#they're our emotional support favorites

[deadgod2tillgrantmiracles]

You know, maybe it's because Terminus raised me, more or less, but I've never gotten the syscommunity's whole... like... "Persecutors don't need support / they're all inherently dangerous / they shouldn't interact with people unless they're in recovery/palatable to society/nice people" schtick.

Terminus is an asshole. He's also done things within the system that would probably get him arrested if he did it out of system. He's mean and abrasive and proud of it. I have seen him laugh at LiveLeak videos before. He's not a good person and he doesn't bother pretending to be.

But he's taken the fall for us many times, has chewed out abusers and false friends and people who tried to hurt us. If it sucks he's the one that encourages us to hit the bricks, if he doesn't just do it himself. He's our iron fist, and keeps us, ultimately, out of trouble and keeps us from making an ass of ourselves, what others think of us or want us to do be damned.

To the outside, he's basically THE token "evil alter" and he revels in that. I've seen him play it up before for his own amusement and he ended up scaring people with it. Admittedly it's kind of funny sometimes even to me.

He has a strong gut instinct that's only been wrong twice in our lives. I trust his judgement wholeheartedly, and when it comes to psychoanalyzing people, he's never actually been wrong. This has scared even friends beforehand because he WILL cite his sources. He keeps tabs on everything and everyone and reacts when he sees danger, often before I see it. Sure we've lost friends for it, but a few I left because they accused Terminus of something he didn't even do (when they COULD accuse him of shit they know he's done. Like.. come on, if you're calling my brother out, at least make sure he's done it first).

Anyways this turned into a tangent, but I really appreciate persecutors and don't get why people often see them as, like, a disaster zone or someshit like that.

I guess what I ultimately mean to say is I don't think only "good" or recovering persecutors should be supported. Like. Fellas, those are still people. They're still traumatized. Some may not want/need to heal and they still deserve support.

[asidian]

Alright. It is time. Buckle up.

Why you should be watching Dead Boy Detectives: the targeted-specifically-at my-readers edition.

Meet the leads, our two ghost boys:

Edwin Payne: Fussy, repressed intellectual type from the Edwardian era. Exceedingly gay for his partner and best friend. Tortured in hell for seventy years on a technicality because he was ritually sacrificed as a prank gone wrong. Endearingly awful at people and dealing with emotions or his own wants.

Charles Rowland: Impulsive, people-pleasing wildcard from the 80s. Heart eyes 24/7 at his best friend but has zero self-awareness. Badly abused by his asshole of a father. Beaten to death because he saved a kid from bullies. Endearingly awful at sorting his own emotions or talking about his problems.

Some highlights:

/slaps hood you can fit so much trauma in these two

Both leads get sobbing breakdowns that happen on screen. The actors are incredible at crying

Both leads get much-needed hugs

The absolute devotion between the two of them. The shared history that lives in their dialogue and how they work together like people who have been each other's Most Important Person for literal decades

I mean, I'm talking in-canon Orpheus and Eurydice reference level of devotion here

The protective way Charles puts himself physically between Edwin and damn near every threat in the show

They're just fun together. Their interactions and banter and how they work as a team is a delight

Their shared plot arc literally involves them learning to talk to each other and communicate more so that they can be there for one another about their respective issues

The symbolism. God. They are metaphorically and literally one another's light in the darkness

But what about stuff that isn't the main duo? Just wait, there's more:

This show is unabashedly, unapologetically queer. It's there in the text and the subtext. The whole show lives and breathes it

So many good, complex, well-written female characters. The Bechdel test gets blown straight out of the water in episode one and they never look back. Headstrong amnesiac psychic learning to be a better person! Quirky meta commentary matchmaker! Cynical lesbian butcher! Delightfully sadistic witch! They are all amazing.

[audience voice] But I'm here for the hurt/comfort. How can I whump ghosts? Worry not, my friends. Canon has you covered. Not only are there ways, there are ways that happen on-screen. The hurt/comfort and rescue are also on-screen. Yes, it is amazing

Absolute chaos, really cool supernatural cases and creatures, a surprising amount of humor, charming writing, and a cast that absolutely nails it on the acting and chemistry

There is an extremely suggestive trickster type who is also the king of cats. He's a cat in human form. He hits on Edwin nonstop. Charles gets blisteringly jealous

All of the leads have well-thought-through, fully developed, emotional character arcs. They're all messy and flawed and sometimes lash out in their pain, but at turns can be incredibly supportive and kind and loyal

A character who is a crow who is also a boy, who is tortured by his witch/creator and also is crushing hard on one of the leads

There are so many incredible details in the setting, costume choices, prop decisions, etc. that you only catch after you know what it's laying the groundwork for. The level of care that went into this show is phenomenal

It's only eight episodes. The time investment barrier to entry could not possibly be lower

Anyway, tl;dr, if any of this sounds appealing to you, you should give this show a watch.

Dead Boy Detectives is well worth your time. It's easily my favorite show in years.

[hoes4hoseok]

enhypen as the tortured poets department

pairings :: ot7 x gn!reader (if i accidentally slipped in a gender-related mistake please let me know!) genres :: angst & fluff warnings :: swearing, alcohol, mentions of food, sorta emotional cheating, reader being down bad ™️ word count :: 2.1k author’s note :: thanks to ogs @sunoosill and @fandomgirl489 for helping me hehe love you guys! also i kind of tried something new with this one, they're actual little fics this time so let's see how it's recieved 😭 that being said i lowkey hate this. i started doubting all my choices once i was like 60% done but this took an embarrassingly long time. also this is unedited because i'm sick of this draft. i hope y'all enjoy though!

ni-ki as my boy only breaks his favorite toys

“i felt more when we played pretend than with all the kens cause he took my out of my box, stole my tortured heart, left all these broken parts, told me i’m better off, but i’m not”

ni-ki swept 👏 you 👏 off 👏 your 👏 feet 👏 when you first met

because he doesn't seem like he'd necessarily approach a relationship the same way as everyone else just because everyone else is doing it

so when he asked you out he was pretty nonchalant about it (even if that wasn’t how he was feeling)

&& it all felt so romantic because you’d do things like get dessert in the middle of the night & then drive into the hills together 

especially because he didn’t treat you the same way as the other people he dated — a fact his friends confirmed.

he was passive about it all before you.

there wouldn’t be any doubt that he loved you because he most certainly did

not to be cliché but he made you see the world differently! & more importantly, he made you see romantic relationships differently

but you could tell that he had a sense of uncertainty around you

not because he was uncertain about his feelings for you

but an uncertainty that told him that he needed to spend each moment like it could be taken away from him in the blink of an eye

he knew he was feeling too much — he knew you were feeling too much

because ultimately, he was unsure about whether he was right for you.

so he left you, promising that you’d be better off without him.

you weren’t.

sunoo as down bad

“for a moment i knew cosmic love, now i’m down bad, crying at the gym”

sunoo would be such a good boyfriend on paper

he'd buy you flowers & give great hugs, of course, but he'd also be supportive & reassure you when you felt insecure and unsure about your place in the world

that being said, sunoo is not one to string people along

so the moment he realized that he wasn’t 100% in, he made a plan to end things & he did.

