#unfortunately this means one less reason to be ignoring The Guy from The Show.

[pyrodolls]

can you write sounding with one of the yan boys or ignoring them because of something?

GIVING SUPERFAN! AND STALKER! YANDERE BOYS THE COLD SHOULDER HCS

WARNINGS: obsessiveness, sfw, some slight su!c!de references, bayani is basically a servant and victor needs a therapist, just overall unhealthy behavior cuz they're yanderes. (i do not condone yanderes irl and this is for writing purposes) gender neutral reader, no use of y/n.

A/N: hey guys i just found out my best friend might be dating my ex bf (that made me hide in my house for a year) which is funny bc he told me "not to worry about her" while we were dating. and my birthday is in 2 hours so it's quite an unfortunate time to find out that they've apparently been dating for a few months. if it's true, then whatever LMFAOOO now she's gotta deal with him and it ain't my problem. also thanks for 1k followers, you guys are awesome!! sorry for not updating much, i just don't have a lot of motivation these days

if you ignored bayani...

bro do you *want* him to jump off a cliff???

he is panicking. he is having a CRISIS

bayani lives to please you. if he's talking to you and you just ignored him for whatever reason, he would be heartbroken. absolutely crushed.

he would attempt to ask what's wrong, and fix it as soon as possible. as much as he enjoys being mistreated by you, he'd hate for you to be upset with him for an extended period of time.

his first instinct is to fix whatever he did wrong. he would automatically blame himself, even if it wasn't actually his fault.

he always seeks your love and validation. if you were to ignore him, he would literally sink into the floor and die.

if you forgive him and stop ignoring him, he would be overjoyed. and he'd be less clingy, and a lot more careful around you. he wouldn't want you to get mad at him ever again. that would be his worst nightmare. if you want him to return to his old self, let him know he can be clingy again. if you don't, he'll remain cautious around you for the rest of his life. he just wants you to be happy with him. he can hold himself back from showing too much affection if it means you'll approve of him.

if you ignored victor...

yeah no he's not having it lmao

he'd be so butthurt. and unlike bayani, victor would be very annoying and start hanging around you more. usually he lets you do the talking, or follows you around from a far distance. but if you started ignoring him, he'd become more talkative just to piss you off.

he hates being ordered around, so he's not gonna let you stop him from interacting with you. he's gonna keep talking to you and hanging around you no matter what.

it'd take about a week for him to get agitated. he'd wonder what he did wrong, and try to ignore his insecurities by pushing them on you. instead of drowning in his sorrow, he'd turn it into anger and blame you. you're the one being unreasonable, he did nothing wrong. of course he doesn't believe that, but that's what he would convince himself. he would rather take his anger out on you, the love of his life, rather than admit how unhappy he is with himself and how he treats others.

he'd find ways to punish you for your behavior. as much as he loves you, he won't accept any disrespect. he takes it as a huge blow to his (very fragile) ego.

BUT if you gave up and started talking to him again, he'd get a huge ego boost. of course you'd talk to him again, he's just irresistible! this was totally expected... even though he was crying in his bedroom every night wondering why you weren't talking to him and got very insecure, wondering what he did to make you mad at him. would he ever confess this, though? nope.

he's too prideful to admit that he missed your voice and attention, but he'd show how sorry he is by helping you with chores and work. if you bring it up, he'll say something along the lines of: "i'm not doing this because i'm sorry... i just think you weren't doing it right. i know how to do it better."

this insecure and bratty ass man child would rather sit naked on a hot grill than verbally say sorry lmao

[burst-of-iridescent]

Aang was indeed a bad father. It's way past time we stopped making excuses for him.

An all too common defense for Aang is the fact that he's a monk and is not well-versed in how parenting looks. Yeah! No shit! But do you know who is well-versed? Katara! They talk as if Aang is a single parent like Toph but he is not. Katara's been on Aang's side since the day they met, always stood up for him, always complimented him.

Is this really the thanks she gets? Are they really that disinterested in explaining Katara's side of the story? As if her not getting a statue wasn't insulting enough.

Another major flaw in this defense is that Aang is not just a monk. He's the avatar. This means, part of mastering all elements also means embodying all of the ideologies based on said elements. That includes elements/ideologies completely opposite of his own. His daughter's crack about Aang "cutting and running when things get tough" shows that he's learned absolutely nothing.

We never truly see him master all the elements, he just gets them and, more or less, calls it a day. I'm even beginning to doubt that he's truly mastered his default airbending and he just got his tattoos prematurely because the monks were impressed with his scooter invention.

Zuko got the privilege of understanding the ideologies of other nations, allowing him to grow, and unlearn any toxic masculinity lessons through them, and would blow a gasket if he ever saw a kid get mistreated by a parent in any way. Is it really any wonder why Zuko is the more popular character and the most requested choice for Katara, in comparison to Aang?

using the "but he was a monk!" argument to excuse aang's bad parenting is fucking baffling to me. even leaving aside that aang did have a father figure (or are we collectively ignoring monk gyatso?), i don't think you need to witness fatherhood in action to understand that showing preferential treatment to one of your children is a messed up thing to do. that seems like the kind of thing that should be common sense, especially when you're best friends with the guy who's walking proof of what happens when you play favourites with your kids.

truthfully, i also don't fully agree with katara being able to compensate for aang's supposed lack of knowledge. while i do believe katara was a good mother, and i don't think it was her responsibility to teach her own husband how to be a good parent, i have my doubts about how much, if ever, katara called aang out on his behaviour towards bumi and kya. if their relationship in atla was any indication, i suspect katara very much turned a blind eye (or at most tried to gently suggest that aang pay more attention to bumi and kya) to aang's flaws in this area, as she (unfortunately) does in most others. that's one of the reasons i was never able to get onboard with kat.aang, because katara is the only one of the gaang who is never able to meaningfully challenge aang, even when he desperately needs it. (the only time i recall her trying to push him to do something he doesn't want is in sozin's comet when the fate of the literal world depended upon it. not a good omen, methinks.)

the katara we knew in atla might not have idly sat by while aang favored his airbending child over the others, but the seeds for who she turns out to be in lok are already planted. it's not a stretch to see how katara's blind faith in aang, and her unwillingness to confront his flaws, could have easily led her down the path to the woman who would fail to stop her husband from neglecting two of their children.

it's no surprise that aang in lok is repeating all the same mistakes he did in atla, because his character arc came to a screeching halt at the start of book 3 and was never picked back up again. how are we meant to believe that aang ever became the avatar (yknow, the embodiment of all four nations in one) when he was still, at the very end of the show, prioritizing the values of one nation over the others?

truly the shocker of the century that people might prefer katara to be with a character who had a believable arc with well-written development and a satisfying conclusion, instead of the narrative equivalent of a brick wall.

[yamcha-thelonewolf]

🫀The Heart's Savior.

Today I want to discuss a fairly complex topic that I will have to divide into three parts. I do not know when I will publish the remaining two, but I will certainly try to be as quick as possible to complete it as soon as possible. Well, the title of this topic is clearly a pun. King Kai would probably love it, because as you can imagine the word "heart" is musically related to the word "earth." This creates a close connection between two terms that are absolutely linked in Dragon Ball. The point is that in our story we often talk about earth's saviors, which is normal since the goal is to save the planet at all costs. However, it seems to me that nowhere is it written that only muscles and ultra-powered energy balls are always needed to protect the earth. Sometimes the heroic gesture happens even beyond the battlefield, and it does not even have to be addressed to the whole world. It would be enough to help even one person, and that could make all the difference. From this point of view Yamcha has done a lot, but unfortunately his good deeds have always gone unnoticed or foolishly ignored. So today I will try to bring back to the forefront his personal heroism, which as far as I am concerned had its little best between the Androids Saga and the Cell Saga.

I will divide the three parts in a temporal sense. The first part will be about the past, the second part about the present, and the third part about the future, so that it will be very clear to everyone how Yamcha's contribution has seriously saved the whole arc of Dragon Ball.

So... Let's not waste any more time!

Are you ready, wolfpack? Let's get started!

PART 1: The Past.

In order to better understand all that will follow, it is good to specify once again what Yamcha's role in the story consists of: he is basically a support. This does not mean that his character automatically takes a back seat, but simply that his personality causes him to behave in a certain way, surely different from all the other warriors who immediately take the field. Many people laugh that Yamcha is a coward who prefers to shy away from battles, but that is not true. Yamcha is there. He has always been there, and no matter what, he has always tried in his own way to help.

Few people notice it, but I cannot help but realize how in these two arcs he has fought the most dangerous battle of all. No, guys, I am not joking or overestimating the character. Keep following me and you will understand better.

The chapter "The Past" is perhaps the one that most shows what I think, as well as the most important. Here we will talk about the one and only Goku, who has been part of Yamcha's life since the days when they were a child and a young boy respectively. You know, the one between Yamcha and Goku is a long-term friendship. Think of it, it is even longer lasting than the friendship between Kuririn and Goku, since he met the bald kid some time after meeting the desert bandit. I know that time is relative when it comes to relationships, but I only want to emphasize this precisely to point out how much more intertwined Yamcha and Goku's lives are than you might think. For this reason, Goku won the first chapter. It is a symbolic way of saying that Yamcha cannot help but give thanks to his past.

Let's go in order.

