#this is so bad but i'm brain dead

[souvenir116]

Get yourself a man that can do both <3

+

[rox-of-iu]

ayoo guess who finally sat down and caught up with cultivate B)

is me. so you know what that means.

spoiler warning for cultivate ch 30-37

there was actually.... more things i wanted to draw but I already did so many I had to physically restrain myself hfsjkkdh anyway yes can you tell i love this fic very much

yet once again. cultivate by the wonderful @neonghostcat

[necrotic-nephilim]

what are your favourite batcest ships and why?

AAA i love this question so much. i'm going to limit myself to a top five, because otherwise, i'd just end up listing all of them. the true joy of batcest is they're all so good for such different reasons and there are so many unique dynamics you can explore.

JayTim - it's funny bc, before i started this blog, i don't know if i would've put these two losers as my number one. but because i've done so much deep diving into their dynamic and i write them the most, i think it'd be a disservice for them to be anything *but* number one. their canon dynamic is just. so fun to play with. i truly love all of their interactions, particularly pre-Flashpoint. the concepts of Tim holding such contempt for Jason while Jason is weirdly obsessed with Tim. i'm a fan of Hannibal and Killing Eve and well. if this isn't a Hannigram-coded ship idk *what* is. i like ships where love and hate co-exist and there's no real "happily ever after", just fucked up co-existing, where they crawl back to each other like a bad habit and really, this ship is that so perfectly. the themes of jealousy in the Robin mantle. Tim wearing Jason's Red Robin suit to punish himself. i will likely never shut up about them. even in the New-52, there's such a substance to them, though the dynamic is wildly different. they will always be so weirdly dependent on each other's existence. i love them.

BruDick - you can't outdo the doer, i fear. i think i like BruDick mostly for the history of it, yk. there's genuinely *so much* queer history seeped into the homoeroticism of Batman and Robin, these two have been a symbol for queer people for decades. but the ship itself has so many dynamics i love. problematic age gap, "are we family or lovers", "i can't be in a room alone with you without getting into a screaming match but if you called i drop everything for you". all of it. i especially favor 80s/90s BruDick when they were in their divorce era just because it's so messy. Dick has canonically said he would die for Bruce, even during their arguments. no matter what, these two will always be single-mindedly devoted to each other. there will be other Robins, but none of them will compare to Dick Grayson, for Bruce. it's a unique and complicated bond that has endless layers to peel back. they always crawl back to each other bc no one else will match their level of intensity.

DamiTim - years and years ago, when i was a teen trying to people-please with how i existed in fandom, i used to insist i didn't like batcest and found it icky and gross. but there was one DamiTim fic that was my exception. that fic was my fucking roman empire. i reread it like once a year even though it's not completed and likely never will be i do not care. so now that i've killed the morality police in my head and i let myself ship what i actually want to ship, this ship holds a top place in my heart just bc of that fic alone. but in general i do fucking love their dynamic. similar to JayTim there's just so much mutual hatred in these two that has endless potential. Damian's insistence to not see Tim as a Wayne and as a legitimate brother/heir to Bruce is something you can play a lot if you give Damian an angry, fucked up crush on Tim he doesn't want to admit to. they have so many reasons to dislike each other, so to try to get them to slowly fall in love is a fun challenge. they either have a long complicated forgiveness arc and end up a happy married couple or they are the couple that tries to kill each other once a week. no in-between.

JeanTim - there's like. one person here on tumblr who goes as hard for this ship as i do and truly god bless them bc they feed me. Jean-Paul is too underrated in the batcest scene. once i reread Knightfall, i will have to help popular this tag on ao3. i enjoy both a very fucked up version of this ship during the peak of the Knightfall arc, where Jean-Paul is deep in his murder Batman era and Tim is trying to stop him to no real avail, but i *also* think there's so much you can do with the ship afterwards, where Jean-Paul is trying to make up for what he's done and be a better person and better hero. they're the peak Batman/Robin ship, to me. they truly care about each other, but have a very complicated/bloody history and i just. man i love it so dearly. i've been meaning to write a fic where Jean-Paul goes to Tim post the Sword of Azrael (2022) arc to properly discuss and apologize for all his actions in Knightfall for his personal healing and they end up fucking. it could be sweet and cute or kinky fun bc what is the joy of a character with that much Catholic guilt if you don't give them a weird religious kink.

