#this is how we avoid dog destruction

[grubus]

i thought it was a cold. it's not. it's the flu.

it's not even flu season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vikvampir3]

Tfw when I realize I’ve known this whole time my dazai and general bsd hyperfixation was self destructive and I kinda don’t care

[chaostroberry1]

I need a part 2 of Beelzebub x Arché! Reader. What if the gods held a court meeting to see the potential danger of the reader and Odin's goals. When Odin wants to evade the assumptions of the people in the congregation (or even to the point of telling the reader to kill everyone there), the reader instead says that he does not want to destroy the people of gods or humans because he plans to marry Beelzebub.

Or showing how he REALLY loves Beelzebub by fuckin him shamelessly infront of them all.

Tyy pookie!! ^⁠_⁠^

Bro I love this😭 primordial god reader is mad interesting.

Beelzebub × Dom!male!primordial god!reader

....

All eyes were on you, as you as you feasted on food, ignoring everyone's prying eyes. Man, food has really became tastier huh? It's been so long since you've eaten like this. Beelzebub just sat there uncomfortably, glancing at you a few times before returning his eyes down.

Everyone was suspicious of Odin, if anything bad was included in his plans that could potentially lead to the destruction of the gods, everyone knew they had to stop him.

Odin was obviously aware that there were too many of the strongest gods there, capable of ganging up on his ass. But, he knew that none of them combined, could leave a single scratch on you. But look at you over there, moronic and stupidly eating food without a care about giving respect. Hey, to your defense, you were alive before zues, and possible as old as the other primordials.

it should be THEM to pay their respects to you. But it was a little difficult to believe that you were older, looking at how young you acted. like a matured/(not really) matured young adult who probably eats pizza slices for dinner.

"Hey, old man. Are you sure you ain't up to anything suspicious? Things don't seem very 'normal' to me." Shiva spoke, two of his arms on his head while having his other two arms crossed. Odin closed his eyes, starting to get irritated, wanting to avoid anyone's assumptions and suspicions of his plans.

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"then what about the guy sitting in this room right now? Doesn't seem to me like he's anyone you'd just walk by." Loki teasingly joked, knowing he'd get on the old man's nerves. "I agree, seeing a primordial god...isn't something you'd just see out of the blue" Thor spoke, everyone gathering their assumptions and ideas for the so called "all-realm-altering god".

Finally, Odin's last nerve popped, before he slowly spoke. "(M/n), if you want to prove to them that you are really so powerful, why don't you just kill everyone here?"

Everyone's eyes popped open, immediately turning their heads to you, who stopped chewing, your eyes slowly darting up to meet their gazes.

"No."

"what do you mean 'no'? You don't plan on killing all the gods and ruling over all realms?"

"Its not that I can't. I'm simply uninterested." With one more chew, you continued "I plan to marry Beelzebub." And with that statement, everyone was speechless. Zues chuckling while Loki grinned, "my my, I didn't know that even an all powerful deity would be interested in such.. matters~"

"ooh! Ooh! I have a question! How strong are primordial gods? Can we fight? Please please please??" A hyper, dog like god spoke. His name was...Anubis? Right, that's his name. He's quite energetic, you only chuckled and shook your head. "No, not right now. Once I settle in, I'll give you a good fight, okay buddy?" He whimpered sadly at your response, sitting down with a huge frown.

Then, you suddenly got serious as you looked back to the others.

"now, speaking of our marriage. If any of you try to interfere with my plans, it will end in bloodshed. Every single one of you will have their heads displayed on a shelf. Do not test me."

That statement was enough to make everyone feel dread. They knew that no matter how strong or respected they were, they can not lay anything on you. You were far more than just powerful. An unmeasured type of power that many seeked to have, but could never get.

Your hands trailed onto Beelzebub's face, giving him a heated kiss, and a beast like grin. His pretty face was a huge turn on.

you felt lust grow when you eyed Beelzebub, before standing up and bending him over. Everyone's mouth dropped when you started brutally fucking him at an intense speed, as he just took it, whining and crying for you. His legs spread wide open, his hole already very agape, which was proof of your cock inside of him a little while ago before the meeting.

"still so wide and pretty for me..."

Everyone present just decided to leave, knowing that they couldn't utter a word in your presence. Beelzebubs moans the only thing that could be heard in the room while you put him in multiple positions.

Odin sighed, deciding that he'd just have to talk to you some other time. For now, everyone should just leave you to the poor god, who was bended over and now covered in kisses and hickies. Your wife, male wife, as you'd like to call it.

When I tell you all of Valhalla shook from the force and speed of your pounding, I mean it.

You couldn't wait for the marriage, you'd fuck him in front of everyone after you'd seal your kiss, and that was a mental note you made sure to remember. You wer gonna show everyone who your territory was. And how they couldn't do a thing about it. Man, he'd look so pretty in a wedding dress.

You couldn't wait.

[certaimromance]

𝜗𝜚 A Lie Matter.

Spencer Reid x Prentiss!reader

Series masterlist | ONE | TWO | THREE |

Summary: All Spencer wanted was to have you back, but when it happens, it's the opposite of what he and you thought it would be.

Words: 3,6k.

TW: mentions of crime, trauma, death and pain (normal warnings in the series). so much spoilers for s6 and s7. the events narrated occur after emily's "death". so MUCH angst. read the dates carefully, especially the years, because there are some backward time frames that can confuse you if you don't pay attention!. english isn't my first language (sorry for my mistakes, be kind please).

Note: Okay, if I apologized for the first part, I have to get down on my knees for this one, because it is even more bitter (sorry Emily and Spencer, too).

I ask you to put yourselves in everyone's shoes and refrain from hateful comments. The process of writing this was emotionally challenging for me because I recognize that everyone has a valid point of view.

♡ Enjoy! ♡

December 5th, 2010

Your brow furrowed as you opened a new tab on your computer and watched it freeze for a few seconds. You were not very knowledgeable about technology and thought that perhaps a technical analyst could be of assistance. You were somewhat surprised when you suddenly felt a pair of warm arms around you from behind the sofa.

On the bright side, it wasn't all bad. At least not if you had him on your side.

“Hey.” You said, smiling slightly as you felt Spencer rest his head on your shoulder. “I thought you were reading.”

“Yeah, but you looked really focused and I wanted to know what you were doing.” He replied, carefully sitting down next to you on the couch, not wanting to invade your space. You looked at him with some amusement. “I'm just curious.”

He gazed at your computer screen, his heart aching a little as he noticed you were browsing a travel site, exploring different destinations and planning your budget. Had you decided to leave? He wondered why you hadn't told him sooner. Were you planning to leave him?

“Are you planning to leave?” He finally asked, after a few seconds of trying to decide whether to pursue the matter further. “Did something happen?”

The question he really wanted to ask, and feared to ask, was: Did I do something?

But no, Spencer wasn't going to self-destruct or assume things this time. He trusted you and he trusted that you would tell him if something was wrong because that was the kind of relationship the two of you had built.

“It's my mother's gift to me.” You replied quickly, as if to avoid the subject. “For my birthday.” You added as you noticed he looked confused.

“A trip?”

“Yes, when I was younger, I wanted to see the whole world and my mother promised that someday I would.” You began to explain, trying to avoid his gaze at first so as not to show too much vulnerability. Suddenly he took your hand in support. “Since I was fourteen, she's given me a trip every time...she doesn't know that I don't even have that dream anymore.”

“What is your dream now?” He asked with a genuine curiosity that made you feel small under his gaze.

You paused for a moment and smiled at him. “Is it too cheesy if I say it's you?”

“It's sweet.” Spencer couldn't help but blush a little and let out a laugh and then get a little more serious. “What's your dream?”

It was a new question, so you weren't quite sure how to answer. It was unusual because no one had ever asked you that before, or at least not with such a genuine interest in your answer.

“Other than you? I think just peace of mind. Maybe a family, a dog, and a nice house. The usual.” You rambled a bit, unsure. “To be honest, I've had the same dreams as my sister all my life. I've always copied them, even the FBI idea. But we already know that didn't work out so well for me.” You faked a laugh and pointed to your leg.

You expected him to laugh, the last thing you wanted was a look of pity or a deepening of your childhood problems. But you knew him well enough to know that he wasn't the kind of person to let things go, he literally couldn't forget them.

“Don't feel sorry for me, please.” You said as you noticed how his caresses on your arm were getting softer and softer.

“It's not that. I just don't like it when you treat yourself badly.” He explained calmly. “You were good at the FBI anyway. You're good at everything.”

You let out a bitter little laugh. “I was only 'good' because my sister taught me how to fight. And without being able to do that, I'm no good.” You pointed with a smile on your face, not wanting to worry him. “But it's okay, you have the brains.”

“And you're smart, funny, pretty, and-” He started listing your attributes at a surprising pace, which made you stop him with a kiss.

He is deeply moved when he experiences the sensation of your lips on his. Your kisses always leave him feeling profoundly cherished. They are characterized by a gentle, soft, warm, and tender quality that makes him feel like he is the most precious thing in the world to you. It is enough to send an intoxicating wave of emotions through him, filling every inch of his body with warmth.

“Thank you.” You gave him a smile when your lips parted.

“I had a lot more to say.” He said, still a little flushed. He then tucked a lock of hair behind your ear, as if he wanted to see you better. “I could go on for days.”

You just smiled at him like you were head over heels, feeling like you could say 'I love you' right then and there.

But you didn't. Unfortunately, you were too afraid to do it that time.

March 29th, 2011

“Aren't you planning to eat?” Your sister asked you for the third time, taking a big sip of her coffee and looking at the croissant you still had untouched on your plate.

You shifted uncomfortably in your seat and tried to cross your arms, but the wounds in your stomach still caused discomfort and you had to stifle a groan with a poor excuse. “I'm not hungry.”

Emily didn't say anything at first, just watched you, made you feel like just another criminal she was carefully profiling.

The two of you had been enjoying breakfast together at the table for several minutes without engaging in conversation. The dining room was peaceful, with only the sound of the clock on the wall to gently remind you that time was passing, whether you wanted it to or not.

And you really hoped the time would pass quickly so you could go home soon. But not fast enough for the people you loved to put you in the memory box that never opens.

“Can we have a normal conversation?” She asked, trying to break the awkward silence.

“I'm listening.” You finally make eye contact and stop looking out the window at the Eiffel Tower to look at her.

Then she gave that stern mother look, and you knew you were in trouble. “You have to eat. If you want, we can order something else.”

