#Adaptive Power Mode

[dr-iphone]

iOS 26 全新「自動省電模式」讓電池撐更久，但只開放 iPhone 15 Pro 以上

Apple 在 iOS 26 加入了一個全新的「自動省電模式」（Adaptive Power Mode），這項功能比原本的「低耗電模式」更厲害，據稱它能夠根據使用者的 iPhone 電池使用狀況自動進行微幅調整，像是自動調暗螢幕、讓部分背景活動變慢一點，來延長手機續航力。這項新功能雖然厲害，但可惜的是必須是 iPhone 15 Pro 以上機型才能使用這項功能。 Continue reading iOS 26 全新「自動省電模式」讓電池撐更久，但只開放 iPhone 15 Pro 以上

[applecidersstuff]

I need people to share my recent brain rot over the idea of the ‘blessing of ares’, so-

First of all, do we know if the blessing is something you get like a gift or is it like a power?

The word ‘blessing’ implies it’s a gift and is given for achieving something (ex: killing a drakon), but it’s disproved by Franks blessing, as he receives it during the achievement (the one in Vienna). And, yes, you could argue that it’s from Mars and not Ares so its understandable why it’s different, but still, the situation, the side effects, and a bunch of other stuff makes it sound more like a manifestation.

However if it is a power it would easily put ares kids at the top of the power list along with the powers big three kids get, because it’s basically a temporary ‘curse of Achilles’ (aka almost total invulnerability) and a strength boost. It could (and if that’s the case it most likely is) be a one in a generation thing, just like Leo’s fire powers or charm-speak, but it’s still awesome if that’s the case. It would also add an additional layer over Clarrise & Ares relationship, and would kind of explain why he had the reaction he had (I can elaborate on this elsewhere if someone needs)

Second of all, if it is a gift, if Ares has blessings, does it mean that other gods have blessings? Or maybe just the war gods?

It could be a thing, as kind of a way to compensate for the lack of powers their kids get. So Ares gives strength, Athena mb gives quick thought (Telemachus who?), Artemis and Apollo give archery skills, and Aphrodite… I actually have no clue what she gives. I would guess beauty like with Piper, but she’s still a war goddess, so there must be something about that she could give?

[03349656115]

appleiphone

[emberglowfox]

How does one accidentally get a spinal inplant?

by falling on it while it has a needle in your back and is trying to feed off you, in short

[kurd1shangel]

The Brain’s Natural Ability to Shift Realities

Shifting is easy because it taps into the brain’s natural ability to exist across different realities. The brain is highly adaptable due to neuroplasticity, allowing it to rewire itself and form new neural pathways. When you visualize your Desired Reality (DR), your brain activates networks like the default mode network (DMN), which governs imagination and daydreaming, making the experience feel as real as a memory. This activates your episodic memory systems, creating simulations of experiences that feel tangible.

The reticular activating system (RAS) also plays a key role. It filters and prioritizes relevant information, so when you focus your intention on your DR, your brain tunes into that reality, shifting your awareness there.

The most powerful part of shifting, though, is that the brain doesn’t have to force anything. It already knows how to move between realities. It’s a natural function of the mind to adjust focus and intention, making the process of shifting feel effortless. By simply engaging with your DR, you’re allowing your brain to do what it already knows how to do: move between different realities, seamlessly and without resistance.

[zoe-oneesama]

So Angelic Layer is like Megaman Battle Network and Dragon Drive? Does it also op extra power for each individual doll, or is it all available in the shop/can be made?

Angelic Layer kinda wrote in a way for Angels to have "special powers" by claiming that some Angels have glitches.

Blanche goes into Hyper Mode when her HP gets below a certain point:

The implication is that Hyper Mode make Blanche faster and hit harder. In the manga, this is because the Deus is taking advantage of an "emergency escape circut". In the anime, Blanche can do this because she's from the first wave of dolls and this over ride hasn't been patched out yet. The "glitch" is that the Angel is going beyond the factory settings to exceed the limits, but limits are there for a reason, so the doll starts to smoke and break down.

Wizard can spring up a shield for a split second, though obviously his Deus has practiced hard to get the timing perfect:

It's explained a little differently in the anime and Misaki uses a completely different method to combat it, but the principal is the same: using energy or electricity to create a net like shield, a "Magic Guard". The downside is this expulsion of electricity temporarily severs the link between Deus and Angel, so in that split instant, Wizard is unable to move.

I like that these glitches have draw backs, they're not perfect. However, there are sOME "glitches" that go literally unexplained.

Like Athena's wings...and Kamehameha blasts.

I only even KNOW these are "glitches" because of a throw away line by Icchan to Athena's Deus:

The energy ball I could kinda get with as a glitch, since it is energy based and probably similar to Wizard's shield...but the wings???

Especially cuz the anime [spoiler] gives another character wings, so it's definitely not built in to the character design.

Basically Angelic Layer said fuck it! Glitches = Special Powers. And that works fine for me when I'm trying to adapt literal magic powers into a fighting game with dolls.

[bucky-murdock-moans]

on the portrayal of grief and depression in daredevil: born again

so I don't think it's a secret that I am so far loving the new daredevil show. I want to preface that it's also completely fine to not like it. but I like the different approaches, the darker tone focusing more on the emotions of the human soul rather than the physicality (for now, at least) and yes, I can't write this without praising charlie cox for his acting. bite me. just like with any other medium, movies and tv shows often have a set mould in which they portray grief and depression. they tell or show us how it's supposed to be, what we are supposed to feel, the characters say the same old lines... the new direction is a lot more heavy on the show-don't-tell side and as someone who had to face grief at a young age while completely abandoned, I feel very strongly about this and I don't want to step around it without praise.

foggy neslon is the closest thing matt has ever had to a family, and the show opens up with him being violently murdered and matt's biggest fear coming alive. someone he loves, someone innocent getting hurt as collateral damage.

I love and adore foggy nelson with all my being not just in the netflix show but in the comics too. elden did an incredible job bringing him to life and showing that potential in the character that is often underestimated in the comics, too. he gave us foggy nelson filled with endless love, kindness, compassion and someone who is incredibly smart - even in the comics, matt admits that himself is more of a master of great speeches and bravado in the courtroom, while foggy is the one with an immense well of knowledge not just about the law but about specific cases that could grant them leverage. as foggy himself pointed out in s3, everybody abandoned matt in his life. his mother left the family (yes, she had ppd, but she abandoned a child nonetheless), his father did his best to raise a kid as a single dad but ultimately, he chose his pride of not willing to lose over staying alive and actually raising his son. stick abandoned matt for a lot of reasons depending on whether you look into the comics or the show. and in s3, while struggling with her own grief and anger karen was considering abandoning matt too. which is a very human emotion to feel on her side, to be fair. as for foggy, that was not gonna happen. foggy nelson loved matt murdock undonditionally. that was the single most powerful, the most priceless thing he could ever give to him. and after his death, we jump a year ahead in time and a lot of people are complaining about bad pacing but please, I am begging you to believe me when I say this was a concious choice to not give us closure the same way matt is not giving himself a chance at closure.