BruCarrie - The Dark Knight Returns got me into comics and i will defend it till the day i die. Carrie Kelley can be pried from my cold dead hands. i just really love these two? Carrie took one look at that cranky old bastard and decided she was his problem. and Bruce is at a stage where he should be very averse to the idea of having a Robin, he knows it's a bad idea. but he just. accepts her anyway. idk how to explain their dynamic other than she plunks herself in his lap and stitches up his wounds while telling him he's an idiot and he lets her even if he's grumbling about it. they have the biggest age gap of any Batman/Robin ship and for that, they should get like. a dead dove gold star no matter how rare the pair is.

also honorable mention goes to BruTim, because *god* do i love the concept of Tim offering himself up to Bruce as Robin in every way, knowing that there are likely sexual/romantic implications to being Robin. it's one of my favorite flavors of batcest to exist. i don't view them as a "happily ever after" ship, because Bruce will always go back home to Dick, but it's a fun lil dead dove moment.

[dumvixerum]

i loved this game ughhugh

[outlying-hyppocrate]

i have officially returned. ask me anything.

[bugsbenefit]

i'm mmmmh still thinking thoughts (it's about the poster, of course it is, been fascinated by that since s4)

the last few minutes of every season always drop some major hints for the next season that are pretty explicit in hindsight. some examples

s1 shows the baby slugs Will coughs up that come back in s2, hints El might still be alive when Hopper leaves Eggo waffles out in the forest, and gives Nancy a sweet moment with Jonathan despite still dating Steve, s2 has El living with Hopper and J/ancy going canon

s2 shows the mindflayer looming over the school -> meatflayer is the main threat of s3 (as well as s2 having lumax and mleven dancing who will both be established couples by the start of s3)

s3 ends with the Byers moving away and Max sitting alone in Billy's room, s4 then has the Byers living in California be a major plotpoint as well as Max's trauma around Billy's death almost killing her

and so on you get it. in hindsight there will obviously be some pretty major hints in the last 10 minutes of s4

and some already seem pretty straight forward. obviously the gates opening is the big thing, the UD will be a focus in s5. the camera lingering on the church and Jason's bible quote outside also seems like it's a pretty solid nudge at the vibe in town next season. also things like the hill scene in general with the coupled grouping (doesn't even have to be about "endgames" necessarily, would also make sense as main groups of s5, since they're split into adults, teens (now young adults), and kids (teens) again)

but the whole blood thing going on in the last 10 minutes that comes out of nowhere? i want to know where that is going

we already had a ton of blood in s4, with the lab massacre and nose bleeds for the Vecna victims. so why does the donating blood theme come up after all that, what happens in s5 that makes it warrant the blood teaser (that sounds horrible) when s4 already had so much of it? and it's not just blood in general, there's a very specific focus on "giving" blood, however you want to interpret that

the poster in the hospital room already feels extremely foreshadowy in s4 given how bold it's written, how it's the only legible text on screen, and how it's in the negative space of the blocking the whole time so your eyes are drawn to it

but it's not even just that one poster either. in case you missed that one or didn't bother reading it in the hospital they also give you the blood donations promo table that the shot lingers on, that has so many posters begging for your blood it's not even funny anymore. and hey, even for those not reading background posters, there's 4 separate blood drop graphics so you definitely know they want blood, the show seems to really really want people to acknowledge it

and now they use the same exact poster from these last 10 minutes again? in another location? that's more focus on it than even i expected what are we going for here