You didn't say anything, just looked at her tired face and sighed a little, feeling a twinge of guilt for not accepting her attempts to make the atmosphere more pleasant. You didn't know how to tell her that your frustration and pain went far beyond the physical, that it was something you felt in your heart and that no special food or doctor could fix. Everything was already taking its toll on you.

“I know this is tough, but please don't make it worse. I'm here for you.” She put her hand over yours and gave you a little squeeze, trying to show support. “We're in this together. You have me to lean on.”

You couldn't help but frown. Now she seemed so open with you, it was surprising to think of all the secrets she had kept from you before. There was literally a part of her life you didn't know about. She hid from you for years that she was on a covert mission, that she was babysitting someone else's child from afar, and that a terrorist was one of the ghosts that kept her on the defensive from everyone, including you. And none of that was the worst of it, because that place was occupied, because she didn't even seem to care how that affected you.

You had always been too much for everyone but Emily. She had always known how to carry your weight as if it were no obligation.

At least, that's the way it used to be.

“I know you miss Spencer. I do, too. But I promise you, he's fine.” She interrupted you when she noticed that your voice trailed off and your eyes glazed over, as if you were about to burst into tears just hearing his name. “He's safe.”

Mentioning him so suddenly was like walking through a minefield and hoping a bomb wouldn't go off.

“He thinks we're dead.” You said, feeling a chill run down your spine.

“And we both know why that is.”

“Yeah, but if...” You tried to start talking, but she quickly cut you off.

“Please don't start.” She abruptly put the cup she was holding in one hand down on the table and turned the other away from you. “We've been through this many times.”

Tick.

“But it's not fair.” You got up from your seat suddenly, feeling a couple of tears running down your cheeks and worry welling up in Emily. “It's going to be a month of this already.”

“We're not going back now. It's still dangerous for everyone.” She stood up behind you, trying to talk some sense into you. “We'll come back when it's time.”

Tock.

“And when will it be time? How much longer? You told me it would be a short time and now...” Your daily round of questions since you two had arrived there had begun once again.

“Please stop acting like a little girl.” Emily spoke up before she could think through her words.

Boom.

Oh, that was something your mother would say, not your sister. She would never judge you for being afraid and sentimental.

“Am I a little girl for wanting to know when we will have our lives back?” You asked after a few seconds to process her words. “I'm sorry, I don't have your mental strength to take it. I don't have a JJ to talk to and play online games with every time I drown in here. I don't have anyone but you, and I feel like you don't even trust me.”

The words had come out of your mouth without much thought, and you realized that they might have caused some distress when you saw her expression.

“I trust you, you're my little sister.” She came up to you slowly, trying to show you that what you said wasn't true. “I've known you since you were born. There's no one I trust and care about more.”

“And where was that confidence when you needed help?” The question came out of you automatically before you went to your room.

As soon as you laid your face on the pillow, you thought about how much you needed the people who were away at that moment, especially the one who was your voice of reason. You felt a certain longing for their presence.

September 21st, 2011

Spencer was frozen in place because you weren't there.

There was no trace of your presence in the room, and his heart threatened to burst with pain. His eyes were tired of desperately searching for you, and his mouth was tired of holding back questions about your whereabouts because the answer frightened him.

“I'm really sorry, but I've wanted to tell everyone the truth for a long time.” Emily said after several unexpected hugs and reunions. It was only then that her gaze fell on him. “Reid.”

“She is...?” His voice was cut off before he could finish his sentence. The mere possibility that his mind had been playing tricks on him all this time tore him apart.

“Alive.”

In that moment, all other concerns in his life receded into the background, including the intense discomfort in his hand. His world had once again come crashing down, and the pain he was experiencing seemed to lose its meaning in the midst of it all.

His heart seemed to start beating again after seven months of complete inactivity just by hearing that word. The few tears he had left moistened his eyes, momentarily blurring his vision and preventing him from seeing how everyone around him looked at him. Just one word kept going through his mind.

Alive. Alive. Alive.

You have been alive all this time.

“Where is she?” He asked instantly, anxious. He took another quick look around the room, but you weren't there. “Why isn't she here?”

Just from the apologetic look Emily gave him before she spoke, he knew something was wrong. “I haven't heard from her in almost two months.”

The sentence lingered in the air for a few seconds before it was processed. It was difficult to imagine that you would stay away from your sister for so long. That didn't seem like you.

“Why?” Penelope was so intrigued that she couldn't help but ask the question before anyone else in the room had a chance to. “Is she okay?”

The woman was clearly uneasy under the intense scrutiny of her colleagues, who kept glancing at her as if she were a ghost. “We had a disagreement, and she left. All I know is that she's here somewhere in the city trying to protect all of you.”

As it turned out, Spencer wasn't crazy. He really did see you on the street. It really was you all this time.

“I know this is a bad time, but I was hoping you could help me find her because I really don't know...” Emily tried to speak again, her voice cracking.

At that moment, JJ gently put a hand on her shoulder and approached the group, having spent several minutes in contemplative silence. “We've located her.” She noted respectfully, giving Reid a look that conveyed guilt and regret for what was happening. “And she is here.”

All eyes were riveted to the door of the room at that moment, waiting for you to be there to resolve some doubts and heal other pains. The hearts seemed to explode with the expectation of a new confrontation, of you being part of the miracle.

Because it was a miracle that you and Emily were alive, right?

“Hello.” Your voice echoed in the room and made everything fade away.

The mere sound of your voice, after months of hearing it only through old videos and voice memos, had Spencer leaning on the table with one hand and the other on his heart, trying to keep it from falling out of his chest.

God, you were there. Really there.

It was you again. Unmistakably you.

April 10th, 2011

“Hello?”

The telephone, which had been in your possession, suddenly became detached from your grasp and hung precariously close to the ground. You were overcome with a sudden rush of emotion, your body trembled, your breathing ceased, and your eyes brimmed with tears as you heard your boyfriend's voice.

“Hello? Who is this?” You listened as Spencer repeated when you had the strength to pick up the phone again and put it to your ear. “Hello?”

It's me, I love you, I'm sorry.

That's all you had to tell him, because it was the truth, even though he might not like it and it might ruin his day to find out about your charade. He had a right to know. Especially since he was the best thing in your life and you were the worst thing, causing him so much pain. You shouldn't have to be a psychic to know that he was suffering.

All those candid conversations you had with him about the challenges of losing loved ones were truly impactful. In a way, you were now one of the people he'd lost.

“What are you doing? Who are you talking to?” Emily's voice startled you, so you quickly hung up the phone, trying not to look suspicious. But she knew you too well to deceive her. “Please tell me you didn't do what I think you did.”

You didn't say a word, and that was enough.

“Please.”

“I was just thinking about what if. I didn't do anything, I didn't call anyone.” You raised your hands in innocence and walked away from the phone calmly because you knew you had already hung up. “I'm not a fool.”

That's nonsense. You were a fool for love and always have been.

Perhaps you loved too much, or perhaps you didn't love at all and just enjoyed the feeling of being loved. Your negative thoughts were causing you to doubt the reality of your experiences with Spencer. He seemed too good to be true, and you sought reassurance in his voice to confirm that you weren't losing touch with reality. The idea of trying to explain this to your sister made you feel self-conscious and a bit foolish.

“Okay.” She said in a calm tone, even though he didn't believe a word of it. She took you by the arm gently and spoke again. “I've found a store you'll like.”

You simply nodded and followed her because you felt it was important to avoid making it all about you.

September 21st, 2011

The person you had been waiting months to see had left the room upon seeing you, as if you were some kind of plague threatening to kill him. You felt a sense of loss, as if your heart had died in that instant, while you received the deep embrace of your older sister and the occasional dismayed look from the people who used to know you.

“You should go talk to him.” Emily said, her voice conveying concern and empathy, which caught you off guard. Her hand was still on your lower back, and it felt comforting.

You were at a loss for words, so you simply nodded and left the room to find him.

It was quite remarkable how you were able to locate his troubled figure so quickly after stepping out into the hallway. It seemed as if your intuition had guided you directly to where he was. You felt a pang of guilt as you noticed Spencer standing in front of the large wall with pictures of those killed in action, looking specifically at the lower portion where your picture was next to Emily's. It seemed somewhat incongruous that you were there, given that you no longer officially worked for the FBI and your death hadn't been in the field. However, you assumed someone had pulled strings to put you next to your sister.

“Spencer.” His name came out of your mouth slowly and painfully after you had avoided saying it for seven months. Your arms wrapped around him before you had a chance to think about what you were doing. You just wanted to feel him close and be reassured that he was real. “I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.”

He remained silent and still, seemingly unaware of your presence, as you clung to his body like a life preserver in the midst of a storm.

God, you needed him so much.

Just when you thought maybe he hadn't heard you because he hadn't even flinched at your voice, he turned away from you and spoke. “I've been looking at these pictures every day for seven months now, every time I pass by or get a chance to come by. I'm trying to convince myself that you were dead, really dead, and that I'm not freaking out already.” His tone was as cold and sharp as a knife edge. “And now you're here.”

As soon as you became aware of the absence of its presence, you felt a bit disoriented. You took a few seconds to regain your composure before you looked at your picture with a hint of disappointment and considered removing it from the wall, but you realized it was firmly attached and it might not be the most constructive approach. Removing it wouldn't address the underlying issue.

“I'm sorry, it wasn't my...just try to understand me.” You could only stammer at that moment, unable to excuse yourself.

“I can't do it. I understand Emily's motives a little better. She wanted to protect you, us, and herself. But you...” He paused, as if the words weighed so heavily that he needed to take a breath before saying them. “You knew when I was afraid of going really crazy, and yet you let me think I was losing my mind.”

His words had a profound impact, evoking a growing sense of emotional distress. You felt a deep sense of regret for causing pain to someone who had done nothing to deserve it.

“I know I hurt you, but I didn't mean to. I swear.” You spoke to him with a trembling voice, trying to control your need to walk up to him and take his hand in the same loving way as before. “I know you suffered, I did too, and I thought of you every day I was gone.”

He let out a short, frustrated sound and paced the room a few times before meeting your eyes again. You didn't need to take into account what the FBI had taught you about human behavior, because he went way beyond that and none of it was likely to help you now. You had gotten to know Spencer very well and had never seen him as upset as he was now. No manual could help you know what to do.

“I bet you thought about me and felt bad, right? But you know what the difference between us is?” His tone was harsh, but his gaze seemed so fragile it hurt you. “You woke up every day to an empty bed, and I woke up next to a grave. It could never be the same.”

Your lips were sealed because you knew he was absolutely right and nothing you could say would change that.