The Androids and Cell Saga is certainly one of the most fascinating and memorable. The plot is considerably more intricate, a historical enemy, the Red Ribbon Army, returns, and most importantly we have the full Z-Fighters for the entire duration of the story arc. What is most beautiful is that everyone, in one way or another, makes a contribution, even those thought to be "weaker". For example, Tenshinhan's intervention trying to stop Cell's second transformation from absorbing Android 18 is unforgettable.

But... what about Yamcha? It really seems that he did not do much in the battle, but that is not the case. Well, he certainly fought less than Piccolo and Vegeta, but that doesn't mean he helped less than the others. First of all, we must take into account an absolutely essential event that strongly influenced Yamcha's future actions: upon the arrival of androids 19 and 20 he was the first to risk death. No, I should correct myself: he almost died. Had it not been for the Senzu bean, he would surely have died within a very few minutes, and even if he eventually survived, that does not mean that Yamcha has forgotten the pain he felt from that horrid hand completely perforating his chest.

This is a a full-fledged trauma. Not only that, it is also an epiphany for him, because at that moment he realizes that he is unable to cope with two such terribly strong monsters. Think how discouraging it must have been for him to have to accept the fact that he was knocked out practically at the beginning. If we then want to add that all this coincides with the separation from Bulma, which he certainly did not take well, let us say that this period was not the best for his already fragile personality hidden behind his great charisma.

However, a little later something extraordinary happens. It is a scene that I personally find as moving as it is realistic, simply because Yamcha proves once again that he is the most human of all. Unfortunately, this scene is seen by everyone as Yamcha's usual ridiculous moment, but the truth is that this is where he demonstrates all his greatness. I'm talking about the time when Goku suddenly gets sick from the disease and someone necessarily has to accompany him home to start treatment. Gohan is the first to offer, of course he is his father and cannot do otherwise, but he is immediately stopped by Yamcha who offers to do it for him.

This is the first time ever that Yamcha puts aside the pride that has often made him tenderly cocky and admits in front of everyone that he is the weaker one. I would have many things to say about this consideration of him, because I strongly believe that his problem is precisely that he has come to hasty opinions of himself precisely because of his fragile personality, but I will not discuss that now. Here, an interesting point is that he calls it pathetic to stand aside, but he is very wrong. There is nothing pathetic about accepting one's limitations and giving way to someone more capable. It is also a very good strategy. If Gohan had left, the chances of others being defeated would have been much higher. Taking away a strong member of the team would have only made things worse, so it makes sense that it should have been the least strong person to leave. This to me is the most exemplary test of courage of all. In Dragon Ball we have always seen proud, swaggering characters constantly bragging about their strength, but few times have we seen someone take a step back because staying might have only gotten in the way. The hole in his uniform is the greatest demonstration of this. You can see that he is ashamed of it, that a silent anger simmers inside him and that all the frustration accumulated over those years has reached its peak, but boy, let's just say that in saying that he is more badass than those who do not accept being second best. That's why I say Yamcha is incredible. He is the only one who took a step backward, not knowing that by doing so he was able to go beyond. This is the way of life. At some point you stop running aimlessly, you look inside yourself, and you realize that in order to move forward you must also know how to go back. That's what Mr. Popo had told him to do, but he was too young and blustery to listen to him. And that's okay. He's a human, let's never forget that.

I could end here. Yamcha leaving the group and entrusting the mission to heroes stronger than himself, but this is where the fun begins.

Just before getting up in the air, Piccolo warns him that there may be a risk that Goku's illness may be viral. This means that Yamcha, being in close contact with the infected, risks contracting the virus as much as the saiyan did. Actually, it is not confirmed anywhere that the virus is contagious. Piccolo assumed this from Trunks' words when he explained to Goku what would happen in a few years.

We only know with certainty that senzu can do nothing against this disease and especially that not even a super saiyan can recover from this illness. Did you get it right? This means that an earthling is totally unable to survive this disease. I mean, if a saiyan has no chance, a human being is triply doomed. We are back to square one. Yamcha is risking his life again, and this time against an absolutely unbeatable enemy that has defeated even Goku. Do you understand? Goku. If there was a margin of possibility to beat the androids, in this case it is completely impossible. So by agreeing to help Goku, consequently Yamcha also agrees that he can surely die. But this time he is not backing down. This time he is sure of what he is doing, just because his greatest goal is not to survive and avoid death but to support in his own way. Coward, huh? From here it is clear how dying is not his problem at all. Or rather, it is, but it does not matter if it means helping the one he loves and, in this case, the one who could save the entire planet.

This is how Yamcha's true nature comes out. Actually it is possible to notice it long before, but this time it is practically evident. I imagine him constantly searching for his place in the world, but the truth is that he has already found it, he just hasn't realized it yet. He hasn't realized that his job on the team is precisely to take care of everyone, even more than a magic bean can. It is a shame that even the authors did not realize this aspect of him. What the hell... Seriously, did no one notice how heroic Yamcha was at this point in the story? He remains there with him, keeping vigil for his friend, and with great bravery faces a battle in which emotions are also at stake.

The scenes in which Chichi and Yamcha care for Goku are among the sweetest in all of Dragon Ball. Yamcha is not required to stay because Chichi is already in the house, but he once again makes himself available to help as much as he can. Notcing how Goku struggles in pain, Yamcha's strength may be needed to block the saiyan and prevent him from unintentionally hurting himself or Chichi. What's more, assuming a worsening of the disease, thanks to the ability of flight Yamcha could transport him anywhere else in no time.

In some ways, he is also taking care of Chichi. A wife who sees her husband in so much pain can never cope alone, she needs support, comfort, someone to tell her that everything will be all right, and Yamcha is absolutely perfect for this role.

No one else among the Z-Fighter would be able to instill serenity in Chichi as Yamcha does. His patient, friendly temperament, always ready to reassure anyone, has surely prevented her from any crisis or attack of fear. One can well see how Yamcha's sensitivity goes beyond fine words. His mental elasticity leads him to reason quickly about all possible eventualities, so without a second thought he even suggests that Chichi take the medicine with him. Yet more proof of how he really loves everyone.

For example, this is a scene that explains very well what I mean. We're talking about filler, but I don't care. Whoever decided to do them must have understood that Yamcha deserved more. It is only a small detail, but at least it is highlighted how Yamcha's presence was crucial for Chichi and Goku himself. Here we can see Goku once again being sick, so Yamcha warns Chichi to retrieve the medicine again, but when she rushes to look for it she cannot find it, perhaps because she is so panicked that she does not understand anything more for a few moments. Sensing her confusion, Yamcha turns toward her and in no time comes to her rescue, pointing her to the exact spot where the medicine is. She grabs it and so Goku can once again stop suffering. I like to think that Yamcha's sixth sense, or ultimately his well-developed spirit of observation, helped him easily memorize where the medicine was at that time. His cool-headedness, coupled with his gentleness, were definitely a staple in Goku and Chichi's most intimate and fragile moment.

He also does so during the Cell Game, and this time together with another great character who deserves equally: Tenshinhan. This is one of my favorite scenes. Two great friends of Goku, initially villains and then both reformed to become his allies, stand before Goku when he is in trouble, to protect him from the Cell Juniors. It doesn't really matter that they are not strong enough to defend him forever, but just being there for him, acting as his human barrier, is one of the best moments. When I say that they could create a lot of good content for Earthlings, I am also referring to these kinds of scenes. It would be nice if they could recapture the atmosphere of this arc, where everyone lends a hand and everyone fights in their own way, even if they don't necessarily win.

Well… I know I've said as much as I know I could still say as much. I would just like to point out something. Doesn't it also seem to you that Yamcha is a bit like a guardian angel for Goku? Pay attention to that. Yamcha took care of Goku at the very time when he was most vulnerable. This shows how he has always been that big brother to him who has always watched over him. He took care of his heart at a time when not even a senzu could help him feel better, and going back to the past… He took care of Goku even in his most unconscious state, which is when he transforms into the Great Ape. The first time, being the only one who realized that his weak point was his tail, he had managed to stop him by cutting it off with Puar's help. But it is when Goku transforms for the second time that Yamcha shows off all his love for his friend, running up to Jackie Chun to stop him from hurling the kamehameha at the monster.

In the end, the moon was the target, but Yamcha and the others certainly could not have imagined that. I find it extremely emotional to see him desperate and ready to even hurt himself in order to prevent the death of his little friend.

As you can see, protecting Goku has always been part of Yamcha's instinct, and it is a pity that many have forgotten or ignored it. He is the character who most of all is moved by love, in every possible sense.

Therefore, while someone else gets the title of Earth's Savior, Yamcha absolutely wins that of Heart's Savior.

He's not pathetic. He's a true hero.

Well thank you, guys, for getting this far, whoever did it. Stay tuned for the other two parts of this topic and remember to never stop loving this beautiful wolf!

[raaorqtpbpdy]

Dead on Arrival

Written for the Phic Phight Prompts: In some hospitals, CPR is done to a patient despite them being declared dead on arrival. This is a courtesy to the family. The doctor doesn't expect the scream when they lay down the defibrillator paddles on the boy's chest (from @eyesofcrows), Danny gets caught in the middle of a bank robbery. Can he diffuse the situation without revealing his powers? (@wingedflight), and For some reason someone uses defibrillators on Danny, the feeling is all too familiar to him (@phantomphangphucker)

AO3 Link

[Warnings for blood, injury, violence, flashbacks, minor dissociation, hospitals, and near-death experiences]

Daniel Fenton was dead on arrival. Everyone there when he was brought to Amity Park General Hospital knew that. No pulse, no breathing, already cool to the touch. But his parents were inconsolable, desperate. They demanded something be done. So the doctor called for a defibrillator and started chest compressions, just for the parents' peace of mind. They'd just lost their fourteen-year-old son. It was the least the doctors could do to extend them this courtesy.

