#this post does not support these characters

[pomefioredove]

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ Love 101

my week-late valentine's post

summary: third years ask first years for love advice. the first years suck at giving it type of post: blurbs characters: cater, trey, leona, rook, vil, idia, lilia, malleus, rollo additional info: romantic, reader is gender neutral, reader is yuu

I. Cater and Deuce

Cater has always loved the thrill of the chase (or, really, the thrill of stalking your magicam at 2am) and he would have been content with keeping his digital distance if he didn't see you in Vil's last post. Suddenly anxious that he's fumbling, he does what he does best: info. And who would have better info than your best friend? "Uhhh, I dunno," Deuce says. "If you really like someone, then you should be honest with them- that's what my mom used to tell me, at least. Or did I read that somewhere? Uh, never mind. I'm sure the Prefect will understand! Just- you better treat them right, or else!" Be honest? When has honesty ever helped Cater? It'd take two more nights of crushing anxiety for him to send a risky text, spilling all of his feelings for you in a Magicam DM and then handing his phone over to a very confused (but pleased?) Riddle, so he won't check his notifs for your username every twelve seconds...

II. Trey and Ace

Trust me, he was not Trey's go-to. Okay, sure, Ace is your best friend. Sure, he knows everything about you, from your favorite desserts to your grades, and sure, you've probably told him everything about your dream man, but... It's Ace. And unlike darling, doe-eyed Deuce, if someone asked too much about you, Ace would get suspicious and go right into protective best friend mode. So, Trey keeps it vague. "Eh? You're asking me for dating advice?" Ace grins. "About time! I knew you were smart. What you're gonna do is give 'em a little, not too much. Maybe ghost 'em for a week or two, so they'll really miss you when you finally text back!" ...Yeah. Maybe Trey should just stick to desserts.

III. Leona and Jack

Listen, okay, Leona didn't want to ask him, either. But Ruggie had nothing, your other frosh friends couldn't flirt their way out of a paper bag, and Grim refused to give Leona the goods without tuna payments (and he's spoiled enough as it is). Of course, the moment Leona even implied he was thinking of you, Jack jumped. "You have to be direct and honest! This could be your life partner, you have to put your all in!" Right, sure. Why does he even bother with these kids?? You'd be turned off if Leona started spilling his guts like that. He would've given up then and there... but then Jack insisted he come to "support his upperclassman", as if it were a fight rather than a flirtation. Leona cursed the Seven, the stars, and every single student on campus as he stumbled his way through asking you out. "Not that you would, or that I care, but I-" he looks over his shoulder, and Jack is still there, arms crossed like an impatient parent. Leona grumbles. "If you want to..." "He wants to please you, Prefect!" Jack barks. "DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT!"

IV. Vil, Rook, and Epel

It wasn't like Vil sought out Epel for the sole purpose of you, the freshman simply... happened to be in the room while Vil was thinking about it! Out loud! With Rook! In a... slightly argumentative manner! "Epel, settle something for us, would you?" "Oui, you see, I say the way to win the Prefect's favor is by anticipating their every thought!" "And I say that's insane. You know them best, so, tell us, what do they like?" The poor boy looks between them like he's being held at gunpoint. How should he have known?? It's not like you guys spent your time gabbing about boys! "APPLES!" he blurts out. "The Prefect loves apples!! My grandma always said the quickest way to a person's heart is through their stomach!" Rook giggles and Vil mumbles something about Epel's peanut-sized brain. ...Nonetheless, you wake up to crates full of apples at your door the next morning.

V. Idia and Ortho

beeeeeep... beeep... bing! Idia swivels around in his chair at the sound of the printer. Crap, did he accidentally hit print page again? What a waste of ink- that stuff's not cheap, you know! But it's just... Ortho. "Here ya go, big bro! I thought you might need this!" Idia cautiously takes the warm paper, entitled Romance Intel 101. "Uh... Ortho. Why are you giving me this? You know I max out the romance stats in all my games EZ," Ortho giggles. "It's not for a game, it's for the Prefect! Based on the data I've gathered, your heart rate accelerates by 1.2 seconds, and your pupils dilate by 40% when thinking of, or speaking to the Prefect!" Idia turns pink and crumples, as if he were the paper (the first line of which, BTW, reading "step one- make eye contact!") This is going to be a looooong school year...

VI. Lilia and Grim

You probably should've been suspicious when Lilia popped into Ramshackle and offered to babysit Grim for an afternoon, but you weren't- not with assignments due, at least. You said your goodbyes, and as soon as you were out the splintered door, Lilia spun on his heels. Short as he is, he towers over the little direbeast. "Hm, seems like we have time to spare. How about a casual conversation? Yes? Good! So, how do the youngsters these days go about showing their affections? I would like to make my feelings for a certain someone known, but I'm terribly out of practice." Grim thinks for a moment, and then: "Tuna. Looots of tuna. Heaps of it! It's all the rage!" Lilia nods sagely. "Ah, yes, I understand completely. There was a rotisserie chicken fad a few centuries ago... er, so I've read. Isn't love wonderful!" You come home from the library to an unconscious, drooling, but very happy Grim, and Lilia sitting atop a mountain of empty tuna cans and beaming. "Darling! You're back!"

VII. Malleus and Sebek

It had always been Sebek's honor and duty to serve the heir prince of Briar Valley, whether in war or in love. When Malleus wistfully said he wished to know you better, Sebek saw to it. That is, he spent the entire weekend shadowing you. And not subtly- he was never more than a few steps behind, pen and paper in hand. When you asked what in the world he was doing, he- "OBSERVING! NOW, QUIET! BEHAVE AS USUAL!" "You don't have to shout, you're right behind me. And observing what, Sebek?" "NONE OF YOUR CONCERN! ACT AS IF I AM NOT HERE!" At the end of the weekend, Sebek returned to Malleus' throne with a report that titled you "inquisitive, dense, and apparently hard-of-hearing."

VIII. Rollo and You

Your friends had seemed wary when Rollo asked you on a walk with him, though he promised he wouldn't take you too far from their clutches care. You had been in Fleur City for days and he didn't know a single thing about you, other than that you were magicless and pitiful. You were so often spoken over, interrupted, and dismissed, it took Rollo a strenuous amount of grace not to grab you by the wrist and drag you away from your rude, contemptuous classmates himself... He couldn't word the feeling. And he was hoping you could. "So," he says, "They refer to you as Prefect. That is your role? Do you enjoy it?" You shrug. Has being at that terrible school rendered you unfit for social interaction? "Very well. Then what do you do for... fun? You appeared to enjoy seeing the city. Are you interested in history?" You shrug again. How can he be expected to know you if you won't tell him anything?? Rollo decides that words are worthless, and his eyes land on your hands. His own fingers twitch and tingle in anticipation, and for a brief but terrifying moment, he thinks of reaching out to you. ...In the end, he can't will himself to do it. Maybe in another life.

[yoyomomiko]

Hi Miko, I've been reading your one piece posts and absolutely love how you write the characters! I loved your oblivious reader headcanons, but I wanted to request kind of the opposite - how would Luffy, Sanji and Zoro react to a reader that makes the first move and kisses them first? Thank you 🥰💕

pairings: monster trio x female reader

cw: not proofread, probably contains grammar mistakes, english isn't my first language!!

— (a/n): hiiii!! i'm very sorry for not posting, I've got a lot of requests and i hope I'll get to write them all ^⁠_⁠^ also, I SWEAR I don't have a favourite (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) -> m.list

— LUFFY

Luffy is so straight forward that a lot of flirting just goes right over his head. You could be batting your eyelashes, throwing hints, or playfully touching his arm, and he'd just grin at you, not having a second thought.

He's naturally touchy with his crew, so when you start getting more physically affectionate, he just kinda rolls with it. Leaning on him? He'll lean right back. Holding his hand? He'll swing it playfully.

The realization hits... Late. You make a habit of teasing him, leaning in close when you talk, poking his face when he pouts, and even calling him cute. After a lot of punches from Nami and disappointed sighs from Usopp, he tilts his head and just goes "Are you flirting with me?"

Luffy starts leaning in close, just to see if you'll back away, and he literally COPIES your every move.

"Does this make your heart race too?" In the most innocent way possible.

You think he's immune to embarrassment, until you pull a bold move and trace his jaw with your fingers. "I bet you'd taste sweet." He actually pauses, eyes wide, and a faint pink tint covering the tip of his ears.

When you finally go in for the kiss, you catch him mid laugh. His eyes widen, and probably for the first time ever, he's speechless. Luffy, the king of energy, is frozen like a statue.

His hand almost instinctively catches your waist, holding you close. You pull back, watching his expression shift from shock, to realization, to a big, goofy grin.

"Do it again!" He doesn't even hesitate before grabbing your face and closing the distance again, kissing you back. Zero hesitation.

After this, he just kisses you whenever he feels like it. Mid conversation? Smooch. Stealing food? Smooch. Looking at him funny? Smooch.

He literally tells the whole crew. No warning, no build up. Just a proud declaration while you stand there, face buried in your hands.

You belong to his crew, but now you're his in a way that makes him extra protective. He wraps his arms around you randomly, pulling you close, his stupid, big grin plastered on his face.

He starts challenging you to kiss attacks. If you surprise him, you win. If he catches you trying, he flips it on you.

Luffy doesn't get embarrassed easily, but he does get attached. Expect him to be glued to your side, smiling like you're the best treasure in the world.

There's no overthinking with Luffy, he just likes being with you, loves that your bold, and will 100% support more surprise kisses in the future.

———☆

You're sitting on the deck with Luffy, sharing a plate of snacks, when you decide you've had enough of his cluelessness. He's laughing about something, something dumb, something that shouldn't make your heart race.

So, without a second thought you lean in and close the distance, pressing a firm kiss to his lips. It's quick, but it's just enough to make Luffy's breath hitch and heartbeat increase.

Luffy blinks at you, his usual bright eyes wide in surprise. He's touching his lips like he's processing the sensation for the first time. Then, slowly, a huge grin spreads across his face.

"Whoa!" He lets out a shaky exhale, and then he grabs your hands, bouncing excitedly. "Do it again!"