“Please, Spencer, wait.” You followed him down the hallway before he could leave and saw him stop to look at you doubtfully. You never before imagined that the one who used to watch you with such expectation and love was going to watch you as if you were a phony. “I love you.”

He frowned and lifted his shoulders. “It's too late for that.”

It is possible that it was.

[demonir]

re-reading the showdown comic rn and here are some of my thoughts <3

look at his tiny ass fucking backpack im in love, i mean its probably a regular sized backpack but hes so big it looks tiny on him.

can someone photoshop the backpack to look like those bootleg children's my little pony backpacks? please?

more under the cut

also lets not ignore just HOW fucking strong heavy is, we know this man fights bears bare handed this was probably nothing to him (i need this man to hold me like a bunch of grapes)

also the way he will avoid violence if he can? this might have just been an excuse to not draw heavy beating up dogs (which I appreciate) but it also just shows heavy's softer side

tell me he doesn't look cute right here I DARE YOU

the admin thinking heavy is gonna kill her, heavy taking her words literally, her realizing what's going on and cancelling the self destruct sequence. that is pure comedy in TWO panels

how do you think pyro got through? there were no signs of mess before heavy got in and pauling WAS with the admin moments prior so she must have seen pyro there, are we not gonna address that?? also they look cute here but we all know that

pyro was so real for this, they were NOT letting heavy baby them like that

anyways that's all, off to re-read the other comics!

[hoodreader]

MY CAT’S CHART 💋

his birth date is approximative. this is what the foster told me and they were monitoring him since he was a couple weeks old, so i went with it.

menu — forms — readings open.

TAURUS SUN.

comfort over everything. and he gon lay on whatever make him feel comfy, he don’t gaf.

grooms himself. naps for like an hour. wakes up. then he grooms again. cycle continues.

he’s very patient. it takes a lot to get him to be upset with u. he don’t hiss or anything, he’ll complain meow when annoyed.

i have a very greedy cat. he is so loud and demanding when he wants to eat ur food.

PISCES MOON.

pretty shy and sensitive. he can be easy to overwhelm if u don’t know him.

he don’t like feeling smothered in any capacity and he don’t like being held too long. pushing him will cause him to hide.

he feels safe when given space (if u don’t know him) and then letting him decide if he wanna be closer. he’s a vibe reader.

very empathetic. when i was or felt sad, he’d always come in and check on me. he’d meow like “what’s wrong?” then just purr and lay with me. cats definitely aren’t always asocial.

because he’s so docile he usually won’t assert boundaries himself. i’d have to step in.

TAURUS MERCURY (Rx).

a real yapper. especially about food. makes sense b/c taurus rules the vocal chords.

makes a wide variety of sounds. chirps, chatters, trills (he sounds like a pigeon).

always purring. sometimes all i have to do is look at him and he’ll start purring.

his voice is light for the most part!

mercury is ur sense of community. Rx mercury people might be more on the shy side, and he prefers a small community.

CANCER VENUS.

a real cuddle bug. his love language is probably quality time or physical touch.

he is very clingy. will walk between my legs as i walk around. and i trip over him often.

he’s very sensuous in my opinion. he loves looking outside the window and loafing as he just takes the outside world in. very zen 🧘🏾

again loves to eat. food brings him great joy.

CANCER MARS.

conflict avoidant, but he can be territorial and defensive about whatever he considers to be his domain. he act like he run shit

the first day he met another dog, i saw a side of him i never seen. he puffed up big and crab walked, trying to dominate the energy.

my cat was definitely like “aight now…” like… i was pretty proud of him for trying!

but in tense situations, he kinda doesn’t hold his own. i remember i got a female cat (i surrendered her b/c the shelter thought it was best). she was lowkey hoeing him. 💀

ARIES JUPITER.

the shelter named him “Superman” because they said he was the bravest out of his litter mates, as he was born to a feral cat mother.

he is very adventurous and curious, despite his shyness. he just isn’t adventurous about people. but he loves to explore otherwise.

“carpe diem” is his expression for sure.

he’s so destructive though. and too curious sometimes. once he jumped on our closet shelf to knock down the muffins we purposefully hid from him. then he ate them

he also bit through my tarot cards

he jumped on the fridge and ate our baguette. imagine my shock when i saw the baguette with a cartoonish bite mark in it.

PISCES SATURN.

he appreciates a good nap. which is something i love. because one thang i know two thangs certain, he gon take a mf nap.

saturn shows how we rest / work. so his being in pisces really shows that he values the rest aspect of saturn.

he so hardheaded sometimes but that’s because (1) he has the comparable of a two year old but (2) he doesn’t believe in rules.

because well… he’s a cat.

but i love the way he doesn’t let my human values stop him from living his best life

and i love our chart energies.

his sun is conjunct my venus (in the eleventh house). like it’s giving best friends, lmao. his south node is conjunct my fifth house moon too, it’s giving we really been besties.

his south node is conjunct my bf/co guardian’s moon too. tbh we all are just super watery (lmao) so it’s a lot of emotion in our trio dynamic. i also love how his venus and mars is in my first house/in my bf’s eleventh house.

it’s wild cuz i deadass feel like this cat can read my mind sometimes. he just knows me. and i wish i could explain to him how much i love him.

i’ll love him to the end of time. he’s my best friend, confidant, and there will never be a cat like him. 🤍 the universe sent u to me. ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

[skeletorrito]

another little snippet from my cutesy, fluffy satosugu fic <3

 Satoru comically scooted himself down the length of the bench until he was resting his head on Suguru’s thigh. “Play with my hair while I nap,” he requested in a murmur. 

Suguru laughed, shooting an incredulous look at his friend. “Are you joking?” Satoru peered up at Suguru over his sunglasses. Oh, no, he’s serious. Suguru started, carefully, “Satoru… isn’t that a little-” 

“What, best friends can’t play with each other’s hair?” Satoru defended, a small flush spreading across his cheeks, “We clearly need some rest and we’ve got time to kill before we ride back.” 

Satoru flashed his big, blue, puppy-dog eyes, not that Suguru needed much convincing anyway, and Suguru sighed. “Fine, fine. Such a princess…” he muttered. He gingerly threaded his fingers into Satoru’s fluffy, snowy white hair, so soft and thick.

Satoru was immediately transported back to his childhood when his many nannies would stroke his hair to coax him to sleep. It was so soothing and nostalgic to feel Suguru pet his head like this. “Just gimme like… fifteen minutes, okay?” He said with a hum, eyes closing contentedly as Suguru’s fingers grazed his scalp. Satoru was out in a matter of minutes, easily slipping into slumber on his trusted friend’s lap.

Suguru could have easily spent hours like this, spending an equal amount of time watching Satoru sleep peacefully and admiring the vast temple they were in. As he mindlessly stroked, he finally had a chance to take a good look around. Even with the rubble and destruction, it was gorgeous. The walls stretched on and on, accented with rich reds and glinting gold murals of Siddhartha Gautama and his journey to enlightenment. Miraculously, the giant, gold Buddha statue still stood tall behind the collapsed wall. He closed his eyes, focusing on steadying his breath and nothing else in the world besides his hand in Satoru Gojo's hair.

Satoru finally stirred from his slumber nearly an hour later. Suguru was still in the same position as before, losing track of time as he meditated with his fingers in Satoru’s hair. Satoru let out a big yawn, sitting up and stretching. “Damn, I needed that. How long was I out?” 

“An hour, I think.”

“An hour!? You could have woke me up! What the hell were you doing for an hour?” 

Suguru shrugged, “Meditating.” Satoru gave him a deadpan expression. “Oh, I got rid of Ichiji, too. He thinks we’re taking the train home tonight,” he added, smirking. To avoid raising suspicion, Suguru called Ichiji not long after Satoru fell asleep to sweet-talk him into leaving. According to Suguru, they were going to “sight-see” in the area since the mission wrapped up so quickly and they’d take the train back to Tokyo tonight. Ichiji bought this lie immediately and reported back to the academy. Suguru’s curse manipulation technique always fell second to his ability to talk himself out of a situation, his charisma and charm its own jujutsu entirely. 

Satoru laughed and smiled, “Nice! Now we have the whole day to chill.” He turned towards his teammate. “Alright, Suguru, it’s your turn.” 

“Huh?”

Satoru patted his lap as he clarified, “I’m not greedy, I’ll return the favor.” 

Suguru eyebrows knitted together. “I don’t really nap well, you know that.” Though he’d be lying if he said didn’t think about Satoru stroking his hair. 

“Well, that’s because you’ve never had Satoru Gojo playing with your hair. C’mon, just lay down. If you fall asleep, awesome, and if you don’t, you still get to relax.” 

Suguru smiled, conceding and resting his head on Satoru’s thigh. He blushed, his gaze resting on the temple ceiling. Were his daydreams of romantic moments, such as these, with Satoru Gojo finally coming to fruition? His shallow crush only deepened over the time they grew close, but never once did he expect it could be reciprocated. 

At least, not until today. 

“It sounds like you just want an excuse to play with my hair,” he teased. 

“Well, you do have great hair, Suguru,” Satoru replied with a grin as he pulled the elastic from Suguru’s bun, allowing his charcoal hair to spill onto Satoru’s lap. “It’s getting long!” He pulled his fingers through to splay its full length. 

Suguru’s eyes fluttered closed as he commented, “Thank you. I’m letting it grow out.” Satoru wasn’t lying, it was extremely soothing having Satoru run his fingers through his hair. He fell silent, a small smile spreading across his face. 

It had been over a year of Satoru secretly longing to touch Suguru’s hair again. The time Suguru spent the night in his dorm, and his curiosity got the better of him, nearly changed his life. He couldn’t stop obsessing over it, his fingers itching every time he saw Suguru fix his bun. It was still so silky and beautiful as it fell through his fingers. For having such an excitable personality, he had a surprisingly gentle touch as he caressed Suguru’s locks.

“I admit, this is nice…” Suguru practically purred, sighing happily. He was definitely growing sleepy, allowing himself to let go and lean into the feeling of Satoru playing with his hair. 

“See? Now go to sleep.” 

Suguru did end up drifting off, but only for about thirty minutes. He awoke to two luminescent, ocean eyes staring right at him and jolted. “Jeez, Satoru, you scared the shit out of me.” He moved to sit up, but Satoru’s fingers were still tightly entwined in his hair. 

“Oh, sorry,” Satoru replied sheepishly, flushing and looking away. He pulled his hand back quickly so his friend could get up. 

