#I've been thinking about how we create our hell trying to run from ourselves

[akindplace]

Can't throw gasoline on fire and call it a coping mechanism

Can't complain because being called out is not the same as gaslighting

When you show your smile while grinding your teeth

When it breaks your soul to lie to yourself, to your friends and family

When running away takes you further away from hope

And deeper and deeper into yourself

Do you know the difference between hell and your health?

[high-heeled-nightmare]

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑦 𝑆𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝐷𝑟. 𝑂ℎ.

Golden rays of sunlight gently caressed the worn leather armchairs and the intricate patterns of the Persian rug, casting dancing shadows on the walls adorned with calming paintings. The scent of lavender lingered in the air, mingling with the soft murmur of the nearby fountain outside. Mun-Yeong's dark, mysterious eyes scanned the room, each gaze like a piercing arrow, her flowing black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, framing her delicate features that held a hint of mischief and danger. The air around her crackled with an electrifying energy, as if she was a force of nature that could not be tamed - which, in fact, wasn't even so far from the truth. "𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐭 𝐮𝐩?", the irritated woman exclaimed in anger, sighing deeply. "I've always hated their ridiculous idea of justice. Do you think it's okay to judge somebody just because of a lack of knowledge and understanding? They don't even seem willing to try and get your point these days, so they just throw you away like some kind of used toy. The moment they realize you don't fall for their 'I-am-so-righteous-and- good' bullshit, they abandon you because they get reminded of their own darkness inside. That's why they're running away from themselves. They don't want to try with you. They just like the idea of you, like an image they created in their mind. They dream of fixing you. If that's not possible, prepare to be left. They're all cowards." Mun-Yeong found herself drawn to Dr. Oh's aura of confidence and intelligence as she watched him scribble notes on a piece of paper with a fountain pen. She never knew why, but something about this man fuelled her curiosity. Hell, usually she would never go on rambling like that. "You're right at some point. You see", he calmly replied, "When we compare our problems to those of others, it is a way of seeking validation and understanding of our own struggles. But in doing so, we often fail to recognize our own faults and shortcomings. We project our insecurities onto others, expecting them to bear the burden of our emotions and actions. The principle of loyalty becomes a one-way street, with us demanding unwavering commitment but not holding ourselves to the same standard. That's a dangerous trap most people have been falling into because even those seemingly positive traits can also become more unhealthy than helpful at times. We must learn to take responsibility for our own thoughts and actions, rather than deflecting them onto others in a misguided attempt to shield ourselves from introspection and growth. Friends and family must learn to live life their way - otherwise it's like an overbearing mother who suffocates her child by not giving them enough freedom to make their own decisions but then complains about why they turn out to be such a failure in the end." The author nodded in agreement, her mind drifting back to memories she had long tried to forget. The familiarity of the situation weighed heavily on her as she struggled to maintain her composure. With a blank expression, she silently acknowledged the ghosts of her past that continued to haunt her. "Sounds all too familiar to me", she whispered. "Tell me... what exactly makes you so angry, Miss Ko? For now, I can help you reduce the symptoms, but I can only truly cure what's eating at you by fighting the source of it."

"It's their way of expressing that", she answered bitterly. "That's what usually bothers me, if not the most", Mun-Yeong admitted. "I don't like arrogant do-gooders who surround themselves with a bunch of idiots that follow their ideas rather than their own. Just so that the leader of the pack can claim to be much of a better person than everyone else. It's almost ironic how these so called "good people" often use the most harsh tones when communicating. Why's that so?" Dr. Oh paused for a moment, slightly trying to find a proper way of explaining the issue. "Hmmm... well, such behavior could stem from a lack of self-awareness or insecurity, possibly leading them to try to control conversations and people around them to validate their sense of self-worth. They may use harsh tones as a defense mechanism to shield themselves from vulnerability or criticism. Just like it's the case with you sometimes." He chuckled. "Excuse me? That's a fucking-..." Before she could finish her sentence though, Dr. Oh's laughter gradually grew louder. As it filled the room, echoing off the walls, Mun-Yeong found herself unable to resist its pull. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the shared moment of joy between them seemed to bridge the gap and unexpectedly created a sense of camaraderie between the two unlikely companions.

"I can see why Gang-Tae likes you," he warmly said. "You still contain the authentic, untouched energy of a child." Mun-Yeong smiled shyly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest at his words. It was true - despite the hardships she had faced, she'd at least always held onto that tiny little spark of youthfulness.

"Anyway," Dr. Oh continued, "I want you to always remember this: People who categorize others to make it easier to choose with whom they wanna be, are just lacking perspectives and empathy. Quite like you said, it's kind of ironic, right? They've always known the easy way in life, so naturally, they'll always choose the easy way. You've experienced more complicated structures, though. That's why you are more flexible and quick to adapt. But: It's also important to acknowledge that everyone is on their own path and at different stages in their journey. So try to not judge others for where they are at, as we all have room for growth and learning. Alright?" Mun-Yeong felt her frustration bubbling up inside her as she looked at him, the corner of her mouth twitching in annoyance. She knew he was just trying to help, but sometimes his well-meaning suggestions grated on her nerves. Yet a small part of her softened. Maybe, just maybe, he was onto something. Taking a deep breath, she resolved to give his idea a chance, if only to quiet the nagging doubt in the back of her mind. I'll try doing that tomorrow, she thought. Maybe.

[spencestyles]

The Other Woman

summary: spencer and meave have a toxic relationship after saving diane and the new agent doesn’t help

