#yes even those who may have done things you think are despicable

[margindoodles2407]

Just a quick and gentle reminder that it is never, ever okay to wish harm, destruction, and death upon people.

Ever.

[controversial-blorbo-bracket]

Controversial Character Tournament Round 2: Light Yagami from Death Note vs Edelgard von Hresvelg from Fire Emblem: Three Houses

(remember that these characters are fictional and your fellow tumblr users are real. please be normal in the notes, i will not hesitate to block if you harass people)

Propaganda under the cut, may contain spoilers:

Light Yagami:

LOVE: - "He does some messed up things but have you considered: fucked up protagonists rock :)" HATE: - "this man makes me sick. ive genuinely had manic episodes over hating him. i have trauma from his existence in general. not even because of the murder. because hes a sexist cheater :(" - "My cousin and I frequently debate this. I think despite his 'intentions' he's ultimately a despicable character who cares for nobody but himself. She disagrees and says that he is just trying to do the right thing and making a difference in the world (she still thinks his actions are wrong, but she doesn't think he himself is despicable)" BOTH: - "I mean cmon man"

Edelgard Von Hresvelg:

LOVE: "People either claim she's the hero or the irredeemable villain with no in between. She's also my lovely wife who has never done anything wrong in her life." "I never even finished her route and remember nothing of what happens in that game but I DO remember the absolute warzone the fandom turned into because of her. She staged a coup and overthrew the head of the government/church and I think that's pretty cool of her. "But she committed war crimes!" God forbid women do anything." "I lied in the previous question. I don't hate her or love her in fact I have never even played this game. But I keep finding people making up Discourse™ featuring wild accusations of bigotry towards both Edelgard fans and Edelgard haters so I feel that she belongs here. (Also my friend hates her. but HER friend loves Edelgard. So even in my small social circle there is a clear polarization.)" "ok I don't have any solid propaganda because my opinion of her is more positive-neutral, but. she fits the spirit of this poll. trust me." "[three houses spoilers] Yes she started a war but it was the only apparent way to break the chokehold the church had over everyone in Fodlan. Also she’s the only lord you can gay marry so I’m hopelessly biased" "every time i go into the tag its either "edelgard is perfect no notes!!" or "edelgard is literally a fascist!!!". ive never seen someone with a neutral opinion of her. i yearn for battle." "I know very little about her to be quite honest! But good god. As a fire emblem fan for the GBA and engage. I have NEVER seen such a decisive character like Edelgard. Jesus Christ. I still find stuff in those tags. What the hell!!!" "I don’t even go to Fire Emblem but even I know that Edelgard has never done anything wrong, ever, in her entire life, and that if she did any war crimes they were a SUPER effective use of girl power. source: I am a lesbian. (realtalk I genuinely love a noble-minded extremist revolutionary and think Edelgard is a great character, so it’s kind of a shame that opinion on her seems to simply split down the line of “whether the person wants to kiss Edelgard or Dimitri more.”)"

HATE: "So on the one hand, she's fully willing to kill and burn and murder her way to a "better future" at the expense of the present, but on the other hand she's pretty cool and #girlboss. She's also a canon gay romance option, but idk if that makes her more or less problematic." "I just. I understand why people like her. I really do. And I don't have anything new to say for why I dislike her. Edelgard fans and stans have heard everything. She has great points and motivation, but her methods are wrong. She hitches her ideals to the first good opportunity and never reconsiders her allegiance when things go off the rails. She hates the church for "lying to people" and proceeds to lie to her own populace herself in her own route. She gives Claude an opportunity to live because she knows he believes in her goals. But Dimitri and his Kingdom are too beholden to the church to ever be offered such mercy. She herself acknowledges that the change she wants to see is more quickly enacted through war than subtle and slow societal change. She recognizes the human toll of her actions, but she justifies it through flowery language and an insistence that the change needs to happen now or it never will. I honestly find her so interesting, and I agree with a lot of her thoughts about the need for societal change in the world of FE:3H. But people latched onto her and propped her up as someone who can do no wrong. And that just never sat right with me. I just think she’s a hypocrite who got put in front of a shiny means to her end and was immediately blind to every other opportunity around her." BOTH: - "I dont even play fire emblem but I cant escape people not shutting up about how much they love or hate her" - "You said there were no hate answers for her...and I don't really hate her so it wouldn't be right but I wanted to balance things out some. She's the perfect storm of a character who sounds right and progressive and has a route all to herself that doesn't contradict that...but once you play other routes, it becomes clear she's kind of. full of misinformation. And attacking people who don't deserve it. Also a LOT of the divisiveness I'm willing to blame on the writers rather than her, for having her both be Evil Tyrant we NEED to take down and Sad Uwu Baby who just wants to eat cake and laze around and loves You the Player SO MUCH."

[mostlikelytofangirl]

(Sorry if alr sent this ask)

I think the idea of a modern ruoyao where MY can't stand rich-people but can stand WRH because WRH plays up the evil CEO thing to a point it's a caricature is very funny

Can't remember if you have already sent this, so let's say you didn't :D

Lol I can see this. At this point in all of us' lives, I think we don't need much to be done with rich ppl, and with MY's history, he needs even less reasons

BUT

Evil CEO WRH is so over the top with his evilness that he can't be taken seriously XD. I mean, it's not like scaring the living shit out of employees by sternly calling them to your office to demand they recite a tongue-twister perfectly or else bc you are bored isn't serious, but you now.

It's like canon, he embraces the role of being the irredeemable evil villain, he doesn't go around trying to convince anyone of the contrary or keeps all his evil shit hidden.

He may be an asshole but he's not a hypocrite, and that deserves at least some respect :')

Also yes, he's not really using his wealth and power to make the world a better place, but he his evil deeds are so ridiculous that he's not even doing shit that's truly despicable. He may be threatening to fire anyone who looks him in the eye without permission, but he's not price gauging or poluting the water.

I do believe he would be smart enough to not do anything that could really get him in troubles he can't bribe his way out of, so it's almost like a game of how much he can fuck with ppl's sanity without getting covered in lawsuits bc those are only fun if he's the one filing them lol

So MY can give him a pass as an asshole millionaire bc he isn't leaving a trail of bastards behind like sOmE oThErS

[headcansxfanfictions]

How do you feel when some people are now saying that the Phantom Troupe wasn’t responsible for the Kurta clan massacre? That they were framed, and someone else did it.

I personally believed that the phantom troupe is responsible, but I’m starting to have my doubts. Yet, they continue to kill innocent civilians that I wouldn’t doubt that they killed the Kurta clan. Probably they were paid by someone to do it, or they learned about the isolated clan and used it to their benefits.

Do you actually hate Chrollo? And are you okay with asks that ask for more Chrollo headcanons, and thoughts?

Though there may be more to the story I feel like the Phantom Troupe holds a lot of responsibility for the Kurta massacre.

The Phantom Troupe is not a homogeneous group of people, especially the more new members join. They all have their own drive and morals or lack of.

For example:

Kalluto, he was not involved in the Kurta massacre and is still a young child. The Phantom Troupe is merely a good offer he took for personal gain, I do not believe he is evil or even that bad of a person.

Nobunaga seems to be one of the more reasonable and morally conscious spiders, he is more diplomatic than some members and doesn’t kill indiscriminately.

But Uvogin seems like a purely nasty person, the way he tells Kurapika he feels nothing wen he kills and the nonchalant way he’s like “oh actually I do remember the Kurts. ‘oops must have slipped my mind they were so unimportant.’ ” whole interaction just showed how vile of a being he was.

Chrollo is a character that I believe will get more interesting as we learn more about him. He reminds me of Light Yagami from deathnote. He ruthlessly violent towards those people he feels are scum of the world, his main issue is that he generalised and has a childish way of passing judgment on people simply for the group in his mind he has placed them in. He hates the Mafia cause he believes they are behind the murder of his childhood friend and made his homeland a living hell. Some things Chrollo is said to have done are unexplainable and despicable. On the other hand he seems to care deeply for his friends and hate people that bring others pain. Either some things about him are a lie or he has a split personality disorder. I find the second more likely.

Okay assuming Chrollo is involved in the Kurta massacre and goes around killing innocent people, what bothers me a lot is the sympathy his character has gained be learning his backstory. Cause yes its sad, yes he didn’t deserve that, but not everyone who looses someone or witness or finds a murder victim grows up to do terrible things. Its sad but its not an excuse, it gives light to the thought process but it doesn’t make it any more okay. Plenty of killers had traumatic childhoods and we don’t go excusing their actions. Feel bad for the kid, not the adult, the adult could have chosen a different path. And there are plenty of kind people that had terrible childhoods. Thats all on Chrollo for now. And yes, I hate Chrollo for killing the kurta.

Sometimes the Phantom Troupe gives me robin-hood vibes. But othertimes their actions seem horrible. I think some of them just like being bandits and have a sick thing for violence and tormenting others. However I do think some of them genuinely have some sort of goal they believe justifies their actions. I don’t think most killings can be justified though.

I do get annoyed when people try to justify the Phantom Troupe completely, like maybe they aren’t just mindlessly killing and stealing, maybe they have a good goal but that is a huge maybe and it seems more likely to me that they believe they have some justification, apposed to their actually being justification.

I will share a list of my Chrollo opinions, theories, and headcanon soon.

