#I think it is truly important to learn how to love without expecting anything in return

[glittery]

Every human on this earth should experience loving a creature that cannot and will not love you and no I am not joking.

[angel-dustspo]

My guide to˚⊹.⋆𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋. romanticising life ⋆.ೃ࿔*

Life is truly the most important gift of all and I feel like too many people don't actually take it seriously enough or are just afraid of what anybody else might say if they choose to live the way they have always wanted to. Wasting the only opportunity to cherish this gift of life that we have been blessed with is the worst thing you could ever do for yourself. Imagine yourself 40 years from now, regretting that you wasted your teenage and adulthood years worrying about your looks, not enjoying good food, not taking care of yourself or being too careful of your budget and never getting the things you truly wanted. That's surely NOT how I'd like to spend my old age, and my ultimate goal is to think back and be happy that I lived my life exactly the way I wanted!

Romanticising life is all about turning every. little. moment. into something that makes YOU happy, no matter what society might think about it. It's a form of self expression that I fondly believe can help you become happy and at peace with your own self.

Here are some ways to romanticise your life:

ׂ╰┈➤ Stop consuming harmful media. Tiktok, for example, is such a bad place for your mental health and is constantly ruining your attention span and productivity, image of self but, most importantly, your HEALTH AND BEAUTY STANDARDS. It is also one of the causes of many mental health problems such as depression, eds, self h@rming or negative addictions, so try and avoid harmful social media as much as possible.

ׂ╰┈➤ Establish a morning and night routine. I promise this will make you feel so productive and in control of your life. Nothing fancy is necessary, just basic hygiene and skincare, having breakfast, maybe reading or journaling to wind down at night.

ׂ╰┈➤ Consistently work out. "Well Lynna how am I supposed to work out if you said to enjoy life??" Enjoying does not mean that you shouldn't take care of your body too. Find what works best for you and what makes you happy, don't jump into the youtube advanced workouts and then complain that you hate moving your body. Yoga and walks are such a good place to start, or 10 minute workouts a few times per week will make such a difference in both your mind and body. With just a bit of discipline and consistency you will start to love working out and move your body and tend to do it out of habit.

ׂ╰┈➤ Take yourself out for coffee or a pastry! Solo dates can be just as fun as normal ones.

ׂ╰┈➤ Spend more time with family and friends. Humans will not be with you forever and enjoying every moment with them is such an important thing in life.

ׂ╰┈➤ Buy pretty pajamas, light a candle, take long bubble baths, do a face mask, listen to calm music, read, paint, express yourself in any way you want.

ׂ╰┈➤ Clean your environment and surround yourself with the colors and furniture that you love.

ׂ╰┈➤ Dress the way you want to, not how everybody expects you to.

ׂ╰┈➤ Always try new things: that yoga class you heard from your friend, a new pastry that looked so good in the shop window, some book you saw online.

ׂ╰┈➤ Be open minded and present in your life. Live in the present and you will become happy with your past and future.

Although aesthetics do play a big part in romanticising, you can do it without spending a lot of money, effort or time. The need of making everything "aesthetic" is just as consuming and bad for you as not doing anything at all.

Learn to enjoy and cherish every little moment and that will bring you on the path of happiness. Please take good care of yourself, good luck on your wellness journey and thank you so much for reading this post!!

Love, L

[ssentimentals]

hi love 🫶🏼 happy 1.7k followers! i just saw the list of prompts rn and can you please do seventeen joshua x reader with no. 50? thanks in advance and happy carat dayyyy 🩵🩷

hi baby! happy happy carat day!! thank you for requesting, let me know if you liked it then 💜

prompt: meet cute

you're not the type of person to snitch on someone, but. the thing is, the landlord was very strict and clear about the 'no pets' rule even though you begged him to let you have a cat. but he told you no and you're not a rule-breaker, so no cat it is. and yeah, you're not a snitch but you can bet all your money that your new neighbour has a cat unless he's in a habit of scratching and meowing loudly in the middle of the night by himself. some people are freaks but you're pretty sure that this is not the case here. however what is the case, what truly is happening here is your neighbour having a very real, living and breathing cat in the building where cats are not allowed. and it's not like if you can't have a cat then no one else can't have it but - it kind of is like that. so. something had to be done, right?

you knock three times and step back, chewing at your bottom lip. when the door opens, you're met with a very cute guy. the kind of guy that is very much your type but you choose to ignore it for now because figuring out if he has a cat or not is more important than learning whether he's single or not. 'hi. um, i'm your neighbour. sorry for coming without any notice, but i do have to discuss something important with you.'

the guy in front of you hesitates. he's also trying very hard to cover water bowl that is lying not far from him by angling his body in a very weird way. it's... funny. you try your hardest not to laugh. 'um, now? i'm kind of busy right now to be honest. i'm joshua, by the way.'

you quirk your eyebrow. you know exactly what he's busy with - walls are so thin here, you heard him shouting at his cat to stop tearing apart his pillows few minutes ago. 'busy hiding a cat when it's not allowed to have pets here?' you question.

joshua blinks. 'wha- no. of course not.' tips of his ears are glaringly red and he shakes his head nervously. 'i know the rules and i don't have a cat.'

you open your mouth but then you both hear a shuffling and then a gorgeous grey cat appears in the corridor, gazing at you curiuosly. it's comical how joshua freezes and then hangs his head down, groaning. when he turns to you, you're barely holding back a giggle. 'yep. no cat. uh-huh.'

'fuck,' he curses lowly and then looks at you pleadingly. 'please i- don't say anything. i picked this guy up near metro station and winter is ruthless, i couldn't leave him there. i promise i will somehow make him to stop meowing in the middle of the night. i promise.'

joshua continues his nervous monologue when you kneel, letting pretty fur ball walk over to you and sniff your fingers cautiously. in the next second the cat purrs in delight as you start caressing his pointy ears and you look up at joshua with a smile. 'can i take him in my arms?'

joshua, blinking out of the daze, nods. he watches as you coo over his cat cutely and shower his friend with all the love. the picture in front of him is adorable and his heart beats faster due to your cuteness.

'can i come over and play with him? i won't tell the owner if you say yes.' you mumble, looking at him. 'i can also look after him when you're away.'

when you came over, you never expected to meet the cutest cat with an even cuter owner. when joshua opened his door, he never expected to meet his beautiful new neighbour who apparently is a cat lover too. he thought he'd have to hide his new friend from everyone but it's a relief to know that he can share the joy of having a cat with someone else. 'it's a deal,' he promises you and smiles at the way your eyes crinkle when you laugh.

'you're so lucky that i love cats,' you say, smiling.

joshua nods. he thinks that's not the only thing he's lucky with, though. 'yeah. i am.'

a/n: meet cute is such a hard prompt because what is meet cute? do you know? i don't, i had to search up different cute aus lmao, hope you liked this one! - nini

request your own here

my other seventeen work is here

[briius]

something I see a lot is that ned should have told catelyn about jon’s parentage because then she wouldn't dislike him and treat him well and I think that would be very stupid of him. to truly understand catelyn’s feelings about jon and that entire situation you have to create two groups. one, her own feelings on the matter and two, her thoughts regarding her children. those two categories are separate even though they are influenced by each other. first category:

Many men fathered bastards. Catelyn had grown up with that knowledge. It came as no surprise to her, in the first year of her marriage, to learn that Ned had fathered a child on some girl chance met on campaign. He had a man's needs, after all, and they had spent that year apart, Ned off at war in the south while she remained safe in her father's castle at Riverrun. Her thoughts were more of Robb, the infant at her breast, than of the husband she scarcely knew. He was welcome to whatever solace he might find between battles. And if his seed quickened, she expected he would see to the child's needs. He did more than that. The Starks were not like other men. Ned brought his bastard home with him, and called him "son" for all the north to see. When the wars were over at last, and Catelyn rode to Winterfell, Jon and his wet nurse had already taken up residence.

AGOT Catelyn II catelyn is obviously hurt that ned brought jon home for all to see because it wasn't the custom. it was normal for men to have bastards, especially during war but you did not flaunt them and that was what ned was doing basically. and cat was obviously not too happy with the marriage from the start because it wasn’t brandon and on top of that ned was embarrassing her in front of everyone and she can't do anything about it. of course she is emotional about it which makes her resent jon because she can’t resent ned openly without making her life worse (which is a completely different topic, might go into that in a different post).