"Maybe later." You laugh, shaking your head. He was getting so excited over a simple kiss, and you couldn't help but feel your heart skip a beat at the way his touch felt on your skin.

"Later?! But I wanna do it now!" He doesn't wait, just leans in and captures your lips in another quick, excited kiss. Now, you're the one blushing.

— ZORO

Flirting with Zoro is like flirting with a wall, at least at first. He doesn't react to subtle touches, teasing smirks or even playful winks. He just raises an eyebrow like, What are you doing?

"You're acting weird." You lean in, fingers trailing over his wrist as he tenses, although not pulling away. "I'm just being friendly." "That doesn't feel friendly..."

The moment he does realize you're flirting with him, he goes completely still. His grip on his swords tighten. He legit looks like he just got challenged to a duel.

"Tch, like I care." But then he starts noticing everything. The way you look at him, the way your hand when you pass him something, the way you bite your lip when you tease him.

Zoro acts all cool, but inside? His heart is beating faster, and he doesn't know why. Literally internal panic.

One day, you brush your fingers along his jaw. "I bet you'd look good, all flustered and blushing." He visibly stiffens, eyes darting away. "Shut up." Oh, so he can get flustered.

You finally go for it, grabbing his collar and closing the gap, pulling him in for a kiss. He doesn't react at first, he's too shocked to move a muscle. Then, his hands grip your waist, pulling you just a little closer.

He's not as unaffected as he pretends to be. He exhales slowly, his breathing controlled. But you can feel the slight shake in it, the way his hands tremble slightly and the way his muscles tense.

Zoro pretends it's no big deal, but later, he tilts your chin up and kisses you again. Slower, deeper, like he's trying to memorize the feeling of your lips on his.

He's not big on PDA, but his protective streak triples. Arm around your waist? Always. Pulling you close when someone stares too long? Every time.

He doesn't say sweet things, but his actions scream it.

He still gets caught off guard when you tease him. A kiss on the cheek, and his ears turn red. Whispering something flirty, and his jaw tightens.

Zoro likes a challenge, and now that he's aware of you, he starts fighting back. He corners you and smirks if you get flustered.

He will DIE before admitting how much he likes it.

———☆

Zoro is training, sweat glistening on his skin, swords balanced in a way that makes him look damn near untouchable. You've been teasing him all day, dropping little hints, getting close... But he's been brushing you off, pretending it has no effect on him. Until now.

You walk up to him casually, hiding your smug smirk, standing just close enough for him to feel your presence. "Bet I could throw you off balance."

"Tch, you wish." He fights the urge to roll his eyes, the way his words came out was almost as if he was daring you to try.

Your smirk widens as you step closer to him. Before he could react, you grip his collar, tug him down, lips colliding into each other as you press a confident kiss on his lips.

He freezes. His whole body tenses like he's been struck by lightning. When you pull away, his breath is heavier, and there's a slight pink tint decorating his cheeks.

He glares at you, the grip on his swords tightening. "That was dirty..." He mutters, still trying to calm himself down.

You tilt your head to the side, still smirking. "Did it work?" You taunt him, trying to hold back your laugh, watching his flustered expression carefully.

Zoro exhales slowly, before grabbing your wrist, yanking you back in for another kiss. His lips crashed against yours, and you could feel his smirk pressing against your mouth. This one's deeper, hungrier. When he finally pulls back, a smirk forms on his lips.

"Yeah. It worked."

— SANJI

Sanji flirts with everyone, but when you do it back? He's done for. He's absolutely weak from the start. He nearly drops his cigarette every time you touch him.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? Cat got your tongue?" And he instantly covers his mouth, trying to hide his nosebleed and the way his face turns 50 different shades of red. He short circuits instantly.

He flirts dramatically, and you flirt right back, leaning in close, tracing his jaw, calling him pet names. His whole face BURNS.

You catch him off guard with a soft touch to his cheek, and his whole face erupts in pink. "M-Mademoiselle!"

When you finally kiss him first, his soul leaves his body. His cigarette falls, his legs turn weak, and he grips onto you for dear life.

The moment your lips touch his, Sanji's entire body locks up. His heart is hammering, and his mind is screaming in ten different languages. His brain kinda goes offline for a few seconds, but he'll snap out of it eventually!!

He covers his face with both hands, trying to suppress the absolutely ridiculous grin forming. "Mon Dieu! You're too much for me..." And his legs wobble like he might pass out.

His hands remain on your waist, but he doesn't pull you in, not yet. He wants to play it cool, but his flushed face and trembling hands give it away.

For the next hour, he is completely useless in the kitchen. He keeps chopping ingredients wrong, spacing out and giggling like an absolute fool. When someone asks what's wrong, his only reply is "I've been blessed by an angel today."

After the kiss, he becomes extra aware of your presence. A simple brush of your fingers sends a shiver down his spine. If you just lean against him, he has to take deep breaths.

The next time you tease him, he gets his revenge, tilting your chin up with his fingers and giving you the slowest, most knee weakening kiss of your life. "Two can play this game, mon amour."

Before, he was a hopeless romantic. Now? He's a hopelessly attached romantic. "Oh, you like me?" You tease, and you see the way his lips curl into a smirk. "Like? Darling, I adore you."

He was already treating you like royalty, but now it's way worse. Pulling out your chair, offering you the best cuts off food, whispering sweet nothings into your ear 24/7. It's endless.

You kiss him unexpectedly? He still gets heart eyes, but now he pulls you right back for another. "Don't start something you're not ready to finish, darling."

Completely, utterly, shamelessly yours. Sanji doesn't even try to hide it, he's absolutely whipped. He lets everyone know, the whole crew has to deal with it.

———☆

Sanji is flirting with you as usual, leaning close and murmuring sweet things. "Ah, ma chérie, if you keep looking at me like that, I might fall apart."

You rolled your eyes, a mischievous smirk forming on your lips. You grabbed his tie, fingers twisting in the fabric, yanking him down with a sudden tug. He stumbled slightly, cut off guard, but there was no time to react. Your lips crashed against his, the space between you vanishing as you pressed your body flush against his, tilting your head and deepening the kiss. His breath hitched as his hands instinctively found your waist, pulling you even closer.

Your lips parted just enough to tease, to taste. Your fingers slid up from his tie to tangle in his hair, nails grazing his scalp as you pulled him in, not letting go.

You finally parted from him, just barely, lips still hovering close and over each other. He's completely frozen. Mouth slightly open, cigarette hanging dangerously close to falling, his eyes wide in surprise, face completely red.

His whole body shakes, and he nearly collapses on the floor. "I can die happy!" He shouts out dramatically, both hands pressed firmly on his chest as he struggles to breathe.

Later, when he finally recovers, he pulls you aside, trapping you against the wall, kissing you so deep it leaves you breathless.

"Not so easy when I'm the one taking control, hm, mon amour?"

★yoyomiko ★miko

[almostempty]

it’s not that deep but it is that serious!

(editing and reblogging to clarify a couple things at the end of the post)

I just want to come to this app to talk about deep throating mean!Joel and to make friends with other hot freaks. But I need my fellow heathens to hear me out for a moment.

I’ve tried to keep this space a little escape from reality, but that’s not a realistic privilege because life and art are inherently political.

I saw @penvisions receive some particularly cruel racist hate last month. I saw @gothcsz receive a snide racist anon message a few weeks ago. I know these issues aren’t new for our Black and brown peers.

I see a lot of folks jumping to offer support and to express their disgust at the racist remarks.

I also see a lot of shock and disbelief and I want to talk about that.

Racism, bigotry, and prejudice are not new issues for Black and brown folks. If you find yourself shocked, surprised, and outraged when folks share the hate they receive I ask that you reflect on this. It’s a privilege to be surprised, to not be used to navigating and experiencing that vitriol.

I know it’s well intended when folks say things like, ‘if you’re a racist piece of shit get off my blog’ or similar messages, and i understand the anger and frustration. (*i appreciate seeing solidarity and i also do not want to police (acab) how people respond to the hate they receive)

I also don’t think anyone who is aware and actively spreading hate will be deterred. I imagine there are 4chan incel type trolls that just thrive on the attention and reaction of using the most inflammatory language they can, and trolls will troll. They inevitably will pop up.

What I want to address is the levels below the overt and active hate. The accidental or inadvertent covert racism. The micro aggressions. The passive silence or enabling of rhetoric that lets folks perpetuate harm without even thinking.

Black and brown creators in our community have been disregarded or overshadowed when they speak up about diversity or inclusion in this fandom or feeling unwelcomed.

They wade through oceans of moodboards with faceless, thin, white women paired with our favorite characters. They power through reader inserts with freckles, red marks, and pink pussies that say and do things they might never feel safe saying or doing in those universes. They scroll through bad Spanish or fetishized latino caricatures and romanticized colonial values. And they still show love and support by commenting and reblogging and uplifting other writers.

Maybe there are footnotes about the moodboards only being for inspiration, but that doesn’t erase the constant messaging that it was easier to find those pictures and add a note than to search harder or leave the pictures out.

When I saw a fic with a detail about the pedro character having a confederate flag in his trailer I had to pause. This is a perfect example. I don’t read this as malicious or intentionally harmful. I understand the stereotype it’s rooted in and the general humor of the story as a whole. I get that it’s a small detail and that racism wasn’t a core part of the character or the story.

But if we sit with this longer.. what does this tell our Black and brown peers? When the reader notices it and it’s just as notable as a calendar on the wall? And she fucks him willingly anyway?

Hate symbols aren’t unserious. Background or not. Imagine writing a Joel fic and giving him a swastika tattoo just as a background detail. Sounds extreme right? Maybe you’re writing an AU felon Joel and just trying to show how hardened and dark he is. Maybe in your headcanon he only got it in prison to protect himself and he isn’t a racist.

But to nazis it says this is a safe place to be. To the general audience it says you don’t care if this makes them feel unsafe or invisible.

To folks reading that a confederate flag isn’t a big deal, it signals that it’s an acceptable symbol. It shows that people are reading and commenting and sharing this story and are unbothered. That maybe people don’t even notice.

