#which tbh is an inhumane thing to ask from a person. parents are humans too and there's only so much a person can repress

[agalychnisspranneusroseus]

Man if Marcy keeps ending up with like child protection services in all these fics over her parents being slightly distant then my parents should be in JAIL

[janiedean]

okay like I’m answering like this bc apparently tumblr put a limit on how long you can make asks and I was getting too long as usual but hahahaha well

my friend my countryperson, I  can talk about them and then I will see myself out and start drinking way too early because of the pain, but not counting the addendum which killed me because yes hahahahahahahahha OH MY GOD YES *cries and kicks netflix*, it's choke full of parallels because like (I'm going off netflix and what books I read wrt witcher I haven't finished them yet but I got enough)

like first of all there's direct jaskier > stede and geralt > ed comparisons in the sense

jaskier and stede are both nobles/rich people who came from money/titles and gave it up to lead an 'adventurous' life or anyway something that puts them completely outside their original class status but don't care for what it brings them and at the same time are kinda gnc wrt what one would presume is A Real Man in their universes (but also irl tbh) because they both dress well/care about their appearance and put a lot of effort in maintaining it (I mean book!jaskier curls his fucking hair pls)/use what they learned in high society when they have to and the situation calls for it but at the same time they don't behave like anyone who doesn't come from high class is a lesser person and they don't gaf wrt who they're friends with

on the other side geralt and ed never mind the clothing similarities (because the black is just netflix!geralt game and book isn't exactly into LEATHER BLACK AESTHETIC but netflix is so we'll count it) have the whole thing where most people they meet/know perceive them as someone extremely dangerous/at times inhuman [for ed because for geralt it's most of the time when he's not with friends]/feel like they have to play into that part in order to get by in life/are sort of born into a violent job that makes them risk their life over and over (like geralt didn't have a choice about it and ed pretty much couldn't have done anything else) and they basically tried to embrace it as much as they can even if they want other things from life starting with being treated for themselves/like human beings also we can add that they both come from a poor background and they have a shitload of parental trauma that they never worked through (geralt with his mother and ed with his father) and to top it all off they're canonically seen by others (and themselves to a point) as monsters (geralt bc he's a mutant and ed has the whole kraken defense mechanism)

to which we could go with the first obvious bunch of relationship parallels in the sense that in both ships (not counting how bad netflix is at show don't tell) the thing is that jaskier/stede immediately see ed/geralt as someone they like/they want to be friends with and they don't care about whatever bad fame they have if they even knew about it (I mean netflix!jaskier doesn't even know wtf is geralt before he goes and talks to him while everyone was giving him a wide berth and stede had shown ed the secret closet after literally five seconds he didn't know he was blackbeard) and make them feel like they don't have to pretend to be someone they're not at least with them while on the other side they feel like they can also be themselves without getting judged for their idiosyncrasies or for all the reasons they didn't fit in high society

to which we could add that ed/geralt have canonically saved stede/jaskier's asses as well I mean in netflix we mostly had bottled appetites when it came to geralt saving jaskier's ass but in the books it happened way more often as far as I read up and ed signed his freedom away to save stede's life like we serious

but then there's the other parallel which you hinted because yes there's the whole angle with the what makes you happy part but let me go into it a second

like, jaskier and ed in that sense is kinda obvious because they're the two who bring up the whole 'wanting to figure out what makes me/you happy' (and the one difference is that since obv netflix!witcher isn't going that route geralt was never gonna say IT'S YOU while stede did but I mean that went unsaid) but they're also the two that are more in touch with their feelings, because jaskier has no problem bringing up the thing and admittedly he's the one out of the two of them who tries to actually talk about stuff and same for ed who for being like... in a fairly crap position for it is actually way more open about his own feelings and needs and shit than stede is (more on that later), takes the first step and puts himself on the line...

which brings us to the fact that at the end of S1s of both shows jaskier and ed are the two people who are in the same position because they’ve been left heartbroken by ed/stede ie the two people they trusted/cared for the most (and were in love with) and you don’t want to know how much I screamed when ed was working through it with the breakup song because my immediate thought was ‘if it was the same universe and he heard burn butcher burn he’d track jaskier down just to have drinks with him about the fair-headed assholes who obviously broke their heart’ and I’m just sad I don’t have time to write that crossover but like are we fucking serious, and the fact that both of them pretend they’re over it after but actually aren’t (ed cries in the nook at the end of S1 and jaskier is lit. crying while singing the last line of BBB) isn’t anything I can get over atm

I can also rant about the fact that actually jaskier and ed are the ones that have uuuh the most similar fashion choices because YEAH YEAH I KNOW THE BLACK LEATHER but listen to me a second like jaskier dresses all Not Exactly Masculine™ with his own flair, not with previously put-together outfits, and he has the post-breakup red leather outfit, but it’s still nice stuff (the frilly shirt, the silken vest) because he figured out what he wants to dress like and has no issue donning that right, while ed starts with the black leathers but that’s his blackbeard thing, then moves on to stede’s frilly stuff and he likes it but it’s still not him™, and the moment he could actually pick and choose what he wanted... he got stede’s trousers and the silken pretty (red) floral vest, the long hair and nothing else including the trademark beard, which is... Not Exactly Masculine™ but is his own flair over what he found out he liked wearing and he was exploring it before izzy had to go ruin it but I digress

