#“Embrace your fear

[bolly--quinn]

So… how are you doing after that Season 8 finale? I’d love to hear your thoughts, but ai Lu I hope you’re okay.

Oh I’m literally running all over the walls and gnawing at my arms ok I absolutely loved it!! It truly was a Beth season after all!! 💕

I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about it so this might all be a ramble rn but I especially loved how the climax of the episode was Rick (and Memory Rick and Memory Diane too) choosing the path that was best for Beth. Like narratively, I will always love Diane and definitely wish to see more of her and Rick and their life together and having their daughter etc, but at the same time Diane isn’t a character anymore you know?

She’s an idea, a ghost, a memory, she’s Rick’s past.

Clinging onto her both stagnates the characters from growing and the show as a whole by always having to circle back to her, in a way this kinda felt like letting go of that storyline but in a poetically beautiful way that actually shows how this idea of Diane affects her family.

Memory Rick was so fixated on her and reuniting with Rick’s memory of her that he actively (although maybe not intentionally) hurt his daughter by using her as a conduit to reach Diane. Sure they had bonding moments too but it was always with the ulterior motive to reach Diane. All of that literally brainwashed Beth into thinking that she needed to do whatever she could to keep her parents together, to keep Diane “alive” even if that meant killing herself. She considered driving off the cliff Thelma and Louise style in hopes that mommy and daddy would be together … and she would be there too, not even necessarily as a priority but as a bystander to her parents’ relationship like an additional accessory and she was ok with that since all she really wants is to be with him.

It reminded me of how in “Fear no Mort”, Morty’s fear is essentially Rick not caring about him and the rest of the family if Diane is in the picture and while I wouldn’t say that is Beth’s fear, it is definitely something similar that she feels guilt over and why it was very easy to exploit that in her mind. 

She wants her father to be happy but the only way she thinks that is truly possible is by holding on to her dead mother, even if it is at the expense of herself. 

What I loved especially though is that despite being memories with little not no parenting experience, both Memory Rick and Memory Diane also (not just Rick and Space Beth) freak out once they realize what she’s doing. They want to be together, of course they do … but not at the expense of their daughter because she’s real. Despite the fact that Rick C-137 lost his Beth as a child as well as his Diane, he has a daughter in his life … in fact he has two!

Adult Beth (both Home and Space) is alive, she is real, and she is Rick’s present. She is who matters now.

Regardless of how beautiful and in love Rick and Diane were (or in the case of the memory versions … are lol), their relationship is not worth the cost of their daughter. 

Rick himself sees that when he opens up to her and talks her down from her breakdown.

I really do love this episode because it hinges on this idea of Rick needing to move on from Diane, which may be true, but it doesn’t necessarily mean romantically (although in time he might be able to do that as well) as we see it doesn’t work out with Bug Anne. Instead, the moving on occurs by saving Beth (the current — and most important at least rn imo — woman in his life 🥹❤️) from these thoughts and feelings that consume her but letting go of the past and focusing on the present … she being his daughter and he being her dad, and the family they now have: Space Beth, Morty, Summer, and Jerry, as opposed to the family they had.

Like Morty said in “Cryo Mort a Rickver”, “But I am family, and you did choose me” has become a running theme throughout the show now and this episode only solidified that as Rick does choose Beth and her sanity, over clinging on to his past.

Also Rick letting his idealized memory of his wife be happy with an idealized version of himself is amazing actually and took real growth, it was probably the best for the situation imo 

The whole thing was heartbreaking and heartwarming and beautiful and it was quite possibly the episode I’ve been waiting for.

[trappedinafantasy37]

There are multiple gods in the game that you can directly interact with and they all have ties to the narrative. You can interact with Shar via Shadowheart. You can interact with Mystra via Gale. You can interact with Myrkul via Ketheric when he takes on the avatar form. You can interact with Bhaal via Durge and in the fight with Orin. You can interact with Bane after killing Gortash and using "Speak with Dead" in which the soul you speak to is not Gortash, but Bane himself. I would include Vlaakith in this list but Vlaakith is not a god, she is a lich presenting herself as a god. And, of course, there is the Absolute which doesn't really become a god until it ascends into the Netherbrain (although that is debatable).

