom to survive. The comedy of this AU revolves around her devoted and loving husband aggressively pretending not to notice anything wrong. His wife is eating raw meat? People get odd post-pregnancy cravings. It’s important that she have anything she wants while she is recovering. The baby looks oddly like a puppy? Well, some babies are born bald and some have a full head of hair and some have hair all over. Who’s insulting his baby with comparisons to a dog?

-I imagine that with the vials being passed down over generations, sometimes people forget what they are. This leads to the incidents like some dumb kid daring friends to drink granny’s weird old potion.

-OR: a village gets surrounded by invading werewolves who politely give the villagers a day to surrender before they do things the hard way. Bob whips out a potion passed down by his family that is supposed to turn him into a legendary monster who can defeat all the invaders. The potion turns him into a werewolf. “Great job Bob, we already had those!”

-In his search for a cure, Naji has several times been brought a legendary potion that can cure all injuries. Every time, when he opens it and smells it, it’s just another vial of werewolf venom.

- This means at some point someone must have taken werewolf venom to cure werewolfism. That…did not work but at least it’s too late to do any harm either.

-Another revenge story but this time an unsuccessful one. Main Character’s (MC’s) family gets scammed by some smooth-talking businessman, so MC decides to slip werewolf venom into his drink then reveal him as a werewolf. Ideally this will get him chased out of town so MC’s family can get their property back. (This is not my smartest MC since it’s usually not a good idea to turn your enemies into eldritch monsters.) It goes horribly right because the businessman gets an outbreak of werewolf decency, and suddenly he wants to make up for all his past wrongs. He apologizes and gives the property back to MC’s family with extra money. He becomes a huge philanthropist. This is not what MC wanted--MC wanted revenge but now it’s hard to get revenge on someone who sincerely apologized without looking like an asshole. Plus MC’s own family all likes this guy now! At least they got their property back. But unfortunately any werewolf is at some point going to want to make amends for the past by spreading around the wolf’s gift…

-Speaking of revenge, some peasants are certainly saving their vials for whenever the local nobility gets too unpleasant. They make a slash across the village signpost every time a noble gets one strike. After five strikes? “We’re all going to hell together.”

-A group of people are trapped in a cave after a landslide with a vial of venom. None of them want to become werewolves but they agree one person needs to turn in order to have the strength to bust out. So they all draw lots. Unfortunately werewolves take a while to change so this could lead everyone else dying during that time. Or it could be a happier ending if new werewolf is able to send up a distress signal to the pack.

-Two people playing head games trying to poison each other, like the scene in the Princess Bride with Vizzini and Wesley having a battle of wits over the poison. Except neither of them realize the “poison” is actually werewolf venom. For crack they both get infected and afterward mutually admit all their enmity was just unresolved sexual tension.

-A doctor has one vial of werewolf venom, saving for someone who needs it the most and consents. The doctor finds a village infected with plague. The villagers refuse the cure because they believe becoming a werewolf is a fate worse than death. The doctor realizes that this plague is on the level of the Black Death and if the plague isn’t stopped in this village then it will devastate the continent. The villagers refuse to believe in the concept of quarantine and will definitely spread the plague. There is enough venom to infect those currently sick. The doctor must decide if it’s ethical to force the venom on a few people for the sake of saving millions of lives.

-The family that uses their vial to cure an ill child. They believe that they can raise this kid to be a good werewolf who never bites anyone…alas they do not understand the nature of this curse…

-That time someone had an oopsie and accidentally dropped a vial into the town well or river used for drinking water.

-Having these vials in the family is a safety measure, but it’s also risky because the Vanguard hunts anyone keeping around werewolf venom and human authorities outlaw it. People must have alternate stories to explain what is in that old jar. AU where someone drinks the vial while the Wolf Hunters are searching their house to hide it.

-AU where MC is either ill or has an ill relative, so they rob the Wolf Hunters headquarters to steal a vial of werewolf venom. Alas, the Wolf Hunters have confiscated a lot of fakes over the years. (In fact, they prefer dragging back home fake venom being sold on the black market to fighting actual werewolves.) MC steals a fake the first time, then has to go back for a second heist. Surely at least one of those 100 jars in the vault must be real? Bad news is that MC runs into the Vanguard on the second heist, good news is that if the Vanguard showed up then probably at least one jar is real!

