#your potential has nothing to do with feeling your youth and how little you know

[uncanny-tranny]

It's actually kind of heartbreaking how many people feel their life has ended right after high school or college, and honestly, the heavy romanticization of that period of time is so overwhelmingly predominant that it can be hard to avoid. It's insidious to constantly be told that ages 10-24 are the only worthwhile parts of life, that everything after is essentially meaningless and dull.

It's hard not to look around you and think that your life still is open and full of potential when you're told over and over again that the rose-tinted childhood is the last time you were alive. It's hard to realize that your life isn't over when you walk off the stage of your graduation.

We must realize that we will always be full of potentials. Your life won't be over until you take your final breath, and then? That's simply another chapter in your story, one of many. Let yourself realize that you're alive in the here and now. There will be good and bad, but never a complete loss of potential or hope.

[fuji-sen]

the innocence of the youth; WUWA

This was requested by @crystalkat6747, it's in a headcanon format since I don't know how to stretch it long enough.

Characters in a Platonic Relationship: Jiyan, Baizhi, Rover, [Redacted], (Chixia is mentioned in the first part but doesn;t have her own headcanons.)

Details: shy and quiet child!Reader (+genderneutral?) who hardly speaks unless it's with someone they know, but then becomes childish, open and can be talkative with someone they are very close too. Already has their tacet mark, likes to explore and fight sometimes to prove your not a little kid anymore.

credits for divider: @saradika-graphics

You were a young child, and you were even younger when the house that you had lived in had crumbled into nothing above you due to an attack from wild monsters, who you would come to known as Tacet Discords.

Your body was in pain, pinned down by the materials of your house, honestly looking back at it now from the past you were surprised at how cheap building materials could keep you down, but then you remembered you were young, younger than you are now, not as strong, definitely malnourished and weak.

From under the rubble you could see your family, the people of your small village be ruthlessly killed by the tacet discords, you didn't cry at the bloodshed you had been a witness to, nor to the chaos you had been a victim to. Being on the verge of death and being a subject to something so painful had made your body and heart numbed.

The carnage didn't last however, once all the people of your village had either died or escaped, a person had swoop down, killed the tacet discords. By then your vision was blurry, and your eyes were slowly closing, you tried to speak, and get their attention but it was so hard, all you wanted to do was close your eyes and sleep, hoping this was all a nightmare. .

The sound of footsteps and the rubble being removed was the last thing you remembered, along with the feeling of warm hands holding to your small, broken form.

When you had awoken you were laid on a bed of straws, it hurt to sat up but you force yourself to as your form was covered in bandages. "Are you awake now?" a gentle voice said as you turned to the person, he was frail, an elderly man who you would come to call gramps.

Apparently when you were old enough, he had told you how he had found you. Hurt but bandaged at the side of a commonly used road. That meant that he wasn't the one who had pulled you out from the rubble, still that didn't make you love him any less. For he was the one who brought you to the large city you had now begun to call home.

Jinzhou of the Huanglong nation, that was where you lived now with Gramps. He worked as an artisan that meant having to go out of the city in search of materials, hence he had found you while he was going back home with a cartful of items (the straw was something he picked up for a neighbor that tended to animals).

After arriving at the city, he had prioritized in getting you properly checked up. "Why don't we ask Baizhi!" Chixia had suggested, Chixia was a patroller that had spotted helped protect you two from tacet discords on your way to the city. Her hair was a fiery red, but instead of reminding you of blood, it reminded you of warm fire for some reason which had soothed your nerves in the overwhelmed state you were in.

Although Baizhi was a researcher instead of an actual doctor, she accepted the request and had healed you, of course the rest was history as you began to slowly settle into the peaceful city life while meeting more and more kind people who treated you gently and with love, as if nurturing you like you were a sapling that had the potential to grow into something. .

BAIZHI❄️

❄️ Baizhi who was surprised to find you visiting her once again, like you had done so many times. Well rather than visiting, it was more like shyly spying her from the corner.

❄️ how did you even get inside? she wondered.

(you basically snuck in, taking advantage of your small frame)

❄️ You who wanted to thank her but found it hard to verbally say it, so you ended up just putting small gifts on her desks from cute stones, to some sweets you were given but thought she might like them, and even Laternberries!

❄️ wait- how do you even have this???

❄️ definitely the reason why Yangyang watches over you when they both realized you'd been leaving the city every now and then (of course that was when you were older and more fit).

❄️ Baizhi who confronts you one day when you were putting some flowers on her desk because Yangyang stopped you from going out of the city.

❄️ Baizhi who instead of kicking you out or scolding you, made a comment about preferring to receive presents in person.

❄️ Baizhi, who after a few days, had a small smile on her face when she felt small hands tug at her clothes to get her attention.

❄️ who traded the snack in your hand with a small gift of her own. A snow globe with real snowflakes inside that would never melt thanks to her efforts.

❄️ the snow globe that sat prettily on your bedside table, which you shake before laying down, watching as the snowflakes gently swayed before falling asleep.

JIYAN🐉

🐉the both of you definitely met in less than. . normal circumstances.

🐉Jiyan was either on the battlefield or walking around the camp to deal with TDs when he saw you walking on the path with a slight skip to your step, your bag heavy with items.

🐉the general who was concerned on why a child like yourself was alone so he approached you and asked you if you were separated by your parents.

🐉only for you to stare at him wide eye, unblinking, and unmoving as if his gaze made you scared and speechless.

🐉you who reacted by looking at your feet and then at him, wondering if he was a good person. Jiyan probably realizing you were scared of him or maybe just terribly shy, or both, crouched down to now tower over you and smiled.

🐉Jiyan who although had experience with dealing with children was at a lost, he didn't have any trinkets or snacks to give that were appropriate for a child, nor did he remember any jokes that a child would be able to digest. ah!

as you hugged your bag closer to you, you wondered if you should run. But you didn't not when the man had held his hand out and something shiny, blue and green emerged. a dragon!

it glowed brightly, dancing around his arms before reaching out to you. did he control it? or did the dragon have a life of its own? you didn't ask as you cupped your hands together and watched as the dragon used it as a sort of nest, blinking at you before circling around you, head gently butting you.

you giggled at the gentle feeling and the small warmth the dragon had generated.

you decided then to trust the fellow who told you of his name, Jiyan.

🐉 Jiyan was relieved that he got you to follow him to the camp, which was a much more safer location. Of course the soldiers or midnight rangers couldn't help but stare, baffled at the usual stoic general holding the hand of a child who was chattering his ears off with various stories you experienced or were told.

🐉 Jiyan who ended up leaving a few of the rangers to watch over you and the camp, thinking you'd prefer their more outgoing or friendly personality compared to his own that has been jaded with responsibilities and lost throughout the years.

🐉 Jiyan who was surprised that the minute he and the others returned, you had came, tackling his leg and burying your face into it. "Hi!" Who had learned from those who watched over you that you rarely spoke to them. Who didn't believe it at first, especially when the both of your were in his tent, as he worked through his paperwork, he could hear you talk about the plants and tacet discords you found when you were walking around before bumping into him.

🐉 Jiyan couldn't help but feel smug at the fact though, a fact that his rangers didn't fail to notice.

"General!! how do you get [name] to open up to you?" one of his soldiers asked when he was alone and you were busy elsewhere.

Jiyan who simply responded that he did not know how, while the rangers looked at each other and then at the grin that was on the teal haired man's face.

🐉 his rangers who despite being jealous of how you opened up with the general, were happy because finally they felt their general feel or become more humane or at least. . more content than jaded, than haunted.

They watched as you were helping Jiyan with caring for the wounded, as you who drowned in focus, tried your best to wrapped an injured man's arm with bandages. The general standing behind you, giving you pointers every now and then.

They watched as their general smile, patting your head when you managed to get it right or at least improved.

🐉 Jiyan when it was time for you to go when your friends had found you to escort you back to your worrying gramps, had simply smiled, assuring you that you should go with them when you hesitantly looked at him.

🐉 Jiyan who found his tent eerily silent the first day that you were gone, who couldn't help but feel lonely.

🐉 Jiyan who found notes around his camp and with his rangers for him with simple notes of 'hello!' 'how are you?' 'did you eat?' 'did you rest?'

He found one of his medicine kit, a small note with a flower that was starting to wilt. 'Thank you for teaching me how to wrap bandages!'

He who received one from his rangers who had a beaming smile as he read 'I like you and the midnight rangers, your soldiers are funny hehe'

He who found one in his drawer, a small polished rock used as a paper weight 'make sure to rest and not frown too much! things will be okay! Gramps said that our lives aren't filled with just sufffering after all!'

He who probably found the last note, this one was bigger and folded. Jiyan who found a drawing of not only you and him, but also the other midnight rangers!

🐉 Jiyan who ignores the other rangers that visit him more and more, definitely just to take a peek at the framed drawing. He didn't mind, it was for everyone after all.

🐉 Jiyan who muttered to himself at one note in particular.

'do you miss me? :3 I definitely miss you big brother!'

"I miss you too."

🐉 Jiyan who didn't let the loneliness consume or distract him, who used your notes for motivation, that add to his resolve as he braved the night and day.

🐉 Jiyan, who when he finally received a break, decided to spend it by visiting you and your gramps.

ROVER ✨ (gender neutral for both rover gender-friendly)

✨ Rover first met you when they had first entered the city with Chixia and Yangyang. You were in the streets, walking around clearly bored when Chixia had called for you to approach them.

✨ They noticed your smile upon seeing the red haired girl, only for it to disappear when your eyes landed on them. And your immediate reaction was to shy away by hiding behind Chixia.

✨ Chixia had laughed at your reaction and rover's who felt an arrow struck their heart wondering if they were unapproachable to warrant such a reaction.

"They're shy" Yangyang told them with a giggle, as she passed the rover and walked towards you, crouching to not seem to scary. "Hey there name, have you been good since the last time I saw you?" The black haired woman asked and you bobbed your head 'yes' in response.

"Really? then why have I seen your running around the city without an adult?"

You pouted, running to Rover, preferring a stranger over Yangyang's silent wrath (an exaggeration, but something so real for a young child such as yourself). The golden eyed rover was surprised at the weight that was put on one of their leg. "Woah!"

The both of you almost fell from losing your balance.

✨ On days Yangyang was keeping on eye on you to make sure you weren't leaving the city alone without an adult, were the days you decided to force the Rover the accompany you. Baizhu and Chixia weren't an option since they had their own responsibilities, and even if Yangyang offered you knew you wouldn't be able to do anything exciting or fun due to her overprotectiveness.

✨ Meanwhile the Rover was wondering when had the child distribution chose them and made them a babysitter? Well they weren't entirely complaining, not when you were helping them deal with the tacet discords and exploration, they were a bit surprised when how easily you dealt with them though. . maybe Yangyang's worries weren't unfounded, , huh?

"Hey [name]?" you called him over as you two find yourself sitting on a rock, enjoying the view with snacks in hand that Yangyang had provided.

You turned to him expectantly, cheeks puffed up as you were in the midst of chewing. Their hearts squeeze at the cute sight, resisting the urge to pinch your cheeks they asked "When did you get your tacet mark?"

To their credit you didn't shy away from the topic, usually tacet marks were a very sensitive tale to an individual. "Dunno. . got it when I woke up after getting hurt."

They winced "sorry, it must have been a bad memory. ." You shrugged, perhaps because you were a child you still didn't understand the gravity of the incident, "maybe. . but i dunno, I dont feel too sad"

Watching your 'family' and the villagers die, it didn't make you feel any grief, really all you felt was the impending doom of what was going to happen if they found you or no one did.

"Still, you're safe now." They reached out their hand, patting the top of your head softly, fingers combing through your locks as you felt such bliss. "I'm glad I got to meet you [name]."

"me too. ."

