#Experienced React Developers

[codeflashinfotech]

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[carbonatedeverclear]

purity culture ruins people’s ability to engage with works that deal with serious issues and it’s disheartening to see people entirely miss the point of a work because they are guided by a knee jerk reaction towards disgust and I need to ramble

so, I’m reading a book called Jawbone by Monica Ojeda and it’s a very interesting horror novel that centers around puberty and teen girls and their relationships to their mothers. One of the bigger themes in the book is the idea of shame revolving around sexual development. One of the main characters is a young lesbian who is developing feelings for her best friend and has a mother who is incredibly homophobic and disapproving and in part of the book there’s a scene where this character talks about her mother catching her masturbating and the way that she is disgusted by her daughter and kind of this horror around being viewed as having lost your innocence from experiencing something that is common and should be mundane. sexual development is seen as a horrific and sinful action and that causes this character trauma through the rest of the book surrounding the way that her mother looks at her and how her mother is going to react when she finds out that she’s gay it’s a book that deals with a lot of topics around sexual shame. For example, another character is so terrified of the sin of masturbation that she keeps herself from masturbating by imagining being raped by men in her family who she cares about because it disgusts her and keeps her from achieving sexual arousal. the book itself shows that the action of the character masturbating when she’s six years old is an innocent action. It’s one that comes from curiousity and just what happens when you have a body. The book is very clear that the act is being sexualized by the adults around her and their reactions feel violating.

So it is infuriating to then go from reading this book to trying to read reviews of this book and finding that the first review on Goodreads is a one star review that just says “in this book a six-year-old masturbates 🤮” participating in the same disgust with the natural sexual development of young girls that the book itself tries to depict as a horrifying and violating way to view children and puberty 

[insertdisc5]

sincerest apologies if you've been asked and said something about this before, but i'm curious what your process for coming up with your characters is! the way the isat cast are written is so good and well rounded, they each really feel like a person. how do you develop them to that point! for that matter, was there any interesting Character behind the scenes development between comic!siffrin and game siffrin as their story changed and became more fleshed out? thank you so much if you decide to answer, and if you don't that's ok too and i hope you have a good day!

ok i feel like i have answered this before, but it's not in my #reference tag so you get a whole new answer!!!!!!

-figure out a Trope. a Fella full of Tropes. like omg thats a Fella who Likes Puns. take your Trope Fella thats your basis.

-give them a secret. or more. the secrets will drive their actions. this Fella has amnesia and also has abandonment issues. do not reveal the secrets until the Right Moment, but you should often allude to it

-with those two things you will get Rules. this is a Fella who likes Puns. they use puns to deflect. so if someone asks a question that is a little too close to home, they will ALWAYS DEFLECT.

-write them in so many situations. how would they react to this? what would they say here? how would they answer when someone asks about their favorite hobby? would they be honest about it? or are they lying about it? why?

-every situation theyre into should go back to the rules. even if you're the only one who knows it. just a sprinkle to make people go "huh that was a weird reaction...."

-that way, people experiencing the story again will be able to go "OH MY GOD... THAT WASNT A PUN OUT OF NOWHERE... THAT WAS A /DEFLECTION/" and they will love it.

-rules are here to be broken. but only for the best moments ever

-lastly, give them a hobby or two to make them seem like real people. be REAL specific about it. this girl doesnt just like romance books she likes MONSTER ROMANCE

[anantaru]

⚝ DAY 5 — APHRODISIACS

kinktober 2024. — masterlist | ao3

— including. — venti, dottore, albedo

— warnings. — fem! reader, aphrodisiacs, dub con, established relationship -> the both of you decide to take them, it's unsure in dottore's part if he took it or not, dry humping, fingering, messy and sweaty

⚝ — VENTI

within the bounds of your room, laughter fills the air as venti leisurely leans back, his mischievous smile gleaming in the dim light, "are you sure about this, baby?" he asks with slight concern in his eyes, twirling the tiny vial between his fingers.

yes, in fact, you've spoken about this before— giving the both of you a little kick and wow, his voice was turning you on so fucking much right now— you're this close to begging to be touched already, to be fucked or bend over the chair bareback, slow and dirty.

"well, i am, i thought you would be more adventurous venti," you tease back, your heart pounding in dire need to find out what that little liquid would do to you, your mind already coloring out a thousand of possible outcomes in your head.

he tilts his head and feigns a thought, considering your words before grinning wide.

"for you, i would try anything, heh, you know that," when after he said such strong declaration, he quickly pops up the glass and raises the vial to his lips, the sweet liquid disappearing in an instant as you quickly follow suit.

suddenly, the playful bard’s usual carefree nature intensifies— his touch lingering a little too long, his gaze becoming a little too heated, you're wondering if his cheeks could get any more red if he kept on like this, especially now with his head hidden between your jaw and collarbone, furiously lapping and sucking on your neck, hands grabbing at your stomach.

"feeling it yet?" you coo and moan when he bites the skin, his breath hot against your ear. fuck— this feels perfect, and you're resting on his shoulder with your back flush against the bed-frame when venti barely has to do much to get you riled up.

your body reacts to the closeness and your pussy begins to throb and ache to the point of pain, your thighs squeezing and rubbing together as venti presses his hand between the skin— getting his hand real good in there before the notable ache anchoring in the pit of your stomach develops quicker, his grunts getting messier when he notices how wet and warm you were down there.

your hands glide over his skin as he fiercely rubs your folds, his fingers featherlight but igniting sparks within every stroke, each push and circle of his digits flicking your little pearl as his other arm continues to hug you closer.

the world blurs and you find yourself under him, hair a mess, sweat covered and with venti's hand tugged deep inside your panties— your wetness by now making the fabric stick to his hand as the the obscene noises of your warm pussy were becoming all the more embarrassing and loud.

much to the bards liking.

⚝ — DOTTORE

"um, you’ve tested it before, right?" you curiously tilt your head as dottore hands you a vial, watching closely as you drink it— it's right then when you can see subtle happiness in his eyes.

but you don't question it, you just don't.

the liquid was warm as it slid down your throat, the thickness of it almost making you cough it out and almost instantly, a tingling sensation spreads through your muscles and veins.

"oh, don't be scared my love, i know its effects very well," dottore says with a dark chuckle, "but experiencing it firsthand is a different kind of fun."

dottore doesn’t wait before downing his own dose, his red eyes gleaming with an exciting, yet twisted intensity— not long after the air grows thick between you as the effects takes hold, there's a moment when the only sound you could discern was your own breathing, your skin basically set on fire.

his gloved fingers slowly trace your collarbone as he hums, methodical yet filled with an unfamiliar hunger— truly, he begins to grind himself against your thigh as he moves your hand to his bulge for you to stroke it.

his breath quickens when you slip a hand into his boxers and notice his cum smeared all over the fabric.

you realize with a jolt that the carefully composed facade he always wore was gradually crumbling, his control slipping away as he let out a sob of relief when you unbottoned his pants.

hm wait— or was he faking it? he couldn't, correct? you saw him take the dosage.

"you are mine to study, to explore," he utters cruely, his chosen syllables crisp and evenly spoken, clean words holding no trembles, "say it," his voice hoarse.

the warmth of his body eases you to push your legs apart for him to wrap his arms around your waist and pull you on his lap— it's hot when he takes the lead, when dottore gets possessive with you and it fills you with a deep sense of pride considering the second harbinger was your boyfriend,

he doesn't stop as your palm stroking him was now replaced by your naked folds smearing up and down his shaft— the pressure in your gut increasing.

your eyes glow of what you believe was love, "i'm yours to study, yours to explore," you whine, lazily rolling his tip against your clit as he squeezes your behind and leads your movements.

and for once, you don’t mind being an experiment. if it was for the man you have fallen in love with.

⚝ — ALBEDO

albedo examines the aphrodisiac in his hand with a quiet curiosity, his eyes focused as if it were a rare alchemical artifact.

"are you certain this will have the desired effect?" he asks in doubt, although his voice seemed calm, though you can feel the tension in the air— it's not like you didn't know him, albedo probably already prepared something that could immediately take away the effect of the strange liquid.

however, it's rare to see him so unsure, yet it also made your heart skip a beat when you think about how much you meant to him for the alchemist to be so careful, always touching you like you're made out of glass.

"only one way to find out," you reply as you both drink it up next to each other, soon after resting on the bed.

the change is slow, subtle— like the way albedo works with his alchemy, precise and conscious, yet suddenly something weird blooms in your chest, it pounds and runs wild in your veins, spreading like wildfire.

his normally composed features shift, his icy gaze darkening as he gets on top of you.

"everything okay?" the man rests his forehead against yours, his breathing quickened.

you reply and wrap your arms around his neck, "yeah, I'll always be okay with you by my side," and by now, you're panting hard by the time you've coaxed out your reply as he began to roam over the slopes of your bare frame.

his touch, gentle at first, as always, growing a bit tense— he’s careful, yes, methodical in everything he does. your boyfriend was great, wasn't he? but when you turn around for him to admire your bare ass, all perked up with your folds glistening and waiting, he grabs at your hips with an urgency behind it, a silent request for more.

his lips hover over your shoulder, "it’s fascinating… to feel so out of control," he whispers against your skin, and in that moment, all of his precision was lost, dropped and evaporated into sheer nothingness.

he laps at your shoulder as his tongue grew desperate, his touch fervent as the aphrodisiac pushes him past his usual restraint— and the man didn't even realize he's never actually pressed his cock inside, never felt your walls constrict around him like a compression, instead the both of you were rutting against each other like you've never been hornier before.

your ass was already covered with his cum and your folds all puffed up and neglected as he continues to slap his tip against your behind, making a mess of your flesh— and ugh, it’s too good, it feels so good, and the sweet little gasps he pulled from you made him grunt as his cock throbs and thickens against your swollen cunt.