&&...losing sunoo fucked you up. it would fuck anyone up, to be fair.

finding out that he was leaving you when the relationship was everything to you would catch you off guard, to say the least.

he probably left feeling proud of himself for doing everything right too LMAO 😭 

&& yes, i don't think it's anything he did that made it so bad

it's just that break-ups suck & you really loved him! even if he “did everything right”

no matter how it transpired, you were still in shambles at the end 

you broke down in tears at the sight of anything that made you think of him

from the smell of gardenias in a grocery store

‘he bought me those 🤧! for our first anniversary 🤧!’

to the most upbeat song you’ve ever heard coming on shuffle while you work out

‘he loved that song’ (even if you couldn’t stand it)

&& you really hoped he was feeling a shred of what you were 

but it sure as hell didn’t seem that way.

jungwon as fresh out the slammer

“all those nights, you kept me going, swirled you into all of my poems”

you & jungwon had a lot of your own problems to deal with the first time you dated

likely because he had a lot on his plate at the time as an idol & you were just at different places in your lives

&& even though your brain was telling you not to, you fell in love fast

he’d taken you to a quiet spot in his hometown that he used to go to when he was overwhelmed as a kid

it was an old swingset at the park where, somehow, everything else had been renovated

the two of you sat there for hours with your hands entwined, talking about your futures 

&& the possibility of them ending in the same place.

it felt childish & implausible, but you wanted to believe it

&&, as the break up proved to you, it was, in fact, childish & implausible to believe that your lives could magically become compatible

you tried to move on, you really did. you dated other people for years. 

one boyfriend stuck around for four years. a coworker. your future with him felt written in stone.

he was good to you, but there was a part of your heart that yearned for more

the part that yearned for the type of connection you had on the swingset all those years ago

you didn't spend that time waiting for jungwon — you accepted that you were going to spend your life content with your boyfriend

but you sometimes thought about what it would be like if you met jungwon under different circumstances or another life where his career wasn’t so controlling and demanding of him

you would smile listening to his music (that you subconsciously hoped was about you) 

&& checked how he was doing online periodically

but then you were single. it was something your boyfriend said about not seeing a future here. not seeing a future with you. when you gave him four years of your life. 

you knew you should have felt more, that you should have been torn apart for months

but a week later, you picked up the phone & dialed the number that had been seared into your brain for six years

“y/n?”

his voice was almost a whisper.

“do you think you could take me to that park again tonight?”

“i’ll be there in 10 minutes.”

“thank you.”

“y/n?”

“yeah?”

“i missed you.”

heeseung as the alchemy

“where’s the trophy? he just comes running over to me”

when you started dating heeseung, you knew it would be really easy for him to put you low on his priority list being an idol

&& you wouldn’t have blamed him for that 

because your careers are important, especially at this point in your lives (also your exes probably did that with much less demanding jobs)

but he didn’t! he told you it would be tough but that he’d try his best to make sure you had time together even with his insane packed schedule

&& try he did omg 🤭 that man put in the WORK

he would show up towards the end of your workday just to whisk you off on a date 🫶

which you not-so-secretly loved for two reasons:

one: it reminded you that he loved you & valued your career as much as you valued his

two: he’s really hot. so it’s fun to see everyone’s reaction to him showing up heehee

&& after your workday he’d take you wherever you wanted

but you’re indecisive at times, so he’d just guess sometimes.

it was usually your favorite restaurant or a massage parlor, but once he literally took you to the airport for a getaway? who knows what he has planned lmfao

you loved getting surprised by your boyfriend, of course, but the nights when you were at his concert to support him? those meant the world to you.

you swore that you’d never forget the look on his face when he realized you were in the crowd the first time you surprised him

but honestly? his excitement never faltered. he still wears that childish grin every time he sees you showing up for him

&& the post concert kisses are incomparable to all the others 

because he kisses you like you’re the stars in a rom-com. every. damn. time — whether it’s backstage or in front of 20,000 people.

jay as chloe or sam or sophia or marcus

“if you want to break my cold, cold heart, just say ‘i loved you the way that you were’”

jay was hurting you

with every instagram post he uploaded with a woman you didn’t recognize,

at every red carpet appearance where he had someone else on his arm,

with every polite smile he greeted you with when you crossed paths.

you broke up with him. years ago, at that. you had no right to feel this way.

his mind seemed scattered in your time together & he was unsure about most everything

at first, it had seemed like you were the exception to that.

until you weren’t.

when you broke it off, you told him you loved him. & that maybe you always would.

he might have loved you.

but if that was the case, he never told you.

on occasion, you thought about how he felt seeing you date around aimlessly.

had he done the mature thing & moved on?

did his jaw clench seeing another man kiss you the same way it did before you dated?

did he care about what you were thinking as much as you did about him? 

there were times that you’d stare at his contact, finger hovering above the ‘call’ button

almost hoping your finger would slip so you’d have the chance, the smallest chance to hear him say

“i loved you the way that you were.”

(i really want to write a oneshot about this actually? maybe?)

jake as so high school

“get my car door, isn’t that sweet, then pull me to the backseat, no one’s ever had me, not like you”

jake was so obsessed with you before y’all started dating HEHE probably from the first time that he had a conversation with you!

he was so enthralled by the way you think & see the world

&& he blushed and stumbled on his words every time he talked to you for months & his friends would tease him RELENTLESSLY

he got so nervous before following you on social media that he had to employ his friends to help.

“guys, just press it for me. i can’t look!”

he probably thought about asking you out on many occasions but chickened out for one reason or another every time

but then he saw you at the local convenience store while he was out getting ramen at 2 a.m. — or rather, you saw him.

"jake?" he'd know that voice anywhere. oh god oh god oh god oh god

he needed a moment to compose himself, but he pulled himself together enough to look up at you & greet you properly <3

his stress slipped away fairly fast after that & you found yourselves shopping for your respective midnight snacks together

"have you tried this one? it's probably my favorite limited edition flavor" you had said, pointing to your favorite candy

which, naturally, he responded to by pulling a handful into his basket 😚

you didn't know whether he wanted to try it because you liked it or he was buying it for you, but either way, you found it endearing

after you both paid, jake took your groceries in his other hand, declaring that he'd carry them to your car for you

which, of course, wasn't possible. you had walked.

😧...😟...😶...🤔...☝️😲 "i could give you a ride! i don't want you walking home alone at this hour. or i could call you an uber if you're not comf—"

"i'd really like that"

&& then his heart would damn near explode at the sight of your smile. because how could it not.

he fumbled with the bags before opening the passenger door for you

&& on the drive there he'd stare at you with heart eyes while you talked at every red light

you'd have to tell him it turned green because he was just so distracted hehe

oh my god not this being my second fic about jake driving you home,, 🫣 IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I DON'T PLAN THESE I JUST GO WITH WHAT FEELS RIGHT

i'm just hilarious, this does not show anything about what i want irl, absolutely nothing.

sunghoon as i look in people’s windows

"what if your eyes looked up & met mine one more time?"

you & sunghoon had a mutual break up, but it didn't feel that way a month after it happened

especially not when you were walking alone down the street his friend lived on & noticed the light shining through the large window

contrary to what you told yourself (i don’t even care if he’s in there) you approached the warm light warily

you didn’t really know whether you were hoping to see him in there, but you did — he was laughing with a few people, glass of wine in hand

&&…you weren’t expecting a flood of memories to overcome you in the way they did.

memories from when you were invited. memories from when you called them “our” friends & not “his” friends. memories from when you were the one making him laugh.

you didn’t notice your mouth fall agape or the tears welling in your eyes until sunghoon met your gaze with a tilt of his head, his smile falling as he registered your presence

for a moment, your mind rushed to decipher the look on his face — the way his eyebrows were slightly furrowed, the way his mouth fell agape too — the same expressions you used to be able to read so well.

finally tearing your gaze from sunghoon, you noticed his friends turning back to look out for whatever it was that made their friend so unsettled

they never saw you. you ran before they could.

perhaps if you had stayed a moment longer, you would have heard the front door open.

txt version ☆ midnights version ☆ masterlist

[missrosiesworld]

A Thoughtful Heart

Headcanons for when Wise is in a relationship

Thoughtful Gestures: Wise is attentive to his partner's likes and dislikes. He often surprises them with small, thoughtful gifts or gestures, like bringing their favorite snacks or planning a special date around their interests.