✨ Rover definitely became one of your self-proclaimed older sibling, you had a lot of those now huh?

✨ but you weren't complaining, they let you accompany them outside the city and even let you handle tacet discords (With their supervision).

✨ He also helped introduced you to new friends your age! who have tacet marks too! like Encore and Verina!

✨ Rover has definitely met your gramps too, who made them promise to keep you safe whenever you were with them.

✨ Rover who still lets you have fun whether it be with fighting with TD or joining you when they want you to do something else, but still making sure things don't get out of hand and that you are safe.

✨ Rover who is truly happy to have met you, because in this world of uncertainty and with no memories, you were there like a comforting friend, a younger sibling.

SCAR🩸

(hope you don't mind, but I wanted to sneak scar into the headcanons 💕)

You frowned, rubbing your nose as you had bumped into someone. Someone rather tall and strong who did not fell on their butt like you had upon the impact.

"Well well, look who we have here" the person said and you couldn't help but think wow, they had such a good voice and why did it seems so familiar?

Staring up at the person you were met with a man who had two hair colors and two eye colors, you were mesmerized by the colors that complimented his face.

"It's been awhile little lamb" Scar said, lips twitching to a smile as you stared up at him with those innocent wide eyes as if you found him so. . amazing.

🩸 After bumping into the man (who danced around your questions about his name), you found yourself easily growing attached to him to the point you could quickly talk to him.

🩸 Since he wouldn't give you his name, you made things easier by giving him the title of 'older brother'.

🩸 Scar brushed off the title, making a comment about how you two weren't even related but inside he couldn't help but feel. . lighter at the nickname.

🩸 Because of his chaotic and dangerous nature as well as personality, he was probably one of the few who accepted and even encouraged you when or rather IF you want to start fighting tacet discords using your Forte.

🩸 Since he's a wanted criminal, you two usually meet up at night, it usually involved him sneaking into your room and bringing you outside the city to avoid anyone interrupting you. But sometimes he'd bring you into his domain thingy (where he fought the rover) if you ask nicely aka. .

“pleaseeee”

“Please what?" he asked, feigning ignorance as his two colored eyes lit up in mischief.

Pouting you tugged on his cloak "Please big brother? I wanna go into your super cool domain!"

"Atta kid" he said with a satisfied smile as he'd then mess up your hair while you two were brought into his domain.

🩸 whenever you could sneak away during the day, he'd suddenly appear and mess with you and annoy you, he was beginning to act more and more like an annoying older sibling.

🩸 once he was confident in your skills and use with your forte, he'd probably start training you seriously.

"Okay, so see how this guy is attacking me impulsively, you can take the chance and do this!" he laughed maniacally as he demonstrated one of his signature moves which effectively killed the tacet discord on impact.

". . . that's so cool!" you nodded vigorously, burning the memory into your mind.

And after a few days of practicing, you showed off all your efforts and training by doing the same move and killing a tacet discord in front of him.

Scar was definitely happy and proud! "Good job kid! I'd say you deserve some ice cream, come on." He'd then carry you off to a store where you guys do your usual routine.

🩸 that routine was to threaten the owner to get free ice cream and you'd act as a hostage. Then you'd two leave and when Rover finds you, you are alone, safe and sound, with some ice cream at the corner of your mouth.

Scar didn't expect to meet you once again, when he found himself in the same area as the hometown he left years and years ago, he decided to take a look, only to find the place on the brink of destruction and death. Yet instead of helping, he watched, watched with cruel eyes and a sinister smirk, the same people who casted him out were now paying the price for their ignorance and pride.

When the residents of the town had either perished or left, then did he jumped into the fray and deal with the Tacet discord. Yet he was surprised to find something other than excitement and carnage, there you were, on the verge of death, trapped under a pile of rubble. So against his better judgement and his chosen way of life, he took you out, bandaged you as you were fading in and out of consciousness.

He questioned what he was doing, hand combing through his locks. He wasn't one to take care of children, nor save them. Especially know when he was part of the Fractsidus. You stirred in your slip, eyes slowly opening but there was a haze to it, your eyes were unclear due to the layer of drowsiness on you, no doubt you'd fall back asleep quickly.

And yet you had enough energy for your hand, bandaged and broken as it may be, to grab his own. Your hand barely even enveloping his large ones, you fell asleep back once again, a small smile on your face, feeling accomplished for catching some 'warmth'. Then there was a glow on your hand, a tacet mark had formed.

"oh?"

Perhaps Scar will stay with you a bit longer, but not permanently. When your condition had stabled, he had made the choice to leave you at a fairly used route by merchants and residents of the Jinzhou.

Possibly this will be my last post for the WuWa fandom, I just got so burnt out with it for some reason that playing it is hard for me.

[jester-lover]

do you have to let it linger?

Dorm leaders and their greatest insecurities in a relationship (part 2 with some fluff)

cw- angst, de@ th, image issues, slight hurt/comfort, just a lot of sadness gn! Reader

Riddle

With his temper, and his need for justice, Riddle is feared amongst his fellow students

His insecurities in your relationship largely revolve around his inability to understand calmness and his lawful nature

Riddle fears that one day, one horrible day, you will find someone more easygoing, who won’t live with such stern rules

He fears that you will deem him a tyrant, someone who holds you back from your future potential, someone who holds you back from having fun in your youth

Riddle is scared of you fearing him.

Riddle is scared of you hating him.

Leona

Growing up, Leona was always a afterthought

His most important moments have been diminished for his brother’s, he just wants someone who puts him on top

But deep down, Leona knows his achievements are mediocre compared to the brilliant, energetic minds around him

Leona knows he will never be at the top of anything, including your priorities

He clings to you when you’re alone together, wondering if you would prefer a more lively person

Leona knows you don’t deserve to be married to a second-best prince, you are the light in his eyes and the breath in his throat

Leona knows he needs you, he doubts that you need him.

Azul

Azul keeps his eyes on every mirror he can find, looking for any irregularities or marks

If he finds one, he feels dread fill his stomach, as he desperately tries to hide away any imperfections from you

Azul is a deeply complex young man, he cares a lot about his appearance, and controlling those around him

He has fears of abandonment that run deep, so he tries to keep himself ‘perfect’ in your eyes

But when those cracks slip open, the scared little boy who hides inside of him is open for you to see

Kalim

Kalim throws wealth around like it’s nothing almost every single day

He has such little respect for savings or otherwise, and he often gets comments about being ‘out of touch’

He often fears that one day you’ll get bored of him and drop him

He tries his best to relate to you, but at some point he’ll have to realize how privileged he is compared to the common person

Vil

Vil can be critical of practically everything, including you on the occasion

He fears being second best, and he fears you seeing him as such

He has this inferiority complex around other beautiful people, and he is desperately afraid that one day, you will simply find someone more beautiful

Vil keeps himself set to a high standard of beauty, knowing that it’s one of his only advantages in your relationship

Idia

Idia truly can’t understand why you would want to be with him, a greasy nobody who sits in his room all day

No matter what positive traits you show him about himself, his underlying feelings of unworthiness will always be there

Idia disassociates for long periods, just thinking about what he’ll do once you finally understand your worth and leave him behind

Malleus

Malleus is so excited to have a partner, but there is always a sense of urgency to your relationship

Malleus will live forever, and you will live for a fraction of that time

He tries not to dwell on it, but in the late hours of the night, when he’s walking beside you as you ramble on, he can’t help but think about how fragile you are

His heart sinks.

All malleus can imagine for a brief moment is the passage of time, how quickly you will grow grey hair and wrinkles on your face, and how quickly you will slip away from him

Sebek

Sebek has struggled with his sense of self for a while, he’s caught in the middle of two very different identities

His loud boisterous nature has caused people to stay away from him, except for you

He fears that one day, you will also see him as annoying or rude, when he’s stuck trying to dissect his human identity alongside his fae one

Sebek is most afraid that you will see him as a weak minded young man, unable to decide what his role is, even if that’s the least of your concerns

I added my favorite boy as a bonus, also I’m sorry for the Kalim part, he’s literally so chill idk what he’s be insecure about. I’ll most definitely be working on a sequel to this.

[princelylove]

Hmm I just have this question in my mind. Who do you think is the worst yandere to deal with and who is the easiest to deal with in Joestar blood line? (If can, I'd love to know your ranking on each person)

For me, I think the worst to deal with is Jotaro (he is too strong and smart to fight back) and the easiest is Jonathan (a gentleman, he is so sweet, so easy to manipulate)

~ 🏵️ anon ~

I included Lisa Lisa + Holly because nobody talks about them enough. I love women. Technically Lisa Lisa doesn’t count but shhh. I omitted Johnny because I feel like I should reread sbr… This is subject to change if my interpretation of any of these characters develops, but for now I'm fairly confident in it.

From easiest to worst:

I have to agree with Jonathan for the easiest. He hasn’t discovered free will or the fact that he has the potential to be a lot worse. Look at DIO- besides from the vampirism, that’s all Jonathan. That’s terrifying. A man of that size hunting you down is frightening, but you’re in luck, Jonathan has no plans of mistreating you. He’s very careful to respect your wishes- and mopes when you tell him no. He respects you, he’s not going to go against your wishes and escort you home without you wanting it. (He’ll just follow behind. Very far behind. No one is going to harm his darling on his watch.) He sulks if you flat out reject him, but he’ll leave you alone for a little while. It’s not gentlemanly to pursue someone after they’ve said no! It’s not gentlemanly to beat all of his love’s suitors to almost-death either, but that’s got nothing to do with you. “I just can’t afford to lose you. Won’t you please let me walk you home?”

The worst you’re getting with Josuke is his little random urges to act on his sadism, which is once in a blue moon. You’re fine. You even have the right to go outside and go places without him! He’s like the obsessive boyfriend that blows up your phone when you haven’t texted him in a while. If your phone has a do not disturb mode you’ll be alright. Just send him a selfie and a quick explanation of every little thing in the shot. He tends to cling when you return to him, but is that really so bad? Josuke’s your own personal weighted blanket, and doesn’t jump to conclusions when you miscommunicate. He’ll hear you out, let you explain yourself, take some time to think about it, and give you a little smack on the wrist if you didn’t do anything too bad. That isn’t to say that he won’t properly punish you, it’s just that it takes a lot for him to get there. He’s fair. “You’re going out? Kay, text me.”

Holly is a sweetheart, and by herself, should be much higher on this list.. Her son, however… is the worst. He likely learned his yandere tendencies from her in his youth, when she was still with his father. If you’re going to “parent” him, he’s gonna make sure you’re really fit to be around her in the first place. Holly knows how to read the room, she’s very good at picking up on someone’s true intentions. She’s seemingly very passive, but that isn’t really the case! Holly is very tolerant. She understands the stress, and just wants to help. You can lash out, say things out of stress, maybe even try to run away, but you’ll be back. If you’re not… Well, first you’ll receive a very special “pretty please” message, and second you’ll receive a very pissed off Jotaro, here to drag you by your collar back to where you belong. Holly truly believes that she knows better, and while she doesn’t have the personality to be firm and a bit mean to you to get you back in line, her son does. She doesn’t want to punish you! You’re her everything, your pain is her pain! You’re never in any real danger with Holly. Jotaro coming to get you, though? Fair game. “Oh, sweetheart… please let me put a bandaid on that. I’ll kiss it better!”

As long as you’re complacent, you’ll survive Joseph. Considering the lack of a physical threat, he should be a bit higher, but he’s more overbearing than Holly is, and more willing to trap you himself. Sure, he’ll follow you everywhere and insist on showing you every little thing he’s doing, but he means well. He’s very overbearing, but as long as you consistently show Joseph affection and the attention he’s begging for, you’re allowed to have a relatively normal life. It’s like having a big puppy following you around that thinks he’s a lap dog. He just won’t ever leave you alone. Or let you buy things yourself. Why would he?? He’s right there, let him do it! Not like he’s doing anything with that Joestar money. Joseph’s very touchy, he’ll almost always have his arm around you, or insist on holding hands. He needs you. He goes crazy without you. He can’t sleep, won’t train to his full potential, and barely touches his food if you’re not there. Joseph is obsessed with you, and can’t do anything without having a little hit of you first. Poor guy. “Have you ever thought about moving to new york?”

