#“wisdom be damned” is a great example

[criibibi]

Synopsis: After losing so much, Spider-woman learns to just keep moving. Only for her to end up somewhere far from home. Her first agenda is figuring out where she is, and how to get back. The only problem is that she ended up somewhere fictional (to her). Playing hero with Batman was not in her bingo cards this year. Hopefully she will be able to make it back home before she catches unwanted attention.

Masterlist: Prev; Next;

Chapter 2 - Spider Luck

Morning came quickly despite the shitty sleep you received that night. The constant tossing and turning, the constant fear and anxiety of getting caught or broken into, really you couldn’t catch a break. 

Despite that, you did get some sleep, even if the sum total was like three hours. Still, it’s not like the nightmares would have let you sleep regardless. All your failures would consume your thoughts and drown you, reminding you of your losses. 

Sure you moved on, but it’s not like you had forgotten. Uncle Ben’s wisdom, Aunt May’s lessons, and Peter Parker’s kindness. You vowed to honor and cherish those memories, but here you are, in another fucking world, with a high possibility of you breaking some laws just to get out.

Desperate people do crazy shit, and you aren’t that sane to begin with.

Luckily this motel has a shower and you plan to use it. Making sure to clean yourself with what you have (unfortunate) and pick up the necessities that you desperately need. 

Taking your time (since you paid for it) you get yourself ready, making sure your mask, gloves and (stolen) wallet are secured inside the hoodie’s pockets. Suite nice and tucked underneath the turtleneck and leggings. First order of business is shoes. Maybe that should have been your first mission yesterday- oops. 

You definitely should have followed the young spiderlings example and fight crime with shoes. Well if you ever meet them again, you will…

When you meet them again. You will. You have to. No matter the cost.

And then your stomach rumbled. “Great! Time for cheap food. Wonder if that knockoff Wack-Donld place is open. 

Oh that’s a nice plan. But you forgot one thing, genius. Where is it? How would you know where it is? You can’t even map it since you also don’t have a phone. 

About to unlock the door, you realized something. It already was unlocked… “Hmm…” Well, it was good that you webbed the door then.

“Fuck.” Leaving the motel keys at the front, you skedaddled your way back into the streets, looking for either a bodega or a shoe store. In order to keep yourself somewhat sane, you start softly humming music you recall Miles shared with you.

After some time of walking around aimlessly (you avoided asking others for directions, gods know gothamites unwritten rule is to mind your fucking business), you found a thrift store.

Guess what you realized while browsing for shoes. If you buy and fight crime with shoes, and (as of right now) are your only pair, you will get found out. So crocs it is!

Black ones, because white gets dirty too damn easily.

Finding your size and other clothing necessities, face-mask, a backpack and a portable sewing kit, you were good to go and all for a cheap price! God you love thrift stores. You used to go to as many and as often as you could with Peter. Ya had a bad spending habit and Peter certainly never discouraged you. He was your terrible financial buddy.

Not now! You can’t reminisce right now, not until you found a way home. Asking the cashier for directions while also subtly declining their phone number (your excuse is that your phone got stolen) you made it to a corner store. Hurray!

Making sure to stock up on snacks, since- let’s be real, this will be your food source for a while, (no income, remember, silly) you stand in line to pay before your spider sense goes off.

Behind you. There’s a man, hoodie on, looking down, covering their face, hands buried inside their pockets. You’re betting it’s either a gun or a knife. 

“Don’t move or I’ll shoot.” Oh, it’s a gun. How original.

The cashier seemed to clock in to what is occurring and subtly reaches under his counter. Not subtle enough because the man behind you yelled, pulling out his gun and pointing at the back of your head.

What the fuck spider luck.

You quickly assess your surroundings, making note that there is only one exit, two normal people not including you but including the gunman, and the room feels tight and too small to do anything.

Conclusion? You’re fucked. 

“I said don’t move, hands up! Give me the money, all of it!” From the corner of your eyes you can see just how fidgety this man was. Probably trigger happy if you do something stupid.

“He-hey man, I don’t got much in here.” The cashier had his hands in the air, trembling and freaking out. 

“I don’t care, give me the money! Yours too, bitch. Now!”

How rude. “Alright, I’m going to get my wallet. Don’t shoot.” You made slow movements of reaching into your pocket for the wallet.

“Hurry up! Both of you!” The thug yelled impatiently. You could practically feel how sweaty and anxious this guy is.

You watched the employee open up the cashier and take the money out. The assailant motioned for you to place your wallet on the counter, which you do and step to the side, getting out of his way. Just as he goes to grab the money you quickly grab the wrist with the gun and twist it, making sure he dropped it before smashing his head onto said counter, money flying everywhere. 

Both you and the cashier watched the assailant fall to the ground, nose bleeding and out cold. “Um,” The cashier looked at you, spooked. “I panicked.”

Hey look at that, no shots fired baby! Ya still got it! You are a pro-fess-io-nal~!

“Hey man, no-um no sweat. You saved me.” He replies with a tremble in his voice.

“Cool, cool, I also didn’t want to get shot. How much for my stuff?” You asked, picking up the money on the floor, handing it back while placing your snacks on the counter..

“What stuff? I see nothing. Just go. I already called the cops.” Oh, so he wasn’t reaching for a gun (corner stores usually have one under the counters) but a buzzer or something? Nice, cool, great.

“Thanks buddy!” Hey man, free food is a blessing. Picking up your wallet and bag of snacks, you step over the knocked out guy, (pick pocketing any cash he had on him,) picking up the gun with your sweater sleeve and placing it at the counter. “Here, for the cops.”

“Thanks so much, again for everything. Hey, can I get a name? For the next time you come and…buy stuff.” He shot his shot.

“I appreciate it man, but I don’t give out my name like that. You know?”

And he missed.

“Ye-yeah…” He looked like a kicked puppy.

Just as you stepped out you heard the sound of a motorcycle nearby and your senses went off again.

“Stop right there, not another step.” A third party voice joins the fray.

What the fuck, spider luck?!

Instantly you recognize the vigilante in front of you but regardless you are not taking any chances today. 

Taking a step back inside the store, making sure to close the door on the guy. “Um, hey not to alarm you or anything but there is a guy with a mask standing outside.” Bringing your hands up (again) you back away from the entrance, snack bag swinging around with your movements. 

The employee nods pulled out the pistol from the counter (what the fuck, why would you grab that with your fingers my dude?) and aimed.

Well at least he doesn’t hold grudges for being rejected.

The door swung open and there stood a masked vigilante, but a familiar bat symbol on his chest caught the employee’s attention.

“Oh thank god it’s not another one.” Putting the pistol again he sighed in relief.

“Ah!” The yellow vigilante turned his focus onto you, (who backed up so much you tripped over the k.o.ed dude, fucking embarrassing) hands still in the air and snacks littering the floor.

Some professional you are. Fuck you spider luck.

“I didn’t steal anything, I swear.” God, you're embarrassed and stressed.

The vigilante ponders for a few seconds, taking in the scenario, glancing at the employee who nods and turns his attention back. “Sorry about that. Here.” He extends a hand out towards you and to not be suspicious you hesitantly take it, your body tenses on instinct, pulling away immediately.

“Thank you.” you mumbled silently cringing at your embarrassment over spilled snacks.

“What happened?” He still faced you but you knew that question was for the other party member. And even if it was for you, you’re silent.

“That dude tried to rob us and they knocked him out. Oh,” The cashier looked at his hands. “This is his.” And placed the pistol on the counter.

This looks like the perfect time to poof away so you do. Right after you pick up your snacks. Signal sees this and silently aids you. “You both aren’t hurt, right? Need medical assistance?”

No you fucking don’t.

Holding out the bag as Signal placed the last snack in you as you shook your head. “I’m a-okay. Thank you though.” And you walk out for the second time. You could still feel his eyes on you until the door closes.

And guess who shows up.

The men in blue.

“Hold it right there.” Bro, you just want to be left alone, is that so much to ask? This time instead of bringing your hands up (for a third time), you instead clutch your bag to your chest, mask down and point inside, making sure your voice matches your facial expression.

“In there, he stopped him there.” meek, timid, nervous.

It seems to have worked as the pair of policemen entered the store and you didn’t think twice and booked it (in a non suspicious manner- if you run, they might chase). Passing by a yellow motorcycle you take a glance back and see the vigilante stepping outside the store, looking somewhat bothered in the presence of the authorities. 

Sucks to suck, bud, you know that feeling very well, not your problem anymore.

As if feeling your eyes on him he turns his face towards you, your eyes meeting a mask. Oh fuck! You felt your hair stand up. Holding his gaze for a few seconds before turning away (any other abrupt movement would definitely make you look suspicious) you continue on your way.

Forcing yourself to not tense up and fight the urge to shiver at his cold gaze you round the corner and you feel somewhat safer again. But it’s a false sense of security, because you know you’re slowly losing your mind.

Hopefully you won’t run into him or any of the other bats.

-

Duke Thomas was patrolling his territory, the Narrows, when he got a notification.

“Signal, there’s a robbing occurring five blocks from your location. The corner store Convenience. Know it?” Oracle’s voice spoke through the comms.

“I know my way. I’m checking it out now.”

“Checking the cameras- there are only three people inside. The assailant, a civilian, and an employee.”

“Got it-”

“Oh wait. Huh, well look at that.” Disbelief could be heard through the comms.

“What is it?” Did things escalate too fast?

“The civi knocked the guy out. Basically one move.” Color Oracle impressed.