[hush-house-yard-sale]

Hey Librarian, I just wanna ask, how fortified is your house against thieves? Specifically people who might take a peek at books? Specifically diaries? Specifically looking for pages that might imply your true feelings for someone and all this "I don't like you" is just an act because you developed affection towards someone but want to push them away cause the m-word is not a place for love and so you just pen these memories away in a book so all that love will not die? Cause I would HATE it if someone sent an expedition of talented followers to break down locks and seduce guards just to infiltrate *my* inner sanctum and read about all these things I actually wrote myself.

I'd hate it and I'm just... Checking how you prepare against those?

-Cul... cumber. CUCUMBER

How... fortified is my house against... thieves? You... you want to know how fortified my house is against thieves? Oh, for the love of—

First of all, Mx... [scoffs] "Cucumber," you should be well aware that there is no need to resort to breaking and entering if you wish to look at books. This is a library. The purpose of a library is so that patrons can come and look at books. No, I daresay that the only reason one would need to resort to breaking and entering is if one were trying to, oh I don't know, bypass the librarian and steal the books for yourself. And I assure you, Mx. "Cucumber," that that is something for which I will not stand!

Second of all, the only book in Hush House authored by me contains my life's work. You are very sorely deluded if you think I have not made arrangements for its publication, should my endeavors succeed! If you want to read my "diary," as you so dismissively call it, you can purchase it from any reputable retailer of occult works in 2-4 business years. But frankly? I doubt you will even bother, given the disdain you've had for my "nerdy essay." At best you'll flip through it searching for confirmation of this theory you've concocted to fill the void left by the Forge-of-Days' various rejections, and fall back to your opium when you find nothing of the sort. I could translate it into— into Vak if I so desired and it wouldn't make a difference to the amount of information you'd retain upon reading! Perhaps I shall! Perhaps I already have!

Furthermore, for all your obsessions—oh yes, I know all about your obsessions. Do you truly think yourself subtle? Or clever?— you clearly have no pride and no self-respect if you intend to send your followers to discern my feelings for you. Did your followers also write this letter for you? Do they choose the people you woo? When you kiss your lovers, do they position your head for you? There are some things that must be done personally Mx. "Cucumber," if they are to be done at all. And if you will not then you are a coward, and have no hope for earning even a crumb of my respect.

You may be obsessed with me, for what reason I cannot possibly fathom, but you have shown that you have no respect for me, no respect for my library, and no respect for my life's work! You hide behind a false name, and pretend that I am too stupid to see through it. No, I know only one person this callous, this self-centered, this entitled, this... immature.

YOU ARE THE DESPICABLE THIEF OF THE HISTORY OF INKS!!!!!!!!

You will receive no further correspondence from me until the tome is returned.

Firmest disregard,

The Yard Sale Librarian

Post Scriptum: Please inform your followers that my legion of guard vipers is ever-growing. And soon I will overthrow the world.

Post- Post Scriptum: Every last one of them is asexual.

[peony-flowerking7]

hue just some oc

Rant+oc talk

I'M NOT LEAVING LMK FANDOM ANYTIME I LOVE IT TOO MUCH! I've just been frustrated lately, I have trouble with BNHA especially making an oc. But I favorite Gyaru characters they always have the best outfits. So I am hoping this calms my brain cells a bit, I've been having a hard time making a bnha oc but now I have one! She's actually a redesign of many various ocs I had in the past. Yes...I was shamefully in the BNHA fandom...I was a despicable person honestly.

I like the world building, the power system and how it works with science. It has some amazing characters and yes I still do like Bakugou I heard he died and then a lot of things in the manga are disappointing. I have a hate and love relationship with the anime honestly. I could write a whole chapter on it. I especially also don't like bnha oc, I'm sorry but this is my opinion but please don't take it the wrong way. It may come off a bit hypocritical but some BNHA oc are pretty boring and bland, they all look relatively the same, the same white paper skin, blue eyes and black or white hair. Not to mention some quirks are also pretty boring, they also have the same head shape and same eyes.

For me, all BNHA oc look the same, there's nothing to distinguish them well. That's my rant for the fandom side as for the anime. Horikoshi has a big problem with some arcs and characters he never once again used and it's frustrated. Also...fucking Mineta god I hate that character with a burning passion.

Anyways off with my oc, her name is Misao. Her quirk is entirely based off on Mami powers in Madoka Magica. Her whole ordeal is magical girl stuff. So quirk I don't have a name but the description of it is, her cells can turn into guns, only her cells though she can't use anybody else's cells to make guns. Her father Quirk is a healing Quirk while her body is the same as her daughter she can pull any type of gun she wants from her cells except she can use other people cells. For that, the Mother is a military soldier and her father is a medical doctor.

Misao quirk is a combination of the two, let me explain this. Misao's cells can manufacture guns, it doesn't matter which one as long as she has the knowledge of that gun existence and it system is something possible. For her to pop out the gun she needs she will have to pull off a bit of her cells or her skin, it's a painful experience that makes the gun's power more powerful. The good thing is that with the combination of her father Quirk the pain lasts a bit but that all depends in which one she's taking out. Small guns require less so they feel like a pinch while bigger weapons require much force and it can cause Misao a lot of pain. Which is great for power but bad for Misao. She cannot produce bullets though, those she has to make by herself or she can ask her parents for them. It between those two but sometimes she rather ask Yayorozu or Bakugou with these. Like I said earlier Misao can heal faster than a normal person can, also the more guns she gets out the more immobilize she gets and more weaker she grows. Taking out a weapon strains her to the point where she will fall unconscious and stop moving for a couple of hours.

Also she's not very smart, you can say she's a bimbo. So she fails at tests and quizzes but does well in responding while getting her nails done. Also, most of her classmates think she's dumb and just like some of them but Bakugou is the only one to acknowledge the opposite. She was train as a military child, something she dislikes as well. She prefers looking good and getting her nails done, she actually doesn't even want to be a hero, she wants to be an idol. Her dream were crushed as a middle schooler, she really doesn't have a lot of choice.

She also doesn't like some of her classmates because of how their personality rubs her the wrong way. She's uncomfortable with them so she avoids getting to know them, the only one who she enjoys the company with is Bakugou, mostly because of his eyes also his quirk drawbacks but she does avoid him. Shinso is another person she enjoys being with, she's more close to him since they both can connect with each other about societal problems and cats.

[insanityofvaas]

2 in 1 uquizzes

Thank you @hotmessteaparty for thinking of me, sending you much love! ❤️

And sorry to everyone that it takes me an age sometimes to get tag games, asks and everything else done. I love you all, but I'm a mess more often than not, let's be real.

I'll be doing both quizzes with my OC Eduardo.

He still needs a bunch of work and quizzes might be a good way to flesh out more details about him. Or just fun. Both good things!

What is your OCs true role in the story?

the antihero ah yes, hello edge lord. it is lovely to see you again. you my dear, are the incarnation of duality, and you might think of claws and venom mixed with grace but alas, nothing near as poetic. you my friend, are mixture of what is seen as right, and what is questioned. you follow the path of your own two feet, you know the twists and turns of life's forests quite well if I do say so myself. and you can meander along them wonderfully. you strive to stay true to a certain sense of principles you might call your code, but whereas in reality, those would be your morals. people tend to see you as strange. sharp edged and glinting you hide behind a cloak of chain mail but really you just prefer to show off your imperfections first. unlike many who scramble to make it as if their flaws never existed, you proudly raise yours up. saying, "this is me, this is the worst of me, now you know what to expect." and might I say, it is quite an intriguing mindset, for truth be told, the ones that love your spikes and craters are the ones who appreciate your softness the most. you wish not to be loved as something lovable, but as a monster. for aren't we all just beasts in human skin? you are brave, but you are lonely. you know quite well how to scare off most, making even the heroes with the boldest bravado creep away with their tails between their legs. you are not a villian, sometimes you play the part a bit too well. but nevertheless you are no hero either. you put yourself first, but if one wins your trust then may the gods have mercy on those who might wrong them. you long to be a poetic mess of sorts, and well, if the ink sets in long enough you might just become that sooner or later. but for one who is so dead set on truth you sure do hide a lot don't you? please, step out of the shadows, there is a difference to not making your flaws visible and to simply acting as if you're the most despicable person in all the realms. it's because you're afraid of attachment is it not? well let me tell you a little secret, everyone is. you say you wish to be left alone for eternity but than why are you craving connection. you wish to be known and understood truly, but you snarl and push the ones that might be trying away. please little wolf, accept you are lovable. you are not some ravenous beast that terrifies the multitudes, sure, you are not for the faint of heart but that does not make you an inkling less perfect as you are. young antihero, step into the sun. you would do better actually reaching for the things you want rather than pining for them in the darkness.

I don't really think he's an edge lord or anything like that. There are definitely things in there that suit him, for sure, so I'm okay with that result!

The "Oh" quiz

the kiss you typically wait until the last second to believe the truth--because it would destroy you to believe it, and then find out it was a lie. you are someone who has never wanted to want, but has rarely been able to do anything else. the idea that you might have to break down your walls for the sake of someone else, someone who could easily decide they don't like what is on the other side, is harrowing. why let people get close enough to be rejected? you are enough for yourself. and you will tell yourself that every time you catch yourself staring at their mouth, smirking at their joke, finding a reason to flick their shoulder. until the kiss. that's when the flood of want, want, want bowls over you and you realize that you are torn between two ways of living. Oh, you think. because despite how complicated you have made it, the moment you kiss, somehow, things seem incredibly simple. they won't be once you start thinking again, but for now, for this moment, you live in the quiet peace of revelation. Oh.