Jolyne can be an asshole, but she’s a lot better than the rest of this list. She tells it to you how it is- you’re hers, and she wants to be by you all the time. Jolyne’s not the most emotionally expressive, I see her a lot in younger Jotaro, but she is very verbally expressive. She has no mental filter; Nothing’s ever up in the air when it comes to Jolyne. She’s just sort of keeping guard over you most of the time, and is fine with just being around you, for a little while. She’s fine with physically threatening you if you get out of line, her muscles aren’t just for aesthetics. She does it in “subtle” ways- picking you up to move you out of her way, pulling you onto her lap, putting her well-built thigh over you while you’re sleeping together. She tells you to call her “Jojo” and won’t answer to anything else- I think she spent too much time with Gwess. She craves that mushy, disgustingly affectionate talk she used to get from her ex, and fully expects it from you. She’s terribly insecure, and needs the consistent reassurance that you’re into her or she’ll get in your face about it. You don’t like her anymore? What kind of stupid bitch changes their mind in a day? Did she do something? Are you mad?? What’d she do??? “You and me. That’s all you gotta think about.”

Lisa Lisa loves to micromanage. You don’t really need to think with her, do you. All of your needs will be met on her private island- there’s staff, luxurious utilities, and plenty of space for you to “free roam.” You might feel free in the beginning, but once you see people going about their day across the water, it’s clear how trapped you are. Lisa Lisa likes keeping you where she can see you, and if she’s busy with training, you can sit off to the side where it’s safe to watch. If it weren’t for Suzi Q, she’d ask that you bring her drinks every once in a while. Aht. Don’t forget her kiss, either. Lucky for you, Suzi Q is absurdly good at her job, and you won’t need to lift a finger. Just sit there, read your magazine in the sun, or pay attention to Lisa Lisa’s teachings. Not that she’d ever approve of you using hamon. You're meant to be hers, that's it. What's the point of teaching a lap dog how to be a guard dog? Just sit still and be pretty for her, or face the consequences. “Darling, come back inside.”

Jotaro does not know how to be normal. His yandere “habits” weren’t exactly discouraged in his youth, so he sees no issue with behaving this way. An older Jotato might be better to deal with- he’s more calm, more rational. I’d put older Jotaro in the high middle difficulty rather than being on top, since he has a lot more patience and won’t just rush to kidnap you, but young Jotaro? I’ll pray for you. Most of the people down this low on the list are intelligent, thorough, and aggressive. Jotaro meets all three of those categories. He just wants to protect you. Don’t be stupid and push him away. Controlling and way too overprotective, Jotaro sleeps well at night knowing that you’re exactly where you need to be- locked up where no one else can find you, and in his arms. He doesn’t really think much of physical affection- his mother normalized it so much that he truly doesn’t see anything wrong with always touching you. He’s just making sure your heart’s still beating, your lungs are still working, your stomach isn’t growling… Jotaro knows you need the sun, but to be honest, the most you’re getting is the courtyard, or an open window. He just can’t risk it. Maybe he can be convinced to give you some vitamins for what you’re lacking, as long as he can read the label and have some time to research where exactly it’s coming from. If you try to run away enough times, he’ll break your legs. He really doesn’t want to, and will hesitate riiiight before he snaps them both, but he will. He’ll nurse you back to health, and work you through physical therapy, so don’t whine. You did this to yourself. “Don’t be such a pain in the ass, I’m helping you.”

Giorno is not too keen on letting his possessions act on their own. That’s what you are, really. All of passione is under his possession, sure, the products, the money… the people. He views you as one of his things. That isn’t to say that he doesn’t love you, he very much so does, but there just isn’t room for doubt that Giorno views you as ‘his’ first, and a person second. He knows what he’s doing to you by clipping your wings, it’s a shame things have to be this way in order for him to obtain what he wants. He understands it's wrong to kidnap someone, and to restrain them, but in the end, isn't it for the better? It's like keeping a cat strictly indoors. You may underestimate him since he isn’t as physically built as the rest of his family- even Jolyne has considerably more muscle than him- but that would be unwise. Giorno’s thought of every possibility, and has prepared for it sufficiently- what he has on Jotaro is his ability to adapt, quickly. He's a very quick learner. Giorno can sweet talk his way out of any situation, whether that be through twirling his hair and giving you that doe eyed expression or through a genuine threat. He has both the foundation and passione twirled around his pinky. What makes Giorno so awful is his ability to read you, and the fact that if you ever seriously wrong him, you’ll never see Heaven. Once Giorno loves you, it's him or death- You get no warnings. It’s pointless to hide your true intentions from Giorno. You may think you have choices, but it’s all the same in the end. His expectations are very high, but to avoid disappointment, he’ll likely pick someone that already meets some of his requirements- Why would he go through the effort of fixing someone to his liking when he can find someone that’s perfect for him, and will stay perfect? Giorno is as alluring as can be, and once you’re finally within his grasp, there is no way out. “I expected more from you.”

[halcyon-autumn]

Fantasy High Characters and the song I think they'd listen to the most off the new Taylor Swift album

Kristen: okay early Trackerbees Kristen would listen to But Daddy I Love Him SO much and probably post lyrics on instagram. Judgemental small town with religious overtones opposed to a relationship? Just like her fr. Post-breakup Kristen blasts So Long London SO LOUD that the rest of Mordred Manor starts to have weird pavlovian responses to any song with the same chords.

Sandra Lynn: Sandra Lynn would not make it past Fortnight on the album I fear she would hear one song about an affair and turn off her phone. Sorry Sandra Lynn I love you queen but she would not have a good emotional time with this ablum

Jawbone: Jawbone WOULD love Fortnight but he doesn't pay attention to anything but the chorus and sort of assumes it's about the game. Occupational hazard of working with youths.

Riz: I truly beleive Riz was a Dateline kid and he'd like a cool song about going to Florida because you murdered someone. It's got burying bodies in swamps and stuff! Florence + The Machine is there! Great song for murder-obsessed teens.

Fig: I Can Do It With a Broken Heart because, she claims, "it's got a great beat!" (she misses Ayda)

Sklonda: Just pick whatever song you think people would listen to during sex and put it here. We know next to nothing about Sklonda/Gorthalax but I assume the sex is good so fill in the blank.

Kipperlilly: Kipperlilly was actually listening to Who's Afraid of Little Old Me on airpods when she stabbed Buddy Dawn and Brennan just didn't mention it. She's like 'oh an angry song for a short person that people don't want at parties? that's me.' Yes good question she WOULD sing the asylum lyric without any irony

Rueben: Rueben HATES Taylor Swift he DETESTS her no one can bring her up around him or he will go on a RANT but catch him crying to loml and thinking about Wanda Childa

Tracker: Nara walks on in her listening to How Did It End? and is like "oh why are you crying???" and Tracker has to lie REAL FAST and say she's thinking about Gallicea (sorry Nara)

Gorgug: All of the Bad Kids band together to keep him from hearing a single song off this album so that he doesn't think about Zelda and start crying.

Aelwyn: imgonnagetyouback because she loves to sing about violence

Adaine: Adaine listens to the first eight seconds of The Prophecy over and over against her will because Aelwyn keeps sending it to her under various guises being like "did this happen? did you see this? is this what the old elven people want?" it's like Elven Oracle rickrolling. To be clear - Adaine hates this song.

Fabian: I think Fabian would hear ONE sad song, think about the immense loneliness he feels every day, and throw his special edition vinyl out the window like a frisbee.

Gilear: Gilear accidentally downloaded an Enya album

Arthur Aguefort: this one is hard to explain but I think Aguefort would choose Clara Bow as a karaoke song despite it being one of the worst potential karaoke songs on the album. This is deliberate on his part. Also I think he'd be a real Stevie Nicks girlie.

Feel free to comment/argue/tell me your thoughts!

[mrssimply]

Santino topping John WOWOWOW

How often does it happen? And how does Santino get John into that mood? Or does John kinda want it just because he feels like it? :3

An interesting question I asked myself more or less recently (I made a mention of Santino topping John in The Burning of Rome, as you know ;)).

Here is how I see it: first, I have to say it's rare for me to write couples that don't switch position. That's clearly due to my own experience, but I know some people prefer one or the other, and Santino clearly has a preference for bottoming in my head.

So I would answer it like this: it's not John who needs to be in the mood, it's Santino.

John is by default in the mood for everything his partner(s) might want, be it Helen, Caine, Koji (yes, thanks to Koda, it's now a HC they had a little polycule back in their youth) or of course, Santino. His own desire often takes a backseat to the desire of his parner(s): nothing gets him off harder than giving pleasure, or responding to his partner(s)' want.

I think we also have to separate top/bottom from dominant/submissive, or from driving/following. In my head, John is a follower. He's not a leader in anyway, and if he happens to create movement around him, it's accidental, or collateral, nearly never conscious. I always loved how... surprised he was by the consequences of his actions (Him refusing to honor the Marker => Santino blowing his house up, then later of course being excomunicado, later again having the whole High Table on his ass and he's like "I've never asked for any of this" and I'm like "John, my man, did you stop for one second to think about the chain of events you were setting into motion?". Many characters tell him variations of that: Winston, Koji, the Elders, Gianna...). In a way, he's very passive in his own narrative: his thought process is very forward and simple (that doesn't mean he isn't intelligent, it means he doesn't care about complexities and the big picture). In that way, I feel like he's very "in the moment" and very attuned to what people feel, even if he often lacks the words to express it.

So back to sex: John responds to the desire of his partner first and foremost in my head. So he's basically always potentially in the mood to top or bottom, it doesn't depend on him, it depends on his partner a lot. That doesn't mean he can't have wants and desires of his own, but to me he's very attuned to the mood of his potential partners, and even unconsciously he'll give them what they want.

It also means that to me, he's more submissive than dominant, but then again, if his partner requires dominance, he'll do it in a heartbeat, and he'll like it.

Santino, on the other hand, is a pillow princess, and a brat. He loves to be whorshipped and conquered, you gotta earn the right to put your hands on him, it's a privilege and he intends for his partner(s) understand that very clearly before he let them kiss his toes.

He will take on a more active and leading role because he loves to test his partners. It's really a way for him to ensure they're worthy of him. Of course he's a control freak, letting go is the ultimate gift he can offer to a partner, but they need to work for it painstakingly. Every game he plays with John in my fics is just him being a scared little boy in need of reassurance. Being pampered, held, and taken is how he feels safe and loved, even if it hurts.

He also understands perfectly how receiving can mean being on top: the control it gives him, the way he can use his body as a weapon of submission. To him, it's not a matter of position, it's a matter of controling the mindset of his partner, and hiding behind a screen.

And finally, I'll answer the question: it doesn't happen often because to him, topping is giving. It's putting the need and desire of his partner first, and not his own, it's taking care, and not being taken care of (again, it's how I think he views it, it's in no way an absolute truth). For the mood to strike he would have to be in a very safe place, with a partner he trusts entierly, in a moment he feels confident enough and good enough to give. A moment where the bottomless pit of want that exists by his heart is somewhat filled. A fragment of time where he has enough selflove to pass an opportunity to receive the devotion he expects of his partners, and for once, to give some of that devotion to his lovers.

And that is very rare.

ALRIGHT, thank you for coming to my Ted Talk, I'll gladly take more questions if you're ready to read entire essays that probably lack cohesion but whatever, I'll stand my ground xD.

