#why can't anyone do this modern properly

[imagine-to-be-a-pike]

It amuses me how modern Merlin fanfics try to make Merlin a fashion icon. Like...dude would dress like that and he would be proud of himself.

(this would be his only and best outfit)

[x-hotoke]

The Weakest Gojo.

content warnings: use of you/your pronouns, mean brother!Gojo Satoru, Male reader insert.

— GOJO SATORU

Gojo Y/n, the youngest and only brother of Gojo Satoru. You were always seen as a stain — a disappointment to the Gojo Clan’s family and reputation because of your illness. It affected your daily routine and abilities—making you weaker as you appear.

Your skin was paler than your usual skin tone, the skin under your eyes are sunken with the purple hue on it. You were forced to stay in your room — locked up with no entertainment other than the books they give you and your older brother, Satoru.

He always comes by and visits you every chance he gets. Sometimes he brings stuff that he thinks would entertain you for long.

He rarely sneak sweets inside your room even though it was forbidden because of your deteriorating health which the doctors never seemed to find a cure for.

But Satoru — A man of his words would scavenge the bestest of the best doctors in the whole wide world. He is indeed rich and he won't hesitate to give everything up just to see you in good health. But that's how you think of him.

He isn't always like that sweet and caring brother as you thought. You'll be lucky enough if you caught him in a good mood like this but it's one of the few rare moments you wished to experience over and over again.

He'll borderline invade your personal space and say the meanest things anyone can say to the point the Elders of your clan banned him from visiting you again but that didn't stop him though.

He'll threaten and intimidate anyone who steps in his way. What you mostly don't like about him being inside your confinement is that he annoys the heck out of you—always having that stupid smirk you hated whenever he would do things to get a rise out of you.

Something that you hated.

Whether it was a positive or negative reaction—Satoru doesn't care nonetheless—as long as he gets a reaction from you, he's done for today.

Being the Weakest Gojo means less attention and more discouraging words from the Clan.

Though you accepted it a long time ago that you'll never be good enough like your older brother, Satoru. Because even stepping outside of your confinement always ends up in the worst possible scenario.

Satoru will boast and rant to you about his day being a sorcerer and ultimately mentioning how he's the strongest sorcerer in the modern era. Unfortunately his side comments on you will never change nor be gone. He'll take every chance he gets to tease, poke fun at you, intimidate and make fun of your situation.

The first time you were able to stand all by yourself with no help, he was on his way to your confinement when he noticed you—hand on the wall—with trembling legs, trying to stand up properly outside the room.

Satoru was impressed and angry, he didn't expect this from you at all! You were always weak to stand up on your own and now here you are.

“what’re you doin’?” Satoru spoke up, stared at your trembling figure, you looked like you were about to collapse at any given time. He is indeed impressed, he didn't expect this from you at all because you aren't even capable of doing this by yourself or maybe he hasn't known yet.

You slid down the shoji screen carefully, breathing heavily. You were finally making progress! “Did you see that, brother-?”

“You aren't supposed to be out here, go back to your room.”

You furrowed your brows at him, opening your mouth to speak up but he continued on speaking. “Look at yourself. You can't even stand up properly without your legs giving up. I don't get why you still try—you’re weak. Nothing will change.”

Satoru can be a decent brother at times and will heed to whatever you want but sometimes being the strongest overwhelms him and unfortunately he pours all of the pent up anger he has on you. He’ll probably say mean things to you but that's how he shows his love!

He can be a dick sometimes but he loves you!! Just don't do something that you'll regret later on.

[bun-z-bakery]

(Repost from my abandoned account) these are just my personal head canons for dogday. this is a survivor au

(All characters are over 18 btw)

-dogday sometimes has dog like tendencies, like growling, barking etc.

-he doesn't remember a lot about his life as a worker but will share stories he remembers of his human life once you two become close.

-man is like a love sick puppy. First you save him? Give him legs? AND a home?! And his friends are here too?! You really are his angel.

-he's very protective of his angel. He can't have anyone take them away or even hurt them. Plus all those years locked away, he can't loose you, you're his hope.

-this man will most certainly plan his confession, script and all. Maybe you're away at work and this is something he's been working on for a while. He's always bringing you little gifts on his hunting trips (depending on if you like to collect rocks and such) but this dude went out of his way to find the best of the best. Even somehow found flowers beautiful enough to almost rival your beauty, keyword: almost.

-he enjoys spending time with you, poppy and kissy, he enjoys playing outside with you three, even if you guys have been out of the factory for years already. They still enjoy the outside world.

-I know bro is huge, like dude is taller than an American door way (according to some measurements fans have made, hes 9'5) if you're a shorty (like me 5 feet even😭) he will most definitely pick you up and carry you like a dogtoy. He likes the feeling of carrying his angel, it gives him a sense of pride doing so. Even if you accidentally hit the ceiling or he needs to really get down so you don't hit the top of the doorframe, he will always apologize or joke about it.

-he's a cuddler, he LOVES cuddling! He has his own giant dog bed in your shared room, but he prefers to sleep on your shared bed. If you're away from work and he's eepy, he'll pass out on your bed because it smells like you. Your scent keeps him at bay until you come home. Poor guy will shoot up and push anyone out of his way to be the first to get to you! He sits there on the floor waiting for his mandatory headpats and kisses as soon as he hears your keys.

-it takes his brain a few minutes to properly turn on. After all those years he finally gets proper sleep, I can imagine you waking up first and getting ready for the day to prepare breakfast for the group and you poke him, trying to wake him. He'll mumble some random stuff about not letting rats do taxes then fall back asleep only to be woken again by your pokes still talking nonsense. I can also see him sometimes waking up confused, you know like when you wake up your parents and they're mad for no reason asking what's wrong while gasping for air? (Just me?) I can see him being THAT dead asleep bhahsha

-my take on the survivor au is more of a modern take (as in yes the factory closed years also but reader is possibly in early to late 20s sometime in 20xx / non specified year) so they weren't an employee but probably knew someone like a family member who worked there or was dared to enter the factory (we'll see if I ever post my fanfic haha as these hcs kinda tie into that story) so dogday being alive in the 80s or 90s he probably has like the old school idea of love and attempts to swoon you as such. The flowers, cheesy pick up lines.

-I can imagine because he's not up to date with the newer terms and he might be confused while trying to seem cool haha. "Angel what does rizzler mean?" (Poor peepaw)

- Personally I love the theory that DogDay is an ex worker aka Rich. Which is probably why he was the leader of the smiling critters. Because he was mature enough to make sure everyone was in line/well behaved, I also think some other workers were turned into the mascots too (obviously) but maybe they trusted Rich more so they just threw him into the dance circle and hope that he'd be a good leader.

- this one ties into the first one btw! I like the think that maybe he was one of the mascots when he worked there. Like a guy in the costume who worked with the kids (hence the zipper, how else would the workers get into the bigger body suits?)

- I like to think DogDay likes when Angel calls him by his old human name. Maybe once he opens up more about his human life (or at least bringing up some of the memories he still has) he just randomly brings up his name when talking about a memory and hearing Angel repeat his name back, he'd probably like hearing it. It might make him feel like less of a monster in a sense. Granted I think he wouldn't care about what Angel calls him but he would most definitely prefer for them to alternate. Like you know when someone makes you mad and you use their real name instead of their nickname? He'd hate for his Angel to get mad, especially at him. But when living with 3 other people it can get a bit hectic.

"DogDay! Did you bring mud into the house?!"

"N-No!... "

*silence*

"RICH, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

*footsteps are heard and DogDay bolts out the door*

- Now this head canon I have can go either one of two ways, right? Hear me out. Listen up, listen carefully, and listen closely. (Lmk if you got that reference) ok so back to the zipper! I think the zipper just opens to his organs tbh like the zipper was just left functional in case he needed to be "repaired internally". BUT another thought, I also can see there being some sort of barrier! You know those stuff animals who have their stuffing blocked by a barrier so it doesn't fall out but the zipper opens to a compartment where you can store items? I kinda think that's whats there tbh, I mean it makes sense. What if one of the kids opened the zipper by mistake? Surely there would be a barrier just in case.