Whoever Jon's mother had been, Ned must have loved her fiercely, for nothing Catelyn said would persuade him to send the boy away. It was the one thing she could never forgive him.

AGOT Catelyn II catelyn believes that ned still loves jon's mother deep down or was completely in love with her when they conceived jon which also hurts her deeply because at this point she is completely in love with ned. she feels as if he cares more about his mothers memory than of her and her emotions, because we know from the text that she has tried to send jon away and hasn't succeeded.  second category:

"Precedent," she said bitterly. "Yes, Aegon the Fourth legitimized all his bastards on his deathbed. And how much pain, grief, war, and murder grew from that? I know you trust Jon. But can you trust his sons? Or their sons? The Blackfyre pretenders troubled the Targaryens for five generations, until Barristan the Bold slew the last of them on the Stepstones. If you make Jon legitimate, there is no way to turn him bastard again. Should he wed and breed, any sons you may have by Jeyne will never be safe." "Jon would never harm a son of mine."

ASOS Catelyn V a very important part of catelyn's character is that she cares deeply about her children. she isn't dumb and understand politics very well, she has knowledge about what could happen with succession if its left blurred between the lines. she also understands that jon himself might not be a threat so she could potentially think he is great but it would not matter because his line could be a threat to her children. this is not her being emotional about jon being ned's and the hurt it caused her but her being emotional of the potential harm on her children which is different. now if ned told her about jon's true parentage then category one would be erased that's true. catelyn would not feel any personal hurt by jon or his existence because her husband didnt embarrass her or love another woman. however, category two would increase because the harm jon could cause her family is much greater. ned is committing treason by having jon among them obviously she would care, i believe she would care even more because it affects her children. she would not like jon because instead of resentment towards him, she would be afraid. people tend forget category two which is extremely important in understanding catelyn and her emotions. which is why i think telling her would be stupid because he is kind of saying that their entire family could be killed if people knew.

[canete16]

About Act 2

Hello everyone!

If you’re reading this, I imagine you’re also aware of our latest project and its current progress — around 50% of the main adventure has been publicly available for a few days now. If not, you can always download it from this link → https://pastebin.com/z5H5ze2Y, or keep reading and leave it for later. Whatever you prefer :P

I’m suuuuper happy with how the story is unfolding and with all the help and support I’m receiving practically on a daily basis. I feel like, besides myself, there are many people deeply invested in the development of Seven Symphonies, even outside of the dev team.

Testers, artists, players... along with all those who share their impressions and thoughts about the hack while we work quietly behind the scenes. To each and every one of you, a billion thanks. You are an incredible emotional and motivational support, and there’s nothing more beautiful than trying to give back all the love every time we release new content to rekindle your passion and excitement to keep sharing and inspiring others.

But the truth is, I don’t think I’ve lived up to expectations this time — I feel like I’ve let you down. Working silently, as comfortable as it may be, comes with consequences. Consequences we’ve paid for as a team, but above all, you’ve paid for them too.

The post announcing Act 2’s release got significantly less visibility than we expected compared to previous ones. There are several external factors that would be easy to blame (parallel releases, a smaller exposure window without Fangames Direct, 2nd parts are never as successful…), but doing so would mean missing out on the lessons we can learn from this (beyond better timing and respecting the ranks :S). A few things came together, but I prefer to focus on the ones that are within my range of action.

That learning centers around something that’s entirely my responsibility as the person managing the project’s social media: I needed this bump in the road to realize that it’s not enough to be consistent with what truly drives me — creating — but that it’s even more important to be consistent when it comes to sharing.

Since Act 1 was released, I’ve neglected our main showcase, the Twitter account, for various reasons. It’s been inactive for too many of those days, and I’m now very clear that this can’t happen again, especially with Act 3 and the final release coming up. Since I like to take things philosophically, I think it’s actually a great stroke of luck that this scare happened now and not when it truly matters.

Which is why I now have a question for you:

What kind of content would you like me to share/post through the Twitter account while the project continues to develop in parallel?

Would you like weekly scans of individual scenes while keeping spoilers to a minimum, like other fangame accounts do? Would you prefer I don’t reveal anything at all and instead post content related to the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon universe? Or even about the Pokémon world in general?

I already have several “section” ideas that could help not only keep the account active, but also highlight the work of others in the community — something I feel I should be doing much more of as well. Please share with us any suggestions or ideas you have — they will be heard and taken into account, no doubt.

Maybe I’m being overly dramatic with all this, and it’s just a mix of coincidence and unnoticed cause-and-effect. But believe me when I say the sheer brilliance of the project we’re shaping — both technically and narratively — deserves all the care and concern I can give. I have full confidence in the artistic superiority it will ultimately hold over its older sibling, and I intend to give it every tool and space it needs to shine.

Therefore, by the time this post is published, the Twitter account name will change to PMD Seven Symphonies / SE0, and the @ will now be @Canete_PMD. I think Special Episode 0 has already given us a lot — its premise was flawless, and even today it spreads like wildfire. From now on, we’ll focus where it’s needed most and try to make it easier to find both the project and us. It hurts a little, but I trust it’s the right decision (the @ change, though — yeah, it was time to get a normal one xD).

And with that, I’ll sign off. To you, who made it this far: there are incredible things written in your Destiny. If you don’t believe me, just wait till you can keep climbing ;)

Thanks for reading — truly, with all my Soul. And with all my big ass Ego, too. <3

[arabianbaby53]

Why do all of Daryl's love interest's strikingly resemble Beth?

I’ve always found it incredibly interesting how deeply Beth impacted Daryl’s psyche—so I wanted to rant about it for a bit.

In The Walking Dead: Origins, Norman Reedus says, “This is the first girl who’s ever been nice to Daryl, so he misreads the situation." Then, in Daryl Dixon: The Return, he confirms that Daryl did have real feelings for Beth. Their relationship was meant to come off as lovey-dovey, Daryl just never got the chance to act on it.

Beth’s warmth, kindness, and relentless optimism came at a time when Daryl was at his lowest—after the fall of the prison. And for the first time, he allowed himself to emotionally open up. To be vulnerable. What does Beth do in response? She meets him with nothing but patience and understanding. Even when he lashes out, she never judges him—she just tries to comfort him. No malice, no fear. Just compassion.

It def marked a turning point in their relationship. They went from simply surviving side by side to genuinely caring for each other. There was a softness growing between them—a deep, mutual trust. After they burned down the shack, I really think Daryl truly let Beth into his heart. we see this quiet shift in their relationship. He starts teaching her how to track, they hold hands and he gives her a piggyback ride and when he stands in the door way watching Beth sing, i believe thats when he 100% realized he was falling in love with her

In their final scene together at the funeral home, while sharing dinner Daryl begins to awkwardly open up about his complicated emotions. But they never get to finish their conversation. :(

Norman said it best: “She was the light at the end of a tunnel for Daryl.” After Beth was kidnapped Daryl refused to say she was dead to Rick instead simply said "she's just gone" grit his teeth and held out hope he'd find her. But once they were finally reunited after everything, she was taken again, right before his eyes, then shit after Beth’s death? Daryl breaks down in a way we hadn't seen before annnd haven’t really seen since.

He pulls away from the group, isolates himself and shows how desperate he is to be numb and avoid the topic of Beth to the point where he begins self-harming puts a cigarette out on his skin and sobs uncontrollably in the woods. Then We see it again with his conversation with Rick when Rick says, "I know you lost something back there. "...

Daryl quickly changes the subject to Judith, being hungry and avoiding the topic of Beth.

He did it with Carol, too. While she talked about Beth, he just listened, didn't say a word. Carol even says to him, "You have to let yourself feel it." Meaning, he wasn't letting himself feel it...

Beth gave Daryl a safe space to confront his grief and trauma, gently helping him release the weight of his past. In doing so, she drew out a side of him that was more compassionate, teaching him to interact with the world in a way that contrasted sharply with the hardened, cynical approach he'd learned from Merle. She encouraged him to see the goodness in people, a perspective he had long since lost.