When the nurse came in with the defibrillator, they cut away the boy's shirt to press the paddles to his bare skin, ignoring the slick blood covering every inch of skin. They all knew nothing would come of this, that it was more or less for show, but they did it anyway. The nurse set the charge.

"Clear," warned the doctor before administrating the shock.

None of them were expecting the corpse to scream. A visceral, bone-chilling scream. A scream that rattled the windows, that made the lights in the whole hospital flicker with the force of it. A scream like the auditory incarnation of pain itself.

The doctors and nurses all slammed their hands against their ears, desperately trying to block out the sound, to no avail. It was the most horrible thing they'd ever heard in their lives. But it meant one thing. Danny Fenton was alive after all.

—

It was rare for Danny to encounter trouble with humans. He was a ghost hero, after all, so he mostly dealt with ghosts causing trouble. There were a few exceptions, like Freakshow, and sometimes Vlad, but even the exceptions were at least ghost-adjacent. These guys weren't.

They were one hundred percent human, committing a one hundred percent human crime. Two in the bank lobby, two more cracking the safe. Danny had just been coming to cash a birthday check when they showed up waving guns around and demanded everybody get down on the floor. It wouldn't have been fair for Danny to go ghost to fight a bunch of bank robbers, but of course, they were pointing guns at civilians, and he wasn't about to let that slide, either.

"That's it, nobody's gotta be a hero," one of the robbers said, and that sounded like a cue if ever Danny had heard one, because there was no way he was about to let that happen.

"Excuse me," he said, standing up to get their attention entirely on him. Immediately both the robbers in the reception area had their guns trained on him. It was preferable to having those things aimed at regular humans, not to mention an unfortunately familiar position for Danny to be in, so he had no trouble remaining calm as he raised his arms to show them he couldn't fight back.

"Si'down, kid," barked one of the robbers.

"I was just wondering if this is really the best use of your time," Danny said casually, staying on his feet, keeping the robbers' focus all on him. "I mean, surely you have better things to do than rot in prison, right?"

"There'll be no prison, 'cause we won't get caught!" the other robber said.

"Sure you won't," Danny said sardonically. "Except, you're not wearing masks, and this place is full of cameras." Idiots. Danny's presence might've given them a fighting chance, that is, if every public building in Amity Park hadn't made the switch to Fenton Spook-Proof Security Cameras about a year ago. "So I have to wonder what exactly your plan is here? Are you gonna get radical plastic surgery with the money you steal?"

The one closest to Danny smirked. "Robbie hacked the cameras before we came in, ain't that right, Robbie?"

"Uh... I thought Nick was supposed to do that," said the one standing by the teller's desk.

"What?!" said the first guy. "That was your job!"

"I don't know how to hack cameras, Jack." Robbie responded.

"Jack, Nick, and Robbie, huh?" Danny repeated. "Robbie the robber? Who's your fourth guy, Steal?"

"Melvin," Robbie said, "but his last name is Steel. How'd you know that?"

"And what's your last name?" Danny asked.

"Johnson, but I don't see what that has to do with anyth—"

"Robbie you fuckin' moron!" Jack groaned. "Now he knows our names and our faces!"

"Oh, shoot!" Robbie lowered his gun to slap a hand over his mouth.

"That's not a bad idea," Jack said, putting on a wicked grin and leveling his gun at Danny, whose eyes widened. "He can't talk if he's dead."

"Wait!" Danny shouted, but he didn't have time to say anything else before Jack shot several rounds into his gut and he collapsed backwards onto the floor.

Dark red bloomed across Danny's shirt. It stung a little, but it wasn't so bad, actually. Not as bad as an ecto-blast, but worse than a paper cut, he decided. Although, that could've just been because his brain hadn't caught up with the injury yet. His extremities were already loosing feeling as blood pumped out of the holes in his abdomen and pooled around him. It was a shame. Danny really liked this shirt, and now it was completely ruined.

He knew he'd bleed out before the police arrived, even though the robbers had failed to prevent the teller from tripping the silent alarm. He'd probably be okay in the long run, but he'd pass out for a bit while his body healed. All Danny could do was hope these idiots didn't realize that everyone else in the bank had also heard their names, and could therefore identify them just as well as Danny could. As long as he was the only one who got shot, everything was okay. That was his last thought before he lost consciousness from the blood loss.

The next thing Danny knew, was the all too familiar sensation of electricity shooting through his heart. It wasn't as strong as the last time, but it reminded him of it, of the portal accident, and the memory alone made it feel much much worse. The phantom pains that tore through him as he recalled the worst experience of his life increased the pain a thousand fold.

A scream ripped from his throat.

Whatever was happening in that moment didn't exist to him.

He had no idea where he was, or how he'd been zapped, or what else, or who else was around him.

All he could see was green.

All he could feel was a burning pain lighting up every nerve in his body, ionizing his atoms, rearranging his molecules.

The smell of ozone and charred meat filled his nose.

The metallic taste of blood overtook his mouth as electricity arced between his teeth.

His screams would echo in his head for months to come, would haunt his dreams as long as he haunted the Earth, perhaps longer.

It was overwhelming.

He was overwhelmed.

After a lifetime and a moment, the pain started to fade; the sensations ebbed. Everything was still. Everything was quiet, but for the ringing in his ear drums.

Danny felt floaty and faraway. He fisted his hands, digging his nails into his palms to ground himself, and pushed himself into a sitting position. Gradually, he became more aware of his surroundings.

He was in a hospital room. It smelled like antiseptic and blood. The light was out. Shattered glass glinted on the countertop. The hospital bed was thin but soft under his hands. He took a deep, shuddering breath.

No one seemed to be there until Danny looked down. A doctor, two nurses, and Danny's parents were all unconscious on the floor, blood dripping slowly from their ears. Alarmed, Danny checked to see if they were alive, and sighed in relief when they were.

He'd done this.

It was all his fault.

[sandandlightning]

The St Peters Cross

So honestly I want to share knowledge as much as start a discussion with this one.

For those who don't know, the ‘inverted’ cross commonly associated with Satanic imagery is actually the St Peters Cross. It's not traditionally a Satanic symbol.

I say ‘traditionally’ because the question I want to pose is: at what point does common societal reassociation outweigh the original meaning, if at all?

This question occurred to me when I was watching a tacky ghost hunter show for fun and the guy was like ‘omg!!! An inverted cross on this rock!!!! The ghost was a witch!!!!’ which like, obviously there are twenty things wrong with this, and I found myself snapping ‘thats the st peters cross you ignorant fuck’ on instinct, but it did get me thinking. Because you know, if the ghost was ‘modern’ enough and was being fed the same misinformation as Cheesy Host Guy? Maybe the ghost did identify as some kind of Satanist and that symbol was there with that intent, I don't know their life. (You know assuming like, something just didn't fall on the rock in a coincidental way. I believe in ghosts, but ghost shows are, you know, like that, haha.)

In linguistics, the meanings of words change over time as social associations with them change. This is brought up a lot when people try to point out slurs are words that ‘just mean x’ or ‘its just a color in another language'. But in this case, the cultural association from centuries of built up implications change the meaning of the word to something very specific in English. Less unfortunate examples would include the etymology of how American and British English have different meanings for some words (think cookies, crisps, chips, and biscuits).

Ergo, one might argue that, despite the initial association of the inverted cross with satanic themes originating from Some Guy that just went ‘upside down cross edgy’ in the 1800s, it is so divorced from its original meaning that the new, socially common meaning would be more accurate.

Of course, the difference here is that a religious symbol is very different than a word or normal colloquialism. One could also argue that by its nature there should be far more weight put on the original intent of its original users than something that is purely used for human to human communication. After all- am upside down cross might communicate to some guy in line behind me at Walmart ‘satanic’ but using it for the purpose of communicating with divinity or some kind of force- the point of a lot of religious symbols- it might cause a lot of mixed signals.

Like, obviously, I don't think Lucifer or whatever entity is so unaware of modern going ons that they wouldlook at someone trying to pray with a misapropriate symbol and just ignore them or go ‘what the fuck’. There would probably be a big helping of ‘hes a little confused, but he's got the spirit' I would think.

But at the same time I would feel that in ritual, using the traditional symbols might be stronger or more effective. But that also, in and of itself, is a question of debate. Because a new sigil made with the intent of communicating to an Entity that has a lot of personal meaning to the user I think is very powerful. But that is something new and it's original association is how it is being used. In kemetic practice I would write out things in poorly phoneticized hieroglyphics. This is definitely in the same category as ‘confused but got the spirit'- it's a far cry from the original Egyptian. But the difference here is it's the closest to ‘original’ symbolism as I could arguably get within some reason, whereas the inverted cross doesn't even have etymological roots in left hand practice. It's a Christian symbol being borrowed and used out of context. It's closer in spirit to say, using mjolnir imagery for Set ‘because storm god’, but also still a bit far from that because at least those are two similar things and not something that once meant the opposite, though arguably the left hand view of these entities does not put them so directly opposite to certain ideals than a Christian view. I suppose in that regard it might be closer to when Anpu is painted as Scary Death God Who's Angry And Mean Like Devil, which would explain the compulsive urge to correct or reject the St Peters Cross in left hand practice.