But, did you know that Lolth will also interact with you? As far as I am aware, Lolth is the only non-story related god in which you do have interactions with. One of them is only available if you are a Lolth-sworn drow, and the other is only available if you are a Cleric of Lolth (you do not need to be Lolth-sworn for it).

The first instance is in the goblin camp with the spiders in the pit. This does require that you are a Lolth-sworn drow and that you have the ability to speak with animals. When talking to the spiders, you will have the option to present yourself to the spiders as Lolth herself. If you fail the persuasion check, Lolth gets pissed off as she was listening to you and is not happy that you tried to present yourself as her. And she tells the spiders you are an imposter and they attack you. But if you succeed the check, Lolth doesn't do anything and the spiders will think you are Lolth. So, Lolth doesn't really have a problem with you pretending to be her. But if you are going to pretend to be her, you better do it right. If the spiders think you are Lolth, you can ask them about what's going on in the goblin camp and the spiders only talk about one thing. They immediately tell you that there is another drow in the camp who has forgotten her way and that she is forsaken. And, as I said, Lolth is here. She heard the spiders admit this. Lolth does nothing about it.

The second instance is in the Underdark with the Phalar Aluve. When you interact with the sword, you have two different checks, a Strength check and a Religion check. If you do the Strength check, you can just pull it out of the stone and be on your merry way. If you perform the Religion check, the narrator will tell you different things depending on certain conditions. If you are a Lolth-sworn drow and/or a Cleric of Lolth, the narrator will tell you that the religious rite to pull the blade from the stone is blasphemous as it pays honor to the weak. If you are of any other race and/or cleric of any other god, the narrator will tell you that the sword is of Eilistraee and the rite pays honor to the fallen. The religious rite is that you spill a little bit of your blood and the sword will rise out of the stone on its own. If you do this as a Cleric of Lolth (you don't need to be Lolth-sworn) you will feel hundreds of spiders crawl all over you as Lolth is warning you not to do shit like that ever again. Not only did you perform the religious rite of another god, you performed the religious rite of a god she hates. And she is letting you know how much she hated that.

These are the only two instances in the game that I have found in which Lolth interacts with the player but there are plenty of other moments in which Lolth could interact with you, but doesn't (such as with the Phase Spider, the baby spiders in Grymforge, Kar'niss, or the dead spider in the Gauntlet of Shar). Of these two moments where Lolth does interact with you, one of these instances is in the goblin camp, and the other is in the Underdark not too far away from the goblin camp. I don't think it is much of a coincidence that these two interactions occur in close proximity to Minthara. Almost as if Lolth has a reason to be in that area specifically to watch and monitor things, and you just so happened to be there. And the only things that compel her to interact with you is because you pissed her off. But, as long you don't piss her off, she will do nothing and she will say nothing.

When Minthara was being tortured by the Absolute, she prayed to Lolth and begged Lolth to give her the strength to fight her enemies. But Lolth does nothing and Lolth says nothing. In fact, that was the full extent of Lolth's "punishment" for Minthara, nothing. All Lolth did was not answer Minthara's prayers and not show up when Minthara needed her the most. Lolth did not torture Minthara like the Absolute did, Lolth did not turn her into a drider, nor did Lolth eat her. All she did, was nothing. And yes, Lolth is known for abandoning drow and no longer interacting with them. A drow has to do something incredibly awful in order for Lolth to just back away from them entirely. But you cannot convince me that Lolth is going to let one of her Baenre's go so easily. It's not as if Minthara has done anything truly awful either to make Lolth that mad.

