#they don't deserve it when all they want is to project their bitterness onto a little human being because their life is that miserable

[brick-van-dyke]

Interesting thing to note here, I've had situations where I've gone without food and, no, my autism still exists. It doesn't go away when I "need" it to. That's not how it works, not for me, or for any other autistic person in less fortunate situations.

Tbh there's so much entitled, racist, ableist and classist bs in this comment in the screenshot that I just... freaking can't. The implication that "third world countries" (a term that's really out dated) don't have disabled people because "well they wouldn't survive" as if that's the goal??? The norm?? What said person in this screenshot thinks should be viewed by most people? There's this implication that if your child isn't 1) starving and 2) as bitter towards he world as you then you've somehow failed as a parent and tbh I think that's what really pisses me off here.

Disabled people exist in the Global South and at least there's a culture of actually giving a shit about the elderly and sick, unlike in the west with the competitive consumerist idea of leaving people to die including your own freaking children.

Anyway sorry for the rant I'm just pissed off at this comment specifically and how insufferable and bitter this person probably is irl. Hope the step on a Lego fr and I hope their kid is able to get away from said person. And yeah, basically yes autistic people exist everywhere, not just in the west.

"Oh but parents do have a right to control what their children eat. What if they just want to eat candy for every meal?"

Most parents can't even distinguish between random whims and autism dietary limitations and end up saying shit like this and starving their disabled children.

[the-time-travelers-admirer]

So, I'm not pro FivexLila and I don't ship any of them. But, from what I have seen spoiler wise, I feel it kinda shows what I've been saying about him all along. That Five craves and starves for love and intimacy and touch. To be loved, to love, to be seen, to be understood, to have an intimate bond with someone who gets him. To be with someone who brings out the soft lovely sappy old man he has inside of him.

I could see it in his eyes and expressions through all the gifs, screenshots, and clips. It's as plain as day. I do believe that like Dolores and Five's marriage, this love was caused by years of proximity and familiarity. I know Dolores was a mannequin, but when she was all Five had because he was the last man standing in the entire world, he projected his wants and feelings and desires onto her and developed true romantic feelings for her and she became his wife. And with how he treated and felt about Dolores, Five actually gives loving male wife vibes. He took care of her, was tender and loving with her, spoiled her, and was so gentle with her. I have a whole post about that on it's own somewhere.

I feel the same thing happened with him and Lila. They only had each other, were only stuck with each other, they had many shared traumas given the handler and the commission, they were familiar to each other, she knew him and he knew her, she knew of his actually old but young looking confliction but never really treated him as his looks, they did have a sort of chemistry, and were all alone with each other because the rest of their family were elsewhere.

So, to me, for Five it seems natural he caught feelings for Lila given the situation. Him feeling love and being loved looked good on him and I've always craved seeing him happy and with someone who got him and saw him and treated him well, but this is definitely wrong person wrong time.

And I feel that he has truly longed for a connection like that, but once they returned, his world was entirely flipped upside down and crashed and burned. And I can see he didn't want easily to let go of what he finally had and experienced, so he kind of snapped and didn't care that his brother's feelings were hurt because he most likely had that "Finally" feeling with Lila. He became out of character because he seemed to fall in love and then lost it all in the blink of an eye. So, he became bitter, jealous, vindictive, immature, mean, and essentially acted out. Which is actually common for many people once they catch feelings and it gets yanked away/ends abruptly for whatever ever reason.

I don't think he entirely didn't care that Lila was his brother's wife, I feel he just buried that fact and tried to not think about it because he finally felt the happy he wasn't look for and wanted to hold onto it with white knuckled iron fists.

With Lila, he looked soft, tender, content, in love, genuinely happy, and like his heart was on his sleeve. You can tell just by how he looked at her. It was truly written deep in his eyes. He deserved all that I have seen, as I've wanted it so bad for him for so many years, to be loved by someone who really saw him, but definitely wrong person wrong time by all accounts.

I'm happy to finally see the Five I've written for and about to actually exist and finally rise to the screen from within him, but him and Lila was not the way I wanted that to happen. Doesn't feel right.

[spockandstars]

I think that a lot of people take issue with the way the Spock/Chapel/T'Pring love triangle is presented in Strange New Worlds, but that sometimes this is dismissed as fans just being bitter spirk shippers. So here are a few reasons why I believe people are iffy on this plotline. (Disregarding the fact that we're disappointed that the showrunners didn't, and most likely won't, take the chance to do something really cool with Spock's legacy as a queer coded character...)

Firstly, it takes time away from other characters to address an element of Spock's story that has already been explored beautifully. (I will get into how this treats Chapel and T'Pring later...) Spock's struggle with his humanity and his anguish over the depth of his feelings for others (particularly Jim) is a focus in TOS and the movies, and if you're going to keep on talking about it, at least do it in a more creative way? This isn't to say that it shouldn't be acknowledged at all, seeing that it is a lifelong struggle for him, but by making it such a focus of the series they're not giving other interesting characters as much of a chance to develop.

Additionally, it has traditionally been understood that Spock coped with his inner turmoil by repressing his feelings. Over the course of his lifetime, he learns to embrace his human side more to become a more balanced and healthy person. SNW takes the approach of "young Spock was more human and horny!" which isn't necessarily bad, but they better be giving us an explanation for how he transforms so dramatically to the extremely repressed character he is in TOS. Maybe this is reaching too far, but this whole approach of young Spock just feels like an excuse to get hot ladies into his bed and to fulfill the fantasies of nerdy men who project onto him. This is the same Spock who scoffed at the idea of going to see dancers at a bar, who was immune to the charms of the sexy ladies in Mudd's Women, who only entertained women when drugged or when he needed to do so for a mission...

Furthermore, I believe it's a disservice to Chapel. On one hand, it does make her love for Spock seem more grounded in reality, which I appreciate. In TOS, it's pretty clear that Spock doesn't share her feelings and her crush is only really ever used as a means of ridiculing her. There goes silly Chapel again, trying to win over her unrequited love! It's not cool. But on the same token, making Spock the focus of her character yet again only further reduces her to nothing but that. Why can't we let the girl breathe and do other stuff? Sure, she does get some of the AOS Uhura treatment where she gets to be a generic cool badass lady, but this is in a way that is lacking in any real depth. Chapel deserves better.

