jindarkking

[jindarkking]

Can we kill therapy-speak in fanfic?

Don’t get me wrong here. I’m not saying your characters can’t be familiar with therapy keywords. But the use of it in fanfic is just killing off any sort of real, emotional stakes in certain fics. *cough* the my hero fandom

I’ll be real with you; I don’t want my characters to approach a situation with an acute awareness for any possible triggers or emotional responses in an attempt to build rapport with another character who has experienced severe trauma and/or abuse. And sure, let’s say that it is a professional, whose job it is to approach these situations. That doesn’t mean you have to write them like a mental health textbook vs a textbook victim of trauma.

For example; “Aizawa stepped back, not wanting to trigger any sort of trauma response from the abused teenager.”

Yeah, sure. Aizawa is a professional who, as a professional hero, probably has education in dealing with situations like this. But the way it is written is clinically detached, cold, and also way too professional from a man who has probably attended a total of one therapy session on mandate after witnessing the death of one of his best friends (which he never got over btw).

When you want to write a character who is attuned to other people’s needs and fears, try using less therapy bingo words, and be more descriptive of the emotions of the scene.

Instead; “Aizawa carefully stepped backwards, attempting to show he meant no harm. He knew how easy it was to scare a starving alley cat, you would be surprised how the same logic applied to a starving teenager.”

See? Isn’t it so much more soulful? So much easier to connect with? Sure, the first passage got the point across: Aizawa is aware that the kid he’s approaching is likely a victim of something traumatic, so he is approaching it as such. But the average human doesn’t have the dialogue of an occupational therapist, so writing situations like the characters are occupational therapists, kills off any sort of relatability for readers who don’t attend weekly therapy sessions. And even for people who do, it feels more like sitting in the armchair instead of absorbing yourself in the worlds and stories you’re trying to tell.

I’m not saying to ditch the mental health awareness altogether. Sure, having emotionally stunted characters create for interesting stories, but you can tell just as compelling of a story without having to resort to textbook wording. Instead, use that therapy foundation to build something more around your characters. Because using the therapy speak is just the same as telling, and not showing.

With that, good luck with your next hurt no comfort fic, and happy writing!

[jindarkking]

Southern Comfort Food, Episode 17 - Chicken and Dumplings

Nothing like Old Reliable from Mama's cookbook. Especially when someone's sick!

In my family, our go-to is Thai-style chicken rice soup, kind of like a congee, with sautéed garlic and cilantro.

[jindarkking]

My body may be gone, but not my love

[jindarkking]

Hau's angry face is adorable. Also so close to Guz getting to pet Latias!!! Also Guzma having a goal to work towards?! Go Bug Boy go!

Previous | Next

And that concludes our current Mega Evo mini-arc!! :D Or maybe we just set Guzma on a path towards a new goal... 🤔

Anyway I am HYPED because I set myself a goal this year of reaching a new Guzma-centered character-arc and I'm SO CLOSE TO REACHING IT!!! Just two more comics (that'll once again be split into multiple updates) and I'll finally be there 😩👌 FINGERS CROSSED those two comics will be less work-intensive for once (DOUBT™)😂😅

You can support me on my journey by joining my Patreon! :D I'm also working on a new Dusk-centered video right now, wips of it PLUS the full storyboard can be seen depending on which tier you choose! As always thank you for reading my webcomic and thank you so much for your support!! 😄🥰💖💕

Patreon | Webtoons

[jindarkking]

Happy Birthday, Astra! 🥳

One year ago I posted the very first Astra comic, not knowing it would grow into an AU so very dear to me ❤️

Thank you to everybody who enjoys the Ineffable Family just like me and is sticking around to see more silly adventures with them! Onto a new year of wholesome moments, chaotic parenting and a loving supernatural family ❤️

[jindarkking]

Halloween Candy Part 2!

[jindarkking]

New comic update is here :) Nono 100% canon, this is totally what's gonna happen next I swear

Happy April Fools new wips for the nextl update cAN be found on patreon tho lmao Patreon

[jindarkking]

AHHHH So darn cute!!!!!

An Ineffalbe Halloween comic in March~

(The ineffable parents are SO in love. And I love that they are in love.)

[jindarkking]

I think we are all Nifty in this instance

Southern Comfort Food, Episode 16 - Apple Butter / Honeysuckle Jam

(Minor TW for Hospital settings)

I’ve never had honeysuckle jam but it sounds delightful.

SOUTHERN COMFORT FOOD MASTERLIST

[jindarkking]

*stares at the text messages* Can Bee and Ozzie taste love?

Southern Comfort Food - Side Story - Pecan Pie / Sugar Pie part 2

Happy Pi Day! The Chef Friend Identity Task Force is still hard at work!

What's your favorite kind of pie? For me, it's Peach Pie or Apple Pie for sweet, and for savory, a layered sweet potato pie that has quiche filling and mozzarella added to it!

