#( which she does acknowledge and/or act it out sometimes ! )

[myddle]

Thinking About Kris & The Weird Route

(Spoilers for Deltarune, Take A Freaking Guess Which Part)

So... you know how Kris sometimes interrupts their own speech, or says it strangely, to circumvent our choices sometimes?

(source)

Yeah. How come they don't do that in the Weird Route?

(source)

As far as I can tell, Kris never actively tries to stop their speech like that in any of the Weird Route prompts, with the arguable exception of the Weird variant of "♥️ I'll never play again", which is notably after the dust has settled and does nothing to stop us.

They don't even seem to pull the tamer trick of saying it in a confused way that throws people off (This one's debateable though, with how much Noelle asks us to repeat ourself).

But why? Kris has little trouble opposing us when we say things they don't like. And Kris doesn't like the Weird Route. That's not even debatable after the bathroom scene.

So why? Why are they struggling to resist us on this, of all things?

I think I noticed this dissonance before the new chapters came out, but I didn't know what to think back then. Not until...

(source)

Eram accuses Kris of, at least partially, enjoying the Weird Route. And they actively acknowledge our control over Kris... and dismiss it as an excuse.

I've talked about Eram's relation to Kris, and how they seem to believe that Kris is, on some level, evil or sadistic. But this is the peak of that outlook, and a huge accusation to make. What behaviour could make someone believe this about Kris?

Well, if Eram was formed from, say, the Horned Headband (Which they definitely are, see my other post) They'd have a front row seat for just the thing.

The Ferris Wheel Incident.

(source)

As far as we can tell, from what Noelle says to and about Kris, when they were young, Kris was just... like this. Possibly just with Noelle, considering we never (to my memory) hear about pranking incidents involving anyone else. Just Noelle. Kris just... loved pranking her specifically. Scaring her. ...Exciting her? Toughening her up?

We don't know why. We don't know why Kris was like this to her. Hell, we don't even know how she feels about it (Although, thanks to Susie, we know that's a question worth asking), and it's possible she isn't sure either. All we know for sure... is that she likes scary things.

Kris & Noelle's dynamic is a captivating Pandora's Box. Good? Bad? Platonic? Romantic? A secret third thing?

Or in other words... something else?

Does Kris even know? Does Kris know why they were like this? I'm not sure they do.

But these feelings, this desire to get a reaction out of Noelle, if mixed with their own guilt, their desire to protect Noelle and their own personal hangups... could all make a very weird emotional cocktail.

Now, I want to be very clear. I do not think Kris is sadistic. I don't think this dynamic is inherently toxic, and I don't think Eram is correct about Kris.

But I think Kris might. Maybe that's why they stopped seeing her. To protect her. From them.

The Weird Route isn't Kris' secret desire, but it isn't completely out of left field for them, either. It's the shadow of the back side of their mind, a corruption of one of their most treasured relationships, an intrusive thought that they'd never act on. Instead, we act on it for them, building a toxic relationship on innocent foundations.

And under our influence, the nightmare becomes real. The entity inside Kris drags their darkest dreams to the surface, and Kris is rendered unable to stop it, powerless to look away, because some part of them, a part they've come to despise and fear, can't help but wonder...

...Isn't it a good thing? She's getting stronger, she'll be able to protect herself. She's doing things by herself, she wants it too. She's smiling, she's having fun.

She's standing up to Berdly.

(honestly, I could probably write a whole other paragraph about Kris' mixed potential feelings about him, but whatever, you get the idea)

But ultimately, they don't want this. They hate it, they hate us for doing it, and they likely hate themselves for being enough of a freak to make it possible.

This, is the Weird Route. We're not just breaking down Noelle, and turning her into a weapon. We're turning Kris into the Sheath.

[sifutoph]

need us to stop being a silly little guy for one second and acknowledge that t0ph is rude and it isn't some funny trait. it's a flaw. its a reaction, sure, because her whole life she'd needed to play the part of being the obedient little girl and her rudeness is a result of wanting to affirm her independence and probs as a legitimate way to exercise her confidence and/or to go about her establishing boundaries or things she didn't like, but it's still a huge flaw.

[orphiclovers]

Actually I'm not done talking about yoohankim's awful digital footprint pre-scenarios. Kim Dokja gets a lot of flack for being chronically online and cringe and that's fair enough but let's just acknowledge that neither Yoo Joonghyuk or Han Sooyoung are ANY better.

For Han Sooyoung it's obvious. Despite having her own sucessful webnovel, presumably with fans who support her, she gets obsessed with her one hater who thinks she is a plagiarist, finds the "original" novel where this guy was the only commenter on every chapter, and instead of reading her own comments she spends her time reading HIS and imagining he's saying that about her writing. She does this for years. DERANGED BEHAVIOUR. Pre-scenarios Han Sooyoung has no excuse to be acting this crazy. Sent to internet jail for being weird online.

1863rd Han Sooyoung. Automatically get a pass to act unhinged bc after going through the apocalypse that's just expected and also the only person she talks to for 13 years is Kim Dokja and a creepy old man who calls her god, BUT. That being said she's a perfectly average and healthy internet user! Spends literally every waking moment writing a shitty webnovel so hard pieces of her soul chip away and infuse in it, sure, but she doesn't bother anyone, just does her own thing, posts the chapters and occasionally chats with her one commenter. The most normal one here. Somehow.

Kim Dokja. Big fan of a webnovel and can get intense about it sometimes, starts fights online defending his fave character, recommends the same novel so much he gets banned from forums, whatever. WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE IS WHAT IM SAYING. This is nothing too crazy, only about the level of an average fandom superfan. Uses his real name online which is certainly a choice but some people do that in real life too. Giving him a pass, I was also a cringey emo teen on the internet once. (and im still cringe and emo)

Yoo Joonghyuk as seen in Yoo Mia side story. Absolutely glued to his phone. He checks it while eating breakfast, while in the car being driven to work, while literally walking down the street so that Yoo Mia has to tell him to put it away and hold her hand! He is basically addicted to reading hate comments about himself. In his narration he mentions that there are only a few regulars in the forums he lurks in and that he recognizes all their usernames, accidentally revealing that he's in too deep and officially lost in the sauce. Even his manager tells him he should stop reading the comments because they clearly upset him, but he justifies it to himself by thinking quote, "If someone has a grudge against him, he just needs to be prepared to face that hatred. Then everything is under his control."  That last line especially is such a cope, and reveals that this behavior is another one of his desperate attempts to feel in control of his life, and as pathetic as that is and as much as I feel sympathy this is being weird online and I'm sending him to Internet jail.

Bonus round: Secretive Plotter. Need I say anything. Absolutely glued to his phone AGAIN, no it doesn't make it better that sometimes it's his kkomas instead of him. Canonically has a bound book of every single comment Kim Dokja ever left on WOS, printed out, which is more freak mode than even Han Sooyoung went. Straight to jail.

[crustyfloor]

Thinking back on Till's POV, the lack of it makes Till's personality difficult to articulate. But I like how multi-faced he is as a character, very flawed, and contradictory... (although endearing), sometimes he confuses me with his constant highs and lows. He's very malleable and sensitive and honestly doesn't try to suppress it. Yet he outwardly hides so much of himself and is majorly avoidant of confronting certain aspects of what he feels and spiraling. Because of all these factors, he's a very emotionally unstable (often escapist), immature character, and following this train of thought as his emotional arc progresses is interesting.