Aware of his partner's love for classic films, Wise plans a special movie night in his bedroom, creating a cozy atmosphere with extra pillows, blankets, and their favorite snacks. When his partner enters the room, they’re pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful setup. "Wow, this is amazing! You remembered my favorite movies and snacks!" they exclaim, eyes lighting up with excitement. Smiling warmly, Wise hands them a bowl of popcorn. "Of course I did," he replies affectionately. "I wanted us to have a special night together." As they settle in beside him, Wise wraps an arm around them, and they lean their head on his shoulder with a grateful smile. "You're always so thoughtful," they say softly. Wise responds with a gentle kiss on their forehead, whispering, "I just want to make you happy."

Deep Conversations: Being a thoughtful and philosophical person, Wise loves engaging in deep, meaningful conversations with his partner. Whether discussing life, dreams, or their favorite books and movies, he enjoys connecting on an intellectual and emotional level.

Wise and his partner are sitting on his bed, discussing a thought-provoking documentary they recently watched. Thoughtfully rubbing his chin, Wise leans back against the headboard, his gaze focused and intense. "It's fascinating how different perspectives can reshape our understanding of history. It makes you think about the narratives we accept as truth, doesn't it?" he says.   His partner nods, their expression equally thoughtful. "Absolutely. It challenges what we consider to be the truth and makes us question our own beliefs and biases." Wise gently takes their hand, his eyes warm and sincere. "I love these moments with you," he says softly. "It feels like we're exploring the world together, discovering new ways of seeing things."

Protective Nature: Wise has a strong protective instinct. He's always looking out for his partner's well-being, whether it's making sure they're safe or supporting them during difficult times. He's not overbearing but offers a comforting presence.

The couple walk home along a dimly lit street after a late-night outing. Noticing his partner shivering slightly, Wise quietly slips off his jacket and drapes it over their shoulders, gently pulling them closer. "I can't have you catching a cold," he says softly, his voice filled with concern. His partner smiles appreciatively, snuggling into the warmth of his jacket. "Thank you for always looking out for me," they say, their eyes meeting his with warmth and affection. Wise's gaze softens as he leans down to press a gentle kiss to their forehead. "It's because I care about you," he promises, his voice a comforting murmur. "I'll always look out for you."

Acts of Service: Wise expresses his love through acts of service. He enjoys doing little things to make his partner's life easier, like cooking a meal, helping with errands, or just being there to listen after a long day.

The kitchen is filled with the comforting aroma of a homemade meal, and the table is carefully set. Wise finishes the final touches, smiling as his partner enters. "I made your favorite dish," he says warmly, "thought it might be a nice surprise after your long day." Moved, they wrap their arms around him, resting their head against his back. "You're amazing. Thank you," they murmur gratefully. Turning to face them, Wise gently cups their face, planting a soft kiss on their temple. "Anything for you," he whispers, leading them to the table with a smile. "Let's enjoy this together—I want to hear all about your day."

Gentle and Supportive: Wise is incredibly gentle and supportive, always ready to lend a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on. He's the type to offer words of encouragement and reassurance, making his partner feel cherished and valued.

After a tough day, Wise notices his partner sitting on the couch, visibly tired and down. He gently sits beside them, taking their hand and softly stroking the back of it with his thumb. "Hey," he begins soothingly, "I know today was hard. Do you want to talk about it?" Grateful for his presence, they admit, "It's just been a long day. Everything seemed to go wrong." Wise listens intently, wrapping an arm around their shoulders for support. "It's okay," he reassures them gently, pressing a tender kiss to their temple. "I'm here for you, no matter what."

Shared Interests: He loves sharing his interests with his partner, whether it's watching documentaries, reading books, or ideas. He also enjoys learning about their interests, making an effort to engage in activities they love.

On a cozy afternoon, Wise and his partner sat comfortably on his bed, watching a documentary on the TV, surrounded by open books and a laptop that reflected their shared interests. With bright eyes, Wise gestured toward the screen, saying, "This part is fascinating! It's incredible how they captured such detailed footage of the underwater ecosystem." His partner smiled and nodded, clearly enjoying the experience. Reaching for a marine life book, Wise added, "Maybe we can dive into these topics later, and I'd love to hear more about that art exhibit you mentioned." Grinning, his partner leaned closer. "I'd love that. Maybe we can try painting afterward?" Wise laughed softly, wrapping an arm around them and pulling them closer as he placed a gentle kiss on their forehead. "Absolutely. It's great exploring new things with you."

Affectionate: While he may start off reserved, Wise becomes more openly affectionate as the relationship deepens. He enjoys holding hands, hugging, and cuddling, finding comfort in physical closeness.

One evening, after a long day, Wise and his partner settled onto his bed, the weight of the day easing away in each other’s presence. Without a word, Wise gently pulled them closer, wrapping his arms around them in a warm embrace. They rested their head on his chest as he softly ran his fingers through their hair, a contented smile on his lips. "I’ve been looking forward to this all day," Wise whispered, his voice filled with quiet affection. His partner snuggled closer, holding him gently. "Me too," they murmured. Wise leaned down slightly, brushing his nose tenderly against theirs. "You’re my favorite part of the day," he admitted quietly, his words carrying the weight of his emotions.

Romantic Surprises: Wise likes planning romantic surprises, whether it's a spontaneous date night, a homemade dinner, or leaving sweet notes for his partner to find. He enjoys making his partner feel special and loved.

Throughout the day, Wise carefully planned a series of romantic surprises, leaving sweet notes for his partner to find. Each note expressed his love and appreciation, with messages like, “Just a quick reminder of how much you mean to me. Your smile lights up my day, and your laughter is the sweetest sound. Love, Wise.” When his partner found a note tucked inside their bag, they couldn’t help but smile. "You always know how to make me smile," they said warmly. Wise grinned, pleased by their reaction. "I love surprising you. It's my way of reminding you how much I care," he said, his voice filled with affection. His partner wrapped their arms around him, giving him a warm hug. "Thank you for always thinking of me," they murmured. As Wise gazed into their eyes, he held them close, their foreheads touching for a moment. He leaned in, and his lips met theirs, soft and tender at first, then deepening with warmth, savoring the closeness. When he finally pulled back, his eyes were soft and sincere. "I'll always find ways to show you how much you mean to me.”

Loyal and Committed: Wise is deeply loyal and committed. Once he's in a relationship, he is fully devoted to his partner, valuing trust and honesty above all. He's not afraid of commitment and looks forward to building a future together.

As they sat together, Wise and his partner began discussing future plans with a sense of excitement and anticipation. His partner hesitantly glanced down at their intertwined hands and asked, "Do you ever think about... us, in the future?" Wise met their gaze, his eyes steady and filled with love. Reaching up, he gently tucked a strand of hair behind their ear. "All the time," he replied, his voice soft yet firm. "I'm here for the long haul." His partner smiled, their eyes shining with emotion as they squeezed his hand gently. "I am too," they said, their voice filled with conviction and warmth. Wise leaned in, his hands moving to cradle their face tenderly. He paused for a moment, their breaths mingling, before pressing a tender kiss to their lips. Pulling back slightly, he murmured, "Then we're in this together," his words a vow as much as a promise.

Encourages Growth: Wise is deeply invested in his partner’s personal growth and well-being. He encourages them to pursue their passions, supports their goals, and provides constructive feedback when needed.

One evening, Wise and his partner were sitting together, discussing a dream project his partner had been hesitant to start. Sensing their uncertainty, Wise gently took their hand, his gaze warm and reassuring. "You know, I’ve seen how passionate you are about this. I think you should go for it," he said with quiet conviction. His partner looked at him, doubts still lingering. "But what if I fail?" they asked softly. Wise smiled, squeezing their hand. "Even if things don’t go exactly as planned, you’ll learn and grow from it. And I’ll be right here, supporting you every step of the way," he assured them. Feeling a surge of confidence, his partner nodded, a small smile tugging at their lips. "Thank you for always believing in me," they whispered. Leaning in, Wise pressed a gentle kiss to their forehead. "We’re in this together. Let’s make those dreams a reality," he murmured, lovingly encouraging them.

Playful Side: Despite his serious nature, Wise has a playful side that comes out more in a relationship. He enjoys teasing his partner lightly and sharing moments of laughter and joy.