I’m not asking anyone to send hate and I’m not writing this as an attack on the author or anyone who shared the fic. We don’t know what we don’t know, but we have the opportunity to learn!

I am asking my peers to step in and step up, because I think y’all are smart and capable of more.

I am not an expert on anything. But as someone who went to grad school for social work — a field that only exists to combat the societal harm of power, privilege, and oppression — I don’t take it lightly. I work in advocacy fighting discrimination and prejudice from institutions built on systemic racism daily. I’m aware that I have the privilege of training, language, and awareness around diversity and inclusion, and that not everyone has the same knowledge or experience.

I also know this fandom is full of incredibly smart and well spoken folks who craft moving stories and analyze characters with nuance and passion.

I’m not interested in censoring what anyone writes and I happily abide by don’t like; don’t read.

If I only wanted to read I would stick to ao3. But I’m here and I stay here because of the community. The friendships and the extra tag games and challenges and support and camaraderie.

I know I make mistakes myself. And I know it can be uncomfortable to be called out for something you never intended to hurt anyone with. I know it can feel like your voice won’t be heard or your experience won’t be validated in such a big space.

I shared a post a while ago by a creator that doesn’t write for this fandom. It was an ode to Black fanfic writers in general, and in the comments Black writers were tagging each other to show love. And I knew there was something wrong when I wanted to share it but felt deeply hesitant about tagging anyone because I didn’t want Black writers to receive hate.

One of my favorite things about this fandom is how global it is. Getting to make friends with folks around the world is such a treat. I also know racism and fascism are not unique to one region.

It’s Black history month in the states and in Canada. I know other countries observe Black history month in other months. It’s an intentional observation for a reason.

For us, this is a hobby. We’re here voluntarily, and mostly anonymously, but we’re all people. Community is so vital to thwarting the dangers of fascism and hateful rhetoric.

This IS a post about racism.

But racism is absolutely entangled with sexism, classism, ableism, ethnocentrism, capitalism, colonialism, imperialism, patriarchal hegemony, etc.

This isn’t just a rant. It’s an ask. I’m asking my peers—writers, readers, gif makers, lurkers, etc.— to help.

Reflect on what you share and post. Think about how others perceive you.

I’m asking my peers to be curious and open to discussions. To ask questions if you see covert racism. To be willing to accept feedback.

We can be gentle with one another.

Like, ‘hey, I saw this and am wondering if you’re aware of the origin or the impact it might have?’ or ‘can I share how this may be misinterpreted or harmful?’

Be kind sure, but be an advocate!

If you see someone posting about a character being their ‘spirit animal’ — send them a DM! If you read something that stereotypes a race, let the author know! There’s plenty of online resources for writing characters from other races without falling back on harmful tropes.

And even better… support your Black and brown peers. Share their work. Show them you value their presence in the fandom.

I encourage folks to read fics with original characters or reader characters with explicitly diverse ethnicities and tell the author you appreciate that character! Recommend the work to friends.

I never shut up about how much I love @furious-rogue-stuff ‘s Heat and the story is incredibly compelling *because* the reader is a Latina written by a Latina.

Anyway, I come to this hellsite to laugh and be horny—but at my core I am an ethical hater and I only wrote all of this because I care and I want this space to be inclusive.

I’m not speaking on behalf of anyone else and I don’t want to speak over anyone. I’m open to feedback or ideas.

I’m tagging some mutuals I interact with and some that I don’t know very well, not to curse y’all with reading my long winded post but to ask: when you have the capacity will you help take action to make this community stronger? Will you commit to being open to feedback and growth?

Bottom line I just wanna read about getting railed by that fictional guy and I want my Black and brown peers to have the opportunity to enjoy the same escape from reality.

I feel like this is worth posting because I think y’all can make a difference. So many of y’all write and analyze stories and characters with such nuance and passion and detail—and that’s why i believe you can help spot subtle and insidious forms of racism and make real changes.

TL;DR: I’m asking everyone to be proactive when you see microaggressions or covert racism in the fandom, and to be willing to accept feedback and learn from each other. Being passive is a luxury and a privilege our marginalized peers do not have. Let’s be more than performative or not racist. Be active. Be anti-racist.

some tags for folks (no pressure to share, I don’t want attention I just want to encourage folks to take time to reflect or let me know what you think idk): *not calling anyone out as having committed any offenses just feeling compelled to share the message i guess

@auteurdelabre @joelmillerisapunk @lotusbxtch @probablyreadinsmut @ace-turned-confused @baronessvonglitter @yxtkiwiyxt @slimybeth69 @bitchesuntitled @thundermartini @sin-djarin @strang3lov3 @mermaidgirl30 @for-a-longlongtime @mrs-hardy-hunnam-butler-pascal @evolnoomym @wannab-urs @sanarsi @yopossum @almostfoxglove @itwasntimethatdidit40 @syd-djarin @miss-oranje-disco-dancer

to anyone: please start conversations or reach out to me or send me an anon ask if you want to discuss something or share, idc but i’m begging y’all to listen to each other and advocate for one another and be open to self-reflection 💗 editing to add: if i tagged you it was not a callout that i think you've done something specific to reflect on-- just a general invite to join me in being intentional and to invite feedback if you have any! if i made anyone anxious i apologize! - to clarify when i said 'it's not that deep' i mean that maybe fanfic is easily brushed off as not that deep, but every blog is a real person (minus the army of porn bots) and we form real connections in this community <3

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

i cant really tell if yuu's involvement in ace's character is more for fanservice reasons or because they really did play a part in his character development.

like in nbc we have malleus choosing to focus on finishing the task at hand as quickly as possible so that they can then find the prefect rather than drop everything there at that moment and prioritizing finding yuu. (iirc) and compared to that we have ace who does put a lot of emphasis on finding yuu especially when no one seems to remember it during the halloween event it feels very traditionally fanservice-y ? and i cant really tell where the line is drawn for ace anymore. and you did mention a lot of other points in another post that you made esp with ace's dream recently dropping and the fact that hes the only guy whos dream yuu was actively involved in idk its a little confusing for me i hope im making sense TT no shade to the shippers im just a little slow in comprehending it all bvbvsjdj

your posts are always really neutral and accurate it just helps to clear up a lot of my confusions and questions i have when playing so thank you for your hard work!

[Referencing this post; you might also find this related post useful in the discussion of Ace and Yuu's relationship!]

DISCLAIMER: I do not mean to invalidate or detract from Ace x Yuu or Malleus x Yuu shippers or anyone who may interpret their relationship as romantic. You should ship what you like and have fun doing it. My reply aims to be more objective, but that should NOT impede on your enjoyment or whatever it is you choose to ship.

iufipaerasfeao Thank you for the feedback! I'm glad you find my posts helpful. I try my best to be objective when it comes to analyzing the story and characters, but there's no true way for someone to be completely neutral. There are definitely times when I have an aside to insert my two cents on a situation or I get super heated about a particular topic. Hopefully I still leave enough space for everyone to come to their own conclusions.

I think it's both fanservice and because Yuu actually plays a big part in Ace's character development? Like, it's technically fanservice but it does not feel egregious because it fits Ace’s teasing nature and Ace's bond with Yuu has been established from the start. He was the first student we met at NRC and we spend so much time with him since then; there's no way Yuu wouldn't have had an impact on him, especially when book 7 is now paralleling the two as people with insecurities about being weak/unable to do anything + not contributing enough and Yuu encouraging him when he finally gets his UM.

I commonly see people joking about Malleus having "missed the meeting about Twst not being a dating sim" and holding him up as "the main love interest". (And to be clear, Twst isn't a dating sim, nor do all Twst fans see the characters romantically; I am only speaking about this in a romantic lens in the context of this post.) However, I think there's a very strong case to be made for Ace as well. The thing is, I also feel that Malleus and Ace fundamentally appeal to two different groups of yumejoshi. Malleus is the tall, dark, and mysterious type you can "fix", the type of guy that would burn the world down for you. Ace is the teasing and approachable boy-next-door that has your back and supports you even when the entire world is against you. This is also evident in the ways they're set up in the main story; Malleus is introduced in a way that encourages much more "filling in of the gaps" due to how little he actually shows up in front of Yuu in the main story. It gives the player a lot of space to imagine what their relationship with him is like because there isn't a ton of interactions in canon to go off of. Meanwhile, Ace has many more canonized interactions with Yuu (eating lunch, doing homework, watching movies, playing video games, etc.), so the effort of thinking about what they actually do over the course of their relationship is already done for you. There is an established friendship and connection with Ace, but you barely see Malleus enough to truly have a strong impact on him or to change him. Does that make sense?

IADUPADF9A9FSBdb I do find it sort of funny that Malleus is basically like, "Oh, something unexpected happened (ie Yuu is missing). We'd better solve this." Not really showing much emotion about them being gone in Nightmare. (Malleus only gets annoyed when Leona begins to take charge; he is not mad at the fact that Yuu is gone.) Meanwhile Yuu is missing in Endless Halloween Night and Ace is the FIRST person to excuse himself to check Ramshackle for them.

If you consult the fandom and the fandom alone, you'd think the situation would be reversed. Edit: Malleus does have his moments of intimacy with Yuu (which I won’t be getting into here because then I fear this post would veer into shipping wars), but the English speaking Twst fandom has a VERY strong bias for Malleus x Yuu. Because of that, there is a tendency to misinterpret or misattribute every little thing that Malleus says and does to support the idea that "Yuu is his most important person". (For example, even though Malleus provides no reaction at all when Skully kisses the back of Yuu's hand, many Malleus fans claimed that he would be very jealous or would harm Skully for doing such a thing. In another Halloween event, Glorious Masquerade, people believed he was angry at Rollo for harming Yuu even though this was not the case; the event states that he was mad because the invitation he had been extended was a fake one.)

It is because of thinking like this that a lot of English speakers genuinely believed Malleus would OB in book 7 in a desperate attempt to prevent Yuu from returning to their original world. Misinterpretations, headcanons, misattributions, and personal projections were conflated with canon, leading to many people to believe that Malleus was closer with Yuu than they actually are. Instead, Malleus ended up OBing because he feared Lilia leaving and he barely even considers Yuu after he OBs. And, ironically, Ace is the character whose dream prominently features Yuu and a scenario in which Yuu doesn't have to leave them forever. It was always Ace that we had a strong relationship with, not Malleus.

