#courage and vulnerability

[valtoybob]

“Courage is not the absence of fear. It’s choosing to move forward—while fear rides quietly in the passenger seat.” Fear is one of the most powerful and misunderstood emotions we face as human beings.

[magicshop]

"To love and be loved is to rest."

[heartssarrow]

- Brené Brown - daring greatly

[sachaabadeer11]

I want a love without any doubt. I wanna be able to say, I love this person without ever thinking I might be looking stupid for saying that. I wanna look into your eyes and see the multiple universes where you and I always align. I wanna love myself through you. I want the relationship to be so pure, so fun, so youthful, but at the same time so mature. Every time I hold your hand I wanna feel like I’m being electrocuted. And every time we kiss I wanna feel like we’re the reason why this world stops revolving. I wanna spend hours in bed just talking and laughing, never sleeping, and then just deciding, “hey let’s go chase the sunrise real quick.” I wanna make love to you mentally, I wanna caress you with my poetry. I want love to feel like the first time again. And when we’re apart I wanna miss you missing me missing you. I want the butterflies in my stomach to evolve into moths. I want real. I want our connection to transcend the physical and dive into the depths of our souls. I want our love to be a masterpiece painted with the strokes of our passion and understanding. I want our love to be an eternal flame, illuminating the darkest corners of our lives.

[cherry-treelane]

There's something so poetic about how El is the centre of all the chaos, wanted by the government and military and Mike is her strong calm that doesn't hesitate to get sucked into her storm and stand by her side in the face of any conflict. Like guys. This little boy did not hesitate to protect her and stand off in the face of the government to defend her, going against all the typical patriotic rule-following norms of an American Suburbanite Middle class nuclear family. He comes from pure safe normalcy but doesn't hesitate to run in the other direction heading towards chaos and danger if it means she's there... because he feels safest with her and is driven by the instinct to protect her. 😭🩷 There's something so beautiful and inspiring about someone as hurt and troubled and chaotic as El being loved in such a simple, unconditional way. Mike doesn't see her for the chaos she represents which surrounds her, he sees her for the innocent goodness that she actually is— her calm, gentle demeanour and the warmth it makes him feel. He understands that all the danger that comes with being with her is through no fault of her own, and actively works to help combat all the forces against her. He knows that despite being the centre of the chaos she's not the cause of it, she's the remedy for the effect of it and that is an undeserved, exhausting punishment yet a burden she bears regardless without complaint— a sign of her innate goodness which Mike recognises and loves her for all the more. Even moreso, he works to share that burden with her and criticise it because he sees how innocent and undeserving she is of the responsibility infringed upon her. His willingness to take all of this on is so wholesome and exactly the kind of sweet effort-full love that a character like El deserves, which is so gratifying for the audience to see.

[captainkirkk]

I'm now on season 2 of my Natsume Yujinchou rewatch, and I love seeing the marked difference in the way Natsume is treated.

In season 1, we get a very withdrawn, very fake Natsume - quiet, smiling pleasantly but clearly looking right through people, apologising for taking up space. People like him right away but don't know how to breach that distance. But towards the end of season 1/ into season 2, we see people understanding Natsume more and more and deciding to close that distance by reaching out to him with affection. We see them teaching Natsume how to be loved.

We also get more people recognising and seeing straight through Natsume's bullshit, ESPECIALLY Nyanko-sensei.

Natsume: "My temperature is a little over 37 degrees."

Nyanko-sensei: "You should rest then."

Natsume: "I took some medicine. I should be fine if I don't do much. I don't want to worry Touko-san."

Nyanko-sensei: "Geez, how long will it take you to realise?"

Natsume, entirely oblivious to just how much he's loved and wanted: "...Realise what?"

[aventurineswife]

❤ The Language of Flowers | 012

❤ | Your options shall be: Sunday, Aventurine, Dan Heng, Veritas Ratio, Boothill, Jing Yuan, Blade, Phaimon, Mydei or Moze. Whoever you think suits this prompt.

❤ | Flower & it's definition: Borage flowers | symbolize courage, joy, and resilience. They can also represent emotional fortitude, hardiness, and solidarity.

The Language of Flowers

Tags: Dan Heng x Reader, Ratio x Reader, Phainon x Reader, Hurt/Comfort, Post-Battle Reflection, Emotional Vulnerability, Symbolism, Quiet Moments of Connection, Supportive Reader, Subtle Romance, Themes of Courage and Resilience.

Warnings: Mentions of Past Trauma (emotional and/or physical), Light Descriptions of Battle Aftermath, Themes of Guilt and Regret, Emotional Introspection, Heavy Emotional Themes.

The soft hum of the Astral Express filled the room as you carefully arranged a bouquet of flowers in a small glass vase. The borage blossoms stood out, their vibrant blue petals a stark contrast to the muted tones of the room. They were beautiful yet unassuming, much like the man standing silently in the doorway.

