#without having actually particularly read or cared about anyone else's. i feel like this may be strange to have done several times.

[loveletterworm]

(homestuck specifically does not count here because its too popular and would break the intent of this question. I dont care if you read homestuck. Pretend it doesn't exist for the purposes of this question)

[fun-eralsss]

was making a post about all my intersex headcanons, but i realized that so many of them were from homestuck that i might as well make a whole post solely about them. so yea :)

btw this one’s gonna be LONG AS HELL

homestuck headcanons (intersex edition because i do what i want :p)

first off, the humans!!

jade harley (NCAH): honestly, it’s mostly just vibes. plus her whole thing is dogs n stuff. dogs have a lot of hair. you know who else has lots of hair? people with NCAH

roxy lalonde (AIS): remember that whole thing where hussie revealed the last two letters of her name first, so everyone immediately headcanonned her as a trans woman, then it was confirmed that she’s cis? homegirl can have XY chromosomes while being cis! bada bing bada boom!

ok now the trolls!! (this section will be significantly longer lmao)

sollux captor (Chimerism): first of all, his blood is literally yellow, so yknow. second of all, duality is a HUGE part of his character! it just makes sense for him to be a chimera to me tbh (i also headcanon that gold and violetbloods are more likely to be medically recognized as intersex but that’s an entirely different can of worms)

nepeta leijon (PCOS): same reasoning as jade, but her whole thing is cats. cats have lots of hair. you know who else has lots of hair? people with PCOS

kanaya maryam (Klinefelter’s Syndrome): most people depict her as being super tall, and you know who tends to be super tall? yeah :)

(i know that it’s kinda implied at all jadebloods are female, just let me have trans intersex kanaya. i beg. i grovel at your feet)

terezi pyrope (undeclared, likely Chimerism): i feel like she would really love to bring up her intersexuality while arguing with a transphobe or intersexist. she would also probably not disclose what her specific variation is so they couldn’t pull the whole “you’re just a fe/male with a dsd!!!!” bs. also, balance is a huge part of her character, so i feel like chimerism particularly suits her

equius zahhak (Hyperandrogenism): his body is quite literally overflowing with testosterone. man is literally sweating 24/7 and frankly, no other indigobloods seem to have as much testosterone as him, so we know this isn’t typical. they’re all strong, yeah, but this guy is on a whole other level. i just KNOW this boy’s skin is oily as hell

(also yes!! i headcanon equius as a cis guy with hyperandrogenism!! intersex doesn’t just mean “man with lots of estrogen” or “woman with lots of androgen”!!)

eridan ampora (PAIS): ok this one is one im actually super passionate about. in the og comic, all female trolls are consistently drawn with black lips (with the exception of nepeta, who i’ve already included on here). all the male trolls are drawn without the lips except for eridan. eridan is shown to have black lips in multiple panels! back when it was first pointed out, most assumed it was because of how feminine he is compared to the other guys, but you know what? idc!!! that boy is intersex and indulges in toxic masculinity due to his insecurity!!! idc what anyone has to say!!! also his blood is literally violet so yknow

damara megido (CAIS): i think she would get a really big kick out of not having body hair, periods or the ability to give birth. obviously there are downsides to it, but i doubt those would get in her way of having fun. i also think she would really like reclaiming That One Japanese Slur For Intersex People

cronus ampora (MAIS): mostly cause vibes and the fact that he’s related to eridan, so it’s more likely. what can i say, the ampora boys are very “does being intersex make me less of a man?” coded

bonuses!!!

rose lalonde (PCOS): she gives me the vibe of a woman who has PCOS but doesn’t consider herself intersex due to how little it affects her. tho i imagine that she’s done lots of reading on intersex variations considering how two people she cares deeply about (kanaya and roxy) do consider themselves intersex

dave strider (MAIS): i know that trans dave is a super popular headcanon and don’t get me wrong, transgender icon dave strider will save the world!! it’s just that for me personally, i’ve only been able to see him as an intersex guy. though in his case, i imagine that he would find out pretty late into his life. and like his sister, considering how little it’s affected his life, he wouldn’t consider himself intersex either

anyways yeah that’s it :) have a good day <3

[doberbutts]

I’ve always said that if I ever have kids I want to adopt, and specifically adopt someone who’s older in the system because the older they are the more likely they are to age out.

Maybe I’m misunderstanding the thread but. Is that still a good thing to want to do?

The thread and conversation is not saying that fostering and adopting is necessarily a bad thing. It's saying that the system in which we do these things sucks, does not take into account the very real problems it has and has had, and that for every feel-good story related to fostering and adoption there are dozens of kids and now-adults with lingering trauma regarding their housing situation.

If adoption is something you're serious about, then by all means, there are so many kids in the system that need a way out. But- and this is a big "but"- you need to go into it prepared. Most of these kids have some sort of trauma, because the system is inherently traumatic. Do you know how to parent someone through their trauma? Can you make that commitment? Can you take this as seriously as if it was a child of your own blood, and commit to forever in the same way?

If you want to adopt, you need to take that commitment as seriously as if you had birthed the child yourself. And if you want to adopt older kids, you need to be prepared to parent someone through their trauma, because they need you to be able to help them out of that dark place. People don't want to adopt them because they don't want to deal with the trauma, but the honest truth is that if no one helps them how will they avoid the incredibly high rates of homelessness, human trafficking, sexual assault, and jailtime waiting for them when they age out?

You're not getting a brand new "fresh slate" baby when you adopt an older kid at risk for aging out. You're getting a whole ass person who is old enough to be deeply harmed by everything that has led up to this point and who has had the system prove to them over and over that they can trust no one and they have no one there to help them. Kids who bounce from foster to foster with little more than an hour's warning and a trash bag to throw all their stuff in before getting dumped at someone else's door. Kids who may still remember, miss, even want to return to their birth family. Kids who may have been hurt by their birth family from the start and now have no trust in anyone. Kids who may be well behind in school due to bouncing from district to district. Kids who've never actually made a friend. Teenagers who still wet the bed. Eight-year-olds acting out their sexual assaults on others because they don't know how else to cope. Preteen girls who can't stand to be in the same room as your husband or father or grandfather without a screaming tantrum. High school students who can't read or write because no one cared enough to teach them how.

These are often kids who have been failed by everyone else they've seen. Don't be just another person who's failed them too.

My sister was 13 when my parents took custody of her. My sister was raised by an addict mom who chose drugs over her, who chose her pimp boyfriend over her, who chose to look the other way when said pimp boyfriend started noticing her daughter was "becoming a woman". My sister spent her first year with my parents having screaming fights with them because she wanted to go home. Not because "home" with her birth mother was better, but because that is what deeply traumatized kids do. Better the devil you know. It didn't matter that it wasn't her or her mother's choice- the state took her away, not my parents. My parents just ensured she had a soft landing. It took a long time for her to trust them enough to call them her family- keep in mind that my dad is her uncle by blood.

And she is considered one of the "lucky" ones, who went straight from separation to an adoptive family who committed to forever immediately. I don't think getting trafficked and beaten and starved and neglected for 13 years is particularly "lucky", nor do I think it leaves behind a non-traumatized kid. But if that's considered lucky, then what happens to the unlucky ones?

[drjohndisco]

Unexpected Confession

Pairing: Basil/Jack (+ Sprig)

Rating: M

Warnings: suggestive language/sexual innuendos, swearing, kiss descriptions, implications of past (non-consensual) mind reading.

Word Count: 1k+

Summary: Jack has a meeting he needs to get to, and Sprig ruins a quiet moment (as per usual.)

Notes:

1) I'm finally done!!! Woohoo!! (<- note from a guy who hyper-focused on this piece more than he probably should have.)

2) I haven't written dual perspective in ages, so I have no idea if this actually worked or not. Also, yes, I am aware that neither Basil's or Sprig's lore hasn't been explained (yet), please just roll with it. (The most important things here are that Basil (who is an alien with low level empathic abilities) works on site as a computer tech/on-call scientist, and that Sprig (a sentient mass of plant tendrils with eyes, but no visible mouth) can feel/always know of Basil’s location — due to previous shenanigans.)

[ Basil's lab - 18:00 ]

Basil

‘What do you want? I already thanked you for getting me out of jail.’ Basil asked, looking up at Jack, who was standing on the other side of the table. He was exhausted, and not particularly in the mood to talk to anyone. ‘Please, just go away. ’

‘No, I won’t. Because then I wouldn’t be a very good friend.’ Jack replied, sitting down on the chair across from him. Basil’s chest ached at the usage of the word friend, but he avoided the sensation. ‘You’ve been here for hours, go and get some rest. The base can keep ticking along without you.’

‘Sure,’ Basil laughed derisively. ‘And fish on your planet have wings!’

‘Uh, actually…’ Jack started. ‘There is a species that….’

‘Don’t fact check me.' Basil groaned. ‘It’s bad enough when Daniel’s around.’

'Fair enough.' Jack conceded.

