#IT ISNT but im tagging jic

[the-meme-monarch]

"we don't discriminate based on gender" then why did you make me give you my honorifics when you didn't include mx in the options❓

[teaspoonofdragons]

Come on guys.

[anxiously-sidequesting]

My Personal Shadow Magic Headcanons - "Shadow Sickness"

I'm so autistic and lazy so here's another weirdly-worded headcanons post from me at 4 AM (lmk if I need to tag this as anything specific btw

What I'm personally calling "Shadow Sickness" is the official, prolonged version of Backlash - adverse effects that target the practitioner even outside of the duel circle and in their everyday lives. While "Backlash" refers to the immediate and spontaneous barrage of attacks that takes place after a Shadow spell, "Shadow Sickness" is the gradual deterioration of the practitioner's mind, body, and soul. True to the name, this effect likens more to an illness, a virus; something that's alive and slowly takes over until there is nothing healthy left behind. The symptoms are emotional, physical, mental, and even spiritual.

While regular Magic has life force within it, Shadow Magic is the only type of magic that can be considered "sentient". Not a thinking being with goals and plans, but something living and breathing with the most basic instincts. It's what's considered "Chaotic" and dangerous about it - the Wizard bends and controls regular Magic, but Shadow Magic can bend and control the Wizard. It is the only type of magic that can "fight back" in its own way.

This sentience is what allows for Shadow Sickness and Backlash to happen - these are purely just the results of it "fighting back". The Shadow Magic is reacting to the practitioner. It's acting by its nature by rearing its head back and snapping the hand that controls it. If the practitioner is NOT sound and secure in their mental, physical, and spiritual health, then Backlash and Shadow Sickness can cause even more adverse effects within the Wizard and as a result can suffer more severely.

Symptoms of Shadow Sickness

Symptoms of Shadow Sickness can vary between physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The "virus" affects every single aspect of the being, down to their very life. The severity of these symptoms can also vary depending on certain variables. Unlike a true virus, Shadow Sickness has no "incubation period" and can flare up at any time during which the Wizard is practicing Shadow Magic. These symptoms include:

Physical scarring (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual) - one of the only symptoms that comprise of all four categories. Scars may appear on the Wizard's body that take various shapes and forms: most commonly taken after that individual's unsolved trauma. This includes old grudges, previous serious injuries that have not healed correctly, repressed memories, obsessions and delusions, etc. No two scars look the same (i.e. two different wizards who have a fear of spiders will have scars that look entirely different from the other). Depending on the severity these scars can cause physical discomfort (tingling, numbness, pain, leathery skin, decay/cellular deterioration) and can greatly impact how the Wizard looks to others to how the Wizard can move around.

Involuntary movements (physical, mental, spiritual) - the Wizard may begin suffering from accidental and spontaneous gestures and movement that is either randomized or triggered. This can include loss of coordination, disorientation, mini seizures, jerks and spasms, etc. Other than being physically affected, the Wizard is not suffering from any medical emergencies. The individual is fully conscious and aware when this happens and depending on the severity, can recover seconds after. This is one of the only symptoms where others could be harmed due to a wayward hand that comes flying out by accident. There is also a magical version of this, where involuntary spells or bursts of magic can be cast spontaneously (hence the 'spiritual' aspects of this symptom as mana comes from the soul). Usually these magical bursts are Shadow Magic and not the Wizard's primary or secondary Magic abilities. (Another involuntary trait recorded is the Wizard suddenly switching to an ancient "Shadow Language" in mid-speech.)

Hallucinations (physical, mental) - the Wizard may begin to experience things that cannot be detected by any other individual. Usually these hallucinations start out as smells or taste first, but there are reports of the Wizard hearing, sensing, and even seeing things to start out with. Contrary to popular belief not all hallucinations are violent or even turn out to be that way, some reports even describe them as pleasant. Hallucinations vary from each Wizard even with those who share the same traumas or fears. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, the Wizard can either be fully aware or completely immersed within them. Since these are only hallucinations they cannot harm the Wizard but can cause further deterioration to the mind.