Suguru stood and stretched his arms and back. He felt better, a lot better actually, his energy replenished. “I guess we can go, I can summon the- hey, where’s my hair tie?”

“Oh I lost it, sorry.” 

He lied. It was in Satoru’s pocket.

Suguru squinted at him, giving him a scrutinizing look. “You’re lying.” 

“Swear I’m not.” Satoru lifted his hands as if he was being interrogated by the police. 

“Guess we need to call Ichiji, then…” Suguru started with a mock sad tone, pouting and grabbing his phone from his pocket. “It’s not safe to fly with hair in my face.” He opened the phone, his thumb over the call button. 

Satoru groaned and rolled his eyes, shoving a hand in his pocket. “Oh, look at that, I found it. Oops, my bad,” he said sarcastically and flicked it over to Suguru. 

Suguru rolled his eyes back, muttering “Idiot” under his breath, and quickly tied his hair up in a tight bun. He strolled outside of the temple to find an open space to summon his new curse and Satoru trailed along. 

Thanks for reading! :-) Be sure to read the rest of the fic here:

[ctrl-alt-em]

Communication is Key

AO3

Robin

I am Morven Hellwain. You have carried my spirit in your body for the last two months. As I am sure you have not figured out, when you lose consciousness, I gain control of our shared vessel. I need you to sleep as frequently as possible. Additionally, avoid bodily harm. I do not appreciate having to cast Cure Wounds when I wake.

Dear Morven Hellwain

Are you the reason for all the strange happenings? Did you explode the wolves? Lug says you killed that monster in the bunk house.

I go to sleep every night. I guess it is every other night? I don’t think I can sleep more than that and still help.

Thank you for healing my leg. Happen says he did not aim for me. His sprites played a mean prank.

From Robin Oatcake

Robin

I cannot fathom how you think you, the village idiot, can be of any help. The only way you can help is by ensuring I am in control as much of the time as possible.

As for your initial questions, yes, I am. I cannot imagine anything of note occurring in your proximity without my influence. I am not directly responsible for the wolves’ destruction; the recent unpredictable outcomes of spells is to blame. You need not concern yourself with magic.

Dear Morven Hellwain

I was not the village idiot. That was Young Man Dan. I was the spit-turner before I lost my job seven weeks ago.

I can be a great help! I helped save Lug from those men. I even injured one! And I was the one that got help when that man turned into a monster. Happen said I did a good job. I even helped us meet our friends and join our adventuring party. You are just upset that I can help just as much as you. I understand that. I was jealous of Tilly the spitturn dog too at first.

From Robin Oatcake

Robin

From the other's accounts of the confrontation with the mob, it does not sound like you played a needed role. It is no show of strength or skill to hit a blinded, maimed man with stale bread. As for the combat at Folkmoot, others surely would have heard and come to our aid, supposing I did not defeat the abomination before their arrival. You did nothing a dog would not be capable of. A dog likely would have been of greater help and less of liability.

Robin

You will get us both killed if you disregard my advice. Your 'help' is not needed nor wanted, I assure you.

To Morven Hellwain

I was thinking about back home, all the weird things people kept telling me. Leslie, the head cook, was cross with me. She said I missed work twice and that I insulted her in the market. I had no idea what she was talking about. I assumed she mistook me for someone else and I tried to tell her so. She said I was lying and fired me! It occurred to me that she might not have been lying. Was it you she saw? Are you the reason I lost my job?

From Robin Oatcake

Robin

Of all the things you could waste my time with, you chose this? Your 'job' is hardly worth the ink we are wasting writing about it. I will acknowledge that I was in control of our body several times before our departure. I did lose my patience with several of the dimwitted residents of the village so I very well may have offended the head 'cook'. I would not consider the loss of any great consequence. If anything, it is beneficial. Your 'occupation' would have delayed your departure for Folkmoot. You may thank me for my help in your next note. Hopefully, the writing will tire you.

To Morven

And what about my house? Did you tell the apothecary she could give it to her goat? If you wanted to run me out of my village so bad, you could have written to me earlier.

From Robin

Robin

If I recall correctly, and I do, the old hag asked me, "How I am supposed to keep a roof over my goat's head if you don't pay?" To that, I said, "Give the fucking goat my roof. I don't care." And I continue to not care. Your hovel was little more than a goat's shelter anyway.

I have spoken with Happen and he is aware of a root that induces a harmless sleep state. I have procured some. It is in the outer pouch of our bag.

To Morven

It is not our bag. It is my bag. And I don't need anything to help me sleep. A long day of traveling with my friends does that enough. Seeing as I have no work or home to return to, I will be with them for the foreseeable future regardless of our mission.

If you want to be helpful, Morven, you will tell me how to use magic myself and how I get you out of me.

From Robin

Robin

You cannot use magic. It would require innate talent or years of study, neither of which you have. Unless such fantasies lull you into a slumber, do not concern yourself with such endeavors.

I am looking into potential methods to separate us. However, until magic has been returned to its original state and I gather more information on what caused my spirit to enter your body in the first place, no significant progress can be made. You need not be involved.

To Morven

How can I not get involved when I already am? You’re in my head! You walk around in my body half the time! I should be the only one in my body!

And how do you know I don’t have inate innate talent? Maybe I just haven’t had need to use it.

From Robin

Robin

Knock yourself out as soon as you see this. Lug, Cressida, and Willowfine have been captured by a group of zealots and I need to go save their skins.

To Morven

No need to worry. Me and Happen did it ourselves. You should have seen how far Lug hit this one guy with his hammer once we got him out.

From Robin

Robin

That is not what I told you to do. You will get us both killed.

Willowfine said she saw you use magic. I can only assume you located a scroll and stumbled your way into using it correctly.

To Morven

You were wrong, Morven. I do have a talent for magic, no scroll needed, whatever those are. Mine is not as pretty or orderly as yours but I can cast spells. Cressida thinks that might be why you didn’t have trouble casting in my body.

You may thank me for my help in your next note. I will not ask you to knock yourself out because I have manners.

From Robin

Robin

I have spoken with Cressida and Willowfine regarding your spelling casting. As must I detest to acknowledge it, I suppose it makes sense. Either my spirit brought my magic potential with it or my spirit was attracted to your magic potential. I do believe the first one is the more likely of the two. It still stands that between the two of us, I am the more proficient and thus should handle any and all confrontations.

To Morven

Willowfine says we should try to come to a compromise. She said our attempts to screw with each other and limit the other’s time awake is annoying.

How about a deal? If I find myself in situations that I cannot handle, I will find a way to allow you to take control if you agree to cease trying to stay awake for days on end. If the group stops to sleep, you sleep and let me take control.

From Robin

Robin

After much strong arming from the others, I agree to your terms.

Robin

Why am I not surprised you have Wild Magic? Of all sorcerous origins, you draw power from the most unruly and unpredictable.

With that said, I request that you cast something that will offer you improved defense or evasion when in a confrontation. You cannot rely on Acid Splash only.

- Morven

[reunionatdawn]

My Analysis of Felix's Relationship With Dimitri

Dimitri: A beast craving blood, am I? I assume you're speaking of the events two years ago. Last time we met outside the academy? Felix: I am. The way you suppressed that rebellion… It was ruthless slaughter and you loved every second. I remember the way you killed your victims. How you watched them suffer. And your face…that expression. All the world's evil packed into it. That was our first battle. I remember it vividly.

In Greek mythology, Ares was the god of war. He specifically represented the physical and destructive nature of war, embodying the bloodshed and rage that come with it. His sacred animals include the vulture, the dog, and (whaddaya know) the boar. Athena, on the other hand, represented the more intellectual and disciplined side of war. Her warfare was guided by strategy, planning, and intelligence, emphasizing the importance of foresight and wisdom in conflict.

Despite their shared domain of warfare, Ares and Athena are often depicted as rivals. Their differing approaches to warfare and conflicting personalities led to tension between them. Athena was connected to peace, as she sought to resolve conflicts through wisdom and negotiation rather than brute force. She was often portrayed as a protector and a planner, who preferred to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. If Boar!Dimitri was meant to be symbolically aligned with Ares, then Felix was almost certainly meant to be aligned with Athena, who was the wielder of the Aegis Shield.

(Japanese Translation) Felix: If you were ordered to commit needless slaughter? Dedue: I would kill. Felix: Even if the target were defenseless children or elderly people… even if they were once your fellow countrymen?

Felix also refers to Dedue in a dehumanizing way. "Dog" was a dig at his blind obedience. In English Felix asked if Dedue would attack his own comrades. That could mean anyone. The other kids from Garreg Mach or maybe Church soldiers. But in Japanese, it was clearer that he was actually referring to the Duscur people. It implied that Felix was revolted with Faerghus's genocide and did not condone it.

Felix didn't know anything about the relationship between Dimitri and Dedue. But considering his misunderstanding, it explained why he was so disgusted with Dedue initially. And it showed his fear of becoming a knight. He was afraid that he'd be used as Dimitri's attack dog, sent out to kill whoever he wanted revenge against, possibly innocent Duscur people. And since he was king, he'd have no choice but to obey. And I don't think his fear was irrational or unfounded. Felix would have been an outlier for not supporting the genocide.

AM's story was, in many ways, a critique of patriarchal societies and values. Patriarchal societies often glorify aggression and dominance as masculine ideals. The "King of Liberation" Nemesis was named after the Greek goddess of divine retribution. Overall, Nemesis embodied the concept of "righteous anger" in Greek mythology, ensuring that mortals, especially those who defied the natural order or ethical standards, faced consequences for their actions. And Nemesis was the true "goddess" of Faerghus, not Sothis.

Dimitri: The first time I led on the battlefield, I was sent to quell a rebellion in the west. It was not a difficult fight. The enemy was not well-trained and their morale was low. A swing of the lance, and your opponent falls. A flash of your blade, and a path opens up. That's the sort of battle it was. Easy…right?

The storyline of 3H was also a criticism of feudalism. Peasants and serfs had very limited personal freedoms and were often subject to the will of their lords. In feudal times, there were instances where peasants took up arms in various uprisings and rebellions due to coercion or threats from local lords. Unlike knights, peasants typically lacked formal training and proper equipment for warfare.

(Japanese Translation) Dimitri: But at that moment, I realized that those we had deemed as enemies and cut down without hesitation…are human beings, living just like us. Of course, we can't just let those who commit reckless acts of violence run rampant, but…We are imposing our own sense of justice, and in doing so, we are taking away someone's family or comrades. Even though I've come to terms with it, there are still times when my legs tremble at the gravity of my actions... Byleth: That's what it means to be a normal human being.

