#and lets me share my inner thinking and then ask questions and we discuss and she’ll challenge my perspective

[moonogre]

New therapist is so litty y’all I can’t

[velvees-archive]

Some post-SOJ DLC case thoughts about Edgeworth, his opinion on marriage, and by extension, love.

…and how, at the very center of this discussion is one Phoenix Wright.

Contains spoilers from 3-5, 6-5 and 6-DLC

As if the subtext wasn’t enough.

I wanted to share some thoughts about the DLC case and Edgeworth's insistence on remaining unwed, which, from what I've seen, is a commonly employed gotcha moment against NaruMitsu (because all relationships must end in marriage, right? /lh). Don’t get me wrong, I don’t really mind. I just…didn’t find the dialogue exchange very damning.

Coming off 6-5, where Edgeworth says this,

I saw the DLC as an extension of Edgeworth's sentimentality, this time directed at Phoenix’s romantic prospects.

To make my stance clear, I don’t think Edgeworth is blind to romantic overtures; he just doesn’t care about them very much. As in, Edgeworth is largely unaffected by and uninterested in matters of the heart (with a concession that he is obtuse when it comes to people expressing interest in him, unless they're Wendy Oldbag over the top about it). But even if you feel he's terrible at sensing romantic tension, my argument still stands. Edgeworth doesn’t care about romance, and we never really see him prying into anyone’s romantic relationships…

…with the exception to this being Phoenix Wright’s.

From Bridge to the Turnabout:

Sorry for the janky screenshots. I didn't didn't take 3-5 pics on my Switch so I had to search for YouTube clips. Let the record show I actually really enjoy Feenris PLUS I love angst, so this interaction was…chef’s kiss.

Assuming Edgeworth doesn't care about romance but he can understand romantic signaling, this is already pretty condemning. Why are you poking around Phoenix's business if you're so uninterested in love? Surely, there are bigger fish to fry, like investigating the Inner Temple Garden because the clues found could be vital to catching the victim's murderer?

Assuming Edgeworth sucks at detecting any romantic undertones, the implications are even worse. You're telling me the guy who doesn't know the first thing about romance somehow clocked Phoenix and Iris's chemistry this quickly? How? For what reason were you able to catch it? How attuned are you to Phoenix's personal affairs?

Now, shifting back to the DLC case, we have this lovely interaction when you show Miles the wedding chapel pamphlet:

Something to note with Phoenix’s “W-Wait. You’re not thinking about finally settling down and getting married, are you?” is that the screen flashes and we hear the damage sound after the “W-Wait."

Once again, Miles inquires about Phoenix's love life, this time after Phoenix asks about his. I've analyzed my fair share of Miles Edgeworth dialogue, and I don't think he pingpongs questions just to make conversation (see: “Say something, Wright. I’m not good at small talk.”). This leads me to believe he was genuinely curious and (subtly) trying to fish for information. And why would that be the case?

My overarching point is this: Edgeworth isn’t as obtuse about romance as everyone makes him out to be (both in-universe and from a fandom perspective), which makes his mentioning marriage plans around Phoenix even more suspicious. The way the scene reads to me is that Edgeworth, in Phoenix’s company and swept away by the intimate atmosphere, lets his interest in Phoenix Wright slip through the cracks once Phoenix shows him the pamphlet. It's sentimental of him and it surfaces—once again—while he's investigating a case. At risk of sounding repetitive, there are bigger fish to fry.

It'd be less suspicious if Phoenix had similar conversations with other cast members he shows the pamphlet to, but it never gets to be this personal, even when he presents it to Maya, his best friend.

Good news if you feel otherwise about my “Edgeworth isn’t that obtuse” headcanon though, because should you believe he is actually just that clueless, you now have to contend with this:

If Miles can’t pick up on all things love, why is he so attuned to Wright’s (and to my knowledge, only Wright’s) romantic prospects in particular?

So yeah. Checkmate, I guess. Edgeworth might not be interested in marriage or love, but he’s definitely interested in Phoenix’s partners, or lack thereof. Take that how you will.

[kakiastro]

Which area in your life will Pluto Aquarius transform? Through the houses

The houses in your birth chart represents the area in your life.

Pluto is the planet that rules over massive transformations, it tears everything down to rebuild it into something better than what you had before.

Aquarius is considered the “freedom sign” the house that Aquarius rules is the place where you will feel free. It’s also the area where you don’t follow the rules and do your own thing.

1h

You as a person is going to be going through a massive change. Considering this is a 20 year transit, it make sense. How you view yourself now won’t be nowhere near the same in 20 years. Matter of fact, as you read this, you won’t remember this version of because it’s going to be so different. Your overall outlook is going to change, how you see those around will be different. Your physical appearance may change and I’m not talking about the natural body changes; no, I’m talking about you getting tattoos when didn’t have them before, dyeing your hair all sorts of colors, there’s a rebellious attitude towards your appearance. You’ll learn to stand up for yourself during this time as well! The 1h is the house of Aries so you’ll have ppl testing you, talk to a Pluto 1h native, they’ll know what I’m talking about LoL, but you’ll learn to stick up for yourself.

2h

How you view and take care of your finances will be different! This can play out multiple ways; maybe you’ll learn some harsh lessons on not overspending and learning how to save. You may have struggled with your finances, and start to see a mass improvement as time go on with this transit. Are you worthy? Is the question you’ll ask your self a lot. Your self worth and how you deal with that will be a big theme for you. Pluto rules over our deepest fears, it’ll force you to look within on where did you get these insecure fears from and you’ll do lots of shadow work. Let me tell you though, once you get past your fears and know your worth!! Chile, you’ll be a bad bitch haha. This is also the physical home, you may move to a new house, or redecorating your current place.

3h

You better speak your truth! The way you process your thoughts and communicate will go through a huge transformation! The 3h is how we talk to people, the things we constantly think about and love to discuss. With Pluto being in this house, you may take a deep dive in learning about whatever topic you’re interested in. 3h also rules over education, you’ll be wanting learn a lot of new things but you want to learn it in depth! You will get to know the depths of your mind. 3h also rules our siblings, teachers and co-workers so expect them to go through lots of changes from your point of view. You may move into a new type of neighborhood that you would’ve never expected to live in.

4h

Chile, your whole private life is about to change. The 4h is the home but it’s the part of our life that we don’t share with others unless they’re close to you. Your home (inside) will drastically change, you may start a family (if you wish), have a family member move in with you. You may move altogether and start fresh. Your family dynamic will change as well, this isn’t always a bad thing either! Aquarius is known as a chain breaker, you may break lots of generational traumas during this time especially if you have the mother wound. The 4h represents our emotional state, Pluto is going to make you feel those emotions hunny, it’s going to a lot of deep emotions as well.

5h

🎵Oh sweet child of mine🎵 it’s time to start healing your inner child wounds. The next 20 years, you’ll will remember what I’ll be like to be a kid and fun again! You may have been ostracized or called the weirdo kid growing up which left you some unhealed wounds. No more hiding, it’s time to express your authentic self to the world my friends! What were some of the things you liked as child? Revisit that. If you’re a creative, the world needs to see your talent, your ideas and projects can help others whether physically or through inspiration. If you have children or want too in the they can help you bring out that inner child again, hell it don’t have to be your child, it can be your niece, nephew or local neighborhood kids that can teach you to lighten up!

6h

🎵now get this work in, working on my sh!&t!🎵 is the theme for you the next 20 years. Now let me be clear, working doesn’t always have to mean your job but just being a busy body in your everyday life! The 6h rules over our daily routines. Pluto is about to disrupt all that lol but maybe the routine you’ve been practicing isn’t healthy for you? You’ll learn what routine works for and you’ll probably have several ones throughout the years because it is a 20 years transit lol. Also your health! Pluto is about to get a lot of people with this placement a reality check when it comes to health, please take care of yourselves. Aquarius rules the nerves and ankles so stretch them and try not to let stress take you out either. I have a Pluto 6h (different sign)natally so I know this placement well. Pets! You may feel inclined to get pets that’s known as guard animals for the home. You may have co-workers(supervisors and managers)that may grow envious or jealous of you. Until you trust them then stay private.

7ħ

I just went through this transit myself and whew! It’s been a doozy! You’re going to meet people who’s going to test you, your transformation is through other people. The 7h is all close relationships so that means your family, your partner, since it’s in Aquarius, that means even strangers in person and online. You may end up with a few partners who’s going to change your whole outlook on relationships and what you want in them. You’ll meet people who’s going to want to work/collaborate with you and some may work out, some not but you’ll learn valuable lessons, Can I trust you? Is the question you’ll be asking several times. If you’re a business owner or if you want to be, you may pursue that during this transit. I started my astrology journey with this page while Pluto was in this house.

8h

The good news is that Pluto is home here so really Pluto is just redecorating his own house lol. Your views on sex and what sex means to you may change. You may have ppl be more open when it comes to sex. Trust! Trusting others in a deep vulnerable way will be a huge theme for you. Vulnerability maybe a tough thing for you to show to people. You may have been shunned emotionally growing up. With Pluto coming back home, you will learn that not everyone is your enemy, it’s okay to open yourself up to those closest to you. Aquarius is the people sign so you’ll about to meet all sorts of people who will challenge you to trust. Your intuition, psychic gifts will also increase as well! You may have futuristic visions and dreams about the collective.

9h

Whatever your personal beliefs or philosophies are, yeah… they’re about to go through a huge rebuild. You will go through things that’s going to change what and who you believe in. You can also still have these beliefs but will have a different view on it due to whatever situations you will be put in. You may start traveling abroad to “taboo” or “non popular” destinations. Maybe you visit a certain country where their culture is known for their funeral/death practices and you want to experience seeing one, something taboo like that. This also ties in to gaining higher knowledge about the world. You’ll want to study the underline or hidden from society parts. Maybe you’ll study a religion but from an occult lenses if that makes sense.

10h

Change in career! You may gain some power in whatever field you’re in. That power could be higher position, having stronger connections or just having the power to stand up to the higher up. People may start to feel intimidated by you even if you don’t feel intimidating. You will start to take yourself seriously and what I mean by that is you’ll start realize you will recognize you are a powerful person. You will feel empowered, people will feel empowered by you. You’re transforming into the Boss. How you manage your life will be more private, which will give you a mysterious aura.

11h

The era of networking! You will meet people who you will you can collaborate with. You may meet ppl during random times in your life. 11h is Uranus energy so you may have few new friend circles over the years. Ppl will come and go in your life. They will make you want to level up, however that may be. This is the house of wish fulfillments. You will have an intense focus on building and working on your dreams and wishes. It may come off as obsessive to a point. The 11h is also the house of collective wealth, things you’ve earned over the years finally building. How you view society as a whole especially online will be different, I think being more private online will be beneficial to you.

12h

Buy you a dream journal or get a notebook to track your dreams! Anytime a planet enters the house of the subconscious mind, expect some crazy dreams. With Pluto being the planet, expect heavy dreams. You may have prophetic dreams about the collective (people). This is a time where you explore the depths of your whole being. The 12h rules over our subconscious mind, things buried and hidden will boil to the surface. This is also the spiritual house, you may be going through lots of spiritual awakening or the new age phrase “dark night of soul” you will do lots of healing and become empowered if you do the work. 12h also rules over past lives, so Pluto will bubble up those past life traumas, karmic patterns. Your psychic gifts will strengthen, you may unlock gifts you didn’t know you had. Powerful time for you!

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

Next theme is Buck protecting Eddie with magical twists! These ones are so fun - such great concepts!

🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏 (I’m so loving this one!! Buck and chris treating eddies not-so-inner child with so much love and patience! Because they love him so much! Can’t wait to see eddie finally give himself that same grace and forgiveness! Also this is another story that makes me want to kill helena and ramon because how dare they make chris think that eddie doesnt want him!! So glad that chris is now back with his dad and his buck!)

🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽🪽 (this one I can’t wait to see more of! I love how its basically buck from season two that eddie really barely knows but still cares for so much and how buck has been by his side the entire time! He has his back and even death cant stop that! Although i do have my doubts about the death part - there’s clearly some magic shenanigans going on and i cant wait to learn more about it!)

- PCA <3

THANK YOU! Excited to share this angel one in full.

96 for 🪽:

---

“I think,” he chances. “And correct me if I’m wrong, Bobby. I think he means, did he do the right thing, by siding with Maddie and advocating to have you taken off life support?”

“Yes,” Bobby rasps. “That’s what I mean.”

“Oh,” Buck says softly. “You did the right thing, Bobby. This isn’t how I want to live. Thank you for trying.”

Eddie relays the message. 

Bobby sniffs. His jaw tenses so much Eddie can see the muscles twitch. 

“Thank you for visiting me,” Buck continues. “I bet that pretty much sucks, so… So it’s nice of you.”

Eddie relays. 

“It doesn’t suck,” Bobby protests. “Buck, no, it… I’m glad to. You deserve company.”

Buck smiles weakly. “Thank you. Uh, thank you. Both of you. I…”

Buck trails off.

Eddie has a strange feeling churning in his stomach. 

“Buck?” Eddie asks quietly.

Buck smiles sadly. “We have to figure out how to kill me.”

🪽

If there’s a list of things in life Eddie would like to experience, plotting and executing the legal murder of Evan Buckley is not on it. And yet, what choice does he have but to hear the guy out? His angel. The man who has given him solid counsel and protected him from harm time and time again and loved him. The man who Eddie loves. And beyond that, this has been Bobby’s preeminent belief for years. That Buck needs to be shown mercy. That they need to let him go. He’s with two people he respects and adores, and their principles are going to get him in trouble. But what is he to do?

They’re sitting in Bobby’s truck. They had to leave Buck’s room. They couldn’t discuss killing him where they might be overheard. 

“You’re sure, Buck?” Bobby asks. Not for the first time.

“Yes,” Buck answers. “Completely.”

“He says yes, completely,” Eddie relays. “But, uh, how the hell do we do that? We can’t just turn the machines off.”

“No,” Bobby agrees. “We can’t. And if we do something remotely, like cut the power, we risk killing others.”

“Fuck,” Buck groans. 

“What if…” Eddie hesitates, chewing on the question. “What if killing your body also…”

From the backseat, with Eddie sitting twisted to see both him and Bobby, Buck’s face drops. 

“What if I’m not around anymore?” He asks. 

“What if you lose your connection to him?” Bobby fills in.

Eddie nods. 

“I know it’s not easy, Eddie,” Bobby says gently. “Especially after you’ve already lost quite a bit.”

Not as much as Bobby, though.

“Eddie…” Buck exhales. “I don’t want to stop being your angel. I would do it forever. I just… You get it, right? I can’t continue like this.”

“I get it,” Eddie admits. “I just… It won’t be easy for me, okay? I can’t… It’s a lot to process.”

[zourryficfest]

Zourry Fest Q&A

Recently Zourry Fest was asked to participate in a 'Space' over on Twitter (for the uninformed, like myself, a Space is essentially a live audio 'hangout' with different speakers).

A few mods of other fic fests came to join the party and we chatted through some questions our host, JoJo, compiled from a few sources.

Shania bravely took the reins for us and did an amazing job! We had our answers written out already, so figured some of you may be interested in reading through them if you didn't get a chance to tune in.

Check them out below if you fancy getting an insight into the inner workings of Zourry fest!

Intro: Hi! My name is Shania and Maddi and I are the mods of Zourry Fic Fest. We both go by she/her pronouns. Though I am the one speaking right now, Maddi and I both contributed to our answers for the questions so you’ll be hearing from our one brain cell that we share. Our fest was founded in April of this year and we are participating because we thought that it would be an interesting discussion as long time lovers of fic fests and recent fic fests mods! 

What’s your fest’s origin story?

To tell the origin of ZFF, I'll actually have to go back a bit to how Maddi and I crossed paths to begin with. It really is the wildest thing. I posted to Tumblr looking for Larry RP partners (iykyk) on the Telegram app and Maddi reached out to me there. After (lots) of yapping and discussion of Maddi's upcoming fic at the time (Two, He's Kissing On You which is a Zourry fic) we quickly became friends and discovered we were already following each other on Twitter funnily enough. We discussed the rise of Zourry fics lately and how there wasn't a fest catered around the trio yet, so with her fest participation experience and my wild, off the wall idea we decided: Hey, why not create a fest and see what happens? The rest is, as they say, history. I'm extremely lucky (and grateful) we were able to connect in the first place because what are the chances of that? You know? But, yeah. It's great. It’s been amazing. ZFF has surpassed our expectations from the very beginning and we couldn't be more appreciative!

Do you participate in your own fests? Why or why not?

I, myself, am still undecided on whether or not I'll write for it. In theory, I would love to contribute, but I've only written one fic for the fandom so far which was several, several years ago and it was subpar in my opinion. We're our own worst critics, right? I don't know. I don't know. Maybe I'll let Maddi convince me to go through with it. It would be cool to make my official debut as a writer for our fest.

As for Maddi, she’s definitely writing for our fest and if I’m successful in bullying her then she might even write two. She says her decision to participate is part of why the fest exists in the first place. She loves the dynamic of Zourry and can’t wait for an excuse to write more!

Besides the fest topic, what sets you apart from all the rest?

We like to think we're very open and inclusive with what we'll allow. Fics can include anything ranging from canon compliance to AU, magical, mpreg, A/B/O. . you name it. We also welcome any variation of top or bottom and dom or sub as well as any gender expression. We don't have a maximum word count or very many rules in general to allow authors to reach their full, creative potential. The only real requirement is that the fic includes Zayn, Louis, and Harry in some sort of significant capacity!

How is your fest structured? Is there a standard format for fests, or does each fest come up with their own in your experience?

Since Maddi has participated in a few more fic fests than I have (I haven't participated in any), I’ve asked her to provide an answer which I will read now: She thinks there are some basics that every fic fest has to have to make it a fic fest in the first place. At its core, it’s a collection of stories with a theme that ties them together. It seems anything outside of that is fair game.

She’s seen fests with no end dates and no sign ups required all the way through to more structured ones with firm dates and rules. We’ve tried to go for a middle approach on that.

We wanted to provide our writers (and readers!) with enough structure to keep them motivated without coming across as too domineering - or we hope that’s the case! 

We’ve chosen to structure our fest in a fairly ‘standard’ way, having prompt submissions open and close, then author sign ups open and stay open throughout most of the ‘writing’ time. Our decision to keep them open came from Maddi’s own personal experience - she’s wanted to enter some fic fests later on in their processes. She’s even entered one just a week before they closed just because an idea struck!

So in short, we wanted to try to make a structure that works for our authors first and foremost, and that’s been our goal with any decision making for our fest.

How long is your fest active each year? What went into deciding that?

Our fest is going to be active from May to November of this year which is roughly seven months. This is partially due to the fact we came up with the idea in April and wanted to strike when the Zourry iron was hot, but we also wanted to extend the fest out into the latter half of the year when it seems slightly less fests will be posting. 

We took a quick look at other active fests and tried to slot ourselves in between a few other anticipated posting dates, both so we didn’t step on any toes as well as with the aim to give our authors the best chance at getting their fics read! We also wanted to provide adequate time for authors to write their fics which is the most important part of the whole thing! We do hope to continue Three’s a Party Thursdays in between rounds (if we choose to continue) which is our version of fic recs.

You've described your current theme and how you structured your fest, but is there anything else within the scope of your structure that you hope to add or expand into?

Maddi and I have discussed potentially using Zourry as sort of an umbrella so to speak for Zouis and Zarry fics as well—not just the three of them. As far as we know, there isn't another active Zarry fest and we feel it would be helpful for those who maybe want to see Zouis or Zarry without the third or for those who have an easier time writing for two people as opposed to three. We're not quite sure what we'll do just yet, especially as there is also currently an active Zouis fest on Tumblr so we wouldn’t like to impose on anyone else's ideas! We are still so new and would like to successfully make it through this round before jumping ahead of ourselves. 

How do you support writers who are nervous no one will read their fic, or that they aren’t “popular enough” to join a fest?

This is such a tough question, you know? Because it's a very real feeling. While this fandom can be incredibly kind and welcoming—it can also be toxic at times especially when it comes to new writers trying to “break through” so to speak. ZFF has created a discord server for our writers to not only keep in contact with us and each other in a casual setting, but it allows us a better way to offer assistance in anything they may need whether it’s motivation for writing, helping locate a beta reader, or finding someone who can bring the artistic vision they have for their fic to life. We also think it's important to remember that fic writing should be for yourself first and foremost. Write something that interests you and not the other way around. You'll always come across your people. Popularity is subjective anyways, isn't it?

Do you allow anonymous submissions? Why or why not?

Absolutely! We think everyone should have the opportunity to write freely without the pressures of being recognized. Some people may prefer to remain anonymous because of the content in the fic, maybe they’re new to writing and want to get a feel for it, or even just personal preference really. To cater to the privacy and/or request(s) of our authors, we have always (and will continue to) accept anonymous submissions with open arms. 

For those of you who allow pairings beyond just Harry & Louis, have you gotten negative responses?

Without going into too much detail—yes. We've seen a couple indirects on our respective timelines. We also received a message on NGL just the other day. To us, it's whatever. We try to not let it get to us because everyone has their own likes/dislikes. We figure at the end of the day we’ve been shown a lot more love than hate about our fest, and that’s what matters the most!

What are you most proud of when it comes to your fest?

I think I can speak for Maddi and I both when I say that ZFF, from the beginning, has been a team effort. Each of us dedicate a lot of time towards it and making sure things go smoothly. I tend to cover Twitter more while Maddi takes the reins on Tumblr, but everything we have done has been mutually planned/discussed. We type up everything together and nothing is done without approval of the other. We created moodboards for prompts alongside one another and also crafted Three's a Party Thursdays (fic recs) together. When I say we share one brain cell, I truly do mean it. So. .yeah. I would say the team work? Without it, I don't think we would have had as much success as we have so far. 

[esther-dot]

I'm sorry, that's gonna be a really weird ask from one jonsa stan to another but I'm genuinely curious - is there any anti jonsa argument/claim that actually made sense to you? I'm really asking for the sake of, well, civilised discussion - because if there are arguments there ought to be reasonable counterarguments. And all that I see is the same tired old crap - "she's not his favourite sister" and "but they are relatives!" and all the other stuff. Given, of course I'm not hanging around jonry@ and jon@erys side of this fandom (dark things happen to any sansa and jonsa stans there) and have no idea if they have any reasonable metas. Or maybe if there was a moment that made you actually question possibility of jonsa happening in books? (once again - because I'm anxious like that - I'm not asking this to disprove something or make people question jonsa but because I wonder if you personally had this sort of experience).

Thank you and hope you're having a nice day!

No worries! I enjoy looking at things from different angles, so I don’t mind at all. Unfortunately, I haven’t read anti jonsa stuff that isn’t exactly what you described, so I can’t actually have the convo you want about this. I tried to go to some jonerys blogs but their anti tags weren’t what we’re looking for. There’s a blogger people view as neutral who other Sansa fans/Jonsas put on my dash, and a BNF who people I follow also reblog from, so I went over to their blogs to look around and they’re less rabid, but I can’t say they offered though-provoking pushback. I’ll share some snippets though, in case you’re interested.

