#trust and connection

[rinyukiliv]

“She’d been playing the game so long, she almost forgot what it meant to trust someone.”

Here's an expanded version for Tumblr:

Roxy had lived a life of alliances. Everything was currency — names, favors, power. Information bought you breathing room. Silence bought you time. Blood bought you respect, but only if you spilled the right kind.

You gave trust sparingly, took it away quicker. That was the first lesson Tommy had taught her, back when she was still small enough to sit on his knee while he counted money and planned murders with equal care.

"Trust is a bullet, Roxy," he'd said, blue eyes cold as winter morning. "You only get to fire it once. Make sure you aim right."

She'd lived by that rule for twenty-six years. Had navigated the Blackwood empire, the American underworld, even the early days with SAMCRO by treating every relationship like a transaction. What did they want? What could she give? What would it cost her in the end?

But something about Jax was different.

He wasn't polished like the politicians her adoptive mother entertained. Wasn't careful like the criminals her father dealt with. Wasn't calculating like Tommy, measuring every word for maximum impact.

Jax Teller was raw honesty wrapped in leather and regret. He said what he meant and did what he said — no matter how much it hurt, no matter how much it cost him.

When he'd told her about Tara, about the baby, about the life he'd thought he wanted, his voice had cracked with genuine pain. When he'd admitted he was scared of becoming Clay, scared of what the club was turning him into, there hadn't been an angle. No manipulation. No hidden agenda.

Just truth. Brutal, beautiful truth.

It had been like watching someone bleed voluntarily.

"Why'd you come back?" he asked now, voice rough from whiskey and exhaustion. They were sitting on his bike outside the clubhouse, the California night heavy around them like a blanket.

She could have lied. Should have lied. Could have said something about business, about the club, about needing to check on things after Abel's kidnapping. Safe answers that would keep her walls intact.

Instead, she found herself saying, "Because you didn't lie to me."

The words came out quiet but sure, like a confession she hadn't meant to make.

"That's worth more than anything I've ever been offered."

And it was true. In a world built on deception, where even her own name was a carefully constructed fiction, Jax's honesty was like finding water in the desert. Dangerous to drink too much, but impossible to resist.

She didn't know where this would end. Didn't know if Tommy would kill him when the truth came out. Didn't know if SAMCRO would survive learning what she really was. Didn't know if she'd survive it with her heart intact.

But she was tired of pretending. Tired of measuring every word, calculating every smile, treating love like a business transaction.

And with Jax Teller? She wanted at least one thing in her life that wasn't built on a lie.

Even if it killed her.

Especially if it killed her.

"Roxy—" he started, but she pressed a finger to his lips.

"Don't," she whispered. "Don't say anything you can't take back."

Because once they crossed this line, there would be no going back to safe alliances and careful transactions. There would only be truth, and consequences, and the kind of love that started wars.

And she was finally ready for the fight.

In Charming, there are no saints — only sinners choosing who they'll bleed for.

No Saints in Charming | Sons of Anarchy x Peaky Blinders Crossover Some truths are worth dying for

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Happy one year anniversary to In Stars and Time!

[anicream]

there's this light you keep on chasing

[nenoname]

"There's gotta be a way out of this!" "I gotta do it." "What?! Don't do this! Are you crazy?" "Trust me." "What?" "Just this once. Trust me!"

(+ an echo from the pilot and awkward sibling hugs)

[inkskinned]

you know, you know. no gods, no masters, no kings on pedestals. everyone is fallible. death of the author. you know! you are balanced about your intake of media - you allow the wiggle room, the grace, the gratitude, the skepticism. nobody above criticism.

but still. a weird gut-punch feeling, something akin to betrayal. you read the article. surprise! an author you love is actually: a serial fucking predator.

well, shit. what now. no, you knew he was a person (all people are), but now you're wondering - what have i overlooked by accident? what messages have i internalized that are strange and cruel? and also, like, what the fuck?

his actions lay a thick glaze on top of everything. like each place is now ruined, opaque in a new way. but okay, fine, you've done this before. you knew better, right? you've been betrayed by many a cherished childhood author.

still, this stickiness. fuck. can you pick up that book again. will you read it to your children. you've recommended it to others - will you ever do that again? and of course, of course, no parasocial relationships. you were theoretically above this kind of sentiment. but the artist informs the art, right.

so it's not something as clear-cut as feeling he owed you, specifically (a stranger) better behavior - just that you kind of, in a distant and odd way... sort of trusted him to do better. it's not like a real trust or something speakable, just the faint hope that the product (good books) was a thin representation of the soul. now it feels like the product (good? books?) was a mask. in some small or insignificant way, your previous support of this person lent them power. your money and your time and your laughter.

and the thing is - you have this terrible, echoing sensation. how many times will this happen? over and over. you find out that the singer you love is actually a predator. you learn over drinks that your favorite high school english teacher is in jail for what he did to her. you listen to the news idly and suddenly discover that a woman you used to idolize has been abusing her kids for an actual eon.