Ace is often overlooked even though he has far more canon interactions with Yuu in the main story. I think this could maybe to chalked up to a combination of him being "boring" compared to the literal DARK FAE OP CROWN PRINCE M. Draconia over there and the fact that so many of those "gaps" are already filled by the main story. There's less room for imagination because the game has already defined what Ace and Yuu's relationship entails. Malleus is just so much more appealing when it comes to intrigue and mysteriousness. When you look at it objectively though... Yuu only meets Malleus face-to-face like 5-6 times for brief conversations. (Edit: I’m not counting voice lines because those are arguably directed at the player, not Yuu, to endear the character to you and/or all characters get similar voice line fanservice. The canonicity is questionable since the same familiarity in voice lines is not carried over to the main story.) 5-6 times… That's not nearly long enough to make a huge impact or change in his life (unless you as the player extrapolate and imagine more Malleus and Yuu interactions outside of the ones we see in the main story). At best, I think you could say Malleus is glad he can have a special little friend who doesn't know of his name and status? He doesn't really change because of that relationship though. Malleus doesn't even show up until book 2. But Ace has literally been there since the beginning, canonically spends tons of his free time with Yuu, and has been through several near-life experiences with them (several OBs). He has the chance to bond with Yuu. Malleus does not. (He has given Yuu advice once, sent them a card once, and reassembled a stage for them once; all other interactions in the main story are short talks.)

It makes a lot of sense that Ace would be the one "touched" by Yuu's influence, whether you see it as romantic or platonic. Both he and Malleus (and all the other characters, really) get their moments of fanservice--but very few characters' development is directly impacted by Yuu's presence. Yuu might be there for most of the main story, but they actually get only a few moments to engage with the other boys in the cast to the point of actually changing them. It feels like the changes that occur are more often the result of the other boys (Trey standing up to Riddle and holding his hand afterwards, Epel and Deuce bonding on the beach, the twins telling Azul he's lame but also being the first to check up on him following the OB, Idia finalizing his farewells with Ortho, etc.) Ace just so happens to be an exception to that, as Yuu very clearly plays a big role in his development.

[frostfires-blog]

MXTX Fanart Hanakotoba Analysis

So, I came across this absolutely stunning artwork depicting the six main characters from MXTX's three novels—SVSSS, MDZS and TGCF respectively—as different flowers. I asked the original artist, @Huaihua610715, if I could repost it here and analyse it, and they gave me permission. Please support the original post on Twitter as well.

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-> 1.) SVSSS

1.1) Luo Binghe × Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

In this artwork, Luo Binghe is represented with a red Hydrangea macrophylla flower. Although its name means "water vessel" in Greek, this flower is native to East Asia. Given that their colour saturation varies depending on the availability of aluminium ions in the soil, Hydrangea macrophylla flowers function as natural soil pH indicators. In acidic soils, the flowers range from blue to purple, whereas in alkaline soils, they range from red to pink.

➞ 1.1.1) Hydrangea symbolism:

In Japanese hanakotoba, hydrangeas are associated with fickleness, callousness, heartlessness, ruthlessness, pride, patience, and patient affection. White hydrangeas symbolise tolerance—while red hydrangeas are associated with strong love. The hydrangea's symbolism of "fickleness" is derived from its flowers' ability to change colour based on soil pH—while its symbolism of "patience" stems from its long flowering period. In China, hydrangeas are associated with gratitude, hope, happy reunions, pride, long-term love, forgiveness, apologies and heartfelt emotions. Red hydrangeas are associated with abundance and prosperity. In Western floriography, hydrangeas symbolise frigidity, heartlessness, boastfulness, "you are cold" and "thank you for understanding". White hydrangeas in particular symbolise purity, grace and abundance. Red hydrangeas are associated with boldness, love, passion, devotion, adoration, loyalty and desire.

➞ 1.1.2) Discussion of symbolism appropriateness:

In the SVSSS novel, Shen Qingqiu frequently compares Luo Binghe to a lotus—characterising him as a pure, white lotus during his time as a disciple at Qing Jing Peak and as a black lotus following his return from the Endless Abyss—however, the artist opted to depict him as a red hydrangea instead. This is primarily because the hydrangea's ability to change colour depending on soil pH mirrors the shift in Luo Binghe's character throughout the narrative—just like the analogy of a white lotus becoming a black lotus does. The hydrangea's representations of pride, fickleness, ruthlessness, boldness, frigidity, heartlessness and prosperity resonate with Luo Binghe's turbulent personality. Additionally, the flower's symbolism of passion, long-term love, forgiveness, gratitude, patient love, devotion, adoration, loyalty and desire greatly correspond with his feelings towards Shen Qingqiu.

Furthermore, Luo Binghe's and the hydrangea flower's names are both derived from water—with Luo Binghe being named after the river where his adoptive mother found him while hydrangeas are named after the Greek work for "water vessel" because of their bowl-like shape.

1.2) Shen Yuan | Shen Yuan × Four-season orchid (Cymbidium ensifolium)

In this artwork, Shen Qingqiu is represented with a Cymbidium ensifolium flower. This flower is more commonly referred to as the Four-season orchid, golden-thread orchid, spring orchid, burned-apex orchid and rock orchid. This orchid has been cultivated for over 2000 years in China and Japan and is renowned for its exquisite foliage and delicate, sweet, and lasting scent.

➞ 1.2.1) Flower Symbolism:

In Japanese hanakotoba, this flower is associated with grace, glory, purity, elegance and nobility. Its symbolism is primarily derived from its delicate, sweet fragrance and intricate blossoms. In China, this orchid symbolises dignity, integrity, nobility, self-restraint, morality, resilience, strength and humility—all of which are regarded as the attributes of an ideal gentleman. Ancient Chinese philosophers regard orchids as a representation of "the self-cultivation of a gentleman who adheres to moral principles even in destitution" because these plants grow in secluded forests devoid of admirers yet continue to emit a charming aroma. In Western floriography, four-season orchids represent elegance, virtue, nobility, refinement as well as "pure, valued and respected friendship".

➞ 1.2.2) Discussion of symbolism appropriateness:

Although Shen Qingqiu is not canonically associated with any particular flower, the Four-season orchid's white and green palate corresponds with his white and green colour scheme. Additionally, this orchid's symbolic representations of grace, elegance, self-restraint, refinement and resilience resonate with Shen Qingqiu's outward personality.

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-> 2.) MDZS

2.1) Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji × Yulan Magnolia (Magnolia denudata)

In this artwork, Lan Wangji is depicted with a branch of Yulan magnolia (Magnolia denudata) flowers. This flower is native to central and eastern China and its Chinese name yùlánhuā (玉兰花) translates to jade orchid/lily.

➞ 2.1.1) Flower Symbolism:

In Japanese hanakotoba, magnolias are associated with sustainability, persistence, sublimeness and a "love for nature". In China, magnolias symbolise dignity, perseverance, beauty, purity and honour. In addition to being a component in traditional medicine, magnolias symbolise the onset of spring and are believed to confer good fortune and happiness.  In Western floriography, magnolia flowers represent perseverance, dignity, honour, majesty, pride, and nobility.

➞ 2.1.2) Discussion of symbolism appropriateness:

MDZS is the richest MXTX novel in terms of flower symbolism. Lan Wangji has been canonically associated with magnolia and gentian flowers in official artwork. Furthermore, magnolias are repeatedly noted to grow in the Gusu Lan clan's Cloud Recesses—particularly near the library pavilion where Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian studied in their youth. The magnolia’s symbolic associations with nobility, perseverance, persistence, beauty, dignity and honour tie in well with Lan Wangji's character. Additionally, the magnolia's white flowers contrasted against the clear blue sky, are reminiscent of Lan Wangji's white and blue colour scheme. The magnolia's Chinese name translates to "orchid/jade lily" which corresponds with Lan Wangji being hailed as one of the Lan's "Twin Jades".

2.2) Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian × Peony (Paeonia sp.)

In the artwork, Wei Wuxian is depicted as a red peony (Paeonia sp.). Peonies have been cultivated in China since the seventh century for their luxurious, aromatic flowers, which range from white, pink to crimson. Although China has not established an official national flower—in spite of various electoral attempts and suggestions—the peony was considered the national flower during the late Qing dynasty.

➞ 2.2.1) Flower Symbolism:

In Japanese hanakotoba, peonies are associated with shyness, wealth, bravery, and regalness. The peony's association with wealth and regalness stems from its multitudes of large, silk-like petals. In China, peonies are hailed as the "king of flowers" and the "flower of riches and honour". They symbolise honour, wealth, prosperity, beauty, love and happiness in Chinese culture. Red peonies are associated with good fortune and prosperity in China. In Western floriography, peonies represent bashfulness, shame, prosperity, compassion and a happy marriage. Red peonies in particular symbolise passion, desire, honour, romance,

➞ 2.2.2) Discussion of symbolism appropriateness:

Although peony flowers are heavily associated with the Jin Clan in the MDZS novel, they are also canonically linked with Wei Wuxian. During the Siege Hunt at Mount Baifeng, Wei Wuxian throws a pink peony to Lan Wangji amidst the parade. Later, while on a trip to Yunmeng, the latter once again encounters Wei Wuxian who throws him another pink peony. In this audio drama adaptation of this scene, Wei Wuxian asks a ghost woman what the meaning of peony is, and she responds that it means "wishing you would return my feelings" or to part with a heavy heart." Years later, following Wei Wuxian's death and resurrection, he finds a pressed peony flower that Lan Wangji uses as a bookmark. Given Lan Wangji's sentimental nature, this peony is undoubtedly one of those given to him by Wei Wuxian. Aside from the peony's dark red petals matching Wei Wuxian's colour scheme, its symbolism of passion, honour, compassion, bravery and happiness greatly complement Wei Wuxian's character. During the long debate to decide China's national flower one of the proposed solutions was the "One Country, Five Flowers" system. This concept entailed designating the peony as the primary national flower while having an additional four supplementary flowers symbolising the four seasons: chrysanthemums for autumn, plum blossoms for winter, orchids for spring, and lotuses for summer. While this may be a reach, I find the peony standing over four other flowers somewhat analogous to the cultivation world's crusade against the Yiling Patriarch, in which Wei Wuxian opposed the combined might of the four major clans—namely the Jin, Jiang, Nie, and Lan.