I also don't love the way it treats T'Pring. Was it really necessary for her to be Spock's eye candy wife that he gets to bang and cheat on? In Amok Time, it's heavily implied that this was an arranged thing and that they hadn't seen each other since they were seven. If they really felt the need to include this relationship, it would have been so much cooler if they had explored it from that angle, with neither of them truly wanting to be together but being forced into it by societal expectation. Which of course, results in T'Pring using her intelligence to gain her freedom in Amok Time.

So yeah. Those are my main gripes with this whole thing. Overall, I think it's lazy writing that allows the writers to benefit from the nostalgia of legacy characters without developing them in actually meaningful or revolutionary ways.

[angelsdean]

i'm just going to say. just like i cannot stand deancrit that removes all nuance, motivating factors, context, and offers little to no grace toward dean, i also do not vibe with legit cascrit that acts like everything cas did was in bad faith or that he never truly cared for dean bc he made hard choices in extenuating circumstances (constant unending apocalypses and also simply living in a horror show).

as a dean fan yes i will talk about how cas' actions at time can be perceived as uncaring or hurtful by dean, but i also know more as an audience member! i know cas's motivating factors. i know cas has is own issues, insecurities, and hubris from billions of years as heaven's most brainwashed soldier. the rebel with a crack in his chassis, who never stayed in line. i also know dean does not hold these things against cas. he loves fiercely, unconditionally. neither one of them love selfishly or are keeping score. they both make mistakes and they both keep choosing each other.

acting like cas is "soulless" or that cas only acts out of self interest or that cas is less "deserving" of dean's love is...insulting to dean. to me it translates to: dean is stupid for loving cas and EYE the viewer think dean should feel the anger and bitterness i feel toward cas. but.....dean doesn't. projecting feelings the characters don't have onto them because you think they should have them doesn't actually make it so.

dean continues to show up and love cas. dean continues to be shattered by the loss of cas because cas means that much to him. because cas matters. because love, real love, isn't flawless and perfect with no conflicts. and because relationships are work and require people to continue to try and show up and forgive and give grace and the benefit of the doubt. because when you love someone you view them and their actions in good faith. you are not bitterly keeping score and stewing over what you're "owed." dean is also living in that ending horror show. he understands what the stakes are. he understands self-sacrifice and making bad deals, even if he doesn't like it. he knows making a deal or prioritizing the mission isn't something selfishly done to hurt him specifically.

anyways what i'm saying is...yes cas is not perfect, he is flawed and messy. he is not a wooby angel or victim of big meanie dean. it's okay and good even to talk abt his flaws and the impact and consequences of his actions. but you lose me when cas is framed in bad faith as therefore not actually caring for dean or that dean should hate him. dean is a heart character. caring is the whole point. forgiveness and love is the whole point. wanting dean to be bitter and cruel and unyielding is.....antithetical to his character.

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

I think ZKs are projecting Sokka onto Katara. Since let’s think about it, how much of their claims applies more to Sokka?

1. Being one of Zuko’s foils. 2. Being a “Parent” of the group. Sokka does want to be seen as the leader and he often behaves as the Dad Friend. 3. X Has irrational hatred for the Fire Nation, which Zuko and a few others helps him with. 4. Their stories making it make sense to pair them together. As mentioned, Sokka does want to be the Leader. 5. Zuko understands Sokka better than Katara.

Sorry to disappoint, anon, but I STRONGLY disagree.

On them supposedly being narrative foils

Zuko has three narrative foils: Aang, Ozai and Azula. The show goes out of it's way to make that clear through tons of episodes directly highlighting how simmilar Zuko is to Aang, designing Ozai to look like an older version of him that doesn't have the scar, and Azula is a look at the tragic fate he would have had if he had stood by his father's side until the bitter end.

Sokka wanting to be a warrior is not that special in a series about martial arts/war, and him wanting to be the leader is constantly shown as being about his relationship with Hakoda. At most, the "I want to make my father proud" thing would be the real parallel here (and one paralel does not make characters true foils to each other), with Hakoda being a good dad that is worth admiring and taking inspiration from, while Ozai is the cautionary tale his son needs to use as the exemple of what NOT to do.

Leader/Parent

Sokka is not the parent of the group, and neither is Zuko. Katara is the mom friend, and she has mixed feelings about it exactly because, while she naturally takes on that role, she's the ONLY ONE to do so, and thus she sometimes resents her own motherly nature because she fears her friends see her as "mom friend" first and "one of us" second.

As for the leader of the group, that is very clearly Aang, with Katara taking charge/co-leading sometimes because, duh, he's the main character and the whole show is about HIS mission, of course he calls the shots.

Sokka, at most, has moments of frustration when people are being stupid or disregarding a plan, and the show constantly makes fun of him for taking himself too seriously and trying to pretend he is the "adult in charge". Not at all the same as being the dude in charge of changing an entire nation's philosophy on war - which is ALSO very different from being the dad friend or a leader of a small squad.

Racism VS Righteous Anger

Zuko was indoctrinated from birth to be an entitled, selfish, racist prince, and he also experience emotional and physical abuse, as well as victim blaming after it, and it all made him prone to lashing out at people who have done literally nothing to deserve it. He is trying to help his family, and Fire Lord, commit genocide.

Sokka meanwhile hates the Fire Nation for the DECADES of raids on his tribe that killed his culture and his mother, and forced his father to leave. Still, he speaks out against things like Jet's plan to kill a bunch of innocent people to "free" them from the Fire Nation, doesn't have anything against Piandao, is horrified by Hama's actions, and accepts Zuko into the group once he proves he truly has changed and doesn't want to harm them.

He wasn't eager to save the guy that was constantly chasing him, his friend and his sister around the world, and was willing to kill a tyrant to save himself and others. That is not the same as "irrational hatred" - no, I don't care what a spirit that will not be killed if the Fire Nation wins the war has to say on the matter, it's really easy to say "violence is always bad, even in self-defense" when you're not the one in danger.

"They understand each other more, so it makes sense to pair them together"

Does it? Does it though? Because The Boiling Rock makes a running joke of how much of a not ideal match they are. Awkward silence during their conversation followed by an equally awkward "that's rough, buddy", and Sokka CONSTANTLY not understanding what in the fuck Zuko is talking about when trying to give advice.

Sure, they managed to make it work in the end, but that's not the same as the effortless pair up of Aang and Zuko in the Blue Spirit episode, or Azula always knowing how to get to Zuko so he puts himself in vulnerable position during a fight (and him then using her own tactic against her in the finale) but also working as a great duo with him in Ba Sing Se without having to say a word, or even the time he and Iroh fought against the earthbenders in book 1.

