#no one explain to anyone who doesn't understand

[arowitharrows]

people keep generally agreeing (?) with this post only to double down on the 'not doing anything' phrase and like, if you want to continue using this sentiment then sure, I'm not stopping you. But I personally won't stand behind it and my first assumption will be that people using it have not fully deconstructed and understood the mechanisms of queerphobia and/or do not understand asexuality and aromanticism.

In the past years, and especially with a focus on queer infighting and "discourse", it has become very clear to me how important it is to understand the reasons behind people's prejudice against certain minority groups. Everyone knows that queerphobia exists, but I find it helpful to ask myself, do I know why it exists? Do I know which fundamental beliefs drive people's hatred? Do I know how these beliefs differ between, e.g. the political far right, conservative christians, or my grandmother who grew up in the 40s? It is so important to consider these things, both in determining how to address the problem of queerphobia in the current context and to avoid pointless discourse about who does or doesn't face discrimination in our society.

So, in the context of this post, I need aspec people to understand that no matter how hard you cling to "we aren't even doing anything", it's not going to save you. Sure, people hate queer sex a lot, and maybe you aren't having queer sex. But it is vital to understand that, usually, their core belief isn't that no one should have sex ever, it's that people should have sex in a specific controlled context - e.g. married, heterosexual, sex for procreation, romantic sex - and they will not be happy with you if you don't comply. Choosing to never have sex is expressing bodily autonomy that they do not want you to have. And if you are clinging to this phrase because of a general feeling of "I'm just living my live, why would anyone hate me for existing?" then yeah, I get that, I really do. But don't forget that that's true for every single queer orientation out there.

Also on that note, I need people to not erase aromanticism from this discussion. If we are talking about aphobia then that includes aromantic people and it includes aromantic people who aren't asexual. It includes the way people react to aromantic people having sex without being romantically attracted to their partners. I feel like often times when people say they don't understand aphobia, and when they try to explain/justify this stance, it's only in the context of "not having sex" and aromanticism is somehow forgotten.

tbh I really dislike how aphobia tends to be discussed whenever there's some kind of incident that makes it visible to general society. The most common response seems to be some variation of "why would anyone hate asexual/aromantic people, they aren't even doing anything" and it just always sits wrong with me. It paints such a passive picture of our existence and feels like a comment influenced by the level of invisibility that aspec people have in society. Why would you be annoyed by someone who is practically invisible? Just go back to ignoring their existence, it's easy!

But despite the invisibility, aspec people are actually doing quite a lot of things that will piss off queerphobic, right-wing and religious people (and hell, even left-wing people). And the most obvious point is that we are actively not performing heterosexuality the way they want us to. People who's entire world view is "cis men and women should be in monogamous, heterosexual marriage and have (white) babies" are not going to lean back and say "oh but those asexuals and aromantics are fine". They will also hate our guts, and they will come up with all sorts of reasons, including insinuating we're all secretly into bestiality, or mentally ill, or not human, or attention seeking children. It's just plain old queerphobia, and like all queerphobia, there's no inherent logic to it which you can worm your way out of by "not doing anything".

And like, there's a lot more that aspec people do which people hate. Raising awareness about amatonormativity? People feel attacked, they hate it. Asexual people having sex? Or not having sex? People hate it! Aromantic people being in (seemingly) romantic relationships? People fucking hate it! Aromantic people having sex? Ohh people hate that!!

I guess the existence of aphobia can be confusing when you haven't spent much time thinking about asexuality and aromanticism, but in the end, these are identities that aren't heteronormative and they will be hit with the same or similar bigotry as any other queer identity. I just get tired of this response after seeing it recycled for 10 years without ever seeming to go any further.

[thegaysatanist-blog]

Ok ok we know Ford's got a praise kink

Let me add my own angsty twist on it (starts out fine, turns at the end)

He's doing well in college, puffs out his chest with pride when a teacher congratulates him, maybe stammers a bit when a girl compliments his work

Fidds for help on a project, ofc Ford helps, his smile lingers for the rest of the night after his input helps Fidds

Maybe one late night when they're both studying and tired, without even really putting too much thought into it, Fidds compliments Ford, saying something along the lines of "You're just so good at this-" when he struggles on Ford's favorite subject. Ford just stands there, frozen as he feels that compliment snuggle itself into his chest, taking home right by his heart

When he moves to gravity falls, there's less praise, less compliments, more side ways stares and whispers. He ignores them, they simply don't understand. But the questions they ask him, it's like they're speaking different languages, his answers take 20+ minutes just to explain how the question didn't make sense. He's used to the looks, doesn't mean he likes them.

Then Bill shows up. Someone who understands. After years of winning chess against himself, taking detailed notes on things only he seems to care about, there's someone else who can talk to him. Someone who not only meets his intellect, but exceeds it. Who will answer his questions- or even better, leaves him puzzles to solve. Puzzles that, according to Bill, are simple. There's more complicated things to learn!

And the entire time? Bill compliments Ford, praises him. Tells him that he isn't just weird, he's Smart and his weirdness doesn't change him, it makes him special. Bill tells him that he's doing good when he solves the puzzles. He's a genius above the rest.

How could anyone be so kind and intelligent and interesting? Any being this intriguing must be a higher power- a god!

Bill tells Ford that he's skilled, talented. How could Ford even think to question a god? The center of his world shines warm heavenly praise onto him, and he's soaking it all in.