According to Minthara, she herself has sinned against the Spider Queen, but it's not as if she chose to abandon Lolth, she was forced away and mind controlled into being devoted to another god. But would this make a difference to Lolth? Does it really matter if Minthara was compelled to have faith in another god besides Lolth? It isn't until Minthara is freed and feels the absence of Lolth that she chooses to no longer follow Lolth. Minthara even mentions how turning against Lolth is a big no-no in Menzoberranzan. Minthara herself at one point has hunted down and killed those who turn their backs from Lolth so she knows the same will be done to her if she were to ever return home. In fact, if you are a Lolth-sworn drow or a Cleric of Lolth, you are given unique dialogue options with Minthara to kill her because she is a traitor to Lolth and these options continue to show up until you recruit her into your party and she joins your roster. Despite all of this, Lolth does nothing. Minthara spews anti-Lolth rhetoric left and right, and Lolth does nothing. If you take Minthara to the tabernacle, she will spit on a shrine to Lolth, and Lolth does nothing.

Minthara is also able to walk through the Gauntlet of Shar, which is in the Underdark, and Lolth does nothing. Sure, you could argue that its connection to the Shadowfell and the fact that Shar is there via Shadowheart is enough to keep Lolth away. The lore of DnD does not make it quite clear what the relationship between these two goddesses are. But I am willing to bet that Lolth is smart enough not to step on Shar's toes because Shar would annihilate her. However, there is a small little section of the Gauntlet where it actually does spit you out directly into the Underdark and into Lolth's territory. Minthara can walk right out there just fine, and Lolth does nothing.

But most importantly, Minthara's default ending is her returning to the Underdark with the sole purpose of destroying House Baenre and then killing Lolth. Destroying House Baenre could lead to a chaotic and political disaster in Menzoberranzan, and Lolth does nothing. Minthara quite literally wants to kill Lolth and has intentions to do so after taking House Baenre, and Lolth. Does. Nothing!

If Minthara goes into the Underdark and destroys House Baenre, this will cause chaos and death. And the Baenre's won't be the only ones she has to destroy, but any and all allies of House Baenre in which they do have a lot. And Lolth will feed off of all the death and carnage and chaos that Minthara is about to bring to Menzoberranzan because Lolth loves chaos more than she hates traitors.

Maybe, Lolth has not abandoned her as Minthara thinks she has. Maybe, Lolth has done nothing and said nothing because Minthara has not actually upset her. Maybe, Lolth has done nothing and said nothing because Minthara is already doing everything Lolth wants her to do. And all it took, was making Minthara think that Lolth abandoned her. There was no need for Lolth to answer Minthara's prayers, because Minthara always had the strength to fight her enemies.

[fearmaxxing]

[trickstertox]

I have a question! About bugs and arachnids and all them. Sorry to lump them all into one category, but I'd rather not make the same post multiple times.

My question is: Can they learn "tricks?"

By this I mean are they capable of learning, in general, I suppose. Like mice in a maze, magpies with a rock.

Also, what sorts of things have they learned? How do they learn (like watching others or from experience)?

I ask because it's something that really interests me. I know the ability to learn doesn't add or subtract value from a being, it's a curious thought as I know very, very little about beetles, and spiders, and bees, and so on!

Do they just know how to do things because it's all their kind have done since the beginning of them? Do they have to learn or are capable of it?

[player016]

HELLO FELLOW JUNHUN SOLDIER i come to you with a few junhun questions you might have fun playing around with: - what do you think their preferred displays of affection are (touch, verbal, etc) - if these two could go on an Actual date where do you think they go/what do you think they'd do - how do you think gi-hun deals with jun-ho's pushiness about their relationship? is there a breaking point? oh how i love this ship. i love how terrifying it is for gi-hun to fall for jun-ho. jun-ho is cracking open his rib cage and making him so vulnerable. jun-ho knows how to dig around and see all the parts of him that gi-hun considers to be unsightly, and the fact that it doesn't scare jun-ho away is so confusing and frightening to gi-hun. i love these weirdos

HELLO FELLOW JUNHUN SOLDIER 🫡 THE CO CAPTAIN OF THIS SHIP

Thank you so much already omg I’m so excited, when we talk about Junhun incredible ideas are born. Do you remember our talk about Junhun in America and Junho and Eunji beefing? I think about that, like, three times a week.