Just because Zuko reacted when Sokka said the word "honor" and they talked about girlfriend trouble doesn't mean they have some deep understanding for one another. Sokka is legitimately one of the few characters that has even LESS of a connection with Zuko than Katara. They're on the same side and they're friends, but they're not as close to each other as they are to literally everyone else in their friend group.

[artofhazbinhotel]

Staticmoth argument scenario as usual because they're in love but awful people

Vox had been staying out at night to work on a new project pulling all nighters for at least a week now and he was exhausted, he thought he knew a way to cheer himself up and finally get some sleep: Valentino. He actually came home tonight and Valentino was watching his latest work on TV as he often does, he's very proud of his work despite Velvette and Vox not wanting to see it in the living room 24/7, or ever. When the moth demon heard the door he peeked over the couch with an antenna twitch to see who, hoping it was finally Vox, it was. It was a late hour but Valentino doesn't usually sleep at night from being nocturnal, he'll sleep on occasion if it's after sex or forcing Vox to sleep by making a makeshift wing straightjacket. Vox flopped onto the couch beside Valentino, laying on his back across his long legs, "You would not believe the day I had" small talk seemed to be a good way to go about this he figured, he would never just straight out ask 'want to have sex?' that's Val's job. Valentino cupped his face with a hand while another laid across his chest "My poor baby, it's a shame you do it to yourself"

Vox rolled his eyes ignoring the comment before continuing "I missed you" Valentino couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at this, of course he missed Vox, he was pissed off at him for neglecting him so long, past the point of trying to seduce him for attention, that's how pissed he was. "Yeah?" He doesn't deserve to hear it in return he decides, bitter. The media demon didn't expect to hear it back anyway but it still kind of stung, finally he sits up despite how comfy that position was, he always found Valentino's lap a nice comforting pillow. "You deserve attention even if you didn't miss me, is there anything I can do for you baby?" The TV host was really hoping sweet talk would get his 'business partner' out of this mood he seemed to have right now, sometimes it does, it's 50/50.

"You mean what I can do for you? You're not the top here" he stated matter of fact, causing Vox to blush a little in embarrassment and gesture dramatically "I would be more often if you'd let me! I could do that for you if you want? Think of it as an apology" Valentino could almost laugh at that, instead he pretends to ponder it "Hm.. No." Vox figured Val was just rejecting him wanting to be a top so he sighs , "Fine, okay, you can use me to feel good instead then, how's that sound?" He was almost certain the phrasing would make Valentino extremely interested, he's into that shit. But for whatever reason that shocked the overlord, Valentino rejected it all together "I don't want to have sex."

Vox's eyes widened a little, Valentino probably has never said that sentence before in his life "Oh- that's fine- Are you not feeling good or..? You don't smell like alcohol so I didn't think it was an issue to offer, you don't seem high either, or at least not past the normal amount" Valentino glared "You have such an ego you think I have to be sick not to want to fuck you?" Usually in their arguments they've both done something, but Val hasn't done anything wrong for once, Vox doesn't think he has either, right? He's starting to question it finally. "What? No, I was just checking-" he didn't like the way he stammered.

The much taller demon scooted away "You leave me alone for an entire week and the first thing you do when you're back is offer sex. What? You only want me when it's convenient? I bet this is just a stress relief, I'm not your fucking stress ball" Wait Valentino feels that way-? Vox was now panicking, it did cross his mind Valentino might be guilt tripping, but he felt guilty just for thinking that. "Val, no, I only offered because you like sex, I was busy, I didn't leave you alone on purpose, and you weren't alone, you had your workers, I didn't even think you would notice" that sounds indicative of a deeper issue. Valentino huffed, getting a little angrier, which was a little better than that calm tone since it's more familiar. "Of course I noticed, I noticed you didn't want me"

Vox decided to try physical comfort since he's awful with words, he leaned forward so his hand could reach his cheek. "I *never* don't want you, get that in your head, I said I missed you and I meant it." Valentino switches up so fast, because now he was lowering his antennas "really?" He still seemed a little skeptical but that's better. Vox nodded quickly and he leaned into his touch, he missed it. "Then show me you want me, I changed my mind" Vox felt a little awkward about this considering his heart rate when up with all that guilt but he assumed kissing Val would fix that so he did.

They proceeded to that for several hours, Vox was so exhausted by the end he passed out laying on Valentino's chest and neck fluff as a pillow. Thank God Valentino's wings cover or when Velvette walked by in the morning she would be more traumatized than usual considering they're still on the couch. As much as she wanted to bitch about the couch she also was glad Vox was finally sleeping so she left it be. When they finally woke up Vox lazily asked a "are you feeling better? Not mad?" Valentino reached around for his glasses because of the blinding windows but mumbled a "Better"

Vox was quiet for a minute, maybe Valentino would be too asleep to process "I'm sorry" it was a numble too, normally he'd just buy him something but it felt needed after that conversation yesterday. Valentino blinked a little, processing, before pushing Vox off of him to get up, unforgiving and cold despite the night "Then don't do it again."

[sithaari]

Somebody really said that "Padme is the dollar store version of Leia"... I'm ready to throw hands, but most of all: why compare the two when we can just like the BOTH OF THEM??? They are both similar but also have unique characteristics.

female characters in any piece of media are often pitted against each other, but people get really uppity about feminine women. they're almost always more heavily criticized. padme likes fashion, is romantic, and wants to get married and have children. and star wars fans don't know how to handle that because padme is also intelligent, brave, and a capable leader. but, y'know, she wears dresses, so the fandom will use the most backwards logic to explain why padme is actually a horrible, selfish person. and then they'll frame it as some kind of feminist hot take.

and to compare padme negatively to leia is wild because they share so many similar traits, often acting as parallels to one another. but star wars fans don't like that either because padme is too much of a girly girl. leia is the cool action girl. she doesn't like wearing dresses (except when she does). she's not interested in romance (except when she is). she doesn't care about all that boring political shit (except she was literally a senator and the crown princess of alderaan). and it's not like padme was much of a fighter or a rebel (except when she was both of those things).

but i came to the conclusion a long time ago that many fans simply don't understand either padme or leia. they're often not treated like actual characters but self-inserts for fans to project onto. so-called padme fans who hate anakin will argue that she deserved better, but their version of 'better' includes padme trying to kill anakin on mustafar. which goes against everything padme is as a person. or she should have fallen in love with obi-wan or sabe. she should have survived to raise her children. she should have survived to lead the rebellion and kill vader. she should have suspected that palpatine was a sith lord. she should have expected anakin's fall to the dark side. so many people in this fandom have an idea on what they think padme should be rather than just empathizing with who she actually is in the damn movies.

and leia has become a mix of everything. she would never fall to the dark side because she's so morally superior, except she's even more drawn to the dark side than luke is. she'd be a better jedi than luke and a more powerful sith than vader. except she'd be neither of those things because all that force nonsense is stupid. like this fandom doesn't even know who the fuck leia is because people turn her into whatever they want to fit a particular narrative. and ngl sometimes it comes across as bitterness over luke and anakin being the main focus of the story. and i'm saying this as someone who really does like leia. but it's annoying how leia is often praised at the expense of other characters, particularly padme because she's not some nerd's idea of a 'strong' female character.