The acceptance she offered made Daryl emotionally reliant on her during their time together. Though they were complete opposites, they balanced each other in a way that made them co-dependent for different reasons. Each of them brought out strengths in the other, and together they found a fragile, yet powerful, kind of harmony.

Beth didn’t owe him anything, yet she chose to help him, even though it wasn’t easy. For Daryl, it was a first—he’d never had anyone prioritize him without expecting something in return. even if it was an uphill battle.

Furthermore Daryl also struggled deeply with self-worth, often seeing himself as a dumb redneck who wasn’t worth a damn. But with Beth, for the first time, i think he felt like he really mattered to someone not because he had anything to give back in return but because maybe he was actually important to her.

What makes this all the more heartbreaking is that Daryl never got closure. After Beth wove her way into his heart and helped him see himself in a new light, she was suddenly gone. She left behind nothing but the echoes of their time together—the way she made him feel: cared for, valued, and significant. Beth was the one bright spot in his dark world, a force of kindness who only ever tried to make things better. And in the end, that light was extinguished, for no good reason and Daryl was left with nothing but the memories of what could have been.

I don’t think his character has ever fully recovered since Coda He’s quieter now. More guarded (if possible). He lost that spunk.

To really dubble down on that pain and how much Beth ment to him Daryl kept her knife on him 24'7 until the Saviors took him hostage And to this day, he hasn’t said her name. Not once.

So what does any of that say about his future relationships?

Let’s start with Leah... the tame one.

Eight years after Coda, we’re introduced to her. And here’s something I noticed: every woman Daryl has been involved with since Beth? Blonde, blue eyes And all of them, in some way, needed him—just like Beth did.

The similarities:

Both Leah and Beth are introduced as kind and hopeful, though their natures evolve over time.

Both are lonely, isolated characters.

Both try to get Daryl to open up emotionally before he’s ready.

But that’s where the similarities end, especially in terms of personality. I think her general appearance allowed Daryl to lower his guard, to try again.

It wasn’t necessarily about Leah herself—it was what she reminded him of.

BUT NOW WE’RE ONTO THE CRAZY ONE! Isabelle is proxy Beth, and you will not be able to change my mind.

• Scars on Their Wrists: Both Beth and Isabelle have scars on their wrists, symbolizing their struggles and survival.

• Singing Moments: Remember how Beth often sang, bringing a sense of peace amidst chaos? Isabelle and Laurent shared a similar moment, showcasing their bond and offering a brief respite from the harsh reality. • Innocent and Kind Nature: Both characters are portrayed as kind-hearted and somewhat innocent, yet they possess an inner strength that becomes more evident as their stories unfold. • Protective Roles: Beth was incredibly protective of Judith and others in the group. Likewise, Isabelle takes on a protective role for Laurent, ensuring his safety and well-being. • Influence on Daryl: Both Beth and Isabelle have a profound impact on Daryl. Beth helped him open up emotionally and find hope during a dark time, while Isabelle helps him rediscover a sense of purpose in France.

• Faith and Hope: Both characters embody themes of faith and hope. Beth’s belief in a better future and her positive outlook are mirrored in Isabelle’s hope and determination. • EVEN HOW THEY DIE Beth and Isabelle both hid sharp weapons in their sleeves. Both struck their attackers. Both were killed immediately in retaliation. And Daryl had to watch both of them die. Beth stabbed Dawn, was instantly shot, and died infront of him

Isabelle sliced Losang’s face, was stabbed and and died infront of him It’s almost too similar. Even though our favorite blonde has been gone for years, Daryl is still searching for her. Maybe not literally—but emotionally, spiritually—he’s looking. Whether he realizes it or not, you can’t deny the parallels. Leah, Isabelle... they echo Beth in different ways. Leah looked like her—maybe that’s why she caught his attention after Rick vanished. She filled a void, a shadow of what he lost. But Isabelle? Isabelle was Beth in spirit. The way she acted, the light in her, the hope.

Beth truly did emotionally scar daryl and left a hole that couldn't be filled for the rest of his life the attachments and feelings he still holds for her are evidently apparent. she was the first woman he ever fell in love with and I don’t think he’ll ever recover from that, she probably will be the only person to get Daryl to open up the way she did. But that doesn’t stop him from trying to replicate his relationship with her over and over…

Their ark together was the happiest we’ve ever seen Daryl and the most emotionally comfortable we’ve seen him with another individual. His sorrow truly comes from finally finding her and feeling that burning, hope that it’s truly not over and she was right all along.

Only Her to be gone in the snap of a finger

"you're gonna miss me so bad when i'm gone daryl dixon" i can say with 100% certainty he definitely misses her more than she could ever know, and i think that sentence truly haunts him.

[hollow-prior]

3 Criminally Underrated Musicals (And why you should listen to them)

1) The Mad Ones

[Image Description: Kerrigan and Lowdermilk's The Mad Ones. It shows an empty road disappearing into the distance under a starry sky. Full ID in alt text. End ID.]

You know that feeling of driving fast down an empty road with the windows down, the wind whipping through your hair? You know that feeling of being able to do anything you want, like the world is right at your fingertips, just waiting for you? You know that feeling of sitting in the middle of the woods with a good friend and thinking about how incredible it is that you live on the same planet at the same time?

Well, this is that feeling.

The Mad Ones is about Sam, who just graduated high school, and her friend Kelly, who died in a car accident before she could graduate. It's about Sam's journey in remembering Kelly and learning to live in the moment without her. It's also about freedom, and expectations, and living life to its fullest.

Also it has the phrase "kidnapped by aliens with enormous genitalia". What's not to love?

Seriously, this is one of my all time favourites and it has a very special place in my heart. I love to listen to it on those rare days when everything seems to be falling into place and it feels like life is actually going somewhere.

From a writing perspective, this is just an incredible masterpiece. The lyrics just stir something in my soul and the friendship between Kelly and Sam is just <33333 (Heart). It deserves so much more love than it gets.

2) The Lightning Thief

[Image Description: The cover of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. It shows a blue brick wall with a yellow glowing lightning bolt symbol against it. Full ID in alt text. End ID.]

Okay, so the books are iconic and the movies sucked and the TV show is looking good but everyone's been sleeping on the musical for far too long. I had my doubts at the beginning too, I'll admit it, but honestly this slaps.

Although it isn't an exact one-to-one with the books, the vibes are spot on which is the most important thing anyways.

Percy is a sarcastic little shit, Annabeth is a total smartass, and Grover is... well, the impossible-to-explain awesomeness that is Grover Underwood. As funny as it is, though, there are some moments that just hit you right in the feels. The Tree on the Hill, anyone? My Grand Plan?

Also the Luke reveal gives me literal chills every time. It's so SO well done, much better than any other depiction in my humble opinion.

The whole thing is just an excellent balance of feels and humour and has some truly iconic lines. Case in point:

Percy: "Grover, you're a good friend." Grover: "Awwww. Dude, I'm your only friend."

Mr. D: "Oh, you're alive. I suppose that's good news for you but it means a lot more paperwork for me, so don't expect me to be happy to see you. Of course, being alive is temporary..."

Luke: "The Hermes cabin takes anyone who hasn't been claimed. You know what that means... we're literally the reject cabin. Welcome to the dysfunctional family!"

[Literally just the entirety of Luke's part in Their Sign]

Grover: "You hurt his feelings. Tell the squirrel you're sorry." Percy: "I am not saying sorry to a squirrel." Annabeth: "He's very sorry. Tell the squirrel you're sorry, Percy."

Alright, anyways! This is the Percy Jackson website, right? It's great, just listen to it.

Moving on!

3) 35MM: A Musical Exhibition

[Image Description: The cover of 35MM: A Musical Exhibition. It's a red background with a black, ink-like camera design from above. Full ID in alt text. End ID.]

God, how do I even begin to explain 35MM?

There's so much going on here in the best way possible. It's not a traditional musical, at least not in the way people immediately think of musicals.

The idea behind 35MM is that there's multiple separate songs, each based on a photograph. That said, there are some theories about the level of connection between the songs and if they're even connected at all. Either way, it's absolutely incredible.