And you’re so right! I love these questions 👁👄👁 shit got SO LONG so I’m adding a page break

1. For Junho, I think it’s very much acts of service, touch, and verbal, in that order. He’s really taken it upon himself to prove his usefulness to Gihun, because his attachment wounds make him very subservient, through acts of service. He’d do grocery runs for him, he’d do laundry for him, he’d aid in all the executive functioning tasks that Gihun struggles with or just doesn’t care about himself enough to do when his depression is particularly bad. Junho would raise the hygiene standard of his living significantly just by clearing the mountains of garbage that we see in his room in s2e1. He’s also very socially protective of Gihun to the point that he’ll almost edge him out of conversations, thinking he’s doing him a service. Like in ch 8 of itw, we see Junho distract a curious Wooseok from staring at Gihun too much when he knows they slept together. In this case it was welcome but generally it would not be; this would be one more example of Junho thinking he knows what’s best for Gihun and trampling on his autonomy in the process. He’s very immature in a lot of ways when it comes to his relationship with Gihun. He’s deeply, deeply insecure about his attachments. So naturally touch would also be huge for him—he wants proof that Gihun is right there with him, and he’s clingy in every way it’s possible to be clingy. His abandonment issues have abandonment issues. You and I both feel that Junho would just. Straight up lay on top of Gihun like a weighted blanket and that literally pins him in place, preventing him from going anywhere without Junho knowing about it; it also lets Junho put his ear over his heart and hear the proof that he’s alive. I think Junho would love the sound of Gihun’s breathing for the same reason. I think verbal affection would certainly be present, too; Junho knows Gihun doesn’t think very kindly of himself so he’d be trying to combat that with praise, more for his character than his body, because while Junho does find him very handsome, it’s the combination of paternal warmth and fragility and animal rage in Gihun that draws Junho in, not how Gihun looks. I think Junho would realize how much Gihun needs someone in his corner who believes in him, and he hates to think about how much Gihun blames himself for what happened, so he’s more likely to call him “brave” or “kind” than “handsome.” But he would call him handsome, too.

For Gihun…he has such a complicated relationship with the affection he feels for Junho and the acerbic guilt he feels for feeling that affection. At all times Gihun’s feelings are the irredeemably tangled strings of a broken kite. He feels so far out of his emotional depth with the intensity of the romantic feelings Junho has for him, and the intensity of the romantic feelings he has for Junho. Because as much as he dreads it, as awful as it makes him feel, his attraction to Junho is extremely powerful. So when Junho wears him down a little, if he gets him to put his guard down, a lot of warmth just naturally spills out. This would very much be in the form of touching (holding his hand, holding him close, etc) and verbal affection, which he’s well aware is something Junho is hurting for. The minute he realized how much Junho is moved by praise was the moment Junho lost any real power in their relationship because Gihun could get him to do anything at all with a few choice words. But Gihun would be a lot more likely to use that power for good, not evil; he genuinely appreciates the person Junho is and the help he’s given him, so he’d bring praise into the bedroom a lot. I think we would also see acts of service crop up for Gihun sexually because of the guilt he feels for being intimate with Junho. He would really decenter himself in those experiences and try to focus on what Junho wants.

I think a major way they both show their affection for one another, too, is holding space for their respective traumas. They’d be so understanding of the other’s nightmares, hangups, random flares of displaced rage and grief, etc.

2. If Junho was the one planning the date, he’d do something so thoughtful it bordered on invasive. Like, he’d do some digging (we know how much he loves to dig) to find out Gihun’s favorite childhood haunts, his favorite spots growing up, the most beautiful sights in the neighborhood where he was raised, that kind of thing. He’d plan something romantic there because he wants to force some sort of weird temporal phenomenon where he can steal a piece of the past, where he can know some part of the Gihun who used to be. I think Junho likes seeing Gihun’s brief moments of happiness more than just about anything, so the thought that there was a happy version of Gihun that he never got to meet festers under his skin. Junho would be very much the type to gift significant gestures that would be so saturated in ‘I know everything about you’ that they would make Gihun so uncomfortable. He doesn’t want to make Junho feel bad/doesn’t want to acknowledge that he has needs of any kind, so he wouldn’t say anything, he’d just stew in the discomfort of being love bombed via thoughtful gestures. Gihun responds to it differently but when you see the birthday gift Junho gives Gihun in itw ch 10, you’ll see what I mean.