For instance, from the beginning. In his childhood, I always thought Till had a boyish personality, but I constantly think about the way Till goes back and forth between having an unrealistically romantic perspective, or he's a closed-off yet passionate character with a lot underneath

To acknowledge his flawed traits Till shows himself to be weak-minded, has a child-like arrogance, and short-sighted, and short-tempered (hence why he's prone to fighting with Ivan, a lot, when his buttons are pushed, in part an emotional response to his environment and as a result of Ivan's aggravating behavior) (this isn't to say he's an asshole sometimes on purpose honestly, seeing the way he's just as quick to treat others with kindness and politeness, but those traits are a part of his character...) whilst he is also a timid and kind-hearted and insecure person, even though he has a timidity about him and, as aforementioned, insecurity about his safety and self-assurance because it has otherwise been compromised over and over again by the constant and explicit abuse he suffers, he holds onto to a motivating and empowering factor about his natural talent for music and art- that because he's the best of the best at music among his peers, even if the world destroys him as long as he has music he can do anything and protect himself, and what he cares about, nothing else matters, so he absorbs himself into immersing in his inner world and his art&music. In a way that explains why he acts like a chuunibyou ("HAHA...WEAK PET HUMANS...I'LL BEAT YOU WITH THE BLOOD OF MUSIC RUNNING IN МY ВОDY! HEHE!"), When it comes to his music, he's very certain about his ability because he knows what the aliens think of him and how much they regard him (though that's also not very consistent; his confidence is secretly in the dumps)

TL: @/SegyeinArchive on twit

In his idealization and idealized self, he finds his function. Alongside this, he finds purpose in Mizi, a perfect, inspiring, and dreamy person in Till's perspective, which is why he's so attached to her, if not because of the relief she is to him by simply allowing him to play with her. That is why I describe him as an escapist, too, because that is what he does when the world is too much for him, that is what Mizi is to him in this environment where cruelty is a constant, feeling isolated and living in abuse makes a child seek out a safe and secure connection, and Till clings to that when he meets Mizi and she is often portrayed as Till's muse and his motivation, because of exactly what she means to him as someone he feels deep affection for and wants to protect

Then again, Till is simultaneously careless about his close friendships. He is, unfortunately, absent-minded/awkward, and is only meticulous about his music. Even though he could have a better situation, it's another area of life where he's fumbling. It's shown in how he deals with Ivan. He has a close bond with Ivan and seems to genuinely consider him close (But I already kinda talked about that).

source

They see each other, but cannot truly see eye to eye because he perceives Ivan as odd, and Ivan irritates him. They didn't know how to help themselves. It's highlighted in their story that they never learned how to approach each other. At that time, Till was completely oblivious to what Ivan truly thought about him, and he didn't need to know, in the case that he was probably actively shrugging it off, too distracted with other things in his life. Ivan wouldn't force him either way.

There is also his dynamic with Mizi, it's conveyed in many ways that he only has an idealized perception of Mizi, that simpler and lovable side. So insecure over the fact that he's not brave enough to confront her and too shy and closed off to make an effort to truly get close to her (so much so that even the ever-trusting and socially oblivious Mizi was thinking that he didn't really like her)

TL: @/SegyeinArchive on twit

His profile puts it way better: Till has a simple ignorance that is a double-edged sword. He can be content for a while, but under intense pressure, it becomes a weakness

There is a lot that correlates to why Till has the lowest rating of all characters in terms of emotional strength; he has too many weaknesses, relies too much on his dependency, and is reactive to stimuli and triggers in his environment. Even though Till has a resilient spirit, he can't see himself not leaning on Mizi or living without her. When Ivan dies, he's forced to confront so much of what he hadn't before, and it sends him spiraling while he's already dealing with the loss of Mizi. Even though he is a rebellious character, he lashes out at the aliens on pure instinct, not because he had a methodical form of rebellion in mind. And he gets treated like a rabid animal and beaten down for it. It's bound to get to him when all his defenses are destroyed. And he's unequipped to deal with the emotional turmoil he goes through as the story progresses. That is the arrow that comes back to stab him in the back.

In round 2, his foolishness and lack of tact are re-established. I believe this is the part where you can really describe Till as short-sighted (and impulsive for how quickly he killed his guitar, even if it worked in his favor) because here he passionately expresses his genuine confession of love for Mizi in hopes of at least her acknowledgement in a pretty inappropriate setting (no ill-will there, but definitely odd). In Round 5, a crucial moment for Till's character development is shown. Till's fearful dependence on Mizi's well-being keeps him wanting to stay by her side. But when she's gone, he's lost. The tension that prompts his character development reveals how truly emotionally unstable he was to begin, and in Round 6 and Round 7, it shows the full depth.

At this point in his character development, it's hard to grasp him because his volatility is sporadic. His emotions are visibly all over the place, but it makes sense. I believe Vivinos meant to paint the picture of a multi-faced trauma victim with continuous overlapping traumatic experiences, and what they made of him: a biting and cornered animal, truly something broken and grasping at straws, and his misery is raw, and when he circles back to how he was in the very beginning when he sees Mizi after so long without her, hopeless and afraid? Almost everything, including his impulsivity, escapism, and naive ignorance, was re-established. When looking into his character psychologically, he's so fun to research...

PLEASE LET ME HAVE HIS ACTUAL POV I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE

[belit0]

omg I loveee you dear author!! The details that you give to every Uchiha are so in character!!

Can I ask for Uchiha × Reader about them going to bed? will they cuddle immediately? or going to read bedtime stories? I am curious!!>w<

Thank you very much, what a beautiful compliment! So many years of writing them pay off!❤️‍🩹

Now... Even the most hardened Uchiha has a routine before rest. Some by necessity, some by habit, and some simply because (Y/N) has worn them down over time. Each night unfolds differently, yet beneath their individual quirks, a thread of tenderness lingers (whether they acknowledge it or not).

Indra

Indra is not a man of indulgence. Sleep is not a comfort, it is a necessity at best, a weakness at worst.

(Y/N) learns early that he does not simply lay beside her. He keeps watch. Even in his stillness, his presence is unyielding, like the mountain upon which his clan rests.

Most nights, she falls asleep before he does, his warmth a silent fortress at her back. Sometimes, he remains seated, eyes unreadable in the dark, fingers idly tracing ancient scrolls even as she drifts off.

On rare occasions, though, his hand finds her wrist.

Not possessively. Not out of need.

Just a reminder that she is still here.

That she is his.

(Y/N) never asks him to hold her. She does not need to.

Because when the weight of the world finally settles upon his shoulders, when the silence becomes unbearable even for him—Indra does not resist the pull of warmth beside him.

He will not turn to face her. He will not speak of it.

But in the depths of the night, his palm rests heavy against the small of her back. And if she shifts closer, pressing against him without a word, he does not push her away.

It is not an embrace. Not quite.

But it is enough.

Madara

Madara does not "cuddle." Madara positions.

Every night, there is a process. A sequence. He plans his rest as he plans a battle.

(Y/N) must be here, within reach but not smothering. The blanket must be precisely adjusted; not too warm, not too cold. His arm placement is calculated; wrapped around her waist just enough to feel her, but not enough to be considered "needy."

It is flawless. Until she moves.

(Y/N) shifts in her sleep, unknowingly unraveling his strategy. She burrows against him, tangles their legs, steals half the blanket, and suddenly, his entire system collapses.

He wakes up scowling, begrudgingly rearranging their limbs, only for her to roll over again.

By the time morning comes, Madara has accepted defeat.

He still refuses to admit to cuddling. But (Y/N) wakes up firmly locked in his arms, his grip ironclad around her waist.

She does not argue. She simply smirks, stretching against him with deliberate slowness.

His hold tightens.

And with a resigned huff, he buries his face into her hair.

Madara does not lose battles.

Except, perhaps, this one.

Izuna

Izuna acts like he’s doing (Y/N) a favor.

-You're lucky,- he murmurs, already pulling her against him as they settle into bed. -Not just anyone gets to sleep beside me.-

(Y/N) hums, unimpressed. -Mm. What an honor.-

He grins, chin resting on top of her head, arms wrapped securely around her. He’s all heat, all confidence... Until he actually starts to fall asleep.

Then, the truth comes out.

The teasing stops. The bravado fades.

And suddenly-

Izuna is clinging.

It’s subtle at first. A hand at her waist, a leg draped over hers. But by the time the night settles in, he is completely wrapped around her, a human furnace, entirely at her mercy.

(Y/N) shifts slightly. He whines.

She gasps.

Izuna Uchiha just whined.

-You're awake?- she whispers, turning in his arms.

He does not answer. Instead, he pulls her tighter, face buried against her skin.

She smirks in the dark. -Izuna?

-Mm.

He’s already half-asleep.

(Y/N) lets him be. She closes her eyes, smiling to herself. Tomorrow, she’ll tease him mercilessly.

Tonight—she simply lets him hold her.

Obito

(Y/N) is cold.

And it’s entirely Obito’s fault.

She glares at him through the dim light, blanket firmly wrapped around his entire body like a cocoon.

-Obito.

No response.

She nudges him.

Still nothing.

Fine.

(Y/N) tugs, hard. The blanket jerks, and Obito immediately wakes up with a yelp.