©2024 anantaru do not repost, copy, translate, modify

[miquiti]

Emotional Disconnection in Lloyd Garmadon: A Psychological and Narrative Analysis

In the most recent season of Ninjago, many viewers noticed a significant shift in the characterization of Lloyd Garmadon. Compared to previous seasons, Lloyd appears withdrawn, distant, and shows clear signs of emotional flattening. His involvement in key events is minimal, his verbal contributions are scarce, and his body language reflects a noticeable sense of detachment. A friend and I even ranked Lloyd as the third ninja with the least screen time this season—only behind Cole and Jay. However, even they maintained their typical personalities in their brief appearances. What concerned us most was the absence of his visions, a trait confirmed as permanent in the previous two seasons.

At first, this change was frustrating. However, after discussing the matter with a friend who is about to graduate in Psychology, she offered an interpretation that completely shifted our perspective: Lloyd may be experiencing emotional disconnection as a result of accumulated traumatic events. Based on this hypothesis, we developed two plausible theories, both supported by psychological literature.

Emotional Disconnection: Clinical Definition and Foundations

Emotional disconnection is a psychological phenomenon associated with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dissociative disorders, major depression, or even temporary adaptive responses to chronic stress. Broadly speaking, it refers to a reduced or lost ability to experience or express emotions, whether as an unconscious defense mechanism or as a symptom of a greater disorder.

In high-stress emotional contexts—such as repeated traumatic experiences (war, loss, betrayal, guilt, excessive responsibility)—the nervous system can enter a prolonged state of hypoactivation, meaning a general decrease in emotional, behavioral, and cognitive responses. This phenomenon is also known as emotional numbing.

Common Symptoms of Emotional Disconnection

Social and behavioral withdrawal: The individual avoids active interaction with their environment. In Lloyd's case, this is seen in his passive stance, scarce dialogue, and minimal group engagement.

Affective flattening: There is a visible reduction in emotional expression: few smiles, rare signs of distress or anger, even in situations that would typically provoke them. This matches Lloyd's attitude, as he rarely reacts emotionally during critical events.

Feelings of unreality or detachment from the environment (derealization): The world may feel distant or artificial. Narratively, this could be reflected in scenes where Lloyd silently watches events unfold, seemingly disconnected from his surroundings.

Disconnection from one’s own emotions (depersonalization): The individual may feel like they're acting automatically, without personal involvement. This could explain why Lloyd behaves mechanically in combat or lacks clear motivation.

Reduced motivation or initiative: Often, there is a loss of interest in previous activities or a lack of energy to act. In a setting like Ninjago, where characters are usually proactive, Lloyd’s passivity becomes even more striking.

Blocking or suppression of intense memories or mental processes: In individuals with traumatic experiences, the mind may suppress access to emotionally threatening content. In Lloyd’s case, this could explain the temporary absence of his visions.

Clinically, these symptoms align with conditions like PTSD, dissociative disorders, or even adaptive forms of depression. Lloyd’s training with Rontu gave him tools to manage his visions, so he may have learned to suppress them as a coping mechanism. However, such suppression can trigger an emotional rebound—an abrupt and intense resurgence of emotions or abilities—which could signal a major narrative turning point in the second half of the season or in future installments.

Application to His Visions and the Two Proposed Theories

Theory of emotional repression of visions: If Lloyd is in a dissociative state, it’s plausible that his visions—often emotionally intense (e.g., foreseeing death, betrayal, or failure)—have been unconsciously blocked. His training with Rontu gave him some control over these visions, and he may have “shut off” that channel as a form of self-protection. This aligns with clinical patterns observed in individuals who choose not to access unusual mental functions (in narrative terms) to preserve their mental stability.

_ _ _ _ _

Theory of resignation due to inevitability of visions: Another theory suggests Lloyd still has visions but no longer fights them. In battles such as those against Zeatrix or Thunderfang, he doesn’t use his usual combat style: instead of confronting, he dodges, retreats, and attacks from a distance. This behavior may reflect a resignation to a fate he has already foreseen.

From a psychological perspective, this relates to the concept of learned helplessness (Seligman, 1975), where a person, after repeated failures to avoid a negative outcome, stops trying and adopts a passive stance. For Lloyd, this might be a form of emotional self-preservation: if resisting the vision changes nothing, perhaps it’s better not to resist. This narrative arc is powerful because it ties directly into his past development: Lloyd, who always rebelled against his lineage and tried to shape his own destiny, now seems to be surrendering to the weight of inevitability. This may be a direct consequence of the battle with Zeatrix, where he believed he had overcome his vision, only to see it come true anyway.

Professional Conclusion

Both interpretations are supported by legitimate psychological concepts. In one case, we see the effects of trauma as emotional dissociation; in the other, cognitive adaptation to a perceived inevitability. Both are plausible in characters exposed to constant stress, loss, the burden of responsibility, and supernatural abilities that carry a mental toll.

If this portrayal was intentional—which is likely—we are witnessing a characterization that realistically reflects real psychological processes, adding depth to Lloyd’s arc and opening new possibilities for future development.

[fawnnlvr]

secret sides | spencer reid

pairing: spencer reid x purplehaired!reader (series)

summary: in which you further solidify spencer reid's notion that you are not as scary as you appear to be and he sees yet another side to your closed off nature.

wc: 2.2k

masterlist

author's note: long overdue. i have rewrote this more times than i can imagine and its still ehhh. but ima move on before i lose my mind becsuse this was fun writing in the beginning but i cannot wait to write smth else. took my almost 20 days to write another scenario... anyways, i enjoy ♥︎ warning: bau traumatic stuff.

"—Reid and [Surname], interview the child."

Morgan immediately raised a brow. It wasn't as if he was questioning your abilities or Hotch's decision, but he wasn't quite sure how a child who had undergone a traumatic event would react to your hardened stare. But, who was he to judge? He had a murder scene to go to with Prentiss.

This was your first case with the BAU. Spencer Reid knew there was a high probability he would be paired with you for the case, yet even as Hotch voiced that thought to life, the reality of the situation made him too aware of how he should have chosen a different colored vest.

"Partner." You nodded towards him.

He cleared his throat and sent a nod back, "Partner."

An officer assisted the two of you towards the door of the soft room in which the child of a crime currently resides in. Oliver Anderson. A witness to a horrible crime involving three murder victims, one being his grandfather which was his only guardian. He hasn't spoke to anybody, not the officers who found him and not the social worker who was currently trying to get him to engage with the toys thay surrounded them.

Entering the room filled with a variety of toys and a healthy amount of sunlight that brightened up the room within its emotional somber, you and Spencer slowly made your way to the child's view.

"Hi Oliver." The gentle tone of Spencer suprised you. It felt unguarded and tender. A soft expression appeared across his face as he inched closer towards the child, crouching down to get on the same level.

You hadn't heard Spencer talk in such a way. You supposed that people tended to adjust their voices when speaking to different age groups. This was especially the case when interviewing people who have experienced traumatic events. Developing a special cadence and tone that felt comforting and welcoming enough for one to be open was a hard thing to master, yet Spencer spoke as if it was the easiest thing in the world. Like second nature.

You hung back, letting your fellow agent take the lead. Perhaps out of consideration since the child was raised with a male figure his entire life, and Spencer would feel more comfortable. Or perhaps because it was nice to watch Spencer in a new light.

"I'm Doctor Spencer and that is Agent [Name]."

The child, averted his eyes from the adults' gaze and fidgeted with the loose threads of the couch.

"We came here to help you. Is it alright if we ask you some questions?"

Still no response. Spencer's eyebrows furrowed in concern as he peered over towards you. You stood quite guarded with your arms crossed, shifting your weight towards one side, and eyes squinted almost as if scrutinizing his performance on conducting the interview.

"Can you tell us what happened last night?" Spencer tried again and although he expected silence, Oliver communicated in a different way. He shook his head. "I know it is scary but I promise you, we are here to help you and we want to catch the bad guy who did this to your grandfather."

Oliver once again shook his head.

Then you stepped up. Took a spot right beside Spencer and right in front of the child. You crouched down, your heels making it easier to balance as you rested your hands on top on your knees that were pressed against your chest.

"Oliver, is someone asking you to keep last night a secret?" you questioned and you could visibly see the boy sort of flinch back.

Spencer and you locked eyes, a new piece of the puzzle unlocked. The doctor continued, "Are you able to tell us the secret?"

The six-year-old shook his head.

"Was the person who told you to keep this secret scary?" the young genius became taken aback when the child shook his head once again. He initially asked the question to keep the child engaged and comfort the initial predicated response, but this was a new puzzle piece.

"Oliver." your voice called out, a tad bit softer than usual though still using the same tone, "Did you know that there are special rules involving secrets? Like magic."

The child whose gaze was once on his lap, now moved towards your eyes, almost to see if you were lying. His eyebrows furrowed, almost questioning the validity of your statement

"Unspoken rules that were put in place to protect the secret keeper." you continued and Spencer had caught onto your idea. Oliver was still at a Santa–believing age and it would be at everybody's best interest to allow the child believe in something more magical. A sort of concept that could overrule the moral dilemmas of secrets.

Spencer knows that judging people based off of a short time of knowing the is wrong, but you were honestly the last person he would have expected to create a magical story to get information out of a child. Many would figure you would be the villain in that magical story but Spencer will digress because the little offensive demon on his shoulder telling him that, would come in the form of Morgan if he had caught wind of this interaction.

"Yes, rules put into place to protect children like you." Spencer quickly jumped to support your claim.

Oliver's light brown eyes flickers between you and Spencer. A frown was permanently embedded into his face since they arrived, but the once guilt-ridden eyes were now filled with hope.