Okay, another result I'm fine with because, again, there are some decent truths in there that I can see fitting him! Mind you, a lot of him not liking to get too close with people romantically is because he's a slut, lol, and the idea of tying himself down to a single person kind of freaks him out. He's still young and wants to have fun!

And there you have it! So, I'll be tagging, with zero pressure: @chocopinda (when you're back, I miss you! <3) @jasonsnowwhitebrody @themadknightuniverse @kidkubrick @ignaciosalamanca @ignaurcio @jacobseedsmalewife @so-cal-douchebag @stacispratt @chaosgoodvibes and anyone else that wants to do it because my attention span is dying.

[vampiricvittles]

the antihero

ah yes, hello edge lord. it is lovely to see you again. you my dear, are the incarnation of duality, and you might think of claws and venom mixed with grace but alas, nothing near as poetic. you my friend, are mixture of what is seen as right, and what is questioned. you follow the path of your own two feet, you know the twists and turns of life's forests quite well if I do say so myself. and you can meander along them wonderfully. you strive to stay true to a certain sense of principles you might call your code, but whereas in reality, those would be your morals. people tend to see you as strange. sharp edged and glinting you hide behind a cloak of chain mail but really you just prefer to show off your imperfections first. unlike many who scramble to make it as if their flaws never existed, you proudly raise yours up. saying, "this is me, this is the worst of me, now you know what to expect." and might I say, it is quite an intriguing mindset, for truth be told, the ones that love your spikes and craters are the ones who appreciate your softness the most. you wish not to be loved as something lovable, but as a monster. for aren't we all just beasts in human skin? you are brave, but you are lonely. you know quite well how to scare off most, making even the heroes with the boldest bravado creep away with their tails between their legs. you are not a villian, sometimes you play the part a bit too well. but nevertheless you are no hero either. you put yourself first, but if one wins your trust then may the gods have mercy on those who might wrong them. you long to be a poetic mess of sorts, and well, if the ink sets in long enough you might just become that sooner or later. but for one who is so dead set on truth you sure do hide a lot don't you? please, step out of the shadows, there is a difference to not making your flaws visible and to simply acting as if you're the most despicable person in all the realms. it's because you're afraid of attachment is it not? well let me tell you a little secret, everyone is. you say you wish to be left alone for eternity but than why are you craving connection. you wish to be known and understood truly, but you snarl and push the ones that might be trying away. please little wolf, accept you are lovable. you are not some ravenous beast that terrifies the multitudes, sure, you are not for the faint of heart but that does not make you an inkling less perfect as you are. young antihero, step into the sun. you would do better actually reaching for the things you want rather than pining for them in the darkness.

[strikingskeletonsiege]

Your Result: the antihero ah yes, hello edge lord. it is lovely to see you again. you my dear, are the incarnation of duality, and you might think of claws and venom mixed with grace but alas, nothing near as poetic. you my friend, are mixture of what is seen as right, and what is questioned. you follow the path of your own two feet, you know the twists and turns of life's forests quite well if I do say so myself. and you can meander along them wonderfully. you strive to stay true to a certain sense of principles you might call your code, but whereas in reality, those would be your morals. people tend to see you as strange. sharp edged and glinting you hide behind a cloak of chain mail but really you just prefer to show off your imperfections first. unlike many who scramble to make it as if their flaws never existed, you proudly raise yours up. saying, "this is me, this is the worst of me, now you know what to expect." and might I say, it is quite an intriguing mindset, for truth be told, the ones that love your spikes and craters are the ones who appreciate your softness the most. you wish not to be loved as something lovable, but as a monster. for aren't we all just beasts in human skin? you are brave, but you are lonely. you know quite well how to scare off most, making even the heroes with the boldest bravado creep away with their tails between their legs. you are not a villian, sometimes you play the part a bit too well. but nevertheless you are no hero either. you put yourself first, but if one wins your trust then may the gods have mercy on those who might wrong them. you long to be a poetic mess of sorts, and well, if the ink sets in long enough you might just become that sooner or later. but for one who is so dead set on truth you sure do hide a lot don't you? please, step out of the shadows, there is a difference to not making your flaws visible and to simply acting as if you're the most despicable person in all the realms. it's because you're afraid of attachment is it not? well let me tell you a little secret, everyone is. you say you wish to be left alone for eternity but than why are you craving connection. you wish to be known and understood truly, but you snarl and push the ones that might be trying away. please little wolf, accept you are lovable. you are not some ravenous beast that terrifies the multitudes, sure, you are not for the faint of heart but that does not make you an inkling less perfect as you are. young antihero, step into the sun. you would do better actually reaching for the things you want rather than pining for them in the darkness.

((Guess who else feels a little too called out to post! Especially by that last half. He sure fucking snort-laughed at "hello edge lord" tho))

[deviatory]

What Is Your True Role In The Story?

daring hero or wily foe? when all is done for, what's your role?

Malachi :

the fallen prodigy

hello old friend, it's been a while hasn't it? I remember when you were just a child, gape-smiled and beaming like the sun. where have you laid your youth to rest my love? is it buried beside your heart perhaps? I know how deeply life has wounded you, it took away everything, didn't it? oh poor soul, you held onto happiness with bloody, shaking hands but still fate ripped even that away from you. your past lovers are dead or did some betray you? turning away in fear of what they once admired. your comrades have been slain, or their priorities shifted.

I've heard you too have changed your way of thought. the people fear you know, do they normally cower at the sound of your name? ah don't fret, that makes two of us. the masses tend to despise the things they do not have the will to comprehend.

the villian finds sympathy for you don't they, well I could have seen that from a mile away. you two are the oldest friends, you made a deal with them correct? to save your late love, they tried to hold their end of the bargain, really, but I fear you are cursed to forever be despondent. oh what a sad and miserable life without love. is that why you chase loneliness? for is it truly a life of sorrow if you yourself has chosen it? but don't become bitter from the pain. trust when I say I have seen wounds unfold a man, turning the gentlest spirits into seething beasts. please, keep seeking love, even if it seems you are forbidden from it. you are the master of your own fate, I see how tired you are. the scars never healed, they twist and wrap around your entire person. your eyes are dark and lifeless, rest. but keep fighting, not with the sword you have forsaken so long ago, but with your heart. I'll be rooting for you my friend.

Vincent:

the antihero

ah yes, hello edge lord. it is lovely to see you again. you my dear, are the incarnation of duality, and you might think of claws and venom mixed with grace but alas, nothing near as poetic. you my friend, are mixture of what is seen as right, and what is questioned. you follow the path of your own two feet, you know the twists and turns of life's forests quite well if I do say so myself. and you can meander along them wonderfully. you strive to stay true to a certain sense of principles you might call your code, but whereas in reality, those would be your morals. people tend to see you as strange. sharp edged and glinting you hide behind a cloak of chain mail but really you just prefer to show off your imperfections first. unlike many who scramble to make it as if their flaws never existed, you proudly raise yours up. saying, "this is me, this is the worst of me, now you know what to expect." and might I say, it is quite an intriguing mindset, for truth be told, the ones that love your spikes and craters are the ones who appreciate your softness the most. you wish not to be loved as something lovable, but as a monster. for aren't we all just beasts in human skin?

you are brave, but you are lonely. you know quite well how to scare off most, making even the heroes with the boldest bravado creep away with their tails between their legs. you are not a villian, sometimes you play the part a bit too well. but nevertheless you are no hero either. you put yourself first, but if one wins your trust then may the gods have mercy on those who might wrong them. you long to be a poetic mess of sorts, and well, if the ink sets in long enough you might just become that sooner or later. but for one who is so dead set on truth you sure do hide a lot don't you?

please, step out of the shadows, there is a difference to not making your flaws visible and to simply acting as if you're the most despicable person in all the realms. it's because you're afraid of attachment is it not? well let me tell you a little secret, everyone is. you say you wish to be left alone for eternity but than why are you craving connection. you wish to be known and understood truly, but you snarl and push the ones that might be trying away. please little wolf, accept you are lovable. you are not some ravenous beast that terrifies the multitudes, sure, you are not for the faint of heart but that does not make you an inkling less perfect as you are. young antihero, step into the sun. you would do better actually reaching for the things you want rather than pining for them in the darkness.

tagged by : stole it from @zealctry tagging : blep, you, maybe idk

[joe-moi]

Just chiming in on the gator-verse conversation and sorry for my brain dump.

I think that like some anons have said... Gator is a character that many JK fans are just not necissisarily ready for but here we are.... Ya know?

I've seen people post about watching only the scenes Joe is in. Ok? And for what? You don't get the context so of course you're gonna be like 😱 when something is a little off kilter for your morals because you're not watching the show, you're consuming Joe Keery Content. Which can be done in Tumblr, Twitter.. like you're not "watching Fargo" if you're fast-forwarding to these scenes.

And I LOVE that Fargo is getting new viewers from this little JK/ST fandom space if they're really watching and enjoying and that's a really great thing about the series because they cast SO well and many seasons bring in fans of those specific actors or their prior projects so easily because of the anthology set up. And that's awesome when MANY of these actors we've seen in a variety of roles before, meaning the fan base wasn't pigeon-holed into having their head in the clouds about a certain type of typecast. Fans and fandom is different though, and I think many of us (not all but many) here know that.