“I’m here, anything else I should know about?”

“I’m scanning what I can see of their face, but I’m coming up blank. I’ll let you know if anything.”

Duke didn’t reply, instead as he pulled up he saw someone coming out of the store. “Stop right there, not another step.”

He watched the figure (gender unidentifiable with the oversized hoodie) freeze before making eye contact with him-er his visor. Despite the hood being down, he could not see their face completely with their mask, only their eyes and hair. Just a normal civilian, who apparently knocked out a guy with a gun.

Then silence and no movement.

Until the civilian backed away, closing the store door.

Stunned for a moment, Duke could hear Oracles snort through the comms. “Think they’re scared?”

“From what, me? They took down a guy with a guy and I scared them?” 

“Careful, gun pointed straight at you inside.” warned Oracle.

He moves towards the front door, pushing it open to see the civilian from earlier backing away still, hands up before turning his attention to the employee with a gun. “Oh thank god it’s not another one.”

“Ah!” A yelp caught his attention and it seems the civi tripped on the knocked out guy he just noticed. They immediately spoke, catching his eyes,“I didn’t steal anything, I swear.” 

Duke holds in a snort before glancing at the employee who nods in confirmation before he focuses on the fallen person. He calmly walks towards them, taking note of their discomfort and reaches his hand out. “Sorry about that. Here.” 

Despite his covered eyes somewhat obscuring his vision, he couldn’t will them away from this stranger’s visible face. 

Duke watched their hesitation but placed their hands in his, and he swore he felt a spark that sent shivers down his spine. How curious. He pulled them up, noting just how light they felt in his hold.

“Thank you.” Their voice was soft, but audible.

They quickly pulled their hand away, the warmth gone. His hand held its place for a couple of seconds before he let it fall to his side. “What happened?” He still faced the civilian, both unmoving. He already knew what occurred, Oracle told him everything, but he wanted to hear them talk more.

Only the employee replied. He took note of their lack of eye contact. 

“That dude tried to rob us and they knocked him out. Oh,” Duke glanced as the cashier placed the gun on the counter. He’ll leave that for the cops to pick up if they don’t get here before he leaves. “This is his.”

His attention is once again stolen as the civilian in front of him kneels to pick up their half empty bag. Standing above them, he notes the tips of their ears are red, how cute.

“You good there, romeo? You kinda have a staring problem.” Oracle’s voice snapped him out of his trance.

Duke cleared his mind (he hoped he didn’t look weird or creepy, yikes) before leaning down as well and helped pick up the tossed chip bags.

Though he did take his time, just to squeeze a bit more time with this civilian that he has yet to identify. “You both aren’t hurt, right? Need medical assistance?” He mostly directed this question to them than the cashier behind him. He wonders if Oracle figured out this civilian's name. 

Placing the last snack inside the plastic bag he watches them straighten up before shaking their head. “I’m a-okay. Thank you though.” His eyes couldn’t seem to leave their figure as he watched them walk out the door.

“Cops outside, Signal.” Oracle once again breaks his attention. 

“Got it.” Duke turns his attention to the guy on the floor, sitting him up as two officers enter the store. One takes the guy off his hands while the other questions the employee, taking the gun.

A slight restless feeling took over him and he made his way outside, the one carrying the passed out guy following. Duke quickly takes notice of eyes watching him and he turns to see the complete unmasked civilian from earlier. 

This time, he really felt like he had a staring problem. He drinks up their appearance like water. Their nose, lips, face shape, everything. He didn’t know how to explain it, but he really couldn’t look away this time. Everything around him suddenly felt silent. He felt his body shiver.

Such a pretty face, this civilian caught his breath regardless. He’s not one to lose himself by a pretty face but it seems this one was an exception. He felt mesmerized, entranced, and tongue-tied. Something about this person had a strong lock on him, and he couldn’t help but feel somewhat excited then put off. It felt like a very tight leash, and he doesn’t mind one bit.

Three seconds. Ever since he caught their gaze, they made eye-contact (despite him wearing a mask) before she looked away and left, turning the corner. (Their features look pretty feminine so he’s going with her). 

“Anything Oracle?” He mumbled, still a bit lost.

“No dice. How strange…”

Bummer. He mounts his ride and drives off to finish the rest of his patrol. He’s tempted to drive in the direction the civilian went to, but he wills himself to not do that. God it’s like he’s down bad. Really bad.

Hopefully he gets to see you soon, it seems you’re staying in the Narrows which increases his chances to see you. As much as he curses himself internally, he hopes he can save you next time something dangerous happens again.

Something formed in the pit of his stomach, and he doesn’t know if it’s desire or obsession.

Regardless, he embraces this feeling whole heartedly.

Prev; Next;

I struggled really hard, like REALLY hard. Duke is new to me (i only learned of him because of the webtoon) Now I'm reading issues he has been in and I don't know his character well but there is a SEVERE lack of Duke fics and I made it everyone's problem. So now he's down bad.

Updates are random and spars, no update schedule and don't plan to make one. This is my hobby not my obligation.

[hyenafu]

Hey Hyena, you have years of experience when it comes to making a webcomic. Do you have any tips or advice for someone who has been thinking of starting their own with their original characters? That someone is me.

Though I do have a lot of advice to share, I will preface this by saying that general advice can only take you so far. I'm not familiar with you, your work, or your goals. It feels a bit like trying to tell someone how to play video games well when you don't know what game they're playing. But I'll try to share some practical wisdom that I hope will help folks who are just starting out.

Research: I've been recommending Scott McCloud's "Making Comics" to new creators for years, and I stand by that recommendation. It contains a ton of useful information about how the language of comics works while being a comic itself. McCloud talks about character design, the balance of words and images, pacing, backgrounds, and all sorts of subjects while pulling examples from many different types of comics, including European graphic novels, webcomics, manga, and American newspaper stripes. Whether you're just starting to appreciate comics or you've been making them for a while, I think it's a great source of inspiration.

Planning: I would do some research into how other webcomic artists plan. You're going to find a plethora of answers. Some people are really organized, others fly by the seat of their pants, and there's all sorts of valid approaches somewhere in between.

Slightly Damned is a mix of planning and improv. It's a very slow-moving story, and I've literally changed as a person with the passage of time. I have very clear goals with only a vague idea of how I'm going to get there or how long it's going to take. I just point myself and my characters in the direction I want to go and procedurally generate art and dialog along the way. This way, I'm able to set up story beats that actually (eventually) pay off, while keeping things fresh and interesting enough that I actually want to keep making it.

My usual process involves maintaining an outline in a text document. The advantage of keeping the outline in a digital text document is that I can edit and rearrange things as needed. It's a jumble of notes and snippets of dialog in rough chronological order.

When I need to make more Slightly Damned pages (usually a few weeks in advance), I adapt my notes into sketches of comic pages called thumbnails that I keep in a small notebook. Then the thumbnails are what I base the actual comic pages on when I start penciling them.

A warning against too much planning: Planning only works up to a point. At some point, you just gotta get started and gain some experience.

I think the most common problem people have when planning to make comics is that they're planning too much. It makes sense to want to be prepared, and it makes sense to be afraid of messing up. But there's a lot that you can ONLY learn from putting your art-making tool* to use and seeing where you end up.

(*Just to make sure we're all on the same page here: GenAI is not an art-making tool, it's a plagarism tool. If you rely on it, you'll only be robbing yourself of learning anything or discovering your style.)

For example: do you even like making comics? I feel like you can't really know this unless you've spent some time making them. Comics are excrutiatingly labor intensive and notoriously bad for making money.

If you don't enjoy the work of making comics, I don't think there's any reason to force yourself to make them. There are so many awesome ways to express yourself: visual novels, animatics, prose, video games, modeling, music, cosplay, concept artist, etc. I don't want anyone committing themselves to an art form because they think they have to; I want them to commit themselves to an art form because gosh dang it it's just SO rewarding to do it!

And when you start making stuff, you can look at what you've done and start asking questions about how to do it better next time. You can show the stuff you've done to others, and their reactions can help you find your direction. You can do all sorts of research based on what you think you want, and what you think you can do, only for all of that to be thrown out the window once you get started.

It'll also help you find what you're good at, which is usually whatever you think is the most fun to make.

Practice: Everything gets easier with practice. And I mean everything. If you want to get better at doing something, then you have to actually do it. Suck at drawing elbows? Draw some elbows. Bikes are impossible? Draw some bikes. Wanna write fantasy? Write some fantasy. Wanna write sci fi? Write some sci fi.

Do it bad, do it scared, and it will become easier. I can't guarantee that you'll be able to, say, freehand the skyline of San Francisco with total confidence after trying it a couple times. But you may stop giving a shit about doing it badly, and then the attempt can be fun regardless of the result! Doesn't that sound powerful?

Art is hard, and we can all be hard on ourselves. Try not to overly focus on the results. Practice mindfulness and enjoy the process of making things. Others will be able to see the spark that fuels your creations even if you feel your technical skills aren't exactly where you want them to be.

Putting it online: Don't rely on social media to be around forever. Being online since the 90s, I can tell you that it's been a long process of jumping from one sinking ship to the next. You want people to be able to reliably find you and your work.

I've know people whose layouts were destroyed when tumblr pushed an update. Creators had to scramble to make new sites for their webcomics when SmackJeeves suddenly went under. Who knows when the next billionaire or hedge fund will threaten the livelihoods of thousands for the sake of filling their already-bursting bank accounts?