"Wha—?" He clutches the fabric like it’s his last lifeline.

(Y/N) scowls. -You stole the blanket.-

-You weren’t using... it....

-I WAS ASLEEP.-

They stare each other down. A silent war in the darkness.

Then—

Obito moves.

Not to return the blanket. No.

To throw himself onto her, smothering them both under the stolen warmth, wrapping her up in his arms like a human-sized burrito.

-There,- he grumbles, burying his face against her shoulder. -Happy now?-

(Y/N) sighs, resigned.

-...You’re lucky I love you.-

His hold tightens.

-Yeah,- he murmurs, finally sleepy again. -I know.-

And just like that, he’s out.

(Y/N) rolls her eyes. She’ll never get that blanket back.

But at least she’s warm.

Shisui

Shisui is impossible.

Every night, without fail, he flirts.

-You know,- he murmurs against her skin, -we could just… skip sleeping altogether.-

(Y/N) snorts. -You’d fall asleep in ten minutes.-

-Would not.

-Shisui.

-…Okay, maybe.-

He grins, pulling her closer, tangling their limbs effortlessly.

(Y/N) should be used to it by now; the way he melts against her like he was always meant to be there. The way he tucks his face against her neck, breath warm and steady.

-You’re too comfortable,- he mumbles, already half-asleep.

(Y/N) smirks.

-You’re too easy.-

A chuckle. A hum.

And then... Soft snoring.

She sighs. -Ridiculous man.-

But still—she holds him just as tightly.

Itachi

Itachi does not fall asleep immediately.

(Y/N) knows the routine well.

He reads.

Every night, without fail.

The soft rustling of pages is as much a part of their bedtime as breathing.

Sometimes, she listens, letting his voice guide her into slumber. Sometimes, she teases him, poking at his concentration until he sighs and tucks the book away, finally giving in to rest.

And sometimes, he reads to her.

It starts as a joke. A ridiculous notion that (Y/N) suggests one evening after watching him drown in yet another tome. -If you're going to ignore me for a book, at least make yourself useful and read it out loud.-

He arches a brow.

But then, he does.

His voice is low, steady, unraveling tales of history, poetry, strategy. (Y/N) listens with a small smile, lulled by the cadence of his words.

By the time she drifts off, his arm is already resting over her waist.

And as the book falls shut, he presses the lightest kiss to the crown of her head.

A habit he will never acknowledge in daylight.

But one she secretly waits for, night after night.

[dontbesoweirdkira]

Hi! I love your interpretation of the yan batfam so much bdnfbfkjfnd I was wonderong how you think Dick and/or Jason would react to a rather compassionate batsis?

She's definitely not on board with their obsession but she can understand where their coming from and gives them like ACTUAL compassion.

Ik you said Dick enjoys having a positive image in front of others most of all his younger sister, so how would he react to her seeing his flaws but still, being kind? Jason strives to be "normal", so much so he spirals sometimes, but like what would knowing/experiencing genuine closeness (not pity or false pretenses) change?

Idk if either of them would redeem their bad habits, but am curious to know what being truly seen and accepted would do to them, especially by someone they care about so much. The bats can have their walls pretty high up after all

A/N: sorry about the late responses. I've been out of it the past few days.

context dick context jay

Okay so when you are dealing with yanderes... you are dealing with extremely unstable people. There are so many ways thus could go but here's just one

Dick

Maybe your compassion makes Dick chill out a bit with his unhealthy tendencies. I think initially he'd still be uncomfortable and bothered that you can see right through him. You can see all his flaws and you don't revere him like the others which is bad. It will still anger him and he'll try manipulating you into loving him like everyone does at first.

A heart to heart with him could work. You acknowledge you know he's crumbling and has really horrible coping mechanisms but that doesn't mean that you don't love him. That you respect him even more because you see just how much passion he puts into everything that he does. It isn't his fault he craves so much validation when he had the upbringing he had but he doesn't have to pretend to be someone he's not to please you. That even if he doesn't smile as much or be selfish sometimes that you won't love him any less. You give him a space to be authentic with you with no judgment.

"erm,,,okay. I'll keep that in mind."

He's a bit taken back by it and doesn't know how to exactly process what you just said. I've mentioned before that he doesn't exactly know how to just be himself because for most of his life he was always being someone that others needed.

He's still on guard for a while. He will dip his toes in the waters by maybe not smiling as much with you or rescheduling your hang out session to go out on a date just to see your reaction. Did you truly mean it when you said he was allowed to be selfish? He was fully expecting you to hate him but seeing just how unbothered you were made him go...oh!

I think this shifts his obsession with you. He's still very much yandere but i think he's much more child-like ? I mean Dick still is obsessed with you and all that jazz but before, he wanted to be the best older brother/father figure. His happiness was dependent on how much you needed and revered him. But now you're becoming his safety blanket for when he's stressed, tired or upset. WIth you he can just lay on your shoulders without speaking and you won't even mind. He can be kind of assholey or dark and you will understand he's just in a mood and what he says never leaves the two of you. You won't take away your compassion or love based on how he acts...the first non-transactional relationship he's ever truly and it's pretty great. He finally feels like a brother and not like he's playing house anymore.

Don't get me wrong, he's still your older brother who gets on your nerves but there's just this mutual appreciation there that lacks with the others.It's clear to the others that he loves you just a bit more than the rest. When it's movie/game nights, he will allow you to sit it out or not tag along to restaurants. He's very protective and defensive over you. He doesn't feel as much of a need to do all that stupid crap with you because if he wanted your time, he could have a peaceful moment on the rooftops with you instead.

Jason

Hmm..i think Jason will just always feel a bit outcasted. There are plenty of people who do care about Jason in the comics but it's hard to relate to someone who's been through what he's been. It's just so unique to him. He knows you don't truly understand what it's like to have spirits of the Lazarus haunting you in your sleep. He knows that you cannot feel the pain of being replaced by someone you're now forced to see as a brother.

When i wrote my last piece a few people took it as me saying the reader found Jason to be odd. Really what it was is that Jason put those thoughts into his own head because he internalized the joke because of his own insecurities. The reader was perfectly fine with Jason being a little off...it made sense as he would've just come back from being dead and is trying to find a bit of normalcy.

It's funny though because while he's trying to be "independent" it's painfully clear he's still very much attached to you and is still unknowingly mimicking you.

I think though if reader sat down with Jason and explained he doesn't need to change or be "normal" because you love him the way he is, maybe he will relax a bit. But i think there would always be voices in Jason's ears telling him he needs to be perfect. My version of jason is around 20-ish year old who is a bit emotionally stunted and disoriented because he's just coming out of the pit. After a few years of being integrated back into the family he'll understand that you actually do love him as a brother and he serves a great purpose even if that purpose doesn't look the same as Dick's.

[ace-and-the-rpg-horrors]

it is not really a shock that this fandom has a bit of a misogyny problem, but i think a specific one is how the boys are often somewhat babied and given all sorts of pity for every single tiny thing they go through, while the girls with similar issues are often ignored entirely. there are many examples of this, but right now, i am going to talk at length about the Tenmas and the Shinonomes in particular, as them being pairs of siblings allows very direct comparison.

firstly, the one that irks me most: Tsukasa Tenma, and how a ridiculous number of his fans will make absolutely everything about him. including Saki's disability. i do think it's right to acknowledge the impact on him as well- but it gets overdramatic really quickly. i'm sorry to be harsh, but Saki did not spend her childhood in and out of hospitals, believing that she was dying, just for half the fandom to completely brush over her trauma and be like "oh... poor, lonely Tsukasa..."

i rather hate this, because not only does it feel quite ableist to skim over the one directly suffering from the condition in order to massively favour someone who happens to feel a bit of the knock-on effect, but it's also used to unreasonably villainise the Tenma parents. people will go on about how "neglected" Tsukasa was... very well, how exactly would you have handled the situation? they did their absolute best. it was a highly unfortunate situation for everyone involved, and it's unfair to deem Mrs and Mr Tenma as "bad parents" simply because they prioritised their dangerously ill daughter over their confident son who always assured them that he'd be alright. yes, they could have made better choices for Tsukasa, such as hiring a babysitter... but i think people tend to forget that Saki's illness flared up very suddenly and randomly. as the good parents the Tenmas are, they very likely couldn't think properly due to their panic for their daughter. it was instinct to drop everything and get her immediate help. and Tsukasa himself understands this, so it's an absolute wonder that the fandom doesn't. he was not ignored. he was phoned, updated on the situation, reassured that his sister was recovering... and praised by his parents for being such a wonderful brother.

