#yes the adhd coding is intentional

[otome-on-the-side]

Random Mammon hc that also ties in with my hc height for him that I’ve had for awhile: one of his demon forms is a large murder of crows. Due to his pacts with witches, he simply sends some of himself to do tasks for them as a part of it. He’s shorter and constantly multitasking due to this :>

[lake-cosay]

jesse cosay has adhd and autism and i can prove it

[theyluvlyss]

𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 "𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬" 𝐟𝐢𝐜/𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞...

no offense, but it's the same five songs (a.k.a. same plots/reader types) over and over again. like guys - WHERE'S THE CREATIVITY ?! THE FANTASY ?! THE IMAGINATION ?!

like hellooo, there's literally vampires, magic/hoodoo, and a million themes both hidden and not-so-hidden to work with. not to say i'm not loving what i'm seeing right now, don't get it twisted - I am, and y'all are good,,, but I just think we can do more and better😌🙏🏽.

hence why, I present...

a list of some wip's I got goin' for the future, along with my takes on why/how I came up with them😻 !!

but before I begin...

fair warning #1 - you're welcome to be inspired, but plz don't steal, i'm putting so much effort into these, my notes app hasn't been closed not once😭🙏🏽.

fair warning #2 - ikik, most of these are remmick, plz don't come for me✋🏽🥲✋🏽. I was trying to get them all out of my head before I forgot them, I love working with vampire characters, and finally, yes ofc I will be conjuring up some more for bo chow, plenty for stack and smoke, and some for sammie :). I am a multifandom account, after all, I be working on helllllaaaa other things and trying not to forget them all, so cut some slack <3.

fair warning #3 - I mentioned this in my last post, but all of my readers are black/black-coded. obnoxiously so. because, and stay mad about it, but this is for the niggas, strictly for the niggas, like I don't give a FUCK, okay? y'all can request whatever y'all want (within reason, because if I see something weird in my inbox, you're blockt), but when it comes down to prompts like these - where they're made up by me, original thoughts, not asked for, this is my blog and I can post what I want type shit - it always gave black!reader, like it's the norm over here, I shouldn't even have to say it lol.

anyways, onto my wip's /ᐠ^˕^マ !!...

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okayokayokay, I know what I said earlier - "iT's tHe sAmE fIvE sOnGs🙉!!" - but listen... I have yet to see a vamp!reader fic where the reader being turned doesn't happen at the end, and it's vague, and doesn't explore that narrative further.

also, it's always intentional, which I get, yk, but I wanna switch it up, give y'all a taste of it being a complete accident and then further delve into the feelings, effects, experience of reader being turned. ofc, with remmick being there for assistance and emotional support in a rather "morbid-amused-lowkey unwanted by the reader, but they don't got much of a choice rn" sorta way lmfao.

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shoutout to the niggas workin' with brail rn, who's personal documents say "legally blind", who's prescription glasses are THICKKK asf...

I see you😌✊🏽.

was that outta pocket?

my fault, anyways...

my thought process behind this was very adhd, so before you attack me, hear me out lol.

vampires are so cool because one of their abilities is having their senses heightened to an almost unnatural degree - I want a reader who has that same ability, but I don't want them to be a vampire, just super skilled with their senses - how would a reader who's not a vampire have heightened senses? idk,,, what type of humans have heightened senses? - ...blind ppl (💀) have heightened senses cuz they can't see, so they have to rely on the other five to get by (because I believe in sixth senses lol)... crazy connetion, but it's true💀 - LOL imagine remmick and reader going sense for sense fr tho.

mr. I-live-for-the-hunt meets ms. i'm-not-the-one.

shit becomes a "don't breathe" remake rq (without the freaky-deaky stuff towards the end, unless y'all are into that, idk💀✋🏽-).

idk, I see a vibe here, it's getting written fs.

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I think it'd just be really funny to write about bo putting up with this silly, dramatic, type of reader. maybe a charlotte "lottie" la bouff type. spoiled but not rotten, definitely a character fr, and he entertains it because he loves it (won't admit it) and reader (admits and shows it).

reader is all pretty and pink and expressive and all her own, and honestly ?? she doesn't really have to go to visit his shop every single day, but she does because this little girl type crush just won't settle (won't admit it, but definitely shows it).

plus, HELLO, black wealth and excellence, idc if it's not fully accurate for the time, it's called fanfiction for a reason. get with it or get lost, let the girlies be drowned in privilege and in bo chow's love, attention, and care😻✨️🩷.

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vampires exist in this world.

you really think i'm not gonna entertain the possibility of other mythical creatures existing as well?

BOOOO LAME‼️

furthermore,,, you really think i'm not bold enough to apply that possibility to some sinners fanfic? did I not JUST talk about creativity??

oh, you not fuckin' with it???

BOOOOO LAAAAMMMEEE TOMATO TOMATO, I'M THROWING TOMATOES‼️🍊‼️🍊‼️.

anyways, I have nothing to explain this/myself more with other than this little sliver of dialogue, for fear of spoiling the fic idea I have in mind/am working on...

. . .

"Oh, honey..." You trailed, barely strangling back a laugh bubbling deep from within your chest, your voice lined with a sense of pity.

Knowingness.

Hardly any question when you asked, "...D'you really think you were the only monster lurkin' through these woods...?"

. . .

THAT'S IT, that's enough, that's all you're getting, teehee🤭🫵🏽.

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i'm a slut for whimsy (and size kinks), what can I say🤷🏽‍♀️?

also, I think I should HEAVILY lean into the "mischievous" aspects of how pixies/fairies are said to be - LOL just some lil' sparkly-winged, elf-eared, three-apples-tall ass creature/reader wreaking havoc on the kkk and others who do wrong, dirty, and evil, reader doing her best to uplift those who don't have her wings, who can't just fly away from the struggles happening all around, reader providing some fun and magic into little boy's and girl's lives, and-

oh, what's this?

reader spotting remmick absolutely devouring some poor soul who crossed his path and, well, they can't help but be interested and curious. maybe even mess with him a little bit.

cue remmick having to put up with reader's mystical magical nonsense, hating every second, but heaven forbid if something happens to the reader😌🥴✋🏽...

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(my picture limit ruined my aesthetic, y'all😔💔)

remmick x jaded!reader

lmfao ik that sounds wild, but lemme cook✋🏽🥴✋🏽...

reader who - doesn't not care - but it takes a lot to actually phase them/gain a physical reaction. and I mean a LOT.

also, like, they're a freak!! god forbid reader sees something they like, like🙀🙄... (throw back another shot after every like).

idk how i'm gonna pull this off, but I just think it'd be amusingly jarring for remmick to come across a reader who has no fears about his ass being a vampire, nor gives any fucks about his threats on turning them. they've seen and been under much worse circumstances...

"ain't no need for that, the last thing I wanna do is be stuck on this earth for another day😒✋🏽..."