If you know how to make your own website: look into Wordpress, which has several plug-ins that work with it, such ComicEasel and Toocheke, for making websites specifically for webcomics.

But if you don't know how to make your own website: use ComicFury. I've heard nothing but good things through the grapevine about how good it is and how passionate the owner is about webcomics. I've heard it's very easy to set up and I'm strongly considering making a Slightly Damned mirror on it myself.

What about Webtoon? Well… ymmv, I guess. They definitely have shady business practices and encourage unhealthy, overly demanding amounts of work from their creators. Their rating system was also another point of contention (I think ratings systems encourage a narrow-minded view of art), but they recently got rid of it, I think?

Other problems include limited control over comments section, no ability to flesh out your account with interesting side content for your comic, how much the site pushes people to jump from comic to comic, ads, content restrictions…

I do have friends who use Webtoon with the attitude of "being where the people are". That makes total sense to me. Ultimately, it's a decision you just have to make for yourself based on your values and comfort levels.

If you're a furry, then FurAffinity is a good place for your first archive. You can make (a) folder(s) for your comic, then set up navigation links in the description to help people read comic pages in order.

Places like tumblr and Bluesky are good for sharing stuff regularly, but they make terrible archives. Social media is very much about being "in the moment" and sharing new things regularly. It has its uses, but it's not the best for reading through a comic archive.

I'm not going to pretend that FA is perfect, but it is independently owned and anti-AI, and that's something to celebrate.

===

I feel like I could go on forever, but I hope that's a helpful start. If you or anyone else would like some more specific advice, shoot me a question in my inbox. It can be hard to know what to talk about when giving general advice because there is SO much talk about.

[ddarker-dreams]

I ASPIRE TO WRITE LIKE YOUUUUU UGUGUHHHHGUGHHGHHGHGHHGGHHHHHH I CAN'T STOP DEVOURING YOUR WORKS PLEEEEASE HOW DO YOU WRITE SO ELOQUENTLY YET SO CHARISMATICALLY?? PLEASE SHARE YOUR WISDOM, GREAT ONE!!😭🙏

PLSSSSSSS thank you so much,, i feel undeserving of such high praise 🥺 ...

i'm not entirely sure how my writing style came to be hjiegrjw lots of practice, i guess?? i consider what i want to get across in any story, whether it's a snippet or full-fledged series, then work around that. all that experience has made me familiar with my most effective storytelling methods.

my writing process basically looks like this:

initial idea

brainstorming about the idea (what are the character's positions? if they're at conflict, how do they express it? what's their body language, their word choice? etc etc)

open the accursed google docs and either:

(a) start at the beginning of the story, specifically what context the reader needs and drawing them into the Vibe. also equally important is knowing what information not to provide the reader, so they're left wanting to unravel what is going on.

(b) start smack dab in the action. structure comes later. lean into the excitement of the cool idea. context be damned, go ham.

in both cases, when i feel like i'm getting stuck, i come back to it later if it feels like it's grinding the entire process to a halt. i'll underline the segment, write a description of what it is i'm going for, then keep chugging along.

🚄 continue chugging until i can't anymore. exit google doc.

daydream about the story literally nonstop until i can work on it again, looking at things with a fresh lens in the days that follow the initial draft.

i make a few copies of the draft and try out different ideas, scrapping and adding as i go.

(here's an example of what this looks like, chap 4 and 5 of nexus had multiple versions with differences throughout until i landed on something i liked)

reread 458729x times and nitpick over smaller things like word choice, clean up dialogue to make it more fitting to the character

pray

huh . this is actually more convoluted than i thought. i'm not entirely sure if this will be helpful or not, messy as it is... but it is an unfiltered look into whatever tf my process is.

[sunlightandsuffering]

I'm not sure if this is long enough for me to bother posting it as a chapter, BUT MORE SACRILEGE FOR THE PPL AND BC THEY'RE SO CUTE AND UNHINGED !!

Does Eren feel great about corrupting the local church’s youth group leader and shining example of chastity? No, not really, in fact, his mother would probably murder him for it if she ever found out. 

But in the meantime, he’s sure stories of his ‘new girlfriend’ and possible marriage prospect will mollify her.

Or at least he hopes so, but regardless, that is the least of Eren’s problems. His biggest problem is the pain in the ass cadet he’s been assigned as a partner for the last week and a half of Armin’s paternity leave and said local churchgoing sweetheart’s ex-boyfriend. All in all, Eren has embroiled himself in a plot quite fitting for the church. He can see the headline now, ‘Local Cop Seduces Innocent Church Girl, Leaves Hopeful Cadet Destitute’.

“I hate him,” Jean is muttering darkly from Armin’s desk across from him, fidgeting with his pen in agitation. If only Jean knew that Eren is the ‘him’ he’s referring to. Instead, he’s simply been subjected to a singular break up text, and several quotes about the bible and forgiveness splashed across Mikasa’s instagram story. 

If Eren weren’t in the middle of it he’d find the entire plot amusing, but he doesn’t want Jean to become more irritating than he already is. 

The rhythmic click, click, click of Jean’s pen clicking is what finally sets Eren over the edge. “Leave your personal shit at home, Kirstchein, we have a job to do and that paperwork isn’t going to complete itself.” Jean looks like a kicked puppy as he turns back towards his paperwork, appropriately chastised by his superior, and for a split second Eren almost feels bad for the man. 

But then Mikasa sends him a nude, and he doesn’t feel so bad for the asshole anymore. 

Shoving his phone into one of the many deep pockets of his standard-issue cargo pants Eren stands up, imposing compared the heartbroken cadet in front of him.

“We have shit to do Kirschtein, we’ve got a drug bust in an hour and you’re fucking moping. Get it together.” 

Jean glowers for a moment before booting up his now sleeping computer again and Eren sighs, heading towards the break room to grab a snack, he truly does not get paid enough for this shit. 

How old is he? Seventeen? Because that’s the kind of teenaged nonsense he’s dealing with from his cadet, it’s ridiculous. He grumbles mostly to himself as he snatches a pre-packaged rice krispy treat from the communal bowl on the counter, this is how bad it is, he’s actually fucking eating carbs and sugary ones at that. Whereas Eren is typically infamous for following his regimented diet, continually topping the leaderboards at every physical training camp, Jean’s drama has stressed him out so much that he’s actually fucking eating sugar. 

Eren tears the blue wrapper apart with his teeth before ripping into the sweet treat with dark intent, stupid fucking cadets and overdramatic church girls. Stocking back into the main office space Eren promises himself no more bullshit, from here one it’s police work only. He doesn’t get paid enough to deal with this shit on the job. He’s about to give Jean another lecture, hoping this time it’ll stick, but as he approaches their desk clump he finds Jean on his phone, a looking of absolute betrayal on his face. “Jean what the fuck are you looking at I thought I said–” Eren snatches the phone from his hands only to find Mikasa’s god-damned Instagram story. The cute little icon of her face lighting up the corner of the screen along with a large pink background and some sort of cursive looking font splashed across the screen. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

James 1:5

Fuck. The pink image switches as the story runs out, and suddenly the screen is black, lit up with pink writing as another bible verse is proudly proclaimed across her story. 

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalms 37:4

The screen changes again and Eren groans, handing the phone back to Jean who can only be describes as looking utterly betrayed. His pain in the ass little churchgoer has been posting passive-aggressive bible verses on her story all morning from the looks of it, splashes across her social media in varying shades of pink. 

Eren checks his own phone curiously, only to find there’s another notification from said little churchgoer, and from the looks of it, it’s probably another nude. 

God what the fuck has he gotten himself into. “I’m sorry Eren, I just - I can’t, we were together for four years! She was going to give me her virginity, we were going to be each other’s firsts.” Eren winces at that particular comment, because he’d taken Mikasa’s virginity rather spiritedly on the altar of their church, had actually fucked the lord right out of her he’d like to think. Although, judging by the mess of bible verses painted across her social media, there’s at least a little bit of religious insanity left in her. “I have to make a call,” Eren tells Jean abruptly, leaving the cadet to wallow, “Get your shit together by the time I come back.” 

Eren barely makes it outside the precinct before he’s holding the phone to his ear, Mikasa’s number dialed already and ringing insistently. 

She answers on the third ring, sounding breathless, “Eren–” “The bible verses Mikasa? Really?” He’s utterly exasperated and he’s sure she can tell by the way she sighs on the other end of the line, “I just think it’s important that the rest of my community knows that breaking up with Jean was God’s will Eren.” “Mikasa I fucked you on the altar okay, that wasn’t God’s will, I was horny and that was good fucking weed.” He can practically feel her scowl on the other end of the line, “God never gives us more than we can handle Eren, and now I have my ring, it was all his will. The congregation just needs to understand that, and so does my youth group.”

“You couldn’t just tell them you found someone else?” 

Mikasa gasps in affront over the line, “He gave me a promise ring Eren, it’s highly frowned upon within the community to rescind commitment so easily.” 

“You rescinded it pretty easily for me.”

“Because I knew God sent you to me, to put me on the right path.” “You’re absolutely unhinged, you know that, right?” There's silence for a moment, and then there's a breathier quality to her voice as she taunts him,“I’m also not wearing panties.”

“Did God tell you not to?” Eren quips right back, and Mikasa chuckles throatily on the other end of the line, “Can you come home on your lunch break?” 