One night- Bill says words that have Ford freezing in place, warmth washing over him. Such simple words to, who knew Ford liked being called a good boy this much? Bill knew- he knew Ford craved compliments, he was essentially addicted to praise, craving it endlessly. Starving for affection- leaning into touches without realizing it. Turning his head further into Bills hand without noticing he had moved. Rubbing his cheek into Bills carress almost shamlessly, blush tinting his skin with a faint pink. Sighing deeply when Bills arms wrapped round and around his limbs and torso- letting himself be manhandled by his godly muse. If his muse spoke only the truth, then all that praise must be a divine ruling from the very god he worshipped.

That's why the betrayal hurt so much- not only because he had been used and intended to be tossed aside, but because all those nights filled with praise were truly filled with lies. How could such sweet nothings that were worth the world's weight in gold, really mean nothing?

Those pretty words dripping with honey washed away to reveal that they were just a thin layer to cover the poison at it's core. The praise and loving words Ford had craved all his life, that were blessed unto him from his wondrous muse, was just barely veiled deceptions that sunk into his heart like a barbed hook.

After that? Praise rang hollow to him. Nothing but colorful flowers with thorns, glistening with poisonous nectar. The enticing colors were a warning, one he saw in every shade from the blandest beiges and greys to the most vibrant violets and golds.

He learned that praise could only drip with venom, and to assume otherwise would be to eat those colorful petals and cut his gums on the thorns.

[timkontheunsure]

those missing 'I love you's

ok Stolas is always only able to get out that he cares for Blitz. Or that he likes him.

Or wanting to be someone's someone

Blitz is able to correctly understand that this dummy is telling him he loves him.

But it got me thinking about how little Stolas says the love word.

Like even with Via.

She's his precious little Startfire, and his sweetie, who he shows love to every day he was with her; but does she get a lot of 'I love you's out loud?

he says how he thought love would be fun in her lullaby, but doesn't connect it to a person, more to how he feels she's the only last thing he's living for.

Making it about his wish for a partner before being forced to marry Stella. Not something connected to Via.

Or is Stolas like a lot of people that grow up with uncaring parents, that never heard anyone say that too them growing up; and now finds those words tough to say.

Making this a rare time he puts it into words for his kid?

It could explain a little why Via assumed so quickly it's got to be a lie right?

Anyway I don't think he's really going to be the first one really able to say I love you out of Stolitz.

And not hid it as roleplay Blitz.

Or hid it in a soliloquy where neither of them is saying any out loud. 🤦

Honestly would be funny to see the court recording, of this bit where Stolas just stops singing for 27 seconds after "it was me and I have no regrets"; before Satan break in to tell him off and continue the song.

Very polite if him to wait lol for their moment to be over. 🤭

Made me and SO assume that he was the only one who could hear it first time watching, cus being able to interrupt a soliloquy is a standard trop in musicals that means they understand more than what their ment too.

But nope he's next line show he bought Stolas really daff mastermind explanation hook line and sinker. Guess Satan was just taking a WTF moment.😆

Vassago might have fully seen their soliloquy though, with those extremely confused expression and looking quickly backwards and forwards. The guy's power is finding what's hidden after all.

[zyafics]

i have a question (please don't misinterpret im JUST JUST JUSTTTT ASKING PLEASE DONT KILL ME)

why are you trying to stop people from writing canon rafe? its fiction, so not a gloification. im sure since we're all adults we can tell that men who act like rafe are DICKS irl. but... fanfiction is writing. witing is an art. art is an interpretation. rafe is... not a good person, but he IS an interesting character tho. writing fanfics isn't about being all about bad behavior but you're looking at stories and emotions from different perspectives. when one writes canon rafe even if its smut you're not excusing him being a horrible bitch. ppl write what's fascinating to them and it's a good way to understand very nuanced characters.

perhaps... you should know how to separate fiction and art from real life (NOT BEING RUDE.)

everyone is technically allowed to interpret a character how they want and you're knda trying to shut that down which just limits creativity and community.

if you or others don't like how rafe is portrayed in canon fics, thats cool and you can avoid 'em! but trying to shame others and telling them to only write fanon rafe is just unfair and not nessecary.

hi! i never try to kill anyone who comes in with genuine curiosity and open-mindedness so do not worry, you're off my list (for now... hehe)

why are you trying to stop people from writing canon rafe? its fiction, so not a gloification.

i'm not! i love writing canon!rafe. i love writers who explore the complexity of his nuanced characterization. i admit, here and now, and over and over again, he is a bad person. his subtext is filled with prejudices—classism, racism, sexism to his own sister—but i never excuse that behavior. i never hide behind the veil that just because you're writing canon does not mean you're not subjected to criticism. additionally, just because you write canon!rafe does not mean you have to romanticize the attributes of his character.

fanfiction is writing. witing is an art. art is an interpretation.

you're right! fanfic is writing. fanfic is free. but that doesn't make absolve it from its problem. that's the beautiful thing about complex topics. two things can be right at once. you can write whatever you want. but that doesn't mean you're free from the criticism of your own writing. i strongly stand by that.

you should know how to separate fiction and art from real life (NOT BEING RUDE.)

i do. fiction and art are separate from real life. if you were here a while back, i even wrote a thought piece on rape and non-con in fanfic. i was advocating for people to have the right to write them. i explained, in explicit detail why people write it the way that they do. but i still stand by what i believe: just because you write a taboo topic, and you're in a fanfic space, does not mean you are absolved of the consequences and callouts of the interpretation of your fics by your audience. intents ≠ actions. and to completely disassociate those two, if you really want to be nuanced, is impossible. i remember reading an article where a serial killer admitted that he got some of the ideas for his murders from a skywars movie: the scene where leia was held up in chains. it was meant to be misogynistic and demeaning; so art and media do have an impact on real life.