"When the secret keeper is asked to keep a potentially harmful and dangerous secret that will make them feel unsafe, then the secret keeper is allowed to tell a trusted adult." you explained the rules and Oliver's eyes widened, almost as if this life changing rule had lifted this heavy rock of his drooping shoulders.

Spencer kept humming in agreement, an encouraging smile on his face as he visually let the child know that this was a safe place.

Spencer. You. Spencer. You. Spencer. Then his eyes finally stopped on you. His small hand raised to gesture you to come closer. The awkward position you were in had caused you to sort of waddle a few centimeters forward in heels before stretching your neck to meet the small voice of Oliver.

Spencer watched the entire interaction. Oliver cupped his small hands around his mouth, hovering by your dark purple hair that was tucked behind your ear. A few seconds passed by before you pulled back and cupped your own hands around your mouth to whisper into Oliver's ear.

This went on for the next two minutes and although Spencer knew it was childish, he felt like a kid being left out of elementary again. Well, in Spencer's case college. But, Oliver was finally opening up and it was all thanks to your genius thinking that led them to this discovery.

Then it happened. It was small but Spencer had caught it. The entire interaction, your face was faced towards Spencer who tried to profile what the child was whispering to your through your facial expression which proved to be almost futile due to your resting face that never seemed to move. But then it happened. Your lips tugged up and a small breath left your body, a sound in between a scoff and laugh.

Spencer had never wanted to know what someone had said other than this time. What could have possibly elicited such a joyous reaction from you?

You used your hand to move a strand of hair that was put out of place when Oliver touched your hair to ensure secrecy.

"Thank you for trusting me Oliver." you stated before standing up. Spencer followed your lead, brushing off his pants from when he accidently tipped over due to not being able to crouch down to the floor for too long without loosing his balance. Thankfully, you were in a secret magical meeting and too engrossed in listening for details to see him catch himself.

Oliver looked more light. He wasn't as stiff in movements, and even accepted the toy dinosaur Spencer handed him while you were straightening out your clothes.

"We'll see you later." Spencer gave him a boyish grin and held a low-five. The boy sort of pinched his eyebrows together as he hesitated to return the gesture. Spencer would take that as a win. He turned to you, "Ready to go?"

You nodded, "Goodbye Oliver."

The two of you left the room, leaving the social worker to play with the child until another gaurdian was able to take him in.

"What did he say to you?"

You disclosed all the 'secret' information Oliver had shared with you. What had happened last night and what he could remember about any strange people who he might have had contact with. The two of you immediately went to shade the information to Penelope and relay the information to the other members of the team who were currently out doing their own task.

When Hotch got the call, he ordered the two of you to stay at the field office to work out the geographical profile and to interview the next set of family members who would be coming in shortly.

The entire day was busy, from start to finish. Spencer really wondered how you kept your posture. Everytime he looked over, you were standing there in heels like a reminder for him to straighten our his back. After the interview, he did not get a chance to talk to you and began to regret it as he peered over to you working on phone calls while he worked the map. Almost as if the universe heard his thoughts, they were answered.

Coffee break was needed and important. While he poured himself another cup, you were going to the fridge to get yet another water. His dark brown sleepy eyes had to do a double take. This was his chance.

If you really counted all their conversations and interactions, it would be in total four. The three interacrions prior to the trip and the new addition from conducting a joint interview on a child. This would be the fifth.

"Hey." he greeted, trying to sound as casual as possible, "You know, Oliver seemed to have liked you a lot."

"Children seem to love me." your flat tone did not match the words that you spoke, yet it was the most believable phrase he had heard you speak all day. Who was he to deny your effect when he saw it first-hand.

"How did you know he was asked to keep it a secret?"

"I worked with children before and you would be suprised how many secrets adults had asked them to keep. Some being harmless and funny, while others being borderline dangerous or scary. I made up the system to teach them safety and who they can trust."

"That explains why Oliver seemed to trust you so well. In a lot of cultures, they say that children can sense the good and bad energy of people and are good judgement of characters." Spencer had this boyish grin as he explained the concept. Seeing the good in people is a sort of innocence that many children loose as they transition into the hardships adulthood and Spencer hoped Oliver wouldn't do the same.

"He told me my stern voice reminded him of his grandfather but you were a close second to tell his secrets to."

"Close second? We were the only two in the room!"

"Nonsense, Brenda, the social worker had been trying to built rapport with him for hours but he chose us." His eyes flickered over the windows of the room to see the woman playing with the dinosaurs and small volcano toy set. Hm, you had a point. That did make him feel somewhat better that he was chosen as second.

"I guess that is true. Was his comment the thing that made you laugh?"

"Me? Laugh? That is a silly thing to imagine." you were genuinely confused and there was nothing silly about being accused of such a thing. When did you show joy within such tense situation?

"Well not really laugh but the corners of your lips turns upwards in about a twelve degree angle and the child seemed to smile as he pulled away from his little whispers. You also let out a small sound that is commonly associated with sounds of joy and pleasure—"

You raised a brow. Spencer went beat red as he realized what he had just insinuated.

"N-no no! Not like that. Like that sound when somebody makes a joke that was kind of funny but not so one lets out a mixture of a scoff and a small laugh." He then began to imitate the sound, but this was not a good look for him.

You blinked.

Oh he was back to when you barely spoke a word. He was so caught up on enjoying your work explanations that he didn't even think that he should continue to think before he spoke. All the progress on getting you to say more than a couple of words had went down the drain because of a stupid comment he made to—

"I do remember that." Thank God. "That was actually related to the grandfather comment. Apparently he thinks I talk like him and you dress like him."

"Oh." He knew he should have worn a different vest.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

how do you think leona would do if he falls in love?

Here are my thoughts in bullet-point/headcanon form for ease of reading! Key word there being my thoughts. (There will of course be different interpretations based on who you ask this question to.)

Standard disclaimer: These points are nothing more than my opinions and I am NOT saying my opinions are any more or less valid or “correct” than yours. Please, I’m not pre-book 1 Riddle/j It’s fine to have other takes; just remember to be mindful in how you communicate differences in opinion.

To start with, here's how I think Leona would deal with the experience of first love:

Firstly, I definitely feel that Leona is the type of person to not easily fall in love. There are many examples in canon of Leona rejecting the love he receives from others, whether it be from his own family (Cheka, Falena), dorm members (Ruggie, Jack, Savanaclaw mobs, etc.), or other peers. Even though he desires others’ approval and praise, he also simultaneously believes the compliments are insincere or that he may not be deserving or worthy of it, that he hasn’t “earned” it. It’s also difficult for him to be emotionally vulnerable with others, and I feel that this would extend to romantic circumstances.

Continuing from the previous point, I think it’d be a slow burn. Like, the feelings develop gradually and manifest in small but increasingly more forward-facing ways like his gaze lingering for a second or two longer than usual, him getting slightly irritable when he smells (I 100% believe that smell is a Big Thing for beastmen) some other guy on the object of his affections, or simply… his mind wandering to them, maybe in a daydream.

A lot of it is Leona musing about the situation and then being in denial. He’s not so oblivious as to ignore what are clearly blossoming feelings, but he's not so hasty as to act on them right away. He'd sit with those feelings, examine them, question them. What is it that he is experiencing and why, how did things come to this, etc. He may even try to convince himself it's a phase or he's "too good" for this or he's "above" this. Really takes a long time to wrestle with his emotions and to sort them out. And then when he has come to his conclusion, he might not be very pleased with it because (as I said before), he has self-esteem and self-worth issues despite outwardly presenting himself as confident and in-charge.

For a while, he keeps his distance and observes. He’s nothing if not a big cat biding his time, keeping an eye on his prey until—BAM! Down comes his paw, ensnaring the mouse. It's like a game of chess or... cat and mouse. You have to watch your opponent and predict their moves, then plan your own moves two or three or more steps ahead of them. He'd want to gauge if they're already taken, if they seem to express an interest in him too, what they like and dislike, information like that. The last thing Leona'd want to do is charge in, guns blazing, only to be rejected and have his pride hurt.

He may also go out of his way to test the object of his affections by purposefully engineering scenarios to see how they react. At first, it's subtle things that could easily be passed off as coincidence or happenstance. For example, maybe Leona would accidentally bump his shoulder against yours or as he's walking by his tail flicks you. That's just the start though. He'd put more pressure on over time. Like he'd be more confrontational, putting himself in your path as some obstacle to overcome, still being sort of an asshole to see how you handle yourself around him.

Leona tells himself he has the upper hand, and he's usually pretty consistent about hiding his feelings to that end. It might peek through here and there, but they easily read as him being tsundere as per usual. I think that would be his way of coping, because deep down he doesn't want to admit that a part of him is scared to feel this way. It's something else he could fail at, someone else he could frighten away or destroy.

With time, I think he'd become more confident. He has a better grasp of the other person, he's been able to sort out his thoughts. But the thing is, his pride is still a major deterrent. Instead of coming out and saying it, it would become another game. If you've ever read or watched Kaguya-sama: Love is War, it'd be similar to that. Leona would push for the other person to be the one to fall for him and confess first. Part of it is he's kind of afraid to be so emotionally vulnerable, part of it is that he's desperate to be wanted and needed by others, and part of it is that he feels he needs to "earn" that love by winning you over. He wants that sweet, sweet validation from you. He wants YOU to choose HIM.

I think he expects a certain amount of push and pull. If the game's too easy for him, the (psychological) hunt loses some of its thrill. I think he'd also be the type to seek a partner that isn't just a blind yes man (despite him giving off the vibes that he wants to be in total control, especially in his own dormitory); they should be able to keep him on his toes one way or another, and they shouldn't idolize him in a really unrealistic way--because then he worries what would happen if they learn about his flaws. Would they see him differently? Reject him? Etc.