Then Jack’s pager beeped - making him pull it from his pocket and look down at the message.

‘Oh, great! Another meeting’s been scheduled for about ten minutes from now.’ He complained, looking back up at Basil.

'What's this one for?'

‘Apparently they still need me to tie up some loose ends in terms of this whole attempted murder situation of yours.' Jack said, standing and pushing his chair away.

'How fun!' Basil intoned sarcastically. Then their eyebrows crinkled in confusion. ‘Aren’t you going to leave? You know what you’re like with time.’

'Just follow me to the doorway and I'll quit buggin' you.' Jack explained, beckoning him forward.

'Is that an order, Sir?'

'It is.' Jack stated, before turning and beginning to walk out.

'Fine.’ Basil grumbled, taking some of the paperwork from the table and putting it into their lap, turning the chair to the left. Then they begrudgingly scuffed it along the ground, following Jack. ‘Are you happy now?’

'Sure.' Jack replied, but stopped and looked back at Basil from the doorway.

‘What?’ Basil questioned.

‘You’re not going to kiss me goodbye before I go?’

It was a friendly jibe, and rationally Basil knew this, but that didn't stop him from pulling Jack down by his lapels - kissing him hard.

‘Damn.’ Jack murmured admirably under his breath, hands finding their way into Basil's hair.

Shocked by Jack's unanticipated reciprocation (and the strong emotions that came with it) Basil broke the kiss.

Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!

Come on, fucking think of something!

‘That….was a one time thing,’ Basil said after a moment - in an awkward attempt to deflect from the situation at hand. ‘Now, I’m just going to go and give these…to someone else who may need them.’

Basil then quickly picked all of the papers up and stood -- not particularly caring whether Jack was even listening to him -- before walking (as calmly as they possibly could) past Jack and out of the door.

Jack

Jack absentmindedly pressed a hand to his lips, as he watched Basil go.

Did I do something wrong?

Then, quietly, Sprig chuckled. Hearing this Jack closed his eyes in desperation.

Of course we had an onlooker.

(But, there’s nothing I can do about that now.)

‘He’s dropped all of those and is running for the lift, isn’t he?’ Jack sighed, not even bothering to look for Sprig (who was currently attached to the outside of Basil’s empty desk plant pot.)

‘Yes, he is.’ Sprig replied. ‘Go and get your bitch, Colonel.'

[ Basil's lab - 18:05 ]

Basil

'Hey,' Jack said gently, as he shut the door behind him. ‘Can we talk?’

…How on earth did he get down here so fast?

The base elevators can’t be that good, can they?

'What is there to talk about?' Basil snapped, as Jack strode over and sat down on their bed across from them. ‘I’m the one that screwed up, just go to your meeting and leave me alone!'

He's too close, I feel like I’m going to vibrate out of my skin.

'I can't, I postponed it.' Jack replied. 'It'll happen tomorrow now.'

'Is that supposed to make me feel better?' Basil retorted.

'No, and I didn't expect it to.' Jack admitted. 'But that's not the point! The point here is that I'm sorry, Basil.'

‘Well, you shouldn’t be!’ Basil said, voice quavering. 'I've ignored what you obviously feel for Sam! That line shouldn't have been crossed!'

‘Damn it, B!’ Jack groaned, exasperatedly raking a hand through his hair. ‘Don't you get it? You're not Carter - and I don't want you to be! My feelings for her don’t affect my feelings for you! Our kiss should have told you that!'

Oh.

'I’m an idiot.’ Basil muttered.

‘Is that supposed to be news to me?’ Jack teased.

‘Oh, do shut up.’ Basil said, before bridging the gap between them; so that they were standing between Jack's legs, hands resting against his hips.

Jack

Jack, to his surprise, found that he had indeed done as instructed. 

(There was no sarcastic remark on his tongue, for once.)

‘May I?’ Basil asked. ‘Kiss you, that is?’

‘Yes, please do.' Jack replied, voice uncharacteristically shaky.

Then, before Jack could blink, Basil had shifted their hands - lifting his head and cupping his face - subsequently initiating a second (and far more passionate kiss).

Closing his eyes Jack kissed them back fervently; wrapping his arms around Basil’s waist to hold them steady as he pulled them closer, before slowly reaching up and snaking a hand into their hair.

Oh, I never want to let them go.

Basil

Eventually, after what seemed like a mere blip in time to Basil, they pulled away from Jack slightly – moving so that their forehead rested against his.

Fuck, this man can kiss! 

(I feel like I'm on fire!)

'Are you okay?' Jack questioned, looking up at Basil.

'Yeah, I'm fine, just a bit tingly.' Basil replied. 'But that will pass.'

'Aw, I'm flattered I could make you feel that way.' Jack joked.

Basil opted to not dignify that with a response.

Then, suddenly, Sprig wolf whistled loudly - shattering the silence.

(He had apparently been watching from a spot on Basil’s bookcase, unnoticed, for some time.)

Startled by this noise Basil let go of Jack and fell backwards, landing on the carpet with a loud thud (and a muffled yelp.)

[ 18:07 ]

Jack

'Oh, fuck me!' Basil cursed angrily, sitting up and hitting the carpet with his fist.

‘Woah, hold your horses, cowboy!’ Jack laughed, as he leaned forward and offered a hand to help them. ‘At least let me buy you a drink first.'

‘Jack, you know that’s not what I meant.' Basil said, grabbing hold of Jack's hand – using him to slowly return to a standing position.

'Honey, are you sure about that?’ Sprig taunted, sliding across the floor so he was positioned next to Basil. 'I've been inside your mind, and, honestly, some of your thoughts made even me blush. Which, if you think about it, is quite a high bar.'

'Sprig, stop being an ass!' Jack yelled, interrupting him.

In response Sprig poked his tongue out at Jack, annoyed.

'Very mature.' Jack said, in a voice reminiscent of a tired father. 'What are you, twelve?’

‘I’m far older than that, but I doubt your tiny brain could comprehend my true age. It'd explode before you even got close.’ Sprig replied, snidely. 

'Oh, well done.' Jack goaded. 'Took you a long time to come up with that, did it?'

'Actually, now that I think about it, it is the one advantage your lover here has over you.' Sprig continued, ignoring Jack's comment. 'Although so far it doesn't seem to be doing Basil any good. They did fall for you, after all.'

Jack opened his mouth to reply, but stopped when he noticed the icy look in Basil's eyes.

'Huh. I didn't peg you as being the submissive type, Jack...' Sprig sneered. 'Basil, on the other hand, however...'

Basil

‘Sprig, if you don't shut up soon, I'll go and get the wood chipper!’ Basil threatened.

'Oh no, so frightening! However shall I go on?' Sprig responded, raising a tendril to where Basil assumed his chest should be, and gasping mockingly. 'Goodbye, cruel world!

Then he disappeared with a pop, showering Basil with leaves.

‘Well someone must have woken up on the wrong side of the flower bed this morning.’ Jack noted, after a beat.

'Oh, you didn't...' Basil groaned, shaking their head to remove the debris. ‘I think that may have been one of the cheesiest things I have ever heard you say.'

'It's all part of my charm, sweetheart.' Jack replied, grinning. 'I know you love me for it.'

Yes, Jack.

(Yes, I do.)

[sweet-hearts-and-destiny-knots]

Hi! I’ve been following you for a while now (since before you started working on sisterhood). I love the concept you have for Sisterhood a lot. I’m just curious about what shippings you like since I feel like I know some of them but not all of them (and I know how shipping can change over time). If you feel like talking about them, I would love to hear about them!

I've accumulated a vast assortment of pairings the past several years, particularly due to being a multishipper (but not a polyshipper-). However, for each protagonist there is usually what a friend of mine refers to as an "endgame" love interest: the one who I feel resonates with her personality most.

For example, the pairings related to Leaf are Conflictingshipping (Green/Blue x Leaf) and LeafStoneshipping (Brock x Leaf). The former is the "endgame" pairing for her. As for the latter, I actually concocted the name myself.

(There are a number of pairings I've been left with the solemn duty of bestowing a name upon, in actuality-).

An additional detail to keep in mind is, for anyone else who may be reading; the ages of several characters are altered in the universe of Sisterhood, meaning everyone involved, including the female protagonists, is a young adult.

Kotone, her "endgame" pairing is SoulSilvershipping (Silver x Kotone). Silver is truly the only person she has a romantic relationship with, although he is rather prone to experiencing jealousy when other male characters, such as Hibiki(Ethan) and Morty, are in her presence.

Haruka also has two paths of romance before her in the forms of HoennChampionshipping (Steven x Haruka) and NewRivalshipping (Wally x Haruka). What can I say? She has a type, and it's nerds. Haruka couldn't care less about the former's status and money, and she isn't so shallow that his looks would instantly capture her heart.

Hikari has no love interests to speak of in Sinnoh, but under the alias of Akari while in Hisui, she has quite a few options! Wieldershipping (Volo x Akari) and BrilliantDiamondshipping (Adaman x Akari) are the main contenders, but additionally... I also am somewhat partial to CandyTruffleshipping (Melli x Akari), for humor related reasons.