And JK unfortunately has that certain type of typecast meaning a fair amount of his fans, especially younger ones may find themselves fans of the idea of this typecast and his pretty face (God bless!) Instead of actual fans of his acting. That's the difference to me .... At least 🤷‍♀️ like... Loving Steve or giving Keys heart eyes all comes from Joe himself. Steve is layered but only because it's been literally driven by Joe and his own involvement and their desire to keep him. And to be fair... I think most of the layers that exist about Steve are actually concocted by the fandom in head cannon, fics or through their own interpretation not because the Duffers actually wrote him well.... Because they really havent. Joe is just fucking good at acting. He has SERIOUS ability to incorporate micro-expressions and make his character immersive. Like we could all pick out at least a few Steve mannerisms we find iconic. His story is NOT layered and nuanced. It's not.

Gator IS layered and nuanced. And we're gonna get the same great acting and Joe's same beautiful fuckin face.... But Gator has a real story written specifically for the character (not Joe) and driven by the storyline (not incorporated as a side plot of the main story) and it's not meant to be a good character. So someone who is riding JKs coattails because of objectification or the type of work he's already done is gonna fall short. Because Fargo is not a show for everyone if you don't consume that type of media. It's gritty and bad. Even good people do bad things in this show. Ths about pushing people to limits and seeing what they'll do. So yeah, ok I'll up your panties and be ready to see and hear things you don't agree with. You don't have to. It's a character. And stories literally need antagonists or what's the point?

So if you're along for JKs acting career....YES... Enjoy! and know you're gonna see some questionable shit in this show. Otherwise opt out and oggle the gifsets people post. Because this character IS good for Joe and if you hate him, like actually think what he does or says is despicable, then he did his fuckin job.

And that's the end of my TEDTalk 🐊

this was very well put. And I’m not sure I have too much to add. I think you’re pretty spot on with what’s happening. People are not consuming all of gator, and there’s people who have head cannoned, the type of character that Joe can play, and they don’t like that he’s not playing one that they’ve head cannoned.

not consuming all of Fargo, It’s going to shock you when gator says something a little bit off kilter. And also only thinking that he’ll play characters like Steve is not fair to him as an actor.

[tatney]

NEW WENCLAIR SCENE I AM RATTLING THE BARS OF MY CAGE. god enid is such a popular gossipy bitchy lesbian girlie i love her so MUCH. like she's not overly cheerful which i like a LOT more than our former fanon interpretation. she's so smooth and matter-of-fact and irresistibly charming god i am obsessed with her.

also the tiny wenclair-isms!! sorry in advance for infodumping LMAO

#1: wednesday does NOT seem hesitant in getting close to enid like there is?? such a thing?? as personal space?? miss addams i know what you are !! also enid this applies to you too girlie !! i see you !! enid literally gets super close to wed's face and wed doesn't even FLINCH. hello???

#2: enid's so eager to tell wednesday everything 😭😭 like she has so much to say to her and i love it

#3: "i'm assuming scales are sirens." "you catch on quick." idk what it is but they just already seem so natural and easy together? i may be reading into it but !

#4: this isn't a wenclair-ism but enid's facial expressions !! she's so cute i adore her

#5: "fascinating." "I KNOW RIGHT?" THEYRE SO ADORABLE JONATHAN 😭😭 they are finding common GROUND enid's so EAGER to have the smallest CONNECTION with her and she's so EXCITED and AHHHHHHH.

okay i'm done ty for letting me rant and i can't wait to hear your thoughts !! <3

the way i got this like minutes before i fell asleep with a big stupid smile on my face

and GOD i do enjoy being right

literally LOVE how outwardly confident and energetic enid is here, all the gesticulating and pointing and counting things with her fingers she is SOOOOOOO autistic i love her sm. like she has this cute little swagger to her movements when talking about her fellow werewolves, contrasting wednesday’s stiff stride and general demeanour as she follows her

the little bit about some of the vampires being at nevermore for decades gave me twilight flashbacks to bella talking abt how miserable it’d be to keep repeating high school again and again, those poor vampires </3

THE WAY ENID IS LITERALLY INFODUMPING TO HER ABT ALL THIS i’m telling you she’s been going over this little speech in her mind for like twenty minutes at least before meeting wednesday

AND YES YES YES ENID’S EXPRESSIONS WAAAAAAAAAHHHH SHE’S SO CARTOONISH AND FUNNY I LOVE HER!!!!!!!!! this is the face of a girl who watched despicable me again and again on repeat as a child these are my two favourites

emma myers is having the time of her LIFE g’bless

and YES the 😒 fascinating— I KNOW RIGHT!!!!!!! 😮 exchange whyre they so CUTE i love their mismatched energies, literally a golden retriever puppy and a barely domesticated ex-feral cat

and theyre literally SO close to each other for no reason (we know the reason) like look at this shit

enid’s faux-serious pondering expression vs wednesday’s, how she’s leaning in like theyre conspiring abt something super top secret and it’s literally teenage gossip, like theyre shoulders are touching and she’s So close to her cheek theyre so CUTE

but also laughing at the fact that this scene cuts off RIGHT before enid inevitably explains the “stoners” clique i CANNOT WAIT for them to make the joke how the gorgons are stoners BC THEY TURN PPL TO STONE i can’t get over how fucking funny that is to me it’s so fucking clever and so dumb and i adore it (i think that they way theyre gonna do it though is by having wendesday and enid bump into ajax (the main gorgon boy i think) bc of this but in the latest trailer; that’s definitely wednesday’s hair)

i cannot FUCKEN WAIT for this show theyre so special and precious to me i love them sm i love nevermore and all the little weirdos therein i love the atmosphere and the vibes i’m so EXCITED

[daenerys-daario]

GRRM could end up with a classical centrist fallacy. The story would've been told still through a somewhat "leftist" lense considering the awareness of certain problems and injustices but turns conservative when having to come up with solutions: Yes, all these feudalist things really suck, but what we REALLY should debate in the end is how too much "fiery" change always turns out to be violent and destructive and we should seek "moderate, rational" measures provided by the nicer elite. Like GoT.

I don't think he would.

"You know I never held much with slavery, even if I never done much against it neither. I would of, but those damned abolitionists were such Bible-thumpers. Only I been thinkin', and it seems to me maybe they was right after all. You can't go... usin' another kind of people, like they wasn't people at all. Know what I mean? Got to end, sooner or later. Better if it ends peaceful, but it's got to end even if it has to be with fire and blood, you see? Maybe that's what them abolitionists been sayin' all along. You try to reasonable, that's only right, but if it don't work, you got to be ready. Some things is just wrong. They got to be ended." — Fevre Dream, George R R Martin.

Anon, are you telling me this GRRM, who literally wrote in another book of his that slavery "got to end even if it has to be with fire and blood", will say that fiery change always turns out to be violent and destructive?

There is absolutely no reason for Martin to write - even the means 'fire and blood' to end slavery is a good - in one novel of his, only to turn and state the exact opposite in another novel series of his!

Also, to quote @majorton from this post (because I think they have articulated this better than I ever could):

Imagine being GRRM, and creating a culture that:

is so embroiled in slavery in it's history, that said practice becomes a national identity, so strong that goes beyond even it's own language;

time and time again tries to paint this said culture as despicably evil, so much so that the killing of children and disable people is part of a 'great' and 'nobly' national sport.

they eat puppies for god's sake, I mean, I may be joking, but when Martin wants to paint someone as despicable, he overdone just a tad lil bit.

But that's nice, even when the author of said book series, who is vemeintly against painting characters as 'black or white'/good and evil, creates a culture only to put all his aversion to a horrible practice of the past, and people defend said culture, just to demonize a character, that's a bit too much.

An author who doesn't like black and white morality, still writes slavers as cartoonishly villainous as he can (they eat puppies!), to showcase how irredeemably evil they are; still this fandom insists that GRRM's message is — "using violence against slavers is wrong".

The issue (at least in this particular instance) is NOT with the author, but with the fandom. The author couldn’t be clearer on how horrid slavery is and how despite dany’s multiple attempts to negotiate peace, the slavers are not willing to have peace (because they lose their wealth & property, ie., slaves). Throughout ADWD, GRRM is essentially saying:

Yet, the fandom thinks that this is a story about the slippery slope from fighting against slavery to tyranny!

Coming back to the Fevre Dream quote:

You try to reasonable, that's only right, but if it don't work, you got to be ready. Some things is just wrong. They got to be ended.

[...] it's got to end even if it has to be with fire and blood.

This is literally Dany’s storyline in Essos. As of now, she is trying “to be reasonable” and end slavery through peaceful means with concessions on both sides. However, “it don’t work”. So, she has to be ready. Because some things, like slavery, “is just wrong” and “got to be ended”. So, even if in TWOW Dany is on a flat-out offensive against slavers and slaver-cities, it is framed as the correct moral choice. Because slavery “got to end even if it has to be with fire and blood”.

As for a “centrist” ending, this novel series is not a parable on social or political  ideologies, hence terms like “centrist” seem ill-suited to describe this series. Additionally, it is absurd to think that a fantasy series won’t stick with many of the staple fantasy tropes.

If you look at the Key 5 characters, all of them are nobility, and with the exception of Daenerys, none of the others have experienced poverty or starvation at the beginning of the story! Almost all of the POV chapters are nobility (because they have to political players or in military organizations to move the plot forward in their chapters). There is not one POV chapter for any servant in any of the castle of Westeros. None of the slaves of Essos get a chapter either. Furthermore, there are magical noble bloodlines in this series - be it Targaryens or Starks - their blood is inherently special. These are all typical fantasy tropes!