we see a matt murdock who is in survival mode. he moved away from hells kitchen (a palce he never imagined he could abandon), he is now at a new firm, adapting to changes and as you watch him get ready before that court hearing, it is clear to see that he is simply going through the motions. this man is on autopilot. he wants to get the thing done for the sake of being able to say he did it, he finished that task, that chore of making breakfast, getting dressed... and then you see him reaching for foggy's prayer card and you immediately clock in on how worn the edges are. he puts it in a pocket above his heart. at the end of the day, he takes it out, and the next day, picking it up again. he doesn't put it in his wallet, or a pocket permanently to carry it around passively like you would do with a photograph. it is a concious choice that he makes every day to touch it, to handle it, to not allow himself to forgive or forget. he is depressed, he is not letting himself process his own grief and it goes to show just how great of an actor charlie is to convey all that in the posture, in the body language, the way matt seems to stop dead in his tracks when met with inconveniences (sitting down, slumped over when he larns fisk running for mayor while while he ignores the smoke detector for example). we also see him (as of episode 2) abandoning his faith which happens often when people go through intense trauma. especially if religion is a big part of your identity, it's a connection that gets damaged along with your self image. just another sign that goes to show what kind of impact foggy's death had over matt. bottom line is, I love how matt is portrayed with a more high functioning depression (where even karen thinks that he is "doing well" on the outside) while on the inside, he is absolutely falling apart. grief is an extremely complex human experience that never really goes away. it is a long, hard journey that is different for everyone. and yeah, I'm not happy foggy died. I wish he didn't have to. but you could not have picked a better catalyst for matt's life to fall into nothing. and I think in a twisted way it is the most beautiful legacy you can give to foggy. that he was so incredibly, undeniably, unimaginably important and loved.

[serpentface]

Here's what typical vestment for The Odomache looks like.

The pelt of the lion that was originally sacrificed and worn raw for her incarnation is retained throughout the years of service, preserved and fashioned into a headdress and cape (obscuring a helmet). This can get dreadfully hot in the summer but no one ever said that being a hollowed out pathway for God's spirit was easy.

The body is always obscured near completely, barring the hands, feet, and parts of the face (philosophically, these are the body's least vulnerable parts as its modes of Action, though this is in large part a practicality). This is partially a matter of psychological enforcement that this person is not Just a human, and partly a matter of protecting the part of God's living spirit that's in a wholly human body. Conceptually, the Odomache Enables tremendous power rather than being intrinsically powerful in of herself, so all manners of protecting the metaphysically vulnerable human body are of tantamount importance in her case.

The complete obscuring of any identifiable feminine form is also notably important to the underlying philosophies and biases involved. It is necessary that she is female, a condition ascribed a unique malleability to change and transformation (for good or harm), but the act of female/non-male sex and gender assignment also serves to uphold an underclass in a patriarchy that she By Necessity must be distanced from. This extends beyond the masculinized social and dress performance of Odonii to a masculinized social performance with dress that utterly obscures any part of the body that could be gendered, and dress that is not gendered in of itself (women do wear less revealing clothing than men and skirts of similar length, but the act of Fully covering the body in this form exists outside of the bounds of gendered dress).

[[It should be noted that on a historical level, this role is largely a descendant of a variety of 'celibate and/or masculinized female religious authority' figures in pre/proto-Wardi societies stretching back centuries, rather than an emergent property of contemporary religion and philosophy. This is an adaptation of older roles and worldviews to securely fit the contemporary zeitgeist, and that's part of why many aspects of this role Superficially clashes with said zeitgeist.]]

The relatively undecorated white cloak and robes in comparison to culturally favored displays of color and opulence further emphasizes a sense of the Odomache's separation from humanity. The Wardi image of God is not a human lord, but rather the world itself and the functions of the world distilled into the forms of animals. Human hierarchies exist Within God rather than God having a place within human hierarchies, so in this philosophy it's natural for this particular person of high authority to not closely resemble a Human Authority.

This is still ultimately a human body existing at the top end of a human hierarchy (and in the dimension of religious thought, it a human body holding aspects of God most specifically concerned with maintaining concepts of 'right' civilization and hierarchy), so public-facing garb like this will still include a few mundane trappings of lordship such as this fancy gold khattanocuy displaying an image of an enemy being trampled by the Face Odomache as the guardian lion. Purely ceremonial garb for the Odomache hides the body in its entirety beneath the white cloak and forgoes all decoration save for the obligatory weaponry.

A sword and dagger is worn at all times as a matter of being the ultimate physical bastion of her society's military might, and she is always accompanied by a retinue of 'lieutenants' (Extremely elite servants/squires) who carry whatever other elements of her perpetual armament are not currently in use. These weapons are Completely ceremonial in nature (to the point that they're made or plated with gold rather than anything like, durable) and there is absolutely zero expectation that the Odomache will ever directly engage in combat (the times this has happened historically have been when things have gone horribly wrong).

Her face is usually masked in public, though this is not a strict necessity of the role and is forgone for some ceremonial purposes. On these occasion, it's standard to paint the face red to still partly obscure human features in the same fashion of battlefield Odonii. As the color of blood, it positively evokes bodily vitality and strength, the living spirit of the world itself and the mode of connection to God (and will also be reminiscent of the rite of incarnation during which she is Actually covered in blood)

[astrologydray]

When your sun matches your rising sign: part 1

when your Sun sign matches your Rising sign or Ascendant, you’re basically walking through life with the internal and external self aligned. It’s like your soul’s personality and your outward presentation are saying the same thing at the same time, which creates a powerful sense of consistency, clarity, and sometimes destiny.

——Aries Sun & Aries Rising——

You come into this world like a firework that refuses to wait for the 4th of July. Aries Sun with Aries Rising makes you bold, direct, and unapologetically you. People sense your energy before you even speak — it radiates off you like heat. There’s no hiding your intentions or softening your edge, because what you feel on the inside is exactly what people see. You operate in survival mode, but not because you’re threatened — because you thrive in challenges. Leadership, initiation, and raw honesty are natural to you, even if it rubs people the wrong way sometimes.

This combination can also bring a “lone wolf” vibe — you trust your instincts so deeply that you rarely stop to ask for advice. But be mindful: your impulsiveness and quick temper can backfire if you don’t channel it with purpose. The blessing is, you’re real — always. No masks. No filters. And in a world full of illusion, that’s your superpower. You came here to fight for something, and people follow you because they feel your fire is authentic.

—Taurus Sun & Taurus Rising—

When Taurus is both your Sun and Rising, you’re giving grounded goddess, slow-burning icon, and inner peace wrapped in luxury. Your vibe is calm, serene, and unbothered — but that doesn’t mean you’re boring. Far from it. You’re deeply sensual, pleasure-driven, and possess a quiet magnetism that draws people to you. You value stability in every area of life, and the older you get, the more you refuse to be rushed. Your energy tells people “I move when I decide,” and that’s powerful. You build your life like a garden: slowly, intentionally, and with long-term rewards in mind.