"...I...wha-...y-"

"-if you play nice, though, i'll clean ya' up. you gettin' blood all over my laundry and I don't have time to redo the load."

cue unlikely friendship😻?

remmick is the semi-unruly puppy, and reader is the reluctant owner type beat, because you already know he's coming back, no way he's not😹.

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remmick x fiftiesera!reader

i'm feeling nice, so i'll go ahead and leak the title i'm gonna use😌...

. . .

" 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧' 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐀 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 "

. . .

to sum up what i've got in the oven...

religious themes/god complex/kink(?) - vampire turning ofc😌 - smut (have I mentioned that some of these prompts do include smut?? well, they do lmao) - do you have issues with your parents? reallllyy don't like them?? this fic will potentially heal some of that for you idk lol - the second out of two of my readers who are gonna be a little... naive... but it's fine, most of my readers so far have been pretty, "i'm not with that bullshit" types. we need ✨️balance✨️.

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remmick x heavyflow!reader

I won't lie, I saw a tumblr post on here that fully inspired what I have in mind...

so thanks to them, everybody thank this user lol. all I plan on doing is fleshing out this prompt into a full blown imagine, like deadass.

remmick at your door every time he can smell the start of your cycle...

yes bruh, I used my last pic for a meme, god forbid I put humor over visual pleasure, like🙄✋🏽...

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remmick x 2025era!/modern!reader

no idea what i'm gonna do with this, ngl, I just figured that if i'ma do a reader from the 50's, y'all would start screaming at me to do a modern reader, so🥴💀.

i'll take ideas/requests, tho :D !!

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that's a wrap (for now) !!

again, i'm very aware (and not proud) of the fact it's mostly remmick, but like I said, there's plans for sammie, smoke, stack, and bo, so don't get on my case, I just need time to keep brainstorming before I explode lmfao💀😭.

anyways, stay tuned y'all, because these fics are all currently in the works and I will be honest, the more ppl confirm they're rocking with these prompts and looking forward to them, the more likely/confident i'll be with actually getting them done and done well :).

byeeee, i'll be back in another millenia😻‼️✨️.

[cinderella-ish]

My evolving thoughts on who Yuki should've ended up with, and fanfic's role in changing my mind

So, I want to talk about Yuki Sohma.

Yuki is the member of the main trio in Fruits Basket with whom I most identify. I have little in common with both Tohru and Kyo, and it took me several watches and read-throughs to start to understand their characters/arcs. (I love them, don't get me wrong! I just didn't fully appreciate the depth of their characters/arcs until maybe my third time through the series.)

Yuki, on the other hand, not only had many external qualities in common with me, but the way he grew mirrored some of the ways I changed in early adulthood. His arc felt true to my life, and so he was my favorite character from my first exposure to Fruits Basket.

When I started reading fanfic, I initially limited myself to canon compliant or limited canon-divergence fics, but eventually, I dipped my toes into some alternate pairings. Interestingly, while I truly can't see Tohru with anyone but Kyo, and I can only see Kyo with someone other than Tohru in very specific circumstances, Yuki seems to work with almost everyone he gets paired with. I mean, Yuki and Machi are my OTP, yet I have probably read (and bookmarked) every Yuki/Kakeru fic on Ao3, and some of the most beautiful fanfic I've ever read is Yuki/Kyo.

This confused me at first. Deeply. If Yuchi is my OTP, why do I devour every Yukeru and Yukyo fic?

Well, I think that's because Yuki's arc is, among other things, one where he rejects compulsory romance. This is made explicit in the Cinderella-ish story (why yes this is my favorite part of Fruits Basket, why do you ask?), where he quite literally rejects the role of the prince - the role that's been put onto him by others through the series. I think his arc would have been complete without him ending up with Machi, but there are things about their relationship that make his ending so much more satisfying. In stories where he ends up with Kakeru or Kyo, Machi almost always appears as an important friend for him. I think, for him, having strong bonds outside the Sohmas that he forged on his own was the point, rather than ending up in a relationship.

Anyway, with that out of the way, here are my thoughts on the five most common Yuki pairings on Ao3!

Yuki/Machi

Yes. I love them. 1000/10.

Okay, so the one criticism I have of Yuki/Machi is that Yuki is strongly gay-coded throughout the series, and it would've been awesome to see that play out in the way it was set up. I think that's a huge part of why I connected with Yuki - his arc definitely reminded me of my own experience coming to terms with my own queerness. For more on this, see this exceptional post by @yunsoh

But there are so many moments between them that make me swoon. The chalk scene, first and foremost. I used that scene to talk to my partner about how to support me when my OCD or ADHD is bad. Then there's scene where Yuki figures out why Machi destroys things, then asks to make footprints in the snow together (and tells her he's proud of her! and sees how hard she's worked!). The way he bought her Mogeta memorabilia or figured out she likes red or understood her intent when she chased him around the school to give him a flower and just ended up getting angry at him. The way he understood she bought Tohru a bath set because it's what she would want, just because Kakeru made a similar remark. The way he lit up when he saw Machi's trashed apartment - "the sea of despair."

And the way Machi understood and empathized with Yuki. The way he lit up and started laughing when she called him an airhead. The way she said it took someone like him to notice someone like her. The way she opened up to him and always sought him out. The way Kakeru shipped them. The way he knew she would miss him if he were to disappear, and the way being a support to her was something he needed for himself. The way she accepted him as he actually was, and not the way he thought he was supposed to be. The way she broke the door down with a chair when Yuki was trapped in the storage room. The way he teased her!

They've both been put in seemingly desirable positions within their families, yet those positions are responsible for so much of their pain and trauma. They get each other at a deep level. There's a mutuality to their relationship that Yuki desperately needed. I love them so much!

PS: if you also love Yuki/Machi, come find me on Ao3! I'll be posting some Yuchi content later this week!

Yuki/Kakeru

They have a fantastic and fun dynamic, and they are always touching each other. Kakeru is Yuki's confidant and someone who makes Yuki feel safe in being himself, flaws and all. They help each other grow - Yuki helps Kakeru be more empathetic, and Kakeru helps Yuki become more comfortable with himself. I think this pairing would have also been a satisfying end for Yuki, full stop. I love them, and I will read all your Yukeru fics, please and thank you. (Also, lots of Yukeru writers are just really good writers, so there are some gorgeous works for them.)

Yuki/Kyo

So, I didn't get why this ship was so popular at first, but then I was reminded that Yuki's first thought when he met Kyo was "pretty!" They both secretly admired each other, they're written as foils for each other, and there's a reason enemies to lovers is so popular (and it's called sexual tension).

There's a Yuki/Kyo fic that I'd credit with showing me what fanfic can really do - especially in the ways it expanded the universe, found its own way of handling the curse, and developed the relationship between the two boys in a way that also grew their characters. That fic is The Pursuit of Repeating History by @mistergrass

I do think that Yuki ending up with someone outside the Sohmas is more satisfying for his character arc than someone from the Sohma clan, but his relationship with Kyo is such a key part of his arc that this could be satisfying in its own right.