Depleted energy/"Mana Loss" (physical, spiritual) - as the Shadow Sickness takes hold, eventually the Wizard will be slowly sapped of strength and magical energy. THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM IF THE WIZARD IS SKILLED IN SHADOW MAGIC. A Wizard can practice Shadow Magic and still NOT be affected by this. Since Shadow Magic "takes", Shadow Sickness does the same and gradually depletes the Wizard's energy. Like how Backlash takes health in a duel, Shadow Sickness takes your life. This is the only symptom that is constant in all cases of Shadow Sickness. Not only will the ability to cast spells be taken away, but overall physical health will suffer as well and the individual is more susceptible to regular diseases due to a compromised immune system. This symptom only appears in the very last stages of Shadow Sickness and is the last symptom of the individual experiences in their lifetime.

Tulpas (emotional, mental, spiritual) - contrasting hallucinations, Tulpas are the Wizard's visions made real. A Tulpa (from Shadow Sickness) is a physical and magical manifestation of the Wizard suffering from the Shadow "virus". Although it is born from the subconscious of another being, it is a separate entity all its own and has the ability to make decisions and have feelings and desires. However, these feelings and desires are not really of their own and reflect the Wizard's subconscious fears and threat responses. (i.e. our Azteca Tulpa in Khrysalis that formed due to unresolved survivor's guilt. Its "goal" was to destroy us and fully consume us within itself, similar to how guilt behaves in reality). Tulpas can either be created from visions, nightmares, intense and obsessive thoughts, or even previous hallucinations.

Can Shadow Sickness be reversed, or cured?

Shadow Sickness can be reversed, yes, or more commonly halted. Unless the Wizard is fully submersed in their mental and spiritual anguish ((Malistaire even though he wasn't using shadow magic; Morganthe even though that wasn't what killed her)) Shadow Sickness can be stopped. The road to recovery varies wildly from each person so there is no set "recovery time" in which you are expected to be fully healed. It is your own journey and it is ultimately your say whether or not you are better. Clinically, recovery can be sorted between these categories

HALTED: In which the Shadow Sickness is no longer infecting the individual but the symptoms may still persist. These symptoms do not get worse or better, but the Wizard's mind is clear and their soul is at peace. Wizards may either learn to live comfortably and adapt with their Halted condition or could continue to strive for partial or full recovery.

PARTIAL RECOVERY: In which the Shadow Sickness is reversed slightly or moderately. The effects are not all the way gone but are measured to be better than when the Wizard was still infected. In this state any severe symptoms the Wizard is experiencing are now moderate or slight, or less frequent. Just like in the Halted category, the Wizard is sound of mind, body, and soul.

FULL RECOVERY: In which Shadow Sickness is totally reversed and there are no more symptoms that persist. Full, 100% recovery is actually quite rare in the Spiral and a lot of scholars consider the Full Recovery to count as "70% or more reduced" - meaning the symptoms are very slight and few and far in between. Technically this is still a Partial Recovery but due to the above fact and how difficult it is to reverse Shadow Sickness, 'Full Recovery' is an umbrella term. Some individuals even claim Full Recovery even if their symptoms are moderate, because their mind and soul are no longer diseased.

ONE LAST FACT TO LEAVE OFF WITH: Not every Wizard who practices Shadow Magic suffers from Shadow Sickness, and alternatively even the most skilled Shadowmage can develop Shadow Sickness.

okay this took days. bye hope you liked this

[m0th-gh0st]

work doodles (mainly splendorverse except for the mla0 doodles)

[gamesucks]

starting my hater journey early cuz im not in a good mood fghdfj (also ive only seen the first 4 seasons so bear w my knowledge lol)

so why do we all feel the need to defend henry so much... like it aint black and white you know. just because henry was There during shawns childhood doesnt absolve him of any of the shit he did. are we forgetting the whole easter egg debacle ?? (and im not saying he was abusive because its not my place to claim that. i dont think henry was a good dad but im not going into that territory)

and he genuinely loves shawn!! thats his son and he tried his best! but also. you can love somebody And hurt them. and even in bad relationships there Are good moments, its all nuance and tbh i think thats one of the best parts of the show, is how well rounded the characters and their relationships with each other are! shawn and henry absolutely have their problems and shawn was definitely a Lot to handle but also. he was a child. we need to remember that he was a child who henry treated like an adult and had a lot of high expectations for him that ultimately fucked him And their relationship up.

seriously though we need to understand that its a grey area and henry was not a good dad . yes he cared and was there for his son but he didnt even tell shawn he loved him. "youve never helped me before." "you never asked." he buried easter eggs under glass. he locked his child in the trunk of his car which Yes did teach him how to get out of one 20 years later . there are life lessons he taught shawn but he went about it the wrong way. henry acted like a cop first and foremost and a father second and It Shows.