pairing: meave x spencer, spencer x BAU!reader

warnings: angst (lowkey), cursing, broken relationship, fluff

words: 4k+

~~~~~~~~~~

Ever since the team and I stopped Diane from killing Maeve, things were different. When I dreamed about meeting Maeve, I thought things would be perfect, we would be a match made in heaven. But after finding out important things she felt to leave out (like she was engaged), the spark was seeming to fade and just genuinely getting to know her personality. Of course our new agent wasn't any help either.

y/n y/l/n

She was different from any other girl I had met. She was smart and a great listener, she was determined to keep learning. She didn't try to outsmart me like Maeve had begun to do. Her biggest talent and asset to the team was her interrogation skills.

"Brian, I know how you are feeling," y/n said to the unsub. "You are upset your dad left you and upset that he left you with your mother."

"She was never a mother," Brian screamed. "That dirty whore didn't know her left from her right."

"The girls?" y/n asked. "Did they know their right from their left?"

"I wouldn't know, I didn't do anything to them," Brian said.

"Well I do, I looked into their background, all single mothers, husband left. They weren't dirty Brian, they were doin-"

"YES THEY WERE. They are all whores. I tried to help them, to help their children. But they were just like she was, a whore."

Since the first day she arrived, I've been enthralled by her presence. Maeve asked to move in around a month ago, I said no. She was so upset it was almost pitiful. It had been an argument that continued for weeks and was heated tonight at our at home dinner date. "Why, Spencer, why can't I move in with you?" She yelled at me.

"Because I barely know you," I yelled back, quickly calming down. "We may have been talking on the phone, but we have known each other in person for five months. I just, Meave, I'm going through a rough time at work. It wouldn't be good for you to move in right now." I made a large breath as Maeve roughly stood up from the table.

"Is there someone else?" Maeve asked. "That new agent, (wrong name), or whatever-"

"y/n"

"Like I said, whatever. Are you talking to her, is there something going on?"

"Maeve, there is nothing going on between y/n and I," I explained. "She is a new agent, she is young, she is like I was when I joined the BAU. I am just trying to help her get settled."

"Why can't JJ do that? She was young when she joined."

"Because JJ was the communications liaison then, she didn't become a profiler until two years ago."

"Whatever," Maeve said, grabbing her purse. "I'm leaving, I need to think."

Thank God

"Ok, we need to talk about this," I said. Maeve muttered something before slamming the door.

Moments like this made me question the relationship I created with Maeve. Maybe it's because I never really knew her. I knew her job and that she was smart, but I didn't know how clingy she was or bitchy and competitive. I don't blame Diane for being so upset. Why was she so upset about y/n, I mean y/n is gorgeous and smart. But she is so young, she's only 24. Tomorrow was going to be a good day, tomorrow I was finally going to make some decisions about Maeve.

Waking up the next morning felt like a chore. The sound of my phone going off was much worse than my alarm clock.

"Reid."

"Spencie, it's y/n," the angelic voice I was longing to hear was music to my ears at 3 in the morning. "We have a case, JJ called me and told me to call you. Which thinking about it is a little strange- wait that's not the point of this call. I need you to pick me up."

"Yeah I can come get you," I said rushing around. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Thanks Spencie, I owe you big time."

Running around my room, I tried to pick my best outfit. y/n loved when I dressed in blue or purple, so I decided I would dress in blue this fine morning. My light blue button down and my tight navy pants, made me look a sexy professional as I would say, so would Derek (and hopefully y/n). I hated driving, but I would never tell y/n that, she is too cute when singing in the car for me to say no to her.

On my way to her apartment (which was very small and in a terrible area), I began to think about what y/n said on the call. JJ called me and told me to call you. Why wouldn't JJ just call me. I mean I do tell JJ about my problems with Maeve and my schoolboy crush on y/n, but she was so upset when I first said it.

"Maeve is literally your dream girl Spence, why are you trying to stop that? And for y/n, now I know she is smart and wow, she is hot, but Spence, she is 24. She still has a lot of growing up to do. Also, I didn't work my ass off to save Maeve for you to end things with her."

JJ was right, y/n was too young and too naive to know what she wanted. Hell, I didn't even know what I wanted. I fell for a girl over the phone and then realized she's not at all what I thought. I should have known.

Arriving at y/n's apartment building I texted her a quick 'here' before noticing her car tire had been slashed. The passenger door opened and y/n sat down handing me a large coffee in her typical reusable to-go cups. "y/n you didn't have to bring me coffee," I said.

"Spence, it's three in the morning and you are driving," you said with a straight face. "I brought you the coffee so you wouldn't fall asleep at the wheel and we would die." I laughed before taking a big swig of the drink and heading to the office.

"I saw your tire had been slashed, what happened?"

"I don't know, JJ called me so I went out to get my go-bag from the car because I left my good mug in it and I saw the tire was slashed. I have no idea how it happened or why, it's really annoying though, I just got new tires." The situation with y/n's tire was strange, I mean she lives in a complex where nearly twenty cars are out front if they aren't in the back lot. Why only her car? Maybe it was nothing special, just a coincidence.

y/n heard my phone ring and looked at the screen, "It's Maeve," showing me the screen. "Why is your girlfriend calling you at 3:30 in the morning?"

"I have no clue y/n, leave it to ring out. I'll get to her later."

This has happened before. When I drop y/n off from a case that ran late or after a night with the team. I get calls and texts from Maeve enraged. Does she honestly not understand we work together. We live less than six minutes from each other, so when we ride together it's not like either of us are going out of our way.

After spending most of the car ride singing to Taylor Swift, we arrived at Quantico and rushed to the elevators. We weren't late, but y/n liked to be early so she didn't look sweaty for the team.

"Why do you hate looking sweaty?" I asked her.

"Well, when our Unit Chief is a TOTAL dilf, I'd like to at least look nice," she said smiling. I frowned. "Kidding Spence, not totally, but I like to look nice because I am still proving my spot on this team and good hygiene is very respectable."

Of course she has a crush on Hotch, not that she has daddy issues or anything. But they are so close and the validation he gives her is a bit too much to be work appropriate. I'm honestly just so glad its not Derek she has a crush on.

"That makes sense, I'm going to call Maeve to she what she needed," I said stepping towards the conference room. "She's been calling me non stop." y/n nodded as she rubbed paper towels on her armpits.

Right as I was about to dial Maeve, her name flashed across my screen, "Hello."

"Spencer, what the hell," she screamed. "Why were you at y/n's at three in the morning."

"Maeve, tell me where I am right now," I said.

"You are at work Spencer," She answered. "But that is besides the point. Why did YOU pick her up?"

"BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO WORK AND SHE LIVES SIX MINUTES FROM ME," I yelled, tired of her assumptions and bitchy, clingy behavior. "JJ called y/n and told her to tell me we had a case and her car's tire was slashed so she asked for a ride. There is no harm in that."

Maeve let out a large breath, "I don't want you around her anymore."

"What, I can't do that, we work together," I laughed.

"Quit," she said shortly. "Or tell Hotch that she is terrible to work with and isn't qualified for the team."

"Maeve, you are angry. I'm not quitting and y/n is very qualified at her job, Hotch wouldn't believe me."

"Then why do you help her if she's qualified?"

"I told you that last night, this conversation is over." I hung up the phone hearing her protests. I looked over and saw the team looking at me, they obviously had heard the interaction. y/n looked confused. Why was she being brought into this?

The team walked into the conference room, "Garcia, you can begin," Hotch said. Turning to me he said, "We will talk about this before we leave." I nodded. I didn't listen to Garcia presenting the case, but I looked at y/n. She looked like she had been crying, I don't know why, hopefully it wasn't me. After the presentation, Hotch gave us thirty minutes to gather ourselves before we needed to be on the jet.

He pulled me into his office, "What was that in the conference room?"

"Maeve thinks I'm cheating on her with y/n," I said. "It's not a big deal."

Hotch looked at me sternly, "Well it becomes a big deal when our newest agent tells me she should transfer because she doesn't like that she's interfering with your relationship. Now y/n cannot be transferred, she is an asset to this team and the team loves her. You need to sort your shit out with Maeve." I nodded and walked out the door over to y/n's desk where she was getting her small things together.

As soon as she saw me walking over, she began to walk away, "y/n wait."

"I'm going to see Penelope," She said, not looking at me. Even without looking directly at me, the tear stains were evident.

I looked over at JJ who had seen the whole interaction, "JJ what do I do?"

"Well Spencer, you need to either break up with Maeve or get over your crush on y/n," She said sarcastically. "In my opinion, you should break up with Maeve anyway. After hearing that phone call, I think she sounded toxic and manipulative. Give y/n some space, she just got a lot thrown at her. She thinks she's a homewrecker."

I sighed, "I know I need to end things with Maeve, but I feel so horrible."

"You feel horrible even though she treats you like that?" JJ asked, shocked.

"I just don't want her to think I led her on or I actually was cheating on her with y/n."

"You may not be cheating on her with y/n, but Spence," I looked up at her. "You like y/n, you can't deny that. y/n still is the other woman, whether its intimate or not."

JJ was right, I was about to walk up to Penelope's office when Derek reminded us we had to leave. Looking ahead, I saw y/n talking with Hotch. She looked upset and Hotch looked concerned, but when he looked over at me, he was pissed.

As we made it to the entrance of the jet, I told JJ and Derek I would meet them on the jet, wanting to talk to Hotch, "Hey, what did y/n say to you?"

"She told me this was her last case," Hotch said. "She gave Strauss resignation forms and is going to be an elementary art teacher. Now she isn't even transferring. Fix this now or you will be suspended from cases and you will be staying back and doing paperwork until I see fit. You and your relationship problems should not have led to y/n leaving the team."

To say I was shocked was an understatement. y/n was leaving the team. She was leaving because of me. Because I was so enchanted by her smile and the slight gleam in her eye.

Worst of all, she isn't even staying in the FBI. She is going to do the job she said she always wanted to do after the FBI. y/n always told me she wanted to stay in the FBI and then when it got to be too much, she wanted to teach art.

You may say I'm a terrible person for basically emotionally cheating on Maeve, but Maeve and I would never work in the long run. She may have been my back then, but she will never be my forever.

Walking onto the jet, I felt the hostile stares of my teammates. y/n sat at the corner of the jet, alone, reading her favorite book, Little Women. While the book is very boring in my opinion, I understand the appeal to y/n. A strong female lead who doesn't believe in the common standards in her time period. Much like Jo March, y/n was strong willed. She always put up a challenge to the ideas she opposed.