Yuki/Haru

I absolutely love the relationship these two have in canon. I love how Haru looks out for Yuki, and I love how he drives Yuki a bit crazy. I love how Haru tells Yuki the things he needs to hear, like that it's okay for him to focus on himself for a while, and I love how Yuki braves the Sohma estate to check on Haru. I also love the way Haru can read Yuki like a book.

Haru's words to Yuki about finding someone who will appreciate his fragility and kindness are always so touching. Haru is almost a mentor to Yuki, in a way, or a fairy godmother. (Or a long lost sister?) The fact that he was the one who got Yuki out of isolation at the hands of Akito, or that he was the one person who would check on him just speaks to the strength of his loyalty to Yuki.

I take Haru's statement of "Yuki was my first love" seriously, because he tells Yuki he is serious when Yuki warns him people will take him seriously when he says that. I know there's an argument to be made that Haru is just being his weird self, but that gives me and they were roommates vibes.

Unfortunately, most of the Yuki/Haru fics are dubcon with Dark Haru, which is not something I enjoy reading. What I'd really love to read is an AU where they're together in high school or later, or something that explores Haru's early feelings for Yuki, or just something that explores interesting sides of their characters that are brought out when they're together.

I don't think this would be a terribly satisfying end for Yuki, but I do really love their dynamic.

Yuki/Tohru

Okay, so, full disclosure: I was #teamyuki when I first watched Fruits Basket. Yet now, they're the only pairing on this list that I don't like. Why? Well, as I said above, Yuki's arc is much about rejecting this specific compulsory romance.

Compulsory how? Well, from the beginning, the series seems like it's setting up a love triangle, but kind of tells us (more and more explicitly as the series goes on) that things are not what they seem.

I think the series does a phenomenal job of making the reader/viewer complicit in placing this compulsory romance onto Yuki. A brief aside, making the reader/viewer complicit in the thing a story is criticizing is one of the most effective ways to criticize something, IMO, because it doesn't let the reader/viewer off the hook. We don't get to say, "Look at them, they're so foolish!" We're forced to examine our own expectations and acknowledge that we were made a fool of, too.

I totally got tingles at the spa scene (pictured above), even though upon rewatch, it's obvious how much of an act it is on Yuki's part, and how uncomfortable it makes Tohru. In fact, many of their most "romantic" moments, where the shojo bubbles appear and everything, are when Tohru is acting in an explicitly motherly way to Yuki, and he awkwardly tries to flirt because he's either misinterpreting his feelings or in denial about them.

I also thought his line, "that isn't what I want!" when he tells Kakeru about his true feelings for Tohru is one of the most powerful moments in the series. It's the moment he's finally letting go of being the Princely character and choosing to be himself, for himself, because he deserves to be known and accepted - something he'd never fully believed until that moment.

I think part of why I was initially #teamyuki was because I came to Fruits Basket through the anime first, where much of the development of his relationship with Machi was cut. Also, as I said above, I didn't really get the characters of Kyo and Tohru right away, and I think that prevented me from seeing the power of their romance. The True Form arc was a key moment that I truly didn't understand until several viewings/readings later.

So, all of that is why I don't care for this pairing. I get why people do, but I do feel it undermines Yuki's agency and his character arc. It's a pairing that makes me sad when I see it, as if this character I love has taken a step backward.

(Incidentally, I've been wanting to write a fic where the True Form arc plays out differently and Yuki takes longer to realize the nature of his feelings for Tohru. I truly wonder how he would've come to that understanding without witnessing her running after Kyo. Would he have tried dating her? Would it have been a total disaster?)

Other pairings and larger relationship structures

Out of the other pairings I found, the only one I'm genuinely curious about is Yuki with Saki Hanajima. I'll have to go read those fics. They are each the "cold" half of a "hot/cold" duo (the "hot" halves being Kyo and Arisa, who are basically the same person). I'm very curious what led people to pair them in the handful of fics about them!

(Interestingly, I think it's possible to read Saki and Arisa both as having a bit of sexual tension with Kyo, but not with Yuki.)

The others include Akito, Ayame, Hatori, and Shigure - all pairings that would have a noncon/dubcon element due to Yuki's age, and that's before you get into the specific traumas that these characters have inflicted on Yuki, or the inherent power dynamics between them, or the close familial relationship with Ayame, etc...

The trio relationships are all intriguing and full of possibility. Yuki/Tohru/Kyo? Obviously. Yuki/Kakeru/Kimi? Potential for lots of wackiness. Yuki/Kyo/Haru? Could be the next Mabudachi trio.

(No shade to anyone who enjoys fics with the pairings or tropes I don't like! This blogger believes in "don't like, don't read.")

[thewolvesof1998]

Wolf my beloved!!!

I love your buddie Morse code fic, do a directors cut for that! :)

-❤️🪐

Saturn my love <3

Thank you so much!! I loved revisiting this fic, it's been a while, hope you enjoy!!!

Tapping Morse Code into your heart (2.8k, E, Buddie): Post AO3 Wow okay throwback. This was my fourth fic, I posted it almost two years ago, which is just insane. This was my first fic that wasn’t inspired by a song, I honestly can’t remember what inspired it, probably just the idea that we don’t get a lot of Army Eddie in the canon. Also, just like hyperactive ADHD Buck is my everything.  It was also my first explicit fic, I was so nervous about it, I think I’d written some light smut but this was the first time I was writing smut for people to read. First time writing sub/dom dynamics even if they're pretty light in this fic. Lots of firsts with this one.

"Eddie tapping silent comforts into his skin." I just loved the idea of them having their own little language, I think as a fandom we've always talked about how in sync they are but I just liked that the Morse code was an intentional form of communication. Buck has to learn it to communicate with Eddie. We all know Buck went home and fell down a rabbit hole about the creation of Morse code and info dumped on Eddie the next day. Eddie, already knowing most of this probably just nodded along and listened intently.

"Eddie remembers the feel of his lips pressed against the skin, pressing in words he didn’t know how to say yet. Writing ‘you are mine and I am yours’ into his skin with his mouth." I love this line, I remember writing it and being proud of it. This moment is also one of my favs in this very short fic. I love possessive Eddie, I need to write more of it, I just know when Eddie comes to terms with his sexuality and his attraction to Buck, when they finally get together that man will be so damn possessive. He'll want to shout from the tallest building that Buck is his.

"The sound Buck makes is damn near holy, Eddie’s never been one for worship, that is until he meet Buck, now he could spend the rest of his life at the alter of Buck’s body." How could I not add in some religious imagery, especially when we're in Eddie's POV? Has it been done before, yes, will many of us do it again? Yes.