- as I mentioned in the last hc post, I can see him trying to swoon Angel in the old romantic type of way. I can see him pinning after Angel hard, at first they wouldn't get the hint, they'd probably think he's thinks he's indebted to them for rescuing them and giving the 3 of them a better and new life. But quickly they realize bro is in love. Of course poppy teases him about it too at some point lol. He doesn't really try to hide it either. I can see poppy and kissy thinking it's sweet and first then they get annoyed once you're the only thing he talk about lol.

- You're married. That's all! No but I can see in his mind you two are basically married. He'd probably want to have new custom star collars made for both of you or maybe even a ring for you and a matching collar or something for him to wear and propose. Of course it will bother him a bit because he can't go out with you, take you on dates or show you off but he trusts you (even though he gets jealous when you smell like someone else) he basically tries his best with what you guys have (If only there was a holiday that came once a year where you guys could go out dressed in customs without looking like freaks).

- He looks like the type of guy who would love pasta. I'm not sure why or how this even came into mind but I just feel like that's what he often wants for dinner. Poppy would probably eat fruit for dinner, kissy isn't really picky, but Dogday would probably be asking for either pasta or meat. Also I think Angel would be hesitant to feed certain foods to Dogday because you know, he's a dog (not really but hear me out) but because he acts like one at times I could see Angel being like haha nope you can't eat this!

*Angel eating chocolate cookies*

"May I have some?" *cutely pouts*

"I don't want you dying, love."

"You know I'm not actually a dog...right?"

ok ok you got me there" (they just really didn't wanna share lol)

- tbh this is more of a general head canon for the toys but I seeing as they had to resort to c*nnibalism. They clearly need food and water to survive. I think catcap was probably keep Dogday alive as a "lol now look at you now, look at me" (yes that's a BP reference) moment but only feeds him when he felt like it, since food is basically scarce in that place. I think that their human organs were transferred over but little things like veins, teeth, tongue, blood vessels basically anything that's not a major organ was made artificially and connected in a sense to those major organs making them function as such.

Yeah that's kinda it lol, there might be some more parts to this if I can think of anything else! But yeahhh that's kinda my hc and rambles lol (I tend to ramble a lot especially when I have to give context, I apologize!)

[daenysx]

hi! i’m pretty new to your blog but i’m really loving your content! you’re a fantastic writer. if it’s okay i’d like to request something for james x reader, where r is going through a friendship breakup and james is comforting her? i completely understand if you don’t want to write this, regardless i’ll continue to enjoy your content! have a great day/night 💗

hi, angel, thank you so much for being so kind! i hope you enjoy ♡ requests are open

james potter x fem!reader, modern au

"come on." you scoff, looking at your phone and feeling sick to your stomach. james lifts his head from his laptop to see what you're doing. you put the phone on couch a bit harshly, crossing your arms defensively.

"angel?" he asks.

"yeah, jamie?"

"everything alright?" he puts his laptop on the coffee table to go by your side. you turn your head, feeling a hot teardrop roll on your cheek.

"she doesn't even care about what i say." you start. james knows exactly who you're talking about. "i'm trying to talk about how i feel and she- it's nothing to her, apparently."

"what did she say?" james asks, he rubs a generous hand on your arm.

"she just- she says she's sorry and she'll fix it, but she said all those things 2 months ago! just- you need to do something for someone if you promise them but she keeps forgetting and she never explains anything."

you're getting more upset each second. this is a person who you spent your days with before, someone close enough to share secrets. something happened two months ago, something you can't even properly remember now, and she hurt you. she never realized how distanced you've been and when you told her, she promised she'll fix it. two fucking months ago. she did nothing.

"am i doing wrong?" you ask james. "is it wrong to be angry?"

"no." he says. "it's not wrong if you feel like it. you don't wanna let go of her so easy but- i guess she doesn't try like you do."

the truth hurts so badly. you hate losing friendships, strangers turning into loved ones, losing them makes you feel like losing a part of your memories. what can you do? you're feeling too proud, too unforgiving. you don't want to be a bad person.

"i just don't know why she keeps giving up on me." you say, quietly. tears turn into hushed breaths. "am i so easily forgettable?"

"no." james takes you in his arms. "baby, of course not. it's not your fault if you believe you try hard enough to save your friendship. maybe it's not anyone's fault. sometimes things don't work out."

you put your head on james's shoulder. "i thought we were closer than this." you say, sadly. "maybe i was wrong."

james rubs your back until you relax on him. your phone is forgotten, you won't send any more texts tonight. it already hurts enough, but you gotta get through it.

"i'm sorry." he says, a quiet sound comes out of his lips as he kisses your head. "i'm sorry it's hurting, baby. you'll be okay."

maybe you should just leave this as a good relationship that is over now. there's no need to try to save something if it's already lost. you've gone through this before, you can do it again. you think your anger for the situation will make you forget about things quicker. you won't hold any grudges.

"i don't wanna be friends with someone who treats me like this." you say, sharply. "i didn't do anything to deserve it."

james kisses your hair again. "i'm not blaming her." you say, after a second. "it's not anyone's fault at this point but- i won't try anymore. she can do anything she wants, i guess."

not getting a closure hurts a bit, but you'll survive. james likes how you perceive the situation from both sides, you don't see yourself as the only person who's right, you still have respect and love for your old friend. your head stays tucked on his neck nicely, he rubs your now dried cheeks with cool fingers.

when you look at james with expectant eyes, he nods. it's good to see him agreeing with you, you know he'd tell you if you were making an irrational decision out of anger. you kiss his cheek and he carries you to his side of the couch.

you don't look at your phone again that night. james figures out you like watching sitcoms when you're upset. you fall asleep to the background sound of the office, your head on james's chest and his hand on your lower back.

[4ng3l-shortc4k3]

Cw: yandere behavior, murder, cannibalism(?), mentions of mating

Okay enough Solomon talk I want to introduce a yandere who lives near the bottom of the ocean. Sounds crazy right? Yeah well so is he and his name is Nen. He's a sea serpent and he would most likely meet you on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere

He'll be mean to you at first mostly because he doesn't understand why you're being so awful to him. He literally saved you and you can't even thank him?? That's being selfish! At least to him it is. Then its only a matter of time where he softens you up with how nice he is that you'll end up wanting to stay

He's a yandere in the sense that he'll kidnap you thinking you're in trouble or something, drag you down in his underwater kingdom, and trap you there without a form of leaving. But its okay because he promises he'll help you!! And by helping he means distracting you with the tempting promises of what he has to offer so you'll never leave.