be a hero give blood you say? on the show with the constant allusions to being a hero? "heroes" by david bowie, superheroes and powers, "don't try to be heroes" only for Eddie to die when he breaks his own advice? all of s4 was about how you shouldn't try to be a hero and that running away is okay. Max also almost dies when she stops running to distract Vecna. girl you know someone is fucked with that poster, that's a set up screaming for disaster (it's also not lost on me how even the stage show has a focus on blood and !TFS SPOILER! as far as i know Brenner senior even dies after not being able to receive blood donations due to his now abnormal blood type anymore. so there's some weird focus on blood going on even outside of the in show canon now, even specifically about giving blood, or well, not being able to give blood in this case. no one was a hero and gave blood in tfs i guess lmao. what are they cooking here)

the poster is also so vague there's so many ways this can be horrible for the characters. in the actual blood donation to save someone way? would be kind of tame but who knows what lore/plot s5 will deliver. in the sacrifice yourself/get injured to save someone way? or a secret third thing we don't have enough context to guess yet?

be a hero give blood my ass. who's giving blood for what tell me now. also how bad will "giving blood" be for them

[nonconstories]

Being a smut peddler who also writes non-smut can be...weird... sometimes. Cuz like. I'm trying to write this NON SMUTTY BOOK that has ZERO SEXY INCEST and STILL my fucking lizard brain is like "Make her fuck her adopted dad figure. Come on. He's evil. She's evil. They are bound together by prophecy. He's hot. She's naive and trying to grow up too fast. Do it. Do it. Do it (make them do it)--"

And I'm spraying it with water going "THIS IS NOT THE FUCKING TIME"

[voidsparkk]

showdown at the secret spaceship hideout is so silly i love dr two-brains he's so... guy who's a mouse voice: it's like a maze in here!!!

the sparkle in his eye and his smile when he reminisces being steven boxleitner was so cute. look at him you just KNOW that was steven poking through there!! he's so proud of wordgirl's achievements and how she's learned so much from his book!

"what kind of goofball would write-" YOU!!! YOU FORGET YOURSELF!!!!

[acourtofquestions]

Rowaelin Chapter 41 Kingdom of Ash:

She'd rebuild it—what she had been.

Perhaps one last time, perhaps only for a little while, but she'd do it. If only for Terrasen.

Rowan swooped from the mast, shifting as he reached her side at the rail. He surveyed the night-black sea beyond them. "You should rest." She slid him a glance. "I'm not tired." Not a lie, not in some regards. "Want to spar?" He frowned. "Training can start tomorrow."

"Or tonight." She held his piercing stare, matched his dominance with her own.

"It can wait a few hours, Aelin."

"Every day counts." Against Erawan, even a day of training would count.

Rowan's jaw tightened. "True," he said at last. "But it can still wait. There are ... there are things we need to discuss." The silent words rose in his animal-bright eyes. About you and me.

Her mouth went dry. But Aelin nodded In silence, they strode into their spacious quarters, its only decoration the wall of windows that overlooked the churning sea behind them. A far cry from a queen's chamber, or any she might have purchased as Adarlan's assassin.

At least the bed built into the wall looked clean enough, the sheets crisp and stainless. But Aelin headed for the oak desk anchored to the floor, and leaned against it while Rowan shut the door.

In the dim lantern light, they stared at each other.

She'd endured Maeve and Cairn; she'd endured Endovier and countless other horrors and losses. She could have this conversation with him. The first step toward rebuilding herself.

Aelin knew Rowan could hear her thundering heart as the space between them went taut. She swallowed once. "Elide and Lorcan told you... told you everything that was said on that beach."

A curt nod, wariness flooding his eyes. "Everything that Maeve said." Another nod.

She braced herself. "That I'm-we're mates."

Understanding and something like relief replaced that wariness. "Yes."

"I'm your mate," she said, needing to voice it. "And you are mine."