Thank you so much for the ask, this was really fun!

[nyxvamps]

Child of Chaos - Xand Donovan:

Chaos Itself was curious. All of these primordials and titans and gods and other deities are making offspring, so It decided to do so as well. It had created many things, but had never 'raised' a child the way parents do.

It created Itself a human form. They did so easily. All They had to do was observe some humans for a few minutes and create a body that would pass as attractive and that could hold a child. They’re very androgynous and it seems as though no matter who looks at Them, they see something they like.

The whole process of creating a child in 9 months wasn’t something They were interested in, so They sped up the process to a day.

The child was born and They realized They would need to learn how to raise a demigod (demiprimordial? demientity?). So They observed. They picked and chose from the minds of the humans around Them what seemed to be the best ways to raise a child and did what They could to raise this child into a well rounded human. It worked, to an extent. When you are the literal beginning of existence you tend to have some quirks that can pass down to your offspring.

Overall, The child, that was named Xand Donovan (names that many people seem to think are "cool" and "edgy" which is apparently a good thing among human youth.) was a typical yet very weird ass kid.

Xand looks normal, until you see them from the corner of your eye, then it's like their eye's flashed like a cat's or their outline blurs slightly. It always feels like it's about to storm when you're near them. That feeling of static gathering like lighting is about to strike.

Xand kind of has, maybe, a little bit of a god complex, but not in a "im better than everyone no one can best me" kind of way, but in a "I'm going to live forever so why should I waste my infinite time with being insecure and caring about how others view me. They will die soon and will become a blip in my time in existence" kind of way. If that makes sense.

Xand loves humans. They have genuine relationships with them and they creates friendships and longs for people in their personal life and feels and wants and needs just like humans do. But Xand also knows that they are different and that they are an infinitely powerful being that is only nerfed by the fact that their parent is stopping them from ascending into primordial...hood? Why, because they are too young.

"Parent? I am 247 years old. That is like, 23 in human years. When will you let me join you as a diety?"

"Like I have said before my child, when you are older and have matured. Now. Explain again what these two women are trying to portray by running over and over again to their original song. It's very catchy."

The two of them, though they look human enough, feel very not of this world. If you were to meet one of the olympians, you feel that as well, but with Chanon and Xand Donovan, it's like being in a room with an eldritch horror, but not realizing how horrificly in danger you actually are.

They are uncanny valley without being uncanny. Something sets you off but you convince yourself that you're imagining it while your hair stands on end and you start to sweat.

Now: Power time.

We know that Chaos is literally the beginning of everything, therefore, can potentially have whatever power it wanted. It's child is not that powerful but is very much op. Of course.

While Xand is not able to ascend yet, their powers are more imaginable. Powers that make sense and you are able to wrap your brain around unlike being the beginning of all existance.

Xand is able to change their appearnce in anyway possible. Think, Nimona. Nimona can change into a shark, an exact replica of Bal with his voice too, a bird, a random little boy, (cough *ashes* cough).

They are able to create anything out of practically nothing. If they have a handful of dirt, they can make a new phone. A pile of trash? A beautiful house. Water partials in the air? A nice glass of juice. If there is matter, it can be manipulated. If Chaos let Xand ascend, they would be able to make anything out of nothing, just like their parent.

Xand can also "be" multiple places at once. Now, right now they only have one physical body, but they are able to split their consciousness up into multiple pieces that can functionally be in different places at the same time. Kinda like multiple ghost versions of them that are all their own sentient beings while separate.

We're gonna go a little cliché here and bring in telekinesis. When your parent in the beginning of creation, you're gonna be able to manipulate matter. and that means being able to throw it around and move it at will.

im gonna have so much fun with this character.

[nobodysdaydreams]

If Pryce and Cutter hate the youths so much, then why don't they move across the universe to get the marriage counseling they clearly need and stop making their BS everyone else's problem?

(Or my reaction to Episodes 59-60 of Wolf359).

I said I would have self control. I said I wouldn’t listen to or react to anymore Wolf359 this whole weekend. But guess what dear readers? As usual, I lied, to you and myself. Sadly, I am weak. Now, with my confession out of the way, let’s get into it!

Tagging the mutuals who got me invested in this, and if you want to be tagged or untagged from these posts, lmk, or you can follow my blog or simply follow the tag "#bods wolf359 reactions". Anyone who has followed me for a while knows my updates are inconsistent, so I apologize in advance for that and for any spelling/grammar mistakes in my posts.

@sophieswundergarten @oflightningandstars @acollectionofcuriousreblogs @herawell @commsroom @lovelyladylavie

Episode 59: Crash and Burn

"Oh how fun. Come on kids, scream if you want to go faster." It's trippy that when I hear Pryce talk for a moment I'm like "Hera?" and then I realize. Also she and Cutter really do act like criticizing and mean disappointed parents.

"But just a small fire, and look it's out now!" good point Doug.

"This time you finally killed us" Congrats Doug!

"It's a fire on a spaceship, you shouldn't need explicit instruction to know it's a bad idea" "You don't know the first thing about commanding Douglas F. Eiffel" LET HIM KNOW DOUG!

"Cyborg De Vil" Eiffel really does have the best nicknames.

"I'm just a poor little old lady" Oh, I've met old ladies like you Pryce. Terribly entertaining, but awful all the same. Hated their own children too. At this point, I'm just waiting for your sad little backstory.

"Nobody says "thank you" anymore. Kids these days..." Pryce, maybe when you do something worthy of thanks, then you will be thanked.

"If it seems like I'm wrong, you don't have all the data" Well geez, I hope that pride doesn't kill you.

"Why are you asking us to read the values for you?" OH GET HER MINKOWSKI.

Okay, Pryce, in fairness to Doug, I think we've well established that most characters in this show are "metaphorically blind" in one way or another.

"Blinded by my own survival manual" it's fitting to be honest. The next edition? No, we don't need another edition Miranda.

"Well this should be easy!" Doug...Doug when is it ever easy?

Well gang, it looks like the gang's not getting out of this one this time. I will miss you all. Minkowski and Doug most of all. Kepler and Pryce less so.

Calling Pryce's husband is unfortunately the only plan. Let's see how he feels about wifey being in danger. This is either gonna go one of...potentially a few ways, and I'm very interested to see his reaction.

Will he leave her to die in space? Will he feel bad about that? Will he give up an advantage for her?

Wait. Is this Hera? Oh it's Marcus and Hera. I love the juxtaposition between Doug and Pryce and Marcus and Hera. I guess they both have a common interest. Nothing brings people together quite like it.

Oh gross Rachel's here too.

Skin alive whoever designed the flight's pod system? But this is so arbitrary...if all their enemies had been the ones to get blasted off, Cutter would give the man a promotion. For a guy who only promotes "the best" a lot of this is really just luck.

Wait. GUESTS???

Oh they got Lovelace and Jacobi. Oh dear. At least they can't kill or control Lovelace.

"I can't do much without her" I see. So she is the brain's behind Cutter's little happy murder business operation.

"Part of my signature look" Jacobi's sarcasm is growing on me the more he uses it against the right people.

"Pretty please with sugar on top" OH SO CUTTER DID HEAR JACOBI SAY THAT AND THREATEN TO SHOOT KEPLER. I think those were the exactly words he used too.

And speaking of that episode, we're back to singing about beer! 🍻Jacobi really is (formerly)evil Doug. 😂 They even sing the same song.

Is Pryce threatening to...EAT Doug? Well this is creepy.

Pryce, shut it. If you're so much of a grownup, stop acting like a pouty child.

Geez all Pryce knows how to do is complain. I guess Cutter is into that. For some weird reason. "Do I have to do everything around here." All you do is make trouble.

"You can't afford to take a chance on this" CALL HIM OUT JACOBI! I love his arc, I love his arc so much, it took way too long, but I'm so happy he's gotten here.

Oh dear. Is Jacobi in the right headspace for this? "Prettiest pumpkin princess at the ball?" Well good for Jacobi. Also very similar to the line Pryce gave to Hera. It's scary how much they sound and speak alike.

That is true. It might need to be a self-sacrifice mission. If Jacobi misses, Cutter kills him, and Eiffel and Minkowski don't survive. It's a tough situation, especially because we're not even sure how many lives are at stake here. But Jacobi, the whole point of self-sacrifice is that the people making the sacrifice agree to it, or there's literally no other way.

Yeah, Doug, Pryce is not gonna be reassuring. That's not in her generation's vocabulary.

Uh oh. Jacobi, I hope you know what you're doing.

Oh dear. Marcus seems testy.

And how much longer do we have with Rachel and Reimann? (Yes, I was corrected on the spelling).

"Just get it right this time Marcus" wow she is demanding.

Ah...there it is.

...or not...

...Jacobi?

...DUCK BOY?

Well they got them. But what happens now?

Oh great Marcus' slow clapping. And let me guess, he kills him anyway?

Business to catch up on? Pryce doesn't sound too happy.

And yeah Minkowski, hold her at gunpoint! (Though in my experience, people like her don't fear death, rather they complain it's not coming fast enough), but whatever gives you the upper hand.

Episode 60: Terms and Conditions

What's with the beeping?

"You are alright?" Strange that Rachel asks that. I guess she'd be the one to notice he's quiet.

Ah. The sunset. Very fitting.

Westerns. Cutter probably saw some of them down at the old timey picture show when he was a wee lad.

Yes, yes, "the bigger picture". But what if there is a bigger picture to even your story, Cutter? One that you're not in control over?

Cutter knows what's about to happen. He knows it's time to choose. Work wifey or scary evil plan? What's it gonna be old man?

"Who is it?" 😂 I love Doug. I love him so much.

"We could have a cup of tea" oh gosh Cutter really is every old person stereotype.

"Reflect on the working conditions. Are you fostering a supportive company culture? One that values the contributions of its employees?" Doug is the best. Doug is the best.

"If you ever want to see your worst half ever again" 👏 Tell him. TELL HIM.

So now Cutter has to a choice. He can go Legend of Korra and kick Pryce to the curb, or he can drop his tragic backstory and try to come to an understanding.

"Can you guarantee the safe recover of Dr. Pryce?" "96%" Hm. Cutter doesn't seem happy with those numbers.

Special Projects? "Similar to you while still not you. You will see what you miss and say what you don't want to" interesting. So that's why Cutter keeps Rachel around.

"How possible would it be to complete the mission without Dr. Pryce?"

DANNGGGGGGG... Rachel asking the real questions.

"I don't know what your partnership with Dr. Pryce means" Interesting...so Cutter kept that even closer to his chest.

"Before I decide, I want the information" Cutter is unraveling.

See this is why you shouldn't talk when Cutter can hear them.

"Handle this personally?" Did he just crack his knuckles? Is he going to try to fight them? 😂

Neat idea? Is Cutter gonna make his own radio show?

Kepler and Lovelace are speaking for them? This is weird. And unnecessary unless some other mischief is a foot.

CUTTER IS MAKING HER DO THE "MM-HM" 😂😂😂

Kepler reading out Eiffel's words too 😂

Cutter's promises are stupid. And taking the collar off Hera doesn't mean that Pryce can't do something else terrible.

"Those are big promises" That's basic human decency.

"That's one thing. I'm giving you three. What else?"

Kepler and Pryce are two people. I love how it clearly shows Cutter views Kepler, who he's having Lovelace talk to, a disposable.

"You wouldn't lift a finger to help anyone if you didn't need them for something." CALL HIM OUT. CALL HIM OUT. ��👏👏

"With all due respect to you Warren, that Dr. Pryce's return is worth two of your demands" wow, Cutter just went there didn't he?

"We won't annoy you" "I'm not sure you can promise that" "First off this is...this is your boy, Douggie Fresh at the mic" 😂 I knew it was Doug when he said the "won't annoy you" thing, but having him use Kepler like this is amazing. "Gumming up the works" I love Eiffel. I love his whole speech.