[jindarkking]

Not Al's shadow gesturing to Nifty like "she's right"

Southern Comfort Food, Episode 15 - Candied Yams

(Warning for Niffty's Canonical Violence Against Bugs)

The Soft Food Diet continues! And candied yams are more than suitable for the King's sweet tooth.

SOUTHERN COMFORT FOOD MASTERLIST

[jindarkking]

Cozy and Warm ❤️

[jindarkking]

Some thoughts on Ozzie's response at the trial

One moment that caught my attention, and I've seen a few reactors comment on it too, is that Ozzie's defense of Blitzø's right to a fair trial is lukewarm compared to Bee's. She gives a character reference, speaking about him almost fondly, while Ozzie offers one understated line.

He speaks lightly, but isn't that the kind of phrase usually accompanied by a side-eye and a pointed, "You do have a good explanation, right?" And I've seen a lot of Ozzie call outs for not just "sharing the truth," since he "knows what's really going on."

But the more I think about it, the more I feel like his slight involvement probably makes things look worse from his perspective. Tbf, the dialogue disparity could be timing constraints and wanting to make use of Kesha. Still, I honestly suspect Ozzie knowing more than Bee would make it likelier he'd be reluctant to outright vouch for Blitzø's character even if he supports a fair trial.

I do plan to touch on a few separate points. But the BIG thing I haven't seen brought up: Ozzie is the only person in that room who may know the extent to which Blitzø's use of the grimoire has actually, undeniably endangered Hell. I feel like this fact has sort of slid from people's minds, but as a reminder:

IMP obliterated part of Ozzie's ring directly outside his club. In a setting where there are likely security cameras, and at the very least, his bouncers were shown to be in the general vicinity. And there were cherubs with high tech battle suits visibly involved. Assuming Ozzie investigated this, his additional knowledge isn't actually in IMP, Stolas's, or Blitzø's favor at all.

Rewinding to touch on what Ozzie actually knows about Stolas and Blitzø's situation:

Ozzie is aware that Stolas has feelings for Blitzø.

He could guess, if he ever thought about it, that Blitzø must’ve been getting to earth a different way beforehand since his business precedes the crystal. However, he's never told this. Depending on how much he cared to look at the particulars, it possibly didn't occur to him at the time (though if he looked into the Lust Ring attack, he likely figured it out).

He also has no confirmation that Blitzø has feelings for Stolas. Fizz has probably speculated, maybe he shared Blitzø had come to Lust for toys—but Ozzie has only seen them together at Ozzie's, when he was more concerned with helping Fizz revenge-ruin their date than drawing any relationship analysis (except in the ways that helped him revenge-ruin their date).

Ozzie may also know about the anti-Blitzø parties, or at least that Blitzø has a poor history with relationships. Fizz knew his "love life [was] a pile of shit," and that giving the stage to Verosika during House of Asmodeus would get results, so at the very least, he seems familiar with Blitzø's bad habits. If Ozzie doesn't know Stolas is different, a very possible explanation might be that Blitzø had been using Stolas’s feelings to get the book. Not "forcing himself," but not really Lust King-approved.

I.e. Ozzie can assume “not forced,” but not “mutual feelings,” or “Blitzø did nothing wrong." Blitzø has also told him one of his skills is "killing things without giving fucks," so again, the background knowledge of Blitzø isn't necessarily a good thing here.

Then after Apology Tour, Blitzø went into a depression slump and probably cut off contact with friends, including Fizz. From Fizz and Ozzie's perspective, the day Blitzø got the crystal, his thing with Stolas outwardly ended, and he likely never shared much about what happened (if he didn't deflect outright). Fizz may have noticed and commented on Blitzø acting strange, but the circumstances are ambiguous.

To summarize: Ozzie can guess Andrealphus is full of shit, and that some sort of setup is happening. But he doesn't know "the truth," in the sense he could speak up and clarify everything.

What else he possibly knows:

IMP had a massive fight with well-armed heavenly beings in the middle of the Lust Ring.

This was shown to have caused substantial damage. Loona destroyed what looked like one of his buildings, on top of other property destruction, right in front of his club. If they had security cameras, Ozzie probably knows this. Like I mentioned before, two of his own bouncers were outside, alongside dozens of witnesses. If he investigated at all, there are ways he could piece together what happened.

A frequent reaction has been, “Ozzie knows everything Blitzø did was above board, he could’ve clarified.” But Ozzie has a lot of facts that actually look awful? Depending on what surveillance caught from that fight, Ozzie very well could've connected IMP to cherubs coming to Hell. To his ring specifically.

Two conclusions to be drawn from this:

If Ozzie has recognized as much, he hasn't said anything. Which is both him already covering for IMP, but it also means he's hiding something Satan would desperately want to know.