meanwhile netflix!geralt and stede until the end of S1 dress in... well, coded outfits unless someone puts them out of it in the sense that geralt never gives up his leather get-up unless jaskier gives him the nice clothing and stede has only frilly coordinated outfits all the time except when they’re at the academy (and we could talk for ages wrt he and ed being dressed the same when they kiss but nvm that) but at the same time like the other witchers don’t dress like geralt so we can take for granted that he chose that get up and likes it/maintains it same as stede liked the frilly clothing and never cared that he was judged badly for wearing it, but it’s kinda armor-y for them if it makes sense imvho? idk I’m ranting but anyway let’s move on to the actual stuff

because clothes nonwithstanding on the other side geralt and stede have in common a terrible level of emotional constipation brought by the fact that both of them think that they can’t be genuinely loved/cared for by other people/think they’re bad news for them, like the fact that geralt keeps on telling himself he doesn’t have feelings (false) vs how stede keeps on saying he agrees he’s a monster and ruins beautiful things is... kinda the same thing at the end of it because neither of them is anywhere near in touch with his feelings (as much as stede is good at making others discuss them) and it takes them a... I don’t want to say traumatic event bc that doesn’t exactly fit, more like a lifechanging revelation like thing to start getting over it - like, for geralt is finding ciri and having to be emotionally available for his daughter and therefore getting more in touch with his feelings for others at the same time, for stede is hearing mary talk about what it means to be really in love and realise that’s what he was feeling because he couldn’t recognise it as it never happened to him before and no one actually loved him like that either, and while with geralt/jaskier isn’t exactly 100% the same bc obviously geralt is close with the other kaer morhen witchers jaskier is still the first human friend he had and obv in between witchers it’s a different thing

which brings us to the part where geralt and stede are the ones who actually cause heartbreak for jaskier/ed, geralt because he has the pent up rage moment and unloads on jaskier also probably because he knew he could do it with him and on one level he thinks jaskier would be better off without him anyway but doesn’t realise how much it actually would have hurt him and stede because he thinks he ruins everything and that ed would be better off without him when instead ed is a lot worse off without him, so they basically are working on assumption about themselves which are not true and end up driving away the other two who has just bared their heart out to them ops

so like geralt and ed would have an interesting conversation and stede and jaskier would have the same because both would be like eh being a noble sucked, but the double date would be something because it would end up with jaskier and ed siding vs the other two being like eeeeh we did fuck up didn’t we but I digress

and I mean at this point I’m here sobbing like why the fuck are these fictional people doing this to me but YEAH THERE ARE PARALLELS and I’m nowhere near ready to consider most of this without feeling like I’ve been personally attacked

[leonawriter]

My Personal Takes on Stormbringer:

Without a full and accurate translation to go through in one sitting, it’s still hard to get a handle on things properly. That said, thank you to everyone who’s working on it. 

Now.

(please note all quotes are my memory of translations I have read, and are not verbatim.)

-Asagiri, please, you do not need to make so many coding analogies with regards to Chuuya and Verlaine. They don’t work.

-It often feels - not just in this book but also in 55 Minutes, where there are tight restrictions on a time travel ability - that Asagiri limits abilities based on how scientifically accurate they are. However, this doesn’t make sense! why should it! Literature should be an expression of freedom. There should be rules - the same way the Page has rules - but in the sense of Magic A is Magic A. You make up the rules and then you don’t break them in future. Why have Kunikida able to create something with a mass heavier than a piece of paper out of a page of his notebook, but then say you can’t do [x/y/z] because it’s scientifically unviable?

-I have no issue with how skk treat each other. they are chaos teens. let them be. like... this is the beginning of their actual trust. they’re also in the mafia, and in a dark time in their lives. it’s fine. (it isn’t, but at the same time, it kinda is.)

-I feel like Chuuya taking things from other people and making that thing “his” fits him as a character? he had nothing before, so when you have nothing, all you have is what people give you. If someone gives him a bike, then that bike is his now. He has to learn to look after it, love it, and respect it, and he’ll remember that friend by it. Same goes for pretty much anything else. Also, it’s a show of how well Chuuya adapts to things, and what things he chooses to pick up.

-The hat. I do not like how the hat was treated. Making it into the key that helps Chuuya be able to activate Corruption cheapens the meaning and weight of having been given the hat as a memento of the first person who told him to live as a human being. Why not have the hat be a reminder of his humanity in a purely sentimental way? I’m going to ignore anything canon about this and just say it’s sentimental. Which, like, it could have been a safety blanket type thing, not pseudo-science.

-The coding in Chuuya’s body is a bit... of a reach? How do you put that in there? I don’t get it. Just say that there’s a possibility he might die if he uses Corruption, or that he’ll never become “Chuuya” again. That he’d lose himself utterly. The log history can be either on a chip (insert Dazai making “lost dog, if found return to the mafia” jokes here) or on something else that could easily be destroyed during the course of the story (or not).

-Dazai living in the shipping container reads to me like an extreme version of “I do not want to be found I do not want to be helped I am worthless trash and what’s the point in having an actual home if I plan on dying any day anyway.” Verlaine asks what drove him there, and Dazai says “you” and tbh that offers up so many questions (like, was the shipping container thing recent, was it temporary, or what). There’s the possibility that Dazai doesn’t always live there, because otherwise he’d suffer from hypothermia and get pneumonia in the winter! But above all, Mori had nothing to do with this. He was probably terrified to go too close in case he got killed. Stop saying Dazai lives here because “poor baby was abused :(” that sure was not it.