I unfortunately, was Theodore Lawrence in this situation. In love with Jo March, but I needed to show it to her. The only and strongest difference was that I am in a relationship.

I need to end it with Maeve.

That however, will be easier said than done. Maeve is much like Amy March: annoying, greedy, easily angered, jealous, and most of all the one that is settled for.

But no, I, Spencer Reid, will not settle for Amy, I am going to get Jo.

I was walking over to y/n when I was stopped by Rossi, "Don't make it any worse than it already is, kid." Appalled, I looked at him and then the team. Their faces all said the same thing only Rossi was able to make into words. I decided to sit not near them and not near y/n. I sat by myself and created a plan to keep y/n at the BAU.

The plan went as so:

1. Convince y/n to stay and explain relationship problems with Maeve

2. Break up with Maeve

3. Tell y/n what truly happened with Maeve (phone calls, kidnapping, and after)

4. Tell y/n feelings (and pray she feels the same)

This plan was definitely going to be easier said than done. The hardest part being breaking up with Maeve.

The case wasn't eventful and easy to figure out. The unsub was killing people who looked like his wife that left him at the altar. Not once did Hotch put me with y/n, understandably. Instead, y/n spent her time with JJ and Hotch.

I decided to not talk to anyone because I needed to devise my plan. I needed to break up with Maeve, but make sure I kept y/n out of it. That was going to be the challenge, Maeve was going to blame the break up on y/n. I decided to text Maeve a quick 'jet is landing. I'm coming over. We have things to discuss.'

I turned off my phone, knowing Maeve would start blowing it up. The jet landed and I went to begin step one, but Derek stopped me from going towards her further, "Pretty Boy, I know you want things to get right with Pretty Girl, but give her space. Just a little and sort things out with Maeve. After hearing what JJ and y/n have said about her, you should end things.

I nodded and sprinted to my car, seeing as y/n got a ride with Penelope. The ride over to Maeve's house was tense, even though I was alone. I couldn't stop thinking of the outcomes that could occur tonight.

Making it to Maeve's apartment, I kept reciting all the things I could say to her.

"I don't feel a spark anymore." Decent.

"You are a controlling bitch." Too harsh.

"I never really knew you." Getting there.

"I think we need to try new things." Fuck. I had made it to the door and I didn't know what to say without the possibility of hurting her. Breaking up with her is the only thing I can do to save my friendship with y/n. Its also the only thing I can do to save myself from this toxic mess of a relationship.

I knocked on the door and it was immediately opened by a very angry Maeve, "Spencer, finally you are here. You were taking so long I thought something may have happened, were you with y/n?"

"No Maeve, I wasn't with y/n," I sighed. "In fact we aren't even talking."

"Well that's perfect," Maeve said. "Why do you look upset about that?"

I looked at her surprised she didn't understand, "Because Maeve, she heard our fucking fight yesterday morning over the phone. She isn't talking to me because she thinks she ruined our relationship-"

"She did-"

"NO SHE DIDN'T MEAVE!" I screamed. "y/n is leaving the team because you are jealous of anyone in my life. First it was JJ, so I pushed JJ away. Then Derek, so I pushed Derek away. You have ruined all of my friendships with my coworkers and are now making work a living hell. y/n didn't ruin our relationship because it was already fucking ruined Maeve. How did you not see it?”

"What? Spence?" Maeve went to touch my arm.

I stepped away, "No Maeve, this is over. We are over. After we stopped Diane, I thought we would be perfect. But we aren't, we aren't good for each other at all. Whenever I accomplish anything at all, big or small, you fucking disregard it and talk about something you did. I am helping y/n, I like y/n. y/n is nice and she listens to my facts and she doesn't judge me for having feelings."

"Spencer, do you think I do that?" Maeve asked with a fake sweet act.

"Think? No Maeve, you do all of those things. Yesterday you told me to quit my job or tell Hotch y/n wasn't qualified. You should be supporting me. This relationship is not good for me. I am leaving, none of your stuff is at my place so you don't need to come over ever again." I quickly left the apartment, ignoring Maeve's pleas for forgiveness.

Sitting in my car, I quickly drove off to y/n's house. I needed to see her, to explain to her what had been happening.

YOUR POV

When I met Spencer, he was my mentor. Very quickly after that however, he became my best friend on the team. Since we lived so close together, it was common for us to carpool to and from work and work events.

I quickly learned about Maeve once I began to get closer with Spencer. Spencer's manipulative, psycho bitch of a girlfriend that was out to ruin my life. I had never done anything to try and involve myself in their relationship, but when they have problems it's always my fault.

After hearing Maeve and Spencer's phone call, it was a no brainer for me to leave the team. However, I knew that wasn't enough for me to get rid of the taunts I had been receiving from Maeve. And by taunts I mean she slashed my tire. I was offered a job at one of DC's most prestigious private schools to teach art and after the phone call, I decided to take it.

Now, I wasn't upset that Spencer didn't like me back. I was upset that Maeve was making him decide between us when nothing had ever happened. I thought Spencer was cute, definitely, and there were times when we were a little too touchy or flirtatious. But, I saw it as Penelope and Derek and I'm sure he did too.

I sat in Penelope's car trying to focus on the road whilst she was screaming at me, "WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? You can't leave y/n. You just got here and we like you here. Maeve and Spencer have had problems for a few months, it's not because of you. JJ and Maeve also got in a fight because he thought Spencer was too handsy with her and I've barely ever seen them touch.”

"Pen, I'm leaving because I have a great job opportunity," I tried to reason. "I was eventually going to take it, but I don't want to hurt Spencer's relationship." Penelope sighed, giving up her attempt to have me stay. We got our Wendy's before Penelope went to drop me off.

As Penelope drove up to my apartment, I noticed a figure standing in front of my house. It looked familiar.

Spencer

"Pen, so you think I can stay over tonight?" I asked.

"No, go talk to pretty boy, have him explain," Penelope responded.

I walked up to my apartment, Spencer looked at me. His face lighting up under my front porch light. He had flowers in his hands. Daisies. "Spencer, what are you doing here?"

SPENCER'S POV

"Spencer, what are you doing here?"

"If you'd let me in I think you need to know what has been happening," I said handing her the flowers.

"Okay, come in," She said grabbing the flowers and unlocking the door. "That you for the flowers."

"Daisies are your favorite," I said quietly. "You never told me, but you always said you liked the name Daisy for your daughter and I just assumed."

"You guessed correctly Spencer," y/n said putting the daisies in a jar.

I sat on her couch, the one I had sat on to watch countless episodes of Dr. Who when I needed to get away from Maeve.

"Can I explain?" I asked as she walked over with a coffee.

"Sure Spencer, but I don't think any explanation will make me stay," she answered.

I sighed, "Well you know the whole Maeve back story right?" she nodded. "Well after we saved her things were great. I was happy, so happy and so in love. But around the time I started to die down from the holy shit you just almost died phase, I began to notice all the flaws and toxic traits in her and our relationship."

y/n nodded, "And you couldn't see any of that before because you only ever talked over the phone?"

"Correct. Maeve, she is very smart. So smart that she often would say things to undermine the fact I went into the FBI and as she would say instead of something useful. At first I thought it was a harmless joke, but when she began to say things like that in front of the team, it crossed a line. When I confronted her, she accused me of lying, saying she never said anything like that. She has always been decently jealous, she was jealous of JJ and even jealous of Alex Blake. Blake's spot is the one you filled, she was like a mom to me. Now, she is jealous of you.”

y/n looked motionless, "Why is she jealous of me Spencer?"

I looked over at her nervously, "y/n we are very close right?"

"Yes, Spencer, you're like my best friend."

I nodded, "yes and Maeve didn't like that. She was very jealous of you because at one team dinner before you joined, Garcia showed us a picture of you from Instagram. When everyone saw the picture, everyone was like wow she is so pretty and you know, you are very gorgeous and I'm a bad liar so I agreed. Maeve and I got into a huge fight because of that. Ever since, she is like really jealous and then we sorta became a mentor, mentee relationship because you are so young and I was so young when I joined.”

y/n looked surprised. Did she not know the team thought that about her. However, y/n nodded, telling me to continue.

"Then I realized how close we lived and we started to carpool and hang out. This was when the aggressive texts and phone calls began. The team knew I needed to break up with her, but I didn't want to make it look like we were seeing each other, you would never like someone like me.”

y/n laughed, "She was jealous because we carpooled? Did you know she was the one that slashed my tire that morning, I got a clip of it on my Ring doorbell."

"Seriously? Sounds about right. Anyway, I broke up with her. She isn't what I want y/n. I want to be with you. And I know you might not like me and-"

y/n cut me off with a laugh, "Spencer are you serious?" I looked at her confused. "I have had a crush on you since I first met the team. I was heartbroken when I found out you had a girlfriend."

"Actually?"

"Spence, why would I lie to you?"

"Will you come back to the BAU?"

"I'll talk to Strauss, but I think if we want to do anything we should wait. I don't want people to actually think we were having an affair."

I laughed, "Definitely not. You were the other woman though. Kept me up all night thinking, dreaming. You infatuate me y/n y/l/n."

"Well I am very glad we got that done with," y/n said. "Watching you with Maeve was like watching the end of Derrick and Addison's relationship on Grey's Anatomy."

"What?"

"Never mind Spence, we will have to save this topic for another day."

—————

in light of the recent allegations against mgg, i will no longer be posting mgg content. however, mgg is not spencer reid, spencer reid is a character. please understand that at this moment i am working on a new username

* IF ANYONE HAS NEW USERNAME IDEAS PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME or i may just be changing to spencerscumslut

[toukatan]

beni my beloved, my darling, my bestie — happy birthday to the purest human being the planet earth has hosted in its entire existence. thank you for all the laughs, the good memories, and, especially, for letting us be ourselves in your blog. i've said it many times, but it's always nice to remind you that your blog is the safest space for many of us, and we're widely thankful for that. you always talk about how running this blog changed your life, but do you know how much you had helped us? i cannot talk for everyone here, but you personally helped me going through a lot of stuff, especially my depression and shit butiamnotplanningongoingemoonyousoshh— you're one of the best people i've been able to meet online; we share the chaos, the idiotic sense of humor; hell, we've even had our own "huh?" moment! i think that totally sealed our friendship. anyway, i'm doing it so long because i don't know how to correctly express myself, but trust me i'm trying. what i'm trying to say is thanks for coming into my life. you're such a ray of sunshine for all the communities you host here, never judgemental and always worrying about everyone's wellbeing. hope we can share a shit tone of more birthdays together, hope we can keep crying from a series that is so angsty it should be illegal, or maybe laugh-crying over a certain beta male who seems to be unable to grow an ass even after spending nineteen freaking years in this planet. love you so much, you have no fcking idea okay now lemme go melt in the corner bc just thinking about you makes me so soft—