This combo gives you natural aesthetic flair — Venus is your ruler twice over, so beauty, comfort, and indulgence are non-negotiables. But it also means you can be extremely resistant to change. Once you’re set in your ways, it’s cemented. Learning to embrace life’s unpredictability will take you far. Still, your double Taurus nature makes you a rock in people’s lives — dependable, nourishing, and quietly powerful. You don’t need to be loud to be unforgettable. Your presence alone is enough.

—Gemini Sun & Gemini Rising—

You’re the definition of “main character energy” in a rom-com directed by the cosmos. Double Gemini is like having twin spirits inside you who both want to narrate your life, tweet about it, and make a podcast. You’re quick-witted, mentally agile, and can charm an entire room before they even realize you’ve shifted personas three times. The Sun and Rising both ruled by Mercury gives you a hyper-awareness of your environment and a constant hunger to learn, talk, connect, and keep it moving. You don’t just adapt — you morph.

But here’s the plot twist: while you’re perceived as bubbly and talkative, your thoughts run much deeper than people assume. Your mind can be restless, which means stillness feels uncomfortable. There’s a need to learn how to ground your thoughts and complete what you start. When you do, you become a force — someone who can bridge worlds, connect people, and articulate ideas in ways that spark real change. You’re not just clever, you’re cosmically coded to translate the world’s chaos into something everyone can understand.

—Cancer Sun & Cancer Rising—

With both your Sun and Rising in Cancer, you carry the emotional tides of the Moon in your aura — people feel you before they hear you. You’re soft, but not weak. Tender, but not naïve. You wear your heart on your sleeve and your memories like armor. There’s an innate protectiveness to you — over your home, your people, your past — and this makes you someone others instantly trust. You feel familiar to strangers, like someone they’ve known in another life. That’s your Moon-ruled magnetism. You are the safe space.

But make no mistake: your softness has depth. You’re deeply intuitive, often absorbing the emotions of a room like a sponge, which can be both a gift and a burden. You may have learned early in life to hide behind a shell or become the caretaker in every situation. With this double Cancer placement, you’ll often need to distinguish between your emotional truth and everyone else’s projections. Once you do, your nurturing becomes powerful — you heal, inspire, and hold space in ways that change lives. Your presence is sacred. Period.

———Leo Sun & Leo Rising———

Double Leo? Baby, the world is your stage and you were born knowing it. Your aura is golden, regal, and undeniable. With both the Sun (your ego) and the Rising sign (your presentation) ruled by the Sun itself, your self-expression shines like a spotlight. Confidence is your birthright, and whether you’re loud or laid-back, people just can’t ignore you. You exude pride, warmth, charisma, and a childlike joy that lights up every space you enter. Even when you’re not trying to be seen, you’re seen.

However, this double Leo combo also means you live in a constant dance between self-love and the need to be loved. You crave admiration not just from others, but from yourself — and when you don’t receive it, it can feel like your inner flame dims. Your biggest growth comes when you realize that your validation doesn’t have to be earned. It’s already yours. When your heart is open and you’re leading with authenticity rather than performance, your light becomes healing, not just dazzling. You don’t just shine — you give others permission to shine, too.

——Virgo Sun & Virgo Rising——

You’re the blueprint for refinement. With Virgo as both your Sun and Rising, there’s an elegant precision to the way you move through the world. Your mind is always scanning, analyzing, noticing the details that others miss. You’re humble, composed, and often deeply service-oriented — not because you want recognition, but because you believe in making things better. Efficiency, clarity, and craftsmanship matter to you. You may come off reserved at first, but people quickly sense your sincerity and strong inner values.

Still, this combo can make you very self-critical. You often expect perfection from yourself, and since your Rising is also Virgo, that pressure doesn’t stay internal — it’s how you present yourself, too. You’re the person who shows up prepared, polished, and put together even when your inner world feels like a hurricane. That’s your strength and your struggle. The key here is to stop waiting until you’re “enough” to rest or celebrate. You already are. When you lead with compassion instead of correction, your Virgo power becomes divine — the kind that heals, elevates, and creates lasting impact.

[tsuna]

I hate when people characterize Yamamoto and Ryohei as a duo of vacant idiot jocks, notably more stupid than the rest of the main cast.

In regard to Yamamoto: it is imperative to consider intelligence as a social construct. This is something Amano explores through his character, particularly his dynamic with Gokudera. Gokudera, a "school smart" character, often derides Yamamoto for being stupid due to his apparent lack of awareness, but we can see for ourselves that Gokudera doesn't know the whole truth- Yamamoto is not as ignorant as he lets on, as demonstrated by a handful of small yet powerful moments thoughout the manga, the most obvious being his introductory chapter. Despite being the more intelligent person according to normative concepts, Gokudera is often made the fool by his compulsions towards intelligence-based derision coupled with his own social ineptitude and inability to parse this ruse.

There is an irony in the way this is framed against Yamamoto's comparatively high emotional and social intelligence, which allow him to support Tsuna in tactful and subtle ways, while Gokudera's desperate and forward attempts often inadvertently endanger Tsuna or make him uncomfortable.

Yamamoto also accesses other alternative modes of intelligence. As an obvious example, he is highly adaptable, able to quickly formulate plans and make decisions. This isn't only useful in battle, but there are some great examples of it there, such as his fight with Ken in the Kokuyo arc, and during the Sky battle in the Varia arc, when he and Gokudera need to free Chrome.

And even if you refuse to evolve your concept of intelligence beyond the ability to excel academically, he still isn't exactly stupid by those standards either. In Chapter 12, based on the results of their studying, Tsuna surmises that while his devotion to baseball is a distraction, school would be quite doable for Yamamoto if he tried.

Treating Yamamoto like a complete idiot who doesn't understand anything transpiring around him is a reductive reading of the text and does a major disservice to him as a character.

In regard to Ryohei: ...you guys are being sooooo mean right now. Cut it out you are going to hurt his feelings

[seongwars]

aww snap draft clean out time. here's part 2 to only human

A loud rustling sound jolted you awake. You sat up groggily, blinking at the dim glow of your dining room, where X-02’s charging dock should have been humming quietly. Except… it wasn’t.

The dock was empty. Your stomach dropped. Oh no. You scrambled off the couch, heart hammering. Did he malfunction? Did the government somehow track you down and steal him back while you were sleeping? Did he just…leave?

Grabbing your wrench, you tiptoed through the apartment, drawn toward the sound of rustling paper coming from your office. The noise grew louder, pages turning at an unnatural speed, and you swallowed hard.

You rounded the corner, wrench raised, ready to bash in a skull…and froze.

X-02 was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the floor, surrounded by mountains of books. Stacks of them were haphazardly arranged around him, some open, others teetering dangerously on top of one another. His fingers blurred as he flipped through pages, scanning text at inhumane speeds.

"Ah. You are awake."

You did the only rational thing a person in your position would do. You screamed.

X-02 blinked at you with glowing violet eyes. "Your reaction suggests distress. Is this incorrect?"

You clutched your wrench to your chest. “You—what—WHY ARE YOU AWAKE?!”

"I regained functionality approximately four hours ago." He turned another page, scanning it in milliseconds. "I elected to use the time efficiently."

