#the level of sympathy and compassion and understanding of the human heart

[fizzingwizard]

"My brother had no regard for her; his pleasures were not what they ought to have been, and from the first he treated her unkindly. The consequence of this, upon a mind so young, so lively, so inexperienced as Mrs. Brandon’s, was but too natural. She resigned herself at first to all the misery of her situation; and happy had it been if she had not lived to overcome those regrets which the remembrance of me occasioned. But can we wonder that, with such a husband to provoke inconstancy, and without a friend to advise or restrain her[...] she should fall?" - Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

[yuoimia]

YOU’RE FOREVERMORE

summary: times he appreciates you so much.

characters: albedo, ayato, xiao, wanderer, kazuha.

albedo — your endless compassion

albedo opened the door to a dimly lit bedroom, the only remaining light coming from the lopsided strings of fairy lights weakly glowing from one of the walls. crayons, costumes, and scrunched-up paper lay scattered all across the floor, leading towards the foot of the bed.

his eyes followed the trail, then softened. making sure to pick up the mess, his vision settled on two people, cozily embraced together under crimson clover covers.

then he picked up a drawing, left of the bedside table. there were plenty of people, but three people stuck out to him, their hands intertwined, smiles on their faces.

ayato — your overflowing faith in him

ayato never understood; no matter how long he spends thinking with that sharp mind of his, he’ll never know why you chose him.

he was cunning and shrewd. he held a position that frequently faced unwanted public attention without a rest. assassination attempts? too many to count.

but you knew ayato was simply too harsh on himself. in your eyes, he was a man who would do anything for his family. the family he treasured so dearly and the unrelenting love he so craved in return. perhaps you were too perfect, like someone from a dream, that he found it so hard to believe you were real.

xiao - your positivity

throughout his long, long lifetime, xiao suffered. an infinite abyss of pain and sadness indescribable. he found it hard to trust and love, those feelings rusty, yet still undeniably there.

he dreamt that all those beautifully warm emotions would somehow return. he dreamed, eyes gazing into the moonlit sky, wishing upon each star to give back what was rightfully his.

yes, the stars listened. but he would never expect that the feelings would come in the form of a human. an alluring human that never failed to brighten up his existence, always having something amusing to say—a laugh that was simply, wonderfully contagious. your positive outlook was admirable, xiao thought. he wanted to be like you. maybe not as lively, but just as happy.

wanderer - how you’re so understanding

like ayato, wanderer wonders why you stuck with him. he’s got a personality that annoyed the most patient, complimented with a sharp tongue that seemed impossible to not have something sarcastic to say. if he were you, he would steer away in the farthest direction. but it would be an outright lie to deny that he didn’t enjoy your presence next to his.

like the days when his soul feels like a void of hopelessness, you would be there, next to him, telling him in that oh-so-soft voice that he was enough, always enough for everyone and himself to appreciate.

don’t expect him to not reciprocate these actions; never has he forgotten all the things you’ve given. he’ll repay you ten times the love, because you are ten times worth it.

kazuha - your encouragement

kazuha has seen with his own eyes the cruellest and most traumatising events one could ever experience in their life. he puts on a facade of reserved tranquility and calmness, but sometimes that mask cracks just a bit, barely enough for anyone to notice. but of course, you do.

kazuha has always appreciated everything you’ve done for him; never has a moment shared with you been taken for granted. but now, the small, subtle actions and gentle words delivered at times when his heart begins to race and his palms are covered in sweat, it’s a whole new level of sympathy. he knows from the bottom of his heart that it’ll never get easier, but you make it all the more bearable. and that’s already far more than what he has ever hoped for.

[the-girl-who-didnt-smile]

PORT-AU-PRINCE

True Name: Pierre

Date of Death: 1997

Cause of Death: Drug overdose

Sexuality: Gay

Species: Gede

Gender: Male

Age: Young 20s (biological)

Occupation: Drag queen

Family: Baron de la Mort (adoptive father) Maman de la Vie (adoptive mother) Miragoâne (adoptive sibling) Fort-Liberté (adoptive sibling) Jérémie (adoptive sibling) Jacmel (adoptive sibling) Port-de-Paix (adoptive sibling) Cap-Haïtien (adoptive sibling) Les Cayes (adoptive sibling) Hinche (adoptive sibling) Port-au-Prince (adoptive brother)

INTRODUCTION

Pierre, more commonly known as Port-au-Prince, is the adoptive son of Baron de la Mort and Maman de la Vie. 

The youngest of his siblings, he took full advantage of his second chance at life, and became the best version of himself.

APPEARANCE

Port-au-Prince mostly resembles a youthful human man, although he is much taller than an ordinary human. He has a slender build and is approximately 8 feet tall with heels on. He is dark-skinned and has black hair. As one of the Gede, he has purple eyes and dresses in purple and black.

He is very fashionable and is always well-dressed. One of his favorite outfits consists of a purple jacket, a white satin ruffle shirt, and black boots with heels. When he does drag, he dons fangs, a gold crown, breastplate, belt, necklace, and arm bands, with a long purple skirt to match. He likes to accessorize and is seen dressing in black at times, to pose with his siblings. 

PERSONALITY

Port-au-Prince is a sweet and charming young man, who shows compassion to those in need. Playful and kind-hearted, he also has a bit of a rough side, where he likes dirty jokes and using humor to make friends.

Although he is very stylish and skilled when it comes to fashion, he is not arrogant. He doesn’t look down on others, nor does he expect praise or attention. Instead, he likes to use his skills to make those around him feel more confident in themselves. He is a good caregiver and likes small animals.

Even though he died in his young 20s, he matured significantly in the afterlife. He is known for being the most smooth-tempered and forgiving of his siblings. The depths of his sympathy inspire hope in others. Port-au-Prince develops close bonds with his friends, and his family loves him dearly. 

ABILITIES

As one of the Gede, Port-au-Prince is free to travel between the Realms of the Dead and the Living. His home is the Underworld, but he visits Heaven, Hell, and Earth.

Like all of his siblings, Port-au-Prince is immortal. He is physically frozen at the age he died, in the prime of his youth. He cannot die of age or natural causes, and can only be killed with special weapons. This is easier said than done, as the Gede are much stronger and more durable than the average Angel or Demon.

The Gede are empowered by their adoptive parents Maman de la Vie and Baron de la Mort, which grants them the power to Heal and Kill. All of them possess potent healing abilities that they can apply to themselves and others. They also have very strong offensive ability, making them deadly in fights. However, they are not gods and can be killed.

While Port-au-Prince is the weakest of his siblings, this is only because he died the most recently and is thus newest to his powers. Although he was extremely fortunate to have been adopted by his parents, he is only as skilled as he is because he trained very diligently under his mother and oldest brother. In terms of raw strength, he is around Adam’s former level, but is far smarter and more competent in battle. If they were to ever fight, Port-au-Prince would definitely beat Season 1 Adam in battle.

Port-au-Prince also has the following skillsets:

Musical Talent: Port-au-Prince is a very talented singer.

Bilingualism: Pierre is fluent in English, and can understand Kreyòl. Because he avoided learning the language until the afterlife, his Kreyòl is not the best, but he sometimes speaks in “Krenglish” (mixing English with Kreyòl). His Kreyòl is at the level where a non-speaker would probably think he’s fluent, but a Haitian can easily tell he was raised in America.

Weapon proficiency: Pierre can handle many different kinds of weapons with ease.

Flexibility: Port-au-Prince is just as athletic as Angel Dust, and is also a skilled pole dancer.

HISTORY

Port-au-Prince’s kindness and compassion are not the product of a sheltered life. They are things he had to work for, due to having a dark and troubled past.

Pierre was born during the mid-1970s in New York to a Haitian sex worker and an unknown father. Pierre physically resembled his father, who abused and abandoned his mother while she was pregnant. For this reason, she was cruel and unloving to her son from the earliest age. Pierre’s mother and her boyfriends abused him throughout his childhood. This left deep scars in Pierre’s young heart, as he was very sensitive for a child his age. Among his peers, he was horribly bullied for being feminine and gay. His mother was also homophobic, making him ashamed of his sexuality. For this reason, he was closeted his entire human life. 

By the time Pierre reached adolescence, his relationship with his mother had gone so sour that he ran away from home. He was taken in by a gang, who got him hooked on crack, and died violently at a young age. 

Having lived such a short and meaningless life, Pierre was just another soul destined for Hell. Baron de la Mort was tasked with delivering him there, just like all the others. But for some reason, this one reminded him of one of his children from his past life. Without really understanding why, The Baron did not want to take Pierre’s soul to Hell. Instead, he abused the powers granted to him by Bon Dieu, and chose to adopt Pierre into his family.