“Now you're going to get yourself off like this, without touching yourself and if you do it quick enough, I’ll fuck you”  Okay, this is not really punishment, Eddie knows it, Buck knows it, I know it, you know it but Eddie really just wanted to see Buck hump the mattress can you blame him? I find when the writing is flowing it feels like I'm just dictating what the characters want to do. They have their own thoughts and feelings, wants and needs. Sometimes I'll want a story to go one way and the characters will drag me in the other direction. If I remember correctly this fic practically wrote itself, looking at the file I started it on the Friday and posted it on the same day.

"Dot-dot. Dot-dash-dot-dot, dash-dash-dash, dot-dot-dot-dash, dot. Dot-dot-dash. (I love u) Buck says it over and over again, Eddie’s not even sure if he’s doing it on purpose or absentmindedly. He doesn’t care, he would lucky to be absentmindedly loved by Buck for the rest of his life." Two things here, first 'lucky to be absentmindedly loved by Buck for the rest of his life.' I WROTE THAT and I got to pat myself on the back for that banging line. Secondly the the issue of how to write the Morse code. I went back and forth, trying to find the best way to write it, to make sure it's readable but also not too long but still be "Morse code". It was such a headache. The way I ended up doing it is clunky but the easiest to read, for me at least.

"“Do you think you were good? Good enough to get fucked?” Eddie asks" Just to be clear Eddie was always going to fuck Buck, Buck is always a good boy in his books, he just likes teasing him and Buck is a slut for a good tease.

"Buck’s love language is touch and Eddie is always down to prove to him just how much he loves him." Okay, so I still stand by the fact that one of Buck's love languages is touch, the other top two are quality time and acts of service. But you can't tell me that boy - Buck- (and most men) are not touched starved. fuck the Buckley parents.

"Eddie brings up his hand to the board expanse of Buck’s back, to where his heart lies underneath his skin, muscle, and bone. He taps. Dot-dot. Dot-dash-dot-dot, dash-dash-dash, dot-dot-dot-dash, dot. Dot-dot-dash. Dot-dot-dash-dash-dash. (I love u 2) Hoping it will permanently mark the fragile muscles of his heart so that when Buck finds himself second-guessing if this is real, he will always have a reminder of how much Eddie loves him." I do have to say that this is a pretty damn good end to the fic and I love the imagery of these two so wrapped up in each other, both of them having hands over each other hearts, Buck from the front, Eddie from the back. Eddie's wish that Buck will always know how much he is loved despite what his self-sabotaging mind will try and make him believe. A nice sappy ending to porn without plot 😂

Thank you again Saturn, it was really nice to return to such an early fic of mine. <3<3<3<3<3

[unfamiliaris]

since I'm talking about racism in severance again can I say something kind of controversial. I don't really fuck with the dylan adhd theories I keep seeing because I feel like a lot of them serve to erase his racialized narrative in the show. like don't get me wrong you can obviously be multiply marginalized and im not saying he doesn't or can't be neurodivergent to some degree, but I feel like so many theories hinge on ignoring racism as an explanation for his circumstances in favor of exclusively reading him through a neurodivergent lens, despite marginalization not existing in easily divided pieces. I see posts that are like "he can't hold down a job because he's adhd!!" "he can't find a job that fits him because he's adhd!!!" etc etc. and like while I'm willing to bet this may have been intentional coding for his character it also doesn't feel like it's getting deep enough into his character to dismiss his circumstances as exclusive to neurodivergent marginalization. like, certainly you don't all think it's a coincidence that the only job dylan seems to excel at and hold onto is one in which he doesn't have any memory of microaggression or outward hate that would make him less inclined to want to be obedient? do you think it's a coincidence that he's only considered a good employee at a company who can exploit and abuse him and he can never say anything about it? do you think it's a coincidence that he's only ever seen as "good at his job" when his job is a rudimentary task that even a child could perform, that rewards him with toys and treats like a baby, and further infantalizes him in every possible way? like, yes, all the innies are infantalized but it just doesn't sit right with me personally to exclude racism as an explanation for his circumstances.

[desceros]

Re: ableism w/Symphony Donnie: Definitely some internalized ableism but I think that’s unfortunately due to not many people knowing what exactly neurodivergence looks like and how people with it processes things differently.

Like, honestly, my biggest gripe was the recording and even that, for the SPECIFIC context of this story and Donnie as a character, it makes sense. Does it make it right? No, but if Donnie never had to think about these things before, for him it’s the same as recording everything to protect his family. Just something he does.

Also, even though my heart broke with Reader’s at her realization, MULTIPLE times reader has said Donnie says what he means and even at the beginning with the “I like you” thing I was like, “Girl, I’m going to need you to define the relationship with him.”

And I think, with Leo, even when writer’s do write him as neurodivergent, what I’ve read always has him as the he better masker whether it’s explicitly said or not. Idk if Symphony Leo is neurodivergent or not but STILL, reader has picked up that he’s good with masking which usually comes off as charming or “easy breezy beautiful cover girl”.

Idk, maybe because I know a lot of people like Donnie irl but if anything I was more frustrated at the obvious miscommunication between both of them than him directly, because as reader said, she projected her feelings on to him when he’s been super direct with his intentions.

Basically, there are sometimes where I wish people would just realize that processing the same thing between two people doesn’t always look the same and that one isn’t necessarily bad.

well-said, anon-chan!

edit: this got SPOILER!! HEAVY!! for chap. 22 and also soooo long so i'm going to tuck it under a cut. but here's some meta on symphony to explore this a bit since it's something that's very important to me and also... pretty critical to the fic itself! i don't typically like explaining myself outside of the text and letting the fic itself speak but. hm. i suppose i shall let it slide for today!

as you all have hopefully noticed by now, as an author, i like to be. hm. more subtle with things. i prefer to tuck things away versus having things be blatant in the text. and this is kind of coming back to bite me a little with donnie and his neurodivergence, i suspect.

i've tried pretty hard to make it contextually obvious that donnie's autistic. i've all but used the word. the way he behaves and communicates is heavily autism-coded.

meanwhile, the story is from viola-chan's pov, and she's neurotypical-coded (well. as much as i, an adhd-riddled autistic cat in a trenchcoat can manage).

as a result, she doesn't... pick up on donnie's problems with communication. not right away. but here, in this chapter, we see where she finally figures out what their issue has been the entire time:

…Oh. Oh god.  He really doesn’t get it. You’d known, of course, that Donnie wasn’t great with people. That he doesn’t communicate well. He doesn’t pick up on cues, or use them himself. No wonder he’s always so frank in his language, you realize. No wonder he’s so comforted by the firm rigidities of science. No wonder he looked so lost. No wonder he was so perplexed.

then, she puts that into practice by being specific and precise with how she talks. and we see that she now knows how to communicate with him in a way that works for both of them. and it works for them:

God; it’s like—a breath of fresh air, you think, staring at him in a little bit of awe. It’s so easy to talk to him, now that you’re just… letting it all out. Being honest. Frank. Infuriating that you hadn’t done this earlier. Feeling your irritation deflate, you nod. “…Okay. You just—need an explanation. Clarification.” “Yes, please,” Donnie gushes, fretting a little.