Rowan crossed the room, but halted a few feet from the desk on which she leaned. "What of it, Aelin?" His question was low, rough.

"Don't you..." She scrubbed at her face. "You know what she did to you, to ..." She couldn't say her name. Lyria. "Because of it."

"I do know."

"And?"

"And what do you wish me to say?"

She pushed off the desk. "I wish you to tell me how you feel about it. If…"

"If what?"

"If you wish it wasn't so."

His brows narrowed. "Why would I ever wish that?"

She shook her head, unable to answer, and stared over her shoulder toward the sea.

It seemed like he would close the distance between them, but he remained where he was.

"Aelin." His voice turned hoarse. "Aelin."

She looked at him then, at the pain in his words.

"Do you know what I wish?" He exposed his palms, one tattooed, the other unmarked. "I wish that you had told me. When you realized it. I wish you had told me then."

She swallowed against the ache in her throat. "I didn't want to hurt you."

"Why would it ever hurt me to know the truth that was already in my heart? The truth I hoped for?"

"I didn't understand it. I didn't understand how it was possible. I thought maybe ... maybe you might be able to have two mates within a lifetime, but even then, I just ….." She blew out a breath. "I didn't want you to be distressed." His eyes softened. "Do I regret that Lyria was dragged into this, that the cost of Maeve's game was her life, and the life of the child we might have had? Yes. I regret that, and I wish it had never happened." He would bear the tattoo to remember it for the rest of his days. "But none of that was your fault. I will always carry some of the burden of it, always know I chose to leave her for war and glory, and that I played right into Maeve's hands."

"Maeve wanted to ensnare you to get to me, though."

"Then it is her choice, not yours."

Aelin ran a hand over the worn wood of the desk. "In those illusions she spun for me, she showed me variations on one more than all the others." The words were strained, but she forced them out. Forced herself to look at him. "She spun me one dreamscape that felt so real I could smell the wind off the Staghorns."

"What did she show you?" A breathless question.

Aelin had to swallow before she could answer. "She showed me what might have been—if there had been no Erawan, if Elena had dealt with him properly and banished him. If there had been no Lyria, none of that pain or despair you endured. She showed me Terrasen as it would have been today, with my father as king, and my childhood happy, and..." Her lips wobbled. "When I turned twenty, you came with a delegation of Fae to Terrasen, to make amends for the rift between my mother and Maeve. And you and I took one look at each other in my father's throne room, and we knew."

She didn't fight the stinging in her eyes. "I wanted to believe that was the true world. That this was the nightmare from which I'd awaken. I wanted to believe that there was a place where you and I had never known this suffering and loss, where we'd take one look at each other and know we were mates. Maeve told me she could make it so. If I gave her the keys, she'd make it all possible." She wiped at her cheek, at the tear that escaped down it. "She spun me realities where you were dead, where you'd been killed by Erawan and only in handing over the keys to her would I be able to avenge you. But those realities made me ... I stopped being useful to her when she told me you were gone. She couldn't get me to talk, to think. Yet in the ones where you and I met, where things were as they should have been ... that was when I came the closest."

His swallow was audible. "What stopped you?"

She wiped at her face again. "The male I fell in love with was you. It was you, who knew pain as I did, and who walked with me through it, back to the light. Maeve didn't understand that. That even if she could create that perfect world, it wouldn't be you with me. And I'd never trade that, trade this. Not for anything." He extended his hand. An offer and invitation.

Aelin laid hers atop his, and his callused fingers squeezed gently. "I wanted it to be you," he breathed, closing his eyes. "For months and months, even in Wendlyn, I wondered why you weren't my mate instead. It tore me up, wondering it, but I still did." He opened his eyes, and they burned like green fire. "All this time, I wanted it to be you."

She lowered her gaze, but he hooked a thumb and forefinger around her chin and lifted her face.

"I know you are tired, Fireheart. I know that the burden on your shoulders is more than anyone should endure." He took their joined hands and laid them on his heart. "But we'll face this together. Erawan, the Lock, all of it.