During a cozy evening in the living room, Wise and his partner sat on the couch. While his partner was engrossed in a book, Wise glanced over with a mischievous glint in his eyes and gently nudged them with his elbow. "Hey, what’s so interesting in there that you're ignoring me?" he teased. His partner looked up with a smile, clearly amused. "Just a really good part. Why, are you feeling neglected?" Wise feigned a dramatic sigh, placing a hand over his heart. "Terribly so. I might just wither away from lack of attention." His partner laughed softly, setting the book aside and poking him lightly. "Alright, you have my attention now. What are you going to do with it?" Grinning, Wise swiftly scooped them up, pulling them into his lap. "I think I'll keep it right here," he said, planting a playful kiss on their nose, his eyes sparkling with affection.

Communication: Wise places a high value on communication. He's always willing to talk through any issues or misunderstandings, ensuring that both he and his partner are on the same page and feel understood.

Late at night, after a minor disagreement, Wise and his partner found themselves in the bedroom. Sensing the lingering tension, Wise sat on the edge of the bed, facing his partner with earnest concern. He gently took their hand, his voice calm but firm. "I never want us to go to bed upset. Let's talk about this and make sure we both feel understood." His partner sighed softly, their expression softening. "You're right," they agreed, sitting beside him. "I don't like going to bed with things unresolved either." With a small, encouraging smile, Wise squeezed their hand reassuringly, cupping their cheek gently with his other hand. "I care about how you feel and what you think," he said warmly. "Let's figure this out together." As the tension eased, his partner nodded, their voice filled with appreciation. "Thank you for always being willing to talk things through." Wise leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to their forehead, his thumb softly brushing their cheek. "It's important to me," he murmured. "I love you, and I want us to always be on the same page."

[babyangelsky]

My Favorite QL Lines of 2024 💖✨

Welcome to Babyangelsky's 2024 Wrap Up! To commemorate my second year of watching QL dramas, and my first year of actually talking on my blog, I've compiled a series of lists to celebrate all the QL things I loved this year!

Please feel free to take my categories and make lists of your own and tag me in them if you do!

💜 All the lists can be found here! 💜

There are two things that will make a line or piece of dialogue stand out to me: the words themselves or the delivery. Sometimes it's only one of those things and sometimes it's both. When it's both? That line is going to stick in my brain for all eternity.

♡ From: Unknown

Listen. Listen. This wasn't just my favorite line of the year, it's one of my favorite lines in any piece of media I've consumed ever. EVER. IN MY WHOLE LIFE. It dethroned my former favorite BL line with the devastating force of a thousand suns. The longing and the love and the horniness are unspeakable and immaculate. Qian is going to hear those words echoing in his head for as long as he lives and so am I.

♡ From: Unknown

Another one from Unknown, which started us off so strong this year that it immediately became of one my favorite BLs. Yuan was just so reassuring and comforting in this scene. He's always been Qian's light and he will continue to be and that makes me so happy.

♡ From: Mr. Mitsuya's Planned Feeding

I just really liked the delivery of this one. I also appreciate someone who appreciates a good expression. If Ishida wasn't so completely gone for Mitsuya-sensei, I bet Noguchi would show him a good time.

♡ From: Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo

*the sound of pained wailing comes from over in the corner*

♡ From: Kidnap

Was Kidnap a deeply unserious cotton candy show? Yes and I'm not here to tell you otherwise. But one thing it handled really well was Q's journey toward healing, which is a rare and lovely thing to see. This line and this moment were a part of that journey. Even though Q may still have nightmares sometimes, he knows he's no longer alone and that he has the tools and the support to help himself through.

♡ From: Love Sea

IT WAS HOT. THAT'S IT THAT'S MY REASONING, IT WAS THE HOTTEST THING MAHASAMUT SAID THE ENTIRE SHOW.

♡ From: Our Youth

*screams into one of those couch pillows*

The second I heard this line I thought to myself "Oh. This show is gonna be one of those." AND IT IS. The way Haruki's voice drops to a raspy whisper? The way the scene is silent except for the very soft sound coming from the TV? The way they're just so aware of each other?

*screams again*

♡ From: The Loyal Pin

This is my favorite line in Anin's confession monologue but the entire thing is beautiful and it's delivered beautifully by Becky. She's expressing so much and there's so much desperation and love and frustration in every little quiver of her voice. It's spectacular.

♡ From: Love Sea

And this was the realest and the pettiest and bitchiest thing he said the entire show, and for that I am deeply grateful. I hope to one day have the opportunity to say this about someone. Character of all time.

♡ From: Cherry Magic (Th)

I think it screams speaks for itself really.

♡ From: Jack & Joker

*more pained wailing comes from over in the corner*

♡ From: High School Frenemy

Yes yes yes, it's technically a bromance whatever but it's a BL to ME and I used up all my restraint not adding them to the couples list.

This is very far from being the most unhinged thing that Saint has ever said to Shin but it was so earnest and there was so much love and he endured so much pain so Shin wouldn't have to and they just have my whole heart. They love each other so much and this hug meant so much.

♡ From: The On1y One

I've written about this line before but it deserves to be talked about again because I still think about it all the time. It's one of those cases where it isn't so much the actual words that stuck in my brain, but the delivery. The cadence and the tone and the emotion. This was a spectacular performance from Liu Dong Qin and he deserves all the praise in the world for it.

I really hope we get that second season 🥲

♡ From: At 25:00 in Akasaka

This is me watching these shows. I feel seen and represented by this line and I've used it very often as a reaction image.

♡ From: The Trainee

I HAVE STILL NOT RECOVERED FROM THE "PHI" I WILL NEVER GET OVER THE "PHI" I WILL SCREAM ABOUT THE "PHI" FOR THE NEXT THOUSAND YEARS.

♡ From: Our Youth

I was actually just going to include the kiss line in this list but THEN HARUKI HIT ME WITH THIS STEEL CHAIR AND LEFT ME SCREAMING ON THE GROUND ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

It's the delivery and the words and the utter SILENCE and the tension simmering beneath it all and just--

Exquisite. It's exquisite.

♡ From: Love for Love's Sake

The sheer earnestness of this line. The disarmingly sweet expression on Yeo Woon's face. The very cute, very subtle little pout. I love everything that's happening in this scene. Absolutely everything.

♡ From: Battle of the Writers

Not just this line specifically, but Pie's entire confession, which was one of the best and most earnest confessions we got all year. So much so that it's almost a crime that he and Ozone weren't the main couple. Even though there weren't many people who watched this show, everyone deserves to experience this confession in its entirety so allow me to transcribe it:

"What do you want me to say? You want me to say that...I have inappropriate thoughts about you? That I care about every little thing you do? To say that...I don't know when I started liking you? To say that, in Chiang Mai, I couldn't control my heartbeat when I was with you? Or to say that when you were with Min, I couldn't help but feel jealous? To say that at my nephew's wedding, I couldn't resist stealing a kiss from you? I don't want to complicate things. I don't want to get involved with you. I don't want to love you. But I also want you to stay with me."

[stardust948]

Urzai adopts the gaang au

Ozai, mumbling: Where is that idiot?

Katara: Zuko's upstairs.

Aang: I think Sokka went shopping.

Toph: Aang is right here.

Aang: Hey-

Ozai: I meant the spider-fly that I was chasing but thanks for the information, I guess.

~

Ozai, for months: *Debates whether or not he should leave Zuko*

Zuko: Maybe we should split up-

Ozai: ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! How dare you suggest such a thing! *proceeds to go on a 20 minute rant about the importance of staying together*

~

[After the Gaang destroy another cabbage cart]

Cabbage Merchant: You again! You and your brats took everything from me!

Ozai: I don't even know who you are.

~

Lu Ten, out of curiosity: How did all six of you even convince Uncle to team up with you?

Aang: I accidentally blackmailed him after escaping jail.

Sokka and Katara: We showed up at his house in the middle of the night drugged.