Dan Heng’s gaze was calm but inquisitive as he leaned against the doorframe, his spear resting by his side. He rarely ventured into the common areas when he wasn’t on duty, yet something about the quiet serenity of your actions seemed to draw him in.

“You’ve been busy,” he said, his voice low and even.

You looked up, startled but pleased by his presence. “I thought the place could use a little color. It’s a bit… stark in here.”

Dan Heng stepped closer, his eyes briefly scanning the flowers before settling on you. “Borage,” he said, his tone softening. “It’s an unusual choice.”

You smiled, brushing a stray petal with your fingertip. “Do you know what it symbolizes?”

He hesitated, his gaze shifting to the flowers. “Courage. Resilience,” he answered quietly. “Qualities I’m not sure I possess.”

You frowned, setting the vase down. “That’s not true. You’ve faced things most people couldn’t even imagine, Dan Heng. You protect the crew, you carry the weight of your past, and you keep moving forward. If that’s not courage, I don’t know what is.”

Dan Heng’s expression softened, but the shadow of doubt lingered in his eyes. “It doesn’t feel that way,” he admitted. “Sometimes, it feels like I’m just running. Not brave—just... avoiding.”

You reached out, placing a hand gently on his arm. “It’s not about never being afraid. It’s about facing that fear and still standing your ground. And you’ve done that more times than you give yourself credit for.”

He looked at you, his eyes searching yours for a moment before glancing back at the flowers. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Maybe you’re right,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Picking one of the blossoms from the vase, you held it out to him. “Then take this as a reminder. For every time you feel like you’re just running, remember that you’re stronger than you think.”

Dan Heng accepted the flower, his fingers brushing yours as he took it. For a moment, the air between you felt warmer, charged with unspoken understanding.

“Thank you,” he said simply, tucking the borage into the folds of his clothing.

And as he left the room, the faintest smile lingered on his face—a sign that perhaps, just perhaps, he was beginning to believe in the resilience you saw in him.

The library of the Intelligentsia Guild was quiet, save for the rhythmic scratching of Ratio’s pen against parchment. His hair fell in waves over his sharp features, his piercing eyes fixed on the complex equations sprawled across the pages before him. You stood nearby, clutching a small bouquet of borage flowers, hesitant to disturb him.

When you finally mustered the courage to approach, he glanced up, his gaze sharp but curious. “You’re here,” he said, his voice carrying that distinctive air of confidence. “What brings you to my sanctum?”

You smiled, stepping closer and holding out the flowers. “I brought you something. Borage. It reminded me of you.”

Ratio arched a brow, leaning back in his chair. “Courage, resilience, and emotional fortitude,” he said, his voice taking on a slightly amused tone. “A flattering comparison, but I wonder—what prompted it?”

You set the bouquet on the desk beside him, brushing aside a stray parchment. “You spend so much time helping others, spreading knowledge and pushing boundaries. That takes a kind of courage most people overlook. I thought you should have something to remind you of that.”

For a moment, Ratio was silent, his sharp gaze fixed on the flowers. Then, to your surprise, he smiled—a rare, genuine expression that softened his usual intensity. “It seems I underestimated you,” he said, his tone lighter. “You have a keen understanding of what matters, even when others might overlook it.”

You felt a flush of pride at his words. “I just think people should know when they’re making a difference. And you are.”

He picked up the bouquet, his fingers brushing against the petals with surprising care. “It’s easy to become lost in the pursuit of knowledge, to forget the significance of resilience and joy. Your gesture is… appreciated.”

You couldn’t help but grin. “Even the smartest minds need a reminder sometimes.”

Ratio chuckled, the sound low and rich. “Indeed. And perhaps I’ve been too focused on intellect, forgetting the courage it takes to face the unknown.”

As he set the flowers beside his open books, you knew that, in his own way, he’d taken your gesture to heart. And for the first time, the quiet brilliance of the library felt a little warmer, filled with an unspoken bond that needed no further explanation.

The battlefield was quiet now, the storm of combat having given way to the stillness of victory. Phainon stood at the edge of the cliffs overlooking the sea, his hair glinting in the fading sunlight. You approached cautiously, the borage flowers clutched in your hand, their vibrant blue petals swaying in the breeze.

He turned as you neared, his eyes softening when they met yours. “You found me,” he said with a gentle smile. “Even after a battle, you’re always here.”

You stepped closer, holding out the flowers. “Borage,” you said simply. “For courage and resilience. I thought they suited you.”

Phainon accepted the bouquet with a quiet laugh, his fingers brushing against yours. “Courage, joy, resilience… fitting words, though I’m not sure I deserve them.”