everyone is technically allowed to interpret a character how they want and you're knda trying to shut that down which just limits creativity and community.

the thing is, i'm not. never once did i told them to stop writing it. i said to address it. the problem i have with it is the inherent romanticization of the characters. i have read dark, dead doves do not eat fics with rafe cameron, and i never called out those writers. why? because they never framed it as something readers should want. the audience should like. the audience should accept. it was narratively framed as wrong. that's how you go about writing a nuanced character with taboo topics. when you're putting misogynistic!rafe into a setting, and you framed it through a rose-colored glass, where it's actually acceptable, endearing, and romantic, that's the problematic aspect of it. you didn't do your due diligence as a writer to address that.

if you or others don't like how rafe is portrayed in canon fics, thats cool and you can avoid 'em! but trying to shame others and telling them to only write fanon rafe is just unfair and not nessecary.

i do avoid them. i don't read them. i didn't even @ any of the writers. this was something said in my own blog, in my own space, using the general rafe tag as anyone else. you coming onto my blog to tell me to avoid this was unnecessary. i did. if you're applying the same logic of your argument to me: you're coming into a space where you should've avoided my words. you should've "avoid" me. you wanted to come on my blog to let your feelings be heard, and i'm hearing them. but don't ever say that i didn't do my own due diligence. i did.

[julessuretries]

Seeing people call Ragatha an "abuser" post episode 5 is actually insane to me because for me, episode 5 singlehandedly sold me on her character, whereas before I was kind of apathetic.

She's not "toxically positive" - she's just got some sort of fawn response given her mommy issues and feels like she needs to be "well-behaved and proper" in order for people to like her.

One of my closest friends from college was exactly like this and it was hard to see them go through the recurring issue of being unable to break past surface-level acquaintanceships with people precisely because they were "too nice". Like, do you know how uncomfortable it is to have to explain to someone they'd probably have an easier time connecting with people if they, just, stopped being overly helpful? It's a really weird conversation to have: like, am I actually encouraging this person to be worse? I kid you not at one point I think I actually said "you'd be better of if you were meaner", but, like, no one else was willing to say it and he was desperate so I guess I had to.

But unfortunately the only person who'd ever be bold enough to do that in the show is Jax (because he's literally already done it) but it's hard for Ragatha, or anyone, for that matter, to take any advice he gives sincerely even if he's kind of right because he's already such a jerk (and might be projecting some of his own mommy issues if we're being honest).

Looking back at the pilot, Ragatha's behavior towards Pomni seems all the more depressing. She literally pounced on the opportunity to befriend Pomni from minute one because newcomers are rare and I imagine she's been lonely for a very long time. Which is why seeing Jax do a better job bonding with Pomni gets under her skin because from her perspective she's put in way more effort and therefore deserves her friendship more. That's obviously a very transactional and problematic way of viewing relationships, but isn't surprising given what we've learned about her upbringing. She's likely been taught that love is something that can be earned with enough effort and is now reaching her limit having to come to terms with that not being the case.

The best things in life come free. Genuine connections have to form naturally. While I'm not totally convinced that Jax is being fully honest in his attempts to befriend Pomni, I do think he understands something that Ragatha doesn't. People want to be friends with people they can relate to and trust. And even if Pomni isn't a jerk like Jax, she at the least can rest assured she's seen the worst of him, whereas Ragatha could reveal her "real self" at any time. It's about taking a calculated risk - even if Ragatha deep down is still a nice person (which I personally think she is), there's no way for anyone else to know that for sure. It's less risky to be friends with people who are more open about their flaws than with someone who feels like they could crack at any moment and you'd have no idea what would spill out.

Ragatha is a really tragic character but also so incredibly real. Unfortunately even if she did decide to be more "genuine" with who she was as a person she'd still have a long journey ahead of her, since I'm not very convinced she even knows who she is.

Wow this episode was good.

“We need more complex female characters”

YALL COULDNT HANDLE HER

It’s crazy that her character flaw is thinking that if she ever expresses a negative emotion everyone will dislike her and yall immediately proved her right. Goddamn.

[un-till-the-end]

What it means that Till likes Mizi because she's "pretty"

Fans hear Vivinos & QMENG answered in a nonchalant manner that Till liked Mizi initially because she's pretty and conclude his love is shallow and vain. But this doesn't refer to external appearance alone but rather how her internal beauty shows on the outside.

In the free Patreon post ABOUT <Drowning Bloom>, it's explained:

Till is seeking authenticity and someone who shares his values of beauty, nature, kindness, love, etc. He finds her pretty the same way he finds flowers pretty:

The same Patreon post describes Till as:

When Till likes Mizi because she's "pretty", it refers to her smile, her warmth, her kindness. Mizi is one of the first people to show him kindness after he arrived at Anakt, and she is always kind to him.

A different Patreon post explains:

Till actually doesn't know Mizi very well. It's simply her smile that makes Till willing to risk everything for her and sing; this shows his pure nature. He's just a boy experiencing the innocence of first love.

Till resolves to protect her because he doesn't want her brilliance to be dimmed by anyone or anything.

But he fell in love with her at first sight

Till isn't wrong that he "felt a spark" between them on their first meeting. Till is an INFP (Fi, Ne, Si, Te) and Mizi is an ESFP (Se, Fi, Te, Ni). Till has Fi primary while Mizi has Fi auxiliary and that's likely what he felt. He could tell she values the same things he does, and for that reason she would be able to understand him. Because they're alike. However, because his Fi defines who he is whereas Mizi's is a skill she has to develop and does not easily go to, perhaps that's why she did not feel the same way.