also, with the situation of Saki's hospitalisation, i do feel like Tsukasa's own personality is sometimes not taken into account, ironic since it's him that everyone's interested in. because i would, in fact, be more critical of the Tenma parents, had Tsukasa been a more fragile child. if he had been the type who was easily scared, who could not handle being by himself, who would, in fact, have been traumatised from being left alone- i would say that the Tenma parents would have deserved the treatment they get from the fandom. but... that's not Tsukasa. it has been shown that Tsukasa was always a very bright, self-assured boy, positively brimming with confidence. even when little, he was creative and strong- and his parents knew this. they could have some peace of mind during a stressful time, knowing that their son could entertain himself with ease, such as how he was practising some acting just before his mother rang him. all of this is shown within the Dazzling Stage event which is, funnily enough, the very same event that the lovers of Tsukasa angst latch onto.

of course Tsukasa was heavily concerned about Saki. he is an incredibly caring person, why wouldn't he be? and yes, of course he missed her while she was in the hospital. no one is trying to deny that, nor minimise his suffering. the fandom does that to Saki. while acknowledging that Tsukasa was affected is good, in fact, it is very interesting to see the impact of disabilities beyond those directly affected... it's the fact that it is majorly Tsukasa's issues that are focused on that confuses me. it's disproportionate. i do wish we saw just as much sympathy and discussion about Saki herself, in addition to her brother. the psychological impact that her illness and consequential exclusion had on her, as well as the obvious physical aspect. because that is just as interesting, if not potentially more so, and i will be making a future post about it.

moving on from the Tenmas, i'd now like to talk about the Shinonome siblings, in a little less detail, considering i personally have not witnessed the unfairness of their treatment as much as that between the Tenmas. though, make no mistake, it still exists.

now, Ena is a character who i feel has a certain percentage of those who dislike her. and what are the general traits that people point out when asked why they aren't a fan? from what i've seen, it is her anger management issues, past violence, and a general "tsundere" type of personality that earns her this criticism. i'm not saying she does not have any of this. she absolutely does. she is flawed, as good, complex characters should be. though, everything she is despised for... who else regularly displays the exact same traits?

none other than her own brother, Akito. yet the dislike for him, while it is obviously around, does not seem quite as common as hers. a very short and hot temper? check. shows of violence? check. a sometimes harsh way of speaking? check. can sound aggressive and off-putting on occassion? check. Akito and Ena are incredibly similar when it comes to their more negative traits. i suppose it's not a surprise, considering that they were both brought up in the same, questionable environment. though, why does Ena seem to be hated so much more?

most will bring up the very infamous mention of how Ena and Akito's fights would get physical when they were younger. and how this makes Ena an "abuser" because supposedly, as she is the elder one, there was an imbalance in power... but was there really? it is incredibly controversial to say, but i do believe that the violence between them, particularly that which was committed by Ena, is quite exaggerated by fans. and here is where i think that Akito tends to be babied.

Ena was not significantly stronger than Akito. perhaps not ever physically stronger than him at all except when they were literal babies. there is only one year of difference between their ages. in the current day, it is no debate that Akito is one of the strongest characters, regularly going on runs, being able to sprint with Tsukasa on his back, while Ena is quite on the opposite end of the spectrum, preferring the indoors and such. what i am saying is that it is absurd how the fandom makes it seem like Akito was some utterly defenceless little toddler that was getting beaten up by his Big Bad Sister. realistically, he was fully capable of fighting back- and he does. it's hardly as if we see him cower before her. he has absolutely no issue retorting to her in a snarky manner. when people bring up the whole drama of Ena scratching him, they conveniently forget what he says directly afterwards- that he could dodge her attacks. not to mention, sibling fights getting physical and a little violent is incredibly common, take it from me- i am an oldest sister myself. if you call Ena an abuser, you are saying that you want half the older siblings in this world behind bars.

oh, and people will talk until they're blue in the face about how the "nasty" and "crazy" Ena scratched up her brother when they were younger- are we forgetting that Akito punched Toya in the literal main story? that left a massive bruise on his cheek. that isn't talked about nearly as much as some common sibling scrap.

if you can let similar behaviour slide from Akito... how come it is unacceptable from his older sister? who is, arguably, from what has been shown in the story so far... under the greater amount of stress from the tension within their family. it was her that was explicitly discouraged by their father. we haven't seen such conflict between Shinei and his son, have we? that's not to say that Akito's current personality isn't also explained, having grown up in that environment, but why is it that Ena receives so much less sympathy than him when she, understandably, lashes out?

Saki and Ena have both had it rough. in their own, very different, ways. yet, a staggering amount of pity is given, not to them, but to their respective brothers.

and i must, sadly, wonder... if the mere genders of these four characters happened to be swapped and all else remained as it is...

... would the perception of any of them be quite the same?

[opultea]

Babe, Look at Me!

Things the Genshin men do to try and impress you. ft. Alhaitham, Lyney, Morax (Zhongli), Itto

Fluff - Romantic - SFW - GN Reader (No Pronouns) - Headcanons

Word Count: 0.8k

Alhaitham

So here’s the thing

Alhaitham ain’t a man to show off

He literally doesn’t care about what anyone thinks of him

Except for a special someone (¬‿¬)

(That’s you boo)

Alhaitham still doesn’t show off in the classic way. Definitely doesn’t go out of his way to make you view him doing certain things

But if the opportunity presents itself naturally… then why not take it?

I’m talking lifting up the hem off his shirt to wipe sweat off his brow when he’s working out with/near you, changing shirts just a little bit slower than he usually would if you’re around, putting a bit more effort in winning a debate he’s in with another scholar when you’re with him, flexing his bicep when you hold his arm

It’s the little things

But boy do they work

Sports a smug little smile when he sees you affected by him

If you get flustered and smack his chest to tell him to stop, he'll just give you a slight smile and tell you he has no idea what you're talking about

Lyney

As if this guy won't spend ages perfecting that trick where he pulls a bouquet from nowhere so he can gradually pull out bigger and bigger bouquets to give you

He already practices his tricks almost constantly, dead set on perfecting every little thing

But with you on his mind?

That spark to do his best grows into a fervent flame like no other

Lynette doesn't complain about his childish wish to impress you as long as it's improving his performance (and making him happier), but she definitely rolls her eyes at him when she overhears him practising his line delivery for when he gifts you the rainbow roses he bought earlier

He personally invites you to every one of his shows, and though he understands if you can't make it every time, he smiles so wide when you say yes that you're tempted to push aside all your other commitments anyway

After the show, he'll pull you aside and ask what you thought, all while trying to appear as if he isn't nervously awaiting your approval

Morax

I’ve specified Morax here because this is based in the universe of my Zhongli x Cloud God Reader head cannon (from my Where’s My Kiss? drabbles)

Look, he’s a young, proud, powerful god with his eye on the lovely cloud god that he sees roaming above sometimes, and he can’t help but try to do certain things hoping you’ll be watching from your domain

Morax in his dragon form taking more causal flights around Liyue than he used to, certainly not because he knows you can see his magnificent true form from your palace in the heavens when he flies past

Although he doesn’t often involve himself in battle unless necessary, he’s found himself allowing the yaksha to spar with him with the excuse that he believes it will test their limits (and definitely not because he wants you to see how powerful he is)

You agreed to help him train the yaksha, and as you stand at the side of the small battleground Morax locks eyes with you as he does his finishing move in a 'cool guys don't look at explosions' way

Definitely smirks a little when he sees how it affects you

Itto

Actually says the phrase 'Babe, look at me!' all the time

Literally will do anything and then turn to you to receive his head pat and praise

Loves to flex (both literally and figuratively)

Takes extra special care of his horns and hair the night before he's going to see you just to fish for extra compliments

If you don't immediately acknowledge the extra care he took and the extra shine on his horns, he'll clear his throat and place his hand on his head to make you look up at his horns

If you still don't compliment him or act impressed (which you've definitely done just to tease him) he'll get sooo pouty, poor baby :((

But of course, you always act so impressed in the end, often turning it up to eleven jokingly

Itto will take any and all compliments seriously though, no matter how dramatic you're acting with them

"Thanks babe, knew you'd notice."