-Dazai goes all this way - plotting for ages, since before the beginning of the book, having been number one on Verlaine’s hit list, just to get the truth about Chuuya’s humanity and to preserve it - because “I want to see Chuuya suffer as a human being” is him saying he doesn’t want to see Chuuya become like him, or inhuman, because that’s not Chuuya. (dude, there ain’t a straight explanation for this...)

-following on from the previous, Dazai refusing to just let things be the moment he realises that it’d mean double suiciding with Chuuya. I personally see that as a shippy moment because Dazai had already given up on Chuuya being alive (if I read the translation right) and in that case, dying would just be letting go. But Mori says “yeah but I don’t think he’s dead yet?” and that, along with the “double suicide” thing, makes Dazai go “absolutely NOT.”

OK a related thing - as far as I remember, when IRL Dazai attempted double suicide, right up until his actual death it would result in either a failure or... his partner dying and him surviving. The cold potential of this happening in BSD if Dazai had just given up reminded me of that.

-Regardless of my thoughts on how it was handled, Stormbringer reinforced my previous ideas about how Chuuya basically IS Arahabaki. It also suggests that Arahabaki was more of a sentient ability than a true “god” but... that’s fine. For me, all I cared about was that all those “Arahabaki is an evil being that is constantly trying to take over Chuuya and Corruption is Arahabaki being let out” takes are not true. It’s... basically Chuuya taking the lid off his power. I joked at one point that Corruption is Chuuya going “I’m so pissed off I’m gonna kick the door open and throw away the key” and Dazai going “go for it babe, I got your key.”

-Rimbaud and Verlaine are... very complicated characters? They’re not easy to get a handle on. I sometimes find myself liking them and sometimes find myself disliking them, and that’s something that’ll be easier when I have a full translation available - and one of Fifteen. Rimbaud was held back by seeing Chuuya, at first, as nothing more than an empty vessel to Arahabaki’s power, while Verlaine was so taken over by grief without understanding how to handle that, that he became a monster up until the end of the story. Neither of them were good people. That said, their relationship to each other? It’s very complicated and reminds me of their IRL selves to a point but without the skeevy nature and without it going so far, so kudos to that.

-Adam. Knowing his creator was a ten year old girl makes so much sense when you look at the things he says and does. He doesn’t get so much. He’s very logical, but doesn’t understand that a game of billiards isn't as much of an icebreaker as he thinks it should be. Surprised by bubble gum. Games like “strange things humans do” are very much like the word games kids play in the car. 

-Verlaine being the fifth executive was something I did not predict at all, whatsoever, and I can’t stop thinking about it. Like... how did he get to that point. Only so much can be said in a few paragraphs (it seems) of “this is [x] number of years in the future where Chuuya’s an executive now.” 

The last we see of him, he’s overcome by grief, hatless, and he seems to have only just realised how much he wished he could return what Rimbaud gave to him. (Ironically, by being able to grieve like that, it shows that he is capable of what he thinks he can’t do - same as Dazai.)

But how does he become an executive? Do they come to him slowly at first, and they gradually build up trust? Does he stay in contact with Chuuya? Do they see each other properly as brothers now, or not? I can’t help but feel that as it’s a long time - six years, in fact - between Stormbringer and canon, some bond of trust must have been built. The mafia protects Verlaine from the authorities and from the outside world just the same as Kouyou says that she wants to do for Kyouka, and the same as they’re there for Chuuya, too. So. A Verlaine who trains the mafia’s best assassins not because he’s forced into it, but because he feels the same loneliness as Chuuya, and finds that it helps? A Verlaine who learns slowly that he can care about more people than just Rimbaud and Chuuya? Holy shit yes please. A Verlaine who is loyal and protective and who you should be glad is in a (probably) gilded prison of the mafia’s basement, because otherwise he would actually do so many things to those who would harm his family.

Let’s just say - if I think of Arahabaki as a guardian or protector god who is just plain destructive because it can’t help that, then Chuuya and Verlaine looking and acting in similar ways because they share that same “parent” in a sense, makes sense. They are no longer just Arahabaki, they’re “Chuuya” and “Verlaine” - but they also share traits such as “Papa Wolf” and “lonely” and “violent,” among others.

-At least twice, pre-Soukoku Dazai and Chuuya refer to how they’re constantly thinking of each other. No, they don’t mean in positive ways, but they’re chaos teens and it’s still strong emotion. Chuuya mentions how he’s thought of at least 190 ways to punish Dazai for the things that he does (which also implies how their relationship is equal, and Dazai doesn’t call all the shots, and doesn’t get away with everything scot-free), and Dazai says that Verlaine can’t possibly win against him, because Dazai “spends all of his time, waking and sleeping, thinking of ways to annoy and harass Chuuya,” (quote not perfect.) 

We also have Chuuya having Dazai appear to him first in his hallucinations, which I see as Chuuya’s inner Dazai-voice saying all the worst things, and ironically not actually saying or meaning things that would get across what real Dazai would want him to feel; in other words, that’s Chuuya’s view of him, or his mind searching for the one person he’d believe it to realistically come from.

As well, Dazai saying “there’s no way Chuuya could be an artificially constructed personality, because no one could create a personality that I [hate/that annoys me] so much.” Which, like... sure... you tell yourself that, kid...