If Gihun was the one planning the date, it would be something understated but intimate, because he’s the kind of guy who appreciates the beauty of simplicity; he doesn’t need anything grand when Junho’s company is enough. It’s fanon that Gihun can cook and I think he’s all about food = love/affection, so when the time came, he’d absolutely throw down for Junho. I think he’d invite Junho to be his sous chef and they’d make a meal together, then eat it and talk. Junho would be so thrilled to see Gihun in action and to take instructions by him, because he’s like a puppy who’s just so so eager to please, and Gihun would like how competent it makes him feel to guide someone else through a task. I think they’d have a really great time and end up feeling even closer after the fact. The talking bit would be a gift to Junho, who wants to know everything about Gihun, even if it would be hard for Gihun to talk about the life he used to have and desperately wants to return to.

3. I absolutely think there is a breaking point! The first time I considered Junho bringing up Gayeong in itw, I was going to have Gihun respond with anger over the invasiveness, since he’s so protective of Gayeong and sensitive to perceived surveillance, but I ultimately decided that Gayeong is one of those things Gihun would never get tired of talking about. So Junho wouldn’t know what Gihun’s boundaries are, but he’d know the story of Gayeong losing her first tooth, that kind of thing. Gihun’s love for his daughter just shines through in everything he does. In itw ch9 we see Gihun send Junho away, and I won’t say too much about that so as not to spoil things, but you won’t be surprised at what the tipping point for Gihun was. Additionally, I think Gihun could be pushed hard enough to snap at Junho if there were enough concurrent factors—like he didn’t sleep last night, his blood sugar is low, his cravings are really bad, that kind of thing, because humans are animals and Gihun is human. He’d feel a lot of remorse for speaking harshly to Junho, but sometimes he would have no choice, because Junho just. Doesn’t. Stop. I think once Gihun sets a boundary only to see it trampled on, he’d start to get fed up, because normally he doesn’t. Normally he just goes along with what Junho wants because he thinks he owes him for his kindness; Gihun considers himself such a burden in their relationship so there’s a lot of ‘he tolerates me, so I owe him.’ Additionally, now that Gihun has had consistent companionship in Junho, he’s deeply worried about losing it. He dreads the idea of being alone again, sometimes more than he likes Junho, and he likes Junho a lot. He’s very charmed by him. So there are a lot of factors that make Gihun bite his tongue about Junho overstepping. This does not bode well for them—the longer he holds onto resentment, the more volcanic it becomes, until the eventual breaking point makes him respond with the hot temper we all know he hasn’t lost.

Oh these were a DELIGHT to think about and answer. Thank you so much for sending this ask 🙌 you are my most favorite person ever

[shallowseeker]

Zachariah torturing Dean:

5x03

///

Zachariah torturing Jack:

13x14

(Script 13x14 via @spnscripthunt-inactive)

[thymejot]

Rio has twice now said 'te veo' as she walks away from Agatha.

I see you

See you

I hope no matter how bad things get in the end, when they are broken and bloody, standing across the battlefield from one another.

When they finally lance all that has been festering between them.

Faced all the heartache, the regrets, the laments, the sour ugliness of their grief, the deep and abiding love.

When they have a had a good cathartic fight to the end of all things.

Rios last words will be 'te veo'

With the explicit understanding that they will meet again. That this is never truly over. That I see all of you, all the parts you hide away. I still see you. Because it is not one way.

Agatha has always seen all of Rio as well.

They love each other because of who they are, not in spite of it.

A relationship like theirs is never truly over. They may not be lovers for now, may be opposing forces. But they will always be a part of each other.

They will always see each other as the truest of equals.

They may not have a happy ending, but then they will never truly end. So that is okay as well.

