#tw: systematic violence

[genderkoolaid]

Intro to Anti-transmasculinity (ATM)

(also ft. an about me section)

Defining ATM:

Anti-transmasculinity refers to the systematic oppression of transmasculinity. “Transmasculinity” refers to the concept of people seen as female having a masculine or manly gender or gender expression*. Other terms used for this are transandrophobia, transmisandry, and transmascphobia.

In 1963, feminist Betty Freidan described misogyny as “the problem with no name,” illustrating how at the time, women’s language to understand, describe and communicate their oppression was underdeveloped. Anti-transmasculinity has been, similarly, a problem with no name; transmasculine people have not had the language or framework to understand, describe, and communicate our oppression. Transmasculinity suffers from erasure, often called “invisibility”. This does not protect transmasculine people from violence; it silences us to prevent us from speaking out against, or realizing, the violence done to us. It alienates us from our history, our brothers, siblings and sisters, and ourselves, by preventing transmasculinity from being seen, heard, discussed, or considered. For more posts of mine and others that help expand on the theory of anti-transmasculinity, see my #theory tag.

*This is not my definition of transmasculinity as an identity. This definition is for the form of transness targeted by transphobia, which is based around the idea of "female/woman trying to be male/a men." My definition of transmasculinity as an identity is any form of masculinity or manhood that is trans* in nature, regardless of presentation or assigned sex. I make this distinction because a GNC man assigned male could see his manhood as trans, but be targeted by transphobia based around the idea of a man trying to be a woman.

Who can be affected by ATM?:

Anyone can suffer from anti-transmasculinity, regardless of gender, sex or sexuality. Anti-transmasculine violence targets perceived transmasculinity, which means anyone perceived as transmasculine can be victimized. That is not the extent of how people are affected, though; people who perceive themselves to be transmasculine, consciously or unconsciously, or who have traits associated with transmasculinity can also be affected by witnessing anti-transmasculinity.

(TW: transphobic murder)

People who are associated with transmasculinity (such as partners, friends, and family of transmasculine people) can also be affected, not just through emotional pain but targeted for physical violence. As an example, Italian cis woman Maria Paola Gaglione was murdered by her brother to "teach her a lesson" after she got engaged to a trans man.

Who can be anti-transmasculine?:

Anyone can be anti-transmasculine, regardless of gender, sex, or sexuality. It is a systemic way of thinking that is spread throughout society and culture, and reproduces itself constantly in people's thoughts and actions.

Who benefits from anti-transmasculinity?:

In the grand scheme of things, everyone suffers from the restrictive nature of transphobia. However, in general, only cisgender, gender-conforming people systematically benefit from anti-transmasculinity. Other trans* people do not; trans* people do not systematically benefit from each other’s oppression.

* *trans is a way of writing “trans” that emphasizes it as a broad umbrella term inclusive of everyone who trangresses gender and sex norms

Is ATM caused by “misandry”?

In transunity theory, “misandry” is used to refer to the way that gender roles around manhood/masculinity are weaponized to harm marginalized people, (in this case) specifically trans* people; trans* people are viewed as having the worst traits of both masculinity and femininity, as well as the inherent negativity associated with androgyny. In this sense, anti-transmasculinity does involve misandry, as do anti-transfeminity* and exorsexism**. However, all of these also involve misogyny and misandrogyny***. Which one of these is more dominant varies between types of transphobia, as well as the individuals doing the violence and the ones experiencing it.

To quote this article, "Misandry [...] can never reliably be prevented from collapsing into transphobia."

*i use anti-transfemininity (ATF) as a companion to anti-transmasculinity, as an alternative to “transmisogyny.” This is because, as I explain, my philosophy on transphobia is that all transphobias are inherently misogynistic and all trans* people experience the intersection of misogyny. Additionally, transunity theory frames transphobia as being the intersection of many forms of gendered bigotry, so using the “anti-” terms lets me talk about these transphobias without having to specify it by only one kind (like -misogyny or -androphobia)

** exorsexism refers to oppression of people who violate the gender or sex binaries; it includes intersexism, but also oppression against non-binary people.

*** misandrogyny is the hatred of/bigotry against androgyny, a companion to misogyny and misandry. “androgyny” here refers to anything outside the exclusive male/female binary; examples of misandrogyny are violence done when someone cannot tell someone’s gender/sex, and the idea of nonbinary and genderqueer language as immature, annoying, and pointless, while binary language is considered mature, normal, and useful.

Evidence of ATM:

I have the tags #examples of transandrophobia and #experiences with transandrophobia; the first is posts showing transandrophobia in action, and the second is people describing the transandrophobia they have experienced or witnessed.

I also keep the Archive of Violence Against Trans*masculine People, which keeps a record of events of anti-transmasculine violence. This includes murder, rape, abuse, physical assault, harassment, and the suicides of transmasculine people. Also on this archive is a list of academic research & writing related to anti-transmasculinity; the studies provide more objective evidence of the systemic oppression transmasculine people face, and analyses which can help with understanding how anti-transmasculinity works.

You can also look at @transandrophobia-archive which collects examples of anti-transmasculine Tumblr posts.

Info on Me:

I’m genderqueer, transsexual, and a transvestite; I am a man and a woman and neither (all of which affect each other), and identify with both transmasc, transfem, and transother. I’m also aromantic + greysexual. My sexuality is everything everywhere all at once.

Originally this blog was just made for me to process and deal with my own internalized anti-transmasculinity, but then people liked what I wrote and now its a place where I talk about queer issues & related things I find important.

I’m multiply disabled (both physically and mentally) and I struggle with answering asks; if I don’t answer you for a while feel free to just send your ask again, I will not mind. Also feel free to ask me to explain anything in plain language if you have difficulty understanding something. I don’t mind educating people or helping people find resources, as long as you are respectful and are in good faith and all that.

I am going into philosophy and sociology with a focus on religion, and run @transtheology where I collect posts on trans-affirming spirituality and religion. If you have any questions or want advice related to transness and spirituality/religion (or madness & spirituality/religion) I’d love to help you the best I can.

If you would like to support me, here’s my kofi

Further Resources:

""Transandrophobia" Primer" by nothorses

"As a transfem, what's your insight on the way transmascs are treated when talking about their experiences?" by cipheramnesia

"This is just your regular free-of-charge reminder that when people argue that transandrophobia does not exist, or that its not important enough to talk about, they are explicitly saying they don't care about sexual assault victims or victims of suicide (among other things)" by nothorses

"Transandrophobia Posts Masterpost- 2022" by transgentlemanluke

Pinned post with links to discussions about transandrophobia, baeddelism, and other issues by nothorses

"What is transandophobia actually?" by transmasc-pirate, with additions by doberbutts and psychoticallytrans

"Transandrophobic Fundamentals and the Intersections of Trans Masc Marginalization" by none-gender-left-man

"Hello, I apologise if you've already received questions like this, but can you explain why you would say that transmisandry/androphobia is distinct from misogyny?" by transfaguette

"I Am A Transwoman. I Am In The Closet. I Am Not Coming Out." by Jennifer Coates

This conversation between doberbutts and folly-of-alexandria

Transandrophobia Explained carrd, by myself

Transmisogyny is not the intersection of transphobia and misogyny by luckyladylily