Upon being reborn as one of the Gede, Pierre was immediately suspicious and untrusting of his adoptive siblings and parents, who he did not consider to be his family. Taking advantage of his newfound abilities, he escaped into Hell where he decided to pick up where he left off in his human life. It was not long before he entrenched himself in gang activities and peddling cocaine. Because they got in his way and kept trying to look out for him, Pierre was openly hostile towards his adoptive family. He did not care what they thought of him, because he didn’t believe they actually cared about him.

It took him years of battling with his inner demons, steeping himself further and further into his cocaine addiction, before he found himself in a dire situation and realized he needed help. Setting aside his Pride, he went back to his family. Having exploited, deceived, and abandoned them, he was completely stunned when they didn’t turn him away. Instead, they showed him an unconditional love that his biological family never gave him.

Port-au-Prince was in his chronological 30s when he decided to return home. Ever since then, he has made the most of his second chance at life, and never once taken his family for granted. 

RELATIONSHIPS

GONAÏVES

His older brother convinced him to return to his newfound family, which he considers to be the best decision he ever made. Although their personalities are completely different, they have a close sibling relationship.

Living humans know to appeal to Port-au-Prince due to his gentle heart and close relationship with Gonaïves, who is the most powerful of his siblings.

ANGEL DUST

These two have so much in common, the only thing that could get between their friendship would be the sin of Envy. 

TRIVIA

Port-au-Prince and his siblings are a tribute to Milo Marcelin’s Mythologie Vodou. Pierre himself is loosely based on Marcelin’s description of Guédé Masaka, who he described as “loa androgyne, assistant de Guédé Nibo”[1] This is why he is an androgynous drag queen, and has a close sibling relationship with Gonaïves (fictional counterpart of Gede Nibo). Other than this, the inspiration is very loose.

The initial concept for this character perpetuated a harmful misconception that the Haitian lwa Gede Nibo is “homosexual”. The “resources” I supplied under Port-au-Prince’s initial character description have been criticized for misrepresenting Haitian culture. So not to repeat myself, a discussion of this issue can be found under the description of Baron de la Mort, and here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54861145/chapters/157387165 

Port-au-Prince was inspired by two different documentaries: Des hommes et dieux and Paris is Burning. As a counterpart to Angel Dust, he has a dual gangster-ballroom/voguing theme to him, where he runs his own ballroom house in the afterlife. Where Angel Dust is an Italian American, Port-au-Prince is a Haitian American. His ballroom house should be inspired by drag ball culture of New York City – especially the 1990s – and the M Community of Haiti. This group also doubles as a battle force that could be recruited in a similar manner to the Cannibals in Cannibal Town, where they have strong healing and fighting abilities. 

Where Alastor’s theme is New Orleans Voudou, Port-au-Prince’s theme is Haitian Vodou. It is likely Pierre would reclaim “the m word”.

I would add a lot more to his description, but he is designed to be a counterpart to Angel Dust. Although they are not identical, I would have to wait to see what more is revealed about Angel Dust before continuing to write his character.

His relationship with Gonaïves is meant to mirror Angel Dust’s relationship with his sister, Molly. He styles himself after the singer Prince. His drag persona is modeled after Aaliyah as Akasha in Queen of the Damned (2002). Since he died before this film came out, he must have learned about it while in the afterlife, which is kind of funny to think about... In addition to Angel Dust, it would also be possible to establish a connection between him and Sally Mae, if she has any interest in drag.  

As a child Pierre was abused by his mother, who frequently called him cruel names like “pye sal la” and “pye kaka”. For this reason, he developed insecurities towards his feet, which he only got over in the afterlife.

Originally, Pierre’s birth date was going to be in the 2000s, where he died in his early 30s. Because Angel Dust died in 1947, this was changed so that he died exactly 50 years after Angel Dust. Although he is physically younger than Angel Dust, I would describe them as having the same mental age.

Milo Marcelin describes how Guédé Masaka has a connection with Guédé Ousou: “Il est très souvent accompagné de Guede Oussou”[1]. Port-au-Prince and Lanmò (character loosely inspired by Marcelin’s description of Guédé Ousou) do not have a close relationship, but are connected to each other in the sense that one has the best possible relationship with The god of Death, and the other has the worst possible relationship with him. 

The one Port-au-Prince actually has a close relationship with is Gonaives, as inspired by Milo Marcelin’s description of Guédé Masaka as the assistant of Guédé Nibo”[1]. 

Pierre is the only one of his siblings who was born in America. Due to his abusive relationship with his mother, he did not embrace his Haitian heritage during his human life, and would not necessarily have to be voiced by a person of Haitian heritage. His adoptive family is inspired by the Addams family and the Don Quixote Pirates. 

If necessary, the Gede could be renamed as the Undead, since they dwell in the Underworld. Another option is to redesign Port-au-Prince as an angel with some connection to Lady Love (fictional counterpart of Erzulie Dantor). 

NOTES:

Marcelin, Milo. Mythologie vodou (rite arada). Vol. 2. Éditions Canapé-Vert, Pétionville, Haiti, 1950. pp. 194-195. Retrieved from: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00005044/00002/images/193 

[galadhir]

Another post in the tag of a villain who is my blorbo, saying basically that people who are villain stans don't understand the story right, they don't understand the villain's victims are people who deserve sympathy. That villain stans must be immoral ourselves because otherwise how could we love a character who had done so many horrible things?

And I'm like - you do understand that sympathizing with the characters who are drawn to be sympathetic is level 101 sympathy?

Yeah, you can empathize with and feel sorry for the human frailties of people who never did anything wrong. Great! That's good. It's good to have sympathy and empathy for good people.

But - and I'm going to go all religious here, because purity culture is supposedly based on Christian beliefs and I am a Christian - you've got to learn to be sympathetic and empathetic to the bad people too.

This is right there in our religion "Judge not, lest you be judged." "First take the plank out of your own eye before you try to take the speck out of your brother's." "Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord. I will repay." (Namely - it's not up to us humans to take revenge.)

Famously, Jesus stopped the people from executing an adulteress (a crime which carried the death sentence at the time) saying "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone," at which point the accusers slowly realized that they were not exactly guiltless themselves and slunk away.

We are in fact commanded to love our neighbours (where 'neighbour' means 'everyone living on this planet with us.')

And loving our neighbours sometimes requires accepting that people who have done horrific things are still worthy of the respect given to all humans by virtue of being human.

That's a really hard command to obey.

(Frankly we should expect the commands given by a superhumanly good Creator to be too hard for us. God is better than we are capable of being, and that's how it should be.)

It's really hard to look at someone in real life who has done something abhorrent and accept that they too are a person who deserves to be treated with full human rights and dignity.

It's hard to get over the very natural revulsion and anger that tells us it would be righteous to treat this sinner with cruelty in return.

But that would not be righteous at all. ("Do unto others as you would have them do to you.")

Fortunately we have fiction. We can use fiction to help us develop our empathy. The villains in fiction have not actually hurt anyone in real life, so it's safe to handle them. It's safe to figure out why they did what they did, and ask yourself - if you were in their position would you have done better?

Which is also a good question.

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 18

Which means that (by God's standards) there is no distinction between good people and evil people. We are all just people. We all need grace and mercy.

And we can practice our understanding, compassion, empathy and mercy by loving our fictional villains in a similar way that God has loved us.

Maybe one day we will be called on to forgive a person in real life - to be compassionate and merciful to them - and it will have helped to have confronted the darkness in the heart of man already in our imagination.

Or maybe we'll just learn to be a bit more humble about ourselves while we also have some fun.

We're really not called to stop at Compassion 101. That's only where we start.