Basically, they’re all the kinds of things that teenagers who don’t really get how strong feelings like these work yet, who are still figuring themselves (and their orientations, probably) out, would say if they don’t even like that other person that much, but they’re still attracted to them. A strong “why does it have to be THEM?” haha. And yet, as others have pointed out, Chuuya seems more on the oblivious side than Dazai, since as said, Dazai goes to all this effort and seems fond (but only when Chuuya’s not looking, dumbass) but Chuuya just... doesn’t get it.

A shorter summary of my thoughts and feelings?

Chuuya suffers, but is ultimately happier for it no matter whether he’s one of the clones or whether he’s the original (it’s arguable either way, and I don’t mind either way) as he’s still Chuuya. His bond with the mafia is also stronger than so many people think it is. They’re literally his adopted family. Even if he chose to leave, he’d still see them as family. I can’t see him leaving. He’s just... they’re family... don’t tear them apart...

The skk is strong, no matter what people say, because this is the start and it’s the end of their first year in the mafia and it’s not supposed to be a healthy time, for fuck’s sake. They’re both all sorts of messed up. They’re allowed to be. This is a time when that’s kinda the point of the book. But yeah, the trust and the bond is real.

Verlaine. I am now fascinated by Verlaine. I was so sure before the spoilers and translations came out that I’d hate him. I no longer do. He confuses me but I NEED TO KNOW MORE. 

[askmyboys]

Redmond Blackburn

Name: Redmond Blackburn | Gender: Male | Nickname: Red (a lotta people have a LOT of like, bad names for him bc of all the shit he's done) | Age: 45 | Species/Race: Human but he has like one or two inhuman features about him | Height: 7'9" | Occupation: Its not really an occupation but he's a Cowboy/Outlaw p much | Eye Color: Icy Blue | Hair Color: Black (you'll never really get to see much of his hair tbh, he's almost always wearing a black cowboy hat, however I will say, his hair is like a bedhead but 10x worse and a bit curly as well) | Appearance: He wears a lot of Outlaw Cowboy clothing, its mostly all dark colored clothing, black and brown stuff, he has those two strap thingies (listen, im bad at explaining certain clothing, but there's plenty of outlaw clothing refs out there), but those two strap things that holds a BUNCH of bullets, rather large ones at that, when he's not wearing his "work" clothing and just chilling or out and about he usually wears tank tops and leather jackets, his pants usually have some chains on them and he usually wears cowboy or combat boots. He has a short boxed beard, and a fuck TON of scars lining his body, his chest has cuts and bullet wounds on it, so does his arms, his back, and legs even, he's been shot and cut up a l o t... Especially around the face area, he has a lot of little cuts and nicks and honestly he'll probs only get even more as time passes. (he also has some sharp fangs, nope not just razor sharp teeth this time, just two fangies that if he so wanted, he'd use to rip your throat out with) | Personality: uuuuuuUUHHHHH... VERY VERY V E R Y evil and cruel, malicious? Absolutely, and its for no reason really, he had a good life, his parents and family were all good as could be to him, they tried to raise him right and yet everything went oh so wrong, he was just b o r n to be this way, born to be an outlaw, killing and stealing, it makes him happy, it made him happy from day one and the love for killing and all that jazz only escalated, he's pretty cold and honestly, even though sometimes he does love to tease his victims a bit before killing them, mostly he doesn't enjoy talking, he's the type of dude who'd be like "Less talking, more c a r n a g e" ye, that type of dude. (tl;dr: Bastard for one, but he's evil, cruel, downright manipulative even if need be that is, pretty cold, definitely NOT a talker most of the time, VERY overly cocky and confident, he does got a bit of a narcissistic streak in him considering he's one of the most wanted and most deadly outlaws there is) | Side Facts: His favorite weapons are usually knives, machetes, he likes bows/crossbows, he also likes sniper rifles bc its always unsuspecting but honestly, its less fun that way... His MOST favorite items are the sharpest ones, ones that allows him to get up close and personal with his victim, he wants to FEEL the blood on his hands and see the life slowly drain from their eyes, guns are fine, he likes them too considering all the bullets he has, but he only uses them if need be really. Really, he'll use ANYTHING he can as a weapon, it don't matter to him, if the situation calls for it then so be it. Now his family, the sweetest people you could EVER hope to see so long as you didn't mess with them or their animals n stuff, they were very kind to good ol' Redmond here, treated and raised him right, they just... Don't know where it all went so damn wrong, as he grew up, he got into fights, bad fights, in fact... His father can recall, one night, he heard his wife screaming downstairs, so obviously he got his gun and immediately ran down there to see what had happened, and there... he saw his son, with a bloodied machete, wow this sounds like a creepypasta thing but eh, not really, more realistic than that, and he had asked his son what happened, what did he do? Redmond just looked up and those Icy Blue eyes, they never looked friendly from the day he was born, he just shrugged and started going into horrible detail of how a kid began picking on him and shoved him to the ground, roughed him up a bit, so he decided to try n fight back, he stole a machete and p much went back and just murdered the poor fucker, which, of course, his dad n mother were horrified, they tried to get help for their son at one point, but of course he didn't like the thought of that, nor did he want help, he didn't need help for just "defending" himself so he ran away p much and well... I'm gettin lazy, but he grew up to be the Outlaw he is now p much, he never even really cared for his family, they were just there, to teach him the basics of life and that was it, he never had a strong attachment for any of em, and tbh even if he had ran into them now, he'd probs just murder them as well.