i did not allow myself to reply to this until i had finished all my tasks at hand including work and now i at home where i’m able to let this all sink in all over again and i’m to process how i really am going to cry all over again. while you send me 273884 blank spoiler text ish on discord ffs what are we doing abdjhwjs

mía i literally am gonna pass the heck away and leave this planet all because of you and your whole ass essay here— holy freaking heck i do not deserve you and everything you are at all, what the fuck!

i know you’re gonna yell at me for being like this because it’s my birthday i have to thank you for everything you are. it’s my birthday i can do that. don’t stop me lemme do it please. you’ve told me before, how you’re thankful that this safe space exists and i can only repeat myself once again. this safe space was built like this all thanks to you and every single angel on here. i don’t think you guys give yourself enough credit for that. without y’all i wouldn’t have been able to create this space all on my own but i had you guys along the way, by my side along the way. i’m honoured and eternally grateful for that. so the one that should be thanking you is me. thank you for being my safe space. thank you for always being someone i could turn around to and be open and honest with who i am— i couldn’t be me grateful for such a supportive group of individuals. everyday i think about this. y’all really are my greatest blessing.

i’m so glad, so so glad that i was able to help just even one person and if that one person was you, you’re more than enough because you helped me in more ways than one and i’m thankful that we were there to guide each other throughout our journeys. no seriously, you don’t understand how much of a life saver you are to me and the way you’re able to crack me up from our tiny memes to our iconic ‘huh?’ moments to our deep conversations to yelling to being absolute crackheads. i’d do it all over again. hell when you think about it we’ve barely known each other for a year but i feel like i’ve known you for a life time!

we’re gonna share a shit ton of birthdays together. that’s a promise and i don’t back down on promises i keep to others. you can thank me all you want mía but i don’t think you understand how grateful i am for meeting you. thank you for crash landing into my life, roasting me or any characters we seek, for trusting me with series even though you know my taste is angst. for always being there for me when i needed it for never failing to make me laugh, for your kindness and just being simply you.

i adore you with my whole ass heart and i hope you know it. like i will literally shout it every single freaking day if i have to. you’re everything and more to me. you’re an amazing person and i’m so glad our paths crossed. thank you for being you. 🥺💗

[incarnateirony]

(1.) I like your new format! and (b) I've been thinking about the idea of the end being Cas reordering heaven and Dean being able to choose to be with him there and thinking about why that upset me so much. I think my first reaction was not so much to your outline thoughts, and their hermetic/alchemy base (which i don't pretend to grasp fully), but more to doraspn's read - i hate the idea that someone who has battled a life of trauma, depression and low self-worth can only find peace in death 1/

/part2/ I know it's before Dabberens era, but Dean has twice refused the "peace" option (4.23 when Cas offers it, and s11 when Amara does), plus his character is deeply tied in to the earthy and sensory - food, sex, touch etc. And the show seems (to me) to be saying Cas is moving towards staying - on earth with Dean, maybe as human... Also those Matrix Reloaded videos left me tied in knots! Not sure what I'm asking here, but perhaps for some more of your thoughts. Enjoying this thinky stuff 

Hi Nonnie! Lots to reply to here.

1. Re: format; Thanks! I’m still fishing around for some material to make a few more sliders congealing around P3, 4, 5, and SPN’s Shadow; and one around The Matrix, SPN and P5, but for the most part it’s done and I fixed most of the troublesome parts of the first time I converted to a layout like this (eg it hiding text/captions/etc on galleries and forcing them into single image columns)

2. I can recognize your upset with @doraspn​‘s phrasing. Personally, from my many conversations with them, I don’t think they intended it the way it came across, but I’m not them, nor will I speak for them. I’m more the kind that tries to presume good faith in readings but I can understand why the phrasing/presentation was hurtful. 

3. Eg, the rest.

You mentioned confusion both at the alchemical pathwork and at the Matrix stuff, so let me try a few different angles here. It’s gonna be a bit of a ride. I understand if you can’t soak it all due to personal processing, but see what you can grok from these collective videos I’ve made over the past few years. And yes, the songs are even chosen intentfully. If you have trouble following both in audio, feel free to google the song names for lyrics. After linking them, I’ll discuss a bit.

Parabol & Parabola by Tool (made midseason S14)

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46 & 2 by Tool (made post 14.20 following Lateralus Project theme P&P was built in midseason)

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These videos tackle two highly related topics in Supernatural.

Let it be said: obviously this isn’t an endorsement to run out and die because Fuck All, but let’s just say within the suprastructure of the show that we’re watching;

Andrew Dabb made a comment everybody has been panicking about, that the “death toll will be massive.” I, on the other hand, have a huge mood of “and?” and I think that baffles people how I can mutually suspect a fairly happy or positive ending (if bittersweet in parts) while shrugging that off.

So my simple question, partnered to ideas like Parabol & Parabola, is... should we really fear Death in Supernatural? If we were talking about proverbial death tolls, if Life Is A Highway, and Death and Life are two faces of the same coin, were Death Toll a form of taxation on the highway of life and death, Sam, Dean and their immediate confidants personal crossing past that line, over and back again (consider, if you will, the concept alongside Parabol & Parabola closer to the concept of reincarnation), they’re probably singlehandedly fixing the potholes and keeping the reaper structure online, pfff.

I mean, I use that phrasing loosely. But nothing and in no way has Death been presented as a true end; if anything, it is a point of new beginning. Okay, so humans go to heaven or hell or get stuck on earth and go crazy. And? The Winchesters and co power through that and find a new direction and a new purpose. Neither Death nor God can destrsoy or create souls -- only humans can destroy human souls, be it sacrificing their own for power or torturing each other in hell until the One True Thing, the light that makes them good (and like Jack, without it, is the Absence of Good) goes out, leaving only absence of that kind of spark, and similarity to Amara in her absence of god’s light. 

Death, and God, and all these other things can find ways to box up souls, put them in suitcases or jars or trap them, or in the case of heaven, like MichaelDean’s headspace, give them contentment in heaven that pacifies them into not pursuing more, but in the end, where do they come from and to where do they go? Think to the 46 & 2 video and watch it a few times if you have to.

The concept of Shadow, Animus, Anima, Self and Godhood are basically the primitive self, the masculine ego (if we were, for example, to take their angelic daddy issue counterparts), then the feminine self in all things too (be that the need to fill Pamela into Dean’s bar, or the bartender in Sam’s dream, who coincidentally has the same actress as Dumah reflecting the Empty at Castiel, even -- though Cas has been known to take vessels of either sorts and has been argued to even have motherly or feminine aspects and DOES walk the goddess path in the show)

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The Magician and the Self are the master of all of these, to make gold of oneself and the parts in our life, the important things that should not be let go, regardless of what Chuck tells us. But “life” is relative here, in a world where we can reincarnate, time and again. In Sam and Dean’s case, it’s because they’re exceptional people in exceptional circumstances but the question then is, why can the rest of man not be given the same, and how do we right this system?

Which then of course comes down to my Matrix implications: The Architect and Chuck, how are they different? If angels are programs designed to keep his operating system functional; if humans are the power cells, human souls each like innumerable reactors; if he who has the most souls are become god;

if Castiel at one point tried to replicate this, but had no sorting system to keep them distracted or occupied and they ... well, they rebelled. But Chuck has ample systems. He has heaven, where people are distracted. He has hell, where humans tear each other apart. And he has... earth. Yes, earth. Where we are in fact convinced to desperately cling to the human bodies as part of the sandbox he designed, for fear of what waits for us. Again, as per the Shadow video, “I’m the cage,” what separates the defined human experience as it stands from that?

Reordering the suprastructure of the universe may very well give us the opportunity to make a new world, a better one, free of hunger, or want.

If, for example -- just one of the angles this could go; let’s say Cas unbirthed heaven like Rowena did hell. Neither of them truly perish. Their physical bodies die and will not return to earth, but these realms can directly interact. They endure, and can build entire new system structures. What if whoever unbirths heaven in the end makes it so EVERYONE can have the choice to reincarnate and gain new experiences? Or equally so the choice to go and make their own perfect worlds with anyone and everyone they choose, where man is his own agent and own god that defines the extent of his experience? 

After all. Burgers can go cold in heaven. Physics are had there. It’s all cognitive, but by Chuck, so is earth. The only problem is that none of the people there are real, and in the end... people, families, that’s real. That’s the whole point, isn’t it?

So back to the Matrix: the architect like Chuck had built many worlds, and humans fell into it, becoming the driving power cores. Their revolt is the one thing the Architect would do anything to prevent or minimize, even if in a way, the Architect himself created the One. Angels are programs. Fallen angels are rogue programs. But even agent smith managed to convert “out” into humanity.

I’ve been all for human Cas endgame and, in a way, I still am. In fact, the very idea, the proposal of him taking over heaven prevents nothing of him living in eternity with the Winchesters. Be they having Jack take over the macrocosm of the universe and still dancing through earth as we know it, or eventually sunning their butts between incarnations or building their own realms with all they may want and have. Do they choose to incorporate the carnal edge of experience? Maybe! They know those things after all, so what prevents them of creating it any differently than Jack’s burger going friggin’ cold off of complex manifestations of memory?

What is life? What is the meaning of life? Is it sitting here with a thumping heart, locking ourselves up in rooms for fear of losing it, or is it the people, the families, the experiences we gather as a whole? And in the structure of Supernatural, if Sam and Dean were to die in physical body, does that mean they’re dead? Hell, does it even mean they’ve given up? Or do they actually have dreams and objectives to make better worlds and realities, to bring back every person they’ve lost?