He acts cool by sweeping back his flowing mane as if he wasn't hunched over pouting two seconds ago

"My horns are just too cool for their own good, you know? Feels like I gotta reign in my own awesomeness sometimes, otherwise everyone will be all up on me and you'll get lost in the crowd of admirers! And we can't have that, huh? You're the numero uno cheerleader for this numero uno leader!"

[conanssummerchild]

a lot of the time it kinda feels like jess's storyline is too dark for gilmore girls, so it's always There but it's never reaaally adressed or gone in depth into, which is fine because that's what fanfiction is for but it frustrates me that people take what they see on the show at face value and don't read into the subtext (i've been told i dive too deep into the subtext, but i'd rather that than to not dive at all. to stay on the shore. lame)

additionally, jess is portrayed a certain way on the show (angry, rebellious) which i love about him because i crave that specific flavour of traumatised characters in media (so i can project) but some people don't seem to link his backstory to his current way of being. i'm not saying that his actions should be excused because of his past, but i wish he could get a little more understanding, from the other characters (mostly luke, who treats him better than anyone else but fails to actually understand his trauma-- by no fault of luke's own, he's just a little out of his depth) and from the viewers. i see people talking about it as if jess's character was just like:

"oh this kid's loser dad walked out on him as soon as he was born, which obviously had no effect on him, he had no father figure unless you want to count the men who continuously entered and just as quickly dissapeared from his and his mother's life, his mum also drank copiously-- again, none of this must've had any effect on this kid's life. his mum then very resonably gave up on him because he fucking sucks for no reason, and sent him away. leather jacket wearing bad boy"

when it's more like jess was raised by a single mother (who had him very young), she was an addict and jess was raised in a life of instability and neglect due to this, financial problems and his mother's boyfriends, he begins to act out becuase of it and gets sent to an unfamilliar town to live with his uncle who is essentially a stranger. all of these experiences from such a young age obviously affected jess's mental state and ability to form relationships with other people deeply. this, again, doesn't excuse a lot of his actions but i think it does explain at least some of them

it also doesn't help that the show revolves so much around rory (obviously, it's called gilmore girls, not the jess mariano show) which causes jess's actions to be linked to rory in a way that gets ridiculous at some point. like jess coming back because luke stole his car and luke telling him to stay away from rory. you mean this teenager (who luke, his first relatively stable parental figure, not too long ago kicked out) flunked out of high school, met his deadbeat dad for the first time in 18 years and was promptly rejected by him and is about to spend a freezing cold night sleeping in his car, but of course he's here for rory. be for real

i love jess and i'm happy with how most of his storylines panned out but i always yearn for a little more. an acknowledgement of why he may be reluctant to let liz back into his life, him and lorelai having an actual conversation where she tries to actually understand his experiences not assume she does because of her own, luke being a little gentler with jess sometimes, an explanation of what happened while jess was away that suddenly made him so emotionally mature and well adjusted. idk, just something that's been on my mind

[nickssidewitch]

✨❤️ How the Sturniolo Triplets Flirt With a Crush 😻✨ (a Tarot Reading)

Chris 🧡

Very invested, will make sure to keep up with his crush almost every single day 😭

But he also overthinks A LOT during this stage, so he’ll ease back if he thinks he’s doing too much.

He’ll post little things on his socials so the person he’s flirting with can see them. It’ll be little subliminal messages and things of that nature.

But he’ll also overthink that as well, and will probably even make little clarifications to try not to make it seem like it’s directed at someone (even though it most definitely was).

My Gosh, this man worries so much when he flirts because he hopes the girl can pick up on it and if he’s not being super cringy or he’s not making her turned off.

If he can see that the girl is enjoying his flirting, he won’t worry as much, but she has to be super direct about it, otherwise he will literally die of overthinking 😭😭

He flirts the most via social media posts, but he also texts and does FaceTime calls a lot with the person he’s into. He’ll wanna text/call them late at night just so they can both catch up on each other’s days and just vent.

He will literally stay up for hours, laying on his stomach, feet dangling in the air like a giddy schoolgirl, staring down at his phone just to see if his girl will ever call him or text him. I’m exaggerating… but also I’m not.

He’s a great listener, so he doesn’t mind a rant or a trauma dump or two 😭

He will buy his girl things that remind him of her. Little trinkets like charms and stuffed animals. He’ll buy clothes and jewelry if he sees something he knows the girl will like.

He will pay for everything.

He definitely puts on a certain voice that he doesn’t even realize. (I can hear it in my head and it’s sexy as fuck. A bit raspy and low, a bit of a whisper). He even has a look on his face and will stare at you with that look 😭 He has no clue he does it though.

Lots of music. Lotsss.

If he feels that the flirting is not working though, he will be devastated.

Nick 💜

He actually prefers being flirted with. He likes being the center of someone’s affection. *debby ryan meme*

He will do obvious things to flirt with someone. And if the guy don’t pick up on it, that’s on him ✌🏾

He’s a gift giver and acts of service kind of guy when flirting. If the man doesn’t appreciate what he’s doing by actually acknowledging it, then he’ll be devastated and won’t give you the time of day anymore.

I think he knows what he wants, who he wants, when he wants it, and sometimes why. 😭

That can be a bit intimidating for some guys because they have this expectation of him being someone who will change themselves just to get their attention. But in reality, Nick is very confident in who he is and would never change himself for a man’s attention (unless it’s literally just him working out or drinking more water, etc.)

He’s asking his brothers about what guys do in certain situations (because usually it’s a bi or more masc guy he’s into). He’ll literally go to Chris or Matt with his phone, show a text and be like “oh my gosh what does this mean??”

He’ll definitely be touchy-feely with you, and that’s a big deal because he hates touching people and people touching him. So if he’s got his arm around you, then you’re the one for him!

Matt 💙

Super invested like his brothers.

People keep saying he’ll be dry which is very untrue. That man will always find a way to keep the person he’s flirting with entertained.

He wants them to laugh and actually find him funny, otherwise it won’t work and he knows it.

Humor is a way for him to figure out whether you’re actually listening to him and understand him and the way he thinks. So if you can’t pick up on his humor or don’t laugh at certain jokes he makes, you’re out.

He likes flowers and chocolates, but doesn’t mind jewelry and expensive things to bring his girl as well. And if she’s like “Oh, Matt, you shouldn’t have”, he’ll be like “Um, yes, I definitely should have, and I did!”

He’ll send risky texts or say risky things just to see the girl’s reaction to them. Nothing too crazy or frisky. Just something that can spark a reaction that can be a telltale sign of whether she’s into it or not.

These are the basics of it! Lmk if you guys liked this post!! 🥰

[muchanmocha]

I'm very hot-cold on till not because of his entire thing with mizi (i agree its not a human rights violation for a person to crush on a lesbian) but because of his entire thing with Acorn. It just... absolutely baffles me how he changed thesong during his round and set acorn up for death with 0 hesitation after knowing that they probably (probably close) friends? i mean by the vivinos comic till and acorn probably spent a lot of time together. like i know its a death game and everyone is putting their own needs first but the aboslute 0 hesitation... holy moly.

That's totally valid haha. What happened to Acorn seemed to slide under the radar for a lot of people (me included until you sent this ask)

What's interesting about it is that official content has always emphasized how pure Till and his feelings for Mizi are.

Till willing to risk everything for her and sing; this shows his pure nature. He's just a boy experiencing the innocence of first love.

— Final Round Behind the Scenes, Patreon

Generally, people take pureness to be an all around good trait. But no trait is inherently good or bad; it's all dependent on framing (ambitious -> motivated, honest -> inconsiderate, ruthless -> decisive, etc).

Alien Stage does a fantastic job showing this because they're never afraid to acknowledge or even spotlight the ugly sides that exist. Take Sua for example—she's described as sensitive and kind but these traits manifest in her being easily hurt and putting up walls to shut everyone out.

Mizi, another character closely associated with the word pure, gives us some insight on how they interpret this trait in her Drowing Bloom profile:

From the beginning, MIZI had a strong image of being untarnished, positive, and pure.