Ferriswheelshipping (N x Touko) is Touko's "endgame" pairing. Similarly to Kotone, she has no other love interests. However, Cheren does harbor romantic feelings for her during the course of Black and White's main game before eventually moving on and finding happiness with Bianca.

Technically, Mei has two and a half love interests? Initially, LiveCastershipping (Curtis x Mei) was intended to be the "endgame" pairing for her, but I gradually grew more and more fond of Hue and his one-sided affections. And to elaborate on the "two and a half love interests", Kyouhei(Nate) is sort of one, but... it's... it's complicated.

Serena is another protagonist who has a sole pairing associated with her, which is Kalosshipping (Calem x Serena). And yet, I also can't consider Calem her "endgame" love interest. I don't dislike him, but... he's lacking a certain je ne sais quoi. So perhaps Legends: Z-A may introduce Serena to her perfect beau?

Despite how frequently she teases and torments him, Mizuki's main love interest is Gladion. Although I do also enjoy some Malasadashipping (Hau x Mizuki) on the side. Regardless of whether their relationship is platonic or romantic, Hau is an important part of Mizuki's life in Alola now.

Gloria has two tsundere boys battling for her attention and affection. Not that Bede and Avery would admit this without raising a fuss. I haven't yet decided which will be her "endgame" love interest, so I suppose DressedInPinkshipping (Bede x Gloria) and Barriershipping (Avery x Gloria) will also be competing for my approval!

Juliana has the most love interests out of all the protagonists thus far! A grand total of four! HerbaMysticashipping (Arven x Juliana), Dipplinshipping (Kieran x Juliana), and Tracksuitshipping (Drayton x Juliana) are the primary pairings, but Grusha does occasionally show interest in the academy's Book Wurmple as well.

There are also various pairings in Sisterhood which don't involve the female protagonists. Some include the male protagonists, such as Red possibly becoming a couple with Misty, while others are composed of non-player characters, one of my favorites being Surveyshipping (Laventon x Cyllene). The professor and captain are married in this universe, as a matter of fact!

And because the world of Pokémon is always expanding, this means there should always be more pairings! Legends: Z-A is soon to be upon us, after all! But hopefully not too soon.

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

Thank you for your many insightful posts on the current conflict going on. The one giving a detailed breakdown on the "who was there first?" argument was particularly helpful given that, as someone very familiar with the "Land Back" movement in America, I struggled from trying to approach the Palestine issue from that same perspective.

I did have something else I've been struggling with that maybe you can help me out on, though: I've seen "Zionist"/"Zionism" used a lot to help separate those who endorse the concept of a modern state of Israel from Judaism as a whole, since a very large portion of the Jewish community doesn't support what Israel is doing. For me personally, however, I've frequently seen that word used as a dog-whistle for antisemitism in general (most infamously in relation to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion), so I've been kind of wary about using Zion/Zionist in regular discussion. Did I just have a misinformed first impression towards using that term, or is it indeed something we still have to be careful about using even in regards to current events?

Hello! I hope you don't mind me publishing my response, in case anyone has further information to share on the topic of zionism. I am by no means an expert on this — I'm kind of synthesizing various posts & articles I've read over the years to write my answer, and I may be missing some important elements. I welcome correction or added info from anyone with more knowledge than I.

I'm with you in feeling there's a need for care when encountering talk of "zionists," because this term is indeed bandied about inappropriately. Just here on tumblr, I've seen various Jewish folks speak out about how freely people label any Jew with an opinion they don't like a "zionist" in order to dismiss any concerns that Jewish person tries to raise.

So when "zionist" is used to mean "any Jew I disagree with," or "all Jews," or anything not specifically related to "movement in favor of a sovereign Jewish state (e.g. modern Israel)," it's being used incorrectly and harmfully.

...And ugh, it's bad enough when randos on tumblr are doing it; it's been disturbing to see political leaders and activists and the like doing it on a wider scale these past few months.

We all need to be able to talk about the very real issue of zionism without contributing to antisemitism. How do we do that? Here are some rules of thumb I follow (and again, I welcome more if anyone has other tips):

I educate myself on what Zionism actually is. This article on the Jewish Voice for Peace site is super helpful as a starting point. It discusses where this ideology originated, how zionism takes various forms, and how Zionism is harmful for Jews (for instance, it's harmful because it rejects the diaspora as "inherently toxic and unhealthy for Jews," which means rejecting elements of Jewish culture that have arisen from diaspora).

I resist wondering if a Jewish person is zionist / pro-Israel without any reason to think they might be. (I've seen a couple posts from Jewish people now saying that gentiles do this to them. It's super inappropriate and antisemitic to do this — after all, we don't demand that of every non-Jewish person, so we shouldn't be demanding it of every Jewish person.)

If I see a claim that X person is a zionist, I don't just take that claim at face value; I investigate. See if that person has self-identified as a zionist anywhere, etc. If I can find no evidence, I don't spread that claim around; and I might reach out to whomever posted it to ask what gives.

I focus my time, energy, and concern on zionists / people who are pro-Israel in my own communities — rather than running around declaiming every Jewish zionist I can. As a Christian, I focus on trying to cultivate conversations with fellow Christians whom I know hold zionist or philosemitic views; those are the people I'm more likely to be able to change, after all. For any other Christians interested in what Christian zionism tends to look like and how to combat it, I highly recommend this post.

(Another helpful post tangentially related to this topic is this one about "the three Israels")

[backjustforberena]

It might be faulty assumptions but I always presumed that Laenor was Rhaenys favorite child. Not something she could say because how would that look the overlooked for a male heir woman favoring a son over a daughter?

You said Laenor is everything you could want in a son, but not for Corlys. Laena is everything Corlys wanted in a son, but didn't get. Laena is brash and brave and devoted, wild in the best of ways and fully aware of all their family is.

Laenor is sweet and kind, yes he's brave but in a different sort of way. He's not picking fights that he can't win, he's not trying to gain more, advance more, he's trying to hold to his place in life where it stands, even if sometimes he doesn't know where that is.

Rhaenys demurs a little at Laena's proposed marriage to Viserys, but outright worries over Laenor and seems to want to reject the engagement out of fear for her son.

Also it seems like she spent more one on one time with him, at least young, someone had to teach him how to be a dragon, how to fly.

Firstly, I just want to say that I don't think, on this subject at least, that there is such a thing as faulty assumptions. I don't really care to hear if you think Rhaenys and Corlys hated their children or didn't feel anything for them because I think that's untrue. But when looking at nuances within the relationships and especially considering such a thing as favourites... so long as you have good reasoning, then I may disagree with you but I'm not going to say you're wrong wholeheartedly or that you're being anything approaching stupid or foolish or one of those words. I'm not going to insult you or seek to offend, basically.

I hadn't really considered the optics of Rhaenys's position as a past claimant having any real impact on who her favourite child might be or what she'd say if she was asked. I think the danger on that has passed. I don't think it would be particularly read into. It's also worth saying that, whereas Laenor is the younger sibling in the book, Laena is the youngest in the show. So it wouldn't be anything alarming to anyone if she showed favouritism to her eldest child who just so happens to be son. It's not indicative of any opinion that daughters are inferior, especially without an inheritance actually involved.

An interview that I suggest watching, and one I rewatched for this ask, is THIS. At about 3 minutes in, Eve and Steve are asked about their preferences towards their children, though only, really, within the context of fulfilling the ambition of getting close to the Throne. That, for me, is pretty much gospel because that's how the actors themselves have played it and I think it comes across, even when, as they say in the interview, it's not really in the script.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. It's very sneaky stuff, with Eve coming to Steve's rescue a little bit. Certainly, I think we can say that, even just taking away the subject of "favourites", what they say on Laena being like Corlys and perhaps Laenor being like Rhaenys is true, just in terms of emotional connections. And Corlys's role as a patriarch is always going to be harsh on Laenor. It just is, whether there is love there or not or whatever the personalities are. He is the heir, he has expectations hat would have been true if he'd married a local gentrywoman or... in this case, the Crown Princess.

The only way that Laenor fails, as a son, is that he doesn't produce heirs. Everything else is pretty much spot on. He's a great warrior and someone who learns at the feet of his father. He's an experienced and dedicated swordsman. He's a dragon rider, which is epic. He's described multiple times as honourable, with a good heart. He's dutiful - aware of and willing to do his duty. I think Corlys would rather that than someone looking to pick fights.

I don't even think that Laenor being gay bothers Corlys so much. He'd rather it wasn't the truth, make no mistake, and he's harsh surrounding it and prefers to pretend it doesn't exist. But it doesn't seem to disgust him, Laenor never seems ashamed on Driftmark, he's still got Joffrey around etc. If Corlys wanted to put his foot down, I think he would. He does when that sexuality threatens the image of their house but we never see him pull Laenor to task on it. He just ignores it. Plus - the guy was a sailor. He's been to every corner of the world. I doubt homosexuality is the most shocking thing this guy has seen.