At least you're able to breathe underwater because of him draining all the water inside the castle so now everyone is forced to use their more humane forms rather than their animalistic ones they were used to. It doesn't help that you are the reason Nen starts changing the castle around to where it fits your mortal body's needs better than the rest. He'd neglect his people in order to make you happy which doesn't do wonders to your guilty conscience

Except he's also terribly clingy to you. You will be followed everywhere you go. You'll sit on his lap, you'll sleep in his bed, and he will get jealous of everyone and anyone who dares to talk to you. But here's the kicker he won't do anything about it because of how happy you are and he can't ruin that

So he'll bid his time mostly doing his best to keep you with him close by. He doesn't mind when you make friends with the servants just stop trying to flirt with them! He'll even let you have your own room if you at least stop your behavior before he ends up eating- I mean firing the staff members

When you start having feelings for Nen he would be overjoyed and he'll celebrate with you. Yet he doesn't understand how relationships work much less mating. He's been alive for thousands upon thousands of years ruling his precious kingdom yet never figured out how to have sex with someone so you're going to have to teach him yourself

He's also very capable of being aloof most of the time. He'd be so happy being in your arms despite quite literally being way taller than you that he'll forget vital information for when you two start properly courting. He'd forget so often about such important things that when you get upset with him he'll end up begging for your forgiveness. Its not easy especially when he gets too upset because he'll transform into this big and scary sea serpent just like when you first met him

When like this its best to evacuate with the others because he will start destroying the castle often times eating the unlucky servants and guards who weren't able to escape on time. He doesn't mean to make a mess but you simply wouldn't forgive him and he couldn't help it. It was a poor excuse especially when he tells you that he can't control himself when highly emotional but there was nothing you could do about it even if you did end up believing his ridiculous excuse

But in the end you'll forgive him anyways and he'll be back to his silly himbo nature of not understanding every innuendo you throw his way. Or how he doesn't understand modern things. Did I mention he's a very traditional guy? But he'll break the rules for you in a heartbeat so it really isn't all that bad. As long as you could handle the eating and the accidental tantrums then truly you're in a perfect undersea paradise where you are more of the king than the queen. Not like Nen would mind you taking his role in the first place when he's so busy idolizing you all the time

[kaija-rayne-author]

Did Solas actually kill Felassan?

It's interesting to me that, as objectively bad as DAV is, Felassan was noticeably not in Solas's regrets.

Spoilers for all dragon age materials, games, comics, and books included.

Obligatory 'I'm not an asshole' disclaimer. Feel free to jump to the cut if you've read it.

Something came to my attention. I need to make it crystal clear that I utterly love the diversity in DAV. It's fantastic. I'm also a heavily left leaning, non-binary, queer as fuck reviewer, editor, and author.

I was on media blackout while I played DAV. Please be safe and take care of yourselves. Arguing with incels and white supremacists is completely pointless. They sea lion worse than an actual sea lion. Your mental health is important.

Though, every single time the anti-queer brigade comes out for a new DA game, I sit there thinking 'have you bozos ever played any DA game, like, ever?' My guess is nope.

Note. None of my writing on DA, but especially DAV, is edited. This is just my off the cuff writing. I don't have the time, energy, or heart to edit them properly.

So did Solas kill Felassan? If you asked probably 99% of the fandom, they'd look at you funny and say 'of course'. You can call me deluded, it's fine. I legitimately don't care. I know that most people in this Fandom love to think Solas killed Felassan. (I have my theories on why, too, but that's another post.)

But ya know what? Solas would barely even be questioned if it were a modern setting. And unless the trial were rigged, he'd never be convicted of it. Yet the Fandom just loves to crucify the character.

I mean, there's plenty of other things he's definitely done that you can hate on if you want. He's never been all that shy in admitting he's a bloody handed rebellion leader. I think if he'd actually killed his friend, it would've been one of his biggest regrets. It's not like the elf has very many FFS. And I think he would've sadly admitted it too, if anyone had asked.

So why don't I think Solas killed Felassan?

There. Is. No. Proof.

So, look. I have a background in bioanthropology and forensic chemistry. Crime scene work. I honestly think the whole thing about Solas and Felassan is a Weekes twist.

1. It doesn't make sense that Solas killed someone who was spoken of as his friend. Not someone who served him.

2. Would Solas be capable of it? Yes. He's an antihero character. As such, he's capable of killing even a romanced Lavellan if she gets in his way. That's what an antihero does, they (usually, when written with any sort of competency) have a Goal TM. The only thing that can be allowed to matter to a true anti-hero character, before the goal is complete, is The Goal. I just don't think Solas actually did it.

3. I didn't want to believe Solas had killed Felassan. (Feel free to let me know, politely, if there was incontrovertible evidence in Veilguard, cause no way in hell am I playing it again unless someone pays me. A lot. It won't really matter to me, because DAV doesn't exist and is not Canon as far as I'm concerned because of the bad writing and disrespect of the Lore.) But you can tell me if he actually admits it or is shown doing the deed somewhere. So I went searching and analyzed everything. I can't find a lick of substantial proof that Solas definitely killed Felassan.

4. But it also tickled all those old crime stuff senses I spent so long training to do. My kids think I'm hilarious to watch true crime with, because I scoff at everything authorities missed re:evidence, a lot of the time. I have a gift for it, and misogyny drove me out of STEM.

Anywaaaayyyy.

Weekes has said several times that they love to write the kind of twist that 'was right in front of you the whole time'.

I don't honestly think Solas killed Felassan. And I have actual reasons why. Other than, I didn't want my blorbo to have done that. It just doesn't make sense. I don't generally have a problem with anti-hero characters being murderous fucks in pursuit of their goal, because literarily, that's kinda part of their purpose as an archetype.

Do feel free to look all this up for yourself, I have annoted notes on it all, but the big bad happened in Masked Empire. Felassan is an interesting character, I enjoyed reading the book (3x).

Motive: Felassan didn't get the key to the Eluvians to give to whoever he served.

Actions: Felassan knew he'd be killed for disobedience. He catches a rabbit, roasts it, gives himself a last meal, considers staying awake to avoid his employer, and decides an ancient Elvhen needs more courage than a 'stripling human'.

He tosses herbs on the fire, lays down, and dreams.

He wakes in the Fade in the same wintery forest he went to sleep in. He feels his dangerous employer nearby and starts talking.

He tells employer that he didn't get the key, which is a fib, because he chose to not take the key from a young elf he mentored.

He senses his employer knows that's a lie.

He tells employer he feels the modern elves deserve a chance.

He compares Briala, his mentee, a decidedly 'defines self as woman/female elf', to employer.

Employer crunches through leaves behind him.

'He never felt the blow that killed him'.

It never, anywhere, says 'Solas killed him'.

1. Felassan's body wouldn't be dead, it would be tranquil and still asleep in the cold forest he went to sleep in. That's what happens when a spirit is killed or separated from their body in the fade. This is deeply established Lore (as is the fact that tranquility is cureable.) Solas, even on a technicality, couldn't have killed Felassan cause he's tranquil, not dead.

2. Felassan compared a decidedly female elf to his employer. Solas isn't straight for any reason but misplaced 'avoid evil bisexual trope'. He was originally written as bi, but he's definitely more on the masc side of things, gender and sex wise. (You could make a case for him to be non-binary too, that would make a lot of sense, but that's a headcanon, not proof.)

3. Wolves move silently through bracken, like dried leaves. And all throughout DAI, Solas is shown as pretty graceful and easy moving. It's not hard to walk relatively quietly, if you're abled, through dry leaves. You'd kinda have to not care to crunch through them. Or want someone to hear you coming, which is a very un-Solas like power move. "He comes in humble guises".

4. Felassan wears Mythal’s Valleslin.

So, quick side jaunt on the Vallaslin. They aren't just pretty decorations. They're not make-up. They're called 'blood writing' and heavily implied as a method of control over the branded Elvhen by the Evanuris in the Lore.

So. By wearing Mythal’s Valleslin, he's sworn to her, and likely serves her.

Mythal is also a dreamer. (Or even lives in the fade like a lot of other Evanuris did.) It's implied in the Lore, that almost all ancient Elvhen were somniari, and definitely all of the Evanuris. She's still in Flemyth at the time of the murder. Flemyth hasn't ever been very pleasant and, y'know, not murderous. If you've played through all three games, the ones that actually were good, written decently, and that mostly followed the Lore? You'd know Flemyth isn't an awesome person. Mythal is even bloody worse.

Whatever you think of Solas as a character, he doesn't outright lie except for once in DAI. During WEWH. (Obscure, obfuscate, deflect, mislead, yes! Outright lie, based on the dictionary and philosophical definition of a lie, no.) And I don't believe in the 'lie by omission' nonsense. Why everyone thinks they have the right to know every little thing about someone else immediately is beyond me.