[yaz-the-spaz]

Do you think there is a legitimate argument for the pro-life side of the debate? I have been watching a few different videos on it - particularly the one where they show how an abortion is done, it's really hard to watch - and I can kind of see where they are coming from. Like I understand that the fetus is in her body, but when you look at photos it looks like a baby and not at all like the "clump of cells" everyone claimed they look like...

to clarify the ‘clump of cells’ is up to a certain stage so if the video you watched is from a later point in the pregnancy then obviously it’s not going to look like that as it’s going to be later in its developmental stage (if you get an abortion early enough though it will literally still be just a clump of cells). that said, before i go any further to address your answer, i wanna state that i am unequivocally pro-choice and that informs a lot of my beliefs. however, i do understand some of the pro-life’s argument. personally i don’t think i could ever have an abortion (though who knows what circumstances life could bring me towards) so from that perspective i understand wanting to preserve the life of this being growing inside you that could have so much potential. but pregnancy (and having a child) is still a tremendous undertaking on the body (and on the future of a woman’s entire life). in my opinion every person should always have the right to decide what happens to their own body, without worrying about that choice being taken away from them. the government, or anyone outside that individual person, should never be able to dictate what a person chooses to do with their own body. and that’s not even getting into the real crux of the issue (and the reason so many people are so up in arms) with this law, which is that it hurts the literal children it’s claiming to want to protect. 

in the states it’s to be implemented in, under this draconian law, children as young as 11 years old–eleven, let that sink in–who are victims of rape or sexual assault and even incest that resulted in a pregnancy and didn’t report the assault before their 6th week of pregnancy* would still be forced to carry their pregnancy to term. can you imagine being 11 years old and forced to carry your rapist’s child to term? and then go through the traumatic experience of giving birth? an experience which if you even survived (because tbh the chances of surviving childbirth that young, or even coming through it without some kind of irreparable damage to a body that’s not yet meant to give birth are not good), effectively just ruined your body, your physical health, your psyche, your entire future for the rest of your life, not to mention having to live with triple the trauma of being raped/sexually assaulted, going through the hardships of pregnancy, and giving birth all as a child who’s not even old enough to fucking be out alone at night or buy a damn t-rated video game.

and then there’s the matter of all the women and girls whose lives would be in physical danger because of complications with their pregnancy that could cause life-threatening illnesses, that would be forced to risk (or possibly even sacrifice) their lives just to carry the pregnancy to term. why is an unborn fetus, who’s barely even begun its life and not even a fully conscious being yet, more important the lives (and physical and psychological well-being) of young girls and women who are already living?

and all that’s on top of the fact that the pro-life movement in general holds up extremely hypocritical tenements. because the same people that scream pro-life are often the same people who are silent on gun control even when thousands of children are dying because their schools keep getting fucking shot up. they’re the same people who are silent on (or outright opposed to) things like universal healthcare and more country-wide social services that will actually help the children we already have living. they’re the same ones who didn’t give two fucks when latinx children and babies were being separated from their families and locked up in cages, kept in inhumane conditions like animals. they’re the same ones who come at those who’ve had abortions yelling well if you didn’t want to keep your child you should have just given them up for adoption, but yet most of them don’t adopt children themselves and/or are silent on issues pertaining to adoption and the shitty foster care system in this country. they’re silent on all the ways children suffer in this country because their parents weren’t equipped or didn’t have the means to take care of them. they’re silent on all the adults in this country that are products of the kinds of shitty (and crime-ridden/violent) childhoods those kinds of situations result in - i.e. adults in prison, drug addicts, people with mental issues, etc. they’re silent on innocent black and brown children getting shot by police in the streets. they’re silent on issues that pertain to literally saving the lives of lgbt+ people and particularly lgbt+ youth. most hypocritically they’re silent and/or outright opposed to proper sex education, which has been shown to actually dramatically decrease the chances of unplanned pregnancy, which would essentially negate the need for the abortions they hate so much and are working so hard to outlaw. and so yet again, i ask, why do the lives of unborn fetuses matter more than the lives of the children and adults who are already living (and are suffering) in this country?

point being, if you’re going to be pro-life, actually be pro-life. if the majority of these people were actually pro-life (as in actually caring about everyone’s lives and everyone’s human rights and not just those of unborn fetuses) i wouldn’t have as much of a problem with their movement. but anyway all that to say that yes, i think they have some arguments that i might say i agree with (i hesitate to use the term ‘legitimate’ as you did because to me that implies that one’s personal beliefs should trump everyone else’s freedoms and rights to choose what to do with their own body). but on the whole imo they’re just using their (often religious-based) beliefs to force their will on others and take away people’s freedoms and autonomy. 

(*which by the way for many is around the time they’re just finding out they’re pregnant because at most, depending on your cycle, that would only be about two weeks after your first missed period, and if you were too scared to come forward or for whatever reason unable to report the assault within that tiny ass time frame window, or you happen to have irregular cycles and didn’t even realize you were pregnant before then, then you’re just sorry out of fucking luck)

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #164

“on my forehead, a birthmark; remove it with a kiss of the knife, even if it causes me to die.”