But at the same time, does all of that invalidate the very real fact that, in human to human communication it currently very clearly communicates ‘hello I am left hand friend'? Perhaps part of the problem is because there isn't a doubled effort to reclaim (or… just claim, technically) it as far as I have seen in actual left hand circles, so it doesn't work as coding. It's sort of the opposite of coding. Like a queer person might have hair dyed A Color and you just know ‘oh that's a friend'. With the inverted cross you are more likely to get negative attention from aggressive conservatives, you don't know if the person wearing it is doing so religiously or secularly. I mean, even if they're ‘just’ a metal fan they are far less likely to judge my beliefs and are advertising that in a way, but it is still not quite the same. It has not been reclaimed, so it can feel more like a brand of shame than a mark of pride.

Anyway, when I started this I was in a more neutral headspace, but I feel like I've accidentally reasoned out a bit too much in favor of not (re)adopting. Really I do feel like if people really wanted to they could, but again it is something that requires a community on at least something of a similar page. And there are still questions about periods of time where people might have tried their hardest with what they had, but what they had was just the wrong information to start with, and how that's shaped things.

What are people's thoughts on the inverted/St Peters Cross? If you see someone wearing it do you think friend? If you see it in media do you just feel the rage of a disgruntled anthropologist? I didn't even get into the phenomena of it being used with intent as ‘not actually something Satanic bc that being Too Real makes Producers and Publishers uncomfortable but it gets the point across for my story' phenomena.

Let me know what you think!

[honestlysublimecherryblossom]

MEN ARE FUCKIN COMPLICATED AS SHIT!!!

⚠️: rant ahead (solely for entertainment purposes)

You don't need an expert to say this but trying to find a man (or boy) to date or even just get to know is so fuckin hard. You think women are weird with their mood swings? Try boys!

I have been texting this japanese guy who randomly approached ME and he was alright. BUT NOW, unfortunately, what was smooth sailing has now become shitty lake water.

Our "friendship" is approaching its one year and yet that guy refuses to show me his face or reveal what he sounds like through facetime; says he's insecure. Ok, that I kinda understand that crap! What I don't understand is how can this guy be insecure if he can send me a pic of his fuckin abs?(don't know if that's him tho)

What gets even weirder is that he disappears for weeks/months at a time and when I ask what happened he gives me reasons and explanations that are vague as shit! At first I was ok, thought he probably needed his space and alone time. It happened a second time, I was chill. Third time was the charm because I lost my cool with the reasons he's pulling out of his ass and immediately he gets defensive! I mean if your friend goes missing for a long time, you eventually text ti find out if they're alright. That's the normal response! I gave up on that eventually😕

THEN HE DROPPED THE FUCKIN BOMB: he said he likes me! WTF...the dude ignores me yet he has the audacity to like me when I know jack about him. This is the same dude that refused to give his best friend my profile in fear that his friend would flirt, work his way into my heart and he would lose me (his words not mine). What the actual fuck should I make of this?

It's been another 2 months since he ghosted me (again). His friend has been keeping me company and he's seems like a good guy I guess.

Honestly it's so fuckin disappointing. I wasn't expecting much tho. In my entire life, I haven't dated or been in a relationship so I'm actually clueless. The disappointment approaches the point of being hurtful because even though I wasn't expecting a lot- from a guy who sits a thousand miles away, who refuses to show me who he really is even when it's been a year- it doesn't make it hurt any less. He's my age so I guess that's why it bothers me.

I don't know wtf went wrong but I do wish it worked out.

[clay-cuttlefish]

Gotham Central 1-24 and the stories in between, splitting it where The Question 2005 starts. I feel so incredibly normal about this era. Definitely not putting off my school readings for this. (In my defense Plato is a long-winded bitch.)

In the Line of Duty (GC #1-2)

This is a really strong start. Gotham Central works because it makes dealing with supervillains feel meaningful to the average person in Gotham - sure, Batman shows up and gets them eventually, but that doesn't mean everything just goes back to normal.

Freeze is barely in this and he's unsettling as hell. The cold gun is creepy!

Dead Reckoning (Ted #777-782)

Immediately derailed by a Tec story. It's a good one, at least.

I like that Gordon became a teacher, even if he's not qualified at all.

Why does Arkham have an isolation cage.

I'm with Two-Face here, if he can drive an Arkham employee to a nervous breakdown it's probably better that he do it instead of Scarecrow or whoever.

Harvey ignoring his coin for Gordon's sake... they are friends...

As a guy who loves the imposter Two-Faces and the pile of miscellanous Clayfaces I love this story.

All the side villains are very fun here. Scrungly gossip Riddler, wacky self-sabotaging Joker, no-nonsense Penguin, mad scientist Scarecrow... I like these guys a lot.

Harvey's out. That's probably fine.

Motive (GC #3-5)

Mostly Reneeless. A good episode of a cop show. Idk what to say about it.

The Queen is Dead (Gotham Knights #38-39)

Helena's been kidnapped by Checkmate, and Vic shows up to tell Nightwing about it and beat up a goon. I miss them.

Half a Life (GC #6-10)

Screaming, crying, throwing up, etc.

Renee's talk with Maggie about their different experiences being out is a really good moment.

God I don't have coherent thoughts about this it just kills me.

Crispus. Dude. She's been framed for murder and you're annoyed she didn't come out to you?

At least Josie's here.

HARVEY YOU SON OF A BITCH. You don't get to blame Two-Face for this one! This is on you for being a creepy possessive fuck to the point you were flipping on it!

"You've been living two lives, and I've broken down the wall between them" we're still a few years out from that one and she'll do it of her own volition with some help actually but thanks

"I don't see what that has to do with us." I am going to put my head through the drywall. What are you talking about! What am I supposed to do with this!

"You're welcome." Bruce I will actually kill you.

Soft Targets (GC #12-15)

Renee's back! Nothing too major for her here, but she's... levelled out, I guess.

Hub City mentioned! As the one police department more corrupt than Gotham. Sounds about right.

I'm not generally a fan of the Joker but this is a pretty good story. it's an elaborate scheme to mess with Batman that hurts a lot of people along the way.

Maggie should've killed him. I am not on the "Batman should just kill the Joker" train but she shot him like five times and at that point him surviving is just overkill.

Life is Full of Disappointments (GC #16-18)

No Renee but Helena's here! Just for a moment to ask Mafia questions.

Unresolved (GC #19-22)

There's a Previously On segment now, this really is Law and Order: Gotham.

I don't have it in me to feel bad for Bullock. He's been an awful bastard this entire time and trying to pretend he was a "good cop" just makes me like him less.

Thank you, Josie, for being the voice of reason.

Ohhh my god girl why are you immediately willing to defend him.

Corrigan (GC #23-24)

Crispus bringing his wife and kids to Renee and Daria's for brunch... this is the one real friendship Renee has.

Unfortunately Renee getting a nice thing means her life immediately gets worse.

This guy being named Jim Corrigan is. A choice? I get it when there's last name overlap between characters, or when it's minor characters overlapping, but the Spectre's not niche. Maybe it's intentional foreshadowing of Crispus' time as the Spectre but I seriously doubt that was on the table at this point.

Her and Daria's relationship makes me implode.

[roachliquid]

When I was a teen, I was one of those unbearably overanalytical people who believed that I was Smarter Than Everyone Else (a ridiculous claim, if not entirely baseless) and that made me Better Than All These Other Writers (lol. lmao).

This impacted my relationship with several fandoms, but perhaps none so damagingly as Pokemon, where - thanks to the analysis of people who were at least as unbearable as me - I internalized a lot of ideas that were flat-out ridiculous.

"Lol, why does everyone surrender or run when their Pokemon are beaten?"

"Why don't the bad guys just shoot Ash? It's so OBVIOUS!"

And what I didn't realize was that most of these criticisms were born not out of genuine understanding of the universe, but a failure to understand.

And I don't mean "because obviously you can't show a gun in a children's cartoon". I mean a failure to understand the internal logic of the Pokemon universe itself.

"Why don't the bad guys just use guns lol?" Because guns don't exist in the Pokemon world; they were never invented.

"Why do people resolve everything through one-on-one duels?" I mean that one's mostly for gameplay reasons, but you could also argue easily that there's some kind of in-universe Geneva convention agreeing not to use Pokemon en masse when they could easily raze entire countries to the ground.

"Why do the bad guys always give up/run away when their Pokemon are beaten?" Because the Pokemon that took their team out is still standing. You don't keep trying to fight when you've been disarmed, lol.

Now of course, it's healthy and helpful to ask questions. Even when some of them, like the examples above, are profoundly ignorant or invalid - you still learn something, either way. But the reason I singled out these particular examples is because... to put it bluntly, none of these were intended as real questions.