Eren glances at the clock, cursing at the time, he’s spent far too long talking to his pain in the ass girlfriend. “No, I have to get back now, stop posting bible verses on your story and keep looking at your other university options Mika, I want you to get in on time.” At this, he can feel her wilt through the phone, she’s been stressed as hell since her falling out with her parents and subsequent break up with Jean. As a consequence she no longer has a full ride scholarship to Shiganshina bible college and she’s been stressed about schooling ever since.  Not that Eren had any desire to encourage that particular path of schooling, but he doesn’t want to derail her entire life, doesn’t want to be the mistake she looks back on as the reason she doesn’t have a career or didn’t go to college. 

Since accidentally stealing Jean’s girlfriend Eren has found he more than cares about the religious spitfire, might even love her, just a little. She may be unhinged as all hell, and devout to the point of delusion, but at heart, she’s a good person, if not a brat. His girlfriend had just been a little… misguided. 

She’d worked hard to get into nursing school, and Eren will be damned if he’s the reason she doesn’t get into another one. “Baby,” He intones and Mikasa sighs loudly, “Fine, I’ll work on my cover letter again.” He catches himself as a smile quirks at his lips, “Stop sending me nudes and send me the rough draft, I’ll look at it after my drug bust.” “Oh my God, you’re so boring.” “Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain Mikasa,” He sing songs, and she growls on the other end of the line before hanging up. Maybe God really doesn’t give people more than they can handle, who is to say? Whatever, Eren doesn’t believe in any of that bullshit anyway. He turns back towards the precinct, phone tucked into his pants, “Kirschtein you’d better not still be mooning over that crazy religious nut you call an ex-girlfriend.” 

He is so totally going to hell. 

She shows up at around dinner time, eight hours into his twelve-hour shift, and firmly destroying any hopes of having a peaceful Wednesday night catching up on paperwork. 

She’s balanced delicately on the edge of his desk, glowering at Jean like he’s the one who’s wronged her. 

And even at eleven on a Wednesday night, she’s scantily clad, dressed in ripped jeans and a low cut scoop-neck sweater that catches Eren’s attention immediately. Because just like the first time he met her, her cleavage is eye-catching, his girlfriend’s tits are the stuff of wet dreams, the kind of breasts you show to plastic surgeons as inspo pics. 

And Jean is fucking staring at them. 

Was Mikasa Jean’s girlfriend first? Yes, yes she definitely was, and he has no doubt that despite her previous virginal status that Jean has ample experience with her rack. Doesn’t stop Eren from being pissed off that his douche canoe cadet is staring at his girlfriend’s rack. 

Jean is looking at her with simply too much interest, lust shining in his eyes as he looks her up and down, unable to look away from the plump milky tops of her breasts. 

Eren won’t have it. 

They’re arguing as he approaches them, half-assed insults on Jean’s part and scathing words from Mikasa that have Eren biting back a grin. 

“You’re a boy Jean, I needed a man, and God finally sent him to me.” This is Eren’s cue to make an entrance, and he sure does, barely sparing Jean a glance, instead wrapping a hand around Mikasa’s waist, blocking Jean’s view of her lithe little body. Without an ounce of hesitation, Eren dips his head into a low bow, worshipful as he places a kiss on each breast, wet, sloppy and leaving a sheen of saliva in his wake. Mikasa squeaks at the contact, not expecting the touch, and at her sweet little noise he can’t help but press one more loving kiss to the creamy flesh, his hands skating up over her waist to give her beautiful tits a squeeze. It’s quick, fleeting, just enough to make her smile turn dopey, eyes fogging over with desire, and he’s sure her sweet nipples are hard already, wants nothing more than to kiss her tits all day, but alas he has things to do. He completes his greeting with a kiss to her lips, long and slow with plenty of tongue, a hello that has Mikasa sighing into his mouth, melting in his arms. When he finally pulls back she is utterly dazed, his sweet little church girl the picture of debauchery, lips swollen with his kisses, and her sweater now slightly askew. Eren doesn’t acknowledge Jean at all as he greets her, one last squeeze to her hip as he gets her settled against his desk, “Hi baby.” This is what finally causes Jean to explode. 

“Baby? Mikasa this is the man you’re dating?” Eren glances back at him curiously, lying through his teeth as he asks, “Problem Kirschtein?” As if he didn’t steal the little spitfire right out from under his useless cadet.

Mikasa continues to say nothing, looking up at Eren adoringly and finally Jean snaps, gesturing towards the little pixie in his arms, “Eren, this is my ex-girlfriend.” “The one who dumped you for a better guy?” Jean growls in irritation, “That’s the one.” 

Eren shrugs, pressing his cheek against the soft strands of her hair, inhaling her sweet vanilla scent, “Oops.” Jean looks like he’s about to commit murder in the middle of the precinct but Eren is unconcerned, only tugs Mikasa a little bit closer, “Sorry cadet, it just kind of happened.” 

“How?” Jean grits out and Mikasa answers for him this time, snapping out of her kiss-induced daze, “Jean I told you I wasn’t feeling fulfilled in our relationship, it wasn’t what the lord wanted for me. But Eren–” She turns to look up at him lovingly, “He’s what I need, I just know it.” 

“What exactly is it that you need that I can’t provide, Mikasa?” A firm fucking hand that’s what but Eren refrains from that particular comment, knowing it will start world war three when he would much rather leave in a few hours. 

Mikasa reaches out at that, taking Jean’s hand, looking up at him so seriously, Eren would almost think that God was speaking through her, if he believed in God that is. “Guidance,” She tells Jean firmly, and Eren has to hold back a laugh because yeah, sexual guidance maybe, how the fuck did he end up in bed with this crazy little lunatic?

“What about our pastor, what about our parents–” “Shh,” Mikasa quiets Jean, “My decision has been made, and I made it in the eyes of the lord,” she spares a glance back at Eren that secretive little smile on her face, and he almost groans, because they sure did fucking make that decision in the eyes of the lord, right in front of his fucking salad actually, front and centre, no escape. 

Jean is looking at them both in complete and utter affront, a vein standing out prominently on his forehead, “Adultery is a sin you know.” Mikasa scoffs, “So is pride Jean, now if you would be so kind as to swallow yours I would like to spend the last ten minutes of my fiancée’s break with him.” This proves to be the wrong thing to say because Jean gasps, “There’s no way he’s going to marry you Mikasa, Officer Yeager doesn’t seem like the committed type.” 

Mikasa levels a murderous glare at his cadet and Eren continues to enjoy the show, smoothing a hand over her hip to keep the little heathen from leaping over their desks to claw his eyes out. “We’ve already set a date,” Mikasa tells him primly, before turning her back to his cadet dismissively. She’s pouting now as she looks up at him, her hand clutched in the folds of his uniform just a little too tightly for her to be totally okay. 

Eren presses a light kiss to her forehead before leaning down to her ear, a playful nip to the lobe before he suggests they take a breather, “You wanna hang out in my patrol car for the rest of my break.” She nods, leaning into him a little more, pressing the full weight of her delicate little body against him, “Yeah, I’d like that.” Eren leads her out by the elbow, Jean still fuming behind them, and fuck he knows exactly what he’s going to have to deal with later and it’s not good.

But something occurs to him as they edge out the doors of the precinct, keys jingling in his hand, “Mikasa, baby?” “Yeah?” She turns back, the picture-perfect scene of beauty, her hair falling in silky waves down her back, stunning as ever with that pretty face, and her tits trying to steal all his attention. “Did the Lord tell you to wear panties with that little outfit?” A mischievous smile blooms on her face before she’s sprinting towards his car, her reply caught in the wind of the night, “No!” 

Fucking bratty church girls, now he has to fuck her in his patrol car, it’s just good sense.

[aftermyownart]

Please enjoy this picture of Arwen on a ?horse.

If you'd like to hear my as of yesterday epiphany about Arwen, I have written a note below the line~

Arwen is useless = This is incorrect

The stories of Middle Earth are very viscerally about loss. Loss of nature, loss of beauty, loss of loved ones, loss of innocence, loss of the world as it's been known, and how to act in the face of unfathomable fear.

And Arwen, as I think we all know or have vaguely considered at least subconsciously before, is meant to be a symbol of hope (and the motivator for Aragorn to be the prime example of non-toxic man candy we all dream about).

So what does she do in the story? The simple answer is; she give's up her passport to the family's holiday home in the undying lands and stays in Middle Earth with her hot ranger boyfriend. I mean, I can't blame her.

But here's my mini-piphany

Arwen is stubborn. She fights back without malice when she's been lied to (by a family member someone who literally sees the future), and stays in a world that is turning to ash and fire.

I think she does it for more than simply the love of a man.

I think Arwen really is a good example of positive femininity. She may not be wielding a sword, but she acts in the way of many stubborn women do, and acts in service of the future. Don't think she would make a difference? Wrong.

Arwen is the daughter and granddaughter of two of the most well known and powerful elves in M.E. Damn right she knows how to run a kingdom. She also, despite being the youngest of the elves, has perspective on longevity. What would a kingdom of men know about how the world can change over that length of time? How farms stay fertile over the spans of centuries? How to calm agitated spirits?

I know she's essentially the poster girl for what could be the M.E. equivalent of white privilege (like, for real) but she's also, I think, the most similar symbolically to an immigrant woman. She knows she may never see her family again, despite how close they all are, but how many immigrants have moved away from everything they've ever known and loved because they had hope?

How many incredibly brilliant women have been destined to fade as their brilliancy is overlooked once their immediate loved ones are gone?