Do you look like your mom? I'm told I do, but never seen it? Then again I'm bad at noticing subtle facial differences. When was the last time you overslept? I never have a time I need to get up now, so, couldn't tell you. What would you do if you could do anything without failing? Hm. One thing? That's tough. I guess... ride a rollercoaster without getting sick or, y'know, dying? I really, really wanna experience the adrenaline, but. Name something that happened to you that was completely unexpected? Bitch I don't even think my mother believed I would get over Jason. I feel like anyone who knew me well would've thought I'd never actually heal. Do you judge people that have multiple piercings? As if, when I want a lot. Have you read the Bible? Little of it. Do you think it’s cruel to keep an animal in a cage while you’re away? Depends on the size of the cage, if they're destructive when alone, and how long you're gone. Are there any lyrics to describe your current crush/relationship? "If I'm James Dean, You're Audrey Hepburn" by SwS screams. Do you ever receive comments on your weight? Not unless it's a doctor and I ask or if I'm asking Mom if I look like I lost any. Is there anything that you do just to make other people happy? Sometimes. When you need a temporary escape, what do you do? Go to sleep. What was the last lie that you believed in? I dunno. How long did your last feelings of heartbreak last? Like a year and a half. Do you ever have difficulty opening pill-bottle caps? Rarely. Are you uncomfortable with being photographed? No. How vivid are your memories? They can be extremely vivid while others are totally blurry. What is the worst question that someone could ask you? If I was offered a certain cold medicine. Or if someone asked about my left wrist. One would probably make me cry, the other would bury me in embarrassment. Have you ever ridden in a car with someone who was high? The driver. I was fucking terrified. That gets your ass in jail here. Who is the best hugger you know? I dunno. Sara and Girt both give great hugs. Juan did. I just like hugs okay. What is the next concert you will attend? Mom and I are desperately gonna try for Metallica in January. She literally cried and laughed hysterically when she found out they were coming; it was the sweetest damn thing I'd ever seen. Always told her we're going before she dies, and I plan on ensuring that. It's her dream. The tickets are just unsurprisingly more expensive than the average concert with who they are. What is the longest you have ever slept? Around 12 hours. Have you ever had to be put to sleep for an operation? Yes, tubes in ears and cyst removal. Have you ever had to clean up someone else’s vomit? No, and there is no fucking way I ever could. Human or animal. I would puke. Do you have any friends that are more than 2 years younger than you? One off the top of my head. Have you ever kissed some one with braces? No. Have you ever been able to do a split? Nope, not even when I was in dance. Are you intimidated by the last person you know talked badly about you? Embarrassingly, to some degree. Now in my defense, I'm afraid of most people, but she is a witch that fires straight for your insecurities, and I think it's pretty clear that I'm extremely sensitive. Have you ever cried in school? In the bathroom, I know I have, but I think I probably have teared up in class. What is the most times you have thrown up in one day? I dunno, maybe 4+ when I've had a virus? Last person to say your name? Mom, probs. Are any of your siblings married? Two are, no clue about Tiffany. Do you think the last person you kissed has ever lied to you? I'm aware she has, but I'm sure I probably did too when we were both asshole kids lmao. Who was your closest friend 4 years ago? Are you still close to that person? Colleen, and no. Have you ever liked someone else when you already had a boyfriend/girlfriend? What happened? It was one of the reasons I broke up with him. Is there a certain song that never seems to get old, no matter how many times you hear it? I will always be in the mood for Manson's "Third Day of a Seven Day Binge." Do you like to have croutons in your salad? Ugh no. Which do you find more irritating - sunburn or bug bites? Sunburn. What shape/type of fry do you like best [waffle fry, curly fry, steak fry, sweet potato fry, tater tot, etc.]? Hmm maybe curly. What’s your favorite type of bird? Barn owls. How many friends do you have on Facebook? 114. What pet names do you use with your significant other? OH GOD. "Honeybee," "pretty woman," "love(ly)," "sweetie," "hun(ny)," "babe," "baby(girl)," and yeesh probably more. Do you carry any means of protection on you while out in public? No, but I do plan on getting pepper spray once I'm more independent/on my own. Would you ever pick up a hitchhiker? Nooooo I ain't dyin' today. What is something that most people wouldn’t know about you from simply looking at you? I was once in great shape oops. What’s your longest road trip? I can't recall if Florida or NY was longer... Do you have any videos on your phone? If so, of what? Yes, the video that Sara sent me of Jem reaching for her. Actually the most precious thing I've seen. Do you think that your bedroom is a reflection of your personality? Or would people look at your room and misjudge you? Sure. Who would you really like to become better friends with? Yeesh, a lot of people... Mostly old friends. Do you personally know anybody who has more than five tattoos? Yeah. How big is your bed? Queen. Have you ever been to a bachelor or bachelorette party? No. Do you think it’s important for children to have a father figure in their life as they grow up? Gave some thought to this, and no. It's preferable to have two parents, but who says gender really matters? Just give the child two caring, unwaveringly supportive adults that can both teach them different things. Tbh I think having gay parents would allow you to grow up more open-minded anyway. Do you include your middle initial in your signature? Only if I'm supposed to. Have you ever imagined how it would feel kissing a certain someone? Yeah. Have you ever taken a picture with Santa when you were little? Yes. If you could have one more pet, what? One more python morph. Something you want to buy real bad? A drawing tablet. Something you would NEVER buy? Traditional mouse traps came to mind first. Inhumane as all hell. Now those that get them caught in a box, sure, because it