It'd take a considerable amount of time and effort, but slowly he'd let the walls around his heart down to let you in--but ONLY if you pass his tests and prove that you can be loyal, trustworthy, and cognizant + accepting of all his flaws. He has high standards, so he's pretty picky about who he allows to be by his side. I don't think he'd be happy having to like... put in a fake "perfect prince" act or airs for someone else. Pretending to be someone you're not in order to have love might be just another source of stress for him.

He would take a more aggressive approach if the object of his affections makes it obvious that they return his feelings. More "accidental" touching (but of course nothing that breaches into something they find discomforting), intentionally dropping phrases that come off as flirtatious, demanding to spend more time together, etc.

If they're not into it, he'd respectfully back off. However, that won't stop him from moping about it in private later.

Then, assuming a scenario in which he and the person he's romantically interested in get together/start formally dating:

I think he'd be a lot more blatant and shameless about "showing off" his affections and/or the relationship in general. Overt flirting at this point, casually laying his head on the shoulder or wrapping an arm or tail around you, etc. Who cares who sees? Let them know you're already taken.

Oh yeah, he's really into physical touch (within whatever limits you deem to be acceptable; he respects your autonomy). Cuddles while napping, hand holding, head pats, listening to your heartbeat, etc. It grants him a sense of security that you're like... physically there with him.

I think words of affirmation are also up there, however I don't think he would appreciate it if it's like... overdone. Too many compliments might start to feel disingenuous or even smothering after a while (what comes to my mind specifically is how he reacts negatively or with denial to his brother, Cheka, Kifaji, and even his own dorm members praising him).

As I mentioned earlier, I think there'd be a lot of banter and teasing; Leona strikes me as someone who likes to toy with his pre or puts up a fight; he still has his pride and won't take sass lying down, he'd definitely retaliate but in a playful way.

Slightly whiny and needy. Key word: SLIGHTLY. He's not going to go full yandere on you. I believe that Leona would be somewhat insecure about the relationship and wants you to validate him with your presence. Like, if you're lying down somewhere and try to get up to leave... he might pout and be all dramatic about it, maybe throw in a sarcastic line about how he's "a delicate prince" and how he'll "wither like a flower" without you.

Slightly possessive. Again, the key word: SLIGHTLY. He's not going to restrict your movements or demand complete control of your life. However, he might sulk if he like... sees some other guy hovering or getting handsy, obviously making you uncomfortable. (If it's a particularly bad day for him, Leona might get intrusive thoughts about being the "second pick" and his partner leaving him for some "better" guy.) We've already seen he can get pretty territorial when it comes to Savanaclaw and the Botanical Garden, so I think at some point he'd also step in to intimidate people he feels are becoming a problem for his S/O. It's not the case for every situation though; his partner should be able to handle themselves or let him know when he's overstepping.

I think he'd be a little more tolerant of things his partner pulls. They're the one exception for certain things, like touching his ears or being more willing to listen to their requests to go to class or to try this new vegetable.

He'd try to distance his S/O from his family, especially in the beginning. Leona would tell them he doesn't think they're ready to meet the royal family yet (especially knowing the rocky relationship he has with his family), but really a lot of this stems from his pride. Falena, for example, honestly might make him look uncool by infantilizing his "baby bro".

Leona doesn't really go out of his way to plan grand gestures (he's not Kalim). If he does anything "big", it's probably like sending Ruggie to your doorstep with fancy flowers and a notecard or something. What he values isn't the "frivolous" stuff, but spending quality time together (even if it's doing nothing in particular). Might still spoil you on, say, special occasions, but he generally dislikes making a big deal of these things.

I think he'd be into you wearing his clothes. It's an easy visual indication that you're intimate enough to do this, but also it cloaks you in his smell so every other beastman in the immediate vicinity also knows you're "marked". Leona tosses his unworn blazer over you, casually saying, "Keep it."

Speaking of!! I think he’d also really like the idea of marking (bites, scratch marks, etc.) or scenting his partner. Just animalistic stuff like that, y’know. I’m sure he could hold himself back if they’re not comfortable with these aspects.

I do believe he has the capacity to be very sappy, but I don't think he'd want to be at this level all of the time. It would probably be limited to private settings and done sparingly, sort of like a treat?? Cuz if he does it too often, then it might lose its "special" feeling, and I also feel like he wouldn't be open to being all squimshy 24/7. Usually his sappiness is sarcastic.

Going to keep it 100 here, he's going to be more vulnerable around you (especially in private), and that means potential traumadumping. That's not to say that he'd do it super frequently to go into full-blown details, but his S/O would be one of the few people he feels comfortable enough with to open about his deepest insecurities and fears. He sometimes needs someone to hear him out, a shoulder to cry on, etc. Of course, he's not going to treat his partner like an unpaid therapist. Leona just... needs some extra support every now and again, reminders that he's doing fine, you know??

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Leona being in love would NOT smooth out all the rough edges to his personality. He's not going to white knight/act like you constantly need his protection, he's not going to bend over backwards and do anything and everything his partner asks of him. He still has a will and he can and will disagree or argue if he's opposed to something. He'll still let you handle yourself as needed.

Leona being in love would also NOT magically cure him of his personal issues and struggles. This is also true of the other characters who have deeply rooted trauma, but I feel this point should be included as a reminder anyway. It's of course not his entire personality, but his past experiences will impact how he interprets and reacts to things in present day (hence him being needy/wanting validation, etc.).

Like all relationships (whether romantic or platonic), it would not be flawless. There will be highs and lows, fights and disagreements, etc. This is normal in any relationship; what matters is that you're able to be mature enough to patch things up afterwards and learn from those rough patches.

[afloweroutofstone]

Strongly convinced that this is one of the primary culprits behind a lot of the most harmful social trends of recent years. Obviously the decline of in-person socialization has been happening for about half a century now (see Bowling Alone), but the last five years have turbo-charged it in an unprecedented way.

Americans are spending less time with other people than in any other period for which we have trustworthy data, going back to 1965. Between that year and the end of the 20th century, in-person socializing slowly declined. From 2003 to 2023, it plunged by more than 20 percent, according to the American Time Use Survey, an annual study conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among unmarried men and people younger than 25, the decline was more than 35 percent. Alone time predictably spiked during the pandemic. But the trend had started long before most people had ever heard of a novel coronavirus and continued after the pandemic was declared over. According to Enghin Atalay, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Americans spent even more time alone in 2023 than they did in 2021... Eroding companionship can be seen in numerous odd and depressing facts of American life today. Men who watch television now spend seven hours in front of the TV for every hour they spend hanging out with somebody outside their home. The typical female pet owner spends more time actively engaged with her pet than she spends in face-to-face contact with friends of her own species. Since the early 2000s, the amount of time that Americans say they spend helping or caring for people outside their nuclear family has declined by more than a third. Self-imposed solitude might just be the most important social fact of the 21st century in America. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many observers have reduced this phenomenon to the topic of loneliness. In 2023, Vivek Murthy, Joe Biden’s surgeon general, published an 81-page warning about America’s “epidemic of loneliness,” claiming that its negative health effects were on par with those of tobacco use and obesity. A growing number of public-health officials seem to regard loneliness as the developed world’s next critical public-health issue. The United Kingdom now has a minister for loneliness. So does Japan. But solitude and loneliness are not one and the same. “It is actually a very healthy emotional response to feel some loneliness,” the NYU sociologist Eric Klinenberg told me. “That cue is the thing that pushes you off the couch and into face-to-face interaction.” The real problem here, the nature of America’s social crisis, is that most Americans don’t seem to be reacting to the biological cue to spend more time with other people. Their solitude levels are surging while many measures of loneliness are actually flat or dropping. A 2021 study of the widely used UCLA Loneliness Scale concluded that “the frequently used term ‘loneliness epidemic’ seems exaggerated.” Although young people are lonelier than they once were, there is little evidence that loneliness is rising more broadly today. A 2023 Gallup survey found that the share of Americans who said they experienced loneliness “a lot of the day yesterday” declined by roughly one-third from 2021 to 2023, even as alone time, by Atalay’s calculation, rose slightly. Day to day, hour to hour, we are choosing this way of life—its comforts, its ready entertainments. But convenience can be a curse. Our habits are creating what Atalay has called a “century of solitude.” This is the anti-social century. Over the past few months, I’ve spoken with psychologists, political scientists, sociologists, and technologists about America’s anti-social streak. Although the particulars of these conversations differed, a theme emerged: The individual preference for solitude, scaled up across society and exercised repeatedly over time, is rewiring America’s civic and psychic identity. And the consequences are far-reaching—for our happiness, our communities, our politics, and even our understanding of reality.

[cosmicpuzzle]

Venus ♀️ in Signs

Venus in Aries

You are ardent and confident in your expression of love and creativity. In general, you prefer to initiate romantic encounters and can be quite competitive. Love at first sight is not unknown to you. While love matters are important to you, your personal freedom is more important. Independently-minded, you react emotionally if a lover or partner attempts to restrict you in any way. At times, you can be selfish in love.

Venus in Taurus

You have strong personal powers of attraction and desires. Emotional constancy, loyalty and stability are important to you in close relationships. However, difficulties in love can come about from possessiveness or jealousy. There can be a tendency to over-indulge in the good life and to risk weight gain. Artistic appreciation and talent are possible, especially in the tactile arts.

Venus in Gemini

You have a charming and playful nature with the ability to captivate others easily. You enjoy change and variety in your love life and social life. You are attracted to people who have stimulating minds and keen intellects. You, or a lover, can be flighty, superficial and flirtatious, which can lead to problems in relationships.