Toph: I stalked him so his long-lost wife would quit nagging me.

Zuko and Azula: We're his only biological children and there's no refund button.

~

Ozai: *says something sarcastic*

Sokka: *responds in sarcasm*

Ozai and Sokka: 👀

Katara: Oh no.

~

Ursa: I left instructions for everyone while I'm gone.

Toph, after Azula read it out loud: Mine just says "Toph no."

Ursa: I want you to apply it to every possible situation.

~

Sokka and Azula: [develops a plan]

Ursa: ...That sounds like a war crime.

Toph: It’s never a war crime the first time.

Ozai: We'll change the laws later. Continue.

~

Ursa: You are our emotional support children.

Zuko: Running across rooftops at top speed and breaking and entering is the first and only option.

Sokka: My favorite weapon is a curved piece of steel that can knock my head off if I don't catch it in time.

Azula: Who needs therapy when you have blue fire, lightning bending, and a bone to pick with the Firelord?

Katara: Nothing you can do will stop me from starting riots and committing ecoterrorism.

Toph: I run con schemes for fun.

Aang: I love announcing to enemies I'm the one they're looking for.

Ozai, sighing: …and you are also the reason we need emotional support children in the first place.

[monakisu]

How did the cat tank arc make you like torisai?? Isn't that the chapter where Toritsuka literally betrays him and doesn't believe in him at all, until Saiki shows how unconditionally kind he is despite the betrayal?? And then he still says he has a shitty personality afterward...

TOXIC YAOI BABY!!!! 

saiki will diss toritsuka as much as he wants, will drone over and over how the author should just go ahead and kill off what's obviously deadweight—yet when the chance for precisely that comes, he still risks life and limb to keep this nuisance safe... and toritsuka will whine and whinge abt saiki-san's hardass rules but he still thinks of him as a god?? "our god has returned!!"—i think that's what he cheered when saiki's powers came back, lol? he clearly worships saiki as some super powerful entity/deity, yet he still has the audacity to beg him for dumbass pervert favors... i've never witnessed this breed of worshipper before... fascinating specimen. 

their relationship has a sort of an "enemies to lovers" flavor, except in this case it's more like "haters to enemies to haters again with a tad bit more understanding for each other". at this point, toritsuka mayyy be saiki's closest confidant? arguably the one who knows saiki the best! (subconsciously. he's too dumb to consciously realize it.) he'll likely be one of the first people saiki turns to whenever he needs help, which sucks because toritsuka is sorta useless, power and personality-wise HAHAHA

also toritsuka is probably the only (non-familial) person saiki is so flat-out MEAN to! it's hilarious!! yknow how romantic partners are supposed to bring the best out of each other? Not Happening Here. in the slimy presence of toritsuka, saiki is at his most honest but also his worst. toritsuka is the antithesis to the emotional support puppies zookeepers will pair anxious cheetahs with; he's more like........................

lice.

yeah. he's the lice in saiki's fur. plainly speaking, he's a pest!!!

also toritsuka's betrayal was sorta necessary in my opinion, because this guy's too damn dumb to learn a lesson the normal way. he absolutely needs to be put into Situations in order to walk away with at least a teeny tiny sliver of character growth. and i definitely credit a huge part of his betrayal to kusuke's psychological warfare. pitting a super-human cambridge genius against a sub-human highschool dumbass... poor, pathetic toritsuka never stood a chance!! still, the resentment he'd been harboring definitely also contributed to his backstabbing. howeveeer, now that he's seen firsthand saiki's affection for him, that resentment has vanished! he's been shaken to his core!! the worship has been amplified to the MAX!!!

lastly, i just think it's hopelessly hideously HYSTERICAL to have the world's worst womanizer fall in love with a man!! and have the world's most sexless guy fall in love with a future sex offender!!! they're so fundamentally incompatible it loops back around to being compatible?! it's a real comedy. tragedy. tragicomedy. (saiki and toritsuka would doubtlessly view it as a tragedy)

lastly-lastly: height difference. that is all.

thanks sending for this ask! it let me think (<< very rare) and put into words why i actually like torisai besides "hehehe hater x hater". writing all of this made me like it even more!! but i think this may have made you despise it more? oops. my tastes are strange and off-putting. i mean, kusuke is literally my favorite saiki character, after saiki himself... that's gotta tell you something.

[northern-passage]

just found one of my favorite pieces of writing advice when it comes to interactive fiction, i think if you've read literally any of my work, it will be pretty obvious how much i use this in my own writing. i actually couldn't remember where i read this for the first time and on a whim i went through my twitter likes and found it in a thread. i'm going to transcribe it for ease of reading, but this is all coming from Alexander Freed (@/AlexanderMFreed on twitter)

he has a website here with other compiled writing advice about branching narratives and game design, though he never posted this there and hasn't really updated recently (but still check it out. there's some specific entries about writing romance, branching and linear & other game writing advice)

original twitter thread here

It's Tuesday night and I feel like teaching some of what I've learned in 15 years of branching narrative video game writing. Let's go in-depth about one incredibly specific subject: neutral / fallthrough / catchall response options!

Player ownership of the protagonist in choice-based branching narrative games (a la BioWare, Telltale, mobile narrative games, etc) is a vital aspect of the form.

The ability for the audience to shape a Player Character, to develop that character's inner life in their own mind, is unmatched in any other medium.

The Player determines the character's actions and THE MOTIVATIONS for those actions. The character's psychology can literally be as complex as the Player can imagine. However, this works best when there's enough space for the Player to develop those motivations. No game can offer enough options to support every interpretation imaginable; much of the character has to live in the Player's head, without necessarily appearing on the screen.

That's complicated. We're going to unpack it.

Generally, when presenting choices to a Player, we want those choices to be as interesting and compelling as possible.

But compelling, dramatic choices tend to be revealing of character. And no game can support hundreds of options at every choice point for every possible character motivation a Player might imagine.

This sort of narrative CANNOT maintain its integrity if the Player is forced to constantly "rewrite" their characterization of the Player Character on the fly. You want your Player to feel like they have more than enough viable options at any given moment.

At the simplest level of writing, this is where "fallthrough" responses come in.

In the examples above, each moment contains a response which furthers the story but doesn't imply a huge emotional choice for the Player. The Player is asked to choose A or B, agree or disagree, but can sidestep the issue altogether if desired.

These "neutral" responses are vital if both A and B don't appeal to the Player... or if, perhaps, the Player likes A but not the WAY A is being expressed. Milquetoast option C works for anyone; thus, the Player is never forced to break character because of a lack of options.

Questions work well for this sort of neutral option. Tacit agreement and dead silence also serve, in certain sorts of stories--as a Player, I know what's going on in my silent character's head and the game won't contradict it.

The important thing is that I'm never forced to take a path that's outright WRONG for my character. Even if other characters misinterpret the Player Character's motivation, my character's inner life remains internally consistent.

"Neutral" responses aren't the only ways to go, though. Some responses are appropriate for any character because they're tied to the base character concept.

Here, for example (from @/seankmckeever's X-Files), the Player is a marine on a mission. The Player can respond abrasively to her partner's fear or look into the issue (out of compassion or genuine belief), but our fallthrough is actually the TOP response.

There's no version of our marine who would absolutely break character by picking "Stay calm and on mission." It's not blandly neutral; rather, it reinforces aspects of the character we can be sure of and gives the Player an option if nothing else works.

Different sorts of narratives will use different sorts of fallthroughs. A comedy might treat the option to say something funny as a fallthrough, of sorts--it's entertaining and will never violate the characterization the Player has created.

In a quest-driven RPG, a fallthrough response can often boil down to "How do I move to the next step of this quest?"

That said, the strongest moments in a narrative will often have no "fallthrough" response at all. They'll work by creating multiple responses that, by overlapping, cover all reasonable Player Character actions while still leaving room for the Player to ascribe motivation.