Sometimes the emotion of anger is so pure that MIZI acts savagely, and sometimes it's so pure that she has the courage to say “I love” what she loves.

Alien Stage considers both of these a reflection of Mizi's pureness.

And so similarly, Till's pureness manifests in both his earnest, heartfelt desire for Mizi to understand his feelings, and the utter callousness with which he dismisses Acorn's existence and life.

Because to Till, Acorn has no place in this story, this song. And the moment he tries to cut in?

Bam.

Immediately and forcefully shunted out.

pure — without any extraneous and unnecessary elements, free of any contamination, untainted

Free of any extraneous and unnecessary elements => rejection/dismissal of extraneous and unnecessary elements.

Alien Stage really doesn't hesitate to express how there's always two sides to a coin.

[speedforce-zoomies]

I’ve seen a lot of posts about the Batfam wearing the others merch recently

So I would like to add for consideration- the ultimate act of acknowledgment from Tim is him adding a sticker of your hero identity on his skateboard (list based roughly in the order he would have met them)

Prior to becoming Robin his skateboard only had stickers of the Batman, Nightwing, Robin, & Batgirl symbols (either NW Dick + R Jason or both for Dick idk if he would but you can’t tell me Dick’s biggest fan wouldn’t have at least consider it lol)

Then he becomes Robin and he slowly starts adding on to it

Oracle & Huntress get stickers added on super quick after their introductions though at the time he might have needed to custom make Oracle’s- maybe Huntress’s as well?

Spoiler hit him in the face with a brick when they first meet so even though he forgave her pretty quick it still takes him a moment to make/add her sticker on. (How long do vigilantes need to be on the scene before people start making merch, do y’all think?)

Impluse gets added on pretty quickly after Tim meets him. Superboy gets added on a while after their meeting because the two annoyed the HECK out of each other when they first met and Tim’s petty like that.

Tim was a bit suspicious when he first met Cass but AS SOON AS he gets over it he’s adding on a sticker. Like immediately.

While he meet Secret before the rest of YJ I’m not sure those meetings would have led him to making a sticker for her but once she joins the team I think he would.

Wonder Girl, Arrowette, & Empress like Impluse, gets their stickers added on pretty soon on after he meets them.

He later makes a custom one for Slobo.

Ray gets one too but not as quickly as the others & both Ray & Slobo get one quicker than Superboy did, relatively. It makes Superboy fume a bit lol in a way he didn’t with the girls lol.

Every time Red Hood is close to get his sticker added he does something that pushes the time table back lol. Sometimes Jason tried adding his own sticker but the skateboard is never where he can find it when he tries.

He added one for Batwoman, BlueBird, & The Question (Reene) because he thinks they’re cool (+ without even realizing that he also felt a communal pull to do so)

It took a bit of time after the whole “I left Gotham in search of Bruce who was lost in the time-stream” thing for things with Damian to settle. Tim added his Robin randomly without any fanfare and Damian pretended he doesn’t care (but he does obnoxiously brag about it when annoyed by Jason to bother him in return)

Tim was MIA & considered dead when Duke became Signal (if I’m recalling correctly) but Dick tells him about The Skateboard and when Tim comes back Dukes already ready and hands him a Signal symbol sticker. Tim is amused and immediately puts it on. Jason is frustrated.

When he starts working with Sparrow he makes one for her.

Also every time Nightwing changes his suit, a new sticker gets added on which makes everyone complain and say they should get more than one sticker if they’ve had more than one suit/super identity.

Tim responds by adding more Nightwing stickers

[yourhighness6]

Is Katara "Motherly"? - The Discourse

The whole "is Katara motherly" discourse is a little annoying to me because for one thing its impossible to deny that in canon she acted motherly towards Aang, Sokka, and Toph, with Sokka even saying at one point when he thought of his mother Katara's was the face that came to mind.

But the other problem is that this fits into the shows themes so perfectly of children being thrust into adulthood and enormous amounts of responsibility too easily because of war and the subsequent (or end goals of) genocide, cultural genocide, and colonization. Katara's motherly characteristics are of the show's own making, they're right there in the text and their there for a reason, and although they weren't given enough attention as they should have been, there is no doubt that this is treated as, not exactly a tragedy, but as something bad and debilitating to Katara and her teenagerlike need to goof around with her friends.

But for whatever reason, the fandom seems to think that this characterization is fan made. Katara is supposedly forced into a motherly role by the fandom, particularly the zutara fandom, when in reality it is the show that does this to her. And the whole idea of momtara and dadko is that Katara doesn't have to be the mom anymore. She doesn't have to be the one solely responsible for the chores and the cooking and the emotional labor. She has a partner, and equal, who is willing to put forth the time and energy to assist her in what she feels obligated to do, and to tell her to go sit down sometimes before she burns herself out.

Could the other kids besides Zuko do this? Of course. But as we've already established, everyone in the gaang besides Suki shoves Katara into a motherlike role. Is this their fault? It's hard to say. Toph at least has a heart-to-heart with Katara about it, and Sokka's idea of her as a mother largely stems from trauma.

But my significant problem with Katara's motherly traits comes with the fact that there is no real closure to that arc in the "Runaway". Toph and Katara talk mostly about Toph's parents, and Toph tells Katara that she thinks she is capable of having fun. But other than that, there's nothing. The boys don't have to come to terms with the fact that Katara does not want to be seen (solely) as motherly or put in that position. Instead, the show gives us a few colorful explosions and subtlety implies that it is a little bit Katara's fault that she is seen that way. But again, that's not the fault of the zutara fandom or a reason the trope of momtara and dadko is problematic. It seeks to acknowledge these character traits in Katara, which a lot of kat@angers refuse to do, and give her a way to work past the trauma that caused them and help her adjust to a more healthy amount of stress and pressure on herself for a kid her age.

[lovesickshell]

"Oh my, I just signed into a new account in this app with this random phone. Since it was around few days without being touched, i decided to claim and it is mine now! I wonder what do i do here? Do i just talk with people out of nowhere? Perhaps making friends... Oh! Maybe find other people who i know in this app too! I'm so excited to start this journey here. 💕"

NOTE ;; (Updated.)

This is an AU Roleplay account. Feel free to interact with Shelly, or her other friends to acknowledge the situation more better. Dandy's world oc, Roleplay account or other AUs are allowed to interact.

This is an Alternative universe of Shelly having the Lovesick Effect. The Lovesick effect only affects people whom constantly feeling down, angry, ETC, and can be left Permanent sick if untreated properly or soon.

[ ^ old shelly's design, will remake it. ]

SITUATION

The ones who are Affected by this are; Shelly, Shrimpo, Razzle and Dazzle, Astro, Boxten, And Goob.

The dead toon is only Poppy due to past interactions had happened before.

INFORMATION

Dazzle is the first Toon/Mascot to get Lovesick in the first place, Lastly Astro to get Lovesick at the end.

Lovesick can spread throughout in physical contact, or in emotional. And can changes people minds constantly in place and mess with their brain causing them to act all Lovely-Dovey to the ones they are close with only.

Shrimpo's attention is all over Goob and Boxten, For multiple reasons, he had infected them both along the way which caused them to be sick.

Astro is still a quiet Toon/Mascot, But more likely happier than before. Dandy are avoiding him at some point to avoid being Affected by Lovesick which causing Astro constantly feeling a bit Heartbroken. Luckily, Shelly is always there to make him feel loved.

Dazzle cries often of being constantly Heartbroken. Razzle helps him calm down alot to avoid being constantly heartbroken when being ignored, Making Dazzle feel better afterwards. (No. They are not in love or whatsoever, They are more like Brothers to each other.)

Shelly REALLY loves to be around with Vee and Tisha. Even when Vee constantly push her away, She doesn't give up nonetheless. Tisha also keeps her distant to avoid being Affected, but sometimes talks to her to engage in conversation to let her know more about Shelly in the state.

CHART OF RELATIONSHIP

* Will not be updated on this one. Keep that in mind Goob and Boxten are newest ones.

Shrimpo/Astro ; They do not get along at all. No reason, But Astro have reasons that he cannot express.

Astro/Dazzle ; They get along pretty well! They talk alot and express their feelings, Constantly greeting in sight to maintain friendliness towards each other!