What I’m trying to point out is that if you are looking for a radical fantasy that points out the inherent injustice of feudalism or even main characters who are non-special and just a poor ordinary folk, this may not be the series for you!

To expect a harsh critique of feudalism or a denouncement of the concept of monarchy from this series, when from the beginning we only ever know the story through noble lords and ladies, seems to be expecting too much.

However, as I pointed out earlier, GRRM is not going through the “fighting slavery with violence is tyranny” route.

[cinnoasch]

I just had an idea, Akechi with an S/O (their not dating yet) and they have a toxic boyfriend and when Akechi meets him he just thinks, "guess i have one more target" and he tries the hardest to keep up the Detective Prince facade in front of this guy because he's just filled with so much rage at this one man.

A/N: Ohoho, I love this idea. I had an idea for a bad ending of sorts, but let me know if any one wants that ending as well. Thank you Anon and hope you enjoyed! And hopefully this turned out alright!

C/W: Toxic relationship on/off, slight cursing, angst(?)

Word Count: 1885

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hostile Third-Wheel (Goro Akechi x Reader)

“You look upset Y/N. Did something happen?” Akechi asks, looking up from his paperwork when he notices your expression.

You let out an annoyed sigh, waving your phone in the air as you sit across from him. “My boyfriend. He accidentally reserved a table for 3 for our date tonight and being the stubborn lazy ass he is, refuses to call the restaurant to change it. He told me to invite a friend.”

“On your date?”

“Mhm, and he said...” You say as you hear your notification ring. “To preferably bring a girl... ‘Just kidding, winky face.’“

“He sounds like quite the charmer. And you can’t change the reservation yourself?”

“You know how the restaurants are, they rather have the person who did the reservation to change it.”

“You do make a valid point. Well then, how about inviting me?”

You look at Akechi in surprise. “You want to tag along on my date? Wouldn’t you just feel like a third wheel?”

Akechi smiles lightly, “Well, I guess I would feel like somewhat of a third wheel, but I have never met your boyfriend. I’d like to know what your taste in significant others is like.”

“Not funny. But I will say, it hasn’t been... the best. I think I really... got it this time.”

Akechi noticed the hesitation on your face and in your words but he didn’t mention it. He knew the many heartbreaks you had been through, although he never met any of your previous significant others. He was the one that you called during those nights, hearing your crying and hoarse voice as you explained how you recently were dumped. While it hurt more for you than him, Akechi could not help but feel upset. He may be the only one who harbored feelings between the two of you, but even if you did not return those feelings; he’d still be there for you no matter what.

“Anyways, I am allowed to join you two right? Your boyfriend won’t mind?”

“Not at all. He says he’s fine with it. So see you tonight at 7? It’s the one restaurant near Seaside Park in Odaiba.”

"Ah, I’ve been there on occasion. If I remember correctly, you often frequented the restaurant with your previous significant others. You know if you keep bringing them to the same restaurant for dates, it’s not as special as it seems.”

“I know, I know. I guess I just stick with what I’m comfortable with. Any who, see you tonight!” You say with a wave as you take your leave from Akechi’s apartment.

When you close the door behind you, your smile fades. You had been through this too many times before. You knew what was going to happen tonight. And after tonight, the cycle would repeat itself just like it always had for the past few months.

------------------------------

“So, this friend of yours, is Goro Akechi?” your boyfriend asks as you two walk the path heading to the restaurant.

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“No particular reason. I just hope you don’t think about leaving me for him. We’ve been through this enough times, so you know the drill. We always come back to each other.”

“I know... the thought never crossed my mind.”

“Not even once?” They ask, tilting your face towards them.

“Not even once.”

“Good.” Your boyfriend removes his hand and opens the door for you. “Let’s keep it that way then.”

You sigh quietly, straightening out your clothes as you walk through the door. You never knew why you always got your hopes up. Breaking things off and getting back together was what your relationship was. You knew from the start that the relationship wasn’t good, but you always found yourself drawn back. You always questioned why this was the way that things were. Were you just content with any type of love? Even if it was the worst kind? Or were you just denying the fact that you could never have anything better than this?

You feel your arm being tugged as you look up to see your boyfriend trying to move you along to the table.

“C’mon, your friend’s waiting.”

You give a nod as you walk to the table with your boyfriend. Akechi waves with a smile when he sees you two, and stands up from his seat.

“Hope you weren’t waiting long, Akechi.” You say with a small smile.

“Not at all. So this is your boyfriend? I’m Goro Akechi, pleased to meet you.” He says holding his hand out for a handshake.

Your boyfriend introduces himself, lightly shaking Akechi’s hand as he does. The three of you sit down at the table and decide what to order before starting a conversation.

“So, how long have you two been dating?” Akechi asks. A small smile graces his face, however he was staring intently at your boyfriend. You noticed that your boyfriend did whisper something to Akechi earlier while they were introducing themselves, so you were somewhat concerned.

You’re about to answer but your boyfriend slings an arm around you with a grin. “Y/N and I have been dating for a few months now.”

“A few months? Is that so? Y/N told me they’ve had a few other significant others within the past few months.”

“Ah, that’s them trying to save face. Y/N and I have a sort of on/off relationship. They just can’t get enough of me so they always come crawling back.”

Akechi glances at you but quickly turns his gaze back to your boyfriend. “Really now? How peculiar, you don’t see those quite often anymore.”

“I guess not, but guess we’re just made for each other.”

Akechi only nods in agreement, his fists were clenched underneath the table. Was he upset that you lied? Yes. But the thing that bothered him the most was your boyfriend. He could immediately tell that your boyfriend was bad news when he saw you two walking up to the restaurant. How he had that condescending look on his face when he talked to you, his words just now, implying that you couldn’t do any better than him. It made Akechi’s blood boil.

It seems that I have a new target to take care of.

Soon the waiter comes and takes your orders, silence filling the air for a few seconds until your boyfriend speaks up.

“So, Akechi. You’re that Detective Prince that’s always on TV right?”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

You twirl your straw in your drink, already knowing the question that would pop up.

“You must have a lot of fans, right? All those girls surrounding you must be nice.”

“Well, fans are expected, although all of the attention can be a bit much at times.”

“Ya don’t have to lie, you must love the attention right? Though I’m surprised you aren’t dating someone yourself. You could get any girl.”

“I suppose. But I bet if you were in my shoes, you’d relish in the attention wouldn’t you? You strike me as the type of guy who... sleeps around I would say.”

You shoot Akechi a look, but he only dismisses it with a smile and laughs. “Aha, I apologize. What am I doing asking those sorts of questions with Y/N here?”

Your boyfriend chuckles, “Oh, Y/N doesn’t mind. Isn’t that right, babe?”

“Like hell I don’t.”

“Oh come on, Akechi’s just joking around.”

Akechi grins, “Well... it seems my deduction was correct. You are that type of guy. Truly despicable. Y/N deserves much better than you, don’t you think?”

Your boyfriend stands up angrily, “What the hell are you trying to say?”

“Other than you’re a piece of shit?”

You stand up next, “Alright, let’s all calm down now. Akechi, a word?”

Your boyfriend sits back down, crossing his arms as you take Akechi to the side to talk to him.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me? You’re the one who’s forcing yourself to be in a relationship with that dumbass over there.”

“Who I date is none of your business.”

“It is my business. Who’s the one who has called me every time crying because they got dumped? What’s even worse is that you do nothing to get yourself out of it.”

“Who says I haven’t tried?”

“Y/N. Look me in the eyes and tell me you’ve actually tried to get out of your relationship.”

You clench your hands, unable to look Akechi in the eye. Who were you kidding? You had simply accepted how things were going to be between you and your boyfriend. An on and off relationship that only hurt you.

Akechi sighs. “Look, I’m only saying these things because I care about you. And if you won’t break it off, I’ll do it for you.”

The look in Akechi’s eyes told you that he was dead serious. Yet, there was some hint of malicious intent behind his words. Would Akechi really turn to violence to break things off between you and your boyfriend? Well, that question wasn’t needed since you were made aware of Akechi’s hostile side.

“Fine. I’ll break it off. Just give me some time.”

“Hmmm, no. Do it now.”

You glare at Akechi. “Now? Are you crazy?”

“Like I said if you don’t, I will. And my methods are much worse than a simple ‘I’m breaking up with you’.”

You only nod, not wanting to barter with Akechi any longer, and walk back to the table where your boyfriend sat. When he sees you walking back, he stands up with a smile. “So, did you tell Akechi off? Ha, I bet the look on his face was priceless.”

“Actually no. I’m breaking up with you.”

“What?”

“You heard me. I’m tired of this, me staying loyal for some piece of shit boyfriend who sleeps around. I’m done with you.”

“You bitch!” He raises his hand to slap you but Akechi appears behind you and grabs his wrist forcefully.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Your now, ex-boyfriend looks at Akechi in fear. You didn’t want to turn around because you were sure that the look Akechi was giving this guy was one that could kill.

“Now, if you would please lower your hand once I let go.”

Your ex-boyfriend only nods and once Akechi lets go of his wrist he bolts out of the restaurant.

You let out a sigh of relief as you turn to face Akechi. “Thank you for that. I guess a push was all I needed.”

“Not a problem. But if I may ask Y/N, why did you put up with it? The Y/N I know would normally break it off immediately when it became that type of relationship.”