[sylvienerevarine]

Sylvienerevarine.tumblr.com's Extremely Sexy And Glamorous Fic Rec List

2024 was a banner year for me specifically in terms of both reading and writing a boatload of TES fanfic. With the New Year fast approaching I wanted to give a little love to some of my favorite writers on here (many of whom have also been unbelievably supportive of my own work as well because they're just great people). This list is not 100% comprehensive because I read a lot this year but is a broad overview of some of my faves!

So LET'S GET INTO IT! First, a couple of series-es:

the Every Star a Sign series by @wispstalk

this series makes me feel more emotions than there are emotions to feel. I would kill and die for Tanis Irathi and I'm heartbroken he and Marty didn't get to settle down in a nice cottage with a few cats. That said, Tanis' trip to the Shivering Isles was pretty sick (good sick)

The Seasons of WinterCloak series by @thequeenofthewinter

I'll confess to having been an Ulfric Stormcloak disliker in my time. This series did so much emotional labor to fix that in me. Winter's Dovahkiin Dahlia is a relatable queen, and Ulfy is astonishingly sympathetic (and a little sexy, rowr). I adore that this series takes place AFTER the main events of Skyrim as well!

The Threads of Blood series by @oblivions-dawn

Like every sane person, I love Serana and want her to be happy while also going through plenty of drama first. This series scratches that itch in my brain so beautifully. And I know our other heroine Vigdis would hate my guts (because I'm a person who is not Serana) but I love her anyway. Sorry Viggy!

The Ebonsong series by @stormbeyondreality

Our loveable bard hero flees an arranged marriage in High Rock and boops around all of Skyrim while meeting scary vampires, Maran priests, wacky theater kids, and family ghosts. Utterly delightful, no notes.

The Illusionist series by @dirty-bosmer

Nim, a delightful Bosmer urchin, avoids solving the Oblivion crisis and rises to the top of the Mage's Guild while also joining every criminal organization in sight. If that doesn't make you squeal with delight I'm afraid there is no hope for you. I love you Nim.

And some individual fics that made me laugh, cry, and explode:

Fire and Blood by The Severed. If I had a nickel for every time a Serana/angry redhead story made me cry this year I'd have three nickels.

The Imperial City Irregulars by @nostalgic-breton-girl. Everything this author writes is amazing, actually, but ICI made me laugh like a banshee at the dentist's office so it wins.

Age of the Dragons: Blood Upon the Snow by @spinchboli. The Dragonborn DLC meets marine biology documentary meets terrifying existential rom-com that we all want, nay, deserve. I love it so much.

Thicker than Holy Water by Vhokken

Werewolves. Vigilants of Stendarr. Forbidden tragedy-gay romance. I'm sobbing already, excuse me.

There are probably quite a few more I'm forgetting but for now, this is your 2025 reading list. Get to it, darlings!

[erisweekofficial]

Come here @queercontrarian - it's YOUR TURN! We're so excited to be highlighting Em for today's Eris Week Creator.

🔥 Em is one of our creators that both writes and draws for the fandom! Please check out her masterlist here, but we're particularly biased and love this absolutely gorgeous rendition of Eris. Want something to read? Try A Soft Place to Land.

🧡 She creates for multiple ships like Azris and Neris, but has such a wide variety of content that you should check out!

👀 Read on to hear some of Em's headcanons for Eris. And also Eris is coming to visit, what is she hiding from him!?!?

What's your favorite eris related creation?

I'd say my favourite eris-related creation isn't out yet so i'll name my agegap au eris instead. i like the vibe of the world he exists in and from azriel's pov he's such a mischievous, interesting attractive little shit

Give us your 3 favorite Eris Headcanons

He is an early bird. He has no musical talent. He's surprisingly good with children.

How do you come up with outfit designs for your characters?

i usually have a few real cultures that inspire certain characters or regions in my hcs so I go from there to look for more inspiration on google and pinterest to see what would suit the character. either that or it's just purely based on vibes

Eris is on his way over to your place? What are you hiding?

My emotional support plushies. they're already up on the shelf but i'll put them a bit higher - i feel like eris would let his dogs rip them apart play with them

[the-tmnt-ficfinder]

Ficfinder finds: the canary continuity

Rottmnt Fanfic Series Summary: the one where donnie ninja turtle should probably check his carbon monoxide detector

the canary continuity: Appraisal and Ratings

(Don't know what fanfic "Appraisal and Ratings" means? Check out my explanation on my Main Masterpost! Looking for a different fanfic to read? Head on over to my Fanfic List Masterpost!)

Disclaimer: This fanfic is a three part series, and isn't completed as of yet. As such, this post will update as the fic updates. This fic is written by @qoldenskies, so go show them some love and support!!

The fanfic ratings are not based on quality, favoritism, or how good I think it is, but rather, how intense a subject may be. Like a movie review, or the tags on Ao3, letting the readers know what to expect.

Plot: 💛💛💛💛💛

"Plot is five out of five!! The plot for this series is highly intense, and full of some really good plot twists!! As it progresses, it gets more and more heartbreaking!!"

Suspense/Mystery: 💛💛💛💛💛

"Suspense/Mystery is five out of five!! Right off the bat, this series has such a unique plot completely filled with mystery!! The way this story is written, you won't figure out what's happening, till the author says so lol"

Angst/Hurt: 💛💛💛💛💛

"Angst/Hurt is five out of five!! Oh man, this fic is made entirely of angst and hurt!! The entirety of the plot revolves around angst heavy topics and the multitude of scenes are hurt only. Absolutely a fic to cry and feel traumatized to."

Fluff/Comfort: 💛🖤🖤🖤🖤

"Fluff/Comfort is one out of five!! This series has almost ZERO levels of comfort, with only minute levels of comfort in part three. This fic is mainly an angst fic, so any brief moments of comfort there are, is rare."

Emotions Conveyed: 💛💛💛💛💛

"Emotions Conveyed is five out of five!! The emotions written in this series are so incredibly intense!! The way they're portrayed, and the content of the plot are absolutely going to leave your heart shattered!!"

Drama/Tension Level: 💛💛💛💛💛

"Drama/Tension Level is five out of five!! This series has a serious amount of tension and loads of drama!! All of it in the beginning is sibling related, though as the story progresses, the drama devolves into the plot."

Triggers: 💛💛💛💛💛

"Triggers are five out of five!! This series is very heavy on the dark topics and themes, and is not for the faint of heart. Some of the main triggers of this fic are domestic abuse (very very heavy on this one!!) psychological abuse, extreme sensory overload, suicidal thoughts/behaviors/actions, extreme trauma response, extreme food issues, solidarity confinement, and attempted murder. I repeat, this fic is very very triggering!! Keep safe out there, and remember to read the tags!!"

Legibility (Reading): 💛💛💛💛💛

"Legibility (Reading) is five out of five!! Such a wonderful style to read!! Its smooth, poetic, and easy to follow!! It has no unique texts, and no images in it so far."

Legibility (Audio): 💛💛💛💛🖤

"Legibility (Audio) is four out of five!! Once again, extremely wonderful!! The entirety of the series is great for listening to, (as I've listened to each chapter) and the only thing that makes it a little hard to listen to, is S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N'S name is often spelled out loud rather than his name being said like a proper name."

Length: 💛💛💛🖤🖤

"Length is three out of five!! Currently this series has a word count of 171.5k words and has three parts to it. As this series is not yet finished, this post will update as the fic updates!!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The canary continuity series

Part 1: caged lungs

Part 2: miners eulogy

Part 3: clipped wings

[edelgarfield]

god damn it all this Aeor and Calamity lore has me liking Ludinus a lot more than I ever wanted to. I find him so fascinating and compelling as a villain, in the way that he reflects a lot of my favorite characters' flaws particularly from CR2, but CR3 in Bell's Hells at times self-defeating pursuit of power in order to win.