I suppose I never really thought of Corlys and Rhaenys instilling the same sense of ambition and drive in their children, or whether they look out for it. When you say Laenor is "not trying to gain more, advance more, he's trying to hold his place in life where it stands" - I don't know if we ever see specific disapproval from Corlys or Rhaenys surrounding that. They certainly don't display it but I think part of that reason is because they don't hold the slight to their mother in the way that Corlys and Rhaenys do. They didn't raise Laena to seek an advantageous match or to be disappointed that she wasn't Queen or even to want to be Queen. They didn't raise Laenor to want his blood on the Throne or to do everything he could to ensure that. Those ambitions seem very, very personal to Corlys and Rhaenys as a couple... if that makes sense?

As to your point about Laena's proposed match to Viserys against her reaction to Laenor... for that I would say yes but... the advantage we have with Laenor's match is that we have a private scene with Corlys. That is the only time she speaks without a mask up and she speaks freely and truthfully about her feelings. We don't have a private scene of Corlys and Rhaenys where they discuss a match between Laena and Viserys. So there's every reason to think that she could have expressed a similar level of worry.

As for one-on-one time, actually, I think Rhaenys probably spent more time with Laena overall. If you add it all together. They'd be bound together because of their gender and the activities that come with that. But also, more specifically, because Laenor was away at war for three years. He was in the Stepstone. So, whilst there's going to be some one-on-one time with dragons, that's still a big chunk of time where she didn't see her son but would still be raising Laena. She would have participated more in Laena's childhood than Laenor's. Though, it could be, again due to roles and whatnot, that Laenor also ended up spending more time with his mother than with his father overall. Who knows.

[bedsheetghost413]

Ghost rants about Mariko Tamaki's "Skim."

Honestly, the Mariko Tamaki hate is kinda deserved because "I am Not Starfire" is a shitty self insert, and "Skim" has a literal teacher-student romance that isn't ever shown as really bad or illegal. But I think people ignore her other work that is actually kinda good. I grew up reading her comics in middle school, and they felt important and like they had something profound to say. Probably because I was a gay tween trying to figure out myself, but it still shows that they still had an effect on me. Particularly "This One Summer" and "Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me."

It's also kinda weird how the only people I've seen actually review her work are "comics/media is getting too woke now!!1!1!!!11" types. Like, it feels like they're just hating on her without trying to understand why certain artistic choices were made or if there was any meaning behind a character's actions. I remember that the art teacher did tell Skim she wanted to end things, idk if it was when Skim came to her house after she left the school or another thing, but every review I've seen skips over that. I feel like with the inclusion of that part, the story becomes more of a "teacher takes advantage of a student who feels lonely and isolated, feels guilty and bad about it, student still doesn't understand because she isn't mature enough to realize what happened was wrong" story. The art teacher feeling bad doesn't do anything to make the situation better or absolve her of her actions. She was the adult, and she should have kept things professional and legal. But it changes how the reader can interpret the story. I still don't understand why it was included, though. It could've just been a "gets a first girlfriend and then she breaks up with me for no reason" romance instead, maybe even make the girlfriend her friend's older sister (but still within an acceptable age range) to imply that the girlfriend broke up with Skim because she felt bad about dating her little sister's friend.

I always thought of "Skim" as being about a high school girl who's angsty and shitty. We're getting a small glimpse of her life and what happens in that time frame. We see how there's a tragedy at her school that she sees the response to as being "over dramatic." Which is ironic because Skim herself is just as dramatic, not how she thinks her classmates are being, but in the way a kid on a TV show goes through an edgy phase. I think people forget that a protagonist can be an asshole because that's another complaint I see brought up all the time. Skim is an ass. You don't have to like her, she doesn't care if you do, but she also does because she wants to be liked. She's a teenager, anyone who's recently been a teen, one that was an outcast like Skim and had an edgy phase, can relate to that. You want to be cool, but not like the popular kids are cool, so you go too far in the other direction, and you feel like everyone else doesn't like you, so now you feel like an outcast.

Another thing I don't get people complaining about is the diary format and how it's "too disjointed." It's a diary. Is it supposed to be like reading a day by day basis of what happened and how and where and when? No! A diary is meant to be a collection of thoughts, feelings, and other shit you want to get off your chest. Does it always work? No. Does it mean it's a bad format? No. I feel like it fits with what "Skim" is going for. It just may not have been executed well.

I think I might re-read all the books of hers I read as a kid to see if they still hold up as much as I felt they did. It's been a good few years since I've read any of Mariko Tamaki's books, so maybe I'll interpret things differently now. I based all of the above on what I remember thinking and how I interpreted the book when I read it in middle school.

[xkuraitenshiart]

*TW: DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SELF HATE, ABUSE

*TL:DR: I have a shit relationship with my mom, and made a comic about it... And I'm just depressed about being a failure of an adult. 🤷🏽

•

•

•

Once upon a time, I wanted to do a doodle comic, but my AuDHD brain kept wanting to add too much detail, and I was struggling with being able to make a comic in what I thought was a "reasonable amount of time". So I scrapped them... But... I think I may give them another try with a different purpose....

I.. just feel like absolute shit all the time. My depression is eating me alive. And my anxiety keeps me constantly worried about everything. I'm so tired. So I'm using these to kind of get my frustrations out and grieve.

The best I can do backstory wise, without writing an actual autobiography, is that I have a garbage relationship with my mother because of RSS... and the fact that as an infant, she left me with her mother so she could go live her life because she wasn't ready for me at 19 when she accidentally got pregnant... And my grandmother was no saint. She didn't want me either, but came from a time where it was considered lowly to relinquish unwanted children to CPS. She was also extremely racist, and I was a "half-breed", so my treatment growing up was abysmal. There was also my uncle, who still lived with my grandmother, who became my biggest abuser

After she had had my younger sister and gotten married, she offered for me to live with her, when I was about 9. I didn't take her up on this until after a particularly violent incident when I was 15, and simply couldn't take the abuse anymore. My uncle had pushed the line hard enough to feel like if I let myself stay in his presence, I would meet a very painful end.

So from 15 to 18, I finally lived with my mother, and we DID NOT get along. I never really got to know her as a person growing up, and then struggled with her need to constantly be the center of attention.... And with the fact that it was pretty obvious that she liked my sister, but not me. At 18, I was told that under no certain conditions, was I allowed to try and move back into her house. I was also told that the decision wasn't made lightly, but as a disrupter of peace, this was for the best.

I accepted this, and lived in a tent on and off until I was 21. Everything that's happened to me since then has just been hell, with the occasional happy moment... I... Don't blame her, though... I was a lot... And I really should have been able to care for myself by now.... I guess I'm just sad that I feels like it'd be easier for everyone if I wasn't around. Because I shouldn't rely on someone else to help me with things I don't understand. I'm suppose to understand this stuff at my age. I don't have an excuse. I'm simply a failure.

...I'm sorry to anyone that decides to read this... I'm just too afraid to post it anywhere one of my step dads may accidentally see it and show my mother.

I know that sounds highly counterintuitive, but... I admit I'm just tired of how my mother reacts when I finally vent like this.

THAT'S the only time I get a call or text message. I HAVE to look like I'm in crisis to matter. And I don't want that... I just want... I just want her to actually care. Because when she ONLY comes to me when it looks like I'm at the edge again, it feels like she just doesn't want it on her conscious, and that's the only reason she's reacting... I'm sorry...

[leciraofthewilderness]

Hello, fellow autistic adult! I was going to just write a comment but apparently it got too long. Idk if I’m any good at giving advice, but I’ll try, just based on things that have helped me in the past, including when deep in burnout last year. Some of these things may be too basic, but I mean them genuinely in case they haven’t come to mind. And some may not be possible in your circumstances, or may be too specific to me and my traits and hard to generalize. But I hope this at least could help a little:

- Block out whatever sensory things might be bothering you. Maybe do that even if you don’t think there’s a sensory thing bothering you. Sometimes I just feel emotionally overwhelmed and stressed about things I need to do and I think that’s all it is and then I put on some big ear defenders and I feel so much more calm. Use whatever sensory blocking things you normally use or try something different. Like I mostly use earplugs or noise cancelling headphones, but sometimes the ear defenders feel the best and the slight extra pressure on the sides of my head can be helpful in addition to the noise blocking.

- Rather than blocking sensory input out, try choosing some specific input. For example, playing a specific song on repeat for a while (or maybe a few songs interspersed in case the variety is helpful). Or for another example, do some visual stimming if that’s something you enjoy (I particularly enjoy looking at colored liquids through glass, or looking at the rainbow-y patterns you can get by shining bright light at something like a phone screen or by tilting some eyeglasses or sunglasses at the right angle, or looking at light on/through moving leaves).

- If you haven’t done some big stims (e.g. rocking or flapping) in a while, do that. If you don’t have much energy, stim while lying down. For example, I like to alternate pressing my toes against the my bed in a cat-like kneading motion.