You chuckle a bit sadly as you seat yourself back in your chair. “You know, I thought so too. But eventually, it just became a cycle. My thoughts started to invade my mind, telling me that that type of relationship was the best that I could handle. That it couldn’t and wouldn’t get any better. I’m pathetic aren’t I?”

“Your taste in S/O’s could be considered pathetic I suppose.”

“Low blow, but I’ll take it.”

“Well you did need to hear it. Anyways, I think we can salvage this failed date somewhat. What do you say Y/N?”

“Sure, why not.”

[orionsangel86]

LMAO! The fact that there is a whole fandom on tumblr devoted to some minecraft guy called Dream is pretty amusing to us Sandman fans. There is only one Dream here bitches and it is Dream of the Endless, THE Dream. Though I do genuinely think anon was referring to the other Dream based on their juvenile turns of phrase - Since I'm pretty sure the minecraft guy fans skew much MUCH younger than Sandman fans - its like something I would have received from a hater in SPN fandom back in the day.

Nevertheless, the thought of anyone being such a huge Dream (of the Endless) simp that they think people discussing his actual canonical crimes is somehow unforgiveable hate towards him is just as amusing and I'm not sure which option I prefer more!

I think we do need to drum home that there are no morally GOOD only characters in Sandman. Even the characters that people may want to put on a pedestal of perfection are most definitely flawed because stories are much more interesting when characters are flawed. Its how the stories show those characters working through their flaws, and growing despite them that makes for the best stories. It is deeply concerning to me that fandom seems to be moving towards this viewpoint where unless a character is deemed "morally perfect" by the standards of 21st century leftist/liberal young skewing tumblr/twitter users, that character is only fit to be thrown in the garbage and everyone who enjoys them is a horribly immoral person who should also be cancelled immediately.

It's a bullshit viewpoint and one I will fight against constantly whilst I remain in fandom.

On the point of Hob Gadling which I'm putting under a cut because it got long - ah yes, our problematic, extremely immoral, rather despicable "fave". What I think pretty much all the fandom except maybe a few meta writers fail to understand about Hob Gadling, is that he is supposed to be Dream's symbol of humanity. Now, if we were to take the last 600 years of human history, shove them into some sort of personification machine, smush them altogether and shape them into a person (skewing the data points heavily towards white European man of course), the machine should spit out Hob Gadling. That's the point. Yeah, he's not quite the entire world, but he is Europe personified. He is its flaws, its crimes, its inventions, its inspirations, its desires, its dreams, its despairs. etc. He can't be perfect. He can't be your liberal Tory hating fave. He can't be your progressive queer ally, but he isn't just his racist evil slaver self either. He is all of these things because humanity is all of these things. He is selfish, because people are selfish, he makes horrible mistakes, because people make horrible mistakes, he follows the crowd and plays it safe most of the time, because that's what the majority of people do. He also manages to adapt, to change, to reinvent, because humans are remarkably capable at doing that in general, given our overall history. He is also an optimist, and never seems to lose hope that something better is coming, which is a wonderful overall message to give humanity. Whatever else may happen, hope remains.

That doesn't mean he is the personification of hope though. For the love of all the gods NO. He is the personification of US. Of OUR history, all the glorious and all the brutal evil parts of it.

He is the ultimate centrist because if you smush all of humanity together you are gonna end up somewhere in the middle. I think the problems of Hob Gadling come from one side of fandom wanting to put him on a pedestal and make him into a projection of everything good, and the other side of fandom, hating him because of what fandom has done to him, only ever focuses on his horrible flaws, and reducing his character to only the worst parts of him. The truth is, this is character we don't know a hell of a lot about, even after reading and rereading through the comics, and all we really get from him is that he is basically pretty damn average. Dream finding friendship and love in Hob Gadling is supposed to be a reflection of Dream learning to care about and love humanity as a whole, which you see reflected through the story as Dream continues to change and become better.

Anyway sorry for the Hob Gadling related tangent, I guess I had more to say about the guy in light of all the fandom obsession than I thought!

When has Dream ever committed war crimes? I swear you dream haters like making up shit as you go along.

"Dream hater"? Me???

Okay, okay, I KNOW you're never supposed to respond to anon hate but this legit made me laugh! For real! Dream is one of my favorite characters ever! That does not mean he is always the nice soft good boy that the fandom likes to pretend he is!

I'm not the OP of that post, but to me it seems clear that they're using "war crimes" in the fandom slang sense of "he's an asshole who did bad things". Which he is for the majority of his existence! There are very few people he is genuinely nice or friendly with! Also, some of the stuff he does arguably could fall afoul of the Geneva Convention if he'd done them as part of an international conflict... which, like. That's not great if you're having to argue on the technicality of "but the wrongful imprisonment and torture wasn't part of a war!"

And him being a terrible person/personified existential concept is an integral part of the plot. The overarching question of the entire series is "can he change?" and its tension with whether or not HE believes he can change! And I felt the actual ending of the books answered those questions in such an unsatisfactory manner that I wrote an entire detailed essay about it... I'd say that's beside the point, but you did say I was a "Dream hater" and well, you don't write academic papers for fun about characters you truly despise.

Everyone in Neil Gaiman's Sandman universe is INCREDIBLY morally grey! That's part of the point! Every single one challenges the reader to think about what they value, how they interpret the character, etc. And even if you think a character is a jerk, or even evil, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy them as a character. That's the magic of fiction! But if you completely ignore half of their actions... do you even like the character at all?

[my-unmanageable-mischief]

New Norm

For the Anon who requested : Hey can I get a Sirius black x reader fic where their parents arrange their marriage.

Part 2

Trigger warning : Vomiting 

Sirius Black x Reader

You were practically inconsolable. Sobbing deeply into your pillow as your mother rubbed your back, your grandmother was behind her standing in the doorway with her nose slightly in the air. She was never fond of you- a troublemaker since you could walk. The family disappointment. The moment you were sorted into Gryffindor you expected to be disowned. Your paternal grandparents took it hard, your father even harder, but your mother- a soft spoken and at her core, kind hearted woman, still loved you. You were her only daughter after all. 

“This is no way for a young lady to behave.” Your grandmother tisked, and your mother looked over her shoulder, eyes pleading, “You’ve been given a gift greater then you deserve, to marry into the noble house of Black is a great honor.” That’s all she kept saying. How honorable it was, how lucky you were. You didn’t feel lucky. You choked slightly on your tears and your mother rubbed your back slightly harder. 

“I don’t want to be married! Not to a Black, not to anyone!” You sobbed, punching your pillow before shoving your face into it and letting out a scream. 

“Despicable.” Your grandmother scoffed. “You should be grateful, for a girl like you to marry a man like-”

“Mother.” Your mother spoke firmly, never raising her voice, “Give us some privacy please.” Your grandmother was displeased but she turned and walked swiftly from the room, allowing your door to slam shut behind her. It sounded like the lid of your coffin closing. Once you were alone your mother wrapped you in her arms, pulling you to her chest, allowing you to cry it out. When you were good and done and fully exhausted she pulled back looking at you. 

“I am sorry.” 

“Then why are you doing this to me?” You asked, voice pleading as you looked at the woman who was supposed to protect you. She smiled sadly, wiping the tears from your face with the sleeve of her robe. 

“We’re not doing anything to you, my love. This truly is for your own benefit. A good husband with a good name will take you far in life. You know, your father and I had an arranged marriage. We turned out alright, and we had you- and all your lovely brothers. Good will come from this.” You wanted to argue with her. To tell her that your father was a bastard and that they didn’t turn out alright. Your eldest brother hadn’t spoken to your family since he graduated and your youngest brother was so brainwashed he had never had an original though in his life. Nothing about your family was fine. “Besides, your father has already set these plans in stone. This summer you are going to marry Sirius Black. That is final, my love.” Final. If the door was the lid to your coffin closing then those words were the nails keeping it shut. 

“Okay,” You croaked. 

“Wash up and come downstairs for dinner, we will talk more then.” 

“Okay,” Your voice was broken and hoarse from your sobbing. “Will grandmother be there?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” 

On the other side of London Sirius Black was having a very similar and entirely different conversation with his own dotting parents. Much more screaming, and a lot less sobbing but the sentiment was the same. He did not want to be married. Not to you, not to anymore, especially not to someone his mother picked out for him. 

“I’M NOT GETTING MARRIED!” He roared at his mother who threw another curse in his direction, Sirius dodged it. 

“You will do as you’re told your ungrateful bastard! You bring shame on this family every single day, this is the least you can do!” She screamed back, his father sat in the parlor reading the Daily Prophet, ignoring them both. 

“I haven’t even graduated! And you expect me to be married? To some bitch you’ve picked out for me?” His mother sneered. 

“A bitch she is, perfect for you. I couldn’t get anyone worthy of the Black name, since you’ve disgraced yourself. You will be marrying Y/N Y/L/N. I think you’ll have more in common then you know, both pure-blooded family disappointments. The bottom of the barrel. You deserve each other. Maybe you’ll learn then.” He stopped when she said your name, surprised. He knew you, sure he did. A fellow Gryffindor a year below himself. He knew you were smart, and pretty and as far as he could tell, kind. Frankly, he didn’t even know you came from a pure-blooded family. When Sirius said no more his mother lowered her wand slightly, still sneering. 

“Go to your room immediately and do not leave until you’re fetched. We will be dining at the Y/L/N’s house later this week to finalize the plans for the ceremony. You will be ready to go, and you will be on your best behavior. Or else.”