I'm thinking abt a couple quotes from Essek, bc he & Ludinus obviously have so much in common. By Essek's own admission, it was his inability to trust people that made his pursuit of knowledge at the cost of others so appealing, that made him lose sight of the hurt he was causing

In particular the second quote: feeling personally responsible for doing something because of your inability to trust anyone else. I think that encompasses Ludinus's ideology & motivation so well.

The idea of longevity/immortality being a barrier to intimacy is something that gets talked about with respect to elves a lot, and I think Ludinus encompasses that to its logical extreme. Ludinus is one of the last survivors who actually lived on Exandria during the Calamity. Most elves actually fucked off to the Feywild and didn't return until long after the fighting was over. Given Ludinus was a child when Aeor fell, I would assume that means his parents chose to stay on Exandria & he was born afterwards. (Which if that's the case, adds another layer to his resistance against the gods bc he was doomed to live through the war on the surface of Exandria bc of a choice his parents made before he was born.)

All the elves born at the tail end of the Calamity are dead by now, Ludinus lived at least 160ish years of it, and most of the elves born around that time would have been in the Feywild and wouldn't have the experience of seeing what happened to the world. Everyone else who survived the Calamity would have died hundreds of years ago, not to mention that only a third of the population even survived it in the first place. The thing that's saved the PCs (& Essek) time and time again is their bonds with others, having other people to support them & remind them that all the power in the world means nothing if you lose yourself in its pursuit, that there are good things in this world worth living for.

Anyone that might have had the chance to sway Ludinus from his path is long dead, either from the Calamity or old age. Liliana seems to be the only person he feels close to, but they're both bonded through their shared cause. Even other elves, the people with the longest memories, don't understand what living through the Calamity was like. They weren't there.

I know it was mostly a joke when Laudna suggested Ludinus go to therapy, but at the same time where would he go? One of the things that helps PTSD is a sense of community, feeling like there are other people who share your experience, but there isn't anyone that shares Ludinus's experience (Not to mention anything resembling a therapist on Exandria would most likely draw power from a deity, which Ludinus is understandably opposed to).

That sense of isolation is something that comes up again & again among CR PCs. CR2 is the most obvious, but it's something plenty of the CR3 characters have been through as well. Ludinus would have been alone in his trauma for hundreds of years. That's completely incomprehensible to us. He would have watched the world move on and forget something that's so deeply affected him. Any attempt to confide in someone about his anger & pain would often be met with "this is punishment for our hubris" "the gods love us" "don't question their will." The very, very few allies he had would die out over the years until one day he's the last and he would be the last for centuries more. I feel like that sense of isolation, feeling removed from the world, bottling up centuries' worth of emotion would make anyone numb. he withdraws further and further into himself bc he doesn't belong. he works for centuries at removing the gods, becoming more and more desperate as he grows older, without anyone else to provide perspective as his plans grow more and more ruthless. (i also have a theory that this loneliness is part of what makes him sympathetic to predathos but that's a separate post)

Given his age & being the last survivor of the Calamity, I think it's nearly impossible for him to connect with other people. The only thing that gives him any sense of connection or community is his crusade against the gods; he only feels connected to others through their shared pain & anger, which never allow him to move past it. He can't trust anyone bc no one else understands what the gods are capable of like he does, nobody else understands what's at stake. He's the only person remaining who does, which means he's the only one who can do what he believes needs to be done.

There's a sense of duty. He needs to eliminate the gods because he doesn't trust the future inhabitants of Exandria to be able to protect their world. He owes it to all those who've been trampled on by the gods to do what they no longer can. I think he genuinely cares about mortals & he wants to defend them from a threat that he believes only he can see, but I think he cares far more about the thousands of dead he carries on his back than anyone alive. He can't simply live a happy life bc everything that once made his life worth living is gone. He can't let go of that pain & anger and move forward. His trauma is what gives him purpose and meaning; healing from it would be a betrayal to all the people that have suffered beneath the gods.

I don't think he's wrong about the gods, but I think he's seeking freedom from the gods' control, not realizing that he's letting himself be controlled by the dead. I think it's been a very long time since he spared a thought towards actually living. Bell's Hells keeps accusing him of wanting to take the place of the gods, or wanting to be seen as a messiah, but I truly don't think that's it. I don't think he cares about what comes after, if he's even thought about it at all. I don't even think he wants to be a martyr. His goal has never been for him to live in a free world, it's to ensure that there will be a world after he's gone, forever. he thinks if he dies without securing that future, he'll have failed Exandria & all the souls that have ever lived on it.

He's been completely ruthless in his pursuit of power because to him, he is fighting for Exandria's survival. That's exactly the trap BH has fallen into in the past, pursuing power even when it hurts themselves & their friends, losing sight of the actual people they claim to be protecting. Ludinus surrounds himself with terrible people; Otohan and Trent to name two, bc he wants the power they hold without getting his hands dirty himself. but in doing so he immediately removes any possibility of emotional intimacy. the people he works with don't trust him & he doesn't trust them. the one exception is Liliana & unfortunately I think she just met him far too late.

so much of CR is about the importance of feeling connected to other people, how those connections remind us of what's truly important, and keep us grounded, how when we begin to lose sight of ourselves, it's those we're close to that remind us. I think of Caleb & Essek, they both had goals they wanted to pursue, but in finding a place to belong realized those goals wouldn't actually make them happy. Ludinus doesn't want to be happy, he wants to have a purpose, and I know I'm a bleeding heart, but I think there is something incredibly tragic in someone who can't even imagine what it would be like to live a happy life.

I think of Fjord & Percy & Imogen & Laudna & Dorian, people who nearly lost themselves in pursuit of power, but chose to turn away because living for their friends was more important that dying for the world. Ludinus is the pendulum swinging in the other direction. It's incredibly tragic bc imo his intentions are genuinely good; he's arrogant and selfish and ruthless but i think he truly does want to protect Exandria.

I think there was a point in the past where someone could have reached him & he could have chosen a different path. i don't even think he would have necessarily had to give up his goal of removing the gods. if he had other people working alongside him instead of under him, who knows what he could've come up with? if he had people to pass the torch onto once he was gone, maybe he would feel like there was time to come up with a solution besides Predathos.

But he doesn't and he can't trust anyone bc no one else believes in his cause as fervently as he does. he can't trust anyone else to make the sacrifices he's willing to make so he never tries. He denies himself the aid & perspective & closeness that comes with trusting someone and becomes further and further entrenched in his mission to remove the gods at any cost. He's the only one alive left to remember the trauma of the Calamity: he has to carry all of it because no one else can.

[ben-talks-art]

Okay... This episode of Digital Circus almost made me cry... almost!

When I saw the first episode of this show I knew I was going to really like it, but I wasn't prepared for how much I was going to love it. This reminds me of when X-Men 97 premiered and even though we were only two episodes in I could already tell this was going to be something special.

I know it's super, super early to say this, but this might become one of my favorite shows. The way they handled this episode really worked for me in a way I haven't felt in a while.

From the very first scene things already start on a really strong note, with our main lead, Pomni, having nightmares about the worst-case scenario from the new situation she's in where she imagines herself being affected by the circus glitch and being abandoned by the rest of the cast.

This does a great job setting up her sense of isolation and how she thinks she's on her own even though they all should be on the same boat together.

This gets highlighted even more as another member of the circus, Ragatha, is seen constantly trying to show her support and getting Pomni to cheer up despite the dreadful situation they're in while Pomni herself just acts indifferent as if she had already given up on everything and everyone.

I found this characterization of hers so relatable because I also used to think for a while that my problems were mine and mine alone and that everyone trying to help me were doing that just out of obligation and not because they really cared.

For some reason it felt "safer" to just assume I couldn't count on anyone because then I wouldn't have to worry about being disappointed in anyone, after all, you can't get disappointed if you don't get your hopes up.

So imagine how hyped I got when I saw that they indirectly made Pomni realize why it's important to rely on people when they switched the roles and placed her on the position where she needed to be there for someone.