- Spend as much continuous time as you can (without neglecting basic needs) on whatever your main interest/hyperfixation is at the moment. But in a low-energy way, like just reading fanfic, or playing a game (but maybe just low key stuff like running around collecting things), or even just poking around a wiki or something.

- If possible, for some period of time, reduce the number of things you have to do and/or the number of steps those things take. Like if you get food by cooking, stop doing that for some time, and just get frozen meals or something else that requires fewer steps. If there are any basic life-maintenance tasks you can somehow get someone else’s help with for a while (without causing more socially-induced stress), try to do that. Also, if there are things you have to do (and if possible) it may be good to get someone else’s help with figuring out which things actually need to be done, what the simplest way to accomplish them is, and specific steps to take.

- This is maybe one to be careful with, and very dependent on circumstances, but I think if possible for some period of time, spend as little time as possible with people unless they’re people you feel totally safe and comfortable with, like people you can be fully yourself with (if you have anyone like that—I only have had a friend like that for less than a year at this point, and I’m in my late twenties, so I know that can be hard to find). I feel like “avoid people” in particular is not something most non-autistic people would approve of as self-care, but I think it can be a valid option if too much social interaction where you have to mask your autism is a source of stress…

- Also, if talking takes too much energy, maybe prioritize interacting with people through text, or just being in the same space together without talking.

I’m not sure if this is the kind of thing you were looking for at all, but I hope these can at least be a starting point for other ideas…

Me: Miss Internet, I’ve been having a tough time lately. Could you please show me some relaxation and self care tips for autistic adults?

Internet: you should try ABA to learn to mask better :)

Me: ????

[save-the-villainous-cat]

Hi I’ve been binge reading your work recently and it’s amazing so I wanted to make a request.

Hero x villian where one of them Is very akward shy and self conscious (maybe a bit touch starved) , always wearing oversized clothes to hide themselves/ thst or body. the other wants to just show them how much they adore them. Maybe some body worship or praise kink, the level of spice is in your hand.

Take breaks drink some water and have a lovely day

The villain didn’t really know how they ended up on the bed with the hero on top of them, but in this situation the how was completely irrelevant. What mattered was what would come next.

They had been dating for a few weeks now — in secret, obviously — but the villain still had to get used to the term relationship and what it meant. They weren’t particularly good at it, they thought at least. At first they had been so afraid of dating and physical contact, that they’d almost dumped the hero.

However, the hero had encouraged them, supported them. They had asked what they were afraid of, had given them solutions, reassurance — everything the villain could’ve asked for.

They weren’t pushy. They were perfect.

Now, it was getting serious and that was truly scary.

“Are you okay?” the hero breathed against the villain’s neck, their hands still on the villain’s hips. “You just tensed up.”

They placed another kiss on the villain’s cheek.

“Yeah…” the villain whispered. “I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie to me, baby. I know you better than anyone,” the hero answered. “What’s wrong?”

They slowly kissed the villain’s throat, careful, skillful. The villain wanted to moan but they felt like that would be pathetic. So, instead, they just swallowed it and replaced it with another heavy breathing.

“I…it’s okay.”

“No.” The hero stopped suddenly, studying the villain thoroughly. “I won’t continue if you feel uncomfortable.”

“It’s just…it’s not you. Please don’t think that.”

“What is it then, my love?” the hero asked, their lips brushing the villain’s when they spoke. It made the villain’s insides burn in a good way.

“My body…I don’t know if it’s — if you’ll like it,” the villain said quietly. Their whole face was probably blushing but the emptiness they felt inside of their heart was even worse.

It wasn’t an emptiness towards the hero. It was an emptiness towards themselves. There wasn’t even one thing the villain liked about themselves. How the hell was someone else supposed to love them then?

They weren’t as uncomfortable as they used to be. Now, the villain could actually hide — under oversized clothes, in the dark of the night, behind a mask…it was all the same eventually. It was better than the past but it wasn’t good. The villain didn’t know why the hero liked them. It was probably out of pity. Maybe?

“I love it already. I love your body,” the hero answered without hesitation. “May I?”

They had the fabric of the villain’s shirt between their fingers, ready to take it off.

The villain looked up at them as they felt their heartbeat speed up. It almost hurt. What if the hero didn’t like them? What if they weren’t what the hero needed. What if the villain wasn’t enough? They swallowed.

“Why do you like me?” the villain asked.

“Because I do. You make me happy. You understand me. You care for me. You don’t hit me. That’s all I ask for.”

The villain still hesitated. But the hero continued.

“And I love your body. You’re beautiful. You’re hot. I want to devour you. I want to make you feel good. Please let me make you feel good.”

The villain blushed even more, if that was possible.

“Do you trust me?” the hero asked. Yes.

“Yeah. Okay. Please, just…be slow, okay?”

“Of course, baby.”

The shirt fell to the ground. And with that, the villain’s insecurities followed agonisingly tedious over the blissful night.

[astaroth1357]

How Often They Worry about MC…

For those who don’t know, I have a little dog named Charlie and she is a large portion of my world. There's no need to be alarmed, my dog is fine, but there are days where I hold her and all I can think about is how much I worry about her health down the line… I suppose we often do that for the people we love, particularly the ones who may not last as long as we will. Take that as inspiration if you'd like.

Lucifer 

Near constantly. 

If you tracked his blood pressure on a grid, you'd see it start to continuously rise about when he decided they were worth having in his life.

Lucifer is the eldest sibling to a whole crew of brothers so he's no stranger to worry. He worried about his brothers when they were young, he worried about them after the Fall, and he still worries about them now (even if he's less open about it).

But a part of him knows that his brothers can handle their own, at least to varying degrees. The MC, though? He's far less sure…

They've proven rather resilient, but also headstrong and reckless. Neither of which are good things to be in a place this dangerous...

If Lucifer isn't careful, he can catch himself staring at a wall or window just wondering where they are and if they're doing alright… If he called them every time he had a passing worry, their inbox would be full by the end each week.

He holds himself back because he doesn't have the time to constantly protect them, but that doesn't stop him from sending a text once or twice a day. They better respond or he'll start (secretly) panicking.

Mammon

He forgets their mortality from time to time, but every time he remembers it hits like a ton of bricks…

Mammon is a pretty "in-the-moment" person. He doesn't spend a lot of time dwelling on the future, but whenever he does the thought of losing MC always comes back to him again and again.

Like. It's gotta happen eventually, right? They're human, humans die, hell they don't even live that long to start with!

The MC can always tell when Mammon's getting worried because he'll get uncharacteristically quiet and pace around or hover by them…

Every little injury or strenuous task will suddenly seem like too much to him as well. 

If they need to carry some boxes, he'll carry them all.

If they have to jog to class, he's carrying them. 

If they so much as get a papercut, he'll have a heart attack.

It's not very hard to get Mammon out of these funks - he really does want them to reassure him that they're okay - but he's never going to get fully over it…

Not until he can steal whatever top secret immortality formula Solomon must have used anyway… He'll get it off that bastard eventually.

Leviathan

Thinks about it so often he has to actively try not to just to get any peace…

He dodges his fears for MC like a protagonist dodges lasting consequences. Every time he feels one creeping up, he's always got a distraction waiting…

"Hey where's MC at? I hope they didn't fall into the riv-OH HEY CHECK OUT THIS NEW GAME!!"

"What are they doing over there…? That looks hard, what if they bre-WAIT DIDN'T MY FAVORITE VOICE ACTOR JUST RELEASE A NEW PODCAST???"

"What if the MC dies tomorrow and they leave me all alo-DEVIL FIGHT 200! YOU CAN'T BEAT DEVIL FIGHT 200, LET’S BREAK MY HIGH SCORE!!"

Cut him some slack, his psyche cannot handle the idea of losing them on top of everything else he grapples with every day.

If, on the rare occasion, he does let himself fall down that rabbit hole he becomes extra clingy and practically begs MC not to leave his room… like ever. He'd bubble wrap them if he could.

Anytime they get really hurt or really sick he refuses to leave their side even if it means he has to awkwardly sit on the floor. He just needs to be able to glance at them every so often to be sure they're alive… Still breathing?? Phew…

Satan

He worries, preps, rationalizes, then worries again…

For Satan, knowledge is power and every scrap of information he can learn about MC is more power he can use to keep them safe and healthy.

Yes, he will want their medical history. Yes, he's going to need a list of prescriptions. Family members too. And no, you do not get a choice.

He'll read up on as many things as he can - pawn medical journals off of witches and get magical alternatives from Solomon.

The cycle usually goes: 

1. He's lying awake at night because he just heard about some terrible bacteria that makes human's skin peel off or something.

2. He does all the research he can on this bacteria, its treatment options, best prevention methods, etc.

3. Gets right about to break out the rubber booties for MC to wear around, then realizes they have a very slim chance of catching said bacteria since it's only native to incredibly remote parts of Indonesia.