[problemnyatic]

something nobody talks about is that refusing joys and punishing yourself "for" other people not only makes your life worse, you become bitter and resentful of those people, even though they never asked you to do any of that. It's unfair to them, that they're made out to be so cruel when it was never their desire to see you hurt or deprived.

Projecting your self-loathing onto others makes it feel like they hate you and it obscures the very real love they feel for you. Undermining your friends' kindness bt looking for the Hidden Knife keeps you isolated and afraid.

And yeah, maybe you learned to see the world that way because you've been mistreated and abused. But you need to understand that abuse is the exception, not the rule, to how most people treat others, even if your experinces have been frought with it.

It's not your fault you were abused. You still need to acknowledge that your decisions in how you behave and see others are your responsibility to manage, and that if you choose for other people how they will or should treat you by simply mistreating yourself in their name, or refusing their kindness because you "don't deserve it,", you are choosing to be miserable, and you are complicit in that misery. You need to give people the chance to not abuse you if you ever want to actually be free of it.

You can make different choices, but you have to do it scared. There's no other way, sorry. Hitting yourself just because you can't bear the expectation that someone else will do it only guarantees you're hit in the end. You have to endure the fear until your brain learns to let it go.

The only way out is through. And we're all here, reaching for you, waiting for you to join us. You just have to let people try.

[stupidrant]

you know, girls of color in media don't really get the chance to have complete character arcs, be fully realized love interests or able to be hold her own and vulnerable & soft, i'm so happy that our girl angrboda is getting so much love 🥺❤️ she deserves the princess treatmen and fully spoiled. i'm talking fluffy tulle gowns in a giant ballroom ala bridgerton being courted by a young man who looks weird in the face at first but he's actually very cool and nice!

When i first saw angrboda i was shocked like REALLY shocked since i had no prior knowledge of ragnarok coming out until like days after it came out. (Her design is immaculate imo) And then going through the game i became even more shocked and then the ending came and i was just like… WHAT? Her being his first or ONLY love interest wasnt even my first thought until like a month later bc i was quite in awe with the game in general and then it kinda hit me thats what was happening and i was like oh. OH. I was rooting for her and.. they was end game. You guys i was like wtf…

This is probably a little sensitive for me to say but i dont usually fret over representation too much anymore. The reason for it is bc honestly its very hit or miss and more misses than ever before. Alot of it feels like “here, damn” like just to do it to satiate people, mocking or a set up and its like ok. Whatever. I cannot force people to do smth they dont want to do and i think if you dont wanna do it then just dont tbh. But even when it is genuine or even good you dont see it being popular. I think of a few examples ofc but 9/10 they are either terrible characters, die later on or are flat out ignored (if they had no arc). The difference with angrboda shes none of that. They didnt even put her in a stereotypical place im genuinely shocked about that. I dont like her bc shes black but bc i actually like her. Her being black is just a plus for me and I dont project myself onto her because honestly if i do itll put me in a shit position and i dont really feel the need to do so anyways but i do appreciate everything abt her and i do recognize that they took their time with her and i applaud them for that. All of that just for her to end up being the most hated character. Lol. im always gonna be a little bitter about that. Again, I really hope sms continues on with her regardless of the hate bc they did it with atreus.

[bonbelles]

˗ˏˋ life went on without you ˎˊ˗

prompt: the below quote, after a breakup with alhaitham

word count: 700+

content: gn!reader, light angst, post-breakup, sadhaitham

It had been a short while since your last encounter with Alhaitham, and it was not one to remember for joy - more so one to remember for the sheer upset the both of you faced in each other's company. The last time you spoke to Alhaitham, it was when you ended the relationship; it was when you realised he prioritised his work over you, and you wanted to be somebody's first choice.

In the moment, he was neutral about the conclusion to your time together. If anything, it freed up time for him to do more research, archive more records. Yet once alone, once you'd abandoned him in the vast, barren library, he let out emotions he hadn't experienced in a long time.

You had returned to the library to gather some books for your own research, a project you took on to occupy yourself - ensure you never spent time thinking about Alhaitham. By the time the project made some kind of progress, you were actually enjoying the research and had moved on from your ex-boyfriend. But of course, by facing the library, you knew you'd have to face him. He seldom spent time in his office, so you had spent the day prior mentally preparing yourself for an encounter.

The library was quiet, with a lot of students either in lectures or off on their own research projects; at least this meant you could gather the books you needed and make a swift exit. Looking through the borrowing log, you saw that all of the books you needed were present, and in the same section. Even luckier.

Yet when you reached the corner you needed, and started scanning the shelves for the books you wanted to borrow, a figure appeared behind you peering over your shoulder.

"I'll get that one for you," Alhaitham said, pointing at a book on your list and reaching one of the top shelves.

Turning around, you were faced with Alhaitham's figure - tall, slender, as per usual. He handed you the book, however almost did not want to let go.

"Thanks. Can you get that one also?" You ask, pointing at another book from the same shelf.

"Of course." Alhaitham passed you the book diligently. "How have you been?"

"Good. You?"

"Stagnant. It's as if I've hit a brick wall, but nothing worthy of elaboration, I feel. Why do you need these books?"

"A new project. Watatsumi Island, specifically. I need to read these before I travel there."

"Hmm, interesting. Did not think you were one for Inazuman culture, I will say."

You shook your head at Alhaitham, watching his brows furrow in confusion. "Seems you didn't know me much at all. I said to you multiple times that I really wanted to travel around the islands of Inazuma."

"Sorry."

"Look, you may feel 'stagnant' or 'like you've hit a brick wall', but I'm exploring for the first time. My wings have grown, I can fly to my heart's content."

Alhaitham moved back to where he was originally working from, leaning his weight onto a pile of books stacked on the side of the wooden desk. "I don't blame you. I just wonder why it had to end that way, that's all."

