#absolute mess of a woman

[danse--macabre]

Increasingly I think the strongest argument for jaheira hooking up with astarion and having some messy on-off casual situationship for about a decade is because she only dates irresponsible men who are worse at parenting than her

[uncanny-tranny]

There's something so insane to me about being able to create and recreate vintage or even ancient music, clothes, fabrics, building architecture, anything, really.

I watched this video about a lady who knit a WWII-era vest, and it was really unique, because the cable work would eat up yarn, when there were shortages of fibers. This pattern would have likely been used by people to send overseas to soldiers, and now it's being created in a time where this war has been over for generations. What were the people making this pattern thinking of? What about the people making the vest? Could they fathom a world where world wars didn't happen back to back? Could they imagine what peace felt like, or did it fade like a distant memory, a faint friend? All we have now are the remnants of their efforts, a "simple" vest that would warm the bodies of countless people the knitter would never have imagined were here on earth with them.

We're reaching across time to learn about other people - we're reaching our hands out just to grasp anything tangible. And when we've take hold of something, all we can do is say I love you I love you I love you

[cycian]

Andreja is a cool headed woman, is used to working under pressure and to deceit.

Also Andreja, a fumbling, stuttering mess: "Yes, yes we are t-t-together"

[moongothic]

i would love trans crocodile but im very cynical that oda would write him in a respectful manner. thats not even thinking of how horrible that one portion of the one piece fandom would treat him

Yeah the fandom sucks and I'm going to strangle everyone (including the cishets who claim to be trans allies and then use "Crocomom")

But with Oda it's weird because like. The more I think about it, the more I'm like... 50/50 about Oda being able to actually deliver good, respectful trans masc rep.

Like I've posted about this before but One Piece does have this on-going theme of having characters "stuck in wrong bodies" or "having one's body changed" (sometimes reversably, sometimes irreversably; sometimes against their will, sometimes consentually). Which, in theory, in my mind, does kind of signal that on some level Oda understands the idea of being "the wrong sex" (whether or not that's a good way to explain The Trans Experience™ is a whole different subject but it's an old fashioned explanation that Oda would probably be/is familiar with) But at the same time, while the concept pops up again and again in One Piece, Oda doesn't really dwell too deep into the idea of what that's like. Like, emotionally. How it feels like to like, get turned into a toy or be a child who gets aged 20 years or to get turned into a cyborg or a giant child or have parts of your body permanently turned into animal parts (sometimes with a will of their own) etc

And like. Part of me understands why, Oda does tend to want to focus on writing a story he thinks teenaged boys would be interested in reading, and he has often stated he wants to have fun with his story too (like that's partially why Luffy's a Rubber Man, because Oda thought giving Luffy a ridiculous ability would make him more fun to write and draw long-term, which is valid as hell) This is why for example Oda has avoided doing any romances in OP, and while there are dark themes in the story, often he has done his best to avoid making them too blatant, as some things would be too mature for his youngest readers (like, for example until Kuma's backstory, it was never explicitly stated what would happen to the slave wives of the Tenryuubito, even saying it was "implied" would be pushing how that subject had been treated until now)

So like. Because of that, I understand why Oda hasn't dwelled into The Feelings™ part much/at all despite the "stuck in the wrong body" narrative appearing time and time again

Either Oda thinks it'd be too boring either for himself or his readers, or he hasn't dwelled into it because he doesn't really understand gender dysphoria and can't relate to the experience (despite how often it shows its face in OP). Or it could be both, even

The thing is though, as OP has gone on, while I wouldn't say Oda has "broken his writing rules", Kuma's backstory alone has pushed them to a new limit with the love-that-never-was story and the all-but-explicitly-stated storytelling.