It was heavily implied that most of the soldiers Dimitri and Felix fought during the rebellion were mere peasants acting at the behest of their lord and had little agency in the overall conflict over the throne. Because of this, I could understand why Felix saw Dimitri's unnecessary brutality during that battle as evil. And Felix was not portrayed as wrong for his criticisms, either. Dimitri himself admitted that he had crossed a moral boundary and violated his own ideals.

Dimitri: If we could just accept each other and make mutual concessions, one step at a time… Perhaps… Who knows if that's even possible. Everyone has something that is unacceptable within them. I certainly do, and I'd wager you do as well. I wonder which is best, Professor… To cut away that which is unacceptable, or to find a way to accept it anyway…

Dimitri's actions were unacceptable. And Felix had to decide whether to cut away the unacceptable or find a way to accept it anyway. And that conflict of cutting off vs. acceptance extended to his relationship with his father, his other friends, and even himself as well.

Dimitri: Well now! He never said any of that to me. Ingrid: Well, he was Felix's brother. That family's not big on displays of affection. Dimitri: That is true. We spent about as much time arguing as we did training.

In Japanese, Ingrid said that Glenn wasn't "素直" (sunao). It describes someone who is honest, genuine, and open with one's feelings, which was how Ingrid meant it. And it also has connotations of the person having an obedient disposition. "Sunao" implies someone who avoids being overly assertive or aggressive and behaves in a soft or gentle manner. Dimitri added that Glenn was not "sunao" in that sense, either, as he was always picking fights with him.

Sylvain: I remember it more like you always following me around. Whenever there was something wrong—like you lost to your brother or you fought with Dimitri— you'd come crying to me. You were so meek and pure back then, cute even… like a baby brother.

Felix had the exact opposite personality of his brother. Sylvain said that Felix was "sunao". He also described how clingy Felix acted towards him as a child. And the Japanese word usually carries a negative connotation. It suggests that the level of attachment or dependence is seen as excessive or problematic, leading to discomfort or frustration for the person on the receiving end. And while Sylvain didn't seem to feel that way, I think Dimitri did.

Felix: For years, the boar prince and I were inseparable.

In Chapter 2, Felix referred to their relationship as "腐れ縁" (kusareen) or "rotten bond". It is defined as "a relationship where, even if one tries to separate, they cannot." But it does not mean "inseparable" the way the English word indicates. "Inseparable" emphasizes closeness and mutual affection. "Kusareen" describes a bond that persists even though it's undesirable, troublesome, or "rotten." The relationship endures out of circumstance, habit, or obligation, rather than affection or choice. It is often used with a sense of resignation, frustration, or even humor, acknowledging a bond that's hard to break off but not particularly wanted.

Dimitri: You used to whine unless you could do everything with me…

I got the impression that, as kids, Dimitri was the one who viewed his relationship with Felix as "kusareen". He naturally got along better with Glenn than he did with Felix. Glenn was someone Dimitri enjoyed spending time with, even when they butt heads. And Felix was the annoying crybaby little brother who was too clingy. And some of Felix's discomfort around Dimitri was probably due to this history of feeling inferior to his more popular brother.

Felix: But without a blade to cut down your enemies, you cannot win. Those who are weak lose everything, and they die. Those who are strong win, and live on. I understand why you balk at bloodshed, but you must know that it has a purpose. Flayn: And what purpose might that be? Felix: A purpose. Let's just leave it at that. I'm not in the mood to debate you.

In his B-Support with Flayn, Felix debated the philosophical purpose of a sword and what its purpose is.

Dimitri: In Faerghus, we've long considered blades as tools of destiny. As a way to cut a path to a better future. She was being dragged all over, unable to live the life she wanted. I thought the dagger could help her cut a path to the future she dreamed of.

And I'm sure that he was raised with the same philosophy as Dimitri.

Felix: I've been preparing to take this path. My own path—not my old man's, and not the boar's.

In my Sylvix analysis, I argued that Felix wanted to be with Sylvain and that was what he wished for at the Goddess Tower. Sylvain hated Crests and Edelgard even sympathized with the plight of his brother Miklan. He also didn't want to get married. Thematically, both he and Felix are stronger recruits for CF than the other non-AM routes. I can see them sympathizing with Edelgard's ideals and running away from Faerghus, especially if it meant that they got to be together.

Felix: They used to call my father the "Shield of Faerghus." Now he's gone, and Arianrhod has fallen. Yet the Knights of Seiros remain. As does the boar. What terrifies me most is his stubbornness. He'll keep on fighting to the last man. He's a monster. I've seen it firsthand.

CF!Felix dehumanized Dimitri so that he could justify cutting him down. He didn't hate him or want him to die. He was just in the way of the future he wanted, so he had to cut him down. If Felix uses his sword to cut his own path, he can never realize his ideal future. He betrays his own ideals and sacrifices his humanity, and his paired ending with Sylvain is the most tragic one in the whole game. He has a much happier outcome in AM where he stays in Faerghus.

Felix: Hello. I have a request concerning that…creature. I can hardly look at the thing in the state it's in. Do something about it. Byleth: I'll see what I can do. Felix: Please do. We tracked the boar for five years. I thought he was dead. In the state he's in, he might as well be. He's gotten better at killing people, and in exchange, surrendered what little humanity he had.

Felix did have compassion for Dimitri and urged Byleth to comfort him. But after Dimitri tortured Randolph, Felix became snarky. His criticisms were valid. But they were not solely rooted in objectivity. He harbored a sense of spiteful pettiness towards Dimitri as well.

Rodrigue: When I heard you'd been executed, I rushed there as fast as I could, blind with fury. When I got there, I was fed some garbage about not being able to see your body. The next thing I knew, I was gripping my blade and... Gilbert, you have done well to locate His Highness. I am truly grateful. And you… I have you to thank, as well. Byleth: We were all fortunate. Rodrigue: Well, we are in your debt. I will repay you for this someday, I swear it. And you, Felix… You have also done well to bring His Highness here. Felix: Hmph.

When Glenn died, Felix was the replacement knight. But to Felix, Dimitri must have felt more like the replacement son. So, it wasn't hard to see why Felix's and Dimitri's relationship was so rotten. Dimitri's life was always considered inherently more valuable than his.

Felix: Just kill them from behind. As long as you don't see their faces, you won't know if you know them. Dimitri: We won't know unless we see their face… Yes, I suppose that is true.

In the Sealed Forest, Dimitri was hesitant because he thought the enemy might be someone they knew. The moment he found the dagger in the Flame Emperor's possession, he suspected Edelgard was involved in the Tragedy of Duscur. Felix offered the advice to kill them from behind. This was probably something he had to do for himself to make cutting down other humans bearable.

(Japanese Translation) Dimitri: …If you don't want to cut down someone you know, then just cut them down without looking at their face. Isn't that right? Felix: Tch… Yeah, I suppose so.

When the army planned to go to the Great Bridge, the localization changed the dialogue, so Dimitri made a comment about tarrying over the corpses of the dead. In Japanese, he was actually throwing Felix's old advice from the Sealed Forest back at him, probably to spite him for the earlier comment he made. One of Felix's worst fears about becoming a knight was now coming true. Having to obey the orders of the king and being used as a tool for his personal revenge.

Felix: Revenge can't bring the dead back to life. Unfortunately such a thing isn't possible. Hanging onto your anger, like the boar here, is futile.

Byleth tried talking Dimitri out of his vengeance softly, but it didn't work. With Rodrigue unwilling to scold him, Felix felt the need to do so in his place.

Felix: Remember, Professor. It's not compassion for this fool that has brought our army so far. There are those of us who despise the Empire, and those who side with the church. If we keep running down this path, it's only a matter of time before the ground beneath us collapses.

While Felix was harsh, he was still absolutely right from an objective standpoint. This was something that needed to be said. It was not fair to everyone else in the army to prioritize revenge. It was not even fair to Dimitri to be leading an army in his unstable condition.

(Japanese Translation) Rodrigue: Hey, cut the useless chatter, foolish son. Felix: ...Tch. You really are annoying...

Rodrigue admitted to Byleth that Dimitri was behaving foolishly, but he could not scold him. However, he had no problem scolding Felix for his entirely legitimate points. In this instance, I'm sure that Felix felt like the black sheep while Dimitri was the golden child.

(Japanese Translation) Felix: When I was a child, I hit my father only once. Now, looking back, he might have been struggling in his own way. I want to apologize, but…it's too late.

After Rodrigue died, Felix spent the next chapter in his room mourning. His note to the advice box showed that he wanted to apologize to his father. If he had gotten to apologize, would their relationship have been healthy? Well, we actually got to see them apologize to each other in Hopes.

Rodrigue: And you, Felix? What would your choice have been? Would you have abandoned His Majesty to save yourself? Or would you have chosen to fight until death claimed you? I myself would've safeguarded His Majesty at all costs. I know that it wasn't in Glenn's nature to flee either. Felix: It's always about courage or cowardice with you. I wouldn't have chosen anything.

And I thought their relationship was still very dysfunctional. Rodrigue always made his acceptance of Felix conditional upon whether he was willing to prioritize Dimitri's life over his own. He was willing to compromise because Felix said he would find a way for both of them to live. Still, there was never an option for Felix to choose a path other than knighthood. But even if their relationship had aspects that were unacceptable, Felix still loved his father and didn't want him to be cut down. He wished he had compromised and met him halfway.

Felix: I have a question for you. Answer quickly before my hand slips and I cut you in half. Dimitri: Always so ominous. Well? What is it, Felix? Felix: Sometimes you have an animal's face, contorted with anger and bloodlust. At other times, a man's, with a friendly smile. Which is your true face?

In their A-Support, Felix threatened to cut Dimitri down. He was not truly going to do it. But it showed that there may have been a part of him that still wanted to. He still considered Boar!Dimitri's actions unacceptable and held a lot of resentment towards him for abusing his authority as king and indirectly getting his father killed.

Dimitri: If I do not shoulder the anguish and regret they must have felt, who will? Felix: Hah. So, that's how you justify your atrocities. Dimitri: What do you mean?

Before the battle at Gronder, Felix was standing outside the classrooms, presumably remembering the students from the other houses. So, his anger makes even more sense when you consider that the Gronder Field battle was written as a bloodbath. Assuming you didn't recruit everyone, the Blue Lions had to kill not only their old classmates from the Empire, but also the students from the Alliance. Because of Dimitri's vendetta, the BLs might have been forced to pointlessly kill Raphael, Ignatz, Leonie, and Lysithea. Or else they would have been killed themselves.