"We'll face it together. And when we are done, when you Settle, we will have a thousand years together. Longer."

A small sound came out of her. "Elena said the Lock requires—"

"We'll face it together," he swore again.

"And if the cost of it truly is you, then we'll pay it together. As one soul in two bodies.

Her heart strained to the point of cleaving. "Terrasen needs a king."

"I have no intention of ruling Terrasen without you. Aedion can have the job."

She scanned his face. He meant every word He brushed the hair from her face, his other hand still clasping hers to his chest, where his heart pounded a steady, unfaltering rhythm.

"Even if I had my choice of any dream-realities, any perfect illusions, I would still choose you, too."

She felt the truth of his words echo into the unbreakable thing that bound their very souls, and tilted her face up toward his. But he made no move beyond it.

She frowned. "Why aren't you kissing me?"

"I thought you might want to be asked first."

"That never stopped you before."

"This first time, I wanted to make sure you were ... ready." After Cairn and Maeve. After months of having no choices whatsoever.

She smiled despite that truth. "I'm ready to be kissed again, Prince."

He let out a dark chuckle and muttered, "Thank the gods," before he lowered his mouth to hers.

"You're my mate." Her words were a breathless rush. "And I am yours."

The world might have been burning around them for all she cared, all he cared, too.

"Together, Aelin," he promised, and she heard the rest of the words in every place their bodies joined. Together they would face this, together they would find a way.

Together we'll find a way, their mingling breaths, the crashing sea, seemed to echo.

Together.

[jabeur]

okay like the thing is that suicide jokes and such are probably not that bad or that big of a deal if you're not really suicidal but if you're For Real suicidal or have been before and are not doing well mentally and you keep making them and start finding comfort in the thought you could kill yourself if you wanted to. be careful

[sysig]

The brainworms are winning, clearly (Patreon)

[rapidhighway]

ughh my anxiety got so much worse recently and idk what to do about itt sorry I gotta vent in here cause google ain't helping horrible amount of tmi warning ig....

[feuqueerfire]

Ever since I watched DFF ep 12 yesterday, I'd be doing my regular activities only to be hit with "my fucking White D:" thoughts in the middle

[skylie-spiderlillis]

Don't usually do this but does anyone has any useful advices how to deal with ADHD burnout while it's already happening? And not just how to prevent it.

Google shitty advices they're comically bad.

I guess useful information for nd people online will never be a thing unless you ask other neurodivergent ppl.

My phone isn't even aware that neurodivergent is a real word.

[morningmask27]

Tonight, right now, not even ten minutes ago, might have been the closest I got to an outright hatecrime

[the-raging-tempest]

TV Tropes Page for Zrise

I may update this in the future. Just a general content warning because it touches on some potentially triggering topics below.

Fake Tv Tropes for Lariel

Abusive Parents: As a child he was corporally punished by his step-father until he got big enough to fight back. Treated not as a child but as a weapon.

All for Nothing: As he looks back and sees the ashes in his wake he realizes too late that what he burned along the way was what he really needed. 

All of the Other Reindeer: His family treats him like an outsider. Then when Zrise gets exposed to the outside world most people treat him as strange and scary. He resents this. Never welcome where he is. As a noble he’s a bastard. As an inquisitor he’s a noble. Even when people treat him with kindness it’s because they want to use him.

Always Second Best/Can't Catch Up: No matter how hard he tries his sister is better at almost everything. 

Ambition is Evil: One of the driving forces behind his actions. He wants to become so powerful that no one can hurt him. 

Anguished Declarations of Love: The only way he ever admits any romantic feelings. 

Bastard Understudy: Each mentor who attempts to take him under their wing. He eventually turns on them. 

Being Evil Sucks: After the temporary highs of revenge, power, and hedonism fade. All he is left with is the truth that he doesn’t even know how to be happy anymore. There's always someone looking for justice and vengeance. He will always be fighting to stay alive.