"I told you the moment I ended it: I wasn't your first priority. I deserve to be put on a pedestal, to be treated like royalty--"

"Unrealistic."

"Well, I'm leaving soon. I probably won't be back for some time. I wanted to end on more positive terms, yet the recent revelation of you ignoring everything I ever told you has left me with a bitter taste in my mouth."

"I just miss you..." Alhaitham paused, rubbing his temple with his hand.

"My life went on without you, Alhaitham. Of course it did- no, of course it does. This was just an ending, not the end. Not for me."

Books held against your chest, cheeks flushed with embarrassment and fury, you departed from the library as quickly as you arrived. You did not want Alhaitham to have the final word, to leave the conversation on his terms. You wanted your point to be heard, to be the only thing he remembered of you.

Sitting down in front of his books, his head throbbing with exhaustion, upset, melancholy, Alhaitham stared at the work he needed to complete. The work he surrounded himself with. The work that was his first priority.

He wondered whether this was all his life would amount to.

[summerlinenss]

I saw someone talk about how people turned on Taika blafter having a good parasocial relationship with him, and how you said its very telling that Taika is still friends with people he's known for years like Brett, Jermaine, Rhys, Rachel ect who say he hasn't 'changed because of fame' at all.

But imo people often ignore that and just focus on the fact that he's not married to Chelsea anymore and he's married to someone people don't like (often with a real element of 'madonna-whore' dichotomy seeing Chelsea as this beautiful strong intelligent perfect angel he abandoned and never deserved and Rita as this evil stupid vapid slut and he cant love her he must only be with her cos she's hot and that's proof he's changed cos of fame).

I've even seen people being like 'his ex wife Chelsea does awesome stuff but he just promotes his vapid pop star girlfriend's shit song cos men think with their penises' (note referring to Chelsea as a wife but Rita as a girlfriend, cos she's not 'wife material' while Chelsea is the 'mother of his child', they think they're being feminist but they're hugely perpetuating the madonna-whore complex), also Taika HAS promoted Chelsea's work, he had the link to her abd Tweedie's Maori Lion King in his bio for ages.

Overall a lot of the reason people who previously liked him turned on him seems like respectability politics, and even like, they've noticed that, as an Indigenous person he doesn't behave enough like the 'noble s-word" as they want, and so they project the 'ignoble s-word' trope onto him.

i’m respectfully not going to discuss his current marriage because i have my own personal issues with her predating their relationship that i’d rather not get into right now. but i don’t think any of the things she’s done or said should automatically be a reflection on taika as a person. i’ll just leave it there.

in regards to chelsea, a lot of people like to sensationalize things like divorces and look for things that aren’t there to find someone to blame when it’s frankly none of our business. even if there’s still resentment or bitterness over how things ended, which is fair, they clearly respect one another and are on amicable terms. they co-parent in a way that works for both of their schedules/careers. as you said, he’s continued to support her work and did so in the past.

but overall i agree, people spread rumours and harass him over his own personal life and take everything they hear as fact, to the point that he gets villainized for things he likely hasn’t even done. which is a whole other part to the parasocial behaviour. for some reason it’s impossible for people to accept that sometimes relationships can just fall apart and there doesn’t have to be a villain in every breakup.

[sea-dukes-assistant]

ATTN: The boomers that follow me for some reason

The abuse I'd been getting since this started dropped off roughly 2016, when I told Rachel if she wanted to have a say in what I post, she can pay me. It picked back up roughly the same time Harry was outed as being with his current wife, at the time of the Karen Occupation, and been on the upswing ever since.

For the longest time, I never understood why I received so much negative attention from your particular niche in this fandom. I never spoke to you, minded your business, nor knew you existed, yet you felt the need to mind mine, scold me, yell at me, and speak to me as though I do not deserve respect and decency, perhaps going so far as to hoping one day I'd just eat a bullet.

The theory, which is disturbing at best, for why you project your insecurities onto me (and only me) is that you can't fathom mine and younger generations being so "ourselves" because that was not a thing when you grew up. I'm sorry that was the way it was, but that is not how it is now. Times change, often for the better, even from when I was growing up in the '90s. I'm thankful for this. You lot, however, seem to have taken the fantasy/ideology of "what a man should be" and decided you are disgusted/upset that I do not fall into that mold. So you come into my house and shit all over the place like you ain't got no home training, sending me homophobic messages, personally insulting me and my intelligence, telling me I need to "get my head checked (I've had 2 neuro-pysch exams I promise you my brain functions just fine)," and going out of your way to make me hate myself. Why? So you can fix me and make me the "alpha male" of your fantasies. It's like some form of conversion therapy. This is why you're so obsessed with me. I'm not bitter that nobody else is being hated on; I'M BITTER THAT I WAS/AM SINGLED OUT.

Quite frankly, that's fucking disturbing. I'm 36. I'm a regular guy, enlisted, trying to make it through the next 10 of my career without further damaging my already broken body. I'm nobody. But y'all out here harassing me for *checks notes* living my life and being happy. Not even a single shred of empathy. Just fuckin' "SEND IT" with the constant degradation and berating and lecturing. Fuck sake I serve this country with pride, nearly had the national ensign over my casket and folded and handed to my mother before I hit 30, and this is how y'all gonna act towards me, after walking around with your metaphorical dick out, posting boomer ass Facebook graphics yelling "REPOST THE FLAG OR YOUR A COMMIE?" THAT is some fucking disrespect, not a royal in an honorary position of rank wearing a service's uniform. It's fucking disgusting...oh I'm a "brave PATRIOT" until you find out I wanna fuck some hot British guy's brains out. Then I need to shut up and "eat shit and die."

I'm not a project. I'm not responsible for your issues. I'm under no obligation to be nice to you. Your baggage is not mine to carry. You are responsible for your own behavior. I do have intellectual superiority; this is not me swinging my dick, it is fact. My ASVAB score qualified me for everything except the nuclear field. I learned college-level electronics theory in 9 months. I've had a combined 10 months of specialized training on specific systems, the most recent being the AN/GSC-52B MET. This last advancement cycle I scored in the 93rd percentile overall IN THE ENTIRE GODDAMN NAVY. My job is entirely critical-thinking, problem solving, and written/verbal communication. PEOPLE COULD DIE IF THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS CAN'T SEE THE PLANES. I have to explain to idiots officers with degrees why I can't connect a system carrying classified data to their unclassified computer to they "don't have to get up" to look at the console. Between you there's...what, 10 brain cells? You think tabloids are classic literature. IT IS A FUCKING FACT, BRENDA.