If she were gloomy, if she were mean, he would not like her because she's "pretty." He would look elsewhere for someone who could understand him.

[demonslayedher]

Things that went through my head while watching this episode (in 2025!)

--Tamayo sure made that decision quick to go join the Corp. I love that it is so clear how much she and Shinobu do not want to work together. I wish, wish, wish I could have seen Tamayo meeting Ubuyashiki, as well as first meeting Shinobu. --The animation in the glass pane as Tamayo looks up at the moon?? love it.

--Giyuu really do just be sitting there in an empty room. Buddy, that ain't meditating, that be ruminating.

--I am so grateful for all my years of Japanese study so that I can soak in all the meaning of Aoi using such stiff keigo (polite speech) with Tanjiro (and for that matter, any active Corp swordsman). She truly sees herself as far beneath them, and in her dealings with Tanjiro, it is like she purposefully keeps things strictly professional. It is so revealing how diplomatically she addresses that, at least if she were the one who someone were trying to cheer up, she would prefer to be left alone. That is why she has kept this professional distance all along, isn't it? Somebody telling her "it's okay you weren't as brave as all those swordsmen who wound up fighting to the death anyway" would only make her feel worse, after all. I wonder about her decision to keep wearing the Corp uniform despite the adequacy she feels in it?

--Giyuu would tell her she deserves to wear it, wouldn't he? Luck or not, she likely did more to ensure her own survival on Mt. Fujikasane than he did. (Now I crave an AU in Shinobu dealt with Aoi's post-Final Selection fear not by allowing her to freeload (as Aoi might interpret it) at the Butterfly Mansion and avoid missions, but instead by creating a situation in which Giyuu is pressured to take Aoi in and train her--Water Breath users, after all!).

--Despite that Tanjiro killed the Hand Demon, whom Sabito could not, Tanjiro does not think of that at all. He instead thinks of how Sabito "saved" him back on Mt. Sagiri, and how in the course of the Final Selection, Tanjiro could not manage to save anyone like Sabito could, for Tanjiro could barely save himself. Their outcomes happened to be different, but Tanjiro sees the gulf between their potential and inherent ability so plainly.

--Tanjiro has made the switch from "Tomioka-san" to "Giyuu-san." Get FRIENDED, loser.

--The way the scene is framed so that you can't see Giyuu's face when he declares that the Water Hashira position is vacant

--GIYUU IS SO ANNOYED WITH TANJIRO, HAHAHAHAH. He's not only annoying for barging in when Giyuu is busy ruminating, but for trying to insist on some easy simple solution to a situation he doesn't understand (even though the way better solution to all of this would have just been for Tanjiro to use that battle sense and nose to become the Water Hashira, duh). But also, he is sitting so close. As Tanjiro keeps bugging him, like at dinner, he is still sitting SO FREAKING CLOSE and poor Giyuu just wants to eat. He just wants to bathe. He can barely sleep knowing that Tanjiro is curled up on his front door step, maybe Giyuu look like the bad guy for leaving this poor injured kid out there like that. How the hell is he supposed to explain that the kid is choosing to do that, when Giyuu can't explain anything else in the first place?

--And then he knows he must. So he does. Plain and simple. And Tanjiro gets it. And it hurts.

--And then he accidentally adds to Giyuu's pain. OH SNAP. Soba time.

--In the previous arc, we saw the drama of Muichiro instantaneously regaining memories of precious things people have said and entrusted to him, and how this brought him not only back from the brink of death, but pushed him over the edge to attain a mark. What happened here on the bridge was essentially the same thing for Giyuu--but in a more peaceful way. Though he did not have his mind as clouded as Muichiro, trying to find his way back to those memories would have drowned him in sadness, but now, all at once, all these years later, he can embrace the words Sabito said to him, and embrace the promise he made to Sabito that he would carry on Tsutako's will in the world. He has attained that power again, and in a way, reattaining that memory right after he said "Sabito might have, but I won't" is his first step on his path to being able to achieve a mark.

--and then "Let's have a soba-eating contest."

--wut???

--Was this kid always this weird???? I mean, okay, I guess if he insists, I will eat soba with him and let him be satisfied in making me join the training this way, though I really did just already make up my mind to do that because I am, in fact, the Water Hashira

--As he ate soba, I wonder if Giyuu found himself wondering if Tanjiro ever did weird stuff like this around Urokodaki, thereby second-handedly embarrassing Giyuu for having spoken so highly of him

--Stepping back a bit, I love the underlying creepiness of Tanjiro cheerfully looking down the alley and declaring, "nope, no demons here!" Kiddo, there is a reason for that.

--Also little Giyuu with light in his eyes, I will always miss him

--Jumping ahead, the eye-twitch is so becoming on Shinobu. She should sport that more often.

--My gosssssshhhhhhh I wiiiiiiiiiish we could have SEEN Kanao at all these Hashira trainings. The opening implies that she was with the boys and ran laps around them at Uzui's training. But where are the girls?????? They exist!!! We know they exist! If Kanao hasn't gotten out of this, they ain't either!! But like, seriously, what was Sanemi gonna do when she showed up? Hit her??? Hell to the nah'.