Beneath the Mask: Having to be many things to many people on many occasions. And often failing to live up to the expectations the Mask set. Zrise is afraid to look Beneath the Mask because he believes he will hate whoever is underneath. That whoever is underneath is truly worthless. He can slip into Becoming the Mask. Where he loses himself and it’s too late to turn back.

Birthday Hater: Each birthday he sees as a day closer to death. Despite his sister’s request to spend the day together, he always flakes. Caught up in thinking about how he’s wasted his life. He avoids it, gets drunk, and picks a fight.

Blessed with Suck: He worships his Goddess so that he wouldn’t have to die and slow agonizing death. To get his medicine. His gift is an almost normal life, the only problem is the price he's always paying is doing their dirty work.

Blood Knight: He loves to fight. At times he says it’s his life's purpose. It’s the only time he feels competent. Battle is where he feels he has purpose.

Cruel to Be Kind: Zrise often pushes people away because he believes himself to be dangerous. He knows what he’d do to his enemies and those they love. He knows what he himself has done to the ones he loves. He doesn’t want it to happen again. Though he never goes about explaining it this way. He often pushes people away in moments when he does not trust himself. 

Dark and Troubled Past: Zrise was killed as a child. Drown intentionally by his mother. Only for her to realize she’d have to suffer consequences after his sister ran off. He was then resurrected through a necromantic ritual. Though the ritual was not complete as it required his mother’s heart as sacrifice. A price she wasn’t willing to pay. Through his childhood he was constantly sick and weak due to the ritual being incomplete. Leaving his body wanting to decay and corrupt. He required blood transfusions to retain his personhood and not become a shambling corpse. Though the curse still makes its way through his body and soul. He was fully aware when his soul was ripped away before his untainted self could be judged. Warned that the punishment for trying to cheat death was far worse than death itself. Zrise tells himself that this experience was a bad dream. Though the memories of that day still recur in his sleep. Not allowing him to rest. He blames the Gods who wish to punish him, rather than his mother for his murder.

Defiant to the End: He’ll always die kicking and screaming. Spitting in his enemies face. He never begs for his life.

Despair Event Horizon: Depending on his life path different events can trigger this. Usually though it is he loses his connection to both his sister and mother. 

Divine Punishment: Zrise can turn from his Goddess should he choose. But then he must face the consequences of becoming like the very heretics he hunted.

Doom Magnet: The ones who he actually cares about suffer the longer they are around him due to the consequences of his actions and his inability to face them. 

Even Evil Has Loved One’s / Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas: Zrise has a deep soft spot for both his sister and his mother. Both are tied in deeply with the trauma of his death. His mother for his murder, and his sister for leaving him behind. His craving for love from his mother drives him to act out, longing for her attention. The comfort of his sister's love often causes him to selfishly drive others away from her. His loyalty to one or the other can greatly influence his fate.

Face-Heel Turn: Can be in relation to his sister, mother, and the Knight Commander. Applies to Oria and Relik.

Fate Worse Than Death: His soul is tainted from the necromancy performed on him as a child. Taken before his soul could be judged untainted. He deeply fears what awaits him in the afterlife. 

Handsome Lech: Faithful worshipper of the Goddess of Lust. Known as a rake and a scoundrel in high society. He is known to pursue sex with anyone who can tolerate him with something to offer. When people can look past his undead nature he is attractive enough to get people’s attention, but they don't stick around for long. His personality and behavior drives others away from him. This is often intentional and self destructive on his end. 

Heel-Face Turn: To the Knight Commander on certain paths. Going from wishing to betray his sister to choosing a slow death to protect the ones he loves. Trying to be worthy of love.

How The Mighty Have Fallen: At his highs he is protected by some of the most wealthy and powerful. It all comes crashing down and he’s left with nothing, not even his grandfather’s name. And all his former allies are out to kill him. 