I wanted to jump and slam my desk while shouting "Perfect! Perfect! This is just perfect!!"

Everything that needed to be said was being said just in the right way, just at the right time, and with the right amount of emotion, just the right amount of seriousness and levity.

Cause here's the thing, the media often has this obnoxious tendency of portraying antisocial characters as people that need to just "Get over it."

A lot of writers enjoy lumping grumpy characters, and reserved characters, depressed characters, angry characters and all these stuff as people who just need someone to cheer them up and have them forget about their problems, as if they were babies that just need to grow up and learn to be less grumpy so they can join in with the fun alongside everyone else.

You notice that it's always a person in a bad mood + someone who's always cheerful, happy, and with a child-like joyful attitude to be their contrast or someone to call them out on their "grumpyness."

And that always bothers me because it makes it seem like they're downplaying someone's struggle or inner turmoil as if they were minor things that they latch onto to just because nobody has told them to let it go yet.

I like when stories showcase why people struggle so much to let go of this mindset, why they struggle to open up to others and find themselves cheering to their day-to-day lives again.

But I'm also aware that this is not an easy task cause it's basically asking to show someone being depressed for a good portion of your story, and if that goes on for too long or it starts diving into a too heavy of a territory, it can make it a challenge just to watch.

So yeah, I get it, it's hard to find the right balance.

To show why someone needs to overcome their personal demons, while also making it an enjoyable experience to go through.

You don't want a case like Legend Of Korra where Lin Beifong's issues were pretty much treated as a joke, but you also don't want something like the Beast Boy segments from Young Justice where every scene with him just felt the same thing for 5 or 6 episodes, even though they were realistic scenes depicting someone going through what he was dealing with and they all built up to an amazing conclusion with Black Canary... But it was still draining to go through that.

You need to find the right balance and I felt like this episode really succeeded in that. You get why Pomni feels the way she does and you get why Ragatha tries so hard to help her out and why it's important that she keeps trying even when it seems like there is no point.

I really like how Ragtha isn't just "Cheer up, Pomni! Let me show you the secret to enjoying life!", she's actually trying to be sensitive of her situation, giving her the space and time she needs, and being there for her but not forcing herself on her.

She validates Pomni's pain but also knows it's a pain that she needs to learn how to deal with, otherwise, she's just gonna miss out on her own life.

The final scene was the thing that really got me.

When Pomni finally realized that the same way she tried to help out that NPC when they were stuck, she also needs to let others help her out.

It took me so long to realize in life that I don't need to deal with everything on my own, that I had people there for me, that I'm allowed to be vulnerable and make mistakes and that the people around me who love and care about me would still be there for me.

It took way, way too long for me to realize all that, so to see that final shot of Pomni imagining herself falling just like in her dream, but this time she had trust that her friends would be there to catch her, it really hit me good.

I'm not sure how to explain it but for some reason I was really proud of her for learning such an important lesson so quickly that it took me so long to learn myself. Like, I know she's not real, she's a fictional character, but I felt an immense relief while thinking people would watch this, and learn from this, and not make the same mistakes I did.

I have no idea where this show is going, but I feel like I'm in safe hands and can't wait to see what else they're going to do and where they're going to go.

I'm very very hyped for this series!

Also, I know this makes me a monster, but this scene made me laugh. :)

[very-straight-blog]

I was always under the impression that in the show Aegon never loved Helaena it was just a forced marriage, following the traditions and customs of the Valyrians.But then came Tom and Phia's interviews and the staircase scene and I thought maybe I was wrong and they were going to develop this relationship, but there are the leaks... What do you think? What would be your analysis for their relationship? Or do they just love their children? I love your analyses, Btw :)

Hi, thank you very much! I love these two, this is my second favorite ship in this series, albeit platonic.

In general, I have two posts about them - here and here. In order not to repeat myself, I'll leave the links.

Plus, lately I've had more thoughts about these two - it breaks my heart that they're the only ones who understand each other's pain after losing their son, but they can't give each other any comfort. For example, Aegon clearly thinks that if he speaks to her, he'll just break down and cry, so he awkwardly avoids her. Plus, he doesn't have enough emotional intelligence and mental strength at the moment to give Helaena some solace. How can he save her if he can't even save himself? In this family, no one has ever supported each other properly, they have no experience in this, and this is such a tragic irony in the case of this marriage. In general, it seems to me that there are a lot of feelings in this relationship, just not romantic or sexual. I'd really like to see their development and it would be ideal to show it when Aegon is bedridden after the fourth episode. But, knowing our screenwriters, most likely he'll just be sent off-screen.

[mistyscenter]

Is like….1 am but whatever

KEYFRAMES MCs!! but why yes dear viewer, I have reused my Our Life MCs, but jokes on you these three are their own original characters in their own original stories because making AUs of your ocs is fun!! Anyways here's some fun facts about them:

Taliyah:

They went into law because their mom used to be a lawyer, she passed away when Taliyah was 17

Taliyah is the middle child of a triplet

They have diagnosed Autism and GAD and because of it they're allowed to have an Emotional Support Animal

Her name is Mooncakes, she's a calico, everyone loves her

They're a pair skater

Their dad is Black American while their mom is 2nd generation Sudanese immigrant

Minoring in English Literature

Kaavya:

Child of divorce, doesn't speak with their mom anymore

In high school they were known to take as many clubs and extracurricular as they could, no one knew how they managed...everything

They've actually known Mateo since high school, they're best friends

Went into law because of the money and also trying to help people

That's what they tell people, but is half a lie the main reason why is Ace Attorney

Not the most athletic type but can run pretty fast and has good reflexes

Them and Deja have the same exact spice tolerance, they both had a few competitions over this

Indian American, 2nd generation immigrant

They do not know how to use social media, the only apps they have on their phone are the messenger app and otome games

Mateo:

Biggest hater you'll ever meet /j

He's actually super nice and kind, great with kids and a great friend to vent to, it just takes them a while to open up to people

Goth, will fear 3 layers of clothing in summer, they dress to impress

Slowest fucking slow burn with Percy, he doesn't realizes their feelings for him until the end of summer

His family is composed of their parents and little sisters: Marigold (15) and Clàrissa (5), their sisters are the most important people in the world to him

He has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, uses a cane most of the times to get around campus but they do own a wheelchair for bad days

On that note in the rainy day moment the boys actually go visit him after Deja told them (in the vaguest way possible) why Mateo wanted to come but couldn't

Picked law for the same reasons as Cam, is also minoring in Art History

Afro-Mexican, 1st generation, family moved in the US when he was 3

With all of that being said I'm very much enjoying keyframes and will draw more of the gang, Deja by far is my favorite character and Elio is my favorite LI, I will make a more proper post for these three but this is all you'll get for now. goodnight y'all

[mercuriart]

digimon survive week - day two, cooperation

spent the entire day thinking about what to draw, settled for talking about some of the ways i like to think of our protags and their partners helping each other.

aoi and labramon are quickly rising to be among my fave digimon&human duo. i like how they complement each other. for a personal headcanon, i think they both tend to focus on the details before the big picture, but since they focus on different details (thanks to labramon being. a dog.), it works.

i am also in full support of labramon as an emotional support animal, if not a full-on service dog. how did the kids survive all that without anything major, i don't know - specially aoi. girl you got into so many situations.

i also really like how the game shows the digipartners doing stuff other than fighting. this means that i cheered every time labramon smelled something. she's a dog. i love her.

y'all know i love shuuji and lopmon. didn't draw them today but i adore their dynamic, specially during truthful. i like to think of lopmon's presence, once his bond with shuuji is stronger, to be somewhat... naturally relaxing. so when shuuji's upset or panicking (or both! boy. you need help), lopmon just. climbs him and wraps his ears around his face or something.

ryo and kunemon. i don't have to say anything else. they're my other favorite duo.

i AM saying something though. semiverbal ryo is canon to me and part of the reason why he and kunemon can understand each other. if he's too upset to make any sound kunemon "talks" for him.