4. Feels instant relief that MC will probably not catch flesh-eating bacteria and can finally sleep again…

5. Hears of some other human medical horror from Solomon and starts to worry…

It's a vicious cycle indeed… But at least he's getting a lot of medical training. Soon enough he'll be the Devildom's version of a human vet (which I guess is just a doctor, come to think of it. 🤔)

Asmodeus 

Lives so "here-and-now" that he doesn't remember often, but when he does it's always heartbreaking…

Asmo usually tries to worry about things as little as possible. It’s bad for the skin, you know? But when the MC is involved, all of that goes out the window.

Like how a delicate blossom eventually wilts in the snow, the MC is bound to leave them in time… Usually there's supposed to be something beautiful in that kind of tragedy, but perhaps he's just too close to them to find any romance in it.

The thought of their death gives him breakouts and anytime they get hurt or sick he's the first brother to offer them comfort. Every time.

Because he doesn't feel like he's as physically strong as he brothers, he tries to make up for it by minding their health in other ways. Anything to keep his MC strong and beautiful as always!

If Asmo is in a worrying mood, then he may also compensate by trying to take the MC out to a party or some fun event. Why sit around worrying by himself when he could be making memories with them now, right?

Beelzebub

It comes in waves, mostly at night.

When your thoughts throughout the day are mostly, "I wish I wasn't so hungry," it doesn't afford you a lot of time to think about much else.

In a way, it's a good thing since he experiences a lot less stress. But those worries are still there and they mostly plague his dreams…

Beel doesn’t feel hungry when he's sleeping, so a lot of his fears will make themselves known overnight. An injured or dying MC is often in his rotation of nightmares though, of course, he'd rather it not be…

After having one of these dreams, his first instinct is to always make sure the MC is okay. If they're with him, he'll hug them and check their heartbeat. If they're somewhere else, he'll go to them or shoot a text.

He has woken up without realizing his nightmare was all a dream though, and usually it's up to Belphie or MC themselves to console him while he cries… It's so heartbreaking, sweet boy just puts a lot of pressure on himself to be sure they're safe…

When he worries, it's like they're the most beautiful and expensive China set in a room full of bulls and hammers. If he could tape them to his side, he probably would. He gets scared for them that much…

Belphegor 

More scared about it than anyone else in the House.

Despite his calm demeanor, Belphie is truly afraid of losing his loved ones beneath the surface… He's already lost one of his most dear siblings before, going through that again may just break him.

Unfortunately, he's also felt just how fragile the MC is firsthand... He's not even the strongest of his brothers, yet he was able to snuff them out so easily… Who's to say someone else won't try?

Like Beel, MC's death is a recurring nightmare for him but he can usually shake off his dreams fairly well, if not change them mid-sleep. More scary is when something is actually wrong with them or they're not feeling well.

Belphie always sets his inner laziness aside for the MC when he can. If they get sick, he'll usually be right along with his family to take care of them - even if he has to skip school to do so (not that he cares about class anyway).

When he's worrying about them, he tries to play it off at first, but soon enough they'll notice him acting overly concerned and losing sleep… Best to calm him down before he starts getting cranky.

[that1awkwardsam]

Random Conversation Starters

“So it’s not like I actually want a snake, but more like I want a snake jus tbecause I don’t seem like the type of person that would have one.”

“Excuse you, I am great at being a third wheel.”

“What if he thinks of you as more than a friend?”

“We’re pretty sure she’s dead at this point but then she sits up and demands that we bring her a man.”

“Do you … do you ever think about what kind of weird roommate stories you would tell but you can’t think of any and you realize that it’s because you’re the weird roommate?”

“I don’t particularly care for cake.”

“So I was looking at conspiracy theories on the internet because, well, you know, and it turns out the middle ages might not even exist! I’m in the middle of reading a paper on it.”

“Who would I have a hickey from??”

“Y’all better hope I never pass out and need an IV. I will freak out if I wake up with something sticking in my arm.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa – someone’s in here!”

“You have to ask him because if I ask him, then he’d be going as my friend but if you ask him then he’d be going as your friend.”

“I’m only a little awkward sometimes.”

“Okay, but how do I tell him I like him without telling him I like him??”

“I don’t know how to describe it, but I just feel like your soul is like UUUUGGGHHHHHHHHHH.”

“Hi, yeah, I don’t like you. I mean I do, but just as friend. Will you please just chill so we can hang out again? Thanks.”

“You can try it but realistically speaking probably not.”

“It is not a hickey! It’s one of those airbrush tattoo things. I realize now that the placement and color may have been a mistake.”

“Well, first I’d have to wax my arm.”

“Mom, don’t worry, I have never done the sex or had the drugs or made the fun.”

“He told me I looked like a unicorn today and it made my heart so happy.”

“Don’t worry. I only cried a little.”

“No, I don’t wanna be her stupid boyfriend! But I don’t want anyone else to either.”

“It was then that I realized my mistake.”

“I’m not naming my child triangle!”

“The other one’s even harrier!”

“Technically it wasn’t on fire.”

“Listen - no listen. I want you to understand this. I do not care.”

“Wait, were you just like, flirting with me?”

“What the heck is a nougat?”

“Only thirty percent of all my jokes are dad jokes. The rest are memes and dark humor.”

“Which Dairy Queen story do you wanna hear first?”

“I’d better be getting a godchild out of this.”

“That’s not the only door you’ve broken.”

“I’ve averaged 1 & 1/2 meals for the past 3 days.”

“That’s the worst idea I’ve ever head. Let’s do it.”

“You guys are so cute. It’s disgusting.”

[humancomedy]

Human Comedy: Tragedy - 12

Shu: Protecting, loving, and caring for one's family is not quintessentially human; it's a trait shared amongst all animals.

Content Warning!

Mentions of familicide, suicide, and murder in general within.

Location: Fruits Parlour

Shu: Protecting, loving, and caring for one's family is not quintessentially human; it's a trait shared amongst all animals.

Conversely, what is uniquely human is our ability to senselessly massacre those we consider our cherished family.

"There isn't enough food", "We need to reduce the number of mouths to feed"... without even possessing reasons such as those, we're able to kill one another on a whim.

It isn't a matter of whether or not the deed is actually committed—human nature is precisely the capability to deliberate and fulfill that choice.

I have said this before, and I shall say it again: the will to oppose one's instincts is what distinguishes humanity from all else.

The results of choices that defy one's natural tendencies, such as continuing to devote oneself to painting—despite knowing one will die without eating or sleeping—materialize and eventually accumulate; that is what art is.

Tell me, do animals build pyramids to serve as their tombs?

Do they feel fulfilled simply by listening to Mozart's music, reading Shakespeare's stories, or admiring Dalí's paintings?

There are a great many other tasks that must be undertaken to sustain one's life, are there not? Despite that, we, humankind, create art. That is why I love it.

At the same time, I wish from the bottom of my heart to be an artist.

Living merely under the rule of one's instincts can be painful indeed.

Those with more physical prowess monopolize food and all else that is fundamental to survival. They trample on the weak, find a mate, and beget children.

In the animal world, to lose is to face a swift death. Their world, where instinct is law, rapidly culls those who fail to keep up.

However, it isn't as if humans have lost all their instincts; we often behave similarly, particularly in more underdeveloped societies.

We bully the weak and sneer at the stupid, we kick around and ostracize those whom hamper us. Doing so is more conducive to our survival, to the preservation of our progeny.

If you look at the big picture and think holistically, that is how our offspring become more robust and able-bodied.

If the foolish and weak live long enough to produce descendants, they would only face a fate of certain ruin by the elements of the world around them.

And, just like that, those shamelessly strong ones are given a sense of legitimacy through their successors and instincts.

They speak about love, dreams, and righteousness, all while hypocritically disregarding and abusing those weaker than themselves.

Animals don't express any complaints about that reality. They merely die. It's only humans that protest.

The ones that are trampled upon create art to comfort their hearts, bringing forth value on an axis completely separate from instinct.

Even if they're unable to fight, even if they're weak, even if they're not loved by anyone at all... They can continue living.

When life is too painful, the paintings and music made by virtuosos of past and present can give us solace.

When I was younger, I was weak; all I would do was cry. However, those creations saved me.

The dolls my grandfather gave me, the embroidery Kiryuu's mother taught me, the songs performed by idols on TV—

Every single piece of art I encountered preserved my life and my heart. I found salvation through them.

Even at this very moment, I want to impart that same experience to those being crushed by the concept of instinct.

That is why I create art. I am trying to bestow blessings upon those who were raised according to reason.

Kagehira. This may be difficult for you to comprehend, but that is what the humanity I speak of is like.

It's not all beautiful... On the contrary, it's also repulsive and illogical.

However, I plan on sacrificing myself to move towards that ideal, and I want you to do the same. I expect that you'll aspire to become a "human" in that same vein.

Yes, I want you to become a human, an artist...

Banish those fanciful lies found in fiction from your mind; a dullard like you most likely won't be able to interpret whether they're the product of instinct or reason.