There was the old "but their siblings" argument:

I, ah, I do not think Jon marries Sansa in any scenario. Regardless of biological relationship, they think of themselves as siblings. The people around them are also quite likely to consider them siblings or as good as, having been raised as such (see also Theon being accused of kinslaying over his apparent murder of Bran and Rickon). Nor do I think either would be in a rush to go back to the traditional “but the Targaryens practiced incest,” again considering that their society is strongly anti-incest. Jon and Sansa were raised together, in the same house, as brother and sister, and that makes a material difference.

But you know, raised as siblings and please nobody try the “but they weren’t close” with me, that’s so not true.

It’s interesting to see someone say they were close, that’s not something I’ve seen before. I suppose my biggest issue with this line of thought is that it feels true for a generic fantasy maybe, but hardly convincing when talking about ASOIAF? Martin wants to talk about incest. So far, we have all the bad, abusive variations covered. I think he’s gonna work some shades of grey into it the same way he tries to do with everything he discusses, and to pretend like he would never feels disingenuous to me. Even if he ultimately abandoned the initial draft, from the author’s mind came the idea of a Jon / Stark girl romance. He has entertained it. Secondly, Jon is a Targ and it’s reasonable to expect that to manifest somehow, or at least, for Jon to experience the fear that there’s something latent there. And third, if we’re gonna get a romance, I think Martin would write it with the complexity and inner struggle that he writes everything and fauxcest offers him that opportunity, not to mention all the parallels it would allow as well.

Let's see...I also saw that they object to the Beauty and the Beast reading of Jonsa:

And I've been searching but apparently I never posted the rest of my "Bear and the Maiden Fair" thoughts, but that's the in-world Beauty and the Beast story. Through that and looking at bears elsewhere in the story, you can track this idea of the beast not being a monster, but being perceived as one by society, an outcast, which is why the Hound, Tyrion, and Jon all fit the role/are related (in a way), and why Jon will be the final suitor or real bear/beast.

The next one, I’m just gonna post the whole thing:

I’m not sure if the best part is the implication that Jon/Dany (which they believe is inevitable) have what’s required to allow for “quick deep emotional connections” or if it’s reading the Hound insult and threaten and then finally put a knife to Sansa’s throat and deciding “romance! chivalry!” The Hound may be disillusioned, but the fandom has got to stop pretending like some of his espoused beliefs aren’t self-serving, a defense because he is a monster. We have Brienne and Jon showing us different versions of knights, true knights, so acting like the Hound is in the right is just bizarre.

Anyway, no, I’ve not read an anti argument that made me doubt it. I do doubt what Martin is aiming for at times, so I’ve vacillated between potential paths/endgames for them over the years, but the anti arguments generally are coming from a reading of characters and dynamics that’s disturbing to me which means I’m usually alienated, not compelled.

[mybrokenveins3000]

Freshers - College!Ross Macdonald

A/N: HII!! This is my first time writing anything on Tumblr, let alone the 1975 related. I hope you guys like it. Ignore how my grammar is all over the place, quotation marks and commas confuse me.

I move to university in about two weeks, I doubt anything like this will happen, but a girl can dream. Anyways, enjoy! Also, this is dedicated to @hypersonic04 <3

word count: 1.6k

♫ My Funny Girl - Harry Teardrop // Eighteen - Pale Waves

It's almost been a month since you moved to the city for university. Tonight, you're at a coursemate's flat for Pres. Trashy guilty-pleasure pop blasts through the speakers and you're busy avoiding people, drinking by the window. You watch the condensation trail behind a departing aeroplane over the cityscape. You're thinking about where you are now, the kind of people you brush shoulders with, and how easy it is to feel so desperately alone out here.

Despite the air of maturity and the swill of liquor in your mouth, it always shocked you how laughably predictable university boys can be - especially those on your Film course. It's been a month and you're already bored by the typical film bro spiel of "why Tarantino is the best director of all time" and how "there's something manic pixie dream girl about you".

Speaking of, you feel a tall, masculine shadow cast over you interrupting your intense thinking. Cue the "what's your favourite film" question, you think to yourself.

"What's your favourite film?"

Right, here we go again.

"Depends. Who's asking?" you laugh to yourself, still watching that blinking plane.

"Um, me." Now that felt more like a question.

"And, who are you?" You whip around and see a tall boy in a black hoodie. Who is this? He's cute... is your immediate response to the stranger.

You playfully prod at him with your empty solo cup, "Youuu are not on my course."

He laughs gently, casting his eyes to the floor. Despite his shy cadence, there's an effortlessness and confidence about him that is rare to find among these overgrown teenagers. "No, I'm not. I do History."

You squint and he senses your confusion about his presence at a Film student function.

"I came with him", he gestures over to the couch. The scantily clad, mop-headed, binge-drinking, serial flirt, Matty Healy, lounges across your girl friends' legs. You scowl. You and Matty have argued in and out of every seminar you've ever shared. It surprised you that someone like the boy in front of you was here with him.

"He actually told me to ask that question"

"Hm?"

"Your favourite film? He said it's a good conversation starter but I'm beginning to think," he makes a note of your comically disappointed expression, "that he is very, very wrong"

He smiles at you. You can't help but smile back at him. The image of him preparing to talk you flashes in your mind. You smile harder.

"Roman Holiday", he leans over to hear you better over the drowning sound of pop, exposing his neck and the chain dangling around it. "My favourite film is Roman Holiday"

"Never heard of it--"

"YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF ROMAN HOLIDAY?!?!" He certainly didn't need to lean in to hear that. He laughs at the inner film nerd in you coming out.

In that moment, he could see it. You and his best friend having passive-aggressive discussions during seminars. It's stupid to admit the twinge of jealousy he felt at the idea. I mean, you had only just met. Maybe it's the alcohol or Teenage Dream on the speaker, maybe he wants to see that enthusiasm and hear you talk about films forever and ever.

"Maybe we could watch it sometime."

It doesn't help that you blush easily. You can see yourself now, a vision in bright red.

"Does that line work for every girl?"

"I don't know, I haven't used it before," he smiles and rakes a hand through his hair. Fuck.

Wait, let's not get ahead of ourselves. "Who are you again?" you ask before you can glow any brighter.

"I'm Ross."

You reply with your name and extend your free hand to shake his.

The speakers go quiet over this exchange. A drunken voice exclaims "RIGHT, LET'S GO!" followed by peals of laughter and excitement.

You look at each other, hand in hand, knowing that you just started something good. Something good that you don't want to infect with even louder music, sweaty bodies and strobe lights - not now at least. If only Pres could last forever. You let go of his hand.

People flood out of the flat, but a girl friend of yours whose flat this is hangs back when she sees the pair of you not moving.

"Hey, could we stay here actually?" you tell her.

Having hosted so many film parties and Pres, she knows you're usually the first out of the door. She knows that you never do this or feel this, especially not for boys you've only met. But there's something about him and this squeezing in your heart. You don't want him to leave you.

She smiles, turning the speakers back on, the volume set to low. It's Boom Clap by Charli XCX. You wouldn't know this 'til much later, but she thinks you two make a good couple. "You don't need a key to leave and the door locks by itself, so feel free to stay."

Before she disappears out the door, Ross exclaims "Take care of Matty!!"

"No promises!!" she shouts back.

---

Saturday bleeds into Sunday. You're sitting on the floor with a boy you just met. He does History, you do Film. The Bluetooth speaker died in the middle of Colors by Halsey, but you both were too engrossed in conversation to realise it.

The October wind picked up, tossing the plastic cups across the room, but he was too busy looking at you, how the air danced and played with your hair. Neither of you could figure out how to close the window, you were both guests here after all. When he noticed you shivering, his black hoodie immediately came off. He blushed as you put it on, how the sleeves extended past your hands. It was hard for you not to hug yourself and take in his smell of petrichor and aftershave in its entirety. It was hard for him not to hug you.

By this point, you could name all his favourite teachers from secondary school and why the 1900s was his favourite century. He could list your top 10 films in order and the details about your hometown that you love. He recounts what it was like growing up in Wilmslow with Matty. You never knew Wilmslow ever existed, you never knew anyone's words could soften you to Matty.

As he speaks, you notice the distant whir of passing cars, the wind, the hum of the light bulb, and how this is all so tragically and desperately transient.

"What's wrong?" he asks as if he has known you a long time. He has made a note of how expressive you are, how whatever you're thinking or feeling is easy to detect just by looking at your face. You wouldn't know it, but he decides right then and there that he wants to recognise every micro-expression your face could make.

"I like talking to you," you admit, almost sadly.

"I like talking to you, too."

You glance out the window. "But you do know what they say about the people you meet in the first semester," they don't stay.

"Yeah, yeah, I do know, but" he delicately places his hand on your knee, "you're someone people want to keep."

Silence. There's an unspoken force about the two of you. It encourages you to submit to the endearing teenage stupidity and rash decision-making.

"You're someone I want to keep," he says finally. Whilst your eyes, tipsy and excited, have been jumping from surface to surface, his has been fixed on you the entire night.

A thump from the front door interrupts the moment followed by crashing and inelegant, drunken moaning.

"Ohmygod you guys are STILL HERE?!?!" screams that coursemate of yours, popping her head through the door. "MATTY, THEY'RE STILL HERE!"

A tiny "ᶠᵁᶜᴷ" can be heard from another room. You and Ross laugh to yourselves, not surprised by the scene unraveling before you two.

"You know I love you guys but do you mind fucking off?"

Ross is already stood up and helps you onto your feet. You could get used to this. You plant a chaste kiss on her sweaty forehead followed by "You know I love you. Use protection."

"Have fun, mate!" Ross yells down the corridor as you make your way to the door.

"ᶠᵁᶜᴷ ʸᴼᵁ"

---

You strike yourself as more tipsy than you realise as you wiggle the door handle and cry, "OHMYGOD, IT DOES LOCK ON ITS OWN!!"

And he's looking at you, smiling that same warm smile, as you get excited over a door. You're still wearing his hoodie.

You notice him staring, "what?"

"Nothing"

"You look like you want to say something?" He takes in a breath and shrugs. "If you wanna say something, just say it," you laugh.

To that, he lifts up your chin with his finger and kisses you.

As soon as he backs away, you toss your arms around his neck and inelegantly smash your face onto his. You can feel him smiling as you kiss. His arms pull you closer at the waist, hands underneath his hoodie.

"I've been waiting to do that all night," he whispers as you pull away. The streetlights and skyscrapers blink through the windows of the dimly lit corridor. Only this time in the face of the city, you don't feel alone anymore.

"Are you busy today?" he asks, tucking a stray hair behind your ear. You're still slung around his neck. It's all stupidly endearingly familiar, but also so new. You kiss through the conversation.

"No, no, not busy... do need to do my laundry though."

"Good, so do I." You silently agree to do it together.

You take his hand in yours and walk down the stairs.

"I'm someone you wanna keep, huh?"

"You're someone I wanna keep."

[vivemonroi]

Ok, it’s just a draft of a translation of the first part of my Charlastor fic (English is my second language). But I think to post it in English, I wrote it like 4 years ago, when the pilot came out. If you notice any mistakes dm me please :3

“The suburb of 'Pentagram-City' could hardly be called serene, rather sparsely inhabited, as most of its denizens preferred to spend their days of indefinite punishment in the city where they could hire a prostitute, grab a drink, or die a gruesome death—anything seemed better than watching the pitiful imitation of local stars. Yet, by a strange twist of fate, right here and now, one could find the daughter of the ruler of the Underworld and one of the most powerful beings of Hell engaged in precisely this mundane activity.

— How did you die?

The question came out awkwardly, unpleasantly slicing through the tranquility of the quiet evening. Charlie shivered, instantly regretting daring to open her mouth and voice it aloud. But Alastor did not flinch, still gazing into the bloody sky of Hell, his lips stretched in a serene smile. Perhaps the demon hadn't heard her? No, considering how meticulously he listened to every word she spoke, that seemed very unlikely.