All circumstantial evidence points toward Mythal and away from Solas. (Except people love to hate Solas, so of course, everything a decidedly not awesome ancient, uber powerful mage with a god complex does is his fault. Makes perfect sense because he's eeeeevvvvviiiillll. Ripest of Sarcasm and glares at Epler, Creative Director of DAV. )

Solas has also been shown to be someone who listens to his few friends. He listens to Inky, Varric, and Bull a few times in DAI. So it's also odd that Felassan's employer wouldn't even consider listening. That Felassan knew he'd die rather than be listened to. Felassan is Solas's friend, ergo, he'd have been likely to at least listen.

Solas is also shown as someone honourable 'I have distracted you from your duty, it won't happen again'. 'I wouldn't lay with her under false pretenses'. When you're honourable, you kill an enemy face to face, not a stab in the back. Mythal? Yeah, she missed the honourable boat by oceans.

Oh! But what about Cole's line in Tresspasser?

To be completely frank, so many of Cole's comments are 19th/20th/21st century TV, game, movie, and book references, I don't know why anyone gives his commentary any weight at all.

So, Cole's line is, "His friend had to die. Because he thought they were people. A slow arrow breaks in a sad wolf's jaws"

You could take it on face value, sure. But, you'll pardon me if I think it's silly for anything Cole says to be considered fact on face value alone.

So let's break it down, assuming (possibly incorrectly) that this comment has anything to do with Solas.

His friend had to die. Sure, I guess? But this doesn't tell us who killed him. Simply that Solas knows Felassan is dead. And again, Felassan is referred to as Solas's 'friend'. Not servitor. Not employee. Friend.

Because he thought they were people. Unless I'm mistaken, the 'real people' line is another one of Cole's, just from DAI, not Tresspasser, so we're making an even weaker case by stacking a comment of Cole's upon another comment of Cole's. Talk about confusing. Also, Real people was a tv show. Real People (TV Series 1979-1983)

It could also easily be social commentary on the dehumanization of people in... so many ways and cultures historically and even up to today.

A slow arrow is definitely a literary reference.

"THE SLOW ARROW OF BEAUTY. The noblest kind of beauty is that which does not transport us suddenly, which does not make stormy and intoxicating impressions such a kind easily arouses disgust but that which slowly filters into our minds."

Friedrich Nietzsche

"Fate's Arrow, when expected, travels slow."

Dante Alighieri

So if it’s a Dante reference, Weekes is alluding to Fate. If Nietzsche, Beauty.

Based on the fact that so many of Cole's comments are references, I'm going forward assuming 'slow arrow' to be a reference.

Beauty/Fate breaks in a sad wolf's jaws.

The veil is considered beautiful, and Solas is intent on destroying it (because in the Lore, it's actually destroying Thedas, sucking the life and magic out of it. Which would matter, John Epler, a lot! *bombastic side eye*)

It could also be a reference to Lavellan in a romanced Lavellan playthrough. Solas destroyed or rejected the beauty of love. Or even fated love, by leaving her behind.

Sad wolf is also a literary reference. Likely to one of these poems. (Given our degrees, Weekes and I probably had to take very similar classes. I originally went to uni to be an English teacher.)

"The Wolf" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Lo! the calm moon comes forth!—The sad wolf howls!

He seeks his fellow in the hungry night.

With fiery eye—how red his mouth is!—howl

The lonely wolf, for, lo!—he is not there.

So if we want to go with Tennyson, the reference could imply that Solas tried to help Felassan... which, yeah. Mythal is also a twat of epic proportions. That wouldn't have worked.

This quote feels relevant to me. "The wolves in the woods have sharp teeth and long claws, but it’s the wolf inside who will tear you apart."

Jennifer Donnelly

Sad wolf could then be a reference to Solas's feelings. If Felassan was his friend, he'd be pretty torn apart by his death, no matter how it happened. Yet, it's still not among his regrets in DAV. Even though an entire story in Tevinter Nights is focused on his regrets surrounding his time in the Inquisition. (IIRC Felassan isn't mentioned there, either.)

From a literary perspective, this one also feels relevant.

The wolf changes his coat, but not his disposition.

Traditional proverb

Solas is many things, but he's always Solas. Why would he do something so out of character as kill a close friend? (I'll even tell you a motive for why *Solas* might’ve killed Felassan. It's well established in Solas's character that he abhors betrayal. I suppose you could technically call Felassan's support of Briala a betrayal.) Still doesn't make sense to me. Because it actually is out of character for Solas to hurt what few friends he actually has. But, enh, you could call it motive. Do NOT get me started on the ham-handed writing and the fate of Varric Tethras in DAV. Epler has already said they only had him in the game so Solas could kill him and it would make the player hate Solas more. Didn’t matter to Epler whether it was in character or not. And it's not. Solas saves Varric in the comics. Numerous times.

1. That failed. Ugh. What a shit end for Varric. An author killed by bad writing.

2. Fucking bad writing ruined DAV.

I've rambled enough. I guess my point is that I'd love it if more people would think about things they saddle heavily neurodivergently coded characters with. It's not harmless.

The very first demographic blamed for a violent crime are neurodivergent people. Usually, the first is Autistic people. (We're almost hardwired to not hurt people. We tend to be the white knight tilting at windmills type. It takes a lot to push one of us to violence.) It can be done, but to automatically assume it's an autist is ableist and harmful.

The second group blamed are the mentally ill.

Statistics don't support that either. Neurodivergent people are guilty of 3% of violent crime. All the rest of the 97% is on all you neurotypicals.

Blah, blah, recovering from pulmonary embolism, partner recovering from broken back, money is tight if you've anything to spare. www.kaijarayne.com

[heyybaejjk]

MODERN AO'NUNG HCS PT. 2 — SAMOAN!FEM READER

pairing. human!ao'nung x samoan!fem reader

summary. just Ao'nung with a Samoan girlfriend

warnings. swearing

a/n. for my polynesian babes wherever yall at ❤️

masterlist. pt. 1 pt. 3

AAPI month and Samoan Independence day have passed and I think of this idea NOW 😭☠️ out of all times wtf

BUT ITS SUNDAY AND STILL SAMOAN LANGUAGE WEEK ‼️

But idc 🧍‍♀️

Gotta do what I gotta do because I am not letting ts go

I love my culture, just like anyone else does, I'm still learning more about it so I researched and placed some of my own knowledge into this.

Aiuli - Participants who dance and cheer around a solo performer as they dance. Participants are never allowed to dance and cheer in front of the performer, only from behind them.

Taualaga - A performance, importantly the last, to close off an event. Mainly done by a solo female performer. Some are allowed to have people in the back while they Aiuli, some just rather have a solo performance.

"WHAT?" he screams in the middle of class, causing everyone to glance at him.

It was supposed to be a surprise, really. But your ass accidentally slipped out the fact that you were going to perform a cultural dance on Multicultural Day that was coming in a few weeks.

He would definitely try to Aiuli when you dance.

No questions asked.

Although he doesn't know how to properly dance the traditional way, he'll look around and copy the actions of the other pupils.

You both are heavy on learning each other's culture, so when he forgets a certain thing, he goes to your cousins to ask for help

"Wait so- I can't ae-oo-lee in front of her?" Ao'nung poorly pronounces, a slight dark tint on his cheeks as he scratches the back of his neck.

"Never. Always stay behind her, or whoever is doing the solo," a boy says with his arms folded against his chest. "If you see people giving money during the dance, don't throw it at her while cheering. Be respectful and softly stick to her arms, they're gonna be covered with oil, anyway. If you can't do that, put it on the ground behind her.

"Right, right..." Ao'nung frantically jots down as the latter continues to speak.

On the day of your dance, he gets so confused when he sees people swarming around, especially in front of you. He will literally stand there like 🧍‍♀️???