Is Cutter making her slow clap? Cutter and Eiffel really are a theatrical duo.

Reject your terms? Taking advantage of you guys? You should be asking for way more. That's very true. They should ask for way more. They really should. But um...what is Cutter doing???

Ugh. It's like Cutter is still trying to teach them a lesson. Like an evil twisted mentorship figure.

I have a bad feeling about it too.

"You two crazy kids still there?" Shut up Cutter (no offense Isabel).

Cutter is gonna destroy the sol when it leaves. He has a plan to do so.

"No catch" THERE IS ALWAYS A CATCH.

"Talk to us baby" Aw, I'm so happy Hera loves it. 💕🥰

"Tell us who you are and what you're doing up here?"

YES! THE TRUTH AT LAST.

Ah, Doug has figured it out. Cutter is just ecstatic.

"Super old, look like you're 28, no need to sleep or eat, know everything, obsessed with aliens..." Oh Doug thinks they are aliens.

Not a bad theory Doug, but I feel like you're not correct.

I feel like they're about to say something like "no silly Doug. We're not aliens. Don't be an idiot. That would be over the top and ridiculous. We're obviously cyborgs from the past and future who have travels here to enslave all of humanity and rewrite the course of human history. Which is SO much more reasonable."

Also given that Lovelace WAS an alien, it's not that crazy of a guess. They're being a little unfairly mean to him right now.

Modified???? Wait, no, no deal, what does modified mean? Explain that first please, explain it now.

Send Kepler first. Cutter doesn't care about him.

"You want to stay with us" "No Boy" oh dear. Looks like they're in the middle of a little marriage spat. "You'll never be rid of me 214" I knew it, Pryce has a thing for keeping Hera under control.

Yeah, what did Jacobi do? Hopefully that alien blood works quick.

OH WHAT IS THE TEA THE BOOMERS ARE FIGHTINGGGGG!!!!

"Better to be lucky than good" something tells me you won't be for long, Miranda.

Rachel is going with them? Um. It doesn't sound like either of them like that. "Fill you in on the details" that's obviously code for something. I don't like how fast Rachel agreed to that.

Oh dear. Trouble in paradise it would seem. Worried about wifey, Marcus? "Be quiet. I was worried." "For me?" "I was." "You're not immortal" "yet" "of course, I was worried for you."

"Your only task is to back my play" wow. They really ARE a toxic married couple from the early 1900s. I guess Cutter couldn't stand the thought of losing his precious cold detached mean evil science early 1900's house/work wife.

"Friends?" "Partners." Hm.

This relationship fascinates me. Miranda shows him hardly any respect or gratitude. Yet Cutter seems to care about her in a...weirdly toxic way. Though I do wonder if Miranda feels the same.

Very true something has to be wrong here. Cutter wouldn't let them leave unless...

Wait. Unless it was irrelevant to his plans. Unless them getting back to Earth didn't matter.

"That's not why you're not gonna leave" ...um Rachel. What are you talking about? Please fill us in on the plan.

Oh Kepler's here too.

THE END OF THE WORLD?????

Wait...oh my gosh...

So...there will be no Earth to return to? And all the people on it?

ARE PRYCE AND CUTTER TRYING TO MAKE A DEAL WITH THE ALIENS???

Well I did say in a private discord chat that it was odd that they mentioned Minkowski’s husband and Doug’s daughter only to never bring up threatening their lives again. I guess they really saved that one in their back pockets for the grand finale.

Kepler, how much longer are you going to go along with this? If they destroy the Earth, everything on it goes too, including your beloved Whiskey.

Rachel, idk how much longer you think Cutter is gonna keep you around, but he clearly only cares about his evil science arm candy, and that's not you or Reimann. He'll toss you both under the bus when he's done.

Cutter, wifey seems a bit unstable, and Pryce, your man seems to not be valuing you as an equal, and as much as I dislike you, I'm still not cool with that on principle. Perhaps the two of you ought to see to some marriage counseling, somewhere...oh I don't know...far far far far far away on the other side of the universe? Where you two can finally stop having to deal with those pesky youths you claim to hate so much?

Well at least the thing about Cutter naming the AI and putting on a charming appearance and Pryce hating it and acting so cold towards them makes so much sense now. Cutter wants to play house. House where he casts himself in the role of a toxic, stereotypical, controlling, abusive, and terrible father, with a flimsy "I care so deeply" facade and horrible taste in women, but house all the same. I guess it makes sense given when he was born. Pryce views the AI and their employees as things, Cutter views them as their children or rather their "creations" but at the end of the day, their views amount to the same thing: tools from which they demand unquestioning obedience that they can cast aside if and when they chose to do so. Absolutely disgusting.

Wait. 2 hours?

THE LAST EPISODE IS TWO FULL HOURS.

And Volte Face is one hour. But then...when will I have the time to...

oh boy. Stay tuned everyone. Hopefully I'll get my answers soon. Thanks for reading!

[coffeeman777]

Hi! Can I have your opinion on something?

My friend and I have known each other/been friends for almost 3 years now. It’s an online friendship, but we call almost every week and talk almost daily. Lately, their (only using ‘their’ for the sake of anonymity, in case they see this) posts here on tumblr have been… *very* anti-Christian. I’m a Christian myself, and my other friend and I talk about our faith openly with/around this ‘problematic’ friend. The posts are incredibly demeaning and blasphemous, and they constantly call our faith/beliefs/the Bible and God nothing but nonsense (I’m paraphrasing - believe me, you don’t want to know what they’ve actually been saying), but only here on tumblr, not to our faces. They’ve expressed mild interest and/or mild support about Christianity before, but will wait for about a week and then post a bunch of horrible things about our faith. Not to mention the proshipping posts they’ve been making…

I really care about this friend, but I’m on the fence about what I should do. I don’t want to just drop them, since we’ve been friends and basically inseparable (as much as online friends can be) for years now, and we play weekly games together with some mutual friends (that I unfortunately run) but… their posts really bother me. I’m pretty awkward when it comes to talking about feelings and breakups (friend-breakups especially) but I feel a little weird about doing that too, especially since our mutual friends don’t know/notice it as much and it would make it weird with them (potentially). I’ve been praying for her since we met, and my Christian friend who knows about these posts (we talk about it often, trying to figure out what to do) has been too. That friend (the problematic one) has been posting stuff like that steadily for years, but it’s not nearly as bad and it used to be pretty few and far between. Now, it’s practically every other post, with random political stuff in between. They never used to be like this, at least not very openly. They claim to be atheist, but then will say they pray once or twice, joined a Christian youth group server I made (supposedly to learn; they did show interest at one point in becoming Christian but hadn’t really since then) and then will essentially blaspheme as much as humanly possible the next minute.

I guess I’m just lost about what I should do with this situation. I’ve been praying about it, but can you please give me some advice about what I should do? Sorry for the long ask!

Heya! I'm sorry it took me so long to get to this.

I think you should maintain the friendship and continue to share the Gospel with them as long as they'll allow it. Do your best to ignore what they say in their posts. Try to give them as much grace as you possibly can, and give every interaction with them as much joy, compassion, and mercy as you can summon. Live the Christian way openly and unapologetically. Let them see it. Talk about the Lord constantly where they can hear it. Be ready to answer their questions as much as possible.

Unbelievers are lost in the dark, and they do dark things. We can't let that stop us from being the hands of Jesus reaching out to them. If the things they say really bother you, ask the Lord for grace and help to deal with it. And of course, ask the Lord to break this person's heart and give them grace to receive the Gospel. No matter how tough it is, we should persist in situations like this.

I hope this helps! Be blessed!

[mdhwrites]

Can you elaborate on your comment on Discord that "[TOH characters in general] get a lot of backstory but little connects with their present character"?

*looks at every Hunter fan out there* How do we feel about the fact that this kid was literally raised to kill wild witches and be the Golden Guard but the only fighters in the main cast who are worse than him are the literal child and the illusionist?

Hunter is easily the most obviously egregious one but also the one that actually has a potential magical slide. After all, we don't actually know if Hunter has been alive for sixteen years. He potentially could have been alive for probably only five, thus making it so he has time to be trained and indoctrinated but was also 'old' enough to be easier to handle, left alone, etc. like that. Of course... That doesn't really fix the larger problem with Hunter's backstory versus his present day character, is it?

See, this is how I would breakdown what the theoretical present day concept for each character is that Luz meets versus the backstory version: Eda: Irreverent criminal who is only out for herself and probably would just be committing larger scale crimes for funsies if not for the curse. Backstory: Lovable scamp with a heart of gold who only ever does jokes, nothing actually bad and look at this child she adopted and totally won't threaten with rent later on.

Amity: A driven, goal obsesses girl who will do anything to be the best. Even simply losing the title and not being made to look like a fool is enough to warrant someone needing to die and she bullies the weak for fun and superiority. Backstory: Felt bad for hurting her teammates for personal glory and victory (those same teammates she will tell to eat a dick in that same episode), only bullied Willow for her own sake, frankly would rather just be a little goofball than actually succeed at anything.

Lilith... Okay, frankly it's more that S2 Lilith makes absolutely no sense with S1 Lilith. If they hadn't entirely warped her character, her backstory is actually pitch perfect for her grown up self, even down to being a little silly and caring about her sister. A LITTLE silly mind you.

Golden Guard: Actually fits the backstory as the rage and confidence of youth mixed with too much power and indoctrination make for an incredibly dangerous, close to unhinged Kylo Ren clone who will go from joking to I WILL MURDER YOU! if you don't take him seriously or annoy him.

Hunter: I'm just a widdle silly guy who can't even gut check a girl and force her to give me my staff. I am all for wild magic because maybe it can save my uncle, despite my uncle's problems being caused by wild magic. I will literally never win a fight alone except against Kikimora, the closest to a true, reoccurring gag villain that the series has.

Now yes: A character can grow and change as they get older. It can be a fun joke to have a prim and proper character have been a nightmare as a toddler. But this isn't how TOH portrays these backstory moments commonly. Much of the time, the backstory is meant to effectively be in the place of real moments in a character arc.

Take Amity's moment with Willow. In a normal character arc, this is the chance for the character to prove that they have a good heart and are maybe not as mean as they seem. However, Amity already has done that at least once with confessing to not wanting to see Luz hurt in Adventure in the Elements, if her diary didn't already do this in combination with not holding onto her rage against Luz there in Lost in Language. So they HAVE to put it as a backstory moment or it wouldn't be notable. Except... It would have? Hell, they even try to frame it as a kindness to Willow at the beginning which is a good idea because Amity's first appearance was being cruel to Willow but now that she's changed some but hasn't interacted with Willow since episode 6, she needs to show some kindness to her. But it's ALL kindness because they've already fully transitioned into good girl Amity so rather than feeling like a growth moment, it's to justify what they're doing. To say "Of course her development isn't this rushed because it's not development! It's just the old Amity coming back out."

The moment with the Thorn Vault is similar. A character like Amity SHOULD have a moment where she decides success isn't everything and steps back so as to allow someone else to take the spotlight if it means doing less harm. It's a good idea for a moment in her arc. But again: Amity has already moved past that part of her arc. She hasn't been focused on success or being the best since her SECOND APPEARANCE. And this is her last one in S1 so it goes into the backstory to show that she does understand the consequences of her actions rather than having it be a part of her arc.

Frankly, this stuff is just a part of a different blog I need to make about how Amity episodes are strangely NOT about Amity. She actually doesn't factor into them much so her arc feels bad because even episodes like Lost in Language or Adventure in the Elements only have five minutes of Amity at most.