I think Arwen is an untitled hero of the rebuilding of the world. You bet she would be giving advice to anyone who asked, putting the wisdom of her heritage to good use, considering council meetings as seriously as Galadriel or Elrond ever would. She would be the one who turns the white city green again, inspire, encourage and teach in the makings of a new age of art, textile and industry from knowledge humans never had access to before.

Damn right she would know her entire family tree, and play with every great, great grandchild who may never know or remember how she's related to them.

Would she eventually tire of humanity? Probably, but that bond to her family would never waver, no matter how far removed the generations would become. She may even see the eyes of her love in thousands of grandchildren so far down the family tree with so many relatives they might as well be a galaxy, but she would see the eyes of her love, of her brothers, of her father and her mother reflected in those descendants.

And to them, she might be like a god, but more likely, she would be like the warmth of Autumn, like sunshine that warms you in the cold, even if it too feels remote, felt from a distance, or a fleeting, gentle thing. She'd be like the fading trees, nostalgia for all who grew up tugging at her skirts and grow to lean on her strong shoulder as their own bones wither and creak with age. To be the last Elf on the shores of middle earth, to outlive her lover as thousands of women do, but for a thousand times longer. She might get tired. She might, as the elves can, fade, as she starts feeling the loneliness of her decisions, as all women do, when they're elderly and waiting to meet their loved ones elsewhere.

And when she did eventually fade, surrounded by people who don't remember how they met her, or how they're supposed to be related to 'Aunty Arwen', her passing would be like the passing of a lonely god, celebrated, mourned. And the people who have long forgotten her husband the king, would celebrate her history and how she built life again, sacrificed her entire self for the people of spouse, how she grew gardens, and danced and laughed, and built cities and forests, and how she loved, and oh how she loved.

I think, while Arwen had no place in the stories about rings, she was the possibility of still being soft, gentle, and hopeful. Innocent without being naïve.

I think, actually, I rather like Arwen Undómiel after all.

[chunkymamatam]

Hi again, didn't wanna be annoying, so I'm making a new post for this. I'd appreciate your help (your great wisdom and experience <3), but don't feel forced to answer if you don't want to.

Alrighty, so...

My shifting attempts (and successes) have been quite scarce, because I'm not as desperate as I used to be (I have a plan to finish my education in about 2 years, so I will have more time to myself apart from uni. I suppose I've become a bit more patient). However, due to the fact that I'm like "meh" when it comes to shifting, I cannot get myself to actually gather the determination to do it.

For example: Recently I had a lucid dream and I tried to shift through it, but for some reason it didn't work (I think I didn't ground myself enough), so after saying "I'm in my DR" 3 times, I literally gave up.

Like that is so crazy, because the me 4 years ago would NOT have given up and so now I feel like if I were more determined, I would have shifted long ago, because I do understand how easy it is and I occasionally manifest random things too, but I just wish I had more determination </3

I will literally lay there for 40 minutes and feel incredibly numb and like I'm in the void and then I'll get up because I'm "bored" and its like SIT THE FUCK DOWNNNNNNN YOU ALMOST WENT HOME </33333

This has been causing my anguish for about a year now </3

Oh great mother Tam, have you any advice for this poor soul? (Any reply appreciated)

-Reena

LMFAO PLEASE 😭

I get it. I've been going through something similar lately too. Its been going on for like 2 years damn near. This is perfect timing though actually because I've been steadily regaining motivation and determination. Disclaimer I'm not the best at advice like this and what worked for me might not for you but I'll do my best!

Also if it sounds like I'm just talking about myself I swear I'm not my autism is just "ah yes, we went through this and maybe people can relate to it and maybe hearing how I dealt with it will help them grow too"

So there were actually a few things holding me back. I let myself get sucked into a cycle of talking about going places but never actually going and at some point I stopped actually expecting to go there subconsciously. I actually ended up cutting off the people who dragged me into that cycle and now have a new group that I actively try to shift with. Unfortunately they're busy so we haven't gotten to attempt to group shift yet but there's a lot more trust that we actually do intend to go to the places we say together than the last one . This isn't to say my last group was doing anything wrong but they would move on to new media and make a new DR each week and spend like no time actually getting to know the world or actually attempt to shift together to DRs we were going to as a group. So it didn't feel like there was enough time and energy spent immersing myself in the worlds I really wanted to go to. It all felt really surface level imo.

The point is there could be external factors that you wouldn't have necessarily considered before so maybe evaluate the shifting groups you're in if any and work from there maybe? /gen Sometimes the encouragement and sharing your joy in shifting with a good group can really spark your motivation and determination back up! I feel like I'm back in 2020 when I first found it thanks to them (❁´◡`❁)

I also stopped writing down the experiences I did have for a while there. You obviously don't have to post them like I do here but writing them down like a diary entry is so helpful with the motivation aspect because I love the people I met and I want to see them again and have new experiences with them when I write it down or talk about it. I used to talk about it on TikTok so much when I first found it haha! I was having the time of my life sharing them like I was on a video call lol I just had a realization actually. Maybe its just started to feel routine and like a bother? Maybe you need to have more fun with it. Is there anything that you used to do when you were motivated that you stopped for one reason or another? I used to draw the things that happened out and now that I started doing that consistently again I'm so motivated.

Tarot readings for your DRs are always fun IMO so maybe that'd be a good way to motivate yourself, channeling your DR or SO(If applicable) in the music you listen to, making playlists, etc. can make you feel closer to it too.

Maybe you could just need a break too? I took a break from thinking about shifting for a few weeks and the desire is slowly but surely coming back. I fully believed and trusted that I'd come back to it because it genuinely made me so happy but I needed to work on some things first. I had to come to terms with not being as desperate as I used to be and knowing that, that's okay and just means I'm growing, not that I can't shift or can't want to shift. I needed to adapt my approach to the whole thing for who I am now and not for who I was because we're not the same people anymore. I don't want to shift because I want to run away from this reality, I wanna shift purely to meet everyone and have new experiences and feel everything that comes with it. Idk if that resonates or makes sense haha ❤ /gen

In short, You've grown into a whole new person over the years so your view of shifting should evolve and grow with you. Consider what your reason's for shifting are now, how have they changed? Are there outside factors that are limiting me? Reflect, get back to your roots, and learn how to love it again essentially.

I just wanna actually take a second to thank everyone that follows me and enjoys reading about my experiences, genuinely y'all have been so helpful in motivating me and if it weren't for all the questions and stories I see in my inbox I probably wouldn't post as regularly as I do. I'm very grateful to have your support ❤

@owlettie @mxzanstoy @familiar-rat (And Katelynn but I don't have her Tumblr Tag lmfaoooooo) A special thank you to you guys. You mean the world to me and I hope you know that ❤❤❤

[pumpkinsouppe]

I love how different I treat OOT link vs taol link in my head

OOT link is a tragic character in OOT yes, but his story from Majora’s mask onward is not a tragedy. He relearns what it’s like to love and to live despite the pain and terrors. He is the ultimate symbol of hope and learning to cope with one’s own grief, to forge a bright future despite the past. Yes, maybe if link stayed in the future world of OOT instead of returning to the past he would have found more tragedy or even death, but his story in Majora’s mask is one of the most hopeful stories any link has faced. The damn game ends with a wedding!! The game symbolizes and cherishes love and happiness more than anything, link is NOT a tragic character during or post Majora’s mask.

TAOL Link is the ultimate tragic character in my eyes. Yes we get very little of his story since the games are very old but I would argue that the world tloz/TAOL link lives in is even more apocalyptic than botw/totk. You start as a child in the middle of nowhere, a sword thrust upon you and a destiny you’re forced to follow to save a strange princess from a monstrous pig. Myself and others even theorize monsters originally burned down link’s village and people and that’s how he ended up where he is at the start of the first game, from fleeing that horror. By the time of TAOL, he’s around 16/17 now so 6-7 years older than in the original tloz. He has been in possession of two pieces of the triforce all that time and is forced to find the third to prevent the resurrection of the same monstrous pig. Now this takes context from other games but if you’re familiar with Ganondorf from OOT, you know that his possession of the triforce of power for 7 years has physically altered his appearance. I personally view it as the triforce of power is physically altering him to look similar to the goddesses, more animalistic than human (even if it’s only been a slight alteration between the past and future). TAOL Link has had both the triforce of power AND wisdom in his possession since he was 10… who knows how that has changed not only his body but his mind. With his possession of the triforce of courage by the end of the game, who knows how that will affect his soul too. Most often when link has had the triforce of courage for long periods of time, he loses any sort of fear or care for himself. Albw is a great example of how his sacrificial desire to protect others can cause more harm than good, the same reason why link died in botw (even though I have more thoughts on that). Taol link, a child by all rights, thrust into a terrible world to protect two different princesses, and slowly turning into the perfect puppet of the goddesses. The triforce gives you the power to grant any wish you want, but what if the cost is losing your own free will the longer you have them? Link is harboring the triforce to prevent a resurrection and further ruin, surely that doesn’t come without consequences. OOT link was able to break free from his fate and was forced to confront his greatest fear: himself. The cycle of never ending grief… was broken. However similar to OOT link, TAOL link also had to confront himself. But it wasn’t to confront his trauma and fears, it was a test specifically designed by the former king and the goddesses. A perfectly designed test to prove to the goddesses that he is the perfect puppet and harborer of the triforce: dark link. I think shadow link is a more apt term because dark link is not an evil version of link, dark link is the manifestation and mirror of all of link’s strengths, fears, kills, deaths, and courage. He is a perfect puppet of link just minus his weaknesses, the link the goddesses want him to be. So TAOL link doesn’t confront himself to conquer his grief and fears, he confronts himself to fully submit to the triforce and the goddesses and the kingdom. He is the link who has fully fallen victim to the triforce and may never be himself ever again.