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-> 3.) TGCF

3.1) Hua Cheng × Camellia (Camellia sp.)

In this artwork, Hua Cheng is depicted as a red Camellia (Camellia sp.) flower. Camellias are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of southern and eastern Asia. Various species of camellias have been cultivated for centuries not only for their beautiful flowers but also for tea and woody-oil production. Camellia flowers range from pure white to soft pink to deep red. With proper care, camellia plants can live for many years. It is said that the camellias around the emperor’s palace in Japan are known to be more than 500 years old.

➞ 3.1.1) Flower Symbolism:

In Japanese hanakotoba, camellias are associated with modest kindness, pride, eternal love and enduring love. Red camellias in particular symbolise love, humble virtue, modest splendour, unpretentious grace and "perishing with grace" in hanakotoba. Pink camellias represent love, modesty, beauty, longing and missing someone. On the other hand, white camellias symbolise waiting, impeccable charm complete beauty and supreme loveliness. In China, camellias symbolise admiration, perfection, everlasting love and the "perfect union between lovers". Red camellias symbolise happiness, good luck and protection in Chinese culture. Camellias are associated with everlasting love, marital bliss and perfect unions between lovers because, unlike most other flowers, the calyx and petals of a camellia flower don't separate when its flower wilts. In Western floriography, camellias are associated with constancy, steadfastness, perfect loveliness, unpretending excellence, adoration, longing, admiration and perfection. Red camellias in particular are associated with passion, love and desire.

➞ 3.1.2) Discussion of symbolism appropriateness:

Although Hua Cheng is not canonically associated with camellia flowers, I've always thought that they greatly complemented him. The camellia flower's association with perfect unions, passion, love, desire, longing, adoration, admiration and enduring, everlasting love perfectly encapsulate Hua Cheng's feelings towards Xie Lian. Just as the calyx and petals of a camellia flower remain together, Hua Cheng has forever remained Xie Lian's "most devoted believer". Additionally, the camellia's representation of steadfastness, unpretending excellence, good fortune, protection, impeccable charm and pride greatly resonate with Hua Cheng's character. Camellia flowers also symbolise "perishing with grace," and Hua Cheng has declared that dying in battle for Xie Lian would be his greatest honour—he has already upheld this assertion by dying three times for Xie Lian.

Furthermore, the camellia flower's contradictory symbolism of pride and modesty mirrors how Hua Cheng's confidence and boldness are toned back when it comes to Xie Lian, with whom he reveals a far more vulnerable and genuine side of himself.

3.2) Xie Lian × Tianshan snow lotus (Saussurea involucrata)

In the artwork, Xie Lian is depicted as the rare and precious Tianshan snow lotus (Saussurea involucrata). Just as its name suggests, this flower is native to the Tianshan Mountains of China where it is known as Tiānshān Xuělián (天山雪蓮). It grows at altitudes near 4000 meters, in frigid and low-oxygen conditions, among ice-streaked rock fissures. It is a valuable ingredient in traditional Uyghur, Mongolian, Kazakh and Chinese medicine and has been hailed as the "king of all herbs" and "best medicine" by locals. In China, this flower has historically inspired songs, poetry, and legends, wherein it is thought to possess magical properties that extend life. These flowers are threatened due to climate change and over-harvesting.

➞ 3.2.1) Flower Symbolism:

Tianshan snow lotuses are associated with pure love, tenacity, purity, holiness, resilience, renewal, spiritual awakening and "bringing hope to people" in China. The Tianshan snow lotus, which grows at high altitudes under arduous conditions, is thought to symbolise that "beauty and purity can arise even in the most challenging circumstances".

➞ 3.2.2) Discussion of symbolism appropriateness:

Xie Lian is known as the "The Flower-Crowned Martial God: Sword in One Hand, Flower in the Other" and as such he is canonically associated with several different flowers, one of which being the Tianshan snow lotus. Ironically Qi Rong is the character who constantly compares Xie Lian to a Tianshan snow lotus. However, Qi Rong derisively calls Xie Lian a "blackhearted snow lotus" which holds the implication that the latter's compassion is nothing but a façade to mask his malicious motivations. Qi Rong uses the snow lotus as a metaphor not just because of its cultural connotations but also because its Chinese name "Xue Lian" is phonetically similar to Xie Lian's name, despite the differing hanzi. Despite Qi Rong's ill intent, I do think the Tianshan snow lotus greatly complements Xie Lian's character. The Tianshan snow lotus' symbolism of tenacity, resilience, renewal, hope and pure love particularly resonates with Xie Lian character. Xie Lian's character arc greatly encapsulates the idea that "beauty and purity can arise even in the most challenging circumstances"—in the same way as the Tianshan snow lotus. Despite enduring immense hardship and being exposed to the worst qualities of humanity; Xie Lian still found himself moved by one person's kindness. His desire to help others and compassion remain steadfast, despite having been subjected to numerous trials and tribulations.

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╰┈➤Hanakotoba Post Directory

╰┈➤TGCF Hanakotoba P1 & TGCF Hanakotoba P2

╰┈➤ MDZS Hanakotoba P1 & MDZS Hanakotoba P2

I changed up my usual style with this post so hopefully, no one has any issues with the format and tone changes. If anyone has any requests or questions feel free to drop a comment below or send me an ask. For anyone new, I uploaded the links to my previous hanakotoba posts above, enjoy!

[1queasycrow]

Why I think it makes sense to lock Lucanis’ romance behind the city choice but not Neve’s

Alright Ive been sitting on this for a while now, it might piss some people off, such is the way of opinions.

Fair warning, this may not cast a flattering light over many peoples favourite Antivan prince. I am not intentionally bashing him, rather observing things about his character through his words, actions and the in-game lore we receive.

Alright, here we go.

On their upbringing

Since he was young Lucanis has been told he is special, he is important, he means something, his needs should be attended, yes it is in service to a position he does not want but that doesn't change the fact that Lucanis has always been told he matters.

Neve has been a blemish on the family, she has been told and shown that she does not matter, her whole quest asks you to tell her what she means to Minrathous (Dock Town). The city that itself constantly “stabs her in the back”. It has been driven into her that she should not expect more because she does not deserve it and and even if she did, people would not give it.

Here we have two very different characters starting points so one can see why, though Neve may be more vocal about it, Lucanis is 'worse' off if you do not save Treviso.

His needs, his city were not ‘important’ (perhaps not for the first time but still, very few times has this been the case). So it hits Lucanis harder.

With the exception of a Shadow Dragon Rook, Neve does not expect you to come to Minrathous, so when you don’t it is not a surprise, perhaps a disappointment but not one she wasn’t expecting.

On their state upon meeting Rook.

When we first meet Lucanis, it is in a prison which he has been tortured in for the past year, this is not a prime mental state to start any serious relationship (we will get to Lucanis/Neve later). Then when he gets home it is to news that his favoured relative (Catarina) has just been murdered. Add to the fact that he is likely taking in this new information, that he is not the Center of the world, and poor boy's head is probably spinning so fast it's liable to come off.

Contrast this with Neve’s world at the start of the game which could probably be best summed up with ‘same shit different day’; the venatori are zealots, the shadows are trying their damnedest yet still loosing and Dock Town remains its same old tragic neglected self.

On Neve/Lucanis if you save Minrathous

Disclaimer, I don't like Lucanis/Neve, it aint my jam and I think Neve deserves better. Not the point here because I am actually in support of the idea that this ship is wholly plausible even if you lock out Lucanis/Rook.

I think, that the reasons stated above are enough to put anyone off a romance but if you save Treviso Lucanis a) doesn't have to deal with some of them and b) isn't mad at Rook for the same reasons. So given that, it makes sense he would gravitate to someone else with a shared grief. He might have wanted Rook to save Treviso but he would never ask that of Neve, as one can surely see it would be akin to asking him to save Minrathous. Therefore it is logical that he would not be as upset with her. Can I guarantee their romance would be the same as Lucanis/Rook? No of course not, they're different people and that's how the world works, but that is a post for another day.

All of this is to caution against being accidentally bigoted towards the best damn detective in Thedas.

Thank you for coming to my THED Talk.

[angelinthefire]

So I don't want to pick on op. But I think that this post is just such a clear example of a tendency in fandom that I wanted to directly on the post.

The trend being a really poor method of analysis, where the argument is entirely in-universe, without stepping back and considering what kind of story is being told. And, I strongly suspect, starting from the point that one wants to prove and marshalling facts to support that point, instead of starting from a general understanding of the story. I'll explain what I mean.

In the above post, op makes the argument that Caitlyn's use of the grey was super-targeted at the chem barons, and by using it against the chem barons Cait and Vi stopped a civil war, and that Ekko was aware of what they were doing and approved.

I think there's several leaps in logic in the post, but that's not the point. The point is that if you want to understand what the significance of Caitlyn using the grey is, you need to start from a more general perspective.

What is the story being told? In the first act of season 2 we see Caitlyn's fall from grace and the disintegration of her relationship with Vi. Cait's use of the grey therefore needs to be consistent with that story. That is, her choice to use it is part of her fall.

In season one Caitlyn was very much defined by her sense of justice and her righteousness. But whenever she tried to act on that sense of justice, she was blocked by those in positions of authority.

Season 2 puts Caitlyn to the test. It starts with her feeling tortured over her mother's death, and feeling a lot of guilt, anger, and hatred over it. But she still has her sense of justice, worrying about civilian casualties. And again, she's blocked, she's kicked out of the council chamber.

Then the memorial attack happens. And Caitlyn gets angrier. She's beginning the downward spiral that will continue to the end of the act. She calls the attackers "animals" with a snarl, with an unsettling close-up of her teeth, similar to some shots of Silco in season 1. Hatred is starting to be a real driving force for her.