The songs all have different themes including babysitting a murder doll, a homicidal prom queen, a vampire love story, the young love car crash tragedy that lives in my heart forever, and many more! If you're a fan of the strange, unusual, and vaguely unsettling, this is the musical for you.

Although the fandom is small, it's incredibly dedicated and there are some truly wonderful animatics on YouTube to check out as well as some theory threads on Tumblr, Reddit, and basically anywhere else if you look hard enough.

I made the mistake of accidentally introducing my English professor to this musical so now you all can be introduced too!

And now some honourable mentions:

Islander

Islander is an acapella musical done entirely by two women. It tells the story of an island nation that was split in half long ago, with two girls (Each from one of the halves) meeting for the first time. It has a super cool Scottish folk song-style of music to it and just an incredible plot.

Jekyll & Hyde

Jekyll & Hyde is the musical adaptation of the famous gothic story. It's intense and dramatic in all the best ways and I Need to Know always sends shivers through me. The voices are incredible and it's just AHHH!! Wonderful! Also Confrontation is a work of art and nobody can tell me otherwise.

36 Questions

36 Questions is kind of unique in that it's a podcast musical, meaning that there's no stage performance. In the most basic terms, it's about two people trying to fix their marriage with the whole '36 questions to help strangers fall in love' type thing. Part of one of the songs, For the Record, was a popular song on TikTok a few years back so it may be somewhat familiar to folks. Either way, worth a listen!

[cherie-doll]

Hello! I’ve read all your HC for COD so far and I need more ff or hc with Roach (because I’ve read everything under #roach x reader on Tumblr twice…) You write his character so well ^-^

Could you write gn!Reader taking care of Roach after the events MW2 and due to severe damage/burns Roach had to retire early. Just some fluf 👉👈

Can i be a 🎨 anon, please? :)

awww tysm!!! you're so sweet ^^ im so honored that you've enjoyed my cod writing ~~ <33

here's some fluff for you!! (i did not proofread sry lol) and i'll add you to my list of anons

Roach x gn!Reader

He couldn't help but feel like it was incompetence on his part, but how could anything that he would've done differently changed his fate? apart from the burns that had taken a toll on his body there was now a strange new feeling, he was free from the duties and responsibilities of a soldier, he was to live as a normal, average civilian

It was something he had been growing accustomed to, even after so many months passed and with you being by his side, truly he was a lucky man to have you, all those nights you had been there to soothe his pain, not only physically but emotionally too, perhaps in your mind you hadn't done much but those hands of yours which has comforted his shivering form, how warm he felt when you cupped his face and transmitted more love through your eyes than words ever could

And how could he ever think of going back when he eats what you cook for him, even if it's something simple for breakfast like toast or eggs, it still makes his heart flutter that you've cared for him so diligently without him asking

He can become lost in his train of thought and somehow you'd still understand him through that mess of emotion and flesh that he is, you know when he needs something and you'll move mountains just to give it to him, or if it's something simpler he wishes for like just sitting next to you and enjoy your presence

You've been jumping hurdles of your own but never have you forgotten to take care of him, there are other urgent matters in life but never as important as him, you can't fathom letting someone else take over your role, even when he suggests hiring a caretaker to help when he notices your tired eyes, would someone else be able to be so gentle with their hands or treat him as tenderly as you did?

Plus, you actually looked forward to coming home after a long day to find out what he had been up to in his spare time, he had picked up quite a few hobbies and you would listen as he excitedly rambled on while you cooked dinner or helped him change, and of course he was learned to be quite the house husband

He would wait around all day, trying to occupy himself with the tv or comics while waiting for the moment he heard the front door open and be able to snuggle with you at night

Since his burns have been taking quite a while to heal, there aren't many activities he can do that won't strain his body, which he finds frustrating enough as is, but somehow it wasn't half as bad as he thought it would be since the doctor told him to take it easy, turns out that time with your favorite person can go by really fast

Not only has this period of recovery been beneficial for his body but his mind as well, he discovered things about himself that without the resting period he wouldn't have learned about

This quiet life is turning out better than either of you could have expected despite the fact that in the beginning it was uncertain how things would go

[deadreamersociety]

Witchcraft - where to start?

I formally began my journey the way most witches do: being told to research. And research I did! But I sometimes felt unsure of what exactly I was expected to research and learn. Ultimately this comes down to what you want to practice. It’s totally okay not to know this if you’re beginning your witchy journey; I have been formally practicing for five years now, and did witchy things without truly realising years before that, and my practice is still always changing and morphing, just as I am. But here is a (not comprehensive) list of things it’s agreed are good to research when you first begin:

- the history of witchcraft

We’ve all heard of the witch trials across the US and Europe, but our history goes so much deeper than this. What did ancient witchcraft in your country look like? Did it change as the history of your country grew? Was it impacted by Christianity? How have witches been persecuted across the world? How have witchcraft and politics historically intersected?

- protection

This could be protection in the form of casting a circle before you begin working on a spell, or casting a protection spell over yourself to protect yourself from negative energies. Some witches don’t think both are necessary, given their beliefs on supernatural entities, their religious beliefs etc. Witchcraft is personal so it’s important to find what works for you - it’s okay to try something and not like it, or to be unsure.

- religion

Some religions are closely associated with witchcraft, e.g. paganism and Wicca, and it’s important to know the difference. When I first began my practice I struggled to find people who weren’t religious like me, but there’s plenty of people on YouTube, Tumblr etc., and plenty of books and podcasts available! Also, if you are religious, e.g. Christian, please know that witchcraft is compatible with your religion and this can strengthen your faith! Don’t let people tell you otherwise.

- grounding

What calms you down? What centres you? I like to meditate on the elements, thinking on memories I have that are associated with each one as I do breathing exercises. I do this before I perform a spell, tarot reading, etc. Everyone is different and what grounds you may take time to find out as it did for me, but it’s important to do before you perform a spell so that you’re in the zone and not thinking about other responsibilities.

- areas of interest

This, naturally, will change over time as your practice grows. It’s okay to think you might be interested in practicing tarot, to then realise it’s not for you. Just because something is popular, doesn’t mean you have to practice it! I at one point thought I’d be into runes but have never used them. It’s all a learning journey. Take the time to read up on things like divination and the different types, astrology, herbs, crystals etc. you don’t have to use them all, or any of these if it’s not for you. And it’s totally fine if it takes you a while to settle into your practice! That’s normal. Be patient and good things will come your way.

This is just a short list meant to start you off! As a witch, you are always learning and researching new things. That’s part of what makes it so fun!! I hope this is helpful. If anyone wants any posts about anything else, or something on this list discussed in more detail, please let me know!!

Love you all xxx

[leslie-lyman]

Hi! I was thinking for your Stranger at my Gate series, what do you think Pero’s reaction to modern sickness and medicine would be? Maybe even getting a bit of a cold or the flu himself. And of course how would Tessa react to Pero’s “first time” being sick, or at least sick in the modern world.

(Also yes, I’m 18+)

Have a good day/night.

Oh anon, I’ve actually thought about this quite a bit! Thank you thank you thank you for finally giving me the push I needed to actually write this. I’m extremely rusty but god I missed these two so much.

Sick Day

Word count: 2.1k

Rating: T

Warnings: discussions of illness; flu symptoms (but no vomiting); anxious Pero; if I had a nickel for every time I wrote these two showering together without having sex I’d have two nickels which isn’t a lot but weird that it’s happened twice

Masterlist. | Series Masterlist. | dividers by @/saradika

This process happens in two phases.

The first is the unlearning of essentially everything Pero has ever been told about how the human body works, how diseases are spread, and how to treat them. This isn’t terribly difficult to do, it turns out; Pero’s seen enough “medicine” administered during battles and in their aftermaths in his life to know it’s not a particularly useful or reliable field. Patients were more likely to get worse and die following whatever “treatment” they received in his experience. And any religious faith he had was utterly shattered by his time in China. It gets tough to believe the Church’s teachings about anything, including in the power of prayer and faith to heal, once you fight monsters from outer space.