Oh and the "I hate that you were treated like that/you didn't deserve that BUT" can be shoved up your ass, as well. If that were the case, you wouldn't continue your anonymous! tirade about how I'm a fuck up, need to be nicer, how I'm treated is entirely my fault, and using Prince Philip, who is very much dead despite my wishes, as a way to emotionally manipulate me (an entirely different level of Fucking Disgusting).

The entire fucking audacity. Take your own advice and look in the mirror. YOU are the reason I'm so fucking stressed. YOU are the reason I fucking hate it here and want to leave. YOU are the reason I'm so fucking "rude" and on defense all the time. DEALING WITH YOU IS FUCKING EXHAUSTING.

[the-present-is-a-gift-au]

Chapter 35: In Which Twig Falls Apart

Of course she crossed paths with Darkrai while out on her walk. He wasn't just some hazy presence in the shadows of the forest, either— he was visible as any tree or fern on the trail, hands clasped and subtly wringing ever so slightly as he stood off to the side of the path. He perked up when he saw her, and she immediately turned on her heel and made for home. 

“Twig, if I may have a word—” he began. 

“Nope. Not in the mood to deal with you right now, sorry man.” 

“You’ve been worrying me. I am not fool enough to turn a blind eye to how you carry yourself or how you behave when faced with danger. Will you not answer me and say if you are well? Truly?”

Twig stopped dead in her tracks as she registered just what he'd said. “Did you tell Kip to worry about me wanting to off myself?”

Silence. 

“Great. Great! Wonderful. I can't face him knowing that. Awesome.” She gritted her teeth and took in a long, slow breath. “Why'd you even care? Isn't that kind of the whole point, at least with your plan to rule a world of darkness or whatever? You wouldn't have to lift a finger if I did the deed myself, right—”

“My plans have changed significantly,” he said abruptly, cutting her off. “I find little appeal in ruling much of anything nowadays. The thought of you doing yourself harm is— it's— I take no pleasure in it. It's sickening to think of.”

That gave her pause. Maybe what Celebi said was true, then, if Darkrai wasn't plotting to take over the world again. She changed his mind. But no sooner had those four words entered her thoughts than a bitter sneer found its way onto her face. “I'm pretty sure it's not sickening to think about the world being a better place without me, but okay,” she grumbled. 

Darkrai's gaze snapped to her. “Why do you find that so hard to believe?”

She quirked a brow, looking him up and down. 

“I'm aware that I— I meant with your kinsfolk. I've witnessed your refusal to believe they carry affection for you like they would any other. You've convinced yourself that they're better off without you— I know it too well from what I've seen of your nightmares. Why?”

She squared her shoulders and shoved past him, calling over her shoulder as she turned back home on the path. “Because they are better off without me.”

“They aren't. Grovyle fears your death more than his own.”

She ignored the sting of tears in her eyes. “That's literally just Grovyle. He's like that with everybody. Even the mailman.”

“Celebi sees you as a family member worthy of any sacrifice necessary.”

“Celebi was willing to die to bring back a sunrise she wouldn't get to see. She's sacrificed it all already. It doesn't mean anything to give it up twice.”

“Dusknoir sees you as his own.”

“Dusknoir is everyone's weird wannabe-dad. I'm not special that way.”

“Kip is clearly—”

At the mention of her partner's name, Twig rounded on him. “Don't you dare say anything to me about how Kip is glad to be my friend, or he couldn't bear to live without me, or whatever garbage you're going to pull out next. I know that. I know he was shaking in his boots at every moment when we met. I know I changed that for him. But I also dragged him into my mess with— with almost getting him killed by Grovyle or Dusknoir or Dialga, and lying to him about me being erased from time because I didn't want to see him be sad about it, and dragging him around time and space with me until he wasn't able to evolve for years. Kip might need me, but he doesn't deserve me. He doesn't deserve the world's most lousy excuse of a person as a partner. He doesn't deserve someone who didn't want him to leave on his dream expedition for a couple years because she was scared of how she'd handle living on her own. He doesn't deserve—” Her voice broke, and she struggled to find the words she hated most to say. 

Darkrai watched her pityingly. Something in her ate that up— the fact she was being seen, and seen as something worthy of sympathy even in all of her wretchedness— and something else in her hated the fact that she was stirring up any sense of sadness in someone. That hatred fought hard to come out on top, but the hungry, sorrowful thing inside her lurked close to the surface. 

“Kip doesn't deserve someone who's as messed up as I am dragging him down,” she finally said. 

“I believe he'd beg to differ.” Darkrai’s wide-eyed, worried stare narrowed. “You seem to think very little of the people you call your closest allies, if you believe they bear no affection for you or act in ill-judgment if they do.”

Twig looked away, tears pricking at her eyes. “Shut up.” 

“Do you truly hold so little faith in their words when they say they wish you well?”

“I said, shut up—”

“Why do you act as though they hate you?” 

“Because they should!” Twig shouted. Darkrai flinched back at the ferocity in her words, and something about that made a shard of hurt lodged deep inside her stir with the urge to give chase. “Because I'm the worst thing that's ever happened to any of them! If it weren't for me, they'd be living happily and without a single worry, but they're not! Because of me! Because I'm stupid and selfish and can't get it through my thick skull that they're better off without me, so I hang around and hurt everyone even more than I did the last time I opened my mouth!” She threw her arms wide in a furious motion. “But apparently they're all too stupid to hate me themselves, so I'm the one who needs to hate myself enough that I stay in line and don't be such a useless burden that they realize I'm not worth keeping around!” 

Silence. 

Twig ground her teeth, torn between preening at the sorrowful look Darkrai was giving her or throttling him for giving her it in the first place. She returned her arms to her sides, balling her hands into fists, and turned to leave when a new voice caught her attention. 

“Do you really think that?” 

Twig looked up. 

Oh. There was Dusknoir, Celebi, Grovyle, and Kip— all standing just a ways off from her on the path. Apparently they came to check on her together. Apparently they overheard her spitting those awful things and spilling her guts, and now Grovyle wanted to know if it was the truth. 

She pursed her lips, considering her answer. “It’s true, isn’t it? I’m not… I’m not worth keeping around. I’m not…” Her face screwed up as she began to cry, unable to hold back her tears. “I’m not someone worth caring about, and it’s dumb to think that, but I can’t stop, and… I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I’m being annoying, I’ll stop, just give me a minute—“

Grovyle stepped forward once, twice— put out his hand and then pulled it back, unsure of how to help despite feeling pulled to it. 

“How can I help?” He asked. 