“You—" You clutched the wrench tighter. "You were supposed to stay in standby mode!"

"That was a suboptimal use of time."

You opened your mouth, then closed it. No words came out.

Then your exhausted brain registered the books scattered around him. And it wasn’t the scientific journals or programming manuals you’d stacked in the office. It was your romantasy collection.

Oh no. No, no, no.

You lunged for the closest book, yanking it from his hands. X-02 blinked at you as you clutched Fallen Cosmos to your chest.

“What—what is this?” you sputtered, eyes darting to the surrounding covers. There was a shirtless fae prince smirking up at you from one. A werewolf ripping his shirt off on another.

“Are you reading my romance novels!?”

"Yes." X-02 tilted his head. "They are fascinating."

You almost choked. “Fascinating!?”

"Indeed." He picked up another book, scanning the cover. "This particular one explores the complexities of courtship and forbidden attraction in a setting where the protagonists must overcome their prejudices against their respective species."

Your brain short-circuited. Oh god. Your highly advanced, illegally salvaged android was…sentient.

You had to do something. Anything.

"State your—" You fumbled, grasping for some kind of authoritative demand.

“State your primary directive, X-02.”

X-02 looked up from the book, his glowing eyes locking onto yours. "To learn and adapt in order to integrate seamlessly into human society."

You stared at him, then at the towering stacks of books, then back at him again. A deep, weary sigh left your lips. What now?

Because, honestly? You didn’t actually think this was going to work.

When you smuggled his parts out of the lab, when you spent sleepless nights painstakingly patching together corrupted code and rerouting power systems, you never thought you’d actually succeed.

But here he was.

What the hell were you supposed to do with an android who was never meant to exist in the first place?

“I have a sentient android in my apartment,” you ran a hand down your face. “An illegally salvaged, highly advanced, government-issued android.”

“Yes,” X-02 agreed.

What now? You couldn’t exactly turn him off and pretend this didn’t happen. He was awake. He was aware. And he was curious.

You both stood there in silence until you finally let out a long sigh.

"I need coffee."

X-02 followed you immediately, his steps eerily soundless as you shuffled toward the kitchen. You pretended not to notice him hovering behind you. As you fumbled with the coffee maker, he leaned in slightly.

Too close.

You could practically feel him calculating your every movement.

“You are fatigued,” he stated, watching as you struggled to open the coffee bag.

“Yeah, that’s why I need coffee.”

He watched intently as you measured out the grounds, then, without missing a beat, stated, “You are using an inefficient ratio.”

You paused mid-scoop, narrowing your eyes. “Excuse me?”

“To maximize caffeine intake while maintaining tolerable bitterness, the optimal coffee-to-water ratio is 1:16. However, given your current fatigue level, I suggest 1:14 for a stronger effect.”

You stared at him. He stared back. Wordlessly, you scooped another heaping spoonful of coffee into the machine.

X-02’s eyes flickered. “That is now a 1:12 ratio.”

Maintaining direct eye contact, you added another scoop.

“1:10,” he said, tone entirely neutral but somehow judgmental.

You raised an eyebrow and dumped in yet another scoop.

“1:8.”

With a defiant smirk, you added one more for good measure and he sighed. Like a human.

“Moving forward, I will monitor your caffeine intake levels and adjust recommendations accordingly.”

You took a victorious sip of your aggressively over caffeinated coffee, staring at X-02 over the rim of your mug. Despite the absurdity of it all, the illegally salvaged android in your apartment and the bizarrely domestic scene, something about it felt...oddly normal.

As you sipped your coffee, X-02 observed in silence, analyzing, learning. It wasn’t just your actions it studied, but the finer details: the pauses between your words, the flicker of emotion in your eyes, the rhythm of your heartbeat. 

X-02's processors hummed as he cataloged the data. To remember, for later. 

[dioslesbianwife]

Hello!!! ^^ I love the work you do for JJBA and really enjoy reading it!! Now for the request. How would the Jofoes react to a child!reader (platonic) they sorta took under their wing having a sorta of imprinting ability (copycat in other words). Like one day they catch the reader practicing outside trying to act cool like them and then all of a sudden a piece of the land is destroyed because they somehow used an ability similar to theirs. After the shock the reader is absolutely jolly and sees them watching them and is just, “Wooooah!! That was so cool!! Hey Dad, did you see that!? Did you see me!? Did you see what I did!?”

hii ^^ i'm so happy you enjoy reading my posts, thank you for requesting and i hope you enjoy <333

DIO

He watches from a balcony like a dramatic theater critic sipping wine- until the ground craters in slow motion with a golden glow.

“...ZAWARUDO- ?! Wait, no. Did you just... freeze time for half a second?”

You beam at him, dust all over your clothes, yelling, “DID YOU SEE THAT, DAD?!”

DIO blinks, then gives the most delighted evil chuckle. “Splendid. My heir already shows promise.”

But then he gets possessive. “No one touches the child. This power is mine to nurture. Mine alone.”

Now you have a tutor. And an ego boost. He’s already planning your world domination arc.

Kars

You’re throwing rocks and mimicking his regal stance when one of the rocks suddenly splits mid-air into tiny shards.

Kars stops mid-thought and stares. You just mimicked the Pillar Men's body manipulation, specifically his arm blade.

You spin toward him, eyes sparkling. “DID YOU SEE THAT, DAD?!!”

He crosses his arms, trying to remain composed- but a proud grin slips out. “Yes. You are... adapting faster than expected.”

From then on, he watches your training like a proud bird mom.

Also, he starts getting way more careful around you because what if you go all Ultimate Life Form mode and grow gills at breakfast.

Yoshikage Kira

You’d been copying his quiet mannerisms, playing with your food and clipping your nails more often. Then you giggle, snap your fingers, and a rock explodes.

His soul leaves his body. “Wha- W-WHAT WAS THAT?”

You squeal, “I did the thing! I did the thing, Dad!! I made it go BOOM like you!!”

Kira freezes. 

He awkwardly kneels beside you. “Okay. Okay. First, we don’t use our powers around... pets. Or school. Or hands.”

You: “Okay! :D”

He: internally sweating bullets for the next 7 years.

Diavolo

A patch of reality skips forward, erasing a few seconds like King Crimson.

You: “WAAAAHOOO!!! I MADE TIME GO WHOOSH!! DAD LOOK I DID IT!!”

Diavolo SCREECHES internally. “HOW- HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW ABOUT THAT?!”

He immediately spirals into a paranoia loop. “Have I been around you too long? Is fate conspiring through you?”

But also... “Good. You’re strong. But you will never be allowed near my diary.”

You’re now on an extremely strict training schedule with Doppio acting as your babysitter.

Doppio

You copy his “talking on the phone” habit, but one day you accidentally get a vision of the future.

Doppio stares as you perfectly dodge a bird dropping.

You wave. “Didja see that, Dad! I saw that that bird was gonna poop and dodged it!!!”

He drops the imaginary phone. “Y-Y-You did amazing, sweetheart!!”

Then he sprints to call The Boss about it. “Boss!! Boss!! The kid has powers! What do we do!?”