So all that to say, I will defend OOT/mm to my death bed about how link’s story is not a tragic one. And I will argue to that same death bed about how tloz/taol link’s story is.

[therese-lokidottir]

Came across a post on here from a series fan, gushing about upcoming Loki appearances “I predict Loki will play a huge, monumental role in his next apperance now that he’s fully healed and reached full potential- and it will be so beautiful. I can’t wait for him to come back with his new found wisdom and personality- and for him to break out and protect all of those he loves. This beautiful man changed the TVA for the better- and it would be lovely to see the TVA honor him.” Are we….watching the same MCU? Loki doesn’t even play a “beautiful and monumental” part in his own damn series. Lmfao. Also…who the fuck would want to be honored by the TVA? They should watch Deadpool 3…Loki didn’t change shit about these obnoxious free will hating fascist- and if they started worshipping Loki like they did the timekeepers, I wouldn’t see that as “beautiful and meaningful”, it would piss me off. I question modern MCU fans’ thought processes. I don’t want Loki back….like…..ever.

It's a great example of someone's utter lack of any critical analysis of their own.

The TVA have done nothing good and if anything, Deadpool and Wolverine shows the realistic outcome of leaving people who were willing to destroy entire worlds killing everyone in charge. Guess what they are still terrible and smug with plenty ready to be even worse. No matter how terrible what they do is, no matter how horrifying the actions when you think about it are stans don't see it. Because the TVA has been made out to be something they should like and merchandise. It doesn't matter if they destroy Wolverine's life and erase his efforts because popular character now "work" for the tva so that makes the TVA cool

[fourswords]

ezlo... the grumpy grandpa ever...

i was going to respond to this with a list of quotes from him that really show how he's the grumpiest grandpa ever but then i remembered this one quote from him that goes:

"There are some strange creatures on Mount Crenel… Creatures I've never seen before, and your sword alone won't beat them! Don't give up hope, though! Try your other items on them! Well…you don't need me to tell you how to do your job. Just deal with those monsters, and I'll take care of everything else."

i think the "Well...you don't need me to tell you how to do your job" is funny and interesting in equal measure because it's such a stark contrast from other companions for links who were on the younger side (think oot link with navi and ww link with the king of red lions) at the time whose purposes were definitely more aligned with, at the very least, helping link to do his job as a hero (navi with z-targeting, the king of red lions with helping link get around and also kind of. manipulating him into becoming The Hero™). but ezlo is canonically fucking clueless about damn near everything that doesn't involve his niche realm of being a "famous minish sage" who is "renowned for his amazing creations" (according to his figurine description). like:

"A strange nut that will allow us to understand the Minish language… The Jingle Nut, did he say…? No, wait… That's not it… Ah, I remember now! It was the Jabber Nut. That's what it was… Come on, my boy! We've got to find the Jabber Nut!"

"Have you ever visited Hyrule before? What? You have? …What's it like? Not that I… I mean, I've seen it before! Of course I have! I'm very well traveled. I just wanted to see…what you thought of it!"

"So! We must infuse the White Sword with the elemental power. That means we must find the elemental sanctuary. And the way we do that is… Um… Well, I'm sure we'll figure it out!"

"So there are three books that we're supposed to return, right? Link, I'm sure you can handle it! Don't get me wrong! I'd love to help! But I'm a great Minish sage! I don't understand your big, human ways! So…I'm counting on you!"

there are a BUNCH more examples but you get my point. i just think it's really, really funny that out of the few companions that younger links had at that point in time, it's in the minish cap that said companion is like "ehhhhh i don't need to tell him what to do he's smart enough to deal with it himself. he just needs to be yelled at to stop dawdling and GET A FUCKING MOVE ON sometimes." which is also kind of exemplified by this line of ezlo's near the end of the game, too:

"We will get through this! We have all of the techniques and power you've gained in your journey! And we have your wisdom and courage as well! Link! I believe in you!"

it says a lot that he attributes not only courage to link but wisdom as well. link has so so so so so SO much personality in this game and between his own flavor text/internal dialogue when interacting with things and ezlo's running commentary on link's attitude/words/expressions/reactions to things it's SO plain to see (ex: "Link, I know this may not be a great time for it, but... I wanted to say thanks for everything you've done. I'm very grateful for-- Hm? What? You're freaked out? You're not used to me being nice!? Fine, then! Forget I said anything!"/"You're so energetic all the time… Not that I'm saying you're hyperactive or anything! I meant it as a compliment! Like…you've got a special talent for being WAY too peppy or something."). and i love it so much. it's also exemplified by this line of dialogue which is absolutely hilarious to me:

"Do you have to ask me about every single little thing?! Just figure it out for yourself, you big baby!"

anyway. for the sake of not going on a 500-year tangent about how ezlo is my number one favorite companion and the hero of the minish is my number one favorite link and how much i adore all the dialogue in it. i'll end it here. <3

BUT ALSO FUN FACT DID YOU KNOW THAT LINK ACTUALLY CANONICALLY DIDN'T BELIEVE IN THE MINISH PRIOR TO THE MINISH CAP:

"So, where in the library would any Minish folk live, anyway? Maybe those people who say the Minish exist "only in stories" might be right! Hey! Link! What's that look for? Don't tell me you were one of…them? You're kidding me! You're wearing a Minish person on your head, you oaf! I certainly hope you believe in us now!"

[alyjojo]

Next Major Life Change 🍕🙏❤️ - November 2024 - Aquarius

Meditation: Heavy Capricorn energy in the preshuffle, there’s something toxic that you’ve failed to release, I’m seeing someone playing Whack-A-Mole and you’ve missed the mole 50 times but he’s tired now, he’s getting lazy/sloppy and you’ve finally got your chance to nail it “on the head.” 🎯

What It Is: Protected By Angels 😇 and Great Adventure 🏴‍☠️

You’re going exactly where you’re meant to be, fighting “the man” for some level of freedom. Fighting Capricorn, The Emperor rev, this Puppeteer energy, The Hierophant. Religion, politics, the establishment, hierarchy, patriarchy in any form. Your family, your boss, a father specifically, or a spouse. Tradition. The foundation of marriage or religion as a whole. “The Homeland.”

You’re likely to be fighting for a movement or a cause, either for others or in your own life - maybe both, it’s not specific. Apply it to anything, it’s the central issue you’ll be dealing with in order to create the change you seek, and you’re just the right person for the job. For some of you, it’s concerning an actual job and an awful boss that oversteps their bounds and doesn’t lead a damn thing. You want progress. Some of you are taking action to get rid of any kind of restrictive rules, policies, or power tripping/controlling people or ideologies in your world. If it’s not progress, no thanks. Puppeteer could be you being the one pulling the strings…or you/others are cutting strings someone or something else has had over them. There’s no consent for that and fuck you - is how it’s coming off here. Even just the attitude, if it’s not a particular person you’re dealing with.

You want progress and movement. Some of you may leave your actual country, state, what have you, because you’re pissed off at something in this area of issues. A new law. A conservative or authoritative person that thinks you’re malleable…I don’t ever even use that word, do you? Could be political or religious, could be tied to family or tradition, you’re over it. Not doing it the way someone else wants. Where did you give the impression that you were fine with this? That’s changing 💯 But what it entails is different for everyone. It’s like you’re going to do what you can, and if that doesn’t work you’ll move away from it - either way it ends/changes. For you anyway, you’re not accepting anything else. It’s mirroring your Pluto energy tbh - this is what Pluto Aquarius is ultimately doing for us all long-term (ideally), you’re just the first to step up & say so/no…because of course you are. Control, tradition, authority, rigid “rules” - miss you with all of it.

Is this a major life change or just Wednesday? 😂 You’re divinely guided & protected through all of this, that’s how you know it’s meant for you to do, fight for, change, or influence so strongly - if you didn’t feel it you wouldn’t do it.

Specific side story: If someone doesn’t have a father figure, or boss, you could be stepping into that role, maybe you’re dating someone with kids. If so, it’s all on you to direct how this goes & maybe you haven’t yet, but you need to. Steer towards the future, away from the past, and set the example you mean to continue on 🙏 Someone could be adopting a child or “adopting” someone that needs your wisdom. A protege or mentor even, especially at work. You could forcibly replace someone too, like that’s the goal and you achieve it, your boss is a useless monkey or something 😆 For most it’s good but at least one Aqua is going all Darth Vadar on a mfer, they can do it better than *whatever* or *whoever* and they know it. Y’all rule 5 & 7 Swords for a reason ijs 🔪

[themattress]

Pokémemories: Ash's Goodbye

It's the final Pokémemories post, and what better note to end on than this?

Ah, Ash and Pikachu. I've of two minds about them.

On the one hand, let's be objective: there is zero logical reasoning for keeping them on as the leads of the Pokémon anime for 25 fucking years. They are rooted firmly in Gen I, and since Gen II is so tightly connected to it them staying on for that was fine, but for every generation and every region since it felt forced. It didn't help that Kunihiko Yuyama's vision for the characters as perpetual, unevolving mascots for new audiences of children conflicted with a large, toxic portion of the teen/adult audience online who attached onto Ash as a surrogate and felt personally slighted when he wasn't allowed to grow or win, and whenever he was perceived as regressing in his development as a Pokémon Trainer. The drama this caused, which even spread to the anime's staff to the point of death threats, made me resent Ash.