But doesn't copy the others as he sees his friend from earlier who told him what not to do, cheering from behind. He smiles warmly before sticking noted bills onto your oiled arms. Kissing your cheek slyly before going back to his position.

"Alu ai gi ou kae."

Bro got slapped. Not too hard, but hard enough to know that he said something wrong.

"Ow! Baby, what was that for?" He holds his cheek, rubbing it softly. Slightly pouting while looking down at your shorter figure. Quite dramatically because you felt like all you did was tap his cheek.

"Why did you say that for?" You looked up at him with your nose scrunched.

"I asked Vika how to say "wanna kiss?" I asked him an hour ago so my pronunciation wasn't that horrible." He sulks. You roll your eyes before cupping his face, leaving kisses all over his cheeks, nose and forehead. "Yeah well, you just told me to go eat shit. Vika's Tongan, you idiot. He only knows the swear words."

i wanted to write sm more but i rather keep this short LOLOL.

[ihaventcomeupwthanameforaheroyet]

Reverse AU where Armand is Marius' maker? Yes, but I think we should take this further. Imagine a reverse AU where adult!Armand (40 mortal + 1500 vampire years old Armand) is the Master of a 17 y.o. Marius.

Imagine teen!Marius being a very serious young man and... not entirely asexual, but he knows he has the whole life ahead of him, and does not feel the need to hurry up. Like, sorry, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your kind invitation, but I have books to read, and I should be home by sunset to greet my Master properly, therefore, I regretfully decline. Imagine a young loyal Marius who firmly ignores Bianca's very obvious advances because he knows that his Master courts this woman, and he would be an ungrateful pupil if he stood in his Master's way (of course, his own feelings regarding this matter are completely irrelevant). Imagine Armand being mad because he already decided this boy will have the whole eternity to enjoy his goddamn reading and writing, but has very limited time to engage into other activities, but he can't explain this to Marius without revealing too much, or can he? And then this epic moment probably happens...

(This is a screenshot from Rome HBO series, but I totally HC same thing also happened to young Marius at some point of his mortal life, AU or not AU.)

For the first time in his Venice years, Marius considers disobedience. He can't explain or rationalize why he is opposed to the idea. He goes to the brothel anyway. The act is pleasant but otherwise deeply unsatisfying. He can't justify this feeling, either. It seems that everything suddenly makes no sense at all. On the way home he considers drowning himself in a canal. He doesn't. Instead, he returns to the palazzo and has a very polite Marius-style silent meltdown and no one knows how to deal with this until Armand returns. They talk. They finally talk. And then they don't. And then they finally don't. And then Maruis thinks he probably understands what everything was about. BTW, he makes zero drama out of the fact that some of his Master's body parts do not function the way they are supposed to. On the opposite, he thinks he is connecting the dots now. He totally knows this may happen to older men because his books told him so. And at this point he suspects his Master is older than he seems (there is a talk in the palazzo that he is a magician or something), therefore, nothing to worry about. He suddenly understands why his Master was so insistent about the whole... virginity matter - like, "go enjoy all these things while your body is still young". His own feelings make more sense now, too. He is certainly happy to have a satisfying intimate life, but he is even more content now than every irrational thing received a consistent explanation.

And then teen!Marius gets himself mortally wounded, IDK, maybe while defending his Master's honour on a duel or something? And then he is so surprised to find out that he was not entirely wrong, but still... wrong. About certain things. And then probably comes the whole "we kill to live" thing, and it probably comes along with some drama, because it's Marius we are talking about. A man who claimed he haven't killed anyone in his mortal life. And then the separation, the lonesome journey through the centuries to come, the reunion in modern timeline and everything else.

Bonus points if teen!Marius was the voice of reason in the palazzo and talked his peers out of any mischief as much as possible. More bonus points if adult!Armand is a da Vinci type of artist, always engaged into his flying machines as much as he is into his paintings (I mean, canon Armand is good with technology, this fact should be used somewhere!).

I wish I could write fiction.

[yuseirra]

;;maybe I'm like this because I can't possibly IMAGINE someone doing something like that to whom they care about..

but I really don't think he had it in him!! besides it doesn't make sense!!;; why get back at someone 4 years AFTER the breakup, not right after?? you even know they've been raising your kids and that they're very smart.. wouldn't you like to go see them???and it's someone you really find endearing more than your own life?? he couldn't have done it!!! It's so different from his behavior up till that point. I don't think it's a natural course of action. Or is it for people? Do people actually do that?? Really? but that character was initially a good guy. I don't think he did it.

I keep asking, what are they trying to say and convey through their work because well, maybe I'm the type who has things I want to say when I make mine, even if it may be vague and unorganized even as I put things out there, I put MY heart into it, I'm sure the creators of this work did too, so what was the benefit and the reason for having brought forth such a story? (then again I do make my own characters suffer as well but; it's usually because it's necessary for the plot;)

do they just like making characters fall into misery and become broken beyond repair? that can't be it, right? It's not wrong to write stories like that but I didn't think this work would be such a thing. It feels like it though. It's cruel. I actually feel things really strong and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be feeling this well I guess; that makes me pretty capable of sympathizing with just anyone huh, such weird work this is. Yeah, I think I've been learning a lot about myself. I don't like people who were once kind being; I don't know?? destroyed in ways that make them a monster- actually that depends. If I can understand the process of how it came to be, it could still be intriguing and exploreable but it's not; shown very well. I'm not convinced!!; this work is so weird. it gives a headache; is it that I can't comprehend people being bad?? is it as simple as that? but isn't it still really weird?? the fact that they left this vague till the very end, we don't know!! we don't know what really happened!! it feels like seeing someone being put on trial but with no solid evidence of anything, what's the right thing to do in cases like that?; everything's been just so tangled and tossed off into a mess, if this were to be real life it'd be so confusing. To think this is a conclusion for a manga. I honestly think they never gave out a clear answer because he really didn't do it. At least for Ai's case. The rest; I've no idea;;; that guy HAS to be a god that's awakened to his hypnosis powers or something to achieve what he's done in the modern era. AND THIS PIECE DOES HAVE GODS...The answer lies here. I keep coming back to that conclusion. I should stop thinking about this. This whole thing doesn't feel like it has been handled right though. Guilty or not, it's still unfair. Things weren't clarified and resolved properly. A "completed" piece of work shouldn't be written this way. So I must be right you know?? what I came up with. that's really the way to explain everything about this story. Oh I need to move on with this subject;

I just-;; it's so weird.

[bigball-thefrog]

Hunters Prey: Slasher!Rob Lucci X Reader Pt2:

______________________________

Pt1

Sorry, something short again this week. I've just been exhausted and exams are coming up so next week might be the last one for awhile until I finish.

Warnings/Tags:

Modern AU

Slasher Lucci

This is not a romance thing, I am not romanticizing this kind of relationship, I just got the idea of a slasher Lucci and thought it was kinda cool, please for the love of God don't think I'm romanticizing this

Implied torture at the end

______________________________

Reader POV

My head was pounding. I regained consciousness and looked around. Nothing but pitch black. I thought I was dead and in just a void of nothingness but I stood up and hit a wall. Shit, the power must have gone out in my house while I was asleep. I started blindly wondering around the room trying to find my phone or a torch for some light. After some wondering I tripped over a box and hit the floor. The floor felt like concrete, why would it be concrete? I have no concrete floors in my house, and it can't be my garage because I there would be a window I could see through right now. Damm, I must be in some kind of basement, but I have no basement in my house? Why would I be in a base-.... Oh... Lucci....