— You don't have to answer; I understand it's personal…

— I was shot.

His response was brief and to the point, a sharpness uncharacteristic of Alastor that puzzled Charlie even more, but curiosity quickly overcame tact.

— Was it police or…

— Hunters.

— Oh, I see. Sorry.

Coming out of his trance, Alastor looked at her in surprise.

— Why apologize, ma chérie? My demise isn't your fault, and let's be honest, it's not as if I didn't deserve it, though I must admit, I never thought I would die like this. The electric chair, yes, but a bullet? Pathétique! Such a banal method, I would even say barbaric, one shot and that’s it, what about the feelings? Personally, I preferred knives, ah, those emotions: fear, pain, the realization of the end of one's pathetic life…

Toward the end of his sentence, the pleasant French jazz from his inner radio was replaced by crackling and static. Noticing the princess’s slightly frightened look, the demon made a gesture very much like tuning into a radio station, and the melody returned.

— As much as I enjoy discussing my favorite pastime, I see you're uncomfortable. So, let me propose a counter-question, shall we engage in a little ‘quid pro quo’, ma chérie? Why did you ask?'

Charlie hesitated.

— No reason.

Alastor theatrically, almost paternally shook his head in disappointment.

— And this demoness dares teach us redemption! Yet she's not averse to the sin of deceit herself. And after so many sermons! I expected better from you, dear, you wound me deeply.

— It's silly, Al, I don't think you'd understand.

— Ah, but it's up to me to understand you or not, you know. I could have chosen not to answer your question. Asking a sinner how he died? Quelle vulgarité! And coming from the Princess of Hell herself, I think I'll broadcast this; my listeners will be shocked to learn that…

— Alright, alright! I'll tell you, but.. just don't laugh, okay?

— Can’t promise anything.

Charlie sighed; expecting such from him was indeed too much.

— Okay.

She paused for almost a dramatic effect and timidly began:

— You see, I was born here, in Hell, but you... you were born there, in the mortal world. Your main life was there, but... I know nothing but Hell.

She fell silent again for a few seconds, as if bracing herself to utter the next phrase.

She continued:

— I want to see trees, Al, the Sun, the Earth's Sun, animals, the sea with its beaches. I want to dance in the rain, shiver from the cold, languish in the heat! I wish to care for flowers, walk through the city for groceries, help the homeless. Smile at passersby and have them smile back! Greet neighbors, ask for some salt, and share pie recipes. But most of all... most of all, I want to see a rainbow. A real one, after a strong summer storm, when animals and people emerge from their shelters just happy to be alive. I.. I want to live!

On her last words, Charlie's uncertain whisper turned into a shout, and realizing this, she quickly covered her mouth with her hands, blushing with embarrassment. From the city, the drunken songs of bar regulars carried over, occasionally interrupted by the agonized scream of some unfortunate soul, but it seemed no one heard her, or if they did, they frankly didn't care. The audience from the receiver applauded approvingly, Alastor's eyes narrowed slyly.

— Sorry, as I said, it's very silly…

— Not at all, mon trésor, the desire to explore the unknown is perfectly natural for such a curious creature as you. But you're overlooking the fine print: diseases, poverty, wars, miseries, murders, hunger, and I'm not just talking about the physical sensation, lust, debauchery... shall I go on?

Charlie sighed.

— I know, Al, damn it, I grew up in a literal Hell, my whole life is that fine print.

She turned onto her stomach and shyly bit her lip.

— Just... sometimes I feel like I don't belong here...

Alastor laughed, Charlie thought his laughter sounded like radio interference mixed with distorted off-air laughter, but Husk and the other residents of the Hotel disagreed with such a comparison. "It's like dragging a rusty saw across your balls," he would say. Angel, and surprisingly, Vaggie, nodded significantly in agreement. Niffty usually kept quiet, though she admitted her boss's laughter gave her chills.

— Ding-ding-ding, bingo! We have a winner: the charming Princess of Hell who has finally realized the obvious. Honestly, dear, I'm surprised you only realized this now!

— Laugh all you want, Alastor. I shouldn't have started talking about it...

She began to rise from the ground, but Alastor easily grabbed her hand, stopping her.

— Wait, I didn't mean to offend you, at least not this time, really, hold on, no need to create drama out of nothing, please, go on.

Charlie looked at him skeptically, sighed in resignation, and lay back down.

— Don't get me wrong, I know my home is here, my family, my friends... but sometimes, just for a moment, I imagine what it would be like if I were born into a regular family, there. We would live on a farm, raise cows, shear sheep, sow wheat, pick apples. Dad would teach me how to ride a horse, and mom how to sew clothes. I would have a little brother or sister, and a dog! In the evenings, we'd all gather together and listen to music, and on Sundays, go to church...

— Church? I doubt your father would be let in, unless you're talking about the church, ha-ha! Si tu vois ce que je veux dire!

The radio listeners obediently laughed, Charlie shot him a warning glance.

— Oh, you should understand me, my dear, I'm a radio demon, notice 'radio' comes first. It's hard for me not to comment on such a wonderful monologue, especially when you speak with such passion.

A treacherous blush spread over her already red cheeks. She averted her gaze, embarrassed.

— Anyway... you get the idea, but it's just dreams, all I can do is help others reform, to leave this place, even if I never will.

Charlie felt uncomfortable; she hadn't even told Vaggie about this, why did she suddenly decide he would understand? When her heartfelt confessions were not met with an explosion of applause or the demon's own laughter, Charlie finally dared to look his way. To her shock, his face was frighteningly serious, though his eternal smile still lingered on his lips.

— I don't often say this, and it means a lot, but you, Charlie, more than anyone else, deserve a chance to get out of here.

The radio static that usually accompanied Alastor's voice quieted to such an extent that she could hear his soft baritone almost without interference.

Charlie still didn't dare look him in the eyes, the darn blush spreading to her neck, but an uncertain smile appeared on her lips.

— Do you really think so?

Alastor propped himself up on his elbows and looked at her with feigned bewilderment:

— Well, of course! After all, the essence of Hell is to punish sinners. First, you need to have at least a chance to wreak some havoc. If you had ended up here on your own, it would be a different story, but as it is, it's just bo-o-oring.

Even though his words touched that string of her heart, her feelings, which she dared not speak of, even to herself, seeing him almost shyly look away, she decided to leave that topic alone.

They simply lay there for a while, listening to the sensual performance of some early 20th-century French song whose name Charlie didn't know. Each was lost in their thoughts until Alastor sprang to his feet as if scalded.

— Well, I can't promise a rainbow... Get up, Your Majesty!

— Alastor, what are you...

He impatiently extended his hand.

— Hurry up, I might change my mind.

"Here goes nothing," Charlie thought, taking Alastor by the glove. In an instant, they were somewhere else.”

Hate it? Love it? Tell me!

[iztarshi]

Hello there, your observations regarding Victor and Jayce are very interesting. Finally somebody, who wishes to analyze these scenes and not just fangirl about it.

There are a few points, I would like to discuss or add...

Have you noticed...that the mask that Ekko as a firelight wears resembles greatly the form Victor assumes`? For me this was pretty interesting, as Ekko as well, (just like Jinx later) became a sign of hope...a hero...but a hero is after all an artificial image, just like Victor´s saviour is an artificial persona Victor created in order to "become better" as a sort of refuge from his own problems.

2. Victor refuses Skye twice, as a child and later as an adult. Skye is presented like the healthy alternative, Victor isn´t interested in.

3. The scene of finding Singed plays also out like the murder of Georgie in Stephen King´s "It". Just like Georgie Victor fell down as a child, lost his ship and an "evil being" found it.

4. Could it not just be, that Victor was just excited to see Jayce, since he needed somebody to share, what he had experienced? This might be the reason, Victor in Salo´s body reacts so positive and nearly gleeful to seeing Jayce...and also...Jayce has never attacked Victor before...in fact he has worried for him many times before...People do not want to believe that a person they love could be hostile.

5. Your words:“Who else could mend such a broken creature” and “I owe Viktor everything” are weird sentiments from someone as entitled as Salo.It seems like at best light mind-control and at worst the hexcore puppeteering Salo’s corpse, but either way Viktor doesn’t seem aware of this."

In my opinion, Victor chose - at the beginning at least - people that wished to be saved. He wanted to help them, to make their lives better by using the influence of the arcane...And honestly...we can see that the people Victor "changed" desired it earnestly.

So yes, being made "whole" again, might change Salo himself for the better. Also Salo became part of "something bigger" This could change people - so it is possible that Salo might have a change of heart. If the outer circumstances change, the inner part might be affected.

However I have to admit, Salo is somebody I cannot warp my head around completely.

6. It also leaves me with a lot of questions about Viktor’s relationship to gratitude. The idea that people would be grateful enough to him to change their entire lives to live a way he approves of, to let him enter their bodies at will, that’s weird.

It isn´t weird. This is a cult made of desperate people, mostly from the undercity. Their lives were hard, desperate, people were dying, and justice was mostly granted to the strongest person.

I mean, heck, we do have people who follow Jinx like she is some kind of godess.

And Victor grants them now safety and care, "wholeness", health...that desperate and anxious people are easy prey for cults is - unfortunately-nothing new. And Victor is their leader, the person they consider their saviour. Of course they don´t see him as a human being with imperfections, but a higher being, something like a god. And aren´t you grateful to a god for taking care of you?

Taking over bodies...of course...Victor was testing their limits, but in cults worse things happened.

Huh. Jayce is not doing a terribly good job of explaining anything but he does try to talk to Viktor. Announcing that hextech is a curse and they have to end it with no explanation is not all that convincing - but, rather than ask Jayce why he thinks that, Viktor concludes that Jayce’s mind has been damaged by the Arcane and then immediately switches back to Salo who tries to leave. At least part of the lack of communication here is on Viktor for being so certain of his own rightness he takes Jayce’s disagreement as a sign of damage rather than trying to hear him out.

Of course, especially, since Jayce had been the one, who had tried to persuade Victor from the advantages of the arcane. And suddenly Jayce declared it a curse...The usual Jayce was quite eloquent at expressing himself...it was one of his strong points, while Victor did not dare to go out in the limelight.

So Jayce barely explaining his thoughts might finally feel weird, after the endorphines had settled down in Victor´s system.

“That isn’t Jayce. There is another will at work within him.” This declaration is made with great confidence and we never receive any evidence that it is true. I think pretty much everything Viktor says from now on requires fact checking, but this one was especially confusing on a first time viewing, because Viktor’s hanging out in the Arcane, he seems to know what he’s talking about, so it’s easy to take him at his word. The simplest answer, however, turns out to be that this is Jayce and Viktor just can’t handle the idea of Jayce killing Salo. Then again, Jayce will spend a lot of act 3 insisting that Viktor isn’t Viktor and I’m not sure either of them actually believe it, so they’re just being weird about being at odds with each other in the exact same way.

I have always interpreted it like this: their different forms hinder both of them to recognize, what actually takes place in the inner world of the other person.

In a sense, they have both betrayed their wishes for non-violence and feel threatened.

But the first statement of Victor is true, isn´t it? He just does not recognize that it was him, who Jayce made a promise with.

Well, the arcane is adapting and changing, reacting to the emotions of the people, that interact with it.

Victor used the arcane in order to "become whole" and lots of emotions must have gone into it, binding him stronger to it.

It is strange, but the "worse" characteristics of both characters separate them, somehow. Jayce suffers from PTSD and great guilt...Victor basically hides even more in the shadows, now in the form of the Herald.