“Or else what?” Sirius muttered, moving towards the stairs. 

“Or else your father will have to deal with you.” He wouldn’t admit it but that frightened Sirius to the bone. He and his mother could fight and yell their heads off for hours uninterrupted, but once his father got involved it ended swiftly and painfully. Sirius nodded once before stomping up the stairs and down the hall to his bedroom, content to lock himself inside for the remainder of the week. 

  A week later you sat in your kitchen fidgeting awkwardly in a dress you would have never voluntarily worn. But your grandmother had bought it, and your mother insisted saying it was a gift and a kind gesture. You were convinced it wasn’t. A green light flashed from the next room over, where your grandfather and father were waiting for the Blacks to arrive, and you heard an unfamiliar voice going through introductions. 

“Get up,” Your grandmother snapped at you, and you stood but didn’t move. “Go!” She barked out, “If you’re to be the lady of the house it’s high time you learned some manors. Go greet your guests.” 

“Yes, grandmother.” You muttered, walking from the kitchen into the sitting room. You knew Sirius from school, mostly from the gossip of your dormmates- according to them he was a god and could do no wrong. You couldn’t deny he was fit and he and his mates were a laugh, but the Sirius you saw in your home was not the Sirius from Hogwarts. Gone was his usual laid back demeanor and it had been replaced with cold eyes and a painfully neural look. You were used to the rule breaking wild child you heard epic tails about. You were surprised he wasn’t brought here kicking and screaming. His parents looked just like him, and there was a younger boy with them, something with an R if you remembered correctly. 

“Hello,” You greeted them, glancing at your father and grandfather sideways as you attempted to muster a smile- it came out more of a grimace. “Welcome to our home, Mrs. Black, Mr. Black. Sirius. R-erm...” 

“Regulus.” The mother spoke curtly. You nodded.

“Regulus. Welcome.” 

“Thank you child,” She was a stern looking woman with a voice that cut through your thin dress, chilling your bones. But the father was even worse. He barely spoke a word, only stared at you disapprovingly. 

“Come to the dining room, dinner is ready,” You father offered, gesturing, the Blacks filed past him and you into the other room, Sirius glancing down at you and meeting your eye as we went. Dinner was awkward, the talk was strained and sparse. You ate your food quietly, keeping your eyes downcast and only speaking when directly addressed, which was rarely. You caught Sirius’s eye a few times during the meal and offered him a small shrug and halfhearted smile which he barely returned. At least you had one thing in common; your shared misery. 

“The wedding will be in July,” Mrs. Black stated, and that got both of your attention, two heads turned. 

“This summer? I’m-” 

“Thrilled.” Your grandmother completed for you, sending you a chilling look. You swallowed thickly and looked back down at your lap for a moment as the conversation finally shifted to why you were all gathered. 

“We can hold it here, if you’d like, in the yard.” Your mother offered, eyes misty with tears of joy at the idea. You were going to be sick. 

“May I be excused to go to the loo?” You managed to choke out, everyone looked at you, and your mother nodded. 

“Of course, dear, everything alright?” 

“Fine,” You spoke but you were already out of your chair as you practically ran from the room. You heard your grandmother’s voice before you shut yourself into the bathroom.

“She’s just nervous, you remember how it was.” Nervous wasn’t the word you would use. Disgusted was more accurate. Destroyed. Completely and utterly devastated. You retched into the toilet, spilling the contents of your dinner you had forced down. When you were done you laid on the floor for a few minutes, trying to calm yourself. 

“Sirius,” His mother pulled him from his thoughts. 

“Yes?” He asked boredly, pushing his food around with his fork. 

“Why don’t you go check on your fiance.” It wasn’t a suggestion as much as it was an order politely delivered for the sake of their company. 

“I’m sure she didn’t fall in,” He responded dirly and his mother’s face darkened. 

“Go. Now.” Sirius tossed his napkin down onto the table and glared back as he got up, following you in the direction you had went. He knocked on a door and opened it when no one responded and was met with a large office. Not the loo. He found another door and knocked sharply. 

“Be out in a mo,” Your voice called weakly from inside, he frowned. 

“It’s Sirius. I’ve been sent to make sure you’re not trying to escape through the pipes.” He joked lamely and listened to some shuffling on the other side of the door, when you opened it, it was from a seated position on the floor. He smirked slightly. “What are you doing down there?” He asked, stepping into the bathroom and shutting the door behind him, “Alright?” You scooted back towards the toilet and shook your head going green. 

“I think I’m going to be sick again, you might want to go,” You warned, gripping the toilet bowl with white knuckles. Sirius felt something for you in that moment- pity maybe. You seemed so young sitting on the floor of your bathroom, and that’s because you were. 

“I’ve seen worse,” He assured, wincing as you began to heave into the basen. He came forward awkwardly, scooping your hair into his hands, trying to keep it out of your face. “You should see James after a bottle of firewhiskey.” You snorted out a laugh before retching again violently. When you were done you sat back and wiped your mouth and Sirius dropped your hair, going to the sink to get you a glass of water. 

“Thank you,” You croaked, taking it and sipping it slowly, “I’m sorry you had to see that.” 

“It’s alright. Are you okay?” He asked, knowing the answer but wondering if you would grace him with honesty.

“No,” You whimpered, “This is all... too much.” 

“Understandable,” He agreed, sitting on the bathroom floor beside you, “I am sorry. About this, the situation we have found ourselves in.” You shrugged meekly and continued to sip on the water. 

“According to my grandmother marrying you is a blessing for a disgrace like me,” You spat the words, not looking at the boy. “Like I’m supposed to be grateful I’m marrying virtually a stranger. Like I’m supposed to be happy to be married right after I turn sixteen for Merlin’s sake.” He nodded sympathetically. 

“Well trust me, being seventeen doesn’t make it much easier. And according to my mother this is my punishment for being the family fuck up, no offense.” You waved him off with a hand, “So at least we’ve got that in common.”

“What a wonderful thing to share.” You mused and he chuckled. There was another knock on the bathroom door before it opened your mother poking her head in. “Mum,” You greeted her, how long had you been gone? 

“Y/N, are you alright?” She asked, coming fully into the bathroom eyes worried. 

“I think I’m ill, must be grandmother’s cooking.” You quipped and Sirius hid his laugh behind a cough. Your mother looked at you sternly for a moment before her eyes went soft. 

“Poor dear, come back to the table, say your goodnights and then go to bed, we can finish the planning without you, it’s not a worry.” You wanted to tell her you weren’t a part of the planning to start with but refrained. 

“Yes, mum.” Sirius got up first and took the glass from your hand, setting it on the sink before offering you his hand, which you took, allowing him to pull you up. “Thank you,”

“Don’t mention it.” He assured and your mother led you both back to the dining room. 

“Y/N isn’t feeling well,” She announced, and at the look of you no one could accuse you of lying, you were pale and clammy and still a bit green. 

“My apologies, Mrs. Black, Mr. Black. I wish I could have been better company.” You didn’t. Mr. Black simply nodded and you while Mrs. Black managed to barely hide a sneer. 

“Poor dear.” She stated drily, but you had an inkling that she could simply care less. “Feel better and worry not, your wedding will be taken care of, nothing for you fret over.” 

“Thank you, ma’am.” You managed a weak smile at her which she did not reciprocate.  Your mother ushered you off towards your bedroom and you managed to send Sirius a thankful glance over your shoulder as you went. 

You took solace in the little things over the next month of wedding planning. Mainly, that your mother allowed you to choose your own wedding dress much to your grandmother’s dismay. 

“It’s hideous.” She commented when you had brought it home. 

“I think it’s lovely,” you answered smugly before being forced to sit through another lecure about how ungrateful you were. She was right, you weren’t grateful for the torture they were putting you through. Your birthday came and went with little fuss, the only gift you received came late at night by owl. You went to your window, letting in the unfamiliar owl, and taking the small simply wrapped parcel from his leg before opening the attached note. 

Happy Birthday Y/N,

My mother said I should get you a gift for your birthday, and you’re lucky I talked her into letting me pick it out on my own, she’s got awful taste. You should see the dress robes she wanted me in for the wedding, even my father had to veto them. Anyroads, hope your birthday was good, happy sweet sixteen. Enjoy the wedding planning, I sure am. (Sarcasm if you didn’t pick up on it,). I will see you in a few weeks. 

Sirius

You smiled at the kind words, thankful for them. You set the letter aside and opened the package genly, revealing a small jewelry box, you opened it and allowed yourself a small gasp. It was a simple gold chain with a small ruby pendant, Gryffindor colors. You smirked, knowing it was a direct disrespect of his parents to get you such a gift, it made you love it more. You put it on and looked at yourself in the mirror, touching the jewel gently. 

The two weeks flew by sickenly fast and you found yourself laying in bed wide awake at three a.m. on your wedding eve. Your grandmother had denied your request to have some of your school friends attend, citing that there was no room on the guest list for half-bloods and blood traitors. When you finally slept, it was restless and you kept waking up, a pit in the bottom of your stomach. Finally, about the fifth time you woke up it was light enough outside that you could call it morning, so you dressed in a dressing gown and tiptoed downstairs. 

Your house was spotless, covered in flowers and decoration even though the ceremony would be held outside. You snuck into the kitchen and snagged an apple before going to the window to look at the backyard. Every bush was meticulously manicured. Chairs were set up with a white runner between them, leading to an altar adorned in more flowers. It was a bit too frilly for your taste but it wasn’t bad. You ate your apple, staring out over the scene before you, trying to picture yourself walking down that aisle, Sirius at the other end. You shuddered. 