What you're experiencing and thinking now is everything. If you obey the voice of your heart and mindlessly act in accordance with it, you're nothing more than a fool enslaved by his instincts.

We are human precisely because we can consider doing the opposite and making our own choices, because we can exercise our free will.

Mika: Umm. I ain't got a single clue 'bout whatcha sayin'... Oshi-san?

Shu: As I expected. Well, then, I shall explain more concretely.

Kagehira, you will unconditionally obey my orders, correct? If I told you to die, you would, wouldn't you?

Mika: Y-Yeah. I'm yer doll, after all. I'll do whatever ya want me to...

Uhm, so if ya order me to drop dead an' I do, does that mean I'm human too..?

Shu: It appears you've understood absolutely nothing, Kagehira. You're no more than an animal if you truly think you want to yield to my every order.

You can't even become a human, much less one of my beloved artists.

Kagehira. I order this of you... Kill me right this instant.

Mika: ...?

Shu: Kill me. As brutally as you can.

Mika: Um, uh... Why? What's goin' on?

Shu: Are you not able to do it?

Mika: I-It ain't about whether I can or can't—I don't get whatcha sayin' in the first place!

Why do I gotta k-ki... I don't even wanna say it! There ain't no way I could do that!

Shu: You're a strange boy. You're willing to throw your own life away, but you're unable to kill me. Do you adore me that much...? However, this is precisely what marks you as a failure.

I should have told you this sooner... Return to your hometown, Kagehira.

Mika: W-Wh...?

Shu: I don't need a doll that merely follows orders; I can make as many of those as I wish.

From here on out, the unknown awaits me, so I need someone who will give me inspiration—a fellow artist whose growth will spur my own.

You cannot become an artist, nor even a human. A puppet like you... is not qualified to be by my side.

You don't have the right to remain in my life; you're nothing but a nuisance.

Any time I spend on you is a waste, so pack your bags and leave my house as soon as possible. Disappear, and don't ever dare to stand before me again.

Mika: ......

...Are ya throwin' me away after all, Oshi-san?

Shu: "Throwing you away"? That's incorrect; I never owned you in the first place... I'm going to erase your name from my memories and forget you ever existed.

I'll drown you in darkness, without leaving behind a single trace of your existence.

Isn't that an apt destiny for a failure? You'll disappear for all eternity, not even remaining in my memories. You're fine with that, aren't you, Kagehira?

Mika: ......

Shu: Where's your reply? You're my unconditionally obedient doll, aren't you?

← prev ❖ all ❖ next →

[multifandomwritings]

Hii, may I get slashers with a S/O who is insecure about their height because they've been told all throughout their life that they are too short and people like taller hoomans? Because of that, they feel a little ridiculous when standing next to the slasher in question (They are 150cm tall, I think that would be around 4'11 - 5'0 ft) Thank you for reading and have a lovely day!

Aww sure, so sorry for how long this took! Hope you like it ^^ (Also being short is super cute so!! Whoever told you otherwise is wrong!! Also, height differences are super cute so the slashers with a short s/o would be so cute T-T)

I barely had time to proofread this and wrote it pretty quickly but I felt bad for not posting anything in a while so I'm sorry if there are mistakes or it isn't too good >_>

How the slashers would react to an S/O who is insecure about being shorter

Thomas:

- Thomas would find your height so precious, but he’d also be extra gentle and careful with you, since you’re smaller

- If you were insecure about your height he’d be so confused. He’d feel ridiculous standing by you, feeling all big and bulky — why are *you* insecure? 

- It might actually make him feel a little better, in a weird way. If you could be insecure about something that he found cute about you, maybe it would be the same the other way around? 

Brahms:

- He *adores* your height. You’re so small next to him he could melt

- Would nearly engulf you with his hugs, wrapping you up in his cardigan and loving how folded up in him you were

- When you mentioned you were insecure about it, he’d tilt his head in confusion and would very firmly tell you that whoever made you feel insecure about being short was *wrong*, no further discussion! 

Michael:

- Michael would simply raise an eyebrow at the sudden revelation that you’re insecure about your height, unsure why anyone would think being short is bad

- I mean Michael really isn’t the guy to go to for reassurance, but he’d somehow manage to make you feel better about it anyway, just by not even really understanding and being confused by why anyone would care

- Michael isn’t the type to easily get close to you or be affectionate, so when you kept your distance from him when he tried, he’d get kind of upset. Like...he’s /trying/ Y/N!...What’re you doing T-T When you explained it was because you feel kind of ridiculous because of being shorter, he’ll just sigh, wrapping his arm around you to reassure you in his own subtle way 

Jason:

- Like Thomas, Jason would feel a little bulky and big next to you, so hearing you admit that you were insecure about your height would surprise him a lot

- Scrambling clumsily right away to reassure you, as he would with any insecurity you had

- You’re so small next to him! He thinks you're so cute, he melts anytime you look up to meet his gaze or stand on your tiptoes to kiss him. Very protective and gentle

Bubba:

- Bubba thinks you’re the cutest. You’re so small next to him, he’d want to wrap you up and protect you

- Like Thomas, he’d also be extra careful and gentle with you out of fear he might hurt you accidentally. If you reassured him however, he’d be so affectionate, spoiling you with all the hugs and little pats on the head that he could

- If you mention that you’re insecure about your height, he’d shake his head vehemently to reassure you. He loves your height!

Chop Top:

- Chop Top doesn't even notice your height until you point it out by telling him you're insecure about it

- He'll reassure you kind of strangely by listing off some of the benefits of being shorter, all while chuckling nervously and watching your reactions to see if it was working

- Just be patient and go with it! He wants to make you feel better but it makes him surprisingly nervous because he isn't used to it and doesn't know what to say. He's sincere though!

Nubbins:

- He loves your height difference! He isn't picky though, he wouldn't mind either way. Still, he can't help but think it's so cute how small you are next to him

- Honestly though he really doesn't think too much about it. Height is height, y'know? He'd think it's cute but it wouldn't be something he noticed right away or anything like that

- When you tell him you're insecure about your height, he'll really just be confused as to why. He's always liked your height!

Beetlejuice:

- Beetlejuice is on the shorter side (at least compared to everyone else on this list) so of course he’d love it! You’d make him feel taller lol

- Will reassure you about any insecurities you have with joking self deprecating humor to cheer you up (and let you know that he also has some insecurities, even if he doesn't always show them)

- In all seriousness, he'll actually be pretty good at making you feel better about it. Definitely makes a comment or two about how ridiculous it is that anyone told you it's a bad thing though!

Candyman:

- Daniel is so over-the-top romantic, he'd just spoil you with pretty words until you felt better

- Anytime you mentioned anything you were insecure about, he’d be very quick to bombard you with compliments and affection

- He loves your height. Makes you swoon by lifting your chin gently with his finger anytime he kisses you, or anytime he’s being particularly sweet with his verbal affection

Bo:

- Bo finds your height cute. He really wouldn’t get why you were insecure about it 

- But Bo being Bo, he’d have a hard time being sweet and reassuring about it. He wants to so bad, he loves you so much and wants to tell you that you’re cute and reassure you, but like..../how/

- So when you bring it up one day it would be responded to with awkward, angry babbling about how you having nothing to be insecure about. He’d genuinely want to make you feel better but he’d also be mad at whoever told you you’re too short 

Vincent:

- Vincent is so sweet and understanding with any insecurities you have. He has his fair share of them too, so he know how it feels

- Similar to Bo, he'd be upset that anyone made you feel insecure about it anyways. He'll be surprisingly defensive if anyone makes any comments like that while he's around

- Really loves everything about you and wants you to too. Definitely a sweetheart when it comes to reassuring you and making you feel better about it

Lester:

- Lester is also on the shorter side (again just by slasher standards lol) so he thinks it’s cute! 