See, the mid-2000s were a bizarre time. A time in which several teens and young adults decided to appoint themselves the Gatekeepers of Fandom, and go around telling everyone what kind of fanfics they were and weren't allowed to write. Some people - like me - were doing it independently. Others were organized, such as the well-known Protectors of the Plot Continuum, who went so far as trying to "infiltrate" various fandoms to recruit participants who would "spork" (read: create incredibly mean-spirited metafic to tear apart) fics they didn't like from said fandoms. It was an ugly scene, and I'm not going to go into the details, but I bring this up because I want to make one thing abundantly clear:

Many of these people were not acting in good faith.

This isn't to say that nobody was. I certainly was, and I'm sure there were plenty of other people in the same boat as me. But there were a lot of people who were less interested in actually making sense of a fandom than they were in shitting on anyone who was having fun on their own terms. And these bad actors, unfortunately for the rest of us, tended to "seed" fandoms with their nonsense - making posts or parody fanfic about "errors" that were not only easily disproven through the world's internal logic, but were never meant to start actual discussion about the logic in question.

So what was the purpose of these questions? Well, to put it simply, it was to turn people against works that the OP didn't like, taking advantage of both the average fan's poor critical thinking skills and many people's desire to feel smart.

Because to be totally honest, most of us - even the "smart" ones like me - didn't start out looking to poke holes in our favorite fandoms. We just wanted to participate and have a nice time. It was being exposed to this kind of rhetoric that made me feel insecure about that participation, and in turn, drove me toward trying to write "better" fanfic by eschewing everything these folks deemed nonsensical or self-serving.

Except that... I never actually wrote that "better" fanfic. I actually wrote very little fanfic. Most of what made it to publication was just mockery of something someone else had written, or otherwise scolding fans for writing things they actually enjoyed. And I won't say I didn't do any of this for myself - I was, genuinely, frustrated with what I perceived as a glut of overly author-indulgent stories - but I will say it didn't serve me, not really. Being mad at everyone else for having fun didn't enable me to have more fun - in fact, I had less, because now I was making myself miserable believing that all of these stories were Bad(TM).

Now here's the real twist: None of this is about fanfic, not really.

Because bad faith actors, ones who go around "asking questions" just for the sake of making people miserable, can show up in any sphere. You'll find them a lot in "alternative" circles - alternative medicine, alternative history, alternative facts. And just like they ruined my enjoyment of fanfic, bad faith questions can cause harm in any sphere - convincing people to reject lifesaving treatments, turning community members against each other, and of course, recruiting people for the original asker's own nefarious goals.

Luckily, I'm no longer a teenager, and over time I've learned a lot about how to protect myself from this kind of nonsense. I'm not perfect at it - nobody's immune to propaganda - but I do have one bit of advice that helps a lot:

Scrutinize the hell out of the asker's motives.

When someone asks you a question that is designed to disrupt a narrative - whether it's "why don't the eagles just fly them into Mordor?" or "do you really think the medical industry has your best interests at heart?", take a look at the circumstances surrounding the question. Be especially wary of the following:

Does the asker seem to be soliciting a specific answer? For example, using a question as a rhetorical device to back up a factual argument, or making a case for a specific answer but never stating it outright, insisting they want you to "draw your own conclusions".

Does the asker seem hostile to genuine attempts to answer? Are they belligerent or highly dismissive toward contrary opinions (accusing others of answering in bad faith for no apparent reason) or act overly flattering/soothing without ever really addressing the idea that the other party could be right?

What does the asker, or the person/group they speak for, stand to gain if you agree with their conclusions? Would it earn them your trust and/or money? Have they implied or outright stated that those who agree must pass the information on?

Now, not everyone who pulls some of the above shit is acting in bad faith. People aren't perfect, and that's just a fact. But examinations in this vein can help protect you from the effects of loaded and misleading questions, regardless of the asker's intent.

[inact-ice]

Season 2 episode 12

Ooh this is chimney begins? So a brief break from that man who’s name I forgot

- hi chimney, oh right into it?

- nvm it’s 2005. CHIMNEY YOURE AHEAD OF YOUR TIME SIR THATS A SNUGGIE OR WHATEVER. Fitness centres for kids? Chimney invented the YMCA

- karaoke is chimneys thing I see

- chimney now you know damn well

- HOLLABACK GIRLLL, whoever decides the music for this show is so smart

- it’s interesting to see how hen and chims fire montages are different. Hens was more focused on believing in herself and surviving alone, while chimneys is more focused on commitment and leaning on those close to him

- chimney is kinda small compared to the other guys wow I’ve never noticed

- Tommy noooo, I forgot he’d be in this one. And immediately with calling chimney a food delivery guy? Definitely racist and disparaging, oh his redemption arc needs to be great

- I’m kinda loving this chimney cleaning/preparing montage, the synth music is pumping me up and chimney being sad is making me so sad poor guy

- fuckkk you Tommy, why are YOU still here

- and matter of fact fuck you too Gerard, fuck you ESPECIALLY

- yay chimney show your stuff! He’s doing his thang

- Gerard ignoring chimney oh I am so glad he almost dies

- and fuck chimneys dad too! *gasp* Mrs Lee get his ass, he IS a colourless jackass! Chimney clearly needs a lot of support rn and his dad just dismissed him. Aw Mrs Lee please you’re gonna make me cry

- chimney please dont talk to Tommy rn im trying hard to like him. WHAT! WHAT! WHAT HAS CHIMNEY EVET DONE TO YOU THOMAS THAT WAS SO CRUEL AND CALCULATED WHAT THE FUUUUUCK???

- yeah I don’t like Tommy guys sorry, he’s so mean and like racist? And sexist? And so much of it is of his own volition? I thought Gerard would be egging him on?? And it doesn’t help that he’s so loud about it and his bigotry’s contrasted by other people being nice and accepting

- chimneys learning the unfortunate lesson that whiteness will fuck you over regardless of the uniform it wears

- aww chimney and his bonds with paramedics

- also so interesting that chimneys focused on the rush and thrill while hen was just focused purely on helping, very interesting different perspectives from different characters

- Tommy get out of my face rn I am MAD at you

- oh yeah maddies being kidnapped by her abusive ex as we speak damn

- yay Kevin! Tho I’m pretty sure this is where he dies right? Hello pregnant lady on the roof of a burning building who ig can’t listen to instructions? NOOO KEVIN!!

- well fuck, chimney there was legit nothing you could’ve done baby. Aw him apologizing, the Lees immediately hugging him, that is his FAMILY!!

- ugh why is Gerard here, he’s desecrating this funeral

- aw chimney :(

- ATHENA! Girl how long have you been a cop for

- yeah Tommy see you what happens when you align yourself with white supremacy as a marginalized person? The leopards will eat your face

- the cutting back to present day is so well done

- this is a hilarious song to be in this scene im sorry, I can’t feel it seriously

- oh this direction is so well done, even the abrupt cut

- chimney you’re so cool and in fact the realest.

- it should’ve been Tommy!! Why Kevin whyyy

- Eli you are the #1 ally fr wow

- oh did chimney move out? Aw Mrs Lee you’re gonna make me cry

- oh yay now that chimney saved his life he’s deserving of respect, mind you he goes on to call hen a bitch for no reason after this so idk how clear his head could possibly be

- Howard is a fine middle name puhlease. Kevin’s a pretty good one too tho ig

- yay chimney coming into his ownnn

- OH YEAH DOUG! YOURE GONNA BE FINE CHIMNEYYY

That was so good and just wow, everything’s gotten so much better in this part of the season, the begins episodes themselves are masterpieces. Very well done. Can I just say, that I think I get even less why you guys like Tommy so much now, like he was BAD in this episode Jesus Christ, and knowing that he continues to be an ass to hen after this??? Again, looking forward to the awesome redemption arc I’ve been promised!

[alienpimps]

As a former....Not really nazi, but borderline white supremacist alt-right dipshit, I'm sorry to say but you would be very incorrect, @queeranarchism. I don't know where you're making these assumptions from, and maybe you're talking about specific situations i.e. at a protest or something, but you literally cannot ever expect someone to reconsider their beliefs if they don't see the opposing beliefs being argued and won over and/or aren't given the tools to come to those realizations themselves. Logic will never win over everyone, hell it will never win over the vast majority of people, but it is still worth having these debates and "publicly owning" nazis in front of other believers. Why? Because they're either going to get defensive and cry about it, or that might be the push some of them needed to consider whether it really is an ideology that makes sense to them.

I did not leave the alt-right because nobody would debate with myself or the idiots around me. I left precisely because they would, and would poke holes in arguments, and then I'd see people far more extreme than I was arguing, and I'd be able to poke holes in their arguments thanks to the arguments people on a less extreme level than I was were having.

It is acceptable and useful to debate nazis. Because that's a small yet vital part of how you make sure there's less of them around in the future. Unless you think that people like Hasanabi aren't actually successfully doing anything by publicly doing exactly that...Which is factually not true. I have opinions on the guy but one great thing he's done is successfully show thousands and thousands of young kids and teens how unjust and full of shit the world is. He is the active pushback against the alt-right pipeline.

You cannot push against the alt-right or nazi pipeline if you do not present alternative ideas to the young and feeble minds. Simply saying "I'm right, fuck off nazi" is not enough. I know this because tumblr and the vitriolic shithole that was the liberal/leftist community on here at the time is the entire reason I became an alt-righter in the first place, because those idiots on 4chan somehow were less vitriolic than people on tumblr were. They would actually debate my liberalish views at the time. Unfortunately, I wasn't educated enough to realize that I was actually right the entire time about my viewpoints pre-4chan, but there's nothing I can do about that, because I know better now.