You’re the only person Doppio ever fully encourages. He helps you practice, cheerleading while you do near-future telling.

Pucci

You’d been copying his calm monologues. One day, you mumble a random Bible verse and... gravity distorts. A tree bends sideways.

Pucci goes stone cold still.

You: “I DID SOMETHING COOL, DAD!! DID YOU SEE THAT?!”

He walks slowly to you, kneels, places a hand on your head. “Yes, child. You are touched by heaven.”

Then he goes off to write a 10-page sermon about you. He sees this as fate.

You’re now his little holy prodigy. The church choir starts composing you-themed hymns.

Funny Valentine

You’d been mimicking his posture and patriot speeches. One day, you accidentally swap with your alternate self. You come back with different shoes.

Valentine stops mid-sentence. “...Did you just breach the dimensional veil.”

You: “Yeah!! I jumped and my shoes changed!! COOL, RIGHT DAD?!”

He nods solemnly. “You are the embodiment of American evolution.”

He immediately requests Secret Service supervision for you. You now have a full security detail and your own presidential-themed notebook.

Diego Brando

You copy his confident walk and British insults. Then you snort, stomp your foot- and the ground trembles.

You turn around, grinning. “DAD!! I DID THE DINO THING!!!”

Diego gapes. “How the hell did you do that?! You’re not even... you're not even a dinosaur!!”

But inside he’s SO proud. You get a tiny cowboy hat and he makes you pose next to his raptors.

“You’re my little Velocibaby,” he mutters proudly. Then warns you: “Don’t do that in public or you’ll end up in the newspapers for the wrong reasons.”

Tooru

You’re copying his lazy posture and listening to Elvis. Then you wave at your friend approaching you- and a random boulder flings itself into a ravine near them.

Tooru, sipping juice: “...Was that... Wonder of U?”

You: “I DID A FUNNY THING!! DAD!! I MADE THE UNIVERSE HATE MY FRIEND!!”

He chokes. “What….”

He’s both horrified and deeply impressed.

He now acts like it’s no big deal but is very much watching you all the time.

And if you ever start getting secretive or manipulative- He melts. “…Damn. You really are my kid.”

[viienrose]

Honestly, as a hard Wenclair shipper, I don’t hate on Wyler fans. I’ve decided to write an analysis about Wyler as a way to better understand them. Even if I don’t share their love for the ship, it doesn’t erase some good points.

The character of Wednesday, throughout the different adaptations, has always shown some kind of affection for the kind and shy boy-next-door type. Tyler kind of fits this description — even if, in my opinion, Eugene is a literal copy-paste of that stereotype and was clearly relegated to the “little brother” figure.

So Wyler can make some kind of sense. The dark and sharp character paired with the sweet counterpart is always a great combination. Opposites attract, am I right?

Another argument for Wyler is that Tyler turning into a dangerous monster wouldn’t necessarily be a red flag for an Addams. On the contrary, it’s actually a good argument — the Addams family loves the strange and macabre.

However, a Hyde must have a master. There has to be a power dynamic. Tyler will never truly be in control of the beast. And the Addams seem to value balance and equality in their relationships. It would also be unfair to Tyler to be forced into obedience. Even if Wednesday became his new master, it would make their relationship based on a lack of free will from one party. It sounds incredibly toxic.

The part that gets really questionable is the Hyde itself.

Like, I get that Laurel tortured and controlled Tyler, but he admitted to enjoying killing people. I also understand that it’s supposed to be interpreted through the lens of psychological/emotional/sexual abuse, and that Tyler liking the thrill of the dirty work he was forced into could be a trauma response.

But how much control does a Hyde really have?

That’s a big question throughout the show:

• Did Tyler really like killing?

• Is the Hyde another being within himself that subdues his “real” self?

• Or is it just his dark impulses surfacing?

• Is Tyler a good guy under the pressure of the Hyde, or was he the Hyde all along?

That brings us to the next point:

We don’t know Tyler.

We don’t know Tyler with the Hyde.

And through season one, we come to understand that Tyler was the Hyde. But it left us wondering: Was the Hyde Tyler?

Is Tyler a psychopathic murderer, or was he forced to act under the stronger will of a savage alter ego?

Are they the same or two separate beings? How do we even divide the responsibility between the two?

I really hope the show gives us more insight into it.

Since we don’t have answers yet, I can’t imagine Wednesday being involved with Tyler.

She obviously had an affection or at least an interest in the sweet coffee boy — but that wasn’t really Tyler.

The Hyde is part of Tyler, whether he likes it or not. Wednesday liked the version Tyler showed her — not his real self.

He basically lied to her to get close. He led her to Laurel even if he had some liking for her. Was he entirely controlled? Maybe, but either way, it’s safe to say Wednesday no longer holds any real attachment to him.

Another important point — even if it’s just common sense — is that Wednesday would absolutely hate Tyler if he truly meant those murders.

The Addams family might be creepy and kooky, but they have a strong sense of justice and solid values. They’re goth, not evil.

—

Now, some projections based on what we learn about Tyler in the future:

• Best-case scenario: He was subjected by the Hyde and gets help to control it, healing from his trauma. It would take time. He could then be redeemed and reintegrated into the outcast world, with a better understanding of Hydes and protections against the abuse he suffered.

• Worst-case scenario: The dark personality of the Hyde was always part of him, even before it “woke up.” In that case, Tyler holds responsibility for his crimes, is non-redeemable, and goes full villain mode.

Honestly, I’d be happy with either.

The actor playing Tyler is amazing, and I can easily see him nailing both versions.

Still, I think Tyler would be the perfect opponent for Wednesday rather than a potential suitor.

As you might have guessed from this analysis, I really dig his character — mostly for the mystery and potential he still holds.

—

Now that I’ve written this whole text about making peace with Wyler fans, I want to point out something:

We kind of have the same argument as Wenclair fans!

The opposites attract trope. The Addams’ fascination with monstrous creatures.

We’re not so different after all.

Let’s just enjoy the show in our own ways without turning on each other’s throats.

[meomoicecr]

Some Thoughts on the Cyclum...

This is a Wilson/Maxwell ship post, aiming to compile some character and relationship analyses I’ve written on Weibo. Well... Most of it is based on in-game lore and quotes, so I’ll probably organize and post it all here gradually!

First, let’s talk about the dynamic shift in their power balance. When I first got into the fandom and was randomly scrolling through posts, I stumbled upon a blogger’s comparison between another ship I’d previously liked and Wilson/Maxwell (okay that's kylux in SW ). They mentioned that while the former pair went from equals to an unequal relationship, whereas Wilson/Maxwell features two inherently unequal individuals whom Wilson single-handedly dragged into equality. This "equality" wasn’t achieved through Wilson rising to Maxwell’s level in Adventure Mode, but rather through the fact that when Maxwell returned to the Constant as a mortal, Wilson—who already had a camp and resources at that point—could have chosen to become the dominant party, yet deliberately didn’t. Instead, he placed Maxwell on equal footing with himself.