This post on misogyny, misandry, and transandrophobia by thorne1345

"tumblr can make fun of Blizzard’s Oppression Calculator all they want, that’s exactly how people act with discourse poisoned queer discussions" by cardentist

Invisible Men: FTMs and Homelessness in Toronto by the FTM Safer Shelter Project Research Team

On Hating Men (And Becoming One) by Noah Zazanis

There is a hidden epidemic of violence against transmasculine people by Orion Rodriguez

“Irl we just kiss”: ‘transmasc vs transfem’ discourse & reactionary ‘boys vs girls’ politics in trans spaces by S.L Void

Making Sense Out of the Murders of Trans Men by Mitch Kellaway

Collateral Damage: mathematical odds & the sum of survival. by S.L Void

Op-ed: Trans Men Experience Far More Violence Than Most People Assume by Loree Cook-Daniels

How the Criminalization of Testosterone Attacks Gender Variant People by Adryan Corcione

A Tale of a Trans Man in Pakistan by Ikra Javed

Not transmasc invisibility, but erasure: intricacies of transmasc invisibility, and the fallacies of strictly gendered transphobia by S.L Void

Girlboy Boygirl Blues: antitransmasculinity as a denial of individual history & more by S.L Void

The r/transandrophobia subreddit

[shadowndance]

⚠️ TW: Anti-LGBT violence, physical assault, state silence

Please help raise awareness about a deeply disturbing case of targeted violence against gay men in China — one that is now being systematically silenced.

On July 6, a series of chat messages began circulating in private circles. They included three short videos (one duplicated), allegedly filmed in a public park in Zhengzhou, Henan province. The attackers are believed to have used gay dating apps to lure men to the location and then assault them in groups.

We don’t know the exact date these videos were recorded, but their content is harrowing.

In the first video, filmed in near darkness, three shirtless young men chase another man wearing a backpack through the park. One person films while the others attack. The victim cries for help and falls down. One assailant strikes him with a stick while the others punch and hit him. At the end, the victim climbs over a planter and runs toward a road, still shouting for help.

The second clip shows at least six young men surrounding a man sitting on the ground. A voice off-camera shouts: “Do you like men? Are you gay?” They then physically assault him, and one attacker pours an unknown liquid from a bottle onto him. The attackers appear to be in their early twenties.

The third video shows a middle-aged man surrounded and violently kicked by at least six attackers. He crouches on the ground, hands clasped together, begging them to stop.

These videos are direct documentation of hate-based violence. It’s unclear how they were leaked — but shortly after they began circulating, all traces were rapidly scrubbed from domestic platforms. The Chinese authorities have issued no public comment and appear to be suppressing all discussion of the incident.

No one should be hunted for who they are. No one should be silenced after being brutalized.

This post exists to preserve the record. If you can, please help share it, translate it, or archive it elsewhere. I will not post the videos publicly, but if you are a journalist, researcher, or human rights archivist, you may message me for further details.

Silence is complicity. Please don’t look away.

[cryptid-catnip]

An Unnecessarily In-Depth Deconstruction of the Lore and Problematic Elements of HDG

Why did I make this fucking post. (TWs for discussions of imperialism, cultural genocide, and a mention of systematized sexual assault)

So, to preface, I am going to be pretty harsh when it comes to criticizing the setting and lore of HDG, but I do not give one iota of a shit if someone finds its more problematic elements hot. Hell, I myself have found quite a few of the more fucked stories hot.

Secondly, if you want to rebute this post, please refrain from using Thermian Arguments as much as possible. If you don't know what a Thermian Argument is, it was coined in this video by Dan Oslen. It's only a five-minute watch, but, if you can't be bothered, it details an increasingly common argument in fandom spaces which consists of rebuking problematic elements of media by using in-universe reasoning, despite the fact that everything in a story is there because the writer put it there.

With that out of the way, let's begin.

So, in a previous post of mine, I wrote that The Combine from Half-Life 2 are essentially the same archetype of sci-fi civilization as the Affini (ie, ancient, vast conquerors whose interstellar conquest is so ancient that not even they know where they're from), with the only difference that the Affini are to be seen as the heroes of the story because... well because the writers say so.

Now you may say "Callie! You stupid bitch! Life in the Compact is way better than that on Terra!" and, to that I say "That's a Thermian Argument."

GlitchyRobo (and basically all other HDG writers) made the conscious decision to have Terra be Super-Mega-Ultra-Death-Capitalism(TM) to serve as justification for the Affini's colonization of Terra.

And this opens up a massive can of worms, considering that the Affini canonically want all non-Affini to be Florets and believe that all non-Affini would be better off as Florets.

The reason I'm calling this a can of worms is because the Affini are so vast, so long-lived, both individually and societally, that there has to have been at least one society that was doing really well for themselves, and were crushed by the Compact, right?

As I've alluded to prior in this post, the Affini are a fundamentally imperialist entity and does not care what your opinion is on their interstellar conquest, now go get your mandated mindbreak implant.

I think it's fair to say that the Affini are a shining example of the Designated Hero trope, as for a civilization whose bread and butter is imperialism, cultural genocide and systematized rape, they ARE The Good Guys, because The Narrative says so. This isn't even hyperbole, nearly all of the Canon Guidelines and the Writing in HDG pages are "The Affini are the good guys and are always in the right and are 59 steps ahead of the Terrans and functionally and narratively invincible with awesome tits."

But special mention goes to this line which basically confirms the thing I said previously:

What if you feel okay on your own? What if you don't want the Affini Compact running the show? What if you're already a communist society and are doing your level best to ensure everyone gets what they need?

The Affini response will be, "That's okay, petal, you've done enough. We'll take it from here."

And this line, which is basically just there to handwave some of the grimiest elements of HDG:

(Discussions about systemic floret sterilization and comparisons to real life reproductive violence and eugenics are definitely overthinking it.)

Like, motherfucker, I'm not the one who wrote this implication into the story. It's not my fault you decided to do White Man's Burden IIIIIIIIINNNNNN SSSSSPPPPPAAAAAACCCCEEEE with the femdom plant aliens.

And this is not only wretched morally, but it's just bad fucking writing. It is the closest that comes to an actual rule in writing (unless, like other "rules" in writing, it exists in your story for the purpose of deconstruction): DO NOT HAVE IMMORTAL, ALL-POWERFUL PROTAGANISTS.

The Affini are written like the player character of "That Guy" in every RPG horror story ever, with them being essentially invincible and immortal (functionally and narratively), are portrayed as the good guys while conquering planets and brainwashing people.

Or, to put it another way, most HDG stories feel like pro-Compact propaganda written by and for the Affini.

I was going to end this post with a thing where I say, "well i don't really think any of the writers/fans think that this would be good in practice/irl, and they all know it's just wish fulfillment kinkfics", but I genuinely do not think that's true for many people.

The constant defense of the righteousness of the Affini Compact in the text itself, as well as the constant stressing in the fucking wiki, leads me to believe that many people just straight-up believe that they are in the right, and not just the purpose of being kinkfics, and that deeply fucking disturbs me.