Edit: I also don't mean to be rude but I really don't think you should be having an opinion on this unless you've firsthand witnessed what actions are able to successfully convince and sway people. And I promise you, saying you should ignore nazis is not the solution, that is the problem. You are advocating for more nazis to exist whether you understand this or not.

Edit 2 because I'm autistic and anxious: This isn't a personal attack on you, for the record. I'm merely stating what I lived through and what I saw many others live through, and what did vs didn't work to make there be one less nazi in the world.

Edit 3 for the same reasons: It should probably go without saying, but no, for the love of all that is holy, I am not currently still an alt-righter, nazi, or white supremacist in any capacity. For fuck's sake I'm a socialist who's disabled, fervently bisexual, and borderline a radical environmentalist.

Ultimately the debate over changing the minds of our oppressors with angry words versus kind words is meaningless because it rests on the assumption that people in power will be swayed by words at all. In reality, people who have power over you have limitless ways of tuning you out or reinterpreting your words to death. It's often the case that they won't actually hear you unless there are material consequences for not doing so.

[deuterosapiens]

Just finished Rosemary's Baby, the original novel by Ira Levin. I'm not sure I can talk about this without being unfair to Delicate Condition, which I was admittedly a bit harsh on. As a point of preference, I loved this book far more, which I unfortunately went into that book being aware would likely be the case.

I sort of complained a bit that the Zoë Saldana miniseries version dragged a bit compared to the original film, and having read the source novel, I'm even more perplexed. This book is seriously quick-paced. I read the second half in basically one sitting (plus a break for pizza, and a break for work); at no point did I feel like it dragged, or lingered, or took too long to get to the point.

I've often heard it claimed that there's no reason to read the book if you've seen the movie. I'm not going to agree with that on the basis that the book was quite enjoyable to me, but I easily understand where this sentiment comes from. We are dealing with an adaptation that so correctly adapts the spirit and text of the original book that the only thing you really lose is the ability to put a book mark in your place and set it down.

Following The Exorcist was probably the correct approach from a reader's perspective. This story inherently is more tame, coming off less as a horror story and more as a psychological mystery with a demonic twist. It's weirdly more palatable, and part of that cones from the pleasing yet direct way that Ira Levin writes.

See what I mean?

There's pleasantness, which is somewhat unexpected in a story like this. Humor.

That said, this book was published in 1967. There are a few details that certainly show the time. Like how one of the most bizarre features of Rosemary and Guy's new apartment is the homosexual couple next door. Or the fairly regular use of a descriptor that was normal at the time, and worlds better than other popular epithets from the Era, but which is still not exactly advisable in our modern world. I think it's fine though, it's aged a bit less weirdly than Huckleberry Finn, you know?

It's not as misogynistic as it could have been, and honestly that was something I was extremely curious about. There's of course quite a bit plotting here that is heavily dependent on the Role of Women in Society, which certainly looks weird in our Modern Society. Like, a doctor ignoring his patient's concerns for herself and her unborn's life and wellbeing takes on a completely different look now than it did then.

Again, as a said with Delicate Condition, the word hysteria comes up a bit, and I refuse to believe that its etymology isn't at least something that's taken into account, not in a story like this. Rosemary believes no one will take her concerns seriously because she is a woman. She is unfortunately, correct, when she seeks help from another doctor.

Values dissonance at play.

It's a flawed read, certainly. And I think having a feminist perspective could do the book some good. And for that, I see why a book like Delicate Condition is necessary. I do love that Rosemary has quite a bit of agency here, in a story that could easily reduce hers to none.

The ending, I believe, shows this best. While the events leading to Adrian (Andrew? I refuse to call the The Adversary, Destroyer of Kings, Angel of the Bottomless Pit, Great Beast that is Called Dragon, Prince of This World, Father of Lies, Spawn of Satan, and Lord of Darkness Andy) being born are out of her control, every step of the way she attempts to thwart actions that she feels are against her. She considers killing him, for the good of the world, but decides that it is her duty as his mother to raise him as best she can in a way that counteracts his potential for evil. It's a powerful moment, because this decision is ultimately hers.

I haven't exactly heard the best things about Son of Rosemary, so when that comes in, I might give that book more of a day-by-day analysis, an more in-depth look. I hope it doesn't do anything to detract the finer points of this book's ending!

Hahaha... right?

(In the event it isn't clear enough, I already know how it ends. I've spent the last six years knowing how it ends, which is in part why I've never read this one until now: because I knew I would read the follow-up, whose ending is umm apparently very-much not good)

Final thoughts: this book is as good as its film adaptation lead me to believe it would be. It can probably be breezed through in the span of an afternoon, probably in one sitting if you gave it that kind of attention. I consider it worth reading if you've see the movie, and liked the movie, but not strictly in the "the book has so much that was cut out!" sense, but that's a time commitment and as always, a two hour movie is much less of a commitment than a three-hundred page book.

I didn't find it overly frightening, but then again, I don't consider the film adaptations particularly frightening. If the basic premise doesn't disturb you ("woman is impregnated after being drugged, the father is Satan"), then the actual book itself probably won't, but your mileage may vary. But a cheap scare isn't what's going offered. It's definitely more focused on intrigue, which I think the book handled quite well.

[mydaddykinnedjohnwinchester]

Live Blogging The S1 finale

i decided to write down all my thoughts (on paper, so i just retyped them here) as i watched the finale to appease my need to comment and or critique on whatever kripke has magicked up

THOUGHTS ON S01E21

I hate john so much GET HIM OFF MY SCREEN

this guy has been searching for the demon that killed his wife for the past 22 years and you're saying that ONLY NOW IS HE NOTICING THE STRANGE ASS PATTERNS????? the signs like cattle deaths and rising temperatures cannot compare to the things he has supposedly done in the past 20 episodes where apparently he's this mastermind who can hunt anything. unfortunately, we're just gonna be shown more and more proof that john (and sam) doesn't use their brain when revenge is concerned.

also why does him cursing feels so out of place??

That comment on sam's premonitions. Gods I can't take it I need him punched in the face so badly for that

also love how Dean takes every order and beating and insult to himself like a dog but the second john attacks sam, he instantly defends sam

God i hate how when dean and sam are having fights, john just tells them to stop and makes no move at mediating the actual conflicts. like yeah dude, good job on teaching your kids to repress and forget, I'm sure it's super healthy

Also icb he's taking the obvious bait from meg without a second thought. this guy kept being hyped up as the best hunter to the point of ditching his kids to be less vulnerable but a single phone call and he folds like a wet paper towel. like wtf the voice can even be faked and he makes no attempt to make sure of that when we know even monsters like the wendigo can mimic voices and he's here not thinking when it's a high level demon????

spn is so dumb at balancing character intelligence, knowledge, and survivability. i don't wanna be harsh but are you saying john really thinks he can trick a demon and his friends with some random fake ass gun. that or his IQ is below ground level

I WANT HIM TO DIE DIE DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!DIE I NEED HIM DEAD NOW

you know what I'm starting to be unable to ignore the fact that growing up watching spn caus your dad watches it religiously means that i can see damn well how hard it has impacted how he parented me and my brother. what? with him practically skinning john from the problem solving to the parenting and the reactions towards conflicts. not all ofc but like damn still

DOES JOHN REALLY THINKS THAT MEG IS GONNA BE ALONE OR SMTH

also I'm so proud of deans "if things go south, just get the hell out." I'm so proud of him i hope he starts applying it to himself more often and stop working himself to death like a dead man's horse

sam is so little sibling with the constant comments, awful ideas, and even awfuller questions. dean's got to be the worlds most patient and loving big brother COUGHS (codependency)

ngl i kinda hate megs acting. she gets the job done i guess. Actually, i just hate the way she's written from the dialogue and naughty girl persona. ig i cant be too harsh since its the first demon character of the show

the gun check scene was very dumb ngl. not the best work. the way meg didn't realise as soon as that bullet went through her corporeal form is so dumb. she should've been smarter than that. wouldn't change the goddamn thing in the long run anyways, would just make it less annoying to watch.

ik I'm being harsh here but like i fees as though they should be better at their job at this point. like the second that radio started going haywire, they should've booked it out of that car and go to the house asap. like i know its for cinematography and tension reasons but it just feels dumbbbb

dean always the one saving children...... I'm so insane about it

dean holding sam back from the fiery suicide. god i love that scene so much. every line that comes out of dean's mouth is practically gold there. the performance was amazing

dean the only one with a brain and a heart in his body that's why he's the shortest in the family

dean the only one in this family who's hunting for the sake of people who are alive. saving people instead of revenge when he's the one whos first and most victimised by the demons. I'm feeling insane

THOUGHTS ON S01E22

thank you dean for not idiotically trying to save your deadbeat sun of a gun dad the second you hear meg call. thank you for not falling for the same bait your dad so easily fell into despite him and your brother making it seem like the only right choice in such a situation is to eject your brain from your head. once again thank you for having your priorities straight

thank you for knowing when to change courses. thank you for knowing when to ask for help. yes this is a dean winchester appreciation post

I'm ngl jared padalecki's latin accent is so shit

their discussion about an innocent girl being trapped in there and it being an argument against exorcising the deamon out makes no sense. first, that girl is as good as dead the second she got possessed anyways even without falling from the 7 story building. and now? so what if the girl will die w/o the demon. you really think that having her body be misused and deformed while being forced to watch without any control is better than what would be eternal rest???? a fate all human must succumb to???????