The second is the absorbing of a deluge of modern knowledge about medicine. This one proves tougher. It’s easy for Pero to be convinced that his era’s beliefs about bodies and health were wrong. It’s far harder for him to grasp even the basics of something like germ theory, simply because such things seem to him as equally fantastical as the body being governed by four humors.

It is in this that Tessa, perhaps more than anything else, has to ask for Pero’s trust. He may not be able to understand the mountain of knowledge that underpins why and how, for example, vaccines work and are safe. Tessa and Henry do their best to explain, but in the end, Pero’s consent to get a flu shot relies on trusting that the Walshes are telling him the truth.

That trust gets easier to give over time, not only because Pero comes to trust Tessa in all things as he grows to love her, but also because his experiences with modern medicine start to accumulate.

He slowly comes to realize he doesn’t have to suffer through aches and ailments like he used to. The first time Tessa notices he has a headache, she offers him two white tablets and a glass of water. And it works. His pain eases. He didn’t even know he could ask for something to treat it.

He cuts his hand helping Tessa make dinner one night. (He may or may not have been distracted by how attractive he found Tessa deftly wielding her own knife against an array of vegetables.) Tessa calmly walks him through cleaning the wound (modern hygiene has been its own set of important lessons for Pero), then places some ointment and a bandage on it. In his time, he would have worried about the cut festering. At the very least, he would expect to add a new pink scar to the collection that already covers his body. But instead, the cut heals far faster than he’d have anticipated, and his skin heals without a permanent mark.

As for illness, Pero has muscled his way through a fair number of them in his life. He didn’t have much of a choice. He’s not afraid of dying from illness; death was a daily possibility in his time, and he’d learned to live with that. The risk of his being sick is not that he’d fall to pieces, but rather that he’d be the silent suffering type who wouldn’t ask for help.

So what truly scares him isn’t the first time he gets sick. It’s the first time Tessa gets sick.

It happens not terribly long after he decides to stay. Winter is, after all, cold and flu season. And while Tessa no longer works in an office environment or has to take public transportation to downtown Chicago every day or interact much with other people on a daily basis, she does interact quite often with her niece and nephews.

Kids are germ magnets. It’s just the way it is. And when one of them gets sick, they all get sick. And when Molly, Toby, and Finn have to stay home from school, and neither Amie nor Thom can take a day off from work, and Uncle Henry is busy with his own patients, guess who comes over to take care of them?

Aunt Tessa.

And she’s happy to do it, don’t get her wrong! And she does her absolute best not to catch the nasty flu that’s currently going around their school and that they’ve brought home. But there’s really only so much one can do.

It’s a bad one this year. Despite getting her flu shot (and making sure Pero gets his), after three days of helping to look after three extremely contagious kids she wakes up the next morning feeling like she got hit by a truck. Fever, chills, aches, the whole shebang. It sucks, but hey, that’s how it goes. She’ll take her meds, consume a steady diet of soup and Gatorade, and watch daytime tv for a few days.

Pero, on the other hand, panics.

Fevers are not things that are easy to fight off in his time. Imagine what seeing the woman he loves struck down with what he only knows as plague would do to him. It doesn’t matter what Tessa and Henry have explained to him about modern understandings of illness and how to treat them. This is not an unfortunate but routine occurrence in his eyes. This is something that could kill Tessa.

She spends most of the first day asleep, her fever lowered but not broken by the leftover meds she had from the last time she’d gotten sick the previous winter. Despite trying to both reassure Pero and convince him to stay away lest he catch this bug too, Pero refuses to leave her side.

He steps out of their bedroom only once, to make his very first phone call.

Tessa had shown him how to use her phone to contact her family in case of an emergency, but he’s never felt a reason to use it until now. Every aspect of it is completely strange, each time the screen responds to his touch making him flinch the tiniest bit in surprise. But he manages to call Henry.

“Tess?” her brother says when he picks up.

“Henry. I - it’s - hello.” Pero stumbles over the greeting, remembering at the last second that he needs to hold the phone against his cheek to hear and be heard.

“Pero?” Henry’s voice turns sharp, concerned. “What’s wrong? Tessa okay?”

“She’s ill. The same pestilence as the children.”

“Ah. Same symptoms? Fever, chills, all that?”

“Yes. She’s been sleeping for a while. Tried to tell me she was alright, but she’s…Henry, she’s burning up.”

“She will be alright, Pero,” Henry says gently. “She just needs to take some medicine and stay hydrated, and she’ll-”

“You don’t know that!” Pero barks, fear making it come out harsher than he intends. “Henry, please, just - will you come? She’s your sister, and she is…she’s my…”

He takes a deep, shaky breath.

“Please. I don’t know how to help her. I don’t know what to do. But you do. I need you to make sure she’s okay.”

Henry is silent for a moment, and seems to grasp the larger context of Pero’s fear.

“Of course I’ll come to check on her. And I’ll bring over some things that will help. Give me an hour or so.”

“Thank you.” Relief laces Pero’s voice. Henry snorts.

“Please, she hasn’t let anyone properly take care of her while she’s been sick in years. Now I have an excuse to baby my stubborn baby sister. I should be the one thanking you.”

Henry arrives with his arms laden with soups, sports drinks, ice cream, and several boxes of meds. Tessa grumbles first at being roused from her nap, then at the sight of her brother.

“Fuck’s sake, Hank,” she groans into her pillow. “It’s just the flu.”

“Good afternoon to you too, dear sister. What a pleasure it always is to see your lovely face.”

Tessa rolls over just enough to glare at him with one glassy, fever-glazed eye.

“It’s just. The. Flu. Courtesy of those little gremlins we’re related to. It’s gonna suck for a few days but then I’ll be fine. You should be taking care of your actual patients who really do need your help.”

Henry cajoles her into sitting up a bit, then slips both his stethoscope and a thermometer from a coat pocket.

“Really, Hank, there’s no need – ”

“Tessa,” he says lowly, and the serious note in his voice makes her pay attention. “I’m here because Pero called me. He’s worried, Tee. I think you’re scaring your boyfriend a little.”

Tessa’s gaze jumps to Pero, who’s lingering in the doorway. The way her expression completely softens would make Henry roll his eyes if he weren’t so damn happy his sister had finally found someone who loved her the way Pero did.

“I’m sorry, Pero,” she croaks. He shakes his head vigorously and comes to sit on the other side of the bed.

“Do not apologize, mi amor.” He tenderly pushes her hair back from her sweaty forehead. “Just please let your brother do what he must. I will not take chances when it comes to you.”

The fight instantly goes out of her. Henry checks her vitals and makes her take another dose of medicine, letting his healing Gift soothe the worst of the body aches and calming her chills. Once she’s drifting off to sleep again he briefs Pero in the kitchen.

“Meds every four hours, check her temperature as often as she’ll allow you. Make sure she keeps drinking, and try to get her to eat something when she wakes up. If her fever doesn’t break in the next 36 hours, or suddenly spikes, call me.”

Pero nods, looking more serious than Henry has ever seen him, which is saying quite a lot about a man who essentially invented resting bitch face a thousand years before anyone else.

Henry gives the other man’s shoulder a comforting squeeze.

“I appreciate you calling me, Pero. But I promise Tessa is not in any danger. We just live with these things now; we don’t die from them.”

Pero shifts his weight from one foot to another.

“It is…difficult. After a lifetime of seeing people die from what starts as the smallest wound or barest cough…but I trust in your knowledge.”

“As I trust that you would do anything to keep my sister safe,” Henry returns warmly, gathering his things. “You better just hope that those protective instincts don’t drive you completely insane once you two have kids.”

Henry is out the door before Pero can think of a response.

Tessa sleeps fitfully that night, but Pero is even more restless, hyper aware of every time his love tosses and turns. Her fever breaks sometime in the early morning, and she wakes completely drenched in sweat. He helps her into the shower, settling her onto the bench on the far end of the glass-enclosed stall. She’s still paler than she should be, but her eyes when she looks up at him are clear.

A smile tugs at her lips as he gently washes her hair, then her body. His large hands remove evidence of her sickness from her skin, and the tight knot of anxiety in his chest loosens as he rubs a soapy cloth along each part of her.