But on the other hand, I feel we did get good things from Ash and Pikachu and/or Team Rocket who were always not far behind throughout the 25 years they were in the anime. For example, Ash was solid in the Hoenn portion of the Advanced Generation series, while Team Rocket had many great showings in the Battle Frontier portion. Team Rocket was stellar in Best Wishes, as was Ash in Pokémon Journeys, and they both were at the top of their game in Sun and Moon. And for as much as I rag on adult viewers who let their childish attachment to Ash drive them to entitled behavior, I can't say I don't get where the sentiment comes from since I too was a child when first meeting Ash and getting invested in his quest to become a Pokémon Master, and so I did get emotional when learning that he was ending his run as the anime's main character, and doing so on a high note of becoming World Champion. In some ways, it was executed so well that it actually felt like it made the 25 year length totally worth it.

There are 3 points that I am left with and will not budge on:

1. It is good that Ash's time is finally over. The anime needed to move beyond him.

2. I question the wisdom of the Aim To Be a Pokémon Master! miniseries that sent him off. Initially I thought it was a way to ease fans into accepting it rather than just dropping him after the last episode of Pokémon Journeys, but the Teraleak has shown that it actually came about due to delays in Pokémon Horizons' production. In that case, just doing weekly re-runs of Ash's highest points in the anime would've achieved the same effect, and you didn't really need this nostalgia-bait miniseries that achieved nothing for Ash until its final episode. With that said, it was a damn good final episode, Team Rocket's underwhelming ending aside.

3. Pokémon Horizons is phenomenal and I am so glad for its existence.

And that brings us to Gen IX, the current generation of Pokémon, where more memories are being made. Ash may be spent after 25 years, but I'm not. I'm looking forward to 25 more!

[ask-mortarion-the-death-lord]

I kind of dislike the quick assumption for the traitors which is "daddy didn't love me so I'll kill millions" like even if they weren't traitors they still killed millions during the great crusade along side the loyalists the only thing that change is that they are targeting the imperium now. Also it looks like the books are now saying Emps did love his sons now during the hersey or something like that and is doing the star child thing. (Fuck 2 and 11 I guess). Sorry

got longer then i thought so under cut

thats kinda an essential facet to the whole tragedy though i would argue in that it revolves so heavily around soap opera drama between the primarchs and their dear ol dad.

partly because of the usual 40k "whos the real monsters question mark" ironic storytelling, that so much misery and the very face of the galaxy could be shaped by something as simple as a sons resentment of his father [even if it doesn't always land the mark in that regard].

partly because, well, what are the primarchs at the end of the day in terms of narrative evocation? functionally they're bioengineered super soldier super soldiers and generals, but within the 'monomyth' of the imperium they've always been positioned as demigods or divine beings. mythical subjects, and mythology itself is rife with narrative threads of divine beings being possessed of all too human or earthly flaws. zeus is promiscuous, hera is spiteful, hercules is a god damn moron in spite of his great strength, odysseus is possessed of no special qualities but his wisdom yet hes a far better and more competent person then achilles who is blessed with great physical capabilities and divine providence. and you can see patterns like this in all manner of mythological history. in that sense i feel its entirely appropriate for the traitor primarchs, these grand bombastic demigod generals being motivated in large part by an irrational emotional immaturity because it plays back into that idea of incredibly powerful beings physically being incredibly weak and immature emotionally. further you can derive more 'contemporary' meaning in alluding that tendency to modern structures and power brokers in society today. nobility that rules by divine right and the point of a sword might largely be a thing of the past or a antiquated holdover thereof now, but the problems of power hoarding power, and hereditary inheritance [those with power using that power to prepare their kids to take control of that same power] persist.

i think the problem in the heresies case though, is that its almost always the traitor primarchs that get hit with the branch of emotional immaturity the most both in and out of universe. its not enough to have rogal and perturabo be at each others throats over an irrational rivalry, no, it has to be perturabo whos projecting the majority of that rivalry onto himself well rogal is more so presented as being 'above' that squabbling. and its a pattern we can see all across the heresy series. and yet another way the series was arguably mismanaged over the course of its lifetime.

as for the emperor, cant really make a judgement call until p3 comes out in case this is leading to a twist of some sort, but taking it at face value its a prime example of how authors in the horus heresy series have been constantly undercutting each other leading to a lot of the messier elements present. in many ways, dan abnett is writing a really sold cap to the horus heresy series of another dimension effectively, where it would have made sense to have the emperor reflecting on things like the love of his sons. instead it comes across a a retcon/last minute heel turn because the rest of the series has very much leaned on the idea that no, he doesn't give a shit about if his sons love him or not.

[ncisfranchise-source]

After 43 total seasons and a nearly 1,000 (!) combined episodes, does the NCIS franchise have anything new to offer…?

Created by an Australian (actor-turned-writer/producer Morgan O’Neill)… (originally just) for Australians… and starring/guest-starring maaany Australians, NCIS: Sydney (premiering Tuesday, Nov. 14 on CBS) suggests that a trip to the land Down Under shakes things up enough to warrant another offshoot.

The premise for NCIS: Sydney, as established in the first episode (I’ve seen the first four of eight): “As international tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific,” U.S. NCIS Agents and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) are grafted into a “multi-national task force, to keep naval crimes in check in the most contested patch of ocean on the planet.”

Olivia Swann (Legends of Tomorrow) and Todd Lasance (Spartacus: War of the Damned) lead the cast as, respectively, NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey and her 2IC AFP counterpart, Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey. Rounding out the merged team are Sean Sagar (Fate: The Winx Saga) as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson, Tuuli Narkle (Bad Behaviour) as AFP liaison officer Constable Evie Cooper, Mavournee Hazel (Neighbours) as AFP forensic scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson, and William McInnes (Blue Heelers) as AFP forensic pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose.

Of the above actors, all are Australian save for Swann (who is English) and Sagar (American).

Now, you don’t need me to tell you that the Sydney backdrop in and of itself makes TV’s fifth NCIS series look special, if not oftentimes downright picturesque, shooting on location as it does at Sydney Harbor (including at the HMAS Kuttabul naval base), Bondi Beach, the Malabar Ocean Pool, Kings Cross and the like. Most everywhere the camera faces, this gives the procedural a vibe like no NCIS before it. (But if pressed to draw a comparison, I’d say it most evokes NCIS: New Orleans, between the team’s makeshift HQ and the setting’s highly specific local flavor.)

The cases similarly make the most of the NCIS franchise’s first international setting, with “murder by exotic snake” and an apparent shark attack figuring into two of the kills.

NCIS: Sydney also, of course, sounds different. And while I luhrve me the Aussie accent, you will probably want to watch with closed-captioning on, since at least one of the series regulars and the occasional guest star can be a bit indecipherable at times.

But as different as NCIS: Sydney may look and sound, the character types will be (a bit too?) familiar to franchise aficionados.

You have, in Swann’s Mackey, the veddy serious team leader with a limited tolerance for hijinks. There is also, of course, the quirky! forensic scientist, the M.E. who’s a font of wisdom, and the early hints of Will They/Won’t They between two team members.

On the flip side, the “forcibly merged team” aspect is new for the long-running franchise, and tees up entertaining instances of culture clash. (Australia has very different rules about LEOs and open carry firearms, for example. They play, “Scissors, Paper, Rock.” Oh, and car steering wheels are on the other side! Wild.) There’s also a recurring adversary that offers an interesting wrinkle, given who he works for….

Of the cast, Swann makes for a solid (and tall) team leader, though it takes at least one episode too many to shine any light on the past trauma that defines Mackey/has her “shields” up, while Lasance has great fun with Dempsey’s comparatively laid-back persona. Narkle, I want to say, is the big standout as Evie — winningly sassy and arguably the “most Australian” of the bunch — while Sagar was a runner-up until his character started acting a little too free-spirited in later episodes. Hazel is hampered early on by Blue’s characterization (though that starts to improve), and I look forward to learning more about McInnes’ M.E.

All told, I was digging the very first episodes (and getting a crash course on Aussie lingo), and I might have gone “B+” if Episode 4 didn’t land very flat for me. So, a “B” it is, for now.

NCIS: Sydney premieres Stateside on CBS on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 8/7c, and will also be available live and on demand that night for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers. (Paramount+ Essential subscribers can stream each episode the day after it airs.) The series globally premieres on Paramount+ Australia on Friday, Nov. 10, with additional Paramount+ international markets to be announced at a later date.

THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: If you’ve never pulled the trigger on an actual (long) trip to Australia, it’s a g‘day to be an NCIS fan, with the arrival of NCIS: Sydney

[kindaoptimisticsquirrel]

Trigun Bookclub Trimax Vol12 Part2

Vol01: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3  | Vol02: Part 1 | Part 2

Trimax: Vol01 Part 1Vol01 Part 2 | Vol02 Part 1Vol02 Part 2 | Vol 03 Part 1 | Vol03 Part2 | Vol04 Part1 | Vol04 Part2 | Vol05 | Vol06 | Vol07 | Vol08 Part1 | Vol08 Part2 | Vol09 Part1 | Vol09 Part2 | Vol10 Part1 | Vol10 Part2 | Vol10 Part3 | Vol10 Part4 | Vol11 Part 1 | Vol11 Part2 | Vol12 Part1 | Vol12 Part2

Continuation for chapters 4-6

Trigger warnings for suicide mention/ideas within the analysis.