And after that, Caitlyn is done letting authority figures tell her what to do. She takes authority for herself, and does what she thinks is right.

Which is a plan to capture Jinx while trying to limit the civilians who get caught in between. As Vi explains, they used the grey to get people off the streets (which, it should be noted, *necessarily* means using it on civilians. People are in the streets, and they're cleared out by the grey). Which does seem logical for their purposes.

But you also need to consider the way the decision is portrayed. The first time we see Caitlyn going through her family's archive to learn about the grey, "heavy is the crown" is playing which is quite a dark song, and the image of a skull is projected onto Caitlyn's face. When we come back to that moment in s2e3, the music is again quite dark and aggressive-sounding. The song starts with the lines "Can I do the right thing for the wrong reason? / Is it bad that I'm making friends with my demons?" We are shown graphic illustrations of the effects of the grey. The suffering that the people of the undercity experience due to the grey is shown on-screen and visually paralleled with Cait and Vi's current actions. The musical segment is book-ended by a clip of Caitlyn's ancestor saying "the people of the undercity deserve to breathe" - a very clear and deliberate juxtaposion, putting Caitlyn's actions in opposition to those of her predecessors. When characters see the grey approaching, it literally looks like a monster.

So this is obviously a bad thing that Caitlyn is doing, because it's portrayed as such. Which makes sense with her trajectory, she's continuing to spiral. She has an outburst of frustration in the arcade. Her behaviour is concerning to Vi (who is also in a downwards spiral btw). She hallucinates the flower petal when she has Jinx in her sights. She gets carried away in the fight. And then again, someone blocks her, only this time it's Vi. Which leaves Cait feeling frustrated and betrayed. And then when Cait's offered a position of even greater authority, to do what she thinks needs to be done in the way that she wants to do it, she takes that authority.

And then Caitlyn fails. Her story is about her failure to live up to her own principles. She gets into a position of power and finds out that it's not so easy. She's hemmed in by her alliance with Ambessa. But even more importantly, there's no good decision that she could make in her position. There's no good way to run a police dictatorship.

Just like there was no good way to lead a police invasion of a city. Either she release toxins into the air and avoid casualties, or she refrains from using the grey and risks civilian casualties. Liked Singed says, "no one in power is innocent." Not because everyone in power is a bad person, but because it's impossible to weild power innocently. That's what Caitlyn learns. So in the end she gives up her power, she gives up her seat on the council.

But before that, she reckons with her failure, through the battle with Ambessa. During which it's no coincidence that Maddie appears like a monster through the grey when she betrays Caitlyn; it's a reminder of Caitlyn's first betrayal of her own principles.

So, given all of that, how would it make sense for Ekko to approve of Caitlyn's use of the grey? How would it even serve the story for him to have a position on it? There is actually zero indication of what Ekko thinks about it.

Given that the use of the grey is part of Caitlyn's fall from grace, how would it makes sense for it to be a net positive?

To understand a character's actions, you can't just think about them in-universe. You need to understand where they fit in the narrative arc. You need to test your interpretations against the story to see if they make sense as part of the story or not.

If using the grey was so reasonable and acceptable, that would make the story way less interesting. Caitlyn's fall would be less sharp. There wouldn't be any basis for a role reversal between Jinx and Vi, with Vi taking on the role of the monstrous one, which is necessary groundwork for them to renegotiate their relationship in act 2. And it wouldn't make sense for Jinx turning the grey back on Piltover to have been so inspiring for so many people. It just doesn't fit the story.

An Analysis of the Concept of 'The Grey' in Arcane.

Also, I forgot to mention, but here's another confirmation that Jayce knew about The Grey, as he completely redesigned the mask.

The versions on the left were the last ones before Jayce, specifically designed for the concentrated gas. These still had a pipe outlet and an oxygen tank. In the version designed by Jayce, there was new technology that helped see through the dense Grey via lenses, and it directly filtered the air, eliminating the need for pipes and extra oxygen tanks.

This mask is closer to the one used by the enforcers, with the distinction that the lenses in Jayce's version are even more advanced, not only protecting the eyes but, as I mentioned, offering better vision. (This feature is visibly switchable on and off in ep 2 of s 2.)

Also here's one more thing about the grey:

It disperses quickly, even within a closed office, when it comes into contact with the air. The Grey back then was only present in Zaun because: 1. There was no ventilation system. 2. Since the factories were still in operation, they continued producing the Grey non-stop. Later, these factories were closed, and the Chem-Barons began using it for different products. The only remaining places where the Grey was still present were the closed pipe system and the fissures in the mines where it got trapped. Also, when the Grey was present in Zaun and the ventilation system was running at the same time, what do you think they did with the Grey? They let air flow from Piltover to Zaun, so that the Grey would dissolve as quickly as possible.

The Grey is a fictional gas in a CREATED show where the laws of physics work differently than in our world. Just like magic (Arcane), the Grey cannot be compared to the laws of our universe.

....

False, one-page or one-sentence ragebait posts always spread faster than detailed content, even though, to get an accurate picture,

it's important to examine the details, not just take something out of context without meaning.

If you're interested, you can find more in-depth analyses on my profiley such as why it was Heimerdinger, whose 200 years of neglect and inaction created the entire conflict between Zaun and Piltover.

(or there is the youtube link: https://youtu.be/y7Y__xyDyG8?si=Td3EuTLMMdcFkTko)

Thank you for reading it!

[nexoncrowfeather]

I shall now post stuff >:3

hello. i'm nex's girl friend. my name is Leia. I go by uzi. my mom doesn't let me post stuff on Tumblr. but nex does! my mom doesn't know he has Tumblr, so she'll never know!!! heh. take that, mom. I wanna use Tumblr as an online public dairy, so i'll be sharing some info with you guys!! but mostly not private info. first, i'll start by talking Abt nex. nex is 19 years old, & he's a femboy, he's REALLY hot. he has brown hair and green eyes. he's neptunic, neptunic is a sexuality where you are attracted to women, non-binary people, or anyone who doesn't identify as a man. I'm like actually obsessing over him!!!! >_< he's really nice to me, and he's sooo FREAKING smart it's like not even funny!!! when he lived with his shithead of a step dad, his dad would search him for any blades, money, knives, and really anything he wasn't supposed to have (so basically he wasn't supposed to have anything), but guess what? nex would wear yoga shorts with pockets under his actual pants! he'd hide razor blades, money, and really anything flat in there! then, I let him borrow one of my non padded bras, and he'd hide candy in there! he always wears baggy gothic clothing, so his dad never noticed! and he still doesn't know that nex did that, even today! nex never had good parents, his dad was very strict and didn't support him. when nex first said he was neptunic, his dad slapped him and grounded him for six months!!! nex always was really good at hiding his depression, but then his mom got him a therapist, and he finally had someone to vent to. his therapist is a really good person, she actually cared abt him, and she never told his parents about the bad stuff that he did. but then, one day, when I was at school, I noticed him sitting all alone at one of the lunch tables, I didn't know him yet, but I really did feel bad for him, so I sat next to him. I offered him some of my lunch, but he refused to eat. he had a cut under his left eye, I asked him how he got that, and he just said it was his cat. we talked some more, and I found out that he was in 5th grade, so he was older than me. I was in 2nd grade at the time. over time, me and nex became close friends, but, when I first met him, I immediately started liking him!!! it wasn't until he was in sixth grade that he confessed his love for me, and we started dating! I know, I know, he's like way older than me, but deep inside, he's still ten years old. nex is very protective over me, and when I came over to his house for the night and told him that I was getting bullied at school, he said he'd deal with it. and guess what he did the next day? he walked me to school, went out into the recess area with me, and beat the holy shit out of the boys that bullied me. luckily no one saw him, so he didn't get in trouble. now he goes to elevate academy, and I go to river city, but that doesn't stop him from seeing me!! in the middle of the night, he'll go grab his moms tablet and face time me. and whenever me and my fam come over to his house, we're locked in his bedroom for the entire night. nex goes by n, and his full name is Nexon crowfeather. it's pronounced nex-in. yes, he just had to change his last name to his favorite character's name, crowfeather. you know, from warrior cats? he likes crowfeather a lot. when I move out, i'm changing my name to uzi. then, when we get married, my name'll be uzi crowfeather! and when we have a daughter, we'll name her ghost. then her middle name will be nori, and then her last name'll be crowfeather. nex's FULL name is nexon hesper crowfeather. at first, nex was gay, but when he met me, he realized that he wasn't attracted to men anymore at all. nex is also a therian. his therio types are silver fox, cross fox, and Turkish van cat. his father doesn't support therians, so he hates nex. but I love him to pieces, and that's all that matters.

[lets-try-some-writing]

I am GENUINELY gobsmacked that you 1. Reblogged that post about femininity being butchered in Transformers and 2. AGREED WITH A DECENT CHUNK OF IT???? That lady is a fucking tradcath, and her VERY misogynistic views are in blatant display? Like this line here?

Women naturally desire to be caretakers and mothers?? Are you KIDDING ME? This isn't even getting to her weird disgust at Arachnid looking "nonbinary" which is frankly a whole can of worms I don't want to get too into. But that does lead into my next point that the op of post is also a proud "pro anti-lgbt". they're catholic so like. Not surprised. And puts their comments on "looking nonbinary" in a different light

I'm frankly disappointed you would entertain this post at all, let alone reblog it and spread it.

I totally understand where you are coming from, but I think you are being excessively hostile. You can disagree and do this lovely thing called scrolling or blocking if you don't like what someone has to say. You define your online experience.

That said, I enjoy seeing different perspectives on things and looking into those views when I can. That doesn't mean I have to completely agree with what someone says to find value in the discussion they are trying to have. As I have previously stated, the OP's post was shared with me through messages. I read it and found there to be value in the analysis of Elita-One and Airachnid's changes in character over the years. That doesn’t mean I support the OP’s broader beliefs and ideas/statements. I reblogged the OP's analysis because I saw something of worth in the comparisons between G1, TFP, and TF1.

As a side note: if we refuse to consider ideas just because of who said them, we miss out on chances to learn or otherwise solidify our stances. Growth requires exposure to different perspectives, even uncomfortable ones.