“You know,” she says wryly, “under slightly different circumstances I’d be two seconds away from jumping your bones right now.”

Pero huffs at the unfamiliar phrase.

“If that means what I think it means, you have a few days at least before you are up for such things again, mi amor.”

He coaxes her to lean forward against his chest so he can wash her back.

“Pero?”

“Mm?”

She loops her arms around his neck, stilling his movements.

“I love you.”

The knot in his chest unravels.

“As I love you, angel.”

“Thanks for taking care of me.”

He pulls back to look at her.

“You do not have to thank me for such a thing, Tessa. I will always take care of you.”

She nuzzles back into his chest, fatigue starting to wear at her again.

“I’ll always take care of you too, Pero,” she mumbles sleepily into his skin. He feels it sink into his bones like a vow. He resumes his task, mindful of finishing before the water runs cold.

“I know, my love,” he whispers into her hair. “I know.”

[veren-cos]

Hi!! How are you?? :)

I'm not sure if you're still up for taking requests, but I'm gonna try anyway!

This is actually the first time I've gotten myself to read Stardew Valley stuff, I was looking for content and came across one of your posts (the comforting after a rough day one) and I just couldn't help but keep reading. I love the few I've read so far honestly!!

I have a very specific topic in mind for the bachelors that you could use for headcanons; it would involve the farmer being asexual, the bachelors' reaction to that knowledge and how they'd act towards the farmer from that point on in their relationship (already dating), since I know that some people actually feel weird about it after finding out (needless to say that I'm in fact ace myself)

You can decline the request if you're not open to that at the moment but most importantly if the topic makes you uncomfortable in any kind of way, I'll understand and accept it right away :)

I'm a really awkward person so since I don't really know what else to say, thank you so much (even for reading this) and keep up the good work!! <3

Coming out as asexual to the bachelors

These are assuming you are already in a (relatively new) relationship.

These are also more for sex repulsed aces. Not really a tw, but Alex's section is a little more angsty than the rest?

Sam

��� Would not have heard of asexuality at all.

• He honestly gets confused for a second and thinks that you didn't like him at all.

• But once you explain that you just don't want the sexual aspect of a relationship, he is actually pretty chill about it.

• He wasn't expecting anything to happen with you for a while because you'd just started dating.

• So it really took the pressure off of him because he was really nervous.

• Nothing really changes with him! He would probably just show you a lot of nonsexual physical affection. Like a lot more than before.

• There is no pressure to go any further. I could honestly see this guy being ace himself, but regardless he loves you.

Sebastian

• Sebastian would probably be like. One of maybe 3 Bachelors who have heard of asexuality.

• And he would by no means have any problems with it!

• He would just love on you by sososoo many cuddles.

• He likes being intimate with you physically, and doesn't want to pressure you at all.

• He understands that you definitely still like him, you just don't feel the sexual attraction or want to have sex.

• Like Sam, I could see Sebastian being ace. He just wants to be with you, in whatever ways you want to be with him. <3

Alex

• Okay so I love Alex. And I like to think of him as accepting. But he basically canonically has internalized homophobia.

• I don't think he would of even heard of asexuality.

• It truly depends on how much character development he has had.

• So basically. He would either be like chill about it, or break up with you (and not because he doesn't like you! That's important!)

•

• If he was chill, I think the relationship would progress just as normal!

• He would just hold your hand, and give you so many kisses.

• He would try and learn ways to show you affection without crossing your boundaries.

•

• But if his character hasn't developed, I could see him breaking up with you. And it's not because he wouldn't like you anymore. Please don't get him wrong, he really likes you.

• He just seems like the kind of guy where sex would be the epitome of intimacy. I don't think he would know what to do, and he doesn't want to pressure you.

• If he hasn't had character development, he would want to go back to just being friends. He wouldn't know how to express how he feels about you in a non sexual way.

• Alex would, however, much come to regret that. So once he has a grasp on his own emotional needs and learns more about emotional intimacy, give a relationship with him another try. He will be great :)

Harvey

• Harvey!!

• Harvey would be so respectful.

• He probably wouldn't have heard of it before? Not in like a sexuality way anyways. Maybe like in the science way tho. So he can guess.

• He wouldn't want to push you, and he hadn't made any sexual advances in the first place so it's not like there would be any backtracking.

• He loves you for who you are, not what you can do for him.

• Once you explain what it is, or for your specifically what it is, he just hugs you and tells you he loves you.

• Harvey is a sweetie.

Shane

• Shane wouldn't care.

• It's your business lol

• I couldn't see him being ace himself, but I could see him having a really low sex drive.

• Depression can often decrease a sex drive if ya didn't know 🤠

• Soo yeah, it wouldn't be a big deal to him :)

• He, like Sebastian, would just give you a lot more cuddles instead! Shane just likes to be close to you

Elliott

• Elliott would be so amazing with it?

• He just wants to love you the way you want to be loved. And if that means never having sex? He us okay with that.

• He was already the king of nonsexual intimacy.

• He would love taking baths with you, washing your hair, etc.

• He wants to make sure you know he loves you, and is incredible respectful of your boundaries and sexuality.

An* To my ace readers ilysm!! Aroace-spec identities are so underrepresented. So I was so happy to write about it! I love giving fiction for underrepresented subjects. Hope you enjoyed!

And to you who requested thjs, ty! I'm glad you like my writing, that means a lot to me :) I'm always open for requests, they just take me a while- so feel free to send more if you'd like :3

If something about this fic is iffy or weird, please let me know. I'm not ace (I don't think? But that's a different topic lol) so I don't know if I wrote things right. I'm mostly iffy about Alex's response. So if you have a suggestion please do lmk. 🤠👍

Masterlist

[lastofthewardens]

after tonight's episode, i'm just kind of sat here

thinking about why it's so hard for adaptations to just respect source material these days.

not really related to anything that happened. i don't watch the episodes, i won't do it unless i hear foggy is back. i read about what happened and see some relevant clips on social media and that's it.

i know the original show wasn't perfect in this regard but it captured the spirit of many things imo. it's certainly not above criticism, but i think they cared, generally speaking. and there are many adaptations in the past that have made changes but still largely functioned as love letters to the source material. i think the original show did a good job at balancing things, for the most part.

so i don't expect 1 to 1 adaptations of stuff. i really don't. but i do expect respect, and for certain ingredients to be included and matter, because otherwise, what's even the point, right?

the reason this came up is, i was on twitter today and saw some clips from a k*tie c*ssidy interview talking about when her character got killed off on arr*w, and it made me remember how mad that made me. i started reading gr*en arr*w comics specifically BECAUSE i was so pissed about that choice when it happened in season 4. (at which point i learned much more about the source material and had many other issues but still).

it's funny because.. i remember so clearly that when arr*w killed off bl*ck c*nary, the arr*w subreddit changed to be a daredevil subreddit for a while. it was funny as hell, just everyone united under the idea that killing her off was just wildly stupid. the ratings of the show went down when she died! that's how much people cared about comic book integrity and respect for the source material.

and make no mistake, killing bl*ck c*nary in a gr*en arr*w show was WILD. most of the fandom KNEW that was an insane choice because of how important she is to arr*w lore. but foggy gets killed in daredevil and parts of the fandom.. what? praise the show so hard you can't say anything bad without getting downvoted on reddit? lmao

truly the meme of die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

i don't know. foggy is a necessary part of daredevil to me. i don't want to watch a show without him. i don't feel that killing him off shows an understanding of any of these characters or the things that matter to daredevil as a character/story/source material. sure, it's nice to hear matt say wonderful things about foggy, and even i have to admit that that one particular scene was well done, but i don't want that in retrospect, i want matt to be able to say those things to his face. i want foggy to be there in all of the places he should've been in all of these plots. i don't think telling another story about grief is worth losing his entire place in the narrative.

like even if i somehow eat my words and foggy comes back alive (i'm not letting myself hope and i got bad vibes that it's going to stick after watching that scene with frank because that was A Lot for a fake death), i'll be happy to have him back, sure, i'll go back and watch the show, yeah, but.. it doesn't really erase all the problems that exist from this choice being made at all. it just makes them slightly more tolerable because there'd be a light at the end of the tunnel. but this show will never be the same again. they've already covered things and plan to cover things that foggy should be there for, and it's just so noticeable to me that he's not.

my wife and i have been discussing this pretty much since ep 1 came out basically because i've been very upset. i keep telling her that this show is "missed opportunities: the show", and i really believe that. every time i hear about something that happened, or a plot point that could've been cool, or an adaptation that missed something out, i can only think of how much better it would've been in the hands of the old team or even just a different team.

but these days, they don't care about these things. they're not hired to care about these things, they're hired to make something that will make as much money as possible. arr*w only brought back k*tie c*ssidy because their ratings went down.

it's just a huge shame that adaptations now just constantly want to do their own thing and subvert expectations. like.. i guess it's just me, but that's absolutely not what i want. i don't want my expectations subverted, i want to see my favorite stories either continued or brought to life in ways that show love and care. i know i can just watch the original show or read the comics or whatever, but man, i miss adaptations being made by people who just genuinely love the source material. you can always tell the difference, always.