in no way harms them. Just take them outside, asshole. What do you think will happen when you die? Hopefully, go to a positive afterlife of peace. It'd be amazing if you saw Heaven as you've always pictured it, but who knows how that works. I just about actually pray that you see loved ones again. Could you wait until marriage for sex? I could, yeah, but I'm pretty sure I dropped the abstinence thing. How would you describe your sense of humor? Dry and incredibly sarcastic. Do you share a middle name with any of your siblings? Yes. Do you currently have any bruises on your body? No. Can you cry on command? If so, have you ever used it to your advantage? No. Have you ever seen a lunar eclipse? A good number, yeah. A solar one? No. :c Do you know anyone who writes huge essays when they message you? Yeah, I don't mind! Show interest in talking!! Do you think your first love still loves you? Definitely not. I don't think he has a spot for me anywhere in his heart, really. Are you someone who has to analyze everything? Hi, I'm Brittany. What’s the last thing that scared the hell out of you? Mom popping up at my door talking when I had NO clue she was home. Do you have any awkward music downloaded on your iPod? I have "Daddy" by PSY can I jump off a bridge now. Have you ever been to church? What was it like? Yes, and it's something I've never enjoyed since being a little kid. Even in my more religious phases, I didn't enjoy it. It's boring and revolves way too much around "God is in control of everything," which sorry, don't believe so. Has a member of the opposite sex ever seen you naked? Yes. Do you use an umbrella when it rains? No. What articles of clothing have you been wanting to buy/did you buy recently? BITCH let me be small enough to wear gothic-looking corsets like I am TURNED ON. Were you ever a flower girl or ring bearer in anyone’s wedding when you were little? No. If you could either be fire resistant or breathe underwater, which would you rather be capable of? Hmmm fire resistant, I guess. Have you ever bought fake money and tried to make it pass for real? No. Have you ever had to sell something for a school fundraiser? Yup. If you have any piercings, who did them? Claire's and then two parlors here. Do you know someone who had completely changed for the worse when he/she started hanging out with another person? If so, who? HAHAHAHA JASON. He got closer to the ego-fueled Dillon, and then he began to change. Have you ever been pulled over, but just let off with a warning? No. Do you like mash-up songs? Occasionally. What do you consider to be a bad grade? For me, a low B. Would you ever consider adopting a child with a severe mental illness? If I wanted kids, probably not. I don't think I'd be the appropriate guardian for one with severe disorders. Have you ever pole danced before? No. Have you ever seen a live bat? Yes. Has a pet ever stolen food from you as you were eating it? Probably. Are you more comfortable kissing a boy or a girl? No preference. Have you ever kissed someone and hated it? He kissed me, but it was legit awful. Who in your family is the hardest to please? Grandma. Would you ever pierce your “private” areas? *holds out holy cross @ parlor* What type of humor do you find funniest? CLEVER. And, surprisingly, self-deprecating if you cast it as confident. I just like when people are able to joke about themselves. NOW, this is a sense of humor to be careful with of course, but some can use it hilariously. What types of things fascinate you? WOWIE SO MUCH!! Caves, outer space, how spiders design webs, lightning bugs, abandoned buildings and shacks, animal behavior (especially w/ social species), witchcraft, the paranormal, and... wow, so much more. The universe is just incredible! What kind of place would you want to raise your children? Answering for if I actually wanted them: Out. In. Nature. It's a shame how reliant we are on technology - myself included -, so I'd want my children to know true fun and knowledge is found outdoors. Teach them an appreciation for the outdoors and the creatures we share this planet with. So I'd definitely want to live out in the woods more than I naturally do. Has your father met the boy you currently love? *girl, but yes. Haven't directly asked him, but I'm quite sure he likes her. Would you rather spend a whole day with your mom or your dad? Probably Dad. He's easier to get along with, very fun, and then I just don't get to see him nearly enough. What serial killer do you find most disturbing? Don't know much about any, but I know Charles Manson was all kinds of fucked up. Have you ever written or received a suicide note? Written. Do you have the same color hair as your siblings? Yes. Do you have the same color eyes as your siblings? Only Bobby. What is your favorite type of cat? Persian. What’s your opinion on tattoos in the workforce? How about piercings? JUDGE BY WORK ETHIC, NOT HOW THEY FUCKING LOOK. Do women breastfeeding in public make you feel uncomfortable? Why or why not? If you have a problem with a mother feeding her hungry child naturally, I don't want to know you. At all. This is a "controversial" topic where it is only black and white: You're either an ignorant ass, or an intelligent human being that knows what the hell breasts are for. Who in your life makes you the most uncomfortable? My sister's husband, probably. He's against just about everything about me, and his judgment is pretty damn intense. I don't go to church, my hair "isn't feminine" like it "should be," and I'm in a gay relationship. I'm aware he doesn't like me even though he tries to put on a nice face. Is there anything that you do just to make other people happy? Ha, shave my legs. What band would you most like to meet? Lemme meet Ozzy before he passes away 'cuz I need to THANK HIS ASS, plus he cracks me up. Do you have a least favorite day of the year? Not particularly... Well, I realized this year now that I'm healed that Jason's and my anniversary date gives me anxiety. I look back at just how demolished I was and wonder what it would be like if I never got help. 99.99% sure I'd be dead by now. Do you want someone you can’t have? No, I have her. :''''') When was the last time you wanted to punch someone in their face? Over a week back. I legitimately wanted to punch her. When was the last time you totally broke down? It's been awhile. Has a friendship ended recently that you wish had not? No. Do you ever listen to country music? It is