“Y/N, you’re up early.” You turned to look at your mother and shrugged. 

“Couldn’t sleep.” 

“Too excited?” 

“Something like that,” You murmured and your mother looked at you with pity. 

“Come here dear child,” She offered you a hand and you came forward, taking it. She pulled you into a hug and you went limp in her arms. “It will be alright. I promise you.” You didn’t believe her but you still tried to seek comfort in her words. You found none. 

“I don’t want to be married,” You whispered. 

“I know, darling, but this is what is best for you, you must trust me.” You continued to cling to your mother like you were a little girl again. “You will return to Black manor after the wedding and I will miss you dearly.” You’d already had this conversation, this argument. “You will go to school, Sirius will graduate, and you will have a home of your own to return to by next summer. One more year of school for you and you’re done. You’ll be all set. A home, a husband, a life. It will be fine.” 

“Right,” Fine. 

You spent hours getting your hair and makeup done perfectly, all the while micromanaged by your grandmother who was in full force. If she couldn’t pick your dress out she was going to have a say in the rest of the ensemble. Finally, you were left alone for a few moments. You looked around at your bedroom, most of the important things already packed into a few trunks to be moved to Black manor. Your door opened and your father stood there, he was to give you away- literally and figuratively. 

“It is time. Come.” You walked to him taking his offered arm. He led you through the home you had grown up in and you felt a swell of emotions within you that you did your best to suppress. He stopped at the doors to the garden and waited for the music to start. One of your cousins was a flower girl and she stepped out first, throwing more petals onto the runner as she went. You were next. You took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself as your father covered your face with your veil. Another few seconds past and he began walking, taking you with him. It felt like a dream- or maybe it was a nightmare. Either way you didn’t feel like it was real. The guest list was small and intimate, which made it easier. You kept your eyes trained forward as you walked and they landed on your soon to be husband. He looked handsome, standing there in his black dress robes, a flower pinned to his chest. He was looking back at you, an unreadable expression on his aristocratic features. 

You stopped just in front of him. Your father turned you towards him and lifted the veil again, leaning down to kiss your cheek with an emotionless face. This entire event was all for show, to fulfill some meaningless expectations that didn’t matter. He turned you back towards Sirius who offered you his hand, you took it, allowing yourself to move up to stand across from him. You didn’t listen to a word of the ceremony, only tuning in when your hand was squeezed. 

“Do you, Sirius Black, take Y/N Y/L/N to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live?” So many promises in such a fleeting moment for a union without any love. Sirius looked at you, holding your gaze. 

“I do. I take you, Y/N, to be my wife from this day forward, to join with you and share with you all that is to come, and I promise to be faithful to you, to protect you, until death do us part.” He went off script. The script you had been forced to sit down and memorize for the last three weeks. What did you need protecting from? 

Do you, Y/N Y/L/N, take Sirius Black to be your wedded husband, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him, for as long as you both shall live?” You felt your throat closing up with panic as you looked at the man-the boy in front of you. As long as you both shall live, you repeated to yourself. He squeezed your hand again and you took a deep breath. 

“I-I do. I, Y/N, take you, Sirius, to be my wedded husband, with your faults and your strengths, as I offer myself to you with my faults and my strengths. I will help you when you need help, and turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life." As if it were a choice. 

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride. May Merlin bless this union.” Sirius took your other hand in his as well, so he was holding both in his. You never expected to be kissing your husband for the first time in front of a crowd of people- and you certainly didn’t expect the man in front of you to be Sirius Black. He leaned in and you fought to keep from pulling back. He pressed a gentle kiss to your lips, letting it linger for a moment as the guest applauded. When he pulled away he offered you a gentle smile which you returned. 

The reception was dull, even with Sirius by your side and the several glasses of wine you managed to consume. You danced when you were ordered to dance, socialized when you were ordered to socialize and ate at the designated times. Pictures were taken and you couldn’t help but wonder how they would look tacked up on the wall of your future home. Together. It was a weird feeling, to think about a future with the man, but it was becoming slowly less unpleasant. Towards the end of the night, Mrs. Black approached the two of you, placing an iron grip on Sirius’s arm and you didn’t miss how his entire mood shifted. 

“You will go inside, and floo home. There is more business to tend to here, for the adults. We will be home in an hour or so, you two will be in bed.” 

“Alright,” 

“Yes mother.” She corrected and he merely rolled his eyes at her. You began to panic. You were leaving? Now? You hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye to your mother. Sirius lead you into your house, into the quiet stillness that was welcomed. You stopped just inside, putting a hand on his shoulder as you slipped off your heels, holding them in your hand offering him a slightly lopsided and halfhearted smile. 

“I’ve been waiting to take these off all night,” You admitted, and he chuckled, offering you his arm as you walked through the house. 

“I don’t blame you, I couldn’t imagine going through that torture with the added bonus of being on stilts.” You snorted and he gave you the first genuine smile of the evening. 

“You’re cute when you do that.” Your cheeks burned as you entered the parlor where the fireplace was. Sirius helped you inside and took a handful of floo powder before announcing ‘Black manor’ and you were gone. Gone from your home you had grown up in, gone from your mother and your life and everything you were used to. You were now in an unfamiliar sitting room, surrounded by unfamiliar walls. Regulus sat on one of the sofas a book in hand. 

“Congratulations to the happy couple,” He drawled. 

“Shove it.” Sirius muttered, taking your hand and leading you from the room, up the stairs, and down the hall. He opened his bedroom door and ushered you inside. You looked around your husband’s room. You were hit with a wave of something. Sadness? It was the room of a boy, not a man, not a husband. A boy, because that’s what he was after all. Quidditch posters littered the walls, along with a grand Gryffindor banner that looked like it was stolen straight from the great hall- hell it probably was. Knick knacks and books and magazines littered his desk; at least he managed to put his laundry in the hamper. 

“It’s not much but it’s home.” 

“It’s lovely, very... you.” Sirius went to his bed, pulling a box out from underneath, opening it to reveal a full bottle of firewhiskey. “Shall we have a toast?” He asked hesitantly and your shoulders relaxed. 

“God yes,” You breathed and he chuckled, opening it. You came to the bed, sitting down beside him. Sirius took a long swig from the bottle before handing it over to you, and you did the same. 

“So... wife,” He started and you smirked slightly, handing the bottle back and watching him take another large gulp. 

“Yes, husband?” 

“Weird isn’t it?” He asked and you nodded, accepting the bottle when he handed it back.

“Really weird.”

“Bad?” He asked and you smiled slightly, nudging him with your shoulder. 

“Could be worse. They could have married me off to a Malfoy.” He laughed at that. You continued to talk about anything besides the wedding, besides your future. You became more and more relaxed in his presence as you drank and finally got the chance to properly talk. You moved from sitting awkwardly on the edge of the bed to lounging across it, you laying on your stomach and Sirius laying with his back against his pillows. You felt light and happy for the first time in a month. You two sat, giggling as Sirius recounted one of his finer pranks against Severus Snape. You snorted again, covering your mouth as you pictured the look on the slimy gits face. 

“Have you always done that?” He asked and you quirked a brow at him.

“Done what?” 

“Snort when you laugh, I never noticed it before.” 

“I didn’t think you noticed anything about me before..” You admitted. Sirius nudged you. 

“Course I did. Smart, funny, and pretty. You’re a trifecta my dear.” You felt yourself blush again, looking down at the half empty bottle between you. 

“Thank you,” You murmured and he shrugged. You stifled a yawn as Sirius looked at you softly. 

“Sleepy?” 

“A bit.” 

“We can go to bed.” He offered and you nodded. You looked around, suddenly aware that your trunks weren’t there in his room, they had probably been delivered downstairs, if they’d been delivered yet. Seeming to read your mind Sirius peeled himself from the bed, going over to his dresser. He took out a t-shirt of a muggle band you didn’t recognize and tossed it towards you. He went to another drawer and rooted around for a moment before coming up with a pair of boxers. 

“These are old, they should fit you,” He stated, tossing them as well, you caught them, rosy cheeks. He pointed to the door that was slightly ajar, “Bathroom is in there,” You nodded, and climbed out of the bed, smoothing out your dress. 

“Thank you.” You went into the bathroom and once you were changed you reemerged. The t-shirt was long on you, covering the boxers you were wearing. Sirius was lounging on the bed in a pair of sweatpants, shirtless. You averted your gaze, scratching the back of your neck. Sirius sat up, seeing you hesitate. 

“Do you want me to sleep on the floor?” He asked and you shook your head, going to place your dress over the back of his desk chair. 

“No, that’s alright.” You promised. He looked handsome basked in nothing but the light of the moon and the small oil lamp on his bedside table. You climbed into bed beside the boy and he pulled the covers over both of you, reaching over you to turn the lamp off. You flushed again with him so close to you. He moved away and you a moment past where you missed the proximity. Sirius laid back into his pillows, and you curled up on your side facing him. He turned his head and smiled at you. 

“Goodnight, my wife.” He raised a hand, brushing a lock of your hair away from your face. 

“Goodnight, Sirius.” He leaned over then, placing a small kiss on your cheek before settling back in with a large yawn. You remained curled up on your side until well after he had fallen asleep. You were exhausted but being surrounded by so much unfamiliarity you couldn’t sleep. Eventually you drifted off to the tune of your husband's light breathing. Your new norm.