OK I WROTE THAT LAST PART BEFORE DEAN RESPONDED BCS I WAS SO MAD AT THE SHEER DUMBNESS BUT OH MY GOD THANK YOU YES DEAN

ok remember the plane episode? in that ep, they said that after the demon's out, it's supposed to be in it's strongest form as it isn't contained in a body anymore but here they just straight up ignore it????

ok i know for a fact that moving a person with broken bones without proper prep technique and stuff is like one of the worst things you can do but ig neither of the winchesters went to med school

"I've got a Yorkie upstairs and he pees when he's nervous" I'm kissing kripke on the mouth thank you for writing dean winchester

with how much he loves saving people it would've been so easy to make dean want to be a cop but thank god they were a firemen outfit before the touch a cop one

IT KILLS ME, that the abuse and mistreatment john had dean went through has dug its nails so deep into deans psyche and body that even when things that he trusts show differently (the holy water test on john)he was still 100% sure his dad would never actly lovingly or be proud for dean saving his brother (also he would never say please lets be real)

I'm speechless. the Azazel monologue to his escape. the whole scene. GOD. i love it so much. it hit all the right spots, dialogue immaculately written and the amazing performance by the actors oh my god yes yes yes dig out those underlying insecurities that dean loves to hide behind the cold playboy persona aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh just amazing. the tension and rawness of that shoot me scene too GODS

that ending was a sure ticket to have their first ever next season and just proves again how deserving spn was of the hype and love it's gotten at the time

[sanityshorror]

I'm going to share the Author's Letter to the Reader at the end of The Man with the Scarred Neck because it's very relevant:

To the Reader,

Well, you've made it to the end – and now, we need to have an important and necessary discussion. If what you're taking away is 'nothing more than shock and exploitation for the sake of it,' it's necessary for you to read this letter. (Though, it's no less necessary for you to read the following, even if you had a different take away.)

Allow me to explain what this story is, the importance of writing it, the things it represents, as well as how personal it is to me.

This story had real world messages, commentary on serious topics, and metaphors ingrained into its very nature – I'm sure some of you picked up on that. The Man With the Scarred Neck was written for numerous reasons, the one I wish to primarily discuss is the very stark warning – one of caution, for your safety.

Failure to understand the meaning behind the story is why I feel it's so important to explicitly explain the message of and metaphors in it, and my reasoning behind the choices.

The primary antagonist, Killian, was created to be a commentary on the fact attractive, white, rich, heterosexual (or heterosexual passing), cisgender men can get away with unspeakable atrocities and are rarely held accountable. Even when they are, it takes much too long for them to be caught, letting them continue to destroy lives for far too long – which would not have happened should they have been equally suspected as anyone else would be.

We hear about 'The Man With The Scarred Neck' all the time in the news, but those are only the ones that got caught. Most don't, unfortunately.

We've all met a man like Killian. We've all known someone who's gone through a personal, very bad experience with someone like him. Many of us have gone through an experience, personally, with a man like him.

Killian represents the warnings we all hear, warning us of a certain type of man: the charming, attractive, charismatic guy that seems irresistible – but is incredibly manipulative with bad intentions and nothing but trouble.

He's the man that our loved ones hope we never meet or fall for, and we hope the same for them. He's the one you never want to (and fear to) encounter alone in the streets at night, meet while you're drunk at a bar, and the man you never want to find yourself in a situation alone with.

Killian is a demon who can't be killed because what else better represents predators and abusers? Predators and abusers are vile creatures who will never disappear from the real world.

The reason I chose to write The Man With The Scarred Neck to be told as an urban legend, which turns out to be real, is because of the metaphor of what it is. Predators and abusers are VERY real. The urban legend being so quickly dismissed as fake in the story represents how, in real life, all too many people hear and are warned about these very real predators.

Yet, most think, "yeah, but that won't ever happen to me," and this is an incredibly incorrect belief to hold. Anyone can become a victim, at any time – with or without any warning – especially those who remain in blissful ignorance; believing it could never happen to them. Until it does.

The most charismatic, charming, attractive people are nearly always the most dangerous – and they seek out vulnerable people to victimize.

Now, let me address the elephant in the room: the extremely graphic and explicit abuse, violence and atrocious actions depicted in this story. No, it's not for cheap shock value. It's to expose and show the horrific experience of what a victim actually goes through, as well as how truly depraved and vile some people are.

Most of us want to believe, "please, no one is that messed up. Why would you even think about this?"

To those who think the things you read in this story are too messed up to actually happen, frankly, need wake the fuck up. You're beyond sheltered if you think Killian's actions – and even worse things – don't happen every single day in the real world. The unfortunate truth is many victims don't survive abusers and predators.

I am a victim myself, and lucky to be a survivor. Elaine and Jenny are both characters that I relate to. This story is fictional, and not based on any real people. This is heavily fictionalized amalgamation of my experiences as a victim throughout my 25 years. That doesn't make it any less all too real and very personal to me. I'm sure after reading this letter, it's also very personal to many of you.

To be clear, people of any gender are predators and abusers are also women, just as people of all genders are also victims. The Man With the Scarred Neck only represents a handful specific types of predators and forms of abuse – and my letter is only focused on what the story itself represents.

I've listed resources for victims to reach out to for support and help. If you're in an abusive relationship, please, safely reach out to a help line and begin making a plan to escape safely. Those who are healing from abuse, I wish you the best in life and assure you that time heals wounds. While there will always be scars, those scars are from survival and strength.

To all victims: it is never your fault what happened to you, please do not ever blame yourself. Do not let anyone put any of the responsibility for what happened on you. It is never the victim's fault.

Best wishes & sincerely,

– Sanity [pen name]

--

HOT LINES & HELP LINES (USA)

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:

988

Crisis Text Line:

text HOME to 741741

National Sexual Assault Hotline:

(800) 656-4673

National Domestic Violence Hotline:

(800) 799-7233 OR text "START" to 88788

National Human Trafficking Hotline:

(888) 373-7888

Additional Resources and hotlines available at:

https://www.apa.org/topics/crisis-hotlines

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/crisis-hotlines

If you live in a different country, or do not see a number here you feel comfortable calling, don't hesitate to search (use incognito if you need to for safety): [country] crisis hotline [or helpline]

SERIOUS PSA:

Creepypasta is way too comfortable and desensitized with murder and cannibalism.. it's seen as not even that bad by most in the fandom. It really became clear how much desensitized there is upon seeing people freak out about creepypastas that are necros and rapists, saying it's too far.. You should be just as bothered by murder and cannibalism as you are about necrophilia and rape. If you are not equally upset by all, you need to step away from horror media until you have gotten to a mental place where you are equally disturbed by all these things.

Cannibalism, necrophilia, rape and murder are all absolutely horrendous, unforgivable and NEVER OKAY.

Edit to add since this post has picked up traction: this is coming from a published author who writes the splatterpunk genre. I am not anti horror. I am anti unaware desensitization. When you start going "child murder is fine. But any sort of SA is too far" in regards to fictional media, you are not in a mental space where you should be consuming horror media. You need to be able to recognize all these things are terrible, horrid, irredeemable acts! There is not a level of "okay and not okay" in this. If you disagree, you are wrong, point blank PERIOD.

[radioromantic-moved]

found another lesbian who self ships with live action men (more than i do) and even though we're not mutuals or anything it is surprising how much better this makes me feel about me doing it. the way i am so "i don't Care what other people think about my selfshipping >:)" but also take so many cues from other people. i will get normal...one of these days

[sangorous]

BACK 2 YOU.

word count: 1.3k

genre/warnings: angst/ toxic relationship, manipulation?

nash gold jr. x black!fem!reader x junpei hyuuga

show: kuroko's basketball

Stupid is what your friends were calling you, but it wasn't just your friends calling you stupid. It was your family as well. There wasn't a day where everyone around you wouldn't shake their head or become frustrated just listening to you talk about him.

Why talk about someone who didn't even love you anymore? What benefits did you gain going back to him whenever he wanted a quick fuck out of you? So everyone calling you stupid had their reasons, and maybe you were starting to see how they were correct on that.

"If imma be honest, I'm tired of hearin' about you and Nash. Boss your life up the fuck?" [sisters name] rolled her eyes at you while you sighed.

"Nash this and Nash that. Girl fuck him, and I don't mean literally each time I say it. Stop lettin' that motherfucker walk all over you," and unfortunately, she was right.

"He doesn't walk-," she stopped you midway through your lie.

"Aht! Aht! Don't even finish that sentence because yes the fuck he does, and your dumbass is goin' to continue to fold for him each fuckin' time. Seriously [nickname] you're such a smart girl. Yet, whenever he's in the picture you become comatose. Nobody wants to give you advice anymore because it goes in one ear and out the other as soon as that blonde idiot texts you. You guys aren't even a couple anymore, what couple is on and off every week and it's been like that for a year. He cheated on you and you had the audacity to take him back because he begged on his hands and knees? Bitch you're better than me, you need to leave his ass alone," it was evident that her eyes carried irritation, anger, sadness, and regret when she stared at you.