You frowned, tilting your head. “You led us to victory today, Phainon. You’ve done more than anyone could ask for. If that’s not courage, I don’t know what is.”

He looked at the flowers, his expression thoughtful. “It’s not the battles that test me,” he admitted. “It’s the moments after. The weight of what we’ve lost, what we’ve sacrificed—it stays with me.”

You reached out, placing a hand on his arm. “That’s why you need reminders like this. To show that even in loss, there’s still strength. And you’re never alone in carrying that weight.”

Phainon’s gaze softened, and for a moment, the heaviness in his expression lifted. “You always know what to say,” he said quietly. “Thank you—for the flowers, and for being here.”

You smiled. “Always.”

As he held the borage close, the setting sun cast a golden glow over the two of you, a quiet reminder that even in the face of hardship, there was still beauty and hope to be found.

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[carpethedamndiemdejavu]

[thatswhatsushesaid]

ftr my thoughts on jin guangyao portraying himself as being small and weak and harmless and vulnerable are essentially that it isn't an act, because an act in this context implies a duplicity and/or disingenuousness that i don't think is present. but i do think it is a performance--it's just a performance that he has to play given the power disparity between himself and the rest of the cultivation world, at least until he becomes chief cultivator. in short, jin guangyao is performing the role of the non-threatening, subservient retainer that is expected of him to ensure his own survival in a world where he knows that the only person he can rely on to put his needs first is himself.

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this post has been added to my dreamwidth meta archive here: https://thatswhatsushewrote.dreamwidth.org/10385.html

[sodaneko]

how does one casually share their selfship comm on tumblr dot com. it sits in my draft but i feel like i'm showing hole send help

[dykehot]

Helly R. is a truly unique female character because she is written to be so courageous and vulnerable and exposed and self assured and BRAVE and Britt Lower is so keyed into that aspect of her and it makes me just CRAZY !!!

[kamala-laxman]

Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable, but they're never weakness. Brene Brown

[andromeda3116]

planning to make a move tonight with this guy and deeply terrified even though i know he's interested, he's made it very clear that he's interested but putting the ball in my court to decide what, if anything, i want and i've made up my mind to pursue this but like. i've been single since the obama administration because there's not, like, a person-shaped hole in my life, i don't need to be with someone to feel whole, and i have to make room in my life for another person and idk how to do this and i hate feeling vulnerable or exposed or out of control and giving someone else the power to hurt me and having to just. trust that they won't. but i kind of... accidentally already gave him that power without realizing it. i kind of... feel like this is just acknowledging something that's already started.

i am. so nervous.

like, a little giddy, a little eager, a lot anxious for no reason other than how terrified i am of major changes even when i feel like they're good ones and. and. and.

[serenityquest]

[chamerionwrites]

Because I just did a Constant Gardener reread I also have to note that le Carré remains incredibly good both at writing people getting the ever-living shit kicked out of them - in all its brutal bewildering unglamorous physicality - and at writing apolitical (at least in their own minds) servants of the state developing ideological convictions:

“By night his interior world reclaimed him, as it had every night since Tessa’s death. Toiling at the marquetry desk in the window bay, doggedly writing to Ham with his bruised right hand, following the travails of Markus Lorbeer as retold by Birgit, then gingerly resuming his labor of love to Ham, Justin was conscious of a drawing sense of his own completion. If Lorbeer the penitent was in the desert, purging his guilt with a lie of locusts and wild honey, Justin too was alone with his destiny. But he was resolved. And in some dark sense purified. He had never supposed that his search would have a good end. It had never occurred to him that there could be one. To take up Tessa’s mission - to shoulder her banner and put on her courage - was purpose enough for him. She had witnessed a monstrous injustice and gone out to fight it. Too late, he too had witnessed it. Her fight was his. But when he remembered the eternal night of the black hood and smelled his own vomit, when he surveyed the systematic bruising of his body, the oval imprints of yellow and blue that ran like colored musical notes across his trunk and back and thighs, he experienced a different kind of kinship. I’m one of you. I no longer tend the roses while you murmur over your green tea. You needn’t lower your voices as I approach. I’m with you at the table, saying yes.”

[apenitentialprayer]

(top) Sermon on the Mount, by J. Kirk Richards, oil on panel, 2014. (bottom) Crucifixion, by J. Kirk Richards, oil on panel, 2015.

and when we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed but when we are silent we are still afraid.

So it is better to speak remembering we were never meant to survive.

Audre Lorde, from A Litany for Survival

Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live Maybe one of these days you can let the light in […] Honestly, I wanna see you be brave.

Sara Bareilles (Brave)

We've had enough exhortations to be silent! Cry out with a hundred thousand tongues. I see that the world is rotten because of silence.

Saint Catherine of Siena (Sixteenth Letter, addressed "to a great prelate")