Dazzle/Shelly ; They get along pretty fine. But at some point whenever Shelly sees Dazzle in such a state she would think Dazzle is too naive to find someone loveable. While Dazzle seeing Shelly get constantly pushed away, He often thinks that she's being pushy to others. But nonetheless, They do get along pretty fine.

Shelly/Shrimpo ; Shrimpo does NOT like how Shelly is being a pushover while Shelly thinks that Shrimpo is overreacting. Only if Shrimpo didn't constantly judge her pushy behavior.

Shrimpo/Dazzle ; Shrimpo sometimes thinks Dazzle needs to behave and stop being too naive to give out love to people, yet feel bad and wonder why he always like this. For Dazzle, He sees Shrimpo always thinks about how he is naive, but Dazzle does not see that way and reassure Shrimpo that he is ok.

Astro/Shelly ; Astro thinks that Shelly is okay. And Shelly thinks Astro is cool!

Feel free to interact with Shelly! She is(n't) 'new' here in Tumblr afterall!

[bluespiritshonour]

I'm not sure if you've mentioned it before, but do you have any good Zuko x Mai fanfic recommendations???? It's hard to find one that's not one-sided or just set in the past.

Also just wanted to say, I adore your art <3

Oh! Hello. I was late replying to this ask because work + trying to remember the kind of fics you suggested because otherwise I'd just have plugged in a bunch of favs here and called it a day 😅

I do hope by one-sided you meant it feels like Mai's putting in all the work because if you meant it being Zuko (which I doubt) then that's not what this list is gonna be.

You're good though. Maiko feeling one-sided it one of my gripes too and I do always try to find fics where Zuko's a yearner.

🗡️ 🔥 🗡️ 🔥

This three parter series by @loopy777. I think when I'm old and gray, Black and Blue would still be not only one of my favourite fics, but one of my favourite stories. It's hard for me to find the kind of stuff I like in romance (which is why I usually avoid the genre but Black and Blue with it's flipping of tropes on it's heads was just the kind of thing I liked. Flowers For Mai has yearner Zuko. He's so earnest there—I think Zuko was canonically very earnest so I like him being written like that. And Making It Legal, I like it because wow, adult maiko acting like actual adults from all the life lessons they've learned and all they've learned about being with each other after all these years? They are acting mature and healthy and not like angsty teenagers? Sign me up! Even now, when I feel down thinking about toxic maiko I go and skim through this fic to make myself feel better. Maiko can be mature and healthy together, okay? Plus, I like character progression. Static characters aren't fun—and while all these fics can be read as stand alone, if you read them serially you'd find character development that is allowed to stick. Also, Black and Blue would forever be my favourite, I wish it was food so I could eat it.

For Better and For Worse (also by Loopy): they both confront their fears about each other and their relationship in this one. But most of all: this is the non-traditional, adventurous wedding maiko (and especially Mai) deserves!!! You know, from a meta textual perspective. They are not normies! There are plenty of normies out there but maiko aren't it! The narrative owes it to them not to make them normies! Jsvdwkwjwj!

🗡️ 🔥 🗡️ 🔥

i love you, don't act so surprised by @calliopieces : this is another fic I read when I feel down in the dumps and maiko's the reason 😅 (I touch grass I swear, it's still not enough sometimes) This fic makes me feel a whole lot better about The Boiling Rock. I like Zuko acknowledging Mai's sacrifice for him and accepting it and swearing to do better by her instead of being all "i don't deserve her waaaa." I find the later attitude cowardice.

🗡️ 🔥 🗡️ 🔥

Keeping It Quite by @headhedgehog : so. The thing about maiko feeling unequal, right? This fic satisfied my urge for good boyfriend Zuko. He's so accommodating of Mai in this fic! Look, I'm not a writer and while I can tell a good story when I see one, I can't generate ideas for it! I always keep complaining I want Zuko to do something grand for Mai like she did in TBR. He doesn't do anything grand here, but all the little things he does are so convincing, you know. I was on the verge of dropping out of the fandom when I found this fic and it made me stay. This fic has Aunt Mura say a line I'll always want to hear when it comes to maiko.

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I hope you're okay with AUs 'cause Mirelle's ( @flameohotfamily ) an AU bender and Zuko in her stuff cares visibly for Mai.

i wish tomorrow never happened is a Hunger Games AU. And oh—when I first read it oh. I don't have words. Zuko's sooooooo! 🥹😭 He was Mai's mentor in the Hunger Games. I have it filed under my "Zuko does stuff for Mai" folder. Warning: it's sad.

the damaged flowers is a Victoria AU. Although this is more "Mai does things for Zuko", don't mistake it: Zuko's earnest like a puppy here when it comes to her. He's smitten. The way he is for most of this fic reminds me of his happy face in the finale when maiko are reunited. And Mai is very in character with the cartoon. Also, fair warning: it gets sad! Very sad.

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Evidence by LizBee ( @liz-squids ): I love all of LizBee's fics because of their characterisation of Mai (and Toph too!) Also, non-traditional Mai!!! [Claps hands] This particular one is Mai centric where she's badass! She's Zuko's spymaster and what stuck out to me, personally, in this fic was how it manages to nail to balance between showing Zuko worrying for Mai's safety while also not shutting her out or trying to restrict her. It's a conflict I'm, frankly, not a fan of. It's neither "she doesn't need protection so i'mma just chill and make it look like I don't care about her safety" nor "oh my god! Mai, I forbid you to be my spymaster it's dangerous™". It's neither and I loved how simple it was! You can tell they've been married for years by now with the dynamic that's established between them! There's also the suggestion that Zuko would very much start another war for Mai and Mai's like yeah, that's why he's surrounded by people like Aang and Iroh who'd keep him from it! Another balance here, managing to show Zuko being a loverboy who'd be willing to go to such lengths for Mai while establishing a safety net that'd make sure he'd actually not go full Vlad Dracula Tepes.

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Deep Ravine by Alabaster86 : Summary reads, After the birth of her first child, Mai falls into a depression.

I had never hoped to find something like postpartum depression handled so well in a fanfic but here we are. I love how throughout the whole ordeal, Mai has a support system. And the ending is hopeful. Zuko's a great husband in this one, although he doesn't appear as much. But that's not the point I suppose, it's about Mai and her struggles. It's also got some awesome Michi and Mai not exactly reconciling, but learning to see eye to eye. Although Michi is Akira here, so it's probably an old fic from before Michi was named. I love pre-rennaissance maiko fics ngl. The characterisation in them tends to be [chef's kiss]

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If you want some modern AU college maiko DisasterFem's The Only Exception got you covered! Maiko here is equal (I say as I cry, fic writers really do keep us afloat, don't they?) and Zuko's side of maiko gets it's due. They're both trying so hard to move on and are still hung up on each other. It's a softer Mai, one that I think she would be after friends and therapy. Come on, we know she needs both. It's ongoing.

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So, I guess that wraps it up, eh. That was a ride and I've yet to read maiko week fics. Apart from Black and Blue (which I promise would be worth your time despite being set in the past) most of it is maiko being adults and acting like adults. (Fuck you, Gene Yang). Sorry. I'm not sorry.

And after this much labour, I wouldn't be surprised if you've read most of these fics 🥹

[hanamukes]

Uika in Ave Mujica episode 4

For episodes 1-3 of the Ave Mujica anime, I felt like while there was definitely stuff going on with Uika that's worth unpacking, the scenes were straightforward enough in what they wished to convey that I didn't feel like they warranted explanation. Episode 4 has completely turned my view of this character on its head though. It feels as if her every word and action in this episode completely contradicts what we knew of her prior. What is going on with her?

I wanted to talk about her in a longform post, so here I am. This is maybe half analysis, half just me rambling my thoughts on what's happening on screen.

DISCLAIMER: If you're not familiar with the way I discuss this character, let me make it clear now that I absolutely love her! This post is essentially a love poem dedicated to how fantastic I think her writing is. That said my tone here might come off a bit sharp, because of how contradictory she is (which I say as a compliment) and how I want to grab her by the scruff and shake her until she tells me what's going on inside that head of hers. Just wanted to mention something before anyone gets the impression I'm criticizing her or the writing when I'm doing nothing of the sort.

Her first moment happens and immediately a lot stands out to me

First: the models in this anime fall under two specifications, girls who always have a blush programmed in and girls who don't. For instance, Sakiko has one so she's always blushing no matter her mood. Uika doesn't. But throughout this entire episode, she does. Why? Why is she so... eerily happy, in a way we have never seen her before?