So a part of me wonders, if Crocodile is trans, could Oda actually like... take a slightly deeper look into his feelings and explore his queer experience? ('Cause god knows, if Crocodad Real, then there really would be a literal coming out-story built into his backstory that would be extremely unavoidable, and as I've mentioned before, the fact that we haven't gotten to learn almost anything about his backstory yet is Kinda Fucking Sus)

Also I do want to mention how... like Oda gets a lot of bad rap when it comes to queer rep in One Piece, but the more I think about it, I think it's more an issue with the terminology and how translators have gone about either localizing it, or more often than not, leaving it unlocalized 'Cause like. Yes the "okama" would be horrible trans rep but... really... they're not trans representation. They're representation for draq queens. Piss poor draq rep, but still, they're draq queens. And just like our very real life drag performers; some of them are cishets. Some of them are gender non-conforming gay men. Some of them are nonbinary*. Some of them are trans women. Obviously lumping all of these people into one group is kinda offensive (which is why "okama" is (as far as I understand it) such an unpopular term even amongst queer people in Japan), and the way Oda often chooses to draw these characters looks no different to how gender criticals choose to present trans women in their propaganda.

*Like Bon-chan, who explicitly states they are both male and female. And Iva-chan, who switches between boy-mode and girl-mode from time to time, could arguably be called genderfluid (though any specific terminology is up to debate). Both are nonbinary draq queens.

And yet, despite all that. It can not be understated how if you put aside the nameless background gag-characters, Oda does treat the actual, proper queer characters with respect. Everyone would agree that Bon-chan is an absolute hero, we would all die for them. Iva-chan (and Inazuma too) is explicitly presented in a heroic light, seen as someone who helps people and fights for justice (with the Revs)

And then there's the first binary trans characters we've actually gotten, Okiku and Yamato. And I'm pretty sure we would all agree Okiku is 10/10 perfect trans fem representation (I am not entirely serious, I'm not trans fem so I can't speak for trans women here, it's just that I can't see anything Horrendously Wrong with how Okiku is presented within the story- not actually perfect but all things considdered, damn good). She is stunning, people around her (INCLUDING SANJI!!) don't just view her as a woman but would go out of their way to date her (as in, she is seen as "desirable", and not as some kind of a disgusting freak to avoid), she is heroic and sweet and kind and just. IDK I love her And while I'm sure many trans mascs would agree Yamato may not be how they want to be seen by the world (though having Yamato ID as a man while having the biggest moobs is surely validating for a lot of people, including anybody who might not want or be able to get top surgery and/or HRT), again, he is only presented as heroic within the narrative and respected by the characters around him, Luffy especially, which is by far the most important part; the protagonist going out of his way to be respectful of trans characters does represent the values of the story.

And like.

Think about how Oda has treated Crocodile so far.

Like, although we're all having a bit of a laugh over the whole Cross Guild thing, Oda is still treating him as a cool character whom he presents seriously and treats with respect. Like Oda wants the readers to see Crocodile as at least a little bit cool. So I can't imagine him pulling a full 180 with how Croc would be treated in the story if he was revealed to be trans, especially when the potential foreshadowing for that was laid out in the story years ago already.

All this to say; Oda is not perfect at all, but considdering the things he has gotten right so far, I think there is hope he could pull it off. Because Oda is for Queer Liberation.

Really, my only concerns would be whether or not there's a risk Crocodile could get somehow detrans'd during the story (I'm praying the Haki theory isn't an option, really Doc Q might be the only true risk here), if he's stealth and that got presented as "a wrong thing to do" (which I'd hope not, like our previous queer characters have been okay with being openly queer but that may have been more for the readers than anything else. At least, I hope, god knows if Crocodile is and wants to be stealth trans then that's his right and he shouldn't have to out if he doesn't want to, and yeah, I don't want him to be demonized within the narrative for being stealth (if he's stealth, for all we know he could be out)) and like, most importantly, what'd end up being Crocodile's "motivation" for transitioning in the first place

Like. God. I just. I don't want there to be a twist where Crocodile transitioned because "being a woman was weak" or because he "wanted to be acknowledged by Whitebeard" ('cause WB doesn't take women into his crew) or "the scar in his face made him so ugly he decided he should be a man instead" (seen unironic Redditors suggest that. Almost lost my mind) or something

Like I hope someone's at least tried to explain gender dysphoria to Oda. Like the man does have actual queer friends in real life (some of whom inspired characters in OP), so I'm hoping at least someone's tried to explain the feelings that come with The Trans Experience™ to him so that, if Crocodile's trans, then Oda can actually try to base his reasoning to transition on those feelings instead of any stupid "reasons" that no actual queer person would relate to

But it all just boils down to... Is Oda willing to actually dwell into those feelings and explore them in the story.