What keeps, say, Dean from going to heaven and opening up a bar for travelers deciding if they wanna reincarnate and enjoy earth again and get new earthly experiences -- or if they’ve found their meaning, their purpose, their people, and they want to, by choice and not assigned fate, take those souls with them into their own worlds where they can make new and better ones? Break the cages, give power and freedom. 

It’s a complex line of thought and takes some brain breaking because, as humans, naturally we fear Death. But the perspective of the heavily reincarnate Winchesters and the universe of the show we’re watching -- hell, Sam and Dean CAN’T even really just kill themselves to give up. Remember Lucifer was like meh, I’d just bring you back. So that ain’t it either. It’s not necessarily about giving up or being suicidal, should we come to this -- but about freedom, and choice, and sovereignty of man, and chosen love and family.

If the Shadow were the dreamer in the nothingspace that neverwas, the primitive man, who woke up and went “WTF?” one day and by mistake shat out primitive principles, like the demiurge YHVH/Chuck who happened to create the world by concept of Light and Grace, somewhere, it’s “Why do I exist?” Not to be too pedantic but remember when Mewtwo woke up in a test tube and just kept asking that over and over again. Hell, DO I exist. What is the meaning of this allnothing? and to make it by that question, and to try to find meaning in it, and to gain a million individual experiences, and become a million people, all developing their own personalities and egos and identities and lives and memories, but all to ask, and search, and find -- and still to come back to itself, each other, and by those experiences we become whole.

Eileen’s ghost didn’t hear. We can say it was just for politically correct reasons. Or we can consider that the soul that entered into that body never knew what it meant to have those senses in the matrix, and it was irrelevant in the end. It did not define who she was, and did not need to, because she had her own definition and her own life and her own self.  But like everyone else, she gravitates to those she has a connection to. Sometimes with prodding from Chuck. In other cases, against his best efforts, some connections make themselves.

I’ve reached the point of ranting, but maybe this has explained what I’m talking about in these things?

To me, “suicide” in its form as given by the show isn’t just deciding not to need earth as it stands anymore. It’s giving up. It’s surrendering to the cages. It’s Dean wanting to be rocketed off into the depths of space or thrown into the ocean (or, just as bad, throwing Cas into it in his place). It’s giving in to the boxes, to not want to maintain freedom to pursue and explore. So, if Dean should, for example, choose to go to heaven in the end, if this system has been rebuilt-- I really don’t consider that suicidal or death. I consider that a real step into life, and the self.

** Obvious disclaimer let’s not endorse this as a real world line of thinking unless you too like Sam and Dean Winchester can reincarnate after half an episode thanks 

[phemonoi]

tarot cards as foster the people lyrics 🌿✨

*based on the waite tarot deck

I've wanted to do this to better understand the relation of the cards with one another and I thought it'd be a good idea to post it here!

i. aces, the magician & justice

—houdini

“rise above, gonna start the war!” / “well, and eye for an eye, and an ‘f’ for a fight” / “well, you got what you want and what you never knew, perfect gift from me to you” / “focus on your ability, then they can’t get what they want to steal”

the aces have an aura of beginning, the spark of an idea, oportunity, birth. however, the magician is the “trigger” of that change, he controls it, activates it. he’s the architect and alchemist that has the ability to make use of each suit as he pleases. with justice, as we see, this power comes with a responsability. you get back what you give. and because the magician is also an illusionist, a liar and a thief, justice needs to be there as a reminder of what happens when you abuse magic. 

ii. twos, high priestess & the hanged man

—shc

“you’re a secret, that’s worth keeping, and now i’m keeping my mouth shut” / “well, i’ve been sleeping waiting for something, but to feel nothing at all, avoid the call” / “when i’m alone, there’s a ghost the keeps talking, and i know there’s gotta be more, for sure”

the twos are a symbol of alchemy, and this can be clearly seen in the cups with the caduceus of hermes on the background. the high priestess is the master of occult knowledge, she channels cosmic knowledge through intuition, thus creating a bond, an exchange of energy within her and the universe. the hanged man needs meditation and contemplation in order to decide what’s next, what’s real from what’s an illusion. he urges stillness in order to recover, much like the two of swords.

iii. threes, the empress & death

—fire escape

“my spine is made of iron, my heart pumps out old red paint” / “I see the seasons change, all the young faces come and replace the dying ones” / “i’ve watched the dreamers find their legs, and i’ve seen the ones that come get reduced to bones and rags”

this procesion of cards illustrates the importance of cycles. the threes combine pain, sorrow (swords) with recovery, harmony (cups), planning (pentacles) with action (wands), conveying the message that one simply can’t exist without the other, for the presence of the other is what gives one its importance, its core definition. they’re light and shadow, much like birth (empress) and death. 

iv. fours, the emperor & temperance

—coming of age

“you know i try to live without regrets, i’m always moving forward and not looking back, but i tend to leave a trail of dead while moving ahead” / “just like an animal, i protect my pride, when i’m too bruised to fight, and even when i’m wrong i tend to think i’m right. well, i’m bored of the game, and too tired to rage”

the emperor is the giver of stability, as we can see in four of pentacles and four of wands. he provides a stable foundation to build a home, he’s a father. meanwhile, the four of cups and four of swords portray temperance; they’re about patience, balance, and meditation. the emperor, as a leader, needs to balance the responsability of his power out with temperance, or else he will become a tyrant, ruled by fire.

v. fives, the hierophant & the devil 

—pay the man

“say what you love, it’s alright don’t be afraid to find your light, embrace the day, at night we’re here to fight, we all go wild again” / “climbing up my own tree, hoping it can hold all the things i’ve seen but i’ve chosen to ignore. well, i said, well i believe i’ve been well fed but the wolf’s not dead” / “lift up your name, seasons change, you know that it'll never be the same, we'll see the sun again, and before it fades, i just wanna say that i love you”

this procesion is very deep. it speaks of the spirit on a level that no other procesion of cards does in the entire deck. because the hierophant is combined with the devil, i feel like it unites opposite religious concepts: heaven with hell, purity with dirt, wisdom with madness. this alchemy of the soul is pretty much a product of dionysos, and that’s why he’s often identified with both major arcanas. the fives, now, are the middle point of each suit; they mark a transcendental point in the path of the fool. they speak of poverty, sadness, confusion and conflict. this is the event that leads to the tower; the failure, the longing for illumination, the unmasking of the lies and illusions that have ruled one’s life until now. the unity of darkness and light, the highest power, thrice-born and divine, with the lowest impulses of nature, the satyrs and maenads that lure you into their orgy. the devil here demands to be payed back, he wants retribuition, while the hierophant presents himself as the saviour, the guide, that happens to also be incredibly biased. i think it’s very useful to view this procesion as a representation of dionysos, he who initiates us into the journey of self-discovery through mysteries and shadows. 

vi. sixes, the lovers & the tower 

—the truth

“well i’ve been trying to relearn my name, it feels like a thousand years that i’ve been out of frame and i surrender, the truth is what it’s what i’ve needed from you, cause i’ve been floating within your walls of opinion, and i’m tired. i only want the truth” / “a blinding call to prayer has touched my feet, like the call of the prophets, a purpose is needed before you know that you know, to never wonder what you are, and not forget where you’ve come from” / “is it really love you’ve been speaking of?”

the lovers and the tower have a closer relation than what i thought at first, and the verses of this song really show it. the lovers is, finally, the resolution of the devil and the hierophant: it is the unification of duality, the yin and yang, and its lust is still present in the devil; the impetus and dichotomy of human emotion. but the tower and the hierophant are both events of immense spiritual enlightment. they represent freedom. the sixes are about charity, change, escape, and victory. 

vii. sevens, the chariot & the star 

—doing it for the money

“just close your eyes, we’re gonna run this blind, we live our lives, we’re not wasting time, maybe we lost our minds, we’re gonna get what we can” / “i said it doesn’t matter where i go, i am calling all the poets into battle, i am shouting to the world let them know that we won’t be afraid to step into the fight when we can’t see the light” / “there’s no retreat and no escape if we keep dreaming while we’re wide awake”

dreams, hope, courage and art. this is a creative procesion of cards. after the breakdown of the sixth procesion, the seventh brings bravery forthward. there’s no time to waste and we’re now purified, convinced of our worth and what we need to do in order to achieve what is needed. we’ve accepted the situation, the nature of our uncontrolling emotions and the will of fate. the sevens take action, a bit impulsively, but still they trigger a necessary change after the depression seen with the lovers and the tower. 

viii. eights, strength & the moon

—a beginner’s guide to destroying the moon

“and now i’m staring at the moon wondering why the bottom fell out, been searching for answers and there’s questions i’ve found” / “we’ve been crying for a leader to speak like the old prophets, the blood of the forgotten wasn’t spilled without a purpose, or was it?” / “you’ll never be whole until you lose control, and think freely to smash the wall of apathy, stop your self-importance and lift the weight off somebody else”

there’s a very pretty picture on the eight of cups in the ethereal visions illuminated tarot deck, because the moon is full, shining enormously over a deep blue landscape, and that perfectly illustrates the relation of this card to the major arcana of the moon. this procesion for me is about confidence. change is never easy, even when we’ve finally surrendered to the fate of circumstances, even when we were the ones to trigger it. eight of swords and eight of cups are not easy cards to gaze at, but we must remember that the moon is a mother, it is nurturing, it reminds us of the quality of nature to be cyclical, that things are always moving and flowing, and emotions don’t last forever. it’s also a card of illusions; it yells at us to remove the blindfold from our eyes and rediscover our worth. strength is about taming the beast, keeping on working, effort and struggle. so this tells me; no matter how much it hurts, keep going, be a leader, be the lion, make the blood you shed worth it. 

xix. nines, the hermit & the sun

—pseudologia fantastica

“don’t be afraid of the knife, sometimes you gotta cut the limb to survive” / “you got to love the madness of the feeling, don’t have to rush the freshness of beginning, you got to get back up and face your demons, don’t ever be afraid of starting over”

the nines follow the archetype of the hermit and continue their path through the sun. when we’ve worked hard enough, when we’ve compromised to facing our shadow self, when we’ve retired to truly know ourselves, admiting what we’ve done, what we’re worth, and retreated into silence, then there’s a comeback filled with joy, music, light. the nine of swords is a necessary dark night of the soul leading to a definitive awakening. 