--Still, for as much of a battle queen as Kanao soon becomes after this, she is still strengthening that heart-to-voice connection, and it is hard to do that after so many years of leaving the connection broken. (And unfortunately for Shinobu, it is only because of Kanao's progress that there is any way for them to defeat Douma.) Still, going back to the previous episode, I love that Shinobu judges Kanao's battle prowess so strongly that she will entrust Nezuko to her in the event of, say, Kibutsuji Muzan himself showing up at the Butterfly Mansion (not that this would have been likely to end in Kanao's favor, but Shinobu knew she could at least leave Kanao in charge in case of other high-level demons--maybe even a swarm of them--showing up)

--So yeah, she will totally entrust the defeat of Upper Moon Two to her, even Shinobu, a Hashira, knows she cannot do it herself

--HOW EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING

--This ending theme, man

--That distinctly Muichiro-like silhouette is mean. But the second one looks more like the Heian-period doctor. And the pair of silhoettes after that still have us pretty firmly back in time by several centuries.

--Fly, crow, fly! Fly for the sunlight!

--Love these subdued stills of all these important moments in Corp history that have led them to this time, and how the one of Tanjiro has motion, with his tears flowing and then him standing to face this horrific reality--and that focus on the "metsu" on his sword to tie together all of these scattered scenes of all these people throughout the last thousand years who have been so whole-heartedly dedicated to defeating Muzan once and for all

--All these symbolic spots of red being dramatically destroyed as Muzan passes by, this the most chuunibyou ending song ever and it is great

--Daaaaaang, this means Muzan has been doing his dramatic walk since episode two

[authorhasissues]

QiJiu Hades and Persephone Au - part 1

Yue Qingyuan wakes to the background hum of miscellaneous noise that comes with any busy place and the bone deep knowledge that something is terrifyingly wrong. As disastrous as if the stars all spontaneously fell from the sky, or all the greenery of the Mortal Realm suddenly withered and died…

Yue Qingyuan's silent descent into jibbering panic is interrupted by the entrance of two other men, one visibly aged and wearing fine clothes and the other sporting a deep frown underneath his slender mustache. They tell him that there was an accident, and he seems to have lost his memory. He's apparently the God of Spring, though thankfully his duties for this year have already been completed so he can take his time acclimatising.

He smiles graciously and thanks them, doesn't let his complete and utter disorientation slip out and disturb them. The older man takes his leave quickly after confirming Yue Qingyuan's state, but the younger one stays, which Yue Qingyuan thinks he is glad for. Though outwardly more stern, his eyes seem warmer than the benevolently smiling old man.

"You must be rather confused," the man - Mu Qingfang, he introduced himself as - says. His posture is open where he sits across from Yue Qingyuan, and he seems ready to listen to any confidences he's willing to share.

Somehow, Yue Qingyuan isn't inclined to give them. Not because he dislikes or necessarily distrusts Mu Qingfang. He's been kind so far, certainly, but Yue Qingyuan gets the idea that it would be best for everyone if he acclimatised quickly rather than striking up a fuss about this. "As much as anyone would be, I suppose. This one is sure he'll find his footing quickly enough."

Yue Qingyuan's easy smile hides his deep well of discomfort, and Mu Qingfang seems unsurprised by it, though the lines around his eyes tighten slightly. "As the God of Medicine, I shouldn't need to tell you to come to me if there are any problems. We are of the same generation, so it is my duty regardless to aid you if you require it."

"Of the same generation?" Yue Qingyuan's unfamiliar but practiced smile holds unwaveringly on his face.

"We ascended roughly around the same time," Mu Qingfang explained briskly, "Of course, without knowlede of our human lives, we can only speculate that we might have been acquainted."

"Ah, I had assumed that was…"

"Just part of the amnesia," He finished easily for Yue Qingyuan, "No. There are some records of gods remembering parts of their human lives, but it tends to be looked down upon as worldly attachment."

"I see. Who else is a part of our generation?" Yue Qingyuan was inclined to ask.

"There are twelve of us. You'll probably meet the majority when someone takes you on a tour. As for the outliers… there's the God of War, Liu Qingge. He's often away from Heaven. Likewise, Shen Qingqiu resides in the Underworld as God of the Dead."

Shen Qingqiu. The name sent a jolt of recognition down his spine, like being hit by lightning. "Shen Qingqiu?"

"Yes. Do you…?" Mu Qingfang asked cautiously.

Yue Qingyuan drooped slightly at the reminder. "I don't remember him. But his name seems… familiar."

Mu Qingfang's face was tight. "Mm," He said shortly, "Well, we don't see much of him up here."

He seemed uncomfortable, so Yue Qingyuan let the matter be. Nothing would be gained by pushing the other god over matters he didn't understand yet.

The other man makes a few notes on the scroll he's holding, before rolling it up and standing abruptly. "Unfortunately, this humble doctor has many places to be." He offers Yue Qingyuan a wry smile, suggesting this is something they've commiserated about in the past. "I'll send someone to help familiarise you with Heaven again, to… show you the ropes, as it were."

Yue Qingyuan voiced his appreciation, and thanked Mu Qingfang for his care. The doctor hesitated briefly, however, before he turned around, the geniality sliding off his face and being replaced by something between severe and uncertain. "I would advise against chasing after your forgotten memories." His voice was much milder than the seriousness of his expression.

"Oh?" Yue Qingyuan responded non-comittally, "Naturally, this one's knowledge is inferior to that of the God of Medicine."

Mu Qingfang didn't look reassured. "It might be… dangerous, if you were to press too deeply." His voice was hushed, which he seemed to catch, modulating it to something more casually stern. "These matters require caution."

Yue Qingyuan smiled. "This one promises to be careful."

Mu Qingfang sighed, shaking his head slightly, but left the room without any further warnings.