it's going to take some work. she still takes things he says personally and extrapolates past them (the whole "leo being an important person" thing). but she immediately nips it in the bud and is like. no. we're not doing that anymore. so, going forward, her relationship with donnie is one that's built on learning how to develop this open communication.

of course, it's not perfect, because they're human. donnie twisting her arm into still talking to him by calling in the favor is shitty behavior. a desperate bid to keep someone close that, for some reason, he can't imagine being without. not cool. the recordings of them having sex were shitty behavior to us, people who Know Better. but when violist-chan said 'hey, that's not cool, don't do that' and donnie was given a reason why not to, he just says ok. he might not understand ("but i record everything"). but he acknowledges that there's a concern there, and he agrees to be more conscientious in the future (having a consent sheet).

now then, let's look at leo's behavior in comparison.

donnie's biggest fault was that he didn't know to check in and make sure they were on the same page with everything. leo's fault, on the other hand, is purposeful, manipulative, and cruel. his open admission that he's been manipulating her from the beginning. manipulating donnie. lying to her.

to me, this is much, much worse than what donnie did. even knowing that at some point he starts developing friendly feelings towards her—and some of their interactions were indeed genuine!—i'm with violist-chan here. i'm not going to be digging through every one trying to parse out which ones were real and which ones were him being a dickhead. they're all tainted by the stain of betrayal.

also. because it has come up in a different ask that i will be publishing probably tomorrow bc of spoiler reasons: someone said something to the effect of 'why didn't he just not say anything? he could have taken that to his grave. how selfish'. i will remind you of a conversation between violist-chan and leo that happened in the previous chapter:

“Most of all, he’s honest,” you keep going, tangling your fingers together, staring down at the way they knot at your waist. “If he says something, I can take it at face value. There’s no hidden meaning. Nothing deeper. If he says something feels good, I know it feels good. If he says he likes something, he likes it. If he doesn’t like it, he doesn’t like it. If he asks for something, I don’t need to ask if he’s sure. He asks, so he’s sure. It—It’s a breath of fresh air. If I want to know what he’s thinking, really thinking, all I have to do is ask. And...”  [...] Leo’s still as stone for a few moments longer, looking at you like he’s trying to decide if he wants to say something; but finally he relaxes and comes back to you himself. Reaching out, he flicks your forehead, causing you to wince and rub at it.

i think... leo maybe wouldn't have ever said anything about it. but then you said this. how donnie matters to you because he's honest. there's nothing deeper with him. it's all at face value. you never have to worry about what he's doing, what he's thinking. and that i think... really messed with leo. because he knows he hasn't been honest with you. you can't trust what he says at face value. you do have to worry about what he's doing. and for you to say that that's the main thing you love about donnie—it messed with him. so, even though he knew it would jeapordize the relationship with you, even knowing he wanted to put this off for as long as he could, even though, even though, he decides he has to tell you. he has to come clean.

so even though it feels like shitty, selfish behavior... it's actually him trying to do right by her for a change. to conform to what she looks for in a relationship (both romantic and platonic). it just... didn't go over so well, predictably. most people don't like hearing that not one, but two of their most precious relationships were built on a foundation of misunderstandings or lies.

side note. i do headcanon leo as having adhd that primarily manifests itself as an inattentive form. i don't suspect it has much to do with his behavior here... save perhaps for some possible rsd being triggered when violist-chan is like 'ok actually go fuck yourself i'm out of here.' i don't find it particularly relevant to the discussion of ableism, in this context.

so anyway. long post aside. it's... interesting to me. to see people saying 'actually fuck both donnie and leo equally!!! bleh bleh bleh!!!!' i don't know that it's. hm. active ableism. i'm certainly not accusing anyone of the sort. but it is, at the very least, indicative to me that there are a lot of people who don't read into the text as deeply as perhaps i would like on certain character traits, if i had a magic wand to wave.

....and also perhaps just ableism, haha.

[creations-by-chaosfay]

Slow work

My husband insisted I take the rest of the year off because I made quilt after quilt after quilt, stopping only due to pain overwhelming me, for ten months straight. We compromised with me taking November off. Though that compromise was forced due to me being dealing with an infection and the side of effects of the antibiotics, and today will be the last two doses.

I'm finally starting to get bored, much to his dismay.

He, and my doctor, both insist I reduce how much time I spend sewing everyday. For my own welfare courtesy of a long list of chronic health issues, like hEDS, chronic pain, and various other fun factors. I started the year with "gotta keep going" aka too much. So then it was reduced to a max of six hours a day, then no more than four hours a day and no more than four days a week. We've finally figured out my real max: ten hours a week, spread out however I want.

Workaholic + ADHD + multiple other disabilities =/= a good mix.

I begin physical therapy next month, specifically for my hEDS. I'll be figuring out how to unlearn some things and train my muscles to serve as splints so my joints stop dislocating. That, and finally getting the proper therapy for my left hands/wrist. The PT I received last year for this ongoing issue did not address my hypermobility. I was diagnosed in July of this year, but looking back...it was very obvious I have hEDS. Plus, the place I had PT was not a good place at all. If you live in the Springfield/Eugene region of Oregon, please avoid going to Slocum Orthopedics. My doctor told me if she had known they would be the ones to pick up the referral put in the system, she would've put in a note NOT to have them do so. Many of her patients have had nothing but poor experiences there.

If the physical therapist I'm assigned to tells me to work no more than ten hours, that's where I'll stay at. Will it slow down my work? Obviously, yes, but once I get the hang of machine quilting, it will speed up considerably. 200 hour handquilting projects will be reduced to less than fifty. At least, according to people I've spoken to who have done handquilting and machine quilting.

My intentions were to make a stack of panel quilts this month, but my body demanded otherwise. Tomorrow, I'll begin working on gifts for my ko-fi members, and then some small quick things for friends and a few family members. My baby sister (she's the youngest of us three and I'm the Eldest) has two children, and they live with my/our parents. My mother insisted I not make anything for them "because they have so much stuff already." That's five gifts not to concern myself with. Works for me!

Once I have the gifts done, of which there'll be a little a dozen, I'll turn my focus to making panel quilts using the easiest and quickest patterns that aren't boring. I'm thinking six total, all for practice, and all of them will be listed at a 25%-50% discount from what I would otherwise charge for the amount of work and supply costs. Of course, you will have the option to pay more. That will always be an option in my shop. Said quilts won't be listed until the end of January though, so don't go thinking you can hold off on purchasing them with my Yuletide coupon code.

Each quilt top will take probably ten hours each, so that's five or six weeks of just quilt tops before switching to the actual quilting. Then it may be another ten hours of quilting each one. So that's 20 hours. Let's say each panel was $18 USD, and the fabric for the borders, binding, and blocks came to $40 USD, the backing another $30 USD, and the other miscellaneous things (thread, sewing needles, rotary blade, etc) come to around $25 USD. That'll be $653 USD, and at a 50% discount, the quilt will be listed at $326.50 USD. If you're one of my members, you'll also receive an automatic 15% off that, which brings it to $277.50. I dunno about the rest of y'all, but that's more than fair.