It... it really could go either way with Oda

So yeah. Anon, I'm with you, I'd be lying if I didn't admit I was at least A Little Worried. But also... I want to be hopeful. Because I do believe there is reason to be hopeful.

Only time will tell how it'll go

[starlooove]

No bc fuck tim but it really really bothers me how people ignore his growth like he used to be an asshole and I’ll give tim Stans one thing: now he’s so so so stale but what I disagree with is that this staleness is bc nobody likes him like it’s in fact the exact opposite where everyone likes him so much they dont want to do anything. Even when it’s him surface level challenging Bruce it’s when everyone else is doing it too; but he’s still the backbone of the fam! Etc. and it’s so irritating bc him gaining more compassion and empathy even for people he doesn’t fw is so fun to watch and that’s why the captain boomerang thing was so out of character! (Not in a from the author way but in a tim wouldn’t do that and he and Bruce both knew it which is why it went down like it did. Same way dick killing joker was ooc; not in fanon sense but in a he would hate himself forever for this sense) and speaking of that it’s such an interesting mirror to Bruce who genuinely believes that everyone can grow vs Tim’s it doesn’t matter if they grow it’s not my decision to make like it’s the same but it’s not AND WITH CASS’ IT DOESNT MATTER IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO GROW I WONT DO IT! like ugh. And anyways even when people acknowledge it they boil it down to “Janet and Jack taught him that the capitalist pigs that they are” like no. This is who tim was. Tim was the kind of guy who’d blame a dead kid for dying. That’s ok. Also Janet and Jack? Please reread anything involving them that’s not a fic like Jack had anger issues and they were both aloof at worst like relax.

[spotsupstuff]

I think it would be such a soul destroying moment if like in an argument between moon and tarrows and moon finally snaps and screams at tarrows for all the horrible things the ancients did to her and her family, letting loose all the emotions she had to hold back from every awful thing she endured, said every thing she couldn't say because she was powerless when it came to the ancients and their actions, all the while tarrows is completely backed into a corner, when moon finishes her rant she sees that sparrows is curled up like a scared slugcat crying, and they both just cry together for a while. I think eventually moon would feel bad for taking it all out on tarrows but I think it's important moon gets everything out.

i mean sure it's important to get shit out, but not on expanse of a complete stranger??? sorry but the phrasing of that end sounds like Sparrows either deserved it or is supposed to be just standing there and take everyone's shit n i just can't leave that alone. just because one party suffered immensely doesn't justify that they take it out on someone who never did anything wrong like t hat

either way, i don't think Moon would be crying n also that Sparrows would end up in a corner alone like that. no way the Anemoi aren't gonna be always nearby to step in, she's one of em! they'll look out for her n if that means getting in the way of one of the oldest still-alive Iterators, then so be it

[snarkylinda]

*grabs microphone* what Spencer and Cat had was some really iffy form of abuse bordering on sexual harrasment. He made clear more than once that he wouldn't want to ever be near her if it wasn't for the fact she literally took innocent people to force him and the sole SIGHT of her triggered an damn panic attack. While I do find their banter kind of fun due to the performances (and Entropy got me GAGGED ngl) there is not denying he was her plaything; Spencer literally called his new girlfriend for some cryptic confort because she had him that messed up. She literally went to his apparment to taint any good memory he had with Max.

If Cat got the chance, I am 100% sure she would had raped him when he was high like she said. She obviously sees him as her toy so why not go the extra leght??

And I don't appreciate the rest of the team and said girlfriend joking about it tbh.