[whydontwebegin]

introducing: dirk strider, strength.

dirk is a different kind of beast to explain. maybe i should write jake out first, even. but.

dirk strider drips heart from his every pore. with his pantheon he can be soft. with his pantheon, he can relax. with his pantheon, dirk can be gentle.

with mortals, he is an ethereal, untouchable manifestation of the soul. he is instinct, and he is love, and he is inner strength, and he can rip all of those from you and leave your mind aware while your body inevitably crumbles.

dirk is, quite frankly, just another shade of terrifying. he’s kinder than hal (or jake, for that matter,) but he is just as capable of being cruel when he deems it justified. his cruelty is just…different. where hal will destroy you without you realizing you’re being destroyed, dirk will destroy you and you will know he is doing it, but worse, you will know you are helpless against him. dirk is a god of war, and gods and men alike will fall in his wake. in terms of raw combat power, dirk is one of, if not the strongest the pantheon has to offer, because the core of his power is his very self, and the self is all he is. (it’s a bit hard to put the power levels of incomprehensible eldritch horrors onto a graph, so you’ll have to forgive the lack of clarity.)

divinity comes at a cost, and for dirk, it is something resembling being a good person. to clarify, he is not. he’s not a person at all in the sense that mortals would understand, and by extension, his moral compass is no longer defined by mortal standards, many of which mean nothing to horrorterrors. an elder god has no need of such things.

he will help out of pity, sympathy, on rare occasion it may even be empathy. he will help because he can hear the way a dying soul screams. he will help because it hurts him to hear you cry out, or maybe because you’re another version of someone he loves dearly.

but his loyalty always lies first and foremost with the pantheon, and he will just as soon snuff out every screaming soul himself for them. he will inflict unimaginable, indescribable cruelty upon you, without remorse or guilt or hesitation, because that is the way of divine justice, and no matter how human he can seem, dirk is far from it.

[onewomancitadel]

I referenced this in a post about Noah in Dark but to elaborate more I think the idea of sympathy towards a character - the line of expected sympathy - is something I view more as drawn by a story as opposed to the moral standards a viewer ought to come to the story with. I don't think there's any necessary responsibility there and generally empathy is needed for engaging with storytelling at all. Equally I think you can take gumption with where the line is drawn (and equally I think you can take gumption with double-standards/inconsistency/or more interesting ideas the story could've engaged with).

But I still think that line drawn, where it is or isn't, is useful for understanding, say, what a story is trying to do with its heroes and villains, and whom it is or isn't trying to humanise for the purposes of its own thematic ends. In the case of Noah I think it was absolutely genius that he was completely shrouded in the first season, because that mystery (and then reveal) worked so much better than if I had known from the very beginning he had deeper motives. It's an excellent contrast against Jonas and overall works so much better for its humanising ends in the story (where everybody gets a piece of the pie in some fashion).

What Noah was telling me is that the story is thinking deeper, and I should be paying more attention and not writing anybody off. Although I have a tendency to extend empathy towards villains in general, I try to guard my heart and not expect too much, and more specifically my first intuition with Noah was that they were drawing a line with him to demonstrate why the other villains in the story might be redeemed. It was just in the opposite sense of what I had expected.

Often I think that discourse surrounding villains (and redemption arcs by extension) fails to take into account that this is a highly source-dependent issue. This is true for both sides of the issue (be it villain apologists or not). I would not personally view the 'crisis of empathy for the villain' as something that is a genuine fandom affliction for reasons such as 'basically engaging with the story with your feelings is actually necessary' but furthermore I don't think that this is like, a reduplicating scourge which will utterly shatter the boundaries of hero/villain for time to come, nor do ideals in fiction actually make people have unreasonable ideas about reality (otherwise then what room would you have for philosophical ideals in your own life? Belief in beauty, courage, justice, mercy, compassion etc. do not unto themselves lead to people making the wrong judgements; those are consequent to, you know, the human element - the actual issues we face in our day to day lives).

So the perspective I would rather take is that - as much as I tend to have room for intrigue and empathy for the bad guy - I am generally trying to get a sense of whether the story is engaging with me on the same level. Sometimes, even when it isn't, I still enjoy to think about it. But then on the other hand I don't think it is a personal failing to care about a character in the wrong way, particularly when I would view storytelling as something demanding that you emotionally engage.

[vipassana4u]

Karuna Bhav Meditation

Karuna Bhav Meditation is a profound spiritual practice rooted in Buddhist tradition that focuses on cultivating deep compassion and loving-kindness towards oneself and all beings1. This transformative meditation technique goes beyond simple emotional exercise, offering a comprehensive approach to personal growth and emotional healing. Core Principles of Karuna Bhav Meditation Compassion as a Fundamental Practice At its core, the Karuna Bhav Meditation encourages the cultivation of true feeling of compassion and goodwill. It teaches the practitioner to develop feelings of affection that transcend personal boundaries by making one feel connected with all creatures in the world1. The practice aims to help individuals: Develop unconditional compassion Develop empathy towards both themselves and others Reduce pain or suffering Promote calmness and emotional well-being Philosophical and Spiritual Foundations The concept of compassion in this meditation practice is very deep-rooted in broader philosophical traditions. In Yoga philosophy, compassion (Karuna) is considered a fundamental mental state. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras specifically advocate for cultivating compassion as part of a holistic approach to mental tranquility. Psychological Dimensions Karuna Bhav Meditation operates on multiple psychological levels: Self-Compassion: Developing kindness towards oneself Interpersonal Compassion: Extending empathy to others Universal Compassion: Generating goodwill towards all beings Meditation Techniques Visualization and Intention Practitioners commonly practice meditation through: Conscious visualization of compassionate situations Mental practices that elicit feelings of compassion Conscious development of loving-kindness Mindful reflection of interdependence Comparative Perspectives The practice is similar to compassion meditation in other traditions: Buddhist Approach In Theravada Buddhism, Karuna is classified as one of the four "divine abodes" (brahmavihāra). The Buddha suggested that one develop compassion by: Illuminating all directions Creating a compassionate consciousness that encompasses everything Transcending ego boundaries Distinguishing Characteristics Unlike mere sympathy, Karuna Bhav Meditation focuses on: Pure Motivation: Compassion without attachment Comprehensive Awareness: Moving beyond personal boundaries Transformative Potential: Compassion as a means to personal development Practical Benefits Emotional and Spiritual Results Regular practice of Karuna Bhav Meditation can result in: Decreased emotional pain Increased emotional intelligence Better relationships with others Increased feelings of inner peace Higher levels of empathy Higher Practice For advanced practitioners, Karuna Bhav Meditation is an intense spiritual journey. As described in the Tibetan Buddhist texts, compassion becomes a transformative power that can: Subdue self-centered views Acquire spiritual merit Glean more profound understanding of human existence Conclusion Karuna Bhav Meditation is an extremely effective method for individual and spiritual growth. Through careful nurturing of compassion, the inner environment will transform into ripples of kindness and understanding that flow well beyond the individual. The final aim is above self-interest, to create a compassionate heart that nourishes collective healing and inter-connected well-being

[julienlouis]

Describe How Empathy Affects Animal Communicators' Work.

Empathy lies at the heart of effective communication, enabling individuals to understand and connect with others on a deeper level. In the realm of animal communication, empathy plays a crucial role in facilitating meaningful interactions between humans and animals. It transcends mere words, allowing animal communicators to establish trust, decipher emotions, and bridge the gap between different species.

Understanding Empathy in Animal Communication

Empathy, often confused with sympathy or compassion, involves the ability to perceive and understand the emotions and experiences of another being. In the context of animal communication, it goes beyond linguistic barriers, encompassing a profound sense of connection and resonance with the animal's inner world.

The Role of Empathy in Building Trust

Trust forms the foundation of any successful relationship, including the bond between an animal communicator and their furry or feathery clients. Empathetic communication fosters trust by signaling genuine concern, respect, and understanding, paving the way for open and honest exchanges.

Enhancing Understanding Through Empathy

Empathy serves as a compass in navigating the intricate landscape of animal emotions and behaviors. By attuning themselves to subtle cues and energy patterns, communicators can gain invaluable insights into an animal's thoughts, feelings, and needs, facilitating more effective communication and problem-solving.

Empathy as a Bridge for Effective Communication

Empathy acts as a bridge, transcending the barriers of species and language to facilitate meaningful dialogue. Through empathy, animal communicators can convey messages with clarity and compassion, fostering mutual respect and cooperation between humans and animals.

Overcoming Challenges with Empathy

Despite its transformative potential, empathetic communication with animals presents its own set of challenges, including skepticism, skepticism, and misinterpretation. However, by cultivating empathy, communicators can overcome these obstacles, forging deeper connections and achieving positive outcomes.

Cultivating Empathy in Animal Communicators

Empathy is not merely an innate trait but a skill that can be cultivated and refined over time. Animal communicators can enhance their empathetic abilities through mindfulness practices, self-reflection, and ongoing training, thereby enriching their communication with animals and humans alike.

Ethical Considerations in Empathetic Animal Communication

Empathetic animal communication raises ethical considerations regarding consent, confidentiality, and the welfare of animals. Communicators must uphold professional standards, respecting the autonomy and dignity of both their animal clients and their human guardians.