Ozzie has a legitimate reason to be upset at Blitzø and Stolas for bringing him into this. First because Stolas wasn't up-front about the formerly illegal details of Blitzø getting to earth (let alone moments like in Truthseekers where there's already been major transgression). Then afterward, when the spillover of their indiscretion caused damage to his ring and possibly got Lust Ring demons killed.

Ozzie is involved enough that all this could cause trouble for him if he's implicated

I've seen people say he'd be immune because of his rank. But while he'd physically be fine, Mammon was already going at him and Bee about their partners. Mammon has also threatened that Ozzie would "regret revealing" his love for Fizz, in pretty clear foreshadowing. Ozzie has a big, well-known weak point.

Also, Blitzø was on trial about unlawfully going to the human world (or doing it "unwittingly" as a pawn of the evil Mastermind Stolas). And this all happens while he has a registered Asmodean Crystal on his wrist. He even tries using it to get to Stolas while they're dragging him away. The more Ozzie speaks up, the more closely Blitzø is examined, and the clearer it is that Ozzie is involved with something illegal.

The legitimacy of Blitzø's behavior on Earth is a bit dodgy as well. Remember how Verosika let Blitzø win that bet because she was wary of getting into trouble for the conspicuous monster? They’re clearly supposed to keep a low profile. If Ozzie linked IMP to the Lust Ring incident and realized they've been stirring up trouble topside, his lack of interference may indicate he's already making allowances he legally shouldn't be.

Do I think the imagery of Ozzie and the other Sins falling in with Satan during the song may go complicated places? Possibly. And Ozzie clearly did want to help after Fizz’s text and seemed to feel he couldn’t. I don't think he's exactly blameless, in the sense he's aligned with a messed up system here. I also have no idea if the writers considered any of this, or if we're ever going to see Ozzie's thoughts or feelings about the attack on Lust. Maybe that was just a cool fight scene to set up the cherub/DHORKS threat, and it won't have further relevance.

But honestly, the fact that illegal use of the grimoire brought trouble to Ozzie's doorstep makes me more willing to shrug off his muted response at the trial. Even if Ozzie isn't aware, Blitzø and Stolas's lawbreaking led to an attack on his ring. If he is aware? It’s already iffy to expect he'd stick his neck out in a hopeless situation where it’d only get scrutiny turned his way. Wanting him to do so despite associating IMP with a heavenly threat and massive property damage? That's a big ask.

Maybe overthinking, especially if it’s revealed he doesn’t have much intel on the Lust Ring attack. But I feel like Ozzie knowing more about Blitzø's situation makes it harder for him to intervene, as opposed to easier. He may even have legitimate reason to feel like IMP has been endangering Hell, but has kept quiet for Fizz's sake.

Mostly, I wonder if it's coincidence that the show made that Lust fight visually, noticeably destructive, then next time we see Ozzie, it's Bee vouching for Blitzø's character, while Ozzie's statement focuses on getting an explanation. Her defense seems to be "he's cool, I don't think he'd do this." Ozzie's is more coded like, "It's fair to see what he has to say." Like maybe he's thinking it would be in character for Blitzø to have done something illegal and ill-advised that puts Hell at risk, so he'll stick with a safer defense. And honestly, I love Blitzø... but I also get why Ozzie might be ambivalent.

[jindarkking]

I adore your artwork and the fact that you include Kakashi's nin dogs

YIPPEE!! kkg valentines week!! i missed the first day, but here's day 2!

One Bed/ Fake Dating/ Huddle for Warmth

Captions below!

Kkg: BISUKE!... Shit! Gai:[ teeth chattering] YAAAAA Kkg: Gai! Gai: Got 'm, i got 'm. Git 'm dry. Take 'm, 'kashi Kkg: Gai, you have to-

[gai stretching and whining] Kkg: Easy on the sleeping bag. Both of you look better. Gai: Ah! Biscuit, thank goodness. Biscuit: Thanks, gai Gai: I trust you took down the target then? Kkg: Duh, the dogs took care of that. We can head back. Uhei: Gai's up? Kkg: We're going ot have to leave this sleeping bag soon. Gai: How could you say such a thing! Biscuit is so comfy! Biscuit: It's true, boss. Kkg: 5 more minutes then. Gai: Aa, I'll cherish it~

Gai: You've saved me again! Ready to roll, Pakkun? Pakkun: Sure am. Kkg: Get going.

[jindarkking]

Crowley looks good with sleep tousled hair.

Baby had a nightmare.

[jindarkking]

Also forcibly adopting Katsuki Bakugo as a friend.

one thing about todoroki is he is always down. deku sends a location with no context? he's there. illegal plan to rescue bakugou from a group of dangerous villains headed by the evil overlord with exactly four (4) of his classmates? he's in. he sees deku and bakugou fucking off in the middle of war with no explanation? immediately he's following.