[bananakeiky]

This isn't about Hoyo I just needed to vomit some AFTG thoughts into a public space and I just finished ToS and I'm rabid. I have no idea how many of y'all even read this series but spoilers. And trigger warnings. Anyways.

Okay what the fuck ever the thing about ToS isn't just about of the extra trigger warnings and things that made me wanna throw up and cry at the same time. It's about how horribly, tragically awful it is that Jean is full of so much love. He always has been. It's not just haha what a pansexual no. Jean craves affection so fucking much. He's weak to pretty people and devastated by kind people. He clung to Kevin. He clung to Renee. He even clung to Thea, who affectionately called him Paris as he trailed her like a little duckling. He spits and rages and claws at them all, calling them every rabid name in the dictionary and beyond. He has a laundry list of insults for Neil, who freed him, one of the only people he truly trusts. It's just that he never expects it back. He never wants it back because it hurts so much worse when it's gone. People hurt him when it's gone. He says "I can take it" and "this is normal" because he would burn if he couldn't.

This is why he rejects the Trojans. Every "don't you see" and "why do you look away" is well-meaning but twice as hurtful because accepting it would mean Jean didn't hurt because he deserved it. Without that crutch it means he suffered for nothing. He hurt for nothing. Accepting it would mean that Jean would have to open up and fully comprehend the absolute horrors that were done not just to his life but to his personhood. To him. He was a child and a victim and he deserved to be saved and he wasn't. Not until it was too late. All of those years after being sold by his parents, yearning, aching to be loved by somebody and used as a toy and a scapegoat in return by anyone who touched him. Love is painful. Trust is painful. And Jean will love and love and love until it kills him and he knows it.

But this is why Kevin sent him to the Trojans. They may not understand survival and suffering the way the Foxes do, but they're genuine. They may be misguided with some of their efforts and need to take time learning how Jean works but they try and try and keep trying. They understand their own faults and healthy coping mechanisms and how to treat your worst enemies with respect. Hell, nearly the entirety of Jeremy's inner circle are in queer relationships with each other except for himself because he's too busy thinking about other people to work on that. This is what Jean needs to learn, that people can give without asking for anything in return. That people can be selfless and care for one another without ulterior motives. That love can be healthy and beautiful and not cruel.

And listen. I've been rooting for Jerejean for eight goddamn years. You have no idea how hard I fell when I realized that the ship that embodies the entire idea of healing, self-growth, and respect had been actualized and it's everything I ever wanted and more. The fact that Jeremy helps Jean buy his very first possession. The fact that he's so protective of Jean and thinks he's more important than exy, that Jean will be his success story. When he holds his hands and begs him to open up and backs off when Jean needs space, but never leaves and never gives up. How he spends so much time organizing people and schedules and events just so Jean can feel safe walking around campus. He never pushes too hard, but he never stops pushing. He's so patient. He wants Jean. He wants him so bad, but more than that, he wants Jean to love himself above all else. He's there when Jean has a panic attack at the pool, and sticks around as close as he can after Jean gets attacked. He stays up by the door all night when Jean goes out with Neil to an unknown location. All of this on top of revitalizing the Trojans, dealing with his shit family and the shittier rumors, having to train Jean out of killing his team and teaching his team to trust Jean in return.

Even after all of that his number one priority is always Jean, his head is filled with Jean, making the world comfortable and safe for Jean. It's making sure all of his friends know Jean. Never letting Jean be alone. Getting another twin bed so he can room with him. Always correcting himself, slowing down and speeding up so he can match Jean's pace. Fucking Barkbark. And yes, Renee could have done this too. She was the right person, and yes, the wrong time. But Jeremy found Jean at the right time, a time where he would dedicate everything to Jean. And if Jean one day turns around and wants to give that back, he'll be there, but he'll be just as happy knowing Jean is going to be okay.

ToS is a story about healing. It's about growth and battling the consequences of a life you did not choose. It's about unfairness. It's about what happens after a tragedy, and how to cope with yourself as much as you cope with the outside world. It's about becoming. It's about demons. It's about loyalty. It's about love. It's not about romance. Not yet. But it's about a romance that couldn't exist without it. It's setting up a story about someone who learns to accept that, tragically, he deserves to be treated like a human being. With love. And that he can still have it. That it's right there, waiting for him, when he's ready. He just has to reach out and take it.

[sunflowersunite]

Hello there.

I'm back with the final part on: advice on writing Mikasa: by SunflowerStories, as asked by @starshower1215. Parts 1 and 2 here, thank you lots for your patience Star, so here is your final part.

The remaining question is:

"if you're very experienced in writing Armin, how would you imagine their relationship to be after Eren's death, as well as Mikasa's relationship with Annie as Armin's love interest?"

but I picked up another interesting one from the comments of the latest post which reads:

"Do you think Levi might have served as a role model for Mikasa during her time as his subordinate? He's arguably the most selfless character in AoT, and he's able to balance emotion with his duty towards serving the common good, which is something she learns later on. What's your impression of their relationship?"

I choose to start off with this one.

You cannot see me right now, but I'm smiling with this, because it's one of the hills I'll die on: their dynamic was one of the most underrated ones (underrated by the story itself may I say) and it desperately needed more screentime.

As someone who takes great fascination in Mikasa's relationship with Levi and has a lot of gaps to fill (because the story left a lot), yes, I have imagined what the relationship that we didn't get to see was like, I'm glad you asked.

In my mind they were like mentor/student, or rather dare I say, kindred spirits. As mentioned in the previous parts, Mikasa is burdened with responsibility because she is the strongest; and that strength is unmatchable, unlike anything anyone's seen before. Nobody could truly understand what she felt, (and it wasn't like she minded much).

Until Levi.

Mikasa saw a kindred spirit in Levi, someone who carried the same weight, the same burden as her. Someone who understood what was expected from her.

Neither of them is the talkative type so I don't think they ever had an extensive discussion about feelings and duty on a cool summer night sitting on those plastic chairs that seem to be laced with the correct circumstances for a therapy session.

Still, Mikasa looked up to Levi, she could see he felt a lot and deeply, like she did, so eventually he became a role model to her even in her independence. As she grew up and took up a more important role in the army, I'm sure she found a crutch in Levi, consciously or not, as someone who went through the same.

Noting that he was the one who stopped her when she made to chase after Eren when he was taken in early season 3, and he was one of those who ultimately convinced her to sacrifice him for the world. Let's keep in mind that Mikasa is rather strong-willed, so one can only stop her when they present unshakable reason (e.g. Hange trying to convince her Erwin was the correct choice) or when she respects them a lot (that's the case regarding both Hange and Levi).

That was long. Moving on!

I'm not extremely experienced in writing Armin but I wouldn't say I'm completely inexperienced either. I've pondered about their relationship post canon and I have interacted with much EMA content, so here's what came out of it.

1. Armin

As we see, Armin travels a lot away from Paradis while Mikasa chose to stay. It probably took a lot of years until Armin became either unnecessary for the peace negotiations or incapable of continuing his work as an ambassador. He possibly settled on Paradis after that, but my point is that he and Mikasa spend a lot of time apart.