Empathy and Healing

Empathy has profound healing potential, offering comfort and solace to animals in distress. By acknowledging and validating their emotions, communicators can facilitate the healing process, restoring balance and harmony to the animal's body, mind, and spirit.

Empathy in Training and Behavior Modification

Empathy-based approaches to training and behavior modification prioritize understanding and cooperation over coercion and dominance. By considering the animal's perspective and emotional state, communicators can cultivate trust and cooperation, resulting in more sustainable and humane outcomes.

Case Studies and Success Stories

Real-life examples illustrate the transformative power of empathy in animal communication. From resolving behavioral issues to facilitating emotional healing, empathetic communicators have achieved remarkable results, forging lasting bonds of trust and mutual respect.

Empathy Beyond Words

Empathetic communication extends beyond verbal dialogue, encompassing non-verbal cues, body language, and energetic exchanges. By tuning into these subtle signals, communicators can deepen their understanding and connection with animals, fostering richer and more meaningful interactions.

The Future of Empathetic Animal Communication

As technology advances and our understanding of animal cognition deepens, the future of empathetic animal communication holds immense promise. Innovations in communication tools and methodologies are opening new avenues for cross-species dialogue, enriching the lives of animals and humans alike.

Empathy and Connection Across Species

Empathy transcends boundaries, bridging the gap between different species and fostering a sense of kinship and interconnectedness. By cultivating empathy, we can cultivate a more compassionate and harmonious world, where all beings are valued and respected.

Conclusion

In conclusion, empathy is the cornerstone of effective communication in the realm of animal communication. By embracing empathy, animal communicators can forge deep and meaningful connections with their animal clients, enriching their lives and promoting mutual understanding and respect.

[elisaenglish]

What Makes a Compassionate World: Sophie de Grouchy’s Visionary 18th-Century Appeal to Parents and Teachers

The morning after the 2016 presidential election, I awoke to terrifying flashbacks of my childhood under a totalitarian dictatorship. Desperate for assurance that the future need not hold the total moral collapse of democracy, I reached out to my eldest friend for perspective. Months shy of 100, Helen had been born into a world war, survived the Holocaust, and fled from Poland to America without speaking a word of English before becoming a professor of English literature for half a century. 

I asked her what to do, where the hope lies. 

Her response was simple, profound.

“The most hideous crime against humanity,” she reminded me, began with a legal election. It is not, therefore, purely on the level of politics that we avert the unconscionable. It begins deeper, she said: in the moral foundation of the people, which is laid early in life; it begins with the impulses we nurture in our young. 

Born in an era when women were barred from formal education and all institutions of political, intellectual, and creative life, Sophie de Grouchy (April 8, 1764–September 8, 1822) was still a girl when she learned English, Latin, Italian, and German by sitting in on her brothers’s studies, not being allowed to have a tutor of her own; soon, she was teaching the boys herself. By the time she was a teenager, her bedtime reading was Marcus Aurelius, whose teachings on kindness left a deep impression.

Determined to grow both intellectually and morally, Sophie made frequent visits to the local poor with her mother and her sister to offer compassion and comfort. In this living laboratory of sympathy, she came to see how entwined the wellbeing of others is with one’s own, how enmeshed we are in what Martin Luther King, Jr. would call “an inescapable network of mutuality” a quarter millennium later.

After discovering philosophy—Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau—she grew disenchanted with the unprovable promises of religion. Upon announcing her atheism, her mother burned all of Sophie’s books. 

She was twenty-two when she met the philosopher and mathematician Nicolas de Condorcet, twice her age. He was as taken with Sophie’s intellect as he was with her moral courage—in one of their first encounters, he watched her throw herself between a rabid dog and a boy she was tutoring. Within weeks, they were married. After helping Condorcet set up a new lyceum where celebrated philosophers and scholars taught, she devoured the curriculum herself, studying mathematics, botany, history. She started taking painting lessons. She joined one of the first anti-slavery clubs. 

And then she began writing. 

While most of her writing is now lost, one masterwork survives—her translation of Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments. Published to earn money when her husband was killed in the Reign of Terror and she lost all her property, it embodies what the poet Wisława Szymborska would call “that rare miracle when a translation stops being a translation and becomes…. a second original.” Appended to it is her entirely original Letters on Sympathy (public library) — Sophie de Grouchy’s leap from the springboard of Smith’s theories into her own singular moral cosmogony. 

Although it appeared as an afterword to her translation of Smith in 1798, Sophie had been working on Letters on Sympathy for seven years, beginning when she was only twenty-seven and the French Revolution was raging around her. Rising from its pages are ideas epochs ahead of their time: Not long after Descartes declared nonhuman animals mere automatons, and very long before Jane Goodall lit the dawn of understanding animal consciousness, she insisted that animals are “sensitive beings” capable of empathy; two centuries before the discovery of mirror neurons, she wrote of how our sympathy is activated “when we see a sensible being suffer.” At the heart of her theory is the recognition that we are endowed with “a secret impulse to understand the troubles of others as soon as we suspect their existence,” but that this impulse atrophies if we fail to nourish it from the start and exercise it regularly.

Anchoring her argument is an impassioned appeal to parents and educators—one just as urgent today, and perhaps even more so in our age of competitive parenting that scars children’s souls with the tyranny of achievement and trains them to measure themselves by the trappings of outward success rather than by the scope of their sympathy. She writes:

“It seems clear that the more we exercise our sensitivity, the stronger it becomes… When it is not exercised, sensitivity tends to weaken… How important it must be, therefore, to exercise children’s sensitivity to the point where it will continue to develop as much as it is capable of—so that it can no longer be dulled by those things in life that tend to lead sensitivity astray. These things lead us far from nature and ourselves by focusing our sensitivity on vain and selfish passions, leading us away from simple tastes, and from those natural leanings in which the happiness of each person resides, the kind of happiness that does not require the sacrifice of others and that benefits all. Fathers, mothers, teachers—you nearly have in your hands the destiny of the next generation! How guilty you are if you allow your children to abort these precious germs of sensitivity which require, for their development, nothing more than the sight of suffering, the example of compassion, the tears of gratefulness, and an enlightened hand leading and moving them! How guilty you are if you care more about your children’s success than about their virtue, if you are more impatient to see them gain popularity in their circle than to see their heart brim with indignation for an injustice, their faces turn pale at the sight of suffering, their hearts treat all men as brothers!”

She offers a timeless recipe for cultivating that vital sensitivity in children:

“Teach them to be easily remorseful, delicately proud, and honest; let them not see suffering without being tormented by the need to bring relief. No less is needed in the midst of these oppressive barriers, raised between man and man from need, strength, and vanity, but that they should fear at each step to hurt rights or to neglect to repair some ancient wrong! That the sweet habit of doing good should teach them that it is through the heart that they will find happiness, and not through titles, luxury, dignities, or riches!”

Complement with Kahlil Gibran’s poignant advice on parenting and the great cellist Pablo Casals on how to make this world worthy of its children, then—because books are the finest instrument we have invented for magnifying empathy—revisit Mary Shelley’s philosopher-father William Godwin, writing in Sophie de Grouchy’s day, on how to raise a reader.

Source: Maria Popova, themarginalian.org (18th January 2024)

[banyantreeschool]

Navigating Excellence: Unraveling the Educational Tapestry of Banyan Tree School (BTS) in Chandigarh

In the clamoring instructive scene of Chandigarh, where each school guarantees qualification, finding the ideal organization for your kid's future can be a difficult journey. Among the horde decisions, Banyan Tree School (BTS) arises as a guide of commitment, professing to be something other than a school yet an extensive safe house for sprouting minds. However, does BTS really epitomize the brightness it guarantees? We should leave on a significant investigation, revealing the features that make BTS sparkle and inspecting assuming that it truly mirrors the splendor it purports.

Academic Excellence – A Pillar of Strength

The groundwork of any school's standing lies in its scholastic ability. BTS highly esteems reliably positioning among the top CBSE schools in Chandigarh. Its understudies succeed in scholastics as well as grandstand splendor in extracurricular exercises and cutthroat tests. Imagine homerooms resounding with exuberant conversations, where inventive showing techniques guide understudies toward reasonable seeing instead of simple repetition remembrance. Picture research centers as centers of investigation, where understudies are urged to try and find, worked with by cutting edge offices and an educational plan that advances logical request. This is the scholarly scene BTS paints - a material where greatness isn't simply an objective yet a unique excursion of scholarly development.