xx. the tens, wheel of fortune & judgement 

—iii

“and i wont be afraid, it’s true we’ll never know, when the night will come and take us home, and people change, we fade from youth, and evolve into eternal life” / “wake the sleeping from their dreaming, we all want more, we all want more saints will sing and hearts are beating, saying we all want more, we all want more”

there’s still much to learn in the ten of swords already, but because life is an ouroboros and our purpose is to return to having full control of all the suits and making use of that power faithfully and wisely, it doesn’t matter. in the tens, we admit that we can affect certain situations but there’s always something that escapes our sight; fortune acts alone. wheels turn again, endlessly, for eternity. we want more; the ten of cups portrays a couple with kids new life, new paths, a new story that is, again, yet to be unfold. ten of pentacles passes down its knowledge and experience to the youth; ten of wands continues with its struggle, in the conviction that the nine will come back. ten of swords, however, looks defeated. it ain’t. it’s finally the death of the past self. ten of swords is, actually, the scene of the moment the knight defeated his adversaries. it is a card of victory; but the knight is yet to become a king. 

[jojoreadwhat]

T W E L V E • A Gwilym Lee Story | 5. the one with the heat wave

Author’s Note: THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR GIVING THIS LOVE. It’s my baby! I promise you, there’s soooo much about to happen soon! Enjoy!

Sylvia •

If I didn't believe that the day I walked in on Ben and his mistress, in my bedroom was the worst of my life recently. Today could've easily taken its spot, on this new list I'm currently creating. It has only been a week working at Jimmy Bean's and I've already been fired.

Nothing was going right! Orders were wrong, baking is definitely not a strong skill of mine. And being yelled at for horrible tasting coffee was worse than being yelled at over toner.

Joe was trying so hard to help me out earlier on and I owed it to him big time. I just never thought that brewing coffee could be the hardest thing to do but I was proven wrong. Now as I sit on an empty bench, with my shitty cup of coffee, waiting for the subway to arrive.

I've always been a true believer that everything happens for a reason. Or that you've gotta get through the bad to get to the good of life. I've just been insecure about it all lately. Hitting nothing but walls in the last three weeks. Feeling like I'm on my road to my rock bottom. I had it perfect months earlier, even a few years back. All these achievements that I was striving for all along, they came so easily.

College degrees

New job

New apartment

New beau..

I sighed at the recapturing. Processing it all as I closed my eyes for a moment and bringing them back to the platform. Before wiping my forehead of sweat, oh and! Did I not mention it's the hottest day of the year?

Literally hell at its finest.

Even after all of this nonsense I've endured so far. I know I'll still always be a firm believer of the "good things" though. Just being out of my comfort zone of home just made it worse but at the same time. I wasn't going to let this set me back completely. I'm just nervous of what hell was going to happen next I guess.

++

After walking the rest of the way from the subway. I made a quick pit stop to the corner store before heading to the apartment.

"Lucy!" I called out, going into the kitchen and putting the milk away, sucking in the cool air for a second. As it felt hotter in the place than it did outside. I was surprised by no answer since she mentioned she was home today. I went to her room and nothing but a made bed (surprisingly)

When I came back into the common rooms, I noticed a little note next to our last bottle of wine on the table.

Syl,

I had a last minute flight to catch for work.

I'll be back in a few days, if it gets too hot.

The apartment AC is in my storage closet

with a tool set. Good luck!

- Lucy

I took the note to fan myself in search of this closet. It was next to the bathroom, under the last shelf. And there she was, our air conditioner. Dusty and needed to be love. I went to pull it out, but I couldn't pick it up after that. It was too heavy.

"How the hell am I supposed to do this?" I said into the air. I couldn't stand another minute in this heat. I wondered if Joe was home since he left early today?

Finding the tool set and cleaned the window near a plug for this thing to work. I opened the door to cross the hall to apartment eleven. Joe and Gwilym’s place. Knocking twice.

"Let it be Joe." I said to myself, repeating, hoping to god that he could help me and I wouldn't get stuck with Gwil. So far, things weren't so bad with him but at the same time tension was still there and he's wit and sarcasm was not something I wanted to deal with right now.

But of course, today was continuing to test me.

Gwilym answered the door with his short dark brown locks disarrayed and shirtless. Only dressed in black pants, hanging loosely below his waist. Exposing his slender build and lightly toned chest and waist.

"Yes?" He greeted, then. Snapping back from the view as I caught myself staring. Suddenly feeling the cool air coming into the hall from his apartment. Reminding me why I was standing in front of him in the first place.

I cleared my throat, "Hey, is Joe home?" I asked. Watching Gwilym smirked shortly after.

"Why? Do you fancy him too?" He joked, immediately clicking that I was not the only one that seen the exchanges between Joe and Lucy.

"Haha, so funny." I retorted, then. "I needed help putting in the air conditioner." Explaining, but of course it didn't stop Gwilym there.

He was leaning his arm on the door frame, "It's easy, just place it in the window and plug it in." He stated.

I can't stand him.

I chuckled loudly, "That would be great if I could lift it off the floor." I replied again, beginning to turn back to my door. "I'm just going to suffer till Joe gets back."

I heard Gwilym readjusting himself to close the door. "Okay, sounds good."

"Mhm, thanks for wasting my time." I said, then.

"Same to you!" I heard him say. Before shutting the door behind myself. Retreating back to my sauna.

——————————————-

Gwilym •

I watched the dark brunette walk across the hall and close the door behind her. A part of me felt like I had succeeded. In whatever little game this was we were playing since we introduced ourselves. Constant comebacks and wit anytime we were around one another.

Then there was a part of me that I didn't quite fully understand. That I wanted to help her out for some reason. Standing in my place with the air on full blast, imagining that she's dealing with what I just solved an hour ago myself.

I don't know what is was first. That she was Lucy’s best friend. I love Lucy, and she's the first I think that I haven't slept with during my time in the city. We made out once, laughed it off, of course. Ultimately I looked at her like a sister and if it were to have been vice versa of her knocking for help. I probably would have been in her apartment by now.

Or the inevitability that Sylvia was gorgeous. Dark hair, blue eyes, the perfect bone structure a person could have to their face. A light complexion that all of the above was brought beautifully together in her choices of lipsticks. Along with a killer body and legs that were always well complimented with anything above her knees. I'd pretty much do anything for a gorgeous woman, that's why I had a pretty high reputation in the matters of months.

But all I knew I was now fishing for my tool box and heading across the way.

After I knocked, Sylvia opened the door in a complete wardrobe change. Her hair thrown up into a messy bun and away from her shoulders. In a grey camisole, cropped above her belly button and black shorts.

She rolled her blue eyes at the site of me, "Are you here torment me some more?" She questioned, then.

"Where's the air conditioner?" I asked. Welcoming me in with what I think was the first ever smile I've received.

++

Sylvia stated the obvious that the AC was heavy. Bigger than Joe and I’s for sure, it came quite clear that the girls place was actually bigger as well. I wasn't so sure how Lucy and her ex-roommate Allen got this in last summer. But it definitely wasn't easy.

To make it so much easier, sarcastically speaking, none of the screws were working to secure the thing in place.

"I'm running out of ice." Sylvia interrupted my frustration, bringing in water for the meantime to cool down. I thanked her, then. "I know it's going to seem crazy." I started, after. Explaining that none of the screws were long enough and that I had longer ones in my junk drawer.

"Do you think you could hold this in place?" I asked the impossible. She looked at me like she seen three ghosts fly by. This was going to be great. But luckily she was willing to try.

When she replaced my hand with hers, I was thanking a god I didn't believe in before running across to my own kitchen.

I came back in seconds, "Alright, where's the screwdriver?!" Forgetting my footing before I left. I began looking through the tool box,

"I found it!" Sylvia exclaimed shortly before screaming, "NO!!" after doing the worst thing possible.

She let go of the air conditioner.

[gaylefritzy]

Today not tomorrow, Right now not later!

What is self-empowerment and why is it important to ourselves?

My journey to Self-Empowerment did not just started when I had this subject in college. I guess the time I started being aware that I am doing this was when I started High School. Being in a Science High School is not a walk in the park. It was more like being in an Amusement Park, there are smooth rides but there are also the EXTREME rides. Also, the expectations of the people around you just builds up and up as you excel in certain areas academically and non-academically. Hell, even telling people where you go to in High School they already assume that you are something that you are not. We are collectively judged based on the name of our school and not as a person of who we really are.

That's not where it ends. My first year was really chill, well because I'm not really fully aware of the responsibilities and duties of being in that school. All I was thinking about that time was making friends, playing and trying to pass my projects within the deadline.

All hell breaks loose when I turned grade 8. It was then the teachers are instilling in us that we are to maintain such certain grade and that we are scholars and we should not put shame to our school. What we do reflects straight towards not just us individually but to the school as well. That time I also realized that my classmates and schoolmates comes from different places and different lives, trainings and upbringing. To be honest, I am culturally shocked. I considered myself to be sheltered. I am an achiever but being in private school shelters you from the brutality of the life outside. I am an introvert through and through and when I enter High School, it's like life literally slapped face so hard I had a hard time recovering.

The second year was not yet the most brutal year of being there. Though I started adjusting, I started noticing me as someone who's not a kid anymore but a person with such responsibilities. I started to also notice what I am and who I am but not to the full extent that I can answer the question what do I think is my purpose in life. I mean I'm just 15 at that time so please bear with me.

The ninth year was the formal year that I could say I started to realize I've been into the journey of finding me and empowering not just myself but others too because I became the president of a club, specifically the English Club. I've been to many clubs and extracurricular activities in grades 7and 8, I didn't realized I would be president.

The 3rd was one one of the brutal years being in a Science High School. The things we are doing are so all around that we didn't even know if this is still a High School or some training camp or something. Being a president of a club was new to me. I didn't know the ropes and what to do, my club adviser that time thought that I can do it without anyone's help. How could I run a whole damn club all by myself. That struggle right there made me see how incompetent I am as a student and as a Leader. I mean how can I do things, if I literally don't know what to do. I don't even see why those members chose me?! That year for English Club was a failure not entirely to the club since we made some passable projects but I know in me that I was a failure. It was shitty honestly. I feel like I didn't deserve to be there with them and all that.