Venus in Cancer

You experience deep and sincere feelings of love and are caring and protective towards your loved ones. To feel emotionally secure, you need to have affection and tenderness demonstrated. You are sensitive in love but can easily be hurt by insensitivity from another. You have a desire for partnership and an appreciation of family-life. Social activities are often centred in the home and your guests always feel welcome.

Venus in Leo

You are the original romantic, with a desire for excitement and drama in your love-life. You are generous and warm-hearted. Status means a lot to you and you will be drawn to others who are well-known or popular. You like to be seen in all the right places and at the best parties. You appreciate good taste and style in others. Dress sense is important.

Venus in Virgo

You enter into relationships cautiously but once committed you are dedicated. You tend to be shy and reserved socially and find it difficult to make contacts easily. An overly critical attitude or taking the moral high ground can make for missed opportunities in love. You have a practical approach to love, which is fine but it can weaken spontaneity if taken too far.

Venus in Libra

To feel whole, you need to be part of a personal union. Harmony and equality are first and foremost in your intimate relationships. You have a love of beauty and intellectual stimulation and tend to look for these qualities in a partner or lover. You are an attractive and obliging person who has well-developed social skills. Problems can arise in your love life, if you scatter your affections or try to please everyone. You have artistic inclinations and a love of the arts.

Venus in Scorpio

You possess magnetic qualities and strong powers of attraction. You have an all or nothing attitude when it comes to love. Difficulties in love can arise through emotional manipulation, power struggles, secretiveness or jealousy.

Venus in Sagittarius

You have a friendly and positive attitude in love but don't like being tied down or restricted. You value freedom and the ability to come and go as you please. Honesty in love is important and you strive to be truthful and open. Sometimes you can be too frank or even insensitive to another's feelings. You desire association with others who share an enthusiasm for fun and outdoor activity, or an interest in philosophical subjects. It is likely that you will form attachments to people from other cultures and parts of the world.

Venus in Capricorn

You tend to be attracted to mature and experienced partners, or those of a wide-age difference to yourself. You have a responsible and pragmatic manner and tend to keep your feelings under control. In love, you seek partners who are loyal and dependable but also security conscious. There may be difficulties expressing affection due to inhibitions or shyness.

Venus in Aquarius

Friendships are the most important unions you make in life. You hold contemporary views on love-relationships and people are attracted to you because you keep yourself up to date. Conventional and routine relationships don't really interest you. Instead, you thrive on variety and intellectual stimulation in love.

Venus in Pisces

You are highly romantic with deep longings for love. You have the capacity to give whole-heartedly in love and to make great sacrifices. However, there is a risk of being taken advantage of by others, or of being susceptible to seducing influences. There is the potential for disappointment or deception in love. You have an appreciation of the arts and music.

For Relationship Readings DM

[thistlerock]

I think Gorgug grows up trying to take up as little space as possible.

I think that as a child, before he was all that conscious of his own decisions, he broke a lot of stuff. That's fine, small children do that and his parents have had him since he was a baby. A huge baby, especially for gnomes. A huge baby that grew into a toddler the size of his parents who's (again, normal and okay) tantrums did actual property damage because he's an orc. They were never mad at him for it, they'd never be mad at a child experiencing big emotions and not yet able to process them or understand consequences, but we know how their families reacted to that. We know that they always saw him as something that would grow up to be a threat.

I think that pretty much as soon as he develops a sense of it Gorgug starts feeling ashamed. He's ashamed of how nothing ever fits right, and of how loud he gets when he's upset, and of how the other kids in the neighbourhood (because it's a small folk neighbourhood!!) get scared of him sometimes, and of how when he has bad dreams he breaks his bed and is unable to control himself, like a baby. There was probably a time where he thought he was really clumsy and he was ashamed of that too, but by the time he turns like twelve Gorgug kind of understands that he's not more clumsy than the average kid, it's just that every time he drops something or bumps into a shelf it'll do so much more damage than if anyone else he lives around were to do the same.

(And his parents are talented tinkerers but sometimes their work is so delicate and all he ever does is wreck things. He doesn't dare touch it no matter how much they try to share this passion with him — eventually they assume he just doesn't like it and they would never force him to do something he doesn't want. Gorgug doesn't let himself discover how much he enjoys it until sophomore year. I wonder if he regrets all those years he spent fearing the possibility of ruining things and depriving himself of something he ended up loving.)

(And he was never "stupid", it's just that all he ever thought himself of was a brute so he never entertained the possibility of his own intelligence until faced with it. He didn't know he could thrive academically so it wasn't something he ever considered committing to. He literally just played bloodrush because he was good at it, not because he liked it. He just thought he had to, and he thought math is something he couldn't possibly do. Why try?)

Entering Highschool Gorgug is very shy, and he doesn't really have friends. Adults always like to blame the latter on the first, but sometimes it's the other way around and sometimes it's a vicious cycle. Sometimes you're six years old and none of the kids in your elementary school class are anything like you but you desperately try to fit in until you slip up and show them how much of a freak you are one time (I think he got mad. I think he broke a table. I think someone cried. I think maybe there was a teacher who was so much smaller than him and looked at him as if he were something to be feared. I think that in that moment he decided that he is. Or at least his rage, maybe.) and then you never get to have friends again and you shrink in on yourself and you don't understand how anyone else does it — it's not even that you're scared you just don't understand, and maybe you just want to be alone. And then a happy outspoken child grows into a shy teenager because they don't have any friends.

I think Gorgug is careful. He is so gentle and empathetic and kind and he is so careful because every time he isn't something breaks. And every time he raises his voice someone is scared of him and all he ever wants is people to not be afraid. So he hunches over, and he stands in the corner, and he scoots to the very edge of the bench so you don't have to sit too close to him, and he takes every insult to his face without fighting back lest he'll get upset and despite all his fucking efforts all it takes is one asshole to take it too far and he feels himself snap and all he wants to do is break something and hurt and twist and kill. And that scares him. He doesn't allow himself to be angry (and as wonderful as Digby and Wilma are they don't understand. They don't understand that he has to be, that he has to let it out some time.) so he bottles it up and every time it explodes out of him he doesn't know how to handle it other than to swing his axe and kill maul bite snarl kill.

But then, his adventuring party seems to not mind his rage, or his size, or his freakish strength. If anything they seem to like it, or at least respect him for it. He's never considered doing something like music before because that's for talented people and it's art and he doesn't do art because his hands are only good for destruction, not creation. Right? He does the music anyway. It's nice because there he's allowed to be angry on the drums and no one thinks it's weird.

He meets a girl that finds his rage attractive and he was scared that he'd scared her but he didn't. Ragh becomes one of his dearest friends and maybe for the first time Gorgug looks at a raging (half-)orc — all snarling and panting and bearing his teeth and twitching at any sound or scent — and doesn't find himself appalled because all he sees is someone that's fighting to keep him and his friends safe. And oh, maybe it's okay to be enraged.

I think he grows into a young man that doesn't love being angry but stops hating it too. He likes, in a way, that he gets angry over the right things, and he likes that being angry enables him to protect those he cares for. In the end his rage is a survival instinct and it's good to be alive. That leads to him, for a while, only accepting his rage as something that's fine to express in combat, and if it's outside of combat then only to his friends. There's still this need to make himself palatable, to tone himself down so everyone stays comfortable around him, but that also fades eventually.

During junior year he does finally come out of his shell enough to just express his anger the second he feels it. I think it is liberating and it's also the scariest thing he's ever done, and he went through a forest that made him confront his deepest fears already. (And that's exactly what it was. The inconvenience to his parents, the fear it strikes in others, the rejection it brings, the way it seems to reduce him to a weapon or maybe a wild animal and to some people including parts of him means he absolutely cannot be an intelligent or loveworthy person. He's always been afraid of his own rage.)

I think that if a younger Gorgug could see his older self snarl at one of his friends for making a joke about his parents' lawnmower, with his tusks fully grown out and muscle finally starting to fill out his clothes a little, so strong and so dangerous and so unashamed of it, he'd feel no relief and only horror. I think acceptance is something that feels alien to him right up until he suddenly achieves it.

[plutosunshine]

Roasting your Moon sign

Emotional vulnerabilities of each sign

The Moon represents our emotional world, where all our inner needs, feelings, and weaknesses thrive. The Moon, especially the sign and house it is in, can reveal much about your inner world and what you subconsciously feel but cannot bring to the surface. Let’s explore together the emotional vulnerabilities hidden behind your Moon sign.

Moon in Aries

The Moon in Aries often doesn’t allow much time to process feelings deeply. A person with this placement may be inclined to react impulsively, even aggressively, to stressful situations or conflicts. This can lead to hasty actions and words they may later regret.

They want quick solutions and immediate results. Emotional processes that require time — like experiencing grief or considering forgiveness — can be particularly challenging for the Moon in Aries.

The Moon in Aries takes pride in its independence and often conceals vulnerabilities, not showing a need for support or understanding. This can lead to emotional isolation or a feeling that “I have to handle everything on my own.”

The Moon in Aries craves constant movement and novelty; monotony can quickly lead to boredom and irritation. This may manifest as dissatisfaction or a search for new emotional experiences in relationships.

People with the Moon in Aries can quickly feel “trapped” or restricted if someone tries to control them or influence their behavior. They may react strongly to any attempts to interfere with their personal space.

Moon in Taurus

The Moon in Taurus fears change and instability. This position endows a person with a strong attachment to a familiar environment, and any change can cause stress and a sense of losing ground. Such a Moon sometimes avoids the new, even if it would bring growth and development. Stepping out of the comfort zone can be one of the most challenging tasks.