Shit, so it wasn't a dream. Rob Lucci really is the serial killer of Water Seven... I can't believe that bastard, I thout we were friends... But there's no time for moping now, I need to get out. I went to one of the walls and began feeling across the walls to try and find some way out. I eventually found the foot of a staircase and decided it was my best bet, so I got on my hands and knees and slowly crawled up the staircase so to not make much noise or accidentally break or step on an exposed nail. I managed to reach the top of the stairs and was halfway with getting back up when the door creaked and there was a sudden blinding light. I closed my eyes quickly and covered them with my arms. There was a low chuckle that came from my front, then a hand moved my arms away and lifted my chin upwards. I opened my eyes which weren't used to the light yet and saw only light and a silhouette of someone bent down in front of me. As my eyes became adjusted the silhouette became more clearer and recognizable, soon it was clear that the silhouette was Lucci. When my eyes properly adjusted I saw he had that same sinister smirk on his face when he kidnapped me, I froze. "Aww, look at you all scared and on your knees in front of me~" he said as he caressed my cheek with his finger, "Unfortunately for you sweetheart, you're not leaving this place until I've had my fun." He grabbed my arm and dragged me back down the stairs and towards the bottom of the basement.

He threw me against the floor and stepped back over me, he grabbed the collar of my shirt and lifted me to his eye level again, "Lucci, why are you doing this? Why would you even want to do this to anyone?! It's sick!" I shouted at him, he just chuckled and started caressing my face with a single finger again, "Well it's simply because... I just like it~" My face went pale and a pit started growing in my stomach, Lucci just continued, "The blood, the screams, the power, the knowledge that you can basically control life or death? It's ecstatic!" That pit feeling in my stomach just kept growing, this man is sick, how could anyone ever enjoy something like this, I wanted to throw up. Lucci noticed my nauseous look and chuckled, he gripped the collar of my shirt tighter and lifted me up higher, "Don't worry dear, you won't die. You're just going to be my new little toy until I can either trust you to keep this a secret, or until you break~" he said as he moved his freehand to squish my cheeks.

Suddenly he dropped me back to the ground. He walked over to a table and picked something up. He put whatever it was on his hand and turned back around. He was wearing a glove that had long sharp blades coming out of the fingertips like killer claws of a cat, that explains all the claw marks on his victims. He walked towards me, that sinister smile growing on his face. He bent down and used one of the claws to gently caress my face, "Now let's just see how strong you are, my little prey~"

______________________________

[cherikdogfood]

You're Not Alone (But Now You Are)

[In a modern world, mutants are hunted down, experimented upon, and seen as test subjects. Charles Xavier is secretly a mutant, and together with his sister, Raven, they have been rescuing mutants from government facilities for years.

When he meets Erik, of course, the two fall in love, but Erik's painful past -- torture and experimentation under the hands of Shaw -- threatens their love, their peace, and their lives.

Charles, Raven, and their family of mutants plan to take down Shaw... but Shaw gets to them first, and captures Charles...]

Shaw clicked his tongue, almost impatiently, as Charles tried to sit up straighter. The wounds on his body was making it impossible to sit properly without wincing, but Charles would be damned if he let Shaw bask in his pain.

"And here I thought you were strong," Shaw sighs mockingly. He glances coldly at the Charles' wrecked face, one eye sewn shut and a bruise forming as he muffles his groan of pain.

"So much for being a telepath," he chuckles. "Did you really think you could escape?"

Charles grits his teeth and resists the urge to curse. Cursing won't get him anywhere. It would be better if he drew this out, bide his time and hope that Erik and the children could locate Shaw and kill the bastard.

"What did you give me exactly?" He manages to croak out. His voice is raspy, the result of all the screaming he did when Shaw was torturing him with all his devices, making lab reports and musing about his amazing range and telepathy.

His telepathy.

Well, it was the one thing he had hoped could save him, the one thing he relied on to escape this godforsaken place, but Shaw had injected him with something, and now there was just... nothing.

"You're wondering what I gave you? Well, why don't you look into my head and find out?" Shaw smiles and pauses, almost theatrically. "Oh wait, you can't, can you?"

Charles hates that suave, sly grin of his. He wants to punch the man, not only because of the things he had done to Charles during the past few weeks, but also because of all the things he had done to other mutants, to Erik.

"You should just die," Charles says coldly, knowing that he means every word he said.

Shaw's face turns dark.

"Is that so? Well, I think you're the one who will beg me for death soon enough, hm? After all, we can't let you try to escape and not punish you accordingly... Come on, Charles, you should save your energy..." the man grins maniacally.

"You'll need it to scream soon."

***

The last time Erik saw Charles, they had been talking over chess, Charles' blue eyes gentle and warm, his presence inside Erik's head a constant reminder that he is not alone.

When he heard the news -- Alex gritting his teeth and talking about Shaw and kidnap and Charles -- he could not, did not want to understand. Those three words... they shouldn't even be in the same sentence.

Not Charles. Not good, sweet Charles who was his everything and so much more.

Raven had been calm. Hank had been sullen. The children had been brokenhearted.

Erik had been furious... and most of all, afraid.

He knew what Shaw could do. Hell, he had been Shaw's pet project in the past... The horrors of Shaw had been branded into his skin, a deep rooted pain he could never forget.

And to think that Charles... Charles of all people would be subject to that...

Erik drew in a deep breath as he studied the maps, the news and secret letters he had received from any and all of his contacts. He had begged, pleaded, threatened, and bribed anyone who could have a sliver of information regarding Charles' whereabouts...

And yet, nothing.

"You should sleep, Erik," Hank had timidly said the other day.

Sleep? How could he? Charles was suffering right now, and he had to find him, protect him, shield him from everything... He couldn't rest, not when Charles needed him.

After three weeks of little to no sleep, Raven had sneaked up behind him and drugged him, to force him to sleep and rest.

It was useless.

Because even in his dreams, Charles was crying and screaming in pain.

***

"Erik," he could hear the nervousness in Sean's voice, even from this far.

"What," he snapped, too high-strung to even try to answer calmly.

"We've found the Prof," Sean's voice is tight, too tight, but Erik doesn't care.

His head hurts when he turns around too quickly.

"If we've found him, let's go," he says, voice raspy after not drinking for hours.

Sean nods.

"Hank's preparing the jet, Raven and the others are suiting up."

Erik's throat feels too tight, his heart is thundering against his chest. He can only nod at Sean, mentally telling Charles that We're coming. I'm coming. We'll save you, hang on, Charles...

He prays Charles can hear his pleas.

***

Charles does not, of course, hear his thoughts.

Erik knows this because he's gazing at Charles' corpse ("He's been dead for two hours, I think," Hank had whispered, voice breaking) -- and how can it be, why is there a corpse, why isn't Charles smiling at him?

He stands, motionless, as he takes in the view before him. Charles, strung up from the beams of the ceiling, two nasty hooks keeping him in place, digging into his chest.

Charles' arms hang limply at his sides, his eyes are sewn shut with bruises, and a puddle of blood has accumulated under the body, thanks to the numerous lacerations and gashes on him.

Distantly, Erik can hear Raven gasping and sobbing, Hank trying to soothe her, Alex muttering curses, Sean retching in the corner, Darwin patting him on the shoulder --

It's too much.

He doesn't even know when he sank to his knees. He doesn't even realize he's crying.

Please, he begs. He's not sure if he's begging Charles to wake up, or begging Shaw to appear and tell him this is a nightmare, or --

Please... He cries, trying not to break.

It's too late.

He can hear his heart cracking, like fragile glass that shatters into pieces after a heavy blow.

This time, Charles' isn't there to help him pick up the pieces of himself.

He is alone.

***

[Written by cherikdogfood for #revivecherik #27: Hurt No Comfort]

[horizon-verizon]

I don’t think Rhaenyra went into this war with “I’m fighting the patriarchy” in mind, but that’s what she’s inadvertently doing nevertheless. She’s not feminist in the sense that she fights for women’s rights and liberation, but in a medieval setting and male dominated culture her very decision to fight for her throne is a subversive action. I think it’s pretty ridiculous to expect Rhaenyra to be a perfect figurehead of modern feminism because that’s not conceivable in her world. Her usurpation and her goal to fight for her claim is enough.