Most relationships like this end up with a reversal of roles—the former superior becomes the inferior, and vice versa, cycling endlessly. Even Maxwell himself, upon entering Wilson’s camp, initially assumed a submissive position, almost resigning himself to Wilson’s whims (after all, he’d just been pinned down and beaten up. By the time Wilson finished adding fuel to the fire and turned around, Maxwell was still standing there. Normally, even animals would flee after being hit once, let alone when facing someone you’ve deeply wronged. Logically, Maxwell could’ve expected further beatings—or even being killed—after the fire was stoked. Yet when Wilson turned back, Maxwell just stood there, accepting whatever action Wilson might take against him).

Later, when the two of them sat silently facing each other by the campfire, Maxwell kept shrinking into himself with his head bowed. It was Wilson who broke the ice first—passing him a meat skewer and starting the conversation—otherwise Maxwell would have remained completely still and silent.

Objectively speaking, Maxwell was just a weak destitute old drifter at this point, while all the camp's supplies—food, drink, everything—belonged to Wilson. By all rights, Wilson had every justification to treat Maxwell however he pleased. Yet he chose not to seek revenge or relegate him to an inferior position, instead consciously treating him as an equal. That’s truly remarkable… To put it simply: "After defeating you, I could have chosen to dominate you—but instead, I chose to pull you up to stand beside me as an equal." That’s why Maxwell could afford to be so unrestrained around Wilson. (Compare this to Charlie, who openly resents and blames him—around her, Maxwell is visibly guilty, ashamed, and even submissive to the point of resignation… Though, of course, Charlie is also exceptionally special to him.)

Maxwell has always been the type to gauge people’s moods and adapt accordingly. Around Charlie, his vulnerability and passivity are laid bare. Around the other survivors—who have mostly accepted him but still regard him with some wariness and distrust (and who never saw his throne-side persona)—he instinctively slips back into acting like his Adventure Mode self or the "big bad villain" they expect him to be. This distinction is quite obvious: some of his in-game quotes clearly sound like performative, exaggerated versions of his old "evil mastermind" persona (the kind he’d put on when others are around), while others carry a deeply depressive, self-loathing tone (likely muttered to himself when alone).

That said, he does make an effort to be more polite and measured around the group. He tolerates teasing without snapping back (which, given his ego, is downright pitiful) and grumbles through chores but does them anyway. But with Wilson—who has witnessed both his most vicious, terrifying side and his most pitiful, vulnerable moments, yet chooses to let bygones be bygones, indulges him, and keeps roughhousing with him as usual—well… "Let Wilson do it." Spoiled Maxwell to the max. It's the epitome of a cat becoming utterly comfortable after being thoroughly domesticated. You could say Maxwell's ability to banter with Wilson, tease him, even complain about him—it's all Wilson's doing, a product of his pampering. But precisely because of this, Maxwell can interact with him without any reservations.

(There's another particularly adorable detail—Wilson and Webber are the only two who never actually bring up Maxwell's past misdeeds. That's also worth analyzing, maybe in the next post?!)

Second, although the Cyclum is primarily explored from Maxwell's perspective, Wilson's reactions also reveal a lot about his attitude toward [seeing Maxwell alive again after believing him dead].

First, there’s the way he throws aside his axe and resorts to fists—almost like, "I may still resent you, but I won’t kill you. A beating will suffice." Then there’s the infamous moment (though it’s been analyzed to death, it’s just too good to ignore) where Wilson eats a plain carrot while giving Maxwell the meat skewer.  Here’s this man, rationing himself to basic veggies, yet offering real sustenance to the very person who ruined his life—now a ragged, starving shadow of his former self. It's his way of silently communicating: "I'm willing to take you in for now, and I'll provide for you too." No words needed, yet the message couldn't be clearer.

And then there’s Wilson’s choice of conversation starter to break the awkward silence: the fact that he thought Maxwell was dead.

Honestly, Wilson’s choice of topic is profoundly telling. What exactly was Maxwell to him at this point?

The liar who tricked him into this wilderness. The enemy who killed him repeatedly, only to reappear and mock him. The demon who rendered all his struggles and attempts futile. The man who taunted him with visions of gruesome deaths and throne-bound despair—yet now stood before him, alive again.

And yet, Wilson’s first words carried no accusations. No recriminations for how Maxwell had deceived or tormented him. Instead, he opened with a meat skewer—a silent peace offering—and then chose to say: "I thought you were dead."

This topic is truly ingenious—perhaps even the only one that wouldn't make Maxwell feel awkward or guilty, while still prompting him to voluntarily speak up and explain himself, thereby breaking their stalemate. Especially for someone like Wilson—a logically-minded individual prone to getting lost in his own thoughts—to have come up with this particular subject is nothing short of remarkably considerate, emotionally intelligent, and even awe-inspiring in his mental fortitude to set aside their past grievances so quickly and consider things from the other's perspective… Upon closer reflection, this is exquisitely satisfying—Wilson is truly exceptional, genuinely making earnest efforts to guide Maxwell toward opening up and interacting with him naturally. And if we take another perspective—considering how Maxwell's horrific, ash-scattering death must have deeply impacted Wilson—it's equally delicious… More than anything else, what matters is your death. I have so many questions I want to demand answers for, so many explanations I need from you—but you were dead. From that moment on, this became the first thing I wanted to ask."

At this point I want to discuss how Maxwell's death on the throne affected Wilson. First, Wilson's emotions when finally reaching the throne room must have been incredibly complex… Players can easily empathize with Wilson's perspective - after dying countless times, suffering repeated failures, and struggling desperately to push forward, all driven by the need for some kind of resolution. Whether it was finding a way home or beating up the old man responsible, he needed closure. But when he finally faced Maxwell, all he saw was a ragged, emaciated old man chained and tortured. No way home, no possibility of beating up this pitiful old man - for this version of Maxwell, even death would be a release.

No matter what bizarre method Wilson tried to kill Maxwell, it would fail. Maxwell would say it's useless, he's tried them all - he'd attempted every possible strange method to die, that's how desperately he wanted it. And at this point Wilson finally realizes they're both just pawns being played with, both victims… But for Wilson who had persevered with such conviction, this outcome was truly unacceptable.

I think Maxwell probably didn't know what would happen when Wilson inserted the detector - otherwise he wouldn't have initially smiled upon being freed before looking in horror as his body disintegrated… For Maxwell, death was probably just an instant thing, a form of release. And since he returned to the Constant afterward, he likely didn't dwell much on his own death.

But for Wilson who witnessed Maxwell die before his eyes, it was completely different. Before choosing compassion, he must have wrestled with it internally. But the moment he inserted the detector, Maxwell disintegrated before him, dying in that horrifying manner… Single-player gamers will understand the profoundly lonely, desolate atmosphere of the Don't Starve. Before this, even though Maxwell was the one who'd trapped him in this situation, he was still the only person Wilson could talk to in this world. And now this sole person he could communicate with had died because of his compassion. In his shock, thoughts like "does this mean I killed him?" might have flashed through Wilson's mind - only to be pulled onto the throne himself the next second… It's truly despair-inducing. Even after returning to the Constant, that scene would keep replaying in his mind. So when he eventually encountered Maxwell again - discovering he wasn't dead after all, but instead hiding pathetically in the bushes spying on his camp - while annoyed and exasperated, he must have also felt some relief... Well, nothing to do but beat him up and then give him a meat skewer, I guess. (But much later, when seeing Maxwell near death again, that image of him turning to ash would inevitably resurface, which must have been quite traumatic for Wilson.)