[the-masked-astro]

Ladies and gentlemen! Give a warm welcome to the one, the only, Mr. Reality!

Ohhhhh boy do I have things to say about this man... thing... abomination.

TW: Mr./Dr. Realitys backstory is dark, with mentions of gore and violence [i won't be going into too much bloody detail but ill put a warning here none the less.]

Mr. Reality didn't have the greatest start to life. His father was obsessed with creating the perfect machine, to the point he turned his own son into a robotic monstrosity. The process left Reality going in and out of consciousness, when unconscious he entered a perfect dream world of his own design. Once he became stable, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. He wanted to create his own reality for others to join to escape the pains of life.

His first moments in his new Body were spent systematically slaughtering his father and his coworkers one by one, slowly, and painfully. He used their remains to create the first prototype batteries powered by the natural chemical reactions [very similar to the ones in The Matrix] it wouldn't take long with his rapidly evolving mind to learn and dable with interdimensional travel, even creating his own pocket dimension.

As the years went on he would have a basic prototype made for Relmscape, but it needed more power. He set his sights on Mario, the world Avatar. It wasn't hard to convince him to join, and once he was converted into a battery, Mario alone was able to provide the minimum power necessary to run the simulation.

With Mario in a strangle limbo of life and death as a battery, his world would start to slowly die. Pushing more people, including the rest of the SMG4 crew of his world, to join. None of them knew what Reality did to Mario, or that he was the reason their world was dying. Reality is in denial about being the downfall of his world, but deep down he knows, he just chooses not to acknowledge it.

As time wore on, Reality was content with things as they were, until some batteries started to expire. He knew he would need more soon, but that was alright, it just ment more people to join in on the fun.

He would hop world to world, inviting more and more people to join his world, more bodies to turn into batteries, more power, the more powerful he became, the larger his reality grew.

You might be wondering, how did he do it? Through intimidation? By foce? Hahaha! Of course not, it's simple really.

He asked nicely.

Im not joking. He doesn't force anyone to join his world. If you don't want to join, that's fine! He will respect your decision and leave you alone, but you're always welcome to change your mind! Of course, most people, when presented with the option of living their perfect reality, without having to deal with the burdens of life, often go willingly. Of course they don't know that their bodies are being used to power the simulation, but it's not like they needed them anyways. Of course he is upfront and tells people once they join, they can't go back, he just doesn't tell them it's because their bodies are now a liquid slurry of organs, nerves and other fluids in a battery pod.

More about his two separate forms and how they work. The batteries don't just power the simulation, they directly power him as well. The more batteries he has, the stronger he is, and the more of his "simulation" abilities he can bring into reality. For example, Mr. Reality is like a digital avatar of sorts, however, with enough power, Dr. Reality can physically change himself into Mr. Reality. Other abilities he has in the simulation he can use in reality with enough power includes, but is not limited too: telaportation, levitation, reality warping, creating clones [ill talk more about this one later] mind altering/brainwashing [he almost never uses this one] and memory wiping.

When entering the Relmscape for the first time, you'll be met with one of his many clones, each new individuals get a clone as a guide of sorts, and you are able to choose if you want the guide to stay or leave. Of corse, if you have the guide leave, and want him back, a new clone will appear. In addition, most "npc" characters are clones of him as well. There are a near infinite number of clones, and while most share a similar personality to the orginal, they each have their own individual characteristics and mannerisms. It's also not uncommon for people to date his clones [fun fact, hes Poly!]

The clones are hard to really describe, they do share a hive mind and are extensions of the orginal, but do display their own individual personalities [even if they are extremely similar to the orginal.] In addition to this, the clones and the orginal can hop and swap boddies, and since they share a hive mind, they are aware of every versions unique characteristics. In short, you could be talking to a clone, or the orginal, you would never be able to tell the difference.

Also, while I do say "clone" and "orginal" there really isn't either. They are all simultaneously the same entity yet individual at the same time, its... complicated. But either way, clone or orginal, no matter, he loves all of those in the simulation equally! And does everything he can to keep them happy. For those who he considers lovers, his love is just as real, he does really love all his partners.

Especially you ♡

Overall, despite things behind the scenes being rather disturbing and bloody, that doesn't define his personality. He's genuinely a really great guy! All he wants if for everyone to be happy... even you...

[tokkiwrites]

ㅡㅡㅡ in which tangerine lets his heart (for the most part) dictate him around.

TW: dark!Tangerine (pls everyone this is not cute hes literally a stalker lol), fem!reader, afab reader, no use of y/n, mention of killing people and knifes, stalking, toxic relationship, use of pet names (love, bunny, sweetheart), unprotected p in v (dont look at me, wrap your weewee), dirty talk (kind of), lmk if i missed anything.

Tangerine had always been a shadow in the dimly lit world of contract killers, a name whispered in hushed tones among those who knew. His reputation was one of cold precision, a man who eliminated his targets with a ruthless efficiency that bordered on artistry. But behind the facade of the heartless assassin, there existed a secret, a gnawing obsession that threatened to consume him.

It began innocently enough, with stolen glances from the window of his spartan apartment across the street. She was just a random girl, a stranger in the vast tapestry of the city, but there was something about her that captivated him. He didn't know her name. Didn't bother to look for it, find more about herㅡㅡ he enjoyed it that way... for a bit.

she had an air of innocence that contrasted sharply with Tangerine's dark world. Maybe that's what has drawn him to her. Every evening, he would watch her from the shadows, the soft glow of her apartment window casting a warm, inviting light into his own life of iniquity. It became a routine.

APRIL 23rd. ㅡ blued my bruise.

As the weeks turned into months, Tangerine's infatuation deepened. He knew he should have focused on his missions, honed his lethal skills, and remained emotionally detached, but he couldn't help himself. He started collecting snippets of her life, learning her routines, her likes and dislikes, and even the name of her perfume that occasionally wafted through his open window. He kept a journal filled with details about her, a chilling testament to his obsession.

His thoughts became a maddening storm of contradictions. On one hand, he longed to approach her, introduce himself, and let her know how deeply he cared. On the other, he knew the darkness that coursed through his veins, the blood on his hands that would surely taint any chance at a normal life. The conflict between his life as Tangerine, the ruthless assassin, and his love for that girl across the street tore at his soul, threatening to unravel the carefully constructed façade he had built over the years.

Tangerine stood at the precipice of a choice that could define the rest of his life. He was trapped between the world of ruthless violence and the alluring promise of love and normalcy.

The girl remained the unspoken focal point of his existence, a beacon of hope in the midst of chaos. Yet, he was acutely aware that his actions had consequences, and his desire to protect her might eventually collide with the ruthless pursuit of his job.

His path was fraught with danger, as he navigated the thin line between his love for the girl and the haunting shadows of his past. Torn between his obsession and his duty as a protectorㅡㅡ as he liked to call it.

AUGUST 17th. pink me with ties.

Tangerine's obsession had become all-encompassing, driving him to meticulously study the girl's life, dissecting every relationship that entered her world. His mind, once focused on the cold precision of his assassinations, had now turned into a labyrinth of paranoia and possessiveness.

mine.