-A werewolf outbreak due to a vial of venom on a ship. In the middle of the ocean, nowhere to run. Werewolves are very good swimmers. Depending on the story, it could be a (heartwarming?) tale of sailor spreading around the love. Or it could be a dark story about sailors who toss an ill comrade overboard to avoid everyone getting sick. But why did they find a giant whale carcass eaten? What’s ripping a hole in the bottom of their ship? Finally the crack option: newbie pirates steal some werewolf venom hoping to become badasses but instead it turns them into compassionate Robin Hoods.

Possibly more AUs to come!

[cogniizaant]

hello hi I love your writing🔥🔥🔥🔥 you should write some more Froggy stuff, like possibly with an affectionate reader? /nf

THANK YOU SO MUCH ANON i'm very flattered and i'm so glad you requested. and im also sorry i saw this a bit late i hadn't checked my laptop when i had left work yesterday. anywho enough about me i would be happy to write more stuff about Froggy. these will also be headcanons kinda so i hope you're cool with it.

i ran out of related banners so quick.

Froggy x Affectionate!reader HCS.

It's definitely shocking for him at first and you might have to ease him into it. I wouldn't say he'd be unfamiliar with affection or anything, but rather just used to more toned down expressions of it. SO, if you're the type to go all out with declaring your love for him, do be prepared for his initial reaction to be a bit more timid.

He'd never fully get used to it. It'll be that one thing about dating you that he can never fully get accustomed too. One minute you guys are talking, having a casual conversation and then you just out of nowhere turn to him, hugging him until your faces are pressed against each others as you remind him again for the umpteenth time that day that you love him. He'd shiver a bit, but struggle to fight back a smile as he pats the arm wrapped around him. He actually really likes hearing despite how hesitant he is to say it back. It's not that he doesn't feel the same, because he does. He's just too embarrassed to say it back. He's also a bit embarrassed of how easily you can get to him. He's obviously not the calmest guy ever and he's relatively outspoken with his feelings, but it's for him to get this giddy over another person is crazy to him. None of his past relationships were like this at all. He's the type to say he's a 'grown ass man' whenever warranted but has to cover his face and stop himself from giggling and kicking his feet whenever you're with him.

On any special holidays, he's learned to brace himself and be prepared to wake up to enough gifts to cover every birthday for the rest of his life and then some, or an expertly planned date for the two of you that you've curated every aspect of since the year prior. He might think it's a bit too much at times or complain that he won't be able to get him anything of equal value. If you respond in anyway saying he doesn't need too and that you're doing this strictly because you love him and you want too, then he might call you corny. He doesn't mean it at all, it's just to distract you from the fact that he's super flustered over it.

On the topic of gifts, whenever he gives you anything he's finally accepted the fact that you will have the most over the top reaction ever. He's gotten tackled and smothered with kisses enough times to know there's no curbing your excitement. He's honestly grown to enjoy it, and even anticipate it. I think he'd be pretty attentive and would do his best to remember what you like so he can get something aligned with your interests with you. He feels proud that he's able to make you happy even though he still feels that his gifting abilities are subpar in comparison to yours.

"Hey, it's nothing. Really. I just remembered you said you liked that show." "Froggy, I love it so much. I've never been gifted anything this great before ever in my life. I swear I'm going to craft a ring with my bare hands and propose to you with it one of these days." "How am I supposed to respond to that?!"

A lot of your conversations go like that. You're so insanely nice and loving towards him it genuinely throws him off so much. The gears in his brain stop turning every time and he has to manually restart them. He enjoys it a lot, but questions himself often on whether he's built to handle this. You're able to say how you feel to him so clearly and consistently and he can barely respond back without blushing and stuttering. You make him really nervous, but in a good way. You could have been dating for decades, now. Married, even. He'll still get flustered over you being affectionate with him either way. It's like a never ending crush on you.

He's very wary about letting you meet his colleagues. You all would probably get along very well, so that is not his concern. He can't let anyone see him in that state. Well, with the exception of you, of course. I mean, how can he retain his authority then? In reality, none of them would say much about it, though it would be a shocking sight. You cannot convince him of that, though.

Overall, Froggy will never be unsure about your love for him, so good job on that. He loves you back. He's just working up the courage to say it with a straight face.

[moviesludge]

i'm working on my second bird painting on a wood chip. it started really roughly, which is an okay way for it to start because you're sort of mapping out base colors and placement. But I went to work with it and it was looking really mediocre. Painting in general is something where you have to decide where to stop and when you're done. I thought my prior bird painting came out pretty good and the second one was not going nearly as well. I had to sit there and look at how it wasn't that good when I finished the session and I was trying to imagine how I could work it to look better.