rare as fuck if I actively look for a country song. Would you have sex with the 5th person on your text inbox? WELL, she's a minor, so, but she's also not my type romantically. She's a lil sis to me. Are you attracted to the last person that kissed you? Yes. If you could seek revenge on someone would you? No. What are you listening to right now? "Mutter" by Rammstein, ahhhh it's gorgeous & I wanna make a character influenced by the concept. Are you afraid of death? Not really. Do you think you have to be skinny in order to be beautiful? Fuck off. Have you ever drooled in public? Maybe? I don't recall a situation. Have you ever been bitten by a dog? No. Would you ever shave your head? The one and only situation I could see myself doing this is if my child had to have this happen for cancer or something and they were self-conscious, so I'd do the same. Have you ever drawn a picture with sidewalk chalk? Yeah, I used to love playing with chalk. What is the worst possible way to die? Maybe burning alive. Or getting slowly eaten alive. Have you ever burnt yourself with a lighter? No, I don't mess with them. They scare me. Would you ever meet someone you met online? Already have, and there's more I'd love to meet. Have you ever kissed the TV? Not to my memory. Would you rather visit a sunflower field or a pumpkin patch? Sunflower field. Have you ever found a four leaf clover? Yes, the day of or a couple after Dad left. I found a patch of them, actually. When you’re being kissed, do you like it when they hold your face? Yeah. Explain why you stopped kissing the last person you kissed? Well she had a plane waiting for her lmao. If you were on life support, would you want to be taken off? YES. FUCKING PLEASE. DO NOT LET ME SUFFER LIKE THAT. Who was your first kiss? First person I romantically kissed on the cheek was Juan, Juan was the first to kiss me, first *actual* kiss was Jason. What’s your favorite form of dancing? Modern. Make it some sorta creepy and creative shit. What’s the most disturbing thing you’ve ever been through? Hmmm. I guess uh. Obsessive and invasive thoughts? Have you ever been to a race track? (horses) No. Are you good at braiding hair? Don't even know how to. Or are you into PETA and all that? They're too extreme. Have you ever hugged someone for over a minute? Yeah. Would you ever get a tattoo on your collar bone? I already have one, but I don't even want it anymore. I have ideas I like more for them. It's my ohana one, but that's not really a suitable one for me? Family via blood, you're an ass? I'm not associating with you. "Family" by intense friendship, that ends if someone turns into an asshole too. Probably gonna end up getting it covered. Do you check your texts right away when you receive them? Yeah. Is there one person you look at and automatically smile? Sara and Mark. No seriously, there will probably be at least a small one there. Do you wake up cranky? Rarely. I can be if someone wakes me up, though. I'm generally okay when I wake up naturally. Do you get offended if someone repeatedly checks their mobile phone when you’re out for lunch or dinner? Like non-stop, I'm not offended, I just think it's pretty rude. Who is your favorite character from Friends? Don't watch it. How would you deal with a significant other who cried all the time? Try my absolute best to help them. What is your favorite flavor of Monster? I hate that stuff. Tastes like poison. Have you ever ran from the police? No. Have you ever written on someone’s face in your yearbook? Ha ha yup. Do you have any trophies? Yeah, in "treasure boxes" as we call them for sure. Would you cheat on someone for revenge? Or if they wouldn’t find out? No, I hate that shit. So petty. Rate your self confidence: 1 being insecure and 10 being cocky: Like... two or three. Does your family have a secret? Not that I know of. When/where are you most likely to sing? In the car. Are you in shape or more out of shape? HA. Do you have sympathy for those who hurt you? I guess it depends. Do you spend too much time at home? I'm just about a hermit because I have *nowhere* to go. I don't hang out with people, don't have a car. It sure is fun. Do you require visual assistance (i.e.; glasses or contacts)? I have glasses. My vision is atrocious without it, right eye especially. Ever held a newborn animal? Kittens, yes. Have any unpleasant public transit stories to tell? No. Are you afraid of failure? Yep. Have you been called a bad influence? Only by Colleen's mom, that I know of. Apparently me hanging out at the house and talking to and helping his mother whenever she needed it as well as always smiling at him was just awful for Keegan. What about Chinese food? Love it or hate it? Not a fan. All I ever like are fried rice and eggrolls. Do you get stage fright? When I was a dancer, I really didn't. Now if I was alone, probably would. Any current family issues? When is there not at least slight issues. Nothing big, though. Who is the last friend you spent time with outside of school? She's not my friend anymore, but Colleen. I haven't hung out with a current friend in many, many months. Do you think that people have the power to make their own lives better? YES!!! Literally never forget this. What is the biggest problem in your life right now? Extreme loneliness. What is the last movie you watched all the way through? Slender Man. Have you ever had a friend with benefits? No. Do you feel like nobody understands you? The only two that I believe certainly do are Sara especially, but also Mom. What’re your plans for today? I have therapy at four, got a shitload to talk about, and after that I have to take my files there to vocational rehab. Maybe drive around to look for photograph opportunities if Mom's up for it. That's it. Do you have a common first name? Very. I'm thankful it's a name I actually like, though. Do you know anyone with a lazy eye? Knew someone. Do you like spicy chips? Omfg YES. What’s the last movie you watched at a friend’s house? *former friend, Shrek. Her son loves it so we watched it almost every time I was over and bitch no complaints. Do you have any tattoos on your arms? Two, then another if you count my shoulder. Do you own a tea pot? No. Can you remember your parents’ birthdays? Mom's. I remember it because mine's Feb. 5th, then all I need to know is August as hers is August 5th. I know Dad's is in April. Did anyone see you kiss the last person you kissed? Well we were right outside an airport.