also. i dont like maddie either. she fucking Left and when she admitted to shawn that she felt like her life started again after she left??? that was supremely fucked up thats not a good thing to say to your child. this one i have some personal feelings abt cuz my mom does the same thing</3 (tells her child some things that maybe you shouldnt admit to them. like yes shawn is an adult but there are some things you can keep from him . and the way shawn said "she used to tell me everything" thats not particularly a good thing man!!!)

ok and also i Am glad that shawn and henry are working to mend their relationship . of their own accord theres no forcing or anything ! they genuinely want each other back in their lives and are Trying in their own ways its nice HOWEVER . why the fuck did vick hire him holy shit

but uh. tldr shawns parents are People who made a lot of mistakes . please start seeing the grey area for what it is

[ccliffjumperr]

vent in tags. sorry.

[glitchyred]

Got tired of trying to design a ref for Retold!RED so I made him a warrior cats sona. This is his original oc do not steal /j

[nomairuins]

i do need 2 work on rewiring my brain so that my immediate very first thought whenever i dont do a small task (like brushing ny teeth taking a shower picking up my room etc) isnt 'We Should Kill Connor ." this would be pretty good for me to do. putting this on the list

[motherforthefamicom]

do you think me having been horribly depressed all summer is a good enough excuse to not have my ap summer work done

[camzverse]

(guy whos normal about blood voice) yeah idk i just dont think the blood shouldve come out that way when william got springlock failured. the blood wouldve been more like spewing out from the puncture holes. it just wouldnt have looked like how they depicted it. plus the holes in the suit arent THAT large i think most of the blood spatter wouldve hit the inside of the suit. just generally u wouldnt be able to see all that blood. it still wouldve been as if not more bloody u just wouldnt be able to see it all. the mechanics of the blood in that scene just dont make perfect sense to me. But then again i have yet to see anyone get springtrapped irl so who am i to say 🤷

[yellowhearther0]

the exactly one thing going for me is that i have yet to get concerned dms from friends amen godbless peace and love on the plant earth

[imnotverybright]

im so !!!!! happy!!!! i got to talk to my friend who i havent seen in 8 months and !!!!!! it was only 20 mins but i could live on this forever!

[doodlebloo]

Ok well if they reset and do Dream SMP season 2 I may not care about it because Michael_Beloved wont be there. Everybody else have fun

[artificial-horizon]

Being visibly mixed race/racially ambiguous and visibly trans/GNC is being inherently confusing and unreadable to white cis people. Like, they can tell you're sure as hell not a white man or woman but they can't decipher you beyond that; they don't know how what to do with you because they can't put you in any category.

You are both masculine and feminine, but not enough of either to fulfil the white criteria for manhood or womanhood, and regardless, brown people are gendered differently to white people anyway. You could tick off almost all the criteria for "male" features (such as, and notably, body hair) and still be read as a cis woman, because the level of masculinity white people accept in brown (perceived) women is higher than what they accept in white (perceived) women, because brownness itself is masculine to them. (Though it can be feminine and androgynous at the same time, too. Again, POC are gendered differently than white people.)

They have these set ideas of how they're meant to relate to people, set ways that they treat, let's say, white women, Black men, East Asian women, Middle Eastern men - but they can't even tell what you are, so how are they meant to treat you? How are they meant to relate to you?

I don't doubt at all that this is why I've always been ignored in public, even before transitioning; never treated as a fellow person to connect with, but an anomaly that happens to occupy the same spaces. I scare them by defying categorization, so it's better not to engage and risk upsetting their preconceived notions of gender and race. Alternatively, they will just be bigots instead, though I can tell that's hard for them too as they aren't quite sure what specific flavour of bigotry to throw at me.

[cw for following paragraph: non-graphic description of an incident of racist and transphobic harassment]

I always think back to this one time, having recently come out, when I was harassed by a white man on the bus. Seeing me in all my gender ambiguity and reading me as Black, he expressed his disgust at us Black people, at how "you can never fucking tell whether they're girls or boys". Honestly, in all my interactions with white cis people from then on, I never stopped feeling the echoes of his words.

[tomatoart]

orbit

[agency-unofficial]

Do you know what happened?

(I think so…? My memory is hazy…)

(maybe a quick walk will he-)

(Oh.)

(…I think I remember now.)