The blankness of his memory was unsettling, not like a smooth slate but more akin to fumbling around blind in an unfamiliar room, able to feel vague shapes where things might be but not knowing what they are.

What Yue Qingyuan was more concerned with, however, was the certainty of the other men who had visited him in their declaration that he had lost his memory, despite him having said nothing to that effect. Of course, it was possible he had resurfaced from consciousness earlier and given some indicator of amnesia, but wasn't lucid enough to recall doing so. However, something about Mu Qingfang's countenace towards the end of their conversation made him suspect otherwise.

Yue Qingyuan couldn't help but be suspicious.

[mayshifting]

That's so true. I'm just going to say more things about the different sentences you said because I want to and some people need to read this.

I.

So the first thing, methods are tools to HELP, not to MAKE you shift. People need to stop saying or IMPLYING you need one to shift. It happens more than people think, even if it's not directly said.

Also, people need to answer the people who ask "which methods..." that the methods are not needed. Shifters are thinking more about the methods than the shift itself.

II.

Caring about what people do in their own DRs is completely stupid. I don't care what people do or don't do in their drs (like you said, except if you kill or hurt people.) And everyone should be the same, because why care about other people's lives? They are not hurting anyone (at least I hope.) So let them live, bro.

II + VI

And judging people because they DON'T script out imperfections is the same as caring about what people do in their DRs and it's the dumbest thing ever. I think imperfections make it more normal, y'know? Yes, we can live in the perfect world everyone wants but, we also need imperfections/problems too.

I'm shifting to MHA, so if there's no problem, heroes don't exist.

Or for someone who shifts in Marvel or another DR which we NEED problems to live what we want to live.

Having a bit of action makes it more fun, more thrilling. So judging people because they don't script out thing, this is low.

If you want to shift to a perfect world without flaws to not have any problems DO IT. You're so right about that. But yeah, don't judge the one who don't.

III.

About Kill DRs, they are genuinely terrifying, because you don't kill here but you CAN kill in another reality? You're just a psychopath who wants to have the right to act on their urge without repercussions. If you can kill in another reality, you can do it here too, and this is not something you can debate on.

V.

I don't have much to say about this one because, yes, shifting is scientific. And like you said it got explained multiple times. For the people who think the opposite, I invite you to do your research, or ask at least someone who knows or has read the scientific evidence what the explanations are. (Don't ask me, I'm still waiting for the motivation to continue reading, I swear.)

Also, shifting has existed since forever. Experiences were made since 1983/and before. People in the past talked about it way before everything, but just they didn't use the term shift.

Because, no, shifting is not called shifting reality. People just started calling it that way. So don't stress if you don't say "I'm shifting." Or anything.

Here, for y'all.

VII.

The over-script or don't script at all. Again, minding other people's lives.

Who cares if they over-script or don't script? Is it going to kill you? To prevent you from shifting? No, so why judging about something so insignificant.

All you want is to force people to do what you think IS the right thing to do. But not everyone works the same

People prefer to over-script to be sure they have everything. And some don't script because it's not necessary and prefer doing other stuff than scripting. You can't just judge or force someone to think like you do or do what you do.

VIII.

The cheating problem, SO MANY people are fighting about this its crazy. For the shifter, you go to ANOTHER reality, even if you have another partner in here doesn't mean you're cheating because you're not dating the person you date here. So if you don't date this person, there's no cheating.

Of course, it's okay to question it. It important. But your feelings are different from one reality to another. And it's important to understand that.

For the PARTNER, please. You're jealous of a person who's not even in your reality.

I can understand why you guys feel like that, but you guys probably do the same or would do the same (if not a shifter.)

Your partner doesn't HAVE to date you in every reality. It doesn't mean they don't love you in this one, they do. But not in another one.

IX.

I have literally nothing to say, just that there's no original reality if we shift every everytime. We just shift in a reality very similar to the other that it's unnoticeable.

X.

This one is angering me. Yes. You. Can. It's nothing religious, it's scientific. There's nothing wrong about that.

If you want to shift but you're religious, go! It's not a sin at all. And if people say otherwise don't listen to them, religion and science are 2 different things. It's sad to see someone want to shift but doesn't do it because of the fear of it being a sin because x said it was.

No, it's not. A lot of religious people shift, so do I.

𝑆𝐻𝐼𝐹𝑇𝐼𝑁𝐺 𝑃𝑅𝑂𝑃𝐴𝐺𝐴𝑁𝐷𝐴 𝐼𝑀 𝑵𝑶𝑻 𝐹𝐴𝐿𝐿𝐼𝑁𝐺 𝐹𝑂𝑅

i. “you have to use a method” sybau

ii. caring what other people do in their drs (idgaf unless you’re hurting people)

iii. kill drs

iv. “shifting isn’t scientific” there’s so many scientific explanations but ok

v. needing an s/o in every dr

vi. scripting out every imperfection (js a personal thing — i like flaws in my drs as it makes me enjoy the good even more)

vii. judging people who “over-script” or don’t script at all.

viii. thinking it’s cheating if your partner shifts for someone else … (get a grip)

ix. “original reality”

x. “you can’t be religious whilst also being a shifter”

[evolutionsvoid]

Elementals can be created both naturally and artificially, as long as enough of a certain material or element is near and the right magical spark is ignited. Of course, this is simplifying it greatly, as the process takes quite a lot of resources and is pretty complex. But the theory behind it would suggest that the amount of elementals one could create is practically bottomless, especially if you are a human. With their ability to practically wield every kind of magic, then anything should be possible. However, you have probably already seen that this idea isn't really executed all that often. Humans have created and wielded elementals, but the variety of them is pretty low. That is because these familiars need to have some kind of use, a function to explain why someone would go through all the effort. Thus, mages and such tend to lean on the tried and true type, picking the safest bets to ensure they get their money's worth out of this creation. Other elements or materials are too hard to get, or are too chaotic to work with. Others would create something with no obvious use, which doesn't really help anyone. And in some cases, a type of elemental may not be made because few people even know that kind exists. But in the case of the Clonal Elemental, the ignorant ones are non-dryads, who pretty much never see such a rare creation.