This is my blog. I'll look into and engage with posts that interest me and I don't need yours or anyone else's permission to do so. If you believe that interacting with and considering something from someone you disapprove of is inherently wrong, that can read a lot like you being pro-censorship. And even if I did agree with OP on certain things, that still wouldn’t affect whether or not the analysis itself had some merit. The idea that someone’s thoughts and opinions should be totally disregarded because of their personal beliefs is a very shallow way to engage with media.

I'm sure you meant all this in good faith, but I would encourage you to take time to rationalize before resorting to outrage. I see a thousand posts on here daily that I disagree with on a spiritual level. But I am not going after those who reblog them just because I personally find it to be wrong in some capacity. This is the internet. People will have things to say that you don't like and that's fine. It's part of the experience.

Still, I appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective, and I hope you take care of yourself as well.

[pandadude55]

saw a post saying tony stark is to the mcu what snape is to harry potter

and i 100% agree - just thought i'd extend it a little

tony stark is to the mcu what snape is to harry potter what dean winchester is to supernatural

[s0fter-sin]

one of my favourite aspects of supernatural that you very rarely see in paranormal shows is that sam and dean are already versed in the world they live in. there’s no sudden discovery of ghosts and demons and now they have to learn about them along with the audience; they are born into it and already know all about it. it allows the audience to follow their personal story instead of also trying to figure out this new world and its rules

the first season is full of knowledge we never see them learn; “w*ndigoes are in the minnesota woods or- or northern michigan. i’ve never even heard of one this far west.” […] “great. well then this [his gun] is useless.” (1x02), “you don’t break a curse. you get the hell out of its way.” (1x08), d: “it’s a god. a pagan god, anyway.” […] “the annual cycle of its killings? and the fact that the victims are always a man and a woman. like some kind of fertility right.” […] s: “the last meal. given to sacrificial victims. d: “yeah, i’m thinking a ritual sacrifice to appease some pagan god.” (1x11)

almost every episode in the first season is a monster they’ve faced before that they then explain to the audience in a way that should feel patronising; like it’s the same speech given over and over again but instead, the audience almost feels included in the knowledge. it’s stated with such an innate confidence and comfort in said knowledge that it feels like we already knew it too; “spirits and demons don't have to unlock doors. if they want inside, they just go through the walls.” […] “the claws, the speed that it moves; could be a skinwalker, maybe a black dog.” (1x02), “it's biblical numerology. you know noah's ark, it rained for forty days. the number means death.” (1x04), “no no no, not the reaper, a reaper. there's reaper lore in pretty much every culture on earth, it goes by 100 different names.” […] “you said it yourself that the clock stopped, right? reapers stop time. and you can only see 'em when they're coming at you which is why i could see it and you couldn't.” (1x12)

they already know and, at least in the first season, already have what they need to kill whatever they’re hunting; already know to salt and burn bones for spirits, fire for a w*ndigo, exorcisms for demons, a silver bullet to the heart for shapeshifters. there’s only three times in the entire first season that they run into something new to them; 1x14 when sam gets his first vision that leads him to another psychic, 1x16 when dean calls caleb for help on the sigil he put together and he tells him about daevas, and 1x20 when they find out vampires are real- and they only don’t know that bc john thought they were hunted to extinction and not worth mentioning

(there’s also technically two half instances if you count one of them knowing something the other doesn’t - sam figuring out the tulpa in 1x17 and dean already knowing about the shtriga in 1x18 - but those still rely on sam and dean having prior knowledge)

even when they’re uncertain about facing something, it’s not bc they don’t know what it is; it’s precisely bc they know what it is and acknowledge that it’ll be a difficult hunt (“i don't know, man. this isn't our normal gig. i mean, demons, they don't want anything, just death and destruction for its own sake. this is big. and i wish dad was here.” 1x04)

so much of the tension in paranormal shows typically comes from the main character(s) not knowing what is happening to them/the people around them and having to find out how to resolve it. supernatural is unique in that it operates more like a police procedural. the tension comes from solving the clues and identifying patterns to figure out who (what) the killer is and intercepting before they can take another victim

it’s such a different tone to go for when compared to other shows that came both before, during, and after its run. it sets sam and dean on even footing with each other since they both have the same knowledge going in, and it puts them in a place of authority usually reserved for an outside character

the shows i compare spn to most is charmed, buffy and teen wolf; every main character in those shows are brought into the paranormal world knowing nothing, putting them on the same level as the audience, and they have their mc interact with others already knowledgeable about that world in order to overcome their problem/monster of the week. the audience organically learns about this new world as the characters learn about it. it’s a sound writing strategy that prevents “as we already know”-style exposition but something that complicates it is if your world building isn’t unique or intriguing enough, this slow introduction can become boring

we’ve seen shows like these before; sitting through the same tropes of characters learning to use their powers, struggling with no longer feeling normal/relating to the regular world around them, and not knowing how much they can trust the people already involved in this new world gets repetitive. all three shows eventually reach the same level of comfort with their new world that spn starts with but if the characters aren’t enough to draw you in, you can end up dropping it before they reach that point (and often, before the overarching plot can really kick in and evolve the show beyond the villain of the week format)

it’s the superhero origin movie in tv format; dragged out and overplayed. dropping the audience into an established world of course comes with its own problems but you also have the benefit of pre-existing established character dynamics that let the audience slot in like they’ve always been there instead of just getting to know all the characters while the characters also get to know each other

sam and dean already knowing about the supernatural lets the audience immediately get to the core of the story; the conflict between sam and dean, the search for their father, and the mystery of what killed their mother

[transmascxielian]

something something something maddie as the symbol of the sweetest person in the system still being the system. right from the start to the end she was backing up authority and supporting the powers which were heading everyone to war for the sole purpose of maintaining their perspective of the status quo. and she did all of this with a smile on her face and a plucky new-girl-on-the-force attitude and was altogether one of the best examples in the show of how it doesnt matter how much you smile when you're pointing the gun at someone.

[mimble-sparklepudding]

I will add a few suggestions - but I will try to limit myself to ones that haven't already been mentioned. Please bear in mind that these are examples and not being mentioned on this occasion does not mean I don't think that other blogs are not equally worthy of note!

@spotofmummery - one of the best OC (don't quibble) blogs on Tumblr. Fantastic writing, gposing and highly entertaining shenanigans. Who needs sex and violence when you can have snakes and violins? Plus they are supportive, encouraging and splendid across all metrics.

@starrysnowdrop - fantastic Lalafell representation. Beautiful gposes and amazing writing. Also thoroughly nice to interact with and kind to others. Currently exploring new creative horizons, which I am excited to witness.

@kskellington - home to a dizzingly large number of OCs, including Kwas, who is one of the most unique characters you're ever likely to encounter. Very fun and thought-provoking content and a great mutual.

@dragonsongmakhali - arguably some of the best gposes I have ever seen in my whole life, to the point I thought they were official art. Plus encouraging and uplifting in every interaction, even when times are hard.

@furys-mercy - one of the few people who can rival the previous blog in terms of gpose talent, but executed in their own unique and striking style. And also very nice (check out their latest RP venture).

@osric-giroux-ffxiv - one of the most complex and three-dimensional OCs on Tumblr, with a really well-developed backstory and narrative journey. Detailed responses to asks, even the weird ones (some of which I sent, but not all!). Looking for RP connections so go connect!

@kannedia - another multi-OC blog, with some very different characters, but all interesting and well-realised. Very fun to engage with and learn more about each of these OCs.

@adrienvalmont - a very experienced RPer (is that a word?) with a very intriguing character with all sort of interesting connections and complications. Despite (or perhaps because) of their talent, they are very nice to interact with and supportive of others.

@pumpkinmagekupo - not only is this a blog with excellent writing and a wonderful OC, they also put up with me dragging them to various in-game events and plying them with hot chocolate. Also the gposes - they are fantastic.

@yzeltia - definitely a blog that's inspired me to improve my writing, although I doubt that it will ever reach their standard! So many characters, but they are all really engaging and frequently highly entertaining.

@houserosaire - probably one of the most canon-compliant and well-researched OC blogs on Tumblr. I feel like I learn something new about Ishgard every time I see one of their posts. Plus the writing and the gposes are superb - definitely a knight you'd spend all day with.

@orime-stories / @orime-eorzea - as recently celebrated in a recent Lalafellin Limerick so you know it's got to be good! Lots of atmospheric and aesthetic posts, as well as two of the best OCs on Tumblr, with many screenshots and gposes.

@nobutakafairclough - basically an RP coach and FFXIV journalist. Has a podcast, a Youtube channel and a blog and they are all excellent. A really helpful and enthusiastic person who deserves much more attention for their work on here and elsewhere. Please check out their stuff!

@irisopranta - most memorable of rarepairs, with great writing, pretty screenshots and a thriving weaving and haberdashery business!

@saeta - cute art from an incredibly talented artist, but don't let that distract you from the other great things to be found on this blog, including the beautiful gposes.

@talion-graves - mostly a gpose and inspiration blog, but what a gpose and inspiration blog. You may feel the need for a brisk run around the playing fields and a cold shower after this one.

@kaitontenchu - one of the best WoLship blogs to be found anywhere, by turns cute, moving and hilarious. Another very fun perspective on Ishgard as well.

@hikinghydaelyn - something a little different. A concept blog (like a concept album, but like, a blog) about a little hiker and his journey across the world (and maybe one day beyond). Perhaps you will meet this OC on his journey and become a part of his unfolding story?

@cadrenebula - one of the first blogs I ever followed and still one of the best. I'm not sure they quite win the "most OCs ever to be found on one blog” contest", but they are certainly in with a chance at the prize for "the most individually detailed OCs in a blog with lots of OCs in it". Honestly, each one is more detailed and better realised than I could ever manage with just a single OC. All the writing, all the screenshots - go check them out!

@tanktechnician - After an Ala Mhigan Miqo'te OC with a strong personality and a compelling story? You've come to the right place! A really enjoyable blog to follow, with lots of ongoing character development.

OK I have to stop now, it's 3:30am, but know that this is just a snapshot of some fantastic blogs and there are many I wish I could have included, but I'm falling asleep...