Although Viktor clearly does feel some attachment to his body, shown by wanting to meet Jayce in person, this almost feels like some kind of magic assisted dissociation. The core of Viktor is in this safe place with all sorts of things to explore and Sky as the perfect, non-judgemental partner. The Herald is acting as a public figure while constantly hurting himself to heal others, but part of Viktor can just escape from all that and watch it through a screen.

Very interesting interpretation. Indeed. It does seem like some kind of dissociation.

Huck does not react normally to having a weapon drawn on him. Also, Viktor’s commune really does not seem to have any way to defend itself except asking people nicely to leave their weapons outside.

It does appear like some kind of paradise, right? It might be Victor´s apparently. I wonder, if Victor´s will or feelings are transmitted through the arcane, as he feeds the arcane the most.

Or if he arcane is helping him, since his wish for non-violence draws more people in?

Viktor’s commune is so pretty in a way that is clearly inspired by the wildrune or the Arcane in general and Huck describes it as “the Herald’s vision” so it does seem this is coming entirely from Viktor.

Yes, like this. It might have been his dream or vision.

I think that’s what’s hardest to imagine about season 1 Viktor starting a cult, he’s got too much of a sense of humour not to find that a bit silly and be embarrassed.

It does seem that he does not consider it funny...His humour was a way to deflect as well. Now he has another armour. Strangely, but it seems like this was Victor´s vision, that he took seriously enough...and the arcane exploited it in order to grow.

It’s fascinating that the hexcore seemingly can’t stop Viktor from burning himself out trying to save Vander. Sky tries to talk him out of doing it, and there’s certainly no advantage from the hexcore’s perspective, but Viktor can’t be swayed from doing what he believes is right. He’s still got agency here, it’s just that he’s been convinced to go along with the hexcore so far because it seemed like the right thing to do.

A very good observation. Indeed the cost were most likely more than the win...so the hexcore in the form of Skye was against it.

There’s something so innocent about the version of Viktor in the Arcane, treading through Vander’s brain with the same wonder as a cathedral. If there’s anything that indicates he’s not yet destroying the people he heals, no matter how strangely some of them are acting, it would be this I think. That he finds people’s minds beautiful. And he genuinely does seem to do some good for Vander.

Indeed.

“If you perish, this community is soon to follow.” I wonder if Singed is right that Viktor realises that? When Singed says it it sounds like a threat. Ambessa will destroy the community as soon as Viktor is gone because he’s the only one Singed is interested in preserving. But in retrospect it’s not a threat, doesn’t need to be a threat, everyone will die as soon as Viktor does. And I suspect Viktor doesn’t know that because he’s willing to martyr himself here to save Vander, but I can’t see him being willing to take others down with him.

But were they already gone? Or did they only die after Victor took their "energies"? Maybe it was not just Vander, but also the others? Destroying in effect, what Victor had desired.

The trust Viktor shows in Jayce is astounding. Jayce has been aggressive and unstable on his way through the commune but he still gets led straight to Viktor, and with a weapon in his hands too. Viktor isn’t even in his own body to receive him, meditating with his eyes closed as if Jayce couldn’t possibly be a threat to him.

Not really. It just does show, that Victor didn´t want to see Jayce as an enemy...in every case. At least until he learnt.

Jayce is the only person that knows the "invisible man" Victor better than anybody. Being alone hurts and Jayce has been for a long time Victor´s intermediate between the world and Victor.

So yes, I can understand, why he did not want to see him as an enemy for a long time.

I’m not sure why Viktor’s death affects Vander the way it does. I’ve heard it said Singed injects Vander with something earlier, but to me it looked like Caitlyn stopped him injecting Vander. It might be because Viktor hadn’t finished healing Vander? The ones fully assimilated just keel over, but because Vander’s not fully healed he’s also still alive but wounded.

Ah, yes, Victor is the source of the arcane...or let´s say his main meal...so it does make sense, that his death let the system topple over.

I feel like this revelation isn’t as deep as Viktor thinks it is, but he’s certainly not wrong. (Also I feel that maybe using weird magic you don’t understand on a bunch of people to create a hive mind is a bigger reason for the failure of the commune, but I digress.) It’s important to Arcane’s themes, anyway, since a lot of what works about the characters is that their virtues are the same as their flaws, just in different circumstances.

I would argue, that they are right regarding this aspect. The wish for revenge has annihilated many people and kingdoms. Of course, emotions, love, hate ect drive us. Even Silco and Vander might have been able to reconciliate and they do in another universe. Their feelings could either lead to a positive outcome or destruction. Of course this is right.

And even the arcane is powered by emotions...

However, unfair systems created by people in power do seem to me, as the reason the arcane or shimmer were created.

I would even argue, that this is how science partly works...try and error...Victor tried to create "paradise" with the power of the arcane, an immense power, yet he failed.

Even if not having had this revelation until two thirds of the way through the second season makes me think that Viktor is very naive, it does make sense for his character specifically if I look back through the lens of him not realising this. The assumption that good people will do good things for good reasons and bad people will do bad things for bad reasons goes some way to explaining the complete refusal to make weapons, which are designed to do harm, but lack of concern with possible side-effects from things intended to do good. Also his confusion at some of the things Jayce does, because Jayce is a good person in Viktor’s eyes, so it’s hard to understand when he does bad things.

Of course, he is naive. Victor hardly seem to have related to other people, outside of Jayce...even as a child, we did not see him play with the others, but only by himself.

His sarcastic attitude is a good armour to deflect and heck, not even Heimerdinger seemed to have cared for Victor so greatly, even though he might have known the lad since he was a boy.

Jayce is most likely everything Victor has always desired to be...The one in the limelight, the golden boy, the eloquent upper classman. I do guess, that shame was a big part of his life...shame regarding his origin, shame regarding his body, health...Victor has hardly wanted to face other people.

I guess, that people did show gratitude for him was one of the greatest things he has experienced...His changed body, that he had previously despised became a source of pride, suddenly. And yes, I do believe, he was maybe also naive regarding the arcane...even though he knew that it took lives, he "healed" them...not realizing that the arcane might have consumed during the "healing process".

That’s a really interesting point about Ekko. In a lot of ways he feels like a counterpoint, a character who is doing things right, but of course his image is also artificial. And we’re introduced (re-introduced) to him with a music video style introduction that highlights the artificiality and aesthetics of his persona.

I wouldn’t have said Viktor rejected Sky as a child. Failed to connect with her, certainly. He was shy and tried to direct her attention to his boat instead of talking to her, but it seems clear to me that he wanted to connect.

Ooh. Yeah, that’s a good point. Viktor gets a lot (a lot) of gothic horror tropes and references, it’s interesting to see him get a more modern one too.

Yeah, he’s excited, that’s for sure! And it really might be just that, that his more natural body language isn’t related to the body he finds himself in at all, but simply to Jayce himself. And, yeah, it’s potentially normal enough that he doesn’t realise Jayce is hostile - as I said, Jayce is the same about not wanting to realise Viktor is angry with him after Viktor leaves the hexcore. There’s just a lot going on in terms of “is Viktor or is he not being affected by the hexcore” at every point in season 2 so I’m vacillating a lot and trying to consider both possibilities.

5/6. I still think this is weird. There’s some truth in that, that Viktor is helping only people desperate enough to come looking for an unknown healer, but he’s also not turning people away. There’s none of the pre-selection you’d get in a real cult where only the most vulnerable are chosen. And people leave real cults, or, perhaps especially, nearly get drawn in but ultimately make other choices. We see from Vi and Jinx, who have not been affected by Viktor other than for him to give them help and shelter, that they act more normally about it. They’re still drawn in by the hope Viktor’s commune offers, and they may even have stayed if things had been different, but they evaluate it. For no one Viktor healed to want healing so much they went to him but still decide his commune was unlikely to work? Or to have a passion in a different direction from farming that, in the end, they couldn’t bring themselves to give up?

Salo especially feels chosen by the writers to highlight the unnatural nature of it, simply because he did have other options especially once he was healed. He was feeling the humiliation of being disregarded by the council and dismissed by Ambessa, he was struggling with pain and shimmer addiction, but he still had money. He could have gone home once his legs were healed as that solved half his problems. It is ambiguous, though, deliberately I’m sure. Salo’s shown to us at a low enough point that it’s not totally implausible he could develop this devotion to someone who helped him.

Aww, you stopped using numbers, I was finding those useful :D

“There is another will at work within him,” is true if you take that as “another will he made a promise to” rather than “another will possessing him”, but that is not what Viktor made it sound like.

The Arcane potentially being at work in Jayce as well as in Viktor, reacting to both of their different emotions and pushing them further into them is a very interesting thought. If the hallucinations are the Arcane manifesting Jayce’s trauma and pushing him to act to prevent that future just as Viktor is seeing people’s pain pushing him to go further to heal it.

Your words. “But were they already gone? Or did they only die after Victor took their "energies"? Maybe it was not just Vander, but also the others? Destroying in effect, what Victor had desired.”

That is the question, isn’t it? I’m inclined to think them already gone, and yet I can’t say at all. I think this is one of the most deliberately ambiguous points because it seems to mirror a point of LoL lore where the conflict between Jayce and Viktor (and Viktor’s rejection of emotions) starts with a situation that Viktor and Jayce see very differently. Unfortunately I can no longer find the event in their bios to compare because of the lore being in flux.

Yeah, it’s understandable that Viktor does not want to believe Jayce would hurt him.

Your words “Of course, he is naive. Victor hardly seem to have related to other people, outside of Jayce…even as a child, we did not see him play with the others, but only by himself.”

Yeah, it seems unfair to call someone with as many difficulties as Viktor “sheltered” but it’s the only word that comes to mind, even though it’s not really the one I want. This is very true of him, that he just hasn’t been around people very much, at least not in any way that isn’t very guarded on his part.

That’s a good point about how much it must have meant to him for people to show gratitude. It reminds me of how much it affects Jinx in the prison, to have people touch her almost reverently in thanks for her rescue, and how much that affects her attitude going forwards. It matters a lot to feel like you’ve been able to do something right.

[reunionatdawn]

My Analysis of the Best Paired Endings in 3H (Part 10: Shamir/Catherine)

Shamir: Still, you always remember your first love, right? That's enough of that. There are more relevant topics to discuss. Byleth: What will you do after the war? Shamir: Good question. The world is completely open to me. Your next move seems apparent… But…who knows where I'll end up.

After losing her first love, Shamir chose the life of a mercenary, alone and free to live wherever and however she pleased. But her dream was to find a new partner and a place where she really belonged.

Shamir: I knew it… Shouldn't have let emotion get in the way…

She was afraid of getting attached, as she laments in CF if she's unrecruited and dies defending the monastery.

Shamir: Finally found so many reasons to live…

Her death quote says a lot about her. Shamir's reason to live was those she cared about at the monastery.

Catherine: Making decisions in the spur of the moment, you can't hope to be perfectly fair and just. That's why I choose to fight for Lady Rhea's justice. The justice of the Church of Seiros. Caspar: But what about when Lady Rhea's ideals don't really line up with yours? Then what? Catherine: Not possible. Lady Rhea's ideals are my ideals. There's no conflict between them, because that's what I've decided. Do you see?

As a Knight of Seiros, Catherine had vowed to do anything for Rhea, with the sole exception of dying for her. She devoted her life to the archbishop as a stand-in for the goddess. She couldn't cope with her inner conflict when she had to make the decision about her previous partner, so she decided to hand over her morality to a higher authority.

Shamir: It's not easy to put your life in the hands of someone who doesn't share your beliefs. Catherine: I understand. I think we can both agree on that.

Shamir and Catherine came into conflict over the latter's way of life.

Shamir: Hello, Catherine. I always knew this day would come. Catherine: What a coincidence, so did I. It seems that now we have no choice. We have nothing in common. Not our backgrounds, not our beliefs. Shamir: Not the way we lived…or the way we'll die.