Taurus is one of the most stubborn signs, and the Moon here can be very persistent in its emotions and attachments. Sometimes, this is expressed as an inability to let go of relationships, situations, or beliefs, even if they no longer serve or hinder progress.

The emotions of the Moon in Taurus are closely tied to material comfort, so dissatisfaction may arise when there is a lack of financial stability or material resources. This Moon placement can sometimes attach too strongly to the material world, causing fears and worries about finances and comfort.

The Moon in Taurus is often not inclined toward emotional outbursts, preferring calmness and balance. However, this can create problems, as you may suppress your true feelings until tension builds up. The Moon in Taurus often avoids deep emotional experiences, fearing they might disturb its sense of tranquility.

The Moon in Taurus may seek emotional comfort through material pleasures—good food, comfort, shopping. Sometimes, this can lead to excessive dependence on physical pleasures to cope with inner tension.

Moon in Gemini

People with the Moon in Gemini often prefer to discuss their feelings rather than experience them deeply. In challenging situations, this can manifest as a tendency to “talk through” or analyze emotions instead of sincerely feeling them.

The emotions of the Moon in Gemini are changeable, sometimes giving an impression of inconsistency. Such people can quickly switch from one state to another, which can occasionally lead to inner anxiety and instability.

The Moon in Gemini values intellectual communication more than emotional closeness, so expressions of warm feelings may come across as somewhat superficial. Communication and exchanging ideas are important, but reaching a deeper level can be difficult. Often, they rationalize their emotions, which doesn’t always facilitate emotional closeness.

Since the Moon in Gemini constantly processes and analyzes information, this can lead to mental and emotional overload. The tendency to worry and overthink can cause fatigue and tension.

To cope with complex emotions, the Moon in Gemini sometimes chooses detachment or humor, hiding their true feelings beneath it. This may create a sense of coldness or emotional unavailability.

Moon in Cancer

The Moon in Cancer often values memories, family, and roots. This attachment can become problematic if a person fixates on negative moments from the past, reliving them constantly and struggling to move forward.

Those with the Moon in Cancer are often highly sensitive to everything around them, including the words and actions of others. They can be easily hurt or take things personally, which may lead to painful emotional experiences.

When such individuals face difficult emotions or vulnerability, they naturally retreat and hide in their “shells.” This can lead to relationship challenges, as partners or friends may feel distance and lack understanding.

The Moon in Cancer is strongly drawn to people who provide a sense of security. Because of this, they may develop dependencies in relationships, becoming overly attached to a partner and fearing loss, even if the relationship is not particularly healthy.

The Moon in Cancer is inclined to care for others, sometimes at their own expense. This can lead to exhaustion, emotional burnout, and feeling undervalued if they feel their efforts are unnoticed or unappreciated.

Moon in Leo

The Moon in Leo feels calm and confident when others accept and appreciate its emotions. This can lead to a dependency on praise and approval, making the person sensitive to criticism or lack of attention. They may feel deprived or insignificant if they don’t receive the expected attention.

People with the Moon in Leo often tend to dramatize their emotions. They may exaggerate their experiences to attract more attention from those around them. This can create emotional outbursts and even conflicts, especially if others are unprepared to respond to such intensity of emotions.

The Moon in Leo typically prefers to appear strong and unwavering, even if they are internally feeling uncertain or hurt. This can make it difficult to acknowledge their own vulnerabilities and seek help in challenging times. The desire to appear independent and “regal” sometimes hinders them from sharing their feelings with others.

The emotions of the Moon in Leo are often centered on their own needs and desires, which can sometimes make it hard for them to understand or empathize with others’ feelings. This can be perceived as emotional self-centeredness and may create difficulties in relationships when understanding and support from loved ones are needed.

Behind the visible confidence, there is often a fear of rejection. The Moon in Leo is sensitive to recognizing its significance, and if it feels “invisible,” this can lead to intense emotions and a drop in self-esteem.

Moon in Virgo

People with the Moon in Virgo often seek order and control, which extends to their feelings. They may find it challenging to express emotions openly as they strive to avoid “mess” and chaos in their experiences. This can lead to emotional suppression, which may later manifest as inner tension or stress. Such individuals tend to be anxious and need control.

The Moon in Virgo often makes a person prone to self-criticism, especially if they feel their emotional responses are “imperfect.” This may express itself as a constant drive to analyze and correct themselves, which can be emotionally draining and lead to feelings of dissatisfaction.

Since the Moon in Virgo is dedicated to routine and order, it’s difficult for them to spontaneously respond to unexpected emotional situations. In times of emotional upheaval, such people may feel lost or confused as they are accustomed to stability.

The Moon in Virgo tends to rely on itself and often struggles to fully open up and trust others. They may fear appearing vulnerable and don’t count on support from others, which can ultimately lead to feelings of loneliness.

Internally, such individuals may fear depending on others or relying too heavily on external support, preferring to be the ones who take care of others. This makes them prone to taking on more than they can emotionally handle.

Moon in Libra

The Moon in Libra often fears being left alone with its emotions. Because of this, people with this Moon placement may rely too heavily on a partner or surroundings for emotional stability, leading to codependency in relationships.

The inner comfort and confidence of people with the Moon in Libra often depend on the opinions of others, making them vulnerable to criticism or disapproval, as their self-esteem is frequently based on external validation.

The Moon in Libra seeks diplomacy and avoids conflicts, sometimes hindering honest and direct expression of feelings. Instead, a person may hide their emotions to avoid arguments or tension, ultimately leading to internal stress.

As a sign, Libra tends toward long deliberations and weighing all pros and cons, often resulting in emotional uncertainty. Consequently, people with the Moon in Libra may hesitate on important matters, which generates inner instability and doubts.

The Moon in Libra values peace and harmony so much that it may avoid any form of conflict, even if it’s necessary for emotional growth or resolving issues. This can lead to superficial relationships or unresolved matters that gradually undermine their inner resilience.

Moon in Scorpio

People with the Moon in Scorpio often have difficulty with trust. They can be suspicious and find it hard to open up, especially if they've experienced betrayal before. This can lead them to keep their true feelings to themselves.

Such individuals' emotions are often extremely intense and sometimes overwhelming, making them prone to jealousy, resentment, and even inner aggression. Their emotions can overflow, leading them to introspection and self-examination.

Under tense aspects or other challenges in the chart, the Moon in Scorpio may manifest self-destructive thoughts or behaviors. These individuals can "get stuck" in their experiences, tending towards drama and intense feelings, especially when facing pain or loss.

People with the Moon in Scorpio often find it difficult to share their true feelings with others. They may choose to close themselves off, preferring to resolve internal issues alone.

Scorpio is a sign of transformation, and the Moon in Scorpio requires constant renewal and reevaluation of their emotions. Suppressed unpleasant emotions can lead to emotional crises if there is no way to seek self-awareness and spiritual growth. This Moon placement can lead to anxiety and a tendency toward depression if people with this Moon placement suppress all their emotional impulses.

Moon in Sagittarius

The Moon in Sagittarius tends to avoid deep emotional work. People with this placement may ignore their inner experiences, preferring to distract themselves with external events or activities that seem more engaging.

Instead of addressing emotional difficulties, the Moon in Sagittarius seeks to “escape” through travel, physical activity, or philosophical reflections. This can lead to a sense of unresolved feelings within. For the Moon in Sagittarius, it is mentally easier to distract oneself than to delve into and process deep emotional experiences.

Sometimes, such individuals are so confident that “everything will work out on its own” that they miss the opportunity to address challenging situations in time, which only intensifies emotional chaos.

The Moon in Sagittarius struggles with restrictions in relationships or life circumstances. Emotional instability may arise when they feel their freedom is being limited. At times, this can reach absurd levels, where the Moon in Sagittarius perceives restrictions even when the situation is greatly exaggerated.

A lack of novelty and variety can make them restless, dissatisfied, and irritable. They may avoid stability, viewing it as boring, which complicates their ability to maintain inner balance.

Moon in Capricorn

People with the Moon in Capricorn often feel that emotions must be controlled and kept under strict supervision. This can lead them to suppress their feelings, fearing they might appear vulnerable or dependent. Over time, such emotional suppression can result in anxiety and other challenges.

The Moon in Capricorn tends to incline individuals toward caution, especially in relationships. There is a subconscious belief that the world is a place where only the strong survive, making it difficult for them to open up and trust others.

The Moon in Capricorn fosters a strong desire to always “be on top.” Vulnerability is perceived as weakness, hindering them from expressing their true feelings freely.

People with the Moon in Capricorn often feel emotionally isolated despite their ability to appear independent. They may experience loneliness even when surrounded by loved ones as they struggle to reveal their true needs.

They can be very hard on themselves. The Moon in Capricorn strives for success and stability, so failures or deviations from their plans cause deep internal turmoil.

Moon in Aquarius

The Moon in Aquarius inclines a person towards emotional detachment. They often try to rationalize their feelings instead of experiencing them fully. This can create challenges in forming deep emotional bonds and hinder complete openness in relationships.

The desire for freedom and independence sometimes drives individuals with the Moon in Aquarius to avoid strong attachments. They may fear that emotional closeness could limit their freedom or force them to sacrifice their individuality.

The Moon in Aquarius is associated with intellect and abstract thinking, which can make it difficult for these individuals to understand or express their emotions. At times, emotions may be suppressed, leading to internal tension.

Aquarian energy strives for objectivity and fairness, sometimes making people with this Moon placement less sensitive to others’ emotional experiences. They may appear cold or indifferent, especially in situations that require emotional support.

The Moon in Aquarius craves recognition for its uniqueness but may simultaneously fear emotional vulnerability. This creates an internal conflict: the desire to be authentic while also fearing rejection for their unconventional nature.