Because I haven't gotten around to making all the giveaway prizes owed, I'll be giving the winners, and those promised a quilt for other reasons, first dibs. If none want what I've made, the quilt will be listed. If you would like to ensure you get on the list for one of these, you have a few options for how:

for one of these quilts, you'll need to spend at least $250 USD on my Throne wishlist. It can be one thing that reaches the amount, or many things combined, that reach the minimum for one of these quilts,

or help me reach my current goal posted on my Ko-fi page. It can be with a purchase from my shop or a donation. Personally, I would rather it be a purchase; space in my house is limited due to there being no closets to speak of. However, thi option puts you in the giveaway for a free quilt with no guarantee you'll win;

or become one of my Ko-fi members. This work similar to what another website has set up, but more user friendly. It's monthly support, so an automatic payment of an amount you choose. The minimum is $5 USD/month, the max is $100/USD. Look over the benefits I have listed. My member receive a postcard from me every month, and no less than two gifts over the course of the year. The gifts replace the postcard for that month. This option also has the same outcome as the second; each of my members is automatically entered into the giveaways I have, but there's no promise they'll win.

Work will be slow, and my mind is doing everything it can to make me feel ashamed about it. Workaholic mentality is something I'll be unlearning over the next several months. I just need to get myself to stop shaming myself for not being able to work at the pace abled folks can.

[pomefioredove]

hello hello miss dove ! congratulations on your 500 followers :)

if it's convenient for you, could i please exclude lilia and trey (not to be rude to them i just don't like trey and lilia is an old man basically)

i'm not the best with describing myself but i'll try (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

on the mbti personality test, i am an istp, so from that, i would guess that i'm pretty blunt? idk. i can't really handle situations well, so i practically just go into blunt blank slate mode where i'm just like "you do you ig"

when in the case i am handling the situation with mild proficiency or i like the subject, i can seem quite energized. i always move may hands around or am jumping (i think is how you would describe it? idk, sort of similar to when you're going like |┘^^|┘but up and down and also bouncing like wawawawa)

i am however, easily distracted and procrastinate often. it's not like i do it on purpose but things get boring and i want to do other things but i feel a moral obligations to do the boring things and then i get stuck in that cycle for half an hour (i'm not sure shy, i was told adhd but i'm not diagnosed) i still get straight A though (my mom says i was a stem kid (science technology engineering math))

i <333 sleep but sleep with another person in close proximity is a no no. personal space please and thank you

physical contact?? in theory yes, but actually no

sleep <3

lyney and furina?? i am literally a star trust i am furina and lyney combined that got isekaid to this world (trust)

interest (romance wise)? lyney <3

i am talking too much about myself im sorry

i enjoy video games (too much) like genshin, hsr, twst(trust) pjsk or visual novels, and I have a nice little kirara box from genshin that i made ^^ i like collecting things that i like (cute stuff), watching anime that interest me (cooking anime <3) and food, because food is good, but if i eat too much food i will feel ＞︿＜ and i don't like feeling nasty. baked goods taste good but not too sweet or else the nasty forms. i can also play instruments !! (violin, contrabass, piano, currently semi-learning viola and cello, i can hold a flute correctly)

sadly i get sick all of the time (my friends have said "you have no immune system" or "sickly victorian child" exact words) but that's a lie im too good to get sick (not real)

i almost had a black belt in taekwondo but i didn't like taekwondo so i left (also covid happened but that's not important)

should i also describe myself? i will, but please ignore this bit if you don't need it

im not tall, but not incredibly short (~160cm) i've been told that i have pretty eyes (hazel) but me personally i just think that they look like standard eyes, they do their job well enough (they are not good at their job my eyes cannot see and i need glasses (contacts are scary)) i have very dark black hair that fades into, you guessed it, dark dark brown hair. (my mom once described it as soft black but idk) its styled like gaming's hair from genshin but a little bit longer (i like to think i look very neutral but i look like a female)

my lifestyle i think is pretty normal. i go to school, go to weekly math or coding club, go home and do work, p r o c r a s t i n a t e, sleep repeat until weekend where i life is a void of forgetfulness and then FUWUASHSH!! monday again. in my free time i do enjoy occasionally baking and traveling (japan !!)

oh no its long i'm sorry i rambled on too much :( please don't take this request if you are too busy i don't want you to feel overwhelmed. if you do want to write for this, then i will be dutifully watchin your posts to see anything familiar (‘-‘*ゞ i'm sorry if everything in this request sounds weird, i am not good with my english. please take care of yourself and have a great happy awesome super delicous wonderhoy day !!

-person who loves your work

I match you with 𝐒𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐤 𝐙𝐢𝐠𝐯𝐨𝐥���

The First Impression:

Sebek is... Sebek. He can be a little hard to get through to at times, even if his core intentions are good. And he doesn't exactly leave a good impression on a lot of people... not that he means to. Perhaps it's your bluntness, or your nonchalant attitude towards him, but for whatever reason, he doesn't immediately write you off.

Why He Fell:

You guys will kill me for this but Sebek is a little cutie. A little fanboy. He's also jumping up and down like wawawawa when he gets excited. He has a lot of growing to do, but if there's anything admirable about him, it's that once you're close to him, he will care about you forever. (Whether he'd like to admit that or not).

Though, truly, he admires you. You're obviously intelligent, you're honest (AKA blunt, but so is he), you have experience in martial arts... somehow, he finds himself watching his tone more around you, and shelving his boisterous, over-confident persona.

The Relationship:

No touching, no problem. Sebek is already getting used to this whole "dating" thing (not that he can't handle being eternally devoted to another person... look at the guy), and he might even breathe a sigh of relief when you say you don't have to sleep in the same bed.

Sebek is... protective, and that's an understatement. He loves people fiercely, and isn't shy about it. You can expect lots of attention and worry and care, especially as someone who gets sick a lot. He will insist on doing everything for you. He'll make an attempt to keep you on task when you need it, too, though he might not be as great at preventing you from overexerting yourself (as he is with himself!)

[rigginsstreet]

I need people to understand that just because YOU think a character is autistic/adhd coded doesn’t mean the WRITERS had that in mind while writing them. You can relate to mannerisms and quirks all day long. Still doesn’t make it canon or make it the writers intentions.

And I’m saying this because specifically in the stranger things fandom y’all have this tendency to explain away bad writing In characterization with “well this character is autistic so that’s why she suddenly does this” when it’s an entire personality shift. Or “he’s neurodivergent so that’s why he acts like this” when it’s a character just like���.being annoying with a superiority complex.