I really have a lot on my plate that time. With all the training of research paper making, plays, projects and other stuff that we are to do. What's worse is that I know it was just bot me who's been doing all of those classes and projects. There are 87 grade 9 students whose going through it too but I just can't help but feel unworthy and a failure.

Finally 10th grade came. I was again picked out as a president of the English Club but it was not through votes but an appointment.

Grade 10 head count turned from 87 to 84 that year. The reason was unknown but it was really either they quit or they didn't reach the ceiling grade but that was not really the problem though I was sad because I knew they could make it but they chose not to and that's still fine because knowing where you will be happy and comfortable is the most important thing.

So going back, I was again the President of my Club and I promised myself that I will get revenge and do better than I did last year. This appointment was opppsed by the former English club adviser. The Event Coordinator who appointed me knew that I can do it but because of my poor performance last year this was greatly opposed. How did I knew about this? Well there was an open letter about the discussion of the Organizations in school and it even made a controversy around the student and created a tension between the two teachers. I felt really bad because I knew I didn't deserved it but I promised to do better and prove to all of them that I can do better.

You would ask, why did she get appointed in the first place? Why was she chosen if she did a bad job last year. Well this is how the awareness of my journey of self-empowerment comes in. I knew that I lack of many things as a leader so I redid and started over with a smaller setting which were the classroom or whenever I get to be the director, project leader, and all that. I honed my trust in myself better. I could say my skills when it comes to leading dramatically changed over a year. He, the event coordinator, was one of my subject teacher and I think he saw potential in me and so he trusted me. Same goes with my classmates, they see me as a leader material. That was a lot to be honest, i feel empowered. I feel so honoured and that I promised not to let anyone down. I'd do my best to be the one who get to be empowered within by empowering other people but most specially my other club officers and club members.

As the year ends I could finally say that I was better than I was before, the Club I lead achieved more than it did for the past years it existed and we made a yearly tradition/celebration of the English month called the English Camp that will continue on and on as long as English month exists in the yearly Deped calendar. I even won a Leadership Award that year.

So you see, Self-Empowerment is everything. I tripped down and faced setbacks that made me feel useless and shitty but I got back-up again. I applied my principles in life, became fully aware of how I affect myself, other people around me and made changes for the better. Empowerment itself is not just changing to be the better you, it's also about listening, accepting and understanding. People trusts you if you trust yourself, anyone will love you if you love yourself. That's why I even became the Vice President of the Student Government. I did not just focused on myself, I included everyone and anyone that would need someone to listen to them. You will always a learn a thing or two about yourself and other people if you just take your time listening, understanding and accepting. That's the most empowering feeling that you can get, to understand and to be understood.

Also it's about how you MOVE FORWARD towards your goal. We can never change the past but we can learn from it and just keep moving forward. Change the way how it affects you, let it sink in and be the better version of you. There will always be those people who will hate you no matter what you do but as long as you know your worth and you know that you don't really have to explain to those who didn't matter then that is just one great EMPOWERMENT you can gift to yourself.

Let me yell you this, YOU ARE STRONG, YOU ARE WORTH IT and YOU ARE LOVED!

-Fritzy ❤️💜💛💚🧡💙

[vexkader]

Solis, Part 1

Fires burned. Hazy and unfocused, my breath was slow and controlled. Screams heard the distance as mechanical demons fired purple from their rod arms. Burning the flesh from humans and anthros, indiscriminately killing with a seething hatred.

I aimed my rifle to fire as one of monsters, sleek and cool in contrast to the jagged design of my foe. Gripping and pulling the trigger, the recoil jutted into my shoulder. Yelling as I sent them back to Hell. As I fought, I felt a mass upon me. As black and as cold as space itself. It whispered to me with no signs of embracing me.

"Your existence is failure, we are perfection."

My eyes shot open as I drew breath. Groaning as I looked up to the cold silver and white of my ship. The sheets of my bed trying to lull me back to sleep, but I knew I had to wake anyways. Rubbing my eyes with a paw, I sit up on the edge of the bed. Not quite dressed for the days adventure.

Sitting at the edge and pondering random thoughts, I stared down at my paws. Till a voice spoke to me.

"You're awake, I wasnt expecting it honestly after you dozed off for another ten hours." The dry and albeit a bit sarcastic voice rang throughout the ship. Annoying me as I still felt half asleep.

Jumping to my paws, I sluggishly make my way to the shower. Across the tiled floor, yawning and dragging my paws. I made my way to the shower.

"No answer?" He asks, almost seemingly in a mocking tone.

"No." I say back. My accent cutting through the tiredness in my voice.

Turning the dial up on the shower, making sure it was nice and warm. Water sprays from the nozzle, wetting the glass and stone working. Taking off the only clothing I had on, I step into the waters embrace. Letting it run through my fur, relaxing the tense muscles after that dream.

Soaking the thick fur, that of snow leopards. I grabbed some shampoo and began to lather up. Whiteness contrasted my grayish fur, softening it up all the same. Bringing out the cyan colored spots on my forearms, calves, and tail. Rinsing my self off, and draping a towel over my waste.

Stepping up to the mirror, I look myself over. A blueish gray overtone, followed by a grey pattern starting from my chin down. Along with two grey ovals on my cheeks, bringing out my deep cyan eyes.

Grabbing my tooth brush from behind the mirror. I wet it down in the sink, dapping it with minty flavored paste. Going over my feline teeth, and my two odd saber teeth. Not exactly found in snow leopards, but not uncommon to a mix like me. Finishing up and spitting into the sink. I wash down the excess and begin to dry off my fur. Making it poofed up.

Stepping out of the bathroom I was assaulted by my AI's voice again. Showing an irritating concern.

"You can't do that again, your wellbeing dropped well below my comfort."

"I know, shut it! Please!" I beg with him, "I really do not want to discuss this."

"Fine, but I won't ignore it."

Rolling my eyes, I go to get myself dressed. Secretly I knew he was right. I was destroying myself, but I just couldn't.. stop. Taking a glance at the small bottle with little white pills inside. Feeling a deep regret.

Getting myself dressed up for the day, in a tight shirt and shorts. I prepare myself some breakfast as I listened to rain hit the ship. Creating a consistent pattern of drops. The pure sound of rain. Nothing beat it.

After my breakfast of sugary pastries, I clean up and head to the front of the ship. A small blue hologram, spherical in shape, appeared from the console of beaming lights and boards. All of it shining off of a brilliant cherry wood and white finish of my walls.

"BB?" This time I pester the AI. "Head for the Maxwell Mountains, far side preferably."

"Going to investigate those ruins again?"

"Yes, I need to figured out what those dreams are. What those things are."

"Have you tried other ruins in the system? You know theres some on Earth and Mars as well."

I nod, seating myself into a leather chair. Looking over the dashboard. "I do, but this one just." Pausing, thinking of how to describe it. "Theres something about the one here on Venus that has something about it. Need to head deeper into it."

"To Maxwell Montes then."

The ship whirred to life, the engine purring as if it was a newfound kitten. Soon me and BB found ourselves pulling out of Ishtar Port. Soaring high above the streamlined buildings and highways. The tropical sun beating off them, creating reflections in their material.

Zooming past them at great heights, the sky scrapers made way for suburbs, then the suburbs to grasslands. Guarded by a few walls then a dense tropical forest.

Trees and trees and nothing but trees made up the view of the ground. With the looming mountain range fast approaching, its foothills below.

Steadily, the ship slowed down above a clearing in the treeline. Declining down, landing gear exposed as it sunk into the soil. Taking in a deep breath, I exit the chair. Heading off to get ready for some exploration. Paws carrying me through the ship.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" BB asks me. "Those dreams have been wrecking havoc on your sleep."

"I have to know, they dont mean nothing. I only got them when I visited a ruin for the first time years ago."

In a small bit of silence, BB seemed to understand my wonders. That ruin on Io, it would've been my own ruin ironically. But somehow, just somehow I was able to interact with it. Then see a bit of our future, our not so far future. I had to know and to stop it all, cast my own issue aside.

"And Vex?" I stop, turning around to face the blue light. "Yeah?"

"Be careful out there." BB warned me, bringing a small smile to my face as I turned away from his holographic image. Heading down the ship to find my answers.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the story, and I hope to see you around for the next parts! I've been enjoying writing this so far, and I'd like to hear your thoughts and comments on this. I've worked on my story and lore for a while now, so if you have questions I'm open to answer them!

[closedspeciesdrama]

Re: The Wendigo argument, there's this instability trait which is prevalent on the internet these days. There are a lot of very unstable young men and women who try to give themselves meaning and worth by deeming themselves "gatekeepers" of either political correctness or cultural appropriation. Down to a man the ones I've seen in CS and in other communities are typically insecure to the point of near-mania and with any number of mental issues. Gatorbite and VCR are like poster boys. 1 of 2

- The best way to deal with this sort of nonsense isn’t to argue with them which is ultimately narcissistic supply and a means for them to try and show how morally “superior” they are to their victim, it’s simply best to flat out block them if needed or ignore them. Might seem harsh but I have personal issue with the way they use issues of gender and culture to bully every community they touch and to intimidate younger people with threats of dubbing them “bad people” or public defamation. 2 of 2

(1)Citing “Windigo Psychosis: the anatomy of an emic-etic confusion” an academic journal by a group of anthropologists: “When the windigo phenomenon is considered from the point of view of group sociodynamics rather than from that of individual psychodynamics, the crucial question is not what causes a person to become a cannibalistic maniac, but under what circumstances a Northern Algonkian is likely to be accused of having become a cannibalistic maniac(2)and thus run the risk of being executed as such. It is argued that those so executed were victims of triage homicide or witch hunts, events common in societies under stress.” Hell just that alone should be enough. Algonkians and other natives were straight up murdered over a mythological creature that was used against them. No one besides Algonkians are in any placeto make a CS/adopt design based on something with such a dark historical context.(3)Looking beyond Wikipedia could have easily told you this. Also, no anon, you fucking idiot, the wendigo was a thing before the term “wendigo psychosis” even existed as a culture-bound syndrome. AND IF YOU PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER… usually “culture-bound” syndromes are inherently racist and untrue.