Holistic Development – Nurturing Minds, Hearts, and Bodies

Instruction stretches out past course readings and grades, a way of thinking BTS sincerely embraces. The school embraces an all encompassing methodology, expecting to support the brain as well as the heart and body. The educational program encourages the capacity to understand anyone on a deeper level, ingraining values like sympathy, regard, and social obligation. Imagine the school grounds changing into energetic fields for innovativeness and articulation, where understudies investigate their creative abilities through music, dance, and theater. Imagine sports fields resounding with cheers and sound rivalry as understudies push their actual limits, learning the ethics of cooperation and sportsmanship. This is the embroidery of comprehensive improvement that BTS winds around, guaranteeing understudies bloom into balanced people ready for the world with scholastic ability as well as areas of strength for a compass and a solid regard for them and others.

Global Citizenship – Embracing Diversity

In an interconnected world, training should prepare understudies to explore different human encounters. BTS figures out this, encouraging a feeling of worldwide citizenship inside its walls. Envision an understudy body mirroring the rich embroidery of societies and foundations, where contrasts are commended, and grasping twists. Picture worldwide trade programs opening ways to new viewpoints and producing fellowships across borders. This is the worldwide town BTS develops, equipping its understudies with the information and compassion to see the value in variety, team up across societies, and become dependable residents of the world.

Infrastructure – A Canvas for Aspiration

A school's current circumstance assumes a critical part in molding its air. BTS perceives this, flaunting an exceptional grounds filling in as a material for learning and motivation. Picture roomy homerooms washed in regular light, where innovation flawlessly mixes with customary techniques to establish an intuitive and invigorating climate. Imagine cutting edge research centers humming with logical investigation, offering open doors for involved learning and trial and error. This is the stage BTS sets for its understudies, guaranteeing they have the instruments and assets expected to light their interest and fuel their desires.

Beyond the Facade – Unveiling True Value

A school's worth rises above scholastic legitimacy, offices, and honors. It lies in the elusive strings winding around a feeling of local area, backing, and worth. BTS endeavors to make such an embroidery. Envision a devoted, receptive personnel, consistently present to direct and persuade understudies, scholastically as well as on the way of self-improvement. Picture a grounds overflowing with extracurricular exercises, clubs, and occasions, giving open doors to understudies to find their interests and fabricate enduring kinships. This is the unexpected, yet invaluable treasure BTS offers, guaranteeing its understudies feel scholastically tested as well as sincerely upheld and esteemed individuals from a flourishing local area.

Is BTS the Shining Gem? – A Reflection for Consideration

Anyway, does BTS remain as the sparkling pearl of Chandigarh instruction? The response, much the same as any diamond, shines multi-layered. It relies upon the needs, values, and desires of every person and family. BTS without a doubt offers various benefits - scholastic greatness, comprehensive turn of events, a worldwide standpoint, and a strong climate. However, knowing guardians should look past the sparkle and cautiously consider assuming its way of thinking and approach line up with their vision for their youngster's schooling.

All in all, the genuine pearl lies not in a solitary school but rather in the ideal arrangement between a kid's novel characteristics and the school that resounds with their true capacity.

[kavyasingh73]

Promoting Physical Activity and Exercise: A Path to Health and Happiness

Presentation:

BGS Tirupati school has consistently centered around scholastic greatness, we immovably accept that supporting hearts and psyches is similarly crucial in making balanced, sympathetic people. We will leave on an imaginative excursion to figure out the pith of SEL, its importance, and the way in which it shapes us into compassionate, strong, and sincerely clever creatures.

The Groundwork of SEL

We should Envision a reality where scholastics exclusively decide achievement, where compassion, mindfulness, and interactive abilities take a secondary lounge. This world, however scholastically capable, would miss the mark on capacity to understand people on a profound level important to flourish as people and a local area. SEL is the foundation of the ability to understand individuals on a deeper level, involving five center skills:

Mindfulness: The capacity to remember one's feelings and their effect. Self-Administration: The ability to valuably direct feelings and ways of behaving. Social Mindfulness: Sympathy and comprehension of others' viewpoints. Relationship Abilities: Building and keeping up with solid connections. Mindful Independent direction: Pursuing moral and useful decisions. SEL in real life

Picture a homeroom where understudies tackle complex numerical conditions as well as figure out the feelings of their friends. Picture a schoolyard where compromise isn't simply an educator's obligation yet an expertise every kid has. This is SEL in real life.

BGS Tirupati school, the best school in Tirupati, we mesh SEL into the texture of day to day existence. From morning circles where understudies discuss their thoughts to bunch projects that cultivate joint effort, we sustain the ability to understand people on a deeper level. Our instructors comprehend that educating stretches out past reading material, forming understudies' personality and compassion.

Compassion - The Core of SEL

Compassion, frequently depicted as the capacity to "stroll from another person's point of view," is a focal part of SEL. Through narrating, workmanship, and genuine encounters, we urge understudies to see the world according to different points of view. It resembles setting out on an excursion of 1,000 lives while remaining in one spot.

Our "Sympathy Days" challenge understudies to encounter life from alternate points of view. One day they could recreate existence with an actual inability, and on another, they might attempt to comprehend the difficulties looked by an old individual. These encounters develop compassion, assisting understudies with connecting with others on a significant level.

Flexibility - Quickly returning

In the narrative of life, challenges are the unexpected developments that keep us locked in. Versatility is the ability that empowers us to confront affliction with mental fortitude. Through narrating, pretend, and intelligent activities, we instruct understudies that disappointment is a venturing stone to progress. We praise the cycle, in addition to the result.

Our "Flexibility Studios" engage understudies to return from difficulties. They discover that disappointment isn't an objective however a diversion headed straight toward accomplishment. In these studios, they share accounts of their own difficulties, drawing strength from their weakness.

Enabling the Heads of Tomorrow

SEL isn't a range of abilities bound to the homeroom; it's a fundamental ability. It outfits understudies with the devices to become humane pioneers, viable communicators, and change-creators in the public eye. About sustaining the heads of tomorrow driven with their psyches as well as with their souls.

At our school, authority isn't tied in with being the most intense voice in the room; it's tied in with being the most sympathetic one. Through initiative projects, understudies discover that genuine initiative is tied in with serving others, cultivating a feeling of having a place, and lifting each other up.

SEL Past the Study hall

SEL stretches out past the walls of our school. We urge guardians and families to go along with us in this excursion. All things considered, learning is an organization among school and home. SEL exercises that include guardians make an extension between what is realized in the homeroom and its application in day to day existence.

Our "SEL Family Days" are events for guardians and understudies to meet up, take part in significant discussions, and take an interest in exercises that improve the ability to understand people at their core at home.

End:

SEL isn't an expansion to our educational plan; it's the substance of our instructive way of thinking. top school in Tirupati It's the steady conviction that scholastic greatness is fragmented without the capacity to appreciate anyone on a profound level. It's the comprehension that, in supporting hearts and psyches, we make people who won't just succeed scholastically yet in addition add to a kinder, more empathetic world.

As we proceed with this innovative excursion of Social and Close to home Learning, we welcome you to investigate the profundities of your own hearts and psyches. We should esteem the delight of learning, the force of sympathy, and the flexibility that impels us forward. Together, we shape a future where insight isn't simply a proportion of what we know yet additionally of what our identity is.

[herald-divine-hell]

The Character of Amayian and His Personality

So, I recently came to a realization that a lot of people might be entirely confused or bewildered by Amayian’s character - with some perception that he is entirely perfect, his trauma is built only to give him sympathy and shock value, and that his compassion toward others is played up in the manner of incel-like behavior. I specifically received an anon that rubbed me the wrong way, and entirely mischaracterized Amayian’s character and growth to a false version of him that never truly did exist. 

Let us start with the first point made. Is Amayian perfect? In my view, he is not, nor had I ever attended him to be perfect. There is plenty of evidence that shows he is incapable of being perfect - perhaps the biggest is his social ineptitude. Amayian had constantly be closeted and sheltered as an early age, picked almost on exclusively by his relatives based upon numerous factors - he was slow to anger, easily trusting, and to some extent his skin tone played a heavy role in that regard as well. Alongside that, his father’s example of reclusively of emotions, coupled with the determination set up by his mother and father to handle his powers in a subdued manner, implemented a severe level of inability to react socially to events or people. 

I refer to this as the Cutting of the Heart which many of my characters go through - both in the Dragon Age Fandom and my own personal writing -  emotions are a significant part of the human experience, and almost everyone on Earth has felt certain emotions. Now the understanding of those emotions and feeling such emotions are completely different, and I took examples from many cultures throughout history who view stoicism and repression of emotions as an ideal to demonstrate the dangers of particularly imposing a emotionless life upon children can have severe inhibitors emotionally, but as well as mentally. 