If you recruit Shamir in CF, you can tell that Catherine was the reason she quit the knights. Without her partner, Shamir goes back to being an unfeeling mercenary who will simply go with whatever side pays more, even if she has to execute her old comrades. And without her partner, Catherine goes back to being an unthinking zealot who will follow any order Rhea gives her, even if she has to burn down a city.

Catherine: The last time I saw you, you saved my life—but I never thought you'd force me to repay the debt quite like this. Shamir: You don't owe me anything, Catherine. If you need to hate me, then hate me.

Their relationship is much the same in Hopes. Shamir didn't agree with people from Fódlan and their values. In SB, she only became a mercenary for the Empire because Hubert said he'd spare Catherine's life if she did. After you recruit her, she is hurt because she put her life on the line for Catherine. But she knew Catherine would cut her down in the name of following orders.

Catherine (Solo) When Rhea resigned her position of archbishop and left the Church of Seiros, Catherine followed. She devoted herself wholly to Rhea's protection, and the two lived a life of quiet seclusion. Though Thunderbrand remained always by her side, she came to be known by a different name: the Guardian of Zanado.

If Rhea survives, Catherine's solo ending states that she accompanies her to live a life of quiet seclusion in the Red Canyon. For most of her other partners, she'll actually have two versions of their paired ending, depending on whether Rhea is alive. If she is alive, Catherine seems more devoted to Rhea than her partner. She has to ask permission or be persuaded to wed (Ashe, Lorenz) or she will bring her partner along to live as a hermit in Zanado (Linhardt, Caspar) or both (Seteth).

Catherine: I will be faithful to Lady Rhea until I die. If I had to choose between you and her, I would choose her every time. I assume that disqualifies me from being your partner. Shamir: Between you and Rhea, I'd choose you. But between you and me, I'd choose me. That probably disqualifies me from being your partner too. Catherine: Well, no. I'm quite fond of being alive. I don't intend to sacrifice my life, either. If it came down to you or me, I'd choose… Huh.

Like so many other characters, the ideological difference between Catherine and Shamir can be worked out if they just stick around on the same side long enough. Catherine said she'd always choose Rhea over anyone, but Shamir was the only person she'd actually die for. Catherine wouldn't even die for Rhea. So, she realized that Shamir is the only one she would actually choose over Rhea. Catherine didn't love Rhea, but she did love Shamir.

Shamir: Aren't you forgetting something? After gambling and booze, you're supposed to ask me about women. Though I doubt our tastes are similar. Balthus: Wait, what's that supposed to mean?

Hopes confirmed that Shamir is no stranger to lesbian relationships, she just has different taste than Balthus. Just because not every character can romance same-sex Byleth, doesn't mean that there aren't other same-sex characters they would be into. The writers obviously wanted to plant the seeds of same-sex attraction which would, of course, reflect on how players viewed her relationship with Catherine. So, there was no doubt that this pairing was intended to be taken as romantic.

Shamir: And Catherine… if you really insist, I'll consider a partner's future. Catherine: Partner's future? What do you mean? Shamir: In Dagda, it's more common for people of the same sex to form partnerships. …What's wrong? Your face is all red, partner. Catherine: Well, you come out with something completely unexpected, so… That's enough of that discussion!

In her dining hall dialogue, Shamir says that eating with Catherine makes her feel like she's "home". In most of her other paired endings, she goes back to being a wanderer. Catherine is the only partner she takes back to her homeland of Dagda.

Catherine & Shamir Catherine and Shamir, who left the Seiros Knights, reaffirmed each other as lifelong companions. Embarking on a carefree journey together, they remained inseparable, never straying from their shared path. They traveled across various regions of Fódlan, eventually reaching Shamir's hometown of Dagda across the sea. Along the way, they encountered numerous challenges and sometimes found themselves involved in incidents where they lent a helping hand. However, with Catherine's "Thunderbrand" and Shamir's arrows unleashed, there were no enemies left standing, so the story goes.

Other than Catherine's ending with Alois (where she remains a knight), her ending with Shamir is the only one that is the exact same whether Rhea is alive or not. When paired with Shamir, Catherine will leave the Knights of Seiros to be a "Free Knight" and live according to her own sense of justice. The writers obviously favored this pairing, as it gives them both the most satisfying conclusion to their arcs.

[misrisblog]

"Unveiling the Chatterbox: Understanding 'She Speaks A Lot'"

"Yaar ye kiitna bolti hai?"

I've often heard this question from friends, family, and even strangers who barely know me. But has that ever stopped me from speaking? Nope. You might be thinking it's rude of me to disregard a genuine concern about my talkative nature. However, I see it as a situational comment.

Recently, I was engaged in a serious conversation with someone new on my college campus. We were discussing the typical student existential crises, and, being myself, I became deeply invested in the conversation. I spoke at length, delving into my thoughts and wanting the person to know that I genuinely heard and understood them. Then, a fellow student politely asked me to lower my voice. I understood where they were coming from; I tend to speak quickly and loudly. So, I toned it down to accommodate their request.

There have been other instances as well, like at a family gathering where I shared my thoughts during an adult discussion. I couldn't help but overhear the exasperated voice of a well-meaning relative saying, "How much does she talk?" In such situations, I feel the person is wrong unless I've said something inappropriate or immature.

These two incidents are just a couple of examples of how people have tried to rein in my speech. Let me share with you the power of speech I inherited from my extremely talented father. He was once a radio jockey and later pursued a career in the expressive world of the corporate sector. During my schooling, he encouraged me to express my thoughts freely. However, right before college, he imparted a piece of advice that he had learned the hard way and continues to learn: speak less and choose when to speak wisely.

During my first year of undergrad, I might not have fully heeded this advice, but as I gained more experience, I understood the importance of knowing when and where to speak. Not everyone will share my sense of humor or interpret remarks in the same way I do. My journey of mastering the art of speaking has been ongoing, and I doubt it will ever truly end.

I'm the type of person who, when sad or angry, might go silent for a while. Those close to me become concerned about my lack of speech during those times, while those less familiar with me see it as a respite from my sometimes overwhelming conversations. I'm the kind of person who fills silence or voids with speech. Just as some people eat to fill the void, I speak. I'm awkward, what can I say? I can't sit still, constantly fearing that others might be quietly judging me or getting bored. I often dislike silence, but the newly discovered ambivert in me seeks silence when I'm with people who share that comfortable silence.

As an inner romantic who's currently single, I long for someone who can tolerate my nonsense, random quips, facts, old memories, and discussions ranging from world politics to pop culture moments. I desire someone who can walk with me silently during our late-night strolls. Returning from my dreamland, what I'm trying to convey is that the characters I relate to are often as talkative as me, like Geet from "Jab We Met" or Kitty from "That '70s Show." However, lately, I've started to see myself in observant yet talkative characters like Aisha from "Wake Up Sid" or Phil Dunphy from "Modern Family."

I'm the type of writer whose thoughts are all over the place, but in my defense, my writing serves as a way to channel my talkativeness onto paper (or Instagram captions). I believe I've begun to learn when to speak in class and whom to share my thoughts with. But I still occasionally reveal my crazy side in front of those who make me feel comfortable. This can sometimes land me in trouble, but that's what this journey is all about, right? The process will guide me towards the right balance of enthusiasm and confidence in my speech, knowing when and where to express myself.

Life will continue to teach me how to proceed, but for now, I'm going to keep learning, speaking, making mistakes, and repeating. To conclude, do you think you talk too much or too little?

[carusolikey]

The Blue Hour

a Max Phillips & Bloodsucking Bastards FanFic

I hope you've got your baskets ready, cause here comes Maxter Vampire-Tail with a bundle of Easter Eggs!

Return to Chapter 4 - Part 1

Continue to Chapter 4 - Part 2

Return to Masterlist!

Chapter 4, Part 1 - Let's Put the Squeeze on These Two, Eh?

Obviously, the theme this week is BEYONCÉ! Beauty, class, grace, strength, intelligence, and not afraid to say - even as one of the most stunning and talented people in the world, "Why don't you love me?"

Given the content of this week's chapter, I think it's important to find and focus on our inner, amazing diva, and understand that they need just as much emotional nourishment and encouragement as even the world's greatest musical royalty.

Beneath everything there is a human at the core. Can we say the same about vampires? Good question! I'd love for you also to notice that in this particular gif, seized from the video for, exactly as stated above, "Why Don't You Love Me?" Queen B is dressed head to toe, as a throwback to Bettie Page. Yes, the very same we discussed in our Easter Eggs from last week! What's she trying to convey? Well, what did Bettie inspire? Embracing our sexuality and not cowering when others try to shame us for being ourselves, to start - surely? But then again, delving into that could be an entirely new set of Easter Eggs.

"I went ahead and sent him a gif of Tom Cardy from the Red Flags music video, saying “Cool!” -- I'm not sure that there's really a great way for me to explain Tom Cardy other than just to say that he's hilarious and share the original video I yoinked the gif from, for context's sake. Enjoy singing this when you least expect to have it pop in your head:

"Laughing, I turned the faucet off. “Ask again - that’s a very Magic 8 Ball response..." -- Magic 8 Ball! Ya know? Magic 8 Ball!

“When I say ‘BAT!’ I turn into a bat and I can fly.”-- I'm basing this bit of my personal vampire lore for this story on what's already established in Dracula, but also What We Do in the Shadows. Allow me to elaborate and elucidate with a little instructional video:

“You making lemonade?” “Kind of - I’m making chia seed lemonade.” Max frowned -- Chia seeds really are a fantastic source of Omega-3s, if you're trying to monitor your intake of mercury from fish. They're also high in protein, fiber, and amino acids. AND if you're vegan, you can use them as an egg substitute when baking! Isn't that wild?? Of course, it should be noted that because of their fibrous nature, if you're not soaking them, you should drink plenty of water with them - and consult your doctor as needed for dietary changes.

"The next part I was hesitant to bring up, because it was always something that fucked with my head. Some days I would tell myself it was nothing and other days I would think, but it did happen."-- I've decided to create a separate, special Easter Egg, just for the people who might need a little extra care for the section that followed the above. It's an optional Egg, but it's here for you if and when you decide to click on it - with a few words from myself and some additional resources that may help get you to a better place.

"The style was a mixture of mid century meets craftsman, no greige here. It was colorful, vibrant, retro, eclectic, lived in, and so much more light than I would’ve expected for a vampire."-- Listen, I can't tell you where I got these pictures from exactly, you're just gonna have to trust that this is, in fact, Max's real apartment - a few changes may have been made since... well, we'll get there. I have my sources, what can I say?

"When I was able to go back to school, I re-enrolled as a business major.” -- Ah, Max. A lot of what follows this falls in line with the movie, in terms of his education - some slight changes, but I did my best to keep a nice, clean narrative. And Max clarified some things that were left out of the movie.

"He said it like he was selling sex and reading off a Yogi Tea bag label."-- Is it the best tea? It's not bad. And I enjoy the honey lavender bedtime tea. But they always have some type of inspirational quote on the actual tea bag tag...label - and sometimes quotes from actual authors and poets, like Emily Dickinson. Here's a smattering of samples provided by someone who wrote an angry blog about the tea bag tags...labels? Always such fun - enjoy!