what can you touch without the static melting off. you can't even really complain about it too much (you were supposed to know better, and besides, you don't want the same re-split "it's not your fault, love what you love" basic advice), but now it's here. somehow, it feels like - you let him into your life.

it's not that things need to be pure or an artist has to be like, endlessly perfect, mindful. demure. it's more just this terrible truth that has been replayed through your veins so often it feels criminally vain. power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. did you want any one person to be worth that power?

it's just that he wrote books where he seemed to understand that. he seemed to know about hierarchies and unfair systems and bigotry and privilege. you thought they were books about what it means to struggle. you thought they were about having power and still using it for good rather than for control. he spooned you a narrative of being a good guy, a kind soul. you fucking bought what that fucking monster sold.

maybe that's why they were fantasies, after all.

[harmonyhealinghub]

The Essence of Trust: Building Strong Foundations in Relationships

Shaina Tranquilino

September 16, 2023

Trust is like the air we breathe - it's invisible yet essential for our survival. In every aspect of life, trust plays a fundamental role in building and maintaining relationships, whether personal or professional. It is the glue that holds together friendships, partnerships, and communities. This blog post aims to explore the significance of trust and how it can be nurtured and strengthened.

Defining Trust:

Trust is a complex concept that encompasses reliability, honesty, integrity, and confidence in someone or something. It involves having faith in others' abilities and character while feeling secure and comfortable in their presence. When trust exists within relationships, it creates an environment where people can freely express themselves without fear of judgment or betrayal.

The Foundation of Trust:

Building trust requires time, effort, and consistency. Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, trust cannot be established overnight. It grows gradually through shared experiences and reliable actions. Open communication plays a pivotal role in this process; expressing thoughts honestly helps foster transparency between individuals.

Reliability and Consistency:

Reliability serves as a cornerstone of trust-building. Dependability ensures that commitments are honored and promises are kept. Whether it's meeting deadlines at work or being there for a friend during tough times, consistently showing up builds trust over time.

Honesty & Integrity:

At the heart of any trustworthy relationship lies honesty and integrity. Being truthful with ourselves and others forms the basis for fostering authentic connections. Dishonesty erodes trust exponentially faster than any other factor. Transparency is vital when mistakes happen since admitting them openly demonstrates accountability.

Vulnerability & Empathy:

Trust flourishes when individuals feel safe enough to be vulnerable with one another. Sharing fears, weaknesses, aspirations, and dreams allows for deeper understanding and empathy to flourish within relationships. By listening attentively without judgment, we create space for others to open up genuinely.

Forgiveness and Second Chances:

Trust cannot be built without acknowledging that humans are fallible. Mistakes will inevitably occur, but what truly matters is the willingness to forgive and offer second chances. Forgiveness doesn't mean forgetting, but rather learning from past experiences and allowing growth to take place.

The Impact of Trust in Relationships:

When trust thrives within relationships, it brings numerous benefits. It enhances communication, encourages collaboration, and fosters a positive working or personal environment. Trust allows individuals to rely on each other's strengths, creating synergy where everyone feels valued and appreciated.

Rebuilding Broken Trust:

While rebuilding trust after it has been broken is challenging, it can be achieved with patience, understanding, and consistent efforts. Re-establishing open communication, demonstrating remorse for the breach of trust, and following through on commitments can help heal wounds over time.

In a world often marred by skepticism and cynicism, trust remains an invaluable asset that paves the way for meaningful connections between individuals. By cultivating reliability, honesty, vulnerability, empathy, forgiveness, and consistency within our relationships - we can create strong foundations of trust that stand the test of time. Remember that building trust requires effort from all parties involved; however, the rewards gained are immeasurable – fostering healthier relationships both personally and professionally.

[beccawise7]

There is nothing quite as beautiful as being openly yourself with another and completely accepted for who you are.

~beccawise7 💜🖤

[tea-cat-arts]

Lin Ling's arc was about establishing what the rules of the world even were

Yang Cheng’s arc was about how malicious actors can use those rules/ others' compliance with the rules to screw people over

Cyan's arc was about how the rules aren't set in stone and that a happy ending is still possible

Liu Yuwei's arc was about how by forming genuine connections and building up a real support system, you can put yourself in a position to reforge the rules entirely

In this essay I will-

[edorazzi]

Page 47 of my Miraculous Mentor AU comic A Matter of Trust! In which Felix takes the risk of opening up to his uncle and dragging old wounds to the surface... 💔🩹

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Weekly updates each Sunday! You can also read ahead early on Patreon, and/or buy me a Ko-fi if you'd like to support my work! 💖