Felix never changed his beliefs, nor did he suddenly embrace Rodrigue's ideals of chivalry. He simply did his best to live up to his own ideals. He chose to prioritize humanity over ideology. He attempted to acknowledge Dimitri's sorrow, like he did with Ashe when he was grieving for Lonato. He knew he'd regret it if he never got the chance, like he did with his father.

Felix: "I will fulfill my duty to the late king." My old man used to say that over and over, like a mantra. How nauseating. No one seems to understand. The dead won't acknowledge your loyalty. They don't care. What a load of bunk it is, pretending to serve a corpse. You're serving your own ego. [...] The dead are dead, the living are living. You have to respect that boundary. If you keep stringing gravestones around your neck, you'll snap. Dimitri: Even still… I cannot forget them, nor can I let them go. Felix: Then keep those thoughts to yourself. If you're too weak to do that, abandon your throne. Become a grave keeper.

In Japanese, Felix used a phrase which translates to "suck it up". He was very harsh on Dimitri. But he felt like his father loved Dimitri more than him. And to be fair, he probably did. Rodrigue died caressing Dimitri's face and told him to live for himself. Felix was told to die for Dimitri. And yet, Felix was still reaching out to comfort Dimitri over his father's death. He was remarkably compassionate.

Felix: I'll bear this pain until the day I die, but I refuse to wallow in it. I have more important things to do than blubber for my whole life. Dimitri: …

In English, Felix accused Dimitri of being a crybaby. In Japanese, Felix called him "甘ったれた" (amattareta). It means they are spoiled, overly dependent, or immature in their behavior. They act in a way that expects indulgence or leniency from others—often displaying a needy, childlike dependency. I got the impression that maybe Dimitri had called Felix that a long time ago. And I think Dimitri probably got a huge kick out of that particular insult due to the irony. It's why he will begin to tease Felix about his clinginess and his laziness in their dining hall and chore dialogue after they reach A-Support.

Dimitri: Heh. You know, Felix, you really are growing more and more like your brother. Always so sarcastic, and constantly looking for a fight. But deep inside, more than anyone, you— Felix: What are you getting at? Dimitri: Oh… It's nothing. But allow me to thank you. Your perspective has opened my eyes. Felix: Hmph. Not my intention. I couldn't stand the pathetic look on your face. That's all. Dimitri: I see. If you say so, then we will leave it at that.

Dimitri finally was able to acknowledge Felix's true strength, even if Felix didn't like to acknowledge that softer side of himself. This Support doesn't cleanly eliminate all the tension between them. But that's okay. Dimitri was willing to compromise and leave it at that.

Edelgard: When humanity stands strong and people reach out for each other…there's no need for gods.

In the Japanese version of the prologue, the correct answer to Sothis's question is not "a mortal" but "a human being". 3H is a game that asks the player what it truly mean to be human. Edelgard had good intentions and was dedicated to the cause of placing leadership of Fódlan back in humanity's hands. But I would argue that in her ruthless pursuit of that goal, she lost sight of her humanity.

The route's name "Azure Moon" is significant. In many cultures, the moon has been personified as a goddess or a divine feminine figure. Sothis drew strong inspiration from Gaia, the Greek goddess of the Earth and the and primordial mother of all life. The Titan Rhea was Gaia's daughter. Rhea was also the mother of Demeter, the Greek mother goddess of agriculture, grain, and the nurturing of life. And the name "Dimitri" literally means "follower of Demeter".

Felix: He intends to speak to the emperor? She's his stepsister, I know, but this seems risky. Byleth: You're against it? Felix: No, I'm not. I'm sure he's thought it through. If the two can settle this diplomatically, that would be the best way out of this mess. No more bloodshed. Let's just hope he doesn't become so overwhelmed with emotion that he's unable to strike her down… should the need arise.

The Renaissance ushered in more secular values by promoting humanism. The humanist movement did not attempt to abolish the Church with violence. Instead, humanists sought to reform the Church through intellectual discourse. Felix was Dimitri's biggest critic as a ruler due to the lack of humanity he showed towards his enemies. But he is the one recruitable student who cannot have a happy ending if he leaves the AM route. And it was due to the fact that he was never able to stop seeing the humanity in Dimitri.

(Normal) Felix: The path to the emperor is open. Fulfill your duty as our king. (Dimitri & Felix support level C reached) Felix: Go and win. Be the boar that you are, and don't you dare look back.

I don't think Felix needed to follow in his father or brother's footsteps and become a knight or Dimitri's right-hand man. Ultimately, I don't even think they needed to be friends. Their A-Support offered a sense of acceptance and closure. Even if you interpret it as more of a divergence of paths, there was a sense of compromise and mutual concession. But achieving A-Support still wasn't even necessary.

Felix completes his character arc even if he never achieves any Support level with Dimitri. He made peace with his father by meeting him halfway and helping Dimitri ascend the throne. But not necessarily anything more than that. The most important thing was not whether they cut off their relationship. It was for Felix to stay true to his ideals and not cut Dimitri down literally.

(Japanese Translation) Felix: Keep that intense thirst for revenge locked in your heart. It's something only I need to know. Dimitri: So essentially, you're saying if I'm going to pour my heart out, do it only in front of you? Felix: Ugh… Dimitri: …I can resist becoming a beast because you accept it. Just as Kyphon was to Loog, and Rodrigue was to Father… Please continue to stand by my side as my right hand, Felix. Felix: …Your right hand, huh? Well, that doesn't sound too bad.

Felix was the one person who had seen Dimitri at his worst. In AG, he filled in for Byleth by acting as Dimitri's confidante. He didn't really want to. But Dimitri said Felix accepted him and that allowed him to retain his humanity. That's when he agreed. And for the first time, he actually felt happy about the idea of being the right-hand man.

[franzkafkagf]

I noticed that Aegon's fans are divided into two teams - the first one sees him as a completely heartless, almost psychopath, the other one like in this analysis.

https://www.tumblr.com/very-straight-blog/750648583572881408/it-really-tires-me-how-some-fans-try-to-make-aegon?source=share

What do you think about it and how do you see him?

Basically I've written a few things on him already; here, here and here as well as the many web weavings i have on him hihi <3

I see him as a super nuanced character; he is deeply (and I mean deeply) broken. That's why I love him, there's so much there in terms of characterization, even with the little screentime he had.

He is so desperate to be loved but destined to be hated by everyone around him (thank you tgc for this quote, lives rent-free in my mind forever)

Rhaenyra sees him as a threat (she has this fear that her father will replace her with him, someday)

Alicent deeply loves him but is too hard on him (she genuinely thinks all her sons will die if she doesn't make him king; he needs to be strong. strong for them, strong for her.

Aemond is resentful towards him. Resentful of his weakness. He has everything Aemond ever wanted. Why isn't he happy? He would be happy and grateful (he wouldn't).

Viserys wanted Baelon. He is not Baelon.

Forced to marry his sister, he never wanted this for them (in canon,,,, I'll live in my little helaegon delulu land)

He is the kicked dog of the family. He is the only one we see being physically reprimanded. It happens time and time again, this was a deliberate choice by the writers. All of Alicent's fears and grudges and love (ugly, desperate love, but still love) towards Rhaenyra are loaded onto him -> I wished we saw them interact, they are so alike :(

What does a kicked dog do? He runs back, tail between his legs. He tries so hard but somehow it doesn't work. He feels like a failure, he runs off, avoids the pain. He doesn't want to face his reality. He drinks, he indulges in anything that will make him forget

I did not ask for this. I've done everything you've asked me to, and I try so... I try so hard, but it will never be enough for you or father.

He acts out, engages in super self-destructive behaviour -> remember when the brothel madam said that Aegon doesn't go to nice places? It's like he is punishing himself.

I'll also have to speak about his assault; kind of a baffling writing choice to introduce him as a r*pist but it is in line with his characterization. He is a prince, of course he can take anything he wants, right? It was just harmless fun, right?

This behaviour doesn't stem from cruelty (like it did with Ramsay or Joffrey) it comes from the entitlement he feels. He might be the scapegoat of the family, but he is still a spoiled prince -> I actually love this about his character too. Purely good/purely victimized characters are BORING! He is interesting, there's both evil and good in him, he is so extremely complex I want to SCREAM.

I can see him going on an arc, not repent, but change. Grow into the man who can sway the people of Dragonstone to his side, grow into the role of king. Become the type of man who would rather live in pain than dull his senses with milk of the poppy. HIS ARC WILL BE INSANE!!!!!

I know a lot of fans want him to be less whiny, less pathetic, less grey… but honestly? He is perfect the way he is in the show. I genuinely love how he is written (I would've wished to see some interaction with his kiddos and Rhaenyra, that is all lmao) and I know he will be amazing in season 2.

[is-the-owl-video-cute]

I know I say it a lot, but I do loathe how performative support for people with mental illnesses is on social media.

People will give you barebones support if you have depression or anxiety, but if you have a personality disorder? People are horrid enough about seeing cluster b folk as cartoon villains, but they aren’t very supportive of cluster a or c either as soon as someone dares show symptoms of OCD or PPD. Then suddenly they’re chronically online and irrational. If a person with NPD or ASPD shows a symptom online? People will drag them through the mud immediately.

That’s not even getting into how social media looks upon psychotic or dissociative folk, who are just written off immediately as being unable to think or speak for themselves, and barely see them as human beings.

So more or less what I want to say is that if you are mentally ill in a way that would have gotten you lobotomized and/or locked in a little white room if you showed these symptoms 60 years ago, I see you. You are not the monsters they think you are. You are not less than. You are not more inherently dangerous than anyone else. We do not deserve the way they look at us.

We may not all have much in common besides being betrayed by our own minds and our own family, friends, peers, and so on, but despite the best efforts of society, we are still here, and we are strong in ways they can never know. And if they fear us and detest us still, then let our existence be in direct defiance of those who wish to blot us out and erase our neurodivergencies from how we are presented in history should we do something admirable.

The ways our minds work are not always fun, but it isn’t something for us to sweep under the rug and hide anymore. Be proud of the way you’ve made it this far as a square peg forced into a round hole. The world is harsh because it was built for something other than us, a nonexistent ideal of what a “normal” human being should be. We are different in ways that may be beautiful, tragic, or a mixture of both to us, but no matter our personal opinion on the shape of our minds, our minds are a part of us. We cannot whittle our corners off to perfectly fit into that round hole, we will always be square pegs, and that is something we should be able to move forward with accepting.