Whenever the girl expressed interest in a potential love interest, Tangerine took it as a personal affront. He couldn't bear the thought of anyone else occupying the space in her heart that he believed was rightfully his. In his mind, eliminating these perceived threats was the only way to maintain his fragile grip on her life.

mine. mine.

As he tracked these individuals, Tangerine started to eliminate them in a chillingly systematic fashion. He rationalized his actions, convincing himself that he was safeguarding the girl from anyone who might harm her or take her away from him. Tangerine saw them as competition, and he couldn't allow any potential rival to exist.

mine. mine. mine.

One by one, they disappeared, leaving behind a trail of confusion and fear. Tangerine's cold efficiency in eliminating these perceived threats left no room for error. The girl, oblivious to the sinister presence hovering around her life, began to notice the gradual erosion of her friends and potential partners.

she is mine.

Each disappearance, each life he extinguished, left a mark on his soul, tarnishing the love he believed he felt for the girl. It was more than thatㅡㅡ he thinks. He knows... He knows she feels it, too.

What had once been a misguided attempt at protecting her had now transformed into a cycle of violence and despair. He found himself plagued by obsession.

In the midst of the chaos and darkness that his obsession had wrought, Tangerine found himself grappling with the profound truth that this was more than just love—it was an all-consuming affliction that had poisoned their lives. He realized that she, too, felt the suffocating presence of his fixation, though she remained unaware of its source.

it's okay, I'm here, love. I'm here for you. You feel it, can't you?

NOVEMBER 1st. black my bones.

there she is. she's so beautiful.

he spotted her with... a man. when will she learn?

A surge of jealousy and anger coursed through him, intensifying the relentless grip of his obsession. His heart pounded, and a sinister determination took hold. He couldn't bear the thought of another man so close to her. She was his. she knew that, didn't she?

He tracked the man, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

"oi, there. mind tellin' me the time?"

"sure, dude. it's uh-- oh! 8pm."

Tangerine steps closer.

"sorry, mate. didn't hear ya, mind tellin me again?"

"yeah, 8pm, manㅡ" shunk.

then a scream. agony, a warm feeling, and for a moment, silence. a loud thud echoed through the dark alleyway as the man's body fell to the ground. he was choking on his own blood, the blade still lodged in his neck.

"i hate doin this mate, but you guysㅡ you guys never learn, getting so close to her... too close."

with a swift motion, he takes the knife out, wiping it lazily onto the brick wall before he throws it in the nearby sewer opening.

" 's fine, though. as long as she's alright, yeah?"

he twists a smile from his lips, strolling onto the main street.

his.

DECEMBER 15th. purple my eyes.

This was finally the day.

He chose a moment when she was alone in a park, her vulnerability a stark contrast to the man she didn't know she had been living under the watchful eye of. As he approached, his cold demeanor had softened somewhat, but a lingering sense of menace clung to him.

"hello, love." Tangerine said, his voice tinged with an eerie charm, a stark contrast to the chilling reality of his actions. "couldn't help but notice you from where i was sittin'. sorry if it makes you uncomfortable, wanted to say how gorgeous you look."

"oh, hi." she replied, bubbly. "thank you. means a lot when I'm quite literally dressed as a trash bag." then she laughed.

her laugh. if he could inject it through his veins, he would.

"name's Tangerine. Yours?"

MARCH 3rd. red my mind

She couldn't help but fall deeper for him. i mean, how could she not? he knew everything she liked, hated. he knew when to leave her alone, when to keep her closeㅡ he was perfect.

the fact he was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen was a plus. always dressed to impress, curly hair stiled back, always smelled like she could devour him. and god, that mustache. it was all she ever wanted... and he knew it.

"tan?" she'd been thinking about it. they'd known each other ㅡ well, she knew him for about 3 months, but he came when she needed someone the most. she almost felt dependent on him, like he saved her from something she didn't even know was coming.

"yeah, love?"

"i think...I'm ready toㅡ you know."

she wasn't a virgin. sure as hell felt like one though. she can't remember the last time she had sex. so she knew Tangerine would make this moment special. For her.

"you sure, sweetheart?"

god.

"yes, very sure."

he nods his head before reaching out for her face, rough hands cupping his reddened cheeks. "I'll take such good care of you tonight, bunny." she hums.

leaning into his touch, her whole body turns to goo when Tangerine's hand moves to her lower back and traces the ridge of her spine. "so pretty." she can't help but giggle.

with a few moves, he takes off most of her clothes, some of his too. they were now both left in their underwear, staring at one another as in a silent dance. Tangerine takes a handful of her breasts, guiding her slowly to lie back down on the mattress. The silk covers crinkled around their weight.

he leans down and takes one of her nipples into his mouth, whilst one of his palms slides down to her panties. he smirks once he senses the wet spot etched into them.

"so fuckin' soaked for me, love."

"just f-for you."

he knows.

"barely touched you though. are you that desperate for me to fill that tight cunt of yours? ㅡ hm, c'mon, talk to me, bunny."

she feels so small, so helpless. so pathetic. but she loves every second of it.

"please, need you toㅡ to feel me up...tan, please."

"shh, i got ya." in one swoop, he removes both their underwear, practically ripping them off of her, earning a soft moan from the sprawled out girl under him.

Tangerine lets his fingers pass through her wet folds, gathering all the juices before he shoves two digits deep inside of her. he pumps them slowly, letting the poor girl buck her hips against nothing as she desperately yearned for more.

"so tight, bunny. so tight 'n pretty." he preps kisses over her belly and pussy as those two fingers work her out, making a mess of her.

"p-pleaseㅡ gimme.."

"give ya what, sweetheart?" she whines. he knows what she wantsㅡㅡ needs.

"inside, put it i-insideㅡ"

he scoffs, taking out his fingers and leaving her to squeeze around nothing. they lock eyes and he brings those two fingers to her lips, urging them open. "suck. show me, c'mon."

she does just that. swirling her tongue and suckling on those digits like her life depended on it. "good girl. good fuckin' girl" he praises.

with those sleek fingers he drags them along her body and down to her pulsing clit as the other hand wraps around his shaft, pumping it. her eyes roll back, scooting closer to Tangerine, doing anything to get him inside of her.

"you ready, bunny?"

she was. she was also scared. it's why she tried so hard to not look at the monster in front of her: long, girthy, pulsing ar every breath Tangerine took.

"mhm, hurry ㅡ please."

"needy girl." chuckling, he gathers some of her slick with his tip, teasing at her clit and making her moan desperately. with a few more seconds passing, he finally decides to push inside.

god. it hurts.

so bad.

so good.

"shit, loveㅡ so fuckin' tight and wet for me, huh?"

and he goes at it. likes there's no tomorrow, he rams into her, just like he imagined for the past year he would one day. she's his. his. his to take and ruin and taint and love.

his.

his.

"fuckin' hellㅡㅡ" tangerine chokes back a moan as he steadily grabs at her hips, his tight hold surely leaving marks that'll hold like stains for weeks. he plunges deep into her, leaving no room for air. holding her close, he kisses her all over, listening to the sweet sounds that dripped from her lips like honeyㅡㅡ like poison.