Part of the reason I'm working on these is to try to sharpen my ability to create small details. And also to know how to properly and continuously thin the paint as it dries out on the palette, to paint quickly so as not to have to keep mixing paint, to mix the paint properly to get the right colors, to use a paintbrush that I'm comfortable with, to keep the bristles in the necessary shape, and to apply the paint in the way I want it. It's really challenging, and while it seems like acrylic is forgiving in that you can just cover up mistakes, the paint builds up and you can only do it so much.

So by some convergence of occurrences, after resenting my work for a few days, I managed to get a really good night's sleep. Like really really good. My focus was super sharp the following day and I worked on the painting again. I think I did some of my best work, technically. I noticed it was easier to compare my reference to my painting and see where I was at. I struggled with that before. One really surprising thing though is that my intuition was really sharp too. Like whatever I did just happened to work out the way I wanted it to. It was kind of eerie.

So after I finished the session, I compared it to the previous bird I painted and it makes the first one look like shit by comparison. So now I'm thinking I may go back and try to rework the first one a bit later on.

This all flies in the face of my desire to paint every day. I did do that for a week or so but it didn't really go well. I guess I should leave off if I can't focus. My typical approach is to just keep trying to do it anyway and hope it gets better, or build some kind of cumulative trial-and-error skill but I dunno. Sometimes it eventually shakes out and sometimes it doesn't.

My sharp work pertained to the bird only. I had also started painting some flowers in the background during my crappy early session. So then the bird looked good and the flowers looked like shit. So after my sharp session, I had that inevitable "WHAT IF I FUCK IT UP NOW" dread. I knew there was no way I was leaving it unfinished though. Making art is harrowing because you're always risking fucking up something you like and you just have to do it anyway.

So I felt pretty sharp today and I gave it a shot. I feel like I vastly improved the flowers. Part of it was that I didn't really stick too closely to reference the first time, and made all the flowers too samey and not really realistic in their dimension. So I painted over them all and stuck more to the reference. Also, during the first session I was trying to mix paint colors and it did not go well. I did a lot better this time. I'll post a pic sometime soon.

[waitineedaname]

I think I need to make a giant venn diagram between homestuck, hlvrai, svsss, and orv

[tifa-simp]

Theory time!

Ok, so I made a post (here) about how frequently Tifa's "I'm sick of it all!" scene is brought up, the last time it makes an appearance is in Tifa's trial in the ToTA. But now I think about the other trials more and have this thought:

What if Tifa's trial and Cloud's trial were switched?

Firstly, let's take a look at Tifa's trial.

(Source)

As mention above, Tifa's trial stands out to me due to the anomalies appear in it: young Tifa, young Cloud and Brian.

Brian is the vision of the past, like Myrna to Barret, Hojo to Red, Ifalna to Aerith, Jessie, Tifa and Barret to Cloud. (Yuffie's case is different). But unlike Myrna, who Barret can only interact with the body according to the timeline (whole arm when she's alive, 1 arm lost when she died), or Ifalna, who Aerith can't interact with her current body. Tifa can touch Brian just fine despite being adult.

Young Cloud looks like a mimic of Tifa memory like Brian at first. But he seems to have a mind of his own than a mere copy. He has terrified expression when he doesn't see Tifa, which didn't happen in real memory. He still lingers in Nibelheim accident memory, where he doesn't belong. Not only that, he even guides her to Brian like a puppet.

Young Tifa is the only one interacts with Tifa. She shows off her dress, smiles in a uncanny way, acts on her own and disappears without involving in her intended memory.

So, it's safe to assume there's more than 1 force behind Tifa's trial other than the temple's power. Something can change the memories and make the people in the illusion act on their own. Later I'll discuss more about the nature of the trial compared to the rest.

Now let's analyze Cloud's trial.

Cloud's trial is actually pretty standard. If I have to make a comparison, his trial is most similar to Barret's:

Both has 2 events. Barret has his daily life with Myrna and after the Shinra attack. Cloud has the first bombing mission and the plate fall.

Both have their body transform according to the memories. Barret regains his arm and then lost it. Cloud has the bomb with him.

Both experience both events in 1st person.

Only difference is that while Barret's memory plays till the end, Cloud's memory is interrupted by, you guess it, Sephiroth, who is shown to be behind the illusion in Cloud's trial. You can see him transform from Tifa back to himself.