Twig felt something raw and bloody in her gut itself to get the words out of her mouth. “… Could I have a hug?” 

He opened his arms. Twig met him halfway as he shakily stepped toward her, and she wrapped her arms around him in a numb sort of echo of what a hug should be. His hand trembled as he rubbed small circles between her shoulder blades, then tucked her head under his chin and pulled her closer. 

For the first time since that awful day her past crawled out of its grave and back into her head, another memory returned to Twig. This one was new, foreign in its familiarity and how well it felt like it fit in an empty place in her chest.

(She was scared of the sableye running outside of their hiding spot in search of the trio of fugitives, unable to sleep for her terror at the thought of being discovered, and Grovyle held her like he was now. Twig had felt safe back then. Nothing scary could get her. Not while Grovyle was around. She fell asleep certain everything would be okay as long as they were together.)

Twig wept, then cried, then bawled. There were no words for her to say. What was there to be said? Right now, she had Grovyle to hold her as she wailed and sobbed like a little kid, and Kip rushing over to join the embrace. She didn't care if people were looking at her. She didn't care that Darkrai had vanished soon after everyone arrived and she didn't know where he disappeared to. Nothing mattered right now except for that raw, bloody, hurting thing inside her being washed clean by the tears she shed in her friends’ arms. 

Maybe she wasn't a burden. It didn't seem like you'd hold a burden like she was being held right now. It hurt to think about for too long— that raw thing inside her still sensitive and painful— but maybe she could sometime later. 

Much later. 

She still had so many more tears to shed, and it didn't seem like Grovyle or Kip were letting go of her any time soon.

[unbindingkerberos]

Pouring Your Heart Out

Featuring: Amarice "Patriot" Locke and @poisonedtruth 's Kentaro "Icarus" Hawkins

Words: 948

Author's Note: First time I've wrote a fic with someone else's OC. Sorry if it feels too ooc TvT.

Tags: @unpetitoiseau @children-of-epiales @chadillacboseman @shegetsburned @infinitewhore @linoleum-ice

The door opens and Amarice's ears are greeted by the lively rhythm of jazz. She bites her lower lip as she examines the area, noting the huge contrast of the stark, sterile facility to the warm, homely tones of the bar. It was a sight and Amarice nodded in approval to some of the furniture. She compliments the taste of furniture and eyes the intricate details of the flooring and ceiling. 

A spectacled man, presumably the bartender, polishes the mahogany counter with graceful and precise movements. She looks around and realises that she and the bartender were the only ones around. Guess nobody is in the mood for celebrating. For good reason. Amarice approaches the counter, pulling a stool for her to sit and dropping her duffle bag right next to her. The man stops the chore and glances up to meet her tired gaze, a smile on his lips.

"I believe you're the new operator, right?" Amarice nods quietly. "I'm here to celebrate." She looks behind the bartender, the lined liquor catching her eyes. "Have any recommendations?" The man lights up. "Just a moment." He returns with a bottle of champagne and a fluke-- lute-- flute glass (a glass is glass!). Setting the glass on top of the coaster, the man pours the beverage; the goldenrod liquid filling the glass to the brim. Amarice gives him a meek smile, before downing the liquid with one gulp.

Her tongue had never been graced with such delectable flavors. She had been so used to the rough and bitter texture of beer and the intense warmth of whisky, that her palate was overwhelmed by the smoothness of the champagne. 

"Do you want a refill?" Amarice shakes her hand. "No.." Her fingers tap the surface of the mahogany countertop. "Do you mind if I stay here for a while?" The bartender chuckles, that smile still plastered on his face. "Sure, I see no problem with that." 

Amarice watches the man do various chores with little interest. She returns her gaze at the empty flute glass, her reflection staring back at her. I look like shit. She wraps her fingers around the neck, tilting the glass in various angles-- her reflection warping. She lets out a heavy sigh.

"Do you feel like the world just picks someone to hate on for no reason?"

The man had just finished adding a glass to the rack when she asked. He turns, face confused. "What do you mean?" Amarice shrugs, setting down the glass. "I've joined the military to avenge my dead brother and sisters who were killed during a White Mask operation--" She still remembers their faces-- devoid of a life that once shone in bright eyes. How pale their bodies were and how her mother wailed as their coffins were lowered to the ground --"but most importantly, I've joined to make sure no one's brothers or sisters, mothers or fathers or children die-- to make the world a better place."

She clenches her fists. "But all I get in return is a dead son, a divorce and the death of my friend." They're tight now-- painfully tight her fists are. "And now," her voice croaks, "now Henry too." Tears sting her eyes as she keeps them at bay. She remembered how hesitant she felt when Henry brought it up-- joining the military. She voiced out her concerns-- her fears. But she let him. How could she? She should've done more. Amarice feels even more guilty considering she made him like this. They fed on each other's self pity and Amarice projected all her anguish onto him.

(With wide eyes, Henry made no move to resist as Amarice latched her hands on his shoulders-- shaking the boy. "Promise me!" She spat, the stench of alcohol ever present on her breath, "promise you'll never show kindness to people who don't deserve them! They deserve to die, child! If you wanna live in this world without any evil in it, you gotta snuff it out! No matter the cost!" 

She cries harder.

"Promise me… Nat… I can't lose you again…"

She feels a warmth on top of her hand and she gasps. "Don't worry, ma'am." Henry lifts his eyes to meet her. 

"I promise.")

A tear falls to her cheek.

"Am I going to lose another son?" 

It was deathly silent as a tense ambience began building up. The jazz music made no effect nor changed and did little to no help to lighten up the mood. "Did everything I've ever done mattered?" She feels a hand on her shoulder. "You carry a heavy burden with you-- the weight of the world seemingly on your shoulders." Amarice meets the comforting eyes of the bartender, a warmthness that Amarice can't quite describe. "But it doesn't have to be that way. You could ask someone to help you carry it." Amarice scoffs, breaking eye contact, gritting her teeth. She had opened enough wounds already from this conversation and to ask someone to "help her carry the weight" is something she cannot allow. She doesn't want to become a burden; an additional weight to their list of problems. After all, they'd leave. They all do.

She suddenly stands and reaches to collect her duffle bag. "Thank you for the drink." She turns to leave-- "My door is always open if you want to talk.." Amarice stops in her tracks. His insistence is annoying yet admirable. She's close to the door, she could just leave right away and forget that the conversation happened. But for some reason… 

"I'll be seeing you around--"

"Kentaro."

"I'll be seeing you around, Kentaro." 