Yet the immediate consequence of Wilson's momentary indulgence was this cat immediately getting bold enough to snatch Wilson's blueprints to look at (I can't even - gonna save this for the next post lol).

Alright, but finally I still want to marvel at how Wilson could pin Maxwell to the ground with one hand while still turning back to tend the fire - Maxwell is just so physically weak, completely incapable of resisting! The Cyclum similarly shows Maxwell's survival skills in his own created world exist only in theory… In practice he just ends up fleeing in disgrace, with his natural sanity restoration still nearly getting him killed by shadow creatures while Wilson had already built a small base by then.

When Wilson and Maxwell play together online, it's kinda like the server's top player (the guy who first cleared Adventure Mode empty-handed) carrying the game's designer who doesn't actually play games… just look at Wilson's situation when he first entered the Constant! Alone with no help or rescue, struggling to survive in the wilderness where everything had to be learned through personal experience, each lesson paid for with multiple deaths. Meanwhile Maxwell immediately meets Wilson upon arrival - gets taken in, receives food, shelter, company, someone to bicker with and teach him how to survive. It's like being a newbie who gets carried by a pro from the start, avoiding so much suffering (.) Can't be helped since Maxwell is the type of creature who'd cut his hand picking up a flint - can't really expect him to actually survive. Viewing their relationship as a human keeping a cat explains everything perfectly.

Finally, I want to say—the equality between Wilson and Maxwell is the best kind. And usually, it's Wilson who drags the high-and-mighty old man down, then turns around and offers him respect and compassion, achieving a mutual ease and lack of restraint between them... Wilson has his overly rational side, his cruel side, his indifferent side, his empathy-deficient side. Yet when facing Maxwell—his defeated rival, the mastermind behind it all—he chose compassion twice, treating him with his most human side. At the very least, to Maxwell, Wilson is a true gentleman.

[nan-not-found]

MHA Boys React - "Quirkless"

How would they react if you suddenly lost your quirk? // Established relationship.

List Includes: K. Bakugou, I. Midoriya, S. Todoroki, T. Iida, E. Kirishima, D. Kaminari, H. Sero, and H. Shinsou.

💥 Bakugou Katsuki

Bakugou wouldn’t handle this well—not at first. His first instinct is explosive anger, aimed at whoever took your quirk, at the unfairness of the world, at himself for “not stopping it.”

But beneath that fury is deep guilt. He’s been building himself up for years, chasing power, and now you’ve lost yours. That eats at him.

He’d say something harsh like, “Why the hell did you let that happen?” then immediately regret it. He’s not great with emotional finesse.

What he’d actually do: Train you harder than ever. Teach you to fight quirkless. Insist you’re still capable and that he’s not letting you go down like this. He won’t pity you—but he’ll never let you feel weak alone.

“You think your worth came from a damn quirk? Hell no. You’re still you. And I’m not going anywhere.”

────────────────────────────────────────────

🥦 Midoriya Izuku (Deku)

Deku knows what it’s like to be quirkless. So the moment it happens, his heart breaks for you. You’d see him crying before you even process what happened.

Then he gets hyper-focused. Research mode: activated. He’ll dig through medical files, Quirk theories, case studies—anything that might bring it back or help you adapt.

Emotionally, he’s incredibly affirming. You’d never feel like “less” around him. He’d remind you that your strength was always more than your power.

“I fell in love with you, not your Quirk. We’ll figure out what comes next—together.”

────────────────────────────────────────────

❄️🔥 Todoroki Shoto

Todoroki wouldn’t show a huge reaction outwardly. But he would sit beside you in silence, holding your hand while his mind raced.

He understands the feeling of being defined by a power you didn’t ask for—and how scary it is when that definition gets ripped away. He’d listen. A lot. Then when you’re ready, he’d quietly say:

“You’re still the same person to me. Even if the world treats you differently, I never will.”

He’d also confront your fears directly, helping you redefine who you are without the Quirk.

────────────────────────────────────────────

🦵 Iida Tenya

Iida would panic at first—visibly. His sense of justice would be deeply shaken, and he’d feel helpless.

But he’s practical and deeply caring. After that initial surge of emotion, he’d kick into support mode. He’d structure everything: physical recovery, mental health counseling, new training regimens.

Most importantly, he’d never speak to you differently. His respect for you wouldn’t waver.

“Your strength wasn’t in your Quirk. It was in your choices, your will, and the kindness you showed others. That hasn’t changed.”

────────────────────────────────────────────

💪 Kirishima Eijirou

Kirishima would be furious at the world, soft with you. He’d hold you and say over and over:

“You’re still the bravest person I know.”

He’d worry you’d see yourself as “not manly” or “not enough”—he knows that pain. So he’d be relentless in affirming that your heart, your loyalty, your effort is what made you incredible, not your Quirk.

You’d never feel unsupported with him. He’d fight anyone who pitied you.

“You’re still a hero to me. And I’m still yours.”

────────────────────────────────────────────

⚡ Denki Kaminari

Denki would take it hard but try to mask his hurt with jokes, at first. He’d say things like, “Guess we’re both down a few volts, huh?” with a shaky smile.

But once he saw how you were struggling, he’d drop the act. He’d be right there, soft, warm, snuggling into you at 2 a.m. whispering:

“You’re still the person who makes my brain short-circuit. Quirk or not.”

He’d be goofy about helping you adapt—he’d try to make you laugh again. And when you cried, he’d be the first to wipe your tears.

────────────────────────────────────────────

🍃 Hanta Sero

Sero wouldn’t say much at first. He’d be gutted, but he’d stay beside you like an anchor.

He’s the kind of guy who’ll say, “You don’t have to be okay right now,” while sitting with you through the silence.

Once the shock wears off, he’s 100% in your corner. Sparring partner, therapy session, late-night snack run—you name it.

“I’ve seen you kick ass with and without your Quirk. You’re still my baddie. That doesn’t change.”

He’d get emotional when you finally smiled again.

────────────────────────────────────────────

🧠 Shinsou Hitoshi

This would hit Shinsou harder than most. Not just because he cares—but because he has always lived with the stigma of a difficult Quirk. He’d see your loss as something deeply unjust and personal.

He’d question everything—how it happened, how he didn’t stop it, if he’s doing enough for you now.

But when he speaks, it’s real. Honest. Painful.

“If you’re scared, I get it. If you’re angry, I get that too. But don’t shut me out. I’m not going anywhere.”

Eventually, he’d say: “I don’t love you because of your Quirk. I love you because you see me. Let me do the same for you.”

Masterlist

[togglesbloggle]

Evolution, Metaphor, and the Meaning of Gay Alligators

A few times recently, I’ve run across discussions about animal sex that are wrong in interesting ways.  I don’t want to derail those conversations, and I certainly don’t want to call out anybody in particular, so I’m branching off here- but the most recent one was in the notes about the discovery (original paper) that most alligator sex is between two males.