[burr-ell]

ngl gonna lie it may be basic but i love the idea of percy charming and romancing vex

not just bc it's terribly romantic and im embarrassing but also bc it's genuinely super meaningful? percy knows how hard vex has worked to scrape for anything good in her life, constantly fighting to prove her worth, and she's just. so strong and good, in all the ways that matter. and yet she's so vulnerable in ways she only shows him because she trusts him. and i think beyond any kind of archetypal notions about romance, vex wants to occasionally be taken care of, to know that she's worthy of being taken care of, particularly by someone who otherwise gives her the tools to fight for herself. she's fought for herself so much, and she loves it and she's good at it—but it's also become a mask. and she's been wearing those masks of strength by herself for so long, and having someone she can trust who accepts her weakness for what it is and still utterly adores her and dotes on her while also bolstering that strength is such beautiful closure for her as a character.

idk just percy courting vex and sweeping her off her feet and spoiling her and treating her like a princess sometimes is something that can be so personal

[aetherose]

When it comes to Vera, I operate under the headcanon of her service time only referring to her time serving under Babylonia, but she served in Kurono way longer, and suffered the loss of countless teams before they had her operating solo as her interlude suggests.

Her losing countless teams and then meeting No.21 and growing close to her before getting transferred to Babylonia and becoming part of Cerberus all happening in the course of 2 years makes no sense to me. Hence this.

Additionally, with the way Vera acts about Recall in her Affection Story, I believe she is aware of the truth of Recall and figured it out through observation, the fact that you never actually see Recall work properly as intended, perhaps she even dug to try to find the truth. More than likely because she's witnessed several teammates of hers Recall, only for them to not come back the same.

My Vera also grew up in a family of doctors and nurses who spawned her medical prowess and general desire to be a medic in the first place. She lost her family to the Punishing Virus and already suffered a level of survivor's guilt as a result because they helped her escape whilst dying in the process.

She however always wanted to be able to help someone as a nurse, and became a medic to prevent what happened to her family from happening to others, to be able to save someone. She never wanted to become the hero who saves the world, and at this point she cares very little for the world as a whole.

She's a very present-focused person who will save those alive now who still have a will to live, especially her people such as the Cerberus squad. She'll do whatever she has to do to save those who come into her care, and at the end of the day, human or Construct, she just wants to save at least one person. As for the fate of humanity and the world, that's for others to worry about.

Vera is the one who keeps others alive to even be able to try to save the world in the first place. Of course, that's the role she wants to have, but it feels to her as if nothing ever goes her way no matter how hard she tries. And she tries so, so hard. But the world continued to not listen to her pleas for her to be able to save at least someone.

This further intensified her not really caring for the idea of being the one to save the world and whatnot, because she's somewhat bitter at the world for all that she's suffered. But as for the people in the world, she'll always do whatever she must to save whoever comes into her care, but as I keep specifying...'so long as they have a will to live'. Because if you've just given up? Then there's no point in saving you at that point, in her eyes.

[stromer]

i blog from these TWO places exclusively

[francesderwent]

the most infuriating thing about the Roy-Keeley-Jamie love triangle (other than everything) is that I would have believed Roy with the kindergarten teacher and I also would have believed Jamie with Roy’s sister so there was. no reason. to leave the resolution of the triangle up in the air. we didn’t need to leave anyone out in the cold. let Keeley pick, and then give us a snapshot meetcute of the other couple! that’s all it would have taken!

[ventiswampwater]

book review culture is so funny

[athetos]

Watched The Invisible Man 2020 and was very skeptical going into it about how they would handle it but ngl. I enjoyed it. I get why ppl would hate it tho, but I’m gonna be real, the only people I’d ever want to discuss this movie with are other abuse survivors lol. I was in a good mental place watching this but the first half especially really got to me. Luckily the second half while still gutwrenching was pure revenge fantasy and I cheered so loud jumping off the couch at that last scene… I’m sure there’s tons of people saying “she should have done THIS instead” and like okay buddy I know it’s a movie here but I don’t know if I’d ever trust you with my trauma based off that alone.

Idk! Just think I’ll be reflecting on this movie more and that it’s going to definitely stick with me. I think there’s plenty of criticism to be had but it worked for me.

[im-you]

In an ideal world, I'd be a tiny generosity fairy, flitting around and leaving cool little gifts anonymously

[thedragonemperess]

I need the & Juliet soundtrack injected directly into my veins and if that doesn't work I need it lazered into the forefront of my brain

[umbrace-rambles]

Finished Watching Ark TAS last night and you would expect I would be super happy about getting MORE lesbian content than in canon but I can't with good conscience be happy for the sudden Helena and Mei stuff. Why the FUCK did they do that