- He wouldn’t really mind about height either way. Tall or short, it would matter to him. But when you told him you were insecure about it, he’d be so quick to reassure you

- Lester is a sweetheart. If he even suspects you’re insecure about something he’ll clumsily compliment you on whatever it is. He also loves that you’re both on the shorter side, will say you have to stick together for that reason x-x (he can tell if you feel insecure while standing next to him too, which will earn you a reassuring pat on the arm and a cute smile to make you feel better)

Graverobber:

- He'll probably tease you a little about it, I won't lie. He can be kind of a butt sometimes (I mean this lovingly I promise)

- Only he can tease you, though. If anyone else says a word about it he'll get uncharacteristically serious and defensive, especially if you are visibly bothered by it

- He loves your height though, and will take advantage of it. Your head is now his arm/hand rest, and he'll pat it a lot randomly, too. If he's in a softer mood, he'll actually be really sweet and reassuring. Definitely loves engulfing you with his hugs, too

Luigi:

- If anyone made any comments about your height while Luigi was around (or even so much as looked at you the wrong way) he'll be so defensive of you

- If you put physical distance between yourself and him because you don't want it to be obvious, he'll actually be kind of hurt? He feels better by you and might be a bit bitter

- This will only encourage him to help you overcome your insecurity, though

Pavi:

- Pavi adores everything about you, including your height of course. Genuinely shocked when you admit you’re insecure about it, in his own overly dramatic way

- Pavi has insecurities too, so he’s actually quite good at reassuring you. Makes you laugh with how over-the-top he is as he showers you with compliments, most of which aren’t even related to your height, to cheer you up

- If anyone makes you feel bad about your height or says anything he'll turn so red (not that you can really tell) and ardently defend you! (not without some timidity of course)

Billy Lenz:

- He’d probably call you nicknames related to your height at first, to be honest. He wouldn’t even think it would upset you, as he’d find your height cute

- The second he realized you were insecure about it though he’d feel so bad, clamming up and apologizing right away. Even if you didn’t mind his nicknames he wouldn’t use them anymore

- Compliments and reassures you a lot, even when you don’t bring it up. He’d actually be pretty observant of you, always able to tell if you were feeling insecure, quickly (and clumsily) bombarding you with a bunch of sweet words, watching your expression and grinning in self-satisfaction when he finally got you to crack a smile

Asa (The Collector):

- You won’t even have to mention being insecure about your height, he’s intuitive enough to notice on his own

- He’d notice just by your body language when you were next to him, keeping your distance as you’d feel ridiculous standing by him. He’d be wickedly amused, pulling you closer to him and winding his arm tightly around you

- Despite being kind of a tease, he really likes your height and doesn’t want you to be insecure. So in his own way, he’ll /try/ to reassure you

[beels-burger-babe]

Hi! I saw that requests are open, if it's not a problem could i request Satan reacting to MC coming to him with new books every time they hang out because they want him to read them out loud since they have a short attention span? Like, Satan would be reading said book while MC is drawing or doing something else.

I have adhd and reading books that are not digital is a nightmare for me, so him reading out loud would be pretty relaxing.

Btw it's up to you if you wanna do headcanons or a oneshot!

ABSOLUTELY!!! So this is actually my first request and I'm super excited because as someone who also has ADHD I can totally relate! I hope you like it!

Too Still, Too Quiet

GN!MC with ADHD Summary: Satan notices that MC seems to have a hard time hanging out with him; he's determined to get to the bottom of the issue and find a solution.

After living in the House of Lamentation for nearly a year, you've grown accustomed to the many quirks that came with living with the seven Lords of the Devildom. You had gotten close to the brothers, and as they picked up on your symptoms for your ADHD, they each found their own ways of being helpful. Lucifer had always known, as it was written on your file, and made a point of sending you subtle reminders throughout the day to keep you organized and on task. He brushed it off saying that it merely prevented him from having to go after you later on if you forgot or did something incorrectly.  Mammon was no stranger to having a hard time prioritizing and staying focused and took pride in lending you some of the different tools he used to fidget with. After all, his human deserved the best, and you couldn’t get any better than using something that belonged to the great Mammon. Leviathan’s room provided a relaxing atmosphere with just enough stimulation to keep your brain satisfied enough to focus on your school work and tasks. The sounds of the aquarium provided a fantastic back ground noise, and Levi always took caution in wearing his headphones when he gamed if you were working in his room to not add to the distractions around you.  Asmodeus had a good eye for when you were growing too frustrated by the regular chaos that tended to fill the House of Lamentation and would pull you aside to his room for some self-care to help calm you down. There was nothing like a head message and face mask from Asmo as he happily gossiped about the latest drama in The Fall to help ground you.  Beelzebub, on the other hand, was great at noticing when you were starting to grow restless. In those moments, he’d not-so-subtly state that he was heading to the gym and it’d sure be nice if he had someone to join in before very obviously making eye contact with you. At first you had a hard time figuring out a good balance between a work out that satisfied Beel while also not killing you. But now the two of you easily worked with each other until you were both sweating, smiling, and happy. He also made sure to remind you to eat through out the day whenever you went to a round of hyper-fixation on something. Belphegore wasn’t particularly helpful when it came to your forgetful spells or disorganization as, being the Avatar of Sloth, he would normally encourage such behavior. Instead, he did what he did best, and helped put your wandering mind to ease whenever you were trying to sleep.  The only person, and not for a lack of trying, that you just couldn’t seem to find a flow with was Satan. 

He was too quiet and organized for you to be able to stand being around him for long periods of time. You had tried hanging out with him a couple of times, but after a few minutes of him silently reading or him explaining whichever text he was currently studying, you would grow restless and distracted.  Which brought you to your current situation.  Satan had invited you to come relax in his room with him, as the rest of his brothers were dealing with the aftermath of their most recent dilemma. It wasn’t so bad at first, some light conversation here, some banter there, but soon your mind started to wander off to the spines of the endless books around you as you pondered on what might be inside them.  “MC?”  Your attention snapped back onto Satan, who stood frowning at you. You blushed and scratched the back of your neck. “Oh, I’m sorry. I got a little distracted. What were you saying?”  Satan sighed as his frown deepened.  “I’ve noticed that tends to happen a lot with you. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!��� He quickly amended raising his hands in defense. “But it seems particularly bad when you’re with me. You get quite jittery and I don’t think you’ve ever stayed in my room longer than ten minutes,” for a second his eyes almost looked sad as he looked over at you, “Is it something I’m doing? Do I make you uncomfortable?”  “No! Satan, no, it’s not you I promise!” You quickly reassured moving closer to him. “It’s just well I have a hard time staying still and focusing on things and when it gets too quiet it bothers me because then my brain is like hyper fixating on the smallest noises in the room, even though I’m supposed to be focusing on what you’re saying or my work, and it’s like, is that a page a turning or a something scratching at the door and then I start wondering about what kind of things could be in here and-”  “MC.” Satan cut off, though he didn’t seem annoyed. In fact, his eyes now gleamed with a sense of understanding. “Do you happen to have ADHD?”  “Yeah, I thought you all knew? Lucifer told all of you when I arrived right? That’s why everyone is so-” you moved your hand in a vague gesture that even you weren’t entirely sure what it was meant to symbolize.  Satan huffed and shook his head. “Lucifer did no such thing. I imagine he would’ve told us if it came to be a big enough problem. But you know him. He takes pride in being the only one to know certain things. “  You frowned and tilted your head in confusion. “But then what about the others? They’ve all been helping me out for months now.”  Satan placed a hand under his chin in thought, “They most likely took note of individual symptoms and decided to help. Belphegore, and possibly even Leviathan and Asmodeus may have put two and two together, but the rest probably think you’re just forgetful or that you’re restless,” he smiled reassuringly at you, “but that’s besides the point. Now that I know, I can help make you feel more at ease when you’re with me. What’s the main issue that you-” “It’s too quiet!” You quickly cut off, causing Satan to raise an eyebrow. “When we’re in here relaxing and you’re just reading and I’m supposed to be reading too, it’s too quiet. I try to focus on the book, but my mind keeps jumping around to other things. And I want to read all those books you’ve recommended to me, I really do, but I start feeling bored after a little while and next thing I know I jumping sentences without noticing and then I’ve gone an entire chapter with no recollection of what I’ve just read because I wasn’t really paying attention to the words at all I was just flipping pages without realizing it, so I have to go back and re-read the whole thing all over again!” You throw your hands in the air in frustration. “Is exhausting and makes me feel dumb, so I get up and do something else instead.”  Satan nodded, taking in every word carefully. “Well first of all,” you yelped as he flicked your forehead.  “Ouch! What was that for?!”  The demon smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. “For calling yourself dumb. Just because you have more difficulty with literature than others, does not mean you’re dumb. You simply require a different reading strategy than what most consider “usual”, and I believe I have a solution that would suit both of us,” you perked up at his words. “I recommended those books to you because I greatly enjoyed them myself. How about, when you’re here, you can choose a book you want to read, and I will read it out loud for you? That should help, yes?”  A light airy warmth filled your chest at just how accommodating Satan was willing to be. “But what about the books that you were reading?”  The demon shrugged, “I can always read them in my spare time.” He moved closer to take your hands into his, silently demanding your full attention. “I want to spend more time with you and get to know you better. I want you to be comfortable and be able to be yourself when you’re around me without feeling stressed. This is honestly the least I could do for you, MC.”  Blushed rushed to your cheeks as you felt your heart flutter in your chest. You awkwardly cleared your throat and took your hands back, rubbing them on your legs as you noted how clammy they were. “I think I-I would like that a lot” The grin on Satan’s face widened as he took one of your hands and lead you deeper into the bookshelves of his room. “Splendid! Then why don’t we get try right away? Take you pick, MC, I will be your narrator for the evening and for as long as you wish.”  ***** I hope this was something along the lines of what you were looking for! It is a little short, but I hope you like it. Thank you so much for the request, I loved it! Requests are OPEN and I would definitely love to complete some more if anyone has any ideas or prompts that they’d like me to complete. Just send in an ask and, if I feel comfortable with it, I’ll do my best to make a fic for it!