Moon in Pisces

People with the Moon in Pisces often strive to see only the best in others, ignoring reality. This can lead to disappointment when their expectations are not met.

They easily “absorb” the emotions of others, which can sometimes drain them. This may result in emotional exhaustion or even depression if they do not know how to shield themselves from others’ pain.

Pisces are known for their tendency to escape difficulties. The Moon in this sign can amplify the inclination to avoid problems through daydreaming, fantasies, or even addictions.

People with the Moon in Pisces often feel that their emotions are “blurred.” They struggle to distinguish their own feelings from those of others, making them vulnerable to manipulation.

Due to their inner sensitivity, such individuals often seek validation of their worth from external sources. They are highly dependent on the approval and warmth of those around them.

Pisces have a natural desire for unity with others, and the Moon in this sign can evoke a deep fear of being abandoned or isolated.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Trauma Responses

Over-sharing

Over-explaining

Trauma dumping

Hyper-independence

Hypersexualization

People pleasing

Trauma is a mental injury, and our body may react to unconscious memories of significant negative events unknown even to us. Our body subconsciously protects us from future trauma.

How we respond to trauma has consequential implications on how we live our lives. Trauma responses ensure physical and emotional safety; however, these unintended reactions may interfere with our ability to flourish.

Trauma responses are innate; they occur without our consciousness.

A reaction to a perceived threat is called a trauma response. It is a survival instinct; it is reflexive and automatic.

Your body reacts to this perceived threat without your approval. Smells and sounds may remind your clients of the trauma they experienced and bring about memories that perhaps at one time were repressed. Despite the individual’s awareness, the unconscious self still remembers, and the body reacts.

A trauma response is how your nervous system has adapted following a significant situation and can manifest in various ways, whether there is an actual threat, or a threat is perceived.

Trauma responses cause a person to be hypervigilant, which may create an overwhelmed individual under normal circumstances. Contrarily, a person experiencing hypervigilance may also prove to be an effective person during crises. Trauma responses get a bad rap; however, if clients can recognize them, they can prevent them from controlling their lives.

Typical Trauma Response Types

Originally, fight and flight were thought to be the only responses to stress, which focused on the autonomic nervous system (McCarty, 2016; Katz et al., 2021).

Freeze, as a trauma response type, was later developed after observing lab rats in stressful situations (Katz et al., 2021).

Today, the 4 most commonly known trauma response types include fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. Each of these actions is an adaptive, functional short-term survival counteraction.

Fight

As we know, the fight response involves combativeness toward the perpetrator. Example demonstrations of fight may include kicking, punching, or threatening the attacker (Katz et al., 2021). It may also include being verbally argumentative and yelling.

If an individual is quick to anger, they may be demonstrating a fight trauma response. This symptom of arousal may indicate self-criticism when someone feels internally threatened (Germer & Neff, 2015).

This reaction may include any attempt to stand up against a threat. It is a form of assertiveness. At a healthy level, it delineates healthy boundaries.

At a primal level, if an animal feels it is being attacked, it may choose to fight back if the threat is manageable. If the animal feels that it cannot successfully fight the threat, it may resort to our next trauma response.

Flight

Flight involves literally or metaphorically running from an actual or perceived danger. It is an act of nonconfrontation and avoidance of a threat. More importantly, it is a biologically determined sequence of responses to stress (Bracha, 2004). Flight is a disengagement from the stress-inducing stimulus. Paired with fight, it is the cornerstone of stress response research by Walter B. Cannon (McCarty, 2016).

Flight may include the habit of leaving the room or fleeing from the home following an argument. It may also include drug and alcohol abuse to avoid emotions. Further, individuals demonstrating the flight response may be disconnected from their family, friends, or coworkers. Someone exhibiting the flight response may isolate themselves.

Over-sharing, over-explaining, and trauma dumping may indicate compartmentalization. If an individual shows compartmentalization, it may mean that they are unconsciously trying to distance themselves from the trauma, thus allowing them to speak of the event nonchalantly.

Further, this practice allows the individual to avoid direct confrontation or processing of the distressing experience. Considering the purpose of divulging the information, this response could also be intended to gain attention (Shabahang et al., 2022), including sympathy or validation.

Individuals may be unconsciously seeking external support or validation to cope with the trauma. Seeking refuge or solace in the empathy or validation of others is an illustration of the flight response.

Hyper-independence occurs when an individual internalizes that dependence on others is unsafe. They avoid asking for help and instead build a wall. This could be a trauma response of flight, as the individual is avoiding an interaction or relationship.

Hypersexualization may also suggest a flight response. Someone who is hypersexual may be fleeing from other emotions.

Likewise, this response may also represent the fawn response as an attempt to please others, which we will discuss later.

Freeze

This is an effective technique when fight or flight are not an option (d’Andrea et al., 2013). When the typical fight-or-flight responses are put on hold, this is considered the freeze response (Kozlowska et al., 2015).

This stress response involves the typical stop, look, and listen response and commands hypervigilance (Bracha, 2004). An individual may resort to this response when assessing a situation. Some suggest this response precedes the fight-or-flight, as the animal or victim is determining which response to employ.

Example: During a bear encounter, physically attacking the bear may be unwise; likewise, running from the bear may not be helpful either. Feigning death may be your way out of this critical situation. This immobility eliminates auditory and visual clues that would otherwise provoke aggression (Baldwin, 2013).

Binge eating could be considered a freeze response (Rodriguez-Quiroga et al., 2021). Instead of facing the situation, a person who engages in binge eating consumes an unusually large amount of food in a relatively short amount of time. This type of food consumption may serve as self-soothing behavior or self-medication.

Eating large quantities of food may induce a dissociative state, thus providing an escape and helping to cope with the overwhelming experience of trauma. This type of eating disorder can be just as dangerous as bulimia and anorexia.

This stress response helps the individual to hide, and it shows that you are not a threat. Further, the person experiencing the freeze response is provided the opportunity to process the threat.

Fawn

This lesser-known and least-understood trauma response may be confused with being a character trait. Arguably, this may be the only response where one engages with the potential threat and attempts to change the other person’s behavior. The trauma response stems from our innate need for social connection and co-regulation.

In this response, a person may mirror the other individual’s gestures, facial expressions, or speech. They are hypervigilant about everyone’s happiness and safety in the room.

Physically speaking, individuals who consistently show fawning as their trauma response may also experience temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), more commonly known as lockjaw, or pain in their jaw (Kim et al., 2009). They are overly agreeable and frequently sacrifice their boundaries.

For example, a man orders a well-done steak with a side salad from a notable restaurant. What he receives is a steak that is cooked medium rare with a side of French fries. That was not his order; however, he does not bring this oversight to the server’s attention for fear of disappointing someone, whether that be the wait staff or the chef.

People who frequently demonstrate the fawn response may be described as people pleasers, workaholics, over-explainers, and over-apologizers. During a traumatic event, a victim may experience Stockholm syndrome, which is when an individual attempts to appease one’s abuser or captor (Bailey et al., 2023).

Codependency can also be a fawn response (Walker, 2013). This is an unhealthy and dysfunctional relationship dynamic involving one person assuming the role of the “giver.” This response may also be referred to as the “friend” and “appease” response.

Lesser-Known Responses to Trauma

Besides the typical fight, flight, freeze, and fawn, there are a few more responses you may not be familiar with. Fright, flag, and faint are a few of the lesser-known trauma responses that are theorized by professionals of this field.

Fright

The fright response indicates tonic immobility. At first, the freeze response was theorized; however, it soon became apparent that this response could be differentiated from fright (Katz et al., 2021).

Similar to freeze and faint, the person experiencing fright will play dead, so to speak (Bracha, 2004). This is better understood when a predator has its prey in its grasp, and the prey goes limp and ceases its struggle to make itself less desirable for consumption. In this case, the fright response involves a heightened state of arousal and readiness to confront or flee from danger.

Flag

The flag response is characterized by numbness of emotion, cognitive failure, a drop in arousal, and surrender. Schauer and Elbert (2015) assert that the flag response is part of a sequence of six fear responses that progress as a function of defense during a life-threatening situation. The cascade consists of the following responses in sequential order: freeze – flight – fight – fright – flag – and faint.

The individual’s attention may be elsewhere, and they may feel like they are observing themself, which is an example of disassociation. This is a built-in defense mechanism that increases pain tolerance or numbs emotional response.

The person who experienced the trauma may exhibit memory lapses as their brain attempts to protect its emotional well-being.

Faint

Also a biologically determined response to acute stress defense, faint is a lesser-known response (Bracha, 2004).

This may also be referred to as the “flop” response, also indicative of tonic immobility and is a preferable option for the body when fight or flight is not possible. A common example of this phenomenon is when a person sees blood and literally faints from the sight of it. They are not “playing dead” as illustrated in the fright response; their body unconsciously suspends movement.

Instead of the arousal and readiness associated with the fright response, this type of response centers around immobility in response to overwhelming stress.

Clients who have been diagnosed with PTSD may benefit from the following techniques:

Sensory Grounding

To help them ground themself and bring awareness, encourage your client to try the following practice: Name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can touch, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.

They could also carry a grounding smell, such as a scented lotion, perfume, or cologne, or carry a grounding sensory object, such as a fidget or soft item.

These grounding tools can be used discretely and have profound effects.

Cognitive Grounding

A process where clients must show themselves that they are safe.

They could verbally review the following thoughts: Remind yourself where the trauma occurred and how physically far you are from that location. Remind yourself when the trauma occurred and how long ago that was. Repeat inspiring quotes say coping statements such as:

I can handle this.

These feelings are temporary.

My present situation is different.