Yet, his magical abilities also permitted some level of political benefit for his family. Amayian had an acute awareness of manipulating fellows dreams, which allowed some information being shuffled down from him when he dreamwalked. His uncle in particularly used such an ability to cause him to be entirely mentally dependent on his family’s praise, tying down to his self-worth. He became not a child nor a man, but a tool for political machinations. If he failed them - which his family insinuated and Amayian mentally confirmed through the death of his mother - he would be casted away and forsaken. Of course Amayian would strive to be perfect in every regards, but the fact is that he does constantly fail, and it is a lesson taught by Leliana that failure itself is not a terrible thing, but how we react to the presence of failure that is important. 

Now to Amayian’s personality in regards to having “nice guy syndrome”, and in truth I cannot find anything that depicts Amayian as a “nice guy”. In truth, it is very much the opposite, especially if you read many of my writings of him. Not once does Amayian perceive any benefit or reward to being nice, especially in regards to receiving sexual favors from someone like Leliana. Amayian does not even think like that at all. The very conception that others would find him attractive never dawns on him, and instead he perceives the requests of such things as entirely on his ability to provide a service - to be a tool. In truth, when he began to realize that he may have romantic feelings to Leliana, he instantly disengages with the possibility, and is in truth frightened on the idea that Leliana would even find him a romantic suitor, especially given that Leliana and the Warden at the time were in a romantic relationship. It is partly the reason why he flees after Denerim, as much because he once more “failed” to save the Warden, just as he “failed” to save his mother, as it is that as long as he stays away from Leliana, his affection would remain quiet, and that she would never have to burden herself with someone like him. 

Now, how does that exemplify a “nice guy” or a “incel” relationship? When he does become part of a relationship, he is entirely dedicated toward Leliana or his partner, depending on the au, and would strive to do their desires at every turn. That is in no way a depiction of a “nice guy”, and once again shows a misinterpretation of his character and his actual relationship with Leliana. 

If anyone wishes to fully understand the basis of Amayian’s identify, I would highly recommend watching Violet Evergarden, where her character was very much an inspiration for Amayian as a person. 

[sneakyboymerlin]

Once again extrapolating on my nature deity Merlin theory, with a particular focus on how Merlin interacts with the cycles of birth, life, and death…

Merlin understands all too well how all life comes from death and all death from life. Realistically, he knows that people must hunt or scavenge to survive. But, even so, he sees unnecessary cruelty against animals—e.g. Arthur hunting for sport—and, just as he does for people, sabotages from the sidelines.

(And I think that fandom doesn’t enjoy nuance very much and tries to pin Merlin as either a trigger-happy murderer or a full vegan who couldn’t hurt a leaf, neither of which is accurate, but that’s another post.)

By no means is he against hunting for food, having lived in Ealdor for the better part of two decades; not when he and his friends were short on food in 1x10/11 and 3x13, not when it’s needed. Merlin is not the type to put perfectly good food to waste—we catch him eating Arthur’s leftovers in 4x10, for example. Additionally, with no indication that Merlin is against domesticated animal consumption, it’s easy to infer that he regards hunting from a practical perspective.

Just as he understands that killing a person in self-defense or in defense of others is an awful necessity, he would also never harm a person purely for his own enjoyment—he is on the receiving end of this more often than not, as a servant who is frequently taken advantage of by nobles. And so he applies this rule to animals as well: he’ll hunt to stave off starvation, but never for the supposed euphoric rush of a kill. He doesn’t understand Arthur’s enjoyment in this, just as Arthur doesn’t understand Merlin’s repulsion to it.

It’s easy to assume that being connected to nature means that Merlin is just a fan of deer and bunnies, but the reality is that innocence exists amongst the predators as much as the prey. Merlin knows this and applies it to his own life. But this does not mean he condones the needless killing of helpless animals.

What fascinates fans is how Merlin extends his sympathy to animals, defends them to people who don’t seem to care, and how this ties into his apparent magical connection to the natural world. If Merlin is able to feel how “full of life […] every tree, every leaf, every insect” is, then how has this influenced his prior actions and following behavior? Why does Merlin mistake this for a universal experience, only realizing after his explanation that other people do not feel the same way and have never met someone who is so sensitive to nature?

Humans are a natural factor of our ecosystems. Hunting is necessary to maintain a certain balance that has existed for thousands of years and to prevent the overpopulation of prey animals. In this way, humans fulfill a similar role to any other predator in the wild, same as when a predator’s body is decomposed and becomes nutrients for the trees.

But Merlin can only observe this system from afar. His own body can never be a part of the full cycle because he cannot stay dead and allow his physical body to become new life. He merely oversees nature and applies his will to support/maintain fair hunting.

He has a natural sense of justice and compassion for all living things, be it a creature of magic like the unicorn or a regular prey animal like a deer. He sees these beings as ultimately defenseless against human inventions/weaponry, whereas—from Merlin’s perspective—Arthur is convinced of his full superiority to animals and feels entitled to abuse his power for his own entertainment. (Although, it’s easier to see the fault of human social constructs if you’re at the bottom rung of the ladder like Merlin is.)

To make a long story short, Merlin is incredibly in touch with nature on both a metaphysical and instinctual level. He’s not inconsistent in how much he values nature, he simply uses as much of his environment as he needs to—no more, no less—and wishes that other people would follow his lead there.

Merlin can sense the harmony and cacophony of nature in ways other people can’t comprehend, but is comparable to a person’s ability for gauging the mood of other humans. This connection strengthens Merlin’s resolve to treat nature fairly, an ideal which necessitates the nuance and exchange of survival, as opposed to divorcing himself from the morbid bits.

Ultimately, Merlin is not much different from the rest of nature (including humanity)—rather, he epitomizes this shared, forgotten quality so instinctively that it stands out to everyone else, like the sudden conscious thought of your heart beating. It’s always there, but you have only a fleeting awareness of it, unlike our hyper-sensitive Merlin. Deity Merlin is intrinsically representative of nature.

[angrbodic]

Alucard thoughts (spoilers for Castlevania S4)

So to preface, I have a sinking suspicion that Alucard was a very solitary little boy and that perhaps his parents kept him close and were very over-protective of him. To me, that would make sense if that were the case; a dhamphir/vampire hybrid would be a rare occurrence in this world and we do have unofficial confirmation of that when Carmilla brought up the fact that Dracula never turned Lisa and they had a son together.

I’m sure not even Dracula would know what they were getting into having Alucard and then Dracula had to teach his son how to hone in on his vampiric side to keep it stable. So, it’s not to say Alucard doesn’t have people skills, he clearly does. I’m only mentioning this because--

-- I’ve seen others make a comment how Taka and Sumi’s betrayal didn’t make much of an impact on Alucard’s development. And I strongly disagree -- it did. 

Alucard does take after his father quite a bit.

- He’s analytical and meticulous, very thoughtful in what he does, like his father. - I’ve noticed that Alucard’s candor when he talks he’s exceptionally soft-spoken like him as well. But he’s not above swearing or making smarry comments. - He is also very dangerous like his father but that’s not a character trait. We’ve seen if he’s hurt enough, he’ll turn to what he knows scared people away (i.e. impaled corpses) but that also shows that, at one point, Dracula had to have discussed his human life with his son and what profound affect that had on him. No one’s going to know how that panned out, but this is in reference to “Lament of Innocence”. - Obviously Alucard is very intelligent, like his father, he’s very educated, so he has a passion to learn like his father. He even makes the comment to Sypha and Trevor how much his father enjoyed learning and lamented how much of a waste it was to see his father turn the way he did instead of using his knowledge to help people. But over all, I’d say Alucard strongly takes after his mother more than his father. He is another facet in Dracula’s long life to remind him of Lisa’s humanity, possibly to the point when his son tried to reason with him that he was so disgusted and hurt that he injured his son. Alucard has a strong sense of compassion and sympathy for others, so much like his mother, and he clearly tends to follow more in her footsteps than his father. 

So, not only did he act out of loneliness when Taka and Sumi asked for his help, he was taking after his mother in doing so. The games go the same direction, Alucard does what he does because of his mother and how much of weight she has on him. But this is going back to how Alucard was brought up, that he was sheltered, in some sense, his parents very protective of him, so I think a lot of naiveté was involved when he crossed Taka and Sumi. They spoke to not only that depression and loneliness, but they also spoke to how his mother was a constant reminder of good in the world.