Secondly, what is her aim here? Sakiko expressed her discomfort with everyone's attitudes, and rather than just being "Sakiko's second voice" as she has been up until now (take the episode 3 fight as an example), she's taking everyone else's side. Her actions are already in total contradiction with the Uika we've seen up until now, who didn't care about anything except easing Sakiko's feelings

Then this happens. Uika is basically in la-la land daydreaming about having her destiny tied to Sakiko's forever (especially because Nyamu points out that sounds like something Sakiko would say), yet she's ignoring her beloved who sits on the other side of the table

Uika, do you really love Mujica as it is when Sakiko's expressing to you directly that she's unhappy?

Ironically, when she does acknowledge Sakiko directly, it only leads to further frustration for Sakiko

Because she's focusing on the wrong thing. She's more worried about Sakiko's exhaustion from writing songs (which is something she can physically see, thus easily pick up on) rather than Sakiko's concerns with the band (which is something she'd have to actually stop to think about). It really feels like she doesn't understand Sakiko at all. How much does she actually stop to think about her feelings? How surface leveled, rose-colored lens does she view her?

Her actions here scream, "well, so long as I get to stay with Sakiko, I don't actually care if she's happy," regardless of if that's her intent. Sometimes your inner feelings aren't enough, Uika. Sakiko is actively looking miserable in front of you and what are you doing about it?

Are you really just going to leave without saying anything to her? You express concern when halfway out the door, yet when face to face with Sakiko, you act like nothing is wrong?

Again, yes, Sakiko is exhausted, but that's not all there is to it Uika. And she hasn't exactly been subtle about what she's worried about!

Mortis keeps the focus of the conversation to Sakiko having to write all the scripts (thus prompting Uika to point out that she's been pulling all-nighters and maybe that's the problem), but I quite like this line, as there's a lot to unpack here

前はそういうの絶対見せなかったのに

The translation gets the idea across fine to be clear, but in Japanese, there's an emphasis on the "never" part. It feels unthinkable to Uika that Sakiko would perhaps lash out, or show her exhaustion to the others. Kind of putting a mental pin in this because that's not the impression we, the viewers, have seen from prior episodes (Sakiko in this episode was acting incredibly in line with what we've seen of her already in this anime), so I wonder where Uika got this idea from. It makes you wonder just what Uika's impression of "normal" or "prior" Sakiko is

This line is genuinely sweet of her, if not a bit ironic because Uika's already absolutely overworking herself for Sakiko, which Sakiko pointed out in episode 1 (a lot of the officially published interviews have been pointing this out over and over too, just as a side note). They really want to ease each other's burdens...

Yeah, we're not even being subtle about Uika having to "borrow" ways to cheer people up anymore

I actually noticed this about her even back in It's MyGO. When Uika comforted Tomori in episode 10, it was eerily close to what Sakiko did in episode 3. Tomori even associated Uika's actions as being reminiscent of Sakiko's behavior. I had no evidence about Uika copying what Sakiko did then (I don't... think? know? that Uika saw Sakiko's meeting with Tomori and thus could copy it), but now? There's evidence that perhaps her acts of generosity are in fact just things she's imitating from others. If you're curious about the It's MyGO example of this, I highly recommend watching this for yourself

Oh, I'll also mention that in my pre-anime analysis post for Uika, I mentioned she probably doesn't "shine" at all as an idol without Mana, and she more or less just confirmed that for us

Again there's a lot to unpack with this part

Hoo boy. Let's go back an episode. In episode 3, Uika was feeling insecure about the fact Sakiko "knew" Mutsumi "very well since they were kids." She looked visibly bothered by it before changing the topic. So hearing from "Mutsumi" herself that "Actually, you're the one closest to Sakiko, not me" must be making her day. Mortis is actively using Uika's affection for Sakiko against her (well, for the sake of the band, but she's still manipulating (for lack of a better word) her regardless). It's a bit harrowing when you realize that Uika's happy that her "competition" for being close with Sakiko is dead, despite her not realizing Mutsumi more or less is dead at this point...

Moving on to the scene in her apartment, my only addition here is... well, it sure is something how the only things she said to Sakiko were what Mortis told her to say. She has no lines here that weren't just parroting advice. Is that really all you have to say to your beloved?

This is an interesting comment from her

Because there's a couple ways you could interpret this. Is Uika referring to the "stiff" expression, or the close proximity? We know for Sumimi, she views herself as having a "terrible expression" (when Mana's not around to change her energy), but it's also not lost on me that it could also be referring to "my image of Sumimi [where we take photos together in close proximity]"

Sakiko's reaction to this is what makes it so meaningful to me

Nyamu and the photographers are saying "this doesn't look like Mujica at all, but that's a good thing," which Sakiko is obviously displeased about. Why would going against Mujica's worldview be a good thing? And yet... even Uika, who founded the band with her and who writes all their songs, is saying she likes the photo. Once again, Uika is completely disregarding Sakiko's feelings despite how close she is to her. Physically, they're almost close enough to brush shoulders, but emotionally, I don't think Sakiko's ever felt further from her. The betrayal in her face and voice feels so obvious, yet Uika's still in la-la land like she was earlier in the episode and doesn't acknowledge it at all... we really can put ourselves in Sakiko's shoes throughout the whole episode, because truly, what is going through Uika's head?

Uika doing sweet gestures for Sakiko. This is the character I recognize!

It's not lost on me that 1. she has two umbrellas like she does in her apartment, and 2. there's this almost eerie focus on Uika making coffee for people. I say this because the opening itself has a shot of her mugs, there's that weirdly placed clip of coffee dripping in episode 2 (it's also in one of the trailers), the donut scene in episode 3, and now this. I'll be interested in seeing why this is so important to her

I do wish we had gotten to see the conversation Uika and Sakiko had here. Sakiko has a habit of brushing Uika off, but she was finally able to open up to her about something. They finally talked together amidst all of this miscommunication and not understanding one another, but we didn't get to see it... (which may be a sign they didn't really talk about much, but hey, I like my Uisaki crumbs where I can get them)

Thank you for the confirmation that Uika would be the first victim in a slasher film. Moving on

I love the way this comment is framed. If Sakiko left the band, who would be most hurt? Sakiko or Uika?

Uh oh. She's having her words used against her

What she said in episode 3 was honestly a bit careless* (she said it in front of Sakiko, who famously broke up Crychic by leaving it)... but she did have a point. She just wanted to articulate that Ave Mujica should be the 5 of them, and that surely they have a strong enough bond that if one of them left, they wouldn't be able to carry on and just "find a replacement," right? She's our kindhearted front of the band who loves everyone equally, right?

Well

(To clarify the translation, it's not super clear whether Uika said this directly to her, or if Mortis just hit the nail on the head)

Oops! Now that's an awkward position to be in, especially in front of Sakiko herself! Zero denial either...

(*I'll just tack this thought on here, but there's potential Uika's "Please don't hate me" line from the trailer could be because she feels guilt for having said the "if one member quits it's over" line (and thus bringing about the downfall of the band))

Last thing for this episode...

Same, Mortis. What? Why does she have no fight in her? Why doesn't she care? Why is she not saying anything? Are her feelings of guilt, embarrassment and self-hatred actually overpowering her drive to be with Sakiko? Is it over for her, now that the cat's out of the bag regarding the fact she only ever cared about the band to be with Sakiko?

I noticed she acted like a kicked puppy in episode 3 as well. When someone points out how selfish she actually is, she loses all her edge and goes quiet. She wants to escape the situation. She can't fight against what's true about her (the ugliness in her heart), after all, lest she drives herself into a corner as a hypocrite even more than she already has. But her reactions are fascinating to me, because you'd think the front of the band, and someone who swore her life to Sakiko out of profound love for her, would put up more of a fight to keep the band together so she can stay with her. She's not doing damage control at all, she's just taking the hits and all the impact that comes with it. Maybe it's some form of self harm...

(I'm also incredibly curious to know what Sakiko thought of all of this, but maybe that was the least of her concerns...)

Anyway, we'll see what happens next week. I wonder if and when we'll get closure on why she's been so apathetic to Sakiko, despite her claimed devotion for her. I get the impression Sakiko will be moving out (next episode?), so we'll have to see how she reacts to that...