You can have your headcanons all day long fine whatever

But fandom really needs to grasp the fact that just because you believe something to be true doesn’t mean that’s what the writers were sitting down writing. And yes it actually does matter what an authors intent was when writing the source material when you are analyzing and critiquing the actual text and not the made up version in your heads

[nailbittenoracle]

A Damn Huge Deadline

I wish I was organized, focused, driven or whatever adjectives LinkedIn likes to use. All I get is sitting in front of my laptop, rereading the same research article three times because my brain decided now was the perfect time to think about whether or not I should cut bangs again. Spoiler: I did. I shouldn’t have.

But that’s what it’s like inside an ADHD brain. At least mine. It’s not just distraction, it’s derailment. It’s not just forgetfulness, it’s that my entire working memory feels like a badly managed inbox—important messages buried under spam, every new thought marked urgent, and no one ever archived anything, ever.

I’ve written discussion posts at 2 a.m. that should’ve taken 30 minutes but stretched into four hours because I kept spiraling into Google rabbit holes about side topics that had nothing to do with the prompt but everything to do with how my brain clings to stimulation like a lifeline. I’ve had professors compliment my insight and critical thinking, and I’ve smiled and nodded, knowing full well it took three breakdowns and a hyperfixated tangent about Jungian theory to get that paragraph written.

So yes, ADHD made me do it. The all-nighter. The impulse purchase. The 16-tab research binge that started with academic journals and somehow ended on Etsy. And would I do it again? Probably. Because when it works, when I am locked in and my brain finally hits that right combination of interest and urgency, I feel like I can see the whole puzzle laid out in front of me—and I actually know how to solve it. But those moments are the exception. Not the rule.

The rule is: I forget things I care about. I lose track of deadlines I knew about and now I have to hyperfixate to finish on time. I have the best intentions and the worst follow-through. I interrupt people not because I’m rude but because if I don’t say it now, it’s gone. I make systems to stay organized, color-coded and beautiful, and then immediately abandon them. I write grocery lists and forget them at home. I start conversations in my head and genuinely believe I’ve had them out loud.

It’s not endearing. It’s not charming. It’s exhausting. And the worst part? I’ve spent years thinking it was my fault. That I just wasn’t trying hard enough. That I lacked discipline, or maturity, or some secret ingredient everyone else was handed that I somehow missed.

But I know better now. Not just personally—clinically. I’ve sat through the lectures, read the literature, absorbed the diagnostic criteria, and watched myself reflected in every single case study. I know that executive dysfunction isn’t laziness. I know my brain craves novelty and structure at the same time and short-circuits under both. I know that emotional dysregulation isn’t me being “too sensitive.” It’s neurological. It’s real.

Still, knowing doesn’t fix it. Understanding the theory doesn’t stop me from feeling like a failure when I forget a deadline or a commitment or get overwhelmed by tasks that feel easy for other people. I’ve had to learn how to give myself grace without giving up. To stop measuring my success by how well I pass as neurotypical. To let go of the guilt that creeps in every time I hit a wall I didn’t see coming.

Because here’s the thing: I am capable. I’m in grad school. I’m working. I’m showing up. I’m doing the emotional labor. None of that stops being true just because I sometimes spiral or self-sabotage or get derailed by my own brain chemistry. I can be smart, dedicated, insightful—and still struggle to start a basic email. Both are true. Both have always been true.

ADHD didn’t make me less. It just made me different. And sometimes “different” looks like scattered Post-Its and emotional whiplash and feeling like I’m sprinting just to stay in place. But it also looks like sudden bursts of clarity, depth of feeling, and a relentless drive to understand not just myself, but other people, too. It’s the reason I connect quickly, care deeply, and notice patterns others might miss. My brain doesn’t do shallow. It dives, whether I like it or not.

So yeah. ADHD made me do it. All of it. The impulsivity. The overstimulation. The brilliant essay written two hours before the deadline. The half-finished craft projects. The unread text messages. The late-night identity crises. The weirdly niche knowledge of attachment theory and skincare ingredients. And would I do it again?

Yeah. Because it’s mine. It’s messy. It’s inconsistent. But it’s also wired for insight, intensity, and—when I’m not actively self-destructing—some real magic. I’m not built for tidy or linear. I’m built for depth, complexity, contradiction. And if that makes me “too much,” so be it.

[blogscollection]

Is Being Busy Good for People with ADHD? Exploring the Benefits of a Packed Schedule

For individuals with ADHD, a busy schedule can be a game-changer. It enhances focus, motivation, and time management while reducing overwhelm and anxiety. But is being busy good for people with ADHD? This article dives into the science and strategies behind structured routines, showing how staying engaged can unlock potential and promote personal growth.

Why Structure Matters for ADHD

For individuals with ADHD, unstructured time can feel overwhelming. Without a clear plan, the brain tends to wander, leading to procrastination or distractions. A busy schedule, on the other hand, provides a framework that keeps the mind engaged and focused. It transforms the abstract notion of “getting things done” into a concrete plan of action, which is crucial for people who struggle with executive function.

The Benefits of Staying Busy

1. Improved Focus

A busy schedule helps narrow the scope of attention to specific tasks. By filling the day with planned activities, individuals with ADHD are less likely to feel overwhelmed by endless possibilities or become distracted. Structured time can act as a guide, keeping the brain anchored to the task at hand.

2. Enhanced Motivation

People with ADHD often thrive under pressure or when there’s a sense of urgency. A packed schedule creates a rhythm of deadlines and goals, which can serve as powerful motivators. The dopamine-driven reward system in ADHD brains responds well to the stimulation of completing tasks in quick succession.

3. Better Time Management

Time perception can be a challenge for individuals with ADHD, often leading to delays or missed deadlines. A busy schedule forces the development of time management skills by requiring careful planning and prioritization. Tools like calendars, timers, and to-do lists become indispensable in this process.

4. Reduced Overwhelm

Contrary to popular belief, being busy doesn’t necessarily lead to stress for people with ADHD. In fact, having a full schedule can reduce feelings of overwhelm by providing clear guidance on what needs to be done. When every task has a designated time slot, it’s easier to focus on one thing at a time without feeling paralyzed by options.

5. Increased Self-Esteem

Successfully managing a packed schedule can be a major confidence booster for individuals with ADHD. Every completed task is a small victory that reinforces a sense of accomplishment and capability. Over time, this builds resilience and a positive self-image.

Tips for Making a Busy Schedule Work

Set Priorities: Identify the most important tasks and focus on those first.

Use Visual Aids: Color-coded calendars or task lists can provide clarity and organization.

Incorporate Breaks: Schedule short breaks to recharge and avoid burnout.

Stay Flexible: Be prepared to adapt the schedule as needed while maintaining overall structure.

Seek Support: Use apps, alarms, or even a coach to help keep things on track.

Conclusion

So, is being busy good for people with ADHD? The answer is a resounding yes, provided the busyness is intentional and well-organized. A structured schedule not only helps manage symptoms but also fosters a sense of purpose, focus, and achievement. With the right tools and mindset, staying busy can unlock the potential of individuals with ADHD, helping them lead more productive and satisfying lives.