Ok chapter 4 will just be a collection of awesome pages which is nearly every page of this chapter

Love how that coat is pointing back at him. Nightow also doesn't give a shit at how long it is in places. Looks cool and that's enough.

Battle glasses!! This shows he means business. Also makes his emotions harder to read and it feels a bit like him closing off again...

Followed by these pages...Vash almost looks strange. A bit creepy, even. Knives, if you tried to understand your brother for once, you'd see he's not actually that hard to read. Marlon gets it, too. You didn't even try.

I love Nightow's whole approach to this epic showdown between Vash and Knives. It takes its time, now even with the quietness before the storm...the atmosphere that's being created is just so tangible. Also, how cool that now it is Knives looking down at Vash, and not the other way around! Like it was most of the other time.

Oh nooo Vash felt that through their shared plant power, didn't he. Despite all that's been, that must've been an extra gut punch to Vash.

Beneath his coat, our man is made of legs, leather, and boot straps, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I think I read a post of someone saying some wise and intersting stuff about this page but I can't recall what it was about anymore...but I just want to say I love how Vash doesn't change what he is, for this final battle. He's always been a gunsman and damn pretty good at it. He's not going to transfor super-saiya-plant now, but stick to what he knows!

And their expressiooons...man this manga has so many great and varying expressions.

Chapter 5:

There's wisdom stored in the pages of Trigun that I probably cannot fully grasp with my sparse knowledge of life experience. We get so rarely any insight into Vash's thoughts, it's always something precious for me as a reader.

Love this panel!

Oh, he looks so incredibly tired. The fandom has been using the term 'Widower Era' for this flavour of Vash and it is so fitting.

Awesome page!! Again!!

It's really crazy how far gone Knives must have been at this point that even children don't mean anything to him...they are all part of this big threat called "humanity".

They are so young! And Vash looks so terrified..it's making me realize once more that this cool and powerful gunslinger started out as a "normal" boy, who had to become so powerful as a consequence of all that fucked up shit he went through...

asaasffsd yeah, he's not just prepared to die here, he's planning for it.

hehe pretty Vash panel in between (suprise: EVERY Vash panel is a pretty Vash panel!)

The widower era is a look that suits him but why is it so grimdark aah. Is that the solution you've come to, Vash? Is that really the only reasonable and possible outcome, and are you sure your concllusion has not been clouded by recent traumatic events?

Chapter 6:

This chapter is really where you get what Vash's power really is, isn't it? It's been shown that he can create these holes, but in July it was more an explosion, with the fifth moon as well, so this time feels like the first real mention of that black hole power!

Yes! Who is there to decide if humanity is good or evil, if it deserves to live on? If you must find a decision, at least hear the voices of those who had to suffer! And Knives never really tried listening to the other Plants..

Knives would have a blast with twitter and the youtube commentary section.

That story of that village is so sad, and just a great example of...accidents that just happen. Misfortune that causes people to be cruel to each other, without wanting to. This showdown between Vash and Knives, I love how it's not just them throwing cool catch up phrases at each others' head, but...it comes down to their core conflicts, and it touches topics that are so very applicable to real world conflicts, too.

Stupid stupid military shooting >:( The plants look in pain now, too!

And then...and then he's not fighting along!! <:') The friend squad is here for the rescue!! Finally, finally Vash is getting some help in his fight. He could and should have asked for it, but it's great they still came without him needing to.

Aww Meryl :DD These two are just so precious.

Oh I was just wondering if this is the commander feeling Chronica's aura like that time Wolfwood did feel Vash's during the fight at Home?

(At least she's not crying blood like Vash did, phew) but uh bye Domina :( You had your short, but sweet appearance!

[abdullah-shehata]

Real Talk: Great Copywriting Starts Long Before the Writing Ever Does

Let’s get something out of the way:

If you’re staring at a blank page trying to write the perfect hook… …you’re already starting too late.

I used to do it too—sit down, try to be clever, force my way through a headline or sales page without truly knowing what the audience wanted.

Sometimes it worked. Most of the time? Not so much.

That’s because I didn’t understand this one truth:

Good copy is written. Great copy is researched.

Here’s What No One Tells You About Copywriting:

You’re not just a writer. You’re a translator. A detective. A psychologist with a keyboard.

Your job isn’t to invent the perfect message. It’s to uncover it—then say it in a way that makes your audience feel seen.

That means before you write a word, you need to:

Dive deep into the way your audience talks

Learn what they’re frustrated with

Find what they’re secretly hoping for

Listen to what they’re actually saying online

And no, you don’t need fancy tools to do it.

My Favorite Research Spots (That Cost $0):

Reddit threads where people rant and vent

Amazon reviews where real users spill their experience

YouTube comments where emotional reactions live

Quora questions where confusion turns into opportunity

Testimonials and tweets that are raw and unscripted

Just read. Highlight the emotional phrases. Steal their exact words.

That’s not lazy—it’s strategic empathy.

A Real Example:

I was writing copy for a simple time-blocking app.

Went to Reddit. Searched “time management struggles.”

Found this gem:

“I’m just tired of productivity tools that make me feel like a robot. I want something that works with my brain, not against it.”

That became the hook:

“Finally—A time planner that works with your brain, not against it.”

Boom. Instant connection. It wasn’t clever. But it was clear. It was relatable. And it converted.

So Why Does This Matter on Tumblr?

Because this platform thrives on emotional truth.

People here aren’t looking for pitchy buzzwords. They’re looking for realness. Vulnerability. Stories that hit where it hurts (or heals).

When you research before you write, your copy feels like a conversation—not a campaign.

It sounds like:

“I get it.” “Same here.” “Finally, someone said it.”

That’s how trust is built. That’s how action happens.

Want to Try It? Here’s a Challenge for You:

Pick something you want to sell, write, or promote.

Search for what people are saying about it on Reddit or Quora.

Copy 3 sentences that made you say, “Damn, that’s exactly how I feel.”

Turn one of those into your next headline or hook.

Trust me. It’ll feel way easier—and way more honest.

Final Word (No Hashtag Required)

The best copywriters I know aren’t the best wordsmiths. They’re the best listeners.

So before you get clever with your copy, get quiet. Start with curiosity. Let your audience speak first.

Then when you finally write?

It won’t feel forced. It’ll feel right.

—

Follow me for weekly writing wisdom, no-fluff strategy, and honest content about building something that lasts online.

[bigbeardedbaerli]

Why I take damn serious how others feel about me

From people whose opinions I greatly value, I consider every word they say. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, even if things need to be repeated: I hear everything, I see everything.

A few weeks ago, I consulted a psychologist about situations that left me concerned. I don't want to be the person I felt accused to be. I received some important insights which I take with caution, as it unfortunately only represents my perspective. But I know that I am not a violent person, it is against my nature and I never was. To become better, I clearly need to work on my temper though. I am capable of more than kicking bags.

I understand Chris, but I can also understand how you would have lost your temper - we have all done this in relationships and when we feel our partner, GF or love interest is not treating us the way we believe they should be. I think all we can do is reflect on how we would respond differently in the future... this is the experience and wisdom I think we can take with us, Chris. I would certainly not describe your responses or reactions as weakness Chris. It can just happen when we feel we are being badly let down.

Either way Chris, the reality here is that your action of kicking a box, or swearing loudly or slamming your fist on the table - these actions are not synonymous with violence, and do not necessarily become violence. I can take away your fear of my everyday business. These are common human responses we can have to the emotion of anger - they do not mean we are about to commit a violent act. Your intentions matter here - and you had no intention to cause any physical harm or to even use a physical presence to intimidate - it was simply a reaction to the emotion and a common one by what you are describing to me. I'm not defending what happened Chris, but I think this is potentially unfair or even manipulative of someone to suggest that you may be a physically dangerous person and when you have not demonstrated this in the relationship - or someone has a particular sensitivity to this perhaps and can easily feel nervous with any behaviors which someone observes and which are aggressive in nature, irrespective of whether or not it was dangerous. We don't need to validate how someone else feels if their interpretations of things is incorrect. To give an example, lets say that I was in a shop and the owner of the shop believed that I stole something, even though I didnt. They feel anger at me and think I am a low person. That is their feelings towards me, but I do not need to accept this or validate this. They were simply wrong with their perceptions. You, Chris, know the truth for yourself, and even if you say that violence has never been an issue, then psychological factors, morals, education, social influences, etc. will also prevent it. Simply said, it is very unlikely to ever lead to it. Looking into the future in this context doesn’t make sense though. We are all capable of becoming murderers in extreme situations - very very unlikely, but nothing is entirely impossible, Chris. I would tell you if I thought differently about the situation.

Losing temper and being completely uncontrollable are two very different things. Losing your temper is a momentary emotional response, often triggered by frustration, anger or stress, but it’s usually temporary and within some level of personal control. Just to give you an example, Chris: Being completely uncontrollable, on the other hand, implies a total lack of restraint or self-regulation, where emotions or actions spiral to a point of unpredictability or even danger. An example of being completely uncontrollable is someone who in a fit of rage physically lashes out, sweeps everything off a table or destroys property without any regard for the consequences or the safety of others.

I think it’s great that you want to work on the situation and process what happened. Regardless of how anything is anticipated, I appreciate that you’re willing to address it. The better way of course, for yourself and others, is always to stay calm and that’s something we can work on. Losing your temper is human and can be managed. As I’ve said before, one shouldn’t question their whole self-concept just because someone has a wrong perception.