Meanwhile for someone like Eda or Hunter, it's retcons. Eda needs to be convincingly like Momma Eda so making her actually motherly with King when they first met is a good idea... But it contrasts all they did in S1. Hunter is meant to show the cruelty of Belos but they want him to already be the sad but mad boy by the halfway point of the season (which btw, halfway through S1, Amity was already borrowing an Azura book from Luz showing compromise, kindness and connection, much like Hunter connecting with Amity's fears, almost giving into her speech about kindness and adopting Flapjack. There's a reason I say the shortening did fuck all to these character arcs because they follow the same god damned patterns) so that stuff needs to be in the backstory, like his scout training.

And to me, that is the antithesis of a backstory. Unless the point is that they're different from who they used to be, which it's often not for TOH, it should reinforce what we know about them. How did they get to the point they're at. It's actually one of the only strengths narratively of Them's the Breaks because the final challenge by Terra is a good moment to make Eda start rethinking her long term goals and if she likes the coven system at all.

It would just work way better if her present day character was anti-coven because it pits people against each other and tears the Isles apart instead of just "It makes you way less cooler than me because I can do ALL styles of magic." As such... It's them acknowledging what a good motivation in the setting and plot would have been but recognizing it too late so they have to add it as a retcon.

And you can only get away with that trick so many times before it feels like your story is a house of cards trying to pretend it's made out of stone.

==========

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead, If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

And finally a Twitter you can follow too!

[whumpshaped]

Any night works for me! In fact, i already have something ravishing for you

So my friend works at a clinic, directly under a guy who is a pretty big deal where i live. Some sort of doctor/professor/rector/whatever powerful rich guy with about seventeen PhDs and more money than he knows what to do with. Because hes so important, he has quite the arrogant streak. He also often throws temper tantrums any time something doesn't go his way, screaming and yelling at people, firing them, making them cry — just an all around horrible person to be around, clearly.

Now this guy has a wife, of course. Except they aren't very close anymore, understandably. It's kind of a non-secret that their relationship is more of the business variety. What's another interesting non-secret though, is that the guy has a lover. I personally don't know much about her, I'd have to ask around. But here's the kicker:

It's such a well-known relationship that one time, during one of his more violent tantrums my friend was the one tasked with calling up the guy's lover to calm him down. And who gave them the order?

The Wife.

And i think that's fucking beautiful. Don't you?

(loosely inspired by irl gossip i overheard a couple days ago which may have inspired me to ask Helle about gossiping :3 i thought it was pretty fucking funny)

Helle listens intently, with a huge grin on their face. "Is this what the youth call tea? That is amazing. Similar drama happens a lot in vampire circles– have you ever seen husband and wife communicate via sending thralls like homing pigeons? Quite the fun experience!"

"I do feel sorry for your friend, though, truly. What a horrible predicament. I would switch places with them any time, if they asked. I would have so much fun at a clinic like that, even apart from trying my hand at medicine." They're 100% thinking about all the people they could seduce in a situation like that. The unhappy wife, the angry lover– hell, the stuck-up doctor who would clearly benefit from a bit of humbling. Possibly all three.

"Nothing interesting has happened in the past weeks, here... Well, aside from Lady Lucy scaring off another potential suitor. You know, hot vampire neighbour no. 7.? She calls me about these things all the time, and it can be awfully amusing. She had left a letter for the poor man, and from the way she described it, it sounded more like a threat. She did not sign it, she gave no indication of who the sender was. She turned up to his house a month later, crying and demanding a reply."

"Can you imagine? Obviously, the man felt like his life was in danger, and attempted to stake her. I suppose both of them ended up with a hole in their heart by the end of it... one a little more... literal, than the other." They snicker. "She just cannot help herself! She keeps killing all her potential lovers! This has been going on for decades, I have no idea how I am still alive. I comforted her, though, worry not. I told her I am absolutely certain she will find the right person in due time. It feels silly to say after 150 years, but here we are."

[twistedtummies2]

Since we are in Spooky Month, what are your Twisted OCs greatest fears? Could be something mundane or psychologically scarring.

Hmmmm...that's a good one. That's a very good one. Let me see...I think for this one, I'm gonna kind of do two different answers. One will be a more mundane, possibly even silly sort of fear; the other will be something deeper and more soul-consuming, so to speak.

NAKODA

Nakoda does not like fire. He's based on Kaa, and while Kaa never SPECIFICALLY points out an aversion to flames - that's really more Shere Khan's thing - we can presume it's not something he likes. In the movie, and ESPECIALLY in the original books, it's indicated that ALL jungle creatures fear "The Red Flower." Kaa included. So I think, as homage to that, fire would be something Nakoda isn't especially fond of. In his case, though, I think it's more likely because he got burned pretty badly at some point in his youth; not sure where or if he still has the scars, but regardless, that sort of makes him averse to flames. On a deeper and more psychological level, Nakoda is afraid of being...worthless. I think that's really the great fear in his heart: that nothing he does or will do will be WORTH anything. This is ironic, because a big part of Nako's character is that he lives in the moment, and isn't really sure of his future...but I think, deep down, he recognizes that's an issue. He WANTS to be worth something: that, I think, is the "control of his life" that he desperately seeks. He just doesn't know how to get it or what form of worth he really needs to find.

BILLY

Billy's greatest fear is loneliness. It's something he's experienced for a very long time, and it's something he hates feeling to the depths of his soul. His worst nightmare would be everyone he has gained in his life suddenly just disappearing off the face of the Earth, with no sign they ever even existed. He craves affection, attention, and companionship above all else; the whole reason he tried to kidnap Grim and the other "little ones" he first befriended was because he just wanted those things, and didn't know how else he was going to get them. It took him time to realize you can't force people to care about you and stay with you, but that doesn't mean he doesn't still fear people not doing those very things. I would say a more mundane fear he has is...(thinks)...honestly, only thing I can think of is some of his own schoolmates, specifically the likes of Malleus, Lilia, and - to a lesser degree - Vil. He does not want to make them mad. Basically, any specific person that could potentially do him harm. Beyond that, not really sure, since a lot of the more common obvious fears I think Billy wouldn't be bothered by at all. He likes spiders, he likes clowns, he's not scared of sharp things, he very obviously doesn't have an issue with heights...maybe claustrophobia could be one? I dunno, it's weirdly difficult thinking of what could scare him just on a more "obvious" sort of level. XD

ELIAS

Elias has an understandable aversion to water. Taking a shower is one thing, that can be nice, but he's not fond of swimming, not fond of heavy rain, certainly not fond of flooding and other such things...basically, unless it involves soap and him singing in the shower, he's not big on water. In his natural state, obviously it doesn't hurt him, but when he's in Blot form, water is a primary weakness for him, so that sort of carries over. A more complex fear Elias has is the fear of being forgotten. It's why he craves the spotlight so much, why he puts on the show of being "The Phantom Blot," why he occasionally gets so hammy and wants everything to be big and spectacular. He wants to have a lasting impact. His worst nightmare would be everyone he ever met forgetting he ever even existed.

RENO

Bug Spray, for a start. I think the reasons why are understandable, albeit comical. I also have this silly thought in my head of him being afraid of flyswatters...for no other reason than the idea of someone chasing him around with a flyswatter in their hand, and him whimpering like a baby even though it wouldn't actually do any real harm to him, is HILARIOUS to me. XD Beyond that...I'd say his worst fear is losing the things he cares about. A vague notion, perhaps, but I think it's the best descriptor I can give: his fear isn't so much that people will forget him, or that he'll just be alone, it's specifically that the people and things he cares about most will be TAKEN AWAY from him, with him being unable to stop that from happening. For someone who will do anything to win, loss ITSELF is probably the greatest fear they can have. And the higher the stakes, the more he dreads that loss.

JAMES

James is equal parts afraid of and flustered by the thought of getting eaten and digested alive, much like me/the MC. >////> So that's an obvious one right off the bat. But beyond that, I think James' greatest fear - what he's TRULY scared of - is death itself. It's WHY the thought sort of scares him as well as flusters him, actually. Because on the one hand, the idea of being permanently preserved as part of some other, stronger, mightier beast is something that makes him blush and squeak. But on the flip side, that means losing who he is, and James has QUITE the ego. On still another side, however...there's the alternative. Aging. Growing Old. Feeling your body shut down around your soul as you draw nearer and nearer to an uncertain and unstoppable end. Getting eaten, digested, and made part of some gorgeous animal's body is a certain and disturbingly appealing fate, in the way James sees and imagines it. Simply...fading from youth and life as time goes on...that is what James REALLY fears. Just like his inspiration, Captain Hook, James is afraid of time ticking away.

SMITTY

So, this may sound silly, at first, but...Smitty is afraid of jellyfish. Seriously. Not a joke. While most people think they are beautiful creatures to behold, he thinks they're freaky and creepy. And when you add in the absolutely nasty things jellyfish can do, he just gets more and more disturbed by them. So jellyfish are a genuine fear for him. He can take all kinds of other beastly creatures, but jellyfish? Perish the thought. (This is all inspired by the version of Smee in the Disney-published book series "Peter and the Starcatchers": he, too, is afraid of jellyfish, and even suggests naming a Pirate Ship after them, specifically because he thinks they are so scary.) Beyond that, I think Smitty's greatest fear is abandonment. He's afraid of being left behind by the people he cares for most - the most obvious one, of course, being James. The idea that those he cares for most could just stop caring about him and leave him behind, without another thought...that terrifies and saddens him deeply.

MAELSTROM

Maelstrom is afraid of sharp, pointy objects. Not to an excessive degree, mind you: he can handle a butter knife or a pair of scissors just fine. But due to personal and unpleasant experiences, a lot of really sharp, pointed, metallic objects just give him an unpleasant, unsettling feeling. Swords, spears, daggers...harpoons...very large hooks...not a fan of any of those. On a more personal, deeper level...I think Maelstrom is probably most afraid of what many bullies like him are truly afraid of: being seen as weak and small. His worst nightmare would probably be something like finding himself in a fishbowl with giant versions of people he's tormented tapping on the glass and jeering at him...perhaps a couple even threatening to swallow the "little blue fish" for no other reason than sport. Basically, put him on the opposite end of what he's probably put a lot of tiny ones through, and he'll be a babbling little baby.

THEODORE

Much like Elias, Theo has an aversion to water. However, in his case, it's a much less understandable issue. Unlike his inspiration, Theo won't melt if you throw a bucket of water on him...but he REALLY doesn't like getting wet. A bit like a cat, it makes him feel trapped in his own hide. Even though he does...you know...BATHE and so on, it's always a quick and hurried affair. I think the reason is because he nearly drowned at some point in his childhood, and ever since then, water has always been an iffy thing for him. On a deeper level, Theodore's greatest fear...is perhaps an ironic one. His greatest fear is...not being loved. Now, this is probably confusing, since I've made it clear Theodore isn't really the sort to BEHAVE in a way that invites one to love him. That behavior, however, comes from him feeling betrayed and disappointed in the past, and not being able to let go of that frustration: he is eternally frustrated with the world itself, and feels immense disappointment with himself. His greatest fear is that he will disappoint people who try to get close to him, so he does everything in his power to AVOID that happening, and stay focused on trying to gain the power he feels he must have in order to EARN that love and respect. It's a bit of a backwards way of working, but bottom line...Theodore is an oddball. He hates just about everyone, or at least claims to, and he's a constant grouch and occasional sadist...but part of that is a fear of attachment. Because attachment can be so easily broken.

GRIT

Grit is allergic to eggs, and does not like birds. While he won't DIE from ingesting a single egg - unlike a full Nome - he is still PART Nome, and so eggs...do not agree with him. Too much egg in any substance will potentially kill him if he eats enough, and even a little can give him a bellyache. So anything with eggs disgusts and mildly scares him...and birds? Birds and he do NOT get along: he is scared of them at worst, and annoyed by them at best. Beyond a general detestation of poultry and fowl and anything avian-related, however...Grit's greatest fear is losing his home. He is very close to his parents - especially his human mother - and genuinely cares about and loves the underground kingdom where he was born and raised. The idea of losing all of that, of it being taken away or emptied or otherwise ruined or destroyed, is the single most appalling thing he can imagine in the world. He fears and loathes anything that threatens his home and family as a result.