Anon's responding to this post.

Yes, and as I mentioned it's misleading purposefully (often) and its rationale is forced: if Rhaenyra is not a feminist, nothing of what she does really should matter to feminists or feminism or to study how/why women behave to gain more power; all that matters is that she plunged the whole country into war for her greed, ambition, and that she was part of the ruling class and had a dragon that enabled her to continue her Targaryen mad colonizer trip in the long installments of Targaryen madness and evil; everyone hated her, so all this must be true; why we care about feminism when it was never about or really centered on how women are collectively and generationally disempowered or abused when Targ power/survival OR human survival doesn't even depend on women having power and being treated as humans, flaws and all; the Targs were never "normal", so it's futile to really think about how they, too, have been affected by systematic and personal abuses, one of them sexism; women have to be feminist for anyone to care about anything that, somehow, mostly or only and disproportionately ever seems to bring them the most harm...funny that...

If Rhaenyra is not a "perfect" figurehead--aka, if she doesn't conform to some sort of ideal of femininity or womanhood (it's an attempt at such)--then she can only ever be in the wrong once she does something against any aspect of the status quo, even if it is just for herself or those closest to her. It's giving very Victorian-distillment of Goddess-Mother, Mother-is-Bastion-of-Respectability, and is thus "perfect". To be a valid (or valid enough) "human", the woman must be unreal and inhumanly Good. Very Angel in the House. (poem itself)

Ironic, bec only with feminism do you have people make remarks about how feminists/feminism is not valid of it doesn't consider the rights of male sex abuse victims in the way they don't scrutinize anti-racists don't necessarily advocate for poor white victims or white European immigrants' own experiences under the economic-racial system of the United States. Which is reflective of this idea that a woman is not a person until she considers how her actions will affect everyone else around her and to not position herself as an individual but more a perennial "source" and "well" to benefit others (until death or burnout or obscurity).

Because what if a woman like Rhaenyra (not exactly altruistic, ranging from completely self absorbed to just "average" self concerned human being) did somehow win "properly" against whatever aspect, institution, etc. of patriarchy? Women/people could learn from her tactics, journey, methods of acquiring certain resources, etc. We can't exactly have that, now can we if we want to preserve the status quo?

[mask131]

I'm going to really quickly drop something I have been thinking for a very long time - and I don't think I have made a post about it?

It is one of the reasons I kind of cut ties with fandoms on the Internet as a whole, and why I originally strongly disliked the way "headcanons" were used, and why I often roll my eyes with the way people behave on the Internet... And I don't know if it is because I was old enough to have lived in a time when I enjoyed series and movies and cartoons without the Internet - or better, with an Internet that was without the "fandoms" as we know them today.

The main thing that irritates me with the way "fans" act on the Internet is how they think because they are fans of a piece of media, it "belongs to them". I fully understand the idea of fanfiction-positive and I am ALL for fan-art and AUs and the like, don't get me wrong. I do enjoy what fandoms were for - sharing a common passion, bring fan-made content based on a loved piece of media, have fun with it all... But the way this positivity has been framed and formulated, and the way it got interpreted has been irking me a lot.

Because in effect, a lot and lot of people have gotten into their brain, somehow, that a fandom "owns" a piece of media. That a television series was made first and foremost for the fans, and not for anyone else, and thus that it must cater to their every whims and desire. More and more people take fan theories and headcanons as actual guidelines, or solid fact, or in general confuse "canon" and "headcanon". More and more people believe the idea that "If we are strong enough, we can change this piece of media" or that "The creator of this piece of media owes us things because we are fans".

I am not very old, and yet I still lived in a time when we understood that published books and the shows on TV and the movies in theater were not... "ours". Yes a fandom is a way to allow fans to toy and play with a piece of fiction, and thus in a way make it "theirs". BUT THAT'S METAPHORIC NOT LITERAL! It certainly does not help that recently more and more tv shows and cartoons and whatnot have been explicitely interacting with or refering to their fandoms, even sometimes letting the fans drive the course of the story. Which is great, and is fun - but should be remembered as something not "natural" and a bit exceptional.

It reminds me of how recently there have been more and more incidents in theaters where musical plays were interrupted by audience members who thought they just could do anything they wanted - because somehow they thought a musical was an interactive play or a karaoke night. Again, these kind of interactions do exist (The Rocky Horror Picture Show was built upon these experiences) - but they were unique and out-there.

Art, fiction and media can and will live on without fandoms. Fandoms are not a needed ingredient of a piece of fiction, they are something that at best develops a healthy co-dependency with the piece of fiction it selects, at worst acts like a parasite to its host. But the fandom can be destroyed and obliterated and die - the fiction will still live on, and the media will still exist. And yet, so many fandoms seem to believe that somehow, they are the movers and shakers of industry and fiction, and that somehow they are the ones in control? So many fans treat creators like commissioned artists or pals they can ask favors from or victims they can bully freely without consequence.

Again, I don't know how to properly express my thoughts but... I lived in a world without fandoms, and now I can't stand it when people make it seem as if art and fiction and media was all about fandoms. And I mean fandom in the modern, Internet-sense of the term. Fandoms have went from enthusiastic pupils and eager to learn students and symposiums of fair critics to just... whining, entitled, over-spoiled little brats that kick their feet in anger, give orders to everybody and try to run away with the painting that is hanging on a museum's wall.

Yes fanfiction can "correct" a badly written plot, in one's opinion. It doesn't mean the author has to stick to your corrections, or that other people can't actually enjoy the badly written plot.

Yes fanart can be much cooler than the actual design. It does not mean you suddenly know the movie better than the movie-maker themselves, or that your fan-art will have to influence the aesthetic of a cartoon's next season.

Yes headcanons are wonderful. It does not make them canon, and you cannot enforce them on anything.

I repeat myself like a broken record - but originally fandoms where a place of enjoyment and appreciation and theorizing and complaining, but solely as an audience, and as people gathered by similar interests. Now? Now they became places of control and influence and demands that don't understand that an audience member isn't supposed to jump on stage to point out "No you are saying it wrong, here is how you should say the line."

[tianshiisdead]

How would you characterize modern day Japan’s relationship with China and Korea? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Ps. Love your art

hello anon i see you have it out for me <3

KFLDHGF JK JK... this is quite a question though 💦 Honestly fairly rocky I'd imagine, but they do hang out. I think there's a contrast between Korchu complaining about Japan and the three of them going to karaoke and drinking together. Inevitably they're going to have a decent level of closeness I feel given how intertwined East Asian modernity is, but that doesn't lessen the antagonism all that much. Korchu harass him on twitter*, and totally justifiably as well LOL Japan is NOT owning up to anything and this is all the reparations they're going to get in the foreseeable future...

On Japan's part, I don't think he's particularly apologetic so much as irritated by them bringing old scars up because 'it was in the past, why are you lingering on old history instead of looking into the future' with maybe an added 'this is why you haven't developed properly like I have' towards China - although he probably can't do that anymore I guess! Sad! I also do think he lowkey looks down on them, and that he has some weird complexes about them as well but that's another conversation. Japan has some sort of 'closer to the west' sense of pride that gets in the way of relations with his neighbors as well, he's really annoying about that, and he has (more than) a bit of nostalgia towards eras Korchu are Not Happy About. He also has a bad tendency of blaming them for his domestic problems which they also aren't very happy about.

This is where I'm going to reveal my bias: I'm definitely less knowledgeable and therefore less confident on Korea-Japan compared to China-Japan, but to focus on China-Japan for a second: I think Japan's actually fairly irritated at China. Like, in general Korchu anger towards Japan far outweigh Japan anger towards Korchu for obvious reasons, but in this case Japan has a thought process like 'I helped you so much in the 80s and now you're stabbing me in the back!!', which China thinks is bullshit of course 👍

Also, lest I make it seem too much like Korchu vs Japan, I'd imagine Korpan complain about China together quite often as well and Nichu commit racism towards Korea separately but they catch each other's gaze across the internet and have a moment of understanding. Japan and Korea play nice when America's looking but fight a lot when America's not looking. They're caught up on each other's latest media and resent that fact. Easia's such a funny region 😨

*China has a twitter through a vpn like all those Chinese gov officials/international correspondents who spend their time dropping twitter roasts all day

**korchupan are not related they're not even slightly related they're not brothers they aren't family no one 'raised' anyone and they view each other as Potential Sexual Partners ok thank u. i see most 'easia Blood Family' takes as being anywhere from a little ignorant to incredibly racist

Ah and thank you so much!! I am so glad u like my art means a lot <33

[aivoryyy]

"Important"

pairing : tom riddle x fem! reader

contains : fluff, pure fluff, no smut, modern au, modern tom riddle, highschool or college au (you decide), kind of short

summary : highlight the important stuff. or people 😋

word count : 861

It was Aivory's last period of classes, the teacher was discussing and telling the students to highlight all the important stuff. Since it was the last class of the day, of course the students were tired. Some were asleep, some were daydreaming, some looked like they were paying attention but they were just zoning out. There was only one person in class who was genuinely paying attention. You looked at the person beside you, Tom riddle. His notes were neat, the information the teacher was telling to highlight was highlighted, he was organized, meanwhile Aivory's notes were a mess. She compared her notes to Tom's as a scowl showed on her face. At first her notes were neat but as you read further, it has become a mess. From the cursive and neat handwriting to an ugly and unreadable one.

The teacher was talking and moving on too fast; she wasn't able to catch up. While tom was only highlighting the important words, Aivory highlighted almost everything. As she suddenly zoned out on Tom's notes, he noticed and glared at her “what?” He said, his voice cold as ever, a tone not even once had softened. His gaze fell onto her notes, his brows furrowed as he looked at her then back at her notes. It was as if he were judging her by how she highlighted everything, but he didn't speak of it as he went back to taking notes.“I mean everything is important. The fuck?” She thought, while highlighting every word in the page was with her blue highlighter.

She soon gave up as she prompted her arms on the desk and rested her head on her forearms. The darkness caused by the shielding of her arms surrounded her gaze, not a single area where light was able to go through. Now she wanted to fall asleep. But as she was about to close her eyes, an idea popped up in her head. She rose up and sat properly, grabbing her highlighter again, and out of the corner of her eye, she noticed tom glancing subtly at her as she suddenly sat back up as if she just had recharged and is now at full percent.

Then he scoffed and rolled his eyes. She looked at tom, staring at him for a moment before opening the cap of the highlighter and quickly drew a heart with the highlighter but before she could complete the other half, he flinched and brought his arm away from her “what the fuck do you think you're doing?!” He whisper-shouts at her “highlighting you. Now stay still.” She said, innocently, as if she had done nothing to annoy tom. “No-! What?!..” he looked at his arm, seeing a drawing of half a heart. He glared at her while she frowned at him, “now the heart looks ugly.” She stated, “why did you just draw on me?!” “I highlighted you.” The words rolled from her mouth calmly while he was annoyed as heck. He sighed and rolled his eyes at her sarcastic words, it was making him look dumb now. Tom's mouth opened, “you know you cant just fucking highlight on people. Can't you see i'm writing? It's rude to do that without permission.”

He said, continuously scolding her. He looked for his alcohol as he sprayed it on his arm. He attempted to rub it off and it worked, though there was still a bit of it there. He scoffed and just ignored it as he went back to taking notes. He noticed her frown through his peripheral vision, not caring. “tch” she rolled her eyes before the bell had rang. Everyone got up instantly and left. Aivory was one of the students who had escaped this hell of a class.

It was now dismissal, aivory would always stay and read in the library before actually going home and she'd bump into tom on some days. Right now she didnt want to see him or even hear his name come from anyones mouth but to her luck, as the library doors open, a tall, black wavy haired man walked in and looked like as if searching for someone. She sighed as she tried to ignore him and covered her face but to her surprise, the footsteps approached her. She didn't need to look at who it was. She knew who it was. Tom. Not even knowing how she knew but as she was about flip the page, a hand grabbed hers, causing her to put her book down.

“What?”

the word leaving her mouth as she tried to make it sound like she was annoyed but the soft tone of her voice ruined it. He said nothing, her hand in his as he highlighted her. She raised an eyebrow, “what are you d-” Then it hit her. Her cheeks heating up and without a word he left. He left her with her own thoughts. She even saw a small, faint smile even appear on his lips as he walked out and disappeared behind the library doors as it closed behind him. The lips that never stretched to smile. But he did. He smiled for her.

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

After reading your metas I was thinking about Edward’s internalized homophobia. Could he ever overcome it? Could Carlisle explaining that he is also not straight help? I mean, Edward thinks Carlisle is the best thing in the world, if someone as great as Carlisle is bisexual then being gay or queer can’t be so bad right?

Why I think Edward is gay.

Can He Overcome It?

Well, it's not impossible, but I will say that Edward doesn't want to.

First, he doesn't even realize this about himself. Before Bella he thought he was asexual, if anything, and simply not interested in anyone and doomed to be lonely. The idea that he likes his father in a non-filial way doesn't even occur to him, homosexuality is just a non-concept to him.

If you suggest to him that he is gay then, he'd give you a funny look, and wonder if you're trying to insult him for being single. Or, if he's already married to Bella, he'd give you an even funnier look and note that he's married to a woman and has a daughter.

What are you on about?

Second is that there's a certain romanticized person that Edward wants to be.

Edward wants to be, in terms of his... I guess we'll call it culture, a romanticized man of his youth in the 1910's. He explains as much to Bella. He wants to be seen as a gentleman, to court her properly, marry her properly, and be every inch the human man he should have been.

Now, this is a very rose-colored view of that time period, one that Edward's clearly painted in his head. It's allowed to be perfect for him because it doesn't exist anymore and is a collection of recollections and stereotypes.

The point is though that Edward wants to be as much as he can like an ordinary, refined, man who would marry a woman. He would not at all want to deviate from that path (anymore than he already has being a vampire and doomed to be a monster and live at the edge of this modern world he doesn't even like that much).

Edward would need some catalyst to confront this and it would not be something pleasant. His marriage with Bella would have to fall apart, or if it's before Bella, then his life among the Cullens would have to be jeopardized. He would have to question everything he is and worse everything he wants to be.

Edward doesn't want to do that.

At all.

And I don't see him doing it naturally.

What if Carlisle Told Him

First, how would Carlisle know? Carlisle's fear is that he turned Edward too young for the uh puberty to kick in he has no reason to question Edward's sexuality beyond that point (especially when Edward's showing no interest in anyone, man or woman, as Carlisle certainly isn't picking up the thoughts in his direction, no siree).

Second, why would he do that? This is something Edward has to figure out for himself, you can't hit the easy button and walk up to your son and say, "Son, I think you're gay, and you should stop pretending you aren't." Not only is that extremely invasive and not that helpful, but it again is something Edward can't just be told and has to figure out for himself.

But if he did, Edward would just be appalled. If it's when Bella's in the picture, then Carlisle's essentially telling him Edward's unfit to be her significant other for what Edward would see as a personality flaw. If it's beforehand, then Edward would see this as Carlisle slighting Edward in showing that Edward's not what he wishes he was.

We don't get Edward's feelings on LGBQT+ in the series but given his thoughts on everything else, I see him as the "it's fine if you're other people", e.g. not Edward himself.

But more to the point, people confront Edward with things all the time. Bella confronts him with her very real mortality, if he doesn't turn her she will die. Alice confronts him with the fact that Bella will either be devoured by him or turn. Edward digs his heels in.

He's not going to be any different with anything else.