Anyway, a not-uncommon element of these discussions is for somebody to frame animal homosexuality as ‘confusion’, particularly with simpler animals.  The idea behind this isn’t too tricky: it proposes that the animal’s sexual instinct is functionally oriented towards (or intended for) heterosexual coupling and reproduction, but that the perceptions and processing power of the animal’s brain are too limited to reliably distinguish between the sexes.  As a result, simpler animals of the same sex may occasionally copulate with one another by accident, as one of the failure modes along the way to biological reproduction.

If you are a card-carrying member of the Tumblrati, the word ‘heteronormative’ might well be in your brain already, and fast approaching your tongue.  You might be building an argument about how sexuality has social as well as reproductive functions, that a lack of human imagination doesn’t prevent evolution from building towards homosexuality for its own reasons, and anyway human sociolinguistic concepts are a lousy fit for animal behavior.  These are pretty good arguments, but I’m asking you to pause that line of thought briefly; it’s not where I’m going.

Animals confound us in an interesting way: their agency is without question, but their sapience is limited, and we struggle to imagine ‘what it’s like to be an alligator’ for that reason.  What is it like, after all, to be conscious but not self-aware?  So when we ask ourselves why an animal does what it does, we tend to use evolution as a way to paper over that gap, and say “well, the alligators must be having sex in order to reproduce and succeed as organisms.”  Persistently, in odd and elaborate ways, we make this assumption that animals are themselves pursuing adaptive fitness in a way that’s much more direct than humans do, as if natural selection were a motive for animal behavior and not just an explanation for it.

This is the deeper and more interesting error that I’m trying to chew on.  The ‘mistake’ theory of animal homosexuality assumes that animals are motivated to pursue biological reproduction, not because of what we know about them as individuals or as a species, but because of what we know about the forces that produced them.  This assumption gets silently made in the case of alligator sex in part because we often make this assumption, it’s nearly our default way of thinking about these things.  

I’m very sympathetic to this error!  Biology and especially anatomy is our go-to example of purpose in nature; questions like “what are your lungs for?” have obvious (if surprisingly sophisticated) answers.  Behavioral instincts are a little more complicated, but it’s still kind of the same thing- we can cogently talk about the reasons why we shiver when we’re cold, for example.  And every time we have this conversation, natural selection is looking over our shoulder waggling its eyebrows at us.  This kind of language can be very, very misleading, inviting a slip from “we <are born with an involuntary reflex to> shiver in the cold because it helps us survive,” to “we <agentically prefer or choose to> shiver in the cold because it helps us survive.”  It’s practically designed to trip us up like this.

I think this happened in our language because of the theological fights around evolution in the early days of its discovery.  You know how it was- Darwin, the monkey trials, all that nonsense.  Natural selection accounts for biological diversity and the seeming-purpose of natural forms in a way that requires no conscious designer (or Designer), and so what might have been a purely scientific discovery also ended up blowing a hole in the social and religious functions that that sense of purpose provided- and was called upon, in some ways, to fill that hole again.  Evolution got smooshed into a sort of theological shape, and now we have the sort of culture where the phrase “evolutionary imperative” feels like it makes sense to us instead of being an obvious contradiction in terms.

That theological shape comes back again and again when we try to speak poetically about natural selection, because it’s always lurking very shallowly under the surface.  In these failure modes, we talk about natural selection in almost filial terms, a generative entity that hangs out in a workshop occasionally holding up new animals for our perusal; it’s hiding behind Kipling’s ‘gods of the copybook headings’, NRx’s ‘gnon’, Scott’s ‘Goddess of Cancer,’ and so many others.  I did it a little bit myself, not three paragraphs ago!  I called evolution “a force that produced them,” like it was some sort of creator-deity sculpting gay alligators out of clay.  Like “what evolution wants” is something that a person can talk about…

Metaphors and language are hard, but I’ve been trying to think a lot lately about how to build a story about evolution in my head that doesn’t have this problem.  Something passive, you know?  Something that doesn’t have the property of being a designer, doesn’t tempt us into treating ourselves and the organisms sharing our world as if we were all agents of some Lovecraftian entity.

I’m not entirely satisfied with my answer just yet, but for now, I’m trying to let evolution be a labyrinth.  It’s filled with twisting corridors and strange rooms, dead ends and loops, and terrible, deadly traps.  It’s unfathomably large, and mostly empty- even though trillions and trillions of us have explored this maze, we’ve only really seen a small part of it, and out beyond the edges of our knowledge, there’s still mile after endless mile of quiet, dark corridors that have never known a footfall.  

It’s not a comforting place, and even though we were born here, it’s not really home; it’s not something built for us, or one that’s especially concerned with our wellbeing.  But the thing about this labyrinth is that most of the rooms have prisoners in them, strange and unfamiliar beings held in stasis and waiting for the door to open so they can spring into life and begin their own wandering.  And this is a treasure of a kind, if you want to see it that way; not wooden chests full of gold coins, perhaps, but something new and beautiful all the same.  And if that’s not reason enough to explore the maze, to go out beyond the relative safety of the room you were born in- then, well, there’s always the rumors that there’s a real exit, hidden somewhere among the twisting corridors.

It’s… not bad, I guess?  The metaphor has its uses.  

I think it does a decent job of capturing and illuminating lots of our moral intuitions; bioconservatism (and to a lesser extent, social conservatism) as a refusal to explore the maze, rejecting the insane dangers of exploration and the questionable rewards of the search and instead preferring to stay at home in the room where we were born– still trapped in the labyrinth, but at least alive, at least for a while.  It shadows that position with the correct amount of irony, reminding us that human existence follows from a four-billion-year history of discovery, adaptation, and mutation by nonhuman organisms; it reminds us that the discovery of human beings came at a terrible cost for those who came before us.  And importantly, it allows any given organism to be a thing-in-itself.  Sure, life originates in certain places and certain patterns according to the latent shape of the labyrinth (though my metaphor isn’t very good at describing that shape…), but it’s free to act as it prefers, and live or die by those choices.

My hope, anyway, is that by dwelling on this metaphor, and stepping back from all the talk about creators and purposes and imperatives, you’ll find it easier to see what ought to have been fairly obvious to us: alligators have gay sex because they think the other alligators are sexy, and they want to have sex about it.

The questions that follow after, like “why do alligators find each other sexy?,” are also important!  It is vital to learn as much about the shape of this labyrinth as we can, the better to traverse it safely, to explore it comprehensively, and maybe even to find the exit.  But those are different questions, and conflating them can only lead to confusion.  We must begin by acknowledging that we and our fellow-travelers on Earth do not exist for the sake of natural selection, and that any willful concessions to it are strategic, not moral.  The creatures all around us- human and otherwise- carry their own motives and their own reasons within themselves.  To live in the world as it is, we have to confront that radical pluralism head on, and not try to wipe it away by pretending these are all just masks over some domineering force of nature puppetting them towards inscrutable ends.