Whether your mind walks beside you as a loyal guard dog who must be reminded often not to bite unless necessary, or if it’s more like a bolt of lightning caught on a leash and laboriously dragged down the path with you desperately trying to keep it from breaking free and causing destruction in its wake, or if it’s a terrified mouse you have to hold onto firmly to avoid it biting you and scurrying away without you, you have to walk this path with your mind in whatever shape it may take. There are healthy ways to treat and manage your mind to make this walk safer, and you needn’t take the walk alone, but you do need to take that walk.

[brain-of-rain]

Kaiju no. 8 x Godaigo Daigo Crossover

I have some random plot points/ideas ping ponging around in my head but I don’t have the power to write an actual story, so I’ll slap some of them here for anyone interested.

Godaigo Daigo is the only surviving product of humanities kaiju experimentation from 30 years ago. The project was intended to create an immortal soldier by harnessing a kaiju’s regeneration and encoding that ability into suitable humans. Of course everything went horribly wrong and we are left with one giant man, a non zero amount of bodies and an oath to use kaiju abilities only through clothing and weapons.

The existence of Godaigo was somewhat hush hush for the first 15 years of his indefinite employment. However throughout the years as media and anti kaiju tech became more common, he was formally introduced to civilians to avoid future panic.

Similarly to Kafka, Godaigo can use very little of his suits power. In his 30 years of service he’s maxed at 11%

Godaigo is rarely deployed to the field anymore. After all, he is another giant combatant, adding to potential destruction and tech has gotten so good he’s more of a last resort nowadays. Of course he always gets ready anyway.

As after as possible Godaigo will volunteer for local clean up crews, which is where he originally befriended Kafka. Getting out to help never not worth the paperwork.

Because giant heroes aren’t a thing in this world, Godaigo has pretty harsh restrictions. Mostly he remains confined to the defence force base. He’s the chronically underestimated yet sociable old man. Like the forces’ inside joke mascot.

Godaigo wouldn’t stop wearing big pants over his suit so eventually they just made him a pair that matched.

When Kafka finally made with Reno, Godaigo was ecstatic. They would have been friends for as long as Kafka had been working for monster sweeper inc. not sure exactly how long that is but I’m sure he would have witnessed a lot of failed applications.

Godaigo learns the identity of kaiju no. 8 alongside everyone else in the force not alongside Reno because I think it would be really neat if they had time to have a fight while his identity is unknown. The first time the friendly old guy is a real threat. Bro would not hold back if he thinks people are in danger.

Power scaling wise, I know kaiju no. 8 could beat Godaigo so easy, I mean he’s just a tall man. So in this crossover let’s imagine they’re closer in strength. I would prefer if Godaigo is a substantial threat and legit last resort, final boss kind of character in this world.

Ok that’s all for now! Thanks for your time and sorry if the format/language is weird, I wrote this while walking my dog.

[dynamic-power]

"Pass the ball?"

Steve looked up in surprise from where he stood at the free throw line. Eddie smiled at him as he approached the 3-point line to Steve's left, hair pulled back and hands raised in preparation to catch the basketball clutched in Steve's grip.

Steve grunted and passed him the ball, maybe a little too roughly, but still, Eddie caught it with ease. "When I first moved in with Wayne," Eddie said, dribbling the ball a couple of times, "I was a mess of a kid, y'know? I had all this energy and rage, and Wayne had no idea what to do with a kid, let alone one like me." He held the ball up in a practiced stance. "When I wasn't cooped up in my room with my guitar, I was causing problems. That energy, I kept using it in, uh, destructive ways."

Eddie shot the basketball towards the hoop. It didn't fall through the net, but it was a close thing, circling the rim before falling to Steve's right. He jogged a couple of paces to catch it before turning back to Eddie in surprise. Eddie sighed, holding out his hands again. And again, Steve passed the ball to him.

"The trailer park doesn't have much. A couple benches, a little dog park. There's a half court, too. A beat up hoop with a chain net." Eyeing the hoop again, Eddie made another shot. This time, the ball hit the backboard, then the rim, and fell through the net. Steve fetched it. "So Wayne bought a ball and took me out there. Taught me the basics." He caught the ball when Steve hurled it to him. Another shot, another near miss, another quick jog to retrieve it and pass it back. "It was a good way to get out that excess energy, I guess. Never enjoyed enough to actually play, but it was good on days I was going stir-crazy."

One more shot, and this time, when Steve caught the ball as it fell from the hoop, he tucked it under one arm and stared at Eddie. 'Why are you telling me this?"

Eddie shrugged. "Robin insists you're a good guy. I've seen it for myself, too. I think we could be friends, but you keep avoiding me." He finally moves away from the white line, approaching Steve like he was a spooked animal. "We don't have much in common, and that makes becoming friends harder. So I figured, why not start with the few things we do share?"

"Why-"

"Because not a lot of people can stand to look at me," Eddie said, sounding small. He looked to his feet and fidgeted with the chain hanging from his jeans. "Not many people believe my innocence, and I dunno. It'd be nice to like the few people who don't think I'm a murderer."

Steve studied him for a moment longer. Eddie was right. He had been avoiding the other man. He had no idea how to talk to him, how to exist around him. Eddie and Robin shared a love for music, and Nancy had been thrilled to discover Eddie's appreciation of books. But Eddie and Steve shared nothing.

Or, almost nothing.

Steve held out the ball between them for a moment before thrusting it into Eddie's chest. Eddie let out a surprised grunt.

"First to fifteen?" Steve asked, offering what he hoped was a warm smile.

"Oh come on, we can make it first to twenty."

[upthebracket]

it's a popular opinion amongst hannibal fans that will always wanted to kill and hannibal simply brought it out of him, hence they are perfect for each other. this is how hannibal wants will to percieve himself, and hannibal is, of course, not to be trusted. instead, what with all the psychoanalysis that goes on in the show, there is relatively little subtext to uncover, and what you see re. will is more or less what you get:

because of his powers of imagination and empathy, will lacks a stable sense of self. without this, he struggles to fight against ego-dystonic thoughts (because the ego is so fragile and open to attack); nor, without a stable self image, can he assert himself well in social environments, so the external world seems particularly unpredictable and threatening to him. in order to feel safe and secure in himself and the world, he requires a more socially adept, authoritative figure to not only guide him but tell him who he is, as they see him, that he may mould himself in their image. in childhood we can safely assume this figure was the father who taught him to fish (his mother was never in the picture).

jack is acutely aware of this embarrassing need of will's (as hannibal says, jack sees him as a "fragile little teacup") and chooses to exploit it for his own ends – drawing out the moral side of will in order to hunt killers. hannibal also tries (more successfully) to become will's father-mentor, drawing out his potential for cruelty in the hope that eventually they can become equals: that he can mould will so entirely according to his ideal (and what is hannibal's ideal man but one just like him?) that will can "become" hannibal just as patroclus "became" achilles on the battlefield – a perfect reciprocity.

it's not that will is more bloody-minded than his peers; he certainly carries a lot of anger, but no more than jack does, and he's no more capable of violence than any of his desensitised fbi colleagues. what will is is easy to manipulate. he's more of a tabula rasa than a grown man should be; a wet dream for any psychologist with a behaviourist bent, let alone one who happens to be a psychopath. the will who tumbles off the cliff in hannibal's arms is very much the latter's design. this is not to say that this is not the "true" will, that there's a secret, hannibal-free will lurking on the inside; rather, there never was a "true" will, only a set of ingredients ripe for cooking, and had somebody else had the recipe he might have turned out quite different; but fate, and hannibal, have a way of intervening.

there's an extent to which will believes in the identity hannibal confers on him (otherwise the conditioning would have been quite useless) and there's also a lesser extent to which he is aware of having been manipulated. yet will continues to go to hannibal because the identity hannibal offers him is so much more appealing than the previous offer. he has spent his adult life trying not to submit to his fear. he looks after first his dogs and then abigail because it is better to play the capable parent than it is to admit to being the vulnerable child; less humiliating to nurture than to be nurtured. but hannibal offers a way to not only avoid fear but conquer it. the violent will that hannibal encourages is powerful, self-assured. nor, within hannibal and will's relationship, does being nurtured seem at odds with being powerful. when a person submits to the domination of another, they do not become powerless; on the contrary, to have someone tend and minister you is to cast a kind of spell over them, a kind of control. when hannibal acts with will in mind, that is will having vicarious agency in the world. likewise, hannibal feels powerful by having will submit to him. again, there is a reciprocity between them.

will embraces hannibal's conditioning because all of his needs are met by it: the destruction of fear, the ability to be both directed by another and to direct, and, most importantly, to be told who he is. if will were a killer from day one, hannibal would not need to work so hard. he would use on will the same therapy as on his more overtly dangerous clients, such as the beast-man. instead hannibal makes sure to completely dissever will from what brittle identity he has that he may rebuild him brick by brick. he destroys will and tells him to use him as an anchor.

[gunterfan1992]

Episode Review: "Destiny"/"The Winter King" (Fionna & Cake, Eps. 5–6)

Airdate: September 14, 2023

Story by: Anthony Burch, Adam Muto, Hanna K. Nyström, Jack Pendarvis, Kate Tsang

Storyboarded by: Hanna K. Nyström, Anna Syvertsson, Jacob Winkler, Sonja von Marensdorff

Directed by: Ryann Shannon (supervising), Hans Tseng (art)

One of my favorite moments from Adventure Time comes at the very end of season four's "The Lich" when we are introduced to "Farmworld" for the first time. When the episode aired, this reveal was positively huge, adding as it did a brand new reality to the already complex world of Ooo. The show would go on to expand our understanding of Farmworld in the season five premiere "Finn the Human"/"Jake the Dog" and the season seven episode "Crossover," but even with all those episodes, I never could shake the feeling that there was so much more the series could have done with Farmworld. You can thus imagine my surprise when I learned that Fionna and Cake of all people would be journeying to this strangely normal alternate dimension!

"Destiny" picks up with Fionna, Cake, and Simon landing in Farmworld, roughly 10 or so years after the events of "Crossover." Following the destruction of the Farmworld crown, things returned to their (post-apocalyptic) normalcy, and Ice-Finn (or, as the people in Farmworld call him, "The Snow Man") has grown into a strapping Man-Finn who is busy raising three children (his wife, it seems, has died). One of Finn's kids, Jay, overhears Fionna, Cake, and Simon asking around about the Farmworld crown, and so he steals them away to meet his father. Once Man-Finn discovers what it is Simon and Co. seek, however, he bids them to leave. Going against his father's wishes, Jay sneaks Fionna, Cake, and Simon to the crater where the Farmworld Bomb had detonated, where they all discover the charred remnants of the crown. At this point, Jay reveals that previously when visiting the crater, he had discovered one of the crown's jewels. The final act of the episode is a sees Fionna, Cake, Simon, Man-Finn, and Jay square off against the Destiny Gang and Scarab, who we learn has been trailing our heroes this whole time. After securing the jewel from Big D's turncoat daughter, Simon fuses it with Prismo's remote, zapping himself, Fionna and Cake to another reality just as Scarab stabs(?!) Man-Finn in the head.