Identity Breakdown: Can either make or break Zrise. At his lowest he realizes how long he’s been a shell of himself. 

Kick the Dog: He has many moments that could be considered kicking the dog. Cruel to both animals and children when they bother him. Don’t ask him for charity. His version of mercy is a swift death. He is also often cruel to his sister. 

Love Makes You Crazy: How this manifests greatly depends on the object of his affection. Though he will do increasingly bizarre and desperate things for their attention, affection, and loyalty. Can include; Attempting to scare, fight, or kill any rival. Murder on their behalf. Changing the way he dresses and speaks. ‘Accidently’ bumping into them. Full blown denial that they aren’t interested in him. Being violent at perceived rejection. ‘Tests’ of their loyalty. Pursuing someone else in hopes they become jealous. Looking through their personal belongings. Etc. 

Love Makes You Evil: In the past Zrise killed his former rival and lover. Happens in certain paths if enabled by the Knight Commander.

Love Redeems: If the Knight Commander and Lariel can get through to him.

My God, What Have I Done?: Often Zrise realizes much too late that his plans will require a sacrifice he was never ready to make. Only now if he fails to follow through he might just end up losing it all anyway because it’s already been set in motion. 

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Even when Zrise does try to finally atone and ‘make up’ for what he’s done, it’s too little too late. The enemies he’s made along the way are not satisfied until all the suffering he has brought is paid back in full. Leaving those he loves in the crossfire.

Pater Familicide: One of the worst outcomes for him. When he doesn’t see a way out and he can’t bear to let his family see who he's become. 

Professional Killer: Torturing and killing enemies of the faith is his job. He gets very defensive when people criticize this. 

Sadist: Zrise has found a way to enjoy his work. That is to enjoy suffering. Both of others and his own. 

Sanity Slippage: Guilt, fear, and forces greater than himself, make him start to slide further and further away from sanity. 

The Berserker: Charges into battle like he has nothing to lose. Sometimes it's arrogance that the divine will protect him. Sometimes it’s full blown rage. Sometimes it’s a deep desire to hurt himself. Either way he doesn’t back down.

The Caligula: In some timelines; After murdering all the family above him he rules over all of what the Ellvesem family held. With one surviving family member he believes he can control. Abusing and using his family’s former allies. OR rising to Godhood his divine powers let him become his worst self.

The Hedonist: He often looks for a quick fix for his mood. Sex, drugs, etc. Sex is often his go to. Though in certain circumstances he can also indulge in his bloodlust. He's bad at thinking of the long term and looks for what is quick, easy, and pleasurable. (Even if that’s self flagellation)

The Starscream: In trying to befriend those more evil and powerful than himself he ends up envying and resenting them so much he plans to kill them and take their place.

Tragic Villain: It’s hard to say what path his life would have taken if his mother had not done what she did. If he didn't feel he needed to do whatever it took to survive.

Troubled Abuser: As much a victim and a perpetrator in the cycle of violence. Often accepting abusive and awful behavior because of how he was treated. Believing he must dish it out so he doesn’t have to be at its mercy. 

Unwitting Pawn: Often he falls right into the traps his mentors set for him, even when he tries to defy them. 

Undead Always Ends: Usually Zrise does not survive succumbing to the curse or worse.

Used to Be a Sweet Kid: Lariel often tells stories of a younger less jaded Zrise. One who carefully tended to plants in the family’s greenhouse. Who wanted to be a knight in shining armor. Who played tricks and pranks. A boy who tried to befriend everyone he ran into. Her brother who would look at the stars with her and talk about the adventures they would go on when they grew up. 

What Have I Become?: After he was brought back to life Zrise found his own body, a stranger. Fangs, cold gray skin, dark hair and nails. He has believed himself a monster since that day. 

Your Approval Fills Me With Shame: Certain mentors' approval fills him with a deep sense of shame once he starts to try to pull himself together. Often paired with trying to do the right thing and failing miserably.