[deiscension]

Not entirely sold on the idea of having this as a verse yet but uhhh hmm unorganized potential calamity sqx thoughts (which could easily translate outside canon setting too considering I've already got a ghost verse set up anyway)

Died a few days after swd brought them into the middle court as his junior official. Nobody knows exactly how it happened. What is known is that it was a terrifying death, the very type of wretched end they were prophesied to meet.

Little about their life as a mortal has made it into any (easily) accessible records. Is their existence as a mortal intentionally omitted from history? Or were they just to hidden and unremarkable as a youth that nobody thought to write so much as a footnote about them?

Has a tendency to meander about where they "don't belong". Festivals, private parties, cultivation sects-- it's even rumored they've managed to infiltrate the heavenly courts before, though the validity of that has never been truly confirmed.

Appears in a variety of forms. They favor the form of a young woman with clear eyes and rosy lips. Their second favorite form is more visibly androgynous with darker hair and taller stature. All other forms are taken only on a whim. As for their true form... nobody knows. Maybe even they've forgotten.

Known to be a trickster among mortals and gods alike. The severity of her wily ways depends entirely on who you ask. To some she's 'a scheming skank who will swindle you out of your own fate for no other reason than she feels like it'. To others she's 'nothing more than a girl who likes to giggle at the way you jump when she blows cold air against the back of your neck'.

Despite the terror their status implies, they're very friendly. Too friendly, even. Seriously, why are they that friendly? It's almost shameful to be as carefree and welcoming as they are considering what all it takes to claim the title 'calamity'.

Though they have a strong affinity for the wind, they do not directly control the wind. Their spiritual power is rooted in breath (or in some cases, lack thereof). A single puff from their lips could cause a tempest.

But she's so free-spirited and good-natured. Surely she'd never do something like create tempests! True. However, her laughter could easily whip up a hurricane if she's not careful-- and it has happened before. She also has something of a capricious temper. If you manage to double-cross her, you could find yourself hurled halfway across the countryside before you've even blinked.

While not terribly much is known about them, there are two verified facts that almost everyone who's heard of her will know. She adores pretty things and she loves indulging in wine. Perhaps that's where the myth of being able to summon them came from. Rumor has it they respond very readily to a pot of wine lifted high on windy nights while the summoner whispers pretty little nothings: the young lady clothed in teal tempests is boundlessly talented, funny and carefree, sweet aged sixteen'. Making any attempt to do so would surely earn the wrath of the gods, so it's not like anyone would fess up to actually trying this, aside of little kids trying to prove their bravery.

Their driving motivation is laughably simple. Selfishly selfless, selflessly selfish. 'I want to see others, I want to be seen; I want to hear the breath of others, I want to breathe.' Dig a little deeper and perhaps you'll find a more concrete motivation that keeps them so viciously tethered to the world: my breath will not be stolen, you will not steal breath. This ambiguous 'you'... who could it be? Could they be saying such a thing while staring into a dirty, broken mirror? Or is there someone else whose steps they stalk after day and night?

[ben-talks-art]

Thoughts on Ben 10

I've seen that some people started doing reactions series of the original Ben 10 show on Youtube, and seeing their reactions got me kinda nostalgic and in the mood to talk about it a little since I honestly really, really like this show.

So I figured, why not just make a post about my feelings towards the franchise, characters, aliens, storylines, and overall just sharing what I liked about it?

Guess I should start with the obligatory "For those who never watched the show or know nothing about Ben 10..."

Basically, this series is about this one kid who has a watch that allows him to turn into a bunch of different aliens for a short period of time, and uses it to help people and fight bad guys while going on travels around the country with his grandpa and cousin.

At first he starts with only ten aliens (thus giving the show its name) but as time goes on he keeps adding more and more to his list trough different ways (thus completely invalidating the show's name). Sometimes he will unlock a new alien at random, sometimes he will meet someone that will use a code on the watch that will unlock it for him, and other times he will collect the DNA of other aliens he fights.

The aliens the kid turns into are the highlight of the show.

Each one has its own unique design, ability, voice, body behavior, way of moving and other little things that make all of them feel distinct and unique. (You can check out one of the official artist's DeviantArt page to see some of his comments on many of the designs and how hard they were to animate.)

What was cool about the show is that you never knew what alien Ben was going to use to save the day so it made the experience feel fresh and exciting as you kept wondering what was going to happen, kinda like when you play a gacha game and you don't know what you're gonna pull out.

It's like having an entire Justice League or Avengers team inside one person. You had all these great characters that you knew little to nothing about and you would just watch and wait to see what was cool about each of them, and the show always did the best it could to make each alien feel as cool as possible... Except for Ripjaws, it was clear that after a while they had no idea what to do with him.

Everyone had their favorite aliens who they hoped would get used in the episode, but it was also nice to see other aliens you might not think you would like also getting the spotlight and making you realize everyone can be useful if given the chance and used in the right way.

It promoted the idea of experimenting with new things and exploring untapped potential.

Aside from the alien roster, the show also had fun playing around with its premise. Usually Ben would do something that affected his normal human form and that would have some effect on his alien forms as well.

For example, one episode Ben got showered by the fountain of youth and turned into a kid, so all his aliens de-aged as well, other time he went inside a videogame so his aliens started to wear gaming clothes like Sora in Kingdom Hearts 2. Another episode had Ben get a cold so his fire alien turned into an ice alien, another had him be stuck for one alien form for the entire episode, another one had him break the watch and anytime he transformed it would randomly combine two aliens.

It felt like the writers were trying to do anything they could with the idea of a watch that turns you into different creatures, like they were trying to have fun with its own premise.

Like, you would see the episode where the aliens get younger or older and you would go "well, now I want to see what all of them younger or older look like!" and that would just make your imagination go crazy.

Same thing for the episode where they mix two aliens together, imagine the massive amount of fanart that this episode inspired!

There were also episodes where Ben would turn into Halloween creatures like a werewolf, a mummy, or a ghost, but each of them still had the "that's an alien not a monster" theme around them, so again you would go "What would a vampire alien look like? What would a demon alien look like? What would a dragon alien look like?"

It just kept building and building on top of different possibilities.

Ben 10 was so good because it made you feel rewarded for being a kid, rewarded for being curious, for having creativity, for enjoying weird and out-of-the-box ideas.

It rewarded you for wanting to have fun and wanting to play around with different ideas.

Even the villain. You could teel that the creators were trying to have fun with what they could come up for Ben to fight with.

They had a guy that was some sort of abomination that combined all of Ben's aliens, a dude with the head of a squid that could turn off Ben's powers with the touch of his finger, a mad scientist that always kept trying to steal the DNA from Ben's aliens and fusing it with animals, and even one of Ben's own aliens who managed to come to life and escape from the watch.

Watching this show was basically a game of "Okay, what idea are the writers gonna explore this time? What crazy thing will they do now?" Like, they later make it so his cousin can use magic spells, and they also later reveal his grandpa was a secret agent who happens to have a lot of high-tech, and they would mix all this stuff while fighting crime and saving the day.

It was just fun. This was just a really fun show.

But... It wasn't perfect...

The biggest problem of the series was that the sense of character development was non-existent.

This series had three main characters, Ben, his cousin, and his grandpa, and the relationship and chemistry between then is pretty much the same throughout the whole thing.

Ben is always immature and jumping into things without thinking, his cousin is always nagging and butting heads with him, and his grandpa always has a pretty good lesson to teach that everyone is just going to forget in the next episode.

There are so many times that I'm watching this and going "Ben should know better than this" because he keeps making the same mistakes over and over again and it gets really tiresome after a while.

Same thing with his cousin, they keep writing scenes where her and Ben just keep bickering and arguing for no reason and it just makes them feel so annoying to watch.

I never got why animated shows think watching people bickering is fun, to me it's just obnoxious. My least favorite part of any Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle show is when Raph and Leo just start fighting because the plot says so. I guess you could say it's realistic that teens would argue but... Just because it's realistic doesn't make it enjoyable.

There is also the fact that I never felt the show truly dived into why we should root for Ben or why he wants to be a hero.

For instance, there is a scene where Ben sees a city getting attacked and he just starts smiling as if he's glad he gets a chance to be the hero and fight bad guys.

I never felt Ben wanted to help people because he cared about people, honestly it felt like he just wanted to feel the joy of being a superhero. Which, again, he's a kid, so probably it's realistic, but realistic doesn't instantly means good.

For a show about a kid that could turn into ten heroes, they never really sold why Ben had what it takes to be a hero.

That's not to say they didn't had episodes about Ben being humble, noble, or heroic, they actually had a lot of them. They had episodes about him facing his fears to save his cousin, learning the value of teamwork, learning to put others' needs before his, learning to let go of personal desires for the greater good... But these things just never stacked on.

I never got a sense that Ben was growing from his experiences, it felt like he was just learning some random lesson to get through the episode, which is a shame because a lot of those were some really good lessons, and good lessons for kids no less, but they would just be forgotten by the time the next episode started because... I don't know, I guess they just liked Ben being very flawed and immature.

But honestly, even with this tiny problem, it's still a really good show. It has a lot of creative action, some really inventive designs, and like I said, It just does a great job promoting the idea of having fun.

I particularly love the scene where they show Ben inventing "diamond surfing", like, how can anyone look at that and not think this is gonna be a fun show?

So yeah, small lack of character development aside, I still recommend this series.

I also want to talk about the other pieces of media that also take place in this series' timeline.

"Protector of Earth" is a licensed game that came out around the Ps2/Ps3 era and I remember being honestly a lot of fun. It was a beat-em-up where you could play as five aliens while having access to some honestly really creative attack combos. It was also how I, a non-English speaker, finally found out why the alien "XLR8" was named like that.

"Secret of the Omnitrix" was a movie that had a premise of the watch accidentally going into self-destruct mode and had Ben travel through space in order to find the inventor of the watch so he could ask him to turn it off. Really good movie overall, just wish they had tried to be a tiny bit more creative with the action scenes. There are way too many "laser shooting" fights and the final battle is basically Ben getting an "I win" button. It was kinda anticlimactic tbh.

"Destroy all Aliens" is another movie but this time done in 3D. I actually liked this one a lot. They had Ben be stuck with some sort of randomizer feature so he keeps shifting from alien to alien every couple of minutes while fighting a guy that can teleport, so we get some really creative action scenes with all the aliens as they keep going from one part of the globe to the other.

There is also a live-action movie called "Race against time" that... Surely is a movie that exists...

Honestly, the most I can say about it is that I'll never understand why they didn't give the title "Race Against Time" to the movie about the watch going into self-destruct mode, kinda feels like a no-brainer to me.

Then we have the sequels, Alien Force and Ultimate Alien...

And I'm going to sincerely apologize to all of its fans right now but I really don't like either of these shows.

I don't want to talk about them too much since my feelings towards them are mostly negative and I don't want to dunk on what could possibly be someone's favorite show... But they just did so little for me.

Now, I'm not saying they're bad, just saying that I myself didn't like either of them very much... But while I don't like these shows, I do like certain things in them.

Alien Force is about Ben, who's now five years older, teaming up with his cousin again, as well as one of his former enemies now turned ally, and getting a new set of ten aliens.

The idea of ten new aliens seemed cool at first. Honestly, when I first heard about the show I thought the new aliens were like fusions of the old aliens, like one looked like a fusion of an ice alien and a ghost alien, one looked like a fusion of a cloning alien and a small alien, and another looked like a plant and fire alien. They looked really cool and they had some really creative designs.