Clonal Elementals are a dryad creation, and a rather bizarre one to outsiders. They appear to be a floating ball of plant and fungi parts, a cobbled entity whose form seems pretty useless. Indeed, their birth comes from the energizing of roots and mycelium, weaving them together into a singular being. When the process is done, these materials are given life and the Clonal Elemental is complete. It appears some form of magic allows them to float upon the air despite their weight, though they can also be seen being carted around by dryad workers. Their hanging tendrils sway in the breeze, and many gnarled roots and growths twitch and stretch. They are an interesting sight for sure, but eventually one has to ask: what do they do? The answer to that question is why you will never see a human or non-dryad ever make a Clonal Elemental, because their purpose is to simply exist.

It may seem absolutely useless when you hear it, the creation of a being that simply hangs around doing nothing. Can they cast magic? No. Can they do chores? No. Can they communicate in any way? Uh, kinda, but not really. This leads to the frustrating wondering on what the point of them even is then, as they seem utterly useless. This is funny, because it shows the lack of understanding one has for dryad culture with this question. Because while all other races see them as pointless, dryads see Clonal Elementals as precious and incredibly crucial. Why that is ties into what happens when dryads die, and the afterlife they believe in.

A quick refresher of dryad funerary services: when a dryad passes away, a seed is planted in their body and they are returned to the earth. The corpse is buried, and the seed within them will transfer their soul into the next stage of existence. The tree or plant that sprouts from their grave is said to not only contain their soul, but is believed to be that very dryad given a new form. They live on within this plant, and when their roots connect to the rest of the intricate network of the forest, they are linked up with all the dryads who have passed on. The grand system buried beneath our feet is where their souls go, generations of dryads contained within plant, root and fungus. This is how they commune with those gone, and gain wisdom from past souls. And it is this belief that causes dryads to be fiercely protective of their sacred groves and living homes, as it is more than just a tree. If their forest were to be burned and the root system destroyed, than that link to their ancestors would be forever lost. It is no doubt a tragic thing, but the sad fact is that it is a very real possibility in this world.

Dryads and the places they find sacred have been and will be under attack in one way or another. Be natural disasters, plague or invaders, they are aware the time may come when their sacred root system is threatened. Obviously, they will fight to the death to ensure its survival, but sometimes they must accept the fact that victory is not possible. A raging forest fire may not be able to be stopped before it consumes all, an invading force may be too strong to push back. When this happens, dryadkind knows it is best to salvage what they can, lest all is lost. Obviously, one cannot uproot a tree and carry it to safety. It isn't possible to rip out an extensive network of roots and mycelium for transplanting. Doing so would kill it, and thus erase their past. But with the use of magic, a vital chunk of this may be given life and an easier to move form.

Clonal Elementals are essentially living containers, given the vital task of moving dryad networks to safer places. They are not big enough to carry the entire biomass, but one must remember how cuttings work. Sometimes, a single piece is enough to save and regrow an entire species, and that is how the Clonal Elemental works. By transplanting this piece of the network elsewhere, all that was once contained within the previous system is saved. Their ancestors can live on, their wealth of knowledge and comfort preserved for future generations. So even if their forest homes burn, dryads can find peace and hope in the fact that not all was lost.

The life of a Clonal Elemental is obviously pretty short, as they are created to simply move plant matter from one location to the next. Yet, these existences are vital and fiercely guarded. It should be no wonder why these elementals are rarely seen by non-dryads, and why any dryad would throw themselves into danger to keep them safe. For when these beings are returned to the earth, the past is saved, a new home will flourish and dryads will continue to thrive despite all odds and hardships.

There are some rumors and beliefs tied to the Clonal Elementals that wonder if they are capable of more. Obviously, the task they do now is vital, but think of all that is contained within them. A bottomless well of dryad souls, generations of knowledge and essence. And this being is the ward to all of this. Then look to see how life blooms after they have been planted, like an entire forest rising in a mere fraction of the time. Thus they can create life, but does that mean they can create dryads? Can they give those passed a new shot at life? Humans, and even some dryads, have pondered this. For man, it would explain how dryads are able to reproduce so quickly, how they have spread nearly as wide as humanity. And of course, this has been brought up in whispered conversations about the infamous and mysterious Pando Village. That isolated dryad community that feels half fiction and half fact. Those strange, strange dryads, whose origins remain unknown. Some wonder if their creation is the result of a Clonal Elemental, perhaps one that went very wrong. Some think darker magic is at play, others think an insidious plot, and one very loud and angry dryad would prefer to beat all those theorists in the head with a stick.

[cassette-cryptid]

I had an idea, here goes nothin

[taegularities]

some men are textbook villains fr

[elprupneerg]

ok actually thinking about it a bit more, i'm probably desensitized to this stuff. tried explaining it to a buddy the other day and they looked vaguely ill. which is unfortunate because wastewater treatment is actually super super cool and i wish i felt more comfy with talking about special interest stuff and that other people were ok with hearing about it more so that i could talk about it more. if anyone wants a big rant about how wastewater treatment works (or a smaller rant about how drinking water treatment works, i'm also interested in that but i don't feel like i know as much about it) please please please ask cuz i will gladly talk about it. please <3 🥺

[musical-chick-13]

Oh, having a LOT of feelings about this anime (positive).