Nevertheless, without needing too much contact, they stay cordial because their relationship transcends distance. They've meant a lot to each other since childhood (the're practically siblings), and that doesn't falter.

Additionally, they both share a pain nobody else understands-- they directly fought Eren to the death. If they were other people, that event could have driven them apart, but I don't think that ever happened to Mikasa and Armin. Whenever they meet, they become painfully aware that they're supposed to be three, not two, but still, their love is too deep to stretch into a rift. They understand each other's pain without needing words, and when the time is right, in quiet evenings under the tree, they share thoughts and memories of Eren. So they've become a crutch to one another.

(Whenever Armin comes to Paradis, he and the other ambassadors most likely help rebuild the island and babysit the orphans. He would be good at it. That's what I imagine lol)

2. Annie

Annie and Mikasa are another occasion of kindred spirits who bond over their simplicity. They were never exactly friends but they're very much alike-- it doesn't take them much philosophical pondering to set a cause for themselves (unlike for example Armin or Reiner) and they're both action oriented.

One would expect Mikasa would resent Annie due to the latter's insistence that she kill Eren in the end, but this post would explain Annie a little better, so long story short, Mikasa knows she made the right choice and doesn't blame anyone else for it.

Now, regarding post-canon, both girls find interactions awkward so they'd struggle a bit, but without any hard feelings between them, they'd find a way to be friends that works for both of them. Initially they'd be a little reluctant around each other, since Annie is in a relationship with Mikasa's brother basically, but they'd get the hang of it. (Perhaps they would have something like a therapy session on a quiet summer evening involving plastic chairs.)

It was a pleasure to think about this, and if you want my thoughts on something specific that I didn't cover fully, let me know!

[nameuserlee]

Zayne — Absolute Zeal 🍬🩵

🩵- Screenshots -🩵

🩵 - Kindled scene below the cut + my thoughts/rambling -🩵

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I love this card. I loveeee this card. MC and Zayne giving domestic, married couple vibes while also deepening their relationship by opening up about their feelings and building their trust in each other even further? Sign me UP!!

The role-playing scene at the restaurant was really fun and seeing Zayne play along (and beat MC at her own game) was delightful. And the chair pulling move? Very smooth.

Now. About the liquor-filled chocolate, about MC feeding it to Zayne, and about Zayne’s (and MC’s, very briefly) drunkenness throughout the card. Let’s get into it.

At the end of their restaurant date, MC gets offered two pieces of chocolate by their waiter and is told that they’re filled with liquor. She then proceeds to feed one to Zayne, without mentioning that fact. Zayne only realizes that after he’s eaten it. We are then met for the first time with drunk Zayne.

Now mind you, MC herself is at least a bit buzzed, as she’s been sipping on some wine throughout the night. From her inner thoughts, it is mentioned that she’s “spurred on by the alcohol.” It doesn’t justify or excuse anything, but it’s just something to keep in mind.

Prior to this, MC doesn’t know just how much of a lightweight Zayne truly is. And in her state, she probably wouldn’t question it over a single piece of candy. Even if a bit careless, she just wants to share a treat and savour the buzz with him.

In any case, should MC have told Zayne about the chocolate before to feeding it to him? Yes. But she didn’t. MC is not perfect, but she’s also not this master manipulator who planned for Zayne to get this drunk so she could take advantage of the situation.

Throughout the night, MC happily takes care of Zayne and helps him cool down. Getting him to sit down on the couch so he can rest, checking his temperature, wiping his forehead with a towel, making sure he’s comfortable enough if he were to fall asleep. She also tells him multiple times to take some hangover pills, but he doesn’t want them. And she won’t force him to take them either, her name’s not Jimmy.

(What a big baby, how cute.) Point being, her main goal is to make sure Zayne is alright. Nothing else.

We also get this small exchange between the two that, to me, is very important and hints at what the card really wants us to take away from this whole situation.

Zayne thinks that him being a bit more vulnerable and honest is “embarrassing”. MC immediately shuts that down and reassures him.

“Is showing your true feelings something to be embarrassed about?” Let’s keep that line in mind.

As the night advances, we can tell Zayne sobers up to a certain degree. He takes a (quick) shower, and is sober enough to properly answer a work call.

And then… After a heavy look, we get these lines from Zayne.

This moment right there, is what this card essentially builds up to.

It’s not really about Zayne being drunk and acting differently all of a sudden, or about MC tricking him into doing something he wouldn’t do otherwise. It’s about him learning to let go of his inhibitions, letting go of his constant need of being in control, of being perfect.

It’s about him allowing himself to show his true emotions and desires, especially towards MC.

And throughout the night, (throughout their relationship really), MC has shown him time and time again that she loves and cares him for who he is, “flaws” and all. Zayne isn’t perfect, but she never expected him to be. He is safe with her, and she will never hold his emotions against him. And as he realizes that, he finally gives in to his feelings, and they proceed share a lovely night together.

“Will you hate me for it?” / “I won’t.”

That’s all Zayne needed to hear.

[writing-for-life]

The Six Stages of a Meta-Writer’s Despair

(A Satire)

Fandom. That wondrous place where creativity blooms and everyone’s supposed to “ship and let ship” and just “do their thing”. At least, that’s what I thought when I first wandered into Tumblr three years ago with wordy metas (or OC fics. Or poetry. Or original art) nobody asked for.

Fast forward, and here I am, walking you through the Six Stages of a Meta-Writer’s Despair with the energy of a Victorian widow scowling out of a rain-smeared window…

1. Naive Optimism

You arrive in fandom like a clueless protagonist in a (horror?) movie.

“Wow,” you think, “look at all these creative people! Fanart! Fic! Meta! Ships! So much stuff!.” You believe (truly believe!) that if you simply mind your own business, blabber about your lifelong love of a certain comic, it’ll surely be awesome. And in a way, it was (and still is).

2. Mild Confusion

You start noticing… things. Like how any post, no matter the original topic (“character development,” “symbolism,” “plot structure”, “original art”) somehow ends up buried (in any tag) under a mountain of GIFs and fan-art for Thee Ship™️.

You’re not mad, it’s okay. Everyone can do whatever they like and inhabit their little (?) niche. SALS and all that, even if you’re not a shipper.

You’re just a little… bewildered as you squint at your screen and wonder: Wasn’t this a post about the importance of male friendship and toxic masculinity? Why is everyone yelling about how it’s “obviously romantic tension”?

3. Passive-Aggression

You sigh heavily, adjust your expectations, and soldier on. You add disclaimers to your posts. “This is about canon,” you assert, with increasingly brittle patience. You carve out little meta-spaces, sprinkle “analysis”-tags everywhere, and learn to close your eyes when the ship-wars break out like an oil-fire. Sometimes, you even find yourself in the midst of one just because you dared to have an opinion about the red rags to the fandom-bull: Misogyny and racism. Ah well…

You change tack: Maybe, if you stay quiet, you can still enjoy your corner of fandom without being trampled by the thundering hooves of OTP Nation. Right?

4. Active Irritation

One day you blink and realise the landscape isn’t gonna change. Canon? Minor characters? Narrative arcs? Women? Ancient relics. The fandom is now The One True Ship Show, 24/7, and if you dare to utter the tiniest non-general-consensus-opinion, you are either “bitter”, “straight” (nope) or “not understanding the true heart of the story.”

You post a 2,000-word meta about processing grief, and someone reblogs it with a tag how it’s actually proof of their OTP.

You hear a distant popping sound. It is a blood vessel in your brain…

5. Existential Crisis

You start questioning your own sanity.

Are intelligent discussions about story structure and characterisation a sign of madness? Is canon a bad thing?

You consider retiring to a cave so you can mumble about canon and narrative themes to a family of sympathetic bats (waves 👋🏻)…

6. Grim, Cackling Acceptance

At last, you achieve peace (maybe).

Not because things get better, oh no; rather because you give up trying to swim against the tsunami of ship-centric content. You embrace your role as “That Person” who sighs heavily in the tags, filters, blocks and writes essays only 1% of fandom reads. But they’re your people (waves again 👋🏻).

You open your drafts folder, dust off your 5K meta about the women of that story and hit post.

Because if fandom has taught you anything, it’s that you might as well go down blabbering about canon…