[vechter]

deeply important to me that dick & rose have the most uncomfortable relationship in the world... despite the positive connotations of having their own relationships with joey and roy (bc the slade of it all cannot be overshadowed)... like can they rely on each other in world-ending scenarios? yes of course... they fight well together too considering dick was the one who partially 'trained' her. they'll never ignore an sos from each other... but there's just this unnerving level of discomfort around each other because they saw each other at their worst and neither of them are the type of people to forget that. it's not distrust, exactly, but an absence of trust. and they're both aware of it!!! although, rose is the one to double down on it and/or call dick out for it... dick is the kind of guy to internalize it and blame himself because to a certain extent, he enabled the time rose spent under slade and that leads to a terrible amount of guilt. rose refuses to let dick martyr himself on her cross because she made those choices and yes, they were under false information and intentions, but she was the one to make them and dick doesn't get to take that away. so they're just viscerally uncomfortable around each other and they can't talk about it because they won't talk about it so they just exist in this perpetual stalemate where they're both a reminder of some of the worst moments of their lives to each other (and this is not even getting into the joey of it all... forever a haunting... her brother who she never knew, who was killed in front of dick by her father... the resentment and blame and guilt... it's all so delicious)

[archerdepartures116]

omg I can finally spill my guts about my Liu Qingge headcannons

He's not the one who does his hair most of the time, cause if it was left to him he would only have a fuckass ponytail, no long bang or braid in sight. Liu Mingyan definitely comes over to help him out in the morning (and by morning I mena like 4 in the morning cause the Liu sibs both seem like the type to be morning people)

Also when he's feeling really really irritated, he hunts down Binghe to spar with him (aka beat the shit out of him with no repercussions haha)

i just thought of this ask as this

(he definitely does seek out Luo Binghe like that dog that wants to nip your ankels everytime it sees you)

[ciderjacks]

Chilchuck is one of those special characters where you learn about his past and you go “ohhhh that explains a lot” except where for most characters this happens like once or maybe twice, with Chilchuck it happens literally any time you learn anything at all about him, and every time it’s explaining a different thing he has going on.

[egophiliac]

so on the subject of the "Crowley is secretly Revaan/Laverne/Levin/please Twst give us his name" theory, I think my feelings are best summed up as "I don't really buy it, but it's funny". like, in all seriousness, I'm not opposed to it; I have enjoyed the writing in Twst so far and I'm willing to trust that whatever happens will, you know, make sense and not be terrible. but I'm just not really convinced by the current evidence! maybe that'll change once we learn more, we'll see!

with that said, may I propose a few alternate theories about the possible Crowley/Revaan connection:

[antianakin]

I'm kind-of genuinely devastated that they decided to cut out the reveal of Perrin having known all along about Mon Mothma's rebel activities and was getting interrogated WEEKLY by the Empire and never cracked even once.

This would've helped answer SO MANY QUESTIONS about Mon and Perrin, and it could've easily helped answer the question of why Mon felt like she could just walk away from her family after making herself public enemy number one.

She goes to finally explain it all to Perrin right before she makes the speech because dammit she might not have trust him or even like him all that much but she doesn't want him DEAD and he deserves the chance to find this out from her and get himself to safety before she turns his life upside down, and he tells her he's known all along and covered for her this whole time and never once cracked or been discovered, even when she framed him for gambling and sold off their daughter to a gangster's son. He lets her know that he doesn't need to go to safety, he's not just going to run now because that'll just make him look like he was involved in it. He can continue to cover for himself when the Empire comes to interrogate him again, and he can do it well enough to ensure Leida doesn't get implicated, either. Mon's priority is the rebellion, her priority is her work and it always has been, even to the detriment of her relationship with her family, and Perrin understood that but it meant that HIS priority had to be protecting and taking care of Leida in the absence of her mother. So Mon has to go, but Perrin has to stay because their daughter needs him now more than ever.

And it just makes the choice that Mon has made so clear, the sacrifice she chose to make for the sake of the rebellion, and she can't back out now, she can't make a different choice because she tells herself she's doing this FOR Leida, to try to make a better world for her daughter to live in, but in order to give Leida that world, she has to leave Leida behind.

But she realizes now that she CAN trust Perrin, she could've trusted him all along, so she chooses to trust him now. She trusts him with their daughter, she trusts that he can take care of himself and Leida in her absence once more.

This helps Mon's arc SO MUCH, and I honestly love it, and as Bissell says it's technically a non-canon thing now because it clearly never even made it into the script really let alone got filmed, but it's pretty easy to slot it into what we DID get to see, so as far as I'm concerned, this is my canon. This fixes so many of the problems I had with the end of this arc for Mon and makes it so much more emotional and almost tragic. Mon made her choices and you can argue that some of them were mistakes if you want, you can argue that it made her a bad mother if you wanted to, but it's so much more complicated and nuanced than that, and I love that this finally makes that so clear. Mon made her choice and her family paid the price a long time ago, long before Mon was willing to acknowledge that she'd made that choice.

[iliothermia]

Jewish friends.. Stay safe, I love you, please take care of yourself, keep doing your best even though it's hard so often lately. You deserve good days, mutual respect, care and love.