The plant/fire one and the ghost/ice one actually became some personal favorites of mine. They had some really fun and creative powers.

The ice one in particular apparently got really popular with fans due to the idea of being a moth that rested its wings in the shape of a cloak, kinda like they used to do in Gargoyles, and because they gave it an interesting episode where it gives birth to a ton of babies... That, as far as I know, we never see again. 🤔

As for the others aliens... They were there... I'm sure they all have their fans, I'm just not one of them.

Ultimate Alien was basically more Alien Force, except now some of the aliens could "Mega Evolve."

And again, a lot of the evolved forms didn't really do much for me, except for the ultimate form of the clone alien, which legit felt both really cool and really creative. I just loved that design.

Aside from that though, not really much positive I can say about these two shows. It just wasn't for me.

And finally, there was Ben 10 Omniverse, by far the most ambitious Ben 10 show.

They ditched the whole evolution thing but Ben now had access to basically every alien he ever had in the entire franchise, as well as every villain he ever had before, and they were a lot more open about the idea of exploring other planets and seeing different alien worlds. The world-building (universe-building?) took a major focus in here.

They also kept trying to push this odd gimmick of going back to the original 10-year-old Ben.

Sometimes Ben would travel back in time, or flashback to when he was a kid, sometimes he would switch brains with his body from the past, sometimes he would shrink into a kid, and other times he would visit another dimension from when he was still young and see how he would have turned out if he had no grandpa.

Basically, the name of the game changed from "how can we explore the idea of a person with access to ten aliens in a creative way?" to "how can we tie back to the original show?"

It seemed like they were trying to go back to its original focus of exploring the potential of its premise, but this time going a lot more out-of-the-box than ever before.

Getting to see every single past alien again was really cool but many of the new aliens added kinda felt like filler.

There is like one or two that I really liked, like this one alien that's like a living planet with its own gravity, but most of them just looked lame to me.

But, again, every alien from the past is here, so even if had an episode where you don't like one or two of the aliens used, you would still have five or six of the classic ones to enjoy, which was always refreshing.

The writing still didn't have that big of a sense of progression but I liked this Ben a lot more than the old Ben from the first show. I actually think this series had the best character writing out of all of them. Everyone here has great chemistry and is a lot more charming than before.

Sometimes the tone was also hit-and-miss. It would often try too hard to be humorous and end up losing a sense of stakes, making you feel like you were watching a cartoon instead of an animated show, but still had plenty of things to like.

They tried a lot of new things (sometimes way too many), most of them I liked, some of them I didn't, but I still appreciate them taking the risk to try.

Ben 10 is overall a very interesting franchise and I'm always curious to see what they try to do next with it.

[princelylove]

Interesting headcanon for yandere Jotaro and yandere Noriaki, I also agree that both of them are very competitive, I think they will even use stand to "fight" each other behind your back or just simple using it to gain attention from you. I see Noriaki might use Hierophant Green to trip you so he can be the one help you stand up and take care of you. For Jotaro, I have this headcanon for him, he actually a good artist, do you remember how great his drawing about the fly in Egypt. I think he will use Star Platinum to help capture your beauty in his art and he will give you the best art to show how he adore and love you (after so many drawings, I headcanon he has a sketchbook full of art about you).

I know you said it's not high chance they will corporate together but I think if they do it, they will be unstoppable. The protective side of Jotaro and the manipulate side of Noriaki combine perfectly together. Do you think they will corporate if some special situation happen, for example another person also interested in you and try to steal you from them?

P/s: I enjoy talking to you very much, looking forward your answer >v<

How adorable, anon. 

Really, the only thing stopping them from being an unstoppable force together is their differing views on what to do with you. If they weren’t so firm on their position, you’d be sitting between them every day for lunch listening to Noriaki like he’s a podcast. 

You’re so right about Noriaki tripping you so he can play prince charming. He might even grab you with hierophant green to move you as he sees fit. Too handsy with someone else? Hands are suddenly kept to yourself at your sides. You can’t see stands, he thinks, so it’s harmless. It must be a little muscle tick or something. Are you feeling well? He doesn’t mind giving you some extra attention and care. 

That’s a cute headcannon for Jotaro, actually. He probably taught himself how to draw alone in his room. I don’t really think Jotaro was into videogames or sports in his youth, canonically he knows how to play neither of them, so he spends his free time drawing and listening to music or watching movies. He probably learned how to draw from those books about airplanes and ships he reads, he sketches like an engineer would. When he meets you, his sketchbook slowly goes from ships and fish to teaching himself how to draw humans, with you as his main model. It’s entirely from memory, so your nose might be a bit off, or maybe the length of your nails, but he’ll get it eventually. Suppose it doesn’t matter, since he hides his sketchbook in all of his school things so his mother doesn’t find it and fuss over her baby finally having a crush.

Noriaki hates that. He hates it so much that he’s adamant on actually showing you his own “sketches.” (Completed pieces with thirty hours put into them.) Look, he got every detail about you perfect. Isn’t it lovely? He loves painting stills of you doing what you love. This way, if Jotaro ever does show you his little drawings, it’s like he’s copying Noriaki’s hobbies at a beginner's level. He's happy to give Jotaro some tips if he asks!

They absolutely would work together if someone else tried making a move on you, undeniably. Noriaki only lets Jotaro have his little fantasy of playing hero and protecting you because he’s useful for keeping lowlifes away. Jotaro allows Noriaki’s crush because he thinks Noriaki isn’t bold enough to really tell you how he feels. It’s like a “enemy of my enemy is my friend” kind of situation, to them. Their friendship was going very well before you came into their life, they bonded enough to respect each other, but you’re certainly a stressor on whatever sense of friendship they had. 

Noriaki is fairly happy to let Jotaro do the dirty work and claim to be nothing like him. Jotaro scares off any potential suitors with his presence, his body language is practically screaming “Fuck off.” If someone’s stupid enough to persist after Jotaro’s initial warnings, then they’re in for a beating. If they STILL persist after that, Noriaki will step in. 

Since controlling outside elements isn’t working, it’s time to work from the inside out. He’ll make passive aggressive comments to you about the person, but mask it as just regular social shaming. You can’t blame him for talking badly, he doesn’t mean to be rude, it’s just.. Have you seen the way they talk to our teachers? They don’t participate in classroom cleaning at all, either. 

If that still doesn’t work, and their darling doesn’t pick up on their “hints”... Well, they suppose they can make a deal of some kind.

[tiredassmage]

🤥🌋🕷️🙈 for savosta! :D

For my son!!!! Thank you!! From OC emojis ask

Lying - Are they good liars? Do they have tells to show they're lying?

Savosta doesn’t need to lie that often. His conviction has always been rather strong, though what he places that level of belief in has certainly shifted over his years. Savosta’s probably more likely to stay neutral and avoid direct comment (or simply stand his ground) if there’s a lie he feels the need to enact, though his most common one was probably been “I’m fine.”

He passes that one to his crew in the wake of Baras’s betrayal, which does a lot more to void him of emotion than spark any passions anew. He tells it to himself fairly often. And, of course, he passes it off to Rhystyl a few times, too. And Rhyst is probably the best at getting his honesty past the way he avoids eye contact and tends to plant stubbornly in place or turn away and fold his arms. Savosta lies by omission. He’s rather selective with whom he shares his struggles honestly with and he uses his position and reputation as the Wrath to shut down unwelcome inquiries and conversations that would try to pry unwanted. It’s usually enough - and more a strength and presence measure than the subtle art often employed by the Empire’s agents.

Volcano - How bad is their temper? Is it a slow boil, or an instant explosion?

Topically then! Savosta was trained to be a force of nature. He has little care for deceit and misdirection and that makes it rather difficult to miss when he is angered. When truly ignited, he can certainly be explosive. He has few qualms with making his displeasure and irritability known nor is he averse to solving problems with his lightsaber.

That said, he tends to get loud before things go completely violent - at least when dealing with those closer to allies rather than enemies. Perceived threats, he historically has little trouble taking on directly and relentlessly in combat. He’d absolutely lodge something in the wall in a fit of rage, but very rarely does he lose his enunciated speech. You will know his purpose and his displeasure. That, you may bet on. It's hard to miss the glaring red eyes set against sharply twisted brows as a snarl rakes across his lips.

The further extents of violence and room-rearranging anger is tempered by his eventual reflections and alliance-turned-friendship with Jedi Knight Rhystyl, though a modicum of that Sith mindset that deals with failures in a very clean-cut, no questions remain fashion remains with him.

And he will not tolerate being anyone’s pawn ever again. That’s still liable to get you killed if you try.

Spider - What's their greatest fear? Do they have any irrational / mundane fears?

At the core, Savosta’s always just wanted to belong. Whatever sense of it he had in youth was torn away when his Force sensitivity manifested and he was exiled from the Chiss with his family turning their backs on him to save the face.

In Asylum, he is confronted with the possibility of losing the one person he genuinely connected with - Rhyst. And it’s also a bit of an uncomfortable question-raiser for him that makes him silently wonder if this is a twisted form of dependency. He wishes not to be a slave to another’s will and machinations again and he fears that what if? in the potential loss. What is he without the guiding star that finally made him question his place and start to shed his mold? Will it last? Or was he playing a part in another tune?

Generally, all they experience together tends to put these worries to rest on its own. He gets opportunities to return the favor of being the rock in the middle of the storm and, for an important point and change, Rhyst is someone he feels comfortable talking to, so he can actually voice and discuss these concerns - and Rhyst doesn’t turn him down.

As for more mundane, I will have to mull that one over a bit more. Nothing so far has come up, lol.

See-no-evil - What's a side of your oc that they don't want to share with other people?

Savosta’s relationship with Jaesa ultimately turns into a mirror of him at his worst. Going from a LS run to Savosta and her on DS was a jump, but it’s what Savosta would do at the time of meeting her. She becomes his apprentice well before he’s aware Baras has any machinations of him. Savosta was still pleased with his position as Sith and he was in no way ready to hear the message that change for the better was still an option for him.

So, Savosta takes her as an apprentice and teaches her the ways of the Sith. He isn’t particularly fond of her clinginess or demanding nature, but he tolerates this somewhat impassively as what being Sith means to her. Plenty of Sith exercise their passions in such a form, so he sees little genuine problem with it. He finds her a bit obsessive, at times, and he curbs her occasionally as a master might with their apprentice in due course, but he doesn’t discourage her. He doesn’t stop her. She finds the depths of darkness just as he had been taught.

And this gets… emotionally bitey in the Alliance-era. Because Savosta’s wildly different by then. And he regrets what he put her through. But he also considers her his responsibility to deal with. Not Rhyst’s. Not the Alliance’s. He made this problem. And he will deal with it.

Savosta isn’t the savior that Rhyst is to him. He’d probably go so far as to feel it might not even be his place to try to sway her back. What he confronts is the unrepentantness and depths of darkness he once explored as a full Sith, the same unwillingness to change, the same righteous belief in justification and bloody glory. She’s not looking for his apologies or his explanations. She’s looking for a fight and Savosta obliges.

It’s not the decision Rhyst would make and there’s a bit of shame to that as well. But that level of darkness, hatred, fear… That’s not a place Savosta ever wants to return to and it’s not a burden he’s ready to share, even with his best friend. That’s a part of the past Savosta believes should be firmly left behind.

It’s certainly far from ideal for all parties involved. Maybe he could have reached her, maybe there’d be too much clash and friction for him being the one to encourage her down that path in the first place. Either way, that path is not one he finds himself willing to follow. He sees a threat. And he’ll never quite change completely to the Jedi’s ways; his loyalty will be to Rhyst first, and he’ll gladly follow him to the Republic. But it takes him little deliberation to answer a threat still with his blade. You do not go after his people.