Source ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[gatheringbones]

If I'm 23 and have never been in a sexual or romantic relationship, is there a point in trying? I feel like I missed the boat on developing the skills necessary to make either of those things work, and it'd be selfish of me to expect others to hold themselves back so I can unlearn all of my emotional and sexual issues with them. Part of me feels like it's possible to unlearn all of that by myself, but another part feels like it's like any other two-person activity and no amount of solo practice can really prepare you for actually engaging with another person. And honestly, it just hurts that I'm this old and this far behind, that there's this whole side of the world that I haven't experienced, these whole new facets of people's inner worlds and intimacies that I haven't been exposed to. I feel like I have only a very surface-level relationships with even my platonic friends because I don't actually understand or relate to anything going on in their romantic or sexual lives. Like I'm an overgrown child. It doesn't help that I'm very isolated by the material conditions of my life and I can't see those changing anytime soon. I dunno. I realize that I'm just demonstrating all of the negative traits you were talking about and that I'd just be using a partner as a tool for my own masturbatory self-aggrandizement (i.e. caring more about wanting to float around in a sea of my own feelings instead of forming an actual connection to another human being.) It just sucks to admit the truth that I have to become a whole person before I can stop being alone and that it'll probably take me like years before that happens and then I'll be a thirty year-old virgin in a world of people looking for someone to settle down with that I'm going to have to ask to be the equivalent of a high-school fling. I'm sorry for ranting in your inbox, I guess if anything it's a good indication that your post struck a nerve in the insecure do-nothing fandom lol

I realized partway through reading this that what you are reacting to in such horror is in many ways the story of my life and I found it very funny. when I reached the part about the terrifying fate of being a 30 year old virgin I laughed so hard I scared the dog.

I met c when I was twenty nine. my life was unrelenting isolation and horror. I’d kissed all of three people. I didn’t stop being a quote unquote virgin until six months into our relationship. I spent most of my twenties doing exactly what you described: floating through the motions of dating using other human beings to play out preconceived ideas about myself that only left me bored and bewildered. Everyone I met was doing the exact same. We treated each other abysmally; like objects.

then I kept looking and kept throwing out my net and c showed up (because she was looking and throwing out her net). your question made me so exuberant with joy I upset the senior citizen chaweenie mix she adopted five years before she ever met me.

everything will turn out all right.

[docdudo]

Hi!! I want to start by saying I absolutely love your writing! It’s great writing and is pretty good for me to understand (English isn’t my first language).

I just wanted to ask, How do you think poly hybrid 141 would react to adopted reader getting sick?? And I mean really sick, like a good case of the flu that takes a whole week, like 7 days and antibiotics to go away??

I could see them being so worried and stressed, taking her to doctors and everything because they get better in 24-48 hours with their fancy strong immune systems! I also wonder if adopted reader would be confused by going to the doctors, because if anything happend while in previous foster homes, she was told to just figure it out and get better on her own.

You are right about one thing: hybrids have a better immune system than humans do!

Humans are considered weak and frail in every sense of the word. That includes their health. In fact, a human's health is so discussed that specialists from other races all study the human body constantly so they would be able to treat one, would they ever needed it.

(Because of the lack of total humans on this universe, it's rare to find a human doctor, for example. So, other races have to cover for them in a lot of different fields. There are programs and organizations in this world that entierelly foucused on making sure the few humans that exist would get the care they need. So, for example, if you are a doctor and also specialize on taking care of humans beside some other race, you would probably be paid more by the governement).

Now, little reader getting sick? Like, really sick? Yeah, that house is turning upside down. As hybrids, the whole 141 pride themselves on being good caretakers and providers. They also know how much more frail humans are compared to them.

But know is different from experiencing.

Little reader would start off with the typical signs of the flu. Stuffy nose, throat a bit sore, a sluggish body. All that. But, as we all know, it's very quick for sickness to develop. And in the spam of a night, little reader is waking up with a high fever and a weak, useless body.

The 141 would notice almost immediatly. They can smell how sick you are, even from your room. That weird, almost sour smell that we can usually smell when we blow our nose.

Before you know it, you would probably be in Price's or Soap's arms, surronded by their warmth, hearing their cooed words that make zero to almost no sense to your sick and hazy mind.

And at first, they are very much panicking. They are calling the rest of their pack while cooing and conforting you, Laswell being the one to tell them to immediatly take you to the doctor.

And they do, everyone going on the car together, because if one of them had anything to do that day, it's immediatly getting canceled. They would still hold you close, on their laps, and every single one of them are cooing quietly at you. Even Ghost. Tho his "cooing" sounds more like his normal voice, just extra quiet and gentler than usual.

And it's true, you're not that used to going to the doctor. You usually never get that sick, and as a foster kid, it just doesn't happen often.

But, you were feeling pretty hazy, mind clouded and feverish. You barely remember going that first time to the doctor with them.

You barely remember the kind doctor that was trying his best to easy your foster parents' worries, and all the examination he did on you, even if you couldnt cooperate much with how confused you were.

You certainly got treated at the hospital and monitored until your fever came down a bit. After that, they send you back home with your parents, who had gotten a lot of new instructions and medicines to properly take care of you at home.

You took almost a full week to finally start getting better.

They would't let you sleep in your room anymore, since you got sick, you had been sleeping on their shared nest, with them. They would constantly check on your breathing and heartbeats, and would even feed you themselves and make sure you were plenty hydrated.

And even after you got better, they would still be extra careful and overbearing for a little while longer.

You can be sure that they would be taking extra measures now so that you never get sick again.

[oonalovesastarionssimpleplan]

Astarion – and the image we expect to see when we think of a victim.

No, this isn’t meant to be a plea for you to stop hating Astarion.

This isn’t a "But look what he had to go through! Go give him the world”.

This is meant to show how different victims of violence can be – and how arbitrary it often is when we choose to feel compassion, and when we don’t.

Let’s take the same trauma, the same environment – but two different personalities experiencing it.

there will be two different pictures of a person

Victims are different. Just as different as all of us are.

Astarion’s life changed in an instant. One moment, he was a magistrate walking home. The next, he was a vampire locked in a cell. Hunger. Violence. Prostitution.

Constant surveillance, judgment, punishment. Torture. Rape. Watching others suffer the same.

Love and compassion – forbidden. No one to help. No way out.

Two hundred years.

If you try to imagine that, try to picture yourself in that situation – it’s unimaginable.

And injustice like that exists in the real world too. Children. Women. Men.

So why do some people feel no sympathy for Astarion?

Because he’s mean – and that means he deserves it

Because he doesn’t act like a victim?

– not like the victim we imagine in our heads.

And this happens in real life too.

⚠️ Trigger warning: SA and child abduction

Those who know the case of Natascha Kampusch – a girl abducted and kept in a man’s basement for eight years, who escaped – may also know that she was demonized in the Press.

And why? Because just days after her escape, she gave an interview – and she didn’t cry.

She didn’t look broken, fragile, or psychologically shattered. On the contrary: she sat upright, calm.

This isn't how we imagine a victim. In our minds, the conclusion could be, 'they couldn't have found it that bad.' maybe it is a bad person themself

But here’s what we need to understand:

People react differently to trauma and danger. Fight or flight. That’s instinct.

We develop different coping mechanisms – also instinctively. In moments of extreme stress, our subconscious kicks in to protect us.

Sometimes it makes us feel nothing. Sometimes it makes us even laugh.

It tell us, it's not that bad. We adapt, try to align ourselves with the abuser to survive.

This even happens in hostage situations (Stockholm Syndrome).

Astarion survived 200 years of unspeakable evil.

His coping mechanisms are incredibly strong.

But our idea of a “real” victim is someone who cries, rocks back and forth, and needs comforting.

Real victims, however, often had to learn to be so strong that no one – no one – sees how vulnerable they really are.

Which only means they endured far more than any human mind should ever have to.

And i think we don’t have to see him as a victim. Or what a victim should be Like.

We can see him as a fighter – one who finally, after all this time, is allowed to lay down his weapons.

[duckysprouts]

Do eren and reiner genuinely love each other? or how does their relationship work? i'm kinda confused on that front akshdjhd

it’s unhealthy, toxic, and codependent but they do care for each other…

eren:

eren is this way out of an engrained passion that he seems to carry throughout incarnations. since this focus is not channeled towards freedom or revenge, he grew up bored with life and is constantly seeking a reaction from around him. he cares too much about armin and mikasa to agitate them tho, so he turned his attention to a former classmate who used to bully him, but also saved him from the cultists (actually canon, lol). reiner was interesting in high school because he was popular and seemed to react colourfully to those around him.

eren is manipulative so he can be very tender and romantic when he wants to be. he’s terribly rude to people he doesn’t like and can be viciously cruel with his words, but he also does things like softly kissing the inside of reiner’s wrist when he thinks he’s sleeping, or saying something extremely touching with a casual deadpan, or buying reiner something he was eyeing in the store window but didn’t say he wanted out loud, even if it’s expensive. he’s unfortunately quite easy to fall in love with

reiner

reiner initially accepted their relationship out of a numb compliance stemming from his depression and complicated feelings of old guilt towards eren, but later his feelings became some strange fondness that unsettles even himself.

he has horrible mommy issues and craves affection like water. his mom presented a soft and pleasant front to other people and was emotionally abusive to him by withholding affection like a prize for achievements, so reiner probably finds eren’s obsession with him refreshing, because no matter what he does, eren would still like him unconditionally (even if he’s severely pissed)

reiner cannot escape the Horrors and experienced some things that made him into a deeply depressed person. eren is not traumatized but he is sadistic and likes making beefy blond men cry. he views reiner as either a little purse dog or something he treasures a lot. reiner is not innocent either however, and maybe ill reveal what i mean by that one day

if u scroll thru my ererei tag u can see their relationship develop in a nonlinear fashion.