First and foremost, I must stress that "Destiny" feels very much like an episode of the "original" Adventure Time. This is likely a result of the Farmworld setting: as a world, it is overflowing with an absurdist energy and out-there characters (e.g., Big D!) that I intimately associate with the adventures of Finn and Jake. And let me know emphatically state: This is not a bad thing. Not at all. I love how the producers have been able to weave the Adventure Time "feel" into something new. It is like meeting an old friend after a long time apart (only for that old friend to get stabbed in the head by a space-god).

OK, but seriously… did Farmworld Finn die? I hope note. If he did, that would mean that Jay's actions were directly responsible for his father getting killed. That's pretty dark. And considering all the bad dads in the Oooniverse, it would be nice if one of the good ones was allowed to live a (relatively) happy life.

Airdate: September 14, 2023

Story by: Anthony Burch, Adam Muto, Hanna K. Nyström, Jack Pendarvis, Kate Tsang

Storyboarded by: Iggy Craig, Graham Falk, Jim Campbell, Lucyola Langi, Nicole Rodriguez

Directed by: Steve Wolfhard (supervising), Hans Tseng (art)

After zapping away from Farmworld, Simon, Fionna, and Cake teleport to a reality ruled by the "Ice Prince"—an alt-universe Simon Petrikov who has somehow managed to avoid the madness that plagued Ice King. Simon quickly tells his fellow Petrikov the group's goals, and the Ice Prince gallantly agrees to help them by duplicating his own crown. Things are going swimmingly until the evil "Candy Queen" swoops in and snatches away both Simon and the Ice Prince. Fionna, Cake, and Ice Prince's guards dart to their rescue, brutally (but humorously) massacring dozens of hideously mutated candy citizens. Fionna and Cake rescue Simon and the Ice Prince, but once Fionna and Ice Prince share a kiss, the awful truth is revealed: Ice Prince is not some gentleman who overcame the madness of the crown through sheer will. No, he was a self-centered "wad" who used magic to deflect his madness onto the poor Candy Queen… who, as we quickly learn, is just an alternate universe version of Princess Bubblegum. Thanks to fairy tale logic, Fionna's kiss breaks Ice Prince's magic spell, which causes his crown to lose power. He subsequently crumbles to dust and everything he has created melts away.

So far, of the episodes we've gotten, I think "The Winter King" has been my favorite, largely because of the way it explores Simon's psychological character.

One thing that made Ice King’s story so tragic was how Simon, in his original form, was fundamentally a good person, buried deep within the mind of an outwardly "evil" wizard. "The Winter King" neatly conveys the opposite of this situation by showing us an Alt-Simon who, while outwardly "good," had long ago squandered his sense of morality for selfish gain. Not to get too analytical, but all of the good/bad talk reminds me of what the psychologist Carl Jung called the "Shadow." Put in simplest terms, the Shadow is a part of the unconscious human psyche in which repressed, rejected, or unrecognized aspects of the Self are contained, far from the light of conscious thought. The Shadow tends to seal away attributes of the Self that we wish to downplay or dismiss, making it "the home of the suppressed monsters of our inner world," in which "the energy of [our] dark side" bubbles (to quote Christopher Vogler). Furthermore, the Shadow exists as the inverse of our conscious Ego (meaning that, as Jung put it, "when one tries desperately to be good and wonderful and perfect, then all the more the shadow develops a definite will to be black and evil and destructive"). And because it is unconscious, the Shadow eludes easy detection. Nevertheless, its contents can often be ascertained by keeping an eye out for psychological “projection,” wherein a person denies their own foibles and instead recognizes those defects in others.

Now consider this topic in relation to "The Winter King." Let us start with Ice King, a hyperbolically crazy and "evil" wizard. I would argue that Ice King is a textbook of Simon's Shadow made manifest: He is everything that Simon consciously does not want to be brought to the surface in its entirety. The tragedy of Simon is that, while he doesn't often talk about it, he knows deep down that Ice King, while corrupted and warped by the crown, was an aspect of himself. In fact, this entire series feels very much like Simon’s journey to fully recognize his own Shadow.* And the fact that he starting to do this despite it being a painful process is, in my opinion, the clearest evidence of his ethical/moral character. Conversely, Alt-Simon is not like this. When presented with his Shadow, he does not choose to begin the painful recognition process. Instead, he projects it onto an innocent person; he builds up an elaborate "nice king" persona while literally condemning someone for his own sins. It is important to note that psychological projection is a pretty normal occurrence and thus not a surefire marker of "evil" or anything like that. What makes this instance of projection so bad is that Alt-Simon does this fully aware that it will cause someone to suffer for crimes they did not commit. Alt-Simon is like the "pious" archbishop who burns the "evil witches" at the stake all because he cannot come to terms with his own inner demons.

Now that is messed up!

But you know what isn't messed up? The voice acting in this episode. I do not say this to be hyperbolic: "The Winter King" may very well be Hynden Walch's finest performance to date. Her take on the Candy Queen is truly horrifying in a decidedly blursed way. So fundamentally different is her performance that at first I thought it was someone else! Also stealing the spotlight in this episode is Brian David Gilbert, erstwhile writer for Polygon and maker of many a wacky YouTube video. Gilbert's Ice Prince exudes the perfect amount of over-the-top flamboyance and faux chivalry. Both Walch and Gilbert get a song apiece in this episode, and both do a stellar job. (As an aside, have we ever had a true-blue PB song? Does the Candy Queen's song count?)

Oh, and as a quick aside: "The Winter King" features a few short scenes set in Fionna's non-magical world that follow Marshall Lee and Gary Prince as the latter tries to bake something that will earn him greater renown. Going into these scenes, I thought I would have found them a bit dull, but they were quite endearing. It's obvious that these scenes are a way for us to explore how Marceline and Bubblegum got to know one another, but from the parallax angle of a genderbent world, and I am here for it!

Final "Destiny" Grade: A

Final "The Winter King Grade": A

* My Prediction: Simon will attempt to become the Ice King, only to realize that a full-on transformation is not just necessary but ultimately dangerous. Recognizing one's Shadow does not mean you become synonymous with; it simply means that you know it's there.

[abromelon34105]

A few random snippets from my AD!Chūya AU fanfic. The first snippet is from the prologue and the second is from Chapter 1. I put them together since the prologue one is short.

(Prologue)

He didn’t want to be here. But it had been two weeks and he was already feeling his sanity starting to deteriorate. He was barely getting any sleep and what he did get was fitful and plagued with nightmares. He was constantly looking over his shoulder, paranoid of everyone and everything around him. He needed some level of safety.

Why am I doing this? Stabbing him in the back had been bad enough. Now Chūya was calling the very person who had led the brunette down that path of destruction. He muttered a quiet apology as he dialed the number he knew all too well.

“Hello?” the voice said uncertaintly. Chūya exhaled. He had been worried the other man wouldn’t pick up. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words got caught in his throat. He cleared it and tried again. But they just got stuck again.

He tried a couple of times, and the other man was strangely patient with him. He probably knows who it is now, Chūya thought. That made it a little easier. He took another deep breath and was finally able to get the words out.

“I need your help.”

(Chapter 1)

Holy shit. How many has he eaten now? I lost count like ten or so bowls ago. Every time he finishes one, he just asks for another. Three days without a meal? He probably hasn’t eaten in a couple of weeks! I’m impressed at how he was able to soldier on as long as he did, and watching him stuff his face reminds me heavily of that one time he decided to avoid eating for a couple of weeks. Until I tracked him down and refused to let him leave until he ate. Or maybe that time the only way I got him to eat was to “leave” my food unattended and pretend to not notice him stealing it.

I shake my head, trying to dispel the memories. Those days are in the past now. I can’t think about them anymore.

I glance at Kunikida, who is looking more and more irritated the more the kid eats. He’s probably trying to tally up the bill already and is getting pissed at me for suggesting he pays for everything. I smirk to myself and go back to watching the kid, but that’s when Kunikida speaks.

“Thanks to your little stunt from earlier, we’re now four hours behind schedule.” His voice is stern, but it honestly doesn’t phase me. Two years working with him, I’ve become almost numb to the way he acts, and besides, I’m used to having a more temperamental partner. Compared to the hurricane he was, Kunikida is simply a thunderstorm.

“So? Most of the sightings were at night anyway,” I say with a shrug as I turn back to him. His eyebrow twitches, one of his tics that I’ve come to recognize. “I would have preferred if we had a few hours to prepare, because now we have nothing more than our persons-”

“Which is plenty, so stop being such a worrywort, Kunikida!” I turn away from him, resting my chin on my hand. Kunikida splutters for a moment before sighing and closing his notebook. Finally, he manages to find his words. “I’m not being a worrywort! I’m trying to make sure that we stay on time and stick to the schedule!”

“Why are you so obsessed with your schedules, Kunikida?” I keep my voice calm as I glance over at him and his eyebrow twitches again. He slams the notebook down on the table, making the bowls around the kid rattle for a moment. “The schedules make sure that we do what we need to do and in a timely manner! Otherwise, knowing you and your habits, we’d spend all day on a case that should only take us a few hours at most! It is the ideal that most people should hold themselves to, and yet I’m stuck here with you, the most reckless person on the planet!”

“Dosh he ushully dishappher ohn yoh?” We both turn to the kid, who’s staring up at us as he talks through the mouthful of rice. I blink a couple of times, trying to decipher what he’s trying to say, but Kunikida responds before I can even figure out what the fuck he said.

“Be quiet, you!” he snaps as he moves the notebook closer to him. “I also don’t have a line in expenses for a million bowls of tea on rice for a snot-nosed, nameless brat!”

“Wat khind ohf whorkh ahre yoh ihn?”

“And now he’s asking questions!”

“Whel yoh khep tahlkhing ahboht iht!”

“Fine, I’ll tell you. It involves the military.” I keep glancing between the two of them, only understanding one half of the conversation. When they seem to be done, I finally speak up. “How the fuck are you two communicating?”

God the one from the first chapter is so long 🤣Anyway, here’s the link to the fic!