So we can guess that the trial is directed or heavily influenced by Sephiroth- a being doesn't belong to the temple.

Now, let's take a step back and look at how each trial operate and the meaning they carry.

All trials have at least 1 of 3 traits:

Everyone has to revisit a replica of their old memory.

There'll be someone from the past that acts like a "guide" signaling the memory being shown: Hojo, Myrna, Sonon, Ifalna, Elymra, Brian, kid Cloud and Tifa, Barret, Biggs, Jessie,...

The body will change depending on which memory is being played.

Now, why does Tifa stands out the most to me?

Not only she has 2 different memories, but both of them are wrong

There's no star in the water tower memory, and there's no corpses in the Nibelheim accident memory.

(Note: there's a minor error in Cloud's trial, too. In the bombing mission, there's no one in the room where the bomb is set, but in the trial, there are a couple of strangers and Biggs. Yuffie trial doesn't quite play 100% like the real event either.)

2. Tifa is the only one whose "guides" act independently and disobey the memories timeline. Young Cloud wasn't supposed to be in Nibelheim accident.

Tifa is the only one whose guide can break the 4th wall - young Tifa. Everyone else have to "roleplay" their old selves, or else the guides won't be aware of their presence (Aerith). Young Tifa not only acknowledges Tifa, but she also lures Tifa to the water tower instead of playing her part like other guides. It's almost like young Tifa was waiting for adult Tifa, like a trap.

There's only one person who fulfills both young Cloud and Tifa' characteristics: someone knows that they're in a trial and someone appears in memory that doesn't contain them: Sephiroth in Cloud's trial.

3. Tifa is the only one whose body both remains unchanged and can interact with the guide without stopping the illusion. Yuffie doesn't change, but she can't touch Sonon, same with Aerith with Ifalna and kid Aerith.

So yes, I can confidently say that Tifa's trial is the most unique among all the trials.

It's finally time for the million dollars question:

What if Tifa's trial and Cloud's trial were swapped?

What if Tifa has to face the first bomb mission that she refused to join but still has to carry the responsible for it?

What if Tifa has to face the plate drop again?

Put Tifa in 1st person pov in the trial and force her watch the failure of her effort to salvage the damage Avalanche has done to sector 7 and witness Jessie's death again, that will absolutely destroy her. The guilt has already eaten her inside since Remake, and it still haunts her till Rebirth.

Tifa never stops thinking about what happened in Midgard, about sector 7 and Avalanche. Rebirth never forgets to remind us of Remake through Tifa. The Nibelheim massacre is a disaster due to the wrong person in the wrong place. To Tifa, it's a misfortune. But the bombing and plate fall are the real challenges to her morals. She couldn't stop the bomb from hurting innocent people, and she couldn't stop the plate fall despite having both refused and taken part in them. Cloud's trial is a nightmare to Tifa in a much deeper, more personal level. Experience that trial would leave her heartbroken, just like the others, instead of feeling rage.

How about Cloud? Let's go back to Remake again. In the very first chapter, what happened in Cloud and Sephiroth' first encounter?

And for the first half of Rebirth, what has Sephiroth insisted on telling Cloud?

His first love, his village, his parent. Just-like-Tifa's-trial. And these tactics worked incredibly well on Cloud. Both times, he reacts exactly how Seph wants him to act. But isn't there another event in the future that also has all of these elements and more? That's right.

It's not time to fully break Cloud yet.

WHAT IF Sephiroth has the power to control the temple of ancient trials? What if he has switched Tifa and Cloud real trials with each other to delay the real blow? That would explain the similar glitch and trace of outsider's influence in their trials that can all trace back to Seph. Now Tifa just gets confused and angry at everything, and Cloud just deludes himself that he's ok even more.

Don't forget in Gongaga LS, Seph said this to Tifa.

If he was there in the LS the whole time, maybe he had a glimpse of Tifa's memory and knew about the water tower. So he constructs a false water tower with a fake Tifa to mess with the real one. That'd explain why there's no stars in that memory. Cos Sephiroth couldn't see what the sky was like in Gongaga LS. That'd also explain why there's no one in the village. Just like the illusion Seph showed Cloud in Remake, he doesn't care about the victims in Nibelheim. He only keeps Brian there to add salt to the wound. He let Tifa touch Brian to remind her of that night. It'd also explain the strange attitude of young Cloud. Even tho we don't sense any malice from him, in fact, he's the only one who helps Tifa. But it's not hard to catch that he looks extremely anxious and lost when he can't see Tifa. And when she does talk to him, he acts like a puppet who follows order. His face when he points to Brian is so emotionless, completely different from what he looked like just a second ago. Almost like he'd being kidnapped to a strange place and forced to take order. Was the anxiety sign of real Cloud spirit trying to resist?