Didn’t vcr-wolfe get called out for something too tho like if you’re gonna be the 1# sjw for everything wouldn’t it be ironic to get a call out for a shitty thing you’ve done

OH MY GOD. that post is LITERALLY a whole fucking year ago. once again vendetta anons pull shit from their ass. that character isnt even a freaking adopt, and vcr doesnt even have a species and has hardly sold maybe 3 adopts in the last 6 months? maybe if yall weren’t reaching so far into the past for some petty bs we could stay on topic for once lmao

Wait is there any proof of them being white?? I’ve I beleive I saw vcr wolfe say they’re native or smth before. But the thunderbird thing is so stupid lmao in the Wild West tm a lot of towns only had like white people because natives were driven out. I mean depending on the characters setting. Plus there’s majority of white people. Thunderbirds aren’t like a wendigo, you can say it’s name and talk about it and it wouldn’t attack just you so I don’t see a problem lmao

I think the issue here is you’re going to have people from a culture saying something is offensive, but someone else from the same culture saying that it’s not offensive and they’re glad you’re taking interest in their culture in the first place. See: Every East Asian mythology based CS out there, basically. Literally there is no right or wrong across the board, nobody “wins”, and that’s just how life is. Grey morality exists, just let people make content they enjoy ffs.

I think the issue here is you’re going to have people from a culture saying something is offensive, but someone else from the same culture saying that it’s not offensive and they’re glad you’re taking interest in their culture in the first place. See: Every East Asian mythology based CS out there, basically. Literally there is no right or wrong across the board, nobody “wins”, and that’s just how life is. Grey morality exists, just let people make content they enjoy ffs.

People act like VCR-WOLFE’s word is law or something. I can see being passionate about causes and all but they take the cake for extremism. People should be allowed to make a character any race to fit their preferences or just their likes, of course within being respectful. I think VCR gets some kind of high and mighty buzz by going after people, especially us evil whites.

multiple poc: hey this is offensive. yall: uhm idk that sounds fake :/. one poc: yeah it’s fake. yall, digging your claws in: YOU SEE? WE WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG! THIS ONE POC HAS VALIDATED OUR RACISM FOREVER! *pterodactyl screech*

Is vcr wolfe a serious account or is it just some random asshole that enjoys stirring up people by being the dictionary image for the social justice warrior stereotype that literally everyone hates. I have seen them be a little weiner before (cue them accusing me of misgendering them), I would take nothing they say seriously because honestly they are a joke.

Why does this Wendigo shit still come up? This is the same as the sombrero Mario crap that blew up on twitter. Quit speaking for other cultures that you don’t belong to. Native American people have expressed both support and distain for the issue. A wendigo is a monster, why is making a monster be a monster suddenly such a taboo? You can white knight the subject to death, you aren’t in the wrong but you’re certainly not in the right either. If you don’t support it then don’t.

context: the wendigo was used as a slur and label for natives/Algonquins who were mentally ill (aka called them canibals; hence “wendigo psychosis”) and was used to justify their genocide so making an adopt out of such a theme isn’t taken lightly as this has a historic context you can’t erase (source: I live in the algonquin northeast) (½)mythical creatures such as vampires and werewolves come from a ton of different cultures and generally they’ve been reinterpreted so often that it doesn’t retain its origin context. here’s another point- the Algonquin people still exist. despite the mythical creature being used against them they are more than in the right to use it how they see fit. it’s sorta like how the lgbt community took back the word “queer” while a straight person should definitely not call a gay person “a queer” (2/2)

Btw the wendigo isn’t a legend ! It’s a tale told up north and is taken very seriously. The reason people don’t want you to use it is because saying the name is suppose to make you a victim ( aa I forgot I’m sorry ) BUT I still beleive if you do your research u should be okay like just don’t make it a xD murderer monster cannibal

The thing with a wendigo character is not everyone is going to see/research the full story of them, because they’ve been big in media for awhile now. Until Dawn, Supernatural, even My Little Pony. And tbh, it’s something that while drifting away from the original intent, does bring traditional stories to the homes of others, who otherwise would never know the term, or know of the monsters. Mass media is keeping our culture alive, even as we kill it ourselves by not letting others near it.

this just in: vcr-wolfe solely dictates what can and cannot be used from cultures in character designs

VCR is mixed actually lol

VCR-wolfe is actually half mexican. So maybe don’t be fucking racist?

Can we stop the “ insulting = I’m right” thing it’s so stupid. If someone’s discussing something or DOESNT KNOW you don’t have to insult them. You look like a jerk js ( this is towards the anon in the wendigo post about wendigo-psychosis). The person was just basically saying ‘fun fact’ no need to call them a fucking idiot jeez

Mixed with what? I’ve seen this argument on another drama site. If they are mixed, they are white enough to pass as entirely white. Even then your word isn’t some divine rule on what is right & wrong. VCR constantly leans on the “I’m mentally ill” schtick, maybe they should focus on themselves for a bit & quit badgering people that want to enjoy another culture. Geez would bringing back segregation make you fuckers happy, let start DNA testing before you can draw or create a non white character.

The anon about wendigo pychosis got their panties in a twist lmao. If we can’t use anything with “” dark historical context" or “ only ____ are allowed to use this” then we all might as well sick to our own religions and make nothing but what we’re born into/practice. So if you’re native and you make a nun rabbit prepare for a ass chewing ! :( keep whining about everything you just sound like a broken record lmao you “” fucking idiot “”

Wait so if vcr-Wolfe isn’t native what say do they got in it then??? If they’re Mexican/white ??? Why don’t they step down and let real native/mixed natives speak for themselves and not have someone gatekeeping their beliefs Jesus lord I LOVE when none natives try to speak for my culture

Multi poc people: this is bad y'all: SEE ITS EVIL Multi poc: its alright do your research tho Y'all: WTF THATS BAD WHAT ABOUT OUR TOKEN FRRIENDS SAYING ITS OKAY AAAA Get your head out your ass dude there’s two sides to the shit just because people back your opinion doesn’t mean you can use your poc friends as a way to wave it around. You’re being just as bad to diss other peoples opinions FROM THE SAME GROUP lmao

i’m ndn, and personally my opinion on the entire thing is, don’t make wendigo characters for profit in general, especially if you’re not ndn. i don’t even like seeing my brothers, sisters, and two-spirited brethren do it. it’s one thing to make one for personal use, and as long as you’re not making them uwu edgy wendigo doggo that eats people uwu then.. honestly? who cares. but stop making wendigos when you know nothing about the culture, or that many tribes have different lore on it.

also the entire thing of wendigo psychosis being a thing: false. that was a term made up waaaaay after the fact. the thing is, there are multiple tribes that believe in wendigo, many have different names for it, and there’s even variations born differently like wechuge. but the fact of the matter is that most people don’t even read in or pay attention beyond the edgy cannibal shit to know that a wendigo is pretty much a skeleton made out of ice in most tribal cultures LMAO not a fucking dog

the entire purpose of people saying ‘hey if you don’t understand it, don’t make it’ is so that you don’t make a mockery of our legends, lore, culture, and history. not so you can’t have fun. it’s like me making a black character and making them stereotypical and completely shitting on it, and then doubling back with the ‘oh i made a black character so i understand black struggles’ shit like. it’s not cute when you do it to any race or culture so stop.

Why is it a crime to make Wendigo characters but when some family lines (before me, I don’t care) wouldn’t approve of the use of nordic mythos no one bats an eye at adopts that play off them, or for that matter, movies and shows that paint them in completely inaccurate ways. You can’t close the mythos of one culture & make it untouchable while saying some are fine to take from, that isn’t how it works. 

VCR is mixed Mexican Navajo and saying a mixed person is basically white is just fucking ugly and racist as shit, holy shit

Nordic myth is white myth and white people are not in any danger of having their culture stamped out and then reinterpreted by their oppressors while they are punished for trying to access it, unlike, you know, Native American myth. Reverse racism isn’t real

‘nordic myth is white myth and–’ it’s still someone’s religion, so yeah actually it still stands, either all religions are sacred inherently and are off limits or none are and you can’t bitch and whine and moan and throw a social justice tantrum into that being untrue, people making shitty wendigo ocs isn’t stamping anyone’s religion out any more than marvel making a shitty version of loki is, they’re equally stupid but harmless 

Except there is a huge fucking difference between open and closed religions? Nordic pagan worship is an open religion. Native folk religions are closed religions. Christianity is an open religion. The Amish are, by and large, a closed sect. Sincerely, an nordic heathen who knows full well what people can take from my belief system

“Werehyenas can’t be made into species and characters because they appropriate African culture uwu~” The hyena and werehyena have a very similar negative connotation in African folklore by you don’t see them getting so butt hurt over them being used. I get so sick and tired of people saying you can’t base a CS or Character off of a fictional monster. I guess I should toss out my Church Grim OC because that’s an insult to English and Scandinavian Folklore as it guards a place considered sacred

literally no one is saying dont ever do it theyre saying be respectful, follow the originating culture’s traditions, and dont slap a native myth on a white character because its disrespectful to the culture you supposedly like so much youre pulling from them. entitled much?

"my friend finds this thing offensive! your friend doesn't find this offensive? stop tokenising your friends, also YOUR friends are WRONG!" so native voices only count when they agree with you? maybe accept that an individual can't speak for an entire group, and that people from within the same culture can have very different ideas about what cultural appropriation even is.

Everyone yelling about wendigos when they're ignoring the fact Sincommonstitches literally made a design based off the imperial rising sun (you know- rape of Nanking?? Children and women slaughtered?) and day of the dead (mexican holiday already shit on for $$$) guardians, sold them for profit, and then bitched in a journal when they got called out how they shouldn't have to deal with this and they need their fiance to handle their pr now lmfao

Keeping all this in one post, anything new sent in will be added to this post. While it is on topic, it is far from species related.