[teaboot]

One time my mom took me to a hibachi grill with a bunch of her friends and if you've never been to a hibachi grill basically the draw is that theres a bunch of interactive performance stuff done by the cook who cooks for you at your table, and one of the tricks they did at this one was take a squeeze bottle full of liquor and shoot it into your mouth across the table (with permission)

And now at our table my mom explained this because it was my first time going, and she wanted to make sure to warn me it was liquor because she knows I don't drink- she just said "if he offers to shoot at your mouth, say no because it's alcohol".

And so the chef does his thing and it's all very impressive, but the time does come where he pulls out this squeeze bottle of booze and asks me if I wanna try

I of course say no, because I really don't do alcohol, so he moves on to someone else

And I watch, and slowly come to understand that this is some sort of game, because once someone is drinking from the continuous flow the chef starts counting "ONE! TWO! THREE!"

I realize that we're trying to see who can keep drinking the liquor from three feet away without choking or spilling, and its a bummer cause i kinda wanna try and I CAN'T

But he goes around the table with everyone there, and I think my mom makes it to three, one friend makes it to five, I think my brother got to three as well, and he comes back to me

And I'm REALLY bummed out now but I will not drink alcohol, so I sort of sadly repeat that I can't when he pulls out a SECOND BOTTLE and grins and goes "juice?"

And Im like FUCK YEAH LET'S GO and I'm a bit worried he's gonna spray it into my eye or something but he doesn't, it hits me right at the back of the throat, and I start drinking while the whole fucking table counts "ONE! TWO! THREE!"

And like

It just sorta

Kept going?

And Im looking at the chef and he starts freaking out by the time we get to six, and at around seven I kinda start looking around and my auntie is staring back in shock, my brother is laughing his ass off and my mom has her face in her hands

And then at like nine or ten it gets like. Super tense and quiet, and only the chef is still counting

And I guess it got too much for even him cause we're at eleven and I don't believe in quitting early and it is almost painful how awkward it's getting

So he cuts me off at twelve and raises his hands in the air and everyone else cheers and claps like a dumb movie

and I just sit back in my seat to look back at my mother staring at me surrounded by everyone she knows, bright fucking red in the face and choking with honest to god tears in her eyes and she puts her face back in her palms and starts chanting "I don't want to know. I don't want to know. I don't want to know"

So I give her the biggest, proudest grin and tell her, "I won."

So now every time something suggestive happens in a movie, or in conversation, or something shocking happens around us and she goes to jokingly cover my ears, I just ask her, "Remember when I won?" And she goes face-down and groans, because I know EXACTLY how she thinks I trained to develop that particular skill and she HATES knowing that about me

The truth is though, I'm a whole ass 28 year old virgin. I've never so much as kissed anyone in my life. I had no idea I could do that trick until that exact moment

But she doesn't know that, and I'm never gonna tell her

[bogleech]

"The question was posed, "Why do people continue supporting Trump no matter what he does?" A lady named Bev answered it this way: “You all don't get it. I live in Trump country, in the Ozarks in southern Missouri, one of the last places where the KKK still has a relatively strong established presence. They don't give a shit what he does. He's just something to rally around and hate liberals, that's it, period. He absolutely realizes that and plays it up. They love it. He knows they love it. The fact that people act like it's anything other than that proves to them that liberals are idiots, all the more reason for high fives all around. If you keep getting caught up in "why do they not realize this problem" and "how can they still back Trump after this scandal," then you do not understand what the underlying motivating factor of his support is. It's fuck liberals, that's pretty much it. Have you noticed he can do pretty much anything imaginable, and they'll explain some way that rationalizes it that makes zero logical sense? Because they're not even keeping track of any coherent narrative, it's irrelevant. Fuck liberals is the only relevant thing. Trust me; I know firsthand what I'm talking about. That's why they just laugh at it all because you all don't even realize they truly don't give a fuck about whatever the conversation is about. It's just a side mission story that doesn't matter anyway. That's all just trivial details - the economy, health care, whatever. Fuck liberals. Look at the issue with not wearing the masks. I can tell you what that's about. It's about exposing fear. They're playing chicken with nature, and whoever flinches just moved down their internal pecking order, one step closer to being a liberal. You've got to understand the one core value that they hold above all others is hatred for what they consider weakness because that's what they believe strength is, hatred of weakness. And I mean passionate, sadistic hatred. And I'm not exaggerating. Believe me. Sadistic, passionate hatred, and that's what proves they're strong, their passionate hatred for weakness. Sometimes they will lump vulnerability in with weakness. They do that because people tend to start humbling themselves when they're in some compromising or overwhelming circumstance, and to them, that's an obvious sign of weakness. Kindness = weakness. Honesty = weakness. Compromise = weakness. They consider their very existence to be superior in every way to anyone who doesn't hate weakness as much as they do. They consider liberals to be weak people that are inferior, almost a different species, and the fact that liberals are so weak is why they have to unite in large numbers, which they find disgusting, but it's that disgust that is a true expression of their natural superiority. Go ahead and try to have a logical, rational conversation with them. Just keep in mind what I said here and be forewarned.”

From a facebook post, with a lot of comments from people who actually didn't realize it was like this. Yeah, I grew up knowing these kinds of people too and that's exactly how it is.