"shit, tanㅡ 'm gonna.."

"it's okay, bunny. let go, go ahead."

bliss. ecstasy. she gasps and hold onto him. it feels like she's falling and floating, plummeting to the ground but flying to the clouds.

they kiss. he was so hungry.

she's his.

"thank you." she smiles up at him.

you red my mind.

⁽⁽ଘ( ˊᵕˋ )ଓ⁾⁾‎  토끼's NOTE : HEY YALL SPECIAL TAN FIC FOR A SPECIAL SOMEONE WINK WINK. this has only 2.1k words SORRAY!!!! grammatical errors cuz its not proofread. ALSO TYSM FOR 100 FOLLOWS YAY I LITERALLY LOVE U ALL SM MUAH!!!!!

[schizophilus]

fenrir and propagation spores

woawo... this is going to be a long post - but mostly analysis? i think? i wrote his story without any specific intentions; this is my interpretation on the significance of propagation spores in the story and therefore not a canon or confirmed intentionsto the points i will make below :3

i know people are like 'omg tayzzyronth bug hahahaha' but then if you look at it on a closer level... as always none is revised and but a lonngg ramble

TW// Sexual Assault, Rape, Human Trafficking, References to forced pregnancy and body horror, Religious Abuse.

purity and vulnerability:

I will be referring to Fenrir as Afen throughout this part as this was his name and will be important to separate Fenrir and Afen later on

Afen's childhood was with the 'Church'. His existence was defined by 'innocence' and he stood out among everyone as an embodiment of an idealized form of purity. For context, this was when he was like pure white green eyes pale skin lol. (CREDIT TO YILENN)

TLDR; baby fenrir was implied to be abused because he grows up in church but isolated from other kids not because he was strange but because he was closer to the caretaker and his appearance makes him look like a holy thing rather than a person like others. and he was more devoted to the caretaker than God. and also this was when he had his propagation spores.

It was very clear he was more 'prized' than the other children - visually coded to be 'untainted'; white garments, soft lamb-like features, very small and petit in figure and gentle in nature. Obviously more catered to by the caretakers and separated from the other orphans of The Church. This 'purity' and distinction from others renders him a target, making him an object of reverence and predation as he was closer to the adults more than he was with kids his 'age.'

His bond with the head priest, aka 'Father', is what further solidifies this implied abuse. He's very close with Father and is at his beck and call overall. Afen was not faithful to the God but rather his caretaker. While other kids are called the Lord's Children, he referred to as the Priest's Son. Again, setting up a clear distinction and showing cracks of twisted faith under the Church roof. Afen is religious, somewhat, but he's more devoted to his Caretaker than his faith because in his eyes he was made to believe that they are the people that saved him, not God.

Usually, perpetrators of abuse are those close by to the victims. Father might have sets Afen away from other kids so that he'd have more 'control' and trust from Afen to normalize his actions.

Although I think the alb was a funny situation I wrote up. (Afen tweaking out cuz his alb was dirty) - now that I think about it it could be a foreshadow that he was never God's child, he was always the dirty Priest's Son. Just... think.

more propagation spores i dont know what to name this part

tldr: propagation spores is a metaphor for not only trauma but also STDs

while birth is a cherished thing, everyone loves a creation of life - not so much for propagation spores. Whatever comes from them are seen as grotesque creations (yk the swarm) - but even if they aren't physically gruesome, once figured out that they're from the spores they are just as bad and avoided - like AFEN!!! boy who was born from the spores!! (woo lore reveal)

the spores function as a metaphorical extension of systematic sexual violence. sexual assaults often strip away autonomy to something more biologically determined (like used only for sex). back to the birth thing - his body is now determined to be a 'motherbrood' of them bugs. reflecting how survivors are often reduced to the trauma they endured after finding out the story, categorized by their perceived loss sense of purity rather than inherent personhood. however, for afen's case - it is hard to recognize the latter when the spores affect him physically. people can see the spores growing under his clothes.

afen suffering is unacknolwedge by those complicit, obviously. the Church does not seek to rectify the harm but rather shunned and caged out of the place; discarded as a 'proof' for the Father's powers from God. If the symbol of purity in the church is tainted, who is there to help if not the Father who got rid of it? Evil man. His existence becomes an unspoken shame, negated by the very institution that once claimed to hold him in reverence.

I think him being forcefully implanted with spores and then being shunned out very much parallels real life CSA victims who had STDs or other physical disabilities from these assaults - especially those in orphanage or churches (speaking from experience heh), they'll never be taken care of because they bear diseases and disability and most often 'too old to take care of'. just left there until something is figured out. Talking about STDs, the way propagation spores are treatedhere also mirrors how people with HIV were treated back then - adding up to implications of Fenrir being a gay man but we'll get into that in another post :)

BUT! another side note- THE WAY THE CHURCHMEN injected the spores into him and calls it 'the order of tayzzyronth' or whatever, especially more convincing in his case is that tayzzyronth EXIST and he has solid proof that whatever this spores does to him WILL 'help' their cause. this obviously parallels the way abusers often rationalize their actions as 'necessary' or 'ordained' he loves others so much he would never go against an order that would help...augh...

commodification and cycle of abuse for comfort

tdlr: victims of abuse are often not cared for and are most likely conditioned to be normalizing more abusive behaviors - making them more prone to more abuse jus like Afen

expelled from the church, Afen is immediately taken to a new paradigm of explotation- human trafficking. His time in the church had conditioned his trust and longing for compationship - making him more vulnerable to manipulation and abuse. An open an free, easy target all the while the spores still spreads, embedding deeper into his skin.

im running out of energy to type here aughugh augh

at this stage it highlights how victtims who went through systematic abuse are usually conditioned into cycles of continued subjugation. this could also be a metaphor for trauma lingering, especially when the victim does nothing but put themselves in a situation where they would only 'nuture; the trauma, making it worse. the infection is invisible, but it would soon fester. something that threaten to consume his humanity and reduce him into uuhhh bug.

uhm part self conscious

passing from auctions to auctions - he was finally not shackled by chains when the cargo crash landed into TALIA KINGDOM OF BANDITRY AKA THE STARRY JUNKYARD AKA MY FAVORITE PLANET due to uhh the swarm fucking shit up. this eventual abandonment was written to be an act of mercy, like salvation because Afen prayed for it and in Talia, he regained a sense of agency by cutting himself from his old name; but i think it could also be a final rejection; deemed valueless once his exploitative potential is exhausted - to the trashland you go.