And she leaves not even bothering to say her name back.

[ivesambrose]

꧁𓊈𒆜𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰𒆜𓊉꧂

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

This reading is timeless 🖤 ⏳

And based on law of assumption 🌹

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Picture 1

You've done enough.

You do not need to overdo this at all. Why are you pushing yourself to take actions? Understand the difference between "inspired action" and continously wondering what you should do next in a way that makes you feel hopeless.

With that being said, you're not hopeless.

You're not stuck either.

The answer you're searching for is to come when you stop seeking it. Sounds simple? Because it is.

Shift your perspective. Flip the narrative.

Once again, you've done the work.

Affirmations:

⋆ What I seek is seeking me.

⋆ My manifestions come to me naturally.

⋆ I deserve to feel my feelings and still know that things will work out.

⋆ My heart/I am safe from bitterness / bitter people.

Picture 2

It's on it's way relax!

It's money isn't it? Or something that makes you feel emotionally safe too? It's yours. Stop LOOKING for it. Would you go out and stand outside for your amazon order knowing it's gonna show up anyway?

Rest. Chill. Visualize. You'll see it happen in your dreams, these dreams are confirmations.

The world, my friend is your oyster.

This or that? Why not both?

Have fun and see things come quickly. You don't have to be so serious all the time.

Affirmations

⋆ My manifestions are always instant.

⋆ I gotta declare once and I have it.

⋆ What I want comes to be effortlessly.

⋆ I always have more than enough.

Picture 3

Stop applying logic to your desires and dissecting them especially when you're harming no one but yourself.

Manifestion overrides logic.

When will you stop holding onto beliefs and assumptions that are keeping you from getting what you want? No one's going to change anything but yourself and there's no one to change but yourself.

Let go of that addiction. The need to constantly check and seek validation.

Actually, drop everything. You need a break.

You can't be double minded you know?

This one has a bit of tough love to it, but I feel you need it right now.

Please recognise your worth and stop repeating the same pattern hoping for a different outcome.

Affirmations :

⋆ I let go of whatever that's no longer serving me. Be gone.

⋆ Universe / guides / whatever you have faith in - always has my back.

⋆ I will always be shown the right way.

⋆ I am not a victim. I don't have to struggle.

Picture 4

You'll have peace and you'll make the right choice.

Set your boundaries. Be quiet about your goals and your thoughts when you know someone might try to project their own insecurities onto you.

Sometimes it's okay to be selfish.

It's okay to unlearn what you've been taught for so long. It's also okay to not follow the crowd.

Your mind is so beautiful, so precious and so unique. Please honour your thoughts and please continue ro write, if not for others but for yourself.

I know it gets lonely but you won't be alone for too long, I promise.

It's okay to go through cycles and it's beautiful to embrace change. The change you've been waiting for.

It's okay, you're okay. Even if you're not, you will be. You always are.

Affirmations :

⋆ I got this, I aways got this.

⋆ Sad for them, but I'm built different.

⋆ Everything always works out in my favor.

⋆ Everything is a bridge of incidence for me.

Picture 5

You're already determined as hell.

Stick to your vision, stick to the new story, persist on the bigger picture. You already know this. So you already got this.

You've taken time in building yourself up so you won't be giving your power away to anyone or any circumstances.

I believe you know this already that circumstances do not matter in your reality.

I also want to remind you that the love you want, wants you even more.

The money? The career? Wants YOU.

The beauty? It's already yours.

Stay in this sweet receptive energy. I'm proud of you, you've got this.

Affirmations :

⋆ It's done.

⋆ It's already mine.

⋆ I have nothing to worry about.

⋆ Everything is rigged in my favor.

Picture 6

Trust in the unseen, trust in the unknown. Because you've always had the power.

Justice will be delivered, how and when? Not your concern. Same goes for anything that you want.

When? How? Why? What's it to you? Why focus on crumbs when you can have it all?

I believe you have at least one person or connection you deeply trust. They want the best for you as you for them, cherish this and focus on the feeling this brings you.

The right connections, the opportunities, the circumstances will all unfold suddenly and when you least expect it. Enjoy the ride.

Listen to your intuition and remember what you deserve. Do not settle till you have what you want.

Again, you weren't made for bare minimums.

Affirmations :

⋆ I am beautiful, inside and out.

⋆ I radiate (insert whatever energy you want to identify with)

⋆ I have spoken so it's done / because I said so.

⋆ If I can picture it, I can have it, it is mine.

[my-mt-heart]

If i m not misquoting, Norman said in a recent interview something like you all gonna stop whinning about caryl or carol when u watch the rest of the show. I cant really blame him cause from his point of view he's taken a lot of shit on Twitter when the news spilled regarding the spin off. And he's probably hurt cause the news have proven for a lot of carylers to be more carol stans than carylers, and to love Carol more than Daryl, which is fine even if i personnally love both equally, but maybe it surprised him and hurt him, which is why in his interviews now he often seem detached of bitter etc.

Anyway, about us "whining", its actually a good news because it means we will have amazing caryl in the rest of 11c (i do admit that when u look at 11.17 and 11.18, it might not look promising).

And maybe, just maybe, the way they are separated at the end of the season is so moving it gives us hope for the future with the spin offs and so on.

Okay. There's a lot I want to get into here, but I have to keep it brief for now. I understand where he's coming from to an extent and said as much after the news first broke. I understand the backlash is overwhelming, in some instances far too aggressive. I understand feeling reduced to one half of a ship and wanting to stand on your own two feet. But the facts are, Carol brought out the version of Daryl we all love and has continuously made him a stronger character over the course of eleven seasons. Without projecting this onto Norman, because how can I know what's going through his head, the idea of being personally unfulfilled by Caryl or playing opposite someone as talented as Melissa McBride is baffling to me. Norman and Melissa make a powerful team just like Daryl and Carol do, constantly drawing in more viewers who spark to their chemistry. Why not be proud of that? Why not embrace it? Side note: Just because many Caryl fans were quicker to defend Melissa/Carol does not mean they don't love Daryl equally. I'd even say rejecting his solo spinoff proves exactly how much they love him. They don't want him to turn into someone he's not.

As for the "whining" quote, while I do suspect it was intended to offer reassurances, the word choice leaves much to be desired. It comes across as bitter like you said and shifting the blame onto the fans for not accepting what's being force-fed to us (sounds familiar). It's also dismissive of genuine concerns that we had, such as two women being pushed out of their own show and two characters being retconned.

With all that said, I do hope that Caryl get the story they deserve in 11C and beyond.