If we see Tifa and Cloud' trials under the lens that they're distorted by Sephiroth, you'll see why Cloud's trial is more standard compared to Tifa's. Cos it's supposed to be her actual trial, designed by the temple. But now it's given to Cloud, aka someone isn't qualified (remember, he doesn't have the red light at first), Tifa is left with a fabricated trial made by an outer force with the intention to mock her. Consider that later, Tifa doubts her own recollection of her childhood with Cloud and the Nibelheim accident. And Cloud has to face the death of Aerith, which affects him so much that his mind plagues his senses into seeing things others can't see. I think they all line up pretty well.

Sephiroth holds all the cards when it comes to Nibelheim and Cloud's mental health, so he wouldn't want to use the trump card too soon. Whatever happened in Gongaga, Seph has laid groundwork for Northern crater, even went so far to warn Tifa that she has no impact on Cloud now. The trial fits in perfectly with his long record of tormenting Tifa throughout Rebirth.

What do you think about this theory? I would love to hear more opinion on this.

Thank you for taking your time to read this long rant.

Tifa's trial in the temple is so confusing but so interesting to analyze. The fact little Tifa, little Cloud and Brian feel like 3 separate entities instead of belong in the same illusion group like the rest of trials really sparks a lot of questions about how much of her trial is the temple's doing and/or if there's other third part's involvement?

I feel like her trial has a lot of setup for part 3, but I also think part 3 won't out right answer the questions we have with her trial, we'll have to gather informations and piece the answer together, just like what Tifa does with Cloud.

[ingravinoveritas]

Michael Sheen: Repeatedly mentions his attractions to other men, talks about his first crush being on a man, describes one of his characters as "pansexual," talks about how gorgeous/easy to fall in love with/slinky-hipped David is, and otherwise screams into the universe about being bi without saying the word "bisexual."

Misha Collins: Accidentally "comes out" as bisexual at a convention, then walks it back three days later and comes out as straight.

One of these things is not like the other...

[fisheito]

I started reading beastars so now HE's reading beastars .wait

THEY'RE reading beastars

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

First and Last appearances of Poorly-Drawn-MDZS Season 1!

[hologramcowboy]

Having now listened to the whole podcast, I can answer this ask. First of all, right at the beginning Danneel throws Jensen under the bus for never telling her her art matters. Well, Danneel darling, it doesn’t, your roles were cheap and shitty and never qualify as art. Secondly, you merely have a vanity title as a producer so pretending otherwise.

Danneel admits she misses being in front of the camera but then contradicts that with saying she now wants to be a full time mom and then contradicts that by saying she wants to be an excellent producer and support actors. In no moment does she share anything producer related that may prove research,knowledge or competency in the field she is merely hiding behind her producer vanity title.

Lastly, she states her children are the best children to ever walk the earth. Now I am sorry but that is entitlement, the same delusional entitlement that has her thinking her “acting” is art or that she is even remotely worthy of Jensen. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure the kids are lovely, they are kids after all but they are in no way the best to walk the earth, realistically speaking. Why would anyone even draw such comparisons???

Her voice was so grating I had to remove one of my AirPods.

The translation: I’m no longer an actress and this makes me highly jealous of Jensen but at the end of the day he’s all I have to out myself on the map so I am hanging on to my vanity title and trying to pass for a real producer despite someone almost dying on my previous set because it’s the only thing I have left.

Let me also note that if motherhood truly was fulfilling to Danneel as she claims then she wouldn’t have said anything about missing being in front of the camera and the dynamics of that. Nor would she have stressed that she is “married to an actor”.

Watch drama queens podcast part two: the girls are back in town: Live with Danneel Ackles and Bevin Prince. Start at 34:16, danneel answers the question about what her work in progress is.

Come back and tell us your thoughts please.

You could listen it all if you wanted. Danneel mentions jensen once at the beginning of the podcast.

Hi, Anon! I’ve been super busy but I’ll try and get to it this weekend. Thank you for your ask. 🧡