Agatha will never truly die

[eleadore]

TBH “only here to have a good time” sounds like shorthand for “I’m not about to say something that”ll get me cancelled”

well you wouldnt want strangers on the internet to make assumptions about you anon…. what could be worse than this……

though if we’re worried about seeming juvenile in harry potter fandom i have some really bad news

[uncanny-tranny]

I love you smile lines and worry lines and grey and white hair and wrinkles and purple spiderweb veins and the process of aging and living in a body that is standing the test of times. I love you experiences that make you wiser and stories that make you laugh, and every little process that happens to get to the point where you have so many memories because you have the fortune to be here and be so radiant

[nidbaesenpai]

The thing about the "star costume" I proposed for Loop is that they are never gonna stop thinking about it for the rest of their life.

Talk to Change God and learn that this body change isn't permanent and perhaps something they've forced themselves into. They too are part of the Universe and in turn used the wishcraft to seal themselves up until something gives. Change God doesn't say what the trigger is and they're left with more questions.

Okay fine they'll ruminate on it in Dormont as Euphrasie and Claude talk to them as an astral being. Is it related to any of their previous wishes? Did they not get fulfilled? Is there something still left to do? What the hell is the key to being normal again they want to be Siffrin again. For a brief moment though Loop has fun as they're talking to some villager about the Saviours, less stressed for once. They pass by a mirror in a hallway and do a double take. A small patch of dark skin and stars lifts off their shoulders. They don't think about it as they draw their dagger that's always been at their hips and peel.

Loop peels more and more until they're slicing at the layer on top their skin, more frenzied at the idea of unwrapping their humanity. Until they recognize their face again, everything almost the same as it was. But their cloak was shredded and now they're regretting everything. They stare at their nicked face and hands and scraps of their one momento of home and they're just.

They're just not Siffrin anymore are they. They want it but they can't have it, especially not now. Siffrin wouldn't destroy their nice cloak. They wouldn't leave behind their hat with a God that hates them. Loop the helpful guide is gone but whatever is looking back at them isn't the same Siffrin at the beginning of this stupid hero quest. It's just gone and it's all their fault.

After a meltdown and a bad haircut later Loop will mull over what it is that destroyed the mask. Unwillingly to come to terms of their self imposed prison and yet unable to believe any flimsy excuse they can come up. 'I'm not a helpful guide anymore that must be it.' 'The wishcraft finally wore out.' 'I helped myself by being around others that's it.' Things that Loop tells themselves before packing up and leaving Dormont for good.

[loversnoworse]

will byers gives the best hugs. i will not be expanding on this just know it’s true

[kapa-the-werdo]

Look at this Block Tales art! It's cool trust

He has a really good track (not as good as solitude in my opinion)

[lordgeneralsix]

mentally still in every cutscene and conversation w samuel

[clawsandpaws-creativearchive]

Time for me to make yet another massive multi-turtle art piece! Here is our fun little collab/coloring page for our cross-cabin narrative! Each member who was able to participate will be coloring/editing in their own turtles/aus!

Both cabins thought it'd be fun to plan a friendly game of capture the flag! Unfortunately it didn't take long for the planning session to break out into chaos! ( Cabins 14 & 15 ) @tmnt-fandom-family-reunion ~ Cadoo 🐾 All included campers will be tagged under the cut:

🔥 Cabin 15: GGTH! Don: @clawsandpaws-creativearchive Sparky!AU Smokey: @belleyellsaboutturtles Move Along! Mikey Raph: @justalittleobsessed 🛸 Cabin 14: HEM Mikey Raph (and Nibbles): @languajix ICE Donnie: @leilanising GoTP Mika & Spirit: @wandering-ghost The Second Shot: @twignotstick True Colors: @v-albion Covert Au Mikhail: @chessman-protocol Fear's Embrace Marco & Donnie: @karonkar

[motivexesmotivational]

"Courage Starts It All: Rewrite Your Destiny One Step at a Time"

"Courage Starts It All: Rewrite Your Destiny One Step at a Time"

"Courage is the foundation of every great journey. With each bold step, you have the power to rewrite your destiny. Discover how embracing courage can transform your mindset and ignite the motivation to achieve your dreams."

"Take the first step today—let courage guide you to a life of inspiration and endless possibilities!"

🤗💖Thank you for your time. follow me for more inspiring content ---------------------- 👉Follow 👈

👉Follow 👈

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

[positivelypresent]

Endings are also beginnings. 🪿