SHAMELESS PLUGGING - FFXIV STYLE!

It's that time of year again! Here are just a FEW of the amazing blogs available to follow in the FFXIV community here on Tumblr! (A lot of them can also be found on Bluesky--two for one shot!) If you're not following them, YOU SHOULD BE!

@lynxden -- gorgeous shots, amazing information on lion dancing and the history of it, even some goddamn STOP MOTION ANIMATION with FFXIV screenshots, that is astounding.

@coldshrugs -- a gorgeous WoL and some absolutely amazing screenshots, I am just... *sigh*

@darcar -- a Viera as pretty as Anna (and I rarely say that...)

@cerbaros -- the GPose just gets better and better and BETTER...!

@zylphiacrowley -- ever wanted to go through the MSQ in graphic novel format? Zyl's got you covered.

@mist-touchedxiv -- come get you some Viera lore theorizing and some really interesting backstory!

@abyssalmermaiden -- legit I wonder what people drink to come up with such absolutely fucking cool character ideas...

@iron-sparrow -- why are you not following them? Why are you not following them? YOU'RE MISSING YEIN!

@ink-dreams-ffxiv -- the fishercatte is so CUTE!

@oneiroy -- not only do they put up some hella good mods, they take AMAZING shots.

@verysmallcyborg -- and if you follow Ryss, you have to follow Fornax so you can get the complete "butches in love" package!

@nolanel-corbeaux -- you will meet the skink and you will thank me for directing you to this one.

@ser-corviknight -- Avery has such FUN characters and one of the most unique WoLs I've ever seen.

@ahollowgrave -- I will always and forever push more people to follow Odette.

@feralkwe -- watching Feral get into GPose crimes is almost as delightful as reading their fanfic.

@arty-ffxiv -- when you meet Kupa, you'll wonder why it took so long to follow.

@drownedlight - this is really just a gateway to their AO3 page, but I know the fanfic will lure in just... OH so many...

@sezja -- a violet Hrothgal is the first beauty to greet you, isn't that a delight???

DO YOU KNOW MORE??? ADD MORE!!! GIVE ME MORE WONDERFUL, TALENTED PEOPLE TO FOLLOW!!!

(Like you @luck-and-larceny I see you posting more Malika lately...!)

[aroaceleovaldez]

The himbo, malewife, goofball -fication of percy jackson is such a crime by both the fans and riordan. It has made Mr not like percabeth as a couple because in all posts and in later books annabeth is such a girlboss, while Percy's dumb and can't fight his way out of a paperbag without her. All the posts are about how annabeth will be an architect and percy would love to be a trophy husband.

Even the humor in the books went from Percy's sharp wit and snark to 'my pancakes can't drown because I'm a son of poseidon.'

And now this recommendation letter bullshit.

Honestly now I'd wish percy just separated from annabeth (but they remain best friends.) He stays home with his family, becomes a camp counselor, helps young demigods, holds God's accountable and eventually becomes a social activist. (I also dislike him doing something marine biology related. It's clear he hates academics but he always wants to help people. Him helping demigods and mortals is such a wholesome profession for him.)

I fully agree with the first half of this, though I slightly disagree with part of the latter.

The later-series and fanon mischaracterization of Percy is at least a solid 50% ableism minimum, full stop. He's being warped into a very stereotyped ADHD character and the exact reason why he's being characterized as "dumb" is because of ableism. Percy is a very intelligent character! That's exactly why he's so in sync with Annabeth and they're such a strong duo! It's just generally Annabeth is more book/academically smart.

I disagree with where you say he hates academics - because that's one of the common misconceptions about his character. Percy doesn't hate learning or academic subjects! He's not even bad at them! We know explicitly that when he is in an accommodating environment he is interested in learning and gets significantly better grades! Percy only dislikes school because it is generally an environment that systematically he struggles with. It's literally just he has a learning disability (two, actually)! That's it! When his learning disability is accommodated for he does well! It's almost like that's what accommodations are all about! We know this from the first series! It's discussed pretty in-depth! Percy isn't a dumb character and he doesn't hate learning, he's just been let down by school systems so much that he's inherently distrustful of them. If they actually accommodate him though then he does just fine!

And that's exactly what CHB was all about and why New Rome University was supposed to be such a big thing for him! CHB is a learning environment geared for demigods. NRU is a demigod college. Both inherently imply an environment meant to cater to and accommodate students with ADHD and dyslexia! They are both systematically structured to be able to accommodate him! Heck, CHB and CJ even both address in the wider themes of the series a metaphor about how ADHD and dyslexia are commonly seen as childhood disabilities, and how it can be more difficult to find accommodations into adulthood because of that attitude but those disabilities don't just go away - that's why CHB is a summer camp but they talk about how demigods outside of CHB don't often fare well. The metaphor there is those who are not getting help or accommodations are struggling. Because that's how that works! This is a fully intentional metaphor from the first series! CHB is never framed as being perfect for demigods, because one of the entire central conflicts of the series is Percy and Luke going back and forth about this flawed system meant to help and support them but still letting people fall through the cracks. The "claim your kids by 13" thing is a metaphor about how acknowledging a child's disabilities (and possibly getting a diagnosis) earlier/as early as possible means they will have more time to learn and build up resources and support for themselves to be able to use later in life. One of CHB's major flaws is that it can accommodate demigods to a certain point, but it can only do so much before those demigods have to leave (the metaphor being accommodating school systems when those disabled students do not have any other forms of accommodations in their lives.)

And that's why Camp Jupiter was framed as being so revolutionary for Percy because it had an environment acknowledging that this is not just a childhood disability, adults with ADHD/dyslexia exist too and still need and deserve accommodations, AND is a place where those accommodations are available. That's why Camp Jupiter and NRU are treated as such special and important things to Percy, because it's essentially Percy being shown this type of thing can and does exist and it is available to him. It is an option he never thought was possible. Percy never thought he'd be able to go to college because he would not be able to go through school without accommodations, but NRU proves otherwise.

The part that's absolutely stupid is Rick then proceeded to retcon NRU so that apparently it's not a full college and Percy still has to take classes at normal mortal college which DEFEATS THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF NRU EXISTING. Rick has fully retconned that demigods struggle past the ages of 16-18 when they're on their own (see above elaborated metaphors) and in doing so we have fully killed all symbolism in literally all of that. It's so stupid. And by having the plot of the CoTG trilogy entirely be that Percy is not actually allowed access to NRU in the first place because he is a son of Poseidon and has to do extra to even be accepted is stupid!

All that to say, I agree the marine biology feels like a huge cop-out and a disservice to his character by reducing him to just a son of Poseidon. The literal only reason why it's the default option people take for him is because oh, fish thing, fish guy. But I feel like everyone ignores the really obvious answer for what Percy would want to do which is - writing. Both his parents are writers/authors and he clearly admires that about them. Percy likes telling stories! He canonically is already a published author in-universe! That's what the books ARE in-universe! The first series fully exists in their universe and Percy is the author! This is explicit canonical information! Percy canonically has help physically writing it down (accommodations) but he is still the credited author! Percy is a writer! Already! Canonically! Why are we making him a marine biologist he already has a profession that ties into his character significantly more. Like you said, Percy likes helping people. That's what the books in-universe are supposed to be for! It's point blank at the beginning of the series! Book one! The thing everybody quotes all the time! The books exist because it is Percy trying to give advice to other demigods who don't know what's going on yet! It's Percy's writing down his experiences to help new demigods understand and contextualize their experiences so they can understand themselves better and figure out what's going on - WHICH IN ITSELF IS ALSO A METAPHOR ABOUT ADHD/DYSLEXIA! Because the core of the series has and always will be built around ADHD/dyslexia! Percy as a protagonist EXPLICITLY was created so that ADHD/dyslexic kids could see themselves as a hero!

Sorry that all was a very tangential rant but my point being: Absolutely. Percy in newer stuff in the franchise and in fanon is horrifically mischaracterized in ways that are functionally either fully ableist (shoutout TSATS for just outright claiming Percy is intentionally lazy and skips school out of disinterest, which is like the number one ableist attitude towards kids with learning disabilities) or a complete erasure of Percy's disabilities. Also I think he should be a writing major not a marine biologist.

[threalcrabbysamantha]

It makes me laugh when antis argue that zutara shippers just want the bad boy-good girl dynamic because there’s like ONE guy in the whole show that we see Katara have unreserved romantic interest in and it’s the literal bad boy of the show, Jet. Like in the modern day that boy is a leather jacket wearing, James Dean idolizing rebel kid. He’s Jess Mariano. He’s cutting class, smoking underage. He’s literally designed in the bad boy image.

so like you’re doing all this arguing but all you’re really supporting is that Katara is drawn to the bad boy actually

[hauntingofhouses]

Taigen x Mizu mentioned in the The Making of Netflix’s “Blue Eye Samurai”

Taken from the livestream organised by Gnomon

Jane Wu:

Next slide, Taigen...

Brian Kesinger:

Everyone's favourite samurai, uh, Taigen. Uh, so, he was designed a bit over the top. The, the, peak of male samurai, even down to the quite prodigious hair bun, which he doesn't have on screen for much. Uh, but, um, he is the visual opposite of Mizu, right, so it was fun to kinda let her design dictate what his design should be, and, you know, I think that, you know, especially for all you Taigen x Mizu fans out there, I think that might be one of the reasons why he's attracted to her. Um, or in my brain, he's attracted to her, uh, is because she is who she wants to be, and doesn't have to put on airs. Uh, and that's a lesson that he has to learn and he literally, I mean, it's on the nose but, he lets his hair down. And that's the start of his journey of discovery, um, which he needs to go. He's, he's got a lot of growing still left to do. Um—

Jane Wu:

I also think he has a, has a talent—he has like a... sword crush on her right, he has like a martial arts crush on her, yeah. Talent crush, yeah.

Brian Kesinger:

Right, yeah. Talent crush. Yes. Yes, for sure.

---

For context, Jane Wu is Blue Eye Samurai's supervising director and Producer, while Brian Kesinger is the lead character designer. Others presenting for this livestream were production designer Toby Wilson and art director Emil Mitev.