“My abuela was a huge fan of Enrique Granados, and I used to play his Spanish Playera, Op. 5, No. 5 for her every time she asked.”-- So, both the Granados and the Debussy are pieces that I've performed. My personal attachment to them is deeply based on the music theory, technical proficiency, and musical interpretation of each piece. In other words, I have very specifically selected Rico Saccani and Lang Lang as the artists, after reviewing several different performances. My hope is that what I love so much about these pieces translates and is thoroughly enjoyed by whomever is reading this story, these jumble of words floating in the ether of the net. Moving on to Granados - the tragedy of this composer's life being cut short because he missed his first boat? It hurts, he was so young, and so talented. (And it may not feel that way to you sneaky buggers who ignored my 18+ warnings, but 48 is young.) Honestly, wikipedia wins for best summary of information about Enrique Granados:

I also mention that this piano piece sounds like a guitar, and that is Granados' intent - to make the piano sound like another instrument. It's kind of a cool idea! This was also the beginning of a period of time when composers started experimenting a lot more with sound, chords, tonality, polyrhythms, and so much more. Less than 10 years later, Henry Cowell had his New Music Society of peers enmeshed in avant-garde styles. Cowell even wrote a piece called The Banshee for piano, where it's primarily played on the strings of the piano and is pretty scary, honestly. Google it, I dare you. However, I digress - and I refuse to slide further down this shoot and ladder. Here is an excellent example of Granados' Spanish Playera Op. 5, No. 5 transcribed for guitar, performed in 1929 (not sure if this was recorded before or after the stock market crash), 13 years after Granados and his wife tragically perished.

“This piece is by Debussy, it’s called Rêverie..."-- Debussy was such a character. When he was studying music at the Villa Medici, French Academy in Rome, "the Academy chided him for writing music that was "bizarre, incomprehensible and unperformable'." That's what you get called when you choose your own path and go your own way, c'est la vie! This wikipedia article reads like a Telenovela, and it's a wonder that a movie or even a series about Debussy hasn't been made yet. The man was cocksure and full of himself, charming, yet made enemies simply because he couldn't be bothered with focusing on loving anything more than he loved music.

CW: Self-harm threats / attempts mentioned under the "1894–1902: Pelléas et Mélisande" section, third paragraph, and "1903–1918" section, first paragraph.

“I could’ve grown up to be what I wanted to be in the seventh grade.” His eyes widened, and so did his grin, “A hype man for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.”- Did you say you don't remember The Mighty Mighty Bosstones? Did you say you wanted me to post a video of them? Okay! You asked for it! (Get a load of that hype man, tho - stealing every scene.)

"He danced. It was dancing. Definitely of the 80’s and 90’s, some hype-man in there, a little bit of Jack Black." -- Alright, who's dancing? We got Peña, Peña, Peña, Peña! Then Jack Black - I'll get back to this. Followed by Pedro doing an underwear + sock ad, which, ya know, who's gonna argue with that? And of course, a big finale of Jason Sudeikis hype-manning during the "What's Up With That?" SNL Skit with Kenan Thompson. Classic! Back to Jack Black! This is from the movie version of a fantastic book by Nick Hornby, called High Fidelity. The movie version is peak late 90's, and stars John Cusack as the main character, a guy who owns a record shop, going through a break-up. He spends his time working at the shop, and reviewing his love life leading up to this massive break-up, all the way from his grade school years, and living life through the lens of a ~mix-tape~. Does that seem familiar at all to you? :D

“I was super bored in my math class, so I started drawing Kermit the Frog, and my friends had me draw him doing different things, being different celebrities - Tommy Boy, Pamela Anderson, Jerry Garcia."-- If you don't get these references, they're not that important, you just had to have been there - but I bet you know Kermit. I'm definitely posting a Chris Farley gif, though. <3

"He burst out laughing, immediately covering his mouth, “No, no. It’s not that – okay, it’s not Ryan Gosling."-- Do you remember, "Hey, Girl"? I know I do.

"....I don’t care for Papyrus, though.”-- Boom. Another Ryan Gosling reference! (TikTok for our international friends because SNL is judgy?)

“What about Wingdings?” Max asked, focusing his eyes on me." -- Oh, honey. I hope you know your Wingdings.

Wikipedia says don't you fucking dare confuse these for "Webdings". IT'S NOT THE SAME.

And those are all of the Easter Eggs for Part 1 of Chapter 4!

Return to the Masterlist Here or, while you're waiting for chapter 4, be sure to check out my other fanfics: • Javi G. from The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Paddington 3: Lost in Mallorca. • A cheeky little one-off about Young Joel from The Last of Us in High Heat, Heavy Load.

Return to Chapter 4, Part 1

Continue on to Chapter 4, Part 2

[13witchbook]

Sometimes a random opinion hits you so hard, you just wanna burrito yourself in a blanket and relocate to your inner cocoon. Forever. No Wi-Fi. Just peace and snacks.

But, sadly (or maybe thankfully?), the world doesn’t pause. It keeps buzzing, breathing, and throwing new plot twists your way.

Anyway, welcome to Part 3 of my adventures in the book club — aka “how to survive being around people and pretend to be a social creature.”

The grand finale.

So, there’s a host — a super sweet girl with major soft blogger energy. She runs a TikTok account, btw. (I only found out after the meeting. Classic me: always “in the loop,” just one social media platform late.)

She asked some basic warm-up questions like:

— Sooo, did you read it?

— Anyone planning to read the second book?

(And I’m over here like: “Can we also ask who had coffee before this and who’s running on emotional broth?”)

It all sounded kinda standard, but — surprise — it worked. Tension? Gone. Smiles? Blooming. People started laughing, yelling out theories, throwing in opinions like we were all cast in the same chaotic TV show with no script (and unfortunately, no makeup team).

Then things got wild.

The girls started throwing out theories like hot potatoes, arguing over scenes, debating what actually happened vs. what they felt happened.

And then came the question that burned into my memory:

“What was the most disgusting moment in the book?”

You’d think we’d just share and move on. Nope.

Three specific scenes got brought up — real “I-need-holy-water” moments — and suddenly we were all knee-deep in gross-out central.

I was like: “You guys just said these scenes were nasty… and now you’re dissecting them like a gourmet stew?”

My eyes were desperately looking for an escape route. The scenes? Horrifying. The crowd? Hyped. Me? Emotionally scarred.

Somewhere in the chaos, we started talking about the main character’s older brother.

Let’s just say… his line of work wouldn’t make it on LinkedIn.

There’s a bit in the book where the characters fail to catch this one very sketchy criminal — I’m keeping it vague because, honestly, naming things properly feels way scarier than reading about them.

Anyway, this criminal had a distinct style.

And then, one of the girls drops this:

— “Hey, remember how the older brother makes leather accessories?” 👀

And suddenly, it all clicked.

What if… those “accessories” weren’t just fashion-forward but… nightmare-fueled?

And I’m just sitting there like:

OH. MY. GOD.

If this theory’s true, I will never look at a leather wallet the same way again.

And honestly? It made sense.

We haven’t read Book 2 yet, so for now, this theory lives rent-free in my head — weird, dark, but also kinda genius.

Then came some fun stuff — mini competitions, quizzes, interactive questions.

We did one of those personality tests like “Which character are you?”

Of course, I chose something super niche and ended up being the only one with that result.

Everyone turned to look at me like: 👁️👄👁️

And I just smiled like a mysterious forest witch and whispered, “Yes… I’m the author of the universe.”

(Okay, no, but I do write little stories. So I kinda owned it.)

Then we had a giveaway — and I won a book!

So if this was a sneaky way to buy my loyalty, it totally worked.

Yes, I’m a material girl. Yes, I can be bribed with fiction. No regrets.

The event was supposed to last 3 hours, but we wrapped up in 2.

Actually less — because we still had time to film a TikTok and take a group pic.

Realistically? We smashed that book discussion in 90 minutes: top moments, wildest plot twists, unhinged theories — all covered.

Then we hugged it out, said our goodbyes…

And I stood waiting for my ride home — one book richer, several theories deeper, and just a little more of a functioning human than I was that morning.

[theblindmachine]

Listen: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6c34cvLJ8RdlHgEEBQYukU "# The Future's So Bright, I Need Shades: Navigating Uncertainty in a Rapidly Changing World Is the world really going to hell in a handbasket? Or is it just the news pumping our collective anxiety to dizzying heights? One thing's for sure: as we stand on the precipice of technological and societal transformation, we have more questions than solid answers. And let’s be honest—these are pretty big questions. Will robots take my job? Will AI replace me? Are artificial wombs the new baby carriage? To tackle these questions, I sat down with Cleo Abram, the brilliant mind behind the YouTube channel “Huge If True.” Cleo dives deep into the fascinating world of future possibilities, peeling back the layers on topics that sound like they belong in a sci-fi flick but are becoming increasingly relevant. In our conversation, we explored the alarming drop in fertility rates, especially among millennials and Gen Z, who sometimes cite existential threats—like climate change—as major reasons for putting off parenthood. It's a complicated stew. We’re living in a time when more young adults are opting not to have children, largely due to a cocktail of uncertainty and fear about the future. Who can blame them? With headlines screaming about melting ice caps and endless political turmoil, it’s hard to imagine bringing a child into a world that feels so precarious. Cleo and I shared some thoughts on how society might navigate this unsettling landscape. Are artificial wombs the next breakthrough? Could they provide an answer for those who wish to parent while wresting back some control over the well-being of their potential child? But it’s not all doom and gloom—Cleo brings a dose of hopeful curiosity. She channels her unique energy into conversations about quantum computers and, yes, even aliens! Yes, you read that right. The future may hold more surprises than we can comprehend. As we peel back the layers of tech evolution, it's about time we ask: How will these innovations affect our workforce? Are robots destined to be our bosses? Before long, we may find ourselves in a world where machine learning goes beyond simple tasks and genuinely reshapes our roles in the workplace. Let’s be real: adapting to this wild future isn't just about survival—it's about embracing the unknown and making conscious choices. Instead of succumbing to fear, we can lean into curiosity and exploration. As Cleo articulately points out, in a world where uncertainty reigns, perhaps the best approach is to channel our inner sci-fi writer and dare to imagine a world that uplifts us, not tears us down. So, what do you think? Is the world terrible, or are we just seeing a reflection of our anxieties through the media? Are you ready for the future? Bring your questions—and I want them all! Send me your dumb questions at nayeemaraza101@gmail.com. Don’t forget to connect with us on social media for more insightful discussions! Follow us on IG, TikTok, and YouTube @smartgirldumbquestions. You can also find Cleo on Instagram, and make sure to subscribe to her channel, Huge If True, for a front-row seat to the wild discussions about our future. A huge shoutout to Duckbill, our brand partners! Dive in and enjoy 50% off your first two months by clicking this link or heading over to www.duckbill.com and entering the code DUMBQUESTIONS. Together, let’s unravel these mysteries and forge a future that’s truly ours—one question at a time."

[lillynaema]

“Just start with the right hand. Right here.” I could feel the warmth of his chest touching my back, while he leaned over to guide my hands to the drums. His beard stroking my cheek, his voice calm and confident. Encouraging me to overcome my fear of not being perfect at the first attempt. And it worked.

I wanted to push myself to learn more. “That’s all for today”. He stood up and grabbed my waist. Pulling me closer, looking me in te eyes, while planting a gentle kiss on my lips. It was a relief to be left with an imprint of succes. I realized my inner masculine would never allow me to stop at a point where I could simply enjoy trying a new skill and feeling good.

Sitting on his lap, he asked what my insecurity was about. I spoke about the fear of being laughed at. Of being heard and having a day where I was feeling lost. He held me, without saving me. Witnessing. “Does me sharing vulnerability, make you think that I am creating too much drama? Because that is what my own mind makes me think” I asked. It took a moment of silence, before I felt his index finger under my chin. Gently lifting my head, until our noses touched and our eyes met. “Not at all. You sharing this, only makes me feel closer to you.”

He didn’t need words to guide me, as we walked down the stairs. We didn’t touch, but I could clearly feel the connection. His energy was holding me. Taking care, making me feel safe.