He did want company, but he also wanted to continue his mother’s good will and helping others. So, he didn’t understand the implications of their desperation and didn’t see their betrayal coming. In my opinion, not only did these two exploit that, but they also coerced him into sex. I though that not only Hector’s sexual intimacy with Lenore was uncomfortable, but I thought Alucard’s was especially so, like his heart wasn’t in it. It’s not to say that it was dubious consent, but they used it as means to break him down and killed them.

So, when they betrayed them, he is so devastated, he goes back to where his father died and curls up to the remainder of his father, because you know at one point, Dracula was always emphasizing caution, vigilance, and that not everyone can be trusted, the opposite of what his mother taught him. He went to the closest source to what he knew best as means of strength and how to handle with being betrayed. His mother likely never experienced as much betrayal and cruelty as much as his father did. And, well, he doesn’t have physical connections to his mother’s remains.

We see Alucard shift further into his depression as season 4 comes up. You see a few more bodies outside of the castle but I highly doubt that Alucard did this to random people without provocation. But more importantly, he just looks absolutely disheveled.

He’s unkempt, filthy, and looks worse for wear. We know he has guilt in doing what he’s done but also the affects of Taka and Sumi’s betrayal made him feel so awful that he let himself go to a complete, literal mess. Before then, Alucard was a clean, well-kempt man. Alucard stopped taking care of himself because what was the point if they were seeing him as someone to be used (not feared, even) for his knowledge and home. The bodies outside were used to ward people away, but even Dracula managed to stay clean and well-kempt, not like his son.

I think this touches the depths of Alucard’s shatter of self-confidence and how lowly he thought of himself after being used by Taki and Sumi. He would have shoved himself further into that pit, but the note and the man that died along the way was a nudge into the right direction. It spoke to his good nature and gave him purpose once more. Innocent people that were 20 miles away that desperately need his help.

Not like people approaching him in the one place he felt secure, a metaphorical invasion of his personal space. Again.

So it makes sense that he felt more secure going out to assist people and once how he saw families being tormented after losing his family, he couldn’t sulk in the castle. He wouldn’t sulk in the castle, because that’s not him. He’s not his father, he can’t do what he did, because ultimately, he’s more like his mother and his mother’s virtues are stronger in him. He is the literal antithesis of his father, he is his mother’s son.

I feel that Alucard always wanted an interaction with the outside world and he certainly had that with the refugees he helped. He played with the children, he happily gave them food, and he was doing what his mother did and you know that’s what he wanted to do in the end: Do what his mother did and used his father’s knowledge for good, like she did.  I feel like in the end, Alucard’s quiet inner grief from season one where he shut down from the world (not only just to heal his wounds) after his mother’s awful death, he was coaxed to open up and find a sense of community and love that he wouldn’t have had and had to limited degree after his mother’s death.

He didn’t see himself worthy of it, not only on the account of his father’s blood, but what he did in reaction to being betrayed. I’m not going to say Alucard’s reaction was completely awful: what Taka and Sumi did was wrong and it hurt him more than he let on and more than what’s seen on a surface level. But not only that, Sypha and Trevor had such an impact on him as well, reminding him of his mother’s good deeds that was easy for him to feel comfortable in his skin again, or perhaps, the most he’s ever felt comfortable as his own person ever did.

From a man that was so deeply traumatized, hurt, alone, and exploited from the very first episode (you know Dracula would have used his son as a tool in his revenge if Taka and Sumi didn’t use him) to a man that’s finally found purpose and it’s the best way he can coumarate not only his father, but especially his mother.

And maybe that’s why he looks “weirdly happy”, the poor man has been limited so much in his life. So in retrospect, his development makes sense. He didn’t necessarily transform -- he found himself again and he found an even better part of himself he never knew he had. People like him for what he is: witty, compassionate, intelligent, and sympathetic. 

[gameclam]

do you have any specific sweet voice headcanons? also any headcanons as to whats going on with Gordon and Benreys brain as in nuerodivergent ways <3

SWEET VOICE SECTION:

i have a general idea of how i view how sweet voice works. It's an emotion, a language, and it can effect people. However humans who can do sweet voice (like coomer) couldn't rlly have the capacity to rlly understand the language OR make effects with it, it's more of just a fun thing to do. also for newbies it fucking burns

Red is passionate, this can be anger, hostility, and types of romance (I.E a bright red would be like, strong love, a dark red would be hostile and probably an attack-based voice)

sweetvoice is such a large mixture of things, different color mixes can create different/new effects and words. Red to blue and blue to red do not mean the same thing or do they do the same. Also to benry (and tommy who can read it) it is more then just simple colors, every slight variation in hue can come across differently.

Light pink takes like strawberries and cream, it's a romantic soft love, often the one benry uses to show his love to gordon. He could also use bright red but pink is more casual. Different pinks can also be platonic love, familial love and stuff!

'Disgust' is benry's least favorite flavor/taste which i for some reason hc to be apples, he fucking hates them and each disgust level is a different apple type

If Benry holds in his sweet voice too long it can 'burn' which is very uncomfortable, it has to come out at some point. It's a lot like holding in your emotions

Benry's way of doing sweet voice is incredibly different then other eldritch, Benry's is far more... expressive. More eldritches of his type (horror) do not/won't show capacity for love or kindness and refuse to incorporate that to their voice, for the most part there's is more harmful and angry. Benry's is more like a song and is super expressive, to an eldritch benry is far more emotional, while on the outside to a human he is incredibly un-emotional/unexpressive.

Also to note, not all eldritch even do a sweet voice, some just don't have it, idk what the perimeters for having it would be, but they often have stuff similar TO sweetvoice.

ND STUFF:

Benry, to especially humans, as said, is a lot less expressive. his vocal tone changes are subtle but still there, but facial wise/body wise he really isn't very expressive. He is in more subtle ways like stimming or slight facial changes

Benry does not understand human empathy/sympathy but he does have a lot of compassion in his heart.

He thinks he's "Bad" because the type of eldritch he is is often seen as evil/unforgiving horror. He's so used to be labeled this that he kind of believes it, even if he's actually pretty harmless.

He's not good at expressing his emotions in normal ass ways. So learning his expressions/emotional range is like learning a new language, but after that the 'weird' stuff he says can actually be pretty indearing.

Similarly Gordon is incredibly emotional, this man breaks easy in every way. Sad and happy he is INCREDIBLY EXPRESSIVE. despite this he has trouble reading other peoples emotions, especially if theyre too different from how he expresses his

Gordon's stims are far more loud then Benry's, he flails his body and hands like a bird, he dances a lot, he whistles and makes a lot of noises, and a lot of little things, Benry's are more subtle, like sweetvoice can be counted, making weird noises, and doing small stuff like tapping his boots. If he's happy enough he rocks, often times they will mirror each-others stims though.

Benry and gordon get along better when they both learn to try and communicate/read eachother better

Gordon for a long time had no idea he was autistic and had adhd. straight up didn't even suspect it. He KNOWS he's got a psychotic disorder (headcanon) but often denied it's effect on his life since he was scared of being seen as different

Benry doesn't like the idea necessarily that he's got human definitions of disorders bc he is ALSO scared of being different, not only is he different from humans obviously, he is also different to his own kind, he doesn't rlly like that even if he pretends not to care.

Gordon is absolutely terrible at organization, even in normal shit like his cupboards, Benry is in contrast incredibly organized and hates gordon's cupboards.