It didn't make sense to your sister how you were such a happy person, and how one person flipped your world upside down. They hate seeing you in pain, but they're tired of telling you the same thing over and over again. When will you learn your lesson? When will you go back to the girl that loved herself more than a guy who could care less about you? Will it be when he smashes your heart into ashes?

'Stop by my place...' speaking of the devil, that was his message that you were currently reading. Which wasn't helpful to your case at all, but that wasn't important. What was important was were you going to stop by his place or were you going to ignore him? And it may not seem like a hard decision to others, but for you it was.

You did not want to meet up with him, but it is so easy to give into temptation. Maybe something would change his mind, maybe he'd take things seriously, maybe you two would become serious, or maybe he'll break things off officially with you. So many maybes, and you still couldn't make your mind up.

"What do you want Nash?"

"Whoa... Not even a hello?" a chuckle left his lips while he stared at you.

"No, you can't get a hello. It's twelve in the mornin' and my dumbass wounded up here at your place... Now what the fuck do you want?" you folded your arms together, looking down at your feet.

"I can't ask you to come over? What's wrong with wanting to chill with you?" there he goes.

It was either him missing you, wanting to hang out, he needed help with something, or something slick that would easily suck you in to seeing him. Which would lead to you two fucking for hours, but this time would be different. This time you were determined to stand your ground against Nash.

"No Nash, you want somethin' from me. I'm not gonna stand here and act stupid anymore. You know damn well whatever is gonna come out your mouth next, is gonna lead us to your bed," you sighed, looking at him.

"[your name]..." he trailed off, stepping in front of you.

"I really do miss you, I miss us. We haven't been together for two months now, and it's been driving me crazy," another one of his bullshit lies to sucker you in again.

"Bullshit. Everythin' that came out your mouth is a bunch of bullshit and you know it..." your voice was low.

"You just wanna fuck me, and then you'll act sweet for a lil bit. Then we're gonna start arguin' and you're gonna tell me how we were never gonna get together anyways. You.Know.That.Shit," you could feel your eyes watering as you stared at the male.

Of course he was silent, because he knew every word was true. It was time to free yourself from his manipulation, and start loving yourself again. No more falling into his traps, no more crying yourself to sleep, no more believing empty promises, and no more letting yourself being used by someone who didn't deserve you in the first place.

Walking away from him as he stood there in silence hurt. Everyone tried to warn you about him, but you didn't listen. You were naive and stubborn and went back to him anytime he needed you. It didn't surprise you that he wasn't begging for you for another chance, the damage was already done. He already broke you, so there was no need for him to beg for you back.

"You look so good!" your best friend shouted, engulfing you into a hug.

You couldn't lie, you definitely didn't want to be here right now. But you'd feel wrong if you left your best friend in the middle of the club by herself, with nobody she knew. Then again, it was your fault for moving with her for a year to get some 'fresh air'. After your Nash fiasco, you wanted to start living your life again. Yet, she regretted it instantly.

Yeah, you looked and felt great. Anybody could feel and look great, but it was how you felt inside. Deep inside, you were still in the process of hurting. How could you move on the way he easily moved on in life? Better yet, how was he able to do it?

"Listen... I know you're not over him yet, but you gotta find a way to let him go. You told him your goodbyes two months ago now, it's a new era for you," she gave you a sympathetic smile.

Maybe for tonight, you'll cast those worries away. It was time for you to turn up and get a bit drunk since you were the legal age to drink.

Grabbing your hand, she took you over to the bar. There, you two had a few drinks before going to the dance floor. This is what it felt like when you weren't worried about deadbeat men? No, the correct term was boys. If this is what it felt like, then you were perfectly fine not worrying about him anymore.

As you were dancing tipsily, you could hear someone chuckling. It wasn’t [best friend name], so who was it?

"Wait, where's [best friend name]?" you looked at the male.

"Is she the tipsy one over there sitting next to my friend with heart eyes?" he pointed over to her, and he was completely correct.

She couldn't go a night without falling in love with a complete stranger? Honestly some things never phased you.

"Hyuga," he stuck his hand out.

"[your name]," you shook it, looking at him.

He was a cute guy. He seemed two inches taller than you, short brown hair and wore glasses. Looked like he didn't wanna be there, but was probably forced. But you weren't looking for a relationship now, you just wanted to have fun. So, you were gonna have to put Hyuga on pause until you were ready.

You grabbed a napkin from a random table and your brown lip liner, and began to write your number down.

"It seems to me that my best friend is makin' your friend a bit shy, so imma take her away from him now. Hope to see ya' soon, Hyuga," you gave him a slight smile.

So much for trying to focus on yourself.

[spacebatisluvd]

So, I agree with the idea that Horde Prime's behavior towards Hordak is just as bad, if not worse, than his behavior towards Catra and Glimmer. And I'm not going to come on your blog and tell you that you're 'wrong' for liking Hordak more than them, etc. But I will say this: the other reasons why we might like Catra and Glimmer more than Hordak, aside from them being attractive and relatable (which is subjective, I guess) is that they are given more screentime to develop, so there are more chances to connect with them (which is less subjective). Plus, Hordak only becomes sympathetic later, with the reveal of him being an abuse victim, and of his real motivation, much later, whereas Catra and Glimmer start out sympathetic, even if they sometimes do bad things, too. There is also the matter of how they express their emotions: even when they're being mean to Adora or about to make a really bad decision, etc., you can always see the emotions leading up to that. They cry, and they have irises/pupils/more nuanced facial expressions. Catra has breakdown. But with Hordak, his primary default emotions appear to be 1) anger and 2) nothing, until Entrapta shows up. Of course, he has other emotions before he meets her, I'm not saying he doesn't, it's just that to me, the expression of them generally comes out as looking like either anger or nothing, which is not very sympathetic to a lot of people. (For example, Catra is angry at Shadow Weaver for committing child abuse, and feels fear after the purification ritual, but Hordak undergoes the purification ritual and seemingly has no reaction to it afterward).

In terms of Horde Prime specifically... Horde Prime keeps touching Catra and Glimmer against their will, in a very specific way, which is animated so that you pay close attention to it. During this, their facial expressions are like, "Don't touch me!" The show already is very dark sometimes and covers issues like child abuse, mental illness, harmful ideas from Christianity, etc., so I think you are meant to interpret Horde Prime as sexually harassing two vulnerable young women and getting away with it for the time being because he is in a position of power.

(You don't have to answer this, obviously. And I sympathize with Hordak somewhat, in addition to sympathizing with Catra and Glimmer. To me, it's not that he isn't abused, OR that people who don't sympathize are misinterpreting. It just has to do with the order in which events are presented to us, and the way that the characters react/express emotion when something happens to them, among other things).

The funny thing, Anon, is that you’re doing a very good job of proving my point.

I think the show could have done a much better job of building sympathy for the clones and for Hordak. The way the show presents these things is very much meant to make a viewer scared for Catra/Glimmer rather than to build sympathy for Hordak and the clones. That’s my problem—I think they could have easily done both, rather than ignoring one for the other.

It’s kind of upsetting to me that the nonhuman characters aren’t afforded the same care and empathy in the writing as the human (or more human-looking) characters. Especially when you also consider that less human-looking, “ugly”, and/or reptilian characters are always the bad guys in the show. It’s an unfortunately common practice in fantasy media that I find upsetting for a variety of reasons. It has some Unfortunate Implications to say the least, particularly when presented uncritically as it is in the show.

I think your interpretation was the intended interpretation and that’s my main criticism of the writing—for season 5 in particular. You’ve done an excellent job laying out how the way those scenes are presented changes the way a viewer feels about the scenes and the characters.

However…I am going to point out that we do see Hordak cry when he realizes Entrapta is “dead”. And his screams during the actual purification ritual are horrifying. Go rewatch it, if you don’t believe me.

I will also very politely invite you to understand that having a flat affect—Hordak’s lack of visible emotions, even in the face of some truly horrifying situations—is (or can be) a sign neurodivergence. Many people in real life will present in the same way. Just because you can’t see someone’s feelings on their face, that doesn’t mean they aren’t experiencing them. In fact, considering how much time we all spend interacting from behind a screen, I’d say being able to understand the way someone is feeling, even if you can’t see their expression, is becoming a more important skill for all of us to develop.

But…on re-reading your ask, I’m guessing you’re here because of that recent ask about the comic, and not because of my tirade about how Wrong Hordak’s pain is treated as a joke within the narrative, which is the typical source of these sorts of asks. I think you may have accidentally stepped into a well-trodden argument over on my blog. So maybe you’re not aware of my stance on all this.

In any case, you don’t need to explain anything, Anon. As I said in that ask, the characters folk fixate on will vary and will vary for different reasons. My criticisms of the show do not extend to folks who find other characters more sympathetic—your preferences are your preferences, and that’s fine. So long as everyone is respectful of everyone else—and you have been—I really don’t have an issue with anyone.

However, if I said something that made you feel bad about your preferences or like you needed to justify them, then I am sorry for that. That reply was meant more to give the other Anon some support and remind them that they can dip into some Hordak-focused content in our pool if they needed that extra bit of fandom support. (Sometimes fandoms can feel a bit isolating if you spend a lot of time away from folks who share your focus, and I think that’s part of why Anon needed to vent.)

I have a rather formal style of speaking, especially when replying to strangers, so I can see how my reply to that original Anon may have seemed critical of other folks’ preferences. That was not my intention and I do apologize if that was the impression I left you with.