The chemistry was playful, intense. I could feel we would be lost in time again. My body immediately responded to his hands. “Quick rinse?” He suggested. I just took a shower, but I loved the idea of our bodies sharing a water ritual. He undressed me. I playfully grabbed his hand, pulling him against the naked skin of my back, hands on the washing basin, slightly bending over and arching my back until I felt his erection touching between my legs. I took control, as he kissed my neck, breathing heavily. I loved how he let me lead and seduce him.

He growled, and suddenly turned me around. Before I could realize, I found myself on top of the marble sink. His face buried between my legs. His voice dark, as he said “What a waste it would be, to rinse you off.’

The difference, realizing it was only a few days before, when we sat down and spoke about feelings of shame in receiving pleasure. He had no taboos. He owned his power and sensitivity to suggest without pressure. And now I trusted him so much, that all I could do was receive this pleasure. He got me to my edge. I asked him to stop, so he did. Without any discussion. He turned on the shower, without losing connection. Giving me the time to process. His question why I told him to stop, was rather an inquiry, why I wasn’t allowing myself to receive it all, than a true question.

He led me to the bedroom, then walked back to grab something. As he put it on the nightstand, we continued our journey. Intense, hour after hour, without peaks or penetration. Exchanging and sharing touch, exploring our senses. Switching between leading and receiving. Laughing about the challenge to give and receive pleasure in the same time.

Then, a soft moment of landing in each others arms. I felt him deeply. I gazed in his eyes. “What are you thinking?” For a second he closed his eyes. “It is so strange to experience feeling so many things in the same time. I feel this intense connection with you: very close ,caring, I want to touch you in the softest way. And I also want to hurt you really bad and rip you apart. I want you so - SO bad”.

He kissed me. Then flipped me on my back. Grabbing something from the nightstand. A blindfold. A few days before, in a conversation about pleasure, I told him that taking away my senses and control could help me surrender more. He grabbed my wrists, and I felt something sliding over my breasts. Apparently, my sensitivity increased drastically. The ribbon teasing my skin, not knowing what would happen next. He chose not to restrain. My body was shivering. While he worshipped me with full presence and again, I could do nothing but surrender and receive this pleasure.

In all of these timeless days of intimacy, he still chose ejaculation retention. His control was beyond words. Not only in my presence, but he didn’t relief himself from physical discomfort either. “If I choose to, I want this intense moment to be close, connected, inside of you. The way our connection feels, it wouldn’t feel right to simply waste this moment.”

We made love. We fucked hard. As sweat covered our bodies, he placed his body in the most dominating position. As he pushed my head down in the mattress, I looked up. His eyes were dark, his movements rough, yet I could feel he was still taking care of me. “From now on, you are in control.” He said. “You decide when I come. It could be 5 minutes, it could be two hours, it could be never...”

This man who physically dominated me, just put me in my ultimate feminine power. I felt how my mental dominance raised beyond physical form. I felt the power to create and destroy, the kind that leaves men begging on their knees. Him being the living proof of the metaphor. I played his energy. I took him to physical and mental edges, teasing without torturing. I knew exactly what I was doing and so did he.

“Turn around”. I demanded. He obeyed, placing his body on top of mine. I covered his throat with the palm of my hand. Without a trace of aggression. Slowly sliding it towards his jaw, building up the pressure. “I want to see you. Look me in the eyes and stay present with me”. I said, while I switched my firm grip for confident softness. Energetically leaving no room for him to even consider anything else then do as I told.

His body shocked, released, I felt his energy shifting. He felt confused, exhausted from the intensity. I could tell his masculine side wanted to create safety for me. I stepped into mine instead. I guided his body into relaxation. His head resting on my chest. One hand supporting his neck, the other embracing his back. He was emotionally overwhelmed. I could feel the blend of confusion, intensity, happiness and sadness. I listened to his sharing, then led him into silence without using words. It felt empowering to feel him leaning in. As I softly stroked his hair. One more whisper filled the room: “I am floating”.

[tiny-katara]

I can totally buy that Zuko could fall in love with Katara. She’s amazing. But why would Katara fall in love with Zuko? She may have forgiven him and become friends with him, but it’s one thing to become friends with a former enemy and another love them. Zuko really hurt her in many ways. Please don’t think I’m trying to be rude, I’m just genuinely curious. I want to understand the way Zutara shippers think. I have to because the ship is so popular.

no you're totally fine anon! your question is perfectly respectful and i have no issue answering. in fact, it would be a pleasure :)

now i can only give you my perspective on why i believe katara could/would fall for zuko and a lot of it is heavily based on my own experience as i do relate to katara in more ways than i'd like to admit lol. anyways... let's begin (this will definitely be extrememly long).

zuko definitely did a lot to hurt katara, but she forgives him in the show and they are ride or die besties immediately afterwards. katara strikes me as someone who forgives wholly and completely upon seeing a genuine effort to be better and zuko showed that to her. i really don't think if she hadn't completely let the past go they would've been able to joke around like they do in ember island players, so i don't really see that in particular barring their potential relationship. might just be me tho lol.

the thing about katara is that she is very good at taking on others' burdens but very poor at asking for help with hers and i think this has a lot to do with the death of her mother.ccanonically, katara immediately fills the void her mother left behind. mothers generally take on the burdens of their children and expect nothing in return--as it should be! children are not responsible for dealing with an adult's problem. all this really goes to say that katara is a character that struggles to receive help because she's been channeling what she saw her mom do and it pretty much outright says in the runaway that katara is the motherly figure of the group and that responsibilty is heavy weight to bear, but one she does anyway. she takes care of everyone, but she really struggles to allow herself to share her inner turmoil with everyone as a result. like we do see her talk about how she lost her mother a fair amount with people, but very rarely do we see her discuss the specific impact it had on her with them. it's almost always used as her method of empathizing with people who have suffered as a result of the war, not as a means to gain closure.

katara does tell one character the full story of what happened to her mother and the character she chooses to share that with is zuko–which is absolutely crazy if i'm being honest! it says a lot that katara is able to speak her mind more freely to someone who has deeply hurt her than her friends/family--and not necessarily bad things. again, it just shows that katara feels like they need her to be the tough one, or the caregiver, but she never does that to zuko. he's one of the few characters katara can freely express herself to and that's not just me making assumptions, that's canonical. it's insane when you're watching through the show and looking for katara's most vulnerable and honest moments and noticing that a lot of them occur around zuko. it's pretty clear that katara feels some kind of connection with zuko from like the first moment they have an actual conversation. like our girl just pulled that spirit water we'd all forgotten about and deemed fixing zuko's esteem issues worthy of it.

if you step back and think about it though, zuko and katara are some of the most similar characters in the show. both of them are very passionate people who fight for what they think is right. both deeply understand the meaning of a sacrifice since their mothers both gave up their lives for theirs (ursa obviously isn't dead but from zuko's reaction in the show he clearly thinks she is and she did still sacrifice her current life/lifestyle). both are pretty emotional and reactive if they're pushed to it. both are deeply empathetic, which often drives their sense of justice. it makes sense that katara would feel more comfortable opening up to him because zuko just gets it.

now this isn't about kata/ag and i don't want this to turn into anything like that, but this is the reason a lot of us zutara folk don't like kata/ag. no offense to aang, but our boy is 12. he is not going to be good at emotions and deep-rooted trauma no matter how wise and knowledgeable he may be lol. He just doesn't notice this struggle of katara's, and this isn't exclusive to aang. none of the members of team avatar are ever truly able to see this in katara and actively try to help her. that is until zuko.

the southern raiders is an episode that is wildly controversial across the fandom. there is no denying that lol. my interpretation will no doubt be different from yours, especially since it seems like you ship kata/ang (? this is not meant offensively love whatever you what anon!). in this episode we katara finally snap. she isn't being kind and caring, she's being selfish and angry--which let's be real, she deserves. like i said, none of the members of the team ever really notice that she's bearing the brunt of the weight in the group and our girl is doing a lot. it's really just a culmination of her family separating again, the burden of playing mother, the long journey (you can't tell me she's not completely exhausted), and the hurt zuko caused. everything builds up and katara does say some things that she definitely should not have, but it's mostly because of how blunt and hurtful they are.

a bit of a side note, but katara's comment to sokka is something that has always bugged me. i hate that we didn't get a scene between the two in which they reconcile and actually talk about what she said, because basically what she said boils down to "even though we shared the same mom and experience, the trauma we went through as a result is not the same." that statement is 100% accurate. sokka is very clearly not carrying around the same baggage katara is. it's pretty clear that katara feels responsible on some level for her mother's death as she is the last waterbender and that's why the fire nation was there in the first place. it's obviously not her fault, but we don't always process these things in the most logical ways now do we?

anyway, katara is hurting very badly in this episode and we see her lash out at zuko specifically, which is completely understandable. he’s from the nation that killed her after all and then on top of that royalty lol. it's the perfect storm really. i think it's important to note that although katara doesn't exactly state what's wrong apart from mentioning the betrayal in ba sing se, zuko is able to see how much she's actually hurting and tries to fix it as best he can. we also see zuko defending katara's decisions throughout the episode. he has her back 100% and he never expresses any sense of disappointment in her. zuko trusts katara's judgment and choices, something we don't see aang or sokka do in that episode. a partner should be able to let you make your own choices and have your back. zuko's giving katara that chance and he isn't telling her what to do or expressing disappointment in her actions.

this is probably based more on my own preferences, but i really don't think it's unrealistic for a teenage girl to fall for someone who is older and cares for her. i mean the guy jumped in front of lightning for her??? like idk but it would definitely make my heart skip a beat especially if he's also someone you get along with quite well. the two are ride or die besties in the span of like an episode. AND katara actually is amused by him on some level as seen in ember island players when they have their little moments of banter. all of the boys katara shows interest in before the finale/that aren't aang are older too. jet is older and if you count haru he is too (it's up to you there, i personally don't really know how to feel about it). that's also without mentioning how strikingly similar zuko and jet look. it is absolutely wild how closely they resemble each other, so it really doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility to say that zuko would fit katara's aesthetic if you will lol.

something else that is fairly unique to zuko is that he always treats katara as his equal. katara and zuko are always battling on the same level and he never acts like she can't handle herself. in my opinion, zuko is the one who shows the most respect for katara's bending abilities. zuko asks her to come fight azula with him because of that. like he definitely acknowledges that toph is also insanely powerful, but katara is someone who worked hard for what she is, and that's something zuko had to do himself. he knows exactly how hard it is to work for what she has and i think that understanding of her innate talent and work ethic are both reasons she would zuko to be an appealing partner, especially since katara has always had to demand that respect from other people. zuko respects it without her saying a word and i think it's safe to say that pretty much everyone wants a partner who acknowledges their talents and abilities without being specifically asked. i think this also ties in with part of her affections for jet because he also showed interested and respect for her bending. i mean he also did abuse her bending but still! katara would not put up with someone who didn’t show her respect.

zuko is just a more appealing partner than anyone else to me. he grows up a lot and has a strong sense of responsibility, is empathetic, passionate and ambitious, kinda dorky and awkward, and all around trying to be the best person he can be. those are pretty attractive qualities in a partner, so it just makes sense to me for katara to feel similarly, especially since i very much identity with her character lol.

so that was absurdly long, but i hope that helped your understanding of zutara! it's a ship that very strongly values strong individuals that are similar and different and respect each other as equals. my explanation is a bit messy and all over the place, but i really hope you did find it insightful! if you want a better and more in-depth view of the ship, i would recommend this video by snzeey reviews (its a long one but it is extremely thorough). she's able to explain it very politely and with much less bias than me. she even talks about how aang in a very respectful way, which I will admit to failing at lol. book 3 aang drives me up the wall! 

anyways thanks for your ask :) i am so sorry it took me so long to answer but i have literally thought about it all the time since receiving it lol. it was a lot of fun <3