Benry has a bit of a hoarding problem, not rlly on the outside but he will put literally anything and everything into his void pocket. idk if this counts as something but the man is literally carrying around entire sets of furniture he's never going to use in there

Gordon and Benry have major RSD moments but they both show them in different ways, but at the same time they both do that thing where they decide they hate someone as soon as 1 bad thing happens. and vice versa

Benry doesn't like. understand how other people work and doesn't rlly try to understand it at all which is what often gets him in trouble

Gordon completely does not understand people as well but it actually works in his favor. somehow he's able to talk to people and get invited to bbq's with people he's never known because he's just so charismatic besides also being othered constantly. Also not to mention he'll literally just touch peoples faces and shoulders with no warning and some how never gets in any shit for it

Mr gordon like "I dont have a schedule problem" and then immediately freaks out when his schedule is any different then the norm

Benry also has a schedule problem but mostly with specific stuff. he doesn't rlly have a schedule for day-to-day life but if he has plans and something changes he will certainly lose his mind

[ibringyouasong89]

Self-Awareness Time, Part One:

So I’m reading this article one day, (see article here: https://psych2go.net/6-signs-youll-be-single-forever/), and realize how some of this is true, but also some of it is bullshit. Spoiler Alert: I haven’t had a boyfriend since I was 18.  Is it because I haven’t wanted to be with someone, or be in a relationship, since that one ended? Quite the contrary, actually. I have dreamed, since I was a small child, of a perfect soulmate for me, and that it would be a Disney-movie-ending come true for the rest of my life. Having my first (and since then, only) boyfriend break up with me (so he could go out with my ex-best friend, who in turn, dumped her boyfriend of three years - who was my childhood friend from elementary school - in order to be with him; it was dramatic, stupid, and messy, i.e. we were teenagers who thought they knew themselves but didn’t have a clue) did not, in fact, deter those dreams at all. The problem is that I didn’t learn to love myself. I learned to move on, which is always wonderful, but I didn’t hold myself in any higher esteem than I had before, and while I was with him. It wasn’t a reflection on being with him, but more or less, a reflection of myself and how I saw myself, based on my childhood and certain experiences. Fast forward a couple of years later: my parents are divorced, my father is dead, my childhood friends have disappeared out of my life for the most part, I live with my mother and grandfather (who was close to dying himself), and I am now living in a different state, faraway from everything I know and love and hate everything about this new place. I hated (and still do, for many of these points) the polluted environment, I hated the lack of nature (I moved to a metropolitan-region within the realm of a major city), I hated how crowded it is, I hated how everyone lives on top of one another; I hate the noise, the traffic, and most of all, I hated how alien and out of place I feel. I knew I didn’t belong, but because of finances, and having an ineffective bachelor’s degree (that didn’t come with a lifetime guarantee of having a career, as promised by my parents and elder generations. Though it did come with the nice guarantee of student loans), I was unable to move anywhere else. I was unable to be independent, financially or otherwise, and could do nothing to make my dreams a reality or to improve my life. In short, I was stuck. And hating every minute of it, along with myself. To be fair, I wasn’t an emotionally healthy person to start off with - but I mean, who is by the time they’re 23, 24 years old, and a culminating reflection of time, pressure, past abuse, parental issues, trust issues, abandonment issues, lack of socializing/being ostracized for being different, and self-worth and self-love issues? No one, and I mean, NO ONE, is taught how to love themselves, completely, as a child. I don’t care who raised you or where you grew up. This is a fundamental truth and fact. But I met someone. Lo and behold, there came this divine gift, one day, of someone who was just like me! He didn’t have the same issues as I, but he understood in a general sense (as any individual who has a certain degree of sympathy and empathy can do), and made me feel seen (even if I hated it at times). Someone who, in all honesty, has fundamentally changed me forever. And to think I met him at my job! (i.e. retail). This person...well, I thought he might’ve been THE ONE. I was really, REALLY in love with him. More so than I ever thought I could be with someone.  Our connection was real and based on emotional, mental, and spiritual intimacy (there was none of the physical, which was probably for the best, in the end), and I had never loved anybody before, in the entire history of being connected to family and friends, the way I had loved him. I thought he was truly something special - a gift from the universe that not only allowed to experience this once-in-a-lifetime kind of love, but also because of how OBVIOUS it was that we were meant for each other. (I was so arrogant back then and admit it heartily now). Well, suffice to say, it didn’t end in rainbows-and-sunshine-for-years-to-come. He had already been entering a relationship when I met him, while also having his heart broken by another girl. As the saying goes: wrong place and time. While I was busy pining over him and fantasizing about us being together romantically (after building this incredible connection and deep friendship), he was happily living his life and enjoying his relationship...even though, for a time, he went out of his way to spend time with me and deepen our emotional intimacy further. He told me things about himself, and his life, that he swore he had never told another human being before in his life. But it all came to a grinding halt one day - out of the blue - when he severed our connection with all of the swiftness and severity of a well-placed swing from a sharpened blade. Later he would confess that it wasn’t intentional - it was because he was busy cutting other people out of his life and I got caught up in the “crossfires” of it all via social media and the like *insert eyeroll here* - but that he had also been conscious of my burgeoning feelings for him, and felt “flattered” that I had come to regard him so greatly. He promised to re-open the lines of communication between us again and to be a better friend. Spoiler Alert Part Two: None of these promises were fulfilled. Now, some of you (or whoever reads this long-ass personal post) might say “Well, maybe in knowing about your feelings, THAT was why he didn’t bother talking to you anymore. It made him uncomfortable, especially since he was in a relationship with someone else. He just wanted to make a clean break.” To be completely honest, I was aware of that possibility from the get-go. The problem is that he claimed (during this period of seeking me out and spending quality time with me) his relationship with his girlfriend was “casual.” That he was more than aware that he was her first boyfriend, but that he knew it wouldn’t last. In knowing that, he still pursued a relationship with that girl (though his self-prophecy did come to pass...three years later). Now, there were never any promises made about entering a relationship with ME, as some of you may point out as well. I agree. There are, and never will be, any guarantees when it comes to the heart. Someone who learns to love another is quite capable of also learning how to un-love that same individual, at any time. And hatred, as many know, is not the opposite of love; apathy is its true counterpart.

No, what was truly hurtful was that he knew that truth, honesty, compassion, consideration, and genuineness were core values of mine. Values that I thought he shared...but turned out to be lies when he revealed his regard, or lack-there-of, for me in the end. When he did not confront me over my feelings for him and instead played ignorant for the sake of his own happiness. When he promised that this did not interfere with his ability to be my friend, even after confessing said romantic intentions to him, and probably lying about it all the same. He knew of my past, my issues, and had probably guessed at my level of loneliness and knew about my lack of friends since moving away from my hometown...and didn’t think twice of ditching me, nor of how his sudden “ignorance” about our bond would effect my feelings. That being “one of the guys” was my true status - despite the fact that I have breasts, a vagina, lack a penis, and had never acted in a “masculine way” around him (aside from being intelligent, having common sense, being interested in comic books, music, and movies, having a deep appreciation for classic muscle cars, and a biting sense of sarcasm); i.e. no hanging out in bars with him and his male friends, no doing stupid shit for giggles, no running around in the middle of the night to each other’s houses to smoke pot and drink in the basement, not being into sports and wrestling, recalling the same stupid stories from high school and retelling them, over and over again, along with the same stupid jokes, etc...And I’m not judging any female (or person) who does DO this, or enjoy these things! I’m just simply describing how he, and his friends, acted and what their similar interests are. I was “friend-zoned” (which is a ridiculous phrase, but I can’t think of anything else to describe it as), but was NOT treated like a friend any longer. I was treated like a stranger or an acquaintance that you remember vaguely seeing in the hallways and cafeteria when you attend your high school reunion (that guy who makes you go “Oh, *Insert Name Here*! Omg! How are you?! Wow, it’s been a while! Great to see you lost all that weight! So uh...how’s things?”). In short: I was being gas-lit. For anyone who has experienced this, you have my deepest sympathies and my ear and shoulder, whenever you would like. Of course part of the blame falls on me too: for treating romantic love like a drug I couldn’t live without, for depending on someone too much for my happiness, and for allowing myself to be treated as someone who is less than worthy of real love, respect, consideration, kindness, compassion, and honest, open communication.

So, not only did this guy break my heart, but he also threw me, and our friendship, away like it all meant nothing. It became obvious then that I, and our bond, had never mattered to him at all.  The worst part is that he continued to flirt with me, stringing me along (unknowingly or not), while also maintaining this enforced distance! (Which is also COMPLETELY WRONG TO DO TO ANYONE!) In truth, I think he’s an unaware narcissist who doesn’t realize, on an unconscious level, how manipulative he can really be. It’s sad. But I know, without wishing for it or egging the universe on, that there is a lesson waiting for him in the wings of the cosmos that will enable him to truly understand the lows, and highs, of true personal awareness (if it should come to pass - anything is possible, in any way, shape, or form). But back to the point: In conclusion, my soul was shattered. My heart was a destroyed. I fell into a depression based, not only on this heartbreak, but also my heart being broken by ME. I was so unhappy with everything going on, and not, in my life and it all felt so hopeless and pointless. I could see no path forward, no future for myself, that didn’t result either in me being unhappy or being unstuck. (Hell, even writing about all of this is allowing the phantom pains to rise from their graves in my heart, which makes me realize how much healing, and self-love, I still have to gain). This, however, was the beginning of my awakening for me.

It dawned on me like the rising sun within me that I really SHOULDN’T put stock into having people depended upon so much to MAKE me happy. I should be making MYSELF happy. But then the deepest question, out of the pit of darkness within my soul, arose: Why WASN’T I happy with myself?