This part will refer to Afen as Fenrir :3

not related i just think this is cute cuz theyre in talia now

Fenrir was picked up by a nomadic clan consist of other members similar to him - discarded by the world into the crashsites banded together to fight to live. it sounds nice, because it was. however yk what wasn't nice? the clan leader AND THE SPORES

although he was accepted, it was clear he was isolated from the rest of the clan. a blinded man always suited up to the full, covering all inches of skins because no one dared to touch a vessel of propagation. he was denied cyber implants because no one wants to operate on hiM!!! so fenrir just spends his days in talia disabled and in chronic agonizing pain. but he lives on, because indominable human spirit. he has lived this long and this far he wouldnt surrender type shit but also he kinda forgot he can die. => again similar to how victims would devote themselves into pleasing their abuser, brainwashed in a way. but i think this is a bit of a reach, fenrir might just forgor cuz he got too much shit going on.

fenrir perceives himself as permanently tainted. despite being the caretaker roles to the kids in the clan and somewhat a guardian to younger lads, he rejects the notion of biologically bearing a family (heavily implied). obviously as a belief that he was too corrupted to impart anything of value -> in fact, his children would be the spores' children. not his.

struggling with the belief that he was irrevocably marked by trauma, unfit for love, connection or even lineage and his surrounding further reinforces this notions by refusing to include him in fear of the spores and other measures of distancing. this mirrors the experience of real life victim struggling to accept themselves too :3

orderr limbo

i love fencest (fenrir -> afen respectively)

throughout limbo lore, he spends time with a faux aventurine right. check the recap here, the last few paragraphs :3

despite spending his days working for 'aventurine' in the end - he ultimately gave his love to himself. this is not just passively enduring, but passively tear away the spores. you have to work to love kinda. this act embodies him reclaiming himself as someone beyond trauma, acknowledging his scars won't price his worth.

this acceptance of himself over giving into the spores was the reason why he broke free from it and stopped the second swarm from happening :3

this whole process is just not him alone, the journey itself shown that he was seen as Fenrir and not just Propagation Vessel by many. He was loved. This COULD be done by his internal willpower alone but it was also catalyzed by external affirmation. Notably his connection with Aventurine - someone who knew him blindly. A person who did not know him as a vessel or a victim, but rather a partner to survive with - an autonomous person.

while one can accept themselves, it is important for survivors to have a tangible proof than they are more than what happened. for fenrir, aventurine was the proof :3

---

uh yapsess over i need to organize the stories more. i will get something coherent.... one day...

[xoheisse]

TW : mention of sexual violence

-------------------------------------

russian soldiers raped women aged 19 to 83 in Kherson region, placing relatives nearby so they could hear the screams, UN Commission says.

According to the head of the independent international commission of inquiry into violations in Ukraine, Erik Møse, in some cases torture was used with such cruelty that it led to the victim's death.

"The team has gathered evidence that indicates that the use of torture by the Russian military was widespread and systematic," Mr. Møse emphasized.

---------------------------------------

[crystalis]

^ link to the report

(continuation of tweet and excerpt from the report under Read More)

"The human rights situation in the United States continued to deteriorate in 2023. In the United States, human rights are becoming increasingly polarized. While a ruling minority holds political, economic, and social dominance, the majority of ordinary people are increasingly marginalized, with their basic rights and freedoms being disregarded. A staggering 76 percent of Americans believe that their nation is in the wrong direction.

Political infighting, government dysfunction, and governance failure in the United States have failed to protect civil and political rights. Bipartisan consensus on gun control remains elusive, contributing to a continued surge in mass shootings. Approximately 43,000 people were killed by gun violence in 2023, averaging 117 deaths per day. Police brutality persists and at least 1247 deaths were attributed to police violence, marking a new high since 2013, yet the law enforcement accountability system remains virtually nonexistent. Taking up less than 5 percent of the global population, the United States accounts for 25 percent of global prison population, earning the title of a "carceral state." Political infighting intensifies as parties manipulate elections through gerrymandering, leading to "Speaker crisis "for twice in the House of Representatives, further diminishing the government's credibility, with only 16 percent of Americans trusting the federal government.

Deep-rooted racism persists in the United States, with cases of severe racial discrimination. United Nations experts point out that systemic racism against African Americans has permeated the U.S. police force and criminal justice system. Due to significant racial discrimination in the healthcare sector, the maternal mortality rate for African American women is nearly three times that of white women. Nearly 60 percent of Asians report facing racial discrimination, with the "China Initiative" targeting Chinese scientists having far-reaching consequences. Racist ideologies proliferate across multiple sectors such as social media, music, and gaming, and spill over across borders, making the United States a major exporter of extreme racism internationally.

The United States is witnessing intensified wealth inequality, with the phenomenon of "Working poor" becoming more pronounced, and the economic and social rights protection system is seen as ineffective. Long-standing disparities in the distribution of income between labor and capital have resulted in the most severe wealth gap since the Great Depression of 1929. There are 11.5 million low-income working families in the United States, but the federal minimum wage has not been raised since 2009. As of 2023, the purchasing power of one U.S. dollar has declined to 70 percent of its value in 2009. Low-income families struggle to afford basic necessities such as food, rent, and energy, leading to over 650,000 people experiencing homelessness, reaching a new high in 16 years. "Working poor" has shattered the "American Dream" for hardworking individuals, contributing to the broadest wave of strikes since the beginning of the 21st century, occurring in 2023.

Women and children's rights in the United States have long been systematically violated, with constitutional provisions for gender equality remaining absent. The United States remains the only UN member state that has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In April 2023, the U.S. Senate rejected a constitutional amendment to guarantee gender equality. In the United States, approximately 54,000 women lose their jobs annually due to pregnancy discrimination. Over 2.2 million women of childbearing age cannot access maternity care. At least 21 states have enacted bans or strict restrictions on abortion. Maternal mortality has more than doubled in the past two decades. Sexual violence is rampant in workplaces, schools, and homes. Children's rights to survival and development are in jeopardy, with many children excluded from healthcare assistance programs. Gun violence remains a leading cause of child deaths, and drug abuse is rampant among youth. Forty-six states have been found to underreport around 34,800 cases of missing foster children.

The United States, a country that has historically and presently benefited from immigration, faces severe issues of exclusion and discrimination against immigrants. Practices of exclusion and discrimination against immigrants have been deeply ingrained in the U.S. institutional structure, from the infamous Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to the internationally condemned “Muslim Ban” in 2017. Today, the immigration issue has become a tool for partisan gain and political blame-shifting, with politicians disregarding the individual rights and welfare of immigrants. Immigration policies are simplified into partisan positions of "If you support, I oppose," ultimately becoming political theatrics to manipulate voters. The immigration crisis falls into a vicious cycle, with immigrants and children subjected to widespread arrests, human trafficking, and exploitation. The hypocrisy of political polarization and the hypocritical nature of American human rights are glaringly evident in the immigration issue.

The United States has long pursued hegemonism, practiced power politics, and abused force and unilateral sanctions. Continuous delivery of weapons such as cluster munitions to other countries exacerbates regional tensions and armed conflicts, resulting in a large number of civilian casualties and severe humanitarian crises. Extensive "proxy forces" operations undermine social stability and violate the human rights of other nations. Guantanamo Bay prison remains open to this day."

[konoa-t]

Emoji ask game for more characters

Mort: ❤️🍀🧠

Ackley: 🍀🌺

Oron: ❤️🌺

Yippeeee ty again!

[TW: Violence, implied gore]

Mort:

Heart - one of Mort’s best memories is when he got to enact revenge on one of the DE Creatures who was involved in torturing him. I won’t go into too much detail, but he wasn’t very kind to them, to say the least. He kinda sorta had a very slow and painful death, mostly involving being systematically ripped limb from limb (yikes lmao).

Clover - Very feral characters like Baraka (Mortal Kombat), Cyberpsychos (Cyberpunk), etc are kinda what sparked the idea to make Mort. Rico from Penguins of Madagascar was also kind of the template for his personality, as he’s what got me started on the whole “feral character” trope.

Brain - Something I like most about Mort is his uncanny yet lovable demeanor. His violent and animalistic tendencies can probably be a bit off-putting at first, but i feel like that’s also part of his charm. Something is seriously wrong with this guy, and ya just can’t wait to find out what it is, as well as what he’ll do next.

Ackley:

Clover - While he mostly just developed on his own, something that initially inspired Ackley was the funny and flirtatious type of characters. One major influencer of his personality is Donut from Red vs. Blue!

Hibiscus - He’s had multiple love interests throughout the course of his life, though he is currently quite interested in Yumi*… He also thought Dawn was pretty, but he backed off once he found out she was dating Jamie.

*still on the fence about making this canon, as I do want to give her another chance at love, but I worry about crossing over into Mary Sue territory by having more than one man be in love with her.

Oron:

Heart - Oron’s greatest memory would be when he made brooches for all of his friends! He loved seeing the pleased looks on their faces after he gave the brooches to them (it was for a school project!)

Hibiscus - He does have a love interest! While he was still alive, he was very much in love with Yumi. However, the colony forbids love between two warriors**, so he could never manage to confess to her. (Its pretty much the whole “star-crossed lovers” trope)

**note that this is only for two warriors of the same colony. If a knight were to date an outsider (or a civilian from the colony), then it would be fine by their standards.

[callofthxvoid]

Please welcome PENELOPE "PENNY" LANE (SHE/HER) to Huntsville, WV. She is a 32-year-old VISITOR who lives in TOWN. You may see her around working as a STYLIST AT BEST CUTS. Poor unfortunate soul. We’ll see if she survives.

quick facts

Title: The Bon Vivant

Name: Penelope Rhiannon Lane

Nickname: Penny

Date of Birth: September 21, 1991

Age: 32

Place of Birth: Missoula, Montana

Hometown: Hamilton, Montana

Languages: English, French, Spanish

Faceclaim: Suki Waterhouse

Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality: Polyamorous Pansexual

Relationship Status: In an open relationship with Sebastián Corazón

personality

Myers-Briggs: ENTJ - The Commander

Enneagram: Type Seven - The Enthusiast (7w8)

Moral Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Occupation: Career Criminal / Stylist at Best Cuts

Role: Neither

[+] charming, eloquent, graceful, persuasive [-] deceptive, manipulative, materialistic, vain

Character Inspirations: Delilah Briarwood (Critical Role), Jamie Moriarty (Elementary), Monica "Darling" Costello (Baby Driver), Regina George (Mean Girls), Heather Chandler (Heathers), Kathryn Merteuil (Cruel Intentions)

background

TW: being the Worst Human Being™

Growing up, Penny—not her real name—was a typical girl next door in a typical small town. Her parents hosted neighbourhood barbecues, her little sister wanted to be just like her, and she had a group of childhood friends whom she stayed close with from daycare through high school. She was pretty, popular, and practically perfect in every way, but everything about her was a lie. She didn't care about anything in her life.

She was constantly bored, always longing for a more exciting existence, convinced that she was too good for her small town and that she was destined for bigger and better things. When she was eighteen years old, she left without saying goodbye and started using her considerable talents as an actress and her uncanny ability to read people to systematically con her way into the life that she thought she deserved.

Two years later, she met Bastián and it was love at first sight. He was the only person she had ever met who not only didn't immediately bore her, but actually managed to keep her interest, and she quickly recognised him as a kindred spirit. The two of them spent the next decade together indulging in both their own and each other's worst impulses, committing crime, doing violence, and generally conning their way across half the globe, before inadvertently ending up in Huntsville while on the road.

A year later, Penny has grown increasingly tired of being stuck in a small town that she cannot leave, especially because she has to keep a lower profile here than she would normally want. She does her best to keep herself entertained, and it would really be in everyone's best interest to ensure that she does not run out of projects that amuse her—because Penny is never more dangerous than when she is bored.

misc

Everything about her identity, including her name and birthday, are a fabrication. They are specifically fabrications taken from songs: Penny Lane by The Beatles, Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac, and September by Earth, Wind & Fire.

She speaks with a British English accent.

[zosonils]

will y'all stop fucking calling snowgrave a genocide route. even putting aside the understandable discomfort a lot of people have with referring to undertale's kill everyone run as that [which is an entire post on its own] that's literally not what you're doing. you aren't hunting down and murdering every single darkener until there are no more left in any given area, you're emotionally manipulating noelle into defeating them all in battle and also [possibly] killing berdly, who is one guy. there's a difference. if you're gonna use that term for the most murdery endings at least fucking use it correctly

[sokokoko]

ATOTT Opening (tw: blood, violence)

Are you satisfied? Are you content? Your dripping fists tremble in tandem with the rest of you and I can only wonder; is it enough yet? Up goes your shuddering ribcage. Moments later, it sinks down, forcing out a weighty exhale. Yes, it's fine. Though you are doing things that could be considered bad, you're doing good. Good things that will only help.

Who are you kidding?

You slide down the wall in one harsh movement, practically throwing yourself against it. The wall chips away, chunks of stone careening to the concrete below. Dust particles dance through the air and flit into your nostrils, some sneaking their way into your mouth to rest upon your tongue. You cough and bring your knees up against your chest to protect your face just a little. It seems that you only know how to protect yourself. It is only you who benefits from all this ‘work’ you've been doing.

You like it. Love it, in fact. That fresh shot of adrenaline that makes you feel as if you've been resurrected. As if you're living for the first time, in fact. Violence is a habit, fighting is your passion. Perhaps it's even your raison d’être. What reason is there for you to be if not for you to win? To be victorious and bring back the spoils so that you may prosper?

Oh?

Your family? The one who loves you so dearly? Of course it's all for them. Although, there is something you want even from your parents, isn't there? Your traitorous mind slices through those rising emotions, asking, when was the last time you received that acknowledgment?

Now is not the time for that. Your bloodstained fists clench and shake not in fear, but in fury. You're too mad, too tired, to stand. You only stumble forward onto your knees and crawl towards your victim. Your former opponent. A brash and cocky man from some rival gang you can't be bothered to remember the name of (that is what your superiors are for).

Brutalise him, your soul whispers. But haven't you done enough?

You reel your arm back and a series of cracks grace your ears. Pound and reel. Pound and reel. Pound and reel and crack. Were those bones? Or something else? Who's bones? Yours? The grunt’s?

You stand with wobbling legs, sticky, maroon-coated hands clutching onto the wall. Rivulets of blood tickle your skin as they slide down your arms, caressing them. Stiff fingers twitch and you still can't tell who's blood you're wearing. Under the blood is older blood, brown flecks flaking off as you take out your phone. You dial a number and the sound of it ringing echoes throughout the desolate alleyway. The grunt you brutalised does not even stir.

The ringing cuts off and you say, “I got him, Ocelot. What should I do with the goods?”

“Destroy them,” her chilled voice answers. “A simple fire will do.”

You hold the phone between your ear and shoulder then source a box of matches from your pocket. With a rapid strike, a fire starts. You kick open the briefcase next to the man and toss the match into it. And then you light another. And another. You systematically ignite and toss them at the 'goods’, until there's none left.

“And the grunt?” you ask.

“Leave him,” Ocelot says. “Good work, Everett.”

A shard of ice twists in your chest at the praise.

“It's my job,” you say. You hang up.

The walk home is dark and cold but your body is too numb to feel frigid. Though your chest is heavy, your body is hollow.

***

Twice Upon Time (3rd pov)

She had always considered the world to be hers. And until that pesky group of divinity started speaking to her, it was. It filled her with glee to see the world warp to her whims and follow the true paths she set up. However, it was admittedly easy to ignore the way their voices whispered in her ears, feebly trying to tell her what to do.

“Adele,” they'd say, whiny, whispery and echoing in her head.

The Grey Mother would always point out things that she felt Adele should fix. She used the honeyed voice of Adele’s mother to try and coax the girl into doing things. Her words never seemed to be suggestions but like the others Grey lacked a commanding presence.

“Addy, look at that girl!” Grey said. Adele didn't bother. Instead she continued seeking her friends in their game of hide and seek.

“Adele.” The Haughty ‘Hero’—otherwise known as a sarcastically said ‘Hero’—had a flat and disappointed tone to his voice. Like always. “It would be kind of you to go and help that girl.” When Hero offered suggestions he turned his voice warm.

“Still can't find them,” she said to herself, huffing and resolutely ignoring the voices in her head. She peeked around a bush.

“The poor thing fell down and scraped her knee,” Worry warbled, distraught. Worry was called Worry, well, because they always worried and catastrophised about what would happen if Adele didn't help someone. Faintly, she felt a vein bulge and start to throb in her head. She grit her teeth.

“Okay, Worry, shut up,” Adele snapped. “She should’ve been looking where she was going. If I help her she won't learn.”

She felt other voices begin to protest and winced at the noise inside her head. One of the hiders emerged from behind a tree, concerned.

“Addy, are you alright?” the boy asked. Adele waved him off.

“No, sorry, it's just a little headache. Keep hiding.” Her voice was gentle and even but inside she was seething, teeth grinding against one another.

She felt the voices sigh. Whatever were they ever going to do with her?

***

TUT (2nd pov)

You are a monster.

You are unruly, disobedient and cold.

When you discovered the voices of the gods in your head, you shunned them but embraced the power you were so graciously given. Time and time again, we’ve tried to set you straight. If you would just listen then the world would surely be a better place.

“Addy,” one of us would say. “Wouldn't it be awfully kind of you to help them?” You turned your nose up at the gentle tone and deemed that part of us The Grey Mother, for the use of your own mother's voice. Conniving, you called it, though not so eloquently.

“It would be kind of you to go and help that girl,” another would say righteously. You called him The Haughty ‘Hero’—otherwise known as a sarcastically said ‘Hero’. Normally when he spoke, his voice was flat and dry but it turned warm when he offered you suggestions. But no matter how warmly that part of us spoke you ignored our words yet again.

The Hero’s tone was forceful and pressurising, you said, though Hero’s voice was softer than the clouds in the sky. You would say it's manipulation. That he was only nice to you when he wanted something.

You would continue your game of hide and seek, or whatever it is you were doing, and resolutely ignore our voices in your head. Or at least until the one you came to know as Worry would warble something like, “Adele, the poor thing fell down and scraped her knee!” You called Worry Worry, well, because they always worried and catastrophised about what would happen if you didn't help someone.

When Worry would whine, your veins would bulge and start to throb in your head. You’d grit your teeth and snap, “Okay, Worry, shut up. She should’ve been looking where she was going. If I help her she won't learn.”

A cacophony of voices would chime in to disagree with you and make their point but you would wince at the noise inside your head. But it was only natural, humans weren't made for the Divine to whisper in their heads.

One of the hiders would emerge from behind a tree, or something of the sort, with visible concern.

“Addy, are you alright?” they’d ask. But you only waved them off and spoke in a gentle voice even though, internally, you were seething and your teeth were grinding against one another.

“Yes, sorry, it's only a little headache. Keep hiding.”

And we would just sigh. Because what were we supposed to do with an Apostle like you? One so monstrous, disobedient and cold?

No more, we said.

***

Winter Blues

This is my oldest one ⬆️ so maybe not as good as the others but I quite like it.

Hot take, 2nd pov is a great tool not just something to be diminished into a cringey way for 12 year old girls to write about their dreams of being sold to one direction or the bts mafia vampires (no hate, I get it)

I have written some things in 2nd pov that I think are great and although it uses the word "you", my second povs are often a supposed person, rather than the readers themselves.

Let me explain my thought process.

3rd person omniscient is the farthest a reader can be from the characters. An all knowing perspective where you are less close to a specific character as you're able to experience everyone's thoughts.

3rd person close is sticking close to one character but you remain in 3rd person, using he, she, they, the character's name, etc. written like first person, as you are in their head, but the fact of it using 3rd person pronouns creates distance

1st person is being very close to the character. I know some people actually don't like it for this reason. The usage of I is immersive to the point where it feels like we're intruding on this person's mind. Like reading a diary. That's why some books that are first person are actually written like diaries.

Now, if we continue on to 2nd person, this is the furthest extreme of closeness one can get to the character. This can understandably be uncomfortable for some.

I have used 2nd person to act as a voice in the character's head. 2nd person can be discomforting, creepy, and I think that's great. The reader is so deep in the character's mind, it is as if they are the character but I like to use it with the idea that the character is their own being.

I'll be reblogging this with snippets of each of my examples.

A cherished example of me using 2nd pov is how I use it in A Tale Of Two Tyrants. The opening of ATOTT is my very favourite. In the MC's extreme moments of violence there is a shift in second person as he divorces himself from the accustomed action of violence.

For a creative writing thing a few years back, I wrote Winter Blues, where "you" trudged through the snow while a derisive 2nd pov narrator spoke to you, narrating your actions and chiding you for dillydallying as you pondered what colour to call the sky. Using words like "nonsense" and "pettifogging" to describe the break you take for your admiration of the sky

And I did an exercise where I rewrote a thing that was originally in 3rd into 2nd pov. The narrator was the collective of voices that canonically reside in the MC's head, speaking as an "us"

[cozyandtender]

Unfriendly reminder that YES all cops!! That includes your racist bastard relative! That includes your racist bastard partner! That includes the racist bastard cop you see on TV! ALL cops are part of a group that systematically MURDERS black people! It is NOT police brutality! It is MURDER!!! George Floyd begged for his life! He told officers he couldn’t breathe, his throat hurt, his whole body hurt! you better REMEMBER the name George Floyd say his name in your home, on the street, at work! George Floyd was MURDERED by police! This. Was. MURDER. and it isn’t the first time it’s happened!!!! It’s happening all the time everywhere! The police have been systematically murdering black people since the police were formed. ABOLISH the police! Fuck the pigs! BLACK!!! LIVES!!!! MATTER!!!!!