[aroaceleovaldez]

"extremely autistic-coded" Aaaaaand you lost me. Nico is not "autistic coded", because Rick was not writing him with autistic stereotypes in mind. There is no one-size-fits-all traits for autistic people (if you've met one autistic person, you've met JUST ONE autistic person), and trying to insist that Nico must be autistic because he has these traits is very disingenuous. Sincerely, someone with Asperger's who's sick of people pushing their headcanons as "coding".

I'M LITERALLY AUTISTIC?????????

[destroy-the-4th-wall]

Me: I wanna make a mod! :D

Me: *doesn't know how to code and has absolutely no attention sp

[tabithatwo]

it's yellowjackets / jennifer's body parallels time!

hi hello keep reading if you would like to hear about shauna/jennifer and jackie/needy, here's my totally noncomprehensive, very much off the cuff thoughts on this very complex and interesting dynamic!!

(i'm not getting into the basic parallels, i'm gonna assume you know the karyn kusama of it all, the heart necklace, the homoerotic female friendship, the death)

yellowjackets is so brilliant because it feeds you stereotypes and absolutely does not deliver on them. there could be an entire paper on each girl and how this is true for them specifically, but walk quickly with me because i want to get into the nitty gritty gory fun stuff! a brief oversimplified example: nat is referred to as a burnout, some would assume she's a loner based on that, but she cares about the team as a unit more than arguably anyone else. (this is common in real life too, our stereotypes often don't hold water in reality and yj reflects that beautifully!)

now to the jackie/shauna of it all. it would be oh so incredibly easy to look at jackie and think she's the jennifer of the duo. we are set up to see her as prettier, more popular, more demanding. but that illusion falls apart QUICKLY if you pay attention to the things that jackie actually says and does. she's not a mean girl. she's actually one of the kindest on the team. she doesn't pick on shauna, she clings. there are plenty of takes on this on tumblr so i won't exhaust it, my adhd loves to digress and meander but i'm forcing myself back onto the trodden path to this point: people look at the first few minutes of the pilot and they immediately decide that they know who these girls are. the audience typecasts jackie as a jennifer and shauna as a needy. the popular, bubbly girl and her shy, bookworm best friend.

a lot of people, especially casual viewers who don't study this show like its their job (god, wonder what that would be like lol) understandably stop here. but to me the BRILLIANCE of yj is that they don't actually make it HARD for you to undo your initial impressions. the material is there. it isn't hidden. it isn't some deeper self of each character that is unraveled throughout seasons. they push, push, push to see just how far they can carry our deeply held stereotypes/expectations. how forward and violent can shauna be, with viewers still clinging to a shy and sweet girl, who was really their own creation? how kind and honestly pathetic kicked-puppy can jackie be, with viewers still clinging to a mean girl, who was really their own creation? how far will we go to warp the characters intentions, so that we can keep them in the box we understand them in? they ask this of the viewer and of other characters, but AGAIN i digress.

so, while this might sit strangely with some, yes i think that jackie is very much aligned with needy if you peel back just one layer. but far above and beyond that, shauna is so very fucking jennifer.

the overall veneer is thinned immediately in yj. there isn't one girl in the stands and one on center stage. jackie and shauna are both on the team. they go to the same parties, they play the same sport, i would argue that shauna isn't even coded as "less pretty" (please note the word coded, because i'm not saying needy is literally less pretty than jennifer, i am simply saying that we have hair, makeup, clothing, glasses trends that we use to stereotype characters, are you with me?)

so now what? now these girls are both and neither. shauna thinks that she is the needy to jackie's jennifer. jackie wears the necklace and the introductory shots frame her as important. but we're already diverting from that set-up.

our absolute clearest common denominator here is one that i rarely see people mention funnily enough: JENNIFER IS A SUCCUBUS. she CONSUMES. she KILLS. she WANTS and she TAKES.

now before you get TOO EXCITED!!! i see some of you getting ready to say i'm a shauna shipman hater, put the pitchforks down!! shauna is one of my favorite characters of all time. i love her crazy ass so deeply that it's alarming. (i don't hate jennifer, either, for the record.) i love her largely for WHAT she is. i think sanitizing or sweetening her is a disservice. she's amazing and complex and wounded and capable of deep love. but she also, quite LITERALLY, consumes.

her character is sex and desire and violence and obsession and consumption. and it's AMAZING. she's POWERFUL. she's our main framing character (in this dynamic), rather than needy. the scripts are switched. jennifer dies and needy lives, and that's one story. that's clearer cut, simpler, made for a horror film. but here, jackie dies and shauna lives, and that story is deep and rich and goes on to include a whole lot more death and destruction and chaos.

shauna tells us herself that it excites her. she likes it. she is this girl. this woman. she reminisces and she recreates and she covets.

jennifer tries to consume needy, shauna literally consumes jackie.

there's more to this story, obviously. you could deep dive and mine for the intricacies of the set up and fall of stereotype and expectation, or collect all of the exact parallels. but i'll stick with a few, because this is a quick outburst of thought.

a huge one, who is taking whose boyfriend?

here's another personal favorite of mine, just for kicks

is it too complex to neatly tuck away? absolutely. they're different stories with different themes. shauna isn't simply a teenager possessed by a demon. it runs far deeper. as is the essence of this show.

but if you want to look at parallels, look at the one who has been holding the knife the whole time.

[anonymousewrites]

Fhkgjsl the Holmes fam at Christmas is giving me Ace Attorney vibes (as someone who never played Ace Attorney)

Sherlock: Lestrade your wife is cheating on you

MC: objection!

Sherlock: withdrawn

Sherlock: John your sister is an alcoholic

MC: Sherlock...

Sherlock: withdrawn

Sherlock: she's obviously trying desperately to give a present to someone she has romantic feelings for-

John: objection! MC???

MC: sustained. He has to learn his lesson the hard way

Also the fact that MC doesn't want to eat but once they start they don't want to stop is kind of reminiscent of Autistic/ADHD inertia where you don't want to start something but once you start you can't stop/don't notice how long the thing goes on. Whether or not this was intentional it just reminded me of my own eating habits bc I'm autistic and don't always register when I'm hungry lol.

But it makes me think that MC and Sherlock are two geniuses focused on a government conspiracy but too dumb to notice Mrs Hudson piling pancakes onto their plate

MC, internally: so obviously the baker two doors down has a gambling addiction and Microft is hiding a government conspiracy, possibly because it has to- *cracking missile launch codes*

Also MC, internally: so I had three pancakes... And I ate two... And there's four on my plate now...

She truly is the Alfred to their Batmans lol (aggressively British and Done)

I’ve never played Ace Attorney before but that is a very accurate description of MC and Sherlock.

and yes, this MC is neurodivergent coded. (Partly accidental since I’m neurodivergent so that comes out in my writing and then I just lean into it) They have their special interests and don’t care about other stuff and then have a lack of care/understanding of social cues. So it leans more towards autism.

And they have no idea people are taking care of them. They just go on autopilot lol