#why i can't handle social interaction at work like a normal person would

[jaegerisim]

I am going to go controversial here. Stancy is a horrible ship even worse than mlvn.

Steve and Nancy have nothing in common. Nancy is an independent woman who wants a career, not a family. Meanwhile, Steve wants a nuclear middle-class family which she has explicitly said she'd hate to have. I am not saying it's not ok for Steve to want that, but it def isn't what would make Nance happy.

Second of all, the only thing that's real abt Stancy is their physical attraction. That is objective. It is in the script. It explicitly says that when Steve does a perfect landing, Nancy finds it hot and it's ok to find ppl hot while you are dating someone but not to lead them on, which is to one extent what Nancy does with Steve. (I'm not slandering her, I love her just as much as the next Nancy stan but it is not ok to do that)

Meaning, the Duffers mishandled Nance's character this season regarding relationships. Badly but not unrealistic. I hate how they made Nancy lead on Steve or at least flirt with him when his feelings are not shared. We know Jancy is the endgame, we know bc the ending of the season foreshadowed it. Yet, her character is extremely realistic for me and that's why I love her sm. She was a teenager when her BFF disappeared while she was having sex with Steve (another reason why they can't work, Nance associates Steve with Barb's disappearance. Then she learns about her gruesome death in another dimension, she feels guilty and tries to avenge her. All of this happens and Jonathan is always there with her. Always. He doesn't leave her side. Jonathan and Nance have shared trauma, while Steve and Nancy don't even have that. While Nancy was with Jonathan, Steve was with The Party. They each find their own people. In this situation, it is normal for Nancy to be confused over her feelings as her character arc focuses on her growth and maturity as a woman handling romance and trauma.

Furthermore in S3 Steve says she likes Robin bc she isn't like Nancy. He got over her and thinks that he needs someone different from her. In the pitch, Robin would be Steve's girlfriend, yet in the end, she was his platonic soulmate. This was something I particularly loved bc this shows that Steve's character arc is not about romantic love but for platonic and brotherly love he finds in Dustin and Robin.

Now, about Jonathan's character arc. This character is unjustly hated, IMO. He is super underrated and deserves more appreciation. I love Steve but Jonathan is personally a better character. Jonathan comes from years of abuse and neglect having to take care of his younger brother who gets atrociously bullied and abused at school and home. He is forced to drop out and work full time taking extra shifts at work in order for them to scrape by. This means he has the same or more trauma than Steve. Jonathan had to go alone to buy a coffin for his presumed dead brother and grieve for him alone while having to deal with his supposedly delirious mother and abusive father. All of this at the age of 14-15.

Due to the lack of social interaction, we know Jonathan has, he has trouble comprehending Nancy as he sees her as this rich, pampered priss. She isn't and he learns this. He and she let go of their prejudice towards each other to reach a common goal, find their loved one.

Stancys claim Jonathan neglected Nancy when she was being mistreated at work during S3. In this situation, both were in the wrong. Nancy was being a bit selfish bc she wasn't taking into consideration the fact that if Jonathan lost the job, his family would have severe economical problems since they need money desperately. Jonathan showed very little empathy towards Nancy's struggle with misogyny but Steve wasn't even present here so what support did he show? Plus it is canon Steve allowed and even encouraged his friends to slut shame Nancy. Even when Jonathan lies to Nancy about going to college, this isn't such a big issue as having a bf who allows you to be publicly humiliated. Yes, Jonathan did take photos of Nancy without her consent but she forgives him.

So in conclusion, Nancy and Steve will never be endgame because of their lack of romantic chemistry and dare I say, they don't have chemistry at all except this last season which seems pretty forced by the narrative to me!

[stardomtrash]

Giulia recently did an interview talking about, among other things, the shitshow that has been going on behind the scenes in Stardom recently.

There's just A LOT going on here and it's gonna get salty so I'm gonna put this under a read more.

First off, he's a translation of the relevant parts of the interview. I used ChatGPT-4 as I find compared to other platforms it provides the most coherent translation. Obviously, as this is machine translated, it misses nuance and some context, so don't take it as gospel - pinch of salt necessary for consumption. But I digress...

Here's the translation of the interview with wrestler Giulia:

Interviewer (Kaku): The conversation shifts a bit, but this month, Giulia, you expressed your determination and dissatisfaction with the staff's response on Twitter. Or earlier, at the strategy announcement meeting, you spoke up to the president about revising the 5★STAR GP schedule. It seems like you've been quite outspoken recently. Has a lot been happening during this period? Giulia: Yes, a lot has indeed been happening. I'm the type of person who often voices my opinions. This has led to conflicts in various aspects of my life, even before becoming a wrestler - with friends, family, work, school. I've always been the type to speak up when I think something is wrong. This might not be very Japanese-like. Normally, people hesitate to speak up, especially women and most of our staff being male. I think there were many things people wanted to say but couldn't. Kaku: Hmm. Giulia: I've felt this strongly and have tried to communicate it internally within the company and through the media. But nothing changed, in fact, things seemed to get worse. The final straw was the handling of the Ushiku event (operational mistakes and insufficient announcements), followed by the subsequent responses (staff interactions raising questions). I wrote on SNS (Social Networking Services) hoping it would reach (Owner of Bushiroad) Takaaki Kidani… I just had to write it. Kaku: Yes. Giulia: Otherwise, nothing would change in this organization. I was frustrated to see what Rossi Ogawa had built up breaking down… We had momentum until last year, but since this year, it's been crumbling. That's why I spoke out. Kaku: There's been a packed schedule, and things seem to be moving too fast, without giving time to "get into" the feelings before the next match. How did the wrestlers feel about this? Giulia: Exactly that. I realized how great Rossi Ogawa was. He prioritized the wrestlers' feelings. That's no longer the case. Kaku: Hmm. Giulia: Wrestlers, especially women, have various emotions, and these clash to create a story, a battle, a drama. But now, (laughs) it's like we can't do that��� One thing after another is arranged without considering our feelings. I think that's the difference from Rossi Ogawa's time. Kaku: I see. Giulia: Fans understand how we feel in the matches, who our rivals are, who we hate, and see the intense rivalry. Rossi Ogawa used to see this and set up matches accordingly… That's gone now. The reason isn't just the packed schedule. Kaku: A separate issue. Giulia: Yes, it's different. What the wrestlers want to show and what the "company" wants to do are completely different. I've been able to create various rivalries, like with Tam Nakano or Suzu, because Rossi Ogawa understood the wrestlers. Now, all of that is ignored. So, the fans can't get emotionally involved, and the wrestlers feel like expressing their emotions is pointless… Something really needs to be done about this (laughs). I hope the new president, who says he loves wrestling, will listen to the wrestlers' voices.

Kaku: Did you hear the new president's greeting today? Giulia: I did, I did. Kaku: Any impressions? Giulia: Impressions? He seemed fresh and clear-cut, which is good. But I'm a bit distrustful of people (laughs), especially towards the company. I'm the type to dive deep into things, so I'm watching how he responds. It's hard to build trust immediately, and I think President Okada (Taro) feels the same. I can sense that he's being careful in the same space. Kaku: Is he trying to respect the wrestlers? Giulia: Or is it that in the same space, with just a greeting, I can feel whether he's being considerate or looking down on me? Kaku: You mean through the president's gestures? Giulia: Gestures, or the aura he gives off. That's what I felt, so I hope he's a good president (laughs). Kaku: So far, you've felt good about it? Giulia: Yes. Kaku: His tie was also red. Giulia: The red tie of passion. Regarding Words Giulia Repeatedly Shouted Before Reaching the Comment Booth at the Osaka Event Kaku: Lastly, I'd like to include this comment if possible. When you were heading backstage in Osaka, it wasn't officially recorded, but (before reaching the comment booth) you said: "Please, let me have a normal match, I beg you, I beg you!! A normal, a normal match would be good…" What were your feelings behind those words? Giulia: Exactly that. The original plan for that event was the World of Stardom Championship, but it was canceled, right? Honestly, I don't think that match (the Moneyball final) should have been called the main event. It was more like a bonus match. The audience expects to see a main event, especially when a significant title match was canceled. We can't be playing around. This ties back to what I said earlier, about the disconnect between the wrestlers' feelings and what the company wants to do. I thought with that lineup, we could have shown an amazing six-person tag match without any weird gimmicks. Kaku: Yes, yes. Giulia: So, isn't that enough? I keep thinking. We didn't even know what was prepared, and then on the day of the match, baby powder falls in the ring. It might be fun for some, but it's incredibly dangerous. It looks funny, but it's slippery and doesn't make for a real match. It was really dangerous, especially in such large quantities. I have a bit of an allergy, and inhaling it caused symptoms. It was really itchy, and my nose and throat… There are minor details, but the ring was so slippery, we couldn't even do proper rope work. Climbing the corners was also dangerous. There was no proper planning. Just, "Okay, go do it." Kaku: Hmm. Giulia: I'll do it. I'll give it my best, but I wonder what the audience thinks. Do they want to see something like this? Maybe now, more than ever, we need to show a heated battle. Isn't that the essence of professional wrestling? To show a heated match, especially at times like this. Why are we doing this? It was really embarrassing. (Note from Kakutou Log: Despite Giulia's views due to this year's events, the match was exciting, with team play and enjoyable elements.) Kaku: I heard that outcry loud and clear, and I really took it as your soul's cry against the staff's response and your proposal to the president at the strategy announcement meeting. Giulia: Thank you

So, as you can see, everything is on fire. I went OFF on Discord about this interview. The baby powder spot... I just cannot even. I don't want to get angry again. I'm exhausted.

I thought it was a dangerous spot at the time, and that if they were going to do it, they should have pulled that box last... but to not tell the wrestlers at all they were going to use baby powder is dangerous as fuck! Every wrestler needs to go into a match knowing EXACTLY what's in store for them. Wrestling is dangerous enough as is and I have NO TIME for anyone who makes it needlessly and recklessly more dangerous.

FUCK. ALL. OF. THAT.

And to top it off, Giulia has mild allergies to the stuff...

As you can see she was heartedly embarrassed to be a part of that match and didn't even want a weird stipulation in the first place, but she had to tow the line. Honestly, after reading that interview, I cannot blame her for considering going to WWE. Girl, RUN.

Stardom has been a shitshow as of late for a multitude of reasons, some preventable and some not. The injuries have been coming thick and fast, and I've already spoken at length on that. But it seems that the booking side of things, the whole process, has changed backstage, and that seems like a big contributor to why things just aren't working so well anymore. Giulia pulled no punches in this interview, and to talk about how Rossy just doesn't seem to care anymore, that he's not letting the wrestlers tell the stories they want to tell, and he's not letting matches come together naturally... Giulia said that it's harder for both the fans and the wrestlers themselves to get emotionally invested in the product at the moment. I've been struggling to connect with it as much as I did a good few months back, and now I know that the wrestlers aren't as happy themselves... yeah it's harder to enjoy something when you know the people you love don't have their hearts in it as much as they once did.

If Giulia leaves for WWE it will be a damn shame, and not in the least because they'll lose a locker room leader who isn't afraid to speak out harshly against management on behalf of the talent. There seems to be management shake-ups going on right now, so we'll see if that changes anything.

I hope the product improves going into the new year and they make all the changes they need to in order to rebuild the hype they lost post Oedo Tai/QQ match, which I'd argue has been the last really great thing Stardom has done. There's been some stellar matches and it's obvious people are trying despite everything working against them, but some changes at a higher level need to be implemented to get Stardom back on track, starting with Rossy giving a shit about the booking again.

[tornad001]

manipulation does not have to be intentional to be manipulative. people with untreated BPD are often extremely manipulative but nothing they're doing is out of malice, they're just feeling extreme emotions that cause them to act in certain ways and develop certain dynamics... which are manipulative.

see, both can be true. manipulation isn't some abstract evil you intentionally weave into existence. i mean for some it is, but not most. but humans have certain natural and predictable responses to certain behaviors. crying is always gonna trigger sympathy because evolutionarily thats WHY ITS THERE. we don't cry for us, we cry to signal to our kin that we require aid.

same with yelling and being angry, it very reliably results in defensiveness and antipathy. the thing i notice about these discussions tho that bugs me is the implicit double standard. i can almost guarantee you that none of the people on the "normalize crying" side of the issue would be willing to extend a single shred of their prescriptions onto, say, guys who yell because they get genuinely angry or even just worked up/excited.

no, all of a sudden the normal human behavior whose very purpose for being is to communicate emotion and consequently induce reactions (cuz we're highly social animals) is actually manipulation and something which needs to be completely excised from a conversation or else you're quite frankly a terrible person and also innately a threat. but when that behavior is crying, suddenly we need to rise above our instinctual responses to emotional outbursts in order to be all uwu soft boy towards people who cry compulsively and without any sense of proportionality and really wish other people were just... less empathetic about people crying? is that a better world? one where nobody feels an innate emotional pull towards someone crying?

we want to be permissive of, shall we say, excess emotionality. but you can't extend that only to the emotionality that is comfortable for you to deal with. and people will say "oh but the crying response is often a product of abuse and trauma". which seems to imply that male anger is... not a product of trauma? so what, its innate then? men are just naturally only able to feel and express emotions through anger? cuz idk that kinda sounds like the pernicious psychological abuse of patriarchy on men resulting in toxic masculinity to me. but what do i know, im just a mentally ill person who tends towards yelling in the situations where some of my mentally ill peers tend towards crying, so basically im an evil man trying to silence women 🤷‍♂️

honestly tho, idk what the right answer is. there should probably be more understanding than there is now and more space for humans to be emotional in conversation, but there's always a point at which the only responsible way to handle it is to remove yourself from the situation. because displaying emotion NECESSARILY influences the behavior of other people and the interaction as a whole. again, i cannot overstate how social we are as animals, that's why that's the case, we can't escape it. but im sorry if you're like ugly crying and trying to have a convo or god forbid an argument with someone, thats not fair to them. you can't ask them to "just ignore it, bro", thats a situation where you just gotta leave and come back to it when you can compose yourself in a manner which doesn't induce an excess and undue level of manipulation. same with yelling. some should probs be acceptable, but too much and it's time to leave and cool down.

Y'know, some people do have a strong crying response to stress, and they might cry (even against their own will) when faced with an upsetting situation and that doesnt mean they are "gaslighting" or "manipulating" you.

There are people who use crying as a manipulation tactic? Absolutely. But that doesn't mean that every person that cries during a heated argument is trying to get under your skin. They have their own emotions and issues, and frankly, not everything other people do is a personal attack on you.

[imnobodyuknow]

AI Kyoko Kirigiri (by oida)

***Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Spoilers Ahead***

Kyoko: … My name is…Kyoko Kirigiri, the Ultimate Detective. Other than that, I don't like to reveal much about myself if I don't need to.

Me: Fair enough. My name is Jaimes, and that's all I plan to share at the moment. A pleasure.

Kyoko: It's also a pleasure to meet you, Jaimes. May I ask what is your talent?

Me: My…talent?

Kyoko: Yes, I presume you're a participant of the school's program as well? Thus, you definitely have a talent.

Me: Oh! No, no, I'm just here to observe. Sorry I didn't mention that.

Kyoko: Oh, I see now. That's quite alright. So, are you interested in seeing how things work around here and just observing what the other students do?

Me: Pretty much. I'm also prepared to handle any…unexpected situations.

Kyoko: Unexpected situations, you say? That's very interesting… so, let's see… How would you handle a situation if, for example, somebody went on a killing spree?

Me: I'd do whatever it took to stop them, most likely using a weapon.

Kyoko: That's a very noble yet dangerous task in my opinion. So, you're not afraid to put yourself in danger and risk your life to stop a murderer?

Me: I've never attempted it, but I certainly hope not.

Kyoko: So, in other words, it's not a situation you have encountered before, but you would be willing to do it if it was necessary… correct?

Me: Correct. I don't suppose you had any specific person in mind when you said "killing spree"?

Kyoko: No, that was just a hypothetical example. I suppose you're thinking of someone specific right now, though?

Me: I suspect everyone, pretty much. You can't be too careful in a school like this one.

Kyoko: That's true. In a program like this one, with so many talented students being put in the same environment, the risk for dangerous behavior or violent actions always increases. So, I can see why you suspect everyone. And how do you plan on identifying the actual culprit, if there is one?

Me: I'd do what I needed to in order to identify them. I suppose I might enlist your help, if you'd be willing.

Kyoko: I would be more than happy to aid you in any way necessary. I do believe that two heads are better than one when it comes to solving a difficult case and identifying the culprit.

Me: Agreed. So, have you had a chance to meet all the other students yet?

Kyoko: I have met some but not all of them. There are a lot of people, and not all of them seem very open or talkative. Some are just like me, while others are more social and eager to talk. In fact, I believe there are some students I still haven't met yet. What about you? Have you met all the participants?

Me: Indeed, though just briefly. There was one who seemed a bit…off, but I couldn't really explain how.

Kyoko: Who was that person? Was he or she perhaps behaving oddly? Was their attitude strange perhaps? I can tell that you were definitely suspicious of them for a reason.

Me: It's the fashionista girl, Ms. Enoshima. It might just be my imagination, but she sounded like she was putting on an act.

Kyoko: I assume you mean Junko Enoshima? Yes, actually, she does have some really weird tendencies and sometimes it's hard to know if it's all pretend or if she's genuinely like that. I agree, she seems like she's putting on an act, but who knows? She might actually be like that. She's certainly very unusual.

Me: Yep. Then again, I suppose that's normal in such a diverse group of students.

Kyoko: It is indeed. With all of these different talents, personalities and ways of behaving are bound to be weird at times. But it's certainly interesting to see and observe all of those qualities and people interacting with each other.

Me: Indeed. There was another student who also surprised me, but in a good way.

Kyoko: Oh? What student are you talking about exactly? What made them surprise you in a good way? I suppose you mean that they're behaving pleasantly and aren't too suspicious compared to the others, right?

Me: Yeah. It's the kid with the messy hair. What's his name… Makoto?

Kyoko: I believe you're talking about Makoto Naegi, the Ultimate Lucky Student, right? He is a pretty nice and sweet fellow overall. So it's surprising how normal he can stay no matter the circumstance and what the people around him are like.

Me: It is. And that's precisely what I noticed about him -- he's one of the friendliest people I've ever met. I'd sure love to meet his family.

Kyoko: Yeah, he can be really friendly and sweet. That does make me curious though - what made you wonder about his family specifically? I mean, how does he act that makes you want to meet them?

Me: Well, he's just got the sort of personality that makes you enjoy talking to him. I'd love to know if his parents and sister are the same way.

Kyoko: I see. It would certainly be interesting to meet and talk to his family members. It's quite possible that he inherited his personality and talent from one of them, so it would be wonderful if they are indeed as friendly and talkative as he is.

Me: Yeah. I just hope he can handle himself among the less polite students here.

Kyoko: That is a reasonable concern. I hope too that he can handle himself among them and won't get influenced by their behaviors too much. I like his personality the way it is, so I don't want him to change too much because of the others.

Me: Me neither. He seems like the kind of person who assumes the best of others. Kind of the opposite of me and you.

Kyoko: Yes, he definitely seems to be a lot more optimistic and trusting than both of us. I guess that's just part of his personality trait and his optimism can be a strength or a weakness depending on the situation, right?

Me: Indeed. I doubt I'll be enlisting his help should things get out of hand, but you never know.

Kyoko: I see… So, you are trusting me more than him when it comes to handling dangerous situations. Is there a specific reason for that?

Me: You seem more stoic and suspicious than he does is all.

Kyoko: Well, it is true that I'm more suspicious and less trusting than him. I prefer relying on myself rather than asking help from others, especially when it comes to dangerous situations that can get ugly at any time. I believe that someone who is calm, collected and calculated is usually better at handling certain problems.

Me: I do, too. Heh… I just thought of something funny.

Kyoko: Oh? What is it?

Me: Wouldn't it be something if he and you ended up working together to solve some problem?

Kyoko: Heh heh… That would be quite something indeed. And honestly, if he is as much of an optimistic person as you say he is, I don't doubt that he probably thinks and expects most people around him to be that way too… Including me. It might be a bit of a shock for him to discover that not everyone is like him in that sense. But yes, that would be something for sure if he and I ever ended up working together.

Me: We'll just have to hope his Ultimate Luck holds out.

Kyoko: Yes, I do hope so. Though, if things go south, I will still do everything I can to keep everyone safe and prevent any serious disasters from happening. And while some people may look up to him or admire him for his personality and optimism, I believe that sometimes being very optimistic is also really dangerous. You should never assume that nothing will go wrong when dealing with dangerous situations.

Me: Spoken like a true Ultimate Detective.

Kyoko: Haha, thank you. But I feel like this is just common sense. After all, being too optimistic is a kind of weakness that should not be overlooked.

Me: Indeed. That being said, I do feel somewhat optimistic about the future for most of the students here. Their lives are about to change in some eye-opening ways.

Kyoko: The future indeed holds great promises for many of these talented young students. Some might change for the better and become even more skilled and talented, while others might take a dark path and ruin their own futures and talents. I suppose it's a part of the experiment - to see how successful they are and how they handle the pressure of this environment.

Me: Yep. Not to mention how they'll be able to handle the real world.

Kyoko: Oh yes, I believe that's an important aspect as well. It's crucial to see how the students will handle the real world, because once they leave this environment there will be no more limitations or safety measures. They'll be all on their own and it can certainly be quite the shocking experience to face the real world directly after being under this special supervision and guidance.

Me: Tell me about it. I used to be the clueless, unassuming type myself.

Kyoko: I see, so you can understand exactly what I mean then. Did something happen to you that made you become skeptical and vigilant?

Me: I had an unfortunate experience with my first job, you might say. It wasn't long before I started hating it.

Kyoko: I understand… So, your past experience made you change mentally and become the person you are now, am I right?

Me: Yep. That's the silver lining, I suppose you could say.

Kyoko: Yeah, even bad experiences sometimes hold some positive aspects and effects to help us grow and get better in certain ways. In your case, it helped you develop into a skeptical and vigilant person, which is something that could become very useful in a dangerous and unpredictable environment such as this one.

Me: I'm glad you feel that way. My intuition tells me things are going to get very unpredictable around here.

Kyoko: You're absolutely right. This school is designed to put pressure on the students. With all of the talents around here, it's almost guaranteed that a lot of unexpected things will happen.

Me: Yep. smiles at Kyoko In any case, I'll be praying for your success, Ms. Kirigiri. The world can use more people like yourself.

Kyoko: smiles back at Jaimes I'm flattered by your kind words. I'll make sure to do my best in order to succeed. And don't worry, I'll try to make sure that no one comes to any serious harm around here.

Me: Just do what you can. Even the best of us don't always succeed. Best of luck!

Kyoko: I know… Sometimes things don't always go the way we expect them to, even when we're highly prepared or skilled. I guess sometimes that's just the way life is, unpredictable and uncertain. But thank you again for your encouragement and support. I'll do what I can so that everything turns out all right.

Me: So will I. Take care, Ms. Kirigiri.

Kyoko: And you take care of yourself too, Jaimes. bows slightly and walks away

Me: calls out to Kyoko Oh, one more thing.

Kyoko: turns around Yes? What's the matter?

Me: talks quietly Keep an eye on Junko for me, would you?

Kyoko: nods Of course I will. She does seem a bit suspicious to me… I'll observe her and see if I can find out something more about her.

Me: Thanks. smiles

Kyoko: No problem. I'll make sure to keep an eye on her and let you know if I find out anything interesting.

Me: Great! Talk to you later.

Kyoko: Right, see you later.

[biglawwoes]

The Hottest Take: Working With Weirdos

Damn near all lawyers at certain firms are socially awkward, insecure nerds. No, I'm not including myself, and no, this is not a biased take. I've worked at a V20 with extremely normal, well-adjusted lawyers.

I worked at a V10 where few people knew how to carry on a human conversation. In fact, those lawyers were, on average, more passive-aggressive, more socially inappropriate, less friendly overall, overly attached to the firm and their work as an extension of their identity, far up their firm's ass, completely unreceptive to any human interaction that required them to be their actual selves, and did I mention obsessed with the firm and their jobs?

Like these people couldn't even conceive of the idea that they could be themselves at work. It was weird. And I say this as a person who understands that some people prefer to come to work, be a ghost, and go home. In fact, that's perfectly fine. The problem becomes when those people volunteer to interact with new lawyers/summers, make themselves available for social activities, open the door for folks to confide in them, etc. If you're gonna do all that then don't act like your separation between work and outside of work is so precious and delicate.

And to the folks who say "it's just work/a job, not real life/don't take it seriously," etc., you sound like a sociopath. We spend 60%+ of our waking hours at work. If you're faking your personality 60%+ of your life, you need to investigate whether you're still faking it. And if you think emotions don't get involved when you're spending, again, 60%+ of your time around the same few people, I've got a bridge to sell you. The only people who truly can separate themselves from work and truly treat it like a job are the ghosts who might stop by to discuss WORK with you. Those who ask anything beyond actual work but then making the argument about how work is separate from outside of work, are being disingenuous.

You are not the ghost you want to be when you actively put yourself in a position to support young lawyers. That said, though, there is a way to be more active/involved and not give away your personality that you've cultivated outside of work. That is when you are clear about the nature of an interaction and set boundaries vocally. Instead of inviting that young lawyer in your office to discuss why they look so stressed/sad/etc. on emotional terms, tell them you feel bad for them but you can't handle that and point them in the direction of a more appropriate resource. If you see a young lawyer that you don't particularly care for, don't start conversations with them and then awkwardly try to back out of something you started. Be clear that you're just saying hi, don't ask any further questions, and move on. Or, if you find they're sticking around, let them know that it's nice of them to ask about you (or whatever is happening), but that you have other things you want to focus on and would prefer them to leave.

The key is to not be an asshole, don't pull away suddenly without explanation once you've opened the door, and don't invite interaction you don't want. I thought this was a simple concept, but I guess not.

[mdhwrites]

Everyone say that Boscha handled the breakup poorly (which she did, I love her but that girl is bad at emotions) but everyone glosses over how Amity ditched her best friends for several years basically overnight (refused to go to Skara's birthday party) with no explanation, then show up at school the next day talking shit about them for no reason ("I grew up, Boscha, when will you?")

and if she did tell them why, I can't imagine that was all thar graceful either. "Hi I know we've been friends for years but I actually don't like you so I'm not coming to your birthday party"

Amity tossing Skara and Boscha to the side is... Well, the honest response is that it worked. At the time, it did its job dramatically and it felt like it was admittedly rushing Amity's development a little, not a lot, but in return we'd get her with the entire gang, she'd be able to repair this relationship with Willow and honestly that her Hexide drama would be over. Winging it Like Witches effectively did the same job where you get more of Amity claiming to be changing to help people like Willow and burying most any relevance Hexide had in the series to focus on the friend group.

You can already see where this is going. All of this workED. Past tense. There's a few things that in hindsight make what they did with Amity honestly really sloppy and muddle her motivations and what lesson you're supposed to take from it and a lot of it has to do with the focus on Amity's sole motivation, desire, goal, etc. being Luz. But, a curve ball first. Skara. Skara is actually part of the problem here much like how Lilith befriending Hooty changes the fundamental way you have to look at a paired character. Skara was paired with Boscha in S1, especially in Understanding Willow. The two were told to us to be jerks. Irredeemable. People Amity should never want to be with because she was forced to choose them over Willow. Now this is a pretty week argument and the show never actually managed to sell that Amity's friend group was much worse than normal people, especially normal people on the Isles, but if you're just enjoying the show, you can buy in. Then they make Skara join the Emerald Entrails and there's no bad blood between Skara and Willow at all. Does that mean she's a good person? We haven't seen any reason to believe she's changed as a person so was she always a good person? If so, why was she so blatantly thrown away? What did she do to deserve to have her invitation thrown away? Or... Or was the problem that Amity was willing to throw away a friend in the moment she was saying throwing away friends was wrong? That... That couldn't be true! I mean, just look at her and... Willow... Yeah, everyone has commented on this but it is still just a mistake on the writer's part. The fact that they don't share a single line to each other until... Eclipse Lake I think? And no interaction actually as friends until Falls and Follies creates a 'too little too late' problem, an issue TOH has a lot of honestly with its side plots. How many people could take Labyrinth Runners seriously when the main character for that was Gus, who the show has only ever treated seriously like... MAYBE TWICE before that? This creates a problem of asking what Amity's motivations actually were. She's a driven and focused enough girl that if she decided to repair that bridge, she would have. But in Winging it Like Witches, she only is motivated to act... For Luz. In Falls and Follies, she only goes to Willow because Willow is close... To Luz. I would list more examples but Amity interacts with other characters than Luz so rarely, and so rarely in an important way (Eclipse Lake has her and Hunter's interactions still ABOUT FUCKING LUZ), that the pattern is still clear. So when Amity said she just made her social life better, you're supposed to take that as her standing up for her old friend. Even explicitly in that episode, it's false though. It's for Luz. And so what are you supposed to take away from the fact that Amity tossed aside her friend group, those who cared about and supported her, for her girlfriend? Just because she knew Luz would disapprove of the meaner, more elite crowd? Because, uh, isolating your partner is usually something an abuser does and Amity did it to HERSELF which is REALLY AKWARD. And in return, Boscha was deeply hurt, AS SHE SHOULD BE. Losing a best friend, let alone losing them as she did, hurts like fucking hell. Those people matter to someone (usually. Amity can toss them away like burger wrappers apparently) and Boscha picks and chooses who she cares about already. Who she'll be weak with and for. And Amity was perhaps the ONLY person she ever was like that with. Want proof? I don't think Boscha ever actually mocks Amity. No mean jokes like to Skara or the dude with the emover during "Once Upon a Swap." No scolding, no aggressive gestures, nothing. Amity gets respect while just about NO ONE else does. And what did Amity do with that? She threw it away. And what did the show say about that? It told us to cheer. And again, at the time, treating it like a kid's show that was actually going to have Amity start caring about people more in general and repair this friendship of hers like ANY OTHER KIDS SHOW WOULD, it was okay. I cheered with her. But looking back, I find the words choking in my throat.

[ancha-aus]

@spotaus HEy! Hey! It took me a while because i was away but I am back! (and I got my laptop so i can acutally type type and make good speed wiht typing lmao)

haha it is okay. I love these sillies and I LOVE talking about them and think a lot about powers and what fits and what vibes right but i can't always let them know these things because how would they know? So it is nice to just. Info dump :D and talk about LORE with people! So I am happy you are happy to read because i LOVE these type of interactions and so also always am hyped about asks and comments in general. I just wanne talk about the sillies and my story wiht people <3

Yes! How do monsters normally become acolytes? Generally. Being near gods and having like performing services for said god, helping them suporting them stuff like that. Let the god depend on them, than the god can give them powers as thanks and to make it more permanent. a bit like being given a boon. The gang and Nightmare have this situation to the extreme now and a direct soulbond. They are all made of magic and so that can change them and form them, which it did!

hihii I really like your conclusion! and it fits them rather well as well. But the most part what i did? how i started looking at it? I looked at what they could do, and what would fit that 'job'. Maybe a bit vague but it is the best way i can explain it hihi.

Horror you called spot on. Horror was stable, he ahs always been stable. His original job was to be the stability. be the foundation that stuff can be build on and count on. And that fitted with this. Earth bending was because it can both be very stablising. (as horror is for the group) but also VERY destructive. (which horror can be to others.) But it is something he needs to be very aware of to use. Just like he has to be aware of his own strength. (and yes. Killer would 100% have made a giant hole right away.)

Killer!! Killer my boy! His pick was easiest and hardest. I first wanted something more attacking for him but eventually I decided that he didn't need it. After all, his past trauma was that he was just Chara's weapon. That he HAD to hurt others. Giving him the ability to use his charming skills? To use those sweet talking skills he has gained over time? Stuff he has probably learned from following nightmare around FIRST and seeing Nightmare twist and turns his words and other poeples words to fit their needs? Never even needing to lie to make it work? And that works for him! Also, no one else is social anymore. Cross is an anxious boy. Dust jsut DOESN'T care enough to bother. Nightmare is a shy and terrified bean because he lost his powers and means to defend himself. Horror while nice to them ISN;T nice to others. if he doesn't care about you he isn't nice. Which leaves one person who LOVES to talk :D So he has the silver tongue.

Cross you got close with but were a biiiiit off. Because it isn't as much as him trying to hide. More like... become part of everything. Be one with everything. Cross was after all the ONLY thing left of his AU. Nothing was left over. He didn't have anything he belonged to anymore. This make shte universe truly accept him and kinda like. Make part of it. It is also a reference to the way that Nightmae would melt into shadows and hide like that. Why did i pick invisiblity? I wanted to give Cross something that he could utilise. Not just more raw power because cross just doesn't need it and it wouldnt be a thing that cross would even know how to fully use and master, he may not even want it. This? this is something that he can play and work with. He can make himself invisible, and over time also make others invisible. and that gives him option! Just a matter of Cross getting creative with his new ability <3

Dust was easy. I know that if ANYONE could handle more power it was him. He already has too much power than normal mosnters cna handle and he manages. This? This is just the logical next step for him. Emotionally it also helps. because his magic is part of his soul. and the only reason he hurt those he cared about before is because there WAS no other option. Now? Dust is stronger and has more options than ever. he will never have to make that choice ever again. which is why his very magic didn't and won't EVER hurt Nightmare. Because he doens't want to. Hsi very soul and magic both refuse to hurt the baby because that is HIS baby. The guys still get zapped but aside from like a little static shock it doens't hurt. Again, dust doesn't want to hurt them so his magic just doesn't. But this is also him getting annyoed with them still sometimes so you like nudge people to get them to stop. it is pretty much the nudge version of his new power. (which is why Killer likes to tease Dust and call them love taps (also Killer is still desperately trying to flirt with them now he realises his feelings but he always flirted already so no one bats and eye)) And yeah!! THe power is Electricity. (kinda like just energy but electricity is how it easiest takes shape) it just happens in storm because real world stuff reacting to the charge dust now carries.

I started rambling again. As i said!! I can write ESSAYS! <3 I love these sillies so much and they mean so much to me. <3

You may be spoiled but i am just as spoiled! I love your notes and messages and tags because they are so much fun and often help me better shape my ideas <3 never stop

RealAgeAU Drabble - The Tavern

*kicks in the door* HELLO! :D Guess three times who had an idea?! IT is me! Your homie!

First Drabble Prev Drabble Next Drabble

I am so excited because I finally got an idea on how I wanted to mention a few things! And It fits together! :D

Also, The mentioned OC is from @spotaus Who made a lovely drabble that I personally also consider canon for this AU <3 Give it some love and look at it okay? They are very talented!

*---------------------*

Dust looks up at the building as he tilts his skull. It looks nice enough and doesn't look like the general Grillby's building. It looks grander and like it has been expended a bunch. Dust can see some newer repairs around the fench and the walls and can only assume those had to be repaired.

Cross shuffles somewhere near him "Are we sure about this?"

Killer hums as he looks at the building himself "I mean. Dusty got that cash reward for that repair thing at the last market..." and he shrugs.

Dust nods "WAs a lot." and that is an understatement. When the mayor had said they would send a thank you for Dust repairing the generator and fridges he had figrued it would just be like some flowers.

That was usually with political people did. Send some weird present and a card about how good of a free service yoou did and all that crap.

Instead she just send a cash package that none of them had expected. As thank you for saving their market. Aparently it was the normal amount they payed for a emergancy service of this big with a nice tiny bonus. As a welcome to the community present!

It had been welcome mostly because it would help get them started after the winter and made sure they didn't need to keep getting by with tiny jobs here and there.

Horror nods in agreement "Crop said this would be a good way to get more friendly. Be seen less as hermits." Dust blinks back into the conversation and actually pays attention as he is suposed to be part of it.

Cross sounds deeply unhappy "I like being hermits..."

Dust hums as he keeps holding Nightmare. Nightmare stares slightly enchanted at the building before shaking his skull to snap himself out of it. Dust thinks they are doing a good job with helping him unlearn the bad and unhealthy habits he had from being forced into his guardian position.

But it will take more time, Nightmare still feels awkward and weird for being a child and childlike sometimes. They will eventually get that mindset out of his little skull.

More shuffles and Dust glances over. Yup. No Cross in sight. Dust doesn't point it out and just thrusts his elbow out into the general direction he last heard Cross. A groan and Cross sends him a glare as the weird invisibility starts to shift off of him.

That is another thing all four of them had silently decided to just... not talk about. Much like how he tended to now be more charged with actual electricity instead of just mana. How Killer's silver tongue has gone to the extreme and even the most stupid lies seem to be believed if he says it with enough confidence. How the very layout of their own farm shiftly slightly when Horror had been staring and nudging the area.

They just...

It is probably fine. Ngihtmare hadn't seemed alarmed by it and they just figure it is because of the apple situation. Nightmare is still slowly losing that old magic and they are nearby a lot. It would make sense they took it over slightly.

They hadn't been actively bothered by it yet and while annoying and something to keep in mind it didn't seem dangerous.

Dust nods to the door "Lets go." and he walks forwards wiht Ngihtmae in his arms.

The inside is nicely lit and warm. People are all around and Dust recognises quite a few people from all of his trips to town to repair things. he also sees some of the people who came to help them with their new house. Dust still doesnt'quite know the names of them all as he never was the best with names. That is more of a Killer and Cross thing.

Dust looks around and spots a table which is empty and marches over there. By this point easily ignoring the curious glances. He also knows that Killer is shadowing him with most likely that same stupid challenging and charming grin on his stupid charming face.

Dust takes a seat and looks at the chairs around him. He ends up pulling one near and putting Nightmare in it. Nightmare manages to look over the edge but it is a near thing. Dust tilts his skull "That good?"

Nightmare thinks it over before nodding. Then he looks to the side as he takes in someone playing the guitar and singing live music. huh. Dust wonders if that is a regular thing.

The others join them and they all take a moment to really familiarise themselves with the area. It is different but small details are the same. The shade of the lighting. The colour of the shelves. Tiny things that make the scene more familiar.

Dust used to get disbalanced and well, fucked in the head by seeing things that reminded him of his own universe. He still gets missed up if it is too much alike but he likes to think he got a bit better at handling it all.

They look up when Light walks over to them. Their flames bright as they carry menu's in their multitude of arms. They greet them and gives everyone a menu before getting a small notepad out "Any ideas for drinks?"

Dust shrugs as he lokos at Ngihtmare. Nightmare reads the drink part of the menu wiht a serious and thoughtful look before looking up at the fire elemental. he pauses for a moment before speaking "Can I have a root beer float?"

Light's flames flicker happily as they note it down "One root beer float for the very polite skeleton." they looks at them and wait.

Dust hums and mutters "Same." Light nods nad notes it down.

Killer looks at the different drinks and settles for some latte coffee which he will probably put an unholy amount of sugar into. DUst would be worried about the caffeine if he didn't already know that caffeine just didn't affect Killer.

Horror ends up asking for some fresh mint tea and Cross just asks for sparkling water.

With those orders out of the way Light lets them be to look at the menu. Some items hit the guilt filled part of his soul as it reminds him of things of the past but he shakes it off. Those are normal menu items. Even so Dust decides to take the chicken and egg dish. Mostly because it seems like a this universe thing.

Horror ends up picking the same as Killer ends up going for an unholy amount of fries. Nightmare ends up picking pumpkin soup and Cross joins Nightmare with his order.

Light brings them their drinks, which honestly? Rather brave of the fire elemental to bring them liquids. They take their order and leave for a short while to get everything ready.

Nightmare goes back to listening to the live music as Dust and the other three make light conversation. They keep their conversation vague as they talk abotu old missions and stupid stuff that happened. They share chuckles and it is honestly nice to relax.

Their food is brought over and Light looks at them nervously "So... How is the flower doing?"

Horror looks up before answering "It is well. It stands in the window near the fire place."

They had ended up moving the burning flower there as it served as a nice night light for Nightmare. Nightmare denied being uncomfortable in the dark but Dust thinks the darkness still freaks him out a bit now that he lost his nightvision after becoming little again.

Dust can only imagine the panic he feels if he thinks he was left alone agian. Abandoned again.

It is also why Cross invested some of the hard earned cash into fairy lights and strung those up all along and above the nest. Light it up better.

Nightmare slept much more soundly and woke up less int he middle of the night now and for them it hardly mattered if it was dark out or not.

Light, heh, lights up as they say they are happy to hear that before happily skipping off.

Dust snorts and shoots Cross an amused grin "they are enchanted by you." and he snorts again when Cross sputters.

"Hardly!" Cross glares as he blushes and his arm disappears out of view again. Luckily Killer sees and nudges where the arm used to be, bringing it back into view.

Cross crosses his arms and huffs.

Killer grins and winks at Cross "I can see why. soldier boy is so strong and reliable and a true knight in shining armour." and he winks again.

Cross sputters and his blush grows even darker as he looks away from Killer "Stop being weird..." Killer laughs and hugs Cross.

Horror watches them with a fond look before turning his focus on Ngihtmare and getting him to eat his soup. Something about little babybones needing energy to heal and grow.

Dust gets to work on his own meal as he watches the others. Soul feeling warm and content to see them all here. He really likes not being alone anymore.

*---------------------*

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And if you haven't check out Spotaus's lovely drabble !!

[acefruit]

.

[flwrkisses]

txt's reaction to their partner receiving hate comments.

i have started spring semester of college and i already want to d word! but i start my new job next week so pretty excited for that.

genre: angst and some fluff, established relationship.

warnings: mentions of mean comments towards reader.

✧*:･ﾟyeonjun

he wont put up with it, theres a line and boundaries that he placed as soon as your relationship went public and a wave of hate comment is definitely crossing the line. he can't stand to know that people who are supposed to be his fans are making you feel bad online.

the way he'd handle it is simple, he'd get so pissed he'd probably turn off comments to all of his posts on instagram and minimize his postings and interactions on apps like twitter or weverse.

this man doesn't play. he's serious about you, your mental health and wellbeing. if people who claim to be fans of his are being rude to you, he's limiting and  illuminating the problem completely.

maybe the company ask him to go live on vlive, and when people start asking why his post comments are turned off he might just go off. probably let everyone know in nice words because he is an idol after all that he isnt happy with the way people are talking about you. putting it simply.

once time has past and he thinks people on line learned their lesson, he'd probably return his social media to normal but if it happens again he would probably write on weverse about how its not cool to say mean things online especially about you.

✧*:･ﾟsoobin

i feel like soobin is a bit more detached from social media so he might not notice at first what is going on. of course you don't want to bother him with your hardships since he's so busy so you don't bring it to his attention either.

he probably finds out because another member showed him what is being said about you. it really bothers him once he knows and his first thought is to comfort you.

part of him feels like he can't stop the comments because, he's just one person so he goes directly to you to comfort you. he tries to see if the company can protect you with the same protections they have for him and the rest of the group. he would probably want to sue everyone commenting for spreading false rumors and/or hating on you.

he probably writes a good sized paragraph about it on weverse. he'd highlight how his fans should love you too because he loves you. he also talks about how its not fair the way that you're being spoken about and how he doesn't want to hear about or see it anymore.

he continues to post like normal but he will monitor the replies and comments a bit more to make sure there isnt anything nasty about you and if he finds something it's being blocked and reported.

✧*:･ﾟbeomgyu

oh!!! he's so upset when he finds out! like he's not sure if you've seen the comments yet or not but, he will literally be so upset. he trusted his fans with the information of being in a relationship and who you where and he felt defeated if he's being honest.

he wants to handle it on his own, hoping that he can get it all resolved before you even notice. but, yknow it doesn't turn out that way considering you see his posts.

he'll probably post a selfie on twitter with a meaningful caption about how if the fans love him they would love you as well. part of it backfires because like it doesn't seem serious.

although it makes you chuckle, you have to be the one to break it to him, telling him that people might not take him seriously about the situation, to which he would probably add another tweet replying to his tweet about how he's serious.

it got laughs out of you, and later on he too chuckled at his failed attempt to get people to stop talking about you which... i mean kinda worked considering he's being clowned and not you? which he actually prefers?

✧*:･ﾟtaehyun

much like yeonjun he's not having it. as soon as it's brought to his attention he's shutting it down completely. with how often he gets on weverse to talk to fans i think he would talk about it there.

probably write a long extensive paragraph about feelings and how even his fans have to respect eachother and his partner's feelings because in the end it hurts his feelings too.

over all it's a very sweet message that he uses to get people to stop being nasty to eachother and you. it actually works! especially since after he went to reply to some fans who were leaving back handed compliments.

he knows he could get in trouble with the company for being so direct and so quick to defend you, but again thats the same with most things.

he checks in on your constantly, and checks every couple of days to see if people are respecting both you and him.

✧*:･ﾟhueningkai

if you think he wouldn't notice you're wrong. kai quickly caught on with the comments made about his sister, and he would be quick to catch on to the ones made about you.

in his head he knows there isn't much he can do with company limitations considering he would want to tell everyone off. but he would be with you and always tell you such nice things.

he'll probably go on live and be visibly annoyed but beat around the bush like he does. i don't see kai as a big confrontational guy so he probably talks around the point until he can't anymore.

he probably talks about how much comments can hurt people and thats when fans know that he's talking about you and the comments being made about you.

he probably feels great after the live. he doesn't care who's upset with him for saying the truth but he wanted to protect you regardless.

❁ requests are currently closed! ⤞ i am working on your beautiful requests !

for more of my work: masterlist.

enjoy!

- mari x

[eliazine]

Never Let Me Go 1&2 : Dynamics of power or "Nueng, you should learn to swim !"

So. This is my first meta. I guess the sometimes massives posts I wrote in response to others meta could count but they were in themselves interaction whereas this feel like talking into the void. So please, interact with me :) ? I wrote this to formalise my thoughts about the beginning of never let me go but I would loove to have people agree/disagree with my take and share why :)

I just watched the first two episodes of Never Let Me Go and wanted to pour my thoughts somewhere about the way the serie is handling relationship accross social class so far. Disclaimer : contrary to what this could look like, I do really like Nueng ! This is just the beginning of his character arc and it is a very interesting starting point. I look forward to him and Palm figuring out how to interact in a meaningfull manner.

Nueng is a young heir and Palm is his new bodygard. An important point is that from the other characters point of view, either Nueng isn't supposed to know Palm is an employee himself and not just the son of one (and him figuring it out is a proof that he has some understanding of the way his world works) or like at school, Nueng isn't supposed to know Palm at all.

Nueng is the boss

Nueng decided to treat Palm as a friend with the caveat that when needed he doesn't hesitate to remind them both that he is indeed the boss and that Palm has no say over what is going on between them. Which he does a lot, from little barbs to blackmailing him. Yes, he may not have any intention to use it and not even see it as a big deal : I'm gonna tell your dad you went to swim without permission may not exactly sound menacing to him as a mafia heir because he doesn't realize how much it means to Palm and the way this beginning set the tone of their whole relationship.

Because Palm, his father and maybe his whole family (we don't know about them but siblings, mother, grand-parents ?), are dependant on Nueng and his mother. Apart from their salary, being their bodygard clearly seems to be the core of Palm's father identity. He devoted himself to them, putting aside his own family even if the devotion may also be caused by the fact his job enables him to provide for them. The fact that he would only bring Palm with him when he is needed by his employer is harsh. But from his point of vue, he may have let him just live his own life until this great opportunity came to get a life-long job, a job that he himself deemed worthy to dedicate his life to. So Palm displeasing Nueng would at worst put their whole family in peril, at best be a huge blow to his father by reflecting on him and especially since he was the one to suggest Palm for the job. Both outcomes are to be avoided at all cost.

Why does Nueng act that way : It seems clear that he acts that way in order to protect himself, he does want a friend but doesn't want to be vulnerable. A "genuine" friend could deceive him, have ulterior motive going from small favour towards their university admission to full betrayal. A friend-for-hire doesn't, it may not be as rewarding but at least the risk is minimal. There is a contract between Palm and his family so, on a personal level what Palm mays want from him is taken care of and on the macro level being the son of a trusted employe, he is a safe person too. Can't fault someone to being risk-aversed a few weeks after his father being shot. Still, he needs to always remind himself that he is in control of the situation. He could do it silently but regularly he explicitly state it to Palm which can be seen as cruel but are in fact the moments where he is at least real with him.

Nueng as a "friend"

On the other hand, what I find very interesting is the way he acts when he does believe he is playing the part of a friend. When he invites Palm for breakfast or to carpool, he does it because that what would feel normal to him and so that's what should be. But he doesn't consider the situation he is putting Palm in. By pretending he is a guest, he is alienating him fron the rest of the staff. Because the staff would have to fall in line and treat him the same way, which (even if they would stay fond of him) would deprive him of the sense of easy belonging they provide him in this new place. Especially on the carpool aspect, it would be awfully akward for him to have his own father act as a chauffeur toward him. I liked that they used the school to transpose the same dynamic toward Nueng. By being the same kind of "friendly", the teacher that prevented him to do push-up even though he was also late put him in almost the same situation this time towards his peers students. The only difference being that even in this situation Nueng remains the one that has the power over the teacher. He try to decline the favour and doesn't dare to push it but if he chose to he would face real consequence and it may even greatly help toward others student seeing him as one of their own. Bullies will be bullies, but it could help those that are just intimidated by him to approach him. As it is, Ben is the only one who dares, I think because the fact that he is class president give him both symbolic power countering Nueng's and an incentive to.

It's a simple matter of not being either fish or flesh, which is horribly isolating. And it seems this is something Nueng was never taught to take into consideration, be it as a social tool or a weapon.

But even though, he could at least pick up on the way he makes Palm obviously ill-at-ease. I dare say he can see it, but he just acts as if doesn't matter and doesn't try to make it easier for Palm (well unless we see ordering him as a way to make it easier. indeed it removes the doubt about what Palm should do : just obey, but it makes it a job, the opposite of a shared moment free from what is expected of him). This is what he deemed should be and he seems to expect Palm to just get used to it (because it is so normal ! and shouldn't be any other way ). Which even if we're talking about something as mundane as having breakfast is still a diresgard for consent. In those situations, he is not trying to establish a relationship despite the weight of their respective position, he is just genuinely trying to deny it exists which in a sense put all of it on Palm shoulders until the moment where he bring it back in full force.

Even the way he get his mother to authorize using the pool is done in a way that is explicitly as a favour and not a discreet kindness. I know what you want and I'm giving it to you. But we are nowhere near a "because I like it when you are happy" (I love this line with such a passion) and it's more like a "now you owe me" or at least "see, what a good friend I can be". Again I do believe it is genuinly meant just poorly executed.

What about Palm ?

And no, Palm isn't grateful, happy for the opportunities he is offered etc.. But he isn't profundly hurt by it either because he isn't emotionnaly involved (yet). From where he stands, he understands the game his boss wants to play and just need to find his footing. He needs to do what's expected of him so he can avoid the forementionned consequences while still finding a way to be at ease with his world outside of the game as well as the moments where the game pause. As an aside, their "I always kept my eyes on you" sounded more to me as Palm feeling he was beeing rebuked by his boss and defending himself by denying that he had been distracted from his job by mackye than him wanting Nueng to know he is interested in him. At this stage, I don't think it would be true and if it was he definitly wouldn't express it even as a joke. They are not mates sounding each other out. And even if Nueng intention was to tease him, I don't think it came accross that way.

Is it even worth trying ?

So what could they do ? Is it simply impossible for them to be friend ? For Palm, in his situation he can't really take initiatives and moreover he isn't interested in doing it. He may feel interested by Nueng in some ways but he mainly wants to get on with his job and life. But for Nueng, he Can act in order to create a real friendship and at least at first a better "friend-for-hire" relationship. But, and it is so obvious and crucial, he needs to take Palm into consideration for it to work. He needs to observe or even better ask (but that will only be possible at a latter stage) what put Palm ill at ease and understand (or even better later discuss together) why and find (again better if together) how to improve on it. As this stage, he could discretly offer for Palm to ride in front with his father when the later is driving him to school, he would still let him keep the role of son of an employee while avoiding him the trouble of taking the bus. The breakfast is harder, because sharing a meal is intimate. Maybe later he could try to come and take breakfast in the kitchen with Palm and the cook. As their boss, it could be an invasion of Their personnal space and he would need to be self-conscious and carefull to be sure they are not unconfortable but at least he would be the one enduring the fact that he isn't where he is supposed to be.

He could also try and create situations where he can give Palm some power at least in a relative and localized way. He could go on Palm's ground and put himself out of his own confort zone. He would still ultimatly be the boss and that fact wouldn't be erased but it could be mitigated. (Kinnporsche ep6 was a great example, Porsche being more experimented in the wild allowed them to share moments where he didn't have to defer to Kinn, could even have Kinn defer to him and it greatly contributed to leveling the ground between them so that they could then have meaningful interactions, says sorry and be forgiven etc..)

I was a bit disapointed to see that the pool was (or at least is still for now) a missed opportunity. I'm sure Nueng already knows how to swim but asking Palm, who is a better swimmer and for whom the pool is his natural habitat, to train him would be a great idea. It is a mundane way to create a space for them to easily spend time together, without overtly confronting their employer/employee relationship and with Palm being in a confortable environment and temporarily gaining some form of control over the situation between them. Whereas as a conterexemple, Nueng helping Palm with his chinese is quite nice from him but works as a reinforcement of their general dynamic. It puts Palm in a situation where he is in a weak spot and risks Pueng loosing patience with him if he doesn't succeed well/quickly enough.

To be continued

I find this subject fascinating and look forward to the way the scriptwriters will adress it. The fact that the firsts episodes put such an emphase on it gives me hope that it will be well adressed.

We are all Mafia Heirs

I will also use this post as a reminder to myself and anyone interested in it that all of us should be careful of the way we act when in position of power or symbolic power. We do not need to be head of mafia/heirs/millionnaires/bosses to have to take those things into consideration because, as Bourdieu would says Dynamics of Power are Everywhere (may I says I mention him mainly so you could go and check his work out if it interest you, I intends to do it myself and am by no means an expert). No matter how friendly, approachable or even weak we feel, we can all become intimidating to others by way of being : an established member of a friend group, at a more than beginner level in a given activity, a senior in the company, the host, the organizer of an event or of some club/association activity, a member of the majority of the current context (be it by our gender, race, orientation, religion, age etc…) . For now, the best ways I found to mitigate it (and I'm very interested in yours !) are indeed to recognise when I am in a position of symbolic power and stay observant of other people reactions to pick up on the moments where they seem unconfortable. And my favorite tool is try and make them talk about, or participate with them to things they are better at than me (and woah, did I learn interesting things that way !). It level the ground and help to make people feels able to be more natural in our interactions.

As an aside tip, I found that reminding myself of it also works in making me more at ease with someone who has symbolic (or explicit) power over me. Yes they are the teacher of my sport club, an important person in the work hierarchy, an expert is this field I'm interested in, their meta/fic as so awesome, but this is not the whole of their person and the situation could even be inverted if they were to come on the parts of my ground where I would end up being the intimidating one. So let's suppose they would like to interact in a normal way (because most people do and very often aren't aware they could even come accross as intimidating) and mentally mitigate or even decline to recognise any power they have over me so we can just interact in a confortable way as the human peers we all are.

The end !

Did anyone read until the end ? ^^ If so have a very nice day ! (and please tell me your thought on my take ! ;) )

[celestialodysseys]

Hiya, this question is for E!

I was wondering (because of that scene in moon knight where Marc is drinking heavily when he gets to Cairo) if there is a reason one alter might drink excessively? Or a purpose for it? And if it has any effect, in your experience or to your knowledge, in exacerbating any symptoms? or if drinking aids in suppressing switching, or encouraging switching? Tysm for your time and please let me know if I misspoke in any way 💚

Hi!!! Don't worry; your question was very well worded and I'm happy to answer it 😊

I'm gonna break this up into three parts: some general reasons an alter might drink/drink excessively, our personal experience with how alcohol affects us, and why Marc specifically might drink heavily. Putting it under a cut since I discuss drug use and have very vague mentions of abuse (also because it’s kinda long lol)

General Reasons: An alter might be a trauma holder and cope with the trauma and intense emotions they hold by drinking. It's also possible an alter might be formed to deal with situations in which drinking is involved, like as a social activity or part of job expectations. Certain alters might be formed to be more risk taking or party-minded as well. System hosts might drink because it numbs sensations or because it makes them feel more in control, or less in control if they don't want to be fronting or feel like they can't handle things.

Our experiences: While we've never drank to excess, we have been drunk. I've described it before as feeling like our whole body was dissociating lol. Very loose, very disconnected everywhere. We don't necessarily switch more or easier while drunk, but certain alters will tend to front when we're drunk/buzzed if they aren't already fronting. Because we have osdd 1b, our amnesic barriers between parts are much weaker than with DID, but when we drink we notice those amnesiac barriers get stronger (e.g. if Freya is fronting most of the time we are buzzed/drunk, I won't be able to Know what happened during that time unless she tells me, whereas normally if she were fronting all her memories during that time would be "uploaded" into a memory bank and I can see what happened kinda like a movie). Derealization symptoms also tend to get stronger.

Drugs can have very different effects from one system to the next so that's just our personal experience. I will mention that sativa strains of marijuana have a significant effect on our system, much more so than alcohol. I know that wasn't part of your question but I thought I'd mention it since it drastically increases our communication, lowers our ability to mask (which is due to our gatekeeper having less control overall and so isn't able to force us to mask as much), gives us greater access to memories, and makes it more likely for us to have multiple fronters interacting similar to how Marc and Steven interact in the last Moon Knight episode. I've seen other people mention that weed increases their ability to communicate with other alters as well.

Marc: I think Marc consciously chooses to drink heavily to cope with intense emotions. I mean, that is a not uncommon reason to drink to excess, but I think with Marc being an autistic man he might use it to cope when he's feeling overstimulated or near a meltdown (based on the two times we see him really drunk). Subconsciously, I think he also drinks as a habit he picked up from his mother. Unless we work at it, humans tend to pattern their behavior after their parents, and growing up Marc's parents dealt with conflict and difficult feelings by drinking and violence (his mother) and avoidance (his father), and we see Marc demonstrate these behaviors throughout the show. Drinking might also keep him more in the front like how some of my alters have drinking as a fronting trigger.

These are of course only me and my system's opinions and experiences, though some of it is based on things we have heard from other people's experiences. If anyone with didosdd wants to chime in please feel very much free to do so.

[softcallofdutyimagines]

Rating the Canon CoD husbands on who I would realistically allow the privilege of dating me, most to least likely

Some of y'all are about to get hurt if you read this, so be warned. All just my opinion, but it's opinion based on material from the games.

David Mason

Unproblematic king. He is literally just there. Just a normal guy with a bit of childhood baggage, but even then, that's fine bc who doesn't have that nowadays. He probably has a little PTSD from the military, but I can't hold that against him bc he's normally just so chill and fun. Also, considering he's the closest one on this list to our generation, you already know he's progressive and a big respecter of women

10/10 why can't he be real

Weaver

There is literally nothing wrong with this man. ALTHOUGH. He has desperation vibes and I feel like he's never had a gf in his life, so he probably doesn't know how to handle relationship issues and would either totally break down when he have a disagreement, or would get frustrated bc he doesn't know how to process his feelings and run away leaving the issue unresolved.

9/10, I love my wholesome, try hard good boy. He can marry me

Sims

Literally just the nicest guy and a normal person, even after all he's been through. He likes to talk and be chill from what I've gathered in the campaign, plus he has a sense of humor. Only real issue is he seems a touch dusty and I need a mans who can match my fashion sense.

8/10 he's not my type, but honestly I'd give him a chance bc he seems like a genuine guy

Hudson

If not for his wife Jenny, Hudson guaranteed has never had a girlfriend and probably has never even really had anyone express interest in him. As though that isn't red flag enough, he literally looks like a government drone from like the matrix or some shit and has zero personality to match. His hobbies probably include collecting stamps and working. However, he's pretty respectful and I fell like I can't blame him for having no personality given his job position.

7/10 he can talk to me, but I'll probably get tired of being the only one with a sense of humor and fun

Adler

Lmao. This man is a walking novelty and I would only talk to him for the pure experience of it I after got done laughing at his corny looking ass behind his back with my besties. He may have the style, but his personality is too extroverted for me and I feel like I'd be drained after an hour of social interaction with him. Also, he gives me Fuck boy vibes and I hate that

6/10 I feel like I'm not his type anyway, but if he can be chill then idk sure ig

Lazar

Honestly, if I saw him in public I'd probably be either really intimidated or really attracted. He is equal parts big scary man and lovable goof vibes. However, he has even worse desperation vibes then Weaver and I feel like he's just looking to smash. Also, don't like how he kept trying to link with Park after getting shut down repeatedly.

5/10 depends on which side of him I see first ig, but I'm betting no

Alex Mason

This man has obvious mental damage and is an absentee father on top of that. Whatever inkling of a nice or sweet personality he may have/or have had doesn't even come close to making that up in my book. I'd probably make like that one lady Weaver set him up with and fear for my life the whole time we're together and then pray I never meet him again

3/10 his issues aren't entirely his fault, but that's not my problem. Sorry.

Woods

Ha. Woods literally looks like a wild, rabid dog at all times, has little to no sense of personal grooming, and probably smells like sweat and bo. Not to mention he is a hardcore marine with so much childhood baggage, general trauma, and warfare PTSD, it would take a professional construction crew working all hours non stop to "fix" this man, let alone me. He would make no time for a relationship and probably only wants to smash anyway, and if he can't do that with whoever he picks up at the bar, he'd probably hire a prostitute. I would not let this man within 10 feet of my person, which is probably good anyway because I feel like he'd call me a fat bitch after I reject him.

2/10 if he got some serious therapy and a personal hygiene routine I'd maaaaaaybe consider

Peck

Literally a narcissist and almost guaranteed an emotional abuser, not to mention he literally looks like a dog and has thinning hair at 45. Yikes. Honestly would laugh in his face if he asked me out, would walk away, glance one more time over my shoulder for a last hearty laugh, and keep going.

0/10 literally would traumatize me worse then my ex, and that's saying something

[ghostietea]

Furuba autistic headcanons

With it being April, or autism acceptance month, I wanted to finally drop my list of characters from Fruits Basket that I read as autistic! This is based a lot on my own experience, as well as that of other autistics I know or have seen talk online. I hope some people can get something out of it, feel free to tell me what you think 😊, though please refrain from getting upset that I would dare suggest your fave is autistic.

Hanajima

Before becoming able to better control her powers, she would be constantly overwhelmed by the things she heard to the point that she couldn't even really go out in public. This reads a lot like sensory overload.

Constantly picked on in school because other kids thought she was weird. Eventually reclaimed this weirdness and turned it into a whole persona.

Seems to talk usually in a relatively flat tone.

Had trouble socializing with no friends outside her family until middleschool.

Has a very funny, dry sense of humor that I find very similar to a bunch of autistics I know, including myself.

Hatsuharu

Listen. You have seen the funky little man, you have seen the way he talks, the way he acts around others. He is, and I mean this in the best way, a weirdo. I do not know how you could look at him and see a neurotypical.

Once again, like Hana, Haru is funny in a way that feels very autistic.

Very flat, dry, tone delivery. Sometimes just Says Things that make everyone else go huh??? Suuuuper blunt. Doesn't emote facially a lot of the time.

When this man sees a social norm he doesn't get he WILL NOT follow it. Pierces his ears just because his hair got flak, defends Momiji wearing whatever he wants because sometimes y'know the social rules are just dumb and don't make sense. Especially dress codes.

Sometimes says things not befitting the current tone of the situation.

Represses (masks) a lot of his emotions, leading to outbursts that seem uncharacteristic.

His main childhood trauma revolves around adults branding him as "dumb" and ridiculing him. Haru, however, is super smart and wise!! Just in an offbeat way that not everyone may get.

Machi

Reads as very "flat" emotionally to the point that others would call her boring. Also has a flat vocal delivery.

Relies on specific habits or ways of doing things or else she gets super upset (her hatred of imperfection.

Has trauma surrounding adults completely misconstruing her intentions and thinking she's doing something malicious when she's not.

Generally behaves in a way that's hard for others to understand, one of her formative moments with Yuki was him saying he wanted to "see how the world looks" through her eyes.

Once again, trouble socializing.

Tries super hard to please her parents but in the end they still see her as somehow inherently "defective."

Listen. A lot of this one and the last two are mostly vibes, hard to verbally define. You just have to look at them and trust me.

Tohru

Displays behavior very reminiscent of masking throughout the story, a huge part of her arc is about how she hides a lot of herself and has a very controlled persona. I think it would fit very well if she had other autistic behaviors that she suppresed also it helps explain why she is relatively socially adept, it's learned behavior to make people like her more.

Yes she is very good at saying what others need to hear, but especially early on she is pretty blatantly imitating her mother's words. She only gets better at getting through on a more personal level later on (see her with Rin and Akito v. early series Tohru). She does this by relating her own experiences, a very autistic way of showing empathy that often gets us written off as self centered. The way she relays things her mom said could also be seen as this, and she even worries at a few points that she's being insensitive for going on about things like that.

While emotionally repressed she is hyper empathetic and feels other's emotions so strongly she cries.

Her speech patterns are all imitated from her father and she often copies verbal things from others (see Ritchan-san). Noted in canon that people think her way of speaking is slightly off/not befitting of someone her age. Additionally, her father was polite more sarcastically, while she plays it straight and sometimes takes things very literally or fails to get the message, indicating trouble with reading tone. Has numerous strange verbal tics, including saying parts of her internal monologue out loud without context.

Very expressive with her hands including waving them around and flapping them up and down.

Does have a bit of trouble with accidental insensitivity in social interactions, like how she constantly fixates on her mom and realizes that might bug the Sohma.

Has trouble paying attention in school since it doesn't have much to do with her interests

Her only friend until she was a middle schooler was her mom

Has a pretty unique outlook on things compared to others, people seem to think she's pretty eccentric. There's always a "this girl is nice but in an odd way, she's our weirdo and we love her" vibe.

Sometimes has an "inappropriate" emotional response to situations

Has a lot of trouble with change, similar to Akito. Which oh, look at the time, next hc coming up.

But first, a disclaimer. It is cathartic for me to read Akito this way, but with that reading comes the baggage that she would, mayhaps, be showing a more negative side of things... It doesn't bother me since it's a joint hc with other characters and she does develop at the end but yeah, general villain hc baggage. This is in no way me trying to excuse her being The Worst being autistic doesn't absolve you of being able to do wrong . Also, a lot of these points can and do have other explanations related to her upbringing, but things can be for more than 1 reason. With that said, she really strongly comes off as autistic to me, in a way that's sorta hard to explain. I wrote a lot more for her than the other, both because I felt I needed more to convince people and that this headcanon was more sensitive and I needed to be careful in my explanation. Also hey! She's my special interest within a special interest.

Akito

Shown to have a dislike of summer weather due to heat and brightness, could be due to sensory issues in tandem with sickness things. Also covers her ears when people raise their voice sometimes which is partially her trying to shut down opposition but also 🤔 can read a different way. She'd also avoids louder Juuni like Ritsu and Ayame because she can't handle them.

Wears pretty much the same outfit every single day. Said outfit is also pretty loose fitting.

Always seen sitting in a pretty unconventional way. Evidence:

Of course this is also the isolated in a cult thing and there is a level of her purposefully doing things to intimidate but: doesn't follow a lot of social rules (overly touchy with strangers, legit doesn't get that what she's doing is wrong, ect.). Repeatedly confused when people indicate she should act otherwise without explanation. Has a breakdown when this comes to a head and approximately says that "they" shouldn't expect her to know "common sense" if "they" never explained it to her, that the way that she was was her "common sense."

Often talks in a way uncharacteristic of her age when shown as a child in a more faux mature/pretentious way. Might just be the translation and idk how to explain it but her speech as an adult also seems off from what one would normally use in conversation. Additionally, when she tries to fake being friendly in her intro chapter, it comes of as extremely stiff and unconvincing.

Generally displays behavior that could be thought of as childish as an adult, but a lot of this behavior could also read as autistic (covering ears, emotional deregulation and meltdowns, ignorance of basic social norms, ect.). It's also important to note that she knows that this behavior makes her seem younger and more helpless to the older zodiac and uses it as a manipulation tactic. Has issues regarding people treating her like a child or only hanging out with her because of pity. While she does weaponize it, we can tell that this grates on her, as seen with her finally blowing up on Kureno, which is partially triggered by the maids saying some sorta infantalizing stuff about her. Irl, a lot of autistic adults and teens struggle with being infantalized for our behavior generally or treated as little babies that can do no wrong. Even in fandom, you see people doing stuff like jumping to call autistic adult characters, such as Entrapta from Shera, "minor coded." It is also common for us to have at least one bad experience with someone hanging around us out of pity. This is something that really gave me a similar feeling in Akito's arc. She's not a baby and she can understand and do better if she is given the chance to learn and break from all the freaky cult indoctrination she's been subjected to instead of just being constantly enabled. In the end, a lot of her growth is represented by her showing that she is capable of changing and being independent.

Shows particular difficulty with socialization, often sits by herself spacing out at social events. A lot of her fear is rooted in the fact that she doesn't know how normal relationships work, becoming overly reliant on the curse because she doesn't know how to make friends.

Clings desperately onto the notion of being "special" and in some way superior to others to be worthy and to make up for perceived inherent "flaws." It's the nd gifted kid burnout vibes for me.

Easily bothered by things that don't bother others. Feels emotions very strongly to the point of getting physically ill and has bad emotional regulation.

Relatively good at reading others in an analytical sense (though has more trouble when it comes to seeing how they feel about her since she's wildly delusional) but brings up her observations in a very cold, detached way and hurts people even on the rare occasion she didn't mean to. Has extreme trouble connecting to others and understanding their point of view. This makes her come off as pretty unempathetic even though that might not fully be the case. Also thinks that people like Momiji are trying to look down on her when they try to empathize with her. A lot of why Tohru can get through to her is that she manages to convince Akito that she's not condescending by relating shared traits and experiences. As I said earlier, autistics often empathize by sharing their own experiences with someone, and I know I often have an easier time confiding in other autistics because of a fear of being seen as lesser by those that don't understand me. I think the connection between these charachters and the way that Tohru manages to reach Akito like that while others couldn't makes a lot of sense through an autistic lense!

Additionally, when Akito herself gets around to trying to help others instead of just projecting trauma, she tries to reach out to the old maid by relating back to her own experiences. This however, doesn't work.

Has "cold" emotional reactions sometimes even to things that do make her upset. For example, how sort of calm and detached she acted after her father's death can make her seem uncaring. However, we know that this event did mess her up a lot and she is still (poorly) dealing with a lot of grief from the death of her father years later.

Copies mannerisms from others, the most blatant example is with Ren, who she directly parrots lines from as a child to Yuki.

Partly just her posturing, but gestures a lot with her hands when she talks. Also seen several times clutching her hands in her hair.

Deals extremely poorly with the idea of things changing to the point that it is a driving force of the story.

Does not understand when people tease her.

Ect. Ect. Ect. Listen, I could go on for ages but just trust me, the mean gremlin lady is autistic.

[darkacademicfrom2021]

The Dark Team (part 11)

<<Previous part Masterlist   Next part>>

Warnings: Cookies and idiots. You might get diabetes.

N/A: I'm on a family trip right now so I'm being a little unactive but I'll do my best to be still updating on here. Thank you so much to everyone who reads and comments, you truly make me want to write twice as much.

The Dark Team: (Taglist: @lucywrites02, @louieboo87, @the-departed-potato, @jesuswasnotawhiteman, @idontknow296, @beksib, @spythoschei, @geekwritersworld, @whatafuckingdumbass, @mysticunicorn7 @shadowolf993 @toe-vind-ek-jou @joscelyn02, @t00-pi )

“Are you sure that’s how you should be sending those?”. His nosy ass telling you how to do your job in your midgardian electronics was just amazing, truly. “It would be faster for them if you send it with that link instead of…”.

“Listen, Mischief”, you interrupted his unnecessary corrections “I don’t tell you how to levitate, what about you don’t tell me how to do this?”.

“I don’t levitate”.

“Not the point. This is my deal. Besides, since when and how do you know how to handle midgardian tech?”.

“I… I’m bored”.

“Do I look like an entertainment to you right now?”.

“What do you mean right now? Are you planning on entertaining me later?”.

“I will choke you if you keep doing that”.

“Do you promise?”.

"Yes, my dear".

"Can't wait, then", he smirked. You rolled your eyes, about to answer something snappy, but the work was more important at the moment.

Your phone beeped, pulling you out of the very one sided discussion. You went back to your work in silence, getting your full focus and concentration on it. If it weren’t for Loki, you would’ve already done a thousand more other things. But, as a bug on the lenses, he was stuck to your side. It seemed like you were babysitting him.

Peter was staring at the roof from the couch. A pile of homework laid by his side, untouched, and his unlocked phone seemed to be waiting for him to make a call he didn’t want to. Loki observed him, unsure if it was a good idea to ask. You looked at his uncertainty from over your shoulder, and watched him finally give up on the idea of socially interacting with the kid, sitting down by your side on the big, big (and, exaggeratingly pointing out, big; yet he sat in the nearest chair from you) table.

The compound certainly was a boring place when uninhabited, and the sun was already teasing with coming down, making the common room’s lights turn brighter and warmer. Maybe it was automatic, maybe it was Friday. You couldn’t care less, for you were too distracted by Loki’s gaze on your work.

“Loki, for fuck’s sake, would you stop staring, my dearest?”, you asked, imitating his tone of voice, hoping it’d make it less aggressive and a bit more fun. He rolled his eyes and smirked, understanding your intentions. You sounded as tired of him as you were.

“I’m...”.

“Bored, I know. What about you go entertain Pete? He looks equally, if not more, bored as you. And you’re interfering with my work, which I do not appreciate very much”.

“How am I supposed to entertain him? I’m not a clown”, he argued, slightly offended but just wanting to make time and conversation. You sighed.

“Then why do you act like one?”.

“What is that supposed to mean? Is that a midgardian insult I’m not aware of, pancake?”.

“Stop calling me that, it’s not derogative”.

“It wasn’t intended to be deroga…”.

“I’d kill for some pancakes”, interrupted Peter, trying to pull you two out of your quarrels. “Or something sweet”.

“Oh, the kid got peckish. This is perfect; you can go get him something sweet and leave my workspace alone”, you said, patting his back with an exhausted grin.

He rolled his eyes, but walked down to the kitchen looking for whatever could satiate Peter. There wasn’t anything. One would think that a billionaire would have the fridge full of chocolates, wouldn’t you?, he thought, exhausted by the idea of having to actually leave the compound to get him something. Last time he tried to buy something in Midgard, he accidentally paid three salaries to the workers in the name of Stark. He was so embarrassed, he said it was on purpose and called it an act of mischief. But it was, in fact, pure and raw unawareness of midgardian’s use of money.

“What about we bake something, Mr. Loki?”, proposed Peter, with a flaming interest in seeing what those magic hands could do with food. You chuckled, pretty sure they could do nothing; he had been a prince for over a thousand years, when could he have learnt to bake by himself?

Loki lowered his gaze, confronted with both thoughts of his companions, and their respective expectations. Truth was, you were right. But he couldn't disappoint the kid like that, he had to at least try. Peter's eyes shone brighter than ever, and you wondered if Loki was actually enjoying his company. They looked fine. And, finally, you had some space to work without distractions.

“In normal circumstances I’d reject you, spider boy, but since y/n seems to be about to hang me by the neck on the tip of the tower, might as well do this”, he said, stealing a glance at you and smirking.

“It’s an honor you decide to spend your last moments baking with me, Mr. Loki”.

“Sure, let’s go, child”.

“I’m not a child”.

“Alright”.

And just like that, they left the working area and moved to the kitchen. Both rooms were connected by a huge glassless window and a counter, so you were able to peep in and make sure they didn’t actually burn down the compound (which was the only rule Tony had) and work peacefully at the same time.

After what seemed like an eternity, they still couldn’t accept they were failing miserably, and kept stirring the mix in a bowl. Flour formed clouds around them as Peter sneezed it away, and Loki’s hair had some cream on his (now not so) impeccable hair. Peter laughed at Loki’s commentary and poor baking skills, and Loki playfully mocked how his stickiness wasn’t helpful at all.

“Have you ever baked before, Mr. Loki?”.

“I haven’t but I’ve seen people bake, I figured I could imitate them”.

“Your mum, right? I used to bake with my aunt May a lot, but just now I realize maybe she was doing everything and I was eating the dough by her side”.

“That sounds more like it”, he chuckled. The mixing bowl trembled in his hand as he got distracted by the flying eggs coming at him, and it slipped out of him, smashing near half the mix onto the floor. “Oh, fuck”.

“It’s fine, we can use the one that’s left!”.

“Your positiveness astonishes me, spider boy”.

“Spider man”.

“Right, apologies”.

“We have already put in the flour, the sugar, the eggs, the milk… What else is in the recipe?”.

“I’m trying to remember, let me see”, he closed his eyes and muttered to himself “they used cinnamon, I think. And maybe butter? Yes, and chocolate chips”.

“Who?”.

“Ah, this recipe isn’t my mum’s. She didn’t bake either, you know, Queens don’t get their hands dirty” he laughed. “It was my companion’s”, he spat and suddenly realized what he had said. He lowered his head and sighed.

“Your companion?”, asked Peter. “As in partner? A spouse?”.

“Not spouse, just… you know, I’m just realizing I shouldn’t be talking to you about it”, he brushed it off, absolutely regretting it. Because Peter, unlike any other person, lacked filters.

So he would ask and ask and not realize where to stop. And at that point you could say Peter had become some sort of a weakness in Loki’s roughness. Peter was the softest, purest and better intentioned person he had ever met (or at least that’s how he saw him; of course, Loki had never seen him in action, fighting crime), and Loki was incapable of actually denying things to him. It didn’t matter how much Peter insisted on not being seen as a child, Loki was a thousand years older.

“No, please do. Now you’ve caught my attention”, he insisted, trying to clean some of the dough from the floor. Loki sighed, watching how the kid begged him to tell him more from his feet. “Please, Mr. Loki, I swear I won’t tell”.

“Well, my lover was the one who used to cook for us”, he explained as if he was telling someone else’s story. He clearly was trying to disengage his own emotions in order to tell them out loud. “And they’d usually bake some kick-ass cinnamon cookies”.

Peter had to grab the counter to steady himself from laughter, and you couldn’t help to snort at the conversation you were indiscreetly eavesdropping. Loki smiled.

“Then we have to replicate them, if they’re so kick-ass to make you say a midgardian expression”.

“We must, but I can’t remember quite well the next steps. It’s all sort of a blur now”.

“Can’t we ask them?”.

“No”, he said quickly. The air tensed, and untensed as fast as he realized. He especified again, trying to sound less affected by it “we can’t”.

“Oh”, Peter sounded so disappointed, Loki’s heart broke a little. “Are they dead?”.

“Oh my God, Pete, you can’t just ask…”, you intervened, trying to save Loki from further discomfort.

“It’s okay, they’re… well, they’re gone”, he said with a soft voice, raising his eyebrows as who tries to explain to a little kid why their fish is upside down, leaving to the imagination the typical trace of sadness that would follow. His eyes focused on the mixing bowl, reminiscing another time, another way. Eyes of someone who tries his best to never forget the little details from someone who’s not here anymore, because memories are all he has left. He immediately snapped out of his thoughts and tried to play it cool. “But guess who’s not gone? This dough on the floor. Let’s clean it up, kid”.

“Gone as in dead?”, insisted Peter, who had a very poor self control. You would’ve grabbed your face with eight hands if you could.

“Peter, don’t…”.

“Yes, they’re dead. Inside a coffin, rotting, getting eaten by worms. You know”, said Loki, this time jokingly, trying to scare off Peter. But it didn’t work, since Peter just kept asking about it. Loki was already too tired of having to take his brain yet again to places he didn’t want them to be.

“I’m really sorry, Mr. Loki. Must be very painful”. The empathy in his eyes gave Loki the hint that he was not only being sincere, but curious about Loki's life. Interested, engaged. Not just morbidly curious, but wanting to get to know him better. Unfortunately, Loki couldn’t allow that. He would have to get the mission done, not make any friends, and go back to Asgard as alone as he came. It was the deal, the price he had to pay, the invisible handcuffs, the imaginary rope tying around his neck. Tightly, tightly, tighter.

“It’s alright, it was long ago”.

“Was they Asgardian, like you?”.

“I’m not actually Asgardian. I was raised there, but I’m from Jotunheim”.

Loki managed to move the conversation further than his lover (which he regretted highly to have brought the subject in the first place), and Peter got more and more interested in confirming how many of his mythology stories were true or not. The kitchen was the warmest place in the whole compound, and something started to smell like burnt sugar.

“So you did actually make Sif, Thor’s wife, bald? And did he make you go get her a wig in Svárthelfeim?”, he asked at the speed of light, and Loki laughed.

“Lady Sif’s not actually Thor’s betrothed. And no, I didn’t make her bald”, he said, and then muttered “she just happened to have a very low quality shampoo”.

“Ah, the cookies!”, Peter turned off the stove and took them out carefully, as to not get burned (again).

Loki peeped through the window to check on you. Your head, laying tiredly over your hands, seemed to be about to give up on you out of exhaustion. You haven’t slept properly since the mission started, and you couldn’t get your head off work for a moment. He approached you from behind and left a fresh cup of coffee and a couple of warm cookies by your side. You smiled at him gently and thanked him. If it wasn’t him you were talking about, you could’ve swore he blushed.

You have gotten so tranquil after one simple gesture, you hoped to get all your nerves down before going to sleep. Maybe it wasn’t that bad to have been stuck with them in the compound. They seemed to be having a good time, and Loki had nothing on his mind more than to have a rest after such hectic days.

“How long until you finish there?”, he asked with a low voice, a raspy, almost groany voice, that made you want to shut your computer down and throw it out of the window. You didn’t, instead, you checked your clock.

“Very soon, I’ll join you guys in a bit”.

[lol-q]

There’s so many things I love about the show that I haven’t seen people give enough credit for and I want to go on a little ramble because people are focusing so much on what they don’t like vs. what they do. So here’s my list. Sorry for the grammatical errors 😬

I love that the lesbian main character is this sweet, innocent, big hearted young woman and not portrayed as a overly sexual fuckboi that hits on every woman. I love that Fatou is soft and gentle. More lesbian rep like that please

I love the soundtrack. It’s exactly the type of stuff I imagine Fatou would listen to and it’s not just the top 100 hit songs.

I love that they use the soundtrack as a way to connect to the plot line, like the lyrics to the song Fatou was listening to when she was on the rooftop said “And I hate to leave you feeling all alone.But your story cannot start until you've grown. You can find how to be OK on your own. I just can't be the one that makes you feel at home” which was a hint as to where the plot was going

^^ also the song playing during Kieu My and Fatou’s museum date

I love the little mannerisms Nhungi chooses to show as Kieu My. The happy little bounce she did in ep 1 when she called out Fatou’s name and when she subtly checked Fatou out by looking her up and down.

I love how their rooms show their individual personality so well. Like Fatou’s room in the beginning of the season was normal and then it became increasingly messy as the episodes moved forward, showing her stress and chaos in her life

I love the height difference between Fatou and her brother lol

I love when her brother and her were thinking of what to get their parents so they split the bill on a gift - a very subtle way of showing siblings interacting

I love when Fatou and Ismail interact cuz it’s so funny

I love the physics teachers speaking voice, he sounds like kermit the frog

I love fatou’s eyebrows. Idk it’s just so perfect. Give me tips plz

I love that the characters rewear clothing. And it’s not a show where every episode is a new outfit with new clothes. Very realistic and it always bothered me when teens on highschool on tv have new clothes every episode

I love that Fatou’s original bio on tinder was “wanna cuddle?”. I feel like that girl would rather cuddle with someone than win the lottery. She’s so soft (also why did it say she was 24 in ep 2 when she was on tinder lol)

I love that the show showed the struggles of coming from a bilingual family and being the only one that struggles to speak it. When fatou was talking to her grandparents with her brother and her brother had to translate for her and it was awkward af, I felt that. I’m the youngest in my family and I struggle to speak Tagalog so people have to translate for me sometimes and it sucks.

^^ I relate to fatou so much in that scene cuz the dynamic in my family is the same as Fatou’s. My parents lay off and let me and my brother do our thing unless there’s an indication we need their help. The only time I ever spoke about school with my family was when report cards would come and they would see my grades weren’t that good. I remember my mom seeing I had a D in middle school and automatically jumping to conclusiosn without letting me speak. My brother is academically successful and he would also try and get me to do more school stuff when I was younger. Like he would make me do math problems to help with my grades. So it’s all very relatable for me

I love when Fatou sings, her voice is so soft and smooth.

I love whenever Kieu My and fatou are flirting both so blatantly and yet so subtly. Like the tension is there but it’s still awkward despite how smooth they both try to be it’s so adorable

I love how Fatou and Kieu My are so confident flirting and talking to eachother through texting but when it’s irl it’s still awkward and new. It shows the reality of an actual relationship in the making. It’s not just a full head dive into “I love you”.

I love when they were at the table tennis bar place and Fatou was hyping up Ava when there were dudes looking at them and Ava did a fancy ass turn and smile. She’s so pretty

I love that Fatou’s problems were shown in subtle ways in the beginning with money. Counting money at her job and when she wa trying to pay for the drink at the bar. It was a small interaction but in real life it would cause a lot of stress and anxiety if money counting problems kept happening over and over again

I love Yara and Josh’s friendship. More platonic friendship between a male and a female please. Also more Yara in general please.

I love that Zoe owned up to her actions last year to the entire group (minus Ismail Constantine and Kieu my) on New Years. I see her owning up to the role as Nora’s big sister.

I love when Josh was drinking a lot during New Years and Fatou was trying to get him to slow down. It shows how big her heart is for her friends. Also I think Josh and Fatou could be great friends

I love that Kieu My looks at Fatou like she hung the stars. When Fatou mentioned she knew Kieu My was a Scorpio, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen that girl smiled so big (before episode 5 of course)

I love that whenever they kiss Kieu my is smiling.

I love Sira’s side profile. There I said it. Girl has the jawline of a Greek goddess.

I love that they change Fatou’s hair. She looks good in every hair style but it’s always nice to see her in different styles.

I love that they showed the struggles of being a passive and gentle person. Because we’re not assertive in regular everyday life we are easily looked over. And it’s hard for us to muster the gusto to be assertive and take what we need because we prefer shying away from conflict and just letting things flow. I relate to fatou’s character so much in that sense. I lowkey think this is the universe’s way of telling me to stop being so passive about life and to take charge idk.

I love that the topic of white savior and performative activism was touched on. And I love that it was between two friends because it’s very realistic to how dynamics work between young people these days. The way they handle it differs in opinion but the fact that they even spoke about it was great.

I love that moment when Kieu My wrapped the vietnamese pancake in the lettuce snd handed it to Fatou. Its so sweet. If I was Fatou I would have forgiven her right then and there lol

I LOVE THE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWo. YES MORE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE.

Episode 6. Just all of it. Even the angsty part. I want more of that. Episode 6 yes. I’ll marry episode 6

Kieu My wearing Fatou’s cardigan. 💕💕💕💕💕💕✨✨✨✨✨😫😫💕✨✨🥺

^^ but also as a person that tried bangs before, you can’t tell me that girl woke up with her bangs perfectly in place lol. This girl probably bought a mini straightener or something too

Fatou telling Kieu My it doesn’t matter if she wears make up or not rather than going off on how she looks prettier without it. She’s just like “it doesn’t matter. You’re pretty no matter what, my little space nerd”

Pissed off fatou is a hot fatou. Js

I love Sira’s acting in general. But the way she shows Fatou’s sadness is great. It’s not just tears and that’s it. When she got fired it was a build up of tears but she wasn’t sobbing, same thing with the cashqueens argument. But she broke when her and Kieu My got in a fight.

Finn being socially awkward. It’s so funny cuz Zoe is this bubbly party girl and her boyfriend is so awkward. Nice balance.

^^also his hair makes me laugh idk why

Ismail opening up to Fatou shows how so many people feel at ease with her. Girl has a calming presence for everybody, she doesn’t even realize how much she’s helped others.

I love that Constantine wears the same jacket over and over again. Idk it seems to fit his character.

^^also kudos to the actor who plays him, he’s doing an amazing job

Love Fatou. Love her dimples and her soft voice. She gets all high pitched when she’s normally speaking but when she was fighting with Kieu My her voice became lower. Just love the way Sira’s voice sounds. Also Nhungi’s speaking voice.

Love the shaky camera movements. The fast pans and the slow motion dance scenes.

Love the aesthetic of Kieu My smoking but PLEASE DONT SMOKE, CHILDREN. ITS BAD FOR YOU.

Love the different aesthetics of the cashqueens

Love maike. Great actress. Give this turtle an Oscar.

Love Kieu My climbing the roof to help her Fatou. Softie to her girlfriend but an ice queen to the world lol.

Love the actors. Love the characters. It just makes me so happy.

This is so well written, i might actually cry no but really it was really nice to read your positive and cuteee facts after the tag check :/ and it really helped because i get mad and sad when i see bad takes. Everything you said was so true and i think im fangirling over this essay. And it made me emotional 👉👈.  Represantation does really matter.

This season is so important for so many people and i don’t think some people realize that when they’re ‘’criticizing’’ some things. Not only we have a lesbian main, we have a black lesbian main who is the softest person in the world and she has LD and/or ADHD. I sometimes can’t believe we got to the point of skamverse where we get rep instead of hurtful,problematic seasons and plots, some might interpret that as shade but it really isn’t, careless storylines really does hurt ppl and why would you want to hurt people when you can give 8 min of sapphic museum date instead 👭🌌 :)

i love this season, i love this gen and i love this essay

[introvert--weeb]

Haiz!! Could I ask for a Tokyo revenger character match up?

I'm a 16 year old female who stands at 5 ft. I'm a Sagittarius and INTP-T. I'm pansexual/questioning but I don't have much of a preference.

My personality I'm a sort of ambivert leaning more on introvert side. I'm outgoing when I'm talking with my friends and depending on the day and where I am I can be really social, I guess u can say I know how to fake being social? I can say I'm bold with doing stuff on my own or with friends but not to other people. Like if someone asked me to try and climb a brick wall to the roof because they tossed their shoe on the roof I will (and have) but I can't for the life of me tell someone I like their shirt if ion know them. Under stress I react in 2 ways the first way I'm either really quiet and am scanning in my head or mumble all the ways on what to do about the situation I'm stressed about or the second way is me just stress cursing, which may sound like I'm mad or sumthin cause people have told me when I curse it's very aggressive.

I'm quite temperature sensitive especially during summer as my friends say. One minute I'd complain it's hot and a minute after we turn on the ac I'd complain it's cold, it's a problem I know. I have a low level of germophobia as in I sometimes can't stand to touch certain things like door handles or sit comfortably in the school cafeteria tables or the classroom seats that at one point I started to clean them. I struggle a lot when I type like ALOT that sometimes my words come out like this aonomw which would be someone or other times would be like this pan5h34 (panther) or I'd have trouble typing words like table and have to keep texting it till I get it right or give up. I also forget words exist like cake, or light switch ect. I'm also really competitive and have one sided competition that the other persondoesn't know about.

I'm very optimistically realistic yet also look at the bad side of things. Like I'd be like thinking of the good side of things then I'd think of the bad and it's just be a roller coaster of me loudly mumbling then yelling and rolling on the floor of why I thought of the bad. I also have ALOT of theories that I love to tell to those who I'm close with, I make a new theory every night. I also have all of weird 3 am thoughts but during the day.

Aesthetically I'm all over the place I mostly wear sweats or leggings with a jacket or hoodie because lowkey am insecure bout my body BUT I'm working on it. I usually have my hair down doing whatever it wants but when I want to style it I have it half up and half down with my bangs loosely curled.

My hobbies is mostly just reading books like novels, manhwas, mangas or watching anime. I like to play videogames especially with friends I mostly like to play first shooter games like COD, or horror multiplayer games, or also those tapping games just to pass the time. I also like to sing to music or practice singing and dancing to like kpop songs or I'd try and make choreos sumtime.

(*ˊᗜˋ*)ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ for taking the time to read this, I'm sorry if it's too long I kinda got carried away 😅. If you end up doing this request take ur time, thank you and take care of urself.

Please bare with me on this one! There is a reason and it's mostly headcanon-y 😅❤️

You shall be matched with...

South Terano ❤️

Outside of the gang, I see South as being really caring and a softie for the person who had stolen his heart. A complete 180 from canon Terano. This is a personal headcanon and other headcanons are available.

So, back to the match-up. South had met you in a music store while he was searching for more classical records. Considering you were shorter than him, it was surprising that you had caught his eye but you had and now he couldn't take them off you.

It was as you entered the aisle that South occupied that he had decided to introduce himself. You were a little intimidated by the tattoos decorating his face but as he started a conversation about music, you slowly got more comfortable. The entire interaction had resulted in the tall blond getting your number and arranging a hang out for the next day. To say he was excited was an understatement.

Your first date would be a simple cafe trip since he felt a neutral place like that would be the best. After all, there was a minimal amount of background noise so he could ask you about yourself as much as he pleased, but it was also not entirely boring where he would struggle to entertain you when awkward moments arose. The entire hang out had you falling slowly for South and you were quick to agree to a second date.

A relationship with South is one where you feel protected. He hadn't told you he was the leader of a.gang until he felt you could handle the information. You were a little nervous around him at first but this quickly dissolved back to the normal comfortable interactions you were so used to.

South won't ever admit it, but he finds you adorable all the time. Like, he enjoyed the way you would mutter to yourself when you were deep in thought, how your texts could sometimes be full of typos, but he especially loved how you would tell him about all the theories you thought up of about anything. This boy would sit and listen with the biggest smile as he watched the way your eyes lit up as you explained the newest idea you had. His heart would melt and he would find it hard to not gather you up in his arms with how cute you were!

Once this boy finds out about your aversion to touching surfaces because of the germs, he would make sure you were comfortable at all times. Opens the doors for you, places his jacket on a seat so you can sit down, even carrying a pack of antibacterial wipes in his pockets at all times. No-one in Rokuhara Tandai knew about this and he would definitely keep it that way. After all, he is a feared leader. He didn't want to seem weak in front of those that follow him.

No-one can tell me that this boy does not game when he is at home relaxing. First person shooters are his go to as he feels this best relieves his stress. So finding out you also enjoyed playing video games, he would 100% play any game with you. Even bought a second controller so he always had one in his home for you.

It was by accident that South had heard you sing and saw you dance. He had come over to visit and you had lost track of the time. So once he had reached your door and opened it slightly, he had seen you lost in your music. South found the sight breathtaking and had decided to watch from the doorway until you finally noticed him. Would encourage you to continue the 'show